LA / ORANGE C / INLAND E
Breaking traditions, Richard Yap fought to marry a Filipina See ENTERTAINMENT, page 15
VOL. XXIII, NO. 26
LOS ANGELES / ORANGE COUNTY / INLAND EMPIRE
July 30 - August 5, 2016
The leading source of news and information for Filipino-Americans
WAR VS REDS ‘OVER’ Duterte declares ceasefire with CPP-NPA
MANILA, July 25 (Mabuhay) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). Duterte made the announcement before a joint session of Congress during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). “I am announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDF effective immediately,” he said. He added: “I expect and call on our fellow Filipinos in the National Democratic Front and its forces to respond accordingly.” Duterte also vowed to
work for a “permanent and lasting peace” before he ends his term in 2022. “That is my goal, that is my dream,” he said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed support to Duterte’s declaration of peace. “The Commander in Chief has initiated a very bold move and we fully support him in his effort to bring sustainable and lasting peace See WAR OVER, page 12
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who recently declared unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels, is welcomed by officers of the Western Mindanao Command during his arrival at Edwin Andrews Airbase in Zamboanga City on July 21.(MNS photo)
Military at a disadvantage in unilateral ceasefire with CPP: Sen. Ping Lacson MANILA, July 27 (Mabuhay) – The unilateral ceasefire declared by the government with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has put the military in a disadvantageous position especially since the rebels have yet to reciprocate the gesture, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.
“While it (ceasefire) was well-intentioned, it could put the lives of our soldiers in danger if the CPP-NPA-NDF will not respond positively,” Lacson told reporters in a text message. “It seems to be the case, at least for the moment, since they (rebels) are now demanding for the release of political prisoners before See MILITARY, page 12
Poe to fast-track bill giving Duterte crisis powers to fix traffic MANILA, July 27 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday vowed to fast-track the passage of a measure that would grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the traffic problem in the country that she said has already “paralyzed our economy and our people.” Poe was elected Tuesday as chair of the Senate committee on public services. “A Senate bill for such emergency powers has been assigned to the public services committee that I will chair and the best course of action is to set it for public hearing as soon as possible so we can engage the Department of Transportation and all other stakeholders and experts to determine its necessity and if so the best terms under which such powers will have to be carried out to achieve its pur-
pose,” Poe said in a statement. The senator was reacting to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s bill or the “Traffic Crisis Act,” which seeks to grant emergency powers to Duterte for two years to do away with the mandatory bidding on procurement of transportation equipment and take over errant transport franchises to solve the traffic mess on roads and airports in Metro Manila and Cebu. The bill also proposes the creation of a “superbody” that would address the road and air traffic congestion in Metro Manila and Cebu province. Asked if she was amenable to support the proposals, Poe said she was behind all efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people “the See FAST-TRACK, page 12
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President Rodrigo R. Duterte shares a light moment with US Secretary of State Secretary John F. Kerry during a courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on July 27, 2016. (MNS photo)
Kerry to PHL: Human rights must be protected MANILA, July 27 (Mabuhay) – United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday mentioned the need to protect human rights as the Philippines and its partners combat local and international crimes. “We have a much broader agenda than, my friends, just the question of the South China Sea,” Kerry said during a joint conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay. “We continue to work together with the Philippines and other countries in the
region on law enforcement and on regional security and on combatting translational crimes like human trafficking.” “I made very clear that civil and human rights need to be protected even as we work to keep our society safe,” he said. Kerry said this as human rights groups slam extrajudicial killings related to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. More than 300 suspected drug users and pushers have See KERRY, page 12
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