No to another Flor Contemplacion!

This is the battle cry of the alliance of organizations composed of overseas Filipinos and their families during the launch of its Save the Life of Marilou Ranario Campaign this morning.

Marilou, 33 years old, languishes on death row after a Kuwaiti Court sentenced her to death by hanging in September 2005 for killing her female employer. An appeals court upheld this decision in February 2007.

Marilou’s case is under final appeal with Kuwait ’s highest court, the Court of Cassation. Oral arguments are set for October to December this year with the final decision expected by January or February 2008.

“Marilou is today’s Flor Contemplacion. She is a young mother and former teacher who wanted little more than a better life for herself and her family. This campaign is a life and death one for her and the young family she will leave behind. It’s also a virtual countdown since less than 16 weeks remain till a possible January decision,” says Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante International Chairperson during a press conference in Quezon City with members of Marilou’s family and friends.

Marilou hails from Tubod, Surigao del Norte and has two children, 13 yrs old and 9 years old. Her husband is a jeepney driver in Quezon City . Before going to Kuwait as a domestic worker, she was an elementary school teacher in a public school. In phone calls home after her arrival in Kuwait , Marilou sometimes told her family about the difficult and abusive conditions she endured under her employer, Najat Mahmoud Faraj Mobarak.

“This campaign aims to raise public awareness about the greatest heights of exploitation and injustice Marilou and other OFWs on death row suffer. The struggle to save their lives will involve a broad range of actions at the local, national and international level. We also seek to expose and make accountable the Arroyo administration over its criminal neglect of their plight,” added Bragas-Regalado.

According to the DFA, there are approximately 35 OFWs on death row, mostly in the Middle East . Earlier this June, OFW Rey Cortez was beheaded in Saudi Arabia for allegedly killing a Pakistani taxi driver.

To kick-off the campaign, Migrante unveiled a tarpaulin poster with an image of Marilou and the words “Save the life of Marilou Ranario!” The poster image will be used throughout the campaign and distributed across the Philippines and around the world through Migrante’s member organizations and international network.