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MANILA, Philippines?A Filipino has confessed to the murder of the stay-in housekeeper of the Lebanese Ambassador to Austria Ishaya El-Khoury, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers? Affairs Esteban Conejos told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
He said he could not give out the name of the suspect and other details about him yet.
?Our instruction to our embassy in Vienna is to extend all possible assistance to both parties,? he said.
On the other hand, Administrator Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said she was told that the motive in the murder was ?jealousy.?
At the same time, Dimzon said the murder victim, Basalo, 30, of Surigao Del Norte, was last registered with OWWA in 2006 for contract work in Lebanon. As such, she said, her family will not receive the customary benefits due OWWA members.
Conejos said the body of Romalyn Basalo may be repatriated as soon as the authorities in Vienna give their go-ahead.
?It may be soon because police in Europe are very efficient in their work,? he said.
The body, which was found on Tuesday by the stay-out cook in the cellar of the Lebanese ambassador?s residence in Austria, bore several stab wounds.
The victim?s husband, who is based in Dubai, already knows about her death and is on his way to Austria.
The ambassador had been in Beirut since December 19 for the holidays, but returned to Vienna because of the incident.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya said the Philippine embassy?s charge d?affaires was present during the preliminary investigation of the case at the police station.
