PORK Protest “911,913 919” series rally to “ABOLISH” pork barrel - OFWs set to join the “Zero Remittance Day” on September 19

"Zero Remittance Day" is another protest organized to show public outrage over the alleged misuse of public funds.

Overseas Filipinos have expressed their support for demonstrations back home to protest corruption in the use of the legislative pork barrel.

Although mass actions are banned in Saudi Arabia, Filipinos have expressed their solidarity through social media by posting their protest photos.

In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wore white clothes in their workplaces as a sign of protest.

In Hong Kong, protesters wore red and rallied for the abolition of the pork barrel. They called for the prosecution of all involved in the malversation of the billion-peso fund.

Those joining the protest said they are angered by the continuing corruption, the slow prosecution of culprits and President Benigno Aquino III's supposed special treatment of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles -- the alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam.

At least three other protests are scheduled this month including one at the EDSA Shrine called "Edsa Tayo" on September 11 and another gathering in Luneta on September 13.

Malacanang said it is not bothered by the protests, but has asked the police to prepare security measures.

Stan Yumang, host and program director of the Good Evening Kabayan show in Hong Kong, said: "We in HK are for the scrapping of the pork barrel. Corrupt people in the government will always find a way to fill their pockets. We are not asking for a name change for Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or pork barrel) or for the same system to be molded into something new. What the OFWs want is for it to end."

"Those proven guilty in participating in the pork barrel scam must receive punishment equivalent to committing treason. To gain back our trust, the government must be transparent  about how they spend taxpayer's money. We also believed that when the pork is abolished, only those with a true heart for public service would find their place in our government," he added.

Arlene Andes based in Brussels, Belgium, told the Inquirer Radio 990 AM, that the OFWs in Europe likewise turned to  social media to express their demand to scrap the pork barrel. They used Facebook to show their support for the protests.

"The OFWs are fuming mad at lawmakers who are greedy and corrupt and who are only thinking about their personal interest. These politicians do not care about the OFWs who shed blood, sweat and tears working in a foreign land just to support their families in the Philippines," Andes said.

Jelord Vergara in Tokyo, Japan send this message: "Please fight for abolishing the pork barrel in behalf of the Filipinos working in Japan. You have our all out support."

Engineers Jegs Certeza in  Seoul, South Korea sent this message: "We abhor the deliberate immoral stealing of public funds— the nation's meager hope for salvation. We support the public display of dismay."

Ria Malapitan in Hong Kong demanded: "Imprison the guilty. The ordinary Filipino has been paying for the lavish lifestyle of these shameless low-life politicians for too long."

Joyce Delovieres, financial counselor and the wife of an OFW in Singapore said: "My family has to deal with loneliness. We hope that somehow, overseas remittances will translate to better government services and projects that will eventually lead to local work opportunities. I was hoping good government would help bring back a father to my kids," said Joyce, who was left behind to take care of their three children alone.

Last month, timed with the protest march at the Luneta Park, about 100 Filipino-American activists held their own rally in front of the posh Ritz-Carlton Residences in Los Angeles, where a unit is owned by Jeane Napoles.

The 23-year-old Napoles is the daughter of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who is now detained for her alleged role in the ₱10-billion pork barrel scam.

Netizens noted how the young Napoles had posted photos showing her jewelry, designer shoes and handbags and Porsche cars.

Migrante International also initiated simultaneous global protests  in capitals in Asia, North Africa, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe to demand accountability and the prosecution of all those involved in the  scam.

The group also called for the rechanneling of the pork barrel to provide free, more accessible and more efficient services and welfare assistance for OFWs in distress, he said.

Susan Andes, aka Susan K. is on board at Radyo Inquirer 990 dzIQ AM,Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon with audio/video live streaming: www.dziq.am Studio: 2/F Studio: 2/F MRP Bldg., Mola St., cor. Pasong Tirad St., Makati City. Helpline: 0927-6499870 / 0920-9684700 E-mail: susankbantayocw@yahoo.com / bantayocwfoundation@yahoo.com

Inquirer

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BFAD: Warnings over Fake Chinese made toxic and poisonous lipstick in the Philippines

Women in the Philippines are being warned against using unlicensed Chinese-made lipsticks and other big brand imitation products, over fears they may contain high levels of lead.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory, after it was found many products were being sold widely on the streets without its approval.

"These products may contain high levels of heavy metals, especially lead," it said.

The advisory warned that lead has been linked to causing high blood pressure, joint pain and poor memory in adults, while children are even more at risk.

"The children are particularly at risk from neurotoxic effects of lead, which affect their brain development and cognition," it said.

The lipsticks carry the labels Baolishi, Miss Beauty, Shijing, Ling Mei and Heng Fang.

The FDB did not reveal how the products came to the Philippines but it has previously acknowledged smuggling remains a problem because of corruption within the customs bureau.

This is not the first time the FDA has banned Chinese products from being sold in the Philippines.

In 2010, it banned at least nine Chinese brands of skin creams and whiteners that were found to contain high levels of mercury.

AFP

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Taiwanese Poacher caught and detained for fishing in Batanes; Insisted no Fish in Taiwan so coming in to the Philippines

 

Taiwanese fisherman Tsai Po (in red) is questioned by Philippine officials Wednesday.  September 04, 2013 (Photo courtesy of Philippine authorities)

A Taiwanese man has been arrested for illegal fishing in the Philippines, police said Thursday as the two neighbors seek to mend fences after the shooting death of another Taiwanese fishermen in May.

Tsai Po, 54, was detained on Tuesday while diving for lobsters off the coast in the Philippines' Batanes group of islands near the maritime border with Taiwan, provincial police officer Victor de Sagon told AFP.

"They have been doing this for a long time. This is rampant poaching," said de Sagon, adding that Tsai was among a group of suspects who were illegally fishing just off Siayan Island.

Tsai Po told CNA that he had been operating his raft made of rubber pipes in the waters near the Batanes Islands at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, when he was intercepted by a Philippine ship with six or seven officers who "looked like marine law enforcement."

The 53-year-old said the officers "were quite unfriendly" when they handcuffed him, confiscated his belongings, and removed the fuel from his vessel.

He called his detention "totally unreasonable" because, he says, he was operating in waters that also claimed by Taiwan as their exclusive economic zone.

Captured Taiwanese poacher Tsai Po navigated around 13 to 14 hours to through his raft from Houpi Fishing Port in Hengchun, southern Taiwan, to the Batanes group of Islands, the area which he was captured.

Due to the nearly depleted fishing ground around the islands in the southernmost tip of Taiwan; Taipei recently claimed the waters down south most around Batanes Group of Islands as if the Philippines didn't exist.

Captured Taiwanese poacher Tsai Po is to be charged with poaching, which is punishable by a US$100,000 fine, confiscation of his catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel, the officer added.

De Sagon rejected reports in the Taiwanese press that the detained suspect had been treated roughly.

As reported in Focus Taiwan Online website, they complained that captured Taiwanese poacher Mr. Tsai Po has only been given a small amount of food and said he feels "unwell" where he is being held, some 176.72 kilometers south of Taiwan's southernmost tip.

Taiwanese captured poacher Mr. Tai Po's complain for small amount of food given to him would be acceptable but he must have to obey and accept it as he is in the Philippines and it's the food ration standard here for detainees.  

"We are not violating his rights. He is being fed well, he underwent a medical check-up, and he is in regular contact with his wife and the (de facto) Taiwanese embassy in Manila," de Sagon said.

Philippine government is boosting the presence of Patrol boats around Batanes Group of Islands as foreign poachers keeps entering the area to fish inside the country.

Taiwanese and Chinese fishermen are complaining for poor catch around their waters so they have to go further out to sea to get good catches, because fishery resources around their waters have been nearly depleted in recent years.

Philippine government also intensifies the patrol to protect the marine resources of the country which are intended for local fishermen.

Local Philippine fishermen who are using their traditional way of fishing is of no bouts compared to the Taiwanese and Chinese fishermen who are coming usually in a fleet using modern equipment in fishing and harvesting marine resources as if no tomorrows to come.

The arrest followed a diplomatic spat triggered by the shooting death of a 65-year-old crew member of a Taiwanese fishing boat on May 9 by a Philippine coastguard patrol.

Taipei banned the hiring of new Philippine workers on the island, where some 87,000 Philippine Nationals are employed according to official figures.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou also rejected an initial official apology and demanded criminal charges against the coastguards for an act that he described as "cold-blooded murder."

The two countries began repairing the rift after Philippine authorities in August recommended homicide charges against the coastguards following pressure from Taiwan, which is not diplomatically recognized by Manila.

Taiwan has since lifted the hiring ban on Philippine workers.

The shooting occurred in Balintang Channel near the Batanes group of islands in the Northern Luzon Island of the Philippines.

Southernmost tip of Taiwan which was once named "Formosan" during the Spanish occupancy in Asia was under the Manila government and was governed by the old "Las Islas Filipinas."

Taiwan recently lays claim to the waters around Batanes Group of Islands as if the Philippines didn't exist but somewhat settled with the Philippines agreed the claim of Taiwan going eastward direction to the Pacific Ocean not to the Batanes Group of Islands .

Ibatans in Batanes Group of Islands' livelihoods are just their traditional way of fishing and farming.

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