Advisory : PAL tells passengers: Be at airport 5 hours before departure

MANILA - Philippine Airlines on Tuesday advised passengers of international flights to be at the airport up to five hours before departure in anticipation of long lines at immigration counters.

"Please come early in anticipation of long immigration lines," the flag carrier said.

Immigration officers have gone on mass leave to protest alleged non-payment of overtime work.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, who said more than 30 personnel have resigned and 50 others are on leave, admitted that the problem may extend until the Holy Week.

Read full advisory below:

"Tinatawagan ng pansin ang mga pasahero ng Philippine Airlines na paalis patungong ibang bansa:  

Sikaping makarating sa airport (NAIA Terminal 2) para makapag-check-in sa inyong flight ng apat hanggang limang (4-5) oras bago ang takdang oras ng lipad dahil sa kakulangan ng tauhan sa Immigration counters na nagdudulot ng mahabang pila. 

Agahan po ang pagpunta sa airport dahil mahaba ang pila sa Immigration. 

Salamat po."

Manila International Aviation Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal insisted, however, that they have a "contingency plan" to ensure normal operation despite the mass leave.

BOC, PDEA, Chinese agents join forces to stop drug smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tie-up with China’s Fujian Provincial Drug Law Enforcement Agency for a strong stance against the entrance of prohibited drugs into the Philippines.

In a meeting on Tuesday, 21 February, Director Neil Anthony Estrella of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) emphasized the need to talk about and address the illegal drug operations involving China and the Philippines. “This will be the start of the interaction and engagement of the customs of China and of Philippines,” he said.

Deputy Director for Operation Division of Narcotics Control Commission Shen Yu explained that this tie up is a response to the agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during President Rodrigo Duterte's four-day state visit to Beijing last October 18 to 21. The said MOU supports the Philippine government’s efforts in fighting against illicit drugs.

“We have come to our new relationship after President Duterte visited China. We can discuss how to enhance cooperation in terms of narcotics control between our nation,” Yu said.

BOC, aside from its primary function of collecting the lawful duties and taxes accruing on the imported article, is also responsible for keeping all ports of entry free from smuggling in any forms.

According to reports from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) for 2016, BOC intercepted 30 illegal drugs shipments, 14 illegal shipments of methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as shabu amounting to P30,093,990.50, five shipments of ecstasy valued at P15,363,000, nine shipments of cocaine pegged at P291,677,691; and one shipment of marijuana at P25,520 -- all totaling to P337,160,201.50.

Illegal drugs are transported to the country via fishing vessels and shabu laboratories. Last 17 February, BOC seized 320 drums of imported hydrochloric acid known as one of the components in making shabu at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), Tagoloan Sub-port, Cagayan de Oro.

Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno of the Enforcement Group said that the top priority of the government is drug enforcement. “We can establish a specific office or person to act as a liason officer of the Narcotics Commission of China. You can expect BOC’s full cooperation because this is our priority -to end illegal drugs smuggling,” he said.

China has partnered with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in its intelligence sharing against crimes and drugs. Philippines and China agreed to enhance exchange of intelligence and technology in fighting against drug crimes, including the training of operatives and techniques in detecting illegal drugs

BOC to auction items at MICP, anticipates more than P16-M in revenue

Philippines -  The Bureau of Customs is expected to generate an additional P16,160,649.62 in revenue as one of its major ports bid out to the public twenty-three (23) lots of abandoned and/or seized goods.

The Manila International Container Port (MICP) will hold on 30 January a public auction sale of various items, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1129 and 1139 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to CAO 10-2007 dated November 28, 2007, and other relevant Customs Memorandum Orders.

The shipments up for auction include four (4) units of Cadillac Escalade and one (1) unit of Lincoln Navigator with a floor price of P2,250,000.00; two (2) units of used car pegged at P600,000.00; two (2) containers of forty (4) footer bicycle parts and accessories pegged at P1,474,000.00; five (5) containers of forty (40) footer color sandwich panels color plate pegged at P2,963,438.62, and one (1) container of forty (40) footer e-bike parts and accessories priced at P1,000,000.00.

Other items up for bidding are forty-eight (48) containers of twenty (20) footer bunker/slop oil with a floor price of P1,096,035.00; two (2) units used Hyundai Starex Ambulance 2003 pegged at P600,000.00; two (2) containers of forty (40) footer Mizuno golf bags and shoes, pegged at P989,100.00; one (1) unit used Kawasaki motorcycle without key, and one (1) unit Valiant rescue boat with key, all valued at P130,000.00; and three (3) units IAC 250 series mini sound shelter pegged at P150,000.00.

Other merchandise includes damaged bags, wallets, and shoes; garments; foamboard; Chumpo e-bike; structural accessories for window covering; sacks of white salt; used household goods; sacks of Portland cement; donated medical supplies and religious books/leaflets.

Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for all qualified bidders is on 26-27 January at the MICP. Interested bidders may inquire with the said port at telephone numbers 245-4101 loc. 2283 or 247-0977, or through our website www.customs.gov.ph.

Strict social media membership rules pushed to curb cybercrime

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is proposing the mandatory authentication of online and social media memberships in the country to address cyber bullying, illicit drug trade, and prostitution.

He filed House Bill 4093 seeking the registration of online and social media accounts using any valid government-issued identifucation and/or barangay certificates.

“It aims to address cyber bullying, harassment, online scam and libel and even illicit drug trade and prostitution by holding individuals, private and public entities accountable for their online interactions,” Teves said.

“To verify identities, online social networking services will be obliged to require their users, whether resident or non-resident, to supply and link their accounts to the valid identification numbers provided by the government,” he said.

The neophyte lawmaker laments that the social media has been used as a mode to bully and harass individuals and institutions.

In a 2015 Stairway Foundation, Inc. survey, 60 percent of Filipino children aged 7 to 12 and 80 percent of teenagers aged 13 to 16 revealed that they were bullied through social media.

“The Cyber Crime Act has not curbed cyberbullying and harassment because it is in spirit libel law extended to the realm of the Internet. The law does not address the issues of traceability and accountability that should be inherent in social media accounts from the point of registration,” Teves said.