Magsaysay expresses concern over Pinay teacher’s fate in Kuwait

Press Release by
Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE)
January 25, 2006

MANILA, Philippines  – Expressing concern over the sad plight of a Pinay teacher in Kuwait, Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) Party-list Representative Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay hailed yesterday the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordering the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust all diplomatic and legal means to save her from being put to death by the Kuwaiti government.

The teacher, Marilou Ranario, was reportedly sentenced to death by a Kuwaiti court last September 28 for allegedly stabbing her employer who had “insulted” her and “her people”.

“This is really something serious to worry about,” Magsaysay said in a statement.

The solon was also alarmed over the report that Marilou was not represented by a Filipino lawyer but instead was defended by Kuwaiti lawyers. Per AVE's conversation with the DFA, Atty. Noel Garcia said "non-Kuwaiti lawyers are not allowed to practice" in the said country.

“Just imagine our fellow teacher who went abroad for greener pasture about to die and we were not able to represent her because Filipino lawyers are not allowed to practice in Kuwait,” Magsaysay said.

Despite the diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Philippines was not able to defend the Pinay teacher.  According to Chargé d’ Affaires (CDA) Ricardo M. Endaya of the Philippine Embassy in the State of Kuwait, Ranario is now being represented by Kuwaiti lawyers.

According to Magsaysay, this is what small countries like Philippines get because we are treated insignificantly. He said it is disheartening to know that it seems we are not being properly heard. “Is it because we are a small country compared to others that we cannot ask for the proper representation to defend our fellow Filipinos? Given this scenario, do we need to sever the ties between our country and Kuwait, then?,” he asked.

The AVE representative also lamented the system of Philippine education as one of the reasons behind what has happened. “We have here a very good example of what the state of our education system is doing to our people. If only we are paying attention to the pleas of our fellow teachers and educators over their low salaries then they would not be forced to leave the country and work as domestic helpers in the first place,” adding that, “until now, our teachers are still the least paid workers even if they have the noblest profession in the land.”

Ranario is a native of Tubod, Surigao del Sur who went to Manila to find work and flew to Kuwait to become one of the many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Magsaysay said that many OFWs cannot help but fall victims to psychological problems because of homesickness and that this happens because they do not have other options but work abroad since there is no better opportunity for them here.

He, however, was quick to add that at this time, we should not resort to blaming one another and instead try to find solutions to the problem at hand. According to him, we must all work hand-in-hand in order to resolve this crisis and prevent other Filipinos from experiencing the same situation in the future.

Although Magsaysay recognizes the efforts of DFA and the Philippine Embassy in “exhausting all appeal remedies under the Kuwaiti justice system”, he urges the authorities to expedite action on their efforts to save the life of Ranario before it is too late.