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BI: Mail-order bride cases up
Human trafficking victims brokered as mail-order brides have increased, according to the Bureau of Immigration......»»
BOC: Cases of outright smuggling on the rise
There has been an increase in the number of cases of outright smuggling, the Bureau of Customs said on Friday......»»
DOH reports no ‘walking pneumonia outbreak in absence of routine testing
Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said there is currently no recorded outbreak of “walking pneumonia” cases in the Philippines based on the monitoring of the department's epidemiology bureau......»»
BIR seizes P252 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Davao City
The Bureau of Internal Revenue, led by Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., confiscated 717 cases of illicit cigarettes, totaling 358,500 packs and estimating P252 million in tax liabilities during a joint operation with the Naval Forces of the Eastern Mindanao Command last week in Davao City. .....»»
EDITORIAL - As relentless as COVID
Like COVID-19, African swine fever has been unstoppable. Latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that only 11 of the 82 provinces in the country can be classified as “dark green” or with zero cases of ASF. The government will have to ensure that the problem does not lead to a shortage of pork, especially during the Christmas holidays......»»
‘Fake wife’ intercepted by BI officers
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned on Friday the traveling public not to fall prey to recruiters providing fake documents. The warning was issued by BI in response to the case of a female traveler who was stopped from departing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on 19 October after a BI officer discovered that her departure had earlier been postponed after she was discovered using fraudulent travel credentials. The passenger stated she was traveling to Oman to visit her husband but the marriage certificate she produced was forged. She eventually admitted that every document she had submitted was a fabrication, including the purported affidavit of support from her partner. The passenger intended to depart for Malaysia in September of last year, but immigration agents stopped her because she was carrying the wrong paperwork, according to a later review of her travel history. According to the BI's immigration protection and border enforcement unit (I-PROBES), the victim even supplied an altered wedding photo to officials to mislead them. The victim also admitted that she paid more than P30,000 for the fake documents, which authorities believe were used to illegally work abroad. Her case was immediately forwarded to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to file cases against her recruiter. The post ‘Fake wife’ intercepted by BI officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOLE, CHR reach agreement to safeguard workers’ rights
The Department of Labor and Employment partnered with the Commission on Human Rights to facilitate the investigation of violations of workers’ freedom of association and right to organize. DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-Latoc signed a Memorandum of Agreement at the CHR Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City on 20 October which directs both agencies to cooperate on cases referrals, investigations, and monitoring; witness protection and psychosocial support; labor education and human rights promotion; and policy development. Laguesma said that the DOLE-CHR collaboration is vital in addressing the labor issues raised during the International Labor Organization High-Level Tripartite Mission visit in January 2023. “This collaboration underscores the need for our sustained partnership, ensuring that the principles of both labor and human rights are consistently upheld in every initiative and policy we undertake. We need the support of the labor groups and the employer sector as well as the ILO so that our common goal of ensuring that the Conventions, especially Conventions 87 and 98, will be respected,” Laguesma said. Following the MOA signing, a streamlined case referral mechanism will be promptly established. The DOLE’s Bureau of Labor Relations and CHR Protection cluster will be responsible for correspondence and referrals. The CHR will promptly inform DOLE upon receiving reports or complaints about alleged violations of labor rights. Afterward, DOLE will verify the reports, conduct case build-up, and gather evidence. To ensure the effective implementation of MOA, DOLE, and CHR will employ monitoring and feedback mechanisms. The mechanisms will assess the level of implementation guidelines, policies, and programs, measure progress, and identify challenges. The post DOLE, CHR reach agreement to safeguard workers’ rights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCSO ask lawmakers to toughen laws vs illegal lottery firms
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Mel Robles, called out lawmakers on Monday to toughen the law against Illegal lottery firms. Robles personally led the filing of charges at Mandaluyong Prosecutors Office against individuals behind the four firms engaged in unauthorized online lottery operations. “I am calling out the attention of the lawmakers to toughen the law. Maybe others see that they can handle the penalty but we’ll see. Even if it’s light, we will still pursue the cases against them,” Robles said. Robles added that PCSO is losing billions of pesos in revenue because of illegal operations perpetrated by the suspects. “We are serious about this. We will prosecute and imprison everyone associated with this illegal operation to stop them,” he said. The PCSO stated that PayMaya reportedly remitted billions to a company operating an illegal online lottery. “A payment platform, like PayMaya, reported that they were able to remit about P4.7 billion to a company that was operating the Illegal lotto. It is also included in the complaint affidavit,” he said. The criminal complaints were filed against four companies, Eplayment Corporation, Paymero Technologies Limited, GlobalComRCI International, and Blockchain Smart-Tech Co. I.T. Consultancy. The complaints were prompted by an investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, which revealed that the mentioned companies were responsible for the ownership, operation, and administration of Pakilotto and Surelotto. The companies reportedly misused the PCSO’s name, logo, and various lottery games, soliciting and accepting bets from the public through their unauthorized mobile application and websites. Robles said that based on their investigation, they have found out that the alleged suspects for Illegal online lottery are operating in the cities of Quezon and Cebu. “We found out one in NCR, in Quezon City, the other is in Cebu,” he said. PCSO reported that Eplayment, which operated under the now-defunct website ‘Pakilotto’, was soliciting and accepting bets from the public at an inflated price of P30 per ticket, a 50% markup compared to the standard P20 lotto ticket. Meanwhile, Surelotto, a similar mobile app, sold tickets online for P25, a 25% increase from the regular lotto price. Prizes of smaller denominations are allegedly directly deposited into the winner’s registered bank account, while jackpot prizes require winners to visit the Surelotto office in person. The complaint-affidavit states that the owners, directors, and/or officers of Paymero, Eplayment, GlobalComRMCI, and Blockchain, as owners, operators, and/or administrators of Pakilotto and Sukilotto, have committed Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, a violation of R.A. No. 1169, as amended, and a violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287, in connection with Executive Order No. 13, Series of 2017. Robles emphasized that PCSO remains fully committed to preserving the integrity and legitimacy of its lottery games, ensuring fair treatment and protection for the public. The post PCSO ask lawmakers to toughen laws vs illegal lottery firms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 Chinese working illegally nabbed
The Bureau of Immigration announced on Friday in Manila the arrest of four Chinese nationals in separate operations in Palawan. The four were identified as Lin Yongzhen, 45; Zhang Haicong, 49; Lin Tsung-Te, 58; and Zhang Jinfei, 47. They were arrested over immigration-related violations, including working without the proper permits, misrepresenting themselves as Filipino citizens, and involvement with a crime group. According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the operations were conducted in coordination with government intelligence units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Bureau of Investigation. The foreigners were held at the BI’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while facing deportation cases. Lin Yongzhen and Zhang Haicong were arrested in El Nido. Lin was found to be working under a tourist visa, while Zhang was found to be working under a working visa under a separate company. Zhang Haicong and Lin Tsung-Te, on the other hand, were arrested in Taytay. Zhang possessed a working visa, but he was working at a different worksite. Lin failed to present his passport and was found to have been overstaying since 2016. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinfei was arrested in Puerto Princesa. He was found to be working in the area despite holding a working visa in a different location, in violation of immigration rules. The BI said the Chinese were all found to be working in fisheries near naval bases. The post 4 Chinese working illegally nabbed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Immigration officer convicted
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday revealed that a Bureau of Immigration officer has been convicted for the falsification of travel records showing that former Wirecard chief operating officer Jan Marsalek was in the Philippines even if he did not arrive and leave the country in 2020. The NBI said BI officer Marcos S. Nicodemus has been found guilty by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court of violations of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Though the RTC decision was not provided by the NBI, it said that Nicodemus “was sentenced by the court to a maximum imprisonment of nine years for each of the criminal cases with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.” Marsalek, an Austrian national, has been wanted by the German government for his involvement in the $2.2 billion Wirecard fraud. In 2020, the Philippine government joined the hunt for Marsalek due to Wirecard’s links in the country and discovered travel records that showed that the Austrian came to the Philippines in 2020. Then Department of Justice Secretary and now Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation. In August 2020, the NBI “recommended to the DoJ the prosecution of subject Marcos Nicodemus for falsifying the travel records of an Austrian national.” “Investigation conducted by NBI-IAID (NBI-International Airport Investigation Division) revealed that based on Marsalek’s travel records, he arrived in the Philippines through NAIA Terminal 1 on 23 June 2020, processed by Immigration Officer Darren Ilagan but with a mysterious ‘canceled by user’ remark and departure on 24 June 2020 at Mactan-Cebu International Airport processed by Immigration Officer Perry Michael Pancho,” the NBI said. “However, NBI-IAID discovered thru CCTV (closed circuit television) footages that Marsalek never entered the Philippines and he did not even depart through MCIA,” the NBI said. The records of Marsalek were found to be spurious due to the following: Existing immigrations protocol as of that date disallowing passengers from entering Philippine territory due to Covid situation; absence of actual scanned data page of the passport; existing protocol that incoming flights of airlines disallowing the boarding of a passenger who will be prevented entry based on the destination country’s protocol as of flight date. The NBI said that Ilagan testified that Nicodemus, who was his supervisor, “ordered him to conduct a derogatory check upon Marsalek despite the fact that he was already not on duty on that date and that Marsalek is not present during checking.” Guevarra in 2020, said that the travel records of the Marsalek were falsified possibly as “diversionary tactics to mislead his pursuers.” The post Immigration officer convicted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Residential, squatter areas susceptible to fire incidents
The Davao City Fire District-Bureau of Fire Protection- Davao Region (BFP-Davao Region) has identified residential areas, squatter settlements, and informal housing as the most susceptible to fire incidents due to poor environmental conditions, makeshift houses, substandard buildings, and overloaded or poorly maintained electrical connections. spokesperson SFO4 Ramil Gillado highlighted the hazardous living conditions in these slum areas, pointing out the presence of illegal and haphazard electrical connections, and emphasizing that in some cases, poor air circulation contributes to the overheating of electrical appliances. According to a recent report from BFP-Davao Region, Davao City recorded 530 fire incidents from January to October of the current year, marking an 18.8 percent increase from the 446 incidents reported during the same period in 2022. The total damage caused by these incidents amounted to P73,722,050, higher than the P58,290,500 reported in the previous year......»»
Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder
The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted Janet Lim Napoles of nine counts of corruption of a public official, but acquitted her of plunder over the so-called “pork barrel fund scandal.” Likewise found guilty of nine counts of direct bribery by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division was former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives Partylist Rep. Edgar Valdez. The convictions were in relation to the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. Napoles and Valdez were each sentenced to imprisonment of two years and four months up to six years and one day, and were each meted out a fine of P26,996,700. The cases stemmed from the charges of plunder filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman, which alleged that five lawmakers, including Valdez, channeled their PDAFs to Napoles’ fake non-government organizations in exchange for kickbacks. According to the information filed by the Ombudsman, Valdez received P56 million in kickbacks from Napoles. The amount was over the P50-million threshold for the crime of plunder. Lacking evidence Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, were among the other lawmakers accused of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam. Revilla was acquitted in 2018 but the cases against the others are still pending before the Sandiganbayan. Enrile, Estrada and Seachon-Lanete were granted bail. The dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling said the evidence to prove plunder against Napoles and Valdez was lacking. “The Court finds accused Edgar de Leon Valdez and Janet Lim Napoles not guilty of plunder due to insufficient evidence proving that they had, through conspiracy, amassed, accumulated, and or acquired at least 50 million pesos of PDAF funds through kickbacks and/or commissions,” the decision read in part. Valdez was allowed to post bail in 2016 after the Fifth Division said the prosecution was only able to prove that Valdez received P2.6 million, and not P56 million, in kickbacks from a foundation belonging to Napoles, who was dubbed the “pork barrel queen.” The division rejected Napoles’ request for the court to accept her belatedly filed memorandum that cited whistleblower Benhur Luy’s testimony in a different graft case, where he allegedly acknowledged that the funds in this case were not from PDAF. The 108-page Sandiganbayan decision was per curiam, meaning, not one justice from the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division penned the ruling. The per curiam decision was signed by Associate Justice and Division Chairperson Rafael Lagos, and Associate Justices Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac. Previous acquittals Napoles attended through videoconference, while Valdez was physically present in court on Monday morning. Napoles is currently serving prior convictions. Last May, the Sandiganbayan First Division acquitted Napoles of graft in 16 PDAF cases. Napoles and Revilla were charged with the crimes in 2014. In 2018, the court ruled in favor of Napoles and against Revilla in the plunder case. In 2021, after filing a demurrer to evidence in both graft instances, Revilla was exonerated. The court ruled that the liability of the accused could no longer be determined because they were included in the plunder case for which they were already prosecuted. The charges of plunder against Revilla, his former political officer Atty. Richard Cambe, and Napoles also constituted graft because they were based on “predicate acts,” the court said. The resolution was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg and adopted by Division chairperson Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio. Same proof “This fact became even more apparent after the presentation of the same testimonial and documentary evidence in both cases,” the resolution read. Those acquitted in that case were Gondelina Amata, Ofelia Ordoez, Sofia Cruz, Evelyn Sucgang, Francisco Figura, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Victor Roman Cacal and Maria Ninez Guanizo. Dennis Cunanan, Gregoria Buenaventura, Rhodora Mendoza, Evelyn de Leon, Laarni Uy and Jocelyn Piorato were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 8 years, and were permanently barred from holding public office. Cambe, Eulogio Rodriguez and Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal had their cases dropped after they passed away. Still another case Napoles was found guilty of two charges of graft and two counts of malversation in another batch of PDAF proceedings involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division observed in a ruling released on 19 May 2023, that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the evidence of whistleblower Luy, who claimed that Napoles owned and controlled the NGOs implicated in the PDAF scam. The post Ombudsman fails to pin Napoles for plunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment
The job of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco may be in limbo following the revelation by a former bureau employee that Tansingco has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a document obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE, Tansingco is among the respondents in a human smuggling complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman by former Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division employee Richard de Leon Cabochan Jr. on 21 April 2015. “One of the respondents in the complaint is Atty. Norman Garcera Tansingco. Based on my records, the last pleading I filed in the case was a supplemental affidavit dated 24 June 2015. In addition, I also filed two other cases with your honorable office docketed as OMB CASE NO. IC-OC-14-1351° and OMB CASE NO. IC-0C-14-4768,” Cabochan told DAILY TRIBUNE when sought for comment. Cabochan was prompted to question Tansingco’s appointment through a letter addressed to Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated 19 September 2022, after a clearance was released by Maria Agnes L. Forteza, Graft Investigation Officer I, dated 1 September 2022. An Ombudsman clearance is a requirement for a Presidential appointee. Cabochan, in his letter, said Tansingco is not fit to be installed as BI commissioner because of his pending case before the Ombudsman. “To my displeasure, I came to know that Atty. Tansingco, a respondent in the abovementioned case, was the newly appointed commissioner of the BI. The said event had me surprised because it is my understanding that to be a confirmed appointee of a head of a government agency, one must possess a clean record or background as evidenced by various clearances issued by concerned government offices of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cabochan’s letter to Martirez read. Cabochan said Tansingco was able to fool Malacañang’s steering committee — the Presidential Management Staff — by saying that he was not involved in any criminal or administrative cases. “An investigation of the matter showed that Atty. Tansingco obtained a ‘clearance’ stating that he had no pending criminal or administrative cases with your honorable office. To reiterate, the same was issued last 1 September 2022,” Cabochan said. “I was surprised about this development, considering that it is to my knowledge that the complaint for the alleged human smuggling that I had filed is still being heard by your honorable office and has yet to be resolved, considering that I have yet to receive any document of the results of the proceedings conducted,” Cabochan letter to Martirez read. “Despite such fact, it appears from the abovementioned document that the case I had filed was already resolved without me, the complainant, being duly informed of the same,” he added. Not notified He further asked Martirez why the Ombudsman did not notify him that Tansingco was given a clearance by the Ombudsman, a clear violation of his right to the due process of law. “It is my understanding that this runs counter to the established procedures in the resolution of filed complaints in your honorable office wherein the parties should be duly informed of the results of the proceedings. I further understand that this right to be informed of the results of the proceedings is part of the due process of law as it would allow the parties to seek relief from the decision by filing the appropriate action in case they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings,” the letter said. The post Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DMW, DoJ get Alpha ‘scam’ probe going
The Department of Migrant Workers or DMW yesterday vowed to endorse to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution the complaints of about 400 Filipinos allegedly duped of about 3,000 euros each (roughly P181,000) by Italy-based “immigration consultancy” firm Alpha Assistenza SRL. Accompanied by DAILY TRIBUNE’s Usapang OFW, 18 of the complainants narrated to DMW for hours their and their sponsors’ harrowing experiences in losing their hard-earned money to Alpha Assistenza co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro. Usapang OFW broke the “massive scam” in an episode that aired on 21 September that was, thereafter, followed by a series of articles that exposed the alleged modus operandi of the owners of the firm who boasted of close ties with a Philippine official in Italy. The paper has reached out to the official and is awaiting his response to the complainants’ claim that his office has been sitting on the complaints filed by their sponsors in Italy. As this developed, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told DAILY TRIBUNE and Usapang OFW that he would personally look into the complaints upon receipt of the DMW’s endorsement to the DoJ. The DoJ oversees the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as the government’s prosecutorial service. At the DMW, Directors Geraldine Mendez and Eric Dorig Dollete of the agency’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau said that, aside from endorsing the complaints to the DoJ-NBI, they would also organize a fact-finding mission to Italy. Mendez and Dollete added that they would mobilize DMW’s Migrant Workers Office and Assistance-to-Nationals unit in Italy even as they assured the complainants of legal assistance. Several senators have expressed dismay over what may turn out to be one of the biggest illegal recruitment cases in the country, with a couple of lawmakers planning to call an investigation into the matter. DivinaLaw had pledged to look into the complainants’ plight. With an average fee of 3,000 euros paid by each of the complainants to Alpha Assistenza, the total amount the 400 “victims” could recover may amount to 1,200,000 euro or P72,367,182.40 at the exchange rate prevailing as of 25 September. Lawyers interviewed by TRIBUNE said the complaints may amount to a syndicated crime, the exact nature of which, they said, would be borne by the facts that must be established by investigating agencies like the NBI. The complainants said they had brought to the attention of various government agencies as early as July the purported use by Alpha Assistenza of fake work permit documents that resulted in their visa applications being denied. They also noted “irregularities” in the handling of their visa applications by the Philippine Interactive Audiotext Services Inc., or PIASI, including at least one instance of fees being paid in a coffee shop on the ground floor of the building where the PIASI office is located. [caption id="attachment_188905" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Bogus, too? A purported letter from the Italian Embassy explains why the visa application was denied on account of fake supporting documents. The letter, however, looks dubious as the name of the applicant was handwritten and not typed.[/caption] PIASI is the third-party service provider accredited by the Italian Embassy in Manila. The complainants had told Daily Tribune that they were afraid for their relatives and friends currently working in Italy who had sponsored them in good faith. The sponsors face the possibility of being thrown out of the country, they said, just because they (job seekers) were provided fake documents by Alpha Assistenza. Eight of the 18 complainants told DMW that their passports were still with an Alpha Assistenza agent despite their visas already having been denied. “(The agent) took our passports, telling us that she would be the one to represent us in the processing of our papers. We have been asking her to return our passports but it has been more than a month, and we still don’t have them,” one victim recounted. They also questioned the authenticity of the visa denial documents that they had received from PIASI as their names were merely handwritten in what appeared to be “fill-in-the-blanks” letters. Meanwhile, two OFWs in Italy interviewed by DAILY TRIBUNE said one of two Italian lawyers featured by Alpha Assistenza on its Facebook page as officials of the company is suing Respicio for making the false claim. They said that the Italian supplier of the video wall used during the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Italy had also complained of being paid only about half of the 26,000 euros owed him. The post DMW, DoJ get Alpha ‘scam’ probe going appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Illegally detained Taiwanese nationals rescued
The National Bureau of Investigation on Sunday reported that its operatives from the NBI- Cebu District Office and NBI-Central Visayas Regional Office rescued eight Taiwanese nationals who were allegedly detained by their employer. NBI-CEBDO agent-in-charge Arnel Pura told DAILY TRIBUNE that the rescue operation was based on the complaint lodged by a certain Glendelle Grace Salvador Nerviol for illegal detention of Chong Yi Wei who sent pictures that he was physically harmed. Taiwanese national Dixon Zhang was identified as supervisor and one of the trusted men of their employer or “Boss,” reportedly a Taiwanese national, too. The rescued Taiwanese were identified Edison Lin; Yufeng Mountain; Wang Dongxin; Peter Wang; Zhang Ende, Wang Kai Cheng; Wan Tianhai and Chen Yee Chen. NBI-CEBDO Special Investigator IV Bienvenido Panican disclosed that the victims had been illegally detained since 5 September 2023, adding that the NBI received information from the live-in partner of one of the Taiwanese nationals who had been unlawfully held by his employer for over two weeks. Panican cited that NBI operatives conducted surveillance and finally rescued the detained Taiwanese nationals from a rented house at Paseo Eulala, Maria Luisa Park in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City. Reports disclosed that these individuals were involved in an online shopping scam, targeting victims in Taiwan and China. Cases for violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code or serious illegal detention and violations of Republic Act 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Commission on Elections Resolution 10918 against Zhang and the Filipino driver-bodyguard identified as Ian Diabordo Naces. The post Illegally detained Taiwanese nationals rescued appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Six persons to be charged for profiteering, hoarding onions
The National Bureau of Investigation recommends the filing of charges against six persons, three of them government officials, before the Department of Justice for alleged hoarding and profiteering in the sale of onions last December as prices go up to as much as P587 per kilo. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the recommendation to prosecute the six hoarders and profiteers was made by the NBI which conducted the probe. The DOJ chief though did not reveal the identities of those recommended for formal investigation pending the evaluation to be done by the DOJ's national prosecution service. The NBI's probe on the prices and supply of onions were ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Remulla. Remulla said aside from hoarding and profiteering, the violations may lead to price manipulation and economic sabotage, a capital offense. He said, "Government officials are among those recommended for prosecution because we believe that they are also involved.” Remulla said it is just the start and there will be more cases to be filed as the NBI continues with its investigation. DOJ Undersecretary Geronimo L. Sy said the recommendation of the NBI stemmed from the overpriced onions sold in the market back in December that reached up to P537 per kilo even if the farmgate price or cost of production was only between P8 to P15 per kilo. He said that due to a lack of supply, the Department of Agriculture procured back in December 8,000 bags of onions of 25 kilos per bag. Sy said there was payment for actual deliveries from funds downloaded from the DA. However, the investigators found out that there was only one bidder who submitted three bids. "The other bids were fictitious so that the preferred bidder would win in the bidding process,” Sy explained. The post Six persons to be charged for profiteering, hoarding onions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero to BOC: File charges vs. rice smugglers, hoarders
Senator Francis Escudero challenged the Bureau of Customs to immediately file charges against traders susceptibly involved in smuggling and hoarding rice. Escudero said such illegal activities have caused an artificial shortage of food staples and rice price spikes in recent months. The senator then slammed the BOC for its failure to disclose to the public the “names of traders and operators whose warehouses were raided by government authorities for tons of suspected smuggled rice.” “Ang dami nang raids na ginawa nitong mga nakaraang linggo, bakit hanggang ngayon, wala pang kasong isinasampa sa mga taong sangkot? (You have done so many raid activities this past weeks, why is it until now you haven’t filed cases to anyone involved?),” he said. Escudero stressed the need to file charges and ‘bring these economic saboteurs to court” so it could “serve as a warning” that the Marcos administration is indeed serious in its campaign against smugglers and hoarders. He said the authorities should not stop by just conducting a series of raids, instead, the efforts should showcase strong results. The Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 considers large-scale smuggling of agricultural products as economic sabotage, with "at least P1 million worth of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables, in their raw state, or which have undergone the simple processes of preparation and preservation for the market, or a minimum of P10 million worth of rice, as valued by Bureau of Customs." “Why haven't I heard anyone sued for economic sabotage or something? Who owns these warehouses? Who are the people involved?" Escudero asked, citing that the BoC-Port of Zamboanga seized some 42,180 sacks of rice worth P42 million in Barangay San Jose Gusu on 15 September. The local bureau inspected the warehouse on 19 May after receiving information that smuggled rice was being stored in the area. Two weeks prior, the BOC inspected three warehouses in Bulacan and found these stocked with suspected smuggled imported rice worth P505 million. It temporarily sealed and guarded these warehouses located inside the Intercity Industrial Complex in Balagtas, Bulacan. Aside from filing charges, Escudero said the government should also update the public on the development of these cases “in the spirit of transparency.” "Ito ang mga dapat nilang masagot ngayon (this what they should answer now): who oversees the disposition and how will it be disposed? Ano ang gagawin nila sa mga bigas na nakumpiska? (What will happen to confiscated rice?),“ Escudero said. In a news forum last Saturday, BOC Port of Zamboanga chief, Benito Lontok, said the agency is planning to donate the smuggled rice for the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa Program and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s assistance programs. However, Lontok said the plan is still “subject to approval” of BoC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. 'DA should step up' Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged DA to take more proactive measures to address the price hike in rice. Cayetano lamented the prices of rice remain high despite the government’s implementation of a price cap on the product. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier blamed smugglers and hoarders for causing the increasing prices of rice in the country. Hence, issuing the executive Order No. 39 on 31 August, mandated price ceilings for regular-milled rice at P41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at P45 per kilogram. The EO 39 will be implemented nationwide beginning 5 September. Marcos vowed the government would continue going after the rice smugglers and hoarders, including the imposition of penalties for those found guilty of violating the mandated price cap for rice. Cayetano lauded Marcos for this effort and for being a “sincere Agriculture Secretary” with a primary intent on the country’s food situation. However, he stressed that other DA officials should not rely on the Chief Executive for solutions. “The DA to seek long-term solutions to stabilize food prices, emphasizing that temporary measures may not address the root causes of the problem,” he said. The post Escudero to BOC: File charges vs. rice smugglers, hoarders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IBP condemns killing of Abra lawyer
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines strongly condemned the killing last 14 September of its commissioner on bar discipline, Atty. Maria Saniata Liwliwa V. Gonzales Alzate, in Bangued, Abra. The lawyers' group urgently called on the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police and all relevant investigative agencies to launch comprehensive investigations into the crime, along with all other unsolved cases targeting lawyers. “We ask that they ensure the expedient resolution of these investigations, thereby holding the perpetrators truly accountable,” the IBP said The group said Alzate "upheld the highest standards of the legal profession, leaving behind an enduring legacy for us all.” It added: "We unite in solidarity with the legal community and the family of Atty. Alzate. We honor her memory as an esteemed public interest lawyer and a dedicated Commissioner of the Integrated Bar." The IBP said the killing of Alzate "serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threats faced by lawyers, judges, and officers of the Court across the Philippines.” “In a society built upon the foundations of justice and equity, there is no place, nor can there be any tolerance, for those who would assail those dedicated to upholding the legal profession and cause of justice,” it stressed. For its part, the Department of Justice through DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said, "We hope the manhunt operation will result in the murderer’s capture so he or she can feel the full force of the rule of law." The post IBP condemns killing of Abra lawyer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said imposing stiffer penalties against individuals engaged in economic sabotage will serve as a “proactive and prompt response” to the alarming cases of smuggling in the country. Dela Rosa backed the introduction of Senate Bill 2432 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” at the recent Senate plenary session earlier this week. “I must say that this is truly a proactive and prompt response to the alarming number of cases of smuggling in the country,” Dela Rosa said. “At the same time, and more importantly, this is a decisive action towards the protection of our Filipino farmers,” he added. The proposed bill seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” which the lady senator deemed as a “failure” after the Bureau of Customs, its lead implementing agency, recorded zero number of convictions seven years after its enactment. Dela Rosa stressed the need to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, “in order to more fully and effectively implement” the proposed law should it would be enacted. “To assist the Council in the prosecution of crimes, a Special Team of Prosecutors shall be created. At the same time, the bill also proposes to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to assist the Council in matters relating to enforcement,” Dela Rosa added. Dela Rosa then urged Congress and the public to support the measure to ensure justice, bring renewed hope, and build a better life for our local farmers. “If we take care of our farmers, of their dreams and hopes for the future, then we are also taking care of the dreams and hopes of the rest of the nation. Let us cultivate, rather than destroy, their optimism,” he said. The post Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giving more teeth to RATS
Despite huge volumes of onions, rice, sugar, and other agricultural products the Bureau of Customs (BOC) supposedly interdicted, only nine cases have been filed so far against certain importers for violating the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law. And all nine cases still remain pending in lower courts as of last check done by Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee......»»