Spybiz received reports about a new
modus operandi being employed by rob gangs to victimize women. Two men would approach a potential victim, usually a lone female in mall parking lots, and ask her what perfume she was wearing. Then they would offer the same perfume and other brands supposedly at cheaper prizes. The objective is to make the target pass out by offering her a sniff of the samplers – which in reality do not contain perfume but contain ether, a chemical compound with anesthetic properties. They would then take the victim’s valuables, wallet, cellphone and goodness knows what else. Women should be wary of these smelly criminals offering bargain scents.
| The service that is not so secret |
The US Secret Service had a run-in with Pakistani security men during President Bush’s recent trip to Islamabad. The American Secret Service insisted on having one of their agents stick with Bush as he reviewed the Pakistani troops. But the presidential security of President Musharraf would not hear any of it, insisting that this was a formal military arrival honors and that no other person outside of the US president and the military command escort Bush. The Secret Service of course will never forget what happened to Anwar Sadat when he was assassinated during a military review. In the end, both compromised by having a Secret Service member or a US military officer with a sidearm act as military aide so that he could remain close to Bush during the entire parade of troops. There was no doubt the Secret Service was antsy and paranoid considering the bombing in Karachi that left a US diplomat dead prior to Bush’s visit to Islamabad. If one could remember, during Bush’s eight-hour visit to the Philippines two years ago, they were only antsy about the Congressmen when he was about to speak before the joint session of Congress.
| Exorbitant credit card rates |
Spybiz received numerous complaints from readers about exorbitant credit card rates. One reported that he was billed for the last payment of an item he received using his card from this card company notorious for its irritatingly persistent telemarketers offering various services. The reader paid through electronic transaction, but he unfortunately mistyped the amount by two pesos. The following month, he was billed two pesos, which he ignored thinking he could settle it next month along with other purchases he was planning to make. What do you know, when he received his new statement, he was being billed P500 pesos for failure to pay the previous two pesos outstanding balance. The reader has never been remiss in his previous payments so the exorbitant penalty came as a shock. This should serve as a warning to other credit card users.
| Spy tidbiz: Obviously absent |
Last Friday, GMA called a meeting of all the taipans and "captains of industry" to Malacañang, among them Gokongwei, Ramon Ang, Aboitiz, Zobel and Concepcion where the president assured the businessmen that government was in control and will continue with the reform programs that she started, and that she was about to lift PP 1017. Obviously not invited were the lawyer-chairman and the outspoken spokesperson of the Makati Business Club, and other business men who continue to demand for her resignation.
| Spybiz bulletin: National trade fair at mega mall |
Discover the pride of the country’s 16 regions through the National Trade Fair (NTF) organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall from March 15 to 19. The NTF is considered the most important trade fair showcasing the products of a select group of Filipino producers and manufacturers, and is developed as a subcontractors‚ pool for Pinoy exporters. Some 200 micro, small and medium enterprise producers will showcase fashion accessories, gifts, home décor, furniture, house ware, toys, arts and crafts and regional delicacies. Check out the coconut tree by-products, bamboo and manila palm showcase.
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