BI: More than 2,000 illegal aliens arrested in 2019
GMA Network - 2019-12-27
Only recently, 342 Chinese nationals were arrested in several floors of a large condominium building in Bago Bantay, Quezon City for operating a telecom scam and working without permits, he said. Manahan added it was a busy year for BI agents assigned in southern Philippines as there have been more arrests of illegal aliens in Mindanao in 2019 ...

The biggest risks for US stocks in 2020
CNN Philippines - 2019-12-27
(CNN) -- Optimism over a "phase one" trade deal between the United States and China is pushing stocks to record highs in the final days of the year. But Wall Street banks still believe trade is one of the biggest risks for markets in 2020. That theme, which drove markets in 2019, seems hard to shake. Although the world's two largest economies ...

Likud primary turnout slightly down from last race, with less than 3 hours left
The Times of Israel - 2019-12-27
This is a five percentage point bump from an hour ago. Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz met with Labor chairman Amir Peretz, Channel 12 reports. While the two sides did not agree to merge, as some in Labor have been urging, there was an agreement to expand coordination between the parties ahead of the March vote. Channel 12 also reports that ...

NDF finally receives copies of government ceasefire orders
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-27
LUCENA CITY - The communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) finally received on Thursday copies of the government written ceasefire orders to state-security forces for the ...

BI arrests, deports Korean man wanted for $2-million cyber fraud
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-26
AIRPORT immigration agents have collared a Korean fugitive wanted by the Seoul police for involvement in cyber fraud. The passenger, 36-year-old Yun Kyungmin, was intercepted at the premier airport after his name showed up in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) list of wanted fugitives. Grifton Medina, airport chief ...

Agencies gearing up for automation-driven workplace disruption
BusinessWorld - 2019-12-26
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will be teaming up with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to prepare industries and the labor force for the disruption brought about ...

Passing the hat
BusinessWorld - 2019-12-26
Powerful people surround themselves with a phalanx of retainers to ward off all types of petitioners. They may be knocking on the car window for a few coins or accosting them at parties, looking for jobs or business opportunities for which they are unqualified. When cornered coming out of the washroom, the embattled VIP has a ready answer ...

P4.5 B worth of smuggled goods found in Divisoria - PACC
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-26
MANILA, Philippines -- Fake smuggled goods worth about P4.5 billion are being sold in malls in Divisoria in Manila and the stores selling them are not complying with the requirements of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) nor are they registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This was the finding of the Presidential Anti ...

Duterte in 2019: Controversies, laws, orders and foreign trips
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-26
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) has been hit by scandals midway this year after the INQUIRER bared the "ghost claims" scam that has marred the state insurance company ... who was then chief of the Central Luzon Police Regional Office, also said Albayalde asked him not to implement the dismissal order against ...

Young people across Asia pushed for change in 2019. Meet five of them
CNN Philippines - 2019-12-26
Women have been recorded in their homes ... Phyo Aung began his political activism in college as a student union member. Several years later, he met fellow activist Maung Saungkha, who had just been released from prison. Saungkha had been arrested under a controversial telecommunications law that regulates online speech, and which critics ...

When the quest for freedom goes horribly wrong
CNN Philippines - 2019-12-26
Rohani died in Australia, but his family says his mental health problems began thousands of kilometers away in an Australian processing center on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG ... walking into a hotel in central Brisbane, a black bag slung over his shoulder. He made a final call to his mother, Hamisha Tassangwal, who was in Australia ...

Sandiganbayan justice says Marcos P200-B forfeiture case moot
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-25
In an exhaustive discussion of past Supreme Court decisions against the Marcoses, Mañalac said it is clear that the former dictator and his family have failed to overcome the presumption that their wealth is ill gotten. Meanwhile, in the main decision penned by Quiroz, the antigraft court cited the Best Evidence Rule, and explained that the ...

PHL keen on forging 3 treaties with KSA
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-25
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said the DO is the result of their consultations with representatives of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the recruitment industry. "Let us just wait for the DO to be signed by the Seclab [Secretary of Labor] on January [2020]," Olalia told the ...

At the SC, a leadership change, key innovations
philstar.com - 2019-12-25
MANILA, Philippines -- Another change in leadership took place this year in the Supreme Court (SC), as President Duterte named Diosdado Peralta as the 26th Chief Justice, who would have the longest tenure among all top magistrate appointees under this administration. Peralta took over from Lucas Bersamin who turned 70 on Oct. 18, the mandatory ...

Trade Secretary Lopez studying Recto tax bill
BusinessWorld - 2019-12-25
TRADE SECRETARY Ramon M. Lopez is studying an exporter-supported bill proposing to immediately reduce corporate income tax from 30%. The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said in a statement that it supports Senate Bill No. 595 filed by Senator Ralph G. Recto. The bill applies segmented tax rates according to companies ...

Why visitors feel right at home at Gambian consulate
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-24
Sleek symmetry plus cool greens and whites spell tranquility in the Asian-themed guest bedroom. The elements are held together by a ... and student visas to Gambian students wanting to enroll at the International Rice and Research Institute in Laguna. Huibonhoa notes that former Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy studied small-scale industrial ...

House vows to pass rest of tax reforms next year
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-24
According to Salceda, the committee also seeks to improve tax administration by studying structural reforms in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). "We will, likewise, try to raise taxpayer morale by studying digital transformation of the revenue-collection agencies. We want to make taxpayer experience seamles ...

Over 1,500 prisoners awaiting GCTA review stay jailed this Christmas
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-24
Though the BuCor already has a manual on the processing of GCTA published two years ago, it was not yet updated to take into consideration the recent decision of the Supreme Court, which ruled on the retroactive application of RA 10592. RA 10592 amended several provisions in the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and authorized the credit of preventive ...

November budget deficit widens to P60.9B
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-23
Expenditures on public goods and services surged by more than a fifth in November such that the national government posted a wider budget deficit of P60.9 billion during the month. However, the impact of government underspending due to late budget approval at the start of the year lingered on until end-November as the 11-month budget deficit ...

Batocabe family: Another Christmas without dad
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-23
Also charged were six principal suspects who either surrendered or were arrested. The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of the venue of the criminal cases filed against Baldo, according to AKB Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. Garbin said the petition that they filed with Gertie and Justin for the transfer of venue of the case was granted by the ...

The water privatization contracts -- respecting the rule of law
philstar.com - 2019-12-23
MANILA, Philippines -- In a sprawling house in a posh and exclusive village in Metro Manila one recent cold December night, some tycoons gathered to discuss the biggest issue to knock out the business environment under the Duterte administration - the move to cancel the decision extending the existing 1997 water privatization contracts ...

MORE Power asks Iloilo judge to resolve motion for inhibition
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-23
MANILA, Philippines--MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has asked Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular of Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 35 to immediately resolve its motion for reconsideration seeking his inhibition from handling the expropriation case it filed against rival Panay Electric Company (PECO). MORE asked Amular to ...

Tesco halts work at Chinese factory over prison labor claim
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-23
LONDON -- The U.K.-based grocery chain Tesco said it halted production at a factory in China on Sunday after a British newspaper reported the factory used forced labor to produce charity Christmas cards for the supermarket. Tesco said it also launched an investigation of the Chinese supplier it hired to make the holiday cards, Zheijiang ...

SC rejects bid to nullify reclaimed land sale to MBDC
BusinessWorld - 2019-12-22
Rodante D. Marcoleta, covering land in Parañaque City sold by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to MBDC. The 410,467 square-meter site located along Roxas Boulevard, Seaside End is otherwise known as Central Business Park II. Over time, the land was divided into 15 titles: eight belonging to MBDC, three to government-owned corporation ...

Mendoza: Legally right, educationally correct
Sun Star - 2019-12-22
Alberto Muyot, CD Asia Vice President Atty. Maria Theresa Libunao, Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Supreme Court Deputy Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, State Solicitor Atty. Leney Layug-Delfin of the Office of the Solicitor General, Atty. Richard Fulleros, CPA, MBA of the Commission on Audit, Atty Kristine Jazz Tamayo of Rainbow ...

Ampatuans, et al ordered to pay heirs of 57 victims a total of PhP 155.5-M
MindaNews - 2019-12-22
In the case of People of the Philippines versus Andal Ampatuan, Jr., et al, the court said "it appears that no reservation was made by the prosecution before it presented evidence, to institute the ... Salaysay of Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City; Subang of Socsargen Today, General Santos City; Teodoro of Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong ...

With no choice but Trump, voter sues over Minnesota primary
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-21
The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Jan. 9. State officials warned the Supreme Court in papers filed this past week that unless the ballot question is settled "within the first few days of January," they may not have enough time to print and distribute ballots for the start of early voting on Jan. 17.

Make each day count!
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-21
During the recent Christmas party of the retired justices of the Supreme Court, I was asked to deliver a message, which I think may be relevant to all seniors. So, I will sum up my talk within my limited space. (Original at cjpanganiban.com, then click "Speeches") As retirees, we love to reminisce about our happy days in the Court when we ...

Supreme Court junks petition vs. sale of reclaimed Paranaque land
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-21
MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has dismissed a petition to nullify certain land titles under the Manila Bay Development Corporation (MBDC) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA). The petition for prohibition and mandamus was filed by Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta who argued that the Philippine Reclamation ...

Kanye Seeks Quick Win In 'Life Of Pablo' Prayer Sample Suit
Law360 - 2019-12-21
Law360 (December 20, 2019, 8:37 PM EST) -- Kanye West and his record label have urged a South Carolina federal judge to grant them a quick win in a copyright infringement lawsuit that accuses him of not paying for an audio sample of a young girl praying in his 2016 song "Ultralight Beam." In a nine-page motion for judgment on the pleadings ...

Marquez, 5 Court of Appeals justices nominated to SC post
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-20
MANILA, Philippines -- The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has nominated Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and five Court of Appeals justices to the remaining vacancy in the Supreme Court. The JBC transmitted its nomination letter to President Rodrigo Durterte on Friday. The appeals justices nominated were Manuel Barrios, Samuel Gaerlan ...

Gonzaga: Victorious Victorias
Sun Star - 2019-12-20
The City though smaller compared to Bacolod and Silay, has the biggest K7-12 enrolment and population of students ... Furthermore, one State University has a branch in Victorias, the Central Philippine State University. Soon, the first Veterinary College, and Animal Hospital will be established in the city. Regarding risk management, it is ...

Top 10 Copyright Rulings Of 2019
Law360 - 2019-12-20
Christian Charles sued Seinfeld in 2018 for infringement, but the judge ruled that the case was actually a dispute over copyright ownership -- a crucial distinction, since claims of ownership have a strict three-year time limit. "Plaintiff's infringement claim is squarely rooted in his contested assertion of an ownership interest in the ...

Exporters push for immediate slash of corporate income tax
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-20
THE umbrella organization of exporters in the country is pushing for the passage of a bill immediately reducing corporate income tax (CIT) rate to 20 percent with no condition to make the country on a par with Southeast Asian neighbors. Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the group ...

Fake and dangerous kids products are turning up for sale on Amazon
KAKE.com - 2019-12-20
This program started in 2017, is free and gives rights owners tools to help manage and protect their brands, including the ability to search their global listing by word or image and flag potential ... which uses the ecommerce giant's machine learning technology. Amazon describes the program as giving brands access to a "self-service ...

Spotted: Riot cops shoving media workers covering Ampatuan massacre promulgation
InterAksyon - 2019-12-20
RELATED: 10 years since Maguindanao massacre, watchdog sees little change in safety protocols for journalists The Supreme Court in 2012 banned live coverage of the Maguindanao massacre case after Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr., one of the perpetrators, argued that it would supposedly violate his rights to due process. As early as the ...

BIR sues fake tax ID seller preying on Chinese workers
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-20
Tax aithorities haled to court a woman who had allegedly been selling counterfeit tax identification (TIN) cards to Chinese workers in Manila. In a statement on Friday (Dec. 20), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said its office in the city of Manila last Dec. 17 lodged a criminal complaint against Marjerie Reyes Rasgo at the Office of the ...

Duterte still open to peace talks with Reds
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-19
The President has directed Labor Secretary and government negotiator Silvestre Bello III to fly to the Netherlands to resume peace negotiations with exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison after ...

When is knowledge power?
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-19
In theory, that information could help improve governance, infrastructure and delivery of services such as education, health care and agricultural extension ... Project Syndicate Katrina Kosec is a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute. Leonard Wantchekon is professor of politics and international affairs ...

Palace creates anti-discriminatory body
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-19
President Duterte has signed an executive order creating an Inter-Agency Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, which shall be tasked to develop a framework for government agencies to identify and eliminate all barriers to equal opportunities in labor and education. The committee will also be tasked to recommend possible legislation to address ...

Post-promulgation: Solons flag still-potent threats from the 80 accused still at large
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-19
Since the conviction is just at the RTC level, Barzaga said it will surely be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, with the process taking years again. He also called for the judiciary to adopt measures to expedite legal proceedings and improve the administration of justice. "They [accused at large] too must be tried so corresponding ...

Government expedites small-scale mining regulation
philstar.com - 2019-12-19
MANILA, Philippines -- The government is intensifying the regulation of small-scale mining operations in the country, particularly in monitoring undisposed residual stockpiles outside mining sites as it continues to revamp the extractive industry. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through attached agency Mines and ...

DoLE claims more than 580,000 workers gained regular status since 2016
BusinessWorld - 2019-12-19
"This is the most vital achievement of our department and that is the regularization of 580,539 contractual workers and for your information, we would like to emphasize that we have inspected 219,141 business establishments," Mr. Bello told reporters on Tuesday. Mr. Bello said in the past that more than half of those regularized gained ...

Palace hails triumph of rule of law, affirms protection for media rights
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-19
There were verdicts of guilty and acquittal. It behooves the parties to respect them," Panelo said. Panelo said those who disagree with the judgments of the court have legal remedies, and it is up to the Supreme Court to give the final judgment. "For now, what is important is that the rule of law has prevailed," he added. The Palace ...

Timeline: A decade-long call for justice
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-19
MANILA, Philippines-After almost 10 years of waiting, justice will finally ring for the 58 victims of the Maguindanao massacre, as Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes hands down on Thursday ...

Trump on trial: jurors set rules, outcome not in doubt
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-19
"There is zero chance that the president will be removed from office," McConnell added. John Roberts, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, will be sworn in to preside over the trial. He will require the 100 senators who will sit in judgement to swear an oath. "I solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the ...

DILG holds constitutional reform roadshow in Romblon
Gov - 2019-12-19
Meanwhile, Emmylou Magno, Regional Project Officer of CFCR, reiterated during her message the rulling of the Supreme Court increasing the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of local government units (LGUs). She also added that implementing the rulling will ...

Fed. Circ. Partially Revives Syngenta's Pesticide IP Suit
Law360 - 2019-12-18
Law360 (December 18, 2019, 6:52 PM EST) -- The Federal Circuit on Wednesday revived Syngenta's copyright infringement claims against Willowood and faulted a North Carolina district court for misinterpreting patent law, two years after a trial on the companies' competing pesticide products. In reviewing a 2017 jury verdict and related rulings ...

Deployment of household workers imperiled by provision in bill creating OFW department
BusinessMirror - 2019-12-18
He said the provision aims to limit its deployment of Filipinos abroad. Estrelita S. Hizon, the private sector representative in the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board, however, warned that the provision may backfire and lead to even more OFWs abuses if signed into law. She noted many Filipinos still aspire to ...

Scrapping water deals, waiving award dangerous -- economist
Philippine Daily Inquirer - 2019-12-18
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines is sliding into a dark path where it may be unable to attract new investors--except for "cronies" -- if the government could easily disregard the ...