House probe into OFW murder in Kuwait sought

MANILA, Philippines — The murder of 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Dafnie Nacalaban in Kuwait has sparked calls for an investigation at the House of Representatives.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the second district of Cagayan de Oro City authored Resolution 2151 calling for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into how Nacalaban died under “suspicious circumstances.”

Nacalaban’s family hails from Cagayan de Oro City.

Rodriguez said Nacalaban had been employed in Kuwait as a household service worker since December 2019.

In October last year, Nacalaban’s employer reported that she was missing.

Last December, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the OFW’s decomposing body was found buried in the backyard of her employer in Saad Al-Abdullah, Jahra, Kuwait.

“The suspect also allegedly killed his Filipina girlfriend a few months earlier,” Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, said.

Nacalaban had planned to come home in December to build a house for her family, according to Rodriguez.

“Her death shows the dangers that our OFWs, especially household workers, suffer,” he said.

Rodriguez said what happened to Nacalaban was not an isolated incident as previous reports of abuse, maltreatment and death of OFWs continue to surface, demanding immediate and sustained government action.

He noted that Filipino workers, particularly in Kuwait, have to “endure harsh and inhumane treatment from their employers.”

In 2018, the Philippine government suspended the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait following the death of Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in the freezer of her employer’s apartment more than a year after she was reported missing.

“We urge the Kuwaiti government to conduct an exhaustive and impartial probe into the death of Nacalaban, and to offer better employment terms for our OFWs,” Rodriguez said.

He condoled with Nacalaban’s common-law husband, Bonifacio Daculos, and their 14-year-old daughter.

President Marcos has directed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac to provide assistance to Nacalaban’s family.

Cacdac visited the OFW’s family and assured them that the government would shoulder the repatriation, funeral, psychosocial, financial, livelihood and educational assistance.

The DMW also hired lawyers who are coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities to monitor the release of police investigation results into the murder of Nacalaban.

OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino condemned Nacalaban’s death.

“This incident again showed the risks faced by Filipino workers abroad, especially in countries where protection for their safety and rights are not enough,” Magsino said. — Jose Rodel Clapano