Recent Stories – Page 7

Filipino cabbie in Vegas finds and returns $300K

News

Dec 272013

Filipino cabbie in Vegas finds and returns $300K

By Bert EljeraINQUIRER.net US Bureau 8:02 am | Saturday, December 28th, 2013 Gerardo Gamboa with the $10,000 reward he received for returning $300,000 in cash left behind by a passenger in his cab in Las Vegas on Christmas Day. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Yellow Checker Taxi LAS VEGAS — Filipino-American cab driver Gerardo Gamboa returned $300,000 in hard cash left behind by a passenger. He was rewarded handsomely for his honesty. Gamboa of Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Silay City, received $10,000 Friday from the owner of the money, a professional poker player who chose to remain anonymous. His identity, however, has been established. “I’ll give this to my wife, and we can buy some stuff,” said the 34-year-old Gamboa, who created a worldwide sensation for returning the money left behind in his cab on Christmas Day. “I’m happy that we can show to the world the Filipino is a good person, and can not be easily dazzled by money.” Together with the $1,000 reward and steak dinner for two from Yellow Checker Star, the cab company Gamboa has been working for, it was a rewarding Christmas for the 13-year cab veteran. Cash bundle that Gamboa found. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Yellow Checker Taxi “We’re so proud of him,” said Bill Shranko, the company’s COO. “He epitomizes the culture of honesty we try to develop among our drivers.” In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gamboa said he found the money after noticing a brown paper bag in the back seat of the cab. When a passenger Read More …

In the know: Sinaloa drug cartel

News

Dec 262013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:25 am | Friday, December 27th, 2013 Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. AP FILE PHOTO The drug trafficking cartel known as Sinaloa derives its name from Mexico’s remote state. It is said to be the ancestral land of the country’s most notorious traffickers, bound in an “alliance of blood.” Prominent members are cousins by marriage or brothers-in-law. The cartel is headed by Mexico’s most wanted man, Joaquin (“El Chapo” or “Shorty”) Guzman. Often described as Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpin, Guzman escaped from prison in 2001 and then went on a wave of killings in an attempt to dominate the country’s highly lucrative drug trade into the United States. He has been on the run with a $5-million reward on his head since. Guzman was on the Forbes list of billionaires from 2009 to 2012. He was cut from the 2013 list. Forbes said it was no longer confident Guzman, rumored to have been killed in a shootout on the Guatemala border in February, had enough money to count in its rankings this year. About 90 percent of all cocaine consumed in the United States come from Mexico, which is also a major source of heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana. By most estimates, Sinaloa has achieved a market share of 40 to 60 percent, which may be translated to annual revenues of some $3 billion. In the 1980s, Guzman joined the Guadalajara cartel, which was headed by a former policeman known as El Padrino. After El Padrino’s capture in Read More …

In The Know: Glossary of IRS terms

News

Dec 262013

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:21 am | Friday, December 27th, 2013 Federal tax lien: A legal claim against current and future property (i.e. houses, cars) and rights to property (i.e. wages, bank accounts). A lien is the US government’s legal claim against a taxpayer’s property in the event that the taxpayer neglects or fails to pay a tax debt. A tax lien arises automatically once a taxpayer fails to pay in full taxes owed within 10 days after the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sends the first notice of taxes owed and demand for payment. A tax lien attaches to assets such as property, securities and vehicles, as well as to future assets acquired during the duration of the lien. Once the IRS files a notice of federal tax lien, it may limit the taxpayer’s ability to get credit, among other effects. Levy: A legal seizure of property or rights to property to satisfy a tax debt. When property is seized (“levied”), it will be sold to help pay the tax debt. If wages or bank accounts are seized, the money will be applied to the tax debt. The seizure is made only after three requirements are met: The IRS has assessed the tax and sent a notice and demand for payment. The taxpayer has neglected or refused to pay the tax. The IRS has sent a final notice of intent to levy and levy notice at least 30 days before the levy. Notice of intent to levy: The IRS sends Read More …

Papal Nuncio spends Christmas with ‘Yolanda’ survivors

News

Dec 232013

Papal Nuncio spends Christmas with ‘Yolanda’ survivors

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 12:04 pm | Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 Typhoon survivors attend mass at the damaged Santo Nino Church in Tacloban, central Philippines on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. AP MANILA, Philippines – Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, arrived in Tacloban City in Leyte on Tuesday morning to visit and spend Christmas with the typhoon survivors. Pinto, representative of Pope Francis, was welcomed by local priests when he arrived at the Tacloban City Airport around 9 a.m., Inquirer Radio 990AM said. The papal nuncio will first visit an evacuation center in the city to see first-hand the situation of families affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” last month. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Pinto will attend a gathering of the clergy before leading the midnight mass at the Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration in Palo. Palo Archbishop John Du, in a statement, said they were worried about where the papal nuncio will sleep but Pinto was quoted saying, “I will sleep wherever you sleep.” On Christmas Day, Pinto will preside over a 10 a.m. mass at the Sto. Niño Church in Tacloban City before heading to Manila. 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: Catholics , Christmas , Giuseppe Pinto , Papal Nuncio , Philippins , Religion , Tacloban Factual errors? Read More …

British embassy closed for 6 days

News

Dec 232013

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 10:02 am | Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The British Embassy in Manila announced on Tuesday that it will be closed for six days during the holiday season. “The British Embassy Manila is closed today, December 24 until December 26,” the embassy announced on Twitter. Its offices will also be closed from December 30, 2013 to January 1, 2014. “For British nationals who need urgent assistance during these days, please call +63 2 858 2200. Please follow instructions when you are connected to be put through to Consular Response,” the embassy 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: British Embassy , embassies , Holidays , office , Philippines , services Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

Filipinos urged to leave Sudan

News

Dec 232013

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 9:18 am | Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 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 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Monday initiated the voluntary evacuation of Filipinos in South Sudan and barred all travel and deployment of workers amid the worsening civil strife in the central African state. This, after Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario raised Crisis Alert Level 3 for the 95 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there and sent a Rapid Response Team to help in the repatriation process. The level is the third highest in the country’s four-tier emergency alert system for Filipinos abroad. “Under Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation), Filipinos in South Sudan are enjoined to seek repatriation assistance from the personnel of our embassy in Kenya, or the Rapid Response Team which will depart tonight,” Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said in a statement yesterday. “Our citizens are also advised to defer travel to South Sudan regardless of purpose,” Hernandez said, adding that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will also initiate a total ban on OFW deployment under the alert level. The DFA spokesperson said 23 of the 95 Filipinos in South Sudan have travelled to Kenya, while 15 have fled to Uganda as the South Sudanese government had lost control of its oil-producing capital of Bentiu to rebels intent Read More …

UN leader Ban coming to get firsthand view of Tacloban

News

Dec 162013

UN leader Ban coming to get firsthand view of Tacloban

Agence France-Presse 3:47 am | Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 UN leader Ban Ki-moon will go to the typhoon-stricken Philippines city of Tacloban this week to highlight the growing number of weather disasters. AP PHOTO/THE UNITED NATIONS, MARK GARTEN UNITED NATIONS—UN leader Ban Ki-moon will go to the typhoon-stricken Philippines city of Tacloban this week to highlight the growing number of weather disasters. “2013 was another year of extreme weather—as we saw most recently with Typhoon Haiyan. On Thursday, I will depart for Manila and Tacloban for a firsthand assessment of the aftermath,” Ban said Monday as he announced the visit. The UN secretary general is to arrive in Manila on Friday for talks with government leaders and will go to Tacloban on Saturday, UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. “He will visit affected communities in Tacloban,” Kaneko said. The UN leader will leave the Philippines on Sunday. The Philippines government says that more than 6,000 people died in the Nov. 8 typhoon—one of the strongest storms ever recorded—which badly hit Tacloban and surrounding regions. Almost 1,800 people are still missing. Ban said that he is organizing a major summit on climate change for Sept. 23 next year, just ahead of the UN General Assembly. RELATED STORIES: Citing Philippines, UN chief urges action at climate talks Philippine typhoon warning to man, says UN chief UN to launch major aid appeal for battered Philippines Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free Read More …

Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

News

Dec 162013

Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 8:43 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — The bodies of the seven Filipinos killed in the bombing of Yemen’s defense ministry complex early this month will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said four of them are expected to arrive 6:50 a.m. via Emirates Airlines flight EK 336 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Meanwhile, the three others will arrive at the Clark International Airport at 3:55 p.m. on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 338. The remains arriving in Clark are those of Marivic Corilla Badenas and Aurora Gormate, both of Mariveles town in Bataan province, and Marianne Coronel David of the village of Betis in Guagua town in Pampanga province, said a source at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who asked not to be named for not having been assigned to speak to reporters. “Yemeni President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in his meeting with Undersecretary Jesus Yabes, expressed regret for the tragedy that befell our kababayans and conveyed his sincerest condolences to the families of the victims,” Hernandez said. He added that Hadi had ordered the conferment of a duty medal to one of the fatalities, Dr. Ruben Valenzuela, to be received by his family. The families of those killed, in what is believed to be a terrorist attack, will receive compensation equivalent to the victim’s one year salary. Of the people injured during the bomb blast, 27 were Filipino workers. They will Read More …

US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

News

Dec 162013

US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

Associated Press 7:55 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine officials signed an agreement Monday for Washington to restore a cemetery north of Manila where the graves of thousands of American service members and dependents have been covered in ash since Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption. The accord calls for the American Battle Monuments Commission to repair and maintain the Clark Veterans Cemetery for at least 10 years. President Barack Obama had earlier signed a law to finance the Philippine-owned cemetery’s upkeep. The U.S. Air Force hastily abandoned Clark Air Base, where the cemetery is located, after Mount Pinatubo’s eruption. In 1994, American veterans were shocked to find the 7-hectare (17-acre) cemetery covered in ash and weeds with half of its old steel fence looted. They cleaned up the graves but have since struggled to maintain the cemetery through volunteer work and donations. Although the cemetery looks tidier today, it is still covered by about a foot (30 centimeters) of ash, partially burying tombstones and obscuring names, dates and epitaphs. American veterans, who have been campaigning to prod the U.S. government to take charge of the cemetery’s repair and maintenance, welcomed the agreement, which was signed by U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Arnel Casanova, president of Manila’s Bases Conversion and Development Authority, “This brings to a close a three-year campaign effort to get the U.S. cemetery to be remembered,” said former Navy Capt. Dennis Wright, who saw action in Vietnam and is now Read More …

China retaliates, accuses Japan of stirring up trouble in sea row

News

Dec 122013

China retaliates, accuses Japan of stirring up trouble in sea row

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 7:04 pm | Thursday, December 12th, 2013 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei PHOTO FROM CHINA-EMBASSY.ORG MANILA, Philippines – It’s now China’s turn to point a finger at Japan saying that it was the one stirring up trouble in the East China Sea and that it has “ulterior political motives” in making a big issue out of the Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). “The one who stirs up troubles and changes the status quo on the Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands and in the East China Sea is no other than Japan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press conference in China Wednesday, the transcript of which was posted on its website. “Japan makes irresponsible accusation of China’s normal maritime and air activities and hypes up ‘China threat’ since it has ulterior political motives,” he said. The Diaoyu or Sankaku Islands are several disputed islands in the East China Sea being claimed by China but currently under the control of Japan. China’s recently established ADIZ covers the airspace above the disputed islands. Japan and the United States (US) previously criticized China for the ADIZ saying that it unilaterally changes the status quo in the East China Sea. Japan, US, and South Korea defied the ADIZ by sending airplanes into the zone and not identifying themselves with China. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a previous statement that the ADIZ “increases tensions in the region and create risks of an incident.” Lei reiterated that China Read More …

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