Kuwait vows to bring Filipina’s killers to justice

February 15, 2018

As murdered Filipina overseas worker Joanna Demafelis makes her final journey home today, Kuwaiti authorities assured the Philippines they will get her killers and bring them to justice.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday officials of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the assurance in their meetings with Philippine Ambassador Rene Villa.

“We have again been assured by Kuwaiti authorities that they will do everything to find those responsible for the death of Joanne and bring them back to Kuwait so they could face justice,” Villa said at the Al-Sabah Hospital where he witnessed the sealing of the casket containing the remains of Demafelis.

Villa said he conveyed the assurance to Demafelis’ family in the Philippines in a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening.

“Kuwaiti authorities want to let us know that they, too, were shocked, outraged, and saddened by Joanne’s murder and that they will make sure justice is served,”  Villa said.

According to Villa, Kuwaiti authorities said they are working closely with Interpol to locate Demafelis’ Lebanese employer and his Syrian wife who are the principal suspects. The two are believed to be in Lebanon or Syria.

The frozen remains of the 29-year old domestic worker from Sara, Iloilo, were discovered last week by authorities inside a freezer at an apartment abandoned by its tenants for more than a year.

The DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs said Demafelis’ remains will be repatriated at 3 p.m. on board a Gulf Air flight via Manama and arrive in Manila at 11:15 a.m. on Friday. The remains will be transferred to a Philippine Airlines flight that will arrive in Iloilo at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said the DFA is shouldering the repatriation of the remains to Iloilo and is providing P50,000 as assistance.

The DFA also shouldered the airfare of a cousin of Demafelis who will be accompanying the remains. DMS