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View from Manila: ‘Tama na, Lord’
China responded like 'it's already the end of the world,' says National Security Adviser Eduardo Año in describing the latest 'illegal, coercive' act in the West Philippine Sea.....»»
2 Koreans wanted for telecom, wire fraud arrested
Two fugitives were captured by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after being sought by South Korea and the US for their involvement in fraud-related operations. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco confirmed the arrests of the two South Korean fugitives, who were identified as Kwon Junyoung, 38, and Seok Jongmin, 48. The two were arrested last Saturday in Brgy. Cuayan, Angeles City, Pampanga, by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives. Tansingco said that the operation was conducted in collaboration with the South Korean authorities, government intelligence groups, and the Angeles City Police Station. According to the South Korean authorities, Kwon is wanted for telecommunications fraud in South Korea, while Seok is wanted in Texas for engaging in wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. The BI chief said that as the BI board of commissioners has already issued summary deportation orders against them, soon they will be deported to face the crime they committed. Tansingco added that their names were also placed on the bureau’s blacklist of undesirable aliens, so they are now banned from re-entering the Philippines, the BI chief added. According to information obtained from Interpol's National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, the Suwon District Court in Korea issued an arrest order for Kwon on 12 December 2019. Authorities claimed that Kwon was part of a telecom fraud syndicate operating in Dalian, China, that used voice phishing to call random victims. Based on reports, the callers impersonated investigators from the Seoul Central Prosecutor's Office in order to harass the victims and trick them into transferring money to the syndicate's accounts. In contrast, the NCB revealed that Seok is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the US district court in Western Texas. He is accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiring to commit money laundering, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Seok is accused of working with other suspects to gain access to the websites of the US Departments of Defence and Veterans Affairs using thousands of US military veterans' stolen personal identification information (PII), depriving the victims of their benefits. The BI-FSU also reported that Seok was arrested after posting bail at the Angeles City regional trial court, where he was charged with robbery and extortion, and will be transferred to the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig. While Kwon will remain in the custody of the Angeles City police due to his ongoing local case, he will continue to be under the BI’s legal custody for deportation proceedings. The post 2 Koreans wanted for telecom, wire fraud arrested appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
External headwinds
The price shocks besetting Filipinos, now the main preoccupation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is a global phenomenon rippling down to the nation. Greatly affected are rice prices that had surged with the government hoping to tame them through price caps of P41 per kilo of regular-milled and P45 for well-milled grains. In its latest review of the domestic fiscal situation, an International Monetary Fund team said that while the economy has emerged from the pandemic strongly, it now faces “a confluence of global shocks.” Growth moderated from 7.6 percent in 2022 to 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2023, which IMF attributed “to a weak global economy and tightened policy settings.” The IMF, thus, recognized that the weak state of the global economy has had a strong impact on the country and that the response through the tightening of the money supply by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas resulted in a growth slowdown. An acceleration in public spending and an improvement in exports is expected to lift the gross domestic product by year’s end to 5.3 percent in 2023 and 6 percent in 2024. The risks associated with the slowdown in the economy all originated beyond the Philippines. The IMF review said the main downside risks to the outlook include the persistently high global and domestic inflation that could necessitate a further tightening of monetary policy. This abrupt global slowdown may further weaken goods and services exports, intensifying geo-political tensions and depreciation pressures stemming from capital outflows under volatile market conditions. Recent surveys showed that rising inflation has been the major culprit for the weakening of the public ratings of President Marcos and other high officials. Consider the resolute actions taken to arrest the price upsurge, particularly the calculated measures to place a ceiling on retail costs while the National Food Authority intervenes to keep farmgate prices high. Another budding concern should be the weakening in foreign direct investments, or FDI, which needs to be reflective of the high confidence level of investors, according to Trade Secretary Fred Pascual. Pascual cited the capital being plowed back and the rising cost of business projects listed with the Board of Investments and other investment promotion agencies, which would mean optimism in long-term prospects. He said FDI numbers reflect investors’ decisions well before the funds were released that go into the BSP records. The past practices of market manipulators with political agendas were to hit the equities and foreign exchange markets while influencing the flow of investments. Keeping these economic indicators weak makes it easy for opportunists to paint the perception of a looming economic crisis where there is none. For instance, during the shortened term of President Joseph Estrada, the peso depreciation that caused a dip in the stock market and a supposed capital flight were thoroughly exploited to show mismanagement of government that resulted in his eventual downfall. The recent association of high prices and the plunge in the survey ratings of Marcos and other officials raises suspicions of another black operation, which had been heard since the new leadership assumed office. It is not farfetched that the playbook of EDSA 1 and 2 is underway to undermine the Marcos administration. Another element that should be considered is the growing insecurity of China amid the strengthened relations between the Philippines and the United States. Considering its economic clout, China can manipulate situations that may pave the way for political conditions to favor its interests. The accurate picture is that most of the problems confronting Marcos are outside his control since they emanate from beyond the border. The post External headwinds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese national intercepted at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration arrested a Chinese national last Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after being found to be facing charges in China for illegal gambling. The BI-NAIA identified the suspect as Jiang Ning, a 27-year-old male who attempted to depart via a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when the BI officers noted a derogatory record in their system issued against him by the Chinese authorities. Upon verification, the Bureau confirmed that Jiang is the subject of an Interpol Red notice after allegedly being wanted in China for involvement in setting up a gambling group, which was said to control 14 gambling platforms for illegal profits in China and the Philippines. The BI-NAIA added that his group was said to have operated from 2014 to 2021 and to have induced more than 100 thousand Chinese to engage in illegal gambling activities. A warrant of arrest was already issued against him by the Qijiang District Public Security Bureau of Chongqing Municipality. He was charged with opening a casino in violation of the Criminal Law of China and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Jiang was immediately referred to the BI Legal Division to be charged with undesirability. He will be detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings. The post Chinese national intercepted at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese national wanted for illegal gambling nabbed at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that a Chinese national was arrested on 18 September by BI officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after being found to be facing charges in China for illegal gambling. The BI-NAIA identified the suspect as Jiang Ning, a 27-year-old male. Jiang was arrested at the NAIA Terminal 1. He attempted to depart the country via a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when BI officers noted a derogatory record in their system issued against him by the Chinese authorities. Upon verification, the BI confirmed that Jiang is the subject of an Interpol Red notice after allegedly being wanted in China for involvement in setting up a gambling group, which was said to control 14 gambling platforms for illegal profits in China and the Philippines. The BI-NAIA added that his group was said to have operated from 2014 to 2021 and to have induced more than 100 thousand Chinese to engage in illegal gambling activities. A warrant of arrest was already issued against him by the Qijiang District Public Security Bureau of Chongqing Municipality. He was charged with opening a casino in violation of the Criminal Law of China and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Jiang was immediately referred to the BI Legal Division to be charged with undesirability. He will be detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings. The post Chinese national wanted for illegal gambling nabbed at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief
Climate change is sparking human rights emergencies in numerous countries, the UN rights chief said Monday, stressing the need to fight the impunity of those who "plunder our environment". Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Volker Turk pointed to recent examples of the "environmental horror that is our global planetary crisis". He described visiting Basra, Iraq, where date palms once lined canals, but now "drought, searing heat, extreme pollution and fast-depleting supplies of fresh water are creating barren landscapes of rubble and dust". "This spiraling damage is a human rights emergency for Iraq, and many other countries," he said in his address opening the 54th council session in Geneva. "Climate change is pushing millions of people into famine. It is destroying hopes, opportunities, homes and lives. In recent months, urgent warnings have become lethal realities again and again all around the world," Turk said. "We do not need more warnings. The dystopian future is already here. We need urgent action now." Turk was speaking after the G20 at the weekend failed to commit to a phase-out of fossil fuels, something he said was desperately needed. - 'Nonchalance' at migrant deaths - At a time when the ravages of climate change are forcing more and more people to leave their homes, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said he was "shocked by the nonchalance" seen towards surging numbers of migrant deaths. "It is evident that far more migrants and refugees are dying, unnoticed," he said, pointing to the more than "2,300 people reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year, including the loss of more than 600 lives in a single shipwreck off Greece in June." He also highlighted migrant deaths in the English Channel, the Bay of Bengal, in the Caribbean, along the US-Mexican border, and at the Saudi border, where he said his "office is seeking urgent clarification about allegations of killings and mistreatment". The UN rights chief also highlighted a wide range of other concerning situations around the world, including in Russia, Pakistan and the Palestinian territory. On China, he reiterated concerns raised in a report by his office a year ago about the situation in the far-western Xinjiang region, which cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. "As my Office highlighted a year ago, the concerns in the Xinjiang ... requires strong remedial action by the authorities," Turk said Monday, also voicing concern at "continued detention of human rights advocates". - 'Ecocide' - Turk also spoke about the situation in Lebanon, decrying a total lack of accountability for the 2020 Beirut port blast, that killed more than 220 people, urging "an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy." And he mentioned the situation in Iran, one year after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody after her arrest for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women. Turk voiced concern at a bill that would impose harsher penalties for breaching the dress code, and "renewed deployment of the morality police." Climate change and environmental degradation played a role in a number of the rights situations he mentioned, including in Africa's Sahel region. Turk insisted on the need to "counter the impunity of people and businesses who severely plunder our environment", welcoming a proposal to recognize "ecocide" as an international crime. Amid the towering problems facing the world, Turk decried "politics of deception". "Helped by new technologies, lies and disinformation are mass-produced to sow chaos, to confuse, and ultimately to deny reality and ensure no action will be taken that could endanger the interests of entrenched elites," he said. "The most apparent case of this is climate change." nl/apo/yad © Agence France-Presse The post Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fukushima water release sparks seafood ban, protesters’ arrest
China banned all Japanese seafood imports while South Korean protesters tried to storm Tokyo’s embassy in Seoul on Thursday as Japan started releasing into the Pacific Ocean treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. China’s customs authority said it would “suspend the import of aquatic products originating in Japan from 24 August 2023, including edible aquatic animals”. The decision was taken to “comprehensively prevent the food safety risks of radioactive contamination caused by the discharge of nuclear wastewater from Fukushima into the sea,” the General Administration of Customs said. It would also “protect the health of Chinese consumers and ensure the safety of imported food,” the authority added. Beijing had already suspended all food imports from 10 out of 47 Japanese prefectures in July, with Hong Kong following suit. China imported over $500 million worth of seafood from Japan last year, according to customs data. In Seoul, 16 people protesting the water release were arrested Thursday for trying to enter the Japanese embassy in the South Korea capital, Yonhap News Agency reported. “The police detained them on charges of trespassing and violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act,” Yonhap said. All other protesters had been dispersed and police had restricted access to the building housing the embassy shortly after the incident, an Agence France-Presse reporter saw. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo criticized what he called a “politically driven” campaign against the wastewater release, which was using “fake news” to fan fears. Ahead of the release, about 10 people held a protest near the plant and around 100 others gathered outside TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, AFP journalists said. Live video provided by plant operator TEPCO showed two engineers clicking on computer mouses and an official saying — after a countdown — that the “valves near the seawater transport pumps are opening.” Monitors from the United Nations atomic watchdog, which has endorsed the plan, were due to be on site for the procedure, while TEPCO workers were scheduled to take water samples later on Thursday. Japanese officials have repeatedly insisted the wastewater release is safe. Three of the reactors at the Fukushima-Daiichi facility in northeastern Japan went into meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed around 18,000 people in 2011. WITH AFP The post Fukushima water release sparks seafood ban, protesters’ arrest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Strong enough now’: BRICS nations eye global geopolitical shift
Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies, which account for about a quarter of the world's wealth, meet in Johannesburg this week looking to widen the bloc's influence and push for a shift in global geopolitics. South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to host China's President Xi Jinping, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the annual three-day summit starting on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin also will join remotely. Putin decided against attending in person as he is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant that South Africa is in theory bound to enforce if he sets foot in the country. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to Johannesburg instead. Representing billions of people across three continents, with economies undergoing varying levels of growth, the BRICS share one thing in common -- disdain for a world order they see as serving the interests of rich Western powers. "The traditional global governing system has become dysfunctional, deficient and missing in action," Chen Xiaodong, the Chinese ambassador to Pretoria said at a briefing on Friday, adding the BRICS are "increasingly becoming a staunch force in defending international justice". There is growing interest in the bloc -- at least 40 countries have expressed interest in joining and 23 of those have formally submitted applications to become BRICS members. 'Polarized world' Anil Sooklal, South Africa's ambassador-at-large for Asia and the BRICS, told AFP on Friday that one of the reasons countries are lining up to join is "the very polarised world we live in, that has been further polarised by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and where countries are being forced to take sides". "Countries in the South don't want to be told who to support, how to behave, and how to conduct their sovereign affairs. They are strong enough now to assert their respective positions," added Sooklal. The BRICS have raised hope for countries looking to restructure the global "architecture", he said. "The major markets are now in the Global South... but we are still on the margins in terms of global decision-making." Lebogang Legodi, the international politics lecturer at the University of Limpopo, agrees that many states keen on joining the group "are seeing BRICS as an alternative to the current hegemony" in world affairs. Around 50 other leaders will attend a "friends of BRICS" program during the summit, which will be held at a convention center in the heart of Johannesburg's Sandton, historically referred to as the richest square mile on the continent. This year's gathering is themed "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development, and inclusive multilateralism". It comes at "a critical inflection point," said Steven Gruzd of the Africa-Russia Africa project at the South African Institute of International Affairs. "The current multilateral system is under strain," he said. A decision on expanding the BRICS membership is expected at the end of the summit, according to Sooklal. An upbeat Ramaphosa told a meeting of the ruling ANC party in Johannesburg on Saturday that "we are going to have a fantastic BRICS summit". He said the presence of so many heads of state "goes to show the influence and the impact that South Africa" has in the world. But experts closely watching the BRICS aren't very optimistic about the meeting's outcomes. "I don't think this summit will yield those dramatic results because the power is still with Western countries. China is rising, but is not the dominant power yet," said SAIIA's Gruzd. Formally launched in 2009, the BRICS now account for 23 percent of global GDP and 42 percent of the world's population. The combined bloc represents more than 16 percent of the world's trade. The post ‘Strong enough now’: BRICS nations eye global geopolitical shift appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Five things to know about BRICS
The BRICS countries, an acronym of the five members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, meet for three days for a summit in Johannesburg starting Tuesday. Representing 23 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and 42 percent of the world's population, they are seeking to dull Western economic domination in global affairs. Here are some facts and figures about the BRICS: A new world order? A group of emerging economies, it was formally launched in 2009 and it meets yearly at a summit hosted in rotation by one of the member countries. The meetings aim to assert their position, particularly in relation to the United States and the European Union. It promotes the recognition of a multipolar global order with economic and political balance, with the aim of breaking away from organizations formed in the post-World War II era, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Aspirants The bloc whose economic growth is mainly driven by China and India, is now open to expansion. Twenty-three candidates have applied to join the BRICS, and an almost similar number have expressed an interest - among them Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. One of the attractions of the group is the New Development Bank, created in 2015 with the aim of offering an alternative to the World Bank and the IMF. The Shanghai-headquartered bank has since invested $30 billion in infrastructure development projects in member states and other developing economies. The Putin dilemma Preparations for the summit saw diplomatic tensions rise on the global stage after host President Cyril Ramaphosa invited Russia's President Vladimir Putin who is the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over the war in Ukraine. Following months of speculation, Pretoria finally said Putin will attend the summit via video link. South Africa, whose ruling ANC party forged relations with Moscow during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union backed its fight against apartheid, has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Down with the dollar The five countries account for 18 percent of international trade, the majority of which is transacted in dollars. Critical of the greenback's predominance in world trade, one of their goals is to free themselves from the dollar. The bloc supports the increased use of members' national currencies for trade and the introduction of a common payment system in the long term. Brazil and China earlier this year signed a bilateral agreement to settle their trade in their local currencies. University rankings A meeting of BRICS education ministers last month announced their intention to create their own international university rankings. Moscow believes that Russian universities are being excluded from existing international rankings for political reasons. The post Five things to know about BRICS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Showstopper
Concert patrons are back with a vengeance in another sign that the Covid-19 pandemic is over and life is back to normal. Pop superstar Taylor Swift, with her ongoing 146-stop Eras Tour, leads the live band entertainment must-watch list, but other groups too are getting a share of the crowds, albeit in controversial fashion. The British band “The 1975” headlined the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 21 July. It would be its last performance in the Southeast Asian country as it was banned by local authorities after frontman Matt Healy gave a profanity strewn speech on stage. Healy criticized the Malaysian government for the country’s anti-gay law that punishes homosexuality with 20 years imprisonment. Healy then kissed the band’s bassist Ross McDonald in front of the audience. The same-sex kiss breached performance guidelines, prompting the concert organizers to stop the show. The government also ordered the organizers to cancel the 3-day gig. The festival’s organizers are now demanding that “The 1975” pay $2.72 million in damages or face legal action. In China, Shijiazhuang city hosted the Rock Home Town music festival featuring Violent Champagne on 22 July. After the band’s set, its frontman Ding was detained by police for “damaging social morality” and the show organizer was fined $28,000 and suspended from hosting concerts, CNN reported. Ding had pulled down his pants during the performance, prompting his arrest and the punishment of the festival organizers. The audience egged Ding to also drop his briefs, but he kept it on. In a statement after the incident, the Shijiazhuang culture bureau reminded performers and staff to consciously abide by laws and regulations, strengthen morality, and provide healthy and positive entertainment for audiences, according to CNN. WJG @tribunephl_wjg The post Showstopper appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party won a landslide victory in an election on Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television. Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats. The government hailed the 84.6 percent voter turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair. Hun Sen said Hun Manet, a 45-year-old four-star general, would take over as prime minister at the head of a new government on the evening of August 22. "I ask people to support Hun Manet who will be the new prime minister," he said. Chinese influence Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote. But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction. In his announcement on Wednesday, he said he would become president of the senate and act as head of state when the king is overseas. Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington. China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulations. But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by foreign workers, many trafficked and toiling in appalling conditions. Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft. Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule -- including critical activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians. Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots. Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest. The post Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI nets 7 fugitives
The Bureau of Immigration reported on Thursday the arrest of the seven fugitives in Las Piñas which composed of four Chinese national and three Taiwanese. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that they received information that these foreign nationals were wanted fugitives. A mission order was issued against them and they were also arrested for being undesirable aliens. The four Chinese nationals were identified as Zhang Quanbao, Song Tianming, Yu Liming, and Liu Jianxin while the three Taiwanese were identified as Li Yi Liang, Huang Hsin-Chiang and Lin Yue Hong. Tansingco added that an information from authorities revealed a warrants of detention were issued against the four Chinese nationals by the China Public Security Bureau for Contract Fraud, Drug Trafficking, Telecom fraud and theft, respectively. Meanwhile, the Taoyuan and Taichung District Prosecutors’ Offices in Taiwan have issued warrants of arrest against the three Taiwanese fugitives for fraud and offenses of causing bodily harm. The seven fugitives were allegedly worked for a fraud syndicate running an online gaming hub in the Philippines. They are now detained in the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, pending for their deportation proceedings. The post BI nets 7 fugitives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Korean fugitive Arrested at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arrested a South Korean fugitive wanted for involvement in telecommunications fraud in South Korea. In a report given to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BI-BCIU) identified the arrested fugitive as Jeon Jihoon, 37, who was intercepted on June 2 at the NAIA 1 terminal upon his arrival via China Eastern Airways flight from Shanghai, China. BI-BCIU Deputy Chief for Operation Joseph Cueto said that his men arrested the Korean after the BI officer who processed him noticed that Jeon's name was on the Interpol hit list of wanted foreign fugitives. Cueto added that after conferring with the BI Interpol unit, the immigration supervisors on duty were able to confirm Jeon's identity as the same person whose name registered a hit in the Interpol database. Jeon was later brought to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, pending deportation proceedings. Tansingco has reportedly ordered that the Korean immediately undergo deportation for being an undesirable alien, so he could be sent back to Korea to stand trial for his alleged crime. He will then be placed on the immigration blacklist, which will ban him from entering the country in perpetuity. According to Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, Jeon was charged with telecom fraud before the Busan District Court in South Korea and issued a warrant of arrest on Feb. 24 last year against him. Jeon is accused of allegedly being a member of a voice phishing syndicate that impersonates himself as an agent of financial institutions by making random calls to other victims who are promised huge returns on their money. Hundreds of victims were reportedly lured into the scheme and enticed to deposit money, totaling more than 4.5 billion won, or roughly US$3.5 million, into the syndicates’ bank accounts. The post Korean fugitive Arrested at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 Chinese nabbed at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday the arrest of two Chinese nationals on two separate occasions for violating the country’s immigration laws. Cai XiaoMing, 43, was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 after immigration officers found that he was on the bureau’s list of persons with court-issued hold departure orders. Cai, who arrived from Quanzhou, China, was issued an HDO in September 2019 by the Pangasinan regional trial court after he was criminally charged with tax evasion. The second Chinese national, Wang ZiLi, 27, was also arrested at NAIA 1 terminal as he was about to leave the country for Shanghai. Wang is allegedly one of 16 Chinese nationals who were recently placed on the BI’s watchlist after being informed by the Chinese authorities that they were wanted in China for involvement in economic crimes. Both Cai and Wang were detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the bureau will continue to intensify its efforts to crack down on foreigners who are violating the country’s immigration laws. “We will not tolerate any foreigner trying to circumvent our immigration laws,” Tansingco said. “We will continue to work closely with our foreign counterparts to ensure that those who are wanted in their countries are brought to justice.” The post 2 Chinese nabbed at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bren Esports’ Chong cleared on alleged drugs importation case
The Court of Appeals recently dismissed a case against e-sports businessman and enthusiast Bernard Lu Chong and recalled a warrant of arrest issued last 13 April 2023. In its 27-page decision penned by Associate Justice Bonifacios Pascua and concurred to by Associate Justices Louis P. Acosta and Jennifer Joyce C. Ong, the CA annulled the smuggling and drug importation charges against Chong for lack of merit. On the basis of the affidavits filed before the PDEA National Capital Region, the CA found an alleged attempt to confuse authorities because documents filed by SITC Container Lines Phils., Inc. wrongly point to Fortuneyield, as the consignee alleged drug shipment originating from Vietnam. Chong was supposedly president of the company at the time the shipment was made, which was later proven false. Subsequent investigations and documentation however, proved that it Fortuneyield was merely the shipper and it is a company called Wealth Lotus that was the actual consignee of the shipment which came from China and not Vietnam. The petition filed by Chong also stated that “that there was no probable cause to indict him as one of the accused in the present case as he was no longer connected with Fortuneyield long before the commission of the alleged importation of illegal drugs.” The court’s dismissal the case, for lack of probable cause, was made after Chong’s lawyers clearly established that the shipment was not consigned to Fortuneyield and that Chong “was no longer connected to the company during the time of the alleged shipment” and investigation. After being cleared from the case, the arrest warrant imposed on him was also retracted. To recall, Chong was implicated in an illegal shipment of 276.34 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride with an estimated value of about P1.6 billion. The supposed drugs were concealed in sacks of plastic resin and seized by operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the Manila International Container on 22 March 2019. Chong is known in e-sports circles as president and CEO of Esports Arena, Bren Esports, BrenProTV and Next Talents, BrenPro, Inc. He is also top man at local sports footwear brand World Balance and even led Bren Esports to become Mobile Legends world champion in 2021. The post Bren Esports’ Chong cleared on alleged drugs importation case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China jails U.S. ‘spy’
China has sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage, a court said Monday, but revealed few details about the previously unreported case. Such heavy terms are relatively rare for foreign citizens in China, and the jailing of American passport holder John Shing-wan Leung is likely to further strain already-damaged ties between Beijing and Washington. Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, “was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life,” said a statement from the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. Suzhou authorities “took compulsory measures according to the law”’ against Leung in April 2021, it said, without specifying when he had been taken into custody. It was unclear where Leung had been living at the time of his arrest. A spokesperson for the US embassy in Beijing said they were aware of reports that a US citizen had been recently convicted and sentenced in Suzhou. “The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment”. The court statement provided no further details on the charges, and closed-door trials are routine in China for sensitive cases. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment further on the case at a regular press briefing on Monday. In an apparent breakthrough last week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi held eight hours of talks in Vienna, with both sides describing the meeting as “candid, substantive and constructive.” The post China jails U.S. ‘spy’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China jails US citizen for life on espionage charges
China has sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage, a court said Monday, but revealed few details about the previously unreported case. Such heavy terms are relatively rare for foreign citizens in China, and the jailing of American passport holder John Shing-wan Leung is likely to further strain already-damaged ties between Beijing and Washington. Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, "was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life", said a statement from the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. Suzhou authorities "took compulsory measures according to the law" against Leung in April 2021, it said, without specifying when he had been taken into custody. It was unclear where Leung had been living at the time of his arrest. A spokesperson for the US embassy in Beijing said they were aware of reports that a US citizen had been recently convicted and sentenced in Suzhou. "The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas," the spokesperson said. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment." The court statement provided no further details on the charges, and closed-door trials are routine in China for sensitive cases. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment further on the case at a regular press briefing on Monday. In Hong Kong, security minister Chris Tang told a news conference Monday the city's authorities were notified of Leung's arrest in 2021. "The Hong Kong police have carried out follow-up action according to the notification," Tang said, refusing to elaborate further. Rights activist jailed The jailing is likely to further damage relations with Washington, which are already severely strained over issues such as trade, human rights and Taiwan. Washington and Beijing have just ended an unofficial pause in high-level contacts over the United States' shooting down in February of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi held eight hours of talks in Vienna in an apparent breakthrough last week, with both sides describing the meeting as "candid, substantive and constructive". On Friday, Washington issued a statement condemning the reported sentencing of a Chinese human rights activist for "inciting subversion of state power". Guo Feixiong, also known as Yang Maodong, was jailed for eight years, according to rights groups. There has been no official confirmation of the sentencing from China. The US State Department said in its statement its diplomats had been barred from attending the trial in southern China. "We urge the PRC to live up to its international commitments, give its citizens due process, respect their human rights and fundamental freedoms including freedom of speech, and end the use of arbitrary detentions and exit bans," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday the country's "judicial authorities act in accordance with the law, and their actions brook no interference". US President Joe Biden is due to head to Hiroshima for a meeting of leaders of the G7 group of major developed economies. The G7's relationship with China is expected to be high on the agenda at the May 19-21 summit. Other high-profile espionage cases in recent years include the arrest in 2019 of Chinese-born Australian writer Yang Jun. Australia called last week for another of its nationals, jailed journalist Cheng Lei, to be reunited with her family after 1,000 days in detention over "supplying state secrets overseas". In April, authorities formally charged a prominent Chinese journalist with spying, more than a year after he was detained while having lunch at a Beijing restaurant with a Japanese diplomat, a media rights group said. Revised anti-espionage law Also in April, China approved an amendment to its anti-espionage law, broadening its scope by widening the definition of spying and banning the transfer of any data related to what the authorities define as national security. The changes to the law will come into force on July 1. "Chinese authorities have long had an essentially free hand in addressing national security concerns," Chinese law expert Jeremy Daum wrote. "The laws involved are sometimes amorphous and vague, leading to selective, or even arbitrary, enforcement," he said, adding that the definition of "espionage" was already so broad "it isn't immediately clear what the impact of the expanded definition will be". The post China jails US citizen for life on espionage charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, South Africa in spat over arms-to-Russia charge
The US envoy to South Africa on Thursday accused the country of having covertly provided arms to Russia, a charge that drew an angry rebuke from Pretoria. Ambassador Reuben Brigety told a media briefing the US believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December. "We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion," Brigety said, according to a video of the remarks. "The arming of Russia by South Africa... is fundamentally unacceptable." President Cyril Ramaphosa's office hit back, saying it was "disappointing" that Brigety had "adopted a counter-productive public posture." The remarks "undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership" between the two nations, Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said in a statement. "While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge." In Washington, the State Department took a noticeably milder tone than the outspoken ambassador and welcomed the promise of a probe. "We continue to be committed to our affirmative agenda with our South African partners," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters, pointing to cooperation on public health, climate and trade. He declined to spell out any repercussions for South Africa, after repeated US threats to punish China if it sends arms to Russia. Neutral approach South Africa, which wields moral clout for its victory over apartheid, says it wants to stay neutral over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has championed dialogue to end the war. But critics cite a number of recent incidents as evidence of a tilt towards the Kremlin. Earlier this year, it held a joint military exercise with Russia and China, and last month a sanctioned Russian military cargo plane landed at an air force base in the middle of the night to deliver what defence authorities described as "diplomatic mail." Ambassador Brigety appeared to refer to a previously known episode, when the Lady R, a cargo vessel under Western sanctions flying a Russian flag, docked at South Africa's largest naval base. "Among the things we noted was the docking of the cargo ship in the Simon's Town naval base between 6th to 8th December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition onto that vessel in Simon's Town as it made its way back to Russia," the envoy said, according to news outlet News24. The US would like South Africa to start "practising its non-alignment policy", he added. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), accused the government of trampling on South Africa's values and interests "in favor of a global war-mongerer and despot" and warned of "major consequences". "It means that our main investment and trading partners cannot trust us. This is... treasonous in terms of how they have compromised South Africa and our interests," DA lawmaker Kobus Marais, the shadow minister of defense, told AFP. The rand, which had been softening against the dollar in recent days, dropped sharply, reaching its lowest point in three years, after news of the ambassador's remarks spread. Tightrope South Africa, which has strong economic and trade relations with the United States and Europe, has been walking a diplomatic tightrope over the Ukraine conflict. Trade with Russia is much smaller, but Pretoria has ties with Moscow dating back decades, to when the Kremlin supported the ANC in its struggle against apartheid. It is a member of BRICS -- a grouping bringing together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- and has advocated for multilateralism as a counterbalance to a US-led international order. In March, it was faced with a diplomatic dilemma after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to attend a BRICS summit in South Africa in August. The warrant meant that Pretoria would have to detain Putin on arrival. In response, last month Ramaphosa said the ANC had resolved that South Africa should quit the ICC -- before backtracking hours later citing what his office called a communications "error." Eurasia Group, a think-tank, said in a note that Brigety's comments were likely an attempt "to influence South Africa to change its neutral stance on the Russia/Ukraine conflict." The post US, South Africa in spat over arms-to-Russia charge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China says Canada ‘sabotaged’ relations, vows ‘resolute countermeasures’
China said Canada had "sabotaged" relations between the two nations by expelling a Chinese diplomat Ottawa had accused of seeking to intimidate a lawmaker critical of Beijing. "The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side," a statement from the Chinese embassy in Canada said Monday, calling on Ottawa to "step back from the brink." Ottawa announced Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of having sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing, plunging the two nations into a new diplomatic row. "We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement declaring the diplomat "persona non grata." "We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," she said, adding that foreign diplomats in Canada "have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home." The move aggravated already strained Sino-Canadian relations, with China "strongly condemning" the decision it said was based on "groundless" accusations and vowing repercussions. In a statement posted on its Ottawa embassy website, China said it had filed an official protest over breaches of international law and diplomatic norms, and accused Canada of "deliberately undermining relations" with its second-largest trading partner. According to a source familiar with the matter, Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto at the heart of this affair, has been asked to leave Canada within five days. His expulsion followed an outcry led by parliamentarian Michael Chong over allegations revealed by local media that China's intelligence agency had planned to target Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions for voting in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing's conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide. This was "almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions," the Globe and Mail newspaper last week cited a Canadian Security Intelligence Service document as saying, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced growing pressure to take a hard line with Beijing following revelations in recent months that it sought to sway Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections. The latest allegations were used by his critics to further accuse him of inertia in the face of foreign meddling. "There was a real political risk for the Trudeau government in this affair, which is taking a gamble by showing its muscles in this way," said Genevieve Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa. Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense since Canada's arrest in 2018 of a top Huawei executive and the detention of two Canadian nationals in China in apparent retaliation. All three have been released, but Beijing has continued to blast Ottawa for aligning with Washington's China policy and Canadian officials have regularly accused China of interference. After China's ambassador was summoned last week over the latest interference allegations, Beijing on Friday slammed what it called "groundless slander and defamation" by Canada. The Chinese foreign ministry insisted the scandal had been "hyped up by some Canadian politicians and media." On Monday, Chong told reporters in Ottawa: "It shouldn't have taken the targeting of a member of Parliament to make this (expulsion) decision." "We have known for years that the PRC is using its accredited diplomats here in Canada to target Canadians and their families," he said. He said Canada has become "a playground for foreign interference," including the harassment of diaspora communities. Roromme Chantal, a China expert at the School of Advanced Public Studies in Moncton, told AFP that Canada should expect retaliation to take the form of "the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat if not several diplomats." Beijing, he said, "could also take economic reprisals, as a way of sending a message to other countries that are talking about interference." The post China says Canada ‘sabotaged’ relations, vows ‘resolute countermeasures’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Protect 150K Pinoys in Taiwan, Go urges DMW
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his call for the Department of Migrant Workers, to closely monitor the development of the growing tensions between Taiwan and China to prepare for necessary contingency measures to protect the welfare of 150,000 Taiwan-based overseas Filipino workers. Go, in an interview during a relief operation for fire victims in Parañaque City on 12 April, underscored the need for the government to prioritize the safety and welfare of OFWs. “As former president Rodrigo Duterte said during the UN General Assembly in 2020, ‘when elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled flat.’ Our country is close to Taiwan. In this situation, the Philippines is the grass. We will be caught in the crossfire if these two giants fight,” Go said in Filipino China recently simulated a three-day air and sea drill, dubbed the “Joint Sword” drills, around the Taiwan Strait. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the said military exercises were meant to be a “stern warning to the provocative activities of Taiwan’s independence secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces.” He said he has his full trust that President Bongbong Marcos Jr. will prioritize the interest of fellow Filipinos and the country. “It’s better to be a friend to all and enemy to none. It’s hard for us to empathize. Filipinos just want to live quietly. Importantly, the health and life of every OFW in Taiwan may be affected in case of trouble there,” he added. When asked if the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will create a new conflict, Go said the government must prioritize what is best for Filipinos. “I’m sure our government and our military will not allow us to be used or we will be trapped,” he added. Meanwhile, Go has expressed his support for the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s plan to investigate Philippine National Police officials reportedly linked to a billion-peso drug haul. “You know, the truth must come out. Truth always,” he said. The fight against illegal drugs, he said, should continue. “We don’t want to waste what former president (Rodrigo) Duterte started against illegal drugs. When illegal drugs are back, crime will come back, government corruption will come back,” Go said in Filipino. The PNP, on 11 April, welcomed the DILG’s decision to probe the arrest of former police officer Rodolfo Mayo who was implicated in the P6.7-billion drug haul in October last year. The DILG expressed doubts that Mayo acted alone, indicating that there may have been other officers involved. “There is no forgiveness for those involved in illegal drugs. You know, it’s a big sin to our countrymen when you are involved in illegal drugs, especially the police who are supposed to implement the law,” he added. Go cited the need to separate the few bad apples from the many honest and dedicated police officers who are working hard to keep the community safe. “We fully support our police and military, they just have to do their job right for our countrymen,” he said. Earlier, Go filed Senate Bill 422 which, if passed into law, will entitle any officer or enlisted personnel of the AFP and Philippine National Police facing charges before the prosecutor’s office, court, or any competent body, arising from an incident related to the performance of official duty, to free legal assistance. He added that in the past, some police officers were wrongfully accused, prompting former president Duterte and himself to offer legal aid. The post Protect 150K Pinoys in Taiwan, Go urges DMW appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»