By PNA with a report from Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo provincial government on Tuesday turned over R100,000 in financial assistance to the family of 29-year-old Joanna Daniela Demafelis, the overseas Filipino worker who was 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 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 to the livelihood of the family.
Joanna’s oldest brother, Jojet, expressed gratitude for the financial assistance they received.
Last Feb. 17, the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 6 (Western Visayas) also gave P20,000 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 they would give the family P600,000 financial assistance for the continued 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.
“Ni-request ko kay Gov na mapadali ‘yung pag-resolve ng case ng kapatid ko para mabigyan ng hustisya at para matahimik na rin ‘yung kanyang kaluluwa,” 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.
The Iloilo Provincial Board in its regular session Tuesday, passed a resolution sponsored by Iloilo 5th District Board Member Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain, condemning the brutal death of Demafelis, calling on key national government agencies to “exert diligent efforts to bring justice to the perpetrators of the crime.” It also requested the Kuwaiti government to gather evidence and take speedy trial against the suspects in the killing of Demafelis.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Sara, Iloilo passed a similar resolution during its regular session last Feb. 13.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to visit the wake of Demafelis today.