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What seizure? Car importers cry foul

News

Feb 222014

Port Irene in Cagayan Freeport Sta. Ana, Cagayan. A big-time contractor, who has close personal and business ties to the former chief of staff of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and her family, cornered the bulk of P5 billion in state largesse given to the Cagayan Freeport in the last five years. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines—A group of car importers based in Port Irene in Cagayan on Saturday protested the statements made by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that portrayed them as car smugglers. Jaime Vicente, president of the Automotive Rebuilding Industry of Cagayan Inc. (Aric), described as “malicious” the BOC’s insinuation that they tried to sneak out imported vehicles from the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) in Santa Ana town. “What is most lamentable are insinuations that the BOC has confiscated the 38 units for which we have filed for import entry. There appears a clear attempt to give the public the impression that the vehicles were ‘intercepted’ while these were being illegally brought out of the port,” Vicente said in a statement. Vicente was referring to an announcement made by Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla at a press briefing on Friday, 10 days after BOC agents at its Aparri collection office issued warrants of seizure on 38 assorted vehicles presented for acceptance by Fenix (Ceza) International, one of the licensed used car importers at the CSEZFP. The 38 units were part of 347 vehicles that comprised the Dec. 14 shipment from Japan, the import documents Read More …

68 years of injustice and still counting

News

Feb 222014

68 years of injustice and still counting

Filipino American community leaders, supporters, students and Philippine Embassy officials observing the 71st anniversary of the Fall of Bataan with a wreath-laying ceremony on April 9 at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. FILE PHOTO It has been 68 years—68 years since the Rescission Act of 1946 removed United States military service recognition and benefits to Filipino World War II veterans; 68 years under a pall of injustice for thousands of Filipino World War II veterans, who to this day, have not received their due; 68 years of ongoing hardships. Despite concerted action to correct the unjust treatment, most efforts have remained futile except for a few provisions adjusting some benefits. The harsh effect of the Rescission Act is still experienced by many veterans to this day. George is a Filipino World War II veteran who is currently residing in California. He has a service-connected disability and is one of the few veterans receiving compensation from the US Veterans Affairs office. In January, he received a letter from the VA notifying him of its intention to reduce his benefits to 50 percent of what he was currently receiving. What is the reason for the reduction of this benefit? What steps should he take to ensure his compensation benefit is not reduced? The 1946 Rescission Act More than 250,000 Filipinos were conscripted to join the US Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) during World War II. After the war, President Truman signed the Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act Read More …

Beaten, detained and starved

News

Feb 222014

Twenty-seven-year-old Irene dela Virgen appeared at the studio of Inquirer Radio with tales of the horror she suffered in Saudi Arabia. She was detained, beaten, starved and received no salaries from her three employers. Bantay OCW initially got the complaint through an overseas call from Irene’s aunt, Marilyn, who is based in Athens, Greece. Her husband Mario from Nueva Ecija, together with Marilyn’s daughter Lejani, then sought the assistance of our program. We endorsed them to the office of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration administrator Hans Leo Cacdac for the necessary filing of Irene’s case. POEA immediately ordered Raysa International, the agency that deployed Irene, to send the distressed overseas Filipino worker an airline ticket and bring her home. The order warned that noncompliance within 15 days would result in a suspension of the agency’s license to operate. Irene had recounted her ordeal in the hands of her employers in Saudi. According to her contract, processed at the POEA, her employer was Mohammed Abdullah Abdulazis Salimi. Upon her arrival at the Salimi residence, the wife, who is a teacher, instructed her to proceed to her room and to just stay there. For four days, she stayed in the room without food or drinking water. On the fourth day, Irene was transferred to a second employer, the “Madame’s” fellow teacher. During the first two days, she was not given food. On the third day, she was given a small piece of bread and a cup of coffee. The second employer would bring Read More …

Albay lawmaker warns gov’t of worse sanctions from HK

News

Feb 042014

Albay lawmaker warns gov’t of worse sanctions from HK

INQUIRER.net 6:05 pm | Tuesday, February 4th, 2014 Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara. Facebook photo MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker believes the government should have apologized earlier to Hong Kong over the botched hostage-taking crisis three years ago. Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara said at a press briefing Tuesday that it would be more shameful if the government waits for worse sanctions from Hong Kong before it apologizes. “We could have done that earlier because apparently we cannot always say that is the fault of the police captain. We’re part of the operations and we are partly to blame, also,” Bichara said when asked if the government should give in to Hong Kong’s demands. “Kung hihintayin pa natin na maipit tayo, mas lalong nakakahiya (It would be more embarrassing if we wait for things to get worse before we apologize),” he added. Bichara made the statement after Hong Kong suspended the current visa-free arrangement for visiting Philippine diplomats and officials. The sanction will start on February 5. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said the government may take more action if it thought it could be “effective” in securing an apology over the hostage-taking. Hong Kong is infuriated as the Philippines refused to apologize for the act of a disgruntled police officer who hijacked a tourist bus boarded by its nationals in 2010. Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed because of a botched police operation. Since the crisis, relations have soured between the Philippines and Hong Kong, home to some Read More …

Canadian frigate in Manila on goodwill visit

General

Feb 042014

Canadian frigate in Manila on goodwill visit

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 4:09 pm | Tuesday, February 4th, 2014 Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder visits Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano on Tuesday at the Philippine Navy Headquarters. PHOTO/ NAVY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE MANILA, Philippines — A Canadian frigate is in Manila on a goodwill visit, the Philippine Navy said Tuesday. Her Majesty Canadian Ship (HMCS) “Regina” arrived last Saturday at Pier 15 in South Harbor, Manila and will stay there until Wednesday, said Gregory Gerald Fabic, Navy spokesperson said. The Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines, Neil Reeder, visited the Navy Headquarters on Tuesday and paid a courtesy call to Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano. Reeder was joined by Colonel Michel Latouche, Canadian Defense Attaché to the Philippines, and Commander Daniel Charlebois, the commanding officer of “Regina.” In February last year, “Regina” also visited Manila where they conducted several activities such as professional exchanges and goodwill games with their Philippine Navy counterparts. The visit aims “to promote stronger military ties and cooperation” between the Philippine Navy and Royal Canadian Navy and strengthen the diplomatic relation between the two countries, Fabic said. Reeder assured Alano that they would continue to seek ways on how they can assist and help the Navy in its capability and capacity upgrade, adding that they are looking into the possibilities of forging a training collaboration to promote interoperability between the two navies. RELATED STORY Canada-Philippine bilateral ties Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and Read More …

Palace assures assistance to OFWs allegedly abused in Malaysia

News

Jan 232014

Palace assures assistance to OFWs allegedly abused in Malaysia

By Nestor CorralesINQUIRER.net 5:01 pm | Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday assured the public it will call the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to check the alleged abuses committed against Filipinos in Malaysia. This was after a Palace reporter recounted the experience of his brother being maltreated by Malaysian authorities in line with the nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants. “We will call the priority attention of the DFA on this. We need to get the particulars because if we will just present about the general situation, we would not be able to trace this,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Thursday in a press briefing. Coloma said the government could not tolerate violation of basic human rights committed against Filipino citizens. He, however, pointed out the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to receive reports from the Philippine embassy in Malaysia on the said incident reports. He cited they need details of the incident reports of maltreatment before filing any case against Malaysian authorities. “These allegations are serious that is why we need to have enough evidence of the maltreatment and violence to our citizens,” he said. He assured the public especially our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Malaysia the government is doing the necessary steps to give justice to the maltreated OFWs. He said our government is respecting the rights of foreigners in our country so he expects that other countries should do the same. A nationwide Read More …

Pandesal eases homesickness

News

Jan 182014

PINOY BUNS Light and salty pandesal is standard Pinoy breakfast fare. Inset: Prime Obon-Laput and her husband Edmund, posing with their daughter, are making sure overseas Pinoys in Thailand still get their daily pandesal. PHITSANULOK, Thailand—Filipinos abroad miss many things from the Philippines, from “balut” to San Miguel Beer. But overseas Filipino workers and their families in Phitsanulok have a taste of home thanks to a Filipino teacher here who ventured into baking the most sought-after bread by fellow Pinoys: the light and salty breakfast bun, pandesal. Prime Obon-Laput, 33, a college instructor at Phitsanulok College and her husband Edmund, also a teacher at Padoongrasda School, ventured into the small-scale Pinoy bakery, to augment their income as teachers. “At first, we just wanted to make pandesal for our own consumption, but most of our friends requested us to sell the pandesal,” Prime says. A family business Back in the Philippines, Prime’s family owned a bakery—La Prima Bakery in Sariaya, Quezon. When her father came to Thailand in 2011, Edmund asked him to teach them how to bake pandesal for their own consumption. “Pandesal is very much a part of a Filipino’s breakfast. We missed it here, so my husband wanted to learn how to bake it,” Prime recalls. At that time, they didn’t have an oven, so they waited until 2013, during Prime’s father’s third visit in Thailand to teach Edmund how to bake. On September 2013, Prime and Edmund started baking pandesal. Their friends who got a taste Read More …

Remembering Uncle Fred, Fil-Am historian

News

Jan 182014

Remembering Uncle Fred, Fil-Am historian

FRED CORDOVA; 1931-2013 He was a humble man with a commanding presence. I can only imagine what that looked like 50-plus years ago, when he was a young university student, an aspiring journalist, a community activist, or just a mischievous boy pursuing his college sweetheart. But we’ll save those stories for actual writers to tell. I knew Uncle Fred for five short years of his life, when he already had been together 60 years with his wife Dorothy Laigo Cordova, had fathered eight children, at least three community organizations, and had enjoyed 20 years as founder and president of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS). Those five years served as a foundation for me, as Uncle Fred imbued them chock-full with Pinoy purpose. He watched me transform from someone who placed little to no significance on his cultural heritage into one who embraced it as the focal point of his character. Thus he claimed me: “If you’ve got one drop of bagoong in you… then we’ve got you. You’re a Filipino.” He of course was referring to the pungent, purple, Filipino shrimp paste that ferments in jars and complements meals. Uncle Fred kept one such jar on his work desk to hold red sharpies and pencils, with which he continued his journalistic tendencies of meticulously marking, editing, and note-taking. A perpetual work in progress—one way I’d describe his attitude toward life. Consistently searching how to be a better person. Persistently taking on new responsibilities. Constantly adopting new projects, with Read More …

OFW’s warned of immigration crackdown in Malaysia

News

Jan 182014

OFW’s warned of immigration crackdown in Malaysia

Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:47 pm | Saturday, January 18th, 2014 The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has reminded Filipinos in Malaysia to complete their immigration documentation and always carry identification documents in light of an announced Malaysian government crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals starting Jan. 21. “We would like to remind our nationals to make sure that their immigration or work documents are in order, and to carry with them proper documents, notably work permits or passports with valid visas, to avoid inconvenience in case of immigration checks,” Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya said. He also asked employers and agents to hand over any passport and other identification documents to their Filipino employees for the latter’s safety and protection. Those who have no status in Malaysia are urged to make arrangements for their voluntary return to the Philippines. Malaysian authorities have indicated that those who will leave voluntarily will not be prosecuted but will only have to pay the overstay fine. Those who will be caught will be kept in detention while undergoing deportation proceedings, and will be subjected to biometric fingerprint registration to ensure that they would not be able to return to Malaysia under a different name. The Embassy also reiterated its appeal to those who wished to work in Malaysia to make sure that they have approved work permits or similar papers before they come over or start their work in the country. The Malaysian Home Ministry announced on Jan. 10 that it will be launching a massive Read More …

Indians who married for visas nabbed

News

Jan 112014

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:09 am | Sunday, January 12th, 2014 Bureau of Immigration building. Photo from Bureau of Immmigration website MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned Indian nationals against entering into fraudulent marriages to acquire permanent residence in the Philippines. Immigration Commissioner Siegfried Mison said the bureau summoned several Indians after discovering that their marriages to Filipinos had been arranged to evade immigration restrictions. Mison said the bureau discovered that the marital status of Indian nationals supposedly married to Filipinos were not reflected on their passports. As of December, 70,216 Indian nationals were recorded in the country, most of them engaged in money lending. This number is higher than the 60,415 in 2012. Based on BI records, four Indians have been arrested for falsifying their applications for a five-year temporary resident visa (TRV) by submitting fraudulent documents. “We discovered the suspects resorted to fake marriages and used it as a ploy to acquire residence visas,” he said. Annotations in the passports of Indian applicants should reflect the name of their Filipino spouses to avoid fraudulent TRV applications. “This measure is aimed at protecting our people from exploitation by schemers,” said Mison, adding that failure to comply with the requirements would mean cancellation of the TRV. Tina G. Santos RELATED STORIES: By October 2015, immigration officials to accept only e-Passports Immigration relief for Fil-Ams sought Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step Read More …

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