A ‘Balikatan’ first: PH-US drills to sink boat in WPS

by FRanCis Mangosing Inquirer.net

MANILA — Filipino and American troops will sink a target vessel near Panatag (Scarborough)

Shoal in the West Philippine Sea when the two allies carry out next month their largest joint military exercise to date, a military official told the Inquirer on Tuesday, March 14.

The Philippines and the United States have ramped up defense cooperation under President Marcos in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and its potential invasion of Taiwan and will put on their biggest exercise in history with the participation of 17,000 troops from both sides. This is nearly twice the 8,900 soldiers who joined last year.

The annual joint military exercises — called “ Balikatan ” or “shoulder-to-shoulder” that will run from April 11 to 28 — will feature some 12,000 US soldiers and 5,000 Filipino troops. Australia will send about a hundred soldiers, while like-minded countries will join as observers.

The activities will be held across Northern Luzon and the provinces of Palawan and

Antique.

The anticipated sinking exercise of an old fishing vessel will be held some 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) off Zambales, or about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Panatag Shoal which China seized from the Philippines in 2012, according to Balikatan spokesperson Col. Michael Logico.

He said it would be conducted by the two countries for the first time as the forthcoming drills focus on “maritime defense, coastal defense and maritime domain awareness.”

Contributed photo

Filipina in Daly City shot dead by partner in front of her two kids

A FILIPINO American woman was killed in front of her two children by her partner in Daly City, California on Monday, March 6.

Frances Kendra Lucero, 27, was shot and killed by her partner, Romier Narag, also 27, in front of her two children, aged 3 and 4.

Police said the two had argued on their way home from a family dinner. Narag allegedly shot Lucero with a 9 millimeter handgun four times as she tried to run to their house.

Narag has been charged with murder and child endangerment and was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.

The two children are now in the care of Lucero’s family as they undergo social work evaluation, A GoFundMe page has been set up for Frances Lucero. (Inqurer.net)

Ceremonial swearing-in held in LA for Attorney General Rob Bonta

CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American to hold the office, had a ceremonial swearing-in during a recent community event in Los Angeles.

LA Mayor Karen Bass administered the oath of office during the ceremony held at the Japanese American National Museum on Sunday, March 5 as Bonta’s wife, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), held the Bible.

Bonta, previously a state assemblymember, was first appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as attorney general in March 2021, before being elected to a full term last November 2022. He was sworn in and delivered his inaugural address in Sacramento last January 6.