Kuwaiti Police officers patrol a street in Kuwait City. KUWAIT POLICE

Philippine Senator Raffy Tulfo has revealed disturbing details about the murder of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Dafnie Mates Nacalaban in Kuwait. The prime suspect, J.J.A. (full name withheld), is allegedly linked to the killing of his Filipino girlfriend months prior. Tulfo, head of the Senate panel on migrant workers, said the Kuwaiti suspect’s brother alerted police on December 28, 2024. Kuwaiti authorities later found Nacalaban’s decomposed body buried in the backyard of the suspect’s home, two months after her disappearance. “The suspect’s erratic behavior and history of drug use complicate the investigation,” said Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega. The suspect is now in custody of Kuwaiti authorities. The Filipina victim's decomposed body was recovered from the man's backyard after he surrendered to police. He confessed to fatally beating the maid during an argument. He told investigators that he panicked after realizing that she died, and buried her in his Jahra home. Nacalaban, who arrived in Kuwait as a domestic worker in 2019, had been reported missing by her second employer in October 2024, the same time that communication with her family ceased. Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that Nacalaban's remains would be repatriated after the Kuwaiti investigation concludes. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the victim's family of government assistance, including financial aid for burial expenses. "Our focus is justice for Dafnie and ensuring her family gets the support they need," he said. The incident has reignited calls for improved protections for Filipinos in Kuwait. The Philippine government plans to review its worker deployment policies in Kuwait to prevent such tragedies. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page