BOC asks Laos Embassy to justify importation of 3 exotic sports cars

 News
Feb 262013
 
BOC asks Laos Embassy to justify importation of 3 exotic sports cars

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:40 am | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has asked the embassy of Laos to justify its duty-free importation of three high-end sports cars—a Ferrari Spider and two Lamborghini Aventadors. Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon told the Inquirer the BOC at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) had declared the three exotic cars as “abandoned” since their consignees had not processed their papers since the vehicles arrived in November last year, or more than the 30-day limit to claim them. “The official and full report is being prepared by district collector (Carlos) So but offhand, unofficially, it’s confirmed that the Lao embassy is acknowledging the shipments,” said Biazon in an interview. An official of the Lao Embassy said it had submitted its reply to BOC and declined to discuss the matter. A source in the BOC said the Spider and Aventadors were supposed to be delivered to different consignees at the same address: 34 Lapu-Lapu St., Magallanes Village, Makati City, care of the Embassy of Laos. Since they arrived on Nov. 28, nobody has come forward to claim the cars after BOC agents questioned why diplomats would buy fast cars as their service vehicles. Biazon said the BOC would auction off the Ferrari and Lamborghinis if the Lao embassy fails to justify the use of its duty-free perk to bring in the pricey vehicles. “An order of abandonment was already issued. It is a step closer to seizure. The embassy says there’s a Read More …

NBI told to probe escape of 3 Chinese drug lords

 News
Feb 262013
 
NBI told to probe escape of 3 Chinese drug lords

By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net 7:11 pm | Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER/Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe on the circumstances surrounding the escape of three Chinese drug lords last Feb. 21. Li Lan Yan alias Jackson Dy, his wife Wang Li Na and Li Tian Hua were snatched by armed men last Feb. 21 while on their way to attend a court hearing. Police arrested four people, among them a village chief in Imus City, for their alleged participation in the escape of the said Chinese drug convicts from jail personnel in Cavite. Police found evidence linking to the Ozamiz robbery gang arrested suspects Rodel “Gorio” Cambongga, 24; Emiliano Quilicol, 43; Rene “Dodo” Bersales, 33; and Leovino “Nonoy” Fontanilla, 46, the head of Barangay (village) Bayang Luma IV. The criminal gang, so named because its members are natives of Ozamiz City, was allegedly behind the “rescue operation” of the Chinese convicts from the hands of the Cavite provincial guards. They were reportedly paid a certain amount for the drug convicts’ escape. De Lima said she wanted to know where the amount paid to the armed men went. “Also, why Jackson Dy and company are not in the NBP (National Bilibid Prison) custody because supposedly they are already convicted. If accused in one case  had been convicted, he should be transferred to the NBP following a Supreme Court circular,” she Read More …

PH maids in HK seek direct hiring as recruitment agencies demand placement fees

 News
Feb 262013
 

By Tina G. Santos Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:45 pm | Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong want the Philippine government to lift the ban on the direct hiring of Filipino domestic workers abroad. According to a statement from the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil), Filipino household service workers in the territory will troop Wednesday, to the Philippine Consulate General to express their demand. The United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante-HK), the organization leading the picket protest, stated that returning the direct hiring as an option to remove a threat to the livelihood of Filipino domestic workers, especially those processing their papers now. This demand by Filipino domestic workers comes at a time when recruitment agencies from Hong Kong and the Philippines are fighting over the placement fees being charged to the Filipino domestic workers. According to Unifil, the Philippines-based recruitment agencies want the Philippine government to allow them to charge the workers placement fees while letting the Hong Kong-based agencies to determine fees on their own. “In the middle of this still-unresolved ‘brawl,’ Filipino domestic workers are being wrongfully blamed and used as scapegoats by agencies, especially those based in HK. Such baseless accusations are only fodder for the anti-migrant sentiments being fanned by many entities in Hong Kong,” it added. Recently, the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP), the Philippines-based agencies, imposed a moratorium on sending domestic workers to Hong Kong as it complained of the overly strict and Read More …

PH senior diplomat off to KL to iron out Sabah problem

 News
Feb 262013
 
PH senior diplomat off to KL to iron out Sabah problem

By Tarra Quismundo Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:27 pm | Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs has sent a senior diplomat to Kuala Lumpur to coordinate efforts with the Malaysian authorities toward the speedy resolution of the Sabah standoff as the situation dragged on into its third week. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Brillantes is now in the Malaysian capital to help the Philippine Embassy there in expediting the resolution of the situation in Sabah, where followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III continue to stand their ground despite repeated appeals from the Philippine government for them to pull out. “We see that at this point in time, there would be a need for more people who would be able to help out in the coordination work….  He’s there to help Ambassador (Eduardo Malaya) to help in coordinating the  peaceful resolution of this issue in Lahad Datu,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said at a news briefing Tuesday. “Being a senior diplomat and being a former ambassador (to) Malaysia, he will also have some contacts and he would be able to coordinate well with the Malaysian authorities to be able to achieve the objectives to bring the group back home,” said Hernandez. He reiterated the Philippine government’s appeal for Kiram’s group to return home peacefully. “We don’t want to put them in harm’s way. And we believe the Kiram family are concerned about the welfare and interest of the Read More …

Senators back Aquino’s call to end Sabah standoff peacefully

 News
Feb 262013
 
Senators back Aquino’s call to end Sabah standoff peacefully

By Maila Ager INQUIRER.net 5:13 pm | Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Four senators on Tuesday rallied behind President Benigno Aquino III’s call for a peaceful settlement to a two-week long standoff in Sabah, two of them even suggested a need for intervention by international bodies  to  end  the  conflict. “Maybe we should intensify our request for intervention by the international bodies, international tribunal including  Asean to reduce its negative effect in the ongoing peace process and to avoid any problem with Malaysia without renouncing our claim to Sabah,”  Senator Gringo Honasan  said in a mix of English and Filipino  in a phone patch interview. “But it is important that the debate is calm, peaceful and diplomatic,” Honasan added. Instead  of resorting to violence, Senator  Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the “heirs” of the sultan  of Sulu, Jamalul  Kiram  III,  may raise their  claim  of the  land  before international  tribunals. “Yes, Sabah should be peacefully settled. I suggest to the heirs to use international courts and tribunal,” Pimentel said in a text message.  Senators  Francis “Chiz” Escudero and  Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan  also  backed Aquino’s call  for a peaceful  end to the Sabah claim. “Bringing the supposed Sabah heirs and government representatives in one table would allow discussions on the complex issues involved in the Sabah claim including the plight of Sabah residents who have Filipino roots,” Escudero said in a separate statement. He said a dialogue on the Sabah claim should include the Malaysian government to Read More …

‘Kiram followers to continue Sabah standoff’—Sulu sultanate spokesman

 News
Feb 262013
 
‘Kiram followers to continue Sabah standoff’—Sulu sultanate spokesman

By Jamie Marie Elona INQUIRER.net 4:59 pm | Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III will continue their standoff in Sabah until the government of Malaysia agrees to discuss the process by which the conflict can be resolved, Abraham Julpa Idjirani, secretary-general and spokesman of the Sulu sultanate and North Borneo said Tuesday. In an interview with Radyo INQUIRER 990AM, Idjirani said there is nothing to lose if the Malaysian government would consider a discussion with the Sultanate of Sulu through the intercession of the Philippine government. For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

3 gov’t agencies join forces to help children get ready for school

 News
Feb 222013
 
3 gov’t agencies join forces to help children get ready for school

INQUIRER.net 6:03 pm | Friday, February 22nd, 2013 L-R: Daphne Oseña-Paez (UNICEF Special Advocate for Children); UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi; ECCD Council Governing Board Chair Teresita Inciong; Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell; DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman; OIC-Director Marilette Almayda of the Bureau of Elementary Education-DepED; and Teresa Mariano, Head of the Social Services Dept. of QC LGU. MANILA, Philippines – The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, the Department of Education (DepED), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched this February an innovative project called Early Learning for Life which aims to help children ages 3-5 years old get ready for school. “The vital years of the child 0-6 years old should be a collective aspiration,” said Dr. Teresita G. Inciong, Chairperson of the ECCD Governing Board. She continued: “It is in this light that the Project responds to the urgent need for children to get the right start to learning and development, and eventually complete their education.” Significant research studies show that 50 per cent of a person’s ability to learn is developed in the first few years of life. However, national statistics indicate that only 78 out of 100 Grade 1 entrants have kindergarten experience. “This initiative is most welcome as it will give our young learners a strong foundational head start in early education,” Department of Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, FSC said. The $18M project, funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and in collaboration with UN children’s agency, UNICEF, will Read More …

Malaysia’s lease payments for Sabah bolsters sultan’s claim—Gazmin

 News
Feb 222013
 
Malaysia’s lease payments for Sabah bolsters sultan’s claim—Gazmin

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 6:01 pm | Friday, February 22nd, 2013 Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, left, joins prayers at the Blue Mosque in Taguig City Friday. AP MANILA, Philippines—Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday Malaysia’s continuing payment of lease for Sabah bolsters the Philippine claim over the territory. “You see, the sultanate is being paid 5,000 ringgit up to now,” said Gazmin, referring to the nominal yearly compensation the heirs to the Sultanate of Sulu receive from Malaysia under a long-standing agreement. “So if you are being paid then there’s claim,” he said in a press briefing. Dozens of followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III sailed over to neighboring Sabah island more than a week ago to assert their centuries-old claim over the area. Also among their demands is additional compensation. Malaysian authorities surrounded the group, which is believed to be made up of anywhere between 80 and 400 people, and a stand-off has since been in place while negotiations continue. Kuala Lumpur has given the 300 followers of the sultan led by his brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, until Friday to decide whether to leave on their own, or be rounded up and deported. But Gazmin said that while the claims of royal family could be valid, it is not right to send an armed group to Sabah to reclaim their territory. President Benigno Aquino in his first public comments on the issue Thursday said: “Going there with arms is not the way to resolve this.” “When you brandish arms, Read More …

US solon hails PH handling of China Sea issue

 News
Feb 222013
 
US solon hails PH handling of China Sea issue

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:35 pm | Friday, February 22nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—A visiting lawmaker from the United States has lauded the Philippines’ “restraint” in dealing with China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) issue and he hoped the Chinese side would “understand the need” to settle the long-drawn-out territorial dispute soon. US Rep. Jeff Miller, who leads a five-member delegation of US lawmakers on a three-day visit here, also reiterated his government’s support for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, an issue of keen interest to the US amid its defense pivot to the Asia Pacific. “We appreciate the restraint that the government here has shown in going through the arbitration process. I’m hopeful that China will be able to understand the need to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” Miller told the Inquirer while visiting the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario had briefed the delegation—Miller and fellow US Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Timothy Walz, Michael Michaud and Josiah Bonner—on the West Philippine Sea issue during the group’s courtesy call at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. During the meeting, the Philippine side explained the country’s move to hale China to the United Nations arbitration tribunal in a bid to invalidate the Chinese side’s “nine-dash line” claim over territories in the contested region of the South China Sea, including a portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea. The legal action, formally rejected by China Read More …

Visiting solon: US may review rejected benefit claims of PH war vets

 News
Feb 222013
 
Visiting solon: US may review rejected benefit claims of PH war vets

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:23 pm | Friday, February 22nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The United States is open to a review of rejected benefit claims of thousands of aging Filipino World War II veterans as deserving former servicemen should receive the compensation due them, the chair of the US House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs said Friday. Florida lawmaker Jeff Miller, head of a US congressional delegation that visited the Philippines this week, told the Inquirer on Friday that his government was willing to take a second look at claims of Filipino veterans earlier denied by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Miller quickly pointed out, however, that such review was not a guarantee of a reconsideration, saying the US government is “very careful” in studying and approving claims of Filipinos who served under the US flag more than six decades ago. “We understand that there are other individuals who claim that they have a right to compensation, and I agree that every person should have the opportunity for a full and complete review,” Miller said. “But we have to be careful that only those that have earned the compensation get the compensation,” added the lawmaker, who led four other fellow lawmakers on three-day visit in the Philippines. During a meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario requested Miller’s support as he called for a review of the rejection of claims of  24,385 Filipino veterans under the Filipino Veterans Equity (FVEC). Miller said Read More …

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