01:30.5
And the number of Chinese that have been denied a visa issuance.
01:34.7
A major challenge is the submission of fraudulent fake documents, particularly from the China side.
01:44.1
Especially IDs, bank statements, and certificates of employment.
01:49.2
And fixers brazenly advertise such things on WeChat.
01:53.2
To remedy this, we're actually looking at a best practice used by other foreign embassies.
02:00.5
In China, such as Japan, South Korea, U.S. and U.K.
02:04.5
And they also require applicants to submit a social insurance certificate, but in SSS, not in our GSIS.
02:11.9
For group visa applications, the DFA said it will be more vigilant in checking if the travel firms or tour operators that are bringing in Chinese nationals are properly accredited.
02:22.6
Domingo admits the stricter measures may result in a dip in foreign tourist arrivals.
02:28.2
But he stressed the need for a balance between the economically...
02:30.5
...comics of it all, and national security concerns.
02:34.1
Given the headline discovery of fraudulently obtained passports and visas,
02:40.6
resulting in the illicit entry and or overstaying of numerous foreign nationals,
02:47.1
leading to peace and order and criminality problems with the abuse of the Pogo IGL system,
02:54.9
terrible instances of human trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and other human crimes,
03:00.5
the DFA is hard at work ensuring that we plug the gaps and shortcomings in our systems.
03:07.2
Domingo added that in the long run, this may even boost the confidence of more Chinese nationals to come to the Philippines.
03:14.0
Itong mga Pogo na kalusot, who are their main victims? Fellow Chinese.
03:18.8
There will be more confidence that there will be less instance of unsavory people coming in to commit heinous crimes.
03:28.5
This development also comes...
03:30.5
...amid concerns about the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province.
03:34.9
But the DFA clarified they got their student visas through the Bureau of Immigration.
03:40.3
There are two ways to get your student visa.
03:42.7
One is you apply when you're overseas.
03:45.1
That's a lengthy process.
03:47.4
The popular way is come in on a tourist visa and have it converted by the BI when you get here.
03:54.3
Although yes, this is a troubling matter, but again, since this happens domestically within the Philippines,
04:00.5
it's really our domestic-based agencies, BI, and other law enforcement agencies looking into the situation in Cagayan.
04:09.2
The mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac is also currently under scrutiny amid suspicions that she is a Chinese citizen
04:16.2
with alleged links to a cancelled Philippine offshore gaming operator in her locality.
04:21.5
Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News.
04:26.6
Senator Sherwin Gachalian also flagging the issuance of legitimate guns.
04:30.5
He warned those documents may be used by individuals who may compromise the country's national security.
04:38.6
The Senate is currently investigating the ties of Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations.
04:47.7
Guo's background has been under scrutiny with no public records of her medical and education history.
04:54.0
There are also suspicions she may be a Chinese national.
05:00.5
We saw that it's easy to get a legitimate birth certificate that you didn't look for here.
05:07.3
Or it's very easy to get a passport.
05:10.4
These documents can be manipulated by people who don't have the right to give documents.
05:17.3
And because of that, they are now included in different positions of our society.
05:28.1
In other news, the Philippine justice.
05:30.5
The Philippine justice department criticized for its revealing move to prepare for the possible arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court.
05:42.7
Some senators flagged the Department of Justice's announcement that it is preparing to brief President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his options
05:50.1
should the International Criminal Court order the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte over his war on drugs.
05:56.3
Senator Francis Escudero doesn't see why the DOJ even had to call a president.
06:00.5
The DOJ may be pretending to be ignorant or undermining the president's position that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.
06:17.3
Panelo insists an ICC arrest warrant is an assault on the Philippine sovereignty.
06:22.1
He also asserts it won't be good for the DOJ to make the president look like he's reneging on his word.
06:27.2
The palace maintains that the president's position isn't changed.
06:31.0
Senator Sani Angara calls for a truce between the Marcoses and the Dutertes for the good of the country.
06:36.5
I don't want to get into the merits or the actions of both camps.
06:40.0
Let's focus on Philippine interests rather than just more parochial interests.
06:48.5
Amid the perception that the Marcos administration could be shifting its position on the ICC,
06:52.9
there's also speculation that allies of the former president are trying to destabilize the Marcos administration.
06:58.6
I hope this is not true.
07:00.8
Because it's time for all Filipinos who love the country to rally behind the president.
07:08.0
Because we have an enemy outside.
07:11.3
Instead of fighting, which is our history, we should learn from the past.
07:20.5
And let's join together.
07:21.6
Because here, we have a common enemy.
07:24.4
Who else will help us if we don't help each other?
07:28.3
The president's sister, Senator Aimee Marcos,
07:30.5
also shrugged off the crew rumors.
07:39.1
A house leader meanwhile maintains there are advantages if the country decides to rejoin the ICC.
07:57.5
The ICC is a good mechanism.
08:00.5
Where in a country, there has already been a failure of a...
08:05.7
We're not saying just the Philippines.
08:07.8
We're not just saying in today's time.
08:09.8
But in the future, I think there's some value of having this.
08:14.6
RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News.
08:19.3
One of four Filipino seafarers on a ship seized by Iran has been released.
08:24.3
The Foreign Affairs Department says he will be returning to Manila today.
08:28.7
The agency also thanked...
08:30.5
...India for its role in securing his release.
08:33.8
The Migrant Workers Department meanwhile vows to continue working on the release of the three remaining Filipinos on board MSC Eris.
08:42.0
The ship was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guards last month in an apparent response to an Israeli attack on its consulate in Syria.
08:53.2
Former Senator and boxing icon, Manny Bacow, confirms he will seek a return to the Senate next year.
08:59.8
Bacow's announced...
09:00.5
...the announcement was made as President Marcos visited Sultan Kudarat to lead the distribution of government assistance to families affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
09:10.2
Our very own Ernel Tokmo is there with details.
09:13.2
Go ahead Ernao, what more can you tell us?
09:16.6
Good afternoon, Carmina.
09:18.1
President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. visited Sultan Kudarat and General Santos City this morning to provide assistance to the farmers and fisher folk affected by the El Nino phenomenon.
09:28.6
The Department of Social...
09:30.4
...Welfare and Development provided 100 million pesos each to Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato Provinces.
09:36.0
10,000 pesos were given to 10,000 beneficiaries of the AICS program or the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.
09:44.5
Additional 50 million pesos were given by the Office of the President to Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato Provinces,
09:50.8
which will also be given to the farmers and fisher folk affected by the severe heat.
09:55.4
Marcos Jr. in his speech said aid will continue to be given as the impact of the El Nino...
10:00.4
...is still ongoing.
10:01.7
Various government agencies have also united to give services to those who attended the assistance distribution at the provincial gymnasium.
10:10.3
The provincial government also gave kilos of rice to locals.
10:14.0
Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Pax Alimang Kudaratu said that financial assistance is a great help to augment the current programs...
10:21.5
...that also help those affected by the El Nino, especially the province, was placed under a state of calamity due to severe heat.
10:30.4
...other programs such as cash assistance and provision of farm inputs for the affected farmers.
10:35.5
He also added that they are trying their best to select the poorest of the poor and those who deserve and who need help from the government institutions.
10:44.0
One of the beneficiaries, Annalyn Law, who is from Midsayab, Cotabato, said their fish funds have dried up due to severe heat...
10:52.2
...and the financial assistance she received is a big help to sustain their day-to-day needs.
10:57.3
According to the DSWD in Soxergen Region...
11:00.3
...or the DPRD, the DPRD is a big help to sustain their day-to-day needs.
11:00.3
...or the DPRD is a big help to sustain their day-to-day needs.
11:00.4
Over 340,000 families were affected by the El Nino phenomenon.
11:05.1
The DSWD said that aside from food packs, they also offer cash-forward programs to the affected farmers.
11:12.8
Reporting from Sultan Kudarat, Nato Kmoe, ABS-CBN News.
11:16.2
Thanks a lot, Ernel.
11:17.2
They're joining us on the liner.
11:22.3
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
11:30.4
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
12:00.4
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
12:30.3
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
13:00.2
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
13:00.3
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
13:30.3
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
13:30.3
Ernel, can you tell us more about former Senator Manny Pacquiao deciding to gun for a Senate seat next year?
14:00.3
increased public awareness on the effects of rabies.
14:03.6
The hospital has reported a surge in daily consultations.
14:07.0
From over a thousand in April, it tripled in May.
14:10.4
The number of consultations in the first week of May alone has reached 14,000.
14:15.5
Because of this, hospital officials are calling for patients
14:18.7
as they try to manage a surge in consultations.
14:21.9
They also advise patients to seek medical care from animal bite treatment centers in their locality.
14:30.3
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa says they have not yet received reports
14:48.0
on shortages of rabies vaccines in the local government units.
14:51.5
Herbosa is looking to work with LGUs and private stakeholders
14:55.2
to bring down bite cases and manage vaccination schedules.
15:00.3
If I look at the locations of animal bite and treatment centers and private,
15:06.0
maybe if I look at it, let's see how we can do it together with the LGU.
15:11.9
Herbosa is also recommending spaying or neutering pets and stray animals.
15:16.6
The LGU, they should also be the ones preventing stray animals.
15:20.5
Because stray animals should be caught and spayed so that stray cats and stray dogs do not increase.
15:27.3
If you have a dog, you should get vaccinated every year.
15:30.3
And then, don't get close to stray animals because you don't know what the vaccination status is.
15:38.5
In Quezon City, the City Veterinary Office goes around to bring in stray dogs to the quarantine facility.
15:45.3
They turn them over to the adoption center to give them proper shelter once they are healthy and safe.
15:51.3
According to DOH data, 89 human rabies cases have been recorded from January 1 to March 16.
15:58.4
All of them died as rabies.
16:00.3
These cases is 100% fatal.
16:03.2
But this is preventable by seeking immediate treatment, vaccinating pets, and being a responsible for a parent.
16:10.3
Ara Perez, ABS-CBN News.
16:13.9
Alright, we have back on the line, Ernel Tocmo for that story on former Senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao
16:19.9
confirming that he will seek a return to the Senate next year.
16:26.4
In his speech, in his event in General Santos City,
16:30.3
this morning, after his visit here in Sultan Kudarat,
16:34.1
President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. also announced that former Senator Manny Pacquiao
16:40.8
will run again in the next elections, in the 2025 midterm elections.
16:46.7
So far, that's the info that we got.
16:50.0
And President Marcos did not explain further about the candidacy of former Senator Manny Pacquiao.
17:00.3
Alright, Ernel Tocmo there joining us on the line.
17:03.1
We're going to take a quick break now.
17:04.4
Up ahead, after weeks of rollbacks, a big-time oil price hike looms.
17:08.5
We'll give you details when we return.
17:10.0
You're watching Dateline Philippines here on AMC.
17:30.3
At don't miss our show next time,
18:00.3
Thank you for watching!
18:30.3
Thank you for watching!
19:00.3
Thank you for watching!
19:30.3
Thank you for watching!
20:00.3
With that story, MJ, tell us more about it.
20:04.9
Hi, Carmina. Yes, you're right.
20:06.3
Megastar Sharon Caneta and former Senator Kiko Pangilinan
20:08.9
went to Makati City Prosecutor's Office earlier today
20:11.9
and filed a cyber libel complaint against showbiz columnist and host Christy Fermin.
20:17.7
Now, according to former Senator Kiko Pangilinan,
20:20.1
they filed this case because of the malicious amputations
20:24.7
and defamatory statements made by Christy
20:28.6
about their personal lives.
20:31.4
Yes, they are public figures, he said,
20:33.7
but they also have rights, private rights.
20:36.7
And this, especially if the matter that Christy was always talking about
20:42.6
is not of public interest.
20:45.2
Now, this is particularly heavy for Sharon's part
20:47.6
because back in 2021, she tried to make amends with Fermin
20:51.7
for whatever misunderstanding that they had in the past.
20:55.1
And, but Sharon, all of a sudden,
20:58.3
was surprised to hear baseless stories or statements made
21:06.6
after reaching out to her.
21:09.6
Now, Senator Kiko Pangilinan refused to specify
21:13.6
which particular statements made by Fermin
21:17.3
is inside the cyber libel complaint.
21:21.1
But when we saw the briefer or the form of the complaint,
21:26.2
most of the dates,
21:28.3
are back in 2023.
21:30.7
So, and early 2024.
21:33.7
Now, Sharon got emotional
21:36.2
when she talked about how her children were affected
21:40.1
or reacted to some of the things that Fermin said.
21:43.5
Now, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said that
21:49.6
the defamatory statements were made
21:51.4
in her, in Fermin's YouTube channel
21:54.6
or YouTube digital show,
21:57.8
That's the name of it.
21:58.3
Now, Sharon said,
22:00.3
even my children have suffered.
22:02.4
We've been off social media partly because of this.
22:22.8
We also reached out now to Christopher Min.
22:26.4
We sent a message already.
22:28.3
Pastor Sharon had filed the complaint.
22:31.1
And we are still awaiting
22:32.5
for Fermin's reply or response.
22:36.3
All right, MJ, let's talk about this some more.
22:38.8
I mean, you're a virtual insider in Philippine showbiz.
22:42.2
The fact that you have veterans
22:44.7
going, being pitted against each other, right?
22:49.5
You have veteran actress Sharon Cuneta
22:52.1
taking or holding to account
22:53.8
veteran showbiz reporter Christy,
22:58.3
for me, what does that tell you about the changing times?
23:01.8
I mean, you know, it used to be that when,
23:05.8
when intrigues or criticisms come about that,
23:08.6
that's, you know, par for the course that comes with a job.
23:11.7
But why is it different this time around, MJ?
23:15.9
First, Carmina, when I actually asked Sharon earlier,
23:22.9
I'm confused, Sharon, because all the while,
23:26.2
I know you are okay with Christy.
23:29.1
I would always watch Christy's radio show
23:34.3
and Sharon would guest on the show.
23:36.6
So that's why I got confused for a while
23:39.6
and asked her what went wrong now this time.
23:46.6
Basically, it's when the children reacted
23:49.5
to what was going around or what was being talked about.
23:54.1
She particularly said that
23:57.5
in her mind, she was like,
23:57.8
I don't know, I don't know.
23:58.3
In her 40 plus years in her career,
24:01.8
she had only filed a lawsuit twice.
24:07.8
She said, hindi ako mahilig sa ganito.
24:10.6
You know, I'm not used to it.
24:11.6
I don't like this.
24:12.3
I don't like filing cases.
24:13.9
She even emphasized that she's used to, you know,
24:19.6
all the criticism against her weight,
24:22.5
her look, her acting, whatever.
24:25.2
But it's different when it's the children.
24:27.9
Like what I said earlier,
24:31.2
that's when she drew the line
24:32.9
and filed this complaint against Christy.
24:35.8
Now, I'm not sure if I can call this a game changer,
24:41.3
but this comes after Baye's complaint against Christy last week.
24:49.0
I was going to ask you about that
24:50.7
because setting our sights now on Christy Firmin,
24:54.5
this is not the first time.
24:55.7
This is, I think, the second in as many weeks.
24:57.7
What does it mean?
24:59.7
And how do you think, you know,
25:01.7
this changes the game as well for all those who are using social media
25:06.5
and coming out with unverified, unsubstantiated, false information,
25:12.7
not just against celebrities, politicians as well,
25:15.9
that you have all these known personalities filing cases or holding to account
25:21.0
those who are spreading lies and misinformation about them?
25:25.5
I think stories like this,
25:27.7
the viewers and netizens are now,
25:32.7
their eyes are now being open to what's the difference between, you know,
25:37.7
just purely vlogging or just,
25:41.7
it's really hard when you're doing a commentary show.
25:44.7
That's the reason why I don't do commentaries anymore, Carmina.
25:50.7
Yeah, but what about,
25:51.7
what kind of an effect do you think this will have on Christy Firmin?
25:56.7
I mean, she's a woman.
25:57.7
She's also a veteran in the industry.
26:00.7
And that she's now been the subject of as many suits in as many weeks.
26:06.7
How do you think she's going to react?
26:08.7
If at all, has she reacted already?
26:10.7
I mean, I saw her reaction during the BEA complaint was filed.
26:16.7
And I think she still, you know, stood her ground.
26:27.7
we will see you in court or I will see you in court.
26:31.7
I spoke to a friend who used to work for the news.
26:37.7
And there's really a thin line.
26:41.7
You know, some celebrities, they really,
26:44.7
Sabi nga nila, Carmina, like Balat Sibuyas, right?
26:47.7
You know, too sensitive with criticism and all that.
26:50.7
But if it's, it's really different now.
26:55.7
It's really different.
26:57.7
What BEA started, that could have ignited this complaint by Sharon.
27:05.7
After a few weeks, we'll see another one filing, you know, a case.
27:10.7
Not necessarily against Christy Firmin, but, you know, to somebody else, maybe.
27:14.7
But yeah, this is, it changes the mood in the showbiz landscape.
27:24.7
I'm not sure if, you know, some will be too, I don't know, scared to give their commentary.
27:30.7
Or some will be more inspired to vet and come up with factual reports or stories in their vlogs.
27:43.7
So, this is an eye-opener for all the stakeholders.
27:47.7
Not just people who are doing the stories.
27:50.7
But also the netizens, the vloggers.
27:56.7
We're going to have to leave it at that.
27:57.7
Our very own MJ Felipe there joining us this noon.
27:59.7
Thanks again, MJ.
28:01.7
Thank you, Carmina.
28:04.7
From there, a new TNVS operator offering alternative modes of transportation for commuters.
28:08.7
It's also tapping on GP drivers and operators who failed to consolidate under government's
28:13.7
PUV modernization program.
28:15.7
Andrea Taguinas returns with a full story.
28:19.7
A new player has entered the Philippine ride-hailing industry.
28:22.7
A market dominated by regional player grab.
28:25.7
During the launch of the app on Wednesday, Filipino-owned Unified Transport Operations League or UTOL said it aims to provide the riding public with a more affordable four-wheel ride-sharing option by charging a lower surge rate.
28:39.7
LTFRB kasi may tinatadhana na rate ng surge.
28:45.7
Masama kasi na sumubara ka doon.
28:47.7
Pero kung mas mababa ka doon, mas maganda para sa mga manana.
28:51.7
Utol has started operations in select areas in Metro Manila, namely Quezon City, Makati City, Paranaque City, and Alabang in Muntinlupa after having enrolled 600 drivers and operators.
29:04.7
It plans to cover the rest of the National Capital Region by June and expand to nearby provinces after three months.
29:11.7
To do this, it will be onboarding more drivers.
29:14.7
It's particularly eyeing to tap the jeepney operators and drivers who failed to consolidate under the public utility vehicle modernization program.
29:19.7
under the public utility vehicle modernization program and are about to lose their franchise.
29:24.7
Malaking opportunity yan sa UTOL
29:27.7
na makatulong sa ating mga kababayan na mga jeepney drivers.
29:30.7
Welcome sila sa UTOL.
29:32.7
Despite the growing number of transport network companies in the country,
29:35.7
UTOL believes there is still room for it amid rising demand.
29:39.7
Apart from training and other incentives it provides to drivers,
29:42.7
UTOL also said it will also shoulder the discounts,
29:45.7
given to senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities.
29:49.7
Marami pang kakulangan sa transportasyon dahil nga sa dami ng mananakay, minsan mahirap mag-book doon sa app, mahirap makakuha ng driver.
30:04.1
Doon kasi sa two-wheel, sinihintay pa natin magkaroon ng batas kasi hanggang ngayon, nasa pilot testing pa rin ng gobyerno natin.
30:14.7
Makakadagdag din sa kita namin sa laki ng mga gastusan ngayon.
30:20.1
Kasama pa ng mga sinubay namin na bayad sa bahay buwan-buwan, medyo mataas.
30:30.4
Other ride-sharing drivers have previously complained about having these discounts deducted from their earnings.
30:36.7
Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News.
30:40.7
Meanwhile, here's some good news for motorists.
30:42.7
A big-time oil price rollback looms next week.
30:45.4
The Philippine Energy Department expects gasoline to fall by as much as 2 pesos and 25 centavos per liter.
30:52.2
Kerosene prices also expected to drop by a peso.
30:55.8
A liter of diesel may also be cheaper by at least 50 centavos.
31:00.0
If estimates hold up, this will be the third straight week of rollbacks.
31:05.5
And going back to our top story, the Philippines cracking down on Chinese nationalists who enter the country illegally.
31:13.2
Overstay will be speaking now with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jesus Gary Domingo.
31:18.8
Undersecretary, good afternoon to you and thanks for joining us today. Welcome to the program.
31:22.8
Good afternoon. Thank you for the invite.
31:24.9
Alright, so tell us about how this crackdown is going to happen.
31:31.7
What's the policy at play here and how is this going to manifest in reality given that we have the situation internally and how will you prevent it?
31:42.7
To escalate even further, Undersecretary.
31:48.0
Well, first is that actually we want the continuous and increased quality visits and tourism investment from China.
31:57.4
So, in fact, last year we tried to institute, we began to institute an e-visa for China to make it easier to travel.
32:08.2
But we had to put that on pause because we still have to work out bugs with the...
32:12.5
...with the payment platform.
32:14.3
But also, now tying into our, the immediate topic is how are we going to better regulate the flow of Chinese tourism to the Philippines.
32:25.4
So, again, we had to put the e-visa on pause not just because of working out, having to work out better the payment platform.
32:31.4
But even with our normally issued visas, there have been a lot, we've began to detect a lot of use of fraudulent documents...
32:41.4
...from the applicants.
32:43.0
So, when you apply for a tourist visa, a travel visitor's visa from China, well, first of all, there are two types.
32:52.4
One is for individuals and those on groups.
32:54.8
But what we began to see is, well, and part of the basic requirements, say, for individuals is to submit, well, let's say, your ID, basic ID, government-issued ID, employment certification, bank statement, etc.
33:16.2
And, sadly, we saw that some fixers were advertising on platforms like WeChat guaranteeing, oh, they can fix a visa very quickly.
33:26.9
So, for individual visas, in addition, just again, paying more due diligence and verifying the documents, we're also requiring one more document, which is proof of their...
33:41.4
insurance certification.
33:43.6
So, just like our SSS or
33:45.5
GSIS, and the advantage
33:47.4
of this is that this is more
33:49.3
readily verifiable from the Chinese
33:51.3
government. Unlike, you know,
33:53.7
bank certification, employment,
33:55.8
those are easily faked,
33:57.4
and they're very difficult to verify.
33:59.9
So, that's one. So,
34:01.3
individual visas,
34:02.9
we're going to require a submission
34:05.2
of the social insurance certification,
34:07.9
which in turn can be better verified.
34:09.6
Now, the other way
34:11.9
to come to visit the Philippines
34:13.8
from China is to go through
34:15.6
a group visa. Now, the advantage
34:17.6
of that is convenience.
34:19.9
If you come in a group, you don't
34:21.7
have to appear personally,
34:23.9
but just your tour guide
34:25.2
has to appear personally
34:26.7
at the embassy. Now,
34:29.4
how we are enhancing
34:31.8
our security measures is,
34:35.5
a group just needs to consist
34:37.7
of at least three visitors.
34:39.6
So, we're going to increase that
34:41.6
to a minimum of ten visitors.
34:44.2
But, I'm sorry to cut you there,
34:45.5
Undersecretary, but what will make you
34:49.9
what will make this tour guide,
34:52.1
you know, not a suspect as being,
34:54.2
you know, what if this
34:55.7
tour guide is actually
34:59.8
Okay, well, the tour guide
35:03.2
well, first of all, the tour,
35:05.2
the group visa can only be
35:12.3
tour operators, travel agencies,
35:15.1
who, in turn, are partnered
35:18.3
travel or tour agencies, which are
35:20.2
accredited by the DOT.
35:22.5
So, there is that measure of confidence
35:25.0
when we have to make sure
35:27.8
tour guide is from a duly accredited
35:33.3
Alright. I'm sure
35:34.9
you're well aware as well, Undersecretary,
35:36.9
that it's not only Chinese nationals
35:39.6
who have been victims as well
35:41.8
of criminal syndicates,
35:44.1
right? They have been using other
35:45.7
nationalities as well.
35:48.5
So, how do you prevent that from
35:49.8
happening, given that these policies
35:51.6
that you mentioned only pertains to Chinese
35:55.7
Okay. Well, first also, I'd just like to note
35:57.8
that these measures are actually,
36:00.1
again, yeah, the Chinese
36:01.4
victimizing fellow Chinese,
36:04.8
largely through the illicit
36:09.6
human trafficking, kidnapping, and so on.
36:12.1
This is actually a measure
36:13.5
that we're doing in coordination with the
36:15.5
Chinese authorities.
36:17.4
Now, you're right. There are other
36:19.6
nationalities, but
36:20.6
the problem is many of these other nationalities
36:23.8
can come in initially visa-free, like
36:25.6
fellow ASEAN citizens.
36:27.8
They don't need a visa to come
36:29.6
in for a short term, and then
36:35.9
So, this is more in the province
36:37.6
of our domestically-based
36:39.6
partners, particularly
36:40.7
the Bureau of Immigration
36:42.6
and our other law enforcement
36:45.2
and security sector
36:48.4
So, our main role is outside.
36:51.4
Yeah, because that right there is a loophole
36:53.3
as well that was exploited.
37:00.2
stronger, because again,
37:03.3
also, we have Filipinos who are being victimized
37:05.4
going to other countries, particularly
37:09.6
related to syndicate and human
37:11.9
trafficking. We've had this unfortunate
37:17.4
ASEAN countries, particularly
37:21.7
ASEAN. But this will
37:24.7
coordination with the law enforcement
37:27.8
and immigration authorities of
37:30.4
countries where our people are being
37:33.8
trafficked. And in turn, we're also
37:35.8
coordinating with our counterparts
37:37.8
and security sector counterparts,
37:39.6
to help us also prevent
37:41.3
Basawai, or people with
37:45.7
criminal intent from coming over.
37:47.7
So, it's a whole of government.
37:49.7
Yeah, and when you were talking to your
37:51.8
Chinese counterparts, right, because it's
37:53.6
easy to think that you are
37:57.6
Chinese nationals. But when you said
37:59.7
a while ago that you're actually working with
38:01.6
Chinese authorities here,
38:03.6
because these are also criminal syndicates
38:06.0
that we're assuming they're after
38:08.0
as well. What would you say to them?
38:09.6
What was the conversation like, and what was the
38:11.6
cooperation, you know, the
38:15.6
policy? What was the reaction
38:17.5
like? Well, actually,
38:20.0
so, okay, so, much
38:21.7
of our coordination had been
38:23.6
with dealing with the
38:25.4
police attaches of the Chinese
38:27.6
embassy. So, from their
38:29.5
attaches from the
38:31.7
police authorities of
38:33.6
China who are with the embassy here.
38:35.9
Otherwise, it's a matter for our,
38:39.6
this coordination is being undertaken by our embassy
38:41.7
in Beijing and our consulates
38:46.3
law enforcement, immigration, and other
38:49.6
authorities in China. So, we're talking
38:51.6
both here and in China itself.
38:55.6
do they welcome this?
38:57.7
Oh, yeah, absolutely. Because, again,
38:59.5
they are just as concerned as we are
39:01.7
to stem this criminality.
39:04.2
Because, again, that bottom line is
39:05.6
most of their victims here are
39:09.6
So, do you think this will solve
39:12.0
it, a change in policies, a
39:13.9
change in tactics? Do you think
39:15.7
this will help solve
39:17.8
the massive problem of,
39:20.4
you know, we've heard it in
39:22.0
the past, that we're fraudulent
39:23.5
or fictitious, I should say, fictitious
39:25.9
employers here, fictitious
39:32.2
nationals coming in, holding on to
39:33.9
those documents as if they were real.
39:36.0
But now that you're going to ask them
39:38.1
for their social and,
39:39.6
you know, insurance number, do you think
39:40.8
that's going to be enough?
39:43.2
Oh, no. This requires a lot
39:44.8
more work. But you've
39:47.0
touched on another area. That is
39:48.9
fraudulently obtained
39:50.9
passports, Philippine passports.
39:53.0
So, this is definitely a whole-of-governance
39:54.8
approach. So, with illicitly obtained
40:01.0
interagency committee on passport
40:06.4
So, we're working with, again, our other
40:08.6
counterpart agencies.
40:13.2
we have our legislator taking close look
40:15.6
and we've been having hearings, both
40:17.7
in the Senate and the House,
40:19.3
of representatives on particular cases
40:21.7
and looking at ways on
40:23.6
tightening this up. So, on the part
40:27.7
establishing a counterpart
40:29.2
interagency committee
40:31.3
now on visa irregularities.
40:34.3
So, this really requires
40:35.7
a whole-of-government approach. Right. Because when you said
40:37.7
a while ago, the phrase that you used was,
40:39.6
illicitly obtained passports, meaning
40:41.7
the passports themselves are real
40:43.9
except that it was
40:45.9
illicitly obtained.
40:47.7
Having said that, are you also looking
40:52.3
Because it won't happen
40:54.1
without an insider
40:55.7
helping them. Is that what you're thinking?
40:58.4
Well, we have to crack down
40:59.6
wherever this could be, but by and large,
41:03.9
passports on the basis of
41:06.1
legitimate, credible documents.
41:07.6
So, we have cases,
41:11.4
process, the DFA processor
41:13.3
obtains, I mean, the basis for a passport
41:15.6
is essentially your
41:17.2
Philippine Statistics Authority
41:19.3
issued birth certificate.
41:21.8
What if, you know, the birth certificate is
41:23.6
legitimate with a supporting
41:25.3
legitimate other government ID
41:27.7
like ComElec ID, driver's license,
41:29.7
and so on. So, actually, we need
41:31.7
to also, we are looking,
41:35.2
and other authorities are also very
41:37.5
carefully scrutinizing
41:39.6
how they issue visas from their sources.
41:41.7
So, actually, a lot of the attention on this
41:43.7
is actually on the PSA
41:45.6
and other agencies, but of course, we are working
41:47.6
as one team, one government.
41:49.3
From your vantage point, Undersecretary,
41:51.7
do you think that the problem
41:53.3
is so massive that it's going
41:55.7
to be hard for you, for all
41:57.7
the government agencies to put a lid
41:59.6
on it, or do you think
42:01.5
the intervention right now is coming
42:03.7
at a perfect time
42:05.6
and that, you know,
42:07.8
this is an opportunity that will
42:11.5
Yes, I think there's been a lot of attention
42:13.6
and we have to strike now.
42:16.2
So, the proverbial iron
42:17.4
is hot, of course.
42:19.3
So, we're, it's a lot of hard
42:21.7
work, but I'm glad that we have the
42:23.5
full cooperation of our colleagues in the other
42:25.4
agencies and, of course, our
42:27.0
foreign service posts, even the government of
42:29.4
China is helping, and when it regards
42:31.5
to other neighboring countries, counterpart
42:33.5
authorities are also very helpful.
42:35.5
It's a lot of hard work, but I'm confident
42:37.0
with our spirit of cooperation,
42:39.6
we could make a big dent on this criminality.
42:42.9
And we're going to have to leave it
42:43.9
at that. Jesus Gary Domingo there,
42:45.9
Undersecretary of the Philippine Foreign Affairs
42:47.7
Department, thanks again for taking a call. Really
42:49.6
appreciate it. Thank you.
42:52.2
Right from there, World News Now,
42:53.8
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
42:55.8
defiant even after U.S.
42:57.8
President Joe Biden threatened to withhold
42:59.6
arms supplies if Israel
43:01.5
invades Rafah. Netanyahu said
43:03.9
Israeli troops will fight
43:05.6
with their fingernails if necessary.
43:09.6
As they educate their children
43:13.1
unfathomable hatred of Jews, to this
43:15.8
murderous mentality,
43:17.9
and many comply with it,
43:19.8
and those who don't, they're used as human
43:21.6
shields anyway. They use them as human
43:23.6
shields, and they seek, they
43:25.6
target civilians, and they hide behind
43:27.4
their civilians, their own civilians.
43:29.4
They target ours, hide behind theirs.
43:31.7
That is a double war crime.
43:37.5
have not entered Rafah, Israel has
43:39.3
continued carrying out airstrikes
43:41.3
on the southern Gaza city.
43:43.2
Netanyahu claims a city which
43:44.9
shelters more than a million displaced civilians
43:47.4
is also the last stronghold
43:49.6
of Hamas militants.
43:51.2
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official said
43:53.3
the latest round of ceasefire negotiations
43:55.4
in Cairo have ended with
44:01.0
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
44:03.2
fires the head of the department responsible
44:05.4
for his personal protection.
44:07.6
This comes days after Ukraine's
44:08.8
security service detained two
44:11.0
of Zelensky's bodyguards
44:12.5
over an alleged Russian plot to
44:14.6
assassinate the president and other senior
44:16.9
officials. Zelensky has been
44:18.9
a target of Russia since its
44:22.8
The Ukrainian leader said he was
44:24.8
aware of at least five or six
44:26.7
foiled assassination plots
44:33.5
Switching gears now in sports,
44:35.3
the NBA Eastern Conference
44:36.5
semifinals between
44:38.0
the NBA and the NBA.
44:38.8
The top-seeded Boston Celtics
44:40.2
and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
44:41.5
Well, that's no even, Stephen.
44:43.7
After getting routed by 25 points
44:45.5
in Game 1, the Cavaliers responded
44:47.3
by demolishing the Celtics
44:49.0
by 26 points in Game 2.
44:51.2
They did it by playing inspired defense,
44:54.2
limiting Boston's high-octane defense
44:56.3
below 100 points.
44:58.1
Donovan Mitchell again led
44:59.8
Cleveland with 29 points
45:01.6
as they head back home
45:03.4
for Games 3 and 4 of the series.
45:08.8
And before we go, three Filipinos
45:19.5
are chosen as finalists for the
45:21.1
2024 Pulitzer Prize.
45:23.4
Jeffrey Arnaiz tells us more.
45:26.5
The University of the Philippines
45:28.5
is very proud to have two of its
45:30.5
alumni as finalists in the
45:32.2
2024 Pulitzer Prize.
45:34.5
Considered the most prestigious award-giving
45:36.4
body for journalism and the arts
45:40.9
contributor of the Washington Post.
45:42.7
One of them is Ren Galeno,
45:44.6
the visual artist for the story
45:46.4
Searching for Mora by the Washington Post
45:49.1
under the Illustrated Reporting
45:50.6
and Commentary category.
45:52.4
It's about the fate of the Igret woman Mora
45:54.7
and other members of her tribe
45:56.4
who were brought to the World's Fair
45:58.0
in St. Louis, America in 1904.
46:00.8
She worked on the project with Washington Post
46:02.7
reporters Claire Healy and
46:04.5
Filipino-American Nicole Dunca.
46:08.8
I don't know what I'm going to do
46:10.4
if this is not a shot.
46:12.9
Yes, but afterwards,
46:15.0
of course, the pride
46:16.2
and the honor too.
46:18.3
And just, I'm so proud of the team
46:21.7
The production lasted more than a year,
46:23.6
but according to Galeno,
46:24.9
it's an honor to share the Filipino story
46:28.2
This is an investigative report.
46:31.4
It's an illustrated report.
46:33.6
We really had to make sure that
46:36.2
everything we were portraying was
46:39.9
as much as we can.
46:44.2
We want to make sure that we are not
46:46.1
speculating on anything.
46:50.3
an available reference,
46:52.4
we will hunt it down.
46:54.3
Feature photography.
46:56.0
Hannah Reyes Morales.
46:57.3
Also a finalist for the prestigious award
46:59.2
is photographer Hannah Reyes Morales
47:01.3
for her photos of views from Africa
47:03.4
published in the New York Times.
47:05.6
Hannah said she's still in the day
47:06.8
since hearing the news that her name was
47:08.6
included in the prestigious list.
47:10.7
The award-winning project also helped the world
47:12.5
understand the story of African youth.
47:15.1
Galeno hopes that with this recognition,
47:17.3
the talents of Filipinos
47:18.6
will be more recognized around the world.
47:22.0
opens up a lot of doors for us.
47:26.4
And I'm just so grateful
47:27.9
for whatever is happening right now.
47:32.5
It's really exciting.
47:34.2
And also for my friends na
47:38.6
I've always known that we can do it.
47:41.0
And hopefully the world can see that
47:42.7
this is what we can do.
47:45.2
Journalist Manuel Mogato
47:46.4
won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018
47:48.3
and Carlos P. Romulo in 1942.
47:51.5
Jeffrey Hernaez, ABS-CBN News.
47:55.9
And that'll do it for today.
47:57.2
Thanks for joining us.
47:58.3
I'm Carmina Constantino.
47:59.5
If you want to revisit today's episode,
48:01.1
you can play back this newscast
48:02.4
on our YouTube channel
48:03.5
and on ANC 24-7 on Facebook.
48:06.3
Keep it here on the News Channel.
48:08.6
We'll see you next time.
