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Pinoy Abroad

Family of Pinay found in freezer calls for swift justice from gov’t


Swift justice was called for from the Philippine government by the family of Joanna Daniela Demafelis, the overseas Filipino worker discovered inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait last week.

Iloilo-born Demafelis was survived by seven siblings and parents who sold their land to pay for her application to Kuwait, according to a report by Ivan Aguana on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday.

Joy, one of the siblings Demafelis supported, had to stop her pursuit of a criminology degree on her fourth year at school since her sister stopped sending money.

She said she could not forgive those responsible for what happened to Demafelis, who she considered her only hope to finish her studies.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview on Unang Balita on Monday that the family of Demafelis forwarded their concerns to related Filipino authorities since they lost contact with her a year ago.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Hans Leo Cacdac was tapped to look into these inquiries, and find out why these were neglected by welfare officers, and who the labor attache to Kuwait was at the time these requests were made.

"Dahil kung mapatunayan namin na ganun nga 'yung nangyari ay hindi po ako magdadalawang-isip na ire-recall sila. Kaya kung nakikinig 'yung mga kamag-anak ni Joanna, pakipunta lang sa opisina at pag-usapan natin 'yung pabayang attitude ng aming workers dun sa POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office)," Bello said.

Repatriation of Demafelis' body will be delayed due to ongoing autopsies, which have so far revealed that she was tortured before she was placed inside the freezer.

Interpol is on the lookout for the Filipina's Lebanese employer and his Syrian wife in Lebanon. They fled Kuwait in November 2016 in relation to charges connected to fake checks.

Demafelis was the latest incident of abuse to OFWs unveiled during a crucial time for Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

A few days after Filipino authorities verified her identity, the suspension of deployment of new OFWs to Kuwait was reaffirmed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bello announced a day later that a separate, total deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait will be passed in a resolution on Monday.

Workers who wish to return to the Philippines, are distressed, or given amnesty were offered free airfaire within a 72-hour period. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News

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