Latest news with #Mervin
GMA Network
20-05-2025
- GMA Network
Honest traffic aide in Lapu-Lapu City turns over P20,000
An honest traffic enforcer turned over money he found worth P20,000 to the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City. Forty-four-year-old Mervin Legarte found the money at past 6 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion. According to Mervin, he has to pinch-hit for a colleague who took a day-off on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. While he was standing on Lopez Jaena Street, he saw something on the road that appeared to be money. He waited for over 30 minutes at the area hoping for the owner to appear and look for the lost item. But no one came back to look for any lost money, so Mervin decided to go to the house of Mayor Junard Chan to turn over the money. According to Chan, as there is no identification (ID) card, the claimant must first prove legitimate ownership to the money. It was learned that Mervin is working with the Lapu-Lapu City Government as traffic enforcer for six years already. In an interview, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak asked Mervin if he was not tempted at all to keep the money. Mervin said that despite financial challenges, and having a sibling spending time at the hospital for a medical situation, what is on top of his mind is the anguish that the owner of the money is going through at the loss. "Wa gyud koy idea nga akong hilabtan ang kwarta. Ang akong hunahuna nga basin kinahanglanon gyud tos tag-iya kay daku-dako man gyud nga kwarta. Nasu'd sa akong hunahuna nga ako lang gyud i-turn over sa masaligan ba; kay ang tag-iya adto wala ta kahibawo kon unsa ang iyang gibati, gahilak ba siya…' Mervin said. —GMA Regional TV
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
ICE deported his brother to El Salvador, so he hid in Texas, then fled back to Venezuela
Jonferson Valera Yamarte, a young Venezuelan immigrant who had made his way to the U.S. last year, hid after he witnessed in March how federal agents arrested his brother and three friends in Dallas before deporting them to a maximum security mega prison in El Salvador. Now, he is no longer in fear: His family received him with a party at their home in Venezuela. 'It's the first time I've moved away from her, and I think it's going to be the last,' said Yamarte, hugging his mother, Mercedes, just minutes after being greeted with hugs, tears and a rain of celebration foam in the neighborhood of Los Pescadores in Maracaibo, his hometown in northwestern Venezuela. Yamarte, 21, flew from Mexico to Caracas on Thursday on a plane that was part of the Venezuelan government's official repatriation plan 'Return to the Homeland' and then traveled by land to Maracaibo. He got out of a military vehicle smiling after 7 a.m. on Saturday, before his neighborhood erupted in joy. Family and friends received him with hugs, claps and tears in their eyes, while they played 'Volver a casa' — Returning Home — a melancholic song that has become the anthem of the Venezuelan migration, which so far numbers close to eight million people. Dozens of balloons the color of Venezuela's tricolor flag and a 'welcome' sign decorated the facade of his mother's house, where a breakfast of sweet breads and cola drinks awaited him. Yamarte told the Miami Herald he decided to move immediately and live in hiding somewhere else in Texas after living through the immigration agents went into his apartment, handcuffed his brother Mervin and took him into custody on March 13. 'I left there so that I wouldn't have the same address. They were going to come for me,' he said. 'I worked with fear, I went to play soccer with fear, I walked on the streets with fear, as if I were being chased.' The young man emigrated from Venezuela in September 2023 and turned himself in to border authorities in El Paso, Texas, after a long land journey in which he had crossed the dangerous Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama. His brother had entered the United States first. In November 2023, Yamarte arrived in Dallas after being detained at the border for a couple of days. He got together with Mervin and several of his friends, also former residents of Los Pescadores, to work 'honestly' in a tortilla factory, he said. After Donald Trump was elected in November 2024, Yamarte said, he and his brother had decided to return to Venezuela, worried about Trump's comments attacking immigrants during his presidential campaign, he said. But they remained in Texas, he said, thinking that nothing would happen to them. They had papers that allowed them to remain in the U.S., they both thought. Armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers raided his apartment in the Texas city of Irving around noon on March 13. Yamarte said he watched as his brother Mervin Yamarte, 29, and friends Andy Perozo, 30, and Ringo Rincon, 39, all from the same Maraciabo neighborhood, were handcuffed and taken away. Authorities also arrested 23-year-old Edwar Herrera, another former Los Pescadores resident who had immigrated to the U.S. The four were deported on March 16 to the notorious Terrorism Confinment Center in El Salvador, along with more than 200 immigrants accused of belonging to the feared Tren de Aragua gang. Mervin Yamarte told the ICE officers that day that he had been allowed into the U.S. and that his documentation was up to date. The officers assured him that they were detaining him 'just for investigation,' Yamarte said. Federal agents took photographs of the detainees' tattoos: Rincon had an owl and his brother had the number 99, among others. Yamarte said it was his brother's favorite soccer number. 'A tattoo doesn't define you as a person,' he says. Neither he nor his brother had had any problems with the law in the United States, he said. U.S. authorities summoned Yamarte to appear in immigration court on April 6. That day, he had already crossed into Mexico through El Paso and traveled from Ciudad Juárez to Mexico City. He thought that having remained free for a few weeks in Texas was 'a sign from God,' he says. 'Sometimes, one is very foolish because of greed and money, thinking that I was going to stay despite what was happening' to other Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S., he added. But then, when he got the notice to appear in immigration court, he said, he became convinced he would be detained and deported, perhaps to the prison in El Salvador. 'I spoke with my mother and told her that I was not going to be in the United States anymore, that I was not a criminal. Why should they be persecuting me?' he said. Yamarte said he plans to start working in Venezuela again after spending time with his family. 'I want to keep moving forward,' he added. He said his brother is innocent and remains hopeful he will be released from the Salvadoran prison and return home to Maracaibo. His mother says she is happy, in the meantime, because two of her four children who emigrated to the United States are already back living with her Los Pescadores. She hopes Mervin and another of her sons will join them soon. Said his father, Alirio, who cried as he hugged him, 'You feel joy and sadness at the same time.'
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Miami Herald
ICE deported his brother to El Salvador, so he hid in Texas, then fled back to Venezuela
Jonferson Valera Yamarte, a young Venezuelan immigrant who had made his way to the U.S. last year, hid after he witnessed in March how federal agents arrested his brother and three friends in Dallas before deporting them to a maximum security mega prison in El Salvador. Now, he is no longer in fear: His family received him with a party at their home in Venezuela. 'It's the first time I've moved away from her, and I think it's going to be the last,' said Yamarte, hugging his mother, Mercedes, just minutes after being greeted with hugs, tears and a rain of celebration foam in the neighborhood of Los Pescadores in Maracaibo, his hometown in northwestern Venezuela. Yamarte, 21, flew from Mexico to Caracas on Thursday on a plane that was part of the Venezuelan government's official repatriation plan 'Return to the Homeland' and then traveled by land to Maracaibo. He got out of a military vehicle smiling after 7 a.m. on Saturday, before his neighborhood erupted in joy. Family and friends received him with hugs, claps and tears in their eyes, while they played 'Volver a casa' — Returning Home — a melancholic song that has become the anthem of the Venezuelan migration, which so far numbers close to eight million people. Dozens of balloons the color of Venezuela's tricolor flag and a 'welcome' sign decorated the facade of his mother's house, where a breakfast of sweet breads and cola drinks awaited him. Living in hiding in Texas Yamarte told the Miami Herald he decided to move immediately and live in hiding somewhere else in Texas after living through the immigration agents went into his apartment, handcuffed his brother Mervin and took him into custody on March 13. 'I left there so that I wouldn't have the same address. They were going to come for me,' he said. 'I worked with fear, I went to play soccer with fear, I walked on the streets with fear, as if I were being chased.' The young man emigrated from Venezuela in September 2023 and turned himself in to border authorities in El Paso, Texas, after a long land journey in which he had crossed the dangerous Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama. His brother had entered the United States first. In November 2023, Yamarte arrived in Dallas after being detained at the border for a couple of days. He got together with Mervin and several of his friends, also former residents of Los Pescadores, to work 'honestly' in a tortilla factory, he said. After Donald Trump was elected in November 2024, Yamarte said, he and his brother had decided to return to Venezuela, worried about Trump's comments attacking immigrants during his presidential campaign, he said. But they remained in Texas, he said, thinking that nothing would happen to them. They had papers that allowed them to remain in the U.S., they both thought. Armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers raided his apartment in the Texas city of Irving around noon on March 13. Yamarte said he watched as his brother Mervin Yamarte, 29, and friends Andy Perozo, 30, and Ringo Rincon, 39, all from the same Maraciabo neighborhood, were handcuffed and taken away. Authorities also arrested 23-year-old Edwar Herrera, another former Los Pescadores resident who had immigrated to the U.S. The four were deported on March 16 to the notorious Terrorism Confinment Center in El Salvador, along with more than 200 immigrants accused of belonging to the feared Tren de Aragua gang. Tattoos and 'a sign from God' Mervin Yamarte told the ICE officers that day that he had been allowed into the U.S. and that his documentation was up to date. The officers assured him that they were detaining him 'just for investigation,' Yamarte said. Federal agents took photographs of the detainees' tattoos: Rincon had an owl and his brother had the number 99, among others. Yamarte said it was his brother's favorite soccer number. 'A tattoo doesn't define you as a person,' he says. Neither he nor his brother had had any problems with the law in the United States, he said. U.S. authorities summoned Yamarte to appear in immigration court on April 6. That day, he had already crossed into Mexico through El Paso and traveled from Ciudad Juárez to Mexico City. He thought that having remained free for a few weeks in Texas was 'a sign from God,' he says. 'Sometimes, one is very foolish because of greed and money, thinking that I was going to stay despite what was happening' to other Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S., he added. But then, when he got the notice to appear in immigration court, he said, he became convinced he would be detained and deported, perhaps to the prison in El Salvador. 'I spoke with my mother and told her that I was not going to be in the United States anymore, that I was not a criminal. Why should they be persecuting me?' he said. Yamarte said he plans to start working in Venezuela again after spending time with his family. 'I want to keep moving forward,' he added. He said his brother is innocent and remains hopeful he will be released from the Salvadoran prison and return home to Maracaibo. His mother says she is happy, in the meantime, because two of her four children who emigrated to the United States are already back living with her Los Pescadores. She hopes Mervin and another of her sons will join them soon. Said his father, Alirio, who cried as he hugged him, 'You feel joy and sadness at the same time.'
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Death in Paradise shares major update on new series as the fate of fan-favourite hangs in the balance
DEATH in Paradise has shared a major update on the new series - while a fan favourite's fate hangs in the balance. The cosy BBC crime drama launched in 2011 and has become a TV staple ever since. 4 4 Fans already know Death in Paradise will be back for series 15 - and filming has now begun. Taking to Instagram, the show's account shared a snap of a clapperboard with "Death in Paradise 15" on it. The caption read: "We're back in paradise! "Filming has begun this week in Guadeloupe on the brand-new series of Death in Paradise." It comes as the fate of beloved Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) hangs in the balance. Series 14 saw Selwyn - one of the last remaining original characters - grapple with imminently losing his job due to downsizing. However, in good news for fans, the commissioner was rightly reinstated to his position on Death In Paradise. Death in Paradise's Don Gilet shares 'unfortunate' filming update on hit BBC show - leaving co-star stunned Although the final episode saw Selywn decide to not accept his job back. He instead announced he would be leaving the island - but will viewers see Selwyn back? Series 14 saw former EastEnders villain Don Gilet debut as new lead DI Mervin Wilson. Mervin came to Saint Marie hoping to meet his birth mother Dorna Bray - only to realise she'd recently died. Having realised Dorna's death was suspicious, he soon began investigating the case. Timeline of Death In Paradise Detectives Death In Paradise started in 2011 and has welcomed four detectives so far to the island. These are all of the actors who have played the lead detective in the hit BBC series so far: Ben Miller as DI Richard Poole - Actor Ben played the first ever detective from seasons 1 to 2, and then returned as a guest star in the third and tenth series. Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman. Next up My Family star took on the role for three years from series 3 to 6. Ardal O'Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney. Father Ted star Ardal was a fan favourite and was the detective for three seasons from series 6 to 9. Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker. The actor started in 2019 and is the longest-running star to have the detective role. He was on the show for four seasons from 9 to 13. Just as Mervin thought he had all the answers, Selwyn had a further bombshell for him. After doing some digging, the Commissioner found the phone number for Solomon Clarke - who is Mervin's long lost brother. What will series 15 of Death in Paradise have in store? Death in Paradise airs on BBC One and iPlayer. 4
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Death in Paradise shares major update on new series as the fate of fan-favourite hangs in the balance
DEATH in Paradise has shared a major update on the new series - while a fan favourite's fate hangs in the balance. The cosy BBC crime drama launched in 2011 and has become a TV staple ever since. Advertisement 4 Death in Paradise has shared a major update on the new series Credit: BBC 4 Filming for series 15 is underway Credit: Instagram / @deathinparadiseofficial 4 Will Commissioner Selwyn Patterson be back? Credit: BBC/Red Planet/Philip Volkers Fans already know Death in Paradise Taking to Instagram, the show's account shared a snap of a clapperboard with "Death in Paradise 15" on it. The caption read: "We're back in paradise! "Filming has begun this week in Guadeloupe on the brand-new series of Death in Paradise." Advertisement Read more on Death in Paradise One fan penned: "Woop woop soo exciting cant wait." Another shared: "Cannot wait to see my fav DI!!!" While a third remarked: "Yay! Last season was so much better than it's been in a while." It comes as the Advertisement Most read in News TV Series 14 saw Selwyn - one of the last remaining original characters - grapple with imminently losing his job due to downsizing. However, in good news for fans, the commissioner was rightly reinstated to his position on Death In Paradise . Death in Paradise's Don Gilet shares 'unfortunate' filming update on hit BBC show - leaving co-star stunned Although the final episode saw Selywn decide to not accept his job back. He instead announced he would be leaving the island - but will viewers see Selwyn back? Advertisement Series 14 saw former EastEnders villain Mervin Having realised Dorna's death was suspicious, he soon began investigating the case. Timeline of Death In Paradise Detectives Death In Paradise started in 2011 and has welcomed four detectives so far to the island. These are all of the actors who have played the lead detective in the hit BBC series so far: Just as Mervin thought he had all the answers, Selwyn had a further bombshell for him. Advertisement After doing some digging, the Commissioner found the phone number for Solomon Clarke - who is Mervin's long lost brother. What will series 15 of Death in Paradise have in store? Death in Paradise airs on BBC One and iPlayer. 4 Series 14 saw Don Gilet debut as DI Mervin Wilson Credit: BBC Advertisement
