Demafelis kin claims getting 'death threat'

ILOILO CITY — Plans to augment security personnel are underway for the family of slain OFW Joanna Demafelis after her brother claimed to have received threats.

Joejet Demafelis, the eldest among the nine Demafelis siblings, said he received the threat on social media Saturday evening. "Parang nagbabanta na may isusunod pa sa kapatid namin," he said.

Joejet did not elaborate further on the threat but claimed that they immediately checked on the sender's profile but failed to get any information of his or her identity.

After the incident, he called Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to inform him about it. Cacdac in turn relayed the information to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Bello reportedly called Malacañang about the concern of the Demafelis family. "Sabi po magdadagdag daw ng security," Joejet said. Currently, the local police is deploying uniformed personnel at Joanna's wake.

Joejet said they were earlier warned by Belo that there might be unscrupulous individuals who would try to intimidate them in the hope that they could mulct something from the financial aid received by the family.

Meanwhile, the family said they would bury Joanna in the afternoon of March 3.