Manila: The murder of a Filipina worker whose body was found in a desert in Kuwait has sent a shockwave through the Philippines, where a two-week vigil will begin after her remains return to the country on Friday.
Jullebee Ranara, 35, was one of more than 268,000 overseas Filipino workers mostly women employed as domestic helpers living in Kuwait.
Her charred remains were discovered in a desert on Sunday. Kuwaiti media reported that she was pregnant and had been subjected to blunt-force trauma. The 17-year-old son of her employer has been arrested by Kuwaiti police on murder charges.
Also Read: Woman teacher raped student, 'If you fulfill my sexual demand, will give good marks'
Until the National Bureau of Investigation has performed an autopsy, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople has refrained from commenting on the circumstances surrounding Ranara's passing.
As to the cause of death and the reasons behind it, there are many theories. During a Friday morning press conference, she stated that the family had asked for an autopsy.
The police's quick action is what matters. The Kuwaiti police have the main suspect in custody, and we are keeping a close eye on the situation. Following the return of Ranara's remains on Friday evening, a vigil will start.
By Sunday, we anticipate her wake to begin, Ople told the press. According to the husband, they would like the wake to be held two weeks from now so that friends and family who are in the province can attend. ” Former OFWs like Maria Nida Dizon described the news of her death as "dreadful."
Also Read: Syrian Kurdish forces in the east of the country capture a Daesh commander
It is inhumane what they did to her. She travelled to Kuwait to work, bringing with her every dream of a better life, only to die a horrifying death, the source told Arab News.
My personal experience has shown me that migrant workers rarely feel protected, especially when it comes to our rights. When they are abused, there is no assurance that justice will be served.
Dizon, who previously worked in the UAE, did not believe that Ranara's situation would discourage Filipino workers from looking for work abroad, where they could earn significantly more than they could at home.
Even though there have been numerous reports of abuse, many of our citizens, especially women and mothers, still want to attempt to work abroad. They believe that working outside will enable them to better support their family.
Rick Hernandez, a local administration worker in Manila, was now certain he would stop his family from working as domestic helpers abroad, despite the migrant workers secretary's declaration that Philippine authorities would collaborate with Kuwait to implement better screening and accreditation mechanisms for employers. Many Filipinos, especially our women, are prepared to endure harsh environments and abusive bosses in order to support their families, he claimed.
I would rather starve here as a father and husband than send my daughter or wife to work as domestic servants in another nation. Musaed Saleh Al-Thwaikh, Kuwait's ambassador to the Philippines, stated on Friday that the incident had also "shocked and saddened" Kuwaiti society.
Our justice system will not lose sight in ensuring justice for Mrs. Ranara,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Ople. “We assure you that such an incident is an isolated case.”
Ranara’s murder, however, was not the first such incident in Kuwait that shook the Philippines, which in 2018 imposed a worker deployment ban to the Gulf country after the killing of Filipina domestic helper Joanna Daniela Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer at an abandoned apartment. The ban was partially lifted the same year, after the two countries signed a protection agreement for workers.
Also Read: Refugees in S. Sudan hope that peace will be brought by the pope's visit
Constancia Lago Dayag, a Filipina maid, was killed in Kuwait in May 2019, and Jeanelyn Villavende, another one, was murdered by torture by her employer a few months later.
In January 2020, the Philippines once more imposed a worker deployment ban, which was later lifted after Kuwaiti authorities accused Villavende's employer of murder and gave her a hanging verdict.