Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has pledged to pursue justice for Dafnie Nacalaban, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) found dead in Kuwait in late December 2024 after being reported missing for two months.
Speaking in a television interview on Thursday, January 2, 2025, Cacdac assured the public that efforts are ongoing to hold the prime suspect accountable. “We have a lawyer on the ground who is monitoring this case because our interest here is to push for prosecution of the prime suspect and justice be attained,” he said.
Nacalaban, a domestic worker in Kuwait since December 2019, was last heard from in October 2024, when she reportedly communicated with her family. On October 16, her second employer reported her missing. Her decomposed body was later discovered in a Kuwaiti national’s backyard in December.
Cacdac clarified that the second employer, who reported Nacalaban’s disappearance, is not a suspect. “Her second employer is not the prime suspect. It was the second employer that reported her as having absconded,” he explained.
The prime suspect, identified as having a criminal record, is currently in the custody of Kuwaiti authorities. However, no formal charges have been filed as the investigation continues. “Investigation is underway, and there has been no case yet filed in court,” Cacdac said.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the case closely, with Cacdac emphasizing, “Our best interest here is to seek justice for our slain OFW.”
