19 September 2005 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jose S. Brillantes today met with Mr. Crusaldo Lapuebla, husband of slain OFW Jane Parañgan Lapuebla; Ms. Sally Parañgan, Jane’s aunt and guardian; representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration of the Department of Labor and Employment (OWWA-DOLE) to coordinate assistance by the Philippine Government for the next-of-kin of OFW Lapuebla.

At the meeting held at the DFA, Undersecretary Brillantes informed Mr. Lapuebla and Ms. Parañgan that two pathologists from the National Bureau of Investigation and one from the Philippine General Hospital will leave very soon for Singapore in response to the invitation of the Singaporean Government to observe the autopsy to be performed on OFW Jane’s remains as part of the criminal investigations.

The Undersecretary assured Mr. Lapuebla and Ms. Parañgan that the DFA will assist them in traveling to Singapore to fetch Jane’s remains after the investigations into her murder have been concluded.  The Department had earlier prepared the travel documents of Mr. Lapuebla and Ms. Parañgan.

The meeting was attended by DOTC Assistant Secretary and Mr. Lapuebla’s custodian Thompson Lantion, Mr. Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, OIC Connie Marquez of the OWWA Repatriation and Assistance Division, DSWD Head of Social Work Paz Sarino and DSWD-NCR Assistant Director Remia T. Tapispison.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Belen F. Anota of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore reported to the Department that the court mention or hearing of the murder case against OFW Guen Garlejo Aguilar was held as scheduled at the Singapore Subordinate Court No. 26 at 8:45 a.m. last Friday, 16 September 2005.    Ambassador Anota said that the Magistrate decided to further remand OFW Guen for another week to allow the police to complete their investigations.  Because of this, the court mention was rescheduled for Friday, 23 September 2005, at the same venue.

The Ambassador also reported that upon representation by the Embassy, the Embassy-hired defense lawyer, Mr. Shashi Nathan, was allowed to speak briefly with OFW Guen and assured her that her interests and rights were well-protected.  Mr. Edwin Aguilar – OFW Guen’s husband – was also allowed to briefly talk to his wife shortly after the hearing.  Likewise, Mr. Aguilar was informed that he would be able to visit his wife again next week should the police complete their investigations even before the court mention set for 23 September 2005.

Ambassador Anota said OFW Guen was with a Filipino interpreter who explained and interpreted the court proceedings to her.  The Ambassador added that the court proceeding started and ended very quickly.

The Ambassador had earlier briefed Mr. Aguilar shortly upon his arrival in Singapore on the status of the case and the investigation.  The Embassy-hired defense counsels, Mr. Nathan and Mr. Manoj Nandwani, together with DFA lawyer Cheryl Vitales-Labo, were also there at the briefing, and they explained to Mr. Aguilar the legal proceedings in Singapore and what to expect during the hearing.  Ambassador Anota said that Mr. Aguilar expressed admiration over the lawyers’ capabilities, and had remarked that they had clearly explained the procedures to him.

On the date of the hearing, Ambassador Anota accompanied Mr. Aguilar to court where the defense counsels were also present.

The Embassy has also hired lawyer Mr. Ranvir Kumar Singh to provide the “watching brief” for OFW Jane Lapuebla and her family.    The Singapore Supreme Court has also appointed two criminal law experts to defend OFW Aguilar during the court hearings.

Ambassador Anota further reported that after the hearing, spiritual counseling for Mr. Aguilar was conducted by Fr. Angel Luciano, a Filipino chaplain.  END