Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople passed away on Tuesday, August 22. She was 61.
This was confirmed first to DZRH News by DMW Undersecretary Antonette Chavez Velasco Jallones.
JUST IN: Kinumpirma sa DZRH News ng isang Undersecretary ng Department of Migrant Workers ang pagpanaw ni DMW Secretary Toots Ople.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 22, 2023
Ang aming taos-pusong pakikiramay. pic.twitter.com/KlgagozqE4
In an official statement, DMW spokesperson Tony Nebrija confirmed that the DMW chief passed away at 1:00 p.m. today.
"It is with great sadness that the Department of Migrant Workers announces the passing of our dearest Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople. Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator at around 1 p.m. today, August 22, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved ones," he said.
Nebrija added that they will be releasing further details soon and asked for the public's prayers for the repose of Secretary Ople’s soul.
"We ask as well for prayers for the Ople family," he stated.
It can be recalled that Ople went on a medical leave shortly after the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July.
Ople was the founder of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute (Ople Center), a non-profit organization centered on OFW affairs, named after her father, who served as Labor minister during the administration of Marcos Jr.'s late father.
In May 2022, she was appointed as chief of the DMW.
