Migrante-Metro Baguio condemns Arroyo government for its negligence to save Marilou Ranario

Cordillera OFWs and their families today condemned the Arroyo administration for its negligence to save Kuwait OFW Marilou Ranario from being sentenced to death by the Kuwaiti Supreme Court.

"If only the Arroyo government had done something from the start, Marilou could have been spared. The Arroyo administration is accountable for the fate of Marilou", said Flora Belinan, Migrante Metro Baguio Chairperson.

Yesterday, the Kuwait Supreme Court affirmed death sentenced for Mailou Ranario's case. Marilou Ranario, a 35-year old OFW in Kuwait allegedly killed her Kuwaiti employer after learning she would be sold to white slavery. According to her parents, she frequently relayed the maltreatment and abuse she received from her employers.

Belinan criticized the government's handling of Marilou's case, where much could have been done to save her while she lived. Belinan also denounced the Department of Foreign Affairs not being transparent to the development of Marilou's case to her families. The said department apparently knew that the promulgation date was on November 27, a month earlier than reported, but only disclosed it after Migrante International and Ranario's father demanded for a meeting with them.

"Marilou Ranario has suffered enough for Arroyo's negligence. Arroyo herself should step down and be punished for the criminal neglect it has committed against Ranario and her family, Belinan concluded.

Marilou will be the 6th OFW to be hanged under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration, if the said administration continues to remain inattentive for the protection of the its so called "Bagong Bayani". What then can we expect from this administration, there are still about 35 OFWs (bagong bayani) on death row.

"We stand firm that the Arroyo administration be held accountable for the fate of Marilou and other OFWs on death row. We urge the Arroyo administration to exert all possible efforts to save Ranario from death by hanging, even when it needed direct intervention of the questionable President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. We urge the Arroyo administration to appeal to the Kuwaiti government for Ranario's full pardon and be repatriated to her own country.#