Recently in the city of Las Piñas, an entrapment operation organized by the local police resulted in the arrest of a 34-year-old man who was initially charged for sexual harassment by an 18-year-old student, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A 34-year-old man was arrested after a student filed a complaint against him for sexual harassment on March 8.
The suspect, identified as Michael Mangampo, was arrested around 12:00 noon along Alabang-Zapote Road, Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas.
The city police chief, Col. Jaime Santos, said the arrest of Mangampo was made after an 18-year-old student filed a complaint against the suspect for threatening her for refusing his offer to meet with him.
Santos said entrapment operation was conducted for the arrest of Mangampo.
The city police chief said confiscated from the suspect was a .45 caliber pistol, a magazine with four live ammunitions, and a cellular phone.
The above report ended stating that the suspect has been charged also for cyber libel.
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? Are you concerned that loose firearms and sexual harassment could be hounding members of your local community?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The month of February 2023 is indeed exceptional. In my experience, I had the greatest overseas trip of my life as I went to Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church. There, I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life at the many sites in the Holy Land. As such, I am grateful to the Lord and will always be faithful to Him.
On another significant matter, February 2023 also marked the 65th year of Israel-Philippines friendship which was celebrated a few weeks back according to a news article by the Philippines News Agency (PNA). For the newcomers reading this, Israel and the Philippines have a deep relationship with each other and lots of cooperation has been done.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines and Israel celebrated 65 years of friendship on Sunday, marking an already warm and historic relations with increased interactions in the areas of agriculture, commerce, and development.
In the past 12 months alone, the two nations signed various deals — from a memorandum of understanding to initiate joint activities on trade and investment to a cooperation agreement in technological innovation, research, and development.
The “milestone” Philippine-Israel Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement was also concluded in June 2022, signaling the two nations commitment to create environment for investments in water management, agriculture, cybersecurity, defense industry, smart transportation, manufacturing, and diamond industry development, among others.
Envisioning an even closer economic relations in the years beyond, Israel Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss sees the field of innovation as an area the two countries could further develop.
“My vision is that we will establish bridges of innovation in technology between Israel and the Philippines,” he told the Philippine News Agency in a recent interview.
“For this, we’re working a lot on both on two levels, one on the startup community and how we can get an exchange between startups and to get Philippine startups enter into Israel,” he added.
As an innovation hub, Fluss believes Israel could support the Philippines in building a stronger startup industry through training and guidance in “internationalizing” Filipino startups.
In 2022, there were over 6,000 startups active in Israel, making the country a world leader in startups per capita.
Israeli firms, on the other hand, could enter the Philippines and provide solutions that address challenges unique to the country.
“[The Philippines] could help Israeli startups who are usually focused more on the developed markets, enter into the Philippines, adjusting what they’re doing to the challenges in the Philippines which are different than Europe and the United States,” Fluss said.
“So we want to help them diversify and enter the Philippine markets. So this is a very major effort that we are doing in the embassy,” he added.
Israel and the Philippines’ friendship is founded on deep historical and moral connections, with Manila opening its doors to 1,300 Holocaust refugees in late 1930s even before Israel became a state.
The Philippines was one of the 33 countries to vote in favor of a United Nations resolution in 1947 that created the State of Israel.
65 years of not only friendship but strong cooperation and commitments between Israel and the Philippines clearly shows that the two nations were chosen by God to be together. Be thankful to God for all the breakthroughs and the continuing progress of Israel-Philippines ties. Israel-Philippines ties are essential!
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed by all. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel.
In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment. I encourage you all to watch them.
Recently in Parañaque City, two persons from Malaysia got arrested by the local police for possession of illegal drugs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. A call from a security guard made the difference.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two Malaysian nationals were arrested by members of the Parañaque City police in possession of P13,600 worth of shabu, Tuesday night, March 7.
Col. Renato Ocampo, city police chief, identified the suspects as Sing Ten, 38, secretary at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Sinocan Corporate Center; and Sin Weng Leong, 23, also a POGO secretary at Philippine Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Ocampo said the suspects were arrested around 11:45 p.m. along Quirino Avenue, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.
The city police chief said members of the Tambo police substation were conducting a mobile patrol when they received a call from security guard Jomar Sanchez Matabang seeking police assistance.
The responding policemen were informed by Matabang that he caught the suspects transacting illegal drugs.
The city police chief said confiscated from the suspects were two grams of shabu worth P13,600 and a transparent plastic tube pipe.
Ocampo said the shabu confiscated from the suspects were turned over to the Southern Police District (SPD) Forensic Unit for examination.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be illegal drug trading in your local community right now?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, police officers organized an anti-crime drive targeting wanted persons and this resulted in the arrest of three men, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Las Piñas City police arrested three men during an anti-criminality drive that targeted wanted persons on Monday, March 6.
Police identified the suspects as Erwin Beltran, alias “Toto”, 46; Roberto Guillen, 57; and Reynaldo Panilagao, 28.
City police chief Col. Jaime Santos, said Beltran, who was tagged as Top 10 most wanted person, was arrested by members of the Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) and the Intelligence Section (IS) around 3:00 p.m. at Basa Compound, Barangay Zapote on Monday, March 6.
Santos said Beltan was nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Ann Beatrice Aguana Balmaceda of Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 200 on Feb. 9 for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.
Santos said Guillen, listed as Top 8 wanted person, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on Malungay St. in Barangay CAA.
He said the arrest order against Guillen was also issued by Judge Balmaceda on March 2 for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.
The third suspect, Panilagao, who was listed as Top 5 wanted person, was arrested by the police on Tuesday, March 7, around 7:45 a.m. on San Francisco St. in Barangay Ilaya.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Are you thankful to the local police for apprehending the wanted suspects? Do you feel safer now?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in Parañaque City, two wanted foreigners allegedly connected with the Japanese burglary gang leader Yuki “Luffy” Watanabe were arrested by law enforcers in BF Homes according to a news article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two more suspects connected with Japanese burglary ring leader Yuki “Luffy” Watanabe were arrested in Parañaque City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday.
Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the Japanese nationals as Fujita Kairi, 24, and Kumai Hitomi, 25, who were apprehended in BF Homes by operatives of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit on Friday afternoon.
The two have standing warrants of arrest for theft issued by the Tokyo Summary Court in September 2022. They are detained at the BI facility in Taguig City pending their deportation.
“This is a major breakthrough in the case, as we have finally arrested more suspects involved in this major case in Japan,” Tansingco said in a statement. “They will finally be facing their crimes in their homeland.”
Watanabe and accomplice Tomonobu Saito were deported on Feb. 8, the day after fellow fugitives Toshiya Fujita and Kiyoto Imamura, both 38, were sent home.
The above report ended stating that the gang was involved in at least twenty robberies that happened in Japan in the past twelve months, as well ass the murder and robbery of a 90-year-old person in the city of Komae.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a Parañaque City resident, are you convinced that there could be more wanted criminals from abroad who could be hiding within your local community right now? If you have been following the developments about the Luffy case, do you know where exactly in BF Homes did the arrests happen?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
It looks like the Philippines will make a major step forward in the highly competitive field of tourism as the House of Representatives recently approved on 3rd and final reading the proposal on granting Value Added Tax (VAT) refund for outbound tourists, according to a GMA Network news report. The newly approved bill is a measure backed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
Having been to Israel recently, I noticed that the VAT refunds for foreign tourists who are about to leave the country is the norm.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…
The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill granting Value Added Tax (VAT) refund for outbound tourists, a bill backed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
House Bill 7292 earned 304 “yes” votes, four “no” votes, and zero abstention.
Under the proposed measure, tourists will be eligible for a VAT refund on goods purchased from accredited retailers in the Philippines as long as such goods are taken out of the country within 60 days from the date of purchase and the value of goods purchased per transaction amounts to at least P3,000.
The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Finance to adjust the P3,000 threshold, taking into account the following indicators: administration costs in processing refunds; consumer price index; and other market conditions, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Tourism and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
“This measure [is being passed] to adopt best practices in VAT refund schemes among Asia Pacific tourism destinations and expand the country’s competitiveness among its peers and neighboring countries,” the committee report on the measure read.
The bill defines a “tourist” as a foreign passport holder who is a non-resident individual not engaged in trade or business in the Philippines.
House ways and means panel chairperson Representative Joey Salceda earlier said the measure will generate P10 billion to P40 billion worth of increased sales for local suppliers.
Salceda was one of the principal authors of the measure, alongside House ways and means panel vice chairperson Mikaela Suansing of Nueva Ecija who chaired the technical working group drafting amendments to the original proposed bill.
“Generally, for every P1 refunded, the tourist spends an additional 1.5 pesos. That will create an additional twenty to eighty thousand jobs, and will also improve our gross international reserves,” Salceda said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the newly approved measure will pass in the Philippine Senate soon? Do you think the measure will make the Philippines more competitive in international tourism?
Recently in Parañaque City, a 29-year-old man who was named by the police as the 5th most wanted person in the city was arrested over charges of acts of lasciviousness, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Members of the Parañaque Police’s Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) arrested a suspect who is facing three counts of acts of lasciviousness on Thursday, March 2.
The suspect was identified as Mario Formalejo, 29, tagged by the police as No. 5 among the top ten most wanted person.
According to the police, Formalejo was arrested around 4:00 p.m. along Fourth Estate, San Antonio, Parañaque.
Col. Renato Ocampo, city police chief, said members of the WSS served the warrant of arrest against Formalejo issued by Judge Moises Domingo De Castro, of Parañaque Family Court Branch 10 on June, last year for three counts of acts of lasciviousness with a bail recommended at P540,000.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there are still loose suspects who committed acts of lasciviousness in your local community before?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, the Top 10 taxpayers of the city were lauded for their tremendous economic contributions which played a key role in local recovery from the downturn of the COVID-19 crisis, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. They were commended by Mayor Ruffy Biazon during the 28th cityhood anniversary celebrations on March 1.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended the top 10 taxpayers and the business community for helping in reviving the local economy especially after the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the 28th Muntinlupa cityhood anniversary on March 1, the top 10 taxpayers were recognized.
They were Filinvest Alabang, Inc.; Ford Group Philippines, Inc.; Filinvest Land Inc. – Festival Supermall; Ayala Land Inc.; Filinvest Reit Corporation; Meralco Business Center; Amkor Technology Philippines; Capital One Philippines Support Services Corporation; GenPact Services LLC Philippines, Inc.; and Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd.
In his State of the City Address, Biazon said Muntinlupa is “steadily bouncing back” from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which crippled the economy and resulted in people losing their jobs.
“Our cityhood journey, and now our road to pandemic recovery, underscores the importance of working together, and shows what we can do when we are focused towards a more liveable and more responsive city for Muntinlupeños,” Biazon said.
Taxpayers, including business establishments, have fueled the city’s economic recovery from the pandemic, posting P6.033 billion in total revenues with 101.09 percent collection efficiency.
In addition, the city government recorded 12,232 registered businesses as of January 2023, up 59 percent from 7,651 registered businesses in the same period last year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Are you thankful to the mentioned companies that made the Top 10 list of taxpayers? Are you confident with the City Government’s role with the local economy?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Having been to Israel recently where locals and tourists are no longer burdened by COVID-19 related restrictions and requirements, I noticed that the Philippines is behind in terms of freedom (from COVID-19 restrictions) on the part of people, businesses and tourists. In short, the Philippines still has yet to fully move on to post-pandemic life.
As the Philippines really needs to attract more tourists from overseas this year and fully revive the tourist industry as a whole, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced recently the scrapping of mask wearing and proof of vaccination as requirements in tourism enterprises around the country, the Manila Bulletin reported. In other words, tourists and tourism-related business joints will have lesser COVID-19 hassles to deal with.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
As the country’s tourist destinations become more open for travelers, showing proof of vaccination and wearing masks are no longer required in tourism enterprises, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Monday, March 6.
Supporting the “national government’s liberalization of the COVID-19 restrictions in the country”, the DOT released the Memorandum Circular (MC) 2023-0002 to further ease health and safety guidelines governing the operations of tourism establishments. According to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the MC is a follow-through of the efforts they started last year to assist the economic hardships of tourism stakeholders by issuing regulations pushing for the opening of the country to tourism.
“This latest issuance on the relaxed health and safety guidelines for tourism establishments reinforces the Department of Tourism’s commitment towards addressing the economic hardships of the tourism industry brought about by the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic,” she noted.
“Our country is open for tourism, and that we are keeping up with global practices on tourism operations that have already opened up worldwide,” she went on.
The tourism department already made similar issuances last year through its Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation (OTSR) and regional offices following the signing of Executive Order No. 7, which mandated the voluntary wearing of mask in indoor and outdoor settings.
It can be recalled that the OTSR issued Memorandum 2022-509 in November 2022 reiterating the voluntary wearing of face masks and the waning requirement on the presentation of proof of full vaccination in tourism enterprises.
Last month, on the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry Safety Seal Secretariat announced the discontinuance of the Safety Seal Certification Program, the voluntary certification scheme affirming that an establishment is compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government and uses or integrates its contact tracing with staysafe.ph.
Through DOT MC 2023-0002, the DOT ordered the lifting of the previous administration’s earlier requirement for tourism establishments to install plastic, acrylic barriers, and dividers in designated areas, and likewise ordered the removal of signages, visual cues, and other installations on mandatory protocols, which have since been liberalized by the national government.
“In adherence to the country’s policy shifts on minimum public health standards, the DOT also announced that it shall no longer issue the PH Safety Seal and WTTC Safe Travels Stamp to tourism enterprises found compliant to guidelines set in accordance with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21-01 issued by the DOT and other national government agencies on the Safety Seal Certification Program, and Memorandum Circular 2022-003, respectively,” it was disclosed.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this new development? Do you think the latest moves by the DOT will make the Philippines a more convenient and friendlier place for both local and foreign tourists? Do you think that the Department of Health (DOH) should stay away from the tourism industry and let the DOT handle all the COVID-19 related matters? If you are managing a business trying to attract tourists, what is the one thing about COVID-19 rules that harms your business the most?
The highly progressive city of Muntinlupa is in the spotlight once more as incumbent City Councilor Raul Corro got elected as the national chairman of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), according to a Manila Bulletin news report. It should be noted that Corro, who has an established record of public service in Muntinlupa, was endorsed for the leadership post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa Councilor Raul Corro was elected national chairman of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), the association of municipal and city councilors.
Corro was endorsed to the position by leaders such as outgoing president Jose Nelson Tata Sala, former national chairman Alan Zulueta, former president Luis Chavit Singson, and various other groups and regional leagues.
“We join the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the rest of the City in offering our warmest congratulations to Atty. Corro, a true-blue Muntinlupeño who is a model of public service. We are truly proud of you,” said Mayor Ruffy Biazon.
Corro is credited by the PCL National Board for the approval of the law granting professional eligibility to Sanggunian members who are college students and who have completed three elected terms in office but have not yet taken the Civil Service examinations.
He is also recognized as responsible for the granting of salary step increments to elected officials. This benefit was previously limited to appointed officials in government service.
Prior to his unopposed election as national chairman, Corro served the 17,000-member PCL as chairman of the Advocacy Committee and regional chairman for the National Capital Region (NCR).
In the last five local elections, Corro has consistently been ranked the top councilor in Muntinlupa, where he is currently the majority floor leader.
The above report ended stating that the City Council of Muntinlupa approved unanimously a resolution recognizing Corro.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted to learn about Corro’s election as national chairman of the PCL? What do you hope to see from the PCL under Corro’s leadership?
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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
