DITO: 39 foreigners brought to BI are bona fide employees of business partners
The 39 foreigners who were brought to the Bureau of Immigration for verification after BI officers went to DITO Tecommunity's offices last week are "bona fide employees" of its business partners, the telecommunications company said on Monday.
In a statement, DITO said it was confident that the BI's records would show that the foreigners had the necessary visas and work permits to legally work in the Philippines.
DITO said immigration officers on May 29 visited its offices, after which 39 foreigers affiliated with its accredited business partners were brought to the bureau for further verification.
"DITO Telecommunity remains committed to full compliance with Philippine laws and continues to work closely with all relevant government agencies on this matter," the company said.
DITO branded as inaccurate and unfounded the "misleading information circulating in social media and other sources alleging that DITO illegally employs foreign nationals."
"These individuals are bona fide employees of our business partners, who are visiting DITO's office to render continuing technical support services to DITO and its Stand Alone 5G network pursuant to valid and existing service agreements with DITO," the company said.
"These foreign nationals are not employees of DITO. Their presence was strictly for the purpose of fulfilling contractually agreed technical and support obligations—an ordinary practice in infrastructure projects of this scale," it added. –NB, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
Bersamin, 2 Cabinet officials tapped as caretakers during Marcos' US trip
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and two other Cabinet secretaries will serve as the country's caretakers during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s visit to Washington, D.C. Bersamin said the two officials are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III. 'The order of the President is to continue the work while he is away. Anyway, we keep in constant communication with him during all the time that he is away from the country,' Bersamin told reporters. 'Wala naman kailangan na ilagay niyang specific because each of us, including the other cabinet secretaries, we are all aware of what the President has set for us to do, so we will just leave it like that and everybody continues to function 100%,' he added. (There's no need for the President to assign anything specific because each of us, including the other Cabinet secretaries, are already aware of what he expects from us. So we'll just leave it at that, and everyone will continue to function at 100%) Marcos on Sunday departed for the United States for an official visit, which includes a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Among the topics Marcos and Trump will discuss is the steep 20% tariff rate on Filipino goods entering the US, as Manila hopes to strike a mutually acceptable and beneficial tariff deal. Bersamin also said the President could include discussions during his Washington trip in his fourth State of the Nation Address. "We can expect that. If he wants to include that, if there is anything worth reporting, we can expect it," Bersamin said. The President's visit will be from July 20 to 22, 2025. Aside from Trump, Marcos will have a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 21. Several businesses in the US also expressed their intention to meet with the Philippine leader, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos flies to meet Trump in Washington visit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed for Washington. D.C. for an official visit which includes a meeting with US President Donald Trump. During his departure speech at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos said his visit aims to push for 'greater economic engagement.' 'I intend to convey to President Trump and his cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of,' Marcos said. 'I expect our discussions to focus on security and defense of course, but also on trade. And we will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States,' he added. The Philippine President also said his visit will reaffirm the Philippine's 'commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.' Among the topics Marcos and Trump will discuss is the steep 20% tariff rate on Filipino goods entering the US, as Manila hopes to strike a mutually acceptable and beneficial tariff deal with the US. Marcos' visit will be from July 20 to 22. The visit is the first by an ASEAN head of state to the United States under Trump's current administration. Aside from Trump, Marcos will have a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 21. Several businesses in the US also expressed their intention to meet with the Philippine leader, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said. Marcos will also invite Trump to attend the East-Asia Summit as the Philippines will host the ASEAN Summit in 2026. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
CHR seeks swift prosecution of child sellers
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday called for the immediate prosecution of perpetrators of child selling, including through online platforms. CHR issued the statement in light of the case of a one-month-old child sold online. 'CHR expresses grave concern and vehemently condemns the ongoing practice of child selling in the country. The sale of children—even by their own parents, and regardless of intent—is a clear violation of Philippine law and constitutes child trafficking, punishable under Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and Republic Act No. 9208, as amended (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act),' it said. 'The government should immediately strengthen the monitoring and regulation of online platforms, enhance surveillance and investigative capabilities, as well as swiftly prosecute these perpetrators of child trafficking,' it added. In addition, the commission urgently called on the Philippine government to uphold its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Article 35 of the UNCRC provides that all state parties should 'take all appropriate measures to prevent the abduction, sale, or trafficking of children,' given that 'these acts represent grave human rights violations that must be addressed with utmost urgency.' 'Let us stand united against the exploitation of children. No child should ever be bought, sold, or treated as a commodity,' the CHR said. Further, it said individuals and couples seeking to adopt a child should do so under a legal and ethical process as provided under Republic Act No. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act. 'Legal adoption safeguards the rights and welfare of the child. It is imperative that prospective adoptive parents follow lawful procedures,' the CHR said. 'We urge the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases of child trafficking to the proper authorities. Protecting our children is a collective duty and a shared societal responsibility,' it added. —Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA Integrated News
