MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government on Monday welcomed the decision of a Kuwaiti court to punish the principal suspects in the murder of Filipina worker Joanna Demafelis with a death sentence.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has yet to receive a formal notification from Kuwaiti authorities but they have been informed about the court decision. The embassy, however, was able to obtain a copy of the court order.
Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola was informed of the court decision during a meeting in Kuwait on Sunday, according to the DFA.
The suspects in the Demafelis case, a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife, have been sentenced to death by hanging.
"We take note of the swift action taken by Kuwaiti authorities in connection with the murder of our kababayan Joanna Demafelis," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.
Cayetano added that the Philippines is looking forward to working with Kuwait, as well as Lebanon and Syria, to bring justice for the slain Filipino domestic worker.
The suspects were arrested in Damascus, Syria in February following an Interpol manhunt. Syrian authorities turned over to Lebanese authorities the husband, Nader Essam Assaf, while his Syrian wife Mouna Hassoun remained in Damascus.
Kuwaiti authorities have requested the extradition of the Lebanese suspect but Lebanon may not turn him over as his case would be tried in Beirut, according to Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa.
The DFA would provide lawyers to assist in case Lebanese authorities hold the trials in Beirut. The Philippine Embassy in Beirut is set to meet with Lebanese authorities to discuss how they would like to proceed with the case.
Earlier this year, the body of 29-year-old Demafelis was discovered in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. The owners of the apartment immediately fled Kuwait after the murder of the Filipino worker last year.
Following the discovery of Demafelis' body, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a deployment ban for Filipinos planning to work in Kuwait. The Philippines and Kuwait have since come out with a draft agreement for the better protection of overseas Filipino workers in the Gulf state.