A year after brutal slay, Joanna Demafelis laid to rest
Family members, friends, neighbors and supporters attend the funeral service for overseas Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis at the St. John the Baptist Church in Sara, Iloilo yesterday. Jennifer Rendon
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Joanna Demafelis, the Ilongga domestic helper found dead in a freezer in Kuwait, was laid to rest yesterday in her hometown of Sara, Iloilo.
Family and relatives of Demafelis wore white shirts printed with the slogan calling for justice for the slain overseas Filipino worker.
Five priests officiated the 1 p.m. requiem mass at the St. John the Baptist Church with Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro as main celebrant.
Police estimated at least 2,000 relatives, friends and neighbors gathered for Demafelis’ burial at the Virgin Island Cemetery.
But amid the grief and calls for justice, words of gratitude could be heard repeatedly from the victim’s kin.
Joejet Demafelis, the family’s spokeperson, said they are thankful for the support and concern shown by President Duterte.
She also mentioned the assistance extended by Hans Cacdac, head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senators Manny Pacquiao, Loren Legarda and JV Ejercito.
He also expressed gratitude to local elected officials.
In his homily, Fr. Ildefonso Tagamolila said that what happened to Demafelis should be condemned and those responsible should be prosecuted.
Justice should be given to her, he added.
He also asked the victim’s relatives and friends to never lose their faith in God.
“Family and relatives, God is with you in this time of sorrow. You could survive this,” Tagamolila said.
While they may not know the reasons for now, he said God has a message for allowing the tragedy to happen.
In his message after the mass, Lagdameo asked the community to pray for the Demafelis family.
The 29-year-old victim was found dead in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait early last February, more than a year after she last communicated with her family.
Demafelis’ death led to the government’s decision to ban the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait.
As the two suspects in her murder were arrested, the family hoped that justice would be served soon.
- Latest
- Trending
