Jaro archbishop officiates Mass for Demafelis, other abused OFWs

The remains of Joanna Demafelis, who was found dead in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait City early this month, was flown to her family in Iloilo on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo from a video by Inquirer Visayas)

ILOILO CITY — Hundreds of current and former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families on Sunday attended Mass and offered prayers here for abused OFWs, including murdered domestic helper Joanna Demafelis.

The Mass at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro District was officiated by outgoing Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Earlier at the same venue, there was forum organized by the Jaro Archdiocese Commission for the Pastoral Carefor Migrants and Itinerant People.

The plight of Demafelis, a native of Sara town in Iloilo, was among those discussed in the forum, according to Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International and one of the speakers.

Demafelis’ remains was found in a freezer early this month in an apartment abandoned by her employers in Kuwait. An autopsy report showed she was severely beaten before being placed in the freezer more than a year ago.

Her remains were brought to Iloilo on Saturday.

The government has ordered a ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait and also offered free repatriation for those who would want to come home.

But Regalado said the ban was only a “palliative” solution to the abuses committed against OFWs.

“As long as there are no jobs in the Philippines, many of our fellow Filipinos will risk working in other countries even amid risky and harsh conditions,” Regalado told the Inquirer in a telephone interview. “The solution is to find them jobs here not another country to work.”

She cited the number of current OFWs reaching 12 million in 239 countries, according to a Migrante estimate.

Regalado said the government should also address the huge number of OFWs in Kuwait who would want to be repatriated.

Of the 270,000 OFWs in Kuwait, 10,800 would want to go home, according to her.

“But the shelter can only accommodate up to 150 and about 300 are already there,” she said. “Where will they go and how long can all be repatriated?” /atm