Palace hopes for speedy prosecution of Filipina’s suspected killer

February 24, 2018

The Palace is calling for the speedy prosecution of the Lebanese suspect on the killing of Joanna Demafelis, a Filipina maid who found dead inside a freezer in Kuwait early this month.

"We're thankful but hoping that they will be prosecuted and punished soonest,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday.

Roque also mentioned that because of what happened to the victim, President Rodrigo Duterte asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to summon the local recruiters of Demafelis.

“PRRD asked NBI to summon them,” he said when asked if the government will hold recruiters accountable for the incident.

The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that Nader Essam Assaf, a Lebanese national, who is one of principal suspects in the murder of Demafelis was arrested in Lebanon last Thursday.

Assaf's wife Mona. who is also a suspect, is still at large and believed to be in Syria.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said he has informed President Rodrigo Duterte about Assaf's arrest. Robina Asido/DMS