Home Blog Page 113

US Congress bill seeks to halt assistance to PH police, military

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
US Congress bill seeks to halt assistance to PH police, military

Human rights “abuses” cited

By: Cathrine Gonzales – Reporter / @cgonzalesINQ, INQUIRER.net /September 24, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to suspend the United States’ provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Philippine government has made “certain reforms to the military and police forces” has been introduced in the US Congress.

The proposed Philippine Human Rights Act, sponsored by Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, was introduced on September 17.

In introducing the bill, Wild cited human rights abuses in the country as well as President Rodrigo Duterte’s “brutal regime using the pretext of the so-called anti-terrorism law to ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers, and political opponents.”

“In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would block US funding for police or military assistance to the Philippines, outlining a serious basic criteria which would have to be met in order to resume such funding,” she said in a video of her sponsorship speech that was played in a press conference Thursday.

“I am proud to stand alongside so many faith and civil society organizations in advocating for this legislation,” Wild added.

If passed into law, the following conditions must be met by the Philippine government for the suspension of funding to be lifted:

  • Investigate and prosecute members of the military and police forces who are credibly found to have violated human rights
  • Withdraw the military from domestic policy
  • Establish protection of the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human right defenders, indigenous persons, small-farmers, LGBTI activists, and critics of the government
  • Take steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses
  • Fully comply with any and all audits or investigations regarding the improper use of US security aid

The bill, co-sponsored by 24 other US lawmakers, has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Financial Services of the US Congress.

“Let us make clear that the US will not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines,” said Wild. PA

PH remittance firms wire over $1 billion in ‘suspicious’ money

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
PH remittance firms wire over $1 billion in ‘suspicious’ money

September 21, 2020, Rappler.com

Two Filipino remittance firms have sent more than $1 billion in “suspicious” funds to shell companies, while some of the country’s biggest banks helped facilitate the transactions for years without knowing where the money came from, a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) revealed.

Transactions made by Philrem Service Corporation and Werquick Incorporated were flagged in suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed in the United States, PCIJ said, citing secret bank reports from the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Philrem is the remittance company linked to the $81-million Bangladesh cyber heist in 2016. PCIJ noted that Philrem appears in at least 6 SARs, “joining the ranks of Dubai gold trader Kaloti and billionaire Roman Abramovich who are both subjects of multiple reports.”

Werquick is a money service business owned by Philrem’s Salud Bautista.

The documents used by PCIJ were from a leak obtained by Buzzfeed News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). (READ: Major banks moved vast sums of illicit money – ICIJ)

How it happened

For any cross-country money transfer, cash has to go through US scrutiny, as money would have to be converted into dollars first.

In the case of Philrem and Werquick, the monitored transactions passed through the Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM), one of the oldest and largest banks in the US.

BNYM filed the SARs, which noted some 5,001 “suspicious” transfers worth $1.03 billion involving Philrem and Werquick. The bank report also noted that Philrem was involved in the Bangladesh heist.

The PCIJ reported that the SARs “point to much larger figures” reaching up to $1.6 billion.

The FinCEN files involving the two remittance companies had a total of 7 SARs covering 2012 to 2016.

The SARs flagged Philrem and Werquick’s activities because:

  • The true ordering customers are not disclosed in the wire details.
  • The source of funds and the purpose of the transaction cannot be ascertained.
  • Some of the counterparties appear to be shell-like or unverifiable entities.
  • Many of the wires were sent in large, round-dollar (and occasionally repetitive) amounts.
  • Many were sent between the same counterparties within a short period of time.
  • The wires were sent from the Philippines, a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and other financial crimes.

Philrem and Werquick sent the cash using their accounts in BDO Unibank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), and Metropolitan Trust Bank (Metrobank).

PCIJ added that both companies were transferring cash without information on who actually sent the money. Money was also sent to shell-like companies.

While forming shell companies is legal, it is also quite common in money laundering schemes.

Philippine banks

As early as November 2011, BNYM already advised BDO that any wires sent by order of Philrem must include the sender’s information. 

However, SARs documents in 2014 and 2015 revealed that Philrem was allowed to transfer cash without information on where the money came from.

At least $82.3 million worth of wires with no known originator were sent by Philrem using its BDO account.

Werquick was also able to send over $738,000 using its BDO account, again with no details of where the money came from.

The report also revealed that RCBC and Metrobank facilitated transactions without knowing who the senders were. At least $94.3 million were transferred using RCBC accounts, while $25 million passed through Metrobank.

BNYM said the transfers were “often sent only a few days apart, and all were sent in large, round-dollar amounts, with most in the amount of $1,000,000, $1,500,000, or $2,000,000.”

One of the SARs also mentions the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) as one of Philrem’s banks, but PCIJ was not able to find transaction details made through UCPB. However, a document showed that UCPB, as well as BDO, responded to a know-your-customer request by BNYM.

No comment

PCIJ sought the comments of Philrem and Werquick owners, but they have not responded to the request.

BDO said it could not address PCIJ’s questions specific to the transactions because of legal limitations. 

BDO’s chief compliance officer Federico Tancongco said the Philippines has “one of the most restrictive regimes when it comes to laws on confidentiality of deposits and assets in the possession of banks.”

Tancongco added, however, that BDO “routinely investigated transactions that raised suspicion or irregularity.”

“While the regulators and the banks work together and invest in automated systems to adopt a robust framework to detect attempts at money laundering and terrorist financing, the perpetrators are also relentless in evolving their tactics and sophistication. Thus no one can guarantee that all attempts can be detected and stopped in time,” he said.#

‘Nightmare’ of Marcos rule ‘still haunts us today’ – bishops

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
‘Nightmare’ of Marcos rule ‘still haunts us today’ – bishops

By: Tina G. Santos – Reporter/ Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 21, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Several Catholic bishops on Sunday urged Filipinos not to forget the lessons of martial law, which was declared by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos 48 years ago, amid charges that the Marcoses are bent on revising history to erode its horrors through social media.

“We have to learn from martial law and live its lesson, that we should never let it happen again,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos.

Retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said: “This ignominious period of our history must be taught as a subject to our young students to warn them that never again should martial law be imposed in our country.”

While “patriotic and mature Filipinos” have learned a lot of lessons from martial law, especially those who suffered from its atrocities, still many of them seem to have a short memory of the horrors of the one-man rule, he said.

Marcos declared martial law on Sept. 23, 1972 — thereafter issuing Proclamation No. 1081 which was antedated to Sept. 21 — and effectively established a dictatorship propped up by the military and his cronies.

He lifted it in January 1981, but it was not until the assassination of his rival Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983 that the protest movement against his regime was reignited anew, culminating in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Panay protests

In Panay, religious organizations and progressive groups will hold protest actions to mark the 48th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Monday, warning that authoritarian rule “is very much alive” under the Duterte administration.

Groups and personalities under the Panay People’s Coalition will gather at the Iloilo Sunburst Park before marching along the main streets of Iloilo City.

Among those joining the protests are leaders of religious denominations, human rights organizations and advocates, opposition political parties and martial law survivors.

“The nightmare of the Marcos dictatorship still haunts us today under the Duterte administration who is conniving for the full restoration of the Marcoses to power,” said Elmer Forro, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Panay.

The coalition said tyrannical rule was growing under the Duterte administration, especially with the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. At least 30 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional for violating basic civil liberties.

Killings continue

The protest actions will also be held to condemn the continued attacks on political dissenters many of whom have been killed even amid strict community quarantine measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“No arrests have been made more than four months after [Jose Reynaldo “Jory” Porquia] has been killed and a month after Zara Alvarez was gunned down,” Forro said.

Porquia, Iloilo City coordinator of the party list group Bayan Muna, was shot and killed by masked men inside a rented cottage in Arevalo District in Iloilo City on April 30. He was leading food relief efforts in communities hardest-hit by quarantine measures.

A masked man gunned down human rights defender Zara Alvarez on her way to her boarding house in Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City on Aug. 17. She had documented the killings and arrests of lawyers, farmers, workers and religious persons on Negros Island even as she had repeatedly received death threats and was subjected to Red-tagging.

Forro said protesters would observe health protocols including the strict wearing of face masks and physical distancing.

“We need to continue to protest and decry these attacks because the pandemic has not stemmed the killing of activists and those critical of the Duterte regime,” he said.

Value of freedom

“I think we have not learned our lessons. People are not vigilant and are not courageous enough to speak out. They do not vote seriously. They allow themselves to be bullied,” Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Manila Archdiocese apostolic administrator, said in an interview.

“We have to value our freedom, defend and promote it. But sad to say, we tend to forget and take it for granted,” said Santos, citing some political leaders “who are self-serving, using their position to enrich and prolong their power.”

“And we allow ourselves to be bought during elections or we just keep silent instead to speak about abuses,” the prelate said.

An alliance of the largest labor groups Kilusang Mayo Uno, Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition and Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa, will hold a protest action at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on Monday.

“This is in memory of the thousands of workers, who have died, and thousands more who went missing, were tortured and got arrested during martial law, at the height of the Marcos dictatorship and the intensifying attacks against workers,” United Workers said in a statement.

It said the demonstrators would also bring pictures of the trade unionists and workers who have been killed, tortured and are currently detained by the Duterte administration. Nagkaisa said it was grateful for the European Union’s support for the human rights struggle as it reiterated the cry of the workers and their trade unions, “never again to martial law, never again to another dictatorship like that of Marcos rule.”

—With a report from Nestor P. Burgos

Cakes and Pastries in PH

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
Cakes and Pastries in PH

Ube buko pie, anyone? This local bakery sells buko pie in 3 flavors

September 18, 2020, Steph Arnaldo

MANILA, Philippines

Creamy coconut, homemade ube halaya, and a buttery crust in one freshly-baked pie? Yes please! Check out Pampanga bakery Bread Inbox.

The traditional buko pie is already so well-loved in this country – what more if it’s mixed with ube? Check out Bread Inbox, a local bakery selling the unconventional dessert mash-up, freshly-made from Lubao, Pampanga.

Bread Inbox’s homemade 8″ Ube Buko Pie (P160) features a thin, buttery, and crisp crust firm enough to hold in the super packed, creamy buko-ube filling.

The filling has a bottom layer of soft, young coconut strips, with homemade ube halaya (at a sweetness level that’s just right) sitting atop it. The crust is thin enough for the creamy, melt-in-your-mouth buko-ube jam to really shine. And you really do get both buko and ube flavors in one bite!

However, you can always get it as just the classic Buko Pie, which is still good on its creamy, sweet own, for P150.

Bread Inbox also has a Buko Pinya Pie for P160, which adds a tangy smidge of creamy pineapple filling in the moderately sweet buko pie.

You can also get all 3 flavors in one 10″ Buko! Buko! Buko! Pie, which costs P300 an order.

While you’re at it, Bread Inbox’s Blueberry Creamdesal (an easy merienda hit) is also worth a try. The soft pandesal filled with savory cream cheese and a tangy blueberry compote costs P150 for a box of 6, and P260 for a dozen.

While Bread Inbox is located in Pampanga, they deliver to customers in Metro Manila (for just P75), Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, and Olongapo on assigned days of the week via their own delivery vans.

You can order via Bread Inbox’s official resellers or through their Instagram page from 8 am to 6 pm every day. Pre-orders must be placed at least a day before delivery. You can also call them at 09171399909.

Bread Inbox’s physical shop, Lubao Buco Pie ATBP, is located along Jas Highway, Sta Cruz, Lubao, Pampanga. – Rappler.com

EU Parliament threatens to revoke PH trade perks

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
EU Parliament threatens to revoke PH trade perks

By: Patricia Denise M. Chiu – Reporter, Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:45 AM September 19, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The European Parliament threatened to revoke the Philippines’ trading privileges with the European Union if it will not implement international conventions on human rights and urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to continue its inquiry into allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte committed crimes against humanity in his bloody war on drugs.

Voting 626 to 7, with 52 abstentions, the elected legislative body of the European Union on Thursday adopted a resolution expressing its “deepest concern at the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation” in the country under Duterte and strongly condemned the thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings.

The European parliamentarians also called on Philippine authorities to “step up efforts to tackle corruption effectively,” reminding the country that it enjoys trade benefits under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which could be revoked if the government failed to meet certain standards.

The privilege allows the Philippines to export 6,200 products tariff-free to the 27 EU member states.

“This status is dependent upon its ratification and implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance,” the resolution said.

The EU lawmakers want to start the process of taking away the trade benefits, unless the Duterte administration demonstrated a “substantial improvement and willingness to cooperate.”

“Given the seriousness of the human rights violations in the country, [the European Parliament] calls on the European Commission … to immediately initiate the procedure which could lead to the temporary withdrawal of GSP+ preferences,” the nine-page resolution said.

Roque dare: ‘Go ahead’

Angered by the move, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque dared the European parliamentarians to “go ahead” and revoke the country’s trading privileges.

“I’m sorry I’m being very undiplomatic in my answer, but what else can I say? At the time of a pandemic, they are threatening us? What else do we lose?” he said at a press briefing in Baguio City on Friday.

“Our economy will shrink more because of COVID-19, and so we expect that this plan of Europe to suspend our GSP privilege will be an added burden,” Roque said.

He went on to say that if the Europeans “really want to do it, we cannot do anything. Let them watch as the Filipino people suffer.

Roque said the Europeans would be “the biggest contributor to the violation of right to life of Filipinos” if they revoked this trading privilege.

He slammed the move by “former colonial masters” which he said was triggered by a “classic case of misinformation” by Jose Maria Sison, the founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines who lives in exile in the Netherlands.

Press freedom, De Lima

Roque urged members of Congress and the country’s ambassadors to European nations to “tell them the truth” about the real situation in the Philippines to stop the spread of Sison’s “lies.”

Other than trade sanctions, the resolution also called on the EU members to support a proposal at the ongoing 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to establish an “independent, international investigation” of human rights violations in the Philippines since 2016.

The parliamentarians listed other reports that have raised alarms, including: threats, harassment, intimidation, rape and violence against those exposing extrajudicial killings; the killings of human rights workers Jory Porquia and Zara Alvarez, and peace consultant Randal Echanis; and the “deteriorating” press freedom in the country.

It cited the case of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, who has been convicted of cyberlibel, and the shutdown of broadcast giant ABS-CBN.

The resolution also called for the immediate release of detained Sen. Leila de Lima, saying she was being held on “politically motivated charges.” It also “expressed serious concern” about the recently passed Anti-Terrorism Act.

In a statement on Friday, De Lima lauded the European Parliament’s resolution, saying that it “reminds us that the world is constantly watching and that justice will catch up to those who do injustice to others one way or another.”

Duterte’s staunchest critic also appealed to the UNHRC, the ICC and foreign governments to “step up their efforts in fighting rights violators in the country.”

‘Heavy thumbs down’

Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said his group “profoundly welcomes” the resolution.

“It is high time that governments must step up the displeasure and pressure over the unmitigated and persisting human rights atrocities [in the Philippines,]” he said.

The resolution is proof that the “whole world is giving the perpetrators and enablers of the brazen violations the heavy thumbs down,” Olalia said.

The European Parliament also called on the Duterte government to halt all efforts to reinstate the death penalty, to protect the human rights of indigenous peoples and the LGBT, and to disband private and state-backed paramilitary groups which target suspected drug offenders.

Lopez sees no basis

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez tried to play down the resolution, saying he didn’t see any reason for the European Union to withdraw the trading privilege that has been enjoyed by the country since December 2014.

The GSP+ is also a way for the European Union to encourage developing countries to pursue sustainable growth, since this perk is conditioned on the beneficiary’s commitment to international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

This is the third time that the European Parliament had threatened to take such action against the Duterte administration.

Lopez said the main agency that has a say in the GSP+ was not necessarily the European Parliament but the European Commission, which has a mechanism to “verify issues before sanctions are imposed.”

He said in a Viber message that Filipino officials have been able to “explain objectively the Philippines’ side on issues that are raised and we don’t see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn.” —with reports from Julie M. Aurelio, Roy Stephen C. Canivel and Marlon Ramos

China-backed telecom firm says won’t spy on Philippines

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
China-backed telecom firm says won’t spy on Philippines

By Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema, Reuters, September 17, 2020

MANILA (Reuters) – A new Philippine telecoms firm with Chinese state investment on Thursday described as “truly misplaced” concerns that communications equipment it will install at military camps will be used for spying.

The Philippine government last week allowed DITO Telecommunity Corp, a joint venture between state-run China Telecom and a tycoon close to President Rodrigo Duterte, to erect towers on military land for its $5.15 billion entry into the market, which includes 5G technology.

The consortium was the only qualified bidder in a 2018 license auction that followed months of Duterte saying he had offered China a spot in the Philippines’ telecom sector. China Telecom owns 40% of DITO.

But some lawmakers complain DITO could be a “Trojan Horse” for spying, including on a military allied with the United States.

“We are not at war with China so this concern about espionage and spying I feel is truly misplaced,” Adel Tamano, a top DITO official, told a news conference.

DITO’s equipment and devices are not a security risk, Tamano said, adding that it is investing heavily in cybersecurity.

No Chinese personnel will be allowed inside camps, he said, and a retired Philippine general and telecoms expert had been hired to ensure cybersecurity.

However, former Supreme Court judge Antonio Carpio, a staunch critic of Duterte’s pro-China stance, in a newspaper column on Thursday said Beijing “would surely eavesdrop”. Opposition lawmaker Risa Hontiveros wants a senate probe on DITO’s military deal.

Like competitors Globe and PLDT, DITO also uses equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE.

DITO is 60% controlled by Duterte associate Dennis Uy, whose conglomerate Udenna is partnering in big projects with several other Chinese state firms in energy and construction.

Among those is a U.S.-blacklisted company involved in China’s building of a missile-equipped artificial South China Sea island that the Philippines sees as a national security threat. Udenna has acknowledged its Chinese partner’s involvement. (Reuters)

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty)

EU Parliament calls for UN probe into killings, abuses under Duterte

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
EU Parliament calls for UN probe into killings, abuses under Duterte

September 17, 2020, Rappler

Jodesz Gavilan

MANILA, Philippines

The European Parliament joined the strong calls for the United Nations to lead an independent probe into widespread killings and abuses in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a resolution on Thursday, September 17, the Parliament urged the EU and member-states to proactively support the adoption of a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council.

EU Parliament press officer Victor Almqvist confirmed to Rappler that the resolution was adopted as a whole on Thursday.

The resolution was adopted with 626 votes in favor, 7 against, and 52 abstentions.

The EU Parliament said in the document that an “independent international investigation” should commit to bring to justice those behind the culture of impunity in the Philippines. (READ: The Impunity Series)

Data from the Philippine National Police show that there have been 7,884 deaths during police operations as of August 31, 2020. 

The number excludes those victims of vigilante-style killings, which human rights groups estimate to have reached more than 27,000 already. (READ: The Impunity Series)

The European lawmakers also encouraged the International Criminal Court “to continue its inquiry into the allegations of crimes against humanity” in Duterte’s war on drugs.

This is not the first time the EU Parliament condemned the situation in the Philippines. In 2018, it adopted another resolution calling on the Philippines to end extrajudicial killings, among other demands. 

End harassment

In its resolution on Thursday, the EU Parliament also highlighted the current reality faced by human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and members of the opposition.

It strongly condemns the latest killings of defenders – including Randall Echanis and Zara Alvarez – and demands the government to investigate and hold to account those responsible. (READ: Duterte ushers in new level of danger for activists, human rights defenders)

The resolution called on the government to stop the political persecution of critics and journalists, including detained Senator Leila de Lima and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.

The resolution also condemned “all threats, harassment, intimidation, rape, and violence against those who seek to expose allegations of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations” in the Philippines.

Ressa has been convicted for cyber libel in a case that the EU Parliament calls politically motivated. (Rappler)

UK’s first Filipino mayor passes away

Pinoy Abrod
-
0
UK’s first Filipino mayor passes away

By: Christia Marie Ramos, Reporter, Inquirer.net, September 15, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — England’s first Filipino mayor, Cynthia Barker, has passed away at age 58, her brother confirmed Tuesday.

Barker is the incumbent mayor of Hertsmere, a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England.

In a Facebook post, Gene Alcantara said his sister passed away “following a bout of serious illness.”

“We will be issuing further information in due course, but may we ask please to respect the family’s privacy at this very difficult time,” Alcantara wrote.

“Your prayers for the repose of her soul would however be welcome,” he added.

In 2015, Barker became the first Filipino elected as town councillor for Elstree and Borehamwood and borough councillor for Potter’s Bar.

She was then re-elected to Hertsmere to represent the Borehamwood Kenilworth ward in May 2019, according to a profile posted on Hertsmere’s website.

She was then appointed as mayor in June this year.

In a tribute posted on Hertsmere’s website, elected members and staff expressed deep sadness over Barker’s death.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this extremely sad and difficult time, and we send them our sincerest condolences. The council’s flag flies at half-mast outside civic offices as a mark of respect,” it read.

“She was the first Philippines-born elected representative in the borough, extremely proud of her heritage and committed to doing her utmost to champion equality and diversity for all our communities in Hertsmere,” it added.

EDV

1...112113114...730Page 113 of 730
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv