Senators on Tuesday, August 22 mourned the passing of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople saying the country has just lost a dedicated public servant with a huge heart for Filipinos.

“She showed us that true leadership is about kindness and compassion, dedicating her life and her career to the least privileged and the least heard,” Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said in a statement.

“Secretary Ople’s passing leaves an irreplaceable void, but one that we will strive to fill with the same remarkable warmth, conviction, and passion that she had in life,” Zubiri added.

“In her honor, we will continue the great gains she has made to protect and uplift our migrant workers and all of our laborers.

We send our love and prayers to the Ople family in this difficult time,” the Senate leader added.

Sen. Grace Poe also hailed Ople as a tireless champion of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) rights and their well-being.

“I have personally worked with her in the past and saw her passion and dedication. We are grateful for her genuine public service. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this difficult moment,” Poe said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros echoed Poe’s statement: “She dedicated herself wholeheartedly to the welfare and well-being of OFWs. Her work extended far beyond the call of duty, as she tirelessly advocated for fair labor practices, better working conditions, and the protection of the rights of OFWs.”

Hontiveros also said Ople always welcomed her office’s efforts in rescuing compatriots who were victims of human trafficking.

“She bravely stepped up to help OFWs in need. She was a refuge for women workers who were experiencing abuse in foreign countries. She was at the forefront of the war against modern slavery. She was loving and full of faith,” she added.

“Sec. Toots was a beacon of compassion and a true champion of OFWs. As we bid farewell to a remarkable individual, a steadfast advocate, and a dear ally, may her legacy continue to guide us in our efforts to ensure that the rights and dignity of overseas Filipinos are respected,” Hontiveros added.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also expressed his sadness on Ople’s untimely passing.

“Secretary Toots' untimely passing is a great loss to our nation. During her tenure as Secretary, Toots demonstrated unwavering commitment. She did not waste a day to organize and establish the newly created DMW. Under her tenure, DMW is truly the home of overseas Filipinos. Her compassion and advocacy for the rights of overseas Filipino workers were truly commendable,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel also said the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, an organization she founded, is a testament to her dedication and love for our countrymen.

“Her legacy will live on through the continued efforts of this institution and the legacy she left behind in the DMW. I had the privilege of not only working alongside Secretary Toots in a professional capacity but also sharing the airwaves with her as co-anchors on a radio program,” Pimentel said.

“She was not just a colleague, but also a friend who I will truly miss.
In this time of mourning, let us remember Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople for her unwavering commitment to service and for being the guiding light during the darkest hours of countless overseas Filipinos,” added the lawmaker.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero also joined other lawmakers in mourning Ople’s demise, saying she is “my good friend.”

Ople was the goddaughter of the veteran legislator's father, the late Agriculture Secretary Salvador "Sonny" Escudero.

“Her demise is not only a loss to the Ople family but a big loss to the thousands of OFWs whose welfare she has been championing even before she was appointed by President Marcos last year as DMW Secretary,” he added.

As the first secretary of the DMW, Escudero said Ople’s accomplishment was remarkable even for a very short period of time that her successor has big shoes to fill.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also expressed sadness on the death of Ople.

“She was the first person in all of our minds to head the agency when we passed the Department of Migrant Workers Act in the 18th Congress. Secretary Toots was a dynamic leader who made momentous achievements in the DMW,” Villanueva said.

“Today is a sad day not only for her family, friends and the people of Bulacan but for the entire nation who share her dream of providing better job opportunities for Filipinos overseas,” added Villanueva.

“It is hard to fathom the impact of Maria Susana ‘Toots’ Ople's passing on the lives of those she dedicated herself to helping- the OFWs. Toots fought tirelessly for their cause in recent years, making her a modern hero in their eyes,” Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said.

“Toots devoted her life to aiding our OFWs and played a crucial role in bringing attention to government regarding issues such as the ‘laglag bala scheme’, the opening of balikbayan boxes, and extortion schemes at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport),” he said.

Villanueva also said Ople assisted in securing the release of a Filipino seafarer who was held captive by Somalian pirates for three years, as well as two others who were held hostage in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Since I personally know her, I had no hesitation in endorsing when her ad interim appointment as DMW secretary was presented for confirmation to the Commission on Appointments (CA),” he added.

“I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work alongside her when I served as the chairperson for the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development, as well as the Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COCOWA) during past Congresses,” he also said.

“She was a regular attendee at our meetings, always providing her expertise and valuable insights to help refine legislative measures that would be beneficial for our modern-day heroes,” added the lawmaker.

“Although she speaks in a gentle and sweet manner, she is a fierce advocate for the welfare of our fellow citizens and workers.

I feel that no one could ever fill her shoes in the DMW,” he also said.