Cyber hacking diverts money to hacker's account

Entrepreneurs warned

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan 26 (PIA) --The Department of Trade and Industry Region 10 is warning entrepreneurs of the ongoing and increasing cases of cyber hacking especially on the import and export transactions of Filipino importers and Chinese suppliers.

Linda O. Boniao, officer-in-charge of Department of Trade and Industry Region 10 said that these cases of cyber hacking usually divert Filipino importers’ payments to the hacker’s bank account.

Further, she said, the Embassy’s economic team in Beijing has already met with the officials of China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Criminal Investigation Department (ICD) particularly their cyber crime investigation officers to discuss on these reported cases. So far, there have been six cases reported to the Philippine Embassy in China by Filipino victims, Boniao revealed.

According to the report, there are three variations of these instances. One involves a Filipino importer and a Chinese supplier with the former’s final transaction payment diverted to the hacker’s account in China. The second involves a Filipino importer and a Chinese supplier, with the former’s payment diverted to the hacker’s account outside China. And the third type involves a Filipino importer and a non-Chinese supplier, with the former’s payment ending up in the hacker’s bank account in China.

Through investigation, Chinese officials have been able to trace the perpetrators to Africans, specifically, Nigerians, said Boniao.

Chinese findings are further confirmed by the National Bureau of Investigation here, she added. In a similar set-up between Filipino importer and Chinese supplier, they were able to trace the deceptive email directing the Filipino importer to deposit the payment in the hacker’s account, to Nigeria.

Boniao explained that MPS authorities can easily freeze bank accounts in China, if they are subject to criminal complaint. However, this is not easy in other countries as it will require court order. She added that Chinese officials cannot assist if hacker’s bank account is outside China for lack of jurisdiction.

In the end, Boniao said that the most effective means of preventing cyber hacking menace is for entrepreneurs to be vigilant about the occurrence of such crime. (JMOR-PIA10)

Iodine deficiency may cause pregnancy complications - NNC

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan 25 (PIA) -- Women with iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) will likely face some issues on fertility, pregnancy complications and repeated miscarriage.

Region 10 program coordinator Zenaida T. Tondares explained that the body cannot function fully when it fails to meet the necessary iodine requirement which may also lead to goiter, over hypothyroidism, physical defects, and mental retardation.

Tondares further noted that children born to mothers with IDD have low birth weights, decreased survival rate, or may acquire cretinism - a decreased thyroid hormone production in a newborn.

As such, she reminded the public, especially mothers, to opt for iodine rich food like salt-water fish, crabs, shrimps, squid, and seaweeds.

This week, we are also celebrating the 7th Goiter Awareness Week (GAW), with the theme “Goiter Sugpuin, Isip Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt Gamitin,” to enhance awareness on goiter and iodine deficiency disorders among Filipinos.

As member of the Philippine Thyroid Council (PTC), NNC has likewise ensured the participation and support of its network in drumming up the campaign. (JCV/PIA )

Lawmakers, governors allowed police, military escorts

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- Incumbent lawmakers and governors are allowed to have police and military escorts during the election period.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9608 provides that incumbent lawmakers and provincial governors, whether or not running for re-election or for another elective office and whose regular security complement have been provided by police, military and officers and members of other government law enforcement agencies are allowed to retain the services of such security officers and members.

They are however entitled to a maximum of two detailed police or military escorts only.

Comelec Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph said other local chief executives such as mayors can avail of detailed escorts from duly licensed and accredited protective agencies.

He said application for security detail can be filed with the Provincial Election Supervisor and the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC).

According to him, the PSCC will evaluate the application and will forward it to the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC).

Yusoph, who heads the 2013 Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP), is in charge of implementing the gun ban which took effect on January 13.

The gun ban prohibits the carrying and transporting of firearms unless authorized by the Comelec. It also restricts the hiring of security personnel of public officials without the approval of the Commission. (APB-PIA 10)

 Camiguin to pilot on dairy farming

By Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- Camiguin is set to receive some 25 heads of dairy herds from the National Dairy Administration (NDA), this March.

Provincial Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo said this will provide for the establishment of the Camiguin Pilot Dairy Production Farm.

The dispersal of the dairy cow to the province is under the animal distribution program of NDA dubbed Dairy Multiplier Farm (DMF), a standard payment-in kind scheme where NDA lends imported mature, female dairy animals payable within an eight-year period.

Through this, the government targets to meet both livelihood and nutritional needs of the people.

The farm will serve as the area for propagation of dairy animals thru crossbreeding and upgrading, as well as, promotes dairy animal trading among stakeholders of the local dairy industry.

Romualdo said that elementary students are the first beneficiaries of dairy farm produce which will be utilized for the school feeding program.

For now the provincial government is undertaking the necessary preparations for the access road, farm infrastructure, land/pasture development and fencing.

Meanwhile, the province has long been operating its own artificial breeding center for livestock animals in Mahinog town.

Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) report shows more than 600 farmers served under its artificial insemination program and the provision of livestock animals to some 115 farmer-beneficiaries through the dispersal and re-dispersal scheme, wherein recipients are required to give the first offspring for re-dispersal. (JCV/PIA 10)

Community radio soon to air in Lanao del Norte

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Jan. 26 -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has identified Lanao del Norte as one of the 10 new locations for a new community radio station to be established.

The province is part of the third batch of communities to benefit from the expanded Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program of the National Nutrition Council under the Department of Health.

In the first phase of the project, five radio stations were established on 2008. In 2010, when NNC pursued the second phase of the project, 10 additional community radio stations were installed.

“We are very thankful to NNC for this project. The station will be an excellent tool for us to disseminate vital information on provincial and national programs that were presently implementing to improve the lives of our people,” Governor Khalid Dimaporo said.

As part of the first stage of this program, five representatives from the provincial government are undergoing a three-day workshop on how to manage and operate a community radio station.

The national training is participated in by 62 Nutriskwela Community Radio partners from 10 regions of the Philippines. The workshop is organized by MQ Mediazone at Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City starting January 23 to 25, 2013.

The participants are exposed to the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program and the national nutrition program.

During the training participants will learn how to operate and manage a community radio station, design radio programs, write news, anchoring and mobile journalism.

“We really learned a lot from this training. It taught us with useful topics and insights that we can use in the actual operation of a community radio,” radio anchor Raul Dinapo said.

Speakers in the training include UP Professor Alexander Flor, Assistant Secretary Maria-Bernardita Flores and national media personalities like Mario Garcia, Angelique Lazo, Jimmy Gil and Rey Langit. (VNL/PIO-LDN/PIA10)