2 Filipinos arrested in Japan over couple's death in good condition —DFA exec

The two Filipinos arrested in Japan in connection with the deaths of a Japanese couple in Tokyo are in good condition, a Department of Affairs (DFA) official said Wednesday.

"Ang latest information natin is maayos ang lagay ng ating dalawang kababayan doon (Based on our latest information, our two fellowmen are in good condition)," said DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryan Lao in an interview on Balitanghali.

The two were arrested for allegedly not reporting to authorities the bodies of the couple even though CCTV footage showed them in the premises.

According to Lao, personnel from the Philippine Embassy in Japan were able to visit Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, one of the two arrested Filipinos, at the police station on Tuesday.

"Nabisita ng ating Embassy sa police station si Hazel Ann, binigyan ng very limited time, about 20 minutes lang 'yung panahon na binigay sa ating embahada, pero nakausap nila at na-ascertain naman kalagayan niya," he said.

(Our Embassy personnel visited Hazel Ann at the police station. They were given a very limited time, about 20 minutes only, but they were able to talk to her and ascertain her condition.)

Lao said Morales, who denied the accusations against her, already have a court-appointed lawyer.

"She assures her family that she is alright," Lao said of Morales.

Lao said Morales and the other Filipino person of interest were arrested after CCTV footage showed them in the vicinity of where the bodies of the couple — Norihiro Takahashi, 55, and his wife Kimie, 52 — were found.

Lao said police started conducting an investigation after the couple's child reported that his parents are missing. He said the bodies were found wrapped in plastic.

"In the course of the investigation they reviewed some security footage at doon nga nakita na 'yung ating kababayan ay nasa premises (and that's when they found out that our fellow citizens were in the premises)," Lao said.

Lao said it was not confirmed that the two arrested Filipinos knew each other. —KBK, GMA Integrated News