TOOTS OPLE SWAK BILANG SECRETARY NG DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

KINUMPIRMA nitong nakaraang araw ni dating Labor undersecretary at overseas Filipino worker advocate Susan “Toots” Ople na tinanggap niya ang alok ni incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na pamunuan ang Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“I’m coming in more so as a specialist in my field and also perhaps as someone who has a father for her idol throughout her life and would like to do justice to the legacy he left behind,” ayon kay Ople.

“I want to change the narrative of the OFW. Right now di pa umaalis ang tingin na sa kanya welfare case. I would like them to leave as dignified as possible. It’s an informed choice, not a rash decision. It’s an informed choice to make with the family,” dagdag pa niya.

Nang tanungin naman siya kung nagdalawang-isip siyang tanggapin ang trabaho dahil sa nakaraan ng pamilya Marcos, sinabi niya na: “Wala eh kasi ang nasa isip ko lang I’ve been very open.”

“Two years ago I had breast cancer. I told this to Atty. Vic [Rodriguez], our President. What weighed also on my mind was what Fr. Jerry Orbos said, he would say especially to his cancer-mates–he said the rest of your life, the best of your life,” dagdag pa niya.

Si Sec. Toots ang tagapagtatag at kasulukuyang Tagapangulo ng Blas Ople Policy Center (BOPC) na tumutulong sa mga nangangailangang Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Nagsilbi rin siya bilang Undersecretary ng Department of Labor and Employment mula taong 2004-2009.