Former and present government officials visited the first night of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan &lsquo;Toots&rsquo; Ople's wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Wednesday, August 23.
President Ferdinand &lsquo;Bongbong&rsquo; Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attended the wake and paid their last respects to Ople.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin &lsquo;Boying&rsquo; Remulla were also seen on the first night.&nbsp;
Other notable guests were Senators Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, and Joel Villanueva.&nbsp;
In an interview with the media, Binay described the DMW Secretary as a government official who is passionate in her advocacy.
&ldquo;Gusto niya talaga matulungan at mapo-protektahan ang ating mga OFWs,&rdquo; she added.
Villanueva, meanwhile, recalled how glad they were when Ople was chosen to head the DMW.
He said she showed a steadfast commitment to her duty as Secretary.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Again, it is really tragic, surprising, nakakapanlumo, para bang nalungkot ng sobra nang mabalitaan ko na pumanaw na nga ang mahal na Secretary,&rdquo; Villanueva said.&nbsp;
Ople passed away at the age of 61 on Tuesday.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but the DMW Secretary was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer back in 2020.
In July, Ople went on a medical leave shortly after the saddened death of her two elder brothers, Blas Ople Jr. and Felix 'Toti' Ople.

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PBBM, other gov't officials visit first night of DMW Sec. Ople's wake