Remains of OFW Dafnie Nacalaban back in PH 

The body of overseas Filipino worker Dafnie Nacalaban was brought back to the Philippines on Thursday after she was found dead last year in Kuwait, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said. 

“Matapos ang matagal na paghihintay at pagsisikap ng pamahalaan, dumating na ngayong gabi ang mga labi ni OFW Dafnie Nacalaban at nakatakdang iuwi sa kanilang probinsya upang makapiling ng kanyang pamilya sa huling pagkakataon,” said OWWA in a statement. 

(After a long time of waiting and efforts by the government, the remains of OFW Dafnie Nacalaban arrived tonight and will be brought to her family in the province to spend their last moments together.)

Nacalaban, who was employed as a household service worker in Kuwait since December 2019, was reported missing by her second employer in October 2024.

Her body was later discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in the residence of a Kuwaiti individual, two months after her employer's report.

Information received by the Office of Migrant Affairs from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait showed that the victim's body was found after a sibling of the suspect made a report to the police.

There have been several deaths of OFWs in Kuwait, which led to a deployment ban by the Philippine government. But this was lifted by the Department of Labor and Employment in 2020  after the Kuwaiti government conceded to the conditions set by the Philippines during a board meeting. 

However, with the deaths of Nacalaban and fellow OFW Jenny Alvarado, the Department of Migrant Workers earlier said that it is mulling to impose again a deployment ban to Kuwait. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News