Death by hanging for Demafelis ‘killers’ if found guilty —PHL envoy



The employers of slain Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis could face the death sentence if found guilty of murder by a Kuwaiti court, Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa said in an interview on News To Go on Tuesday.
"Dito sa Kuwait, kung mapatunayan 'yung kasong murder, ay death by hanging [ang parusa]," Villa said.
Demafelis' employers, a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife, are accused of killing her and stuffing her body inside a freezer in late 2016 before abandoning their apartment.
The body of the 29-year-old Filipino domestic helper was found earlier this month.
No confirmation on arrest
During the interview, Villa said they have yet to receive official confirmation on the reported arrest of the couple. He said information that the two have been arrested separately came from sources.
He said information that the male suspect, Nader Essam Assad, was arrested in Lebanon came from a "security official" in Kuwait who was citing Lebanon INTERPOL.
"Nung Huwebes ay nakausap ko ang isang mataas na security official dito sa Kuwait, at ayon sa kanya ay nakatanggap siya ng information mula sa Lebanon INTERPOL na nadakip na raw 'yung Lebanese national, si Mister Nader Essam Assad," he said.
"'Yung masasabi natin na 'yung asawa, 'yung lalaki, ay malamang nadakip na dahil ang source ay 'yung Kuwaiti official na galing sa Lebanese INTERPOL," he added.
Villa, however, admitted that information regarding the arrest of the second suspect came only from a "news reporter" in Kuwait.
"Nung Sabado ay nakatanggap kami ng tawag sa isang source lamang, isang private person dito sa Kuwait, news reporter siya, nakatanggap naman siya ng information mula sa isang Lebanese judicial official na nadakip na sa Syria 'yung asawa," he said.
Villa said Kuwaiti authorities have yet to release photos of the two suspects. —KBK, GMA News

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