Search for suspects in Demafelis killing not easy, says OWWA exec



Searching for the suspects in the killing of Joanna Demafelis is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) official said Monday, in a report by GMA News' Mariz Umali on 24 Oras.
Lawyer Brigido Dulay, OWWA deputy administrator for operations, said the suspects, a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife, have already fled Kuwait and could be in any country.
Still, Dulay said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is constantly coordinating with the Kuwaiti police for possible updates on the search for the couple.
"Kinukuliglig po ng ating embahada 'yung Kuwaiti police para mahanap po 'yung mga salarin sapagkat sa totoo lang po nanggigigil din po 'yung Kuwaiti government [na mahuli sila]," he said.
Dulay said searching for the suspects will not be easy despite them being already identified by the International Police (INTERPOL).
"Mahirap po na hanapin 'yung mga suspect," he said. "'Yung mga International Police po, 'yung INTERPOL, eh iba-ibang bansa na po ang kailangang hanapin nito. Para pong naghahanap ito ng needle in a haystack, ika nga."
The killing of Demafelis, whose body was found stuffed in a freezer two weeks ago, prompted the Philippine government to stop the deployment of first-time OFWs to Kuwait.
Based on the autopsy report, Demafelis died from injuries she suffered from repeated beatings.
Meanwhile, visitors continued to flock Demafelis wake in Sara, Iloilo, on Monday, among them representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), who promised assistance to the slain OFW's family, and Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
"We have to work it out together with the Department of Health, 'yung mga traumatic experiences nila (family) I have to coordinate that, we have to ensure that the family will be resilient enough, " said Rebecca Geamala, head of DSWD-Region 6.
Demafelis' burial is set on March 3. —KBK, GMA News

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