By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday (April 22, 2024) urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to retrieve the firearms of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“Huwag nang magdahilan ang PNP. Kung talagang kasangga namin sila sa pagpapanagot sa mga pambabastos ni Quiboloy sa ating mga institusyon, dapat ginagawa nila ang lahat para mahuli siya. At isang mahalagang paraan ang pagbawi ng mga armas, lalo na ng isang pugante,” Hontiveros said.
“Sa dami at bigat ng pending cases ni Quiboloy, siguro naman pwede nang bawiin ang mga armas niya. Sa kasong human trafficking palang, non-bailable at lifetime imprisonment na ang parusa, kaya ano pa hinihintay ng PNP? Nakapagtataka ang bagal,” the senator asked.
Hontiveros cited that the PNP’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) clearly states that for citizens with a firearms license, legal disability — or “the loss by the licensee of the legal qualification or capacity to own and possess firearms by this Revised IRR” — includes the “pendency of a criminal case with an imposable penalty of more than 2 years.”
The lawmaker urged PNP Chief PGen. Rommel Marbil to take the lead and apprehend Quiboloy as he is a high-profile fugitive.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking probe on the environmental and social effects of mining and quarrying amid a series of recent incidents linked to such operations adversely affecting communities and ecosystems.
“The devastation and loss caused by mining and quarrying activities are distressing. Hindi lang kabuhayan ang nawawala pati buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Kailangang punan ang mga pagkukulang sa batas para matigil na ang mga trahedyang ito,” Hontiveros said on Monday (April 15, 2024).
Senate Resolution No. 989 highlights a series of tragic incidents including a fatal landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro, allegedly linked to mining operations, in which members of the Mansaka Indigenous Cultural Community were disproportionately affected.
The resolution stated the environmental risks posed by the mining industry outweigh the limited economic benefits for Filipinos despite the country’s abundant mineral resources.
Moreover, the resolution seeks to evaluate the regulatory framework of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), responsible for overseeing mining and quarrying operations in the country.
“We must not allow our precious natural resources to be exploited at the expense of our people and environment. Kailangang bigyang prayoridad ang pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan. Ang pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan, ay pangangalaga sa ating bayan at kinabukasan,” Hontiveros said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) on Monday (April 8, 2024) to appear before the Senate for questioning.
“Pastor Quiboloy, it’s time to come out of your hiding. Since you’re granting interviews to vloggers, why not also grant one to us in the Senate?” Hontiveros stated in a press release.
The senator also criticized Quiboloy’s remarks against the Senate and dared him to repeat them before her committee.
“You have no shred of evidence against our brave witnesses. And you have no right to tarnish the institution of the Senate and its mandate,” she asserted.
“If you’re truly courageous, repeat everything you said about the Senate right here, in the Senate. Let your words be on the record. Let your audacity be recorded in history without shame,” Hontiveros added.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. rejected the pastor’s conditions for surrender.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros holds the belief that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will soon face arrest by law enforcement agencies.
Hontiveros expressed this conviction following the issuance of a warrant for Quiboloy’s arrest by the Davao Regional Trial Court on charges of sexual abuse.
“The days of impunity for Apollo Quiboloy are numbered. Virtually all institutions in the Philippines are mobilizing to hold him accountable,” stated the lawmaker in a press release.
“I am confident that justice will prevail and Quiboloy will be apprehended,” she added.
Upon his arrest, Hontiveros mentioned that the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality anticipates his appearance in the forthcoming hearing.
“I also call on Quiboloy not to put up a fight. He has already taken numerous steps to evade his legal obligations. He should cooperate and address the accusations against him appropriately,” she remarked.
“If innocent, there’s no need to hide.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros warned Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday (21 Feb 2024) of possible arrest if he would not attend the Senate hearing on alleged sexual abuse and human trafficking issue.
“‘Wag pong pa-victim. Ang hinihingi lang sa inyo ay humarap sa mga legal na proseso, kasama ang proseso ng Senate investigation. ‘Wag ninyo pong dalhin sa lenggwahe ng patayan, kahit ‘yan ang nakasanayan ninyo,” Hontiveros said.
“Our next hearing is on March 5 and if Mr. Quiboloy does not show up, I will cite him in contempt and have him arrested,” she added.
On Tuesday night, the Senate filed a subpoena against Quiboloy to attend the March 5 hearing.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Hontiveros signed the said subpoena.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed Senate Resolution No. 923, seeking an inquiry into the recent cyberattack of hackers targeting Philippine government agencies.
The senator said that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced that the hackers are believed to be operating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“Habang nagsasayang tayo ng oras para pag-usapan ang Charter Change, ang Tsina hindi tumitigil sa panghihimasok sa ating bansa. Imbes na ang enerhiya natin ay mapunta sa pagpapalakas ng mga batas para sa ating pambansang seguridad, nag-aaksaya tayo ng panahon para sa interes ng iilan,” Hontiveros said.
On February 3, DICT announced that the hackers breached the email systems and internal websites of several government agencies including those maintained and operated by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Department of Justice, the National Coast Watch System, the House of Representatives, and that of the DICT itself.
Hontiveros said that this was a “major cyberattack.”
“While we are all busy cleaning up the mess of the sham ‘People’s Initiative,’ China has taken advantage of the current instability in the country to strike at our vulnerabilities. Dapat ito ang pagtuunan ng pansin, hindi yung mga pekeng insiyatibo na nanggugulo lang sa mga Pilipino,” the senator said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Watch her body language and Senator Risa Hontiveros’ brand new profile picture and cover photo on Facebook could be an indication that the lone survivor of the 2022 “massacre” of opposition senatorial candidates is flexing her ala-Gabriela Silang muscles for the 2028 presidential race.
Political analyst Ronald Llamas had earlier described Hontiveros as the new leader of the opposition after former Vice President Leni Robredo miserably lost in her 2022 presidential bid and seemingly no longer interested in national politics with her deafening silence in the face of current issues.
“New year, new profile pic, same advocacies. Always ready to fight!” Hontiveros said on her FB photo that shows a captivating close-up of the senator in a blue dress, exuding both elegance and strength with her arms confidently crossed.
It can be noted that the official Senate seal serves as the backdrop of her revitalized digital presence.
With the start of the “Year of the Dragon 2024”, Hontiveros also committed to pursue her advocacies on public health and women’s rights.
Her cover photo carried the caption: “Patuloy na magtatrabaho para makamit ang healthy buhay at hanapbuhay para sa lahat!”
Hontiveros is an advocate of democratic socialism and one of the pillars of the Akbayan party-list that she once carried at the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2010.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns about the absence of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in the Senate hearing.
“Where is Quiboloy? We are preparing. Is he ready? If he is, he should just appear in the Senate,” stated Hontiveros.
Hontiveros emphasized that Quiboloy, being the point person for the victims, should personally attend the Senate probe.
“We are also considering urging the Department of Justice to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order or Hold Departure Order. I will send a formal letter to the DOJ regarding these matters,” she added.
“The subpoena has been issued by the Senate committee in the competent exercise of its legal mandate. So, Quiboloy, it’s time to show up.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging caution among her fellow lawmakers in the ongoing discussion on Charter Change (Cha-cha), describing the journey as “treacherous, impractical, divisive, and unwise.”
“ChaCha has the potential to be transformative, but not when it is driven by hidden agendas, power struggles, and internal disputes,” Hontiveros emphasized.
Questioning the sudden push for Charter Change, she asked, “What’s the underlying motive, and why is this being forcefully presented to the public?”
If the intention behind the move is to enhance foreign investments, the senator suggested that it would be more beneficial to focus on strengthening domestic investor confidence within the Philippines.
“We must instill confidence in governance by rooting out corruption and enhancing our business environment, rather than introducing further instability through ChaCha,” Hontiveros stressed.
“I appeal to my colleagues in the Senate to advocate for practical solutions that don’t exacerbate existing problems.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros is determined to uncover the driving force behind the movement to amend the Constitution through a so-called people’s initiative.
“The sole motive of those orchestrating this people’s initiative is to sideline the members of the Senate—individuals elected by the entire nation—from participating in amending or revising the Constitution. Rest assured, we will closely monitor this,” remarked Hontiveros.
“If they persist in pushing this agenda, we must ascertain who truly is behind and financing this purported ‘people’s initiative,'” she added.
Hontiveros emphasized that instead of fixating on the people’s initiative, attention should be directed toward addressing issues such as low wages, soaring commodity prices, escalating corruption, and China’s persistent encroachment in the West Philippine Sea.
“The Senate, alongside the Filipino people, stands as a vanguard of democracy. We will not permit this to become an effortless, one-sided struggle. We will confront their planned deceit and disrespect for our Constitution with a resolute fight,” declared the senator.
Hontiveros also contended that labeling it a people’s initiative is inaccurate if the public is not the instigator of the plan.
“Right from the start, when the advertisement went viral, it was evident that this move was solely for the benefit of those with abusive personal interests. The organizers behind the TV ad and those distributing the forms raise suspicions, as they refuse to reveal their identities and hide behind a law firm,” she remarked.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Not taking any chances, democratic socialist Senator Risa Hontiveros has alerted the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the possible escape of self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) who is allegedly facing charges of sexual abuses and human trafficking in the United States.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, has written to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, seeking the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) ahead of the Senate’s impending investigation into Quiboloy and church officials scheduled for January 23, 2024.
It was learned that the ILBO is different from a Hold Departure Order (HBO).
An HBO is issued by a court, while ILBO can be issued by the DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
On Wednesday, December 13, Hontiveros stressed that the ILBO will serve as a preventive measure against Quiboloy’s potential departure from the country and compel him to be present at the January 23, 2024, Senate hearing.
Senate Resolution 884 filed by Hontiveros stated: “An investigation in aid of legislation will also allow us to determine whether our updated human trafficking laws can cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization.”
The resolution revealed that Quiboloy’s KOJC has pastorals divided into the “inner circle” and the “inner of the innermost circle”.
“Some of these pastorals were still minors during their recruitment and during the period they were made to perform sexual services… Apollo Quiboloy allegedly coerces the members of the organization — many of whom are minors — to perform exploitative acts, such as begging in the streets and soliciting money from strangers,” it also claimed.
Last year, Quiboloy was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, among 40 other individuals and entities sanctioned due to their supposed connection to corruption or human rights abuse across nine countries.
But Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio has brushed off allegations against his client.
“These are already the subject of a criminal proceeding in California in the United States,” he disclosed in an ANC Dateline Philippines interview.
“If you think your witnesses are strong, why don’t you take them to court where the fight is fair and there is due process?” Topacio also dared Hontiveros.
(ai/mnm)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — The Senate is scheduled to investigate the alleged criminal acts of Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). The hearing is on January 23, 2024.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has shared a copy of the notice of the hearing regarding Quiboloy.
The chair of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality has also sent a letter to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, seeking assistance to ensure Quiboloy’s physical presence in the Senate.
“In the interest of justice and due process, it is my strong desire to ensure that he will be physically present in the Senate for the hearing,” stated Hontiveros.
Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla opposes the Senate’s probe on Quiboloy, arguing that the case falls outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines.
“That’s an American case. Pastor’s case is an American case. What is it? Like the International Criminal Court (ICC)? Are we going to bow down to foreigners again? Is that how it seems?” Padilla remarked.
“For us, especially for me, I feel uneasy when it involves a case with foreigners… [Andres] Bonifacio would be offended. I don’t like it. But if it’s in the Philippines, I can’t do anything. He’s a Filipino. If we base it on the courts of other countries, no way,” added the senator.
(ai/mnm)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Alleged victims of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and child abuse linked to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ recently collaborated with Senator Risa Hontiveros in a press conference to expose and share their experiences.
“Last night, we formally urged the Senate to investigate the cases of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and child abuse filed by numerous victims against Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” stated Hontiveros.
“This is not mere gossip. What we hold against Quiboloy are the testimonies of the victims,” she emphasized.
Jackson, a pseudonym used for an alleged victim of Quiboloy, disclosed that they were lured into joining a youth camp and later coerced into soliciting funds.
“I was carried away; we were on a bus, mostly young people, often underage. I was 15 years old. We solicited in Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, the entire Misamis Occidental, and the whole Misamis Oriental,” he recounted.
“We were many at the age of 15, my peers and I.”
He went on to share an incident where he was slapped when he could only remit P300, his lowest contribution to the minister.
“For us in full-time service, you’re there inside [the Kingdom of Jesus Christ] your whole life. The worst part is the beating. In 2000, I can’t forget, more than 50 were beaten in the gym,” added Jackson.
Another victim, Arlene, narrated how she was compelled to sell products and beg for alms.
“I was 15 years old when I first converted to Quiboloy. We were sent to Amoranto to beg. We were sent from Davao to Manila for begging. The first place my sister and I stayed in was the Amoranto Colosseum in Cubao in 1991. We pretended to be mute and deaf, fake students carrying various associations to raise money,” shared Arlene.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that just like Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Señor Aguila and his Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) in Surigao del Norte, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his group should be held accountable for their alleged abuses in the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
On Monday, December 11, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 884, seeking a Senate directive for its Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to start an official inquiry into the alleged large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and violence, and child abuse committed by the KOJC.
Hontiveros chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Interestingly, Quilario of SBSI was able to attract followers in Surigao del Norte by claiming to be the reincarnation of the Catholic icon Sto. Niño while Quibuloy managed to fortify his KOJC in Davao by declaring to be the “Appointed Son of God.”
Arlene Caminong Stone, one of the first former KOJC members to come forward and disclose the alleged excesses of Quiboloy’s group, said it has been years since she and other alleged victims cried out for help from the government, but they were ignored.
In late 2021, Stone — who is now based in Minnesota, United States, revealed the alleged practice of Quiboloy to have “spiritual wives” picked from a group of “pastorals,” who serve as aides and take care of the preacher’s needs, including household chores.
Lately, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), allegedly owned by Quibuloy, came under fire from the House of Representatives after its program anchors, Jeffrey Celiz and Lorraine Badoy, made supposedly false allegations that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on travel expenses.
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging heightened security measures in schools and public spaces, especially during the holiday season.
Hontiveros has directed her plea to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of National Defense (DND), and all law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the need to proactively address potential threats to national security and prevent incidents like the bombing of the Mindanao State University (MSU) from recurring.
Highlighting that colleges and universities serve as second homes not only for students but also for communities, Hontiveros stresses the importance of ensuring their safety at all times.
The lawmaker further insists on bolstering border security to prevent individuals responsible for incidents such as the MSU bombing in Mindanao from escaping the province.
It is worth noting that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. previously declared that a foreign terrorist was responsible for the explosion at MSU.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid the tensions at the West Philippine Sea, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has expressed alarm that there are now some Chinese Nationals who were able to get birth certificates and government-issued IDs to be able to get passports as Filipino citizens lending credence to earlier warning made by former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III that there are Chinese “sleeper cells” in the Philippines.
This possibility of having Chinese “sleeper cells” surfaced as Hontiveros dared China to order its vessels to leave the WPS following its complaint of the recent Philippine-US joint maritime patrols.
“It has always been China who stirs up trouble in the West Philippine Sea, not the Philippines. Our country should be free to patrol our waters with whomever we choose, whenever we want. This is our right as a sovereign nation,” Hontiveros stressed in her statement.
The democratic socialist senator added that as an advocate of multilateralism in our foreign relations, she has long called for joint patrols with other nations, not just the US.
“I would also welcome joint maritime exercises with our neighbors in Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, India, and other naval powers who are committed to a rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea and the entire South China Sea,” Hontiveros said.
Earlier, she revealed the “Filipino citizenship racket” involving some Chinese nationals.
“Ang mas nakakatakot pa ngayon ay ang natuklasan namin sa aming imbestigasyon patungkol sa mga Chinese employees ng mga POGO. Naibunyag sa hearing na may mga Chinese nationals na bumibili ng Filipino birth certificate at mga government-issued IDs para magkaroon ng Philippine passport, para maging Pilipino. Umaabot pa nga daw ng P500,000 per passport ang kalakal,” Hontiveros revealed.
Following the arrest of two Chinese nationals in Pasig City for illegal possession of high-powered firearms on Oct. 13, Alunan alleged that the arrest means that China has prepositioned its clandestine forces in the Philippines amid the tense situation in the WPS.
The Chinese embassy in the Philippines has strongly denied Alunan III’s allegation that there are Chinese “sleeper cells” in the Philippines.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
SEEING SOME YOUNG STUDENTS interested in getting involved in pushing for meaningful societal changes, potential opposition presidential bet in 2028 Senator Risa Hontiveros has impressed upon the visiting youth at the Senate that “public service is no walk in the park.”
Despite the challenges, the lone opposition survivor in the 2022 senatorial race told the National Youth Congress delegates during a recent visit to the Senate that the journey is worth taking.
“My dear students, serving the nation, and serving others is difficult – but it is worth the blood, sweat and tears. We have a beautiful country and amazing people – and these are worthy of our energies, our creativity, and our idealism,” Hontiveros said.
The democratic socialist (demsoc) lawmaker garnered over 15.2 million votes in the May 9, 2022 polls that catapulted her to the 11th spot among the 12 senatorial candidates to become part of the 19th Congress.
She expressed hope that the Senate visit would be a game-changer for the youth in pursuing public service and advocacy.
“I hope that today’s event will leave you with a new appreciation for public service and advocacy, if not a new purpose as a citizen and youth leader,” said Hontiveros who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
She recalled that during her younger days in high school at St. Scholastica’s College Manila, she attended a forum on advocating a nuclear-free country and it opened her eyes “to pollution, the dangers of nuclear power, corruption, greed and the need to stand up to these ills and challenges.”
Political analyst Ronald Llamas, who was once rumored to be the boyfriend of the widow senator, said Hontiveros is now the rightful leader of the opposition.
“(Former) Vice-President Robredo has transferred the leadership of the opposition to Risa Hontiveros, so she is now in a strategic position to harness the energies of the pink wave and create a new opposition with Akbayan Party as the lead,” Llamas stressed.
Hontiveros has flatly denied the rumors of having romantic links with Llamas, a reputed Christian Socialist who is more identified with the demsoc and social democratic (socdem) groups.
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that a coalition of centrist and moderate left political forces may likely put up a Hontiveros-Llamas tandem for the 2028 presidential elections to challenge the probable administration teams of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez with either Senator Raffy Tulfo or ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo as running mate and Vice President Sara Duterte with Senator Imee Marcos.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
WITH THE POSSIBLE presidential run of Senator Risa Hontiveros as the standard bearer of “third force” composed of centrist and moderate left political forces in 2028, self-styled political analyst Ronald Llamas has loomed as her running mate.
This possibility surfaced with the noticeable frequent guestings of Llamas in various podcast interviews.
Reliable sources said Llamas has been the consistent “admirer” of Hontiveros ever since 1986 when the first Marcos administration was toppled down in what is known as EDSA People Power Revolution after 20 years in power.
Their closeness triggered rumors that they were just more than friends or “comrades-in-arms” pursuing the social democratic (socdem) ideals.
In 2013, Llamas was once again rumored to be the boyfriend of Hontiveros but the widow senator denied this “chismis” (gossip).
“I am not seeing him. We never went out. We have been friends and colleagues for decades since I graduated from college. Magkasama kami sa Coalition for Peace,” Hontiveros said then.
Llamas’ “admiration” for Hontiveros can be gleaned in his June 30, 2022 interview with IPS (International Politics and Society) magazine which is based in the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s office in Brussels, Belgium.
IPS asked Llamas: “With Senator Risa Hontiveros, your party holds the only oppositional seat in the senate. What does it mean for your party Akbayan?”
He replied: “Risa Hontiveros will not only be the leader of the opposition in the Senate but in the whole country. The positive thing about being the lone opposition senator in the Senate is that you get to sit in all the committees. This gives her a platform from which to articulate her grievances and her vision.”
Llamas stressed: “Vice-President Robredo has transferred the leadership of the opposition to Risa Hontiveros, so she is now in a strategic position to harness the energies of the pink wave and create a new opposition with Akbayan Party as the lead.”
(ai/mmm)
Ni Liza Soriano
ININSPEKSIYON nina Senador Risa Hontiveros at Win Gatchalian ang gusali ng ni-raid na gaming operator na Smart Web Technology (SWT) sa Pasay City.
Hindi makapaniwala ang dalawang senador kung paano nagawa ng isang Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) na ganito kalaki ang umano’y isang prostitution den sa kabila ng pagiging malapit nito sa lokal na pulisya, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Pasay City Hall, at maging sa Senado.
Kapwa rin na-shock ang dalawang senador nang makita nila nang personal ang tinaguriang “torture room” sa loob ng SWT building.
“Gaya n’yo, na-shock din ako sa nakita ko na torture chamber kung saan ginagapos ang mga empleyado ng Smart Web. Walang ilaw, walang pagkain, pasa-pasa at bugbog-bugbog ang sinapit ng mga biktima ng mapangahas at abusadong employer na ito. The walls are literally blood-stained,” wika ni Hontiveros na siyang chairperson ng Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
“Seems like we are now the human trafficking and human slavery hub in the world… Ang kinakatakutan ko, lalala at lalala ito,” ayon naman kay Gatchalian.
Ngunit ang mas nakababahala, anila, ay ang pagkakatuklas ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) na isang grupo ang nagbibigay ng mga tunay na Philippine government ID sa mga dayuhang manggagawa ng POGO.
“From our initial verification made with the commissioner of the BIR… Nagulat po sila nang malaman nila na nakapasok po sa sistema nila itong mga IDs na ito. So authentic po,” ayon kay PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz.
(ai/mnm)
By Liza Soriano
Senator Risa Hontiveros has urged Malacañang to impose a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) to safeguard the national security of the country.
During a hearing on the proliferation of scam hubs in the Philippines, the senator expressed concerns about government identification cards (such as TIN ID, PhilHealth ID, Alien Certificate of Registration, Alien Employment Permit, and Police Clearance ID) that were fraudulently obtained for Chinese nationals employed by Smart Web Technology, a recently raided company in Pasay City.
“It seems that even without waiting in line, the Chinese are being issued IDs. They use these IDs as a means to become legal residents in the Philippines and acquire a Philippine passport,” remarked Hontiveros.
“The more painful question is: Do they have accomplices within government agencies? Considering our ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea, it is alarming that we are granting unfettered access to our country to Chinese citizens through these POGO hubs,” added the lawmaker.
“The President should already ban POGO. If he genuinely wants to defend our country against those who disrespect our sovereignty, he should include the entire online gambling industry in the entities being expelled from our territory.”
Hontiveros then raised concerns about the issuance of birth certificates in the Philippines to Chinese nationals, which they subsequently use to apply for Philippine passports.
“Why do these Chinese individuals need to falsify their nationality to become Filipino citizens? If their only motive is to work, they can do so by applying for alien employment permits,” the lady lawmaker stressed.
(ai/mnm)