Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) confirmed Sunday that Demafelis’ family may fly to Kuwait should they want to monitor court proceedings against employers tagged as primary suspects in overseas Filipina worker (OFW) Joanna Dimafelis’ death.
In an interview with DZMM, OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that order was from Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Cacdac added that the civil liability, aside from the criminal liability, of the suspect toward the family will also be discussed.
“Idudulog din natin sa bansang Kuwait kung paano yung civil liability kasi may criminal liability, yung pagkakakulong,” Cacdac said. “Pero yung civil liability yung danyos-perwisyo ay dapat isaayos yun at dapat isangguni ng ating embahada sa bansang Kuwait yung pagsasaayos nung pag-claim ng danyos-perwisyo.”
Cacdac also vowed to continuously provide support for Demafelis’ family including financial aid for the education of Dimafelis’ sister, the repair of their home in Iloilo City, and livelihood assistance for the family.
“Patuloy tayong magbibigay ng suporta sa ating mahal na OFWs, pati na rin sa pamilya Dimafelis. Patuloy po ang pakikiramay namin sa kanilang panahon ng pagluluksa,” Cacdac said.
Meanwhile, Cacdac also said that the government is currently in coordination with Kuwaiti officials regarding the extradition of Dimafelis’ Lebanese and Syrian employers who are currently in the custody of Lebanon and Syria respectively.
The body of Dimafelis was discovered stuffed inside a freezer at an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. Her employers will face death by hanging if proven guilty.
Her remains were buried in her hometown in Sara, Iloilo on Saturday, March 3.