Korean held on trafficking raps; Pinay brides promised rosy life
A Korean man was arrested Thursday in Makati City for allegedly luring Filipino women into marrying Koreans with promises of a better life, only to have them forced into servitude. Lee Jongbam, 40, faces charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law. Members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) tracked down Lee on complaints filed by three women who said the suspect helped them find husbands and promised them a life of wealth and comfort once in his country. CIDG chief Dir. Benjamin Magalong said one of the complainants, aged 23, was brought to Korea and was made to work virtually as a slave by day and forced to have sex with her “husband” at night. The woman ended up being paid the equivalent of P500 daily for subsistence, the CIDG said. The police found Lee Thursday afternoon in Barangay Bel-Air in Makati. Julie M. Aurelio
Skyway advisory: Some lanes closed starting today
Skyway Stage 3 proponent Citra Central Expressway Corp. (CCEC) announced Friday that it will conduct a traffic dry run on a 200-meter stretch of Osmeña Highway below the Skyway Buendia section between column S1-001 and S1-004, and along a 365-meter portion of Araneta Avenue between Imelda Street and E. Rodriguez Boulevard. The week-long simulation starts 6 a.m. today and will last until next Saturday, April 25. CCEC will soon mobilize for the Stage 3 construction in Makati and Quezon City, which requires lane reductions to board up the worksite at the road median. For the dry-run in Makati, the southbound and northbound routes will be reduced to two lanes each. Vehicles going to Quirino Avenue and Nagtahan via Buendia Flyover should stay on the left lane and vehicles going to the Makati central business district, Chino Roces and Buendia are advised to keep right. In Quezon City, the four standard southbound lanes and the three standard northbound lanes will be reduced to three substandard 2.5-meter wide lanes. The CCEC, the MMDA and the traffic units of Makati and Quezon City appeal for public understanding and apologize for the inconvenience.
ASMSI Solidarity Race: ‘Run with Us, Help a Child’
The 1st ASMSI Solidarity Race also dubbed “Run with Us, Help a Child” kicks off April 19 at Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City. Organized by the Alumni of the Sisters of Mary School Inc.-Cavite chapter, the event aims to raise public awareness about its beneficiary, Fr. Al’s Children Foundation Inc. and the foundation’s sole beneficiary, the Sisters of Mary Schools in the Philippines. The race will have the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 15K categories. It is copresented by ActivShow and media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer and 1 Digimedia Audivisuals Inc.; Gatorade and the Quezon City government through Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte. For more information on the race and its advocacy, visit solidarityrace.asmsi.org.ph or the official Facebook group facebook.com/groups/727367913999521.
