OFW mistaken for Ivler glad over slay suspect's arrest

The overseas Filipino worker who was arrested in Qatar after authorities there mistook him for Philippine slay suspect Jason Aguilar Ivler heaved a sigh Monday following the arrest of the fugitive.

“Masayang-masaya po dahil po nahuli na si Jason Ivler at wala na pong inosenteng taong madadamay pa," Aguilar said in an interview aired over QTV’s Balitanghali. (I’m happy because the real Jason Ivler has been arrested and that means no innocent person will be dragged into this from now.) Aguilar, a welder in Qatar, was jailed and repatriated to the Philippines after he was mistaken for Ivler, who eluded arrest for two months after allegedly killing Renato Ebarle Jr., son of presidential chief of staff Renato Ebarle Sr., in November last year. Ivler was on the International Police (Interpol) watch list. He was arrested Monday after engaging government agents in a brief shootout in his mother’s house in Quezon City. Aguilar said he was traumatized by the experience and admitted having ill feelings toward those who had arrested him. “Di po mawawala sa akin ‘yun. Kinulong po nila ako, nasira po nila mga pangarap ko. Sana magdusa naman po si Jason Ivler sa kanyang ginawang kasalanan," he said. (That’s not easy to forget. They jailed me and destroyed my career. I just hope Jason Ivler would suffer the consequences of his actions.)
Apart from the humiliation of being treated like a criminal, Aguilar’s work visa has been canceled and he was blacklisted from employment in Qatar. His family is also left to deal with the debts they incurred during the processing of his overseas employment. Aguilar left for Qatar last November 18, on the same day of the Ebarle killing. At 26, he is two years younger than Ivler. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has said that it would assist Aguilar should he decide to work abroad again. It also said he would be provided with livelihood assistance while undergoing psychosocial counseling and stress debriefing sessions. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), for its part, has expressed willingness to shoulder his debts related to his employment in Qatar. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV