What's Next for FHM Philippines after UK - closure

By: ABS-CBNnews.com

Actress Ina Raymundo. Photo from the magazine’s Facebook page

MANILA -- Men's magazine FHM Philippines on Monday assured its readers that it will continue operations despite the decision of FHM UK to cease its print and digital publication.

FHM Philippines also announced its upcoming projects for 2016.

READ: Despite UK announcement, FHM PH to continue operations

One day after the UK magazine's announcement, FHM Philippines already announced that it will continue catering to the "diverse interests of the Filipino man."

Despite this, the magazine came out with an official statement on Monday.

"We at FHM Philippines would like to clarify that this suspension is specifically for the UK edition and that the brand will continue its operations in the Philippines," it said in a post on its Facebook page.

FHM Philippines, which has been operating in the country for 15 years now, also pointed out its continued market growth. According to the magazine, its website FHM.com.ph has an average of 2.5 million monthly users, while its Facebook account has 3.5 million followers and has a reach of over 7 million.

"Our combined audience for the magazine and the website has never been bigger, and our social media community experiences exponential growth and unparalleled engagement," it added.

According to the statement, FHM Philippines will be redesigning and developing its website to give it a "cleaner interface" and more content. It will also make it more mobile-responsive for a "seamless" reading experience for readers who use mobile devices.

FHM also announced its projects for the remaining of the year.

Next month, FHM Philippines will launch a photo book featuring the most iconic photos they have taken for the past 15 years.

"The photo book is a visual celebration of how the brand has evolved, and continues to innovate to cater to the dynamic tastes of Filipino men," it said.

FHM also thanked its readers for their continued support.

"We’re thankful for the support that everyone has extended to FHM Philippines the past years and we’re excited to move forward and be part of every Filipino’s life in the years to come," it said.

OTS Men face Probe over alleged Drug Smuggling in NAIA

By: Raoul Esperas, ABS CBN

MANILA – Several Office of Transportation Security (OTS) personnel are being investigated by the Manila International Airport Authority after a huge amount of cocaine was smuggled out of the country through the country's premier airport.

A high-ranking airport official told ABS-CBN News that airport officials were alarmed by the series of drug smuggling incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

These include the arrest of four Filipinas who were caught with 2.5 kilograms of cocaine in their luggage after arriving in Hong Kong.

READ: 4 Pinays slip out of NAIA with kilos of cocaine

Over the weekend, Thai Customs officials arrested two Thai nationals, identified as Siriwan Yodteerak and Aaew Wijit, after 2.6 kilograms of high-grade cocaine were found in a secret compartment in their luggage.

A report by the Bangkok Post said Siriwan left Manila through an AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur and boarded another plane at the Malaysian capital for a flight to Krabi, a southern province in Thailand. She arrived in Thailand on Sunday.
The report added that Siriwan's luggage which contained the cocaine was brought to Thailand on another flight. Siriwan was arrested when she came to claim her luggage, while Aaew was arrested at a hotel in Krabi.

Siriwan claimed she was paid 60,000 baht (P78,935) by Aaew's African boyfriend to smuggle the cocaine from the Philippines to Thailand. She said she had been offered several times by the African to become a drug mule but she declined all the offers.

TANIM-BALA

The reports of illegal drugs slipping out of the airport come as the OTS, an agency under the Department of Transportation and Communications, is under fire due to the series of alleged ''tanim-bala'' (bullet planting) incidents.
"How come OTS security screeners can detect a single bullet hidden in the luggage of OFW and other passengers but they mysteriously fail to detect the kilos of drugs inside hand-carried luggage of suspected drug mules?" asked the airport official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

READ: How victims are spotted in 'tanim-bala' modus

EXCL: 4 layer ng extortion ng 'tanim-bala'

The MIAA is now reviewing the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at the airport to observe the movements of the 2 Thai nationals while they were at the NAIA Terminal 3.

During a Senate hearing this month, OTS administrator Roland Recomono explained that their x-ray machines at the NAIA cannot detect cocaine. He said the cocaine will only register as an "organic substance."

The screeners' expertise, on the other hand, is only limited to the prohibited items based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), he said.

Senator Alan Cayetano, however, said the OTS can actually add items to ICAO's list, based onExecutive Order No. 311.

Cayetano slams Escudero and other Duterte Critics

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

Rm. 603 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City

         

PRESS RELEASE

24 November 2015

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday slammed the critics of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, stressing that those who are maligning the mayor’s decision to run for president are afraid of losing to him in the 2016 presidential election.

"Takot na takot na sila. Parating na ang tunay na pagbabago," Cayetano said.

The Senator was reacting to recent statements issued by the camp of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe and her running mate, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, that Duterte was merely using Poe’s disqualification case as an excuse to run, since he had long decided to seek the presidency.

“Klaro sa amin ni Mayor Duterte na hindi pwedeng tumakbong presidente ang isang hindi natural born citizen. Tama po ba na ang isang nanumpa sa Amerika, babalik dito, gusto maging Pangulo? Hindi pwedeng palampasin ito. Lalong hindi ito drama," Cayetano said.

"Kung gusto ninyo ng drama at pagkukunwari, nandyan ang Poe-Escudero. Kung gusto ninyo ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon, nandito po ang Duterte-Cayetano. Basta kami, we will not cheapen the presidency," Cayetano added.

Cayetano said Poe should answer directly the issues raised against her instead of hiding behind the back of Escudero.

“Hindi maaari na hindi marinig ang tinig niya lalo na kung gusto niyang maging presidente ng bansa. If this early she is already hiding behind a person, who at best is only muddling the issue lodged against her, what more if she becomes president?” Cayetano quipped.

Cayetano also defended Duterte against insinuations that the local executive may not be allowed to run as a substitute for Martin Diño, the standard-bearer of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), of which Duterte is a member.

“To those nitpicking at the legal issues surrounding Mayor Duterte’s planned candidacy, set your sights elsewhere. Aside from Mayor Duterte being a natural-born Filipino with a long track record of public service, there are no outstanding legal issues in his bid. Under the law, substitution is allowed. The filing of the PDP-Laban is valid,” Cayetano added.

Cayetano acknowledged that the months leading to the elections could be tough for both him and Duterte, as influential individuals and groups who are afraid of the mayor’s inclusion in the race may try to launch smear campaigns against their ticket.

“We are certainly expecting it. May mga grupo na maraming pera gaya ng mga drug lords, smugglers at crime syndicates na balak magsama-sama para hadlangan ang tambalang Duterte-Cayetano sa gobyerno. Alam nilang liliit ang mundo nila. But I have faith that the people, who are sick and tired of crime and corruption, will support us all the way. Panahon na para sa matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon,” he concluded. #. #