It is the Ranario family and the individuals and groups who relentlessly campaigned for Marilou Ranario who should be given credit for the commutation of her sentence from death by hanging to a life term, said Migrante International in a statement.

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat
MIGRANT WATCH
Vol.VII, No. 44, Dec. 9-15, 2007

It is the Ranario family and the individuals and groups who relentlessly campaigned for Marilou Ranario who should be given credit for the commutation of her sentence from death by hanging to a life term, said Migrante International in a statement.

Malacañang Palace reported that the Emir of Kuwait decided to reduce the death penalty imposed by the Cassation Court on Ranario to life imprisonment through President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s intercession. Marilou was convicted of murder for killing her female employer and was sentenced to die by hanging by Kuwait’s Court of First Instance on Sept. 28, 2005. On Feb. 17, Kuwait’s Court of Appeals sustained the death verdict, which was also upheld by the Court of Cassation on Nov. 27.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye quoted the Kuwaiti Emir Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as telling Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a meeting on Dec. 9 at the Emir’s Palace, “Normally, I don’t interfere in the judicial process. We have a separate judicial system. But since you are here to personally appeal for her, I will not sign the decree of execution. That is within my power. I will reduce the penalty to life and when the other parties sign the forgiveness, I will further reduce the penalty.”

But according to Migrante International, “Arroyo was compelled to intervene in Marilou’s case because of the people’s collective outcry over her plight and outrage over the many human rights violations committed against countless migrant workers daily.”

Meanwhile, former Ambassador Roy Señeres said in his newspaper column, “Nakatutuwa na ginusto na ito ni GMA at dahil dito ay nagkaroon na ng pag-asa ang pamilya ni Marilou na makikita pa siyang buhay. Ako man ay natuwa at medyo napawi ang aking pagkadismaya sa kakulangan ng pagkilos ng gobyeryo upang tulungan si Marilou” (It s a good thing that GMA acted on this case and because of this, Marilou’s family gained hope of seeing her alive. I myself am happy and some of my dismay over the government’s lack of action in helping Marilou is gone).

But Señeres particularly mentioned the weight of Migrante International’s efforts in Marilou’s case. “Sana ay hindi malilimutan ng buong bayan na ang Migrante International ang talagang walang kapaguran na nag-ingay sa kaso ni Marilou at kung hindi nila ginawa yan ay sana hindi na rin natin nalaman ang kanyang kaso” (Hopefully the whole nation would not forget that it was Migrante International which tirelessly campaigned for Marilou’s behalf and if not for them we would not have heard of her case).

In September 2005, Migrante International reported that Marilou was convicted by a Kuwaiti lower court and was sentenced to die by hanging for killing her employer. Since then, Migrante International and its national and international network campaigned for Marilou’s case. Through the initiative of the group, a petition appealing for her case was launched and the Save Marilou Ranario Movement (SMRM) was formed.

“Salamat sa Diyos at may Migrante at kung wala sila, hindi ko maiisip kung ano ang mangyayari kay Marilou” (Thank God for Migrante because if not for them, we would have not been informed and concerned regarding Marilou’s plight.) Señeres further said.

Weng, Marilou’s younger sister, also thanked Migrante officials and members personally and through text message, ”Thanks po sa suporta ninyong lahat. Magandang gift po ito sa amin, pero sana makauwi siya at makapiling namin” (Thanks for all your support. This is a good gift to us, but we hope she can come home and be with us).

While the commutation on Marilou’s case is being celebrated, Migrante International and Señeres now raise the plight of the remaining overseas Filipino workers still in death row. “Dahil sa pag-iingay ng Migrante, laman ng diyaryo ang kaso ni Marilou, ngunit nakalulungkot na wala ta­yong naririnig sa gobyerno kung ano naman ang mga hakbang nila upang mailig­tas din ang iba pang mga kababayan natin na nasa death row sa abroad” (Because of Migrante’s efforts, Marilou’s case is in the news, but it is sad that we are not hearing anything from the government about their steps in saving other OFWs who are in death row), said Señeres.

Citing figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Migrante said there are at least 26 other OFWs still in death row and around 5,000 imprisoned around the world.

Among them is May Vecina, a 28-year old domestic worker from North Cotabato who reportedly killed her ward and wounded two others. Her case is now before Kuwait’s Court of Cassation.

“We commit to forwarding the campaign for Marilou until she – and other OFWs in death row, are released and repatriated to the Philippines. Otherwise, the Arroyo administration would fail them and their families anew,” said the Migrante International statement.

In its campaign to promote the interests and welfare of migrant Filipinos, Migrante International called on the Philippine government for “(a) genuinely pro-migrant bilateral agreements between the Philippines and host countries regarding the rights and welfare of our kababayans; (b) comprehensive measures to address the intense exploitation and maltreatment of migrant workers, especially domestic workers, that underline many cases like Marilou’s; and (c) the development of long-term viable livelihood in the Philippines instead of the increasing reliance on the export of people in exchange for dollar remittances to prop up the economy.” Bulatlat

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