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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Deeply ingrained passion': Romualdez mourns DMW Secretary Ople's passing

'Deeply ingrained passion': Romualdez mourns DMW Secretary Ople's passing

Published Aug 22, 2023 07:50 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez joined Filipinos in mourning the passing Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 22. 

20230822_154050.jpgDMW Secretary Toots Ople (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker's office)

 

 

 

 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez joined Filipinos in mourning the passing Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 22. 

“Migrant workers, and workers in general, have just lost a great and tireless champion in Secretary Ople. She was the first secretary of the department Congress had created to focus on attending to the welfare of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” Romualdez said in a statement released just minutes after Ople's death was reported. 

Romualdez, leader of the 311-strong House, said Ople was a consistent advocate of protecting workers’ rights, earning accolades not only from local labor groups but from international organizations as well. 

“She took up such advocacy from her father, the late Senate President Blas F. Ople, who was labor minister of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Father and daughter served under two Marcoses,” he said. 

In a subsequent Facebook post about Ople's demise, Romualdez wrote: "Secretary Ople's dedication to the welfare of our migrant workers was more than just a duty; it was a deeply ingrained passion. She served as a voice for the voiceless, a comfort to families separated by seas, and a beacon of hope to many." 

He further called Ople "an esteemed pillar of our nation". 

The Leyte 1st district congressman noted that after her father's death, Toots Ople--as a civilian--continued to help OFWs and domestic workers and pushed for their rights, using the advocacy office set up by her father, the Blas F. Ople Center. 

"Words often fall short in capturing the depth of such a loss, but I want to extend my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Ople family and to all those who were touched by her unwavering commitment," Romualdez said.

 

 

 

 

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Martin Romualdez susan ople Department of Migrant Workers
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