DFA: Not yet right time for 2 Pinoys arrested in Japan to post bail

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.

"Tignan natin kapag umabot sa trial kasi ang abandonment is only three years penalty," De Vega said.

(Let's see if there will be a trial because the penalty for abandonment is three years.)

"Well, tutulungan natin sila… Sana walang madiskubreng ebidenysa kasi papaakyatin pa ang penalty," he continued.

(We will help them. But I hope there will be no evidence found against them because their penalty will increase.)

The DFA official further appealed to the public not to speculate against the two arrested while the investigation is still ongoing. He said there has been information circulating in social media against the two.

"Walang opisyal na pahayag ang pamahalaang Hapon na sila ay indicted o sila'y umamin. Kasi maraming nagse-speculate… na umamin na, but sabi ng ating ambassador, ang babae, alam natin, walang inaamin, at 'yung lalaki, wala namang sinabi ang piskalya ng Hapon," De Vega said.

(There is no official statement from the Japanese government that they have been indicted or that they have confessed already. Many people are speculating that they have confessed for murder, but our ambassador said that the Filipina did not confess anything, while the Japanese prosecutors said nothing about the Filipino.)

"Wala pang [there are no] charges of murder. Let's wait for official news," De Vega said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News