2 of 3 accused of fraud in booking tennis courts, plead guIlty

 

Wong Nai Chung tennis courts (Google Maps photo)

Two of three Filipinas charged with conspiracy to defraud for booking tennis courts on behalf of other people, pleaded guilty at Shatin Courts last Friday (March 15) and were remanded in jail as their sentencing had been put off.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong scheduled the sentencing of Helen Habungan, 43 years old, for April 7.

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She admitted conspiring with a certain Joseph Mosqueda in getting permission from the director of Leisure and Culture Services and his officers to use public tennis courts “under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Magistrate Cheang did not set a sentencing date for Ammar Mendoza, 65 years old, who admitted conspiring with a certain Graeme Foster by “dishonestly and falsely misrepresenting that you hired the tennis courts…,” according to the complaint filed by the Immigration Department.

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This was because she still had another charge pending, breach of condition of stay, for allegedly doing work other than that of a domestic helper, which Cheang adjourned to April 7.

The third Filipina accused of conspiracy to defraud was Dolly Gay Manaligod, aged 32, who did not make a plea so her case was scheduled to resume on the same date.

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Manaligod is accused of conspiring with a certain Lucas Miguel Caceres, for whom she allegedly booked tennis courts.

She was released on $1,000 bail.

Duterte appears before ICC over ‘tokhang’ killings

Duterte looked frail as he appeared via video link at the ICC hearing (ICC photo) 

 Former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte appeared before the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Friday, Mar. 14, charged with “crime against humanity of murder” over the killings of “at least” 43 people during his bloody war on drugs over an eight-year period.

Duterte looked frail as he testified through video link from the ICC Detention Centre, becoming the first Asian leader to be charged before the tribunal.

Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc said Duterte had requested for his participation through video link, and the court agreed.

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She then went on to verify Duterte’s identity by asking for his full name and place of birth, then informed him of his rights under the Rome Statute of the ICC.

Among those in court was his lawyer Salvador Medialdea, while his daughter, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, watched from the gallery.

Medialdea told the three ICC judges that the 79-year-old former leader was “abducted” so he could be taken to The Hague, and was too ill to give evidence.

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Duterte was flown to the Netherlands a few hours after being arrested by Philippine police at the Manila airport on his arrival from Hong Kong early on Wednesday.

Medialdea claimed Duterte’s arrest and appearance at the ICC was “pure and simple kidnapping” and that his client was suffering from “debilitating” medical issued.

Reports said Duterte’s daughter, Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, watched the proceedings from the gallery.

Judge Motoc replied that the court doctor who examined Duterte prior to the hearing had found him “fully mentally aware and fit.”

The all-women judges of ICC's pre-trial chamber presided over the hearing

She added that Duterte and his lawyers can raise questions about his transfer to the court and his health at subsequent hearings.

The judge set down Duterte’s next court appearance on Sept. 23, during which the court will determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. She said this should give both sides enough time to prepare their arguments.

Until then, Duterte will have to remain in custody.

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The warrant against Duterte which was made public on Mar. 11, alleges that he was an indirect co-perpetrator of the crimes against humanity of murder, torture and rape committed in the Philippines between Nov 1, 2011 and Mar 16, 2019.

According to the court, the charges were based on a “non-exhaustive list of incidents” submitted by the prosecution, which identified a total of at least 43 people being killed during Duterte’s “Oplan Tokhang” crackdown on drugs, while serving as mayor of Davao City and later, as president of the Philippines.

At least 19 persons alleged drug pushers or thieves were said to have been killed in or around Davao City by a group of vigilantes called the DDS or Davao Death Squad; and at least 24 other supposed criminals while Duterte was serving as Philippine president between 2016 and 2022.

Nine persons arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

Immigration officers lead some of the suspects away

Four consecutive days of raids on various premises have resulted in the arrest of nine people for suspected illegal work.

A statement issued by the Immigration Department on Friday said the operation was carried out from Mar 10 to 13, and targeted 28 target locations, including massage parlors, premises under repair, and restaurants.

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Arrested during the raids were eight suspected illegal workers and one employer.

Six men and two women, aged 21 4o 43, were found to have worked without a valid visa while a man aged 48 was suspected of employing them.

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Immigration reiterated a warning that illegal work is a serious crime, for which the maximum fine is $50,000 and imprisonment for up three years.

In addition, under section 20 (1) (a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant and thereafter, prohibit such immigrant from entering or being in Hong Kong at any time after, if he/she has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.

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Employers could get jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $50,000.

'25 HK Flower Show opens

 

Seniors get to enter the Flower Show for free

Filipinos n HongKong wull have a new place to spend thei idle time this week: the Hong Kong Flower Show 2025 opened yesterday at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, featuring cosmos as the theme flower and "Ablaze with Glory" as the main theme.

The Flower Show will be open from 9am to 9pm daily until until March 23.

A total of 238 organizations, including 81 exhibitors from 11 countries, namely the Philippines, China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, Vietnam, Poland, Malaysia and the United States, will be taking part in the show.

Among its key features are landscaped displays with a world tour theme.

The Grand Journey across Europe landscape features an English garden, a Dutch windmill, a Greek-style hut, and a French lavender field, while the Wonders of Africa, a parterre of the Jockey Club Mosaiculture Display by Students, features installations made of cut flowers showcasing animals such as a gorilla, a hippopotamus, a camel, and a giraffe.

The beauty of the Himalayas, Mount Kinabalu of Malaysia, Mount Fuji of Japan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the Supertree Grove in Singapore is highlighted in the "Travelling around Asia" landscape.

A vinta and a junk boat sail form the centerpiece of the Philippine Consulate's booth

"An Adventure to the Americas" showcases culture and heritage through installations such as a Maya pyramid, Easter Island statues, and Western cowboys.

The show also hghlights the upcoming 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games with a garden plot entitled "Joyful Vibrancy Around Town", featuing five crescent-shaped art installations inspired by sports, adorned with cosmos of different species and colors. Members of the public can also take photos with the event mascots "Xi Yang Yang" and "Le Rong Rong" in front of a wall banner for the National Games.

Another floral display, "A Gifts of Nature", resembles a giant gift box filled with mesmerizing flowers and illuminated with soft lights.

Special plant exhibits display rare flowering plants such as purple bells, gold finger plant, blue potato vine, and sandpaper vine (white flower), in addition to a selection of foliage plants from the Marantaceae family.

Flowers of every kind, shape and color can be seen at the Flower Show 2025

An exhibition booth displaying artworks by the nonagenarian local artist Fapopo (Flower Granny) is set up in the showground. Fapopo uses everyday household items such as Chinese woks, folding chairs, and plastic basins as her canvas, and her creations are vibrant and colorful, with childlike energy.

Other attractions include "The Giant Teapot in Miniature World" display inside the floral marquee, panda-themed photo-taking spots, and a giant bouncy slide (opening hours: 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays) at the Central Lawn.

The show also showcases a rich profusion of potted plants, floral arrangements, and landscape displays by local, Mainland China, and overseas organizations.

Commercial stalls sell snacks, beverages, flowers, and horticultural products.

A vast range of educational and recreational fringe activities, such as floral arrangement demonstrations, gardening lectures, music, and cultural performances, will be offered for visitors of all ages. This year, busking street performances and floral art demonstrations for home are added to the activities lineup.

The HKFS is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has supported the Flower Show since 2013 and has been its major sponsor since 2014.

Filipina to be tried on 12 charges of stealing jewelry from employer

The jewelry thefts were allegedly committed in this estate

A Filipina domestic helper who denied stealing 28 pieces of gold and diamond jewelry from her former employer is set to stand trial at Eastern Court on Apr 2-3.

Maribel P. Bringas, 42 years old, pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of theft when she appeared before Magistrate Kestrel Lam on Mar. 11. She was returned to jail pending her trial.

She is accused of stealing various pieces of jewelry from her employer Wu Pui Yan in her flat at East Garden, Tung Shan Terrace in Happy Valley, between May 9 and July 12 last year, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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She was initially charged with stealing one gold pendant, one gold bracelet and one gold necklace estimated to be worth round $200,000 on May 14, when she first appeared in court.

However, 11 more charges of theft have since been laid against her.

In the second charge, she is accused of stealing one jade pendant from Wu on May 9, 2024.

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On May 20 of the same year, she again allegedly stole a diamond bracelet, and three days later, again took two gold pendants and two gold bracelets.

On May 31, she is accused of stealing one diamond ring and one gold ring. A sixth charge accused her of taking four pieces of jewelry on May 18: two gold pendants, one gold bracelet and one gold ring.

For the seventh charge, she is accused of stealing one gold bracelet and one pendant on Jun 27, 2024.

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The eighth charge is over a gold ring and a gold bracelet that she allegedly took on May 20; while the ninth charge alleges she stole another gold pendant on Jun 3.

The 10^th charge is over two gold bracelets and one gold pendant she allegedly stole on Jun 24; the 11^th s over two gold bracelets and one gold necklace she took on July 12, and the last is over two gold rings she is alleged to have stolen on Jun 7.

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Bringas who has been in jail since her arrest on Jan 17 this year, denied all the charges.

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Pinay pleads guilty to 4 counts of assault on her Filipina DH

 

Building where assault happened (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina resident pleaded guilty today at Kwun Tong court to four counts of assault on her domestic helper, also a Filipina, but will have to wait until March 27 to find out what her punishment will be.

May Esplana, a 37-year-old customer service officer, was returned to jail where she would wait two weeks for her sentencing.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie adjourned the case after the four counts of violation of the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance, were read to Esplana.

The assaults were committed in Esplana’s flat on Ting Yip St. in Sau Mau Ping, Kowloon, on her helper, Justine Melendres.

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The first two charges of common assault were committed by Esplana on the helper on two separate occasions on Oct. 29 last year. She again assaulted Melendres two days later, on Oct. 31.

The assault was repeated the next day, Nov. 1, but leaving “actual bodily harm” on Melendres, resulting in the fourth charge.

The maximum penalty for assault occasioning bodily harm is three years' imprisonment while for common assault it is a year in jail.

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In a separate case also in Kwun Tong Court, Magistrate Leung put off sentencing on Marlon Cayambas, 48, who had pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Leung also returned Cayambas to jail after adjourning the case to March 27.

The case of dealing with property known or believed to be proceeds of indictable offense, a violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, arose from the inflow and outflow of money totalling $147,394 in his HSBC account between 15^th and 21^st  of September, 2021.

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Filipino cleared of attempting to traffic liquid cocaine

 

Customs display of what it called record seizure of liquid cocaine (photo from Jan 15, 2024)

An unemployed Filipino walked free today after prosecutors at West Kowloon Court withdrew a charge against him of attempting to traffic what was originally believed to be 444 kilos of liquid cocaine, the biggest to be seized in Hong Kong.

Aster Leo Balucanag, 38 years old, had earlier been charged by the Customs and Excise Department with violation of sections 4 (1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offense. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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Balucanag was arrested on Jan. 13 last year and accused of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug on Dec. 11 to 19, 2023. 

The drug was originally described as 444 kilos of liquid cocaine but crossed out from the charge sheet pending confirmation by the Government Laboratory.

It was not clear why the amount of the drug used to charge him had been crossed out but it would appear that the chemical tests failed to affirm the drug content of the liquid substance linked to the arrest

The accused was arrested along with a 50-year-old transportation company owner in a controlled. operation, after the suspected liquid cocaine was seized on Dec. 19, 2023 from a 20-foot seaborne container, declared as carrying wine and grape juice.

A Customs press release issued on Jan 15, 2024 said 148 packages of suspected liquid cocaine packed in transparent liquid bags were found inside 37 out of 706 carton boxes of wine.

The haul, with an estimated market value of about $490 million, was said to represent a record seiure of liquid cocaine. 

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Meanwhile, a Filipina recognizance card holder was returned to jail after her case of fighting in a public place was adjourned to March 19 at Eastern Court.

Mari Miriam Manrique, 40 years old, was charged with taking part in a fight inside a subway at 1 Wong Nai Chung Road in Happy Valley last Feb. 15, in violation of the Public Order Ordinance.

Her male opponent, Chiu Chun-long, 48 years old, was not called to today’s hearing.

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In a similar case at Kowloon City Court, Filipino salesman Maciste Cobarrubias and Chinese taxi-driver Cheng Chun-yan were allowed to post bail of $500 each after their case was adjourned to April 16.

Cobarrubias, 44 years old, and Cheng, aged 51, were accused of fighting each other on July 20 last year outside Hung Hom Bay Center on Baker St. in Hung Hom.

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OFWs picket Consulate to laud Duterte’s arrest

 

Unifil's Balladares urges justice for all victims of Duterte's bloody anti-drug campaign

About 30 overseas Filipino workers took part in a protest outside the Philippine Consulate offices in Admiralty Wednesday, just hours after former President Rodrigo Duterte was flown to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

The protesters from Bayan Muna and Unifil-Migrante Hong Kong said they welcomed Duterte’s arrest and impending trial over the murder of thousands of Filipinos during his war on drugs.

“Wine-welcome po namin ang development na ito dahil sa matagal na panahon ay ipinagkait …ang hustisya sa mga biktima,” said Dolores Balladares of Unifil-Migrante.

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(We welcome this development because the victims were denied justice for such a long time).

Balladares added her group will not stop protesting until the 79-year-old former president is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

At the same time, she said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. should not be swayed by the “drama” and the influence of the Duterte family.

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“Dapat manindigan ang gobyernong Marcos na ibigay ang totoong hustisya sa mga biktima,” she added. (The Marcos government should remain committed to giving full justice to the victims).

The protesters held aloft posters calling on Duterte to be punished and for Marcos to be held accountable for not acting quickly to ensure justice for the victims of the bloody anti-drug campaign.

Protesters say Duterte and Marcos are complicit to the alleged murders

Meanwhile, reports that came in Wednesday night said the plane bearing Duterte had arrived in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where he was given a standard medical check-up before being transported by land to the ICC in The Hague.

At the ICC, he will be transferred to a detention cell where he will stay for a few days  before being brought before a judge.

The ICC’s arrest warrant says that while he was president between 2016 to 2022, Duterte created, funded and armed death squads that murdered suspected drug users and dealers.

Duterte was served the warrant on Tuesday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after he arrived from a trip to Hong Kong.

His family and supporters said the arrest was illegal as the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, but detractors who lauded the move said the warrant was valid as the alleged killings happened when the country was still with the international court.

Lawyers representing his youngest daughter Veronica filed a petition for the writ of habeas corpus with the Supreme Court to secure the return of her father, but the motion has yet to be acted upon.

An earlier application for a temporary restraining order to be issued on security personnel who arrested the former leader was earlier denied by the SC, which said there was no sufficient ground to support it.

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Marcos confirms giving go signal for Duterte to face ICC trial

 

President Marcos holds press conference shortly after plane carrying Duterte had taken off

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has confirmed allowing his predecessor, Rodrigo R. Duterte, to be flown to The Hague in the Netherlands after local authorities received a warrant for his arrest from the International Criminal Court.

Marcos held a news conference shortly after Duterte left aboard a private Gulfstream jet late on Tuesday night.

''The plane carrying former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte took off at 11:03 p.m. this evening and exited Philippine air space," Marcos said in a news conference.

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"The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs,'' he added.

Marcos added Interpol Manila received a copy of the ICC’s warrant hours before Duterte arrived at 9:20am on Tuesday from Hong Kong, where he led a thanksgiving and political rally.

“Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol which we have to fulfill. If we don’t do that, they will not – they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad,” he said.

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“This is what the international community expects of us as the leader of a democratic country that is part of the community of nations,” he added. 

Duterte and Medialdea aboard the private jet that is taking them to The Hague
(ABS-CBN photo)

Duterte flew out aboard a Gulfstream jet along with his lawyer Salvador Medialdea, an aide and a nurse.

Reports said the plane will stop over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates before continuing the journey to The Hague.

Earlier, Duterte was read the charges he is facing before the ICC, which are crimes against humanity and murder, after he was taken to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City following his arrest at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He was also read the Miranda rights of the accused.

Duterte responded that he understood the charges, but he should not be arrested as the Philippines was no longer a member of the ICC. He also said the Supreme Court would definitely stop his arrest.

Videos taken by his youngest daughter Victoria also showed him undergoing a medical check-up by government doctors. Despite this, she claimed her father was not being given medical care that he badly needed, and that he was "getting weaker by the minute."

Outside Villamor, a handful of his supporters staged a protest to denounce the arrest. But this was countered by militant groups which staged a separate protest in Quezon City calling for Duterte to be jailed and hauled before the ICC.

At the same time, families of those killed in the killing spree during Duterte’s term held two separate prayer rallies to give thanks for his long-awaited arrest and urge that he be held to account for the killings immediately.

A holding cell at the ICC in The Hague

Duterte’s lawyers filed a last minute petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court to get the arrest reversed, and to stop him being taken to The Hague. But apart from saying that the petition would be raffled off, the SC did not budge.

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Ex-President Duterte on the way to The Hague after arrest

 

Duterte goes up the Lear jet that will take him to The Hague

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was put on a plane bound for The Hague in the Netherlands shortly after 11pm tonight, Mar. 11, hours after he was arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court over killings during his war on drugs.

His transfer to The Hague makes him Asia’s first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

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Duterte was arrested at about 9:20 this morning by local police acting at the request of the Interpol, as his plane landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila from Hong Kong, where he met with overseas Filipino workers on Sunday.

Duterte is given a medical check-up by government doctors after his arrest

Some political commentators said he used his unannounced trip to Hong Kong to ask help from Beijing after hearing of the plan to arrest him, but was apparently unsuccessful.

His flight to The Hague in the company of his former executive secretary and lawyer Salvador Medialdea was disclosed by several people, including his youngest daughter Veronica, who said on Instagram that her family had not been told of the private plane’s destination.

"They took dad from us, put him on a plane and wouldn't say where to. People, wake up," she posted.

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Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s embattled older daughter, said she had tried to gain entry to Villamor Airbase where her father was detained before being whisked away, but was rebuffed.

“As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight. This is not justice – this is oppression and persecution,” she said.

She condemned her father’s arrest as illegal, saying he was denied of his fundamental right to be brought before a court so he could assert his rights and avail of reliefs provided by law.

Shortly after Duterte’s plane took off, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., held a news conference to confirm that the plane was heading to The Hague (see separate story).

The ICC will investigate Duterte's alleged crimes against humanity

A last-minute attempt by his lawyers to get the Philippine Supreme Court to stop him being taken away and put under the ICC’s jurisdiction resulted in the country’s top judicial body merely announcing that the case would be raffled off. The hoped-for temporary restraining order did not materialize.

Shortly after his arrest Duterte also tried to resist being sent off to The Hague, saying he should only be tried by a Philippine court.

"ICC is out of the question… We are not a signatory of the ICC. Diyan ako hindi papayag," he told the arresting officers. (I will not agree to that). 

He also said he was certain the Supreme Court would not allow him to be taken away and tried before a foreign court.

 

Duterte who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was arrested following the ICC’s investigation into the thousands of “extrajudicial killings” that were carried out in line with his anti-drugs campaign.

But he has always maintained that the police linked to the killings had only acted in self-defence, and insisted that those killed, including a number of young teenagers, were drug dealers.

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Duterte also repeatedly said in public that he was committed to ridding the country of drugs, even it meant him ending in jail.

However, human rights activists have documented cases that showed many of those killed were innocent bystanders, and pointed to several of Duterte’s close friends as the real drug dealers.

Just before leaving Hong Kong, he again taunted the ICC, saying he had long waited for it to arrest him.

In 2019, he unilaterally withdrew the Philippines’ membership from the ICC, and has since used this as an excuse for saying the international court could have no jurisdiction over him.

But the ICC maintains it retains the right to investigate alleged crimes that took place while a country was a member.

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