OFW found dead in Kuwait before planned December return

A Filipino domestic worker, Dafnie Nacalaban, who had planned to surprise her family by returning home in December, was found dead in a decomposed state in a Kuwaiti national’s backyard. She had been missing for two months.

Nacalaban’s sister, Michael Nacalaban Lensahan, said the victim had promised to return home during their last conversation in May 2024, showing no signs of distress at the time.

Following the discovery of Nacalaban’s remains, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are set to engage with Kuwaiti officials.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said Nacalaban’s second employer filed a report on 16 October, claiming she was missing or had absconded. Cacdac added that neither DMW records nor the victim’s family suggested any prior signs of danger.

“Even the family did not have signs from the OFW that she was in danger,” Cacdac said.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the remains were discovered after the suspect’s sibling reported the incident to local authorities.

The suspect, who has a criminal record, has been identified. A relative, believed to have helped conceal the crime, is also under investigation. The crime scene was uncovered three to five days after the report was filed.