ILOILO CITY – – The Iloilo provincial government on Tuesday turned over a PHP100,000 financial assistance to the family of 29-year-old Joanna Daniela Demafelis, an overseas Filipino worker who was recently found dead inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.
Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. personally turned over the check to Joanna’s youngest sister, Joyce, at the Capitol here. Her oldest brother and uncle were also present during the turnover.
Defensor said that part of the financial assistance may be used by the family for the burial of the deceased OFW while the remaining amount may be added for the livelihood of the family.
Joanna’s oldest brother, Jojet, expressed thanks for the financial assistance they received.
Last February 17, the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 6 (Western Visayas) also gave PHP20,000 worth of hog raising project as livelihood assistance for the family.
Earlier, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Program and Services Division officer-in-charge Connie Binondo said that they would also give the family a PHP600,000 financial assistance for the education of Joanna’s sister Joyce, medical assistance for Joanna’s niece, among others.
Jojet also requested the governor to help fast track resolving the case of her slain sister.
“Nirequest ko kay Gov na mapadali yung pagresolve ng case ng kapatid ko para mabigyan ng hustisya at para matahimik narin yung kanyang kaluluwa (I requested from the governor to fast-track the resolution of my sister’s case to give her justice and to give peace to her soul),” he said in a media interview.
Jojet said he was earlier informed by Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the government was relentlessly negotiating with the Kuwaiti government for the arrest of the two suspects in the killing of his sister.
Meanwhile, the governor has requested fifth district board member Jeneda Salcedo to pass a resolution condemning the killing of Joanna and asking the Kuwaiti government to give justice to the family of Joanna as soon as possible.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Sara, Iloilo passed a resolution during its regular session last February 13, condemning Joanna’s brutal killing through Resolution No. 011, Series of 2018. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
