PBBM hopes for fair, just appeal process of Ranara’s killer

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday wants the appeal process of the killer of the 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara to be conducted fairly and that justice will be served accordingly.

Ranara's burnt body was found in a desert in Salmi, Al-Jahra Governorate in Kuwait, last January. The 17-year-old son of her employer was arrested and convicted of her murder earlier this month and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The killer was given lesser penalties because he was a minor, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. He has 30 days to appeal the judgment to the Kuwait Court of First Instance.

"We hope that the appeal process will be conducted fairly, and justice will be served accordingly," Marcos said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Marcos Jr. thanked the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Kuwaiti Authorities for their continued pursuit of justice for Ranara.

"I commend the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Kuwaiti Authorities for their continued pursuit of justice for our OFW, Jullebee Ranara," Marcos Jr. said.

The President also took comfort in thinking that Ranara and her daughter, Toots, are "looking down from heaven with smiles."

"Their legacy serves as a reminder of our duty to protect and support our fellow countrymen, regardless of where in the world they may be," he said.

Meanwhile, Ranada's family called for a more severe punishment for her murderer, whereas OFW's family said the killer should spend life in prison.

Although the offender was found guilty of murder in a juvenile court, the Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that the only aspect that can be appealed is the amount of compensation awarded to the victim's family.

"Just receiving justice like that is not enough," Ranara's mother Norlynda Cabiles said in a television interview on Friday.

Although the family was aware of different laws in Kuwait, Ranara's brother, Mark Reyes, wanted to have life imprisonment for the murderer.

"Fifteen years (of imprisonment) is not enough as what the murderer has done to her was too much. She has four children here. She doesn't deserve that," Reyes said in the same television interview.

Earlier this year, Marcos personally condoled the family of Ranara and promised various aid from the government, including financial and scholarship grants.

"I just want to offer my sympathies to the family. And to assure them that all the assistance that they might need for the family," Marcos said as he acknowledged that Ranara had worked abroad because she had big dreams for her family.

Marcos Jr. has previously said that he would like to review the Philippines' bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait to ensure that OFWs are better protected.