HK renews black travel warning vs PHL

 News
Dec 302013
 
HK renews black travel warning vs PHL

Hong Kong on Monday renewed its black warning travel on the Philippines, citing the effects of super Typhoon Yolanda as well as the risk of possible terrorist attacks including on areas frequented by foreigners. In its Dec. 30 update, the Hong Kong Security Bureau said some foreign governments had noted the risk of “possible terrorist attacks.” “Some overseas administrations had noted the risk on possible terrorist attacks, including places frequented by foreigners, such as large shopping malls and convention centers,” it said. It also noted Yolanda’s effects, including “widespread damage. Food and water shortages, deteriorating hygienic conditions, electricity outages and poor communications” in affected areas. Hong Kong has not changed its black travel warning on the Philippines since Aug. 23, 2010, when a dismissed policeman took a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement.  He and some of his hostages were killed in a botched rescue try. The black travel alert is the most serious in Hong Kong’s three-tier outbound travel alert system. The others include red (significant threat) and amber (signs of threat). The Philippines is one of only three countries to be assigned the black alert. The others are Egypt and Syria. — BM, GMA News

PNoy's year-end message: Keep spirit of bayanihan alive

 News
Dec 292013
 
PNoy's year-end message: Keep spirit of bayanihan alive

President Benigno Aquino III likened the 2013 to a basketball game that reached its “last two minutes,” but not without hurdles in the form of corruption and calamities. In his year-end message released on Monday, the President emphasized Filipinos were able to go past the obstacles by the sheer spirit of “bayanihan” or the traditional Filipino value loosely translated as mutual cooperation or cooperative endeavor. “Papasok na naman po tayo sa bagong taon ng pagtahak sa matuwid na daan… At gaya rin po sa basketball, hanggang sa huling yugto ay may hinaharap tayong barikada. Batid nating hindi basta basta titiklop ang mga latak ng lumang  sistema,” he said. “Manggulo man ang masasamang loob, yanigin man ng lindol, o hagupitin man ng bagyo, nangingibabaw pa rin ang lakas ng ating bayanihan,” he added. Aquino’s year-end message came on the heels of Typhoon Yolanda that hit central Philippines in November – killing almost 6,000 people – and a magnitude-7.2 earthquake that jolted central Visayas in October and killed more than 200 people. The government was criticized by the local and international media for the sluggishness of its aid and relief efforts. The year was also highlighted by what was considered as the biggest government fund expose, the P10-billion pork barrel scam in which Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, along with other former lawmakers, were alleged to have plundered their Priority Development Assistance Funds through bogus foundations run by Janet Lim-Napoles. “Habang lumalapit tayo sa tagumpay, lalo rin Read More …

A NEW YEAR’S WISH LIST FOR THE PHILIPPINES

 News
Dec 292013
 
A NEW YEAR’S WISH LIST FOR THE PHILIPPINES

It’s 2014! The Mayan calendar ended on December 21, 2012, suggesting that cataclysmic or transformative events would occur on or around that time.  We have now officially survived the Mayans’ end-of-the-world prophecy for over a year! Since then, the Philippines has faced a series of events that elicited a fusion of reaction from our countrymen – from shock and anguish to outrage and defiance. The past year has been one of the toughest in recent memory.  Our country was devastated by natural calamities. Earthquakes shook Bohol and Cebu. Powerful storms lashed at large swaths of the Visayas. On the political stage, the pork barrel scandal rocked the nation and brought the level of public loathing for some elected officials to a new low. Over in Mindanao, the siege of Zamboanga cast a pall over peace negotiations. Through it all, Filipinos have remained steadfast, resilient and hopeful. The youth, particularly, still feel that they can hurdle the challenges and move onward to a brighter future. With all these catastrophes still fresh in mind, several college freshmen got together to create a list of the top 10 things that they want for the country in the coming year. Like it or not, it is our generation that will be running the country in the near future, and it is because of this that we must be aware of what is going on beyond our comfort zone. The following wishes for the new year were chosen based on the issues that we, as Read More …

PORK TALES

 News
Dec 292013
 
PORK TALES

Among 2013’s most explosive stories, how multi-billion-peso public funds were so blatantly misused shocked and angered the nation. That the abuses involved public officials, obscure private individuals, and fake non-governmental organizations added to the outrage. How could corruption be masked so well? READ FULL STORY

Last of distressed OFWs in Lebanon home by yearend—DOLE

 News
Dec 282013
 
Last of distressed OFWs in Lebanon home by yearend—DOLE

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:04 pm | Saturday, December 28th, 2013 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The 36 remaining distressed Filipino workers in Lebanon are to be flown home before the year ends, the Department of Labor said Saturday. Citing a report from Irma Valiente, the assistant labor attache in Beirut, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Lebanese General Security Department has agreed to waive all penalties and fines, thus allowing the 36 workers to leave immediately. The workers, most of whom are domestics, are staying at the Filipino Workers Rescue Center, Baldoz said. “The plane tickets of the 36, who are all female ‘runaways’, will be paid for by Caritas Lebanon, a religious non-government organization in Bierut. We are now finalizing the flight bookings of the distressed OFWs,” Valiente said in her report to Baldoz. Baldoz had earlier directed all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices to fast-track the settlement of cases involving distressed Filipino workers so they could be repatriated as soon as possible. She urged labor officials to work closely with the Philippine embassies, establish rapport with licensed overseas employment providers, and intensify networking and coordination with the immigration and labor offices of the host countries. “I commend the POLO in Lebanon for sustaining our efforts to fast-track the settlement of cases and repatriation of OFWs,” Baldoz said. “This is, without doubt, the result of our POLO-Lebanon’s good rapport and active networking with Lebanon’s immigration and labor offices.” RELATED STORIES: OFW alert up in Lebanon 31 OFWs Read More …

Filipino cabbie in Vegas finds and returns $300K

 News
Dec 272013
 
Filipino cabbie in Vegas finds and returns $300K

By Bert EljeraINQUIRER.net US Bureau 8:02 am | Saturday, December 28th, 2013 Gerardo Gamboa with the $10,000 reward he received for returning $300,000 in cash left behind by a passenger in his cab in Las Vegas on Christmas Day. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Yellow Checker Taxi LAS VEGAS — Filipino-American cab driver Gerardo Gamboa returned $300,000 in hard cash left behind by a passenger. He was rewarded handsomely for his honesty. Gamboa of Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Silay City, received $10,000 Friday from the owner of the money, a professional poker player who chose to remain anonymous. His identity, however, has been established. “I’ll give this to my wife, and we can buy some stuff,” said the 34-year-old Gamboa, who created a worldwide sensation for returning the money left behind in his cab on Christmas Day. “I’m happy that we can show to the world the Filipino is a good person, and can not be easily dazzled by money.” Together with the $1,000 reward and steak dinner for two from Yellow Checker Star, the cab company Gamboa has been working for, it was a rewarding Christmas for the 13-year cab veteran. Cash bundle that Gamboa found. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Yellow Checker Taxi “We’re so proud of him,” said Bill Shranko, the company’s COO. “He epitomizes the culture of honesty we try to develop among our drivers.” In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gamboa said he found the money after noticing a brown paper bag in the back seat of the cab. When a passenger Read More …

Del Rosario bids Chinese Ambassador Ma ‘fond’ farewell

 News
Dec 272013
 
Del Rosario bids Chinese Ambassador Ma ‘fond’ farewell

Chinese Ambassador to Manila, Ma Keqing. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Despite the frayed ties between the Philippines and China over unresolved territorial disputes, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario gave outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing a cordial farewell on Monday. As Ma prepared to end her two-year Manila posting, Del Rosario hosted a farewell lunch before the Christmas break, describing her as “our dear friend.” Del Rosario said he hoped Ma would share with the Chinese people her experience of the “kindness, warmth and courage of the Filipino people.” “Our farewell exchange was friendly and positive,” Del Rosario told the Inquirer of his last meeting with Ma at a Manila hotel. In his toast, Del Rosario acknowledged how “challenges” have marked the relations between the Philippines and China, an indirect reference to disputes over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “Your posting here has been marked by challenges. Notwithstanding, Ambassador, you have experienced the kindness, warmth and courage of the Filipino people. You were able to know more of how the Filipinos feel, think and act to uphold what we believe is right,” said Del Rosario in his remarks, a copy of which was furnished the Inquirer. “Our friendship is historic and deep, and we hope this bond will enable us to surmount the challenges so that our two countries can flourish in the spirit of deep mutual respect,” said the Philippines’ top diplomat. Recounting Ma’s response, Del Rosario said the outgoing envoy also acknowledged the challenges and Read More …

DOH exec asks lawmakers to review firecrackers law

 News
Dec 272013
 
DOH exec asks lawmakers to review firecrackers law

As the number of firecracker-related injuries continues to rise during the holiday season, a health official on Friday asked lawmakers to review the law regulating sale, manufacture, distribution and use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices. “We realized the existing laws do not allow local governments, even the country to ban fireworks. This is for our legislators to consider. DOH (Department of Health) will give them evidence whether… it is time to completely ban (firecrackers),” Dr. Eric Tayag said in an interview on GMA News TV’s “News To Go” on Friday. He was referring to Republic Act 7183, which was enacted in 1991. Also, he said that while there is a ban in some local government units, residents still find ways to use firecrackers. “Sa Davao completely banned (ang firecrackers) pero meron pa ring injury nung pinulot nung isang 13-taong lalaki ang piccolo,” said Tayag. “Human behavior kasi dictates na talagang dumidiskarte. Yung listahan na inilabas namin to guide consumers, yun ang ginamit ng mga nagbebenta sa mga ilalabas lang nilang produkto. Pero ‘pag binulungan mo, ibibigay sa’yo yung ilegal na paputok na nakatago lang,” he added. He noted that because of the government’s campaign against firecrackers, there is now a lower number of injuries. “Over the years nakita namin na because of the campaign, because of the law, malaki ang ibinawas. Sa ngayon nagpa-plateau na siya, ang natitirang option is to completely ban them, yun ang extreme measure na tinatawag natin,” he said. The number of injures recorded in Read More …

SC extends holiday recess to January 14

 News
Dec 272013
 
SC extends holiday recess to January 14

The Supreme Court has extended its Christmas recess until January 10 next year from the original date of January 3. In a statement released Friday, the Supreme Court Public Information Office said division sessions will resume on January 13, 2014 while en banc sessions shall resume on January 14. The high court went on a holiday recess on December 16. — Xianne Arcangel/RSJ, GMA News

Eyewitness in NAIA shooting tags mayor's rival in statement to NBI

 News
Dec 272013
 
Eyewitness in NAIA shooting tags mayor's rival in statement to NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) already has in its possession a statement from a witness to last week’s assassination of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur mayor Ukol Talumpa at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). According to a GMA News TV Live report Friday, the witness was just three feet away from Talumpa, his wife, and other members of his family when they were shot by a lone gunman five days before Christmas at the loading bay of the NAIA Terminal 3. “This witness saw the alleged gunman shoot the couple at close range, and that witness heard alleged gunman utter this ‘Mayor, mayor, para kay Kitty Nandang ito!’ Dinig na dinig daw ito at kilala ‘yung gunman,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters Friday. Kitty is the nickname of former Labangan Mayor Wilson Nandang, Talumpa’s political rival who has been on the government watch list on drug traffickers. He is believed to be the leader of the Nandang-Afdal drug group. The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said Talumpa may be the victim of a drug war in Zamboanga del Sur, noting his campaign against drug use. The DOJ is still studying the option of providing security to Talumpa’s family, the GMA News TV Live report said. De Lima said at least two witnesses would be put under the Witness Protection Program. Other than the mayor, Talumpa’s wife Lea, his nephew Salipudin Talumpa, and 18-month-old infant Phil Thomas Estoesta, who just happened to be near the target, were also Read More …

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