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50,000 cops nationwide, including 2,100 from Central Visayas, promoted to higher positions
50,000 cops nationwide, including 2,100 from Central Visayas, promoted to higher positions.....»»
Cops on heightened alert, NLEX ready for Lenten break
Police units across the country are on heightened alert starting tomorrow, as part of security preparations for the safety of the public during the Holy Week break......»»
Davao City reports 2,707 VAWC cases in 2023
Coming off an abusive relationship, Michelle (not her real name), age 26, said reporting her ordeal from her live-in boyfriend was “not an easy decision to make”, but had to do it for her three-year-old daughter......»»
India: Laws Misused to Crack Down on Peaceful Dissent
(New York) - India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is using abusive foreign funding laws, trumped-up financial investigations, and other means to unlawfully attack civil society groups, Human Rights Watch said today. The arbitrary use of the Foreign Contribution Regul.....»»
Biden Sets Sights On Las Vegas Before Nevada s Primary
Reno, Nevada - President Joe Biden's latest campaign swing is taking him across the country to Nevada, where the "first-in-the-West" primaries are underway with early and absentee voting. But the Democrat and his team are also using the visit to shore up support for the general election in November.Biden was arriving in Las Vegas on Sunday for appearances through Monday after spending part of the weekend in Cali.....»»
Italy s Dodgy Detention Deal with Albania
Italy's detention deal with Albania breaches international law and is abusive in many aspects, including by potentially creating legal limbo for vulnerable people. Yet, the plan-to detain in Albania people interdicted or rescued by Ital.....»»
Afghanistan: Taliban Schools Also Failing Boys
(London) - The Taliban's abusive educational policies in Afghanistan are harming boys as well as girls and women, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.The 19-page report, "'Schools are Failing Boys Too': The Taliban's Impact on Boys' Education in Afghanistan," documents Taliban policies and practices since they took over the country in August 2021 that.....»»
Former PNP chief Cascolan was in coma months before death — family lawyer
MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan was in a coma for several months prior to his death. Atty. Stephen Cascolan, legal counsel of the siblings of former PNP chief Cascolan, said the official was in a coma since March. “Hindi na po, in a coma na po siya,” Atty......»»
Ex-PNP chief Cascolan, 59
Former Philippine National Police chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan died on Friday. He was 59......»»
Former PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan dies at 59
MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Camilo Cascolan has died on Friday, November 24. He was 59 years old. His son, Jiro Cascolan, made the announcement in a Facebook post on Friday night. “It is with deep sadness and heavy heart that I, on behalf of.....»»
Local absentee voting only for nat’l elections
Local absentee voting only for nat’l elections.....»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoJ probing subcontracting ‘swindle’
The Department of Justice will look at the circumstances regarding the filing of multiple counts of swindling against corporate officials of a global telecommunications equipment firm. The DoJ will review the 29-page complaint recently lodged before the National Prosecution Office against eight Manila-based Ericsson Telecommunications Inc. officials. The officials are facing estafa charges for allegedly refusing to pay local subcontractors some P54 million covering 32 completed projects in Luzon alone. The “swindled” Filipino subcontractors completed various technical works involving system integration, structured cabling, civil works, and electrical services for a long list of projects in malls, hospitals, business centers, and schools from 2020 to 2023. The DoJ expressed determination to resolve what appears to be a common practice by foreign investors who take advantage of Filipino subcontractors. The department reminded foreign entities to comply with Republic Act 5455, which requires companies owned in whole or in part by foreigners to contribute to the sound and balanced development of the national company on a self-sustaining basis. The DoJ also warned that abusive foreign investors would be held civilly and criminally accountable. Respondents in the criminal case were foreign corporate bosses Martin Wiktorin, Jesmin Ehsan, Johan Kvist and Wee Tiong Ng. Estafa charges were also filed against Emerson Clemena, Jose Michael Hernal, Charis Heidi Ibarra and Roderick Reodica — all holding office at Ericsson’s Bonifacio Global City office in Taguig City. The government does not condone foreign business companies taking advantage of Filipino subcontractors. The post DoJ probing subcontracting ‘swindle’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EXPLAINER: What is a cult? It’s a decades-long debate
Sociologists say it is a 'loaded term' imposed by dominant religions, but psychologists say it is a 'descriptive' word that can sound the alarm on abusive groups.....»»
Doing right
Plucky 54-year-old Filipino fisherman Arnel Satam best characterizes where we should be following last week’s significant incidents at a disputed atoll variously called Scarborough Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal. Bucking a tense standoff between Filipino and Chinese government vessels at the shoal’s southeast last 22 September, Satam, aboard a tiny wooden light blue “bangka” (outrigger boat), sped towards the shallow, fish-rich waters of the atoll’s inner lagoon. He just wanted to fish. Responding speedboat-riding Chinese coast guardsmen hotly pursued Satam for several thrilling minutes before Satam willingly turned back. But Satam, whose daring act was caught on video, had already made his indelible mark in one of the tensest areas in the South China Sea. “Hindi ako natatakot (I wasn’t scared),” said Satam, who told reporters he often baits the Chinese to chase him. “Pinagtatawan-tawanan ko lang sila. Inaasar ko lang sila eh (I just laugh at them. I only pique them).” Earlier that same Friday, the China Coast Guard was caught in the act of installing a 300-meter floating barrier around Panatag’s inner lagoon by a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boat on routine patrol. Like Satam, Filipino coast guard divers the following Monday afternoon did the unthinkable, vividly executing a first-ever underwater operation, also dramatically captured on video, against Chinese bullying in the West Philippine Sea. Using only knives, the divers cut the rope connecting the buoys that held up the barrier and hauled up an anchor holding the floating barrier in place. Filipino fishermen said the Chinese frequently put up barriers to keep them from Panatag, a traditional rich fishing ground of fishermen mostly sailing out of Zambales. Some 50 Filipino fishing boats, in fact, were near the shoal when the Chinese installed the floating barrier. Filipino fishermen could only fish outside the shoal because Chinese vessels had blocked the inner lagoon since the 2012 standoff between the Philippines and China over the shoal. After the successful “special operation,” authorized by President Marcos himself, the PCG reported that China Coast Guard vessels, probably awed by the Filipinos’ audacity, were seen calmly picking up pieces of the torn barrier. Still, that same calm demeanor could also mean the Chinese “might still return the floating barrier,” said PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela, particularly since last Tuesday China tersely warned the Philippines not “to provoke and cause trouble.” But the PCG and the military establishment have vowed to make the Filipino presence felt at the shoal, even permanently, with Tarriela expressly saying, “We have shown the world the Filipino people will not back down, and we’re still going to consistently carry out whatever is necessary for us to maintain our presence.” Emphasizing our “presence” at Panatag is a crucial and careful distinction. The 2016 arbitral award ruled that Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino fishermen had traditional fishing rights at Panatag Shoal. Our maritime authorities, therefore, are in the right insofar as asserting that Filipino fishermen have the same rights as the Chinese to safely navigate around Panatag to fish, and that China has no right whatsoever to drive them away or bar them. Frustratingly, however, some imprudent Filipinos toe China’s self-interested and false sovereignty claims despite the due care with which Filipino maritime authorities qualify their actions. Oddly enough, too, these same imprudent Filipinos quickly blame the victims of China’s abusive actions. It is as if these imprudent Filipinos are so invested in their fear of China that they are now losing their willingness to defend Filipino fishermen and their livelihood bit by bit, without even noticing. We cannot be like them. We must all finally realize that to assert ourselves in the world; we must bravely stand up to any form of bullying against fellow Filipinos. We individually need to be an Arnel Satam. The post Doing right appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fortifying digital finance (3)
Banking Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, or BSP, also issued regulations to safeguard consumers in the financial marketplace. On 28 November 2022, BSP issued Circular No. 1160, series of 2022, to implement Republic Act 11765 or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Act. BSP required Bangko Sentral-Supervised Institutions or BSIs like banks, trust companies, and e-money issuers to establish a single Financial Consumer Protection Assistance Mechanism. The FCPAM shall provide free assistance to financial consumers on their concerns with the financial products, services, and/or transactions with the BSI. This is a first-level recourse mechanism to handle consumer complaints, inquiries, and requests. Accordingly, BSP required BSIs to adopt simplified requirements and procedures for the availment of the FCPAM by financial consumers. Financial consumers unsatisfied with the BSI’s handling of their complaints, inquiries, or requests at the FCPAM level may escalate their concerns with the BSP Consumer Assistance Mechanism or CAM. BSP laid down the rules of procedure for CAM and the Mediation and Adjudication of Cases in Circular No. 1169, series of 2023, on 24 March 2023. Complaints may be filed with the Consumer Protection and Market Conduct Office either personally or through the BSP Online Buddy Chatbot, postal mail, courier, electronic mail, or other electronic means. Consumers may also request assistance in filing their complaints from the BSP regional offices or branches. Complainants have the option to proceed with either mediation or adjudication after resorting to the CAM. Aside from the establishment of CAM, BSIs are mandated to integrate the Consumer Protection Risk Management System into their enterprise-wide risk management processes and risk governance framework. The CPRMS shall be the foundation for ensuring BSI’s adherence to Consumer Protection Standards of Conduct, particularly (a) disclosure and transparency; (b) protection of client information; (c) fair treatment; (d) effective recourse; and (e) protection of consumer assets against fraud and misuse. In line with these standards, BSIs are prohibited from employing abusive collection or debt recovery practices against financial consumers. BSIs are likewise made solidarily liable with their accredited or authorized agents, representatives, or third-party service providers for their acts or omissions in marketing and transactions — which may include debt collection — with financial consumers for its financial products or services. The protection afforded to financial consumers by the regulations implemented and enforced by the financial regulations aims to fortify the growth of the financial services industry as it navigates the digital platform. For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Fortifying digital finance (3) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate panel cites in contempt husband of alleged abusive employer of Elvie Vergara
First the wife, now the husband. The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights has cited in contempt Pablo Ruiz, the husband of France Ruiz, the couple who allegedly abused their domestic helper, Elvie Vergara. During Monday’s fourth marathon hearing of the Senate panel’s investigation into the alleged abuse of the couple to Vergara, lawmakers once again cited another member of the Ruiz family, this time their patriarch. Senator Raffy Tulfo made the motion to cite Pablo in contempt for allegedly lying to lawmakers. Tulfor made the motion after Pablo denied a new testimony that implicates them in the case. His motion was seconded by Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Pablo is detained inside the Senate premises along with his wife, France, who was cited in contempt last week for the exact reason. ‘New witnesses’ Meanwhile, three more witnesses namely Melinda Magno, ‘Alias Paopao,’ and Richard Pinto, floated to support Vergara’s claims that she was abused by the couple. Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate panel, ensured the safety of the new witnesses. “Let us make sure that while we are conducting hearings and even after, no harm will happen to them. They came here to reveal the truth,” Tolentino said. To recall, Jay-ar Suarez Dimerez, or ‘Alias Dodong,’ star witness of the case, was attacked by unknown gunmen in his residence. The post Senate panel cites in contempt husband of alleged abusive employer of Elvie Vergara appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate panel cites in contempt alleged abusive employer of Elvie Vergara
The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Tuesday cited in contempt France Ruiz, one of the alleged abusive employers of domestic helper Elvie Vergara. During the Senate panel’s third investigation into the alleged maltreatment of the couple France and Gerry Ruiz to Vergara, senators ordered the detainment of the latter after provided “inconsistent answers” to senators. Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Senate panel, declared the detention of the female Ruiz “for continuously evading the questions propounded by the members of this Committee as well as falsely testifying under direct examination by Committee members.” Senator Jinggoy Estrada originally made a motion to detain France at the Pasay City Jail but withdrew it upon consultation with other members of the committee. France is detained inside the Senate jail while the Committee will be conducting parallel investigations on the case to finalize charges. Prior to her detainment, France stood by her claims that denied that her family did not take part in Vergara’s loss of sight, as well as the deformation of her nose. She attributed the domestic helper’s loss of sight to the latter’s previous fights with her fellow domestic helpers. Vergara accused her previous employers of physically assaulting her such as ramming her head in the comfort room’s wall and sink and hitting her with solid materials like belts and clothes hangers. The post Senate panel cites in contempt alleged abusive employer of Elvie Vergara appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK media investigate sex assault claims against comedian Brand
The BBC and Channel 4, former employers of British actor and comedian Russell Brand, said Sunday they were investigating claims of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse over a seven-year period, which the 48-year-old has denied. Four women have alleged sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 when Brand was at the height of his fame working as a presenter for BBC Radio 2, Channel 4 and acting in Hollywood movies, a joint media investigation said Saturday. The broadcasters BBC and Channel 4, along with the production company Banijay UK, said Sunday that they would open internal inquiries into the claims. "We are urgently looking into the issues raised," a BBC spokesperson told AFP. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches. "Banijay UK has launched an urgent internal investigation and will cooperate with any requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies," the production firm said. According to the Times investigation, several women have made a range of accusations about Brand's alleged controlling, abusive and predatory behavior. In a video released Friday, Brand denied the "very serious criminal allegations". He said he had received letters from a TV company and a newspaper listing "a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks". "Amidst this litany of astonishing rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute," he said in the video clip posted online. According to the media reports, one woman alleged that Brand raped her in his Los Angeles home, while another claims he assaulted her during a three-month relationship while she was 16 and still at school. Known internationally as the former husband of pop star Katy Perry, Brand began his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s. He was the host of the chat show Big Brother's Big Mouth, a spin-off of the popular reality series, for three years from 2004. He also played rock star Aldous Snow in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and its 2010 sequel "Get Him To The Greek". London's Metropolitan Police told AFP that while it was aware of the allegations, "At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this". "If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police," it said. The post UK media investigate sex assault claims against comedian Brand appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lawmaker proposes legislation vs abusive debt collection practices
A lawmaker has filed a bill that is intended to put a stop to the abusive practices of debt collectors and creditors......»»