NAGLULUKSA ngayon ang Gabinete ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa pagpanaw ni Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople ngayong Martes, Agosto 22.
Ayon kay Marcos isang malaking kawalan ang pagpanaw ni Ople na matagal nang nakikipaglaban sa sakit na breast cancer. Siya ay 61.
“It is a great loss for all of us. It is a great loss for all of us over my friend. It is a great loss to the Philippines for the service we know she could have still have rendered,” pahayag ni Marcos sa isang interview sa Laguna.
Gaya anya ng ama ni Ople na si dating Senador Blas Ople, naging Cabinet member din ito ng yumaong Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos noong kanyang administrasyon. Tinawag niya rin ang kalihim na kanyang kaibigan.
“She was very much following the tradition of Ka Blas Ople, of excellence, of compassion,” dagdag pa niya.
“It’s very, very sad news. I have lost a friend, the Philippines has lost a friend. Secretary Toots was a special person. With the deep compassion really for the people she had to care for, namely the migrant workers, and she was very very—she’s a big loss,” dagdag pa nito.
Ilang mga senador din ang nagpahayag ng kanilang kalungkutan sa pagpanaw ni Ople.
“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,” pahayag ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.
Anya, noong binubuo pa lamang ang DMW, si Ople ang laman ng isipan ng lahat ng senador na bagay sa kagawaran.
“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,” dagdag pa ni Villanueva.
Naniniwala naman si Senador JV Ejercito na mananatili ang iniwang legacy ni Ople para sa lahat ng migrant workers.
“Today, we mourn the loss of a dedicated public servant, Sec. Toots Ople. Rest in peace, Secretary Toots! Your legacy will continue to shine as a beacon of hope for the migrant workers you’ve tirelessly fought for,” ayon kay Ejercito.
