KAKAMMPI News

MANILA — One of the 4 suspects believed to be behind a string of robberies across Japan is expected to be returned from the Philippines in the next few days, the Southeast Asian country's justice minister said Tuesday. The other 3 suspects requested by Tokyo for transfer to Japan will be sent once certain conditions are fulfilled, Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said at a press conference. The 4 men, who are currently in detention at an immigration facility in Manila, are believed to have remotely coordinated a series of robberies in Japan that began last year using an encrypted messaging app. Remulla said that communications devices including phones had been confiscated from the suspects, and that one of them had owned 6 mobile phones. The 4 men likely include a person or persons thought to have masterminded the robberies under the names "Luffy" and "Kim." Tokyo has sought the transfer of the 4 after Japanese police obtained arrest ...

Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has vowed that the perpetrator in killing of Filipina household worker Jullebee Ranara will be punished for the crime. advertisement Based on a statement of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, Sheikh Salem met with Philippine Chargé d'Affaires Jose Cabrera on Sunday to condemn the killing of Ranara, whose burned body was found in the desert. "He (Sheikh Salem) condemned her murder and said that the perpetrator, who has been arrested and is currently in detention, will be punished for this heinous crime," the statement read. The foreign minister asked Cabrera to convey his condolences to the family and the Philippine government for the death of Ranara. The official also explained that the actions of the suspect do not reflect the character and values of Kuwaiti society, the Kuwaiti people, and the Kuwaiti government. The slain 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was reportedly raped and i...

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the existing bilateral agreement between the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFW). "[D]irect the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation, to revisit, re-examine, and review the existing Bilateral Agreement and Standard Employment Contract governing OFWs in Kuwait, with the end view of establishing stricter policies, preventive measures and applicable sanctions or ban in the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait," proposed Senate Resolution 448 read. In filing the resolution, Tulfo mentioned the death of Filipina overseas worker Jullebee Ranara who was allegedly murdered and burned and whose body was thrown in the desert. "This is not the first time that a tragedy of such nature involving our Filipina domestic workers happened in the Gulf State," he said. In 2018, the Philippine government imposed a ban on the deploym...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) ordered a review of the bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait, following the death of overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara. “Ang direktiba ni Secretary [Susan "Toots" Ople] ay napapanahon nang irepaso, to revisit, review itong bilateral labor agreement na ito at paigtingin ang proteksiyon sa mga OFWs,” DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a media forum on Saturday. Ranara, 35-year-old, whose body was found burned in the middle of the desert in Kuwait was allegedly raped and impregnated by the 17-year-old son of her employer. The DMW said it will also look into the recruitment process and standards to provide more protection for OFWs. “At sabay nito ay pinatitingnan din ni Secretary Toots iyong recruitment standards para paigtingin iyong safe and ethical recruitments standards para sa mga OFWs to Kuwait na masiguro natin, halimbawa, iyong mga agencies with clean track records lamang ang makakapag-dep...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday said it is considering blacklisting problematic recruitment agencies in Kuwait following the killing of overseas Filipino worker Julleebee Ranara. DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said they are set to discuss the weaknesses in the bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait with their counterparts. There is, however, no exact date of the talks yet. “We also need to discuss, marami e (so many), actually 'yung reporting mechanisms, tracking of welfare cases, and the possible whitelisting and blacklisting of recruitment agencies as what we have now in Saudi Arabia. We will explore all possibilities,” she said in an interview with CNN Philippines. The DMW already issued an order for the preventive suspension against the employer of slain Ranara. On January 22, Ranara’s burned body was found in the middle of the desert. She was reportedly raped and impregnated by the suspect, who is the 17-year-old son of her employer. The victim was als...

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said she is now ready if and when she will be appointed as the next secretary of the department. Vergeire confirmed this in a press conference, saying that she has seen a lot of opportunities that she could change and lead reforms with, having been able to serve as an officer-in-charge of DOH for the past six months now and being able to work and coordinate with people on the ground. “Nung nakita ko ‘yan, nakita ko ‘yung oportunidad (When I saw that, I saw the opportunity). Sa tingin ko, sabi ko nga, mukhang (I think) this would convince me to really take on the position,” she said. “Sa tingin ko ngayon with all these things happening at sa lahat lahat ng trabahong kailangan gawin (I think now with all these things happening and with all the work that needs to be done) for us to really improve on our healthcare system, sa tingin ko (I think), this is the appropriate time for me to help the country,” she ...

From K-pop to K-dramas, Filipinos have loved Korean pop culture since the late 1990s when the so-called Hallyu wave started to gain ground around the world. According to the Korea Foundation, the Philippines has the highest growth rate of hallyu fans among 113 countries in 2018. The Hallyu wave is a phrase used to describe the distribution and spread of South Korean cultural products such as food, music and television series to the rest of Asia and to other parts of the world. Some people attributed the start of Hallyu to the popularity of Korean stars Seo Taiji and Boys in the 1990s, which was also the time when K-pop music was developed. study titled “Beyond the Fad: Understanding Hallyu in the Philippines” from the International Journal of Social Science and Humanity showed that hallyu in the Philippines arrived through Korean dramas or what is now known as Koreanovelas in the early 2000s. Later on, through the theme songs of K-dramas and fan sites, K-pop groups or idols event...

WELLINGTON— Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday bid an emotional farewell on her last day as prime minister, speaking of the kindness and empathy New Zealanders have shown her, but said she was ready to be a sister and a mother. Days after stunning the world by announcing she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country and would step down, the 42-year-old arrived at a gathering of politicians and Maori elders in the small town of Ratana, north of the capital Wellington, and was instantly surrounded by supporters seeking photographs. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the greatest privilege of my life,” Ardern told the gathering in a speech. She will resign on Wednesday and be replaced by the new Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins. Ardern, along with Hipkins and opposition politicians, were making an annual visit to Ratana, where a weeklong celebration is held for the birth of Maori prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana. Wearing a black dress with her shoulders covered in a traditional...

AMSTERDAM – Dutch health technology company Philips PHG.AS said on Monday it would scrap 6,000 jobs to restore its profitability following a recall of respiratory devices that knocked off 70% of its market value. Half of the job cuts will be made this year, the company said, adding that the other half will be realized by 2025. The new reorganization comes on top of a plan announced last October to reduce its workforce by 5%, or 4,000 jobs, as it grapples with the fallout from the recall of millions of ventilators used to treat sleep apnea over worries that foam used in the machines could become toxic. The reduced workforce should lead to a low-teens profit margin (adjusted EBITA) by 2025, and a mid-to-high-teens margin beyond that year, with mid-single-digit comparable sales growth throughout. “Philips is not capitalizing on the full potential of strong market positions as it faces a number of significant operational challenges,” new Chief Executive Officer Roy Jakobs said. The si...

by Joseph Pedrajas Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss has called on the people not to forget the horror of The Holocaust, which killed millions of Jewish people in an attempt to annihilate the population. Fluss made the call as the Israel Embassy in Manila and the Office of the Vice President commemorated on January 27 the International Holocaust Remembrance Day—an event he described as “the darkest time in human history—especially for the Jewish people.” “The Holocaust was an unprecedented genocide, perpetrated by Nazi Germany, its aim being to annihilate the entire Jewish people. It was a calculated operation of mass murder the scale of which had never been seen before,” the diplomat said in his speech. Fluss then urged the people not to let the same mass genocide happen in the future as “today we are witnessing voices of denial of the holocaust and increasing antisemitism.” He said the people “must remember, learn, teach, educate, and say—never again.” “We must d...

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s chief legal counsel said on Monday, January 30, that if it were up to him, personnel from the International Criminal Court (ICC) who try to enter the Philippines would be arrested as he insisted the international tribunal has “no sovereign power over us.” “They interfere so much with our internal affairs,” Enrile told media on the sidelines of the presentation of the Marcos administration’s economic roadmap. On January 27, the ICC authorized the resumption of its probe into the killings under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. “We will not allow any of our officials to be investigated or tried by the International Criminal Court. I’m telling you as lawyer of the president, I will not allow, as far as I’m concerned, I will not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court,” added the nonagenarian, who is also among the appointed lawyers closest to Marcos in Malacañang. It’s the same argument the justic...

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the government would be able to answer the questions that Filipinos ask themselves daily with the implementation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, as the plan aims to ensure that every sector is part of the economic development. In his speech during the PDP 2023-2028 Forum in Pasay City, the President highlighted the importance of addressing the daily battles of the ordinary Filipino as the government will be judged based on how it dealt with their plight– something that he said: “requires action.” “Their struggles are embedded in their respected daily battles: How do I make ends meet? How can I bring food to the table? What is my future going to look like? Will my children live in a better Philippines than the one I grew up in?” he said on Monday, Jan. 30. “It is my firm belief that answering these questions will be the defining challenge for us who are called to serve and...

Patuloy na popondohan ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ang aid na ibinibigay para sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) hanggang sa buwan ng Marso ngayong taon kasabay ng transitions ng bagong tatag na Department of Migrant Workers. Ayon kay DFA Undersecretary for Office of the Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega, ang Aksyon Fund o ang pondo para sa pag-assist sa OFWs ay nasa hurisdiksyon ng DFA gayundin ang Assistance to Nationals budget para sa pagtulong sa non-OFW Filipinos abroad gaya ng permanent resident ng foreign host country, mga estudyante, Filipino nationals na mamamayan ng isang host country subalit isang Filipino citizen, mga Pilipinong nag-aantay ng kanilang naturalization, Filipino na kabilang sa government exchange visiting program at ang mga nasa abroad na hindi nagtatrabaho kabilang ang kanilang mga asawang foreign citizens. Nakikipag Ugnayan na rin ang DFA para sa isang joint agreement para sa pamamahagi ng nasabing aid. Ayon pa kay De Vega na inaasaha...

SEOUL — South Korea on Monday lifted most of its mandatory rules for the wearing of masks indoors after more than two years, as the country is believed to have entered a downward trend in the COVID-19 pandemic. People are now allowed to visit most indoor locations, including schools and gyms, without masks. But the mask mandate remains in place for public transport and locations such as hospitals, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The government also reiterated that the number of COVID-19 patients may increase after the easing of the indoor mask mandate, which has been in effect since October 2020, and it will closely monitor the situation going forward. The mandate for wearing masks outdoors was lifted in May last year. On Monday, South Korea reported 7,416 new cases of coronavirus infection over a 24-hour period, according to the agency, bringing the cumulative caseload to 30,157,017. The death toll stood at 6,239, with 30 more cases added.

Posted at Jan 30 2023 01:59 PM JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday at the weekend in a township in South Africa, killing eight and wounding three others, police said Monday. "The owner of the house was celebrating his birthday when two unknown gunmen entered the yard" on Sunday evening in the southern port city of Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, "and started shooting at the guests," police said in a statement. The unknown gunmen "randomly shot at guests," police said, adding "8 people died while 3 others are still fighting for their lives in hospital. The home owner is among the deceased". An investigation has been launched into the attack and police said a manhunt for the perpetrators was underway. Shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the world's highest murder rates, fueled by gang violence and alcohol. South Africa last year saw string of shootings ...

A passenger wearing a face mask waits for his train in the waiting hall of Beijing South Railway Station on new year's eve in Beijing, China on December 31, 2022. China has loosened its travel curbs as COVID-19 cases surge across the country but the US, Italy, Japan and Korea now require a COVID-19 test from travellers from mainland China. Wu Hao, EPA-EFE/File A passenger wearing a face mask waits for his train in the waiting hall of Beijing South Railway Station on new year's eve in Beijing, China on December 31, 2022. China has loosened its travel curbs as COVID-19 cases surge across the country but the US, Italy, Japan and Korea now require a COVID-19 test from travellers from mainland China. Wu Hao, EPA-EFE/File BEIJING (UPDATE) - China said Sunday it will resume issuing ordinary visas for Japanese citizens, a procedure it suspended in early January in protest of Japan's tightened COVID-19 measures for travelers from China, in a move that could thaw bilateral relation...

COLUMBIA, United States — Donald Trump vowed to take on the "corrupt political establishment" Saturday as he bid to revive a faltering third run for the White House in two US states that launched his winning 2016 presidential campaign. Buffeted by political and legal headwinds, the 76-year-old Republican delivered a keynote address to grassroots activists and lawmakers in New Hampshire, ahead of a headlining appearance at a rally in South Carolina. "We need a leader who is prepared to take on the forces laying waste to our country," he told a crowd of several hundred in the New Hampshire commercial hub of Salem. "We need a president who's ready to hit the ground running on Day One." The events were being seen as a chance to revitalize a stuttering campaign amid criticism over Trump's failure to make any public appearances since he announced his latest run in November. But there was no discernible shift in his messaging as he launched immedi...

People who criminalize homosexuality are "wrong", Pope Francis said in a letter published on Saturday, seeking to clarify earlier comments about homosexual acts being a "sin". In an interview published on Wednesday, the pope had said being homosexual was "not a crime ... but it’s a sin". In the letter published on Saturday, which was written to a Jesuit priest, Francis said he had wanted in the interview "to clarify that it (homosexuality) is not a crime, in order to stress that criminalization is neither good nor just". "When I said it is a sin, I was simply referring to Catholic moral teaching, which says that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin," he wrote. The pontiff was responding to a letter from US priest James Martin, who asked for clarity on comments the pope made during the interview with the Associated Press news agency. The issue of homosexuality has caused a major rift in the Catholic Church between modernize...

A total of 252 new coronavirus deaths were reported in Japan on Saturday, bringing the death toll for January to 10,124, the first time a monthly figure has exceeded 10,000, according to a tally based on prefectural reports. COVID-19 deaths have been rapidly increasing in the country since around November when the number of infected people rebounded. More than 7,600 people died in December, the highest monthly total at that time. About 54,800 new infections were reported nationwide Saturday, according to prefectural governments, while the health ministry said there are 533 severe cases, down 24 from Friday. Daily infections have been declining since the middle of the month. Japan has decided to downgrade the legal status of the novel coronavirus in May to the same category as seasonal influenza and other common infectious diseases, a major shift that will lead to a normalization of social and economic activities in the country.

By RICHA NORIEGA, GMA Integrated News Senator Raffy Tulfo on Saturday pushed for a total deployment ban to Kuwait after the killing of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara. advertisement The 35-year-old OFW whose body was found burned in the middle of a desert in Kuwait was reportedly raped and impregnated by the suspect, the 17-year-old son of her employer. Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate committee on migrant workers, said bilateral talks between the Philippines and Kuwait could push through after the deployment ban. However, the terms and conditions from the Philippines should be considered, he said. The senator said the conditions include requiring a tight screening process and psychiatric exams for employers in high-risk countries, as well as members of their household, to ensure that they are fit to hire OFWs in their homes. He added that employers must ensure that OFWs do not suffer because of their traditions, such as fasting during Ramadan. Tulfo also propo...

Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s minister of foreign affairs, denounced the killing of Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara in Kuwait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Salem met with Jose A. Cabrera III, the Philippine Charge d’ Affaires to Kuwait (MOFA). Cabrera claims that Sheikh Salem asked him to express his sincere condolences to Jullebee Ranara’s family and the Philippine government following her terrible and violent passing. The official also condemned her murder and declared that the person responsible, who was detained after being apprehended, would be held accountable for this horrific act. Sheikh Salem said that the perpetrator’s actions, do not in any way represent the morals and principles of Kuwaiti society, the Kuwaiti people, or the Kuwaiti government. Cabrera thanked Kuwaiti authorities for their cooperation and help. In particular, Cabrera praised them for their prompt response and action in apprehending the suspect and obtaining the necessary ...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued an order for the preventive suspension of the employer of slain overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara, whose burned body was found on Sunday in the desert in Kuwait. advertisement "Upon review of the case involved and with the existing facts we had, we filed, the Department of Migrant Workers filed ... the employer involved, and we already issued an order preventively suspending the employer of OFW Jullebee Ranara," DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said at a press briefing. "Ang ibig sabihin ng preventive suspension ay hindi siya puwedeng mag-hire ng OFW ngayon at kailanman (The preventive suspension means the employer could no longer hire OFWs starting from now and forever). The preventive suspension will later on lead to a blacklisting upon the termination of the proceedings," Olalia added. The DMW is also set to file cases against two recruitment agencies. "After examination of the facts involved, by...

The Philippine Embassy in Israel advised Filipinos to avoid going to certain areas such as the West Bank until January 28 due to ongoing tensions. The embassy said Filipinos should avoid or postpone going to the following areas: West Bank: Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, etc. Jerusalem: Temple Mount, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, Al Wad Road, Musrara Road, areas around East Jerusalem Areas near the border of Lebanon and Gaza Golan Heights Filipinos were also advised to be alert and observant about their surroundings, and not to take photos or videos or go near any area with tension. They were also urged to immediately leave or avoid areas that have tension or ongoing violence. Crowded places were also to be avoided, the embassy said. It also advised Filipinos to be careful in using public transportation. They should also not go near Israeli security forces deployed in sensitive areas. Filipinos should follow the guidelines of the Israeli security forces and the Home Front Com...

NEW YORK - Two Filipinos, a transgender and a woman, were found dead in separate areas in New York City earlier this month. The fatalities were identified as Zeny Braga, 44, and Rodolfo Manacap Jr. aka Olivia Snow. Braga's body was found in the bathroom of her rented apartment in Elmhurst, Queens on January 17. Paramedics from the New York Fire Department brought her to the Elmhurst Hospital but she was dead on arrival. Manacap's body meanwhile was found on January 19 at a hotel in Manhattan. She was last seen by friends attending the Miss Universe beauty pageant in New Orleans on January 14. Authorities have not yet issued an official statement ruling out foul play in the deaths of Braga and Manacap. The Philippine Consulate General in New York said it is coordinating with New York City authorities regarding the case of Manacap. It has already informed the relatives of Manacap in Davao City. "The Philippine Consulate General in New York received with great sadness...

The remains of Jullebee Ranara, the Filipina household worker who was slain in Kuwait, reached Manila on Friday night. As of 9:44 p.m., Emirates Airlines Flight EK 334, carrying the remains arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to perform an autopsy as requested by her family. Senator Raffy Tulfo, who joined Ranara's family at the arrival venue, said the Kuwaiti government should issue a public apology. "Kulang yan, gusto ko public apology para sa mga Pilipino. Failure to do so, e deployment ban talaga," he added. The 17-year-old suspect in the killing is now under the Kuwaiti government's custody. Tulfo offered insurance and scholarship grant to Ranara's family. "Yung isa sa mga anak yun ang nakausap ko pero all of them are very very sad," he said. "Kahit makipag-areglo yung pamilya ng biktima, para sa akin dapat i-pursue pa rin ng ating gobyerno yung pagsasa...

The 35-year-old OFW whose body was found burned in the middle of the desert in Kuwait was reportedly raped and impregnated by the suspect, the 17-year-old son of her employer. According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", Senator Jinggoy Estrada in a privileged speech cited media reports in Kuwait which narrated what befell Julleebee Ranara. "What's more harrowing in Ranara's case is the report by the local news outlets in the state of Kuwait that the arrested perpetrator who confessed to the crime is a 17-year-old Kuwaiti National and the son of her employer, who allegedly raped and impregnated her," Estrada said, citing reports from Kuwaiti media. "The victim was beaten, ran over by the perpetrator's car twice, and was burnt and left for dead in the desert," he added. The suspect is reportedly now under police custody. “Dapat lang malaman natin ang totoo, kaya nga din dapat lang humarap sa korte ang halimaw na anak ng employer ni...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday said it is looking into the possible liability of the recruitment agency of the 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was found dead in Kuwait. advertisement Interviewed on GMA News' Unang Balita, DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the department is checking if the agency properly monitored victim Julleebee Ranara following her deployment to Kuwait. "'Yan ay tinitignan din ngayon ni Undersecretary Bernard Olalia [Undersecretary Bernard Olalia is now looking into that]," Cacdac said when asked if Ranara's recruiter can be held liable in her killing. "Ang isang nakikita ko ngayon dito, una 'yung kanilang pag-monitor. Kasi under the DMW rules, dapat merong monitoring at regular reporting ng kalagayan ng isang OFW lalo na yung mga OFW kasambahay sa kalagayan nila sa abroad," he added. (What I see here, first, is the recruiter's monitoring. Under the DMW rules, a recruiter should h...

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is not considering the imposition of a deployment ban against Kuwait following the brutal death of an overseas Filipino worker. advertisement "No, we’re not contemplating the suspension of deployment to Kuwait, but yes, we are looking at additional safeguards and reforms to make sure that our workers bound for Kuwait are better protected," Ople said in a press conference at the Senate. The DMW secretary explained that the case of Jullebee Ranara was a crime committed by a Kuwaiti national but not the government itself. "Brutal, hindi dahil gustong gawin ng Kuwaiti government. Brutal dahil halimaw yung anak ng employer. For whatever reason, walang bansa o walang matinong tao that would welcome such behavior," Ople said. "Now, should we condemn the Kuwaiti government sa kagagawan ng anak ng employer? I think those are two separate things," she added. Further, Ople said the Kuwaiti police have also responded quickl...

By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA Integrated News The 17-year-old suspect in the killing of a 35-year-old Filipino domestic worker in Kuwait is now under police custody, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said Tuesday. “Well, inaresto na, nasa custody na ng Kuwaiti police ‘yung anak ng employer na siyang primary suspect sa pagpatay kay Jullebee Ranara,” Ople said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (Well, the son of the employer who is the primary suspect in the killing of Jullebee Ranara has been arrested and is now under the custody of the Kuwaiti police.) She said they learned the age of the suspect from a media report as they are still waiting for the official police report. “Nakalagay doon 17 (it's stated there, 17),” Ople said. Ranara’s burned body was found on Sunday in the desert. Her family said they were in contact with her until Friday evening. “According doon sa nanay, ang nirereklamo ni Jullebee ‘yung anak ng employer na lalaki. ‘Yun daw ‘yung malupit sa kan...

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Monday voiced their concerns about their unpaid salaries and benefits from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during a meeting with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday. advertisement The KSA had committed to allocate some 2 billion riyals for the unpaid salaries of some 10,000 overseas Filipinos employed by construction companies that declared bankruptcy. A joint technical working group composed of officials from both countries was created for the purpose. DMW media staff member Abigail Calinisan told GMA News Online that most of the OFWs’ concerns were about the status of their registration, which is a requirement to get the claims. In Sandra Aguinaldo's report on 24 Oras, more than 100 of the OFWs at the DMW that day were former employees of Saudi Oger Ltd.—a construction firm that shuttered in 2017—who were worried about their claims after encountering difficulty registering with the comp...

A Filipino was among the close to a dozen fatalities of the Lunar New Year massacre inside a dance parlor in Monterey Park, California over the weekend, a Philippine official said Tuesday. Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Enciso III of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles identified the Filipino victim as Valentino Alvero, 68 years old. "We are trying to reach out through our Filipino community contacts to reach out dun sa family," he said. Enciso added they are still determining if a Filipino was also among those wounded. "'Yung mga injured 'di pa nire-release 'yung pangalan [Authorities have yet to release the names of the injured]," he said. The massacre claimed the lives of 11 people — 10 at the scene and one at a local hospital while undergoing treatment. The coroner's office earlier confirmed the names of two women — My Nhan, 65, and Lilan Li, 63 — who were among the patrons who died in Saturday's sh...

Published January 23, 2023 2:25pm Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople on Monday vowed justice for slain overseas Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara as she condoles with the grieving family of the OFW. According to the DMW, the burned body of the 35-year old domestic worker was found on Sunday in the desert. The agency said Kuwaiti authorities have arrested the son of the victim's employer. Ople, for her part, already reached out to the family of the victim. Ople vowed to provide assistance to the family of Ranara. At present, the DMW is waiting for the official report on the incident from foreign authorities. The family of the victim is requesting privacy as they grieve the death of Ranara, the DMW said. The DMW condemned the heinous crime and called on the Kuwaiti government to work on the early resolution of the case and bring the perpetrators to justice. Aside from the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs is also monitoring developm...

MANILA, Philippines — Two former policemen tagged in the kidnapping of an online cockfighting agent in Laguna have surrendered, the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) of the Phillipine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday. Rigel Brosas, a former patrolman, and ex-corporal Daryl Paghangaan surrendered to the IMEG’s field unit in Calabarzon on Thursday. The two were among those who allegedly posed as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and seized Ricardo Lasco from his residence in Barangay San Lucas in San Pablo City on Aug. 30, 2021. Another former policeman, Roy Navarette, remains at large. The PNP Internal Affairs Service had earlier found the three guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Former Lt. Henry Sasaluya and M/Sgt. Michel Claveria were also dismissed from the service in connection with the case. However, the charges against Sasaluya and Claveria were dropped for lack of probable cause. IMEG director Brig. ...

MANILA, Philippines — The government of Saudi Arabia has given overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking back wages and separation pay more time to register with the Saudi em-bassy. The deadline for updating information of OFWs entitled to unpaid wages and salary claims has been extended from Jan. 19 to Jan. 31, according to the Department of Migrant Workers. DMW Secretary Susan Ople previously announced that the claimants have until Jan. 19 to register. The DMW said the Saudi embassy requested the agency’s help in informing the claimants of the need to register and update their data. OFW claimants may register online through http://ehqaq.sa/saudioger. Inquiries and clarifications may be sent to Yousef-alswailem@saudiogerb.com or feedback@dmw.gov.ph. Last year, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to shoulder P1 billion in wage claims of the OFWs during a bilateral meeting with President Marcos on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Thailand.

MANILA, Philippines — This year's Chinese New Year falls on January 22, and it is never too late to think of ideas to give to start an auspicious year. Here are some thoughtful and meaningful items that you can gift to your family, friends or colleagues: 1. Food hampers or special Chinese New Year food menu sets Many grocery stores offer curated baskets that have all these auspicious items in it. Even hotels and restaurants are annually offering Chinese New Year sets that already feature a sumptous spread such as Nian gao (tikoy), Peking Duck, Yee Sang Salad, Yang Chow, Noodles and Steamed Fish. 2. Be specific A box of tikoy (sweet glutinous rice cake) will go a long way. Classic tikoys can be deep-fried, while newer versions come with fillings. This sticky treat is given with the hope for the continued bond or strong relationship of the family or between friends. 3. The paw (red envelope) Who doesn't want to receive money for the new year? The red, ornately designed ...

MANILA, Philippines — While no criminal charges will be filed against the 10 Philippine Airlines (PAL) crew members for bringing in 27 kilos of onions from the Middle East, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is considering filing a complaint against them for supposedly unruly behavior. “The legal action that the BOC and Bureau of Quarantine will take is with regard to the behavior of the PAL crew members,” Customs spokesman Arnaldo dela Torre said yesterday. The airline’s crew members allegedly said they needed to destroy the onions so that these would not be used by the BOC. “They committed conduct unbecoming of employees, unethical behavior, as well as direct insult and disrespect to persons in authority,” the BOC said.

MANILA, Philippines — Over half a million people participated in the Lunar New Year festivities in Binondo, Manila over the weekend. According to the Manila Police District, at least 600,000 people converged in Binondo from Saturday morning until nighttime. Around 120,000 people joined the countdown and watched the fireworks display in Binondo and another 5,000 people on Jones Bridge, both at the stroke of midnight, based on police estimates. Some 15,000 people went to Binondo yesterday to watch dragon dances and other activities, police added. In her speech before the midnight countdown, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the city chose Jones Bridge as a viewing deck of the fireworks display because it serves as the entry to Chinatown in Binondo, said to be the world’s oldest. The fireworks went up over the adjacent and China-funded Binondo-Intramuros Bridge. Lacuna said the Lunar New Year celebrations reflect the “diversity and strength of the Filipino-Chinese community and its cont...

By: Mark Lester F. Tejada and Justin B. Santos / Photos by: Arnold T. Ramos Muntinlupa City – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over a check to the Mayor of Muntinlupa City representing the share of the local government uni(LGU) from Small Town Lottery (STL) sales in Muntinlupa City for the months of July to September 2022. PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles, together with Charity Assistant Department Manager Atty. Marissa O. Medrano, personally handed over the check amounting to P488,108.06 to Mayor Ruffy B. Biazon on January 11, 2023 at his office in Muntinlupa City Hall.Prior to this, the PCSO also released a check representing LGU Lotto Share for the first semester of 2022 amounting to P1,643,916.59, which was officially received by the City Treasurer of Muntinlupa on December 29, 2022 at thePCSO Main Office in Mandaluyong City. Mayor Biazon was very pleased with the arrival of GM Robles in his office and the assistance provided by the PCSO. The Ma...

The ITUC condemns the raids on the offices of Korean unions by the intelligence services as an open attack on democracy and the labour movement. The offices of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union’s (KHMU) were targeted by the Korean spy agency early on 18 January. According to press reports, raids continued on 19 January as police targeted construction unions affiliated to the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). In a statement, the KHMU said the government forces searched its offices for several hours despite its intention to cooperate: “We strongly condemn the public security suppression of the labour movement. We will fight strongly against this … We will never give in to the government’s targeted public security drive.” The ITUC Deputy General Secretary, Owen Tudor, denounced the raids: “We stand firmly with the Korean labour movement in the face of this overt aggression and intimidation by the gov...

Fr. Shay Cullen 20 January 2023 The protection of children from harm and especially sexual abuse is the prime responsibility of every parent and every adult especially those with moral and legal responsibility in Church and State. Readers have responded positively to the previous article expressing relief and thanks that an alleged child rapist priest Karole Reward Ubina Israel, 29, of Solana, Cagayan was arrested and hopefully will be charged with child sex abuse in court. The child victim was 15 years old when she was allegedly first abused by him. According to the testimony of the child victim, this priest in Cagayan videotaped the sex abuse of the child several times and threatened to post them on social media that would instill fear, intimidate and control the child. Father Karole Israel admits the sexual acts but he claims it was consensual. The victim denies that. The videos used to blackmail her make that a useless defense. Republic Act 11930 otherwise known as the Anti...

Kaycee Valmonte - Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines — China is still hopeful that talks for joint exploration with the Philippines would continue despite a Supreme Court ruling that declared unconstitutional and void an agreement from the 2000s made among companies from China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian pointed to Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s talks on maritime cooperation and noted their willingness to overcome "obstacles that may be in front of us so that we can get to where we wish to get." "I think our leaders have agreed to resume the discussions and negotiations on the oil and gas joint exploration and we believe the team in our countries, we engage each other you know to discuss… we [hope we] will make some progress," Huang told reporters during the embassy’s Chinese New Year festivities on Monday. Last week, the Supreme Court declared that the lapsed Jo...

ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 13 2023 12:14 AM LONDON - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed disappointment Wednesday over China's decision to suspend the issuance of visas to Japanese travelers in response to Tokyo tightening border controls on visitors from China to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections. "It is extremely regrettable that China has unilaterally implemented restrictions that seem to have nothing to do with countermeasures against the novel coronavirus," Kishida told reporters while visiting Britain. Japan has lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels and demanded it terminates the restrictions, he said. Kishida underscored that Japan's border measures for arrivals from China are temporary, citing the spread of infections in mainland China and the difficulty of grasping the severity of the situation. "We are implementing it so as not to stop the international flow of people," he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes...