DSWD: Executed drug mule's children adjusting to mom's death

The children of one of three Filipino drug mules executed in China last week are showing positive signs of adjusting to their mother's death, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said. DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the DSWD also continues to assist the family of Sally Villanueva, with social workers visiting her home in Jones town in Isabela. “The counseling sessions conducted by our social workers has helped the family-members of Sally cope with and recover from the traumatic effects of Sally’s death," Soliman said in a news release posted on the DSWD website on Monday. "The children of Sally are showing positive signs of adjusting well after the counseling. The daughter even dedicated the second honors (salutatorian) she will receive from school to her late mother and promised to finish her studies," Soliman added. Villanueva was executed in China along with Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain last March 30. Villanueva has two children. Soliman said before the execution day, DSWD social workers provided Villanueva's family with critical incident stress debriefing and emotional and psychological support. She said the DSWD-Field Office II extended financial assistance worth P5,000 to Villanueva's husband while DSWD-NCR gave P3,600 transportation assistance to her parents during their trip to Isabela. The DSWD-Field Office II will also discuss possible livelihood assistance to the bereaved family after the burial, the DSWD said. It added the assigned social workers will continue to provide grief counseling upon the arrival of Villanueva's remains. – VVP, GMA News