Jullebee Ranara's remains to be autopsied anew as requested by kin

The remains of the 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker who was brutally killed in Kuwait will again be autopsied as requested by her family.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras,” Jullebee Ranara’s remains will be repatriated to the Philippines at 9:30 p.m. tonight.

“The family gave me permission to share with you that they have requested an autopsy once the remains arrive magkaka-autopsy din dito sa Pilipinas to be done by the NBI. Kaya Sunday na ang start ng wake,” said Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots” Ople.

The Kuwaiti government also conducted a separate examination of her body. The 17-year-old suspect who allegedly raped, impregnated, burned, and killed Ranara is also under their custody.

The DMW has yet to receive an official report on how Ranara was killed and if she was indeed pregnant.

Meanwhile, Kuwait's ambassador to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Althwaikh extended his condolences to the family and pledged to bring justice to Jullebee and punish the suspect.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is also summoning the Catalyst International Manpower Services Corporation - the local agency that recruited Ranara, as well as the Platinum International Office, the foreign recruitment agency in Kuwait.

An investigation into both agencies will be conducted, as authorities discovered that Ranara was able to report the suspect's mistreatment a few days before she was killed.

“In this case nakapagsabi si Jullebee about her fears about the son during a phone call last friday 'no with the family. Ang nakakalungkot lang, kung meron sana ilang araw after that na i-report sa amin yung pamilya o yung recruitment agency about the son so we could have done something,” said Ople.

DMW noted that the employer had already been suspended and was given disciplinary action.

"Ang possibility po rito is magkakaroon ng sanction, ng blacklisting dahil dun sa nangyaring namatay. Mababa-blacklist po yung employer,” said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia.

Based on the data from OWWA, there are over 268,000 Pinoy OFWs in Kuwait, wherein 7 out of 10 are female.

With this, the government is set to study the bilateral labor agreement between both countries to strengthen the protections to prevent OFWs from abuse and mistreatment.

However, the Philippines has no intention of implementing a deployment ban in Kuwait to keep labor diplomacy and coordination open for the case trial against the minor suspect. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News