The whole legal system is an embarrassment and does not serve ordinary Filipinos well. Our diplomatic corps is also an embarrassment when compared to Norway. Had Kevin been Norwegian, it's an odds-on certainty that the Ambassador would have ensured he was properly represented and secured his release when it became apparent that the charges against him were bogus. Precisely that happened in Cebu when Sven Erik Berger was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Ellah Joy Pique. The Norwegian Embassy instructed its Honorary Consul - a Filipino - to secure Berger's release as soon as he discovered that Berger was sitting on an airplane at 35,000 feet midway between Hong Kong and Cebu at the time the little girl "disappeared". Compare and contrast with a certain Mr Trevor Lewis, then Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, who went out of his way to call on Governor Gwen and the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors and reportedly offered every assistance in securing Griffiths' deportation whilst refusing to enter into any dialogue with his defence team.
The British Embassy is a joke, I've been to a few cocktail parties at various overseas embassies and come to the conclusion they don't employ people for their ability, more hereditary... The embassies no longer process passports, visas (at least not directly), trade (british council), consular services (well unless you make an appointment 6 months in advance for a slot between 11:00 and 11:05 every second thursday) oh and they scrapped the locate service. So what do they exactly do?
Here is the latest regarding Kevin and Charlene.. There will be a hearing in October that could very well end this nightmare once and for all. However, then there is another issue facing the Taylor's - 5 years worth of visa fees and the flight for Kevin to return to the UK. We won't be running any drive to raise funds from this site, mainly because I won't be able to manage it. However, if anyone wishes to help the Taylors then they can join the yahoo group or PM me or @oss for Gerald Taylor's email address.
Appalling treatment and demonstrates that the British Embassy interests haven't changed from that of the 'East Indian Company', only interested if there is something to be gained.
I wonder what the "various formalities have to be finalised" means? Man has to put hand in pocket to take Pesos out or something along those lines? I'd be really peeved if I was in their shoes, insult to injury comes to mind.
First i would like to thank everyone for keeping an eye on our wellbeing since 2009, its been a long slog and i know most are tired, esp my father, but for Charlene and i the fight, slog and endurance isnt over. The news well we got done up like a kipper in court, but that was then and now's now right friends. Charlene went to correctional last april 2015 and since she's been there she has had no visitors from anyone, it seems everyone forgot her including her family, it took month's for us to finally gain contact again, due to snail mail and the bjmp not putting her calls through to me. I finally got in contact with her in July but again it was broken as i was transfered here at maximum, new bilibid. Here is tough for me as im sleeping in the passage on the tiles, theres kubols available but they're 30k pesos, way beyond my father's and my reach right now. So im trying so find the money, as it is a must here, due to the wrong doings of suspect pinoys. The one's into drug's, gambling and violence. So in order for me to get away from the limelight i need a small room. Since ive been here, sime two+ months ive witnessed 3 stabbings, 3 shootings and countless searching, in my last cellblock they were openly smoking shabu and gambling in front of me. I Skype Charlene when i can, but her lot is just as bleak as mine. I cant get to see the doctor as i need anti deps and skin cream, ive seen an opthalmist and my eye's have gone from minus 14 to minus 17, a significant worsening and if i was American i would have been pensioned off as blind. there's expats here but none of the camaraderie one would expect, more on bickering and et all. Well thats all for the mo, i thought id post just for update. Thanks everyone.
Kevin - how long have you got to stay there? Apologies for asking what must seem like a silly question to you, but we don't have all the information here.
Ok bud, on conviction, we got, 4/8 years for Estafa, 8/12 for IR. But the Bureau have workered it out to be 16/20???? I dont know how they worked it out. Now we've been put in fot executive pardon and maybe next year with new Pres will get a result. But if that fails we will put in for parole next year and if that fails, well maybe i will have another 4 or 5 years, cha will be out sooner due to her GCTA.
Please help Kevin Taylor bring his family home to the UK. Kevin a UK citizen whose only mistake was to fall hopelessly in love with Charlene, a Filipino lady, he settled in the Philippines and had two sweet daughters. Kevin invested his life savings in a business helping people process Visas. Acting in good faith, they did not think they were doing wrong until, in 2008, they were unexpectedly arrested for ‘illegal recruitment’, a crime which does not exist in the UK. Charlene, though heavily pregnant, was thrown into jail with Kevin and their newborn third daughter was torn from her! Despite protesting their innocence, Kevin and Charlene were inexplicably held in dreadful conditions for 6 long years until, in 2014, a judge finally declared them guilty on a technicality and sentenced them to 20 years! They lost their home, business, possessions and, worst of all, their children who were taken into care. Kevin’s elderly parents were also rendered penniless fighting for them. Kevin and Charlene are still in prison and have barely seen their children since. Kevin has gone almost blind due to malnourishment and they are hoping for early release on Clemency grounds. But, if released, their heartaches will not end. Kevin will be deported unable to return while, on the other hand, under UK laws, he is restricted from bringing his family to the UK...... a double edged sword and a desperate dilemma! Kevin’s only hope of ever seeing Charlene and his daughters is for the UK government to waive their current restrictions and allow them entry to the UK on Humanitarian Grounds. Please help so Kevin can bring Charlene and his daughters to the UK and resume their lives together. Click this link to sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/120255/sponsors/u8Av9pNcXLIPtpdeEzRC Please pass it onto your friends we need all the help possible thanks and keep the faith! Help end this heartache, please!
Petition is being checked according to the site. This is a shocking state of affairs but shows how vulnerable expats are out in foreign countries.
