Murder case vs Pinay in Singapore elevated to High Court

The murder case against a Filipina domestic helper who has been accused of murdering a compatriot in Singapore and dismembering her corpse has been elevated to the Singapore High Court, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Reports reaching DOLE and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Subordinate Court handling the case of Guen Aguilar announced the pre-trial conference in the High Court would be held on Dec. 6.

Meanwhile, a defense lawyer for Aguilar said yesterday he may try to seek a lesser charge in a bid to save her from the death penalty.

Defense lawyer Shashi Nathan said he would not rule out seeking an amendment to the murder charge after his conversations with her gave the defense team a clearer picture of what may have transpired.

Philippine labor officials said the purpose of the pre-trial conference is to sort out evidence and decide whether the case is ready for actual trial.

Under Singapore’s legal system, the defense is also allowed to make representations to the attorney general’s chambers to reduce the charges during pre-trial conference.

Aguilar, who was accused of killing fellow Filipina domestic helper Jane La Puebla and chopping up her body, appeared before the Subordinate Court yesterday for the so-called mentioning.

Her husband, Edwin, also attended the hearing along with her lawyers, embassy and labor officials.

Nathan said he would also base his decision on seeking to amend the charges after evaluating the psychiatric report on Aguilar, the autopsy report on the victim, the forensic evidence and his own team’s investigations.

Aguilar, 29, is accused of killing La Puebla last month — a crime punishable by hanging in Singapore, where thousands of Filipinas work as maids.

The 26-year-old La Puebla’s severed head and limbs were found inside a sports bag along Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district on Sept. 9, while her torso was found at a nature park. Aguilar was arrested the following day.

"She has given us quite a detailed picture of what took place," Nathan told reporters after Friday’s pre-trial hearing at the Subordinate Court, referring to their recent conversations.

"I think given the information that Guen has given us, I may even make representations to the Attorney General’s Chambers at some point to see whether the charge can be amended."

He said there are "many things lower than a murder charge" that do not carry the death penalty.

"The important thing is to save a life — that’s what I want to do. And if we can save a life, I think we would have gone a long way to helping her," Nathan said.

A pre-trial meeting on the case was scheduled on Dec. 6 at the High Court to prepare for a possible trial, which Nathan said could start either in late February or early March.

Ambassador to Singapore Belen Anota said the pre-trial conference will be a closed session and the holding of a Court Mention after the pre-trial is meant to keep the Subordinate Court abreast on developments in the case.

During yesterday’s session, Aguilar was in handcuffs and garbed in a maroon prison uniform. In the gallery was her husband and eldest sister Joy, who was seen wiping away tears.

Also present were Anota and other Philippine Embassy officials.

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta and Erwin Erfe, along with Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) were also present during the Court Mention.

Acosta and Erfe also met with Nathan and other court-appointed lawyers before they left for Manila.

Nathan said Aguilar broke down a few times during their recent conversation and was "extremely fearful" about her fate.

"It’s understandable... I think you can’t run away from the fact that if you have a capital charge, there is fear of losing your life," he said.

The Aguilar case has sparked intense interest in the Philippines because of similarities to that of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic hanged here in 1995 for killing another Filipina maid and a Singaporean boy.

Contemplacion’s hanging strained bilateral ties, which have since improved. — With Pia Lee-Brago, AFP