IN BRIEF

DOJ receives more evidence in Degamo slay

THE panel of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) has received additional evidence from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during the preliminary hearing to bolster its murder complaints against the respondents involved in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

DOJ spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano explained that the additional evidence includes pictures and videos which will further identify the accused at the scene of the crime, supporting the testimonies they gave before they recanted.

“These will automatically support their original statements that they were at the scene of the crime, there in Pamplona,” Clavano said.

“And these recantations are just statements being taken back. But to put them up against actual object evidence such as pictures and videos will be hard for them to defend. So these are the additional pieces of evidence submitted,” he added. Rey

E. Requejo

Foreigners face raps for disrespecting PH flag

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) will file a deportation case against four foreigners who were arrested for disrespecting the Philippine flag in Ternate, Cavite.

Arrested were three Pakistanis and a Romanian who were turned over by the Philippine National Police Ternate to the bureau after being seen by a member of the Philippine Marine Corps pulling down a Philippine flag, taking turns tearing it, and throwing it away in violation of Republic Act 8491.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that they will be pursuing a deportation case against the four aliens.

“Foreign nationals staying here must respect our country and our laws. Foreigners destroying symbols of our country show utmost disrespect and do not deserve our hospitality,” he said.

All four have undergone preliminary investigation and were committed in the BI’s holding facility in Taguig.

Meanwhile, immigration agents intercepted three Filipinos seeking jobs abroad and believed victims of a human trafficking ring at the Ninoy Aquino International airport (NAIA).

Vito Barcelo

DFA: 16 Pinoys in Myanmar need rescue

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said that at least 16 Filipinos who are allegedly victimized by human trafficking in Myanmar are seeking help from the Philippine government to have them rescued in conflict areas where they are working.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega stressed that overseas Filipino workers who are legally working in Myanmar are not assigned in areas being controlled by the rebels. Nonetheless, he admitted that some OFWs are still working in rebel-infested areas as they are undocumented and compelled to work as scammers.

“Who are the Filipinos in the conflicted areas? These are not legal workers. They are those you have heard about six months ago, the trafficking victims who were promised good jobs in Thailand, but they were brought elsewhere,” De Vega said, in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB interview. Rey E. Requejo