Suspect in case of OFW found dead in Kuwait made confession, DMW told

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has received reports that the prime suspect in the alleged killing of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Dafnie Nacalaban in Kuwait has made a "confession"—a development seen to expedite the attainment of justice over her death.

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 the 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.

"We have valid reports coming to my office, for instance, that there was a confession on the part of the prime suspect," Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said Saturday at a news forum.

Asked what was the confession made by the suspect, Cacdac said, "Wala pa masyadong detalye kasi… kaya inaantay natin 'yung [police] report."

(We don't have a lot of details yet... that's why we are waiting for the police report.)

"But whether or not that is true, I think we should already be expecting a report with respect to 'yung whether or not the prime suspect will be indicted or charged in criminal court," the DMW chief said.

Cacdac said the suspect has a criminal record in Kuwait.

The DMW had confirmed that it is assisting Nacalaban's family, including facilitating the repatriation of her remains to the Philippines.

"We are really looking out for justice, seeking justice for Dafnie Nacalaban. And again, our lawyers are ready to assist Kuwaiti prosecution, to aid Kuwaiti prosecution so that we could attain justice for Dafnie," he said.

Over the past years, there have been several incidents of Filipino deaths in Kuwait, including the cases of Jullebee Ranara, whose body was burned and found in a desert in 2023; Joanna Demafelis, who was killed and stuffed in a freezer by her employers in 2018; Constancia Lago Dayag, who died at the hands of her employer in May 2019; and Jeanelyn Villavende, who was killed by her female employer due to jealousy in December 2019.

These incidents prompted a deployment ban for new hires in Kuwait. However, after several years of negotiations, the ban was lifted, allowing Filipinos to work in the Middle Eastern country once again.

However, with the recent deaths of two OFWs in Kuwait, namely Nacalaban and Jenny Alvarado, the DMW is considering to impose a ban on the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait. — VDV, GMA Integrated News