By GENE BASILIO JR., The Manila Times Northern Luzon Bureau
BAMBANG - Relatives of Jane La Puebla, the domestic helper allegedly murdered by her friend Guen Aguilar in Singapore, recently disclosed their suspicion that La Puebla’s landlord might have something to do with her death.
According to Paulina Antonio, La Puebla’s mother, the landlord called her last Wednesday informing that Jane did not come home the night before.
Antonio said, "Jane’s Australian boss called me Wednesday telling me that she went out Tuesday night and did not come home. He called me again last Thursday informing that Jane is still missing. And then another call came Friday informing me that the police were already notified of her disappearance."
Antonio said no call from the landlord has been made thereafter and when the news of her death was broadcast on television, never did the landlord call again.
"What he told me before was that he was very much worried about Jane’s disappearance, but how come that, when Jane’s body parts were found, he did not even call us for consolation or, at least, confirmation?" she asked.
Gerry Antonio, La Puebla’s stepfather, said when the Australian landlord made a series of calls here, he might have only been establishing that he was, in fact, looking for La Puebla on the first day she was out, so that if he had something to do with the crime, at least his "concern" about La Puebla’s whereabouts would divert suspicions.
He said the murder weapon allegedly found in house of Aguilar’s landlord might have only been planted. "This is only a guess which authorities should look into."
The Antonio couple also feels that the national government pays more attention to the suspect’s family in Ilocos Sur than to the family of the victim.
The Antonios said that they heard that the Aguilar family has already received financial support from politicians and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Antonio said, "We were the ones victimized but it seems we are the ones given less concern. It seems like the government is more worried about Guen."
Governor Luisa Cuaresma recently ordered the Assistance Council for Vizcayano Overseas Workers to help in the fast processing of passports of La Puebla’s auntie travel to Singapore and to prepare the papers and funding for the transport of La Puebla’s body to Nueva Vizcaya once it arrives in Manila.
In the meantime Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution condemning La Puebla’s murder and requesting the Department of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action on the case.
"The Philippine government should not let this case just pass through without justice, especially that these modern day heroes have sacrificed their personal and family concerns to play a vital role in boosting the economy," Sanggunian member Patricio Dumlao said as he sponsored the resolution.
In another development, two family members of La Puebla are in disagreement over how to transport her body back to the Philippines.
Edwin La Puebla said a Singaporean media entity has convinced him to renew his passport so he could travel to Singapore and see the body of his wife. He said, one of Jane’s aunties wants to accompany him.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, according to La Puebla, is convincing them to sign a waiver approving the cremation of La Puebla’s body before its shipment to the Philippines.
An auntie who took care of Jane since childhood has allegedly approved to the condition but La Puebla said he would not allow the cremation.
"The body of my wife has already been dismembered, now they want to burn it, how cruel could they be!" La Puebla remarked
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