DMW to appeal for early release of 2 elderly Filipino inmates in Brunei

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday said it is now working on its formal appeal for the Brunei government to grant early release of two elderly Filipino inmates in Brunei.

“Inaantabayanan natin, kasi nga we are yet to put forward [our appeal] — ‘yung sa dalawang sitenta anyos ay meron nang… inihahanda natin ‘yung pormal na pagsusulong na magkaroon ng early release ‘yung matagal na sa piitan,” said DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac in a press conference.

(We are waiting because we are yet to put forward our appeal — as for the two seventy-year-olds, we already have…. we are preparing the formal petition to grant their early release… for those who have been in prison for a long time.)

According to Cacdac, both of the imprisoned Filipinos are in good condition, for which he expressed gratitude to the Brunei authorities.

“Alam natin na nasa mabuting kalagayan sila, tumagal sila sa piitan — 20 up to 30 years – so para sa akin testament din ‘yan sa pangangalaga sa kanila sa loob ng piitan,” he said.

(We know that they are in good condition because they have been serving for almost 20 to 30 years now. So, for me, that is a testament to how they are being taken care of inside prison.)

In a separate statement released by the agency over the weekend, DMW identified the two inmates as Edgar Puzon and Cyrile Tagapan.

According to DMW, Puzon was convicted for the murder of a fellow overseas Filipino worker in 2005, while Tagapan has been serving his sentence since 2016 for arson, theft, and murder of a Bruneian national.

Puzon’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Cacdac also shared that Puzon hopes to be granted early release as he turns 70 in January next year. Both inmates were assisted by the DMW in filing an appeal for pardon and clemency.

“Doon sa isa.. doon sa aspeto ng death row. Hindi lang ako maka-disclose ng further details, but rest assured na may pag-uusap na ang both Philippines and Brunei side as directed by the President,” Cacdac likewise noted.

(As for the other one… on the aspect of death row. I cannot disclose further details, but rest assured that there are already discussions between the Philippines and Brunei as directed by the President.)

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No other details were provided by Cacdac regarding this matter during the press conference, but in a separate tweet also published Monday he clarified that “we only have one Filipino inmate on death row in Brunei.”