(L-R) DFA Usec. Esteban Conejos Jr., Susan Ople and OFW Jason Aguilar

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has apologized to Jason Aguilar over a case of mistaken identity that cost him his job overseas and his eventual deportation, ANC reported.

Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI's Special Action Unit, told ANC's The Big Picture that they are willing to provide proper documentation that will clear Aguilar's name.

"Jason, we are very sorry for the incident that happened to you. We feel sorry. In fact, sinabi ko nga doon sa kapatid mo at mga kamag-anak mo na nagpunta sa opisina ko, ay isang masaklap na pangyayari itong nadaanan mo. And because of that, maari pa nga, sinasabi ng iba, ay biktima ka din ni Jason Ivler dahil sa paghahanap sa kanya, pati ang pangalan mo ay nadamay,” Magno said.

Aguilar was working as a welder in Qatar when he was detained for 7 days then deported.

He has the same name and birthday as that of Jason Aguilar Ivler, the road rage suspect who allegedly shot and killed the son of Malacañang Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. in Quezon City.

“Nakausap ko si Usec. Ebarle noong araw din na yun at ipinaparating niya kung anuman ang maitutulong niya ay handa siyang tumulong upang mabigyan ka ng trabaho at ng kung ano pa man ang pwede niyang itulong kung makikipag-ugnayan ka lang," Magno added.

Full of hope

Aguilar resigned from work as factory worker in Calumpit and took up an opportunity to work in Qatar as a welder.

"Madali naman po akong natanggap dahil nga po nag-training ako sa TESDA," Aguilar said.

The youngest of 5 siblings left the Philippines, full of hope for his family.

"Bago ako umalis dito, punong-puno ako ng pangarap noon para po sa pamilya ko kaya po malakas ang loob kong mag abroad," he said.

Aguilar said an apology and taking accountability for what happened to him is important.

“Kasi po pagkatao po ang nasira dito, karangalan ko. Nananahimik po akong nagtatrabaho sa Qatar tapos bigla bigla na lang po akong makukulong ng wala namang kasalanan. Gusto ko po talagang mag sorry kung sino yung dapat mag sorry,” Aguilar said.

Former labor undersecretary and senatorial bet, Susan Ople, was dismayed with government's treatment of the case. She believes government agencies would have acted differently if Aguilar was a more prominent individual.

"If the person involve was well connected, sabihin na natin had a more famous last name or had the means to hire lawyers, this would have been a totally different ball game. Magkakandarapa ang mga opisyal ng gubyerno just to accommodate, and explain, and say sorry,” Ople said.

“Yun ang punto namin, here's an honest working simple OFW napahamak ng wala naman siyang kaalam-alam, nasira ang pangalan sa abroad pa, na deport dito and all he's waiting for, all he's asking, sino ba ang dapat mag sorry? Sino ba ang nagkamali? Ok na yung tulong. Pero sino ba talaga yung nagkamali para hindi na maulit muli,” added Ople.

‘Put it in writing’

Ople also wants the NBI’s apology be put in writing, which Magno agreed to do to clear Aguilar’s name.

“They should put it in writing. Even the apology maybe should be in writing. Malinaw kasi Jan. 4 alam na nila and he was in jail until Jan 7. Had the DFA been informed, I'm sure the embassy could have sent someone right away to clear up the mess and then he could've worked, he could've continue working,” she said.

Foreign affairs undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. has sent letters to the government of Qatar and the NBI, requesting for details on Aguilar’s arrest and deportation.

Once he gets all the information, Conejos said the DFA will determine what steps to take to prevent the incident from happening again.

“We have to get to the bottom of this case so that we could avoid similar incidents in the future," said Conejos.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) have promised livelihood assistance to Aguilar.