Jonathan Fairfield

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:56 p.m.) — The chief of the Philippine National Police ordered Sunday the immediate conduct of the summary dismissal proceedings against a police officer who was accused of sexually abusing a quarantine violator in Mariveles, Bataan. Police Patrolman Elmer Tuazon Jr., 24, stands accused of sexually harassing an alleged violator, together with Armando Dimaculangan, who was the marshal team leader assigned at the police-manned quarantine control point in Barangay Batangas 2. In a statement, Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said that criminal complaints of Rape by Sexual Assault and Acts of Lasciviousness have been lodged against the two suspects with the prosecutor saying probable cause exists for the said crimes and recommends that criminal information be filed in court. Full story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/29/2123437/pnp-chief-vows-probe-cop-sexual-abuse-quarantine-violator -- © Copyright Philstar 2021-08-30

By Hannah Brockhaus via Catholic News Agency VATICAN — Complaining and blaming others is a waste of time; the way to defeat evil is to conquer it first within our own hearts, Pope Francis said Sunday. “If we look inside, we will find almost all that we despise outside. And if, sincerely, we ask God to purify our heart, that is when we will start making the world cleaner,” the pope said in his weekly Sunday Angelus message. “Because there is an infallible way to defeat evil: by starting to conquer it within yourself.” From a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis spoke Aug. 29 about the need to stop blaming others for everything wrong in the world and in our lives. Full story: https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/08/30/199109/pope-francis-complaining-is-poison-for-the-heart/

MANILA, Philippines — An “overwhelming” number of victims back the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor’s request for a full investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte and his men’s “war on drugs,” an initial report by the ICC Registry said. The ICC Registry’s Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS), in its public redacted report dated August 27, said it found that “victims overwhelmingly support an investigation by the ICC prosecutor into all crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the context of the so called [‘war on drugs’] in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 17 March 2019.” The ICC Registry a “neutral organ of the Court” that provides services to other organs of the ICC. Its services include support for victims to participate in proceedings and apply for reparations. The VPRS said it received a total of 212 representations, but following legal assessment, it transmitted 204 victim representations to the Pre-Trial Chamber, which is deciding whether it would grant the request of the OTP to launch a full investigation into the Philippines. Full story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/30/2123621/icc-victims-overwhelmingly-support-investigation-philippine-drug-war -- © Copyright Philstar 2021-08-30

File photo CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga: Fourteen Chinese were arrested on Sunday for alleged illegal gambling in Angeles City as Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) continued to press its war against illegal-gambling activities in Central Luzon (Region 3). In his report to PRO3 Regional Director BGen. Valeriano de Leon, Col. Rommel Batangan, city director of the Angeles City Police, said at about 2:30 on Sunday morning, the Regional Field Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the CIDG Provincial Field Unit-Pampanga and the officers from Police Stations 2 and 5 of the Angeles City Police Office conducted a raid at the second floor of a building along Friendship Highway in Angeles City, Pampanga that resulted in the arrest of the 14 suspects. De Leon identified those arrested as Harry Zhang, Frank Wang, Harry Wung, David Wang, Abu Deng, Abu Yang Jin, James Zhang, Zhou Bin, Yang Bing, Zho Ya, Lan Mi, Lao Hai Ping, Jacky Lau and Henry Yuan. Full story: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/08/30/news/regions/14-chinese-arrested-for-illegal-gambling/1812815 Manilla Times - 2021.08.30

- It’s a key ingredient in Filipino cuisine, but the large chains and companies that use it benefit from underpaid workers with little to no legal protection - A proposed new bill looks to establish formal rights for those in the shadow economy, but it’s still a long road to a fair wage Even when she’s not at work, the scent of garlic lingers on Marites Arendain’s calloused palms – her “garlic hands” are the legacy of years spent peeling bucket after bucket of the pungent vegetable. She earns 80 pesos (US$1.60) for the 15kg sack of garlic she peels each day, a tiny fraction of the minimum wage of 537 pesos (US$10.70) in Manila – just enough to buy her family of eight a kilogram of rice and some dried fish. “Peeling garlic the whole day burns my hands, especially when it is fresh or thick,” Arendain said. There is a robust demand for garlic, a key ingredient in Filipino cuisine, from small restaurants and large fast-food chains in the Philippine capital. Baseco, a poor community near the city’s port, is where a lot of that garlic is peeled before it ends up in boxed meals, tinned goods, or the fancy dishes of luxury hotels. Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3146491/garlic-peelers-manila-under-skin-philippines-informal-economy -- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2021-08-30

Silang (Philippines) (AFP): For more than a year, Caspien Gruta has been teased because his circumcision -- a rite of passage for boys in the Philippines -- was delayed, first by a volcanic eruption and then the coronavirus pandemic. "I worry if I don't get circumcised now, I will be shamed," said Gruta, 12. The Philippines has one of the highest rates of circumcision in the world, with many seeing the centuries-old practice as key for boys to enter manhood. Even as circumcision comes under increasing scrutiny elsewhere, with some critics branding it "child abuse", it is rarely questioned in the Philippines and boys face tremendous pressure to undergo the procedure. Every year, thousands of pre-teens have the operation for free at government or community-sponsored clinics. Full story: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210830-philippine-circumcision-season-underway-after-virus-delays -- France 24 - 2021.08.30

FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during the arrival ceremony for the first COVID-19 vaccines to arrive in the country, at Villamor Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez MANILA (Reuters) - A row between rival factions in the Philippines's ruling party escalated on Sunday when a group led by boxing star Emmanuel Pacquiao tried to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from his role as party chairman by electing their own. Refusing to recognise the decision, Duterte's supporters said he was still chairman and branded the other faction as "pretenders and attention seekers". Pacquiao, Duterte and their respective supporters have been trying to wrest control of the PDP-Laban party ahead of elections in May by unilaterally electing their own members to leading party roles. The faction supported by Duterte recently booted out Pacquiao as party president, but Pacquiao has refused to step down. The two men fell out in June after Pacquiao criticised Duterte's stance on the South China Sea territorial dispute with China, while the latter lashed back by lambasting the boxer's "shallow" foreign policy knowledge. Pacquiao and his allies in the party elected Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III as chairman, according to one of his backers, the party's executive director Ron Munsayac. Duterte's backers refused to acknowledge Pimentel's election. "President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the PDP Laban party Chairman. He remains to be so and will continue to be so," the group led by Duterte said in a statement. The head of the Philippines' election commission was cited last week as saying it would have to decide based on documents and the party's constitution which faction is the legitimate representative of PDP-Laban. Last week Duterte, who has been in power since 2016, said he would run for the vice presidency in May 2022 elections under the PDP-Laban banner. Under the constitution, a president can serve only one six-year term. The party is due to hold a national convention on Sept. 8 where it is expected to endorse Duterte's aide and incumbent senator Christopher "Bong" Go to be its presidential candidate. Pacquiao, who was on his way home following his loss in the Aug. 21 boxing match with Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas, has said he would announce next month if he will run for president in 2022. (Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-30

FILE PHOTO: A top view of the holiday island of Boracay during the first day of a temporary closure for tourists, in Philippines April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Erik De Castro MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has lifted a moratorium on casino operations in the country's top holiday island to generate taxes for its COVID-19 pandemic response, the presidential spokesperson said on Saturday. The firebrand leader has had a longstanding opposition to gambling, halting the construction of new casinos in the Philippines, one of Asia's fastest-growing gambling markets before the pandemic. "The president has given his go signal allowing the operation of a casino in Boracay," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement. Casino operations in Boracay, the Philippines' top tourist draw, should follow coronavirus restrictions and keep children away from gambling activities, Roque said. He did not say if the lifting of the moratorium would be temporary or permanent. Strict and lengthy coronavirus lockdowns last year battered the Philippine economy and hit tax revenues. No casinos currently operate in the 10-square-kilometre (4-sq-mile) Boracay island, famed for its powdery white sands, turquoise waters and lively night life. The move augurs well for provisional casino license holders like the Philippines' Alliance Global Group Inc, and the partnership of Leisure & Resorts World Corp and Macau's Galaxy Entertainment Group. In 2018, Duterte rejected Galaxy's plan to build a $500 million integrated casino resort in Boracay. Alliance Global will proceed with its casino project in Boracay where it has several hotels and a golf course, company chairman Andrew Tan said in a statement on Saturday. "We are very hopeful that the tourism industry in this island will recover fast after the pandemic." Galaxy can start its operations focusing on foreign gamblers, Alfredo Lim, president of the gaming regulator, told Reuters. Galaxy and Leisure & Resorts World did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside office hours on Saturday. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Christina Fincher) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-30

Sattahip – An intoxicated man drowned after he decided to hold a drunken swimming competition with a friend in a series of water drainage pipes that runs under a road in the Sattahip district. The Sattahip Police were notified of the incident yesterday afternoon (August 27th) in the Bang Sarae sub-district. The incident took place at the exit of a series of water drainage pipes that run under local roads. Sattahip Police and The Pattaya News arrived at the scene to find the body of the victim who was identified only as Mr. Tam, aged around 30 years old. His body was taken to a local hospital to prepare for a funeral. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/28/intoxicated-man-drowns-after-drunken-swimming-competition-in-sattahip-water-drainage-pipes/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Chonburi – A 40-year-old driver has been pronounced dead at the scene after he crashed his pickup truck in Mueang Chonburi District early this morning. The Mueang Chonburi Police was notified of the accident at 4:30 A.M. this morning (August 28th) on Sukhumvit Road in the Klong Tamru sub-district. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the damaged pickup truck. The driver, Mr. Channarong Krutthong, 40, from Chachoengsao, was found deceased inside the cab, and rescue workers were unable to immediately free him. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/28/driver-killed-in-chonburi-pickup-truck-crash-during-heavy-rain-third-death-from-recent-rain-in-local-area/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

The argument erupted into a brawl, which spilled out onto the street. Screenshot: Supplied PHUKET: Thalang Police are investigating how a visit by debt collectors for a loan shark turned into a brawl spilling out into the street in Baan Pru Samphan, Tambon Thepkrasattri, on Wednesday (Aug 25). The incident was brought to the police’s attention when 55-year-old shop owner Pranee Tayang reported to Thalang Police yesterday (Aug 27) how several “able bodied” men had arrived at her shop to collect outstanding payment for a loan that she and her husband had taken out from a private individual. The incident was recorded on video, showing several people striking each other repeatedly, with many of the blows being closed fists landing on heads. The video has been posted online, and since gone viral among Phuket residents. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/loan-shark-debt-collection-erupts-into-brawl-81213.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-08-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

A health worker prepares to administer the Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at the Samut Sakhon hospital in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Thailand's daily COVID-19 cases dropped below 20,000 for an 8th successive day on Sunday (Aug 29). According to data released by the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand reported 16,536 new cases, 328 of which were linked to prisons. The daily death toll while still high, also fell from from Saturday, with 264 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. A total of 20,927 people were discharged having made a full recovery, pointing to the ongoing improvement of the COVID-19 situation throughout the country. Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Thailand had administered a record number of vaccinations in a single day. On Friday, a total of 915,738 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Thailand, the highest number of vaccines administered since the vaccination campaign started on February 28. Sunday's COVID-19 figures brings the total number of cases in the country to 1,174,091 with 11,143 deaths since the pandemic began. Over 30 million vaccine doses have now been administered in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai Government Affirms Ongoing Police Reform Process BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s government affirms that the police reform process has been continuing, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is well aware of public concern over progress in the government’s overhaul of the police. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1229150-thai-government-affirms-ongoing-police-reform-process/

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s government affirms that the police reform process has been continuing, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is well aware of public concern over progress in the government’s overhaul of the police. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said police reform is a key part of the planned reform of the country’s judicial system, as stated in the 2017 constitution, and now a new bill on the national police is already being deliberated in parliament. He said, in the short term, seven core areas of the Royal Thai Police have been reformed, namely the organizational structure, human resources, law enforcement support systems, integration of technology into policing, public participation in policing, accountability and transparency in police work and the welfare of the police. Meanwhile, chairman of the House committee vetting the national police bill, Wirach Ratanasate, said the delay in the deliberation of the national police bill was mainly due to the impacts of COVID-19, which has resulted in suspensions of House meetings. At the same time, there still are several more urgent laws to pass, which have priority, including the budget bill for the 2022 fiscal year and charter amendments. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s Transport Ministry is pushing ahead with the procurement and development of battery powered electric railcars, with the aim of having them running by 2023. Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) have been tasked with setting up a procurement plan, as well as working out an operation budget. The SRT is also cooperating with educational institutes, to come up with a design for battery powered electric railcars, which will make their debut at the Bang Sue Grand Station. He pointed out that the Transport Ministry will study and design the new railcars this year, convert fossil-fueled locomotives into battery powered ones in 2022 and conduct trial runs in 2023. DRT, SRT, Railway Technology Development Institute and educational institutions are set to turn the four existing GEK, or Alsthom locomotives, into battery powered ones by 2023. According to Mr. Saksayam, the procurement plan for these railcars will run until 2024, and the ministry is also planning to procure 20 battery powered shunting locomotives during that period. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Thai citizens without permanent residency in the US to avoid travelling to the country via the Schengen Area, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Ministry spokesman Thanee Saengrat said the US government has put in place COVID-19 restrictions for people travelling to the US from the Schengen Area. It has suspended travel to the US by foreign nationals who were physically present in any Schengen Area country in the 14 days preceding entry or attempted entry into the US. According to Mr. Thanee, Thai citizens should avoid travelling to the US via Schengen Area countries, unless they have permanent residency or are members of US families, as airlines may not allow them to board their flights. Those with unavoidable trips are strongly urged to contact the US embassy in Thailand for advice before they travel. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s Department of Health is proposing a new regulation which will require all pregnant women to work from home, to help curb COVID-19 infections and death rates among this vulnerable group. Dr. Sophon Mekthon, assistant to the public health minister, said the proposal will be submitted to the Public Health Ministry’s committee on emergency medical and public health operations after the ministry discussed problems associated with caring for pregnant women, who face a COVID-19 death rate 2.5 times higher than most other people. He said the main problem now is fear among pregnant women about the possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Another problem is that healthcare facilities, which offer prenatal care services, are failing to refer COVID-19 infected pregnant women to larger facilities capable of handling their deliveries. A group of health advocates is also calling for better care of pregnant women during the pandemic, saying many infected women have been rejected by their prenatal care providers, who claim they were not able to handle deliveries for COVID-19 infected mothers. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

China has agreed to provide medical equipment, including oxygen generators and fingertip oximeters, valued at 10 million yuan (about 50 million baht), to Thailand to help in the fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok said, in a brief statement today, that the donation is a demonstration of the good wishes and friendship of the Chinese government and people towards the Thai people. “The pandemic may have no mercy, but we humans have to love each other. The Chinese and Thais will share hardship and happiness and will get through the crisis together,” said the statement. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/china-donates-medical-devices-worth-50-million-baht/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

915,738 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Thailand on Friday, the highest number of inoculations given in a single day since mass vaccinations began in the country on February 28th. According to the CCSA, of the doses administered yesterday, 547,128 were first jabs, 361,284 were second jabs and 7,326 were third, or booster shots. Since February 28th, a total of 30,420,507 doses of vaccines have been administered across the country. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/record-number-of-covid-19-vaccinations-in-single-day-on-friday-in-thailand/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged the public and private sectors and all Thais today (Saturday) to apply the 10-point “Smart Control and Living with COVID-19” concept, so the country can overcome the coronavirus crisis. In his Facebook post, the prime minister said that it is recognised globally that COVID-19 is constantly mutating and spreading rapidly and easily. So, the realistic objective is not to get rid of the disease, at huge social and economic cost, but to live with the disease “safely and in a balanced way,” said the prime minister, as he explained the concept, which is designed to control the contagion while enabling people to live their lives safely. He said that some aspects of the concept have already been implemented, resulting in a reduction in daily infections, while the remaining points are to be implemented from of September 1st. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thais-urged-to-adopt-smart-control-and-living-with-covid-19-concept/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

The public is watching closely to see if the scandal over a drug suspect shown tortured to death at a police station will trigger reforms or merely deepen the flaws of the Royal Thai Police. At the center of the scandal, which has made global headlines, is former rising star Thitisan Utthanaphon – a police colonel with a penchant for supercars. Dubbed “Jo Ferrari”, Thitisan is also frequently pictured with good-looking female celebrities on his arm. What happened? On August 6, the death certificate of 24-year-old drug suspect Jirapong Tanapat recorded an amphetamine overdose as the likely cause of death. No suspicions were aroused until lawyer Decha Kittivittayanan urged an investigation into reports that police officers in Nakhon Sawan had arrested Jirapong on August 5 before suffocating him to death at the station during an attempt to extort Bt2 million. Police had freed his alleged female accomplice in exchange for her promise to keep quiet about the killing, Decha told his 500,000 Facebook followers. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-high-rolling-career-of-joe-ferrari-top-cop-in-corruption-spotlight/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Provincial health officials in Thailand’s Samut Prakan province have decided to separate a field hospital for COVID-19 patients, in Banag Pla sub-district of Bang Phli district, into male and female zones, after it was discovered that some patients were being accused of engaging in sexual activity and drug abuse. Police and local administration officials went to the field hospital yesterday to investigate, after officials filed a complaint alleging improper conduct by some of patients. The authorities checked CCTV footage and conducted a search of an area, where the men and women were seen gathering together, and found 23 packs of cigarettes and some electronic cigarettes, but no illicit drugs were found. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/field-hospital-gender-separated-after-alleged-sex-scandal-involving-patients/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates