BI apologizes for lengthy interviews, says human trafficking of young workers on the rise

by Cristina Chi Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration issued an apology

Thursday night, March 16 to a Filipino passenger who shared on social media that she missed her flight due to a lengthy screening process from immigration personnel.

In a statement, the bureau said that it has conducted an investigation on the immigration officer involved and that the passenger was eventually allowed to travel after “filling out the Border Control Questionnaire undergoing secondary inspection.”

“We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused the Filipina passenger and other Filipino passengers,” the bureau said.

In a now-viral Tiktok video, Cham Tanteras shared the details of an incident that took place before her trip to Israel at u PAGE A7

On Friday, March 17 defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. made the pronouncement during the 11th oversight committee meeting of the National Task Force for the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups held in Cotabato in Kidapawan City.

“More than ever, the fulfillment of our mandate is now made more urgent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to ‘dismantle private armies and identify hotspots where local officials are being attacked’,” Galvez said, quoting the president.

For his part, Interior Secretary and the task force’s chairperson Benjamin Abalos said the Department of Interior and Local Government is willing to assist in freeing the country from its “long-running gun culture.”

“As we journey towards freeing the Philippines from its long-running gun culture, rest assured that the DILG stands ready to render any necessary assistance for the attainment of our noble objective,” Abalos also said.

“Let us continue working together in tearing down the walls of divisiveness and animosity of partisan politics as we move towards giving our kababayans the peaceful and thriving communities they deserve,” he added. u PAGE A7

The order comes after a high-profile investigation began when Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight provincial staff and constituents were killed. Sixteen others, including three provincial officials, were also wounded in a gun attack in the governor’s residence in Pamplona town on March 4.

Filipina still coping with impact...

medical assistance. “I told 911 I could walk, I’m OK. I just want my son to be there.”

Son, Temi, who works as a medical assistant, arrived not too long after and found his mom at her employer’s apartment three blocks away. “When I reached the apartment, I felt I didn’t have any bruises. The backpack protected my back and my head,” she said.

That same evening, Temi took her to the emergency room of Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital where Milagros has her medical records.

The CT Scan showed she suffered “mild fracture of sacrum,” a spine condition that has yet to fully heal.

“I felt achy all over after I was discharged but I had no bruises,” she said.

Asked if she thought the assault was triggered by the suspect’s anti-Asian sentiment, Milagros gave an emphatic “yes.”

“That was the first thing that came to mind,” she said. “Look at me, I look Chinese, and I’m small,” she said. “My son said I look fragile.”

“When I was in the ER, I was thinking, Why me?” she said musing how an act of violence was committed against a woman who was simply on her way to work. Then she remembered all the Filipino women who were similarly attacked under different circumstances — on the way to church, while riding a subway, coming out of a restaurant, leaving the Philippine Center.

Christmas dinner

Milagros made sure she had a normal Christmas with her family a week later. She cooked some Christmas dishes and tried to put on a cheerful face. “I cooked despite the aches I was feeling. The doctor said it’s best to be mobile.” When she was well enough, she called a couple of close friends to unburden.

It’s been three months and Milagros has not taken the subway since the incident. She now works for a new family in Gramercy; she is a baby nurse. Temi takes her to work and picks her up in the family car.

Her advice to women? “Vigilance. Anti-Asian hate is still very much around.” She offered this reminder to all women of her age. “I was targeted because I was Asian.”

Her assault remains an open case and is under investigation by the Brooklyn Transit Police. g

Good news, bad news on cancer

THERE’S been good news and bad news recently about cancer in this country (Philippines). First, the good news: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has announced that it has released to the Department of Health (DOH) Php500 million for the 2023 cancer assistance fund (CAF). The amount, said DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, is the government’s way of boosting the health and welfare of cancer-stricken Filipinos, to complement and supplement existing financial support mechanisms for various cancer care and control services that are not yet covered by the Philippine

Last year, the DBM released Php529.2 million for the CAF, of which the DOH utilized Php230.8 million. The balance of Php298.4 million may still be used until the end of the year, according to the DBM.

But this positive development is offset by news of an official filing of criminal and administrative complaints against seven health officials, including DOH OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire, for the alleged mismanagement of Php786 million meant for cancer care, plus the Php529 million for the CAF.

Dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., who used to head the DOH’s cancer control and prevention program, alleged that the DOH “sub-allotted” last year’s funding to fewer hospitals and supposedly purchased pricey medicines for cancer patients.

Given the scarcity of funds for health care, acute health care especially, the misuse or misallocation of whatever money is made available is shocking and criminal.

This bit of dismaying news, if true, is made worse by the fact that, according to University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital medical oncology fellow Dr. Kenneth Samala, there are only 300 oncologists or specialists in cancer

Roses and Thorns

THE world is watching Asia and, in my opinion, we Filipinos seem to be paying a little more interest in how developments around the globe will affect us –at the very least, in the next five years. While there is awareness, proper understanding still remains to be gained, especially among those who have not been fully informed about their own country’s security.

At a forum held at Romulo Cafe Makati last March 13, 2023, a select group of people watched the live broadcast of the new China Premier Li Qiang, who discussed China’s development goals in the near future. With this we can start to understand how we are doing

First things first

FRANCISCO S. TATAD

IN the beginning, many thought he would be like his father. As many others hoped he would be different. Now, nine months into his presidency, people can’t quite make up their minds about him.

What is Ferdinand Marcos

Jr.’s real personality? What are his most important personal and family values? How is his real work ethic? His real governing style? His “fighting faith,” as his father once put it? Is there nothing he will not do to achieve his goal? How does he see himself as a leader?

In his latest book, Leadership (Penguin Press, New York, 2022), the 99-year-old Henry Kissinger writes:

“Any society, whatever its political system, is perpetually in transit between a past that forms its memory and a vision of the future that inspires its evolution. Along this route, leadership is indispensable: decisions must be made, trust earned, promises kept, a way forward proposed. Within human institutions —states, religions, armies, companies, schools — leadership is needed

Health Insurance

treatment nationwide. These 300 specialists, most of them practicing in Metro Manila, are expected to serve a population of more than 100 million Filipinos.

Adding to the gravity of the situation is the fact that cancer, with 31,487 deaths recorded last year, is the third leading cause of death in the country, next to heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases (strokes). Cancer is also the second leading cause of death worldwide, with approximately 10 million mortalities (or nearly one in every six deaths) recorded in 2020. The most common cancers, according to the World Health Organization, are those of the lungs, breast, colon, rectum, and prostate. In the Philippines, 189 of every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by cancer, with four Filipinos dying of cancer every hour, or 96 cancer patients every day. Sadly, many Filipinos may die without even being diagnosed with cancer, or are diagnosed too late due to a lack of funds, treatment, or awareness.

There was an observation that government’s response to the growing number of cancer cases has been to build more hospitals or cancer centers. But the real need, Samala said, is to develop more cancer experts and “get trainees who, after being trained, can go back to their communities and serve.”

Aileen Antolin of the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. echoed Samala’s views, noting that there is a need to train more experts, like oncologists and pathologists, to attend to the needs of cancer patients. “What I have observed is that the funding is usually being used to build infrastructure, although what should be highlighted is the need for manpower or experts … There is a cancer center, but there are no oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologic technologists, and mammography technologists. What happens is we just build structures, we acquire machines, but we lack experts (who can operate) the facility and equipment.” Indeed, of what use is a spankingnew, state-of-the-art facility without the experts and knowledgeable medical personnel to make use of it?

And what of the cancer patients themselves? Cancer is one of four epidemic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle-related illnesses. The others are cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory disease. According to DOH, NCDs are now regarded as a massive “silent disaster” ravaging the country’s population. The death toll of NCDs has been compared to “two 747 planes packed with passengers colliding every day.” Risk factors have been identified as being linked to cancer, including tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and harmful alcohol use. These may seem like common sense observations, but they call for discipline, temperance, and lifestyle changes. This is true not just for cancer but for most diseases leading to morbidity and mortality. This, too, is good news and bad news for all those concerned about their survival and quality of life. (Inquirer.net) (Philstar.com)