DFA: PH Embassy verifying report on 2nd Filipino arrested in Japan amid couple's death ---By GMA Integrated

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said the government is verifying a report that a second Filipino has been arrested in Japan in connection with the discovery of two corpses in Tokyo. Interviewed during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is checking the report. "By the way po pala, mayroon din lumabas na balita sa Japan, chini-check pa ng Embassy, na may hinuling pangalawang Filipino na nakita rin sa CCTV," De Vega said. (By the way, the Embassy is checking reports that there was another arrested Filipino who was also seen in a CCTV.) A 30-year-old Filipino, Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, was earlier arrested by Japanese authorities on suspicion of abandoning the bodies of Norihiro Takahashi, 55, and his wife Kimie, 52, at a house in Adachi Ward. "Huwag natin sabihin na siya ay inaakusahan ng nakapatay. Wala pa tayo doon sa situation na iyon (Let's not say she is being accused of killing. We're not in that situation yet)," he said. Abandonment of bodies, according to De Vega, is punishable of up to three years imprisonment in Japan. According to a report on The Japan Times, Morales used to date the couple's son, who is in his 30s and lived with his parents. The investigators are looking into whether Morales had any disagreements with the couple, as well as determining the causes of the couple's deaths. Aside from Morales, the report said probers also believed that another person was involved in the incident. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in collaboration with the Philippine agencies, vowed to provide legal assistance to Morales. "We are already geared up to provide legal assistance,” DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac had said. "We're in coordination with the Japanese authorities that we intend to provide such legal and other forms of assistance to her," he added. De Vega, during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, said the Philippine government is willing to provide legal assistance to the Filipina if ever the case reaches the court. "Handa kaming magbayad ng legal assistance. Kasi wala pa ngayong, hindi pa finaylan ng kaso, 'no? Wala pa sa korte. Pag sa korte at kailangan ng defense lawyer, gastos po iyan ng ating pamahalaan kung kailangan," De Vega said. (We are willing to provide legal assistance. A case hasn't been filed yet. But if this reaches the court and there is a need for a defense lawyer, the government can provide the assistance if needed.) —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News

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