The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Ling Hao Sian, who has reportedly been working in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv without a work permit, was arrested in Tel Aviv on Tuesday hours after his photograph was shown on Israeli television.
"The Department lauds the swift action by Israeli authorities leading to the suspect’s arrest, and looks forward to justice being served in this case," the DFA statement said.
Acting DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the suspect is under police custody and will undergo criminal investigation.
"And we can anticipate that there will be a criminal information to be filed the soonest possible time based on evidence that will be gathered by the police," Malaya said.
Asked about the motive of the murder, Malaya said there were no details given in the report but the suspect was reportedly the former boyfriend of the victim, identified as Michele Ilagan Jamias, 31, a native of Pinagsinabaam, Rosario, Batangas.
Prior to the suspect’s arrest, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Antonio Modena said in his report that the police had named her boyfriend, a Chinese national, as the prime suspect in the murder.
Jamias’ body was found last Nov. 4 on a garbage heap just across her flat at No. 11 Ibn Sina St. in Haifa. Police believed that the murder took place the night before.
Jamias’ remains were brought to the National Forensic Medicine Institute in Tel Aviv for autopsy.
Israeli investigators positively identified her from her passport photo and from thumbprints in an identification card recovered from the residence of her employer.
Investigators learned that Ling was supposed to visit Jamias at her flat that evening.
Police sealed the flat, as there were indications that the suspect tried to clean up the place. However, bloodstains and other material evidence were found.
Modena said the Philippine Embassy immediately deployed Vice Consul Thaddues Hamoy, Assistance-to-Nationals officer Rodrigo Gaviono, and Welfare officer Francisco Cruz to Haifa that morning to meet with the victim’s relatives and chief police investigator Capt. Efi Taz. — Pia Lee-Brago