Namesake of suspect in Ebarle murder case arrested in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have arrested a certain “Jason Aguilar” in Doha, Qatar on Dec. 31, 2009. But this Jason Aguilar is not the same Jason Aguilar Ivler, the man who was tagged in the Nov. 18, 2009 murder of the son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. of the Presidential Chief of Staff in Malacañang, a ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation revealed yesterday.

Lawyer Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI Special Action Unit, branded the arrest of “Jason Aguilar” as a case of “mistaken identity.” Jason Aguilar has been working in Doha, Qatar as a welder for about a month now before Doha police arrested him, thinking he was the suspect in the murder of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr.

The “Jason” being hunted by authorities carries the middle name Aguilar, being the son of author and artist Marlene Aguilar, a sister of folksinger Freddie Aguilar.

Magno said Jason Aguilar was taken into custody by Doha policemen, as they thought that he could be “Jason Aguilar Ivler” who is wanted for shooting to death Renato Jr. during a traffic altercation in Quezon City on Nov. 18, 2009. “Halos pareho kasi sila ng pangalan. (They have almost the same name),” Magno said.

Magno said Ivler has been included in the Interpol Red Notice List. Magno also said there is a possibility that Ivler is using an “alias.” This may also include a name the “Jason Aguilar” as an alias.

Interpol Red Notice

A suspect included in the Interpol Red Notice could be arrested in any part of the world by authorities in that country and deported to the suspect’s country of origin. Magno said Jason Aguilar is expected to be deported back to the Philippines today in consonance with the directive in Qatar to ascertain his real identity and that he has no other case.

He said this will erase any doubt on Jason Aguilar’s person that he is not really the Jason Ivler they are looking for.

The SAU chief said Jason Aguilar, the welder, left the country on Nov. 17, 2009, or a day before the young Ebarle was gunned down by Ivler. This was confirmed based on the records of the Bureau of Immigration.

Janette Lopez, a sister of Jason Aguilar, showed up at the NBI yesterday to clarify the situation. Lopez insisted they did not initially know why their brother was picked up by authorities until being informed that he was mistaken as “Jason Aguilar Ivler” who is wanted for the killing of Ebarle Jr.

Magno said Lopez also presented to them the working papers of her brother to clear his name. “Wala po siyang ginawang kasalanan. Malinis ang pangalan ng kapatid ko. Napagkamalan lamang siya,” Lopez told the NBI.

After Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Vivencio Bac­lig of Branch 26 issued a warrant of arrest against Jason Ivler, resident of No. 23 Hillside Drive, Blueridge, A. Libis, Quezon City, the NBI Interpol sent a request to the Interpol head office in Lyon, France, which issued Red Notice against Ivler.  – With Reinir Padua