OWWA: No reports prior to Kuwait OFW slay
He also revealed that they have also rescued two other OFWs who were under employment with Ranara’s employer
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration on Monday revealed that the agency has not received any reports prior the death of overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara in Kuwait which may have led to saving the Filipina worker.
OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio said that they had no idea of Ranara’s situation while they visited the country for the batch repatriation of 421 OFWs seeking refuge in a “Bahay Kalinga” shelter in Kuwait.
In a television interview on Monday, Ignacio disclosed that issues with her employer’s son only came through her family, who then relayed the complaint to authorities.
“What’s heartbreaking is that we just came from Kuwait before it happened, but there are no reports coming to us. We have no idea about the employer’s history, but it seems that they are doing well because there haven’t been complaints. Jullebee is also posting online and she looks happy, so we don’t have a clue,” Ignacio said.
He also revealed that they have also rescued two other OFWs who were under employment with Ranara’s employer.
So far, legal action is being made the Philippine government through the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Kuwait government, including inquiries on the prosecution of the son of Ranara’s employer who is 17-years old and preventive suspension and potential blacklisting of her employer.
Undersecretary Bernard Olalia earlier said that recruitment violations have been filed against her local recruiter, Catalist Int’l Manpower Services Co, and her foreign recruiter, “Platinum International Office” for alleged negligence.
To recall, Ignacio was present during the arrival of Ranara’s remains in her family’s Las Piñas home on Saturday night. Photos posted on his Facebook page show Ranara’s casket surrounded by an arrangement of white flowers.
Government officials have also visited Ranara’s wake, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senator Mark Villar visiting on Monday and DMW Secretary Susan Ople and Senator Cynthia Villar the day before.
Ignacio earlier said that assistance has been pouring in to the family, such as burial assistance, death benefits worth P220,000 and education assistance from OWWA. He also shared that Senator Raffy Tulfo also aims to provide scholarships for her children.
“I am emotional about this because the family never mentioned money. They just emphasized their need for privacy and justice. I told them, we at DMW-OWWA, all your burden, let us help you carry some of those,” Ignacio said.