14 October 2005 – Ambassador Belen F. Anota of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the fourth Court Mention on the murder case against OFW Guen Garlejo Aguilar was held this morning at the Singapore Subordinate Court No. 26, where the Court scheduled the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) for 6 December 2005, to be followed by the fifth Court Mention on 7 December 2005.

Ambassador Anota said that the PTC is a closed session, and the holding of a Court Mention after the PTC is meant to keep the Subordinate Court abreast with developments on the case.

Ambassador Anota further said that Mr. Edwin Aguilar, husband of OFW Guen, and Guen’s sister Joy Christy Corpuz were present at the Court Mention, accompanied by the Ambassador and other Embassy officials.

Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta and Attorney Erwin Erfe, both from the Public Attorneys Office, and Mr. Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption were also present at the Court Mention.  Ambassador Anota said that the Embassy officials monitoring the Aguilar/Lapuebla case met with Edwin and Joy as well as the other officials from Manila inside the Embassy premises after the Court Mention.

Ambassador Anota added that Atty. Acosta and Atty. Erfe also met with the court-appointed defense lawyers Mr. Shashi Nathan and Mr. Manoj Nandwani later in the day.  Atty. Acosta and Atty. Erfe are scheduled to return to Manila this afternoon.

The Ambassador also added that in response to the Embassy’s request, Edwin and Joy would be able to visit Guen at the Changi Women’s Prison later today.

Ambassador Anota assured the Department that the Embassy will continue to provide assistance to Guen and her family, and will inform the Department of any new developments on the case.  END