Joanna Demafelis could’ve been saved had POEA, OWWA acted on 2016 complaint — lawyer


By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Filipina domestic worker Joanna Demafelis could have been saved from her untimely death had the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) acted on the complaint her family lodged with them as early as 2016, the family's lawyer said.
In a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) lawyer Manuelito Luna, whom the family had approached for legal help, said the Demafelis family forwarded Joanna's situation to POEA way back in June 2016.
"She was, I think at that time, very much alive. Pero biktima ng abuso ng isang foreign employer sa Kuwait," he said.
The problem, however, was that the complaint was transferred from one office to another, Luna said.
"They were referred to OWWA, OWWA referred them back to POEA at kung sinu-sino pa. Imbes na iligtas si Ms. Demafelis, hindi po naligtas," he said.
"Ito ang naging problema dito, there has been a neglect of duty on the part of some officials of POEA and OWWA. Kaya po dumulog ang pamilya sa VACC at ako po ang inatasan na humawak nitong kasong ito," he added.
Demafelis was found dead in a freezer in an apartment in Kuwait. Autopsy report shows that she died due to severe beating, allegedly at the hands of her employer.
Luna said he will meet with the Demafelis family to discuss the appropriate course of action to take.
"Pero bago yun ang una nating gagawin ay ensure na pagdating ng katawan of Ms. Demafelis bukas ay maidala siya sa Iloilo para mabigyan ng karampatang respeto at tsaka mailibing po," he said.
Luna vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the delayed action on Demafelis' situation.
"Gusto natin sana ay idulog ito kay [Labor] Secretary [Silvestre] Bello. He should act accordingly dito, imbestigahan kung sino ang naging pabaya sa trabaho niya nung time na ito," he said.
"Kung ganito po ang treatment ng ating mga opisyales sa POEA or OWWA, e dapat magbalot-balot na sila. Hindi sila ready para tumulong sa publiko," he added. — BM, GMA News

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