After more than a year of painful waiting, the body of Dafnie Nacalaban, a Filipino worker who tragically lost her life in Kuwait, has finally returned home to the Philippines. Her grieving family will now have a chance to say their final goodbyes.
A Long-Awaited Return 🕊️
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) confirmed that her remains arrived on Thursday night after months of effort by the government to bring her home. She will be transported to her home province, where her family awaits to mourn her loss.
“After a long time of waiting and government efforts, OFW Dafnie Nacalaban’s remains have finally arrived and will be taken home so her family can have their last moments with her,” OWWA said in a statement.
The Tragic Story Behind Her Death 😢
Dafnie had been working in Kuwait as a household service worker since December 2019. In October 2024, her second employer reported her missing—but no one knew what had happened to her.
Two months later, authorities made a horrifying discovery—her body was found in an advanced state of decomposition inside the home of a Kuwaiti citizen. The truth only came to light when the suspect’s sibling reported it to the police.
A Pattern of Tragedy for OFWs in Kuwait ⚖️
Sadly, Dafnie is not the only Filipino worker who lost her life in Kuwait under mysterious and tragic circumstances. Another OFW, Jenny Alvarado, also suffered a similar fate.
In the past, several cases of abuse and deaths of OFWs in Kuwait pushed the Philippine government to ban the deployment of workers to the country. However, this ban was lifted in 2020 after the Kuwaiti government agreed to new protections for OFWs.
Now, with Dafnie and Jenny’s deaths, the Department of Migrant Workers is considering reinstating the ban to protect Filipino workers from further harm.
Justice for Dafnie? ⚖️
The investigation into Dafnie’s death continues. Her family and fellow OFWs are calling for justice and stronger protections for Filipinos working abroad.
Her tragic story is a painful reminder of the risks that many OFWs face while trying to provide for their families. As her loved ones prepare for her final farewell, the nation mourns another life lost too soon.
