52 OFWs still in strife-torn South Sudan

 News
Jan 022014
 
52 OFWs still in strife-torn South Sudan

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 5:07 pm | Thursday, January 2nd, 2014 In this handout image provided by the United Nations Mission South Sudan, taken on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, civilians arrive at the UNMISS compound adjacent to Juba International Airport to take refuge. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – There are still 52 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in strife-torn South Sudan as the government declared a state of emergency due to the continuing violence. “Our Embassy continues to monitor the security situation in South Sudan and alert level 3 is still in effect over that country,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message Thursday. “So far, our Embassy has confirmed that there are still 48 OFWs in [the capital city] Juba and four others are in a town called Paloch, an hour and a half away by plane from Juba,” he said. A state of emergency was declared by South Sudan president Salva Kiir in two of its states on Wednesday as more than 1,000 people have been killed from the violence between rebel forces and government security forces. The DFA placed the country under crisis alert level 3 last December 23 banning deployment of OFWs going there and urging Filipinos already there to undergo voluntary repatriation. Hernandez said that 30 OFWs have already been repatriated while “57 were evacuated to neighboring countries and Dubai.” The United Nations has already sent reinforcements for its peacekeeping force in the country and continued to appeal for more. Read More …

With New Year injuries rising, 5 senators favor firecracker ban

 News
Jan 022014
 
With New Year injuries rising, 5 senators favor firecracker ban

At least five senators are in favor of partially or totally banning the use of firecrackers in the country after over 800 cases of injuries caused by consumer fireworks were recorded in the recent holiday revelry. Senators Loren Legarda and Miriam Defensor Santiago are pushing for the banning of the use of firecrackers in residential areas. “There are too many deaths and injuries already,” Legarda said in a text message Thursday. Santiago has formalized her proposal to prohibit the use of firecrackers near houses in Senate Bill 1876, which she refiled this Congress. She proposed that those who use firecrackers near residential areas be slapped with a fine of up to P50,000, and imprisonment of up to a year. As of Thursday morning, the number of injuries caused by consumer fireworks climbed to 804, including a 16-year-old who lost his eye due to a sky rocket (kwitis). Because of these injuries, the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for a ban on the individual use of firecrackers, “allowing only community fireworks managed by responsible persons, local government units or organizations, in designated areas,” said Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona in a statement on New Year’s Day. Malacañang said it supports this proposal. The current law regulating the use of firecrackers in the Philippines, enacted 22 years ago, allows the use and sale of certain pyrotechnic devices, including kwitis and watusi, which has caused the poisoning of minors in past years. Designated areas Santiago’s law also proposes that local government units Read More …

Efforts being made to address problem on unburied Yolanda victims – Palace

 News
Jan 022014
 
Efforts being made to address problem on unburied Yolanda victims – Palace

The government is doubling its efforts to address the problem on unburied victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which is said to be numbering about 1,400, a Malacañang official said Thursday. At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. quoted Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Sec. Panfilo Lacson as saying that national government agencies are “working closely” with the Tacloban City government to “speed up” the burial of the bodies. Lacson specifically said the Department of Health has already sent 1,500 body bags and protective kits for personnel in charge of the burial. On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways has sent additional backhoes and payloaders while the National Bureau of Investigation has redeployed its forensic team on the ground. “So ginagawa na po ito sa pamamagitan ng puspusang pagtutulungan ng DOH, NBI, DPWH at kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Tacloban City government,” said Coloma. Agence France-Presse earlier reported that about 1,400 rotting corpses in black body bags are laying on a muddy open field in Tacloban in Leyte province, more than a month after super typhoon Yolanda hit central Philippines on Nov. 8. Coloma said there was a delay in their burial because of problems in the procedure in identifying the bodies. He explained it was taking longer because they were following the INTERPOL way of identifying cadavers, which he said was designed for victims of crimes and therefore takes longer. “So they threshed it out… kung paano makakapag-comply doon and at the same time Read More …

US reminded on responsibility for coral reef destruction in Sulu Sea

 News
Jan 022014
 
US reminded on responsibility for coral reef destruction in Sulu Sea

By DJ YapPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:24 pm | Thursday, January 2nd, 2014 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Almost a year after an American warship ran aground in the Sulu Sea, destroying a portion of the Tubbataha Reefs, a militant fisherfolk organization pressed the US government to take responsibility beyond the P58 million-fine it was ordered to pay the Philippines for the environmental damage. The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) asked the Aquino administration to “follow up and pursue the US government to honor its obligations arising from the national environmental disaster” involving the grounding of the USS Guardian on Jan. 17, 2013. The group is one of the petitioners in the writ of kalikasan (nature) pending in the Supreme Court, which seeks higher penalties for the damage on the Tubbataha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as criminal prosecution of the ship’s officers and crew. Pamalakaya, in a statement, lamented that the United States government continued to snub the high tribunal’s request for Washington to answer the petition, which named as respondents Scott Swift, commander of the US Seventh Fleet, and Mark Rice, commanding officer of the American minesweeper. “The US government must respond to and account for their crimes against the people and the environment. That is simple as ABC, nothing more, nothing less. The incident merits the filing of criminal and other appropriate charges against officials and the 79 other crew of USS Guardian,” said Pamalakaya vice chair Salvador France. France also said the Read More …

SC extends modified Judicial Affidavit Rule for another year

 News
Jan 022014
 
SC extends modified Judicial Affidavit Rule for another year

Government prosecutors will be allowed to use past sworn statements instead of new “judicial affidavits” in criminal cases for another year. This was after the Supreme Court, in a two-page resolution, extended until 2014 the modified Judicial Affidavit Rule (JAR) for public prosecutors. “Acting on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Chief Justice Committee to address case congestion and delays, the court resolves to extend for another year, ending on 31 December 2014, the modified public prosecutors’ compliance with the provisions of the Judicial Affidavit Rule insofar as the prosecution of criminal cases is concerned,” the SC said. Under the JAR, parties are required to prepare judicial affidavits in place of the traditional and usually lengthy direct testimony in order to expedite the presentation of evidence. Judicial affidavits are sworn statements containing the witness’ testimony in question-and-answer form. Following the approval of the JAR in 2012, the National Prosecution Office complained that its prosecutors might not yet be ready to comply with the JAR as it would mean additional work for them on top of their already heavy workload. In response, the high court eventually issued a modified JAR, in which public prosecutors are allowed to use sworn statements that had been used during preliminary investigation or inquest in place of new judicial affidavits. Private lawyers, however, were not covered by the modified JAR and were still required to prepare judicial affidavits for their clients. In its latest resolution, the SC said it will later decide whether to extend Read More …

UN adopts PH resolution on women migrant workers

 General
Jan 022014
 
UN adopts PH resolution on women migrant workers

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 3:59 pm | Thursday, January 2nd, 2014 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted a resolution giving protection to women migrant workers against abusive employers and exploitation. “We are pleased to report that last December 18, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted, by consensus, the Philippine sponsored Resolution no. 68/137 on violence against women migrant workers,” presidential communications operations office secretary Sonny Coloma said in a press conference Thursday. “The resolution calls on all countries to grant women migrant workers in domestic service access to gender-sensitive, transparent mechanisms for bringing complaints against employers including termination of their contract in case of labor and economic exploitation, sexual harassment and sexual abuse and violence,” he said. According to records from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), 94,880 female domestic workers were deployed overseas in 2010. This was a significant increase compared to the 69,669 newly hired domestic workers abroad in 2009 and the 47,841 new hires in 2008. In 2007, there were 44,904 female domestic workers hired abroad, 89,819 in 2006, 81,725 in 2005, and 61,873 in 2004. The resolution adopted by the UN was sponsored by the Philippines because it saw the need to protect the thousands of Filipina migrant workers worldwide, Coloma said. “It urges all governments to consider permitting women migrant workers who are victims of violence to apply for residency permits independently of abusive employers or spouses, in accordance with national laws, and to eliminate abusive sponsorship Read More …

Aquino admin not giving up on peace talks with CPP

 News
Jan 022014
 
Aquino admin not giving up on peace talks with CPP

The government has not given up hope on reaching a peace agreement with communist insurgents despite the rebels’ pronouncement last week that they will no longer negotiate with the Aquino administration, Malacañang said Thursday. “Hindi po nawawalan ng pag-asa o ng determinasyon ang ating pamahalaan na malampasan kung ano man ‘yung mga hamon na nagsisilbing balakid [sa peace agreement] dahil isa pa rin po ‘yan sa mga peace table ng ating pamahalaan,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. at a press conference. Last week, the Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP) said it will no longer engage in peace talks with the Aquino administration due to the government’s “unwillingness” to negotiate. But Coloma, citing a statement by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said the government will continue to find a peaceful solution to the conflict despite disagreements between the two parties. “Sinisikap po nating maisulong ang kapayapaan hindi lamang doon sa Mindanao kundi sa iba’t iba pang mga larangan at kasama na po diyan yung pakikipag-ugnayan o pakikipag-negosasyon sa CPP-NPA-NDF para po maresolba ang matagal nang usapin hinggil diyan,” he said. As for the CPP’s reported threat that it will intensify acts against government troops in 2014, the Palace official said the government’s security and law enforcement authorities are ready. “Tungkulin po ng Sandatahang Lakas na ipagtanggol ang ating mga mamamayan at panatilihin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga komunidad,” he said. Truce Both the military and the CPP, through its armed wing Read More …

Celebrating 40 years of M&S wines

 Entertainment
Jan 012014
 
Celebrating 40 years of M&S wines

Something to celebrate: The range of wines at M&S — a range that has grown in 40 years. MANILA, Philippines – Marks & Spencers celebrates 40 years of M&S wines, which it first launched in its food section in 1973 after a year’s feasibility study and a lot of work on the ground — both in Baker Street and in the vineyard. The range went out to 12 stores initially and was such a success that it was rolled out very quickly. The original range consisted of eight wines, four sherries and a small range of traditional ales.  And what an eclectic mix it was: a white vin de table, Liebfraumilch, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, a French sparkling white rubbing shoulders with three reds and a rosé: Vin de table rouge, Beaujolais, Chianti Classico and Rosé d’Anjou.  In a world where everything in M&S was under the St. Michael label, wine was an exception. It had been registered by a small company years before. Eventually swallowed up by Allied Lyons, the chairman of Allied presented the trademark as a surprise to Lord Sieff in 1980.  Wines had always been seen as rather exotic: by its very nature foreign travel was involved, it had its own tasting room and storage facilities. There was also an inherent squirrel mentality, perhaps to do with the product! As a result, when M&S moved from Baker Street, the archive received a pretty comprehensive record of the department’s history and the trend has continued.

CCTV camera fails to catch latest NAIA intruder

 News
Jan 012014
 
CCTV camera fails to catch latest NAIA intruder

A man believed to be mentally ill breached the security fence of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Monday night and was able to get near a plane. In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Wednesday, Civil Security Officer Luis Cometa of the NAIA Terminal Police Division said airport security personnel were alerted at around 9:45 p.m. Monday about a man seen standing near a Kuwaiti Airlines plane parked at Bay 4. Airport security officials apprehended the man, identified as Marcelo Maligalig, a resident of Taguig City. Initial investigation showed that he was a mental patient who has been repeatedly confined at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. “Hindi naman siya nag-cause ng disruption sa airport o naging threat sa mga pasahero. Nakalapit lang siya sa aircraft,” Cometa said of Maligalig. Maligalig, who was carrying several identification cards bearing his name, was eventually turned over to his sister, policewoman Christine Maligalig of Southern Police District. NAIA reportedly has no CCTV cameras around the perimeter fence where Maligalig climbed. But an airport official speaking on condition of anonymity said there are CCTV cameras installed in the area but the incident was not recorded because the area was too dark. General Jesus Gordon Descanzo, manager of the airport police department, also said there are CCTV cameras installed at Terminal 1, although he was uncertain if they are still working. “Hindi ko alam kung gumagana pa yung nakakabit doon dahil subject for rehabilitation na Read More …

Palace: ‘Friendly’ shootfest will not deter BIR from pursuing tax case vs. Pacquiao

 News
Jan 012014
 
Palace: ‘Friendly’ shootfest will not deter BIR from pursuing tax case vs. Pacquiao

The government will still pursue the tax case against boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao despite a recent sports activity in Malacañang where President Benigno Aquino III had Pacquiao partnered with Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares. “Joining a sports activity where the President is present does not stop or deter the [Bureau of Internal Revenue] from pursuing its case against Representative Pacquiao,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Wednesday. He was referring to the shootfest held at the Presidential Security Group’s firing range last December 21 where Pacquiao was partnered with Henares. The Pacquiao-Henares tandem in the shootfest was reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Jan. 1, 2014. The BIR has filed a P2.2-billion tax evasion case against Pacquiao, resulting in the freezing of his bank accounts. The case stemmed from the supposed failure of Pacquiao’s accountant to report in his income tax returns (ITR) the multi-million-dollar taxes collected by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from his prize winnings for the years 2008 to 2009, reportedly amounting to $28 million. The Court of Tax Appeals has issued a gag order against Pacquiao and Henares. Interviewed by GMA News, Henares said she and Pacquiao did not talk about the tax case during the shootfest. “We just conversed about who shoots which target and how we will do it,” Henares said. “Lahat ng usapan was all about the friendly game lang.” She added that they were “cordial” Read More …

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