MANILA – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Thursday assured that the family of slain overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara, who was murdered in Kuwait over the weekend, will get full assistance from the agency.
In an interview, OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio said the agency has already provided all available benefits and preparing other forms of assistance to the family of the 35-year-old Filipino domestic worker.
“Yung pamilya (The family), we are taking care of them, at lahat na ng mga (and all the) requirements, documentary and financial assistance available ay binigay na natin sa kanila (we have given them all to them),” Ignacio said.
“Yung PHP220,000 from OWWA inaayos na yan and then yung kanilang insurance din, that would be about PHP800,000, plus yung scholarship ng kaniyang mga anak mula ngayon hanggang sa grumaduate, meron na yang scholarship support (The PHP220,000 from OWWA is now being prepared, and then their insurance as well, that would be about PHP800,000, plus the scholarship for her children from now until they graduate from college, there is already a scholarship support),” he added.
Ignacio also confirmed that Ranara’s remains will arrive in the country on Friday, Jan. 27, at about 9:35 p.m.
He added that OWWA would also take care of the burial expenses of the victim.
On Wednesday, Senator Imee Marcos visited the Ranara family, accompanied by Ignacio and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
He said Marcos extended her condolences to the family and gave them financial assistance.
During her visit, Marcos vowed to closely monitor the case and see to it that justice will be served to the Ranara family.
Ignacio also thanked Senator Raffy Tulfo for the financial support given to the victim’s family
He also expressed his appreciation to the Kuwaiti government which, he said, has been very supportive in resolving the case.
He noted that the 17-year-old suspect, who is the son of Ranara’s employer, was immediately arrested in less than 24 hours after the victim's charred body, with the skull smashed, was recovered by the Kuwaiti police at the Salmi, Al-Jarah Governorate on Jan. 21.
Meanwhile, Ignacio reminded those who plan to work abroad, especially in countries where most abuses occur, to think it through thoroughly before finally deciding to fly.
“Pag-isipan talagang mabuti kung kayo ay aalis ng bansa para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi ito basta dinidesisyunan lang overnight, pinag iisipan ito ng mabuti. Tingnan mo kung kaya ng iyong isip, iyong dibdib at tsaka ng iyong physical na kakayanan dahil hindi ito biro, dahil ang ending mo lagi ay sasabihin mo uuwi ka na (Think very carefully if you are going to leave the country to work in another country. It's not just to be decided overnight, this should be carefully considered. See if you can mentally, emotionally, and physically handle it because this is not a joke, because the typical ending is people saying they wanted to go home),” he said. (PNA)
