Author Carlo Carrasco

Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo caught overseas, will be brought back to the Philippines

September 5, 2024September 4, 2024carlocarrasco

On the late evening of September 3 in Indonesia, the dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo got arrested by the local authorities and she will be brought back here in the Philippines very soon, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. For the newcomers reading this, Guo (AKA Guo Hua Ping) is wanted in the Philippines and there are charges of tax evasion and money laundering against her.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a statement, the DOJ said Guo was apprehended at 11:58 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.

“This development has been verified by our counterparts in Immigration, who have confirmed that Ms. Guo is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri,” the DOJ said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed the development, saying Guo’s arrest is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and the strength of international cooperation in bringing fugitives to justice.

“We will ensure that all legal processes are followed to hold her accountable for any crimes committed. The DOJ is committed to pursuing justice and will continue to coordinate closely with Indonesian authorities to facilitate the necessary legal procedures,” he said.

Guo is facing complaints about her alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country and questions about her citizenship.

Despite being the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin due to the ongoing investigations, Guo was able to leave the country last July 18.

Guo reportedly headed to Malaysia, arrived in Singapore on July 21, and traveled to Indonesia on Aug. 18.

Guo’s sister, Shiela, and business associate Cassandra Li Ong were earlier arrested in Indonesia and already sent back to the Philippines.

During the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights hearing, Shiela admitted she left the country with the dismissed mayor by boat.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is expecting the return of the dismissed mayor to the country anytime soon following her arrest in Indonesia.

“We have immediately forwarded the information to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Executive Secretary. The information has been confirmed by our immigration counterparts in Indonesia, and we are very happy with this development,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

The BI chief also believes Guo’s return to the Philippines will shed light on many questions about her illegal departure, as well as allow her to face the charges filed against her.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., welcomed the arrest of Guo and assured the public of the resolution of cases against her.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you expect Alice Guo to tell the truth once she gets questioned by government officials again after her anticipated return here in the Philippines? Do you think mainland China is somehow involved in secretly transporting Guo and companions from the Philippines to overseas?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Typhoon Enteng victims of Muntinlupa receive assistance from City Government

September 5, 2024September 4, 2024carlocarrasco

Very recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, local residents who got displaced by Typhoon Enteng received assistance from the City Government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Mayor Ruffy Biazon and local officials visited the victims and distributed goods to them at the evacuation centers.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government distributed relief goods on Sept. 3 to families that were affected by tropical storm Enteng and now temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers in the city.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon, together with city and barangay officials, went to different evacuation centers in barangays to distribute the goods.

On Sept. 2, Biazon went to Barangays Bayanan (which has the highest number of evacuees), Cupang and Poblacion.

The Victoria Homes and Villa Carolina 1 Subdivision in Barangay Tunasan were visited by Gender and Development Office focal point system Chairperson Trina Biazon together with Barangay Captain Dave Arcilla and former barangay captain Walter Arcilla and distributed hot meals.

Muntinlupa’s Social Services Department (SSD) also gave emergency kits that include hygiene supplies, basic kitchen utensils, gas stove, grocery items and rice.

The Muntinlupa City Health Office distributed doxycycline capsules to barangay health workers and evacuees as protection against leptospirosis.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think the typhoon victims are receiving enough care from the local authorities?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

19 people arrested in Cavite for voice phishing and scamming, credit card applications found

September 5, 2024August 29, 2024carlocarrasco

After more than three months of surveillance on a house in Imus, Cavite, elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a raid and arrested nineteen individuals for scamming and voice phishing, according to a GMA Network news report. Several charges have been filed against the suspects.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A rapper and his girlfriend vlogger were among the 19 individuals arrested during a raid in a voice phishing lair in Imus, Cavite.

In Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, authorities conducted a three-month surveillance on a house in Imus town before they conducted the operation. Several suspects attempted to escape resulting in a chase at the nearby farm.

According to the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group investigation, it’s been three months since the rapper was recruited into the scheme. The report said the rapper thought it was a legal business at first.

“Parang gusto na nila umalis kaso nasagawa na natin ang operasyon,” said PNP-ACG spokesperson Wallen Mae Arancillo.

(They were planning to get out of the group, but it’s too late as we have already conducted our operation.)

The PNP-ACG said that the couple could be having difficulty leaving the team because of the money.

“P5 million per week ang kinikita nila and I believe by percentage sila kung ilan ang tao na ma-scam nila (They earn P5 million a week and I believe are paid by percentage depending on the number of individuals they are able to scam).

Seized during the operation were credit card applications used by the suspect for the scam. There were also scripts found.

“Meron tayong nakausap na victim na imbes na panggamot sa anak nya sana ay na-scam, kaya namatay ito,” said Arancillo.

(One of the victims told us that his child died after he lost the money supposed to be used for the treatment through the scam.)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think there are still lots of groups of scammers still operating using voice phishing? Did you receive any phone calls from individuals claiming to be representatives of banks and credit card companies? Were there any members of your local community who got scammed?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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BIR confirms that more medicines have been exempted from VAT

September 5, 2024August 28, 2024carlocarrasco

In case you missed the news, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently announced that several more medicines have been exempted from the value-added tax (VAT), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The newly exempted medicines cover those related to cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension, and mental illness.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said 15 more medicines for cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension, and mental illness are now exempted from value-added tax (VAT).

In a statement on Wednesday, the BIR said Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 93-2024 last Aug. 27, exempting from VAT certain medicines for cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension, and mental illness.

“The BIR is now a service-oriented agency, this includes the regular update of medicines that will fall under VAT-Exempt products. The BIR supports the government’s thrust in helping the public have access to more affordable healthcare and medicine,” Lumagui said.

The bureau said the circular was made in response to the updated list of VAT-Exempt Products from the Food and Drug Administration, under Republic Act (RA) 10963 and RA 11534.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you notice any changes in the prices of medicines you bought recently? Are many members of your local community aware of this new development?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 31

September 4, 2024August 28, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 HolyLandSite’s comprehensive videos about the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel – I love Israel and I will always stand with it in accordance to my uncompromising faith in the Lord and His Word (the Holy Bible). During the one and only day-off of the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined, I visited the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem and it is truly one of the most significant places to visit in the entire world. The Dome of the Rock (the Muslim shrine) occupies the space where the two Jewish temples used to be and inside it is the Foundation Stone (preserved layer of mountain top rock) which is the spot where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac before God sent the angel to intervene. Be aware that during the time of Lord Jesus, the 2nd Jewish temple was established.

HolyLandSite produced the most in-depth and most informative videos about the Temple Mount and I encourage you to watch them now.

#2 The #10 billion Apple Car disaster – You ever heard of the Apple Car? Such a project from the very same company behind iPhone actually existed and it ended up as a disaster worth an estimated $10 billion. What happened behind the scenes at Apple? Did the technology giant really believe it could make a positive impact on the automobile industry? You can find out more by watching ColdFusion’s video below.

#3 Venom: Lethal Protector revisited and explained – I should mention first that I am not a fan of the Marvel Comics super villain Venom. For the newcomers reading this, Venom emerged in the late 1980s as Spider-Man’s deadliest enemy and went on to become a murderer who somehow helped Marvel Comics sell a lot of comic books. Because comic book fans wanted more of him so much, Marvel went on to publish the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series in the early 1990s and it led to even more comic books showcasing him as an anti-hero (specifically a killer helping the powerless people). If you are interested to learn about the Venom: Lethal Protector limited series without having to go through all the trouble of finding the comic books, watch the video below. Better save your money.

#4 You, Me and the Movies’ reaction videos of the first three Jaws movies – YouTube channel You, Me and the Movies recently posted their movie reaction videos of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978) and Jaws 3-D (1983). Having seen all three movies before, I enjoyed these reaction videos. The first movie from 1975 is a true cinematic classic directed by a very young Spielberg and if you have not seen it, I encourage you to watch it entirely first before seeing the related reaction video. I cannot say the same about Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D (AKA Jaws 3). Once you are ready, enjoy the videos below.

#5 Retrospective videos of Suikoden and Suikoden II – Recently, Konami announced that it will finally be releasing the anticipated collection Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars on March 6, 2025 for varied game consoles plus Steam. The said collection was supposed to have been released in 2023 but a delay happened and Konami was very silent until recently. Now that fans of the first two Suikoden games have something to look forward to in 2025, here are some retrospective videos that will help you understand what the games are and why they are still popular among Japanese RPG (JRPG) enthusiasts.

#6 The wickedness and wokeness of Rachel Zegler exposed – Actress Rachel Zegler is not worth trusting as she went ballistic while promoting the new Snow White movie from woke Disney. Not only did she go against the legacy of the classic Snow White animated movie, she sided with the pro-Palestine movement and their terrorists. While her tweet could encourage pro-Palestine believers to watch the new Snow White, it is a fact that there already a movement of people who hate Israel telling people to boycott the said movie simply because it has Israeli actress (and Wonder Woman star) Gal Gadot. By being woke and reckless, Zegler is only turning off people from watching the new Snow White and if the movie fails, it will cost Disney a lot of money. Watch and learn from the selected videos below.

#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to King Kong (1933) and Godzilla (1954) – I really enjoy watching the movie reaction videos of Popcorn in Bed (PIB) and recently she posted new videos about two very significant movies…the original King Kong of 1933 and the original Godzilla (Gojira) film of 1954. As the two mentioned movies are cinematic classics, I encourage you to watch them first before watching Popcorn in Bed’s reaction videos. To those who saw classics already, watch the reaction videos below.

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DOTr postpones news rules and imposition of fines for motorists with no RFID to October 1, 2024

September 4, 2024August 28, 2024carlocarrasco

This is for motorists who have been traveling along the highways without radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or with insufficient load. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently announced that it has officially postponed to October 1, 2024 the implementation of new tollway guidelines and fines, according to a BusinessWorld news report. The implementation was supposed to have happened on August 31.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) postponed the implementation of new tollway guidelines, which impose fines on motorists with no radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or insufficient funds on their accounts, to Oct. 1.

“We hope the concerned agencies and tollway operators would use the 30-day deferment to fine-tune expressway operations and further intensify the public information campaign to enable tollway users to comply with the new guidelines,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in a statement on Tuesday.

The new rules, under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, were supposed to be enforced starting Aug. 31.

Under the rules, all motorists passing through expressways without RFID tags or having insufficient balance on their accounts will face penalties starting Aug. 31.

“These revised guidelines should significantly improve traffic along expressways through cashless or contactless toll plazas,” Mr. Bautista said.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said motorists entering an access highway without RFID tags or electronic toll collection (ETC) device will incur a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

Motorists exiting toll expressways with insufficient account balance will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,500 for subsequent offenses.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you been driving regularly on the highways without an RFID tag on your vehicle?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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More than 400 senior citizens vaccinated for pneumonia in Barangay BF International-CAA, Las Piñas City

September 3, 2024August 26, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, over four hundred senior citizens availed of the free pneumonia vaccines during the local vaccination program held at Barangay BF International-CAA, the City Government announced via social media.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s announcement. Some parts in boldface…

The City Health Office, under the leadership of Dr. Juliana Gonzalez, successfully conducted a free pneumonia vaccination program for senior citizens at the CAA Events Place on Thursday, August 15 in Barangay BF International/CAA. The event saw the vaccination of over 400 senior citizens, demonstrating the city’s commitment to the health and well-being of its elderly residents.

City Vice Mayor April Aguilar graced the event, offering her support and personally interacting with the senior citizens. The vaccination drive was part of the ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of the community from pneumonia, especially during the flu season.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you hope the City Government will organize a vaccination program at your local community? Are many senior citizens of your local community seeking vaccines for pneumonia?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Robbery attempt in Parañaque City foiled, one suspect arrested

September 3, 2024August 24, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a security guard foiled a robbery attempt resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of the victim’s handbag, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The incident happened in Barangay Tambo and there are two other suspects still at large.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

A security guard successfully arrested one of the three suspects who tried to rob a woman in Parañaque City on Wednesday, August 21.

The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect identified as “Armando,” 44, was arrested at around 3:00 p.m. along Roxas Boulevard corner Bradco Avenue in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Based on the police report, a 28-year-old woman had just got out from a taxi when she was approached by the suspects brandishing a handgun and forcibly took her handbag.

The security guard on-duty was then alerted by the victim’s shout and immediately responded leading to the arrest of Armando.

The hero guard recovered the victim’s handbag and a replica .45 caliber pistol from the suspect.

Meanwhile, his two other cohorts identified as “Kalapati” and “Norby” escaped. The police is now conducting a follow-up operation for the arrest of the two.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did you notice any members of your local community who got robbed lately?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Team Xbox commits blunder by announcing PS5 version of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle before even releasing the Xbox version

September 2, 2024August 21, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

In case you missed the news, Team Xbox recently had a presence during Gamescom in Germany and they made several announcements and previews of upcoming video games there.

During the first day of Gamescom, Team Xbox announced at last the release date of the much-awaited Indiana Jones and The Great Circle which is December 9, 2024 (for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass). At the same time, they committed a blunder that the MachineGames-developed first-person adventure game is coming to Sony’s PlayStation 5 (PS5) console sometime in 2025. That’s right, the Indiana Jones video game is no longer an Xbox-exclusive game. Watch the Gamescom trailer of the game below from start to finish…

As I mentioned earlier, Team Xbox committed a blunder by announcing a PS5 version of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle during Gamescom. It is a blunder in the sense that Team Xbox (which owns and controls Bethesda) could have delayed the PS5 version announcement and maximize efforts to sell as many copies of the game on Xbox and PC, sell as many Xbox consoles as possible, and convince many gamers out there to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass to play it.

Team Xbox could have waited until January or February 2025 to announce the Indiana Jones game for PS5. Instead, they shot themselves on the foot by blowing away the first-move advantage.

To put things in perspective, Microsoft/Xbox/Bethesda do not OWN the intellectual property of Indiana Jones which belongs to Disney-owned Lucasfilm. Considering the big financial problems Disney has as a corporation (note: the streaming service Disney+ continues to lose money since it first launched), I can speculate that they pushed Team Xbox and Bethesda to not only make a PS5 version of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle but also announce it very early to maximize sales potential and public awareness. Disney itself has a lot to benefit from collecting royalties if the game sells a lot on the two game consoles.

Going back to Xbox, we have to face the reality that we are witnessing the beginning of the end of Xbox as we know it. It is highly anticipated that in the near future, Xbox-exclusive games will no longer happen and the games of Xbox properties (examples: Halo, Forza Motorsport and Fable) will be released on Nintendo and PlayStation consoles. The Xbox brand itself will fade away and be replaced with something like “Microsoft Gaming” once Microsoft goes all-in as a multiplatform game publisher. It is also obvious that Microsoft wants a huge return for the combined $76 billion it spent on acquiring Bethesda and Activision.

I am still looking forward to playing the Indiana Jones game on my Xbox Series X console, but I can say that this latest development as well as the recent Game Pass adjustments brought my excitement down a bit.

For more details about Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, click https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle

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24,000 automated counting machines of Miru Systems now in the Philippines

September 2, 2024September 1, 2024carlocarrasco

The initial batch of 24,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) from the contracted provider Miru Systems arrived here in the Philippines for use in the 2025 National and Local Elections, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Be reminded that Miru Systems previously declared that it would deliver 110,000 ACMs for the said polls.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Over 20,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) that will be used in the May 12, 2025 national and local elections are now in the country, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday.

In a press briefing during a visit to a warehouse in Biñan, Laguna, Comelec Chair George Garcia reported that so far, 24,000 ACMs have been delivered by the joint venture of Miru Systems, service provider for next year’s polls.

Garcia showed 7,400 of the machines while there are still 7,000 to be released by the Bureau of Customs.

“Dapat ang commitment sa atin ng Miru para sa buwan ng August ay 20,000 lang so lumalabas sumobra sila sa kanilang commitment ng (Miru committed just 20,000 for August so they exceeded by) 4,000,” he said.

As for other electronic machines and items that will be also be used in polls, Garcia said the South Korean-based company has fulfilled its commitment 100 percent.

Among the items are consolidated canvassing system laptops and printers, cable ties, toners, test ballots, application servers and database servers, Garcia said.

A total of 110,000 ACMs are expected before the end of the year — 30,000 each in September and October and the rest by December.

Comelec officials visited the warehouse with election stakeholders such the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections and Legal Network for Truthful Elections.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Miru Systems will live up to its obligations with regards to the P17.99 billion contract it signed with the government? Do you think the new automated counting machines will work efficiently in next year’s national and local elections?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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