Mother of Filipina allegedly killed by Slovenian husband seeks justice

MANILA, Philippines – The mother of Marvil Facturan-Kocjančič, who was reportedly killed by her Slovenian husband just a week into their new life together in Slovenia, is seeking justice for her daughter’s untimely death.

“Gusto kong makamit ni Marvil Facturan ‘yung justice po sa nangyari sa buhay niya,” Vilma Pila, Facturan’s mother said in a Teleradyo Serbisyo episode on Tuesday, January 14. (I want justice for Marvil Facturan over what happened to her life.)

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) earlier condoled with Facturan’s loved ones, saying in a Facebook post that she was a marriage migrant reportedly killed by her husband, Mitja Kocjančič, while on vacation in Bled, Slovenia, on December 29, 2024.

Pila said that they expected Facturan’s remains to be repatriated by next week.

The ill-fated couple’s story unfolded in a matter of months, according to Pila. The two met on social media in February 2024, and when Kocjančič traveled to the Philippines in July, they were engaged and married in the same month.

Pila did not see any red flags when they first met Kocjančič.

“Wala po ako nakikitang bad sign sa kanyang attitude…. Ang alam ko po is nag-prepare siya ng magiging trabaho ng anak ko doon. Ganoon ang pangarap ng anak ko na makarating siya doon, makapagtrabaho siya doon,” said Pila.

(I did not see any bad signs in his attitude…. I just know that he prepared the job that my daughter would take there. That’s my daughter’s dream, to go there, to work there.)

Facturan was on her way to Slovenia on December 22. Just a week later, on December 29, Kocjančič had allegedly killed her.

On New Year’s Eve, Pila received a call from the Austrian embassy, informing her that her Marvil had died.

Pila was totally blindsided, not having heard any complaints from Facturan when she was there.

“Bigla po akong natulala po noon. Kasi sabi ko, ang saya-saya po nila sa social media pero bakit ganito?” she said. (I had to stare into space when they told me. I had said, they were so happy on social media, but why did it come to this?)

Pila said she wanted justice because she had learned that Kocjančič was detained in a mental institution, and not a prison, which she preferred.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, who gave a separate interview to Teleradyo also on Tuesday, the only known circumstances so far about the killing is that the couple had fought, and that Facturan died of stab wounds.

De Vega said the DFA was working to get Facturan’s remains home. The family was also entitled to financial assistance from the department’s Assistance to Nationals fund.

“Pati ang Slovenia nahihiya dito, at nangako na magko-cooperate sa atin para sa kabutihan ng ating kababayan [na] magkaroon ng hustisya,” said De Vega. (Even Slovenia is embarrassed about this, and they promised to cooperate with us for the benefit of our compatriot in achieving justice.)

The Slovenian embassy in Manila commented on the CFO’s January 10 post, offering deep and heartfelt condolences to Facturan’s family. Facturan, they said, was a victim of a “tragic and unnecessary event.”

“We would like to assure all Filipinos and the Philippines authorities that we will investigate this event thoroughly and that the justice will be served,” the Slovenian embassy said.

“As we offer our thoughts and prayers with Marvil’s family, we also stand in solidarity with them, condemning acts of domestic violence, seeking justice for our kababayan, and honoring the beautiful life she lived,” the CFO said in its post. – Rappler.com