Latest news with #Philippines
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Philippines appeals for help to rescue nationals trapped in scam hubs
MANILA: The Philippines is appealing to foreign governments for help in rescuing its nationals believed to be trapped in scam hubs across mainland Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday. For several years, the cyberscam industry has proliferated in Southeast Asia, especially in border areas of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. More than 220,000 people from all over the world — many trafficked to the region — have been working in scam hubs in Cambodia and Myanmar alone, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime data. UNODC's April 2025 report estimates that they generate about $40 billion annually, from romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, fake investment platforms, online gambling, phishing and impersonation scams. The presence of Filipinos in these operations came to the spotlight when at least 200 of them were freed in late February and March from a scam center located in an office complex in Myawaddy on Myanmar's border with Thailand. It was unclear at the time how many more Philippine nationals remained there, but the Department of Foreign Affairs has been receiving reports of Filipinos 'still trapped inside different scam centers' in Southeast Asia. The DFA said it is working closely with its embassies and consulates in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia 'to persistently devote efforts and resources in extending all possible assistance to our Filipinos in distress, while requesting the authorities of the host countries for their invaluable cooperation.' The DFA called on overseas-based nationals to help prevent the recruitment of Filipinos into such operations, and urged relatives of victims 'to provide verified information on their kin that they believe may be trapped in scam hubs in the vicinity of the Myanmar-Thai border.' The rescue of Philippine nationals in April helped to shed light on new patterns of their recruitment by scam syndicates. An investigation by the Philippine Interagency Council Against Trafficking showed that many of them came from the Philippines' middle class and were often educated individuals — not necessarily unemployed — seeking better opportunities abroad. The offers usually came through unofficial channels such as social media, advertising roles in call centers, marketing, customer service or chat support — often based in Thailand. But once they reached Thailand, instead of the jobs they were promised, the victims were transported across the border into the high-security compounds where they were forced to scam people globally. Their rescue is complicated by the fact that many hubs operate in lawless border zones or semi-autonomous regions controlled by militias, such as Myanmar's Karen State, limiting diplomatic and law enforcement reach.
UAE Moments
3 hours ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Oman, Philippines Sign Visa Waiver for Diplomatic Passports
Oman and the Philippines just made it easier for certain passport holders to travel between the two countries. Officials have signed a mutual visa waiver agreement covering diplomatic, special, and service passports —a step that signals tighter collaboration between the two nations. Signed in Manila The deal was inked during a meeting in Manila between Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and the Philippines' Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro. While they were at it, both leaders also talked about broadening cooperation in economic, scientific, and strategic areas. More Than Just a Travel Deal This isn't just about skipping visa lines. Both sides said they're committed to deepening their relationship through more memoranda of understanding and new agreements. They also announced that the second Oman–Philippines Investment Forum will take place next year in Muscat. Talks Go Beyond Business Beyond economics, the ministers also exchanged views on regional issues, shared plans to boost knowledge exchange and skills development, and discussed stronger collaboration between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN. Secretary Lazaro thanked Oman for its humanitarian efforts, especially in helping free sailors from the MV Galaxy Leader in Yemen. She also gave a nod to Oman's fair treatment of Filipino workers and praised the country's balanced foreign policy under Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US to build Philippines boat hub for South China Sea edge, ‘low-footprint' deterrence
A discreet but strategically significant US-funded boat maintenance hub in the western Philippines is poised to strengthen Manila's maritime presence in the contested South China Sea while avoiding raising the risk of political escalation. The new facility in Quezon, a coastal town on Palawan Island less than 260km (162 miles) from the flashpoint Second Thomas Shoal, could enable the Philippine Navy to maintain a more persistent and responsive posture amid rising tensions with China, in what analysts say is part of Washington's broader push for 'low-footprint' deterrence in the region. Designed to service and deploy small Philippine naval craft, the hub's proximity to disputed waters is seen as an advantage. 'That proximity matters operationally – it reduces transit time and enhances the credibility of Manila's maritime presence,' said Sylwia Monika Gorska, a political analyst and doctoral candidate at the University of Central Lancashire. The project, first reported by the United States Naval Institute on Monday, is part of a larger shift in US regional strategy that prioritises smaller, dual-use infrastructure over permanent military bases. It will support rigid-hulled inflatable boats and 'assault boats' built by Oregon-based Reconcraft, which specialises in vessels used by military and law-enforcement agencies. The US embassy in Manila confirmed that the initiative would enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the nearby Naval Detachment Oyster Bay – improving readiness without overtly expanding America's military footprint. Philippine navy vessels anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province. A new US-funded boat maintenance hub is expected to enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the facility. Photo: AFP From Washington's perspective, the investment supported 'partner-led deterrence' by enabling allies to operate more independently, without requiring forward-deployed US assets, Gorska said.
CNA
6 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
US to build Philippine boat repair facilities near contested South China Sea
MANILA: The US Navy plans to build two repair facilities for smaller vessels operating in the western Philippines, the US embassy said Wednesday (Jul 16), with one about 240km east of a fiercely contested reef in the South China Sea. Located in the Spratly archipelago, the Second Thomas Shoal hosts a small detachment of Philippine forces aboard a grounded navy vessel and has been the site of clashes with Chinese ships. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway despite an international ruling its assertion has no merit. The US government's contracting website, locates one of the proposed repair facilities in Palawan province's Quezon municipality. The facilities "will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for a variety of (Philippine) vessels including 7.32m watercraft as well as other smaller conventional watercraft," the bid notice for the Quezon project reads. The Philippines owns several vessels that size, including rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that have been involved in clashes with larger Chinese ships. While there are not believed to be existing permanent military facilities in Quezon, the area has hosted parts of joint US-Philippine military exercises for the past two years. The US embassy in Manila confirmed on Wednesday the tender for both the Quezon project and a similar one to be constructed at the Philippines' existing Oyster Bay naval facility about 130km north. Officials from the Philippine Department of Defense did not immediately provide comment. Retired Philippine admiral Rommel Jude Ong, now a military analyst with the Ateneo de Manila University, told AFP such facilities could be used "for RHIBs, but more likely for smaller rubber boats used in the resupply of occupied features".
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale' Season 1 Cast Photos: Meet The 12 Queens Competing
Wow Presents Plus has unveiled the all-star cast of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Season 1. The queens competing in the inaugural season of the reality series include fan favorites from previous seasons of the Philippines franchise, as they take on Asian queens from across the global franchise. More from Deadline 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta' Alum Kandi Burruss To Receive The Wifetime Achievement Award At BravoCon 2025 Chip Gaines Addresses Backlash Over Magnolia Network Reality Series Featuring Gay Couple: "Love One Another, It's Not Difficult" 'The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' Score First Emmy Nomination For Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program Queens from the Philippines franchise include Arizona Brandy (Season 2), Bernie (Season 2), Brigiding (Season 1), Khianna (Season 3), and Viñas Deluxe (Season 1). RELATED: Asian queens from across the Drag Race universe include Ivory Glaze(Drag Race Down Under Season 3), Kitty Space(Drag Race France Season 2), Madame Yoko (Drag Race Belgique Season 2), Siam Phusri(Drag Race Thailand), Suki Doll(Canada's Drag Race Season 2), Sum Ting Wong (RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 1), and Yuhua (RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10). RELATED: is set to premiere on Wednesday, August 13, worldwide on Wow Presents Plus with Paolo Ballesteros as host of the competition. The reality competition is produced in the Philippines by Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. in conjunction with World of Wonder Productions, Inc. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, RuPaul Charles, Alex Godinez-Lopez, and Maricel Ticar Santos serve as Executive Producers on the series. Watch the trailer for Season 1. Scroll through the photo gallery below to meet the queens of Season 1. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far 'Street Fighter' Cast: Who's Who In The Live-Action Arcade Film Adaption 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More
