RP wants S'pore to reopen case

RP wants S'pore to reopen case

MANILA (Reuter): A Philippine presidential inquiry will recommend that Singapore reopen its investigation into a double murder for which a Filipina maid was hanged, the inquiry head said yesterday.

Retired Supreme Court justice Emilio Gancayco told reporters the inquiry, set up on the orders of President Fidel Ramos, had heard enough evidence to justify reopening the case.

Gancayco declined to give further details of the inquiry's findings, which are to be presented to Ramos today.

But he added: "We will recommend to the president the reopening of Maga's murder case. It is possible to ask the Singaporean authorities to reopen the case."

The March 17 execution of 42-year-old mother of four Flor Contemplacion has outraged Filipinos who believe she was framed. Ramos has downgraded diplomatic ties with Singapore and has threatened to sever links completely if the Gancayco inquiry finds Contemplacion was unjustly hanged.