Philippines: Kuwaiti High Court Sets Ranario Decision on Dec. 27

15 November 2007 – The Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo M. Endaya reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Kuwait’s highest court, the 11-member Court of Cassation, heard oral arguments on the case of OFW Marilou Ranario last November 13.

At that hearing, two highly respected Kuwaiti defense lawyers, Messrs. Ahmad Qurban and Abdel Majid Khuraibet, argued Ranario’s case at the instance of the Philippine Government. The court has set the promulgation of its decision for December 27, 2007.

Ranario was charged with the murder of her Kuwaiti employer on 11 January 2005.

Throughout her detention and the judicial proceedings, from the Criminal Circuit Court to the Appellate Court and the Court of Cassation, the Philippine Government has spared no effort to assist Ranario and her family.

Philippine Embassy officers have regularly visited and counseled her and attended court proceedings. The department and the embassy assisted Ranario’s parents in their travel to Kuwait in April 2006 to visit her at the Sulaibiya Central Jail. Ranario’s two children are provided counseling by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and scholarship by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Five seasoned and highly respected Kuwaiti lawyers have so far been provided by the government to defend her.

Representations to Kuwaiti authorities for clemency have been made on Ranario’s behalf by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice-President Noli De Castro and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.

Through the efforts of the Office of the President, the department and the embassy, tanazuls (affidavits of forgiveness) have been secured from the family of the victim.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos and Ambassador Ricardo Endaya are personally overseeing efforts to save the life of Ranario. END

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