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SINGAPORE — A domestic helper accused of mixing her menstrual blood and urine into her former employer’s food claimed trial on Monday (23 August), with her male employer testifying that he had received messages from her ex-boyfriend allegedly alerting him to the incidents. Canares Rowena Ola, a 44-year-old Filipina, however, denied ever committing the offences and claimed through her lawyer that she had lied to her ex-boyfriend about the disgusting acts. She claimed trial to one count of mischief. The male employer, who took the stand as the first prosecution witness on Monday, was unable to pinpoint the date or time that the acts were allegedly committed, as the food was consumed long before the police report was made in December 2019. The software engineer cannot be named due to a gag order protecting his identity. The prosecution applied for the gag order due to the nature of the crime, which might cause embarrassment to the alleged victim or his family. The court heard from the male employer that the family employed Canares in May 2017. The family had no complaints with regard to her performance until the alleged incident came to light. She stayed in her own room within the flat, which she shared with the man, his wife, their two young children, and the man’s mother in law. Canares was tasked to care of her employer’s children, and to cook the family’s three meals. She was free to buy any ingredients she wanted, and would at times cook her own food, while cooking separately for the family. Asked by the prosecution why he decided to lodge a complaint, the man said that around 11.14pm on 15 December 2019, he received a message from an unknown number. He recognised the man in the display picture as the maid’s ex-boyfriend, as Canares had shown him his picture before. “He sent messages saying that she put menstrual blood and urine in the family’s food. Then I was shocked, he sent a message to both me and my wife," he said. The ex-boyfriend has since died. As it was late, the man did not confront Canares, but went to the police station to lodge a complaint. About an hour or two later, two police officers arrived at his house to investigate the matter. The officers woke Canares to speak to her. “At one point of time she mentioned that she did it…I heard she had done it, mixing these two things into our food, and she said ‘sorry’ many times to me and my wife,” he added. One or two days later, the man said that he and his wife questioned the maid on why and how she mixed her menstrual blood and urine into their food. He was, however, unable to get specific details. He also asked if she would do the same thing to her own children, and she said “no sir, no sir”. He ended up throwing his and his wife lunch boxes away, as well as some utensils. While she was under investigation, Canares was no longer made to do chores, but continued staying with the man as the man could not find her alternative living arrangements, despite approaching the Philippines Embassy. Asked why he did so, the man said he was “scared” that she was in his residence. “I was hoping that they can do something about her stay. Either in Singapore or somewhere else, I was hoping that she was out of my house as soon as possible.” The helper remained in his residence but kept mostly to her room and was not allowed to enter the kitchen alone, even though she was free to move around and out of the house. On 26 December 2019, the man took her to the police station for an interview, and had not seen her since then. Canares’ lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya, however, argued that the maid never mixed her menstrual blood or urine into the family’s food, and that she had lied to her ex-boyfriend. In reply, the man said, “It’s not just these messages, they were not just the starting point, but after that she accepted (responsibility for the offences by saying so) to me and my wife many times, she apologised many times. Repeatedly she has accepted (responsibility by) saying ‘sorry sorry sorry sorry’.” However, Karuppaya maintained that his client was simply apologising generally for the inconvenience caused to her employers. “I put it to you, my instruction, what she has told me, she apologised…she say ‘sorry sir sorry ma’am’, to you on 15 December 2019 for causing you all trouble in the middle of the night,” said the lawyer. The man responded that he had “no opinion” about that statement. The lawyer added that on the day her two employers confronted her on how and why she had allegedly done the act, the maid was afraid of the man and hence did not deny doing the act. “You spoke to her in angry tone and she was afraid to answer to you. She was scared to answer you,” said Karuppaya. The man denied using an angry tone, saying the maid was seated comfortably. Karuppaya continued, “Whatever answers she has provided, is given to you, were untrue and given in a confused state. She was confused out of fear,” said the lawyer. The man replied that he could not answer to the maid’s feelings at that point in time. On how his family felt after the alleged incident, the man said they no longer hired a domestic helper and the chores were shared between the three adults. “We did not want to trust a third (party) in our house with our food from then on,” he said. An investigation officer who handled the case testified that he had spoken to Canares' ex-boyfriend and took his statement at a hospital on 20 January last year, where the ex-boyfriend was warded for stage four cancer. This was after he received information that the ex-boyfriend was the one who had asked her to mix her blood and urine into her employer's food. "He denied any involvement, it was just a conversation he had with the accused stating that she did put her menstrual blood and urine into her employer's food," said the IO. The trial continues on Monday. If https://ph.yahoo.com/news/maid-accused-mix-menstrual-blood-urine-employer-food-claims-trial-063944554.htmlconvicted of committing mischief, Canares may be jailed up to two years, or fined, or both.

PRESS RELEASE 2021 July 26 Alien spouses, children, parents of Pinoys need not present entry exemption doc starting Aug. 1 - BI The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that starting Aug. 1, its officers at the ports will no longer require the presentation of an entry exemption document (EED) from foreign spouses, children and parents of Filipino citizens who are traveling to the Philippines as tourists to visit their kin here. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new policy is in compliance with the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infection Diseases (IATF) which eased the entry travel requirements for foreigners related by marriage or filiation to Filipinos. Previously, these aliens are allowed entry into the Philippines only if they have valid 9(a) tourist visas as well as an EED issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through its various embassies or consulates abroad. Those who fail to secure and present either one of the two documents are excluded and turned back upon arrival at the ports of entry. Under the new IATF resolution, foreign spouses, children and parents of Filipinos will only be required to present 9(a) tourist visas beginning on Sunday. The IATF, however, instructed the DFA to include in the visa of said aliens the notation: “EED not required per IATF Resolution No. 128 (s.2021).” “We welcome this latest ruling of the IATF as it will now be easier and convenient for foreigners whose Filipino spouses and children are currently in the Philippines to visit and reunite with their loved ones,” Morente said. The BI chief stressed that the new travel guidelines apply only to foreigners who are not accompanied by their Filipino spouses or Filipino parents in going to the Philippines. “Foreigners who are traveling with their Filipino spouses or parents are eligible for the Balikbayan program and they may be admitted visa-free for a one-year stay,” Morente said. He explained that those who are not traveling with their Filipino principal must apply for a 9(a) tourist visa from a Philippine consulate abroad, which they would use for entry to the Philippines. BI Port Operations Division Chief Atty. Carlos Capulong reminded that while the exemption on alien families of Filipinos has been loosened, the ban for those coming from 10 countries due to the Covid-19 Delta variant remains. “Those coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are still not allowed to enter the country,” said Capulong. “This includes those who have a travel history to said countries within the last 14 days from their date of arrival,” he added. Said travel ban, said Capulong, remains in effect until July 31, unless extended or expanded by the IATF. # It looks like the Balikbayan privilege is still in effect when traveling with your spouse

Dose this mean that that the Balikbayan privilege is gone?

A 'snake man' in the Philippines, who claimed to be immune to snake venom, died after being bitten on the tongue by a cobra as he allegedly tried to kiss the animal in front of terrified onlookers. Bernardo Alvarez, 62, caught the venomous Northern Philippine cobra moments before his death after it slithered into his neighborhood in Mangaldan, Pangasinan on July 9. The Filipino snake expert claimed to have "tamed" the deadly creature, showing the cobra in front of a cheering crowd. Alvarez held the snake close to his lips pretending to kiss it before the serpent lunged at his mouth and bit him on the tongue. The bite caused the shocked man to collapse, screaming in pain. He died shortly afterwards. Medics tried to revive the snake expert but said he was already unresponsive and his body has stiffened from venom. The Northern Philippine cobra is recognized as one of most venomous snakes in the world. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-snake-man-who-claimed-he-was-immune-to-venom-dies-when-cobra-bites-him-154607475.html

This is the part that should be of concern to the populace. With the amount of corruption that already exists in the Philippines, I can’t help but feel that the country is ripe for a takeover by the Narcos and all the money it generates.

MANILA – Almost five years after his administration launched a massive campaign against illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said drug problem is a “never-ending one” and if not resolved, can put the country under the control of the narco-politicians. This, according to Duterte during the launching of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers that aims to build a strong collaborative partnership with the community in support of the ongoing campaign against criminality and terrorism on June 25. But if you want to see how it can destroy a country, just look at Mexico, [Sinaloa]. They are the ones who dictate who will run for governor in the local areas, who run for the mayor. It’s narco-politics,” Duterte said in his speech during the event organized by the Philippine National Police (PNP). According to the government’s #RealNumbersPH data as of April 30 this year, the drug law enforcement agencies have conducted 200,632 anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in the arrest of 289,622 drug dependents and death of 6,117 people since July 1, 2016. Operatives have also confiscated nearly PHP60 billion worth of illegal drugs, including some 7,748 kilograms of shabu worth PHP48.70 billion aside from dismantling 784 drug dens and clandestine laboratories nationwide. “This is the one side story of people said 7,000 killed. Well, that was – five years I started to declare war (against illegal drugs). But the other side is how many policemen and soldiers did I lose? Aplenty,” Duterte said. He reiterated that he will continue to defend police officers who perform their duties in accordance with the law. “The policemen, do not worry, let me know if that is the case. I will defend you. Ako na mismo (I will) because I gave the lecture and I gave you the guarantee that I will protect you as long as you do your duty in accordance with law,” he said. Spare “begging for his life” Duterte, however, reminded that anyone who is under arrest and “begging for his life” must be spared from getting killed. He said responding police officers and drug law enforcers can only use their guns, if the culprits offer resistance. “You are not supposed to kill a person when he is down, crying, kneeling, begging for his life,” Duterte said. “That is the essence of the arrest. If he goes voluntarily with you, good. That would be the ideal arrest. But if they resist arrest violently, then you have every right also to do your thing, commensurate.” He said almost 1,000 people arrested each day are connected with illegal drugs, leaving many dysfunctional families in the country. “And the drugs has continued to be imported, getting inside into our communities and continue to plunder the lives of people and whatever income,” Duterte said. “There are shabu and they continue to number in billions until now. And the human rights are not even worried about home many children would still be destroyed and homes are, I said, rendered dysfunctional.” He said criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption were among the problems he promised to address during the election campaign in 2016. ‘New batch of heroes’ Duterte said he is grateful that while the PNP is exhausting all efforts to stop spike in violent crimes, private citizens are also taking part in the “difficult task of achieving lasting peace across the nation.” “We cannot overemphasize the valuable role of the PNP in deterring crime and maintaining peace and order in our society. But we cannot also deny the fact that if we are to totally eradicate criminality and terrorism, we need the active participation of our people,” he said. He also viewed the “selfless volunteers” as a “new batch of heroes.” “I trust your partnership with PNP will remain strong in years ahead. We all have a part in building a better nation. I am pleased to know that you have heeded the quality to serve and improve the quality of life of our people,” Duterte said. (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145137

At the end of the last night’s weekly late-night broadcast of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the Nation address, the country’s commander in chief went on one of his signature rants—this time against people who refuse to get vaccinated. As Duterte was wrapping up and thanking the health experts for their presentations, he veered off to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos, in trademark Duterte fashion: “[I]tong mga gago na ayaw magbakuna, they are really the carriers…They travel from one place to another carrying the virus, and contaminating other people. Ayaw magbakuna eh, pabakuna ko yung bakuna para sa baboy, yung Ivermectin. Iyun yung ibakuna ko sa kanila. Tigas ng ulo eh. Don’t get me wrong, there is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. Kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ipaaresto kita. At ang bakuna, itusok ko sa pwet mo, p*****ina. Bwisit kayo.” Duterte went on to say that, while no one likes the ‘strong-arm’ method that he himself has an affinity for, people who don’t want to get vaccinated should leave the Philippines: “Lahat ng Filipino nakikinig ngayon, magbantay kayo. Don’t force my hand into it. Strongarm method ‘yan eh, walang may gusto niyan. Pero kung hindi kayo magpabakuna, umalis kayo sa Pilipinas. Go to India or somewhere, go to America. But for as long as you are here, as long as you are a human being and can carry the virus, magpabakuna ka.” Duterte then repeated that he will order officials to make a list of people who refuse to get the vaccine, and force them to receive shots of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin: “Otherwise I will have all the barangay captains to have a tally of the people who refuse to be vaccinated. Eh kasi kung hindi, yung Ivermectin na para sa baboy ipatira ko sa yo. Ayun patay talaga, pati ikaw.” Was he kidding? The president went back and forth about his seriousness on the matter. “I am not…I am just exasperated by Filipinos not heeding the government,” he said, following up by again saying that he would have people arrested for refusing vaccines: “So that 40 percent, I will task the DILG to do that, to look for these persons. Kung hindi, I will order their arrest, sa totoo lang.” Duterte also said, “Mamili kayo, magpabakuna kayo o magpakulong kayo sa selda…Ganito na lang, I will think it over very hard. Legally of course. Pero pag ayaw ninyo, paaresto ko kayo.” Translated: “Choose, get vaccinated or get locked up in a cell…How about this: I will think it over very hard. Legally of course. But if you don’t want [a vaccine] I will have you arrested.” TL;DR: He’s just kidding. Maybe. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/duterte-says-unvaccinated-people-injected-010027956.html

i have no doubt but what you are right. It would be nice if, in fact they are stolen, that they would contact the owner and give them the option to pay to have them shipped back home.

This display of destruction is the latest in an oddly long lineage of spectacular public crushing of illegally imported cars. In this case, the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines crushed a total of $1.2 million in cars over two separate incidents. One featured 14 Mitsubishi Jeeps, while the other starred seven cars headlined by the McLaren. This particular crushing is part of a lasting campaign to crack down on illegal car importation, an issue apparently very close to the heart of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte. He ordered a similar crushing in 2018, an event that involved a tractor driving over a startling $8 million of cars in a monster truck-like exhibition of punishment. This particular crushing is less destructive, but there is something particularly cruel about smashing the roof of each car individually for the sole purpose of destroying something. That is the point, of course. All the smashing is meant to discourage importation by showing that the end result for anyone who tries is a car crushed in front of them for the whole world to see. The Philippines Bureau of Customs notes that the crushing also involved the destruction of a Lotus, a Bentley, a 911, an SLK, a Genesis Coupe, and, somehow, a Solara convertible. But the track-focused 620R is by far the most rare thing crushed. Just 350 were produced, and the loss of this one means that number is down even further. https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a36765968/philippines-customs-crushed-a-mclaren-620r-dollar12-million-in-cars/

If I were someone considering the Philippines for my vacation I am not sure I would be wanting to spend 14 days of my vacation a prisoner in a hotel room. They want tourist money, give them a break.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III called on the inter-agency task force against COVID-19 to remove the 14-day quarantine policy for those entering the country fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. In a statement, the senator questioned the quarantine and said those entering the country were allowed as long as health protocols against the virus were followed. “Why do fully vaccinated people still have to do the two-week quarantine when traveling to the Philippines? It doesn’t make sense!” said Sotto. He said the policy was meaningless and that the purpose of the government’s vaccination program – to open up the economy – was wasted. He also said that investors who have already been vaccinated would not enter the country due to this IATF policy. Even Filipinos who are about to return to the country are definitely hesitant. “Vaccinated investors won’t come because they have to quarantine, or even Filipinos who are vaccinated are having second thoughts,” said the senator. Sotto opposes 2-week quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals The Department of Tourism had earlier submitted to the government its suggestion to shorten the quarantine period for returning Filipinos who have been fully vaccinated with COVID-19. OFWs and balikbayans entering the country must remain in quarantine facilities for up to 10 days and undergo a swab test after one week. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it supports a proposal to allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the country as part of efforts to revive the country’s moribund tourism industry and reopen its borders. In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said, the Bureau backs the setting up of a “green lane” for vaccinated aliens in the different ports to pave the way for the reopening of tourist destinations to leisure travelers, should the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) deem it viable. “If approved by the IATF-MEID, we in the Bureau, support this initiative by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as it will not only resuscitate our tourism industry, it will also generate employment for millions of Filipinos who lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” Morente said.

Giant fastfood chain Jollibee Foods Corp would close down one of its Bonifacio Global City branches after the viral ‘fried towel’ incident. Jollibee issued a statement early Thursday saying it will close down its Jollibee Bonifacio-Stop Over branch for 3 days for compliance review and retraining of its personnel. “Jollibee has carefully developed and complied with food preparation systems to ensure that we deliver excellent quality products and customer satisfaction,” the company said, adding that it is already conducting a thorough investigation on the incident. “We at Jollibee are committed to take necessary steps to maintain the trust and loyalty that our customers have given to us throughout the years,” it added. In a Facebook post, Alique Perez said she ordered Jollibee chickenjoy via delivery. However, she was surprised to see that a deep “fried towel” was included in their meal. Jollibee issues statement on ‘fried towel’ incident “Just something that frustrated me this late. We had Jollibee delivered via grab. Ordered chicken for my son, while I was trying to get him a bite, I found it super hard to even slice. Tried opening it up with my hands and to my surprise a deep fried towel,” she said. “This is really disturbing… How the hell do you get the towel in the batter and even fry it!?!? Yung totoo? I really thought that the post complaining about weird stuff in their orders were just all made up, now I know that it really happens! So disgusting and embarrassing… to think that you’re even branched in BGC. There’s a first for everything. And this has been the worst first!” she added. “Now I can’t even think of the other chickenjoys na kasama while frying this. Having the same oil for how many hours after frying this FRIED TOWEL,” she added. As of April 2018, JFC had a total of about 1,200 Jollibee outlets worldwide; with presence in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, North America, and Europe.

PRESS RELEASE 2021 May 21 Aliens with old, unused entry exemptions docs considered expired starting June 1 - BI PASAY, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that starting June 1, it will no longer allow the entry of foreign nationals who present entry exemption documents (EEDs) issued by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before Feb. 8 this year. Morente said the BI will implement the said travel guidelines pursuant to a communication received from the DFA. “We were informed by the DFA that entry exemption documents now have a validity of90daysfromthedateofissuance,”saidMorente. “Asaneffect,wewereinformedthat all issued before Feb 8 are deemed expired by June 1,” he added. Thus, aliens who are still holding said EEDs that remain unused must enter the country on or before May 31. Meanwhile, Atty. Carlos Capulong, BI Port Operations Division Chief, disclosed that entry exemptions issued by the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) during the travel ban from March 22 to April 30 may still be used until May 31. He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), in a resolution passed on earlier this month, ruled that entry exemptions issued by the NTF shall be recognized as valid until May 31. Capulong reiterated that in compliance to the IATF, all 9(a) visa holders, as well Special Resident Retirees Visas, are required to secure entry exemptions from the DFA to be allowed entry into the Philippines. http://www.immigration.gov.ph/images/News/2021_Yr/05_May/2021May21_Press.pdf

Well, with the amount of money they send home to there “needy” families, I guess you could consider them “OFW’s” :)

well, at least they have someone to buss tables :)