Marcos confers posthumous award to Toots Ople

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. posthumously conferred the Order of Lakandula to the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary Susan "Toots" Ople. 

During the conferment ceremony on Tuesday, Marcos emphasized that there are extraordinary public servants who never leave government service as their legacy continues to protect the people they serve even after they have passed on. 

Marcos said the administration continues the projects of Ople for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. 

"That sort of eloquence does not come from reading, from study… it comes from the true belief that this is the work that she was put on Earth to do," Marcos said. 

Marcos said Ople has always been helping Filipinos as she believed that they should not be ignored and left behind. 

The President said he regrets not giving the award to Ople when she was still alive as she was not just an amazing public servant, but also an amazing person.

"She is one of the best people I have met in my life," Marcos said, noting that Ople led with empathy, expertise and a very strong moral hand.

It was in August 2023 when Ople passed on. — VDV, GMA Integrated News