Though clueless about the status of her case, Marilou Ranario, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sentenced to death in Kuwait is still full of hope she could pass this test of her life.
BY AUBREY MAKILAN
MIGRANT WATCH
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 34, September 30-October 6, 2007
Though clueless about the status of her case, Marilou Ranario, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sentenced to death in Kuwait is still full of hope she could pass this test of her life.
Helpless but full of hope
In a letter of Marilou to her father dated Sept. 10, she is still hopeful that she would be able to go back to their province in Surigao.
“Sa sitwasyon ko naman dito sa dinadalawan n’yo sa akin okey lang naman kaya lang ‘Tay gusto ko kasing magbakasyon sa atin sa ‘Pinas ang problema hindi ko alam kung inaasikaso ba ako ng Phil. Embassy dito,” (Regarding my situation here I am okay. Father, I want to spend a vacation there in our place in the Philippines but my problem is I do not know if the Philippine embassy here is working on my case.) she wrote.
In the letter, Marilou also seemed more worried about the expiration of her passport in 2008 than in the status of her case.
She also apologized to her father for having to travel to Kuwait in order to visit her and see her condition. She wrote, “Iniisip ko kasi na kaya kong lusutan anumang pagsubok na ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos makapangyarihan sa lahat sa sarili kong paniniwala at pananampalataya.” (I think I can survive any test given to me by God who is all-powerful in my belief and faith.)
She also wrote,“Wala akong ibang ginawa ngayon kundi naghihintay, at umasa kung kailan bigyan ng chance upang makalabas dito. (All I can do now is to wait and hope that I will have the chance to get out of prison.)
Hopeful kids, too
Marilou’s two children have imbibed their mother’s positive outlook.
Pilar, Marilou’s close friend, said that despite being affected by their situation, Marilou’s children try to fulfill their mother’s requests – “Magpakabait kayo. Magaaral kayong mabuti. Hayaan n’yo makakalabas din ako dito.” (Be good. Study hard. Don’t worry. I will be able to get out of here.)
Raffy John, Marilou’s eldest, is a consistent first honor student. Allan, Marilou’s younger brother, said that although Raffy John is still the top in his class, his grades have gone down. But still, Allan said, he strives harder because he wants his mother to be proud of him when they meet again.
Blame
Allan is saddened about the developments in his sister’s case. He likewise recalled that the Philippine government has asked their family to avoid linking with Migrante International, a militant organization of OFWs and their families, and to keep silent on Marilou’s case.
Allan said that following this advice has not been beneficial to his sister’s case. “N’ung lumalapit pa kami sa Migrante umaandar ‘yung kaso. N’ung dumistansya na kami sa Migrante, wala na kaming balita sa kaso,” (When we were coordinating with Migrante, there were developments in the case. But when we kept our distance from them, following the advice of the government, we have not heard of any movement in the case.) he said.
Now, Allan and their family have been actively joining the activities of Migrante International in its campaign to save Marilou’s life from a final and executory death sentence. The “Save Marilou Ranario; No to Another Flor Contemplacion” campaign is being spearheaded by Migrante. It has been conducting petition signing and lobbying to seek justice for Marilou who is a maltreated domestic helper.
According to Migrante, Marilou Ranario, an OFW domestic, was convicted, September 2005, by a Kuwaiti lower court and sentenced to die by hanging for allegedly killing her employer, Najat Mahmoud Faraj Mobarak, on Jan. 11, 2005. The Kuwaiti Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the lower court meting out the death penalty on Ranario on Feb. 17, 2006.
The final judgment on Ranario’s case will be issued by the Kuwait’s high court early 2008. (Bulatlat.com)
