3 Pinoys kill brother-in-law on Christmas Day | ABS-CBN News

 

3 Pinoys kill brother-in-law on Christmas Day | ABS-CBN News

Residential rentals in UAE expected to go down in 2012 - GMA News Online - The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere!

Residential rentals in UAE expected to go down in 2012 - GMA News Online - The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

Cops looking for 3 men in gay Pinoy’s death

Posted at 12/02/2011 1:31 PM | Updated as of 12/03/2011 8:06 AM

SEATTLE- Seattle police released a video showing three young men tossing a jacket in the area where they believe Filipino Danny Vega was attacked on November 15th.

The video came from a surveillance camera of a nearby store.

The three men are not officially considered suspects, but “persons of interest”. Police are following up on the identity of these young men.

Investigators met with the Filipino community in Seattle to update them on the case and seek their support in finding the suspects.

During a town hall meeting, police assured the community that resolving the Vega case is a top priority.

“We have a tip line set up, they can call Crime Stoppers, 911, any information, even if they think it’s seems pretty minor, that may be the tip that will help us solve the case,” said Nick Metz, Seattle Police Deputy Chief.

Members of the African American and LGBT communities expressed their support and full cooperation toward the investigation.

A group called "crime stoppers" has offered a $1,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

But while the general mood at the meeting was one of cooperation and gratitude to the police force, some say their help came a little too late.

“It took his death for the police to respond in this capacity and it’s so unfortunate that we had to congregate because he did die,” said Aleksa Manila, Vega’s friend.

Vega’s roommate James Saarenas asked why responding officers did not obtain more information from Vega when he called them for help and reported the crime.

Vega was then awaiting surgery for several hours at the hospital. He later slipped into a coma after his surgery.

Migrant remittances top $350bn: World Bank

GENEVA - Migrant workers from developing countries will have sent home more than $350 billion in remittances by the end of this year, a World Bank report said Friday.

The figure tops $400 billion for 2011 if money sent to high-income countries is included, said the report, released during the fifth meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva.

The top recipients of officially recorded remittances were India, which took in $58 billion, followed by China ($57 billion), Mexico ($24 billion) and the Philippines ($23 billion).

Other top beneficiaries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Egypt and Lebanon.

"Despite the global economic crisis... remittance flows to developing countries have remained resilient, posting an estimated growth of 8 percent in 2011," said Hans Timmer, director of the bank’s Development Prospects Group.

"Remittance flows to all developing regions have grown this year, for the first time since the financial crisis."

The World Bank expects a 7.3 percent rise in such payments in 2012 and a 7.9 percent increase in 2013.

The two-day Global Forum meeting -- attended by 160 nations and 30 groups -- was opened Thursday by Swiss minister Simonetta Sommaruga, who called for stronger international collaboration in asylum policy.

The body was set up in 2006 by then UN secretary general Kofi Annan to strengthen cooperation between migrants' countries of origin, transit and destination.

Binay still optimistic about China trip

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) – Vice President Jejomar Binay hopes that the Filipino scheduled to be executed in China on December 8 will be able to spend Christmas with his family.

“Baka naman, hopefully, masabing Christmas gift na sa pamilya, sana makapag-Pasko lamang yung tao,” Binay said.

Binay hopes to receive word from Beijing soon to travel to China and appeal the case of the Filipino convicted of drug trafficking.

“As of this time, we have not received an official communication from the Chinese foreign ministry. Ngunit hangga’t hindi pa nangyayari ang pagbitay, hindi dapat tayo mawalan ng pag-asa,” Binay said.

The 35 year old Filipino was arrested last September 13, 2008 at the Guilin International Airport in southern China. Authorities discovered 1.495 kilos of heroin in his possession.

Once Binay receives confirmation for the trip, he will be bring the letter of appeal of President Aquino addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

“Should Beijing agree to my visit, I will be personally carrying the original letter of the President. What was given to the Chinese ambassador Wednesday was a copy of the letter,” he said.

The Vice President, who is also the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, earlier appealed to the media not to publish the name of the convicted Pinoy for his mother’s sake.

“Yung mother niya suffered a stroke last year and matutuluyan yan kapag nalaman niya,” said Binay.

 

Binay also appealed to the public to pray for the convicted Filipino and his family.

“Dagdagan pa natin ang dasal. Ang Disyembre 8 ay Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Magdasal tayo na sana ay pagpalain tayo ng isang milagro sa araw na iyon,” he said.

The Pinoy is set to be executed on December 8.

He likewise thanked the public and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for their continued support through prayers in the appeal for a commutation of the sentence.

“Nakatakdang sumulat ang Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) para hilingin ang pagpapababa ng sintensya sa ating kababayan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda also issued the same appeal for prayers for the convicted Pinoy and his family.

"This is a most difficult time for the family and I ask every Filipino to pray for our countryman. The family has requested for privacy and the least we can do right now is to respect their wishes," Legarda said.

Legarda likewise reiterated that the Department of Foreign Affairs has exhausted all possible means to extend assistance to the convicted Pinoy.

“Ultimately, the decision is the result of law enforcement and the administration of justice by another country. We need to respect that. The matter is now beyond our hands," Legarda said. With ANC

Pinoys in Austria urged to register for OAV

 

VIENNA, Austria – Filipinos based in Austria are urged to register for the overseas absentee voting (OAV) in preparation for the May 2013 elections.

OAV registrants can only vote for candidates running for Senatorial positions, including sectoral representatives (Party List).

“The Embassy aims to increase the number of registered voters in Austria through any means necessary so that overseas Filipinos, especially those who have just arrived in the country, will have the opportunity to exercise their inherent right to suffrage and participate in nation building,” said Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre.

Filipino citizens, not otherwise disqualified by law, and at least 18 years of age on the day of the election, are urged to register at the Philippine Embassy located at Schwedenplatz, laurenzerberg 2, 1010 Vienna during weekdays, between 8.30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Filipinos are requested to bring their Philippine passports as proof of Philippine citizenship.