Singapore agrees to RP's autopsy guidelines<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): Singapore said yesterday it accepted in
\nprinciple Philippine draft guidelines for a joint autopsy of the
\nremains of one of the victims in the case of hanged Filipina maid
\nFlor Contemplacion.<\/p>\n
Singapore forensic scientists are expected in Manila today to
\njoin Filipino colleagues in an autopsy of the remains of Delia
\nMaga, one of two people Singapore found Contemplacion guilty of
\nkilling in 1991.<\/p>\n
Singapore has \"accepted in principle the draft guidelines
\nproposed by the Philippine government,\" a Singapore Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs spokesman said in a written statement, responding
\nto queries about the coming investigation.<\/p>\n
Singapore's decision to hang Contemplacion last month for
\nmurder has led to a diplomatic rift between the city state and
\nthe Philippines.<\/p>\n
In the latest and most prominent casualty, Philippine Foreign
\nAffairs Secretary Roberto Romulo resigned on Monday in hopes it
\nwould help to calm the furor over the case.<\/p>\n
Many Filipinos believe Contemplacion is innocent, despite her
\nconfession to the crimes.<\/p>\n
One of the autopsy guidelines states that the experts will
\nconduct their joint efforts \"in a confidential manner and will
\nnot issue any public statements while their examinations in
\nManila are in progress\", the Singapore statement said.<\/p>\n
It also said each team will designate one spokesman at the end
\nof the examinations and before the Singaporeans depart.<\/p>\n
It added: \"The spokesmen will coordinate their respective
\nwritten statements prior to reading their statements before a
\npress conference. The timing and venue of the press conference
\nwill be mutually agreed upon.\"<\/p>\n
Singapore's spokesman will be assisted by foreign consultants
\nwhen answering questions from the media, the MFA spokesman said
\nin the statement.<\/p>\n
Singapore has requested that the autopsy location be \"private
\nand free from media and other intrusion so that the work could be
\ncarried out without distraction and in the most professional
\nmanner,\" the MFA statement said.<\/p>\n
Appeal<\/p>\n
In Manila, the nation's largest business group yesterday
\nappealed to Ramos to spare Labor Secretary Nieves Confesor, a day
\nafter the foreign secretary resigned over the hanging of
\nContemplacion.<\/p>\n
\"We should not succumb to pressures brought by emotionalism,\"
\nthe Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said in a
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
An outraged citizenry have been baying for the heads of Romulo
\nand Confesor in the aftermath of the March 17 execution of
\nContemplacion for double murder.<\/p>\n
Ramos, under pressure to please the electorate ahead of the
\nMay 8 congressional and local elections, announced on Monday that
\nhe has accepted \"with deep regret\" the resignation of Romulo, who
\ntook responsibility for the government's failure to save the
\nmaid.<\/p>\n
Ramos said he was still \"meditating\" on Confesor's fate.<\/p>\n
Ramos earlier sacked the Filipino envoy to Singapore at the
\ntime of the murders, and suspended incumbent envoy Alicia Ramos
\n(no relation) and seven others for \"negligence\" and dereliction
\nof duty.<\/p>\n
The PCCI said the business community was \"confident of
\nConfesor's leadership and experience that has helped bring about
\nindustrial peace and in the process provided more job
\nopportunities to the unemployed.<\/p>\n
\"To replace Confesor at this time would be counter-productive
\nand set back these programs that are already in place,\" the group
\nadded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-agrees-to-rps-autopsy-guidelines-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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