March 13-15, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 19 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
Catholic priests amid death threats: The response is not silence by AJPRESS PRIESTS remained firm in their criticism of the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines as they shared the hateful messages they received from calling out the flaws in the government. Three Catholic priests Father Flavie Villanueva, Father Robert Reyes and Father Albert Alejo on Monday, March 11, revealed a series of death threats they received following the verbal attacks of President Rodrigo Duterte towards the religious institution. “Hindi pananahimik, kundi ang malinaw, mahinahon, at matapang na pamamahayag Fathers Albert Alejo, Robert Reyes and Flavie Villanueva are prayed over by at paninindigan. Itigil na ang pananakot, itigil nuns and lay leaders amid death threats they are receiving from unknown people on Monday, March 11.
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Photo courtesy of CBCP
USA
DATELINE Filipina-American advocate showcases art at new City Hall exhibit for Women’s History Month FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
ON International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8, the City of Los Angeles unveiled a new art exhibit at the LA City Hall featuring womenmade artwork that tackles issues of domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness. Located on the bridge of the third floor of LA City Hall, the exhibit — which is called “Shifting Narratives: The Strength of Women Survivors” — features paintings, photographs, collages and sketches made by women whose stories highlight the relentless frequency of gendered violence. Among the artists showcased is FilipinaAmerican Teresita Villasenor, a human trafficking and domestic violence survivor who is currently a member and advocate for the LA-based Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).
NEW OFFICERS. President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates one of the newly-promoted Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel following the donning of ranks at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, March 11. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi
Palace says unfair to blame Duterte for threats against priests by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA — It would be unfair to blame President Rodrigo Duterte for the threats received by some members of the clergy, Malacañang said Tuesday, March 12, as it justified the chief executive’s repeated tirades against the Catholic Church. Some priests have revealed receiving death threats and seeing suspi-
cious individuals lurking near their houses and offices. Speaking to journalists last Monday, Fathers Robert Reyes, Flavie Villanueva and Albert Alejo said they are not afraid of the threats, which they said stemmed from Duterte’s tirades against the Church. But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the president had nothing to do with the threats. “The easiest and the most conve-
nient way to send threats is by text messages because you cannot trace it. There are a lot of probabilities. It could be coming from pranksters. It could be coming from anti-Duterte trolls. It could be coming from enemies of the priests,” Panelo said in a press briefing. “It is unfair to be pointing to the president as behind it,” he added. Panelo noted that Duterte had issued a stern warning against crimi-
nals who are targeting members of the clergy. “He had strong words (to criminals) that they should not harm priests and bishops,” the presidential spokesman said. Panelo claimed the president was not abusing his freedom of expression when he repeatedly criticizes the Catholic Church, the faith of more than 80 percent of Filipinos.
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SWS: 76% of Filipinos satisfied with Duterte administration by AJPRESS ACCORDING to the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) fourth-quarter survey, more Filipinos appear to be satisfied with the performance of the Duterte administration. The poll, which was released on Monday, March 11, revealed 76 percent of adult Filipinos are satisfied with the work of the administration while nine percent
said otherwise with a net satisfaction rating of +66 — an improvement from September of last year’s +50 rating, with 65 percent satisfied and 15 percent dissatisfied. In Mindanao, the administration’s net satisfaction increased from +67 in September 2018 to +75 in December 2018. In Visayas, it went from +42 to +63; meanwhile, in Metro Manila, the satisfaction rating improved from +40 to +60.
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Bishop thanks Sara Duterte’s Tulfo draws flak for calling PH out of ICC by March 17 mom for intervention Filipino workers ‘lazy’ u PAGE A3
PH Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo
AS the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes official on Sunday, March 17, it vowed to continue its probe on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs even after the withdrawal takes effect. Philippine Coalition for the ICC (PCICC) lead counsel Romel Bagares said that the international court ensured that all proceedings which started before a withdrawal will remain in effect even after the withdrawal. “If by lack of timely court action, the unilateral withdrawal by the Executive becomes effective we are still bound to cooperate with the ICC in respect of events and acts prior to the effective date of such withdrawal,” Bagares said as reported by Rappler. However, PCICC counsel Arpee Santiago said that the withdrawal would prevent the court from receiving “new information” after the date it takes effect which falls on March 17, so the alleged extrajudicial killings after that may no longer be examined.
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by EVELYN
MACAIRAN Philstar.com
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman Philstar.com photo
AN official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday, March 11, lauded Elizabeth Zimmerman for stepping into the word war between her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Vice President Leni Robredo. Fr. Jerome Secillano, head of CBCP public affairs committee, commended Zimmerman for scolding Carpio and ordering her to stop “bullying” Robredo and the opposition’s Otso Diretso senatorial candidates. “Mother knows best. She did what’s best for her daughter and the family. Instead of join-
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Photo screengrabbed from Youtube/CNN Philippines
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
LABOR leader and senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman on Sunday, March 10, said special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo is all talk while Filipino workers labor for the country’s growth. This was after Tulfo called Filipino workers “lazy” unlike the Chinese. In a statement, De Guzman said, “Kaya nga tinawag na manggagawa, kasi nga gumagawa. Walang ibang dahilan ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa liban sa manggagawang Pilipino (That’s why they are called workers, because they work. There is no other reason behind the improvement of the economy
but the Filipino workers).” “Kung masipag man itong si Tulfo, ito ay kasipagan niyang magsalita at mang-intriga. Malayong malayo sa manggagawa na lumilikha ng produkto at serbisyong may pinakikinabangan ng lahat ng tao (If Tulfo is hardworking, it’s about talk and intrigue, which is far from workers who create products and services that people benefit from),” he added. Tulfo on Thursday, March 7, claimed that Chinese workers “are better” than Filipino workers during an interview with CNN Philippines’ “On The Record.” “Do you know why the developers prefer Chinese workers? Because they are hardworking.
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