Tag: Philippine National Police (PNP)

Muntinlupa City to implement market schedule, stricter measures on physical distancing

Muntinlupa City to implement market schedule, stricter measures on physical distancing

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Muntinlupa City to implement market schedule, stricter measures on physical distancing

Following the influx of market-goers in recent days, the City Government of Muntinlupa will begin implementing a market schedule and stricter physical distancing measures amid the enhanced community quarantine.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi announced recently that a market schedule will be imposed per district to lessen the flow of people coming to public markets.

“A market schedule will be implemented starting April 16 and stricter measures on physical distancing will be enforced in our local market. Our residents can go to the market three times a week from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM depending on the schedule of their respective barangays,” Fresnedi said.

District 1 residents from Barangay Tunasan, Poblacion, Putatan, and Bayanan buy groceries in the market on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. While District 2 residents from Barangay Alabang, Ayala Alabang, Cupang, Buli, and Sucat are given the Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday schedule.

Only 50 individuals are allowed to enter the Muntinlupa City Public Market (MCPM) to ensure that social distancing is observed. MCPM also implements a “No Mask, No Entry” policy. Senior Citizens, pregnant women, persons with disability, and children are not allowed to enter the market.

MCPM will be closed every Monday for cleaning and disinfection.

Muntinlupa City Administrator Allan Cachuela earlier called for an emergency meeting with private market operators to discuss the market schedule as a mitigation measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.

Cachuela urged the market operators to also adopt the market schedule.

Muntinlupa City started its targeted COVID-19 mass testing on Monday beginning with persons under investigation (PUI). PUIs are being transported to a field testing area located at the local health office for the collection of swab samples.

The City Government targets to test all PUI this week and has partnered with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for the processing of samples.

As of April 14, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 98 confirmed cases with 15 deaths and 14 recovered cases. According to CHO, there are 172 “suspect” cases and seven (7) “probable” cases in the city.

While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 270 cleared “suspect” cases.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa launches localized targeted COVID-19 mass testing, to confine confirmed cases

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa launches localized targeted COVID-19 mass testing, to confine confirmed cases

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa launches localized targeted COVID-19 mass testing, to confine confirmed cases

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A medical staff member from the Muntinlupa City Health Office performs swab collection as the city starts its targeted COVID-19 mass testing. (source – Muntinlupa City Public Information Office.)

The City Government of Muntinlupa officially started its targeted COVID-19 mass testing yesterday, beginning with persons under investigation (PUI) and will begin confinement of confirmed cases.

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said five PUIs were initially transported to a field-testing area located at the local health office by Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT) and DRRMO personnel for the collection of swab samples.

Swab booths are being used by CHO personnel during the targeted mass testing to lessen the exposure of health workers to possible COVID-19 patients.

Tuliao said the Muntinlupa City Government partnered with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for the processing of samples. The local health officer said the results will be released three to four days after testing.

“Initially, we are testing city residents showing flu-like symptoms and those who are suspected cases of COVID-19. For those who will test positive, we will subject them for confinement and referral to isolation site in Ospital ng Muntinlupa,” Tuliao added.

Confirmed cases will be registered to PhilHealth for medical assistance. While those who will test negative will be allowed to go home, but are still required to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days.

Muntinlupa City aims to test all 180 persons under investigation (PUIs) in Muntinlupa until April 17. The City Government recently received 240 test kits from the Department of Health (DOH) and will augment the testing conducted by RITM.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said that through mass testing, the local government would be able to assess the impact of COVID-19 transmission in the city and help identify necessary interventions.

 “We need a more aggressive approach such as the early detection of a COVID-19 infected person to contain the spread of the virus. This localized targeted mass testing is critical in the determination of medical assistance to be administered to our residents and identification of measures to be implemented by the local government,” Fresnedi said.

While mass testing is ongoing in Muntinlupa, barangay health workers continue to daily monitor reported cases of PUI and PUM in the communities and distribute vitamins and medicines for those with underlying conditions.

As of April 12, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 77 confirmed cases with 13 deaths and 13 recovered cases. According to CHO, there are 215 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 180 patients under investigation (PUI). While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 533 cleared PUM and 229 cleared PUI.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

 

 

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City records fourteen COVID-19 recoveries, to conduct mass testing of PUIs to “flatten the curve”

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City records fourteen COVID-19 recoveries, to conduct mass testing of PUIs to “flatten the curve”

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City records fourteen COVID-19 recoveries, to conduct mass testing of PUIs to “flatten the curve”

As of April 13, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 14 recoveries of COVID-19 patients and improving cases of over 590 cleared persons under monitoring (PUM) and 253 cleared persons under investigation (PUI).

Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the increase in recoveries and cleared cases translates to the local government’s stricter quarantine measure and pro-active initiative to “flatten the curve.”

Navarro noted that the local health office alerted barangay health workers and physicians in barangay health centers to implement tougher measures against sustained local transmission in the communities.

Muntinlupa health personnel in the barangay daily monitor reported cases of PUI and PUM in the communities and distributed vitamins and medicines for those with underlying conditions.

“The improvement we see in COVID-19 recovered patients and cleared cases can be accounted to the local government’s pro-active community-based campaign in identifying and providing immediate health care assistance to city residents manifesting symptoms of COVID-19 and locals with travel history,” Navarro added.

Isolation areas in barangays were also installed for residents suspected to have contracted with the virus for monitoring by the local health office. A field hospital has been constructed in Ospital ng Muntinlupa to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

In a bid to flatten the curve and strengthen its fight against COVID-19 in the city, the local government is also set to purchase testing kits through its Quick Response Fund and eyes to conduct mass testing of its residents starting with PUIs.

The Muntinlupa City Council approved a resolution allowing Mayor Jaime Fresnedi to procure Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and testing kits following the rise in confirmed cases and persons under monitoring and investigation in the city.

Fresnedi said a more aggressive medical intervention is needed to effectively contain the virus. He added that early detection of a COVID-19 infected person can deter the spread of the virus and the purchase of PCR machines and testing kits is critical in the determination of the medical assistance which must be administered to the locals.

Muntinlupa LGU has designated Ospital ng Muntinlupa to house the testing area of the PCR machine upon the approval of DOH.

To date, Muntinlupa City has 77 confirmed cases with 13 reported deaths.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: 1,191 displaced workers in ECQ employed by Muntinlupa City Government thru TUPAD

COVID-19 Crisis: 1,191 displaced workers in ECQ employed by Muntinlupa City Government thru TUPAD

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COVID-19 Crisis: 1,191 displaced workers in ECQ employed by Muntinlupa City Government thru TUPAD

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Some displaced informal sector workers are now doing work for the City Government of Muntinlupa. (contributed by City Government of Muntinlupa)

1,191 informal sector workers who were displaced by the enhanced community quarantine were employed by the City Government of Muntinlupa through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers including transport drivers of tricycles, jeeps, and pedicabs for a minimum period of ten (10) days.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said the City Government recognizes the plight of daily earners and marginalized workers who have lost their livelihood and whose livelihoods are affected by the community quarantine.

“We are providing a temporary wage employment for our displaced workers in the city since they are one of the most hardly-hit sectors in the COVID-19 pandemic. The first batch were already deployed to aid the barangays in the repacking and distribution of relief goods as well as disinfection activities within the respective barangays,” Fresnedi noted.

A total of P6.396 million were allocated for the program under the Local Disaster Fund. The program is facilitated by the local Public Employment Service Office and will be implemented by batches.

The City Government is also set to roll out the DOLE-TUPAD #Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfecting/Sanitation (#BKBK) Project fund which will add another 184 beneficiaries from the barangays and additional 522 informal beneficiaries through the DOLE funding from the Office of Congressman Ruffy Biazon. Under the TUPAD #BKBK program, workers shall participate in the disinfection/sanitation of their houses and immediate vicinity of their houses.

In a bid to help affected workers, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi also requested lessors of commercial establishments and residential units to waive rental fees and charges of tenants and partners in Muntinlupa City amid the COVID-19 emergency.

The mayor implored the lessors to extend consideration to tenants and renters considering the huge impact of the closure of business establishments during the quarantine period. Fresnedi hopes for the full support of lessors in the local government’s battle against COVID-19.

As of April 7, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 71 confirmed cases in Muntinlupa with eight deaths and four recovered cases. According to CHO, there are also 290 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 195 patients under investigation (PUI). While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 321 cleared PUM and 120 cleared PUI.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

Muntinlupa City approves COVID-19 Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance

Muntinlupa City approves COVID-19 Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance

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Muntinlupa City approves COVID-19 Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance

This passed Monday, the City Government of Muntinupa passed an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), persons under monitoring and investigation, including frontliners serving in medical facilities.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed Ordinance No. 2020-085 known as the “COVID-19 Anti-Discrimination Ordinance” penalizing acts of discrimination, harassment, violence or any action that causes stigma, shame, humiliation, disgrace or harm against COVID-19 infected persons, PUMs, and PUIs.

Fresnedi said the since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, infected persons including PUMs, and PUIs are presently experiencing stigma because of the perceived danger they pose in spreading the virus.

“To arrest the worsening fear of people against confirmed patients, PUMs, and PUIs, we shall penalize individuals that cause humiliation, harassment or discrimination against such persons through a local ordinance,” the local exec noted.

Under Ordinance No. 2020-085, it shall be unlawful for any public official, public employee, or essential service provider to refuse assistance or deny service to a confirmed COVID-19 patients, close contacts, PUMs, PUIs, health workers and frontliners.

Further, spreading of rumors, uttering information or any communication that causes unnecessary fear, anger, panic or violation of rights of such person shall be prohibited. It shall also be unlawful for any person to maliciously disclose information of patients including their actual names, address and other information that reveals their identities.

Those caught violating the ordinance would be fined P5,000 or face imprisonment of up to six months. If the offender is a public official or public employee, the maximum penalty shall be imposed.

The Muntinlupa City Council also passed a resolution honoring all frontliners, especially city residents, who are rendering service in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by placing the Philippine Flag in half mast.

As of April 6, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 64 confirmed cases in Muntinlupa with four deaths and one recovered case. According to CHO, there are also 278 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 212 patients under investigation (PUI).

While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 319 cleared PUM and 100 cleared PUI.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City to start second wave of distribution, targets to give 94,847 food packs

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City to start second wave of distribution, targets to give 94,847 food packs

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City to start second wave of distribution, targets to give 94,847 food packs

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In the third week of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine, the City Government of Muntinlupa is set to provide its second wave of relief packs to an additional 94,847 families in the city.

Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the second wave of the local government’s distribution aims to saturate at least 85% of the city’s total population, including residents in subdivision and gated communities.

Navarro added that the Social Service Department and barangays have initially distributed relief goods to 111, 585 indigent families and priority groups in the previous weeks translating to 70% of Muntinlupa’s population.

Each relief pack consists of five kilos of rice, 12 pcs of canned goods, coffee packs, and sugar. Navarro noted that the distribution of relief goods will be conducted twice a month for four to six months.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi recently assured city residents that the City Government is prepared to provide food assistance for as long as four months should the enhanced community quarantine be extended.

Fresnedi said that the City Government has adequate supply of basic commodities for distribution to indigent residents and daily earners affected by the disruption of work. He also ordered the early release of Muntinlupa City Hall employees’ monthly salary to help them tide over the COVID-19 crisis.

Further, Muntinlupa City Council passed ordinances providing two-month payment extension on real property taxes and business taxes without penalties given the strict measures implemented during the enhanced community quarantine.

Lessors of commercial establishments and residential units were also requested to waive rental fees and charges of tenants and partners in Muntinlupa City amid the COVID-19 emergency.

As of April 5, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 62 confirmed cases in Muntinlupa with four deaths and one recovered case. According to CHO, there are also 287 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 187 patients under investigation (PUI).

While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 298 cleared PUM and 88 cleared PUI.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government sees increase in cleared PUM and PUI, strengthens quarantine measures

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government sees increase in cleared PUM and PUI, strengthens quarantine measures

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City Government sees increase in cleared PUM and PUI, strengthens quarantine measures

As of March 31, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded at least 157 cleared Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) and 38 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) that have shown improvement over the recent days of monitoring.

Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the increase in cleared cases can be accounted to the City Government’s pro-active community-based campaign in identifying and providing immediate health care assistance to city residents manifesting symptoms of COVID-19 and locals with travel history.

Navarro added that barangay health workers and physicians in barangay health centers were put on high alert against sustained local transmission in the communities.

She noted that health personnel in the barangay daily monitors reported cases of PUI and PUM in the communities and distributed vitamins and medicines for those with underlying condition.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi recently ordered barangay officials to intensify quarantine measures and implement action plans to ensure that the virus won’t rapidly spread in the communities.

Isolation areas were constructed in nine barangays in the city to accommodate residents suspected to have contracted with the virus for monitoring by the local health office.

Fresnedi assured the public that the City Government continuous to implement initiatives to help contain the spread of and urged the city residents to cooperate in the quarantine measures and to remain in their houses during the health emergency.

The Muntinlupa City Council approved a resolution allowing the mayor to procure Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and testing kits following the rise in confirmed cases and persons under monitoring and investigation in the city.

Fresnedi said a more aggressive medical intervention is needed to effectively contain the virus. He added that early detection of a COVID-19 infected person can deter the spread of the virus and the purchase of PCR machines and testing kits is critical in the determination of the medical assistance which must be administered to the locals.

Muntinlupa LGU has designated Ospital ng Muntinlupa to house the testing area of the PCR machine upon the approval of DOH.

To date, Muntinlupa City has 34 confirmed cases with four reported deaths, 347 persons under monitoring, and 157 persons under investigation where 131 are home quarantined while 26 are admitted in various hospitals.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Police Force files cases against 94 curfew violators amid enhanced community quarantine

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Police Force files cases against 94 curfew violators amid enhanced community quarantine

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa Police Force files cases against 94 curfew violators amid enhanced community quarantine

The Philippine National Police in Muntinlupa City (PNP-Muntinlupa) announced yesterday that it has filed cases against close to a hundred curfew violators.

Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said that as of March 30, PNP Muntinlupa has filed cases of RA 11332 in relation to Proclamation No. 922 Sec. 4 (Declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines) against 94 Muntinlupa City residents.

Navarro added that while apprehended individuals were not detained, PNP-Muntinlupa through its Chief of Police PCOL Hermogenes Cabe has prepared regular filling of cases for the offenders. She noted that the local police department conducts regular apprehension of curfew violators during night time in the barangays.

Muntinlupa City is among the pioneering local government units in Metro Manila to implement a 24-hr curfew amid the enhanced community quarantine.

In recently times, the Muntinlupa City Government ordered the closure of establishments including malls, beauty parlors, spas, barber shops, and similar establishments with potential face-to-face contact of clients. Those providing essential services were exempted such as banks, pawnshops, money transfer firms, groceries, supermarkets, drug stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores.

Restaurants, carinderias, and other eateries were only allowed to only accept take-out orders and refrain from providing dine-in services to ensure implementation of social distancing. Restaurant owners and operators were encouraged to post notices and warnings on the spread and ill effects of COVID-19 in their premises.

Further, public and private recreational facilities were also mandated to cease their operations such as fitness gyms, swimming pools, saunas karaoke bars, and country club facilities for sports that entail close person to person contact. A liquor ban was also enacted to prevent gathering opportunities for city residents in the duration of the quarantine period.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged the public to stay at home during this health emergency to slow down and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the barangays.

“We implore to our constituents that they refrain from going out unless it is for the purpose of accessing basic necessities and essential work,” Fresnedi said.

As of March 30, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 27 confirmed cases in Muntinlupa with four deaths, 282 persons under monitoring (PUM) and 145 patients under investigation (PUI).

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website.

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

 

My Observations: Crime Incidents in Parañaque Involving Chinese Nationals to Continue Even More?

My Observations: Crime Incidents in Parañaque Involving Chinese Nationals to Continue Even More?

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A few weeks ago, I called Parañaque City a hot spot for criminal incidents involving foreigners from China. As far as South Metro Manila is concerned, Parañaque registered 140 crime incidents involving Chinese nationals versus 54 in Las Piñas City and 19 in Muntinlupa City as per the findings of Southern Police District (SPD).

Think about it. There were 213 crime incidents involving Chinese nationals in South Metro Manila and Parañaque (the city of BF Homes subdivision, Manila Memorial Park and those lavish casinos and hotels by the bay) got almost two-thirds of that.

The trend of such crime continues to happen in the said city as confirmed by the January 20, 2020 news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The report was about a police raid on a sex den inside a budget hotel that resulted the apprehension of a Chinese national who allegedly managed the place and the rescue of several Chinese women who allegedly were forced into prostitution.

Below are notable excerpts from the report.

Excerpt 1: The alleged manager of the sex den, Cai Ye Gui, also from China, was arrested. He now faces charges for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

Excerpt 2: A tip from one of the victims’ clients led to the rescue of 11 Chinese women allegedly forced into prostitution inside one of the branches of a budget hotel chain in Parañaque City on Sunday.

Excerpt 3: The victims claimed they were promised jobs in the country, but ended up being forced into prostitution.

Excerpt 4: Similar to other sex dens raided by authorities, the business catered exclusively to Chinese nationals, especially to men working in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) companies and their service providers. Bookings could be made through the WeChat app or in person.

So the prostitution joint was handled by a male Chinese national to cater to foreigners from China and their workers were ladies also from China who were promised jobs in the Philippines only to end up working as prostitutes against their will.

As for the app called WeChat, that is the most popular messaging app in China (according to CNBC) owned by Tencent (full corporate name Tencent Holdings Limited) which is a Chinese multinational conglomerate.

Based on the details of the Inquirer report, it seems that WeChat is used for communication and business for the raided sex den. This brings me to an excerpt from CNBC’s article…

Excerpt 1: One of the primary uses of WeChat is messaging. Just like WhatsApp, you have a list of conversations that you’re engaged in.

You can add people in a variety of ways.

When people exchange contact details in China, you often see one person scanning the other person’s phone. Each WeChat user has a unique barcode known as a QR code. One person can scan the other user’s QR code to add them to WeChat. You can also use a phone number or ID to add a person and search for people nearby.

WeChat is one of the main ways people communicate in China. Even when doing business, people prefer WeChat to email. It’s even more prevalent because services like Facebook are blocked here.

And here is a look at the commercial side of WeChat.

Excerpt 2: If you’re buying something online in China, there will be an option to purchase with WeChat Pay. You will need to put in a passcode or use a biometric authentication tool to authorize the transaction.

Instant money transfers to your WeChat contacts can also be made via the messaging function, which makes it easy to split bills or just move money around China. It is possible to be nearly cashless in China and actually go out for the day without a wallet.

If WeChat was actually used for payments (in addition to booking) for services at the sex den by Chinese users who are physically present here in the Philippine, how were they able to make it work locally? WeChat’s financial transaction feature was supposed to work only in China.

To say the least, the app made bookings convenient for Chinese nationals before visiting the illegal joint in Parañaque City. The name of the budget hotel (which had the sex den inside) was not revealed in the Inquirer report but it was described to be located near the corner of Quirino Avenue and NAIA Road.

As for the legal aspect of the latest Parañaque sex den raid involving Chinese nationals, the law enforcers and lawyers will have to figure out how to effectively apply the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 on the suspects and other violators.

If found guilty, the suspects will be penalized for twenty years imprisonment and a fine of P1 million to 2P million for the act of trafficking, 15 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million for attempted trafficking, and life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million for qualified trafficking.

This latest crime makes Parañaque look bad and it is a fact that there are lots of Chinese nationals living and working in the said city.

Also let me add here the December 23, 2019 the city sisterhood agreement between Parañaque and the Chinese city of Anshan. On face value, the agreement looks like a pretty and promising way of the two cities becoming closer together. According to a Manila Standard report, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Parañaque and Anshan should “create opportunities for mutual growth, since both cities share similar environmental protection and tourism endeavors.”

There were other objectives that include “providing for better cooperation in conducting reciprocally planned and sanctioned programs geared towards the improvement of government administration, tourism, cultural preservation, environmental protection, education, technology, arts, and the holding of various endeavors mutually beneficial to both parties.”

What needs examining here is how many tourists from Anshan (a city of more than 3 million people) will come to Parañaque for tourism, how many of those same tourists will be setting up businesses locally, how many of them will take residence in the city, and are they all willing to follow the local and nationals laws at all.

What guarantee is there that Anshan tourists will not commit any crimes in Parañaque or anywhere else in the Philippines?

If there is anything that will prevent a city or a nation from prospering and becoming more competitive with others, it is crime. Other factors that will do the same include corruption, sinister propaganda, misuse of taxpayers’ money, sub-par public service and lack of financial discipline.

It is a sad truth that Parañaque is not too competitive with other Philippine cities and was not heralded for local governance. Now the city has a crime wave involving foreigners from China.

For those of you reading this who have genuine love for the country, start praying to the Lord that the crime wave will not harm Filipino families living inside the villages. Start reading the Holy Bible and apply its lessons on your life by heart.

Parañaque City a Hot Spot for Crimes Involving Chinese Nationals

Parañaque City a Hot Spot for Crimes Involving Chinese Nationals

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If there is anything that defined the City of Parañaque lately, it’s not about city competitiveness (Parañaque failed again), not about economic breakthroughs and not even about achieving excellence on local governance (Parañaque was not declared a winner of the DILG’s 2019 Sea of Good Local Governance award).

Rather, it’s about crime turning rampant within the jurisdiction of Parañaque, more specifically the high number of crimes involving Chinese nationals.

According to a December 27, 2019 Philippine Star report, Parañaque has the 3rd highest number of crimes involving Chinese nationals among the southern cities of Metro Manila. The number is 140 crime incidents recorded as per the statistics of the Southern Police District (SPD) as of December 25, 2019. Ahead of Parañaque were Pasay City (201 crime incidents) and Makati City (163 crime incidents).

Specifically on South Metro Manila, Las Piñas City had 54 crime incidents while Muntinlupa City had 19 crime incidents. Combine those numbers with Parañaque’s 140 crime incidents, then that’s a total of 213 crime incidents for South Metro Manila.

You must be wondering why is it that the city that is home to a significant portion of BF Homes subdivision attracted a great majority of of the 213 crime incidents involving Chinese nationals for South Metro Manila?

For one thing, there is a high number of Chinese nationals who took residence in Parañaque and got involved in the local commerce. Speaking of commerce, a lot of these POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) opened up and operated within the city. The City Government recently considered filing charges against the owners of buildings housing Chinese nationals who are working at these POGOs. The housing of many Chinese nationals caused a social disruption in the community of Multinational Village  for the past two years. This caused Multinational residents to write letters of complaints regarding diminishing water supply, power transformer blowouts, eroded roads and rising security risks that allegedly were connected with the Chinese nationals residing in their local community as well as the construction of new POGO housing facilities.

By the way, there are casinos and hotels operating in the Entertainment City which is within the jurisdiction of Parañaque. Those facilities are known to attract a lot of Chinese nationals along with other foreigners.

Focusing more on crimes involving foreigners from China, there was a prostitution raid in Parañaque this past September.

Here’s an excerpt from the CNN Philippines report:

The raid in Diamond Tower in Baclaran also led to the arrest of 13 alleged den maintainers or recruiters of sex workers, nine of whom are male and four who are women, plus 18 male Chinese customers.

And then there was the Chinese affair involving kidnapping that also took place in Parañaque. Here’s an excerpt from the report of Business Mirror:

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) rescued a Chinese national and arrested two kidnapping suspects during a police operation in Parañaque City.

PNP-AKG Director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo identified the victim as tourist Wang Hong, alias Lee, 29, married, native of Chongqing, China, and who is temporarily residing at Strata Gold Condominium, Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila.

The suspects, on the other hand, were identified as Wan Rehong, 32, native of Qingshanhu District, Nanchang City, China, and Wan Liang, 36, native of Jiangxi, China. Both suspects are tourists.

Estomo said that in the sworn statement of Wang, the victim went to Solaire Resort and Casino on December 4 and gambled. When he lost all his money, a group of Chinese men offered him a loan of P1 million, which he accepted.

The group lent him another P1 million as capital, but he lost again, prompting the group to take the key of the car that he borrowed from a friend and asked him to go with the suspects.

The two suspects took him to Okada Hotel and Casino, and while inside a room, they forced him to make a letter stating that he borrowed from them P2 million and forced him to sign the letter.

On December 8, at around 2 p.m., Wang and the two suspects boarded a taxi wherein he managed to send a message to a friend that they are billeted at Room 505 of Baymont Hotel in Parañaque City.

While inside the room, the kidnappers instructed him to ask money from his family or friends for him to pay the P2 million because, if not, “they will kill him and be thrown at cemetery.”

The victim’s friend notified the PNP-AKG about the incident that prompted operatives to launch a rescue operation which resulted in the arrest the two suspects.

As mentioned earlier, Parañaque City is a hot spot of crime incidents involving Chinese nationals and clearly this is bad. Nobody wants to live in a city with rampant crime (kidnapping, extortion, prostitution and the like) nor does anyone want to see their community turn bad because a lot of foreigners from China working in POGOs were allowed to take residence.

The hot questions to ask here:

1) Is the City Government really tough against crime in general?

2) Are POGOs and other businesses that target Chinese nationals as employees and consumers too tempting for the City Government to reject and were allowed to be part of the local economy and communities?

3) Were the business permit applications of those POGOs and businesses targeting Chinese nationals carefully reviewed by the Parañaque Business Permit & Licensing Office (BPLO) before being approved?

4) Are there any police officers in Parañaque who accepted bribes from Chinese nationals and the POGOs to look the other way and let them do their illegal activities?

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.