Naia cops recover P770,000 in cash left in cab by Spanish tourist

 News
Feb 192014
 
Naia cops recover P770,000 in cash left in cab by Spanish tourist

By Jerome AningPhilippine Daily Inquirer 7:58 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Ninoy Aquino International Airport policemen on Tuesday recovered cash worth P770,000 accidentally left in a cab by an 80-year-old Spanish tourist. Marco Muñoz Santiago, who arrived in Manila on Monday from Sydney, Australia, said he returned to Naia Terminal 1 on Tuesday morning to return a baggage that he wrongly claimed.  After doing so, he realized that he left his shoulder bag containing cash inside the taxi. Airport police department chief Jesus Descanzo said Santiago, a retired physical therapist, sought help from the APD office, which dispatched investigators to contact Santiago’s hotel in Manila for information regarding the cab. The cab’s name was identified by the hotel as a “Kevin Carlo Taxi” with plate number UVJ-421.  The investigators then contacted the Land Transportation Office, which provided name of the operator, who in turn, contacted the driver. The policemen found the cab parked along Pedro Gil Street in Ermita, Manila at around 4:30 p.m.  The driver, when confronted by the police, returned the shoulder bag. The bag contained US$8,200, US$250-worth of travelers’ checks, and 9,800 Australian dollars and as well as Santiago’s passport and eyeglasses.  The cash and checks combined was equivalent to about P770,000 based on Wednesday’s exchange rates. Santiago thanked the airport policemen for returning his money. RELATED STORY 2 NAIA cops return clutch bag to Chinese tourist Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile Read More …

German arrested for allegedly beating up Filipina girlfriend

 News
Feb 192014
 
German arrested for allegedly beating up Filipina girlfriend

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 6:59 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines–For allegedly beating up his Filipina girlfriend, a German national has been arrested by the police in Tabaco town, Albay province. Michael Alexander Schneider, 53, was collared Monday afternoon after being charged with two counts of violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 in a house in Barangay (village) San Carlos. Senior Superintendent Eduardo Chavez, Catanduanes Provincial Police Office director, told INQUIRER.net over the phone Wednesday that Schneider committed violence to his Filipina girlfriend based in Catanduanes and then fled to Tabaco. Upon settling in Tabaco, Chavez said Schneider met another Filipina. Asked how long Schneider had been staying in the Philippines, the Catanduanes PPO chief said the Bureau of Immigration found no travel record in Schneider’s passport. He faces immediate deportation once the police receive complaints or information linking him to illegal activities. An arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 of Virac, Catanduanes was served on Schneider. Schneider is currently under the custody of Catanduanes Police Provincial Office for proper disposition. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Albay , Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 , Barangay San Carlos , Read More …

PH listed as 3rd most dangerous place for journalists

 News
Feb 192014
 
PH listed as 3rd most dangerous place for journalists

By Nestor CorralesINQUIRER.net 6:06 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 Maguindanao massacre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines was listed as the third most dangerous place for journalist in the world following Syria and Iraq, a report from the International News Safety Institute’s said. The report entitled “Killing the Messenger” provided information about 134 journalists and media personnel who were killed doing their work in 29 countries in 2013. The report said 20 journalists died in Syria which retained its spot as the most dangerous place for journalist in the world for the second year while 16 died in Iraq, 14 died in the Philippines. The report revealed that 65 journalists lost their lives in armed conflict situations while 69 were killed in peacetime covering issues such as crime and corruption. The report added that most journalists were targeted and shooting was the most common cause of death with 63 percent. The report added that print media is the most dangerous among any other medium. In the Philippines, unprecedented media killings continues to pose threat to the country including the unresolved Maguindanao massacre which is considered the deadliest single event for journalists in history. RELATED STORIES PH’s slow justice system has worsened impunity in media killings—senators PH rank in press freedom index drops to 149 from 147 PH government is committed to end impunity, says Coloma Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Read More …

Large cache of smuggled exotic animals seized in Surigao

 General
Feb 192014
 
Large cache of smuggled exotic animals seized in Surigao

Agence France-Presse 4:28 pm | Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 This photograph taken on February 20, 2010 shows two sulpha crested cockatoos before being seized during a joint rescue operation by wildlife authorities and conservation groups at the residential compound of a local wealthy businessman in the Depok district outside Jakarta. Authorities had seized almost 100 exotic animals and birds, including cockatoos, echidnas and wallabies, that had been smuggled into the Philippines for sale to wealthy collectors. AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Wildlife officers said Wednesday they had seized almost 100 exotic animals and birds, including cockatoos, echidnas and wallabies, that had been smuggled into the Philippines for sale to wealthy collectors. The cache, hidden in small containers in a van, was made up of wildlife from Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, said Eric Gallego, spokesman for the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They included yellow-crested cockatoos and long-beaked echidnas, two species listed as “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They also included four wallabies from Australia and about 90 exotic parrots from Indonesia, said Gallego. Several of the birds or animals had died, possibly from the stress of long travel in harsh conditions, he told AFP. Law enforcers acting on a tip stopped a van with the wildlife and two attendants in the southern city of Surigao on Mindanao island on Saturday, just as the vehicle was about to board a ship heading north. The birds and animals Read More …

Nasdaq opens Manila support office

 Economy
Feb 192014
 
Nasdaq opens Manila support office

The Nasdaq Video Wall facing Times Square in New York City. Nasdaq photo MANILA, Philippines — Nasdaq has opened a customer service center in the Philippines in a coup for the country’s rapidly growing outsourcing industry. The operator of the namesake U.S. stock exchange says Wednesday the office will be part of its efforts to provide 24-hour support services for its corporate clients. It says the Manila office has 170 staff. Aside from its stock and futures markets in the U.S., the company has exchanges in Europe as well as stock index and trading technology businesses. For foreign companies, the Philippines has become the go to country in Southeast Asia for call centers and outsourcing of back office business functions. India’s outsourcing industry is also thriving as multinational companies seek to lower costs by basing some functions in countries with lower wages. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Balikbayan travellers down 6% in 2013

 Economy
Feb 182014
 
Balikbayan travellers down 6% in 2013

MANILA, Philippines – The number of overseas Filipinos who visited the Philippines last year dropped six percent to 203,612 from 215,943 in 2012 data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed. A DOT official, who requested anonymity, said there has been a noted drop in the volume of inbound overseas Filipinos or balikbayans since February last year. “We cannot actually pinpoint what caused the drop in the number of overseas Filipinos who visited the country last year. But with all the calamities that we had last year, most probably some of these Filipinos have opted to just donate their travel fund to the victims,” the official said. The DOT exec, however, said there have been continuous efforts to lure more Filipinos, particularly those holding Philippine passports but are permanently living abroad, to frequently visit the country. “Our Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) has Pinoy Homecoming Porgrams,” the source noted. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said they hope to engage more Filipinos in appreciating the value of tourism in the country’s inclusive growth agenda and encourage them to take an active role in growing the industry by being better hosts to both local and foreign tourists. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 He said the DOT continues to further boost the potential of the tourism industry as a major economic driver, specially as the country is in the middle of rebuilding and moving forward from recent natural disasters. In 2013, total foreign tourist arrivals went up nine percent to Read More …

BSP expects entry of more foreign banks

 Economy
Feb 182014
 
BSP expects entry of more foreign banks

MANILA, Philippines – The country may see the entry of more foreign banks soon as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) readies its proposed amendments to the law that will pave the way for the liberalization of foreign banks’ entry. BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. told reporters yesterday the central bank is preparing the proposed amendments to RA 7721 or the law governing the entry and operations of foreign banks in the country. “We’re looking at that and we will be presenting our proposal to Congress, which should basically entail the liberalization of foreign bank entry,” Tetangco said on the sidelines of Euromoney’s Philippines Investment Forum 2014. The act liberalizing the entry of foreign banks in the country, approved in 1994, only allows the entry of 10 foreign banks. Tetangco said the form of liberalization needed – whether increasing the figure or completely removing the limit – will still be assessed. “That’s something we need to discuss but the overall thrust is to liberalize our regulations with respect to the entry of foreign banks,” Tetangco said. “There are different ways and we are looking at those possibilities now,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Philippines is gearing up for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Integration set to be launched by 2015. Part of this is the financial integration which will give the region’s banks a bigger market and more opportunities for growth. Tetangco said the country needs to amend RA 7721 Read More …

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