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Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

 News
Sep 302013
 
Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 2:28 pm | Monday, September 30th, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO/PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD MANILA, Philippines—There is no evidence to hold the Philippine Coast Guard liable for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, according to a joint affidavit it submitted to the Department of Justice stated. In a counter-affidavit, Commander Arnold Dela Cruz, Seaman 1st class Edrando Aguila, Sonny Masangcay and Henry Solomon said Philippine investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were not allowed to directly examine the vessel used by the fishermen during the incident nor were they allowed to autopsy the body of Hung Shih-Cheng who was allegedly shot by the PCG crewmen on board MCS 3001. The NBI in their complaint alleged that the bullet from the Springfield Caliber 7.62 mm M-14 rifle killed Cheng and that SN1 Endrando Aguila was the one who fired the said firearm. However, in their counter-affidavit, they pointed that Hiyasmin Abarrientos, one of the NBI’s ballisticians, admitted that she was not able to conduct a proper ballistics test and cross-matching on the M-14 as well as the slugs recovered from the boat. While in Taiwan to examine the vessel, she said they found a bullet from a caliber 7.62 mm rifle lodged at the pipe in the ceiling of the fish storage of the vessel but she was not allowed by the Taiwanese authorities to extract the bullet. “In other words, Abarrientos herself admits that the correct and scientific manner by which a ballistics test is conducted is Read More …

DOLE to redeploy Filipino workers in strife-torn Egypt to other countries

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Sep 052013
 
DOLE to redeploy Filipino workers in strife-torn Egypt to other countries

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:20 pm | Thursday, September 5th, 2013 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is eyeing the redeployment of displaced overseas Filipino workers to other countries from war-torn Egypt. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz expressed hope this would help boost the Philippine government’s ongoing repatriation efforts to ensure the safety of OFWs from the worsening political violence in Egypt. Baldoz said they have been coordinating with local recruitment agencies of the affected OFWs. “In the case of Egypt-based OFWs, there is an ongoing coordination with licensed recruitment agencies for their possible redeployment to other countries,” Baldoz said in a statement. She said the initial offer of repatriation was being met with indifference by the majority of the Filipinos in Egypt who did not want to leave and lose their jobs. Most Filipinos in Egypt are employed as skilled and household service workers in Cairo and Alexandria. But aside from the possibility of being redeployed abroad, Baldoz also assured the OFWs of jobs at home. “We have a package of livelihood assistance which they can avail of from the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO),” she said. Meanwhile, nine OFWs were expected to arrive from Egypt before midnight Thursday. It would be the second batch of OFWs repatriated from Egypt following the arrival of the first batch last August 30, according to Baldoz, citing information from the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs. Read More …

Filipinos in Malaysia warned of new crackdown on illegals

 News
Sep 032013
 
Filipinos in Malaysia warned of new crackdown on illegals

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:24 pm | Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya. Photo from J Eduardo Malaya Facebook account MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has called on Filipinos to complete their immigrant documentation and carry their papers at all times after the Malaysian government initiated a new crackdown on illegals this month. In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya reminded Filipinos to always bring their passports with valid visas and work permits with them as Malaysian authorities conduct immigration checks on foreign nationals. “We wish to remind our Filipino nationals to have proper documents, notably work permit or passport with valid visa, and carry it with them in case of immigration checks, in order to avoid inconvenience.  Also, Filipinos who wish to enter Malaysia for work should have approved work permits or similar papers as they start their jobs here,” Malaya said. On Sunday, Malaysian authorities started an operation to apprehend undocumented foreigners across Malaysia. The crackdown has so far led to the arrest of some 2,433 foreign nationals, but no Filipinos is known to be among them, the embassy said. Among those arrested were illegals from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. “We checked with the immigration detention facility in Putrajaya, and we were informed that Filipinos are not among those arrested and currently held in said facility,” Consul General Medardo Macaraig said in the statement. Philippine Embassy officials made the rounds of areas where Filipinos are known to hang Read More …

Taiwan to spend $100 million to build dock at disputed Spratlys

 News
Aug 292013
 
Taiwan to spend $100 million to build dock at disputed Spratlys

9:18 pm | Thursday, August 29th, 2013 A handout photo shows Taiwanese garrison forces firing a gun during an exercise held in the Spratlys     AFP FILE PHOTO TAIPEI — Taiwan plans to spend more than $100 million to build a dock big enough for warships in the disputed Spratly islands, a legislator said Thursday, as other claimants strengthen their regional military presence. The plan submitted to parliament Thursday by the coastguard would cost Tw$3.4 billion ($112.4 million). Sources said the spending is expected to be approved. The dock will be an upgrade on the existing pier at the Taiwan-controlled island of Taiping, the biggest island in the Spratlys. It is scheduled to become operational in 2016. “National security authorities have decided to expedite the project as the other countries in the region have been increasing their naval and air force deployment in the past few years, further complicating the issue,” legislator Lin Yu-fang said in a statement. Once it is completed, large supply ships and even naval frigates will be able to berth, said Lin, a legislator from the ruling Kuomintang party who sits on parliament’s defense committee. The current pier caters only to small patrol boats. Once the dock work is completed the runway on Taiping will be extended, Lin said. Taiwan built a 1,150-meter (3,800-foot) runway on Taiping in mid-2006, despite protests from other countries with claims to the disputed island group. Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim all or part of the potentially oil-rich Read More …

PH says China withdraws trade fair invitation for Aquino

 News
Aug 292013
 
PH says China withdraws trade fair invitation for Aquino

Associated Press 7:10 pm | Thursday, August 29th, 2013 President Benigno Aquino III AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines  — The Philippines and China, already locked in a territorial dispute, engaged in a diplomatic tussle Thursday, with the Philippine president canceling a visit to a trade fair in China after being told to stay away, and Beijing saying it never invited him in the first place. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Raul Hernandez, said President Benigno Aquino III had decided not to make the daylong visit to the China-Asean Expo scheduled for next Tuesday in the southern city of Nanning. Hernandez said China had invited the Philippines to send a high-level delegation to the trade fair a few months ago. Aquino said Wednesday that he would go, but word came from China later in the day that he should not visit, Hernandez said. “The president has decided not to proceed … taking into consideration China’s request for the president to visit China at a more conducive time,” he said in a statement. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman’s office said Beijing had not invited Aquino to attend the expo. “China never extended an invitation to the Philippine president,” it said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. Speaking Wednesday, Aquino told reporters: “You may be surprised, I will travel next week. It’s quite a long trip to China. I will leave at 5 in the morning and will be back at 5 in the afternoon.” “I don’t want Read More …

Senate resumes probe into ‘sex-for-flight’ scandal

 News
Aug 292013
 
Senate resumes probe into ‘sex-for-flight’ scandal

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 2:55 pm | Thursday, August 29th, 2013 Sec. Del Rosario and Sec. Baldoz during Senate Hearing. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Thursday continued its investigation on the “sex-for-flight” scheme involving Philippine labor officials in the Middle East. Among those present is Jojo Casicas, driver and employee at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Saudi Arabia, who was accused by  28-year-old Grace Victoria  Sales of allegedly  trying to rape her sometime  in March 2012 while  they were left alone at their office  in POLO. The joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon and labor committees resumed almost a week after the Department of Labor and Employment filed administrative cases against Saudi Arabia assistant labor attaché Antonio Villafuerte, former Jordan Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) attaché Mario Antonio and labor attaché Adam Musa. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz also recommended the agency’s investigation on Villanueva’s involvement on the “sex-for-flight” scandal. During the August 15 hearing, senators berated Villafuerte after an overseas Filipino worker narrated how she was treated by the labor official. The OFW and two others faced Villafuerte who they accused of sexual harassment. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags:

4 labor recruitment firms suspended

 News
Aug 292013
 
4 labor recruitment firms suspended

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:35 pm | Thursday, August 29th, 2013 Philippine Overseas Labor Employment office www.poea.gov.ph MANILA—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on Thursday ordered the preventive suspension of four recruitment agencies, which recruited and deployed the two female workers who testified against officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office  in Saudi Arabia in the Senate investigation into the  “sex- for-flight” scandal. POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac issued the order of preventive suspension against Kozen International Inc , Azizzah International Manpower Services, Jobstar International Manpower Services, and Ideal Placement and Manpower Services, which were found to have engaged in alleged  misrepresentation, contract substitution and illegal collection of placement fee, and to have committed other alleged violations of the law in the process of recruitment and deployment of OFWs Elena Beleta and Grace Victoria Sales. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Global Nation , Philippine Overseas Employment , sex-for-flight scam Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

US defense chief here next week

 News
Aug 242013
 
US defense chief here next week

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:59 pm | Saturday, August 24th, 2013 U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at a Pentagon news conference in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) MANILA, Philippines – US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet with President Benigno Aquino III next week to discuss the ongoing negotiations for increased presence of American soldiers in the Philippines, the US Department of Defense said in a statement released Friday (Saturday in Manila). Hagel will also be meeting with his counterpart, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario during his two day visit on August 29-30. The agreement that would pave the way for more US troops to be stationed in the Philippines and give them access to the military facilities is being presented to Filipinos by the Philippine government as a deterrent to China’s increasing presence in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China sea that the Philippines claims to be within its exclusive economic zone. The Philippines and China continue to be locked in a territorial dispute, particularly over Panatag Shoal off Zambales province and the Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan Island Group or Spratlys. According to the US statement, Hagel will talk to President Aquino, Gazmin, and Del Rosario “about ongoing negotiations for a framework agreement that would allow US forces to operate on Philippine military bases and in Philippine territory and waters to help build Philippine armed forces capacity in maritime security and maritime domain awareness.” The US had maintained Read More …

One Filipina’s social media activism (and how it shaped the Aug. 26 protest)

 News
Aug 242013
 
One Filipina’s social media activism (and how it shaped the Aug. 26 protest)

Kuwento By Boying PimentelPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:34 pm | Saturday, August 24th, 2013 Roman Catholic priest Fr. Robert Reyes, second from left, prepares to run blindfolded along with supporters to protest the pork barrel scandal Friday in Manila. AP Peachy Rallonza Bretana’s social activism has followed a pattern: she saw something on Facebook and got really mad. That’s what happened when she came across the clip of the crying, dancing boy on Willie Revillame’s TV show two years ago. It happened again this month when she began reading the posts about some little known, somewhat obscure government program called the Priority Development Assistant Fund. “There’s not much difference in the way it started,” she told me in an email. “You see/read something on YouTube and online then you become so angry that you vent out your anger and disgust online by sharing to your friends. Both the Revillame case and this PDAF scam stemmed from the way they affected me on a personal level. “As in: Gigil na gigil ka sa galit.” Actually, there is one difference. The Revillame case, which sparked outrage so vehement it caused the show to be suspended and created a heightened awareness around the way children are treated on TV, was triggered by a clip that Peachy says was “instantly revolting.” The anger related to the pork barrel controversy, however, took a little longer to boil over. It started with a stream of news stories and blogs and the comments. Then the Commission on Audit Read More …

Threats to coral reefs continue, says Paje

 News
Aug 242013
 
Threats to coral reefs continue, says Paje

By DJ YapPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:24 pm | Saturday, August 24th, 2013 Graphic on Asia’s Coral Triangle, which contains nearly 30 percent of the world’s reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish. AFP MANILA, Philippines—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje on Saturday said more action was needed to save the reefs of the Coral Triangle, an important marine area encompassing Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines, in the face of growing threats to their ecosystems from overfishing,  pollution and climate change. While the Philippines has taken steps to protect its reefs and the marine life they host, more effort is necessary to develop sustainable solutions for the threatened reefs in the Coral Triangle, a global hot spot of marine biodiversity, Paje said. “We face a crisis on the continued degradation of our fragile ecosystems and resources that could endanger the survival and quality of life of future generations,” Paje said in a press release. “Investing in coastal and marine protection can certainly help ensure a better future for our children and a better environment for all.” Last week, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI)-Philippines National Coordinating Committee, which is co-chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture, hosted a CTI Forum in Makati City. The event also saw the launch of the Sustainable Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Program or SCREMP, designed by the Philippine government to more effectively protect and rehabilitate the coral reefs in the region. SCREMP will focus on habitat conservation and protection, as Read More …

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