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Pinoy Abroad

No date yet for Joanna Demafelis repatriation


 

The family of slain Filipino domestic helper Joanna Demafelis is clueless on when her body will be repatriated from Kuwait, GMA News' Mariz Umali reported on Balitanghali on Tuesday.

Demafelis' body was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment unit last week. Investigators said the unit has been unoccupied for over a year.

Although repatration papers for Demafelis' body have already been signed by her family, the Kuwaiti court has yet to order the release of her remains.

Based on latest information received by the Demafelis family from Philippine officials in Kuwait, her remains have yet to undergo autopsy, which is vital in the investigation that will be conducted by Kuwaiti authorities to determine the cause and time of her death.

The discovery of Demafelis' body prompted the Philippine government to ban the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait. Prior to the ban, deployment was suspended over reports of maltreatment on Filipino workers.

Demafelis' family said their last communication with her was in September 2016.

Demafelis' employers, a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife, are believed to have left Kuwait following the issuance of an arrest warrant against them over charges related to fake checks.

The victim's eldest sister, Joejet, is set to fly to Kuwait together with a lawyer from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to assist in the investigation. —KBK, GMA News

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