14 September 2005 – Pursuant to the instructions of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo to provide the necessary assistance for OFW Guen Garlejo Aguilar currently under detention in Singapore on murder charges and for the family of the victim OFW Jane Parañgan La Puebla, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jose S. Brillantes chaired a meeting yesterday with key officers of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) to identify the support measures for the family of the accused and the victim in the Philippines as well as for Mrs. Aguilar.

The meeting was attended by DFA-OUMWA Executive Director Pedro Chan, OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque, and Labor Attaché June Rasul as DOLE representative.  After the meeting, Undersecretary Brillantes said the DFA-DOLE-OWWA team has decided to provide the families of OFWs Aguilar and La Puebla with counseling through the stress counselors from  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).   The DFA and OWWA will make representations with the employers of OFWs Aguilar and La Puebla so that their salaries and other benefits that are due them under their respective employment contract and under Singapore law may be paid and turned over to the families.

Undersecretary Brillantes said that Edwin Aguilar, husband of Guen, will travel to Singapore before Friday to be able to provide support for his wife as she awaits the hearing of the case.

The next court proceeding was set for Friday, 16 September 2005, at 8:45 a.m. in which the investigating officer is expected to inform the court on the status of the probe. Earlier, the court gave the investigating officer one week until 16 September 2005 to complete the investigation

On 11 September 2005, Sunday, the Singapore Criminal Investigation Division formally charged before the court OFW Aguilar for the murder of Jane Parangan La Puebla, an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.  Upon instructions of the Department, the Embassy hired two lawyers, one Singaporean lawyer for OFW Aguilar and another Singaporean lawyer as ‘watching brief’ for the victim OFW La Puebla.

In the meantime, the Embassy remains ready to again meet OFW Aguilar at her detention center should she request for it and upon permission by the Singapore authorities.  Embassy officials had seen the accused on Saturday, 10 September 2005, and assured her of the necessary assistance.  END