Maniolas

Malaysian forces are zeroing in on a group of “well-armed” Filipino kidnappers that they believe are behind a series of abductions in Sabah in past months, a Malaysian news site reported Sunday. The Malaysian security forces suspect the “Muktadir brothers” are behind four abductions in the east coast of Sabah since November, Malaysia’s The Star Online reported. Citing intelligence officers it interviewed, the report said the Muktadir brothers are among the “most active” of some 14 known kidnap-for-ransom groups in the southern Philippines. It said the group has five members whose father was a “notorious pirate” who “terrorized the Sulu and Celebes seas” before he died in the late 1990s. Last April 2, gunmen abducted Filipina resort worker Marcelita Dayawan and Chinese tourist Gao Huayun from a floating resort. The two women were released May 30. On May 6, Chinese Yang Zai Lin, 34, was snatched by suspected Filipino gunmen from the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm in Lahad Datu waters. Abu Sayyaf bandits are believed holding him. Last June 16, suspected Filipino gunmen abducted a Filipino worker and a fish breeder from Sabah. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

Loom bands, which are gaining popularity among children and adults alike, could be harmful to pets, ecological and animal welfare groups said Sunday. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society and EcoWaste Coalition said rubber bands in the bracelets are hard to digest and can make cats and dogs ill if they swallow them accidentally. “As the rubber band bracelet craze hits the country, we urge fans to remember that these loom bands could spell danger for pets and should be handled with care to prevent pet injuries,” said PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera. EcoWaste coordinator Anthony Dizon added the risk is greater in counterfeit bracelet-making sets and related items that are cashing in on the latest craze. Ingestion of rubber bands can cause stomach upset and seriously shatter the intestinal tract and may lead to loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea, the groups said. They added the makers of the original Rainbow Loom, winner of the 2014 Toy of the Year Award by the Toy Industry Association, advised pet owners to keep the bands away from pets. Fake sets EcoWaste said it bought a fake Rainbow Loom bracelet-making kit for P240 and seven packs of loom bands at P15 to 35 per pack. It said these items were sold in Divisoria and Quiapo in Manila, and had no market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An initial screening with a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device showed no detectable levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and other toxic metals on Read More …

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BACANI A man prepares to open his stall for the night market on Temple Street in Mongkok District in Hong Kong. Her stunning B&W photos have brought acclaim to the Filipino domestic worker. XYZA CRUZ BACANI HONG KONG—On weekdays, domestic worker Xyza Cruz Bacani uses a sturdy, white mop to clean her elderly employer’s flat, if she’s not taking care of the latter’s seven grandchildren who visit every day. But whenever she gets the chance to go out—even if it’s just for a quick trip to the neighborhood grocery store—Bacani grabs her camera and takes dramatic snapshots of this city’s vibrant street life. Her stunning black-and-white photos have been featured by the New York Times and used by the Vogue Italia website. For the past three years, Bacani’s work has also been a finalist in National Geographic magazine’s competition in Hong Kong for best open documentary photo. She has even been called a modern-day Vivian Maier, the legendary American photographer/nanny. “I feel naked when I go out and I don’t have my camera with me,” said Bacani, a 27-year-old from Bambang town, Nueva Vizcaya province, who joined her mother here nine years ago to work as a nanny for the latter’s employer. “You know, when I’m told to buy something at ParknShop (a supermarket chain), I bring along my camera. It looks stupid but I do it,” she said. “My favorite pictures are those that I took when I didn’t go out on purpose to do a photo Read More …

Deportations from the United States usually arise in cases of non-US citizens committing crimes or violations of immigration law. However, in certain instances, deportation may also arise when it is discovered that the petitioning fiancé or spouse had been convicted of a sexual offense against a minor. John, a US citizen, petitioned Jenna as his fiancé in 2007. Jenna is a single parent who has a minor child from a prior relationship. The fiancé visa petition filed by John on behalf of Jenna was approved. The consular officer issued proper visas for Jenna and her minor child. Upon  arrival in the United States, Jenna immediately married John in a simple civil wedding ceremony. After the marriage, an application for adjustment of status was filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) so that Jenna and her daughter could become green card holders. John and Jenna have a genuine relationship. They  are a happy couple. They live together as husband and wife, and have plans to have a child of their own. While applying for the change of immigrant visas,  an unexpected problem arose that shattered the couple’s family dreams.  Instead of a green card, Jenna received a Notice to Appear for a deportation hearing. Unbeknownst to Jenna, John had a  criminal conviction in 1979 and was sentenced to a prison term for committing a sexual offense against a minor.  This offense made him incapable under the Adam Walsh Act of filing a petition on behalf of a foreign national. Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III has yet to choose a new associate justice for the Sandiganbayan more than 90 days after a vacancy was created when Associate Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang was appointed presiding justice of the anti-graft court. According to a report on “24 Oras” aired Saturday, the president found out that one of the nominees for the position, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Bernelito Fernandez, was recommended to the position by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in 2012. Enrile is one of three senators charged with graft and plunder before the Sandiganbayan over their alleged participation in the Priority Development Assistance Fund. According to the Palace, the president has asked the Judicial and Bar Council, which prepares a list of nominees for vacancies in the judiciary for additional information on the nominees. The request was made because the president wants the appointee to be “beyond suspicion” especially since PDAF cases are already with the Sandiganbayan. “Considering na sa Sandiganbayan po ‘yung puwestong pinag-uusapan natin, kung saan tumatayong akusado ‘yung nag-endorso sa kanya, siguro po malinaw naman ‘yung duty ng Executive na i-verify muna at i-clarify ‘yung katayuan; at kung meron pa hong similar cases that would apply to those in the shortlist, kung merong similar circumstances,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a briefing over government radio dzRB on Saturday.   Valte added: “We expect some movements in filling this particular position very soon.” Judge Fernandez has confirmed that he asked for Enrile’s recommendation, but said that that was Read More …