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KUWAIT CiTY, Kuwait (AFP)–A delegation of Philippine labor officials were in Kuwait City Sunday to assess the impact of a new ban on Filipinos working in the emirate, a source of much-needed remittances. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this month announced a departure ban for Filipinos planning to work in Kuwait, after the murder there of 29-year-old Joanna Demafelis. Her body was found in a freezer and a Lebanese-Syrian couple suspected of her murder have been […]
by Mynardo Macaraig Agence France Presse MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — After the murder of a Philippine maid in Kuwait, domestic helpers are streaming back to Manila with tales of abusive employers — but many are still prepared to take their chances overseas again. For them, the sometimes brutal conditions and the hide-and-seek with Kuwaiti police are outweighed by the need to provide for their families at home. “The mother of my boss, she would […]
Seen here are some of the photos taken by Malacanang when President Rodrigo Duterte visited the wake of the slain overseas Filipina worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis on February 22, where he personally condoled with the parents of the murdered Filipina. He gave them at least half a million pesos in financial assistance, and assured them that justice will be served as soon as those responsible for the abuse and killing of Joanna will be […]
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — The employers of a Filipina maid found dead in a freezer in Kuwait were both arrested in the Syrian capital Damascus, a Lebanese judicial official said on Saturday. Syrian authorities surrendered Nader Essam Assaf to Beirut on Friday because of his Lebanese citizenship but his Syrian wife Mona remains in custody in Damascus, the official said. The murder of Joanna Demafelis sparked outrage in the Philippines and prompted President Rodrigo […]
(Eagle News)—The agency that recruited Joanna Demafelis will be held liable, the labor chief said a day after the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the arrest of her employer in Lebanon. In an interview over dzbb on Saturday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Demafelis’ recruiters would be held accountable “civilly or administratively.” He said this was “unless Kuwaiti police have evidence to link them to the violent death of Joanna.” “Hahanapin natin yun,” he […]
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Noriza Manambit, an overseas Filipino worker earlier reported to be missing in Kuwait, is found to be alive and safe in Saudi Arabia, according to Hans Leo Cacdac, the Overseas Worker Welfare Administrator. Cacdac said that Manambit was located by Philippine labor officials in Saudi Arabia. The Filipina went abroad to work as a domestic helper and was declared missing in 2017 by her relatives in the Philippines.
(Eagle News) — Administrative charges will be filed against the three labor officials who reportedly did not take action on the report in 2017 that Overseas Filipino Worker Joanna Demafelis was missing. When asked during the Senate labor committee hearing on Wednesday if charges would be filed against labor attache Alejandro Padaid, assistant labor attache Lily Pearl Guerrero and welfare officer Sara Concepcion after they failed to act on the information given by Demafelis’ sister, […]
(Eagle News) — Kuwait has invited President Rodrigo Duterte anew following the imposition of a total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to the Middle Eastern country. Kuwait’s state-run KUNA news agency quoted Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah as saying the proposed visit was in March. It was unclear, however, if Duterte accepted the invitation, which comes after Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah condemned Duterte’s statements lashing out at the […]
(Eagle News)– The body of Joanna Demafelis arrived in Iloilo on Saturday, days after she was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. The plane carrying Demafelis arrived around 6 a.m. She was welcomed by her loved ones, who couldn’t help but break down upon seeing her remains. Demafelis is slated to be brought to her hometown in Sara, where a two-week wake will be held. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said […]
(Eagle News) –Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed support for the appointment of Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo as Special Envoy for Overseas Filipinos’ Concerns. Bello said this move by President Rodrigo Duterte would greatly help the cause of overseas Filipinos. “Malaking bagay, madami silang congregation. (it’s a big deal. They have many congregations.) He would be a great help to our effort to provide protection to our OFWs,” he […]
(Eagle News) — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait was “necessary.” The Philippines, however, “must be prepared to handle the consequences” for trade relations. According to Drilon, although he “do(es) not know what the details of the trade relations between the two countries” are, “certainly, from (his) experience before, these accepting countries would resort to all kinds of pressure on the Philippines.” “We […]
(Eagle News) — The body of the Filipina who was killed in the 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan last week is expected to arrive in Tuguegarao, Cagayan today, Thursday. The body of Melody Albano Castro is expected to be brought to her hometown a day after it arrived in the Philippines via a commercial plane from Taiwan. Castro was initially tagged as missing after the earthquake struck the city of Hualien on Tuesday, February 6. A […]
