'Martlyo Gang' hits SM Mall of Asia, 1 suspect nabbed

March 30, 2014, 8:33 pm

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The dreaded "Martilyo Gang" attacked a jewelry store of a department store  inside the SM Mall of Asia Complex at past 7 p.m. on Sunday. 

One of the suspects, identified as Ryan Wansiawan, 23, from Cotabato, was arrested inside the mall. A caliber .45 was recovered from him.

According to Director Erwin Villacorte of the Southern Police District, the suspects targeted the jewelry counter of the SM department store, which is located at the ground floor of the mall. One of the suspects fired his gun, which caused the commotion.

Villacorte believes that there were around four to six suspects involved in the incident but that the other suspects have already left the building..

But the police have yet to confirm whether they are members of the Martilyo Gang.

However, a mall executive pointed to the notorious gang as behind the incident.

Steven Tan, senior vice president for mall operations of SM Supermalls, identified the Martilyo Gang in a tweet message. "At 7:14pm this evening the martilyo gang had struck a jewelry counter at The SM Store in MOA. The police are already present in the area to conduct a thorough investigation. The mall is working closely with the pnp to resolve this," Tan posted on the SM Supermalls official Twitter account,

Amor Virata, a shopper, said in a radio interview that she was inside a store near the mall's south wing when people suddenly panicked and ran towards the exit at around 7:30 p.m.

Virata also said she saw a man running while holding a gun, prompting them to hide.

"At about 7:30 p.m., kasalukuyang nasa bilihan ako ng blouse ng biglang nag-panic, nagtaklbuhan o nag-stampede sa kinalalagayan ko may nakita kami lalaki na tumatakbo may hawak na baril," she said in an interview over radio DZMM.

MARTILYO GANG: Suspect Ryan Wansiawan is handcuffed by responding policemen after his arrest inside the SM Mall of Asia. Photo credit: DZMM

An employee of an ice cream kiosk was reported hurt in the shooting incident.

The victim, who sustained a grazing wound, was brought to the hospital for treatment, Villacorte said.

The "Martilyo Gang", notoriously known so because of their use of hammers, were suspected to be involved in the SM North Edsa and Megamall jewelry heists --Source: DZMM

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Bb Pilipinas 2014 coronation night winners, a complete llist

March 30, 2014, 9:23 pm

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Mary Jean Lastimosa, the 26-year-old beauty from North Cotabato, was crowned Bb Pilipinas Universe at the Binibining Pilipinas 2014 Coronation Night on March 30, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mary Jean Lastimosa

Below are the complete list of winners:

Bb Pilipinas – Universe: Bb 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa

Bb Pilipinas – Intercontinental: Bb 13 Kris Tiffany Janson

Bb Pilipinas – Supranational: Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago

Bb Pilipinas – Tourism: Bb 4 Parul Shah

Bb Pilipinas – International: Bb 22 Mary Anne Guidotti

1st runner up: Bb 11 Laura Lehmann

2nd-runner up: Bb 27 Hannah Sison

(L-R) 2nd runner-up Hannah Sison, Bb Pilipinas Tourism Parul Shah, Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental Kris Janson, Bb Pilipinas Universe Mary Jean Lastimosa, Bb Pilipinas International Mary Anne Guidotti, Bb Pilipinas Supranational Yvethe Santiago, and 1st runner-up Laura Lehmann.

TOP 15:

Bb 11 Laura Lehmann
Bb 1 Julian Aurine Flores
Bb 22 Mary Anne Guidotti
Bb 3 Joanna Romero
Bb 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa
Bb 8 Pia Wurtzbach
Bb 4 Parul Shah
Bb 23 Nichole Marie Manalo
Bb 16 Zahara Soriano
Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago
Bb 14 Emma Mary Tiglao
Bb 20 Kenneth Santiago
Bb 13 Kris Tiffany Janson
Bb 27 Hannah Sison
Bb 19 Mae Liezel Ramos


SPECIAL AWARDS:

BEST IN NATIONAL COSTUME: Bb 13 Kris Janson

MISS TALENT: Bb 33 Gabrielle Erika Tilokani

BEST IN SWIMSUIT: Bb 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa

BEST IN LONG GOWN: Bb 22 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti

MISS PHOTOGENIC: Bb 13 Kris Tiffany Janson

MISS FRIENDSHIP: Bb 21 Racquel Kabigting

MISS CREAM SILK: Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago

MISS PHILIPPINE AIRLINES: Bb 8 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

SHE'S SO JAG AWARD: Bb 8 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

MANILA BULLETIN READER'S CHOICE AWARD: Bb 39 Ladylyn Riva

BB. AVON: Bb 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago


--Source: Rappler

Pinoy domestic workers in UK are beaten, abused and paid only P7500 a month

March 30, 2014, 9:54 pm

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Foreign domestic workers, including Filipinos, who were employed by wealthy foreigners and diplomats in the UK are being beaten, abused and paid as little as £100 (P7,500) a month, according to a report from the Human Rights Watch.

Interviews with 33 overseas cleaners, nannies and cooks have revealed a system that is failing to hold abusers to account or help women escape violent employers – many from oil-rich Gulf states – who brought them legally to Britain, according to Human Rights Watch.

Those who manage to flee generally find they have little legal right to remain in Britain, because of new visa rules introduced in 2012 that ban overseas domestic workers from switching employers.

The domestic workers, all but one of them women, told of working long hours, having their passports confiscated and working for far less than the minimum wage.

Some told of being given only leftovers to eat and of being locked inside and stopped from speaking to their families.

One of the women, a 38-year-old from the Philippines, told researchers that she was paid just £135 (P10,000) after a month in Britain, where she had travelled with her employers to look after their baby boy while he was in hospital.

She said she was denied toiletries and had to use the baby’s soap to clean herself. She made sanitary towels from the child’s nappies.

Another woman, who came to Britain from Qatar, said she had not been given sufficient food. “I sat with them in restaurants [in London] looking at them eating,” she said.

Some 15,000 domestic workers, many from Asia and Africa, travel to the UK every year with their employers. But the report points out that Britain is one of nine countries that refused to sign up to an international agreement last year giving domestic workers the same labor protections as other workers.

Under the changes introduced in 2012, overseas domestic workers are allowed a maximum six-month visa and are not allowed to change employers.

Charities have warned that this means they are dependent on the employer, and either have to remain in post while being exploited, or leave and be in breach of their immigration status.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Abuse of overseas domestic workers is unacceptable and we believe the best way to prevent it is by testing the validity of the working relationship before a visa is issued.

“Overseas domestic workers must have been employed for 12 months before a visa will be granted and must have a signed statement of terms and conditions of employment in line with the National Minimum Wage legislation.”


Case study: maid’s 105-hour week

One Filipino woman who worked for a diplomat’s family said that she had been forced to work 105 hours a week without a day off.

She told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that she had been promised £1,000 (P75,000) a month – but was paid only one fifth of that during her year’s employment.

“The day I escaped from them and went to the outside world, I told myself, I’m free,” she said. Her status in the UK remains unclear after she contacted the authorities to say she was a victim of trafficking. No action has been taken against her employers because of diplomatic immunity, according to HRW.

The woman said that she was still fearful of reprisals.--Source: Independent

Had enough of city traffic? Meet the new Yamaha Tricity for urban transport

March 30, 2014, 10:30 pm

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The all new Yamaha Tricity 125cc scooter was recently launched in Thailand and is expected to be brought to other countries, including the Philippines soon.

The Tricity is the first model in Yamaha’s New Mobility segment, and it represents a new solution to the issue of personal transportation. According to the Yamaha, the Tricity has been developed to attract the non-riding members. Since it’s a three-wheeler, one doesn’t have to worry about stability and it will be faster and cheaper alternative than cars for urban commuting.

Traffic congestion is a major problem in many cities, and is set against a background of increased environmental awareness and the squeeze on many consumers’ disposable incomes.

The Tricity features two wheels at front and one at rear and the highlight of the scooter is its Leaning Multi Wheel (LMW) mechanism. This system allows the front wheel to lean and tilt along with the chassis while cornering. The Yamaha Tricity is able to do so because of a parallelogram link that enables the rider to lean the scooter like any conventional two-wheeler. Another key component in its handling is the special tandem-type cantilevered telescopic front forks that feature two separate tubes for each wheel. Apart from maintaining the distance between the twin front wheels while cornering it also helps in providing good ridequality over bumps.


Specifications:

Powering the Tricity is 125cc, liquid-cooled and fuel-injected mill which is claimed to pump out around 11PS of power.  The motor transmits to the rear-wheel via a conventional CVT transmission. Braking is done by 220mm front discs and 230mm rear disc with a Unified Brake System (UBS). The UBS is similar to the Combi Brake System (CBS) found on the Honda Activa applies both the brakes even if just the rear brake is applied. This system is beneficial under emergency braking as the distance of braking is reduced by close to 15 per cent. One of the key criteria’s while developing the Tricity was to keep the weight as less as possible to improve the scooters maneuverability. The Tricity tips the scale at 152kg, which is good for its dimensions and employs a lightweight tubular frame along with cast alloy wheels. Like any conventional scooter it has under-seat storage for storing a half-face helmet while the instrument cluster is all-digital.

The Tricity has been launched in Thailand, where it is manufactured and will debut at a price of less than P247,000.--Source: Zigwheels

EX-PBA player dead in SLEX car accident

March 31, 2014, 8:46 pm

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Former PBA basketball player Bryan Gahol and a woman died after their car figured in a multiple vehicle collision at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), early Tuesday morning.

Initial investigations said a cargo jeep first hit a trailer truck, which subsequently bumped the Nissan Urvan carrying Gahol.

The van lost control causing it to overturn along the highway before it was hit by another vehicle.

Authorities said Gahol and his friends were on their way to Quezon City from Laguna to attend a wake when the accident happened.

Gahol’s other companions survived the incident.

The cargo jeep, on the other hand, came from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro with 11 passengers.

Two of the cargo jeep’s passengers, identified as Johnny Bangsoy and Felix Gonatisie, were injured.

The drivers of the cargo jeep and the trailer truck are now under the custody of the Highway Patrol Group.

The multiple vehicle collision caused heavy traffic along SLEX near Southwoods in Laguna--Source: DZMM

Makati City free shuttle service adds more buses

March 31, 2014, 9:40 pm

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The free shuttle buses for commuters going to Makati City to report for work got even better as the city will be purchasing four more buses to accommodate more.

Commuters line up at the MRT North Avenue Terminal in EDSA, QC.

The shuttle services, which started last March 27, make non-stop trips daily from the boarding area near MRT North Avenue Station in Quezon City to the Makati Stock Exchange Building on Ayala Avenue between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said:

“Our present fleet of vehicles could only accommodate up to 250 passengers per trip, and the overwhelming response of the public to our program in its initial run has prompted our decision to add more buses, so that more citizens would benefit,” he said.

“We intend to continue offering free shuttle services to Makati workers, especially since traffic along EDSA is expected to get worse because of simultaneous major road infrastructure projects.”

Makati City holds thousands of offices and establishments which employs over four million workers coming from other localities in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces, including Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite.

Cebu Pacific pilots 'held hostage' by Chinese passengers over cancelled flight

March 31, 2014, 10:06 pm

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Two pilots of the Cebu Pacific Airlines were allegedly "mauled and held hostage" by irate Chinese passengers on Saturday, when they cancelled their flight bound for China due to bad weather.

In a Monday incident report, CAAP Kalibo International Airport Office-in-Charge Cynthia Aspera said a confrontation happened between the pilots and passengers after a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Shanghai, China was forced to return to Kalibo due to bad weather on Friday, March 28.

The plane left Kalibo at 4:45 pm on Friday but was diverted to Manila at 7:48 pm due to bad weather in China. Without improvements in the weather, the plane was forced to return to its point of origin – Kalibo right before midnight. Based on standard operating procedures, cancelled flights are required to return to their point of origin.

It was at around 3 am on Saturday, March 29 when the trouble began. Chinese passengers who were staying at the Kalibo International Airport saw Captain Johnny Tinto and his co-pilot Richard Avilla. The passengers "surrounded and blocked the two pilots refraining them to enter the terminal building," according to the CAAP report.

The passengers, said Aspera, were asking for free hotel accommodation. Airport police questioned a certain Xue Weilang, one of the passengers, for "being arrogant and disrespectful to the pilots." Tinto and Avilla did not press any charges.

One media organization initially reported in a tweet that the 2 pilots were "mauled and held hostage" by Chinese passengers at the Kalibo airport.

Cebu Pacific denied a "mauling," and said the airline would conduct its own investigation. "The pilots are safe and accounted for," said Cebu Pacific Vice President for Corporate Affairs Jorenz Tanada.

CAAP Deputy Director General Retired Captain John Andrews meanwhile said the CAAP was also probing the incident.

The flight to Shanghai from Kalibo finally pushed through on March 31, Monday at 6:50 pm, said CAAP.--Source: Rappler

How to file your income tax returns (ITR)

March 31, 2014, 10:40 pm

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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is advising the general public to file their income tax returns on or before the April 15 deadline for income earned during the calendar year ending Dec. 31 2013.

Filing of ITRs need not be a daunting task for taxpayers as long as they have their records in order and they follow the filing guidelines from the BIR, according to Cheryl Villacortes of Punongbayan & Araullo’s tax advisory and compliance division.

Find below the guidelines to make the filing of your ITRs easy and hassle-free.

1. Use of the new ITR forms. For this filing season, taxpayers are required to use the June 2013 enhanced version of the ITR as prescribed by Revenue Regulations No. (RR) 2-2014.

Except for some enhancements, the ITR forms remain the same for individuals earning purely compensation income (BIR Form 1700) and for self-employed individuals, estates and trusts (BIR Form 1701).

For corporations, partnerships, and other non-individual taxpayers, the forms to be used shall be BIR Form 1702-RT if taxable income for the year is subject only to the regular income tax rate; BIR Form 1702-EX if taxpayer is exempt under the Tax Code and other special laws, with no other taxable income; or BIR Form 1702-MX for taxpayers with mixed income subject to multiple income tax rates or with income subject to special/preferential rate.

2. Modes of preparation and filing. The continuous enhancement and development of electronic services (e-Services) by the BIR has brought about the use of Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms) as an additional mode of filing for non-eFPS (non-Electronic Filing and Payment System) taxpayers pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Order No. (RMO) 24-2013 in relation to Revenue Memorandum Circular No. (RMC) 61-2012.

Non-eFPS taxpayers now have the option to either prepare the ITRs manually through pre-printed forms/printed downloadable PDF/Excel forms available at the BIR Web site, or electronically through the eBIRForms Offline Package v4.1 (with Annual ITRs v2013 ENCS).

The advantage of using the eBIRForms Offline Package is its capability to automatically compute the taxes due as well as validate the information provided by the taxpayers. Thus, ITR preparation becomes a breeze for those who opt to do it electronically. Upon downloading the eBIRForms package from the BIR Web site, taxpayers are guided through the process by the detailed instructions that come with it.

After filling up the electronic ITR form, the taxpayer can validate, edit, submit, save, print and produce a final copy of the form. Submission of these forms will only be allowed after the form has been completed and validated. Once validated, the taxpayer may now submit online either through the e-Submission or eFPS facility of the BIR.

However, for the time being, online submission is not yet available for ITRs generated from the eBIRForms offline package. Hence, non-eFPS taxpayers are required to submit manually to the BIR the printed copy of the computer-generated ITR with the following specifications: folio size bondpaper (8.5” x 13”), portrait orientation/layout with the following margins: left, 0.146 inches; right, 0.148 inches; top, 0.14 inches; and bottom, 0.14 inches. The printed ITR forms should be originally signed by the taxpayer or his/her authorized representative pursuant to Bank Bulletin No. (BB) 2014-08 in relation to RMC 61-2012.

3. Modes of payment. Payment of the income tax may either be manual or electronic for non-eFPS taxpayers. Manual payment will be made through any Authorized Agent Bank (AAB) within the jurisdiction of their registered Revenue District Office (RDO) or the Revenue Collection Officers (RCOs), as applicable. On the other hand, electronic payment can be made via mobile phone through G-Cash for tax returns not exceeding P10,000 as prescribed by RMO 20-2005.

Payments with the AABs will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., April 1-15, to better serve the needs of the taxpayers during this income tax filing season. Two or more checks and/or a combination of cash and checks in paying for a single tax liability will be allowed pursuant to RR 16-2002.

For ITRs without payment, it shall be filed at the respective RDO having jurisdiction over the taxpayer.

4. Receiving rules of the ITR. Only three copies of the returns are allowed to be stamped “received” with the official BIR seal by all AABs. However, for those filing with BIR Revenue Region No. 2 (Cordillera Administrative Region), Revenue Region No. 7 (Quezon City) and Revenue Region No. 9 (San Pablo City), only two copies of the ITRs shall be received.

In the case of corporations and other juridical persons who are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), two extra copies of the audited financial statements for filing with the SEC shall be stamped “received”. The BIR seal shall only be stamped on the page of the Audit Certificate, Balance Sheet and the Income Statement. Other pages of the financial statement and its attachments shall not be stamped.--Source: Business World Online

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Solar flare knocks out radio, may recur in next few days

April 1, 2014, 9:23 pm

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The intense solar flare that was unleashed on Saturday causing a radio blackout for several minutes, could recur in the next few days hurting aviation and communication systems, scientists have warned.

"Though people on the ground will not be affected, satellite systems may be affected and this would likely have an effect on the aviation and communication systems for a while. This may last for up to a few hours," said Dr Mayank Vahia, cosmic rays scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. While the harmful radiation from the flare cannot pass through the Earth's atmosphere, sometimes they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where communications signals travel.

On Saturday, the brief X1-class flare erupted from a decaying sunspot and this was captured on video by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

On July 5, 2013, the sun is at its peak of its 11-year-old solar cycle and emitted dangerous X-rays and gamma rays that can cause serious health complications.

Such cycles can last up to a year and space scientists at the Indian Centre for Space Physics (ICSP) had written a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) warning it of the dire consequences of the cycle.

ICSP, which works in association with ISRO and NASA, had carried out several balloon-borne experiments in April-May 2013 and were alarmed with the astonishing results. These were presented at the European Space Agency Conference.

Suhas Naik-Satam, programme co-ordinator (scientific) at the Nehru Planetarium in Mumbai, said, "The effect on the satellite system cannot be ruled out and therefore all sectors heavily dependent on such communications systems will have to stay alert."

The solar cycle should have ideally peaked in 2011. But the active phase started late. Experts claim that the severity of the situation will depend upon the location and path of the satellite.--Source: Daily News and Analysis

After plunder indictment, where are Estrada, Enrile, Revilla now?

April 1, 2014, 10:23 pm

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The Ombudsman has indicted senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and several others for plunder and graft in connection with the PDAF pork barrel scam. 

Enrile didn’t issue any comment following the Ombudsman’s news conference on its findings and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III’s announcement of the blue ribbon committee report. He is still in the country.

But Estrada has been in the United States since last week to be with his wife, Precy, who is going to have a follow-up medical check. A member of his staff said the couple and their children would also be on vacation.

The Manila International Airport Authority confirmed that Estrada booked a Cathay Pacific flight on March 26, departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:45 a.m. According to the Cathay Pacific flight information desk, flight number CX192 was bound for Hong Kong.

Estrada vowed to return soon to face all the cases against him.

Meanwhile, Revilla is with his family on a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel, having left the country on Sunday, March 30. He also said he will return to answer the charges.


What happens next?

The three senators and their co-respondents have five days from receipt of the Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolutions to appeal the decision by filing their respective motions for reconsideration.

The information for plunder and graft will be filed in the antigraft court Sandiganbayan once the Ombudsman rules on the individual motions for reconsideration with finality, or by making the determination of probable cause final.

Once docketed, the Sandiganbayan will raffle the cases to determine which of the five divisions will handle the cases.

Once a division receives the information, a warrant of arrest will be issued to the accused. Arraignment will follow.

Plunder is punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, and forfeiture of the ill-gotten wealth in favor of the government. While plunder is nonbailable, an accused may be allowed to post bail once filing a petition if the evidence against him is weak.

Graft or corrupt practices are punishable by imprisonment of not less than six years and one month, and not more than 15 years, perpetual disqualification from public office and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the state of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth.

Bail is allowed in graft.

In every step of the judicial process, an accused may seek relief or remedies to challenge/quash the information or stop his arraignment, or cite violations of his right to due process by the Ombudsman.--Source: Inquirer

UST student robs taxi driver, is nabbed

April 1, 2014, 11:18 pm

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A college student from the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) was arrested Monday night for allegedly robbing a taxi driver in Cubao, QC.

According to PO3 Spartacus Pareja of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 7, the 19-year-old male student was nabbed at the corner of P. Tuazon and N. Domingo streets after robbing driver Ronaldo Quintero.

Quintero said the student, riding in his taxi cab as a passenger, declared the hold-up along N. Domingo St., and at knife-point took his daily earnings of P5,300, then fled.

However, Quintero was able to ask assistance from a policeman in the area, who gave chase to the suspect and arrested him.

Recovered from the suspect was an 11-inch bladed weapon and the driver's cash money.

According to the suspect, he was forced to rob the driver because he had lost his P3,000 allowance from an online casino.--Source: DZMM

More Filipino workers losing jobs despite economic growth

April 2, 2014, 8:04 pm

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More workers are losing their jobs due to closure of companies nationwide, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday, showing that problems on unemployment and poverty have worsened despite reports of the country’s economic growth.

Job seekers look up at a billboard during a Manila job fair.

Data from DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) indicated an increasing number of displaced workers due to company closure.

Although there were fewer establishments that filed notices of closure since 2011, BLES showed the number of affected workers has increased in the past three years.

Based on preliminary data, BLES recorded a total of 36,639 displaced workers due to closure of 1,925 establishments in 2013.

The figure was significantly higher than the 35,526 workers who lost their jobs in 2011 when some 2,211 companies shut down and 31,778 others in 2012 due to a similar reason.

Metro Manila recorded the highest number of displaced workers. A total of 1,925 commercial establishments in the metropolis filed notices of closure, affecting some 17,144 workers in 2013.

Employers cited downsizing as the main reason for the retrenchment and closure of establishments, which led to unemployment of nearly 13,000 workers.

They said financial losses and lack of market forced them to lay off workers or close shop.

The number of companies that closed in 2013 could still go up as calamities hit several areas in the country.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also recently reported an increase in the number of unemployed Filipinos despite the country’s above-target economic growth in 2013.

In January, the PSA said, the unemployment rate climbed to 7.5 percent from last year’s 7.1 percent even after GDP last year grew to 7.2 percent, said to be the second fastest in Asia next to China’s 7.7 percent.--Source: DOLE/Philstar

Japan's Yakuza has a 'new look' - they now have a website

April 2, 2014, 9:16 pm

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Japan’s largest organized crime syndicate, the Yakuza, has launched a website complete with a welcoming message and a background music - a new look for the one of the most feared criminal syndicates in the world.

Instead of guns, molls and mayhem, the site is festooned with pictures of cherry blossoms and religious temples, and carries an anti-drug plea, reading "Banish Drugs and Purify the Nation League" -- one would not think that it represents a criminal organization.

Yakuza-watchers say the site, run by the Alliance for Drug Eradication and National Land Purification, is a shop window for the Yamaguchi-gumi, the biggest yakuza group in Japan. A message says it was set up to help create a “beautiful, orderly Japan” where young people are protected, drugs are outlawed and the happiness of ordinary people is pursued.

The footage is accompanied by a folk-style theme song, called Ninkyo Hitosuji, which celebrates manhood and the life of a yakuza member. The ideal of this manhood has been glorified in various Japanese Ninkyo eiga, or ‘Chivalry films,’ dedicated to an image of a noble yakuza.

Video clips and photos show hardened gangsters pounding sticky rice for a New Year festival, visiting Shinto shrines and acting as good Samaritans after the earthquake that devastated Kobe – home of the Yamaguchi-gumi – in 1995.

Screenshot from the "Yakuza" website

Experts say the Japanese mob is involved in a range of criminal or near-criminal activities, including loan-sharking, extortion, intimidation and fraud. “Their main businesses are basically the same as those of crime gangs everywhere: drug dealing, smuggling, prostitution, gambling, and protection rackets,” says a paper by Andrew Rankin, a researcher at Cambridge University, who also notes a recent shift to white-collar crime.

The website, however, illustrates the romantic self-image cultivated by yakuza members, who describe themselves as ninkyo-dan, roughly translated as “chivalrous groups”.

The Japanese yakuza is considered one of the most feared criminal syndicates in the world, as well as the richest one. Members do not shy away from the public and have office buildings, business cards, and even fan magazines.

However, as a result of security crackdowns and the tightening of laws, the criminal syndicate has fallen in numbers. The number of members fell to an all-time low in 2013, slipping below the 60,000-member mark for the first time on record, police said.--Source: Independent/RT

'Blood moon' lunar eclipse to come April 15, three more expected

April 2, 2014, 9:53 pm

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An unusual lunar eclipse, known as the "blood moon", is expected to occur in mid-April, around April 15.

The so-called "blood moon" is actually a total lunar eclipse that will leave the moon looking red-orange, like blood, for just over an hour (about 77 minutes).

"During a total lunar eclipse, a full moon almost always exhibits a coppery red color, which is due to the scattered light from the Earth’s sunrises and sunsets that fall on the surface of the moon," reports WebProNews.

The April 15 lunar eclipse will be the first of four that are expected to occur within the next two years. The four eclipses, which are called a tetrad, is very uncommon.

Fred Espenak, who studies lunar eclipse patterns at NASA said:

"During the 21st century, there are 9 sets of tetrads, so I would describe tetrads as a frequent occurrence in the current pattern of lunar eclipses," 

"But this has not always been the case. During the three hundred year interval from 1600 to 1900, for instance, there were no tetrads at all."

The "blood moon" is very symbolic to different religions such as Judaism and Christianity. In fact, both lunar eclipses this year will be on or near Jewish holidays. Many believe that these moon positions are connected to a prophecy -- and the fact that the moon will appear different on "major feast days" recognized by the Jewish community.

According to the WebProNews report, the four blood moon coming in 2014-2015 land on Jewish Passover and the Feast of the Tabernacle each year (April 15, 2014; Oct. 8, 2014; April 4, 2015; and Sept. 28, 2015). As for Christians, some associate the total lunar eclipse with the second coming of Christ.--Source: Examiner/Latino Post

TV host Divine Lee slapped with fraud charges

April 2, 2014, 10:27 pm

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Socialite and TV host Divine Lee has been included as a respondent in a syndicated estafa complaint filed with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against her father Delfin Lee, her brother Dexter, and five other officials of Globe Asiatique Tower 2 Condominium.

Unit buyers of the GA Tower 2 formally filed their complaint on Wednesday at the NBI- Anti Graft Division headed by lawyer Romy Asis.

Based on the complaints of Beth Clapano, Lydia Domingo and Cris Villavicencio included in the complaint sheet were Ma. Celina Cano, Fernandina Enage, Thebram C. Cuyugan, Imelda Saulo and Alex Alvarez.

The new set of complainants said their complaint was different from those of the other victims of Lee’s realty company.

“We are also victims of fraud and double selling of Globe Asiatique.  We decided to file the case not only to secure our investment, but also for justice,” Villavicencio said in an interview.

The complainants in their statements said Divine, the socialite daughter of Delfin, was included in the rap sheet in her capacity as the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of GA Tower 2 Condominium in Mandaluyong City when the transactions took place.

“We cannot understand when we see her on TV acting like nothing is wrong, she should be held accountable,” the complainants said.

The complainants attached a copy of the Security and Exchange Commission General Information Sheet bearing the name of Divine as official of GA tower 2.

Lee was also named as one of directors and incorporators of the condominium in the documents submitted by the realty firm to the SEC on March 18, 2010.

The complainants said that based on the incorporation papers that the firm submitted to the SEC, Lee as an officer of the condominium corporation was responsible for the management and operations of the building.

Buyers of GA Tower 2 units have accused Delfin Lee and his company of “double-selling.”
In the complaints they filed with NBI, the buyers of GA Tower 2 units said their units were in the names of other people who had taken out loans from Pag-IBIG.

The victims said they decided to file a formal complaint before the NBI following the arrest of Divine’s father Delfin, from the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel Casino on Pedro Gil Street in Manila’s Ermita district almost a month ago.

Lee was alleged to be the brains of the P7-billion housing scam that had victimized hundreds of house buyers, mostly middle income families.

Lee was using a Porsche Cayenne (XRE-761) at the time he was arrested, according to police reports.
He is now detained, in Pampanga provincial jail after the Court of Appeals affirmed his arrest issued by a Pampanga court in May 2012.

Police records also showed that Lee, while being a fugitive, was also reported to have visited the residence of Divine at the upscale Renaissance condominium at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City.--Source: Inquirer

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FDA orders recall on batch of Lily's Peanut Butter

April 3, 2014, 10:13 pm

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A batch of Lily's Peanut Butter is recalled after being found to contain an unacceptable level of a harmful substance, Aflatoxin, according to the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA said it has issued a product recall order to Newborn Food Products, Inc. for Lily's Peanut Butter (170 grams) identified under Lot No. A1 10:26, with expiry date "052314."

The FDA said this particular batch of peanut butter was found to contain "an unacceptable level of Aflatoxin."

FDA said:

"The recall involves only the specified product under the mentioned lot number and no other Lily's peanut butter variants and sizes are affected by the recall," 

"The manufacturer is ordered to immediately recall the above-mentioned affected product. All retail outlets carrying the product under the identified lot number are ordered to coordinate with the manufacturer regarding the recall and discontinue selling the affected product to the consumers."

The FDA said it continues to conduct monitoring and market surveillance of all peanut-based food products to protect the health of the consumers.--Source: ABS-CBN News

Ellen Adarna nude on the cover of Esquire magazine

April 3, 2014, 10:38 pm

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Sexy actress Ellen Adarna goes nude as she graces the cover of Esquire magazine's latest issue.

The cover photo shows Adarna lying on the ground wearing nothing but the texts "Power,""Love," and "Pain".

The magazine also has a second cover photo with a silhouette of a naked Adarna, her hair down and her private parts covered only with the texts "God,""Sex," and "Death".

Adarna is currently casted in ABS-CBN's "Moon of Desire," which also stars Meg Imperial and JC de Vera, and airs weekdays.--Source: Esquire

Vhong Navarro faces 3rd rape complaint

April 3, 2014, 11:25 pm

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Embattled actor Vhong Navarro faces a third rape complaint - this time from a woman who worked as a double in a telenovela that starred Navarro in 2009, according to a news report.

The woman, who requested anonymity, narrated in her four-page complaint-affidavit that the alleged rape incident happened inside the sports utility vehicle (SUV) of the actor sometime in early 2009 during the last few weeks of the taping of the telenovela.

The complainant said the actor’s driver asked her to go inside the SUV because Navarro wanted to talk to her during a break in their taping.

“I did not think anything of it and I was not afraid to be alone with Vhong because we were taping with lots of other people around outside,” she said.

Once inside the vehicle, the complainant narrated that the actor forced her to perform oral sex on him. She said Navarro masturbated in front of her after she threatened that she will bite his sexual organ.

The complainant said the actor put his hands on her shorts and inserted his finger on her genitalia.

She said:

“I did not tell anyone about what happened at the time because it was very painful, humiliating and shameful,” 

“After that day, I only shared this painful and humiliating experience to a handful of my really close friends,” 

“It is only now that I am coming out to tell my story because I was inspired by the courage of other women who are coming out now to seek justice and to tell the truth about Vhong,” 

The complainant said she never thought of filing or pursuing a case against the actor because she was afraid, ashamed and she thought that nothing would come out of it because of Navarro’s celebrity status.

The complainant submitted her affidavit before the assistant city prosecutor Nilo Peñaflor. The complaint was raffled to assistant city prosecutor Nilda Ordoño for preliminary investigation.

In January, Navarro figured in a controversial mauling incident involving businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and a few others inside a condominium in Taguig City. The case is currently under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Cornejo has since filed a rape case against the actor, who denied the allegations.

He also denied the rape charges of beauty pageant contestant Roxanne Cabanero before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office. The complainant accused the actor of raping her in 2010.--Source: Philstar

Facebook 'selfie' of rape suspect leads to arrest

April 3, 2014, 11:47 pm

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A "selfie" posted on Facebook led to the arrest of a rape suspect who had been hiding from the law for years, police authorities said on Friday.

S/Insp. Romel Luga, chief of Mandaue City Police Office, identified the suspect as Niño Cueva.

Luga said that Cueva posted a selfie with the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Barangay Lapaz, Bogo town, as the background.

The Mandaue City police then referred the case to the Bogo City police, whose members served the warrant.

Luga said that the suspect is being hunted down for allegedly raping a high school student.

He said Cueva, a passenger motorcycle driver and resident of Barangay Casili in Mandaue, brought the passenger to a secluded area and raped her there.

The arrest warrant against Cueva was issued in 2012 by the Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

The suspect is now under the Mandaue City police's custody.--Source: Philstar

The Manila International Auto Show 2014 at the World Trade Center

April 4, 2014, 1:00 am

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The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2014 is back, with a lot to expect from car manufacturers, product launches, and more within the local automotive industry.

MIAS, which only happens every two years in Manila, is celebrating its 10th year of world-class auto shows in the country.

This year, Ford will highlight the Ecosport B-segment SUV. The Ecosport will be officially available for reservations by MIAS opening day. Subaru will be launching its new powerful flagship sport sedans, the WRX and STI. Guinness World Record holder Russ Swift will be putting the WRX and STI through their paces for the first time in Asia. Tata Motors will be officially introduced to the public at MIAS, with an expansive lineup of passenger cars and utility vehicles. The Indian brand is a market leader in its home country and owns several world-class marques like Jaguar and Land Rover. Volkswagen will bring back nostalgia with the Beetle. The Bug is now a thoroughly modern and enjoyable car, and it returns to the limelight as Volkswagen’s most iconic vehicle.

Kia will be showcasing the Soul cube-shaped urban hatchback. This time, the Soul will be powered by a common-rail turbodiesel engine. For the first time, Rolls-Royce and its magnificent Wraith motor car will be available for public view. Peugeot goes sporty with its compact 208 GTi. CATS Motors will showcase the Jeep Cherokee SUV, trail-rated for heavy offroad duty, just like its brand siblings. Volvo will have its new 2014 models, including the V40 Cross Country crossover. Mitsubishi will display its  lineup of industry-leading vehicles. The Chinese contingent will feature value-loaded cars from BYD, Chery, Foton, and JMC. Autohub will feature new cars like the Grand Santa Fe and all-new Nissan Altima.

Other main hall exhibitors will be Petron, Seaoil, Yokohama, V-Kool, Rota wheels, Pirelli, Tuason Racing School, Maxxis Tires, Mickey Thompson tires, Motul lubricants, and Top Gear Philippines.

And aside from these, MIAS would also be showcasing beautifully-crafted vehicles coming from car owners themselves who dressed-up their vehicles to impress fans.

MIAS will run on April 3 to 6 at the World Trade Center and Philippine Trade Training Center.--Source: Interaksyon/Inquirer