RP confident Guen will talk to lawyers this week

The Philippine embassy in Singapore expressed optimism yesterday that Filipina maid Guen Aguilar will be able to speak with her lawyers anytime next week when the Singapore police conclude their investigation into the murder charge against her.

Ambassador Belen Anota, in a radio interview, said Aguilar, who has been detained since Sept. 10, should be able to finally meet with her lawyers and talk about the case.

Aguilar has been charged with murder, a non-bailable crime punishable by hanging, for the death of fellow maid Jane La Puebla, 26, whose head and limbs were found inside a sports bag along Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district on Sept. 9.

A Singaporean newspaper reported that Aguilar and La Puebla were best friends.

During her first appearance in court last week, police investigators were given one week to conduct their probe. However, during the second hearing Friday, the prosecution asked for another week to complete the investigation.

Aguilar has not been allowed to speak with her lawyers since she was arrested. Under Singaporean law, suspects can be held without access to a lawyer or family until police investigations are complete.

However, Anota said embassy personnel have been allowed to visit Aguilar four times, but they were limited to talking about her well-being and her family.

In each instance, an interpreter accompanied the Philippine embassy’s representative to ensure there would be no discussion about the case.

Anota said under the circumstances, Aguilar was physically healthy but that she was suffering psychologically. Embassy officials have been trying to reassure Aguilar, she added.

Aguilar was able to meet with her husband, Edwin, who traveled from Ilocos Sur to Singapore to provide her with moral support. Anota said the couple were able to talk for a long time and were allowed to embrace each other.

During this particular visit, Anota said Aguilar was in a good mood and shook hands, smiled and joked with embassy staff.

Aguilar’s husband was quoted as saying that he loved her and advised her to be courageous and to always have hope. She requested to see her mother-in-law and her two children.

As for La Puebla, Anota said they are still waiting for two Filipino pathologists from the National Bureau of Investigation to observe the autopsy.

Anota said that as soon as the autopsy is completed, Singaporean authorities have agreed to turn over La Puebla’s remains to the embassy for immediate repatriation.

La Puebla’s family will meet with government representatives at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) tomorrow to discuss the issue of repatriation.

DFA Undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs Jose Brillantes said earlier that six members of La Puebla’s family have indicated that they want to go to Singapore to recover her remains.

La Puebla’s husband, Cruzaldo; her nine-year-old son, Clifford; and her aunt, Sally Parangan, were scheduled to leave their home province of Nueva Vizcaya for Manila last night.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) spokesman Thompson Lantion, who hails from the same province, arranged the meeting between La Puebla’s family and the DFA.

"If the husband of the suspect deserved a trip to Singapore to meet with his wife, there’s no reason why we can’t do the same for the family of the victim," he said.

Lantion also said the DOTC, in coordination with the DFA, could transport La Puebla’s body from the airport in Manila to Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya, where she will be buried.

The provincial board, led by Vice Gov. Jose Gambito, recently passed a resolution calling on the national government "not to let the case just pass through without justice, especially (since overseas Filipino workers), who are called modern heroes for sacrificing their personal and family concerns, play a vital role in boosting the Philippine economy." — With Charlie Lagasca