VIENNA – The Philippine ambassador to Austria has said the government is working on “making sure that a case will actually be filed” against the Slovenian accused of killing his Filipina wife.

Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas told GMA News Online that the remains of Marvil Facturan arrived in Cebu on Saturday.

In a press release published on its Instagram account, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) “is in coordination” with Facturan’s mother, who will receive the remains in Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, Bernas added that Slovenian authorities are still finishing the autopsy report and will send it to court.

“Ibig sabihin, talagang may ipa-file sila,” the envoy added.

(This means the authorities will really file a case.)

“They … are shocked because this doesn’t happen [in Slovenia]. So, for them, it was a really terrible, shocking event. Hindi na nila pinakawalan ‘yung accused.”

(They didn’t release the accused.)

Facturan was reportedly killed by her husband, Mitja Kocjancic, during a vacation in Bled, Slovenia, on December 29, just a week after arriving in the country.

According to Bernas, Kocjancic is currently detained in a forensic prison in Slovenia “where he can avail of mental health services.” The prison is for persons with mental illnesses charged with a crime.

“We extend our thoughts and prayers to Marvil’s family. We stand in solidarity with them, condemning acts of domestic violence, seeking justice for our kababayan, and honoring the beautiful life she lived,” the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) earlier said.

The CFO said the victim departed the Philippines using a tourist visa which means Facturan did not undergo the agency’s training. 

“The Philippine Government condemns this tragic incident and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the victim’s bereaved family in the Philippines,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.

According to Facturan’s family, they treated the suspect properly when he stayed with them for several months during his visit to the Philippines last year. —KG, GMA Integrated News