Another Flor Contemplacion in the making

I think many of us still remember the tragic execution of Filipina domestic worker Flor Contemplacion in Singapore. It is sad to note that, unless we are able to do our acts together, we may be having a similar tragedy in just a few months from now.

Marilou Ranario, a 33-year old Filipina domestic helper, was sentenced to death by a Kuwaiti court for stabbing her employer, Najat Mahmoud Faraja Mobarack, to death. She is a teacher from Tubod, Surigao del Sur. According to her sister, she complained of abuse and maltreatment by her employer before the tragic incident.

Marilou was sentenced to death on September 28, 2005. The Kuwaiti appeals court rejected her appeal and upheld the death sentence in February 17, 2007. Her case is now pending with the Kuwaiti supreme court.

The latest news is that there are hopes that her sentence could be reduced after the Philippine Embassy convinced the victim's mother and two siblings to forgive her. The embassy is also now convincing the victim's estranged husband and another sibling to forgive our kababayan.

Of course, nothing is certain until there is an official decision to spare Marilou from the death sentence. Already, OFW groups are now campaigning to avert such a disaster. I therefore urge the multitude of Filipino bloggers to join in the effort to save the life of our kababayan.