Ilang mambabatas na ang nagpaabot ng pakikiramay sa pagpanaw ni Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretray Susan ‘Toots’ Ople.
Ayon kay House Speaker Martin Romualdez, nawalan ng kampeon ang migrant workers sa pagpanaw ng kalihim.
Aniya, isang masugid na tagapagsulong ng proteksyon ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa,—pagpapatuloy ng adbokasiya na sinimulan ng kaniyang ama na si dating Senate President Blas Ople na nagsilbi bilang labor minister noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
“Migrant workers, and workers in general, have just lost a great and tireless champion in Secretary Ople. She was the first secretary of the department Congress had created to focus on attending to the welfare of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Our thoughts and prayers go to Secretary Toots Ople’s family and loved ones at this most difficult time,” ani Speaker Romualdez.
Nakikidalamhati rin si House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chair Ron Salo sa naiwang pamilya ni Sec. Ople at buong DMW.
Umaasa naman ang mambabatas, na sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatuloy ng adbokasiya ng kalihim na protektahan ang mga Filipino migrant workers ay maipagpapatuloy ang legasiya ni Ople.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Secretary Susan Toots Ople, and the entire Department of Migrant Workers. Secretary Ople was a true champion of the Filipino Migrant Workers. Her passing is a great loss to the entire Filipino nation. She was a dear friend and a colleague. Her passion in promoting and protecting the welfare of every Filipino Migrant Worker is truly appreciated and will be greatly missed.” saad ni Salo
Nangako naman si OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino, na titiyaking maipagpatuloy ang nasimulang mga polisiya ng kalihim para sa mga OFW.
Nagpaabot na rin ng pakikiramay sina Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera at ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo sa pagpanaw ni Sec. Ople, na kapwa kinilala at pinuri ang pagsisilbi ng kalihim sa DMW.
“Her time as DMW was brief but it capped a lifetime of devoted service….No other person was deserving and destined to lead the DMW in its infancy.” sabi ni Herrera.
“Her commitment, passion and dedication in serving our country, her fellow Filipinos and protecting our Overseas Filipino Workers is truly remarkable and have touched the lives of many.” ayon naman kay Tulfo | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
