March 20-22, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 20 • 2 Sections - 20 Pages
Malacañang: ICC offi cials barred from DATELINE USA Palace prefers to see entering country if caught probing drug war ‘silver lining’ in US FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
gov’t report on EJK
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
MALACAÑANG on Monday, March 18, said International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and prosecutors would be barred from entering the Philippines if the nature of their visit is for conducting a probe into President Ro-
drigo Duterte’s war on drugs. “If they say ‘We will be investigating.’ Perhaps they will be denied [entry] by the [Bureau of] Immigration,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a press briefing. “Huwag na. Matulog na lang sila (They should not come here. They should just sleep),” he added.
DESPITE the United States government identifying extrajudicial killing (EJK) as the Philippines’ chief human rights concern, the Palace said it prefers to focus on the positive aspects of the report. In a statement on Saturday, March 16, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the U.S. State Department’s 2018 report on human rights “reflects the U.S .government’s appreciation of the Duterte administration’s governance agenda anchored on fighting corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.” “While the political opposition and detractors of the president, including some of those in the mainstream media, would dwell on what they consider as negative observations and milk the same for their political purposes, we prefer to see the glass half full and focus on the According to the fact-finding team, this vehicle seemed to have been tailing positive aspects of the report,” Panelo said. Contributed photo Panelo then urged the public to read the en- them at the Ortigas Center. tire report so “that they may not be deceived by intended negative and false commentaries.” In his statement, Panelo pointed out how the report mentioned the developments in the
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However, Panelo said ICC representatives can visit the Philippines as tourists and “guests” but once they make moves to start a probe into the administration’s controversial drug war, they may face deportation. “I’ll smile at them and tell them nicely ‘you can’t do it here. If you persist you will be deported. You will be vio-
lating (our sovereignty),” Panelo said. “You’re interfering with the sovereignty. Because when you try to subject a country to your jurisdiction, then you’re interfering with that country because we have our own courts here. We can prosecute anybody if we feel (they violate or transgress) the law,”
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Int’l lawyers note ‘severe’ rights violation vs PH lawyers
Fil-Am arrested in PH for child pornography
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
A PANEL of international lawyers on Monday, March 18, said there has been a “sharp increase” of rights violations against Filipino lawyers, prosecutors, and ENOUGH WATER IN ANGAT DAM. Angat Dam’s water level of 210 meters remains to be ‘normal high’, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, FILIPINO-AMERICAN Joel Aquino Pasay was judges since the start of the administration of Presi- Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, March 17. The reservoir’s water level at Barangay San Ruiz, Norzagaray, Bulacan can still supply most of the water needs of Metro Manila despite the onset of El Niño. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on Satur- dent Rodrigo Duterte. u PAGE A3 day, March 16, due to his indictment from the United States District Court of Nevada for child pornography charges. The U.S. court indicted Pasay on May 2, 2017, with his receipt of child pornography as by EMMANUEL TUPAS it is in violation of the TItle 18 in U.S. Code Philstar.com 2252 (a)(2). He allegedly distributed copies of THE government is not worried if politicians with child pornography materials. He was nowhere suspected links to the illegal drug trade will withdraw to be found for almost two years. their support for President Duterte’s advocacy for a Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Superinshift to federalism, an official of the Department of the tendent Vicente Danao Jr. received a tip that Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monthe U.S. fugitive was initially seen along Paday, March 18. checo Street, Tondo Manila. Law enforcement DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya officials scouted the area and failed to catch said a possible withdrawal of support for a federal him. form of Duterte administration would not deter the On October 29, 2018, the Philippine Bureau government from naming more politicians with susof Immigration (BI) issued a deportation order Manila Water Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Perry Rivera, Manila Water Chief Executive officer pected involvement in illegal drugs. for the 56-year-old in hiding. Danao said that and President Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, and “The fi ght against illegal drugs is more important they found him temporarily residing in Deca MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco testify on Monday, March 18, during the House inquiry DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan than anything else,” Malaya said on the sidelines of on the water shortage in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Homes Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga.
Government to name more narco politicians
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Malaya
Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos
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ManilaTimes.net photo by Rudy Martinez
Filipina-American millennial confirmed to LA Board of Public Works Manila Water apologizes by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
LOS ANGELES — A high-ranking Filipina American in City Hall is now a commissioner on the Board of Public Works. Jessica Caloza was confirmed to the position on Tuesday, March 19 after the City Council voted unanimously, making her the first Pinay to sit on the Board. She was nominated for the vacant seat back in February by Mayor Eric Garcetti, for whom she had served as director of scheduling since 2017. “When we were making a decision about appointing the next Public Works commissioner, this was a no-brainer,” Garcetti said on Tuesday. “The best person in this city and this administration was...right there in front of us every single day.” At the City Council meeting, Caloza spoke about her perspective as a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines “whose first The audience at the LA City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19 applauds Jessica Caloza, previously the LA Mayor’s
for water interruptions, takes blame for shortage by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
WATER supply concessionaire Manila Water on Monday, March 18, apologized to its customers for the unexpected water service interruptions that affected many households in Metro Manila and Rizal province. Manila Water Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ferdinand de la Cruz appeared before the congressional hearing to take responsibility for the water shortage that affected most of the people in Eastern part of Metro director of scheduling, as she became the first Filipina-American commissioner of the Board of Public Works. Caloza, a Manila and nearby areas. AJPress photo by Noel Ty u PAGE A4 first-generation immigrant, brings local and federal government experience. “I am ready to resign. I am
holding myself accountable for the unexpected drop in service levels to your constituents whom we have consistently served over the past 21 years with 24/7 water availability and sufficient pressure,” de la Cruz said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said that they are also considering to refund the water bill payments of those affected by the said water supply shortage. “We will be studying options if there is going to be a rebate.
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