DFA: Not yet right time for 2 Pinoys arrested in Japan to post bail --- By GISELLE OMBAY, GMA Integrated News

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday that it is not yet the right time for two arrested Filipinos in Japan to post bail after they were linked to the deaths of a Japanese couple in Tokyo. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Filipinos are still in pre-indictment detention and charges have yet to be filed against them yet. "Sa Japan maaaring may piyansa pero titignan natin kung may indictment na. Kasi right now, ang state natin is pre-indictment detention," he said. (We will check if there's already an indictment, because right now, they're still in pre-indictment detention.) "Doon sa Hapon, wala silang kasamang abogado habang ini-interview sila ng pulis at ipinapakita ang ebidensya. Tapos basehan sa investigation, within ten days or so, gagawa na sila ng desisyon kung magsasampa ng kaso. So right now, hindi pa oras para sa piyansa," he added. (In Japan, persons under arrest don't have a lawyer with them while the police interview and present the evidence against them. Based on the investigation, police will decide whether or not to file a case within ten days or so. So right now, it's not yet time to post bail.) The two Filipinos were arrested for allegedly not reporting to authorities the bodies of the couple—Norihiro Takahashi and his wife Kimie—even though CCTV footage showed them in the premises. The couple's cause of death was multiple stabbing, according to De Vega. One of the arrested, Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, denied the accusations against her. The DFA said Morales already has a court-appointed lawyer. Meanwhile, De Vega said personnel from the Philippine Embassy in Japan have yet to visit the other arrested Filipino within the day.

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