Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
The DFA official explained that in Japan, persons under arrest do not 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,” he said.
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.
One of the arrested Filipinos, 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.
“Let’s see if there will be a trial because the penalty for abandonment is three years,” the DFA official said.
“We will help them. But I hope there will be no evidence found against them because their penalty will increase,” he added.
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