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[av_heading heading=’‘GOODBYE, JOANNA’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY IME SORNITO
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Sunday, March 4, 2018
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Slain Ilongga domestic worker laid to rest
SARA, Iloilo – Mourners estimated to have reached thousands braved the scorching afternoon heat yesterday as they brought Joanna Daniela Demafelis, a domestic worker slain in Kuwait, to her final resting place.
Relatives and friends continued to cry for justice. Supporters tagged along as they expressed hatred to Demafelis’ killers and withstood the long walks required of attendees to the funeral that lasted around four hours.
Former Archdiocese of Jaro archbishop Angel Lagdameo celebrated the funeral mass while Reverend Father Ildefonso Tagamolila, municipal parish priest, delivered the homily.
“Let us continue to pray for her salvation,” Lagdameo said in a message before the mass ended. “We pray that justice will be done for her.”
Demafelis, a native of this town, was found lifeless in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait last month. She was beaten to death, autopsy results showed.
Her death and the widespread reports of abuse among overseas Filipino workers triggered the Philippines’ ban on the deployment of workers to the oil-rich Gulf state.
Mourners left the Demafelis residence in Sitio Cordero, Barangay Ferraris at around 12 noon yesterday.
Comprising residents of Sara and nearby towns, they headed to the Roman Catholic Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, around 3 kilometers away.
Accompanying them was a long convoy of private cars and motorcycles.
Senior Inspector Gilbert Baldevarona, municipal police chief, estimated the crowd to be around 3,000.
Police estimated the private cars at around 30 to 40 and the motorcycles, around a hundred. The Panay News team that attended estimated the motorcycles at around 200.
The procession to the church lasted almost an hour. The funeral mass started at around 1:30 p.m.
The church overflowed when mourners were allowed to have a last glimpse of Demafelis in a public viewing that stalled the funeral for 30 more minutes.
The Demafelises were highly emotional. The family thanked everyone who supported them.
“Kami po ay taos-pusong nagpasalamat sa ating mahal na Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa kanyang tulong at suporta sa aming pamilya,” Demafelis’ brother Joejet said at the church.
“Hinihingi namin iyong hustisya para sa aming kapatid,” he added.
The couple who employed Demafelis as domestic worker – a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife – were tagged as suspects. They have been arrested, the Philippine government previously announced.
Demafelis’ remains were taken to the Virgin Island Cemetery in Barangay Antonio Yusay, around a kilometer away from the church.
Other mourners echoed the family’s call for justice.
“[Kabay pa] mahatagan lang hustisya ang iya kamatayon,” said Lucy Cesar of Barangay Aspera. “Bisan indi namon sia kilala pero naga-upod man kami sa ila pamilya sa kalisod.”
Another mourner, Lorna Losaria of Barangay Antonio Yusay, wished death for those who killed Demafelis.
“Bisan indi namon sia kilala kay kasimanwa namon, gusto namon nga balusan [ang nagpatay sa iya],” Losaria said. “Kabuhi ang ginhulam, te kabuhi man ang ibalik.”
Still another mourner from Barangay Antonio Yusay, Leceria Perucho, said: “Panawagan ko nga hatagan nila hustisya si Joanna kag nagabuylog kami sa ila pamilya.”
Those who were unable to see Demafelis’ remains at the church were given another chance at the cemetery before the casket was entombed.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac and Department of Labor and Employment secretary Silvestre Bello III were also present at the funeral.
Cacdac assured that his office will continue working with the Labor and Foreign Affairs departments to resolve Demafelis’ murder.
He also hoped the couple suspects will be taken to Kuwait, where they will face impending charges, as soon as possible.
Moreover, Cacdac said Bello personally handed to the Demafelis family the financial assistance from the Labor department. He refused to disclose the amount for the security of the family.
Demafelis’ uncle Pablo, a Ferraris barangay kagawad, also thanked the government agencies and the press for giving attention to the death of her niece./PN
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