Celebrating
T H E
ENTERT
INMENT
Kris on Bistek: ‘I truly loved him’ See PAGE 11
WWW.USASIANPOST.COM
Vol. 3. No. 42 LOS ANGELES
A Balita Media Publication
Wednesday - Tuesday, July 2 - 8, 2014
US, PHL troops ‘assault’ beach
SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (June 30, 2014) U.S. Marines assigned to1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conduct a joint amphibious landing exercise with Philippine marines during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014. In its 20th year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez/Released)
SAN ANTONIO, June 30, 2014 (AFP) – More than 200 US and Filipino Marines launched a mock amphibious assault Monday on an enemy beachfront close to a disputed South China Sea outcrop. Amid driving rain and rough waves, five amphibious assault tanks roared off from a US destroyer anchored off Zambales province, about two hours drive northwest of Manila, and landed on the soggy beach peppered with imaginary foes. US Marines scanned the horizon on scopes mounted on assault rifles as they dramatically emerged from the hatch, while their Filipino counterparts took firing positions on the ground. Shots later rang out towards enemy positions in an assault that lasted about an hour. The drill was part of week-long, annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training that the United States bilaterally holds with Asian allies, including the Philippines, to boost maritime security. About 1,000 US and Filipino troops and five warships, including an American missile de-
stroyer, took part in the training, which began last week. Philippine fleet commander Jaime Bernardino told reporters at the start of the war games last week that they were designed to upgrade the Filipino navy’s capability in guarding the country’s long coastline. “These are the gaps that we would like to address (to) make sure we detect (foreign vessels) properly, we intercept them and we neutralize them if necessary,” he had said. Monday’s exercise took place on an uninhabited beach near a naval outpost on Zambales on Luzon island, 220 kilometers (137 miles) east of Scarborough Shoal on the South China Sea. The shoal, a traditionally-rich fishing ground, has been effectively taken over by China following a tense year-long standoff with the Philippines in 2012. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters near its smaller neighbors’ shores. It has been accused of becoming increasingly aggressive in See ASSAULT, page 12
Palace welcomes U.S. envoy’s support for PHL in WPS dispute MANILA, June 28 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday welcomed continuous support from U.S. ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg amid the rising tensions due to ongoing sea dispute with China. Two days after China released a map indicating its territories in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, Goldberg reacted saying that China’s use of the 10-dashline to claim maritime rights is “inconstant with international law.” He further stressed that the
only resolution to prove a country’s claims is through tribunals, code of conduct and the like. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunyang, however, said that China was only publishing maps with the purpose of serving the public. “We certainly welcome the statement of the U.S. embassy,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio. Lacierda said Malacañang will also continue to support the position taken by the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA). “Our emphasis is the rule of law,” he said, referring to United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). It can be recalled that the Philippines has previously pursued arbitration before an International Tribunal for the Law of Sea. “(Although) the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that (the maps) are only for their own audience, this involves entitlement which is not exclusively theirs,” he added. (MNS)
Drilon urges gov’t to raise pay for civil servants
and the government partners in a plan to pass a law creating the autonomous region by mid-2016, when Aquino is required by the constitution to stand down. Muslim rebels have been battling for independence or autonomy in the southern islands of the mainly Catholic Philippines since the 1970s, with the conflict claiming tens of thousands of lives. A commission composed of rebel and government nominees drafted a proposed “basic law” for the autonomous region, and it was submitted to Aquino in April as part of a timeframe to have Congress pass it by June. However, Aquino said Friday:
MANILA, June 30 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to take immediate steps in conducting a pay review for all government employees including policemen and soldiers, in time for the enactment of the 2015 national budget next year. The Senate leader said the study on how the government can improve the salary rate being implemented with all government employees, including those serving in the military and the police must be fast-tracked “in order to uplift the standard of living of our public employees.” “I have requested the DBM to expedite its analysis, so that if possible, we can already put into effect the new version of the Salary Standardization Law and we can include the required budget in the 2015 national expenditures program, which we will approve at the end of this year. That way, all public employees can already enjoy their new wages starting next year,” Drilon said. “By raising the salary scheme in government, we will provide the biggest morale boost for state workers and give them continued inspiration to excel in their works,” said Drilon. “But more importantly, we can attract more competent and dedi-
See AUTONOMY, page 12
See DRILON, page 12
Filipino Muslims gather at the Quiapo Mosque in Manila on Sunday (June 29, 2014) to mark the start of Ramadan, a time for spiritual reflection. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from eating, fasting, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (MNS photo)
Aquino pledges Muslim autonomy law by January MANILA, June 27, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino vowed Friday to deliver self-rule to minority Muslims by January 2015, in line with a peace treaty signed with its largest rebel group. “We’re hoping that all the steps will be finished (so) that they can take position by January of 2015,” he told reporters. The pledge followed Aquino’s surprise meeting in Japan on Tuesday with Murad Ebrahim, the country’s top Muslim rebel, to address growing concerns over delays in implementing the peace deal signed in March. The pact made Murad’s Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
Senator Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Monday, June 30, for his arraignment over the plunder charges filed against him and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in connection with the alleged P10-B pork barrel scam. (MNS photo)
‘Not guilty’ – Court enters for Jinggoy Estrada MANILA, June 30 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan on Monday entered a not guilty plea for Senator Jinggoy Estrada following his refusal to enter one himself, in the plunder case filed against him in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations or pork barrel funds. Estrada told the court he cannot enter a plea because he has two pending petitions at the Supreme Court. “I respectfully refuse to enter a
plea, your honor,” he said. Estrada asked the SC on June 24 to stop the Sandiganbayan from hearing his plunder and graft cases and to invalidate the arrest warrant issued against him. Alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty. Accused of plunder before the anti-graft court’s First Division are Estrada, Napoles, Estrada’s chief of staff Pauline Labayen and See NOT GUILTY, page 12
Erap says case vs. Jinggoy ‘very very weak’ MANILA, June 30 (Mabuhay) – Former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada on Monday remained confident that the graft and plunder cases against his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will be dismissed due to lack of merit. “Hindi lang weak, sa tingin ko very very weak. Nagmamadali sila, kesyo wala naman talagang kaso,” Erap said in an interview with reporters during a break in his son’s arraignment proceedings. Aside from one count of plunder, Estrada is also accused of 11 counts of graft in connection with the P10-B pork barrel scam. Estrada allegedly diverted his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or pork barrel) allocation to fake NGOs put up by trader Janet Lim-Napoles, and pocketed P183.79 million in kickbacks. Accused of plunder before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division together with him are Napoles, Estrada’s chief of staff Pauline Labayen, and Napoles’ driver John Raymund de Asis. Labayen and de Asis remain at large. Erap attended Jinggoy’s arraignment on Monday with wife Dra. Loi Ejercito and two other children, Jackie and Jude. Jinggoy’s wife See VERY VERY WEAK, page 12
1-877-35-NOPAY 818-334-5445 (1-877-356-6729)