News – Page 350

DOJ to summon Leviste in Mexican drug cartel probe

News

Dec 272013

DOJ to summon Leviste in Mexican drug cartel probe

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will summon former Batangas governor Jose Antonio “Tony” Leviste in its probe on the reported operation of a powerful Mexican drug cartel in the Philippines. A GMA News TV Live report said the DOJ wants Leviste to produce the lease contract of the LPL Ranch located in Barangay Inosluban in Lipa City, where P420 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by authorities last Wednesday. In a media interview, Leviste, who was recently granted parole, denied owning the ranch. On Thursday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) said the illegal drugs recovered in the Batangas ranch can be traced to the Mexican Sinoloa drug ring, which has been tagged by international media as Mexico’s most powerful drug syndicate. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

In the know: Sinaloa drug cartel

News

Dec 262013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:25 am | Friday, December 27th, 2013 Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. AP FILE PHOTO The drug trafficking cartel known as Sinaloa derives its name from Mexico’s remote state. It is said to be the ancestral land of the country’s most notorious traffickers, bound in an “alliance of blood.” Prominent members are cousins by marriage or brothers-in-law. The cartel is headed by Mexico’s most wanted man, Joaquin (“El Chapo” or “Shorty”) Guzman. Often described as Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpin, Guzman escaped from prison in 2001 and then went on a wave of killings in an attempt to dominate the country’s highly lucrative drug trade into the United States. He has been on the run with a $5-million reward on his head since. Guzman was on the Forbes list of billionaires from 2009 to 2012. He was cut from the 2013 list. Forbes said it was no longer confident Guzman, rumored to have been killed in a shootout on the Guatemala border in February, had enough money to count in its rankings this year. About 90 percent of all cocaine consumed in the United States come from Mexico, which is also a major source of heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana. By most estimates, Sinaloa has achieved a market share of 40 to 60 percent, which may be translated to annual revenues of some $3 billion. In the 1980s, Guzman joined the Guadalajara cartel, which was headed by a former policeman known as El Padrino. After El Padrino’s capture in Read More …

In The Know: Glossary of IRS terms

News

Dec 262013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:21 am | Friday, December 27th, 2013 Federal tax lien: A legal claim against current and future property (i.e. houses, cars) and rights to property (i.e. wages, bank accounts). A lien is the US government’s legal claim against a taxpayer’s property in the event that the taxpayer neglects or fails to pay a tax debt. A tax lien arises automatically once a taxpayer fails to pay in full taxes owed within 10 days after the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sends the first notice of taxes owed and demand for payment. A tax lien attaches to assets such as property, securities and vehicles, as well as to future assets acquired during the duration of the lien. Once the IRS files a notice of federal tax lien, it may limit the taxpayer’s ability to get credit, among other effects. Levy: A legal seizure of property or rights to property to satisfy a tax debt. When property is seized (“levied”), it will be sold to help pay the tax debt. If wages or bank accounts are seized, the money will be applied to the tax debt. The seizure is made only after three requirements are met: The IRS has assessed the tax and sent a notice and demand for payment. The taxpayer has neglected or refused to pay the tax. The IRS has sent a final notice of intent to levy and levy notice at least 30 days before the levy. Notice of intent to levy: The IRS sends Read More …

Lipa drug bust tied to Mexico drug ring

News

Dec 262013

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO The country’s fight against illegal drugs is facing a new formidable nemesis. A notorious Mexican drug cartel, described by US authorities as the world’s most powerful organized crime group, has traveled across the globe and found its way into the country, the Philippine National Police disclosed on Thursday. PNP Director General Alan Purisima said the presence of the Sinaloa drug cartel in the country was confirmed during a raid on a cock farm in Lipa City on Wednesday during which a Filipino couple and a Chinese-Filipino were arrested after weeks of intelligence operations by local and US antinarcotics personnel. The raid on the LPL Ranch at Barangay Inosluban yielded 84 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with a street value of P400 million. “Going after this group will entail more hard work,” Purisima told a news briefing at Camp Crame. “We have confirmed that the Mexican (drug traffickers) are already here,” said Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias, chief of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force. Along with agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Tobias’ men carried out the operations in Lipa on Christmas Day. “We have previously received reports that the Mexicans are in the country. But this is the first time we have confirmed that the Mexicans are already here,” Tobias said. Purisima said it was still unclear how the Sinaloa drug group was able to gain a foothold in the Philippines. He said that the Mexicans were apparently “coordinating with the Chinese.” “They Read More …

Over 1,000 qualify for Pisay 2014 school year

News

Dec 252013

Over 1,000 qualify for Pisay 2014 school year

The Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) announced that 1,231 examinees out of 22,661 applicants gained admission to the school after they passed their National Competitive Examination held last October 13, 2013. The passers, representing five percent of the total number of examinees, hurdled a one-step screening process according to the school’s site. A complete list of passers can be viewed here: http://oed.pshs.edu.ph/nce2014/ Passers are requested to immediately contact the registrar or campus director of the PSHSS Campus they are qualified to enroll in. The last day for pre-enrolment is on February 7, 2014. For more information you can visit: www.oed.pshs.edu.ph —Andrei Medina/KG, GMA News

Keeping alive the stories of Yolanda in the Bay Area

News

Dec 252013

Keeping alive the stories of Yolanda in the Bay Area

PHOTO/Tigra Bantayan Back to Sea project It’s been nearly two months since Yolanda. But the stories and images from the tragedy remain fresh in the Bay Area. Rick Rocamora is among those keeping them alive. He has snapped pictures of rebellions, poverty, ethnic conflicts from the Philippines to South Africa to El Salvador. He was opening an exhibit at U.P. Diliman when Yolanda struck. PHOTO/Rick Rocamora That led to a drastic change in plans — and one of the toughest assignments in his career as a documentary photographer. Through a snap, unexpected assignment from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, he came face to face with one of the biggest catastrophes in recent history. “There were times when I myself was overwhelmed by emotions and have to slow down,” he told me. “It was not an easy task when you know that the survivors are your own people and their rehabilitation is a monumental task.” Rick’s images from the Yolanda tragedy are part of the ongoing exhibit titled “Displaced,” at the Exposure Gallery at 801 Howard in San Francisco until February 18. PHOTO/Tigra Bantayan Back to Sea project Rick’s photographs will also be part of an exhibit sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees at the Philippine Senate to be launched at the opening day of the 17th Congress. “To understand the impact of the devastation, I need not only pick and choose the image and compose it appropriately but I also needed to be a good Read More …

On its 125th year, James Hardie withstands the test of time

News

Dec 252013

On its 125th year, James Hardie withstands the test of time

Launched only last November, the HardieFlex Flooring is James Hardie’s latest product that innovates the way people build and live. Diamond-trimmed which delivers flatness, evenness and squareness for easy installation in any type of space, HardieFlex Flooring meets the requirements of the National Structure Code of the Philippines and the Australian Loading Code. MANILA, Philippines – With countless companies playing in the global building materials field, only a handful of them are true heritage brands. Taking pride in their tradition and long experience and expertise in offering the best products for consumers, James Hardie is one of the esteemed few as it marks its 125th anniversary this month. Considered as a world leader in building materials, James Hardie has stayed true and relevant to the times by constantly challenging itself by coming up with products, technologies and solutions that redefine how people construct their homes, buildings, structures — the built environment. “At James Hardie, we are delighted to mark this milestone along with our partners and consumers whose unwavering belief in the company inspires us to exceed expectations every step of the way,” said Mark Sergio, James Hardie Philippines sales and marketing director. “In those 125 years, we have created a variety of products that ease and upgrade the life of homeowners, encouraging them to live without compromise. Longevity in the very competitive field of construction business does not only mean endurance but excellence. We are proud that our company has subscribed to the ideals of our founders,” Sergio added. Read More …

A wish for 2014

News

Dec 252013

Christmas is the celebration of God coming into the world as a man. The man Jesus Christ who is God proclaimed to us the good news – that God is a loving God who loves us. Jesus also taught us how to live: Love God above everything else; Love your neighbor as yourself. And for our sins to be forgiven, He suffered and died for us. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, His message, teachings, sacrifice and His entire life itself – are all manifestations of God’s love. Christ’s promise to us of a place of eternal bliss after our lives in this world of tears – is truly reason for constant celebration and joy. For those who make Jesus Christ the Center of their lives, connect Him to every facet of their existence – how they live and how they die – their lives bear much fruit not only for themselves but also for others. And even if faced with the worst of situations, their faith in God’s love and mercy keeps them from crumbling. It is a part of God’s love that the start of the new year comes exactly a week after we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. A new year symbolically and in actuality can mean a new beginning as well as the ending of certain aspects of our lives. Making a list of resolutions for the new year is a good idea. Whether it’s a resolution connected to improving one’s situation – financial, Read More …

Papal Nuncio celebrates mass in ruined Tacloban Church

News

Dec 252013

Papal Nuncio celebrates mass in ruined Tacloban Church

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JESS YUSON TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Na higugma ha iyo an santo papa!(The Holy Father loves you!). This was the message conveyed by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Guiseppe Pinto during his homily in a Christmas Mass he celebrated at the Sto. Niño church, this city. The church was one of the city structures badly damaged by supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). The Papal Nuncio said that Pope Francis has always included all the victims of the world’s strongest typhoon this year in his prayers. “The Holy Father has already shown his closeness to the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda, especially you who have witnessed a catastrophe beyond all telling. It is my privilege to bring to you the solidarity of his Holiness Pope Francis. You know how much he cares for you,” said Pinto, the Holy See’s representative to the country, in his less than 10 minutes homily inside the rain-soaked main church of Tacloban, considered to be the ground zero of Yolanda, which resulted in deaths of more than 6,000 people. Close to 2,000 people are still missing. He disclosed that Pope Francis, speaking before a group of faithful that included several Filipinos in a Papal audience at the Vatican on Nov. 21, said that he “felt that the trials were too tough but I also felt that the (Filipino) people were strong.” “Christmas is an assurance that despite the tragedy you have faced, you are not alone. God is with Read More …

Immigration bureau eyes office in Makati’s central business district

News

Dec 242013

Immigration bureau eyes office in Makati’s central business district

By Niña P. CallejaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:28 pm | Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration wants to make its services accessible to foreign nationals by setting up a frontline office at the central business district of Makati City. Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the agency has been scouting for a building in Makati to house the immigration personnel in its frontline operations. “We would want our services like processing of renewal and extension of visas of foreign nationals to be accessible. They can no longer have the excuse that our office is too far from them,” Mison said in a recent interview with reporters. The BI main office is located in Intramuros, Manila, while it has field offices in other regions in the country. “Our main office will still be here in Intramuros. My office will still be here. Just a part of operations will just be transferred to Makati to make it conducive and convenient foreign nationals,” Mison said. Makati is the place of choice, according to Mison, since it is the middle of the metropolis’ urban centers. “We think most of our foreign nationals stay there since it’s the country’s financial capital. It is also relatively near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” the BI chief said. Mison said the agency would like to see the office set up by 2014 in line with its plan to hire 200 additional immigration officers to be assigned in the country’s ports of entry. The immigration commissioner Read More …

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