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House probe on Jason Aguilar arrest, detention sought


Government agents may have succeeded in arresting road rage suspect Jason Ivler, but authorities have yet to explain why they mistakenly arrested an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) with a similar name and detained him for a week without any explanation. Because of this, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga filed House Resolution 1558 asking the House of Representatives to investigate the arrest and detention of Jason Aguilar, a welder in Doha, Qatar, who was mistaken for Ivler, the suspect in the killing of Renato Ebarle Jr., son of presidential chief of staff Renato Ebarle Sr. Thinking Aguilar was the same person as Ivler - the son of Marlene Aguilar, folk singer Freddie Aguilar's sister - Qatari officials arrested him on December 31 last year and detained him until January 7, purportedly without telling him why. [See: Gov't blunder shatters dreams of OFW mistaken for fugitive] "The error on the part of the Qatari and Philippine authorities in Doha, Qatar, brought about trepidation, humiliation, and financial affliction on Jason Aguilar and his family," Barzaga said in his resolution.


Barzaga pointed out that Aguilar was not provided legal assistance during his seven-day stay in a Qatar jail, saying his deportation would have been avoided had the OFW been provided legal aid. The House should investigate the incident as "it is the responsibility of the government to uphold the constitutional rights of Filipinos here and abroad," the lawmaker said. Ivler was finally arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents after two months of evading authorities. The fugitive was hiding at the house of his mother in Quezon City. [See: Fugitive Jason Ivler captured after shootout with NBI team] Aguilar has expressed relief over Aguilar's arrest, butsaid he was traumatized by the experience and admitted having ill feelings toward those who arrested him. [See: OFW mistaken for Ivler glad over slay suspect's arrest] Aguilar’s work visa has been canceled and he is also blacklisted from employment in Qatar. His family is also left to deal with the debts they incurred during the processing of his overseas employment. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) earlier 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. - RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV
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