The Philippines' fight to end cybersex trafficking needs other countries to get tougher with sexual predators who pay to watch children being abused over webcam, a Filipina senator said. Organisations such as the United Nations' children's agency (UNICEF) say the Philippines is the epicentre of a growing cybersex trafficking trade, with many children forced to perform sex acts, abused and raped by relatives in front of a webcam. The Philippines receives at least 3,000 reports per month from other countries of possible cases of its children being sexually exploited online, said the Department of Justice. Senator Loren Legarda said the Southeast Asian nation must better enforce its anti-trafficking law, which carries the threat of life imprisonment, but there must be global action to stop cybersex trafficking where victims are sold for sex online. "Developed countries, from which the demand for online sexual exploitation of children usually originates, must do their part," she told the … [Read more...] about Philippines urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking
Philippines
Philippines urges 6,000 illegal workers in Kuwait to return home
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines gave the illegal workers the deadline of April 12 to register themselves for repatriation. Philippine Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said the DFA is concerned about the more than 6,000 undocumented workers who still have not signed up for repatriation. A total of 3,668 Filipinos have been flown home since February 11 when the Philippine embassy started repatriating undocumented workers who availed themselves of Kuwait's amnesty programme. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa stressed the need to register now, saying it takes at least 10 days to process the repatriation documents and get the necessary clearances from Kuwaiti authorities. Since Kuwait announced a two-month extension to their amnesty for overstaying foreign workers, the number of Filipinos registering themselves with the embassy has gone down, Villa said. There are approximately 250,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait, 75 … [Read more...] about Philippines urges 6,000 illegal workers in Kuwait to return home
19 dead as bus plunges off Philippine cliff
Nineteen people were killed and 21 others injured when a bus veered off the road and plunged down a ravine in the central Philippines, police said on Wednesday (Mar 21). The bus, which was heading to the capital Manila, skidded off a mountain road on Mindoro island late Tuesday, Mar 20, 2018. (Photos: Michael Mulingbayan) The bus was heading to the capital Manila when it crashed through the railing of a bridge on Mindoro island late Tuesday, said regional police spokeswoman Imelda Tolentino. "The survivors said the driver lost control of the vehicle and that is why it fell," she told AFP. "Police are investigating why the driver lost control - whether there was mechanical trouble or the driver fell asleep," she said. The bus driver was among the deceased, she added. Police photos showed rescue workers clambering down the cliff to reach the bus, which lay on its side amongst trees and grass about 15 metres (49 feet) below the road. The accident occurred near Sablayan town, which … [Read more...] about 19 dead as bus plunges off Philippine cliff
Seven dead as Philippine plane crashes into house
By AFP  March 17, 2018 | 05:48 pm GMT+7 Rescuers and investigators stand at the site where a twin-engined plane crashed into a house just after taking off in Plaridel town, Bulacan province, north of Manila on Saturday. Photo by AFP/STR The death toll could rise as rescuers were still going through the ruins of the house. At least seven people were killed when a small plane crashed into house while trying to take off just outside the Philippine capital on Saturday, police and aviation officials said. The twin-engined aircraft crashed into a house just after taking off in Plaridel town, killing all five aboard as well as at least two people others on the ground, said Superintendent Julio Lizardo. The death toll could rise as rescuers were still going through the ruins of the house, Lizardo, the town's police chief said. "We are still digging through the rubble. There may be more dead," he told AFP. Officials declined to say what may have caused the crash … [Read more...] about Seven dead as Philippine plane crashes into house
US hands over six surveillance drones to Philippines
The US on March 13 hands over six surveillance drones to the Philippines (Photo: Reuters) Hanoi (VNA) – The US on March 13 handed over six surveillance drones to the Philippines in a bid to enhance the Southeast Asian country’s ability to cope with threats from jihadist militants and respond to natural disasters. The Boeing Insitu ScanEagle drones are equipped with two cameras and can fly for 24 hours on a single run. They were financed through a 13.7 million USD grant from the US's foreign military assistance programme. Last year, the US also transferred two single-engine surveillance planes to the Philippines. The country plans to deploy the drones for surveillance against militants and pirates, and for surveying the aftermath of natural disasters like typhoons, mudslides and earthquakes. The US is one of the most important military partners of the Philippines. The two nations signed a decades-old treaty alliance deal and numerous pacts that enable … [Read more...] about US hands over six surveillance drones to Philippines