FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. speaks during a change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines, August 8, 2022. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday revealed that the Philippine government is setting a meeting with Kuwait to review its labor agreement, following the killing of an overseas Filipina worker there.
He issued the remark after he visited the remains of Jullebee Ranara, a 35-year-old household service worker in Kuwait who was killed by the 17-year-old son of her employer.
“We are also scheduling bilateral meetings with Kuwait to look at the agreement that we have to see if there are weaknesses in the agreement that allow this to happen and to make sure that those weaknesses are remedied,” Marcos said in a chance interview.
“[This] is so that the agreement is stronger and will be more supportive of our workers and furthermore that we hope this will not happen again to anyone of our countrymen,” he added.
The President also offered his “sympathies” to the family of Ranara and assured them of government assistance, adding that the government is preparing scholarships for the slain OFW’s children.
“Lahat ng assistance na pwedeng naming ibigay, ibibigay namin. We have assured the family that we will attend to their needs,” he said.
(We will give them all the assistance that we can give.)
“Mayroon kaming hinahandang scholarship. Basta makapag-aral nang mabuti at lahat pa ng ibang benepisyo,” Marcos added.
(We are preparing a scholarship for them so that they can pursue their education.)
The remains of Ranara were repatriated last Friday.