Nation mourns death of ex-Philippine President Noynoy Aquino

By The SUN 

PNoy is best remembered for the West Philippine Sea victory vs China

Flags are flying at half-mast across the Philippines today, a day after former President Benigno S. Aquino III succumbed to renal failure caused by diabetes at the age of 61.

The former president, who was simply PNoy to most Filipinos, served as the country’s 15^th president, from 2010 to 2016. He was single.

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His four sisters announced his passing in a statement read hours after he was pronounced dead on arrival at Capitol Medical Centre, where he was rushed from his home in Quezon City.

Pinky Aquino-Abellada, who read the statement on behalf of the Aquino family, said PNoy had been sick for some time, but chose to keep the matter private. Despite this, his death still came as a surprise to them.

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While evidently in grief, the sisters hailed their only brother for serving the Filipino people “with honesty and dignity.”

“Mission accomplished ka, Noy,” said Abellada, reading from their joint statement. “Be happy now with dad and mom. We love you and we are so blessed to have had the privilege to have had you as our brother. We will miss you forever, Noy.”

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The former president was cremated at the Chapels and Mortuary at Heritage Park in Taguig City after a short service attended only by close members of his family. Following his inurnment, a wake was held at the chapels where various dignitaries came to pay final respects.

A silver urn containing PNoy's ashes are in the chapel where a wake was held overnight

Today, his ashes will be taken at the Church of the Gesu inside the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City where he spent much of his school life. The public viewing will be from 10am to 10pm.

The interment of his ashes is set for Saturday morning at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City where his parents, former President Cory Aquino and father, former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. are buried.

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According to his sister, actress Kris Aquino, full military honors will be accorded PNoy before the interment. 

PNoy's flag-draped casket was viewed only by family and close friends before the cremation 

Also in line with Philippine law, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered 10 days of mourning for his late predecessor, during which flags at all public offices across the country will remain at half-staff.

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PNoy served as a member of Congress and the Senate before public clamor following the death of his mother, President Cory Aquino in 2009, led him to accept the Liberal Party’s nomination as their standard bearer in the 2010 presidential election.

In what was seen as a significant step for Philippine democracy, over 75% of the 51 million registered Filipino voters went to the polls in that election. PNoy, who campaigned on the slogan, “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,”  won by a wide margin, taking 40% of the vote and defeating strong contenders like ousted President Joseph Estrada and former Senate President Manny Villar.

'Kayo ang boss ko', PNoy told the people at his inauguration

His inaugural speech at the Luneta signaled the start of what he called as the “daang matuwid” (straight path) concept of leadership. In that speech, he told the Filipinos, “kayo ang boss ko,” and promised a leadership where there was no “palakasan” (influence peddling) and no “wang-wang”, indicating the practice by most politicians of using sirens to keep other vehicles away when they’re on the road.

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He mainly stood by these principles, but his key achievements were the great strides that the Philippines made on the economic front. With him at the helm, the country attained an annual economic growth of just over 6 percent, the highest since the 1970s. The government also gained investment-grade status, allowing many businesses to gain access to much-needed funds.

Keeping his promise to root out corruption, he had his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrested for corruption, and her then Chief Justice- appointee, Renato Corona, impeached.

But he also had some missteps along the way, including the botched handling by the police of the hostage-taking in Luneta Park in August 2010, which led to eight Hong Kong tourists being killed. He also took flak for the killing in 2015 of 44 SAF (Special Action Forces) members in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by Muslim rebels, during an operation meant to flush out a Malaysian terrorist.

Critics also tried to get him to answer for the supposed anomalous purchase of the Dengvaxia vaccine by the government for its anti-dengue program, but failed to go far with the accusations.

PNoy gamely answered questions at a Senate hearing on the Dengvaxia controversy

But more than any of these, PNoy will probably be remembered for the arbitral ruling in The Hague which upheld the Philippines’ challenge to China’s claims to much of the South China Sea, including parts of the West Philippine Sea. That victory was seen to temper China’s expansionist policies in the sea, parts of which are also claimed by various states.

Referring to the late leader’s propensity for taking on big and mighty rivals, retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said, “He was brave. He went after powerful people who did wrong. But he was fair and allowed justice to prevail even to his discredit.”

It was during Morales’ watch that PNoy was indicted over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. The then Ombudsman had earlier cleared Aquino, but on appeal by progressive politicians from Bayan Muna, the former president was indicted for usurpation of legislative powers.

Morales also caused Aquino to be issued with his first warrant of arrest for supposed usurpation of official functions by allowing dismissed police chief Alan Purisima to participate in the SAF operation in Mamasapano. But after taking over the post on Morales' retirement, Ombudsman Samuel Martires withdrew the case.

But clearly, Morales was in no way swayed by the thought that the late leader had done something wrong out of avarice or greed. 

“It was a great honor to have served as Ombudsman when he was our President and honesty, integrity and the rule of law guided our government," she said in a final tribute.

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DH arrested for money laundering after giving up ATM for $5k

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Money launderers use ATM cards to withdraw scam money from accounts held by FDHs

Another Filipina domestic helper who surrendered her ATM card and bank account to a “friend” in exchange for $5,000 has landed in double trouble after $550,000 of scam money was traced to her account. After she was arrested, she lost her job.

Police arrested the worker, aged 43, on Jun 9 after a 72-year-old local woman complained that she lost that amount from September to November last year in a telephone scam. The suspect was booked for “obtaining property by deception.”

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An investigation was started by the Wong Tai Sin District Crime Squad last November after the victim reported, the police said. Investigators followed the paper trail to the helper’s savings account in Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.

The helper, who reported her arrest to friends, said the case stemmed from her giving her ATM card to a Filipina friend in exchange for $5,000. She claimed she did not know that some people would use it to commit a crime.

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As a result of the case, her employer of 10 years decided not to renew the helper’s contract, her friends said.

The arrested helper was released on police bail after being detained for questioning for two days and was ordered to report to the police in early July. Investigation is ongoing.

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The suspect told her friends that she was arrested on Jun 9 by police who knocked on her employer’s door as she was preparing to take her ward to the school bus stop.

The police told the employer that they traced $100,000 divested from another female victim to the helper’s HSBC account. The officers then took the helper away in handcuffs, and brought her to the Wong Tai Sin station.

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The Hong Kong Police Anti-Deception Coordination Centre said that in March this year, telephone scam cases rose minimally to 78 from 76 a year earlier, but the money that victims lost jumped more than 10 times to $266.32 million from $22.5 million.

Several other Filipinas are now being investigated by police for their alleged links to other fraud cases, including “romance scams”.

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Last week, police arrested eight Filipina helpers, four Nigerian men, a local woman and a Nepali man in connection with a syndicate that laundered $12 million derived from at least 30 online romance scams.

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The police said the Filipinas had been manipulated to open bank accounts to which the scam victims were told to deposit money to pay for customs and delivery fees for purported expensive gift packages sent by their online lovers.

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Consulate sets another special flight for stranded migrants on Jun 28

By Daisy CL Mandap 

About 400 stranded workers managed to get home recently on 2 flights arranged by the PCG

Filipino migrant workers stranded in Hong Kong due to repeated flight cancellations could get home to Manila on Jun 28, through another special trip being arranged by the Consulate.

Consul General Raly Tejada personally informed The SUN about the special flight, saying he wants to get all the stranded Filipino workers home.

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As of this afternoon (June 24), ConGen Tejada said there were still 20 available seats on the flight. Those who wish to get a slot should register through the website of the Philippine Overseas Labour Office: https://polo-hongkong.com/registrationofstrandedofw.html?fbclid=IwAR0SEjDq1iMjJqQNny01TxntoBYMtDRVkfMI0NT0iDM11huPLq8mAoStWgU

Asked if those who don’t have any valid plane ticket could avail of the airlift, ConGen said, “We will try to assist. Basta palista muna sila.” (They should just sign up first)

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However, he said the Consulate was still working on which airline could fly the stranded passengers home.

Last year, more than 1,200 stranded passengers were flown to Manila on several flights by Cathay Pacific Airways, through special arrangements with the Consulate.

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On May 26 and Jun 1 this year, another 400 stranded overseas workers were able to fly home aboard two separate Philippine Airlines flights to Manila, despite difficulties caused by the arrival cap being set at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

To enable the airline to bring them home, the Consulate, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, had to ask the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid control to increase the daily passenger arrival quota at the Manila aiport.

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Since Mar 18 this year, the IATF has set a daily quota of just 1,500 for all arrivals at NAIA, saying there was a need to decongest quarantine facilities in the capital. Several airlines have given this as reason for repeatedly canceling flights to the Manila.

With the hotel quarantine in Manila having been extended recently to 10 days instead of the previous seven, the space limitations at the designated facilities have become even more severe. And, with the dreaded Delta variant being increasingly found among returning Filipino workers, the entry restrictions have been tightened further.

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But these have not deterred a number of OFWs from hoping they could go home for good soon.

Many of the passengers carry this letter from Immigration showing their application for work visa was denied

Among those hoping to get a seat on the Jun 28 flight is Yumi, who has been stranded since March, after her bid to process a new employment contract in Hong Kong was rejected by Immigration.

Yumi confessed to having been too confident that she could secure a new work visa while in Hong Kong that she let the return air ticket given her by her previous employer lapse. She learned way too late that she should have just rebooked it so she could still fly home in case the unexpected happened.

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Now, Yumi says she has just been relying on the generosity of friends for her daily meals, and for money to pay for her visa extension fee. She is already a month behind in her payment for her boarding space, so buying a new one-way ticket to Manila, which costs about $2,500, is out of the picture.

But with her new visa deadline looming, Yumi has finally found light at the end of the tunnel. OWWA has assured her that they would find a way to get her on board the Jun 28 flight, so all she could do now is cross her fingers, and wait.

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Filipina co-accused in $14.6M jewelry theft granted bail

By The SUN 

Biala's case of handling $4.8 million worth of stolen property is being heard in District Court 

A sister of the Filipina helper who admitted stealing $14.6 million worth of jewelry from her wealthy employers in Deepwater Bay was granted $20,000 bail today, Jun 24, in District Court.

Marina G. Biala was allowed to post $10,000 cash bail and another $10,000 in surety by Judge W.K. Kwok, who ignored the prosecution’s objections that the case was serious and there was a risk that she would abscond. 

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It was her first appearance in the District Court after pleading not guilty to a charge of handling $4.8 million worth of assorted jewelry, gold bars and cash that her sister, Carmelita Nones, had entrusted to her.

The goods were part of the $14.6 million loot that Nones had admitted stealing from her former employers between May 2018 and September 2019. All of the stolen items passed on to Biala have been recovered except for $4,000 cash.

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Nones will be sentenced at the High Court next month, along with two other relatives who also pleaded guilty to pawning some of the items she stole from her employer.

Biala told Judge Kwok this morning that she did not know that the valuables were stolen by her sister, contrary to the prosecution’s allegation.

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She also offered to post $20,000 bail which she said would be provided by her former employer, and that she would also stay in his home.

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When Judge Kwok called the employer, a “Mr Leung,” and asked him if he would put up a surety of $20,000, the man said he would provide Biala’s bail money.

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The judge said the court normally does not allow that because, without putting up her own money for bail, the defendant won’t hesitate to abscond, as she won’t lose any money.

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Judge Kwok suggested that Leung lend Biala $10,000 for her cash bail and he put up $10,000 in surety so that the defendant will owe him money and he can chase her if she absconds. The man agreed.    

The judge set the next hearing for Aug 5. 

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6 new imported & 1 local case all have Delta variant

By Daisy CL Mandap 

HK officials warn of the spread of the Delta variant, as 1 local case was confirmed today

Hong Kong health officials underscored the danger that the Delta coronavirus variant, could spread in the city when they announced at a press conference today, Jun 24, that all seven confirmed Covid-19 cases today carried the highly infectious mutation.

Among those in the list is a 27-year-old man living in Tai Po and worked as ground crew of Hong Kong Airlines, whose source of infection is unknown. He ended 16 days of no local infection being found in Hong Kong.

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But according to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection, the remaining six cases which are all imported, were also found to have the L542R strain of the Delta variant.

Chuang said four of the patients are students who had just returned from the United Kingdom. Three tested positive on arrival at HK Airport, while the fourth who came in on Jun 18 via British Airways flight was found infected on the third-day sample.

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The two others are foreign domestic helpers who flew in from Jakarta on Jun 20 and tested positive on their third-day sample while in quarantine.

Passenger flights from Indonesia will be banned starting tomorrow after six FDHs who flew in from Jakarta on Monday were found to have the L452R mutant strain. Experts are also calling for halting flights from the UK anew, amid a renewed surge in infections in the country, largely because of the Delta variant.

Studies show BioNTech vaccine offers as much as 90% protection against the Delta variant

“The Delta variant is on the rise, and the World Health Organization says it may catch up and take over as the main variant (of concern),” said CHP controller Dr Ronald Lam.

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He said the variant is more transmissible and is likely to cause more serious complications. “Based on the UK experience, young and unvaccinated people are infected more easily,” he said.

The same is true in the United States, he said, where the variant is also on the rise because of its higher transmissibility.

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In Hong Kong, there have been 131 cases with the L452R strain, and all except two are imported, he said. The genome sequencing on the latest local case could trace its origin, but the process has yet to be completed.

Lam renewed the call for everyone to get the Covid vaccine, citing various studies that show that those who get jabbed are likely to get as much as 90% protection from the variant.

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Chuang said studies in the UK showed that BioNTech in particular gives protection against Delta “by as high as 91%,” while those with symptoms are found to get a protection rate of between 80 and 90%.

Lam took the opportunity to again call for more elderly people to get vaccinated, saying they are most vulnerable to developing symptoms from Covid-19. Of the 210 deaths linked to the disease, 88% percent reportedly involved people aged 60 and above.

He said that any elderly person who can take a flu jab should also be suitable for the Covid vaccine.

In the latest local case involving the Delta variant, health officials said he, along with the rest of his family, have not had a Covid vaccine.

But so far, no other member of his family has tested positive for the virus, including his father who developed a mild cough.

More than 2,000 neighbors of the local man with the variant tested negative for the virus 

An overnight lockdown on their residential building in Tai Po and the testing of some 2,100 residents did not yield any new infection.

A separate compulsory testing order issued on a wide area in Tai Po where around 30 buildings are located has yet to be completed.

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Samuel Chui, deputy director of the Environmental Planning Department, said that sewage samples taken from the area showed the presence of the variant with a CT value of 27, which means it is highly transmissible.

Chui said the local patient who lives in the same district did not appear to have acquired the variant from the contaminated sewage, but from other sources.

Chuang said he most likely got the virus from his interactions with people at the airport, although the exact source has yet to be uncovered.

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HK health officials say they're investigating a Tai Po resident with mutant strain

By The SUN 

The patient works as ground staff at HK Airport but did not travel recently

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection confirmed tonight, Jun 23, that it is investigating the case of a 27-year-old man from Tai Po who tested preliminary positive for the L451R mutant strain of the coronavirus.

The source of his infection is unknown.

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The CHP statement said the man lives at Wan Hang House in Wan Tau Tong Estate in Tai Po. He has no recent travel history but works as an airline ground crew staff at the Hong Kong International Airport, where he received cargo flight crews.

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He developed symptoms including fever, sore throat and cough on Jun 21 and consulted a private doctor on the same day. He submitted a deep throat saliva sample which today tested preliminary positive for the coronavirus with the L452R mutant strain.

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He has not received any Covid-19 vaccine. The patient last went to work at the airport on Jun 26. He also worked parttime as a customer service staff at Uptown Plaza in Tai Po, where he last worked on Jun 22.

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The CHP said a compulsory testing notice will be issued for the building where he lives, his workplaces, and the places he visited during the incubation period.

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A separate CTN was issued earlier over a wide swathe of places in Tai Po after sewage samples found in the area reportedly tested for the coronavirus, “with a heavy viral load.” 

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