KAKAMMPI News

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Embassy in Japan on Sunday confirmed that 30 Filipino seafarers are currently stranded at a hotel in Fukushima with no food, water and electricity. "We are very certain there are Filipinos in the Fukushima area... As a matter of fact, we just advised the [Department of] Foreign Affairs [about them]," said Manolo Lopez, the country's ambassador to Japan, in an interview on ANC's “Headlines” on Sunday morning. He said they are now "billeted in a hotel… although there is no food, water and electricity." Lopez assured that the embassy is working to get them out of the area as soon as possible and bring them to "some other safer place." "We have advised the authorities how to get them out of there. Maybe [bring them to] Tokyo or some other safer place. Ito ang ating priority ngayon," he said. He added: "Individually, I think it would be very difficult for them to make their way out. The...

Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM - Israeli immigration authorities on Sunday filed charges against the wife of Israel's defense minister for allegedly illegally employing a Filipina house cleaner, local media reported. Haaretz newspaper's website said that Nili Priel, wife of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, was charged with illegally hiring the woman, identified only as Virginia, to clean the couple's luxury Tel Aviv apartment, without an employment visa, medical insurance or contract. It said that if convicted, she could be fined 100,000 shekels (20,000 euros, $28,000) on each charge or face imprisonment. No trial date was set. Barak has said he was unaware the woman was employed in his home and he will not face legal action. It is illegal in Israel to employ foreign workers as domestic help, and the government has launched a campaign to crack down on the practice.

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – New Zealand authorities have identified the fourth Filipino fatality in last month's earthquake in Christchurch. The latest Filipino fatality was identified as 38-year-old Lalaine Collado Agatep, police said in a press statement. Five more victims from Japan, and New Zealand were been identified by local police on Monday, bringing the total number of names released to 123. The other Filipinos confirmed to have died in the quake are Jewel Francisco, Ivy Jane Cabunilas, and Erica Avir Reyes Nora. Over 165 died in the 6.3 magnitude tremor that struck Christchurch last February 22.

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Several Asian governments including the Philippines said Monday they would screen food imported from Japan for radiation after one of the country's nuclear power plants was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said President Aquino met with the heads of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, National Security Council, Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Executive Secretary to make sure that the Philippines would be safe from any possible effects of the nuclear crisis in Japan. “Just as a precaution, imports from Japan, mostly foodstuffs, will be checked for levels of radiation,” Carandang told reporters after the meeting in Malacañang. The PNRI will be in charge of the tests because the Department of Agriculture check...

Philippines tests Japanese food for radiation abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Several Asian governments including the Philippines said Monday they would screen food imported from Japan for radiation after one of the country's nuclear power plants was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said President Aquino met with the heads of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, National Security Council, Presidential Management Staff and the Office of the Executive Secretary to make sure that the Philippines would be safe from any possible effects of the nuclear crisis in Japan. “Just as a precaution, imports from Japan, mostly foodstuffs, will be checked for levels of radiation,” Carandang told reporters after the meeting in Malacañang. The PNRI will be in charge of the tes...

abs-cbnNEWS.com Aftershocks continue to rattle Filipinos in Japan SENDAI, Japan – Filipinos who escaped the wrath of the magnitude-9 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami said strong aftershocks have forced them to abandon their homes. Nunally Suico, who was born in Cebu City, is now living in a shelter with his son. She had been a resident of Sendai City for 33 years. Another Filipina, Cecilia Vilia, was with her son and sister at the same shelter. Vilia, who is originally from Bacoor, Cavite, said they are scared to go back to their homes because of the continuous earthquakes. Other Filipinos also found shelter in another evacuation center in the city. At the Kamachi Dori Elementary School, ABS-CBN News found Carmelita Joy Mogami, who has been living in Sendai for 18 years. She was accompanied by another Filipina, Marie Embrada. The two met at the evacuation center, which has served as their home for the last 4 days. Three other Filipinas – Marita Goto, Lucy Kanazawa, and Helen Ono – w...

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Japan have begun arriving here, carrying with them the horrors they saw and experienced when a major earthquake and tsunami hit the country. Yolanda Ouchi, Loida Dabue and Ricardo Pesino were among the OFWs from Japan who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport early Sunday. They told ABS-CBN News that they were glad to be home unscathed after Friday's 8.9 magnitude quake, one of the largest ever recorded, unleashed a terrifying tsunami that engulfed towns and cities on Japan's northeastern coast. Ouchi was teary eyed as she narrated their experience in Japan. She said their house was located 4 hours away from Honshu island, one of hard hit areas, but they were still traumatized. She said when the major earthquake and tsunami struck, she thought they were going to die. "Iba na siya, biglang lumindol tapos ang lakas… Sabi ko, ‘Huli na yata namin ito,’" Ouchi said. Dabue said she...

By Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News MANILA - Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed for calm in the midst of a large-scale disaster in Japan on Friday. A tsunami warning was immediately issued in several coastal provinces in the country facing the eastern seaboard after the quake that affected much of Japan. The tsunami arrived in Philippine territory past 5 pm. "The Filipino people can rest assured that all concerned government agencies are already on alert and are ready to extend immediate assistance should the need arise," the Vice President said in a statement. "I am likewise assuring overseas Filipino workers in Tokyo and their families here at home that we are coordinating with all government agencies concerned to be able to react to the needs of affected Filipinos in Japan," he added.