Abus: Norwegian captive ready for release, but where’s ransom?

 News
Sep 162016
 
Abus: Norwegian captive ready for release, but where’s ransom?

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Ramie said Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad was readied for release since Friday night. Ramie said they were just waiting for the delivery of the P30-million ransom in exchange for Sekkingstad’s freedom. READ: Duterte spills secret: P50M paid to Abu Sayyaf Sekkingstad was one of the four people the Abu Sayyaf abducted from a marina on Samal Island in Davao del Norte. Two of his companions, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were beheaded separately. BACKSTORY: Abu Sayyaf: We are going to behead Norwegian hostage Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor was also freed in June. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte said P50 million had already been paid for the Norwegian’s release but the Abu Sayyaf held on to him. Latest Shadow of ‘O.J. Simpson’ looms large at Emmys Self-Driving Uber officially hits the road in Pittsburgh Russia says UN meeting cancelled over US objections Daredevil successfully powers rocket over Snake River Canyon Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER View Comments For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

PH envoy to UN probed for maid’s abuse

 News
Sep 162016
 
PH envoy to UN probed for maid’s abuse

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is conducting an investigation into the alleged abusive behavior of Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lourdes Yparraguirre who was accused of making her 59-year-old domestic helper work for her relatives without pay and kicking her out of the house during winter last year. DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said the personnel department will look into the accusations of Milagros Braza against Yparraguirre but will also get the side of the envoy. “We take this matter very seriously,” said Jose at the press briefing yesterday. “We will refer this matter to our appropriate department to look onto this. But at the same time, it is important that we get the side of our own people on this issue. So its  important to get the side of Ambassador Yparraguirre.” Jose said that if found guilty of abusing her maid, Yparraguirre has to face sanctions based on the laws of the United States since she is assigned in New York. Braza has sought the assistance of former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople, who heads the migrant workers’ assistance group Blas F. Ople Policy Center, after no action has been taken on the complaint she filed with the DFA in April. Braza told Ople that on Christmas eve last year, she requested the envoy to find her a cheap hotel to stay for the night because she was tired and had to be ready to work as seven new visitors will arrive the next day. Instead of granting Read More …

US told: Don’t lecture us on human rights

 News
Sep 162016
 
US told: Don’t lecture us on human rights

NO TO US BASES Riot cops block anti-US protesters. Marianne Bermudez The Philippines is committed to its security alliance with the United States, but objects to being lectured on human rights and being treated like “a little brown brother,” Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said in Washington on Thursday. READ: Yasay: PH ‘can’t forever be little brown brothers of America’ Speaking at a security think thank, Yasay insisted that some of President Duterte’s recent remarks had been misunderstood, straining relations with the United States, the country’s main security ally. He said the President had already explained that his call for the withdrawal of US special forces from Mindanao was only a temporary measure to keep them out of harm’s way while Filipino forces undertook an offensive against Abu Sayyaf bandits holding several foreign hostages. Mr. Duterte’s opposition to joint maritime patrols with the Americans concerned the Philippines’ “exclusive economic zone,”  and not joint patrols within 22.3 kilometers of its coast, Yasay said. The joint patrols, aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the Philippines, “must continue, because this is our commitment to the United States,” Yasay said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank. Human rights “I am asking our American friends, American leaders, to look at our aspirations,” he said. “We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America …. We have to develop, we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people. At the same time, Yasay rejected criticism of Read More …

MAILBOX: IC clarifies ‘Unholy Alliance’

 Economy
Sep 162016
 
MAILBOX: IC clarifies ‘Unholy Alliance’

Gentlemen, This refers to the article entitled “Unholy Alliance” written by Mary Ann Reyes published in the Sept. 14 issue of The Philippine STAR – Business section regarding the alleged failure of the Insurance Commission to act on the complaints filed by Steel Corporation of the Philippines (“SCP” for brevity). We would like to take this opportunity to clarify matters in relation to the issues raised in the article. First, the insurance claims of SCP are pending before the regular courts, one in the Regional Trial Court of Batangas City and another in the Regional Trial Court of Makati City. The cases involve claims to recover insurance proceeds for material damage due to fire and business interruption losses provided under the insurance policies. At present, the cases are being heard and decisions are yet to be issued by the respective courts. There is no way for the Insurance Commission to assume jurisdiction and hear the cases because the claims exceed the jurisdiction amount of P5 million provided under Section 439 of the Insurance Code, as amended by RA 10607 which took effect on Sept. 20, 2013. Second, what is pending before the Insurance Commission are administrative cases seeking the suspension and revocation of licenses of the insurance companies who issued the insurance policies involved in the incident. These cases do not seek to recover insurance proceeds for material damage due to fire and business interruption losses provided under the insurance policies. Thus, the decisions in these cases will not effect Read More …

TV5 sets focus on news, sports

 Economy
Sep 162016
 
TV5 sets focus on news, sports

MANILA, Philippines – Broadcast firm TV5 intends to put more focus on news and sports under a new head as it looks to break even by 2019. “Most likely, we’ll focus on news and sports, maybe with a bit of entertainment. But basically, the emphasis should be on news and sports,” TV5 chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters. He also said the firm is still hopeful it could achieve break even by 2019. TV5 was initially looking to break even by 2017, but the target has been pushed back to 2019. Former PBA coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes has been named as the new president and CEO of TV5 effective Oct. 1. Reyes is replacing Emmanuel Lorenzana who is retiring from the post. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 As TV5 is looking to put more focus on sports shows, Pangilinan said Reyes’ experience would be beneficial to the company. “He is very digital, it turns out. You wouldn’t expect a coach to be so digital but he is very digital so, he now heads the digital initiatives of TV5. He’s been, not only for TV5, but also other parts of the group which require digital content especially, video content. He’s been helpful in other parts of the group,” he said. MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the multimedia arm of PLDT Inc., acquired TV5 in 2009.

Splash seeks to extend tender offer

 Economy
Sep 162016
 
Splash seeks to extend tender offer

MANILA, Philippines – Splash Corp. is seeking an extension of its tender offer period to give shareholders more time to consider their options. The company launched a tender offer for the remaining shares held by minority investors at P3.10 per share. The move is in preparation for its plan to voluntary delist from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Splash asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to extend the tender offer period to Oct. 5 from the original deadline of Sept. 20. “The request for extension is being made pursuant to Securities Regulation Code Rule 19.9.9 and in order to give the stockholders more time to consider their options and to decide whether they wish to tender their shares given that the tender offer is being conducted pursuant to the company’s intention to voluntarily delist from the exchange,” Splash said. The company is targeting to delist from the PSE on Oct. 7. Splash applied for delisting because of the low trading volume of its shares over the last 24 months, the response of the investing public to the ongoing share buy-back program, and the company’s desire to avoid telegraphing its business plans to its competitors. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 As of July 5 this year, the company’s public ownership stood at 26.66 percent. “After the termination of the tender offer…the company’s public ownership is expected to fall below the prescribed 10 percent minimum public ownership,” Splash said. The company reported a net income of P98.84 million Read More …

Philippines prods US to include travel goods in GSP list

 Economy
Sep 162016
 
Philippines prods US to include travel goods in GSP list

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the country renewed its petition to the US during his meeting with Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Holleyman II at the recently concluded 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Laos. STAR/File photo MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has urged the US anew to include travel goods on the list of duty-free products under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the country renewed its petition to the US during his meeting with Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Holleyman II at the recently concluded 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Laos. “On our end, we’ve re-presented the request and the justifications on the travel goods. We requested for the inclusion of travel goods on the US GSP and we have a request to reconsider. It is moving already. It’s in the process, up for consideration,” Lopez said. The Philippines was unable to secure the US government’s nod to include locally manufactured travel goods in the GSP program – a preferential tariff system given by the US to its trade partners – on its annual review released last June. The country’s earlier petition which the USTR deferred seeks to include travel goods such as luggage, handbags, pocket goods, backpacks, sports and travel bags. “The only concern why it was excluded is that they are saying that the Philippines is not a least developed economy. But for us, we’re saying we are still developing and we need support and Read More …

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