filename: cbSep19.doc
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
September 20, 2002
***Two(2) stories***
1. Imported kidnappers now operating in the Philippines
2. DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL WILL SPUR INVESTMENTS FROM OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
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STORY NO. 1
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
September 20, 2002
Imported kidnappers now operating in the Philippines
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Ever heard of imported kidnappers operating in the country?
The report was confirmed by Senator Manuel Villar yesterday who expressed alarmed on the reported imported abductors now operating in the Philippines.
Villar urged police authorities to immediately act on this report saying this will not help the image of our country in the international community should this become successful.
The Senator said the country is being made as a dumping ground of imported abductors which is a grave threat to the peace and order situation that will definitely scare present and future investors.
"Now we are being made a dumping ground not only of agricultural products but of kidnappers as well. Our law enforcers must act quickly in addressing this," said Villar.
A report by the National Capital Region Police Office )NCRPO) says that South Korean, Singaporean and Malaysian Kidnap for ransom gangs are operating in the Philippines, preying on their countrymen.
The Senator points out that reports of foreign kidnappers preying on their own citizens, indicates the quality of law enforcement in the Philippines.
"Perhaps they (foreign kidnappers) are scared to conduct such activities in their own countries for fear of being caught and they think they can get away with it here," said Villar.
He called on the PNP to rise to the challenge and prove these kidnappers wrong. " Our law enforcers should show these illegal imports that they cannot conduct their illicit activities here," said Villar.
Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations also called on law enforcement agencies to coordinate with their concerned foreign counterparts to help identify fugitives who may be conducting their activities here.
"We must seek the help and coordinate with foreign law enforcement agencies to help us identify their nationals who may be involved in such activities," he said.
KFR or Kidnap for Ransom activities, said Villar , aside from posing a dnager to would be victims, also paints a negative picture of the country , and discouraging tourists from coming to the country.
"Whether conducted by local or foreign groups, kidnapping is a menace that we all should work together in wiping out," said Villar. ///camille p. balagtas NEXT STORY FOLLOWS
story no. 2
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Camille P. Balagtas
Peoples TONIGHT
September 19, 2002
DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL WILL SPUR INVESTMENTS FROM OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
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Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said Congress should view the enactment of the dual citizenship law with more urgency because of its potential for generating much-needed investments from overseas Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship.
Pimentel lamented that the dual citizenship bill, like the absentee voting proposal, is languishing in the legislative mill despite the persistent appeal of overseas Filipinos for their early passage.
Noting the high priority given by Malacanang and leadership of both houses of Congress on economic legislation, Pimentel said the dual citizenship bill, although widely regarded as a political proposal, actually partakes of an economic measure.
"Dual citizenship bill will serve as an incentive for Filipinos who are now citizens of other countries to invest their hard-earned money in local enterprises and to participate in the economic development of their homeland," he said.
Filipinos who are now citizens of the United States, Italy, Japan, Germany and other countries, upon reacquiring their Filipino citizenship, can also regain their right to own land, exercise their profession or trade and vote for government officials.
Pimentel said many overseas Filipinos who are now foreign citizens want to come back to their land of birth once they have earned their pie or have reached retirement age.
"And if you allow them to reacquire Filipino citizenship, I'm sure that the Philippines will be the focal point of their investment of the money they have made abroad," he said.
The senator from Mindanao said the country will benefit not only from the investments and business enterprises that the foreign based Filipinos will put up but also from the expertise they have acquired from their long years of work abroad.
Pimentel said the overseas Filipinos in South Korea and Australia expressed their keen interest in the dual citizenship and absentee voting bills when he visited these countries recently.
"I was surprised to know that in South Korea, there is a demand for the passage of the dual citizenship bill. I understand that there are many Filipinos who are married to South Koreans and their marriage according to South Korean law compels them to become citizens of their husbands' country," he said.
Of the estimated 7.5 million overseas Filipinos abroad, Pimentel said about half have acquired the citizenship of the host countries. The biggest of this group are Filipino-Americans.
Pimentel said the dual citizenship and absentee voting bills had been sidelined in the last session of Congress because the focus of the deliberations was the Palace-sponsored special purpose assets vehicle (SPAV) bill and the franchise bill of the National Transmission Corp.
While the purported aim of these two economic bills is to generate revenues for the government and improve the economy, Pimentel said the dual citizenship and absentee voting bills will help stimulate economic growth and boost inflow of foreign exchange into the country.
Overseas Filipino workers remit about $7 billion to $8 billion a year in earnings to their families back home. If those two legislative measures are enacted into law, Pimentel said the amount of dollar remittances by the OFWs is bound to increase significantly. ///Camille p. balagtas END
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