Stay indoors, Filipinos in Egypt urged

 News
Jul 042013
 
Stay indoors, Filipinos in Egypt urged

INQUIRER.net 6:13 pm | Thursday, July 4th, 2013 DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised crisis alert level 1 in Egypt amid ongoing political and civil unrest in the country. “Our priority is the safety of the nearly 6,000 Filipinos in Egypt. Upon the recommendation of our embassy in Cairo, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs has raised crisis alert level 1 over Egypt,” DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez announced in a televised press conference Thursday. “Under this alert level, Filipinos are advised to stay indoors, avoid places where protests are being held and take all necessary precautions,” he said. The Egyptian military ousted president Mohammed Morsi after four days of mass demonstrations by millions of anti-Morsi protesters. “[Our] embassy has intensified its monitoring of the political and security situation in that country and has assigned duty officers to man the embassy and its communication lines 24/7,” Hernandez said. “Our citizens should likewise be on standby for any advisories that the embassy might issue regarding developments on the peace and order situation in the country,” he said. 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: Egypt , Features , Global Nation , Middle East unrest Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Read More …

DOJ: Sex-for-flight probe to include Filipina’s suicide

 News
Jul 022013
 
DOJ: Sex-for-flight probe to include Filipina’s suicide

By Christine O. AvendañoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:42 am | Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 Justice Secretary Leila de Lima: Own probe INQUIRER file photo MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was conducting its own probe into the alleged sexual exploitation of Filipino women in the Middle East by Philippine officials, including one reportedly involving a Filipino woman who committed suicide. De Lima said she met with Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello on Monday on the Department of Justice’s role in the investigation of the “sex-for-flight” cases. She said that following the investigations by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment, the DOJ could come in if it is determined that criminal charges are warranted against certain Filipino overseas officials. She said the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (Iacat) could also come in to help in the investigation since the cases “had elements of human trafficking.” De Lima said the NBI was conducting a similar trafficking investigation and some agents had gone abroad to investigate another case, this one involving a Filipino woman who was allegedly raped by “an official involved from an embassy.” The NBI was also set to investigate the case of another Filipino woman who allegedly committed suicide in a Philippine halfway center, she said. “It’s supposed to be an incident of reported suicide but there are indications that this may not be the case,” said De Lima, declining to give details or the identities of the Read More …

DFA: China's 'counterstrike' statement provocative

 News
Jun 292013
 
DFA: China's 'counterstrike' statement provocative

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said China’s warning of an inevitable “counterstrike” against the Philippines is a provocative statement that has “no place in the relations of civilized nations.” In a text message to GMA News Online, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said China is obligated under international law, specifically the United Nations Charter “to pursue a peaceful resolution of disputes – meaning without the use of force [or] the threat to use forces.” China’s state media warned on Saturday a

Rep. Bello: I have evidence of embassy sex racket

 News
Jun 202013
 
Rep. Bello: I have evidence of embassy sex racket

By Christian V. EsguerraPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:35 pm | Thursday, June 20th, 2013 Representative Walden Bello MANILA, Philippines—Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello threatened on Thursday to reveal more damaging evidence against overseas welfare officer Mario Antonio if he would insist on his “brazen lie” that illegal recruiters had made up the “sex-for-flight” scandal. “We don’t want to preempt the investigation, but if he continues with his brazen lies, we’re going to make more of his misdeeds public,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone following a meeting with Assistant Labor Secretary Rebecca Chato at the House of Representatives. Bello also called for a parallel investigation independent of the one promised by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment. He said his informants from both agencies were more willing to talk in a Malacañang-initiated inquiry. “They’ll feel safer and more confident in an independent investigation initiated by the Palace,” he said. In the meeting with Chato, Bello said, he asked that DOLE expand its investigation to cover Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Bello earlier alleged that female overseas Filipino workers were being sexually exploited by some Philippine labor officers in Kuwait, Damascus in Syria, and Amman in Jordan. Antonio denied the allegation, saying it might have been floated by illegal recruiters who wanted him out. The response incensed Bello, who said his information had come from “mid- to high-level” officers of both the DFA and DOLE. “What he is saying, that’s a brazen lie,” he said. Also tagged Read More …

Philippines recovers war prize Tokyo property – DFA

 Entertainment
Jun 082013
 

MANILA  (Mabuhay) -– The Philippine flag is once again hoisted and flying high in its recovered war prize from Japan, the Nampedai property in Tokyo, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The property in Shibuya, the shopping and entertainment district in Tokyo, was one of four properties in Japan acquired by the Philippine government […]

PHL, Timor Leste ink 3 MOUs on education, policy consultations, infrastructure

 News
Jun 062013
 
PHL, Timor Leste ink 3 MOUs on education, policy consultations, infrastructure

The Philippines and Timor Leste have inked three bilateral agreements in areas of education, policy consultations and infrastructure to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. The signings were announced during the five-day visit to the Philippines of Timor Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao — a visit that aims to strengthen his nation’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The first agreement—a Memorandum of Understanding and Policy Consultations between the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste—was signed by DFA chief Albert Del Rosario and his Timor Leste counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Luís Guterres. The MOU will define the cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, particularly on issues of regional and international mutual interest. A second agreement that recognizes the expertise of trainers from the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and aims to build the capability of Timor-Leste Public Works’ personnel in infrastructure planning, quality control, and maintenance was also signed. DPWH chief Rogelio Singson and his counterpart, Timor Leste Minister of Public Works Gastão Francisco de Sousa, inked the agreement that will establish a cooperative approach between the two countries in terms of mentoring, to facilitate capacity development. Finally, Commission of Higher Education (CHED) chair Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan and Timor Leste Minister of Education Bendito dos Santos Freitas signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Normal University and the Ministry Read More …

Undersecretary Garcia urges cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear technology

 Entertainment
Jun 042013
 

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy Evan P. Garcia urged more cooperation in the region on developing peaceful applications of nuclear technology and addressing nuclear threats. “The members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) have a common stake in ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear technology, which is a legitimate right of all states parties […]

Doomed Filipino in Saudi Arabia gets reprieve

 News
Apr 182013
 
Doomed Filipino in Saudi Arabia gets reprieve

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:06 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino construction worker in death row in Saudi Arabia for murder has been given a few more months to pay the 4 million riyals (about P44 million) blood money to the family of his landlord whom he killed in 2009, Malacañang said Thursday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Joselito Zapanta was given until Nov. 3 this year to pay the blood money to the family of his victim, quoting the Department of Foreign Affairs. “This extension [of the deadline from March 12 to Nov. 3] allows the Zapanta family more time to raise the funds required by the victim’s heirs,” Lacierda said. Malacañang thanked Saudi King Abdullah and the Saudi government for interceding on Zapanta’s behalf following requests from President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay. In March, Abdullah ordered the deferment of the execution of prisoners with death sentences in the Arab country, including Zapanta. TJ A. Burgonio

Malaysian authorities detain 9 more with suspected Kiram links

 News
Apr 102013
 
Malaysian authorities detain 9 more with suspected Kiram links

At least nine more people with suspected links to Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III—two of them local residents—were arrested in Sabah Tuesday and Wednesday, Malaysian police said. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the nine were picked up in Beluran, according to a report by Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency. Confiscated from them were weapons, documents and about RM1,000 (P13,511.60), he added. “There was, however, no exchange of gunfire when they were arrested,” Hamza said. Hamza said the nine, whose ages ranged between 20 and 50, were arrested 8 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday, and are detained under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act of 2012 (Sosma). Malaysian forces have been flushing out Kiram’s followers since March 5. Kiram’s followers had engaged Malaysian forces in a nearly-three-week standoff that culminated in deadly clashes on March 1 and 2. 32 ‘politicians’ still probed Hamza also said they are still quizzing 32 Filipinos intercepted off Sabah waters from Mindanao on Monday. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (which places the group’s number of members at 33), said that the Filipinos are set for release. “Last night the order for the release was given at the behest of the Foreign Minister of Malaysia and the Defense Minister of Malaysia. Administrative procedure and the papers are now being handled for their actual release,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez in a press briefing Wednesday. Also still being investigated are “Datuk Seri” Clarence Luing Karl a.k.a. Muhammad Khalil John Karl, who was caught on Read More …

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

 News
Mar 082013
 
Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

Agence France-Presse 2:14 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that rebels who are holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers hostage in the Golan Heights are insisting Syrian troops leave the area before releasing their captives. The refusal by the Syrian rebels to compromise had dampened hopes of the UN peacekeepers being released quickly, and forced the government to step up its negotiation efforts, foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. “The demand of the rebels for the re-positioning of Syrian forces in the area of Jamla is still outstanding so this is still being worked out,” he said on ABS-CBN television. The rebels want the Syrian troops to move 20 kilometers (12 miles) back from Jamla, an area in the Golan’s ceasefire zone, before they will free the Filipinos, he said. “That is the main demand of the rebel group,” he told AFP, adding he did not know of any other conditions. The Philippine government had previously received information that raised hopes the 21 would be released on Friday morning, Philippine time, and the government now did not know if or when they would be freed, Hernandez said. “We are trying to intensify our negotiations with the rebel groups,” he said. However he said the Filipino peacekeepers were still being treated well. “(They are) being treated as guests and are unharmed,” Hernandez said. The 21 Filipino troops, members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) observing a 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel, were abducted Read More …

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