Pumanaw na ang kalihim ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at overseas Filipino workers rights advocate na si Susan “Toots” V. Ople matapos ang mahabang panahon na pakikibaka sa breast cancer. Siya ay 61-taong gulang.
“Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator at around 1PM today, August 22, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved ones,” anang DMW sa isang pahayag.
Naunang naghain ng medical leave si Ople matapos ang ikalawang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. noong Hulyo 25, 2023.
Si Ople ang nagtatag ng non-government organization (NGO) para sa mga OFWs na Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute na ipinangalan sa kaniyang yumaong amang si Blas Ople, na nagsilbi bilang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) minister noong panahon ng yumaong Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
Ang ama ni Toots ay naupo rin bilang Senate president at kalihim ng Department of Foreign Affairs noong termino ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Nagtapos sa University of Santo Tomas at Harvard Kennedy School, si Toots Ople ang kauna-unahang Pilipinong umupo bilang Board of Trustees ng United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking.