Filipino arrested in Japan over dead couple ‘distraught,’ says DFA

One of the two Filipinos jailed in Japan for abandoning the bodies of a dead couple is "very emotionally distraught," a Philippine embassy official said.

The Consul General of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo earlier visited Bryan Dela Cruz in his detention cell and described his condition as such, according to a "24 Oras" report by JP Soriano.

“He’s very emotionally distraught, kaya hindi puwedeng, hindi makatagal ‘yung mga interview. The only thing he said was, he felt a great wound or parang, I don't know if it’s a physical wound,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said. 

The DFA also said Dela Cruz and the other Filipino, Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, who are both being investigated for leaving the body of a Japanese couple, are not considered suspects. 

De Vega also said the preliminary investigation on the case is expected to finish next week.

“So far, ‘di pa tapos ‘yung criminal investigation. At ang only suspicion sa kanila, ‘yung tinatawag na abandonment of corpse. So tingnan natin, by next week tapos na ‘yan,” he said. 

“Tingnan natin kung isasampa sila ng kaso ng piskaliya ng Hapon at kung anong charge. Wala sa binigay na indication, kahit na patago, na responsible nga siya na tulungan siya,” de Vega added.

In a CCTV footage, the two Filipinos were seen coming out of the house where the couple, Norihiro and Kimi Takahashi, were found dead on January 16.

Meanwhile, the mother of Dela Cruz said she does not believe her son can commit a crime.

“Pinalaki ko pong mabuting tao ‘yung anak ko. Masakit po sa amin bilang magulang dahil nasangkot sa ganitong problema ‘yung anak ko,” she said. —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News