By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on law enforcement to investigate the case of the Korean fugitive who allegedly escaped from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) detention center.
“Fresh reports have just come in. We’ve received credible information from sources that this fugitive managed to escape just yesterday while en route to his hearing in Quezon City. Is this true? If it is, the question is: Did he escape, or was he allowed to escape? At the very least, this is gross negligence on the part of the BI,” Hontiveros said.
“I urge law enforcement to investigate this matter immediately. A criminal cannot be allowed to roam freely in our country,” she added.
Na Ikhyeon, a South Korean national, was apprehended in Clark, Pampanga in 2023 for using a fake Filipino identity. It was later discovered that he was wanted in South Korea for his involvement in large-scale fraud.
“Our Senate Committee on Women hearings have shown that many POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) workers also pretend to be Filipinos, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this fugitive is also linked to POGO. Many individuals connected to POGO are involved in fraud and scamming operations, so it’s likely that he has ties to scam networks here in the country,” the senator said.
Hontiveros expressed her ongoing frustration with the BI’s repeated failure to perform its duties effectively.
ia/mnm
MANILA — On December 28, 1986, a pivotal moment in Filipino legal history unfolded with the adoption of the Law Student Practice Law.
This groundbreaking legislation empowered law students who had completed the third year of the prescribed four-year law curriculum and were enrolled in an approved clinical legal education program to represent indigent clients in civil, criminal, or administrative cases.
Under the direct supervision of an Integrated Bar of the Philippines-accredited attorney, these law students played a vital role in legal proceedings, filing necessary documents on behalf of their legal clinic.
Notably, the rule safeguarding privileged communications between attorney and client extended to these law students, marking a significant stride in legal education.
Source: Philippine News Agency
(Jr Amigo/IA/MNM)
Image Courtesy of Benjie Cuaresma
PARANAQUE City — Activists belonging to the transport organization PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) staged a protest rally in Baclaran.
Their primary grievances centered around the Oil Deregulation Law and the persistent rise in oil prices.
The protesters also demanded the removal of excise taxes on oil and petroleum products, a reduction in oil prices, and the nationalization of the oil industry within the Philippines.
George San Mateo, the President of PISTON, emphasized the need for an investigation into alleged overpricing and the activities of large foreign oil corporations operating in the country.
Featured images depict members of the activist groups displaying sizable banners condemning the oil deregulation law, advocating for lower oil prices in the nation, and opposing the phasing out of jeepneys.
(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)