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Young Filipinos warned versus crypto scammers

KANCHANARA-UNSPLASH

THE PHILIPPINE Immigration bureau on Wednesday warned the public against cryptocurrency scammers who lure young professionals into working illegally in Southeast Asia.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco said scammers are luring urban professionals by promising them jobs only to be forced to work for potential cryptocurrency investors.

“These highly educated professionals would not even think that they would be vulnerable and be trafficked, as they are merely exploring opportunities that they may have encountered online,” he said.

The agency said Filipinos should remain cautious online because scammers usually lure victims through online offers.

Mr. Tansingco said the agency would look into the cases of the eight repatriated Filipinos who were rescued from a trafficking scheme in Myanmar.

The victims were recruited online from Dubai after being promised customer support positions in Thailand. They were instead forced to dupe people into investing in cryptocurrency through social media platforms.

In November, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs and Office of Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel rescued 12 victims of an illegal recruitment scheme in Myanmar.

In August, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia issued an advisory suspending the deployment of Filipino workers to Myanmar due to violence and armed conflict in the area.

The DMW has said it would keep a blacklist of foreign employers found to have violated labor standards, including exploitation and abuse of migrant workers.

The immigration bureau earlier said it would set up posts in major Philippine airports that will cater to cases of cyber-crime and online fraud.

“Professionals are now being lured by promises of good salaries and other incentives, only to be embroiled in this scam,” Mr. Tansingco said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Bill imposing excise tax on guns pushed

PCG

A PROPOSAL to impose excise tax on firearms and ammunitions is being pushed by its legislators to improve the Philippines’ gun control system while using the revenue to promote responsible ownership and peace programs. 

House Bill No. 3367 proposes a value-based tax on handguns such as pistols and revolvers, ammunition and its accessories at 10%. Other firearms and related accessories will be levied 11%. 

The tax will be imposed on domestic manufacturers and importers.

The bill’s explanatory note says that this “market-based strategy” of gun control will “reduce the number of guns in circulation by raising the price of ownership while using tax revenue to actually promote preventive and capacity-building measures” in the firearms industry. 

The Philippine National Police reported last month that it revoked 240 firearm licenses and confiscated 684 registered firearms found to be involved in numerous crimes and violations in the last four years. 

The proposed measure would “reduce gun possession and promote responsible ownership by making these weapons more expensive for citizens who are not in law enforcement,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” F. Villafuerte, Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.

Under Republic Act No. 10591, the firearms regulation law, the government collects gun-related fees through individual applications for license to possess, manufacture, sell, and upon registration of firearms. 

The measure’s co-authors are Mr. Villafuerte, Camarines Sur Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata, and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Nicolas C. Enciso VIII. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz 

Tulfo seeks review of minimum wage adjustment policies 

A mural in Paco, Manila is seen on May 16, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

SENATOR RAFAEL “Raffy” T. Tulfo has filed a resolution calling for a review of existing policies on adjusting minimum wage, citing the need to improve the quality of life of workers, especially those in the low income bracket.  

“It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a level that provides workers with a decent standard of living, taking into account factors such as inflation rates,” he said under Senate Resolution 476.  

Under the resolution, the senator cited that the P33 wage hike implemented last year for the capital region Metro Manila is inadequate considering rising inflation.  

Increases also took effect in other regions at lower rates.   

The adjustments put minimum wage in the capital region at P570 and at most P470 in other regions.  

The country’s consumer price index quickened to 8.7% in January from 8.1% in December, marking the highest in 14 years or since the 9.1% in November 2008.    

Mr. Tulfo said there is a need to “ensure that the policies on the minimum wage increase are fair, effective, and consistent with the needs of the workers and the economy.”  

Minimum wage rates in the Philippines vary per region and are set through tripartite boards composed of representatives from the workers sector, employers, and government.     

Wage adjustments are assessed based on such factors as cost of living, capacity of employers to pay, and various economic indicators.   

Every wage order approved by a Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board is subject to a final concurrence by the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.    

The Philippines is divided into 17 regions. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

3 cops accused of killing Spanish national in drug operation surrender 

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THREE policemen who have been accused of killing a Spanish national in a drug buy-bust operation in 2020 have surrendered to authorities, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ). 

In a statement on Wednesday, the DoJ said the three cops turned themselves in on Feb. 9 and recounted to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla the events of Diego Bello Lafuente’s killing.  

The law enforcers were hard to track down after government prosecutors filed murder and planting evidence charges against them in March last year, the justice department said.  

“We are now able to move forward and try the case and deliver justice in a case that has transcended borders,” Mr. Remulla was quoted in the statement.  

Government prosecutors earlier cited forensic data from the National Bureau of Investigation that disproved the cops’ claim of a shootout during the incident.  

The incident is one of the 52 cases in which suspected drug pushers died in ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war on drugs. 

At least 25 policemen have been charged with murder in connection with the anti-illegal drug campaign, Mr. Remulla told the United Nations Human Rights Council in November. An inter-agency task force on extralegal killings had investigated at least 17,000 cops.  

Data released by the Philippine government in June 2021 showed that at least 6,117 suspected drug dealers had been killed in police operations. Human rights groups estimate that as many as 30,000 suspects died. 

The United Nations Rights Committee has said the Philippines should comply with international human rights mechanisms and cooperate with the ICC’s drug war probe. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Pimentel eyes probe on ‘rampant, unabated’ agri smuggling

BOC

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel III has filed a resolution directing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to probe, in aid of legislation, the “rampant and unabated” agricultural smuggling in the country.  

The investigation will be held “with the end view of identifying accountability and making changes to our anti-smuggling laws and processes, if found necessary,” he said under Senate Resolution 477, filed on Monday.  

Smuggled agricultural goods, he said, affects the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk, poses health risks, and deprives the government of needed revenues.  

He cited data found by the Senate Committee of the Whole during the previous Congress indicating that technically smuggled farm-fishery commodities amounted to about P667.5 million from 2019 to 2022. 

At that time, 31 smuggling cases were pending from May 2021, with the total amount of smuggled goods estimated at P848.33 million.  

A list of people allegedly involved in large-scale agricultural smuggling was also reported by the committee, “yet until now no smuggler has been sent to jail and agricultural smuggling remains rampant in the country,” Mr. Pimentel said.  

The senator cited that in January alone at least P19 million worth of illegal sugar was discovered while about P20 million worth of red onions were reportedly seized.  

“Unfortunately, up until now, smuggling persists, if not worse than before,” he said. “The government has not successfully eradicated or even countered smuggling, which has greatly affected our farmers and the consumers as well with the soaring prices of food commodities.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Fishers’ group opposes proposed military pact with Japan

PAMALAKAYAWEB.WORDPRESS.COM

A FISHERS’ group has expressed opposition to a suggested military agreement with Japan, saying enhanced maritime security activities will only intensify tensions at the disputed South China Sea.      

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said in a statement on Wednesday that another foreign military pact will “not de-escalate tension” in their fishing grounds but will “instead inflame it.”  

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who was in a five-day state visit to Japan last week, said he is open to forging a Philippines-Japan Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to help protect the country’s maritime territory and local fisherfolk.   

“Opposite to Marcos’ claims that it will help protect Filipino fishers and our maritime territory, a VFA with Japan will only pave the way to more cases of harassment and further plundering of our resources,” PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando L. Hicap said in the statement.  

A VFA with Japan, similar to the Philippines-United States accord, will allow Japanese troops in and out of the country for bilateral training or military exercises.  

“Marcos’ ‘the more, the merrier’ foreign policy just demonstrates his indignity and lack of political will to defend our country’s sovereignty, patrimony, and independence,” the group said.  

PAMALAKAYA said that it maintains its strong opposition against any foreign military intervention in the country, “whether it be China, US, Japan, or any superpowers.”  

“We should stand on our own feet against China using international laws, such as our historic victory in the arbitral tribunal. We don’t need any protection from any foreign nations that have their own economic and geopolitical interests. We certainly don’t need another superpower displaying military might in our territory,” Mr. Hicap said.  

He also urged the Marcos administration to settle the territorial dispute with China “peacefully, diplomatically, and in accordance with an independent foreign policy.” — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

House panel OK’s bill granting president power to suspend PhilHealth rate hikes

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A HOUSE committee approved on Wednesday a bill granting the president the power to suspend and adjust the scheduled contribution rate hikes of the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).  

“It is imperative that our social safety nets, like PhilHealth, do not strain its beneficiaries into paying more than they can already afford,” TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude A. Acidre, one of the authors of House Bill No. 6772, told the House committee on health.  

Under the proposed measure, the country’s president may suspend and adjust the period of implementation of scheduled premium rate increases, as recommended by the PhilHealth board, during national emergencies, calamities, or other public concerns.   

PhilHealth officials said at the hearing that the proposed law must include provisions that will ensure government subsidy to cover the impact of rate hike suspensions.   

“PhilHealth is a social health insurance program that also depends on the premium contributions of its members to sustain its programs,” PhilHealth Senior Manager Rex Paul T. Recoter said.   

He also suggested that the “mandated increase shall be implemented upon the lifting of the national emergency or public health emergency or national calamity.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

CA affirms voided search warrants vs journalist, trade unionist

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has upheld a trial court’s voiding of search warrants against a journalist and labor organizer who were arrested for illegal gun possession in 2020.  

In a decision dated Jan. 27, the CA Twelfth Division said there was no probable cause for the law enforcers to seize journalist Lady Ann Salem and Rodrigo Esparago’s laptops and cellphones.  

“The act of the searching officers in taking all the laptops and cellphones that they could get during the search is precisely the danger sought to be prevented by the constitutional requirements that the things to be seized must be particularly described,” the court said.  

It added that the items seized did not “bear direct relation to the offenses for which the search warrants were issued.”  

A Mandaluyong regional trial court in 2021 junked the gun charges against the two and ordered their release, saying their arrest lacked probable cause.  

In a statement on Tuesday night, the Public Interest Law Center, which represents Ms. Salem, welcomed the decision saying it affirmed constant errors and abuses by police officers in carrying out search warrants.  

Kapatid, a political prisoners support group, has said there is a trend of dubious warrants being issued against activists.  

“We support the release of all other political prisoners taken to jail on false charges, and warn against the taking of anymore,” Public Interest Law Center said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Davao airport terminal building’s P700-M expansion starts in June 

CAAP

DAVAO International Airport’s terminal building will be expanded at a cost of P699.55 million, with construction work targeted to start by June, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Wednesday.  

CAAP, in a statement, said the planned expansion is expected to be completed in two years.

The terminal building of the airport, also known as the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, has been undergoing improvements since March 2022 with a budget of P46.98 million. 

CAAP said these upgrading works are scheduled to be done by June.

“As of February 2023, the project is now 35.26% completed and will increase immensely upon installation of new escalators and elevators at the check-in and domestic area,” said the agency, which operates the airport. 

“This month, passengers will see construction underway on the airport’s passenger terminal building, particularly in its check-in and domestic arrival areas,” it added. 

According to the aviation regulator, the Davao airport is one of the country’s busiest, catering to 251 domestic and 11 international flights weekly. 

The Davao International Airport is the busiest gateway in Mindanao, the Philippine’s southern island.

“With the influx of travelers transiting in the airport, the completion of these development projects are expected to allow the airport to serve and accommodate more passengers at a given time,” said CAAP. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL bird flu cases contained, says BAI

DA.GOV.PH

BIRD FLU outbreaks in the Philippines have been contained, authorities said on Wednesday, but monitoring activities are continuing in surrounding areas of affected farms.    

“So far, all are resolved in the sense that we’ve culled the affected (poultry) so if ever the ongoing activities to control the disease is the surveillance in the one kilometer and seven-kilometer areas,” said Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Assistant Director Arlene Asteria V. Vytiaco in a press briefing.  

She said the BAI has detected a total of eight cases of the type H5N1 avian influenza since February 2022, correcting an announcement on Tuesday that identified six areas.  

The eight cases were in Candaba and Masantol, Pampanga; Sta. Maria, Bulacan; the Cagayan Valley; Sultan Kudarat; Sampaloc, Manila; Guimba, Nueva Ecija; and Pinukukpuk, Kalinga.

Ms. Vytiaco said there were 263 farms that tested positive for the virus in 2022, and eight farms this year.

Meanwhile, the BAI is still open to the use of vaccines against the disease under the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP).

“Based on our current AIPP, it is not an option, but we are not closing our minds to completely discarding it. Let’s emphasize that vaccination is just a complementary tool, it is not the ultimate solution,” Ms. Vytiaco said in mixed English and Filipino.  

On Feb. 1, the BAI held a consultation with stakeholders and asked them to submit position papers on the use of bird flu vaccine.

The BAI will submit a consolidated position paper to the agriculture department, which is headed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera 

Over P20M worth of counterfeit cigarettes destroyed in Pampanga

OVER P20 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes were destroyed in Porac, Pampanga following a decision by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).   

In a statement on Wednesday, the IPOPHL said 261 master cases of counterfeit Winston brand cigarettes were destroyed at a non-hazardous waste management facility on Jan. 30. 

It was organized by the Vergara Mamangun Jamero Law Office, the legal representative of Japan Tobacco, Inc. (JTI), which owns the Winston brand.

According to the IPOPHL, the decision on the case was finalized after proceedings prompted by the JTI’s report to the National Bureau of Investigation’s IP Rights Division in 2013. 

“This coordinated process — from the seizure of the cigarettes to IPOPHL’s prosecution of the case and the confirmation that these are counterfeit leading to the eventual condemnation to dispose of the illegal goods — is all part of our nation’s IP system,” IPOPHL Bureau of Legal Affairs Assistant Director Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan said. 

NEW TRADEMARK RULES
Meanwhile, the IPOPHL also announced new trademark rules for protecting non-traditional marks. 

Under Memorandum Circular (MC) 2023-001, which took effect on Feb. 14, IPOPHL said the amendments include acceptable representations of non-traditional marks, specifically drawings that depict a series of movements.  

The MC replaces trademark regulations of 2017. It also mandates that applications should include only one drawing representation in a single-perspective view if the mark sufficiently depicts all features.

“MC 2023-001 institutionalizes the protection of non-traditional visual marks. With this, IPOPHL is now clear with the acceptability of color marks per se, motion marks, position marks and hologram marks,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said. 

The IPOPHL also issued MC-2023-002, which amends the fee structure of the Bureau of Trademarks. 

Under MC 002, the publication for opposition fee should be paid together with the filing fee. 

“The new payment arrangement will further streamline the trademark registration processes and minimize abandonment of applications due to non-payment of publication fees, making the amendment favorable to applicants, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” the IPOPHL said. 

“In the previous rule, the publication fee is paid once the application has been examined and allowed for publication in the gazette for purposes of opposition. All trademark-related fees, however, remained unchanged,” it added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave  

Bill on free air time for public ads passes House committee

PHILSTAR

A BILL mandating broadcast companies to allot two minutes per hour of free air time for public service announcements (PSAs) passed the committee level at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.  

The House public information committee approved a substitute bill requiring radio and television broadcasting stations to allot an accumulated maximum of two minutes within each hour of broadcast for PSAs through audio, mass, digital or online communication media. 

The committee consolidated House Bills No. 915 and 1542, authored by Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio A. Mariño and Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers, respectively, into the still unnumbered substitute bill. 

The proposed measure aims to increase awareness and inform the public of their rights and duties through “announcements and infomercials on laws, social welfare, public safety, government processes and other matters of public and national concern,” Mr. Mariño is quoted in the explanatory note of HB 915. 

Under the bill, a PSA should be non-denominational and non-political. It also cannot be used for campaign purposes for an electoral post.

Government offices and instrumentalities under the executive branch can contribute materials for broadcast. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

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