MISTAKEN IDENTITY: Qatar police nabbed OFW Jason Aguilar (L). Police mistook him for Jason Aguilar Ivler (R), accused of killing Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., last November 18.

MANILA, Philippines – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) experienced the cost of being the namesake of a fugitive.

Jason Aguilar, an OFW in Qatar, was arrested on December 31 in Doha after police mistook him for Jason Aguilar Ivler, a road rage crime suspect in Manila.

Aguilar has been working in Qatar as a welder for about a month.

Ivler, an American citizen and the stepson of an economist with Manila-based Asian Development Bank, is accused of killing Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of assistant secretary Renato Ebarle, last November 18, 2009. The Philippine government raised the reward for Ivler’s arrest to P1 million.

“Hindi niya alam kung ano yung ikinaso sa kanya dahil very confidential daw,” said Aguilar’s sister, Janette Lopez.

Ivler’s name is already on the Interpol Red Notice List since his warrant of arrest was released in the Philippines. He can be arrested abroad and deported back to the Philippines at any time.

The name “Jason Aguilar” appeared when the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration conducted a record check. However, the OFW left the country before the crime was committed.

“He (Aguilar) left the country on November 18, morning. But apparently, the incident (involving Ivler) happened on the evening of November 18,” said Atty. Lito Magno, chief of the NBI’s Special Action Unit.

Meanwhile, the OFW’s family sought the help of the NBI. They brought documents like Aguilar’s working paper to clear his name.

“Yung malinis yung pangalan niya kasi nagtatrabaho siya doon maayos tapos biglang ganun, ibinalita sa amin na hinuli siya,” Lopez added.

“We believe na hindi ito yung Aguilar na hinahanap natin. Hindi ito si Ivler,” added Magno.

Although his identity has been cleared, Qatar's directive is to still deport the OFW back to Manila to further ascertain his identity.

Despite the incident, the NBI said that it’s a proof that other countries are also on the alert for the manhunt for Ivler.

The NBI believes that Ivler is still in the Philippines, based on the information they received. Maan Macapagal, TV Patrol World