The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose body was found inside a freezer in Kuwait was beaten to death allegedly by her employer, according to an autopsy report.
Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa said that Demafelis suffered from internal bleeding and had several broken ribs and contusion, and trauma in the pelvis and kidney area, reported GMA.
“Sinabi rin niya na ‘yung beating sa kanya (Demafelis) o pagmaltrato ay hindi nangyari sa isang beses lang kundi, kumbaga, madalas siyang binubugbog,” Villa said.
The autopsy also said that the body was already dead when it was placed in the freezer in November 2016, more than a year after it was discovered.
Kuwaiti authorities found her body last week in an unoccupied apartment, but the freezer was left running.
According to investigations, Demafelis’ employers, a Lebanese man and a Syrian woman, hid the body in the freezer and reported to authorities that their Filipino household worker escaped.
“Kasi ang nangyari pala ganito. Ang employer, ‘di ba umalis sila, sumibat sila ng Kuwait? Bago sila umalis gusto nilang pagtakpan ‘yung kanilang ginawa,” Villa said.
“Ni-report pa nila si Joanna na nag-abscond o tumakas sa bahay nila noong November 6, 2016,” he added.
Past reports have also stated that police organizations are already on the lookout for the employers of Demafelis.
A friend of the deceased has also revealed that Demafelis experienced abuse from her employers.
“‘Yung September na ‘yun nag-usap-usap na kami ng kaibigan ko sa harap nila na tutulungan na namin siyang patakbuhin. Sabi niya ayaw niya kasi takot siya,” Demafelis’ friend said.
The death of Demafelis urged the government to impose a total deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait.
Demafelis’ remains will be repatriated on Friday, February 16.
