MANILA (UPDATED) - The family of Jullebee Cabilis Ranara appealed for privacy as the wake for the slain overseas Filipino worker (OFW) began Sunday at her home in Las Piñas City.

Ranara's wake was heavily guarded, with police officers, traffic enforcers and personnel from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) present at the scene.

The remains of Ranara, who was working in Kuwait, arrived in the Philippines on Friday evening.

Among who visited the wake on Sunday were OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, and Kabayan Party-list Rep. and House Committee Chair on Migrant Workers Affairs Ron Salo.

“Sadyang malungkot. Halos maiyak-iyak ako doon sa loob,” Salo told reporters in an interview.

“Ang kahilingan talaga ng asawa, ng pamilya daw is hustisya; iyon ang sigaw nila,” he added.

Ignacio assured that OWWA will provide all necessary assistance to the bereaved family.

“Ito naman, nakikita niyo kung paano natin inaalagaan sila. Pati ‘yung hiniling nila na privacy, ginawan natin ng paraan na map-aircon iyan [tent], may generator,” he said.

Ople said the wake will take two weeks as the family waits for other relatives, and Ranara’s sister who is working in Malaysia.

“May hinihintay pa sila na sister ni Jullebee na magmumula ng Malaysia. Nagtatrabaho din doon sa Malaysia as kasambahay. Tutulungan namin na mapabilis ang uwi,” she said.

According to reports, Ranara's burned body was found in a desert in Kuwait last week.

• Filipina worker found dead in Kuwait: DMW

Authorities in the Middle Eastern country arrested her employer's son.

The National Bureau of Investigation has conducted an autopsy on the remains of Ranara to determine the circumstances that led to her death, as requested by her family.

Examinations on the tissue samples are expected to take two weeks.

Ranara's death has prompted calls for a deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait, and a review of bilateral agreements between the Philippines and Kuwait.

• PH gov't to revisit bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait after Ranara's death
• Sen. Tulfo wants total deployment ban on Kuwait after Ranara slay

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