We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
BI nabs 2 foreign fugitives
Bureau of Immigration operatives arrested a South Korean and an American, both fugitives wanted for crimes in their countries, the BI reported on Friday......»»
Drug den in Brgy. Apas: Couple nabbed, P108,800 ‘shabu’ seized
CEBU CITY, Philippine — A couple was arrested for allegedly running a drug den in Barangay Apas, Cebu City on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, with call center agents and habal-habal drivers as their usual clients. A buy-bust operation at around 5:30 p.m. led to the arrest of Jonathan Roca, 44, and his common law partner,.....»»
Philippines bars entry of 3,359 foreigners in 2023
MANILA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has barred entry into the country of 3,359 foreigners in 2023, the Philippines' Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said immigration agents at different airports in Metro Manila, in Pampanga province, north of Manila, and Cebu province in the central Philippines stopped the foreigners of different nationalities because they we.....»»
Philippines bars entry of 3,359 foreigners in 2023
MANILA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has barred entry into the country of 3,359 foreigners in 2023, the Philippines' Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said immigration agents at different airports in Metro Manila, in Pampanga province, north of Manila, and Cebu province in the central Philippines stopped the foreigners of different nationalities because they we.....»»
Cebu Pacific promises friendlier skies
Inside a war room of sorts within Cebu Pacific’s sprawling Airline Operations Center in Pasay near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, agents, perhaps with bated breath, are glued to giant monitors that show the airline’s social media accounts......»»
PrimaryHomes Inc. Hosts GPAN 2023: A Gala of Gratitude, Achievements, and Shared Vision
PrimaryHomes Inc. recently hosted its annual Grand Partners' Appreciation Night (GPAN) at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, marking a night of gratitude, achievements, and a shared vision. The event, themed Elegant Reverie: Cotillion Gala, served as a platform to honor and acknowledge the hard work and achievements of its partners. The night was a celebration of joint accomplishments and a vision of continued collaboration with PHI, highlighting the most comprehensive Ultra Sales Incentive Program by the company. The event saw the acknowledgment of top performing partners during the Ultra Recognition 2023, with individual achievements spotlighted during the sales agents awards. Renz Arthur Q. Abucejo of Horizons Realty and Jovelyn Coyoca of Leuterio Realty & Brokerage were recognized as the 2023 Salespersons of the Year for Bohol-Negros and Cebu, respectively. Additionally, realty firms were awarded for their crucial role in propelling the company's sales, with Leuterio Realty & Brokerage earning the 2023 Realty of the Year award. The evening also saw the introduction of the PrimaryHomes DigiStars award, highlighting partners' digital brilliance on social media platforms, with Mark Dave Pialago of Skyland Realty earning the DigiStar of the Year recognition. Furthermore, the Reliable Circle, an esteemed group beyond the offerings of the Ultra Sales Incentives Bundle, was recognized for its exceptional dedication and commitment, offering members access to numerous benefits and incentives. In a thrilling finale, the Ultra Grand Raffle Draw saw millions in prizes, including four house and lot units, being given away. The event concluded with the reaffirmation of PHI's dedication to providing unwavering support for its sales partners, aiming to deliver enhanced experiences and reliable services to their clients. For those interested in learning more about Primary Homes or becoming a sales partner, visit its website, www.primaryhomes.com, or its Facebook page, Primary Homes Inc. (SPONSORED CONTENT).....»»
Robbery: Robbers who posed as ‘NBI agents’ loot jewelry store in Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Four men who claimed to be NBI agents, robbed a jewelry store in Colon Street, Cebu City early Saturday morning, November 25, 2023. The robbery incident took place at around 9:05 a.m. and was reported to the authorities at 9:20 a.m. According to witnesses, four individuals arrived at the store located.....»»
CAAP intensifies airport security amid bomb threats
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Thursday said that it has heightened the security of all its 42 commercial airports after the Air Traffic Service received a warning via email that planes leaving Manila for Puerto Princesa, Mactan-Cebu, Bicol, and Davao International Airports are about to be detonated by a bomb. Following the information, all airports were immediately ordered to intensify security measures while verification process is under way. CAAP Security and Intelligence Service assistant director general II retired MGen. Ricardo Banayat and all CAAP airports and area centers should augment appropriate security personnel to meet the anticipated high volume of passenger and vehicle traffic. Stringent access control procedures for both personnel and vehicles will be implemented, accompanied by thorough inspections of passengers and cargo. CAAP-CSIS personnel are also collaborating closely with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group and military authorities, intensifying intelligence and monitoring operations with other security units. Continuous foot and mobile patrols are also being conducted within both the airside and landside areas of the airport complex. Meantime, Airport Security Coordination meetings will also be convened with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the strict implementation of security measures aimed at preventing any unlawful interference with civil aviation. In order to avoid any difficulty, they also advise international travelers to get to the airport at least three hours prior to their departure as CAAP also urged the general public to comply fully with security agents and to exercise caution when visiting the airport. “Our primary priority continues to be safety and security, and these steps are being taken to protect everyone who uses our airports,” CAAP said. Meantime, the Manila International Airport Authority assured the traveling public that it had instituted measures to ensure the safety of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport passengers, flights and facilities. Foot and mobile patrols are in place, and K9 units are doing the rounds of the terminals as added measures to their already established day-to-day protocols. The MIAA is also in close coordination with the PNP-AVSEU and pertinent government law enforcement units tasked with validating any threat to national security. The post CAAP intensifies airport security amid bomb threats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P9.84 million shabu seized in Cotabato, Cebu
Anti-narcotics agents confiscated shabu with an estimated value of P9.04 million in Cotabato City and Cebu City in the past two days......»»
Cebu authorities burn P10-M worth of marijuana in joint operation
Millions worth of cannabis were burned by law enforcement agents in Cebu City this Saturday morning in a bid to continue the government's crackdown on illegal substances......»»
PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL reported on Friday that its net income during the first half of the year more than tripled to P13.6 billion from last year’s P4.1 billion. In a stock exchange disclosure, the company said its operating income during the period also swelled to P17.4 billion from P6.6 billion recorded a year ago. Notably, the airline’s stellar growth was driven by an 89-percent increase in the number of passengers it flew during the period, which reached 7 million as of end-June. Likewise, it logged over 50,400 operated flights, translating to a 56-percent growth from last year’s numbers. This, according to PAL, led to an 81.6-percent improvement in the average passenger load factor. Given this trend, PAL said its passenger revenues climbed to P78.2 billion from P33.1 billion last year. However, its cargo revenue dropped by 54 percent to last year due to fewer cargo charter flights to give way to more passenger flights amid a demand surge. To sustain the growth momentum, PAL said it plans to invest P176.6 billion to acquire nine Airbus A350-1000 long-range jetliners to widen its fleet. Along with it, PAL will also increase its customer care and contact center agents by rolling out a new customer relations management system before the end of the year. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in new aircraft, improved cabins, and enhanced travel experience for our valued customers,” PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng said in the report. “The latest positive financial results enable us to build a better, stronger, and more agile Philippine Airlines that creates greater value for our customers, and we are grateful for their continuing support and patronage.” Within the first half, PAL restored flights to several routes in mainland China and launched nonstop services to Perth along with flights from Clark to Caticlan and Boracay. In addition to an extensive network of 32 domestic destinations served from Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao, PAL operated the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and North America, Japan, the Middle East and Australia. The post PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese tourists e-visa welcomed
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco yesterday welcomed the electronic visa (e-visa) for Chinese tourists, saying it will surely improve the experience of inbound travelers and visitors, and have a positive impact on the country’s international arrivals, especially for the Chinese and Indian markets. “We believe that this will foster even closer people-to-people exchanges, cultural understanding, and vibrant tourism cooperation,” Frasco said. This developed after the visa reforms convergence meeting organized by the DoT last 24 March 2023. Following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DoT, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Immigration discussed the streamlining of the visa application process, to enhance convenience and accessibility for all international travelers, starting with Chinese visitors. The e-visa is considered one of the ways to raise the confidence of airlines, charter operators, and travel agents to resume flights from various points in China directly to tourist destinations in the Philippines, like Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Legazpi, Clark, Laoag, Lallo, and Manila, with the projected ease and speed of visa processing. In 2019, more than 1.7 million Chinese visitors came to the Philippines, DoT data showed. As of 26 July, the agency has recorded 137,822 arrivals from China, following the recent lifting of travel restrictions for the Chinese. “Certainly, the e-visa will be a game changer for the Chinese market, which currently prefers other Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia which provide landing visas to Chinese travelers, thus gaining faster momentum for tourism recovery of those countries from the negative impact of the pandemic,” Frasco said. “One of the foremost advantages of this initiative is the positive impact it can have on revitalizing the Philippine tourism industry. Before the pandemic, China stood as the Philippines’ second top tourist market, contributing significantly to our nation’s vibrant tourism landscape with a record 1.7 million visitors in 2019. The e-visa system’s introduction holds the promise of recovering the Chinese market and opening up to the Indian market,” she said. The post Chinese tourists e-visa welcomed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT welcomes e-visa system for Chinese tourists
The Department of Tourism welcomes the forthcoming implementation of the electronic visa system for temporary visitors with its pilot implementation among Chinese nationals, to be followed by Indian nationals by yearend, as announced by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. During the visa reforms convergence meeting organized by the DOT last 24 March 2023 corresponding to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the DOT, DFA, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration discussed the streamlining of the visa application process to enhance convenience and accessibility for all international travelers, starting with Chinese visitors. “We are grateful that the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to implement the e-visa system will soon come into fruition with DFA’s implementation as it will surely improve the experience of inbound travelers and tourists, and have a positive impact on our international arrivals especially in the Chinese and Indian markets. We believe that this will also foster even closer people-to-people exchanges, cultural understanding, and vibrant tourism cooperation,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said. In 2019, more than the 1.7 million Chinese visitors to the Philippines were recorded by the DOT. As of 26 July 2023, the agency has tallied 137,822 arrivals from China, following the recent lifting of travel restrictions for the Chinese. The e-visa is seen as one way to raise the confidence of airlines, charter operators and travel agents to resume flights from various points in China directly to tourist destinations in the Philippines such as Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Legaspi, Clark, Laoag, Lallo and Manila due to the projected ease and increase in visa processing. “Certainly, the e-visa will be a game changer in the Chinese market, which currently prefers other Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia which provide landing visa to Chinese travelers, thus gaining faster momentum for the tourism recovery of these countries from the negative impacts of the pandemic,” said Frasco. “One of the foremost advantages of this initiative is the positive impact it can have on revitalizing the Philippine tourism industry. Prior to the pandemic, China stood as the Philippines' second top tourist market, contributing significantly to our nation's vibrant tourism landscape with a record 1.7 million visitors in 2019. The e-visa system's introduction holds the promise of recovering the Chinese market and opening up to the Indian market,” she added. Earlier this year, the President directed concerned government agencies to extend the e-visa to certain nationalities to encourage tourists from their countries to visit the Philippines. “The Philippines takes great pride in its diverse and captivating tourist destinations, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. We are confident that the implementation of the e-visa system will encourage more Chinese and new Indian visitors to explore the wonders of our archipelago, creating unforgettable experiences and lasting memories that will certainly make them Love the Philippines as a top-of-the-mind tourist destination,” said Frasco. -30- The post DoT welcomes e-visa system for Chinese tourists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims
As artificial intelligence is causing global worry over the loss of jobs for humans, executives of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines maintain that AI would bring more benefits than harm, particularly to their industry. CCAP president Mickey Ocampo said artificial intelligence would be more helpful, than detrimental, to the BPO industry. He said the country’s contact center and business process management sector continues to evolve amid the emergence of new technologies, particularly Generative AI, which is quickly being incorporated into various tasks across the information technology and business process management or IT-BPM industry. “The impact of a generative AI will come within the next, maybe, two to four years. This will allow our country to develop using upskilling our people. Generative AI will increase productivity as at a certain level we will be able to handle more calls or more non-voice inquiries. AI will also generate additional jobs,” he said during Daily Tribune’s Straight Talk program last Tuesday. Ocampo said their group is confident the sector could easily keep its position as the world’s top provider of voice and business process outsourcing services and it’s being the “heart of customer experience (CX)” with the adoption of Generative AI, which critics say could either be a boon or a bane to the BPO industry. “Generative AI can be used to automate and enhance various aspects of customer interactions. Some examples are chatbots and virtual assistants. There are automated email responses for faster adaptability. To illustrate, in the past, when an agent needed to respond to a customer’s call, he had to look at the CRM and backtrack or even go to the knowledge base. Now, these things are automated, further enhancing agent productivity,” Ocampo said. CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury said Generative AI will have an impact on client business, in the way services are delivered and in the corporate services of providers, namely, human resource and finance, among others. She said the use of Generative AI Assist working alongside agents when handling calls will increase their efficiency, productivity, and resolution in delivering customer service. “Thus, the call agent is provided the opportunity to have more focused active listening and genuine empathy rather than being preoccupied with navigating the system for resolution. Filipinos’ innate trait of service orientation combined with the power of Generative AI will enhance the employee’s experience at work which would translate to an even more satisfying customer experience — therefore helping the Philippines retain being the ‘heart of CX’ and at the same time meeting or even exceeding growth targets,” Bradbury explained. Additional 1.1M jobs Ocampo said with the use of Generative AI by CCAP members, they can generate an additional 1.1 million jobs for Filipinos until 2028, covering all types of BPO services, namely, finance, insurance, medical, and health, and overall cost-based customer service for fast moving and consumer goods. “And if we go back to the generative AI, new job roles are created. Generative AI will be useful to the end users and the consumers and the business. We will continue to upskill our workforce to cope with AI,” Ocampo said. The aggressive target is part of the 2028 IT-BPM Roadmap, which was launched in the third quarter of 2022, coinciding with the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It also sets a target of 2.5 million full-time employees (2.3 million to be accounted for by CCAP-member firms) and a 40-percent countryside expansion. In 2022, the contact center sector employed 1.4 million individuals, which was 87 percent of the 1.6 million total employment in the local IT-BPM industry. Ocampo said the impact of Generative AI would be reflected in the sector’s figures in two to four years, clarifying that the emerging technology was not factored in when the IT-BPM Roadmap was set “because it surfaced just about seven months ago although AI had already been widely used across the industry.” These and more interesting issues and developments would take center stage in the upcoming Contact Islands Conference 2023. With the theme “The Philippines, the Heart of CX,” the conference is set to once again facilitate a world-class delegate experience and an excellent venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers. The conference is set for 26 to 28 July at the Dusit Thani Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City Cebu. The post AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese national arrested over P1.9-M fake cigarettes
A Chinese national has been arrested in Cebu City after P1.9 million worth of fake cigarettes were found in his store during a buy-bust operation. Allen Lim, 40, was arrested while his companion, Marilyn Lim, evaded arrest during the raid of the SYH Wholesale and Retail store in MC Briones Street, Barangay Ermita by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Mandaue City Field Unit. The CIDG personnel were accompanied by representatives of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Region 13 and Fortune Tobacco Company and Japan Tobacco International during the seizure operation. Seized were nine boxes of Mighty Green, four boxes of Mighty Red, three boxes of Winston, two boxaes of Marlboro, three boxes of Jackpot, 49 reams of Berlin, 49 reams of Astro, 39 reams of New Berlin, one box of Canon, one box of Union, 21 reams of Fortune Green and several boxes of other brands. CIDG Mandaue chief Police Captain Nigel Sanoy said the stamps on each pack of Mighty cigarettes have the same code, indicating that it was photocopied. The post Chinese national arrested over P1.9-M fake cigarettes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers
Senator Christopher “Bong" Go on Wednesday called on airlines to provide passengers affected by canceled or delayed flights with food and water, alternative flights, accommodation in nearby hotels, and prompt reimbursement of expenses they incurred from disrupted trips. The senator made the call during the Senate inquiry on passenger complaints against Cebu Pacific, including the airline's overbooking, offloading, and online booking glitches. Senator Nancy Binay chaired the hearing of her Committee on Tourism. Earlier, she filed Senate Resolution 575 that called for the investigation after her office compiled at least 3,000 complaints from passengers from social media platforms. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Go told the Committee that even former president Rodrigo Duterte experienced a flight scheduled at five o'clock but changed to 9:30 last Saturday. The senator also cited his own experience that caused him to celebrate his birthday on an airplane at midnight of 14 June. "Last Saturday, I have an 11:25 p.m. flight. I received the boarding time on my cellphone at 10:40 p.m. It means you have to get ready. Then all of a sudden, when you are in the door, you will be told that the airplane has not yet arrived?" he said in another instance of delayed flight. "Why is that? What the online advisory said was different, that the plane was already there when the truth was that it was not there. Passengers should be given proper information to have a comfortable travel." Go added, "The situation is also difficult for our OFWs who are working tirelessly abroad to support their families. Delayed or canceled flights may jeopardize their employment and livelihood." He also lamented the practice of selling more airline tickets than available seats, which has led to situations where passengers with confirmed reservations have been denied boarding, disrupting their plans and causing immense inconvenience. "The airline should compensate affected passengers for their inconvenience," Go said. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions, yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, told the committee that the airline is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” The post Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI intercepts Laos-bound call center agents
Immigration agents at the Clark International Airport have prevented two women from flying to Thailand to work as seafarers. The two introduced themselves as sea-based overseas Filipino workers recruited to work in Thailand before boarding a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Bangkok on 24 May, the BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit said in a report to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. The travel documents they presented to BI officers, however, were found to be spurious. The two eventually confessed that their final destination was Laos, where they were hired to work as call center agents. During interrogation, the women said they were recruited to work in Laos after responding to an advertisement they saw on social media, Tansingco said. The two also admitted that each of them paid P40,000 to their recruiters in exchange for bogus travel documents. According to BI, Filipinos are being trafficked to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to work as call center agents, but they end up working for online scamming companies. The post BI intercepts Laos-bound call center agents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wanted Korean intercepted at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has arrested a Korean national wanted for a string of criminal cases in his country. In a report given to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. identified the arrested passenger as Kim SeonJeong, who was intercepted at NAIA Terminal 3 on 27 May. Manahan said that Kim had just arrived in the country via a Cebu Pacific flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, when he was accosted by elements of the BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit at the airport. BI supervisors alerted the BCIU agents after the immigration officer who processed Kim upon his arrival discovered that his name was included in the Interpol database. Tansingco immediately ordered the conduct of summary deportation proceedings against Kim to stand trial for his crimes. Information obtained from Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila revealed that Kim is a convicted felon and is wanted in Korea to serve his sentence for fraud, inflicting physical injuries and drunken driving. Korean authorities said that in October 2018, Kim defrauded a compatriot by enticing the victim to give him 30 million won, or nearly US$23,000, which he would pay in the amount of 100 million won within three months. Kim claimed that he would invest the funds in the casino business, but he reneged on his promise and instead pocketed the money that the victim had deposited in his bank account. It also reported that Kim presented a Korean passport, which was already reported as a stolen and lost travel document to the Interpol. The suspect is presently detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings. The post Wanted Korean intercepted at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
License plates seized? LTO’s memo says no way
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday issued a memorandum clarifying that its enforcers are prohibited from confiscating license plates. The memorandum was issued following a public outcry about license plates getting confiscated by LTO law enforcers and deputized agents. The memorandum stressed the provisions under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, which […] The post License plates seized? LTO’s memo says no way appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»