THE family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro is grieving after confirming that she was the domestic helper found dead and buried in a Kuwaiti’s garden.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Tuesday, December 31, that the remains of Dafnie Nacalaban, 35, were recovered in a decomposed state from a residence in Saad Al-Abdullah, Jahra, Kuwait.
Kuwaiti authorities are set to charge a couple with concealing premeditated murder.
The suspect reportedly surrendered to authorities through his brother, although the DFA has yet to release the names involved.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Northern Mindanao confirmed on January 2 that Nacalaban hailed from Dansolihon. Her elder sister, Roxan Enloran, 45, expressed the family’s deep sorrow and disbelief over the brutal killing.
“We cannot yet accept what happened to her,” Enloran said in Bisaya, adding that her sister was known for being kind and reserved. “She would not talk unless you started a conversation with her.”
Enloran shared that Nacalaban had a common-law husband and a child in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.
However, the husband has struggled to process repatriation papers as they are not legally married.
The last contact the family had with Nacalaban was on October 29, 2024.
According to Enloran, Nacalaban planned to return home in December to surprise her family.
“She was already estimating the cost to build a house when she got home,” Enloran said.
In late November, the family began to worry when they lost contact with Nacalaban. It was only on December 31 that they received confirmation of her death through a call from her child.
“Her child called us and said their mother was gone,” Enloran said tearfully.
Enloran noted that her sister never mentioned experiencing hardships with her employer. Their video calls usually revolved around family matters and Nacalaban’s plans for her future home in the Philippines.
The DMW in Zamboanga found it challenging to locate Nacalaban’s family due to discrepancies in surnames. The family is now seeking the repatriation of her remains to Dansolihon.
“We want her brought home so she can be laid to rest with our parents,” Enloran said, calling for justice for her sister’s death.
Nacalaban was the seventh of eight siblings. The entire family is now mourning her tragic death and hopes for accountability from those responsible.
