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FEBRUARY 21-27, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 16 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
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VFA termination will not affect PH military DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Private service held for Fil-Am basketball coach Christina Mauser FILIPINA AMERICAN basketball coach Christina Mauser — who was among the nine victims in the helicopter crash that also killed NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna last month — was honored during a private funeral service on Sunday, February 16. Mauser, 38, was memorialized by family and friends at her alma mater, Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, three weeks after the fatal crash in Calabasas on January 26. She had been inducted into the high school’s athletic hall of fame for her accomplishments in both varsity basketball and volleyball, according to local television station KTLA5. Mauser previously worked as a basketball coach at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, where Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna attended, and was an assistant coach at Mamba Sports Academy. The younger Bryant was also among the victims of the crash on Sunday, January 26 as they made their way to the academy in Thousand Oaks for a game. Mauser is survived by her husband Matt
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
“I would like everybody to know this is the decision of the president and I want everybody THE termination of the Visiting Forces to know how it will affect us, it will not affect Agreement (VFA) with the United States will us, instead it will make us self-reliant,” Armed not affect the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. according to the chief of the country’s armed Felimon Santos Jr. told officers and soldiers during his first visit to Zamboanga City as a forces.
military chief. Santos admitted that once the VFA is officially terminated, there will be anticipated gaps in the training of personnel and supply of equipment. However, he said that the Philippines’ other allies like Australia can fill them through the
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Cayetano on best time to tackle ABS-CBN franchise: After SONA by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday, February 20, explained that the best time to hold deliberations on the franchise renewal bid of media giant ABS-CBN is when there’s no overlap with other urgent priorities. “What is the best timing? First, lahat ng pro at anti makapagsalita. Pangalawa, lahat ng gustong magsalita, magbigay ng comment, pabor man o hindi, marinig natin. Third, hindi matapakan yung ibang priorities natin na mas urgent (First, every pro and anti are given the chance to speak. Second, everyone who wants to speak, give comment, whether they are in favor or not, are heard. Third, priorities that are more urgent are not neglected),” he said in an interview in Iba,
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EMBATTLED ONCE MORE. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday, February 19, from the United States to post bail in his latest sedition case related to the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, which linked President Duterte’s family and allies to the illegal drug trade at the height of the 2019 midterm elections campaign period. At least two countries in Europe have offered former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV political asylum, but the Duterte administration critic said he declined the offers to be able to face the numerous charges filed against him by current and previous administrations. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande
Former VP Biden makes pitch to Vegas AAPI voters once more Trump ‘deserves to be reelected’ –Duterte by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to a predominantly Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) crowd on Tuesday night, February 18. He touted the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and record of appointing AAPI officials. AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal
LAS VEGAS — Bearing inlanguage campaign signs and chanting “Let’s Go Joe,” some 300 supporters flocked to a campaign event on Tuesday, February 18 for former Vice President and 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden as he made another appeal to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters in the city. Ahead of the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, Tuesday night’s event was organized by the Biden for President Nevada AAPI Leadership Council and AAPI Victory Fund at Har-
bor Palace Seafood Restaurant where the vice president spoke for roughly 13 minutes. Biden previously held an event at this restaurant last summer. Despite the former vice president’s performance in the Iowa and New Hampshire contests, the campaign is confident that Nevada’s results will be more in Biden’s favor as it has focused outreach to voters of color in the state, particularly in Clark County. “The idea that we’ve decided the nomination before we’ve heard from all those folks, all of you, is absolutely ridiculous,” Biden said, noting
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by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte believes United States President Donald Trump “deserves to be reelected” for understanding and respecting the Philippines’ decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Malacañang said. “PRRD (President Duterte) welcomes President Trump’s remarks and he is glad that the American President understands and respects his deci-
sion to end the Visiting Forces Agreement,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement on Saturday, February 15. “It is President Trump’s circumspect and judicious reaction to the termination of the VFA that made PRRD give the following remarks: ‘President Trump is a good President and he deserves to be re-elected,’” he added. Trump on February 12 said he was “fine” with Duterte’s order to terminate the VFA
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