Remittances All time High hit $2 billion in July

MANILA, Philippines - Remittances by Filipinos working and living overseas reached $2 billion in July, growing 5.4% year-on-year, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed.

Remittances in the January to July period hit $13.3 billion, 5.3% up from the previous year.

"Driving the uptrend during the 7-month period were robust remittance flows from both land-based OF workers with work contracts of one year or more ($10 billion) as well as sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts ($3 billion) which grew by 2.8% and 13.7% respectively," the BSP said.

The BSP expects 5% growth in total cash remittances this year.

Major sources of remittances during the first 7 months of the year were US (43.4% of total), Canada (9.6%), Saudi Arabia (7.5%), United Kingdom (4.8%), Japan (4.9%), United Arab Emirates (4.1%) and Singapore (4%).

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PNP issues updated guidelines on checkpoints

In light of alarming increase in ABUSES done by cops on its citizenry and in a bid to eradicate these abuses committed by police elements in the conduct of anti-crime operations, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome issued today a 10-point list of guidelines to be observed by lawmen manning checkpoints.

According to General Bartolome, the PNP will strictly abide by the instruction of the Department of Justice to implement a "no tint" or "clear window" policy among marked police vehicles in order to gain the trust and confidence of the citizenry. The move is also designed to prevent scalawags in uniform from using police cars for their illicit activities or violating traffic regulations.

The general public is thus advised on these 10 rules on military/police checkpoints:

* Checkpoint must be well-lit, properly identified and manned by uniformed personnel.

* Upon approach, slow down, dim headlights and turn on cabin lights. Never step out of the vehicle.

* Lock all doors. Only visual search is allowed.

* Do not submit to a physical or body search.

* You are not obliged to open the glove compartment, the trunk or bags.

* Ordinary/routine questions may be asked. Be courteous but firm with answers.

* Assert your rights, have presence of mind and do not panic.

* Keep your driver's license and car registration handy and within reach.

* Be ready to use your cell phone at any time. Save an emergency number on your speed dial.

* Report violations immediately. Your actions may save others.


This public advisory guides motorists on how to deal with authorities at checkpoints. The objective is to ensure its implementation in proper searches and seizures to avoid violation of human rights. The advisory also serves as a warning to erring law enforcers. The PNP wants to eliminate illegal checkpoints.

"As the promotion of right-based policing becomes a focal point in the agenda of the PNP leadership, the conduct of police or law enforcement must be in compliance with human rights standards," stated General Bartolome.

Kotong cop, 15 others get ax

SPO4 Jose de la Peña Jr, the policeman who is accused of extorting money from the son of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina was ordered dismissed from the service Wednesday for a similar offense he committed in 2009, this time involving the son of a retired military general.

Investigation showed that on Nov. 7, 2009, Castro’s son was driving his car when he was flagged down by De la Peña and the four other policemen at a checkpoint in Barangay Mariana, Quezon City. De la Peña checked the driver’s license of Castro’s son as he ordered his men to conduct an “extensive search” of the vehicle. Afterward, he ordered the general’s son to get into a police car while he drove the former’s car himself.

With his name dropped from the police roster, SPO4 Jose de la Peña Jr. now faces the forfeiture of his retirement benefits worth P2 million.

Aside from De la Peña, 15 other policemen have been ordered axed from the service for various offenses. They were identified as Supt. Rogelio Rosales, a former Manila police station commander; Police Officers 1 Benjamin Gonzales, Adolfo Bautista Jr., Rommel Isidro, Nicoli Vigilia, Eric Babasa and Rustico Gabuco; Police Officers 2 Ferdinand Raquin, John Pierre Bautista and Repablo Genarao and SPO2 Federico Lictawa.

Also ordered dismissed were De la Pena’s coaccused in the 2009 extortion case—Police Officers 3 Rodolfo de Jesus and Carlos Bromeo and Police Officers 2 Crodel de Jose and Dionel Rosario.

One of two cops in extortion try on son of PNP NCRPO chief Espina surfaces

One of two policemen linked to an extortion try on incoming Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina's son in Quezon City last Tuesday surfaced on Thursday.

PO2 Resty del Rosario claimed he was just following orders from SPO4 Jose dela Peña, and insisted they got no money from Espina's son, Quezon City Police District head Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said.

"Iche-check ko personally from him ano naging role niya. (Sabi niya) sumunod lang siya, just got instructions from SPO4 dela Peña (I will verify his claims. He said he was just following instructions from SPO4 dela Peña)," dela Vega said in an interview on dzBB radio.

The two policemen had been tagged in an extortion try on Espina's son at Santolan in Quezon City last Tuesday night. The elder Espina is to assume his new post Friday.

An initial investigation showed the two policemen accused Espina's son of having phone sex inside his car, and demanding P20,000 from him.

But after Espina's son allegedly withdrew the money, he had the two policemen talk to his father on the phone.

Dela Vega also said the two policemen are considered on floating status, being relieved from mobile patrol for now.

He said del Rosario claimed dela Peña boarded the younger Espina's car, and that he followed aboard the police mobile patrol car.

"Dalawang beses sila huminto sa Metrobank ATM at isang beses sa Chinabank ATM (They passed by two Metrobank ATMs and one Chinabank ATM)," dela Vega said, but added del Rosario insisted no withdrawal of money took place.

For now, dela Vega said del Rosario has submitted his explanation, and he instructed him to get dela Peña to surface.

He said he is giving dela Peña until 3 p.m. to surface, after which he may issue him a return-to-work order.

If he still does not show up, he will face administrative and criminal charges, dela Vega said.

These include extortion and grave misconduct, he added. — ELR, GMA News

Body of missing Philippines minister found

 Technical divers with President Noynoy

Divers have found the body of the country's Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Mr Robredo had been missing since his small plane crashed into the sea off central Masbate province on Saturday.

Officials say divers have recoverd Mr Robredo's body from the sea.

The minister's aide survived the crash, but the search for the plane's two pilots is continuing.

Secretary Robredo was both a political ally and a close friend of President Benigno Aquino, who has been watching over the search operations.

Roxas said that the body was retrieved at 8:15 a.m. and surfaced at 8:40 a.m. by three technical divers from Malapascua in Cebu.

The three technical divers include two British nationals and a Filipina.

He said that after the "eyeball confirmation" that the recovered body was that of Robredo, President Benigno Aquino III immediately informed the late secretary's wife, Lenie, of the recovery over the phone.

Roxas said that the bodies of the light plane's pilots, Jessup Bahinting and Nepali Kshitiz Chand have also been found and retrieval operations were ongoing.

The 54-year-old Robredo was mayor of Naga City since 1988 before being appointed by as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Plane with Philippine interior secretary crashes

MANILA, Philippines — A Cessna light plane carrying Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo crashed into the sea Saturday while attempting an emergency landing. One person his aide Supt. Abrazado was rescued but Robredo and the two pilots were missing, officials said.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II told DZBB radio that the Cessna 172 plane took off from central Cebu city and was heading to Robredo's hometown of Naga city in Camarines Sur province when the pilot informed the Masbate airport that it would make an emergency landing. The plane was unable to reach the airport and crashed into the sea.

He said an aide of Robredo was able to jump out and was rescued.

Robredo is one of the members of the Cabinet closest to President Benigno Aquino III and helped his election campaign in 2010.

The interior secretary is in charge of the Philippine National Police and local government units.

Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno said he and Robredo attended a gathering of civilian volunteers assisting in police work in Cebu. After the event, the secretary took the plane for Naga, he said.

"Later, we got a call from the aide that their plane had developed engine trouble and they needed help," Puno said.

The coast guard said the plane crashed about 1.8 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the shore close to Masbate airport.

Rescue workers were searching the waters off Masbate city, about 380 kilometers (235 miles) southwest of Manila, for Robredo and the two pilots but had to halt the underwater search because of darkness, Puno said.

Manila flood

Waist deep flood, rescue workers help a woman cross a flooded street in Manila on Aug. 7

Marikina, a man gathers his dogs on the roof of his flooded house as rain continues to fall in the Philippine capital.

Rescue volunteers carry to safety a resident of Provident village in Marikina City, Marikina river overflows in the village.

A small boat carries people across a flooded street in San Juan, east of Manila, on Aug. 8. Widespread flooding has paralyzed the Philippine capital.

Last week the entire districts of Manila was submerged after the capital received more than a month's worth of rain in 48 hours.

It's estimated 80 per cent of the city were underwater. The death toll from last week's rain in Manila and nearby provinces has risen to more than 25, bringing the confirmed number of people killed across the country since a typhoon triggered heavy rains in late July to over 73.

As overflowing rivers begin to recede, civil defence chief Benito Ramos says the top priority is to help the 1.95 million people affected by the floods, including 300,000 who are sheltering in evacuation centres.

Australia offers assistance

Australia is giving $AU2 million in aid to help flood victims in Manila.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says many people are desperate for food and shelter.

In the riverside district of Marikina, where massive squatter communities were inundated, some residents returned to their homes on Wednesday night only for another deluge to hit a few hours later and cause another flood spike.