The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Tuesday that the primary suspect in the murder of overseas Filipino worker Dafnie Nacalaban has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Kuwaiti court.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told reporters that three additional suspects were also convicted as accomplices in the case. Nacalaban’s body was discovered on Dec. 31, 2024, in the yard of her employer’s home in Saad Al-Abdullah, Jahra, after she was reported missing in October 2024.
The victim, who had been working in Kuwait since December 2019, was found in an advanced state of decomposition. The suspect, a Kuwaiti national with a prior criminal record, reportedly admitted to killing Nacalaban.
Nacalaban’s remains were repatriated to the Philippines on Feb. 21, 2025, through joint efforts of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the DMW.
Cacdac also disclosed that the government is currently appealing another case involving a Filipino worker convicted of causing the death of her employer’s son. “We have provided her with legal counsel and continue to support her through regular visits from our legal team in Kuwait,” he stated.
The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East and the Philippine government’s efforts to provide legal support and protection.
