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M A R C H 15-21, 2019 Volume 12 - No. 21 • 16 Pages
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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’ by NESTOR
CORRALES AND DARRYL ESGUERRA Inquirer.net
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday, March 14, in Davao City the names of 46 politicians on the government’s “narcolist,” or elected officials involved in the illegal drugs trade. Also on Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed before the Office of the Ombudsman administrative cases against the 46 officials. The politicians identified by the president were:
- Ferdinand Dancel Aguindaldo, Vice Mayor, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte (Running for Mayor) - Jesus Celeste, 1st District Representative, Pangasinan (Did not file) - Marjorie Salazar, Mayor Lasam, Cagayan (Running for Municipal Councilor) - Cipriano Dungao Violago Jr., Mayor, San Rafael, Bulacan (Running for Mayor) - Erlon Agustin, Mayor, Camiling, Tarlac (Running for Mayor) - Jefferson Khonghun, Mayor, Subic, Zambales (Running for Vice Governor of Zambales)
- Jeffrey Khonghun, 1st district Representative, Zambales (Running for Congressman) - Bruno Tolentino Ramos, Mayor, Bay, Laguna (Did not file) -Caesar Pabalete Perez, Mayor, Los Baños, Laguna (Running for Mayor) - Cecilio C. Hernandez, Mayor, Rodriguez, Rizal (Running for Vice Mayor) - Dennis Linco Hernandez, Rodriguez, Rizal (Running for Mayor) - Eulalio Mendoza Alilio, Mayor, Lemery, Batangas
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Palace eyes executive order to address Metro Philippines, US kick off Pacific Partnership mission Manila water crisis The Philippines and United States kicked off Monday, March 11, this year’s iteration of the Pacific Partnership 2019. U.S. Embassy photo
THE U.S.-led multilateral humanitarian mission kicked off this year’s iteration of the Pacific Partnership 2019 on Monday, March 11. The Philippines is one of the mission stops, along with Malaysia, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Thailand, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Vietnam. The Philippine leg was launched in Tacloban City, the second time it will be held there since the mission started in 2014. “The purpose of PP 2019 is actually to capacitate local government units, government agencies and other sectors to be able to respond to disasters without panicking but rather in a calm manner,” said Central Commander Lt. Gen. Noel Clement.
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday, March 13, said Malacañang is crafting an executive order (EO) as parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province continue to struggle with the water shortage. He said the proposed measure was relayed to him by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
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PH out of ICC by March 17 AS the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) becomes official on Sunday, March 17, the ICC vowed to continue its probe into 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. “Any new information would have to be up until March 16, 2019, only because after
LIMITED SUPPLY. Residents of Hill Top, Bagong Ilog, Pasig City queue for water from a tanker. The water service interruption imposed by Manila Water has affected 250,000 to 260,000 people, the agency said. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
PARCHED. A farmer looks at his farm in San Ildefonso town in Bulacan, one of the provinces affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon. Water service interruptions in most parts of Luzon would last throughout the summer season because of the dwindling levels in two of the country’s major reservoirs — Angat Dam and La Mesa Dam. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene H. Dilan
PH House and Senate fail to resolve impasse on 2019 budget by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
THE meeting of lawmakers with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte failed to resolve the conflict of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri revealed that the members of the two legislative members had dialogue but failed to arrive at a consensus on the proposed P3.757 trillion annual budget. “The president had asked us to pass the budget so that the programs of government can continue. We still met while the president u PAGE 5 had left but there’s still no consensus, unfor-
tunately,” Zubiri said as reported by ABS-CBN News. The impasse was centered on the Senate’s stand to pass the “ratified version” as opposed to the Lower House’s position “on the line itemization and not lump sum.” Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III explained that Duterte told the legislative leaders in his introductory statement that he will not sign the budget if Sotto refuses to initially do so. “He opened the dialogue by saying he will not sign the budget if I do not sign it,” Sotto President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the legalized use of medical marijuana during his said. Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales Both sides were then given the chance to term, Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday, March 12.
Duterte withdraws Pope Francis names second Filipino bishop in US to serve LA marijuana legalization bid by RAE
ANN VARONA AJPress
THE Vatican named Monsignor Alejandro “Alex” Aclan the newest auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 5, making him the second Filipino to ever be presented as bishop in the United States. Born in Pasay City, Philippines, Aclan, 68, moved to Southern California from the Philippines in 1982 and has served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 25 years. But before entering priesthood, Aclan’s career path started with a degree in medical technology from the University
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of Santo Tomas in Manila, Aclan shared in a feature in the Asian Journal’s Balikbayan Magazine in 2017. Upon graduating, his career path moved yet again towards electronic data processing, which lead him to working as a programmer and systems analyst for companies like San Miguel Corp. and Citibank in the Philippines. Aclan’s decision to enter the seminary came after he moved to the U.S. and attended a religious retreat, while still working as a project manager for a bank in Los Angeles. By 1988, Aclan joined the St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California and was ordained five Monsignor Alejandro “Alex” Aclan, a priest of 25 years, was named the newest auxiliary
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bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, making him the second Filipino-American bishop in the U.S. Contributed photo
by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
MALACAÑANG announced on Tuesday, March 12, that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer push for the legalization of medical marijuana because he felt that it might go out of hand. “Kasi ang feeling niya (Duterte) you will be using that as an excuse, baka lumaki nang lumaki lang (Duterte feels that you will use that an excuse and it might go out of hand),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said as reported by ABS-CBN News. The chief executive said that the legalization of medical can-
nabis might push through but later on clarified “not during his time.” Panelo echoed the sentiment noting: “sa ibang panahon siguro, sabi niya (maybe some other time).” However, the spokesperson emphasized that the president might still root for the legalization of medical marijuana if doctors and medical experts of the said drug would prove its necessity in curing diseases. “Ang sabi niya pa, dapat yung mga medical yung mag-decide diyan kung talagang totoong nakakagamot yan (Duterte said medical professionals should decide whether medical marijuana is really effective),” Panelo stated.
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