Page 16 - Hello Philippines November 2015 'B' issue

16 www.hello-philippines.com IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS November 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 22 • UK & Europe Edition

Abaya apologizes to OFW
victim of laglag-bala racket
TRANSPORTATION Secretary
Joseph Emilio Abaya on Thursday over bullet possession at the NAIA, “Whatever Nanay Gloria would and other airline passengers safe and “I don’t think any of our agencies
personally apologized to Gloria particularly those present at the request me to do, I’ll do,” Abaya added. secure in airports. ever said there is no crooked people in
Ortinez, the OFW in danger of Senate hearing, were innocent. our agencies. You could see there are
losing her job in Hong Kong after she Migrants’ rights advocate Susan “Obviously there are certain 12 people being investigated under
was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino “From the very start noong Ople, who was also present in the lapses,” he said. “May pagkukulang AvSecGroup. Wala pong nagmamalinis
International Airport for allegedly nagsalita ako, naniniwala ako wala hearing, lauded Abaya’s gesture but ang ating pamahalaan.” dito and we assure all our OFWs
carrying a bullet. pong kasalanan sila Nanay Gloria at said he should back it up with actions. listening that hindi po kami mag-
iba pang bisita natin,” he said. Abaya clarified that they have never aatubili, there is no reservation to
Ortinez, 56, who has been working “He does care, they just need to intended to exonerate agencies under file cases against erring personnel or
overseas for 26 years, denied that the Upon the suggestion of Senator come up with actions that would the DOTC of any wrongdoings, noting terminate them from work,” he said. n
bullet was hers. Her lawyer claimed Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the match all these words so that people the 12 personnel of the PNP Aviation
she was a victim of the alleged “laglag blue ribbon committee, Abaya said he will start believing again,” said Ople, Security Group (AvSecGroup) currently Amita O. Legaspi with Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News /
bala” extortion racket of unscrupulous is willing to make his manifestation head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center being investigated in connection with
airport personnel. in a written form so that Ortinez and and Training Institute, which helped the alleged “laglag bala” racket. November 12, 2015 / 8:00 pm
the other victims can present it to their Ortinez in her legal case.
After Thursday’s Senate hearing on employers.
the alleged modus, Abaya approached Ortinez’s case has already been
Ortinez, tapped her shoulder, and said, “I do agree. I could write a letter dropped by the Pasay City Prosecutor’s
“Pasensiya na po.” right now, craft it, she could bring it Office for lack of merit.
with her. I could personally make a
Abaya, before the hearing ended, call to her employer, if I could get the Abaya, who is among the officials
said he believes some of those arrested number I would call the employer,” he receiving flak over the “laglag bala”
said. scheme, admitted that they have
committed “lapses” in keeping OFWs

PAO booths in airports proposed for OFWs in legal trouble

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jun the budget for the booths be taken out and POEA and we want to enter into a Abaya made the proposal after Acosta “Because of all the details that
Abaya on Thursday proposed the from the annual budget of the Department MOA... in order to further strengthen ‘yung noted the lack of legal counsel afforded to surfaced, there will be more emphasis
establishment of Public Attorney’s Office of Transportation and Communications cooperation namin para mas aware na may alleged victims of the “laglag-bala” modus, on protecting the innocent and equal
(PAO) booths in airports to extend (DOTC). katungkulan sila sa ganitong issue,” he said. particularly to Gloria Ortinez, the 56-year- application of the law based on human
assistance to OFWs and other airline old domestic helper who was arrested while rights,” said Ople, head of the Blas F.
passengers facing legal trouble, like “You carve out budget from the DOTC For her part, PAO chief Persida Acosta, departing for Hong Kong last October after Ople Policy Center and Training Institute,
those victimized by the alleged “laglag and transfer it to PAO for them to have who was present in the hearing, welcomed a bullet was found in her hand-carry bag. an NGO that handles migration concerns.
bala” extortion racket. more personnel to be designated at the the proposal to have PAO booths in
airport,” Poe said. airports, saying it would improve the OFWs’ Acosta also pointed out the lack of legal Ople said the Senate hearing on the
“Na-appreciate din namin ‘yung awareness of the government’s presence in representation when American youth Lane “laglag bala” was “enlightening” and
ginagawa ng PAO [so] siguro mas MOA with OWWA, POEA. Abaya also times of crisis. Michael White was arrested at the NAIA affirmed her belief that “no one appears
maganda kung may poste na rin ang said they want to enter into a memorandum over alleged bullet possession in September. to be in charge”.
PAO doon,” Abaya told senators during of agreement with the Philippine Overseas Acosta said starting Friday, they will
a Senate hearing on the “laglag bala” Employment Agency (POEA) and the begin sending lawyers to the airport to Airport reforms. Meanwhile, migrants’ “Dahil napakita yung lack of
scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provide legal assistance to Filipinos and rights advocate Susan Ople said the cases of coordination, I think they will do
Airport (NAIA). (OWWA) to strengthen their cooperation in foreigners in need of it. “Magpapadala na Ortinez, White, and other alleged victims of something to improve coordination and
matters involving OFWs. kami bukas, tatlo, may help desk dun, may the “laglag” bala scheme will help reform accountability,” she said. n Rie Takumi / KBK,
Senator Grace Poe suggested that allowance ‘yun,” she said. the country’s airport security system.
“We are coordinating with OWWA GMA News / November 12, 2015 / 6:57 pm

OFW petitions Senate to decriminalize possession of bullets at airports
ANOTHER OFW-backed particular provision of a law which unrest, since arrest and detention

online petition has surfaced is also one of the root causes for the tantamount to excessive and harsh

against criminalizing possession sufferings not only of victimized punishment,” Andres summarized.

of ammunition while at Philippine travelers but also victimized citizens Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)

airports amid the supposed “laglag- against unreasonable searches, as chief Persida Acosta clarified Monday

bala” extortion scheme allegedly well as harassment of those in the that, under Section 38 of R.A. 10591,

perpetrated by some personnel in the opposition,” Andres wrote in the individuals proven to have planted

Ninoy Aquino International Airport. petition. evidence to implicate others could

But, unlike the earlier petition by The rule in question, a provision be charged with ‘incriminatory

Ednalyn Purugganan, Canada-based under Republic Act No. 10591 or the machinations’.

Ismael Andres asked for the outright Comprehensive Law on Firearms suspicious police officers to “harass the said provision,” he said. Section 38 of RA 10591 states,

scrapping of the rule that has led to the and Ammunition, states that persons suspected criminals” by planting Other demands in the petition “The penalty of prision mayor in its
arrest of dozens of travelers found with unlawfully possessing live ammunition evidence and used by the “Laglag bala include changing NAIA’s entire roster maximum period shall be imposed
live ammunition in their luggage. has a penalty of prision mayor in its Gang” to extort money. of security staff, installing more upon any person who shall willfully

“While we demand immediate medium period. “Because the provision was CCTV cameras, and the sacking of and maliciously insert; place, and/

action on our grievances, we Andres supposes in his petition misapplied, irrational and ridiculous, Manila International Airport Authority or attach, directly or indirectly,

specifically demand repeal of a that the provision was invoked by we are making this petition to scrap (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel through any overt or covert act, any
firearm, or ammunition, or parts
2 Pinoys killed in brawl aboard Taiwanese vessel–report Honrado in favor of “someone of thereof in the person, house, effects,
THE Filipino fishermen were killed October 28, the report said. Because of the incident, the vessel, indespicable (sic) integrity.” or in the immediate vicinity of an
innocent individual for the purpose
late last month after figuring in a brawl The two Filipino fatalities were among which embarked in May, returned to Moreover, the petition also asked of implicating or incriminating the
the Philippine National Police Aviation person, or imputing the commission of
with Vietnamese crewmen aboard a the six who were scalded by hot water Kaohsiung, a southern port city in Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP) any violation of the provisions of this
to stop arresting passengers found Act to said individual.”
Taiwanese vessel, a report on Central and arsenic acid, the report said without Taiwan. possessing bullets.
Meanwhile, MIAAA’s Honrado said
News Agency said, citing coast guard mentioning names. Two of the four injured crewmen “Due to unabated arrests of last November 2 that he will remain in
unsuspecting victims, the PNP or office unless the “appointing authority”
officals. The report also did not say what were still in hospital as of last week, the AVSECOM must stop arresting asks him to step down. n Rie Takumi / LBG,
those accused on the ground that
Aside from the two Filipino triggered the confrontation. report said, without citing nationalities. the possession of such bullet do not GMA News / November 7, 2015 / 7:34 pm
warrant enough reasons to cause
fatalities, two other Filipinos and two According to CNA, the 747-ton, deep- The case is now under investigation

Vietnamese fishermen were injured sea vessel has 52 crewmen aboard, 19 of by the Taiwanese coast guard, the

in the fight that took place on a them Filipinos. Some were Taiwanese, report said. n KBK, GMA News / November 10,

Kaohsiung-registered tuna vessel on Indonesians and Vietnamese. 2015 / 4:02 pm