Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople passed away on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 22, the department has confirmed.
In a statement, the DMW said Ople was surrounded by her family and loved ones when she passed away at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
“It is with great sadness that the Department of Migrant Workers announces the passing of our dearest Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople. Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator at around 1PM today, August 22, 2023 surrounded by her family and loved ones,” the statement read.
“We ask as well for prayers for the Ople family,” it added.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople
The cause of death is not immediately clear but the DMW said it would be releasing more details soon.
Secretary “Toots” is the youngest of the seven children of Blas Ople, a nationalist and labor minister before he was elected as senator.
She was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr last year as the secretary of the newly-created DMW over her intense background and advocacy in ensuring the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.
As DMW Secretary, Ople has been at the forefront of taking care of OFWs in distress, the latest was when she personally led the coordination in Egypt in the rescue operations and repatriation of OFWs in Sudan.
One of her notable visions when she assumed the top DMW post is the comprehensive program for the OFWs to have an exit plan as migrant workers in order to put a stop on the cycle of migrant workers in Filipino families for those who do not have a choice but to work abroad.
Secretary Ople was supposed to attend the Trustees and Directors of the Bagong Bayani Foundation on Wednesday, Aug. 23 for the Bagong Bayani Awards ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center.