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‘Go to authorities, not to social media’ — Valenzuela mayor on latest road rage incident
Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian on Monday called on the public not to resort to social media when getting involved in road rage incidents. He also advised motorists who are also gun owners to be "responsible enough" as having a license to carry a gun is just a "privilege" to have protection and not to use it like a "street toughie." "Huwag kayong matakot lumapit sa authorities (police or LGU), paalala sa mga gun owner, license is a privilege for protection. Huwag niyong abusuhin," Gatchalian said at a press briefing he called to present the victim on another road rage incident that happened in his jurisdiction. "I don't see the reason why (the motorist who is a gun owner) would be in a rage. Madaling araw nangyari, maluwag ang daan," Gatchalian said, referring to Marlon Malabute a businessman from Tondo, Manila who cut and hit at the cab driven by Henry Ong Jr., a resident of Valenzuela. "Wala pang sinasabi (victim) binunutan na ng baril," the Mayor added. Gatchalian was referring to the latest road rage incident that happened on 19 August, a couple of weeks after the controversial road rage incident in Quezon City involving a dismissed policeman and bicycle rider. Gatchalian said the incident only reached them on 6 September, but their police were able to track the suspect through the vehicle he used which probers found to have been registered thrice because of different transfers of ownership. P/Col. Salvador Destura Jr., Valenzuela police chief on the other end said they have already filed charges of "alarm and scandal" as well as "grave threats" charges against the road rager. He added that they also moved to have Malabute's gun license revoked. "He will answer that at the Prosecutors' Office. If he doesn't show up, he will have a warrant. That's the time we will hunt him if he still would not present himself," Destura explained. He added that they also reached out to the suspect's uncle and brother who promised them their cooperation. Ong for his part, said he came into the open because of his fear and fear for his family's safety. The incident, he added was a traumatic experience to him, affecting his health and work as a taxi driver. He urged the suspect to surrender. Gatchalian, meanwhile, noted the incident will be treated as a "lesson learned" that will make his local government push for the planned installation of 1,500 LED streetlights with close circuit cameras and would serve as a deterrent to similar incidents. He also ordered Destura to conduct checkpoints. The post ‘Go to authorities, not to social media’ — Valenzuela mayor on latest road rage incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cop, brother face kidnapping raps
Southern Police District Director Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano ordered the filing of charges against a policeman and his brother who allegedly kidnapped and illegally detained a female Chinese national. The suspects who will be charged were identified as SSgt. Lordgrin Figueroa, 39, assigned at the Pasay Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; and his brother “Nelson,” 20, now detained at the police custodial facility. Charges for Illegal Detention, Robbery Extortion, violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearm and Ammunition) in relation to RA 7166 (Omnibus Election Code), Falsification of Public Documents, and Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code (Illegal Use of PNP Uniform). Reports showed the brothers were arrested on Sunday, 3 September at around 10:48 p.m. inside Qing Qing hotel located along Figueroa Street, Barangay 74, Pasay City. Mariano said the Pasay police, under the supervision of city police chief, Col. Froilan Uy, conducted a rescue operation for a 26-year-old female Chinese national who was allegedly detained by the suspects inside the hotel room. The suspects reportedly attempted to extort money amounting to P500,000 for her release. A friend of the victim, a 34-year-old Malaysian national, sought police assistance and reported the incident on September 4. He provided the Pasay police with a photo of the victim in handcuffs, a PNP ID belonging to a certain PMSG John Reggie Reyes, and text messages from the suspects demanding for the P500,000 ransom money. The rescue operation, Mariano said was immediately conducted, leading to the arrest of the suspects. Police recovered one 9mm Taurus with serial number TBW77621 a property of PNP, one magazine loaded with 14 live ammunition, a PNP ID, a wallet, 14 pieces of P1,000 bills, five assorted identification cards and three cellphones. Mariano said, as members of the PNP, they are committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and visitors. The post Cop, brother face kidnapping raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Justice assured for slain Rodriguez teen
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Saturday vowed to bring justice to the family of a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly killed by a police officer and his companion in Rodriguez, Rizal. Acorda said in a statement that the suspects, Police Corporal Arnulfo Sabillo and Jeffrey Baguio, had been arrested to face charges of homicide and attempted homicide. “We are committed to ensuring that the bereaved family finds justice for their deceased loved one,” Acorda said of the incident that happened on 20 August. John Ace Ompad was riding a motorcycle home with his brother when two men, later identified as Sabillo and Baguio, attempted to stop him. Ompad allegedly threw his helmet at them. In response, Sabillo reportedly fired four times in the direction of John Ace but hit his 15-year-old brother in the abdomen. The minor victim was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries. “Such actions are deeply regrettable and do not represent the values of the Philippine National Police,” Acorda said. “We will ensure a thorough and impartial investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible.” Sabillo and Baguio were arrested by the PNP on 22 August and were placed under investigation. Sabillo’s Taurus service pistol was confiscated. Also relieved from their posts were members of the Community Police Assistance Center 5 of the Rodriguez Municipal Police Station who would face administrative charges. The killing of the boy happened just weeks after the Navotas Police shot dead 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar in an alleged case of mistaken identity during a follow-up operation to arrest another suspect. The post Justice assured for slain Rodriguez teen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFP employees turn the table, file graft raps vs Belgica
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica has been slapped with a complaint for graft and several administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman by nine employees of Duty Free Philippines (DFP). Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica Alexander Sablan, Ernesto Mangalindan, Romeo Silva Jr., Eric Oracion, Rizalino Santos, Nilo Duarte, Joaquin Vibal, Francis Daco, and Carlito Ardales want Belgica to be held liable for violations of Section 3(b), (e), (f), and (k) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Grave Misconduct, Conduct Prejudicial to the Service, and Gross Inexcusable Negligence. The DFP employees said they were “very frustrated and disappointed” in Belgica for taking on their case of “smuggling” against DFPC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vicente Pelagio Angala. They said in the complaint that they sought Belgica’s help after listening to his program with DZRH called “Ireklamo Mo Kay Greco.” They then went to his house in San Miguel Avenue near Malacañang and sought help regarding allegations of anomalies and corruption within DFP. He listened to their concerns and introduced his father, Gregor Belgica, and his lawyer sibling, Atty. Jeremia Belgica. The Belgica clan assured the DFP employees that they have their support, and they said they were lucky because they do not have to pay for any legal fees. However, when they filed the plunder complaint before the Ombudsman on March 16, 2017, with the help of the firm of Belgica’s brother – Belgica Aranas ALim Dela Cruz and Association – they had to pay P1,000 per page or a total of P130,000. Things went downhill when Belgica contacted Angala and set up a meeting with them. During the meeting, they were made to sign a “waiver” which they did not get to read and they were also kept in the dark. In the end, Belgica made recommendations to President Duterte against officials of DFP. However, they said the recommendations did not really include the names of those involved, but just mentioned that charges be filed against “public officials.” The money which they used to pay the Ombudsman was also returned. “Ginamit niya ang aming kaso para magkaroon ng koneksyon sa mga malalaking negosyante sa Duty Free upang gamitin niya sa kanyang pansariling interest. (He used our case to connect with big business owners in Duty Free so that he could use it for his own personal gain),” the complaint read. Contacted by the Manila Bulletin for his side, Belgica said he is ready to defend himself and provide answers “anywhere and anytime.” He added that the complaint that he asked for money is a “fabricated story,” and he said that he had been very generous to the DFP employees. The fact that the group has besmirched his reputation, Belgica said he is going to file counter-charges and “pray hard that they all go to jail.” Belgica likewise made some accusations of his own: “This group is being sponsored by the same people who also filed a case against me on the entrapment operations and anti-corruption initiatives that we have been doing. This group has been trying to rally more people to fabricate cases and allegations in order to undermine the anti-corruption initiatives of the administration.”.....»»
6 cops charged before ombudsman
Six police officers in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, including the chief of the municipal police, are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly planting evidence against a social media content creator......»»
Ex-AFP member faces raps for socmed report
A retired military man is facing cybercrime charges for using an image of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. in his vlog about an alleged ouster plot against President Marcos that went viral......»»
Maynilad, Manila Water basic charge hike gets nod from MWSS
MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty attributed the increase of charges to the need of concessionaires to cover costs for diverse projects aimed at securing ample water supply in anticipation of the moderate to extreme El Niño phenomenon next year......»»
Ex-DOH chief Garin posts bail in Dengvaxia case
Former health secretary and incumbent Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin posted bail yesterday in connection with the criminal charges she is facing before the Sandiganbayan over the allegedly anomalous P3.556-billion dengue mass vaccination program in 2016......»»
Defeated BSKE bet, brod admit killing village chief’s kin
A defeated candidate in the barangay elections and his brother surrendered on Friday and admitted killing two relatives of a reelected village chief in Kibawe, Bukidnon......»»
Lebanon court orders ex-car boss Ghosn out of Beirut home: official
A Lebanese judge has decided to evict former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn from his luxury home, a judicial official said Saturday, four years after an investment firm accused him of "trespassing". Ghosn, who took up residency in the Beirut property after fleeing prosecution in Japan in 2019, appealed the ruling on Friday, the official added. A spokesperson for Ghosn confirmed he had appealed. Ghosn and his wife must "vacate the property... within a month", according to a copy of the decision seen by AFP and dated 16 October. The home with pink walls in the Lebanese capital's upscale Ashrafieh neighborhood is worth some $19 million and is registered to Lebanese company Phoinos Investment, the judicial official said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Phoinos initiated the legal action in 2019 and has accused Ghosn of "trespassing on private property and living in the home without legal basis", the official added. According to the court document, Ghosn said the company was affiliated with Nissan and that "the property was purchased... for his residence, and there is a signed agreement with Nissan that grants him the right to reside" there. Ghosn occupied the home "according to a contractual relationship linking... Ghosn and Nissan", the decision said. However, the end of that relationship and the plaintiff's wish to retake the property invalidates "the legal basis" of his occupancy, it added. In a written statement to AFP, a Ghosn spokesperson said documents that had been unavailable for prior hearings in the cast would support his appeal. "He will now be able to present all the documents held up in Japan that he was unable to secure on time," the statement said. Ghosn, the former chairman and chief executive of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct, before being sacked by Nissan's board in a unanimous decision. He jumped bail late the following year and made a dramatic escape from Japan hidden in an audio-equipment box, landing in Beirut, where he remains an international fugitive. Ghosn has always denied the charges against him, arguing they were cooked up by Nissan executives who opposed his attempts to more closely integrate the firm with French partner Renault. Japan and France have sought his arrest, but Lebanon does not extradite its citizens, and judicial authorities have slapped a travel ban on Ghosn, who holds Lebanese, French, and Brazilian nationality. The post Lebanon court orders ex-car boss Ghosn out of Beirut home: official appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman ordersDA Asec dismissed
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from the service of Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista in connection with a dubious deal with an onion supplier that led to a spike in the price of the commodity last year. The Ombudsman found Evangelista and John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III, vice president for operations of Food Terminal Inc., guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. They were dismissed for grave misconduct and negligence of duty, respectively. Moreover, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Evangelista, Trinidad, and several others for breach of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and for “falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents (Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code).” The criminal and administrative charges against DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, chief accountant officer-in-charge Lolita Jamela, administrative officer V Eunice Biblanias, and budget division head Juanita Lualhati were dropped due to lack of probable cause and insufficiency of evidence. Likewise, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of both criminal and administrative charges against FTI president Robert Tan, who will stand as a witness for the prosecution. Back in August, the Ombudsman placed Evangelista, Trinidad, and several others, except for Panganiban and Tan, under preventive suspension in connection with the onion supply shortage in the country’s markets, price manipulation, and the dubious procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Ombudsman records showed the DA entered into a memorandum of agreement with FTI for the Food Mobilization or Kadiwa Food Hub project. FTI, on the other hand, entered into a letter of agreement with Bonena for the delivery of 8,845 bags (approximately 28 kilograms/bag) of onions as part of the Kadiwa Food Hub. They were accused of violating RA 3019 and the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) due to the lack of parameters in the selection of a cooperative that would supply and deliver the onions; the questionable advance payment of 50 percent of the contract price; non-compliance of the MoA; partial implementation of the contract; and doubtful deliveries by Bonena.” The country experienced an agricultural shortage, primarily in onions, which soared to as high as P500 to P700 per kilo during the last quarter of 2022. The post Ombudsman ordersDA Asec dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Correction system is window of soul’ — Remulla
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in his speech, “Correction system is the window of the soul of the country”, as the Bureau of Corrections released 949 persons deprived of liberty from its major prison facilities nationwide yesterday. "So, dapat maraming pagbabago ang magawa natin dahil hindi magiging epektibo ang correction system pag congested ang ating mga kulangan,” he added. The DOJ chief continued, “We also have to expedite the release of PDLs if they have already served their maximum sentence and our police force and prosecutors are now working hand in hand to resolve the issue of those accused being detained for so long much more than their sentence.” “Gusto natin na mapalaya sila agad kung nakapag bayad na sila sa lipunan (We want them to be released promptly in the event they already paid their sins in the society),” Remulla said. Those released were from Correctional Institution for Women (90), Davao Prison and Penal Farm (177), Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (23), Leyte Regional Prison (69), New Bilibid Prison (486), Philippine Military Academy (2), Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (33), and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (71). Of the said numbers, 556 were released due to the expiration of their maximum sentence, 213 were acquitted of the charges against them, 129 were given parole, 29 were granted probation, and two were released on cash bond. This brings to 6,322 the total number of PDLs who have been released under the administration of Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. Catapang has been expediting the release of PDLs as part of his reform agenda. The culminating activity, which coincides with the BuCor's fifth-day celebration of National Correctional Consciousness Week, was attended by Remulla, Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco, Justice Assistant Secretaries Francis John Tejano and Jose Dominic Clavano, PAO chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, Parole and Probation Administration OIC Atty. Bienvenido O. Benitez Jr., Board of Pardons and Parole chairman Atty. Sergio Calizo Jr., DOLE-NCR Regional Director Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, and other BuCor officials led by BuCor-OIC Gil Torralba. Torralba for his part told the PDLs to “(b)ring the good things you learned inside the jail and leave the bad experiences you encountered inside.” He also revealed that BuCor, under the guidance of DG Catapang, has launched an Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Unit (IMEU) wherein BuCor employees can report illicit activities of their co-workers and PDLs who have been released from detention can report via text or call against erring corrections officers. Torralba urged the released PDLs to report their bad and good experiences against corrections officers and assured them of the confidentially of their report. “This is one way that we can improve our services and reward our officers who do good and at the same time get rid of undesirables within our ranks,” Torralba said. The post ‘Correction system is window of soul’ — Remulla appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agri officials dismissed by Ombudsman for graft, misconduct
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of Department of Agriculture assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista in relation to a dubious deal with an onion supplier that led to a spike in the commodity last year. The Ombudsman found Evangelista and John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III, vice president for operations of Food Terminal Incorporated, guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and dismissed for grave misconduct and negligence of duty, respectively. Moreover, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Evangelista, Trinidad and several others for breaching the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and for "falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents (Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code)." The criminal and administrative charges against DA senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, chief accountant officer-in-charge Lolita Jamela, administrative officer V Eunice Biblanias and budget division head Juanita Lualhati, however, were dropped due to lack of probable cause and insufficiency of evidence. Likewise, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of both criminal and administrative charges against FTI president Robert Tan to stand as a witness of the prosecution. Back in August, the Ombudsman placed Evangelista, Trinidad and several others, except for Panganiban and Tan, under preventive suspension in connection with the onion supply shortage in the Philippine markets, price manipulation and the dubious procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The Ombudsman’s records showed that the DA entered into a memorandum of agreement with FTI for the Food Mobilization or Kadiwa Food Hub project. FTI, on the other hand, entered into a letter of agreement with Bonena for the delivery of 8,845 bags (approximately 28 kilograms/bag) of onions as part of the said Kadiwa Food Hub. They were accused of violating RA 3019 and the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) due to the lack of parameters in the selection of a cooperative that will supply and deliver the onions; questionable advance payment of 50 percent of the contract price; non-compliance of the MoA; partial implementation of the contract; and doubtful deliveries by Bonena. During the last quarter of 2022, the country experienced an agricultural shortage, primarily in onions, the prices of which soared to as high as P500 to P700 per kilo. Citing the evidence, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said “it seems like the prices of onions were manipulated.” “It seems like there was no bidding. We obtained CCTV footage from FTI showing what looks like a single person bringing three envelopes to the senior vice president,” he said. The post Agri officials dismissed by Ombudsman for graft, misconduct appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP hikes rates6.5%, off-cycle
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday raised its policy rate on an off-cycle period to 6.5 percent from 6.25 percent to manage a likely inflation uptrend this year until July next year. The BSP has, thus far, raised its policy rate by 450 basis points after inflation peaked at 8.7 percent in January and re-accelerated again to 6.1 percent last month from 5.3 percent in August. The BSP move will increase borrowing costs, with new interest rates on the overnight deposit at 6 percent and lending facilities at 7 percent. BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said the country’s inflation rate might settle at 4.7 percent next year, higher than the central bank’s previous target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for this year and 4.3 percent in the next. He added inflation might quicken further above 4.7 percent from July to March next year. “The balance of risks to the inflation outlook still leans significantly toward the upside, due mainly to the potential impact of higher transport charges, electricity rates, international oil prices, and minimum wage adjustments in areas outside the National Capital Region,” he explained. Limit spending With the higher interest rates, Remolona said consumers will likely limit their spending which will discourage businesses from raising prices. “The BSP’s Monetary Board recognized the need for this urgent monetary action to prevent supply-side price pressures from inducing additional second-round effects and further dislodging inflation expectations,” the BSP chief said. Remolona added the slow global economic recovery and effects of the weather disturbances from El Niño on food supply might also restrain consumption toward a moderated inflation. “Meanwhile, the effect of a weaker-than-expected global recovery as well as government measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño weather conditions could temper inflationary impulses,” he said. The BSP Monetary Board will again announce to the public on 16 November whether to change its policy rate in compliance with its normal cycle period happening every six weeks. However, Remolona already cautioned the public of likely controlled consumer spending in the medium term as the BSP expects to maintain high interest rates in the near future. Tighter settings “Looking ahead, the Monetary Board deems it necessary to keep monetary policy settings tighter for longer until inflationary expectations are better anchored and a sustained downward trend in inflation becomes evident,” he said. “We will consider another rate hike if things are worse than we thought,” Remolona continued. The BSP has raised its policy rate by 425 basis points after inflation peaked at 8.7 percent in January and re-accelerated again to 6.1 percent last month from 5.3 percent in August. The Philippine Statistics Authority attributed this to persisting higher food and fuel prices partly driven by global food trade restrictions and oil trade disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war. Falls a little behind “In my view, I think we fell a little behind that’s the reason for this effort to catch up. We didn’t look closely enough at expectations,” Remolona said as he reflected on the BSP’s unchanged rate at its September 21 meeting. “One of them that was very striking was our consumer expectations survey which said about 92 percent think that in the next 12 months inflation will be above 4 percent, similar to expectations by firms,” the BSP chief continued. The post BSP hikes rates6.5%, off-cycle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indonesia’s three-way presidential race set as deadline nears
The candidates for next year's Indonesian presidential election were set Wednesday, with septuagenarian former special forces general Prabowo Subianto and his running mate, the president's son, seen as the frontrunners. Nearly 205 million eligible voters can cast their ballot on 14 February, with the winner set to succeed President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, after he completes the maximum two terms ruling Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Three candidates -- defence minister Subianto, former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan -- confirmed their run for the presidency before Wednesday's midnight deadline. Subianto and Widodo's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka were joined by supporters and a marching band in their journey to the election commission on Wednesday, both dressed in baby blue shirts after attending a concert by tens of thousands at a central Jakarta arena. "We... ask for the blessing from all Indonesians. We are now facing a very important point in the history of Indonesia," said Subianto. "We are at a point where we can rise and become an Indonesia that is great... and an Indonesia where the natural resources are utilised optimally for all." The presence of Jokowi's son on the ticket has fuelled criticism that the president is trying to create a political dynasty in the world's third-largest democracy, an allegation he denies. Just before the registration deadline, the constitutional court -- led by Widodo's brother-in-law -- controversially ruled that candidates under 40 years old can run for office if they have served in a regional position. Thirty-six-year-old Raka, who is mayor of Surakarta city, would otherwise have been ineligible to contest the vice presidency. Several polls have put Subianto, 72, marginally ahead of his nearest rival Pranowo. This is his third run at the top office after losing to Widodo in the previous two elections. The incumbent defence chief, a former son-in-law of Indonesia's late dictator Suharto, remains dogged by allegations of his role in human rights abuses in Jakarta, restive province Papua and breakaway nation East Timor, but has never been charged. Widodo's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has chosen Pranowo as its candidate. He is viewed as a figure from a humble background and was initially touted as the favourite, but his popularity fell after he opposed Israel's participation in this year's U20 World Cup, with FIFA subsequently stripping Indonesia's hosting rights. He has announced chief security minister Mahfud MD as his running mate. The third challenger Baswedan is favoured by conservative Muslims in the Muslim-majority country and chose the chairman of the Islamist National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, as his running mate. The next president will be sworn in next October, the elections commission said. The post Indonesia’s three-way presidential race set as deadline nears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Model by day, gangster at night’
The Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday that a Belgian male model wanted for terrible crimes has been arrested by BI Fugitive Search Unit operatives. BI-FSU Chief Randel Sy identified the fugitive as Kristof Debie, 38, who was arrested last Tuesday, 17 October at a hotel in Parañaque City. Debie claimed that he worked as a model and a bartender, but according to reports from the European authorities, he was actually part of a criminal organization involved in narcotics. Sy said that after receiving information on Debie’s criminal acts in his home country, the Bureau tagged him as an undesirable alien. Debie was the subject of an interpol red notice requesting nations to locate and arrest him, issued in March of this year. The Court of First Instance of East Flanders, Ghent Section, in Belgium issued a European warrant of arrest against him for a number of serious offenses, including the torture of minors, involvement in a criminal organization, and serious drug-related charges in violation of the Belgian Penal Code. In addition, reports from foreign news sources have described the heinousness of his actions, including one in which he amputated the ear of a 17-year-old teenager after misplacing a cocaine stockpile. In anticipation of his deportation procedures, Debie is now being held at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated that fugitives are not welcome in the country. “Fugitives are not welcome in the Philippines,” Tansingco said. “We are committed to upholding the law. We will not allow our country to be a safe haven for those who seek to escape justice,” he added. The post ‘Model by day, gangster at night’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Model by day, gangster by night: Belgian apprehended by BI
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that a Belgian model wanted for terrible crimes was arrested by BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives. BI-FSU Chief Randel Sy identified the fugitive as Kristof Debie, 38, who was arrested on 17 October at a hotel in Parañaque City. Debie claimed that he worked as a model and a bartender, but according to the reports from the European authorities, he was actually part of a criminal organization involved in narcotics. Sy said that after receiving information on Debie's criminal acts from his home country, the bureau tagged him as an undesirable alien. Debie was the subject of an Interpol red notice requesting nations to locate and arrest him, issued in March of this year. The Court of First Instance of East Flanders, Ghent Section, in Belgium issued a European warrant of arrest against him for a number of serious offenses, including the torture of minors, involvement in a criminal organization, and serious drug-related charges in violation of the Belgian Penal Code. In addition, reports from foreign news sources have described the heinousness of his actions, including one in which he amputated the ear of a 17-year-old teenager after misplacing a cocaine stockpile. In anticipation of his deportation procedures, Debie is now being held at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated that foreign fugitives are not welcome in the Philippines. “We are committed to upholding the law. We will not allow our country to be a safe haven for those who seek to escape justice," he added. The post Model by day, gangster by night: Belgian apprehended by BI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war
The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave suffering what the UN chief labelled a "godawful nightmare". Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. The crossing -- the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel -- closed again after the trucks passed. The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the relief supplies were "the difference between life and death" for many Gazans, more than one million of whom have been displaced. "Much more" aid needs to be sent, he told a peace summit in Egypt on Saturday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged "all parties" to keep the Rafah crossing open. But a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. 'Reeling in pain' Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin "soon". As international tensions soar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was hosting a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday attended by regional and some Western leaders. "The time has come for action to end this godawful nightmare," Guterres told the summit, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire". The region "is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice", he said. Guterres said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight". But he stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". "Those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added. Egypt, historically a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has urged "restraint" and the relaunch of the long-frozen peace process. But diplomatic efforts to end the violence have made little headway, without the participation of Israel and its enemy Iran, a supporter of Hamas and other armed groups. 'Sliver of hope' A full-blown Israeli ground offensive carries many risks, including to the hostages Hamas took and whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty. So the release of two Americans among the hostages -- mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan -- offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. He said he was working "around the clock" to win the return of other Americans being held. Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of joy" at the release after "the most horrible of ordeals". Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release and that it was "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". Traumatised families with loved ones missing in Gaza demanded more action. "We ask humanity to interfere and bring back all those young boys, young girls, mothers, babies," Assaf Shem Tov, whose nephew was abducted from a music festival where Hamas killed hundreds, said Friday. Devastation Almost half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the United Nations says. Thousands have taken refuge in a camp set up in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some points breaking into a run as missiles struck around them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she told AFP. In Al-Zahra in central Gaza, Rami Abu Wazna was struggling to take in the destruction wreaked by Israeli missile strikes. "Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible," he said. Israel's operation will take not "a day, nor a week, nor a month" and will result in "the end of Israel's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Friday. Regional tensions flare In Gaza, retired general Omar Ashour said the destruction was "part of a clear plan for people to have no place left to live". "This will cause a second Nakba," he added, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who were expelled from or fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, amid fears of a wider conflagration. Fire across Israel's border with Lebanon continued overnight, with one Israeli soldier killed, Israeli public radio said. The military said it hit Hezbollah targets after rocket and missile fire. Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The post First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prosecutors reject Trump claim of ‘absolute immunity’
Federal prosecutors on Thursday rejected Donald Trump's attempt to have election conspiracy charges dismissed on the grounds that he enjoys immunity for actions he took while in the White House. "No one in this country, not even the president, is above the law," special counsel Jack Smith's team wrote in a 54-page motion filed with the judge presiding over the landmark case. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is to go on trial in Washington in March of next year for allegedly conspiring to subvert the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden. The former president's lawyers, in a motion two weeks ago to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, argued that the charges should be thrown out because Trump is "absolutely immune from criminal prosecution." Prosecutors in the special counsel's office dismissed that argument and urged Chutkan to deny Trump's request. "He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans," they said. "No court has ever alluded to the existence of absolute criminal immunity for former presidents. "The implications of the defendant's unbounded immunity theory are startling," they added. "It would grant absolute immunity from criminal prosecution to a president who accepts a bribe in exchange for a lucrative government contract for a family member," they said, or "a president who sells nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary." Trump's bid to invoke the presidential immunity defense is seen as a long shot by legal observers but it could result in a delay to the start of the trial as the argument potentially winds its way up to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. Trump's attempts to use the "absolute immunity" defense in other cases have been rebuffed by judges, but the nation's highest court has never ruled directly on whether a former chief executive is immune from criminal prosecution. Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges. 'Unsettled question' Trump's attorneys, citing a Supreme Court case involving former president Richard Nixon, said the law provides "absolute immunity" to the president "for acts within the 'outer perimeter' of his official responsibility." As chief executive, they argued, Trump had a responsibility to "ensure election integrity" and was within his rights to challenge the results of the 2020 vote. "As President Trump is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for such acts, the Court should dismiss the indictment," they said. While making the argument that Trump cannot be prosecuted, his lawyers acknowledged the Nixon case they cited involved the civil liability of a former president and not alleged criminal conduct. "The question remains a 'serious and unsettled question' of law," they said. The case before Chutkan accuses Trump of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress that was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters. Other criminal cases against Trump include racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state and a trial in Florida in May 2024 on charges of mishandling top-secret government documents. Trump and his two eldest sons are also currently involved in a civil fraud trial in New York for allegedly inflating the value of their real estate assets to receive more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. The post Prosecutors reject Trump claim of ‘absolute immunity’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suit charges crypto firms with billion-dollar fraud
New York's attorney general on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing cryptocurrency firms Gemini and Genesis with fraud that wound up costing investors more than a billion dollars. Gemini Trust Company, created by twin brothers Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss of early Facebook fame, misled investors about the risk of putting money into a program that involved loans that at one point were concentrated in Sam Bankman-Fried’s Alameda research trading firm, according to the suit. "Investors around the country lost more than a billion dollars because they were fed blatant lies that their money would be safe and grow if they invested it in Gemini Earn," New York attorney General Letitia James said in a release. Gemini offered people the chance to lend cryptocurrencies in exchange for high returns via a Gemini Earn program, according to the suit. Those loans included some to digital currency services platform Genesis, which in turn lent cryptocurrency to other players in the industry. But the bankrupcy of Bankman-Fried's Alameda Research and its FTX platform last year triggered panic in the market. Bankman-Fried is currently on trial in New York, facing fraud charges of his own. Unable to honor massive withdrawal requests, Genesis filed for bankruptcy in January. "Gemini hid the risks of investing with Genesis and Genesis lied to the public about its losses," James said. According to documents published at that time, Gemini loans to Genesis tallied some $765 million. Gemini was founded by the Winklevoss twins, who were made famous by the film "The Social Network" about the birth of Facebook. In a post at X, formerly known as Twitter, Gemini contended that the lawsuit confirms that the exchange and its users were "victims of a massive fraud and systematically lied to" by Genesis. "Blaming a victim for being defrauded and lied to makes no sense and we look forward to defending ourselves against this inconsistent position," Gemini said in the post. James accused Gemini of deceiving more than 230,000 investors. Her lawsuit also argues that former Genesis chief executive Soichiro Moro and Genesis parent company DCG with trying to conceal the massive losses. The litigation seeks to have Gemini, Genesis and DCG banned from New York's financial investment industry and pay restitution to investors who lost money. DCG defended itself in a post at X, saying it did nothing illegal. "I am shocked by the baseless allegations in the attorney general's complaint and intend to fight these claims in court," DCG founder and chief executive Barry Silbert said in the post. The post Suit charges crypto firms with billion-dollar fraud appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»