Philippines Demands Justice for Dafnie Nacalaban, Murdered Migrant Worker in Kuwait
The Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines stands firmly with advocates seeking justice for Dafnie Nacalaban, a Filipino migrant worker brutally murdered in Kuwait. Her death has reignited calls for the abolition of the exploitative dollar tree system.
Dafnie, a high school graduate, left her family in Mindanao to work in Jordan and Kuwait, aiming to lift them out of poverty. Her dream was to build a house in Barangay Dansolihon, a symbol of stability for her loved ones. Tragically, her remains were found buried in a Kuwaiti yard, decomposing, after she was allegedly killed by her employer.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) broke the news to Dafnie's family. They are now fighting for her remains to be repatriated swiftly and for justice to be served. The Department of Migrant Workers is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities, with the Philippine government hiring a Kuwaiti lawyer in August 2023 to prosecute the suspects.
Dafnie's murder has underscored the urgent need to reform the dollar tree system, which ties migrant workers' legal status to their employers, enabling exploitation. Advocates call for its abolition to protect the rights of Filipino migrant workers like Dafnie, who sought a better life abroad to support her family.
