Undocumented Filipinos in US urged to legalize status amid deportations
by Gavin Martinez Inquirer.net
With deportations on the rise, Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez is urging undocumented filipinos in the U.s. to take immediate steps to legalize their status. this comes in the wake of the U.s. government’s move to revoke the temporary protected status (tPs) of 530,000 nationals from Cuba, haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela – a policy set to take effect on April 24 this year. As the crackdown intensifies, romualdez warned that filipinos without proper documentation could be swept up in broader immigration enforcement efforts. in a recent interview with super radyo dzBB, romualdez stressed the importance of seeking legal counsel, warning that those with unclear residency – such as individuals working and paying taxes without proper documentation – face a high risk u PAGE 2
US Secretary Rubio set for PH trip to boost
Indo-Pacific alliance
UNiteD states secretary of state marco rubio is planning to visit the Philippines next month to reaffirm the importance of the Philippines-U.s. alliance in the trump administration.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.s. Jose manuel romualdez said there is no exact date for the visit as of yet but “probably by April” after the trip of U.s. Defense secretary Pete hegseth to manila next week.
“Again, the relationship between the Philippines and the United states is one that is extremely important for both our countries,” he said in an interview with ABs-CBN News Channel on tuesday,
iN what can only be described as a fairytale run, 19-year-old Alexandra eala has etched her name in the history books with a stunning performance at the 2025 miami open. the young filipina, a wild card entry ranked 140th in the world, shocked the tennis world by defeating world No. 2 iga swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, march 26, marking one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
“i think i've been loving the way that i'm out there on court, trusting my shots,” eala told tennis Channel in a post-match interview. “i have a great team that tells me i can do it.”
With this victory, eala became the first filipino player to reach a tour-level semifinal and the first filipina to defeat a top-10 player in the open era. her historic achievement also sees her match the best result ever by a
ICE detains Filipino green card holder who has lived in US for 50 years
Lewelyn Dixon, 64, was detained while returning home to Seattle from a trip to the Philippines
Los ANGeLes – Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old filipino green card holder who has been a permanent U.s resident for 50 years, was detained by the U.s immigration and Customs enforcement (iCe) while returning home to seattle, Washington, from a trip to the Philippines. she was (in the Philippines) for like a couple of weeks. And then she returned on feb. 28. And she was stuck in customs,” Dixon’s niece, emily Cristobal, told hawaii News Now.
“We got the news, i think it was march 2, that she got taken by U.s immigration and Customs enforcement (iCe) and then detained in the Northwestern detainment facility.”
“We haven’t officially been told why she’s being held. they just keep saying that they’re waiting for documents,” added Cristobal, who works as the office manager for hawaii state rep. tina Grandinetti. Grandinetti, a critic of Pres. Donald
trump’s immigration policies, has supported a bill to provide legal representation for immigrants in hawaii. she recently shared Dixon’s story on the house floor and denounced her detention, describing it as “part of a broader attack on immigrants – an attack on our families, our friends, and our community as a whole.” Grandinetti pushed for the passage of sB816, a bill that would provide state-funded legal representation for
No plans to rejoin ICC even after Duterte’s arrest, says Malacañang
by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com
mANiLA — the Palace said on tuesday, march 25, that there are no plans for the Philippines to rejoin the international Criminal Court, despite the government handing former President rodrigo Duterte over to the tribunal. in a media briefing, Palace Press officer Claire Castro said that when she spoke to President ferdinand marcos Jr. about the matter, he simply smiled.
“We have not yet discussed any plan of rejoining the iCC. iyong huli po nating nakausap ang pangulo, tinanong po natin iyan nang personal at siya’y ngumiti lamang at sasabihin ko daw dapat na wala pa talagang napag-uusapan patungkol doon,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
(We have not yet discussed any plan of rejoining the icc in our last conversation with the president, we also personally
VP Sara Duterte denies calling for Pres. Marcos’ resignation
by zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net
mANiLA — Vice President sara Duterte denied that she called for President ferdinand marcos Jr.’s resignation, stating that it was her family’s supporters who made the demand, and that she was merely urging them to explain why they want the president to step down.
Duterte made the clarification after the Palace reacted to the claims she made during a gathering in the hague, where her father, former
people going through immigration proceedings.
sB816 is a step toward protecting our community, and i’m so grateful to the filipino Caucus for championing this important legislation. Let’s get it passed,” she said.
“the targeting of our immigrant community is not just something happening on our phones and tV screens,” she said on the house floor. “this is a reality that’s impacting our u PAGE 2
Marcos may hold talks with Trump in Washington
mANiLA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. may be invited to Washington for a meeting with U.s. President Donald trump in the first half of the year, Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez said on monday, march 24. in an interview with teleradyo, romualdez said the meeting would likely take place after U.s. Defense secretary Pete hegseth visits the Philippines this month. the U.s. Department of Defense earlier announced that hegseth “will travel to the Philippines to advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with U.s. and Philippine forces.” (inquirer.net)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo
No plans to rejoin ICC even after...
1
asked that and he merely smiled and told me to say that there are no talks yet on the matter.) Castro also said that the Philippine government has not made any commitment regarding the potential issuance of a freeze order on Duterte’s assets in the country by the iCC.
in a previous briefing, the Palace said that the issue of freezing Duterte’s assets would be decided by the Anti-money Laundering Council. While the Palace remains silent on whether or not the Philippines will rejoin the iCC, the arrest of Duterte and his turnover to the tribunal have shown that the administration can change its stance based on developments. No less than Justice secretary Boying remulla admitted that the administration can change its position over time. in a senate inquiry into Duterte’s arrest, sen. imee marcos, the sister of President Bongbong marcos and a staunch ally of the Duterte clan, presented remulla with old comments from the president about how the Philippines would not join the iCC.
imee questioned why that position had changed, though she later admitted that she had not spoken directly to her brother about the matter.. “our minds can change,” remulla simply said, albeit speaking in general terms.
Whether the president will change his stance on the country’s membership in the iCC remains to be seen. n
Undocumented Filipinos in US...
of removal.
With this, he advised them to consult with immigration lawyers as soon as possible to explore potential pathways to legalization.
Lagi kong sinasabi na ‘yung mga Pilipino na medyo ang status ay neither here or there, meaning to say, nagtatrabaho sila, nagbabayad sila ng taxes, pero ‘yung status nila ay hindi klaro, pwede silang pumunta sa immigration lawyer at ngayon pa lang, ayusin na nila at meron silang chance na maging legal ang status nila,” the ambassador emphasized in the interview. this policy change will end the parole entry program introduced by former U.s. President Joe Biden, which allowed nationals from these countries to enter with the support of U.s.-based sponsors.
Although the program directly affects specific nationalities,
romualdez warned that undocumented filipinos could also be targeted under broader immigration crackdowns. he cautioned that individuals deported from the U.s. may face permanent bans on re-entry. With thousands of filipinos residing in the U.s. under uncertain circumstances, the
ambassador’s appeal highlights the urgency of securing legal status before immigration enforcement efforts intensify. romualdez encouraged affected individuals to act quickly and seek legal assistance to avoid the potential consequences of forced removal. n
ICE detains Filipino green card holder who...
staff, our friends, our families and our loved ones.” the Northwest iCe Processing Center (NWiPC), where Dixon is detained, is privately owned by the Geo Group and holds over 1,500 detainees, according to Newsweek Newsweek reported that it was
able to confirm that Dixon was being detained at the iCe site. Dixon “has a single conviction from 2001 that has triggered the issue,” her lawyer, Benjamin osorio, told Newsweek osorio said Dixon has been convicted for embezzlement “for which she received 30 days in a halfway house and a $6,400 fine. she was never ordered to serve any active time in a jail or prison. it was the travel that triggered the issue and if she had not traveled, she would not be removable from the United states.”
Dixon’s scheduled hearing is set for July 17, said Cristobal. (inquirer.net)
US Secretary Rubio set for PH trip to boost...
march 25.
“We’re at the forefront of the situation that we face in the in the indo-Pacific region and our alliance— i would assume that secretary rubio’s mission in the indo-Pacific region is also similar to what secretary hegseth is going to do,” he added.
After these high-level visits, romualdez said the two governments would already likely be able to firm up the “exact timing” of President ferdinand r marcos Jr’s visit to
the U.s
hegseth is embarking on a landmark trip to manila on march 28, marking the first time that a Pentagon chief has included a stop in the country during his first visit to the region.
romualdez said his visit comes at an opportune time just as manila is also looking to further “bring forward” the new relationship that it has with the trump administration. the envoy said hegseth and his filipino counterpart Defense secretary Gilberto teodoro Jr.
are expected to discuss “what it is that we will be needing for our armed forces to bring it up to speed on exactly what we want to achieve”.
“Basically, the United states under President trump has always said that we have to have a strong deterrence to be able to avert any kind of conflict in the future,” he said. that is exactly what secretary hegseth is going to talk about with secretary teodoro and also perhaps a meeting with President marcos the next day,” he added. (PNA)
VP Sara Duterte denies calling for...
President rodrigo Duterte is currently under custody of the international Criminal Court (iCC).
“Wala akong sinasabi ever na dapat mag-resign si [marcos].
Ang sinabi ko lang kahapon, sabi ko kung nananawagan kayo ng ‘BBm resign,’ bigyan niyo ng rason kung bakit yan ang panawagan ninyo sa kanila. And i gave them examples,” said Duterte in a chance interview with reporters on tuesday, march 25.
(i never said that [Marcos] should resign. What i said yesterday was, i said, if you’re calling for ‘BBM resign,’ give a reason. And i gave them examples.)
“iyon lang naman ang sinabi ko. sabi ko sa mga tao, pag nanawagan kayo ng BBm resign, dapat sabihin ninyo kung bakit. Para naiintindihan noong mga nakikinig, bakit ba tayo nananawagan ng resign?” she added
(That’s all i said. i told the people, if you’re calling for BBM resign, you should say why. So that those listening understand why you are calling for a resignation.)
it was on sunday, march 23 when a number of Duterte supporters gathered in the hague on sunday and were chanting “marcos resign.” the vice president, who was
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro Malacañang photo
also present, responded: “Kayo nagsabi niyan, hindi ako ah.” she continued by taking a jab at marcos’ capability to lead the country, explicitly stating why marcos should resign. “Bakit ba kailangan magresign? Dahil hindi mo pinapakita sa taumbayan na maayos kang mag-isip at kaya mo ang mamuno,” she said in her speech. (Why should you resign?
Because you are not showing the people that you can think clearly and are capable of leading.)
malacañang, through Presidential Communications office
Undersecretary Claire Castro, slammed the vice president, questioning who really would benefit from the president’s resignation. Castro even criticized the vice president by saying that an official who “hides things and does not show documents,” particularly about funds, cannot be a leader—alluding to her alleged misuse of government funds. the iCC currently has custody of former President Duterte after he was arrested and sent to the hague for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s war against drugs which left at least 6,000 people dead, accordong to official government records. n
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez Inquirer.net file photo
Facade of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands. File photo
‘PABASA’. Residents of Herbosa Street in Tondo, Manila participate in the traditional Filipino Catholic devotional practice “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (Reading of the Passion) on Tuesday, March 25. Devotees continuously chant or sing the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Trump signs executive order requiring proof of citizenship for federal elections
by AJPress
WAshiNGtoN, D.C. – Presi-
dent Donald trump has signed an executive order requiring voters to present documentary proof of U.s. citizenship in order to register for federal elections.
the order, signed tuesday, march 25, directs states to verify the citizenship status of all new voter registrants using official documents such as birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers.
it also mandates that all ballots be received by the close of polls on election Day to be counted, eliminating the use of postmark-based deadlines in states that currently allow them.
Additionally, the order instructs federal agencies to assist states by providing access to citizenship data, prosecuting election-related offenses, and potentially withholding federal funds from states that fail to comply.
it further directs the U.s election Assistance Commission to prioritize paper-based voting systems in a push for greater
transparency and security. Historical context and rationale the order marks a continuation of trump’s longstanding focus on voter fraud, particularly his repeated—though widely disputed—claims that noncitizens have been casting ballots in U.s elections. these concerns have been central to trump’s political messaging since his 2016 campaign. During his first term, trump attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census and created a commission to investigate voter fraud, both of which were ultimately dismantled or blocked in court. earlier this year, he signed executive order 14160 to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, which was swiftly halted by legal challenges. the current order builds on those efforts by targeting the voter registration process. supporters argue the order is a necessary safeguard to ensure only eligible American citizens participate in federal elections.
house speaker mike Johnson (r-LA), a longtime advocate for
stricter voting laws, introduced the safeguard American Voter eligibility (sAVe) Act in 2024, proposing similar proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Criticism and legal challenges ahead
Voting rights advocates argue the order seeks to solve a problem that virtually doesn’t exist. multiple studies—including from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice—have found that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. A 2017 study identified only 30 suspected cases of noncitizen voting among 23.5 million ballots cast, a rate of 0.0001%.
Critics also warn that the order could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly those without immediate access to documents such as passports or birth certificates.
the Brennan Center estimates that roughly 9% of voting-age citizens may fall into this category, with low-income individuals, elderly voters, and natural-born citizens among the most affected.
Legal experts predict the order will face swift constitutional challenges. While federal elections fall under federal purview, the U.s. Constitution grants states primary authority over election administration.
the potential for withholding federal funds adds another layer of complexity that courts are expected to examine closely.
Setting the stage for the 2026 midterm elections
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, trump’s executive order has become a lightning rod in the broader debate over voting rights and election integrity.
With control of Congress at stake and voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, the executive order may influence both the accessibility of the ballot and the political messaging of candidates.
Legal battles, public response, and the degree of state-level resistance or compliance will all shape whether and how the order impacts the midterms.
Beyond 2026, the order could set a far-reaching precedent— testing the boundaries of federal authority over elections and redefining how the nation balances citizenship verification, access to the ballot, and democratic security. n
Amid plummeting diversity at medical schools, a warning of DEI crackdown’s ‘chilling effect’
by Annie SciAccA KFF Health News
the trump administration’s crackdown on Dei programs could exacerbate an unexpectedly steep drop in diversity among medical school students, even in states like California, where public universities have been navigating bans on affirmative action for decades. education and health experts warn that, ultimately, this could harm patient care.
since taking office, President Donald trump has issued a handful of executive orders aimed at terminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion, or Dei, initiatives in federally funded programs. And in his march 4 address to Congress, he described the supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning the consideration of race in college and university admissions as “brave and very powerful.”
Last month, the education Department’s office for Civil rights — which lost about 50% of its staff in mid-march — directed schools, including postsecondary institutions, to end race-based programs or risk losing federal funding. the
“Dear Colleague” letter cited the supreme Court’s decision.
Paulette Granberry russell, president and Ceo of the National Association of Diversity officers in higher education, said that “every utterance of ‘diversity’ is now being viewed as a violation or considered unlawful or illegal.” her organization filed a lawsuit challenging trump’s anti-Dei executive orders.
While California and eight other states — Arizona, florida, idaho, michigan, Nebraska, New hampshire, oklahoma, and Washington — had already implemented bans of varying degrees on race-based admissions policies well before the supreme Court decision, schools bolstered diversity in their ranks with equity initiatives such as targeted scholarships, trainings, and recruitment programs.
But the court’s decision and the subsequent state-level backlash — 29 states have since introduced bills to curb diversity initiatives, according to data published by the Chronicle of higher education — have tamped down these efforts and led to the recent declines in
diversity numbers, education experts said.
After the supreme Court’s ruling, the numbers of Black and hispanic medical school enrollees fell by double-digit percentages in the 2024-25 school year compared with the previous year, according to the Association of American medical Colleges. Black enrollees declined 11.6%, while the number of new students of hispanic origin fell 10.8%. the decline in enrollment of American indian or Alaska Native students was even more dramatic, at 22.1%. New Native hawaiian or other Pacific islander enrollment declined 4.3%.
“We knew this would happen,” said Norma Pollhunter, AAmC’s senior director of workforce diversity. “But it was double digits — much larger than what we anticipated.” the fear among educators is the numbers will decline even more under the new administration.
At the end of february, the education Department launched an online portal encouraging people to “report
The executive order directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to prioritize paper-based voting systems in a push for greater transparency and security. Pexels.com photo by Sora Shimazaki
THINK GREEN. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (3rd from left) leads the oathtaking of the commitment to protect the climate during the “We
Think Green: Women in Climate Action Summit” at the QC Hall M.I.C.E Center on Tuesday, March 25. The movement puts women at the center of addressing climate challenge.
PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Top US film equipment company invests $100M in PH
by alden M. MOnzOn Inquirer.net
mANiLA – American film equipment firm Birns & sawyer
inc. is investing an initial $100 million in a local movie production venture that will be launched in June. in an online interview on tuesday, march 25, trade secretary ma. Cristina roque said Birns & sawyer would set up a studio and a production company in Clark, referring to New Clark City in the province of tarlac.
“their focus will be on attracting foreign firms,” roque said.
“We’ve given them incentives so they are actually very excited,” she added.
‘Expanding the Bridge’ earlier this month, roque told reporters in a chance interview that the government is offering grants of up to $180,000 (P10 million) to attract hollywood filmmakers to shoot in the Philippines. these incentives are part of the “expanding the Bridge” initiative, a government-led effort designed to position the Philippines as a prime destination for major film and television productions. the program aims to attract international projects and highlight the country’s diverse landscapes, skilled local talent and rich cultural heritage in global cinema. roque also said that the Dti alone has a budget of P300 million to give out as incentives for the local film industry. she said that they intend to double the budget this year and to partner with the private sector to raise funding.
Beyond the financial grant, the initiative also provides additional benefits to filmmakers such as rebates. n
Alex Eala upsets world number 2 Iga Swiatek...
wild card at the miami open.
eala’s path to the semifinals has been nothing short of remarkable. she secured wins over Grand slam champion
Jelena ostapenko and world No.
10 madison Keys—her first-ever victory over a top-10 opponent— before receiving a walkover from Paula Badosa. Now, with her latest triumph over swiatek, the young filipina is set to break into the WtA top 100 for the first time in her career, projected to rise to at least No. 75.
for the entire match, eala broke swiatek’s service game 8 out of 10 times. Asked about her strategy in returning the serve, eala said, “take it early and not be afraid. i think not being afraid to miss is key. so it's normal that i would miss some, frame some, or send some out but i cannot be afraid to continue doing what i know i have to do.” trained at rafael Nadal’s academy in mallorca for the past six years, eala’s talent and resilience have been on full display throughout the tournament.
her ability to challenge some of the sport’s biggest names has solidified her status as one of the brightest young stars in women’s tennis.
After her win against ostapenko in the second round, eala’s graduation photo at the Nadal Academy in mallorca became viral. she was in between rafa himself and iga swiatek, who was a special guest for the ceremonies.
it’s crazy because when i look at this picture, i’m the same girl, but the circumstances have changed so much,” eala shared.
i always knew that one day i would have the chance to play her, but i didn’t know it would happen this week.”
Asked about how much faith has played in her journey so far, she responded quickly.
“i think faith, belief, and selfesteem all come as a package. that’s what gets you through the tough times, and belief is what pushes you through moments like this,” she said. regardless of the outcome of her semifinals match on thursday, march 27, eala’s inspiring run in miami has already cemented her as a rising force in the sport. As to what it would take to win a couple of matches for the trophy, she said everything.
“it will take everything. Just because i won this match or the match before doesn’t mean the next one will be any less tough. if anything, it’ll be even tougher, so it will take everything i have,” eala said. (Momar G. Visaya/ AJPress)
Amid plummeting diversity at medical schools...
illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning,” stating that students should have “learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination.” the agency later issued a “frequently Asked Questions” document about its new policies, clarifying that it was acceptable to observe events like Black history month but warning schools that they “must consider whether any school programming discourages members of all races from attending.” it definitely has a chilling effect,” Poll-hunter said. “there is a lot of fear that could cause institutions to limit their efforts.”
Numerous requests for comment from medical schools about the impact of the antiDei actions went unreturned. University presidents are staying mum on the issue to protect their institutions, according to reporting from the New York times.
Utibe essien, a physician and UCLA assistant professor, said he has heard from some students who fear they won’t be considered for admission under the new policies. essien, who co-authored a study on the effect of affirmative action bans on medical schools, also said students are worried medical schools will not be as supportive toward students of color as in the past.
“Both of these fears have the risk of limiting the options of schools folks apply to and potentially those who consider medicine as an option at all,” essien said, adding that the “lawsuits around equity policies and just the climate of anti-diversity have brought institutions to this place where they feel uncomfortable.” in early february, the Pacific Legal foundation filed a lawsuit against the University of California-san francisco’s Benioff Children’s hospital oakland over an internship
program designed to introduce “underrepresented minority high school students to health professions.”
Attorney Andrew Quinio filed the suit, which argues that its plaintiff, a white teenager, was not accepted to the program after disclosing in an interview that she identified as white.
“from a legal standpoint, the issue that comes about from all this is: how do you choose diversity without running afoul of the Constitution?” Quinio said. “for those who want diversity as a goal, it cannot be a goal that is achieved with discrimination.”
UC health spokesperson heather harper declined to comment on the suit on behalf of the hospital system.
Another lawsuit filed in february accuses the University of California of favoring Black and Latino students over Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions. specifically, the complaint states that UC officials pushed campuses to use a “holistic” approach to admissions and “move away from objective criteria towards more subjective assessments of the overall appeal of individual candidates.” the scrutiny of that approach to admissions could threaten diversity at the UC-Davis school of medicine, which for years has employed a “race-neutral, holistic admissions model” that reportedly tripled enrollment of Black, Latino, and Native American students. how do you define diversity? Does it now include the way we consider how someone’s lived experience may be influenced by how they grew up? the type of school, the income of their family? All of those are diversity,” said Granberry russell, of the National Association of Diversity officers in higher education. “What might they view as an unlawful proxy for diversity equity and inclusion? that’s what we’re
confronted with.”
California Attorney General rob Bonta, a Democrat, recently joined other state attorneys general to issue guidance urging that schools continue their Dei programs despite the federal messaging, saying that legal precedent allows for the activities. California is also among several states suing the administration over its deep cuts to the education Department. if the recent decline in diversity among newly enrolled students holds or gets worse, it could have long-term consequences for patient care, academic experts said, pointing toward the vast racial disparities in health outcomes in the U.s particularly for Black people. A higher proportion of Black primary care doctors is associated with longer life expectancy and lower mortality rates among Black people, according to a 2023 study published by the JAmA Network. Physicians of color are also more likely to build their careers in medically underserved communities, studies have shown, which is increasingly important as the AAmC projects a shortage of up to 40,400 primary care doctors by 2036. the physician shortage persists, and it’s dire in rural communities,” Poll-hunter said.
“We know that diversity efforts are really about improving access for everyone. more diversity leads to greater access to care — everyone is benefiting from it.”
This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes california Healthline, an editorially independent service of the california Health care Foundation.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
With largest-ever Medicaid cuts, 79 million Americans face health care loss
by Selen Ozturk Ethnic Media Services
With the house proposing the largest medicaid cuts in the program’s history, the health care of 79.3 million enrollees is at stake.
the budget resolution to slash at least $880 billion through 2034 in health care and nutrition programs was proposed to the U.s house of representatives energy and Commerce Committee in late february, and the house is poised to vote on the measure in late April.
of the nearly one in four Americans enrolled in the medicaid and Children’s health insurance Program (ChiP) — including low-income people, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities — the measure would feasibly eliminate coverage for 15.9 million.
the magnitude of the cuts is extraordinary. Nothing in American history has been remotely this size,” said stan Dorn, director of the health Policy Project at UnidosUs, at a friday, march 21 ethnic media services briefing about the medicaid measures. the closest previous cuts, under the reagan administration in 1981 and 1982, were a $3.9 billion dollar slash that dropped enrollment 13%; in today’s terms, this would translate to $12.4 billion and 9 million people. in 2023, total medicaid spending was about $860 million; were the cuts to be implemented, each congressional district nationwide would lose an average $2 billion in federal funds over nine years.
the April measure “passed by a single, party-line vote,” said Dorn. “every republican but one voted for it, every Democrat voted against it. most bills now have to get 60 votes in the senate to pass, which means you need Democratic and republican support, but budget reconciliation has a ‘fast-track’ procedure where bills can pass entirely by republican votes alone.”
there’s no way you can cut huge amounts like this from medicaid without hurting millions of people, he continued. “the reason republicans are doing this is because the trump 2017 tax cuts that primarily benefited large corporations in the wealthy will expire after this year, unless they can pay the nearly $5 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget office, to continue it … this is the exact opposite of what was promised to the American people … Leaving people subject to medical bills without
the protection of insurance means costs go up, not down.”
house speaker mike Johnson has said the plan is to vote on a budget bill on the house floor by easter, April 20 and have it on the president’s desk by memorial Day, may 26.
Cut implementation strategies discussed by house members include ending or limiting states’ ability to raise their share of medicaid funds by taxing insurance companies and hospitals; capping the total amount of federal money that a state may get per enrollee; and terminating medicaid for enrollees who don’t meet work requirements.
“medicaid is the largest source of federal funds coming into states,” said Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and families and research and professor at the Georgetown mcCourt school of Public Policy foundation. “even a state that wanted to will not be able to raise taxes enough to make up for these large federal cuts … this will have ripple effects on all areas of state budgets, not just medicaid.” states will be faced with pitting very, very vulnerable populations against one another — an aging population who needs long-term care, children, people with disabilities, low-income families,” she continued.
Approximately 72.1 million Americans are currently enrolled in medicaid and 7.2 million in ChiP — including over 37 million children (roughly half of all children in the U.s.), 20 million Latinos, 13 million Black people, 4.8 million Asian Americans and 700,000 Native Americans.
“We are hearing a lot about cutting fraud. But if you want to address fraud, and you look at where fraud occurs, people who are enrolled in medicaid are the victims, not the perpetrators,” Alker explained. “Proposals that limit people’s access are not addressing fraud. Proposals to address fraud would include hiring more prosecutors at the Department of Justice and beefing up medicaid fraud Control Units. these are not proposals to address fraud, they are proposals to cut medicaid.” the impact of these cuts will especially be felt by community health centers, which serve 32.5 million people — often, the medicaid enrollees and uninsured patients who already struggle to access care the most.
“With cuts, you’ll probably see health centers forced to reduce operating hours, cut key programs, not hire new staff,” said Joanne Preece, director of government and external affairs at the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles
County, representing 66 health center organizations and two million patients countywide. medicaid is the largest source of funding for health centers nationwide, accounting for 43% of a total $46.7 billion in revenue.
roughly half of health center patients are on medicaid. meanwhile, medicaid expansion “has a dramatic impact on our patients’ ability to access care,” Preece explained. in a little over a decade since the Affordable Care Act and further expansions we’ve done in California, health center patients in Los Angeles County went from majority uninsured to majority insured.” in 2011, 58% of LA County health center patients were uninsured; in 2023, 14% were. Preece added that “our ‘threelegged stool’ medicaid cuts will harm the health of patients through the entire system. When patients are uninsured, they’re more likely to minimize or delay care, they have fears related to costs, and this leads to worse health outcomes in the long run. it leads to folks relying on emergency rooms for care, which isn’t good for anyone.”
A recent Kff poll suggests that two-thirds of adult Americans “say that someone close to them has received help from medicaid at some point, including over half (53%) who say either they themselves or a member of their family has been covered by the program.” the same poll found that “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” views of medicaid were held by majorities of Democrat (88%), republican (64%) and independent (81%) respondents.
“Last November, people voted with their wallets, seeking greater affordability, including for health care, but the cuts proposed would shred our safety net, forcing families to lose coverage and access to health care and shifting costs onto people who are already struggling with costs for everything else,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of families UsA.
“All of this, to fund a tax cut geared toward the wealthiest corporations, is a cut to the health care system that serves all of us,” he continued, “whether it’s your local hospital forced to shut down its er or add hours to its wait times or scale back services, or community clinics and long-term facilities that already may not be able to keep their doors open.” these medicaid cuts will be felt by people in every state and every congressional district in the nation, regardless of our race, ethnicity, party, health provider or how we get covered,” he added. n
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque Inquirer.net file photo
Alex Eala
Photo from Instagram/@alex.eala
PREVENTION. The Metro Manila Center for Health Development intensifies its measles catch-up immunization program through “Bakunahan sa Purok ni Juan” in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday, March 25. The program highlights the importance of vaccination and emphasizes the commitment of health leaders to protect communities and vulnerable population from vaccine-preventable diseases.
PNA photo by Yancy Lim
DAteline PhiliPPines
Imee breaks away from Alyansa slate
by Bernadette tamayo,
Catherine Valente and red mendoza ManilaTimes.net
seNAtor imee marcos on Wednesday, march 26 withdrew from the administration's senatorial slate, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, marking a sharp break from her brother, President ferdinand marcos Jr., over the arrest and extradition of former President rodrigo Duterte.
in recent rallies before the break, the president had left his sister's name out of the roster of Alyansa candidates, while the senator said she and her brother "don't talk any more."
senator marcos, who is polling outside the winning circle in the latest social Weather stations survey, has acknowledged a political debt to Duterte and his daughter, Vice President sara Duterte, who she refers to as her "best friend." on march 20, the senator, as chairman of the senate Committee on foreign relations, grilled top administration officials on their role in Duterte's arrest and extradition, arguing that he had been deprived of his rights.
"By repeatedly invoking executive privilege and the sub judice rule during the senate's hearing last week, the government witnesses appeared to be hiding essential facts," senator marcos said in a statement.
she said, "Beyond their constant narrative that the Philippines was simply complying with its international commitments, a deliberate effort to obscure the truth only gave rise to ever greater suspicion that the Constitution may have been disregarded and our sovereignty diminished by the arrest of former President rodrigo roa Duterte."
"As will be soon discussed in my preliminary findings, clearly there were actions taken by the administration which run counter to my ideals and principles," the senator said. thus, i cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa," she said. for the second time, President marcos on saturday, march
DUTERTE ARREST PROBE. Sen. Imee Marcos leads the Committee on Foreign Relations investigation at the Senate on March 20, 2025 regarding the involvement and roles of the International Criminal Court, International Criminal Police Organization, and various government agencies in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. ManilaTimes.net
22 left out his eldest sister, senator marcos, as he rallied support from Laguna residents for the Alyansa' 11 senatorial candidates. in his speech, the president referred to the administration's ticket as having only 11 members, fueling speculation that imee was no longer part of the coalition.
senator marcos did not attend the rally, where the president introduced and praised the track record of his candidates, all except one: his sister. the president on friday, march 21 also made no mention of his elder sister at a campaign rally in trece martires City, Cavite.
senator marcos just brushed the apparent snub. "it's oK, after all, i already said that i would focus on investigating the illegal events that took place when former President rodrigo roa Duterte was taken," she said in a statement. the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas on Wednesday said it respects the decision of senator marcos to withdraw from the administration's senatorial slate.
"We respect senator imee's decision. We wish her luck in the campaign," Navotas rep. toby tiangco, Alyansa's campaign manager, said in a statement. meanwhile, a source said rep. Camille Villar remains part of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas despite her absence in recent
rallies of the administration's senatorial slate.
speculation that Villar might be out of the administration's slate mounted after she and senator marcos skipped Alyansa's rallies that were held following Duterte's arrest.
she never left Alyansa," the source told The Manila Times, when asked about Villar's status.
in a statement on tuesday night, march 25, tiangco confirmed that Villar was present in an Alyansa meeting on monday, march 24.
tiangco also said that the Nacionalista Party of the Villar family remained part of the Alyansa Villar, marcos and reelectionist sen. Pia Cayetano are all running under the Nacionalista Party. the three of them were absent during Alyansa's rally in tacloban, and senator marcos and Villar both skipped last week's sorties in Cavite and Laguna.
Villar has not issued a statement yet on why she skipped Alyansa's recent campaign sorties.
But Camille's mother, sen. Cynthia Villar, publicly disagreed with the arrest and surrender of Duterte to the international Criminal Court, while her father, former senate President manny Villar, said the former chief executive should be tried in the Philippines. Camille's brother, sen. mark Villar, who was Duterte's public works secretary, also expressed support for his former boss. n
AFP on reports US sent another Typhon missile: ‘The
by Faith argoSino Philstar.com
mANiLA — the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) has welcomed reports saying that another mid-range Capability (mrC) typhon missile from the United states indo-Pacific Command (indopacom) is already on its way to the country.
According to AfP spokesperson Col. francel margareth Padilla, this would help their personnel train more effectively. this is a welcome development for the Armed forces of the Philippines. We can say that the more the merrier. so the more assets that we have, the more also that we are able to train more personnel on our part. so we accept this willingly,” Padilla said in a press briefing on tuesday, march 25. “We welcome events like this because this would help our personnel train faster. so we welcome if it will arrive,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said. Defense News, a leading global publication specializing in defense journalism, reported last week that the U.s. Army’s
3rd multidomain task force unit is readying its typhon battery for deployment in the Pacific theater. if this happens, it will be the U.s. Army’s second such missile system to enter the region, according to the report. the first U.s typhon missile arrived in the Philippines on April 11, 2024 and was first used during the Balikatan exercises. it has stayed in the country since and was last spotted in ilocos Norte, a coastal province facing taiwan, deemed by China as a renegade province subject to reunification. AfP chief-of-staff Gen. romeo
Brawner Jr. said he wanted the typhon missile to stay in the country “forever” and that he hoped the Philippine government could acquire its own. in february this year, the Philippine Army conducted the next phase of its Combined Arms training exercise for mrC missiles in their drills. the Catex Katihan is in preparation for the annual salaknib exercise between the armies of manila and Washington, which already kicked off in fort magsaysay, Nueva ecija on monday, march 24. n
photo by Rene Dilan
The armies of the U.S. and the Philippines conducted a subject matter expert exchange about the U.S. Typhon midrange capability missile on June 27, 2024 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Contributed photo
more the merrier’
ILLEGAL POSTS. Political campaign posters hang from electric posts at the corner of Dapitan and Ma. Cristina Streets in Sampaloc, Manila on Monday, March 24. As the campaign period for local candidates starts March 28, the Commission on Elections reminded anew of the rules on common poster areas to avoid infractions.
PNA photo by Ben Briones
OPiniOn FeAtures
Digital
literacy
The proliferation of fake news and disinformation is deeply concerning, and the injection of politics into the issue is complicating efforts to address the problem. Studies have shown that many Filipinos can’t tell fake from accurate news.
one way of addressing the problem without dragging politics into the response is through an intensified promotion of digital literacy. this can be incorporated into the regular curriculum beginning in grade school.
At what grade the subject will be introduced can be left to the jurisdiction of school administrators, since the capacity to understand the subject could depend on the availability of digital gadgets and connectivity. in this aspect, children from underserved communities are obviously at a disadvantage. many of them may even be living in areas with no internet access.
in more developed communities, the typical child is a digital native. many play with adult cell phones or tablets as soon as their fingers are strong and nimble enough to manipulate gadget screens or keyboards. in such communities, digital literacy can be introduced early in elementary school.
Digital literacy includes understanding the ways of mainstream media and journalism. Public trust underpins the viability of print and broadcast
it was the early morning of Nov. 23, 1963 when my mother – a conservative closed Catholic or “ cerrada catolica ” as they say in spanish – woke me up saying with fervent urgency: “reza tu para el presidente de America” ( pray for the president of the United States ). JfK was a Catholic himself – in fact, the first Catholic president of the United states – perhaps the reason why it is not surprising many filipinos continue to remember JfK to this day. for many reasons, the assassination of John f Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 has always been etched in my mind, even if i was only in my teens when it happened.
When i visited an aunt in Washington, D.C. during the summer of 1972, she brought me to the late president’s gravesite at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
After i became ambassador to the United states in 2017, we
media, which adhere to journalistic ethics and have firewalls against the dissemination of fake news, disinformation and malicious commentary. Unlike posts on social media, news and commentary on mainstream media must go through layers of filters for accuracy and adherence to those ethics. one problem in making digital literacy part of the regular curriculum is whether there are enough educators who can teach the subject. As part of its upskilling program, the Department of education can get experts from various sectors to provide training to a core group of teachers, who can then cascade what they have learned to their peers across the country. for adults especially in underprivileged communities, the government can also provide digital and media literacy sessions to go hand-inhand with ayuda programs.
Getting accurate information is critical in many aspects of life, from health care to job hunting and making choices in elections. Promoting digital and media literacy must be treated with urgency by all stakeholders. (Philstar.com)
JFK files: Reopening of old wounds
opened our new Philippine consulate in houston, texas. i then had the chance to pass by Dallas and visit the Dealey Plaza museum (formerly the texas school Book Depository). i went up to the sixth floor and peered from the southeast corner window where the sniper fired shots at the open presidential limousine slowly traversing elm street with JfK, his wife Jackie and texas Governor John Connally. it was really poignant to see the exact spot on elm street –marked by an “X” – where an assassin’s bullet ended the life of the president whose term in office was retrospectively referred to as the “Camelot era,” marked by the youthful idealism and high hopes associated with the Kennedy administration.
During an official call in 2019 to JfK’s grand-nephew, then-Congressman Joseph “Joe” Kennedy iii at his office in Newton, massachusetts, i visited the JfK Presidential Library and museum. While watching a documentary narrated by JfK himself, i was surprised to hear a lady seated beside me sobbing the entire
hearing.
it’s a debate that has raged worldwide since the dawn of social media: how do you strike a balance between freedom of expression and regulation of the willful spread of disinformation and malicious content online?
Public attention has been drawn to the issue following the explosion of fake news online since the arrest of rodrigo Duterte and turnover to the international Criminal Court (iCC) through the interpol.
Last month, 17 vloggers asked the supreme Court to stop a tri-committee of the house of representatives from compelling their attendance at a hearing of the panel on fake news and disinformation.
But following Duterte’s arrest, an eruption of vitriol online against President marcos, his government and his allies prompted the tricommittee to threaten with contempt and detention 11 vloggers and social media personalities who are based in the Philippines, if they continued snubbing the house
When the 11 finally faced the tri-comm last week, some of them were compelled to apologize for spreading what they admitted to be unverified and false news as well as for describing lawmakers as stupid. Among the fake news was the alleged mass resignation in the Armed forces in protest over Duterte’s arrest. the proliferation of unfiltered information on social media is one of the reasons why people should rely on mainstream media – where stories go through several layers of vetting and fact-checking before public dissemination – for news and information on current affairs. this is what separates journalists from social media influencers and vloggers. But even journalists find it disturbing to see vloggers being compelled to apologize for calling public officials stupid.
All rights come with responsibilities, and the exercise of civil liberties must be balanced with the rights of others. Chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce enrile weighed in with the view that “truthful information” underpins the exercise of
time – clearly still mourning the death of the charismatic president. i could only relate to what the lady was feeling because every time i get invited to the White house and happen to pass by the east room where president Kennedy was laid to rest, there is that heavy feeling of deep sadness – remembering passages from a book i read describing the private moment shared by JfK’s widow Jackie and his brother Bobby as they gazed at the slain leader’s remains – the one and only time, according to the book, that mrs. Kennedy allowed the casket to be opened.
“Why, God? Why?” repeatedly murmured Bobby, inconsolably weeping for almost 35 minutes. the scene was so heart wrenching that even the honor guard from the Army’s special forces could not hold back their tears. one can only imagine the grief and sorrow that must have enveloped the east room at that moment. to this day, the brutal murder of the very popular U.s. president continues to be the subject of conspiracy
theories, with many believing that Lee harvey oswald was not acting alone when he shot JfK during a motorcade in Dallas, texas. Among the conspiracy theories include the involvement of the mafia and the soviet Union, fueled by the fact that oswald, a former marine, defected to the Ussr in 1959 and eventually married marina Nikolayevna, living there for two years and a half before returning to the U.s every year, countless documentaries, special features and books are produced during JfK’s death anniversary. Which is why President trump’s order to release over 80,000 pages of declassified records related to the assassination – a fulfillment of the promise he made during his campaign – has earned praise from experts and historians who see it as an encouraging step towards transparency. the redacted documents had been a source of confusion as well as frustration. the release was announced by President trump himself on monday, march 17 during
a visit to the John f. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. in her post on X, National intelligence Director tulsi Gabbard said “President trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency.” According to the U.s National Archives and records Administration that posted the files on its website, the release would include “all records previously withheld for classification,” but some groups claim that the released documents are only one third of the promised files and did not include around 2,400 new records discovered by the fBi there are supposedly still up to 3,500 files that have yet to be released in whole or in part. Although some experts opine that the release will not likely change the official conclusion that oswald acted on his own, the sheer volume of records is not a deterrent to the serious and the curious who believe the availability of over six million pages of handwritten and typewritten notes, memos, reports, photographs, audio recordings, motion pictures and artifacts will eventually
Stopping fake news
freedom of expression.
“[this is] so that our people can make the right decisions on matters that affect them, instead of being manipulated to serve the interest of others,” enrile said in a facebook post.
even this view, however, has raised concern among civil libertarians – perhaps partly because enrile, the architect and enforcer of martial law under dictator ferdinand marcos, is not one to champion human rights.
in the case of print media, truth is not a defense in libel, which is a criminal offense in our country. malice is the culprit; the absence of malice is the defense in the publication even of erroneous information.
* * *
Broadcast media have stricter rules on content, which are covered by their franchise. Penalties can be imposed for violations of the franchise regulations, which include prohibitions on pornographic or seditious materials or information. the movie and television review and Classification Board (mtrCB) exercises regulatory powers over content in films and tV.
Broadcasters can also face a criminal complaint for slander or oral defamation under the
revised Penal Code. the rPC also has provisions against unlawful publication of false news, unjust vexation and inciting to sedition. for online content, we now have laws against cyberlibel. having faced dozens of libel suits, nearly all of which were dismissed (with one or two still crawling along the legal mill), i can say that libel laws are generally skewed in favor of journalists; malice can be difficult to establish. there have been only a handful of convictions for libel in our country. But litigation is tortuous and can be ultra-expensive. more important than avoiding a lawsuit, journalism is a public trust, and the trust is anchored on truthful reporting. Delivering accurate and fair information in a timely and interesting way is our constant mission, and the only way we can ensure the longterm survival of journalism, regardless of the platform. the existence of libel laws is being raised as a reason to clamp down on the willful spread of fake news and disinformation online. the argument is that if individuals can seek legal redress for unfair reporting and commentary, there must be accountability
for sowing public confusion and social instability through false information – whether the motivation is political or financial gain.
But what can be done?
* * * one suggestion, apart from tightening cyberlibel laws and promoting digital literacy, is to hit the malicious influencers where it hurts: in their pockets. since they monetize their content, the Bureau of internal revenue can go after them.
this approach is also being eyed in compelling greater cooperation from the social media platforms, although this may be feasible only if they have offices in the Philippines.
Another suggestion is the crafting of a code of conduct for social media, which can then practice self-policing. All i can say is good luck on this.
tri-comm member Jude Acidre says that among other things, the panel is considering setting up an oversight committee for social media, which can function like the mtrCB.
mindful of community standards on the socmed platforms, the tri-comm is also eyeing civil and criminal liability for the willful spread of fake news that maligns the integrity of individuals
provide more clues on the JfK assassination.
Time magazine’s online report says, “historians are hoping for details fleshing out oswald’s activities before the assassination and what the CiA and fBi knew about him beforehand,” including a trip made by oswald to mexico City in september 1963 with an intention to contact the soviet embassy there. As President trump remarked, “We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading.” Although the release of the JfK files can also be likened to reopening of old wounds, perhaps it can also help Americans and many others who have long been engrossed by the life – and death – of the 35th U.s. president come to terms with their grief and finally dry the tears that have long been shed. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *
Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
and national institutions, foments social instability and compromises national security, Acidre told “storycon” on one News.
Another suggestion is to flag fake news and false information as such – although who’s going to do this can be contentious.
the National Bureau of investigation is not waiting for new legislation. it is going after the possible financiers and brains of what it sees as coordinated disinformation over the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the iCC.
Acidre told storycon that the tri-comm wants to promote the responsible use of socmed and “create an ecosystem that builds on the strengths of social media.” even civil libertarians are expressing dismay over the flood of disinformation and other malicious content on social media. But we’re entering uncharted territory in trying to curb fake news. Let’s just remember to be careful what we wish for. (Philstar. com)
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
2025 war games between US, PH Air Force set for April – PAF
mANiLA — the annual war games between the Philippine Air force (PAf) and its counterpart in the United states will commence in April, according to spokesperson Col. maria Consuelo Castillo.
Castillo said Cope thunder Philippines is a bilateral exercise sponsored by U.s. Pacific Air forces (PACAf) dubbed “Cope thunder Philippines 25-1.” it will be held for almost two weeks, from April 7 to 18, this year.
“the first iteration of this exercise will take place from April
7 to 18, 2025, while the second iteration will be scheduled in June,” Castillo disclosed. “this CtPh 25-1 will be conducted within Northern Luzon to sustain and develop the security relationship and promote interoperability of our forces in the conduct of air and ground operations,” she added. the PAf has yet to provide other details regarding the upcoming exercise, but it previously said Cope thunder would feature joint and combined sea, air, and ground exercises involving the
Philippine and the U.s. air forces. the first-ever iteration of Cope thunder since its return was held in 2023. the exercise started in the Philippines in 1976 and went on until 1990. Cope thunder was discontinued after the U.s military left Clark field and subic Bay in 1991 due to damage from mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in June of that year and also after the Philippine senate voted against extending the lease on U.s military facilities in the country. (inquirer.net)
DepEd warns: No political activities during graduation
by Mayen JayMalin, neil JaySon ServalloS Philstar.com
mANiLA — Public schools are not allowed to engage in partisan political activities nor campaign for candidates during graduation and moving-up ceremonies, the Department of education warned. Deped officials said teaching and non-teaching personnel are prohibited from engaging in electioneering or partisan political activity amid the upcoming midterm polls in may, per memorandum 27 signed on march 21 by education secretary sonny Angara.
Violators could face penalties, the agency said. excessive spending, extravagant attires or renting extraordinary venues should be avoided in conducting the rites, the Deped said. expenses for graduation and moving-up rites should be charged to schools’ operating expenses and no contributions or fees must be collected, the agency noted.
end-of-school-year rites have been scheduled on April 14 to 15 for kindergarten, Grade 6, 10 and 12 students, as well as those in the Alternative Learning system. in anticipation of intense heat waves, the Deped reminded schools to hold rites in indoor venues with proper ventilation to avoid exposure to intense sunlight.
“schools shall avoid scheduling their end-ofschool-year rites during the time of the day when temperatures are at their highest,” the agency said.
Fake vote manipulators
fraudsters offering victories to candidates in the may midterm polls have resurfaced, according to the Commission on elections. these illegal activities stopped momentarily, but we are expecting their resurgence by April,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.
four persons claiming they can manipulate election results were arrested in february, he recalled. the Philippine National Police Criminal investigation and Detection Group have been asked to stop such illegal operations, Garcia said.
Candidates should not deal with unscrupulous people, Garcia said, giving assurance that the automated election system cannot be tampered with.
Local Oplan Baklas set meanwhile, the poll body will mount on friday, march 28 a nationwide “oplan Baklas” at the start of
the local campaign. illegal campaign materials will be removed and notices will be sent to candidates for the removal of their illegal posters, billboards and tarpaulins, Garcia said.
Criminal charges will be filed against candidates who fail to remove their unauthorized campaign materials within three days, he noted.
Garcia said local elections are seen to be more violent than national elections. he urged candidates to abide by campaign regulations to avoid penalties and prevent violence.
“on march 28, may it be national or local, we will have the power to remove illegal campaign materials,” Garcia said.
Candidates should train their people to set up campaign materials in designated areas, he said.
As for increasing complaints of red-tagging and other discrimination against candidates, Garcia said the Comelec’s task force safe will look into it.
Complainants should submit evidence that they are being discriminated against by their opponents or local government units, Garcia noted. meanwhile, poll workers should be paid a net honorarium of P15,000, the Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACt) told the Comelec and Department of Budget and management.
A bill exempting from income taxation the honoraria, allowances and other financial benefits of election service workers should also be certified as urgent by the marcos administration, the group said. (With reports from cecille Suerte Felipe)
Palace to VP: Explain ‘suspicious’ confidential fund recipients
by alexiS roMero Philstar.com
mANiLA — Vice President sara Duterte should shed light on the alleged beneficiaries of her confidential funds, malacañang said on monday, march 24 following the release of a new list of what has been described as “suspicious” recipients of the allocations.
At a press briefing on monday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro urged Duterte to address the issue, as reports have surfaced regarding fake receipts allegedly issued by her office.
“We believe that VP sara has the obligation to tell something about this, to tell something about these discoveries,” Castro said. she is saying we should have transparency. it would be better if she were the first one to explain this.”
house deputy majority leader and La Union rep. Paolo ortega V revealed on sunday, march 23 a new set of what he labeled as “suspicious” names of persons who allegedly benefitted from the vice president’s use of P612.5 million confidential funds.
he said the list includes individuals named “Amoy Liu,”
fernan Amuy,” and “Joug De Asim,” whom he collectively referred to as “team Amoy Asim.”
According to ortega, the entries were allegedly used to justify millions of pesos in confidential fund allocations within the Department of education (Deped), an agency led by Duterte from June 2022 to June 2024. the list of names, which was submitted by the office of the Vice President and Deped to the Commission on Audit, reportedly does not match any records in the Philippine statistics Authority’s database, such as birth, marriage or death certificates. in earlier statements, ortega also highlighted other alleged recipients of the confidential funds, including “mary Grace
Piattos,” “renan Piatos,” “Pia Piatos-Lim,” “Xiaome ocho,” “Jay Kamote,” “miggy mango” and five people listed as “Dodong.” Duterte is currently facing an impeachment threat stemming from the misuse of confidential funds, among other accusations. in february, the house of representatives impeached Duterte, and the case is awaiting trial in the senate. Duterte has denied the allegations and has petitioned the supreme Court to annul her impeachment and block the trial.
As of monday, the vice president has not yet issued a statement regarding the new set of “suspicious” names in the list of her confidential fund beneficiaries as revealed by ortega. n
PRESS CONFERENCE. Senate President Francis Escudero faces the media on Monday, March 24. Escudero expressed support for the National Bureau of Investigation’s plan to identify those allegedly bankrolling fake news campaigns on social media but emphasized a fair and balanced probe. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Friday, March 28, 2025
Sofronio Vasquez collaborates with David Foster, Katharine McPhee
by JeSSicA Ann evAngeliStA Inquirer.net
sofroNio Vasquez is feeling “blessed” to have the opportunity to work with acclaimed music producer David foster and his wife, singer Katharine mcPhee.
Vasquez took to instagram to share his photo with the couple as he thanked his former “the Voice UsA” coach michael Bublé for his help in the collaboration.
“Blessed to be working for the first time with the [@ davidfoster] and the ever beautiful [@katharinefoster]. thank you [@michaelbuble] for always doing extra things just to rally my dreams in music [red heart emoji],” wrote the filipino singing sensation. in a separate post, “the Voice UsA” season 26 champion shared another photo with foster and mcPhee where they attended the gala of the Gateway for Cancer research Vino con stelle.
the trio were seat mates at the event and also graced the stage alongside other ViP guests to jam to the tune of Village People’s “Y.m.C.A.” in a facebook post, Vasquez posted his performance of “impossible Dream” with foster. i was privileged to perform “impossible Dream” alongside the phenomenal David foster at Vino Con stelle, fairmont scottsdale Princess Arizona, and it was genuinely life-changing,” he wrote. the “Tawag ng Tanghalan”
finalist also performed Celine Dion’s “the Power of Love” with the Grammy-award winning composer and mcPhee. such an amazing moment for me, to all who are gathered for a very beautiful cause. Congratulations everyone,” he captioned the post. Vasquez didn’t disclose if the collaboration was only for the charity event or if they are also working for another music project. in the comments section, celebrity friends expressed their happiness for the filipino singer for his recent “milestone.” “Now you know you have
made it my friend!” wrote martin Nieverra. man, i am excited for you and your journey… [red heart emoji] You did it!!!” commented singer Jaya. Vasquez, who rose to fame as the first filipino to win “the Voice UsA,” as well as its first male Asian winner, is also gearing up for his debut concert in Dubai on may 24. meanwhile, foster and mcPhee met on “American idol” in 2006 when the latter was a contestant and the former was a guest mentor. the pair has been married since 2019 and share one son, rennie David.
Arci Muñoz recalls relationship with Brunei prince
by JAn Milo Severo Philstar.com
ACtress Arci muñoz revealed that she once had a relationship with a Brunei prince. in her interview with Boy Abunda, Arci said she had the time of her life with the prince. he is such a great guy. i had the best time of my life. it’s simple yet luxurious at the same time because this person is so simple. Yet with his estado niya sa life, he doesn’t really use that," Arci said.
"he’s so down to earth. he makes me feel like a queen. he’s a nice guy. he’s so humble. Like sometimes he runs away from the bantay (body guard). Kasi he wants his privacy also and freedom. And he’s very cool,” she added. though she and the prince no longer communicate, Arci said that she learned a lot from the relationship.
“You just can’t love somebody that much. Kasi parang we had this really deep connection and he set the standards so high. Natutunan ko tuloy ang hirap na mag-boyfriend ngayon," she said.
"But i’m so happy for him. if i see him, which has never happened yet, i wanna tell him how
happy i am for him. ‘Coz our relationship, kahit na we didn’t end up together, i admit na talagang, it’s just solid, it’s fun, unforgettable. We had a great time,” she added.
Anne Curtis explores beauty of Siquijor: ‘Island of healing’
by JeSSicA Ann evAngeliStA Inquirer.net
ANNe Curtis captivated onlookers during her recent trip in siquijor, where her beauty seemed to perfectly mirror the nature around her. Curtis gave a glimpse of her trip to the island through her instagram page, where she sported a multicolored two-piece bikini, effortlessly blending with the island’s lush tropical and turquoise waters at the base of a waterfall.
“magical,” she captioned the post. in a separate post, the “it’s showtime” host gave a peek of the activities she did on the trip including visiting a centuries-old banyan tree and experiencing “tuob,” a traditional herbal steam believed to keep off negative energy. isla del fuego & the island of healing,” she wrote alongside the photos. Curtis also amazed with her strength after trying the largest rope swings at Cambugahay falls. in the clip, the actress effortlessly swayed around the waters with just one hand on the rope. in the comments section, netizens and fellow celebrities praised the “BuyBust” actress for her core stability. she can walk on water!!!”
Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig visiting the Philippines
by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com
the reigning miss Universe Victoria Kjaer theilvig from Denmark is visiting the Philippines this march! the social media pages of the miss Universe organization announced that theilvig would be in the Philippines from march 25 to 30.
“Where warm hearts meet beautiful islands, and memories are made. Philippines, are you ready?,” the posts said, accompanied by an emoji of the Philippine flag.
Victoria will be coming from india where she was for the past week, a month after a homecoming in Denmark and a visit to the Netherlands.
the last three miss Universe winners before Victoria — harnaaz sandhu of india, filipino-American r’Bonney Gabriel, and Nicaragua’s sheynnis Palacios — made visits to the Philippines during their reign, with harnaaz and r’Bonney present at miss Universe Philippines coronations.
Victoria made history last year as the first-ever Danish woman to win miss Universe, wearing the “Light of infinity” crown by filipino company Jewelmer.
Last year’s competition saw the Philippines’ representative Chelsea manalo exiting at the
Kaila Estrada honors ‘strong’ mom Janice de Belen this Women’s Month
by chArMie Joy PAgulong Philstar.com
KAiLA estrada defines an empowered woman as “someone who is confident, resilient, stands firm on her families, knows her worth and faces challenges with grace.”
in keeping with the celebration of Women’s month this march, the actress-model offered a piece of advice for young girls.
“i guess another piece of advice that i recently heard as well, which stuck with me was don’t shy away from claiming your seat at the table. And if you don’t feel like you have a seat at the table, bring your own chair. so, i feel like that no matter how you interpret that or no matter how that fits your current situation, or in life, that’s definitely something that stuck with me,” she shared at the press event of local skincare brand Barefaced where she was introduced as the brand ambassador.
The STAr asked Kaila of her message to her mom Janice de Belen in observance of Women’s month. And she expressed, “i wanna say thank you for being the best mom i could ever ask for, for being a strong example of a strong woman in my eyes. i owe my mom a lot for the person that i am today. i love you, ma.”
Kaila turned 29 last march 16.
Among the long list of birthday wishes she has for this year are more showbiz projects, good health and opportunities to spend more time with her family.
“Good health is something that i really want to focus on. spending time with my loved ones (also). time is so valuable and i feel like sometimes when we’re busy, we tend to neglect them and that’s something that i really want to focus on — spend time with my family as much as possible.”
Kaila was grateful to be tapped as the endorser of Barefaced, a brand that was founded in october 2022 by Arriane reyesrecella and eleanor Casao-roma. they presented new skincare must-haves during the launching event, such as, sunkissed tinted Light sunscreen and the melt Away facial Cleanser.
it’s such an honor to be part of a brand that is headed by beautiful, strong empowered women who are not only business owners but also mothers. At the same time, they take care of their family. i think that resonates closely to me because i also have a strong, empowered, independent mom,”
Kaila told the attendees. Growing up, she admitted she had certain skin insecurities but she was able to overcome them, citing how the beauty standards have evolved over the years.
“When i was growing through puberty siyempre that’s the time na grabe yung pimples,” she recalled. “And also my sisters have amazing skin. they’ve always had amazing skin so, of course, i did feel a lot of insecurities in my teenage years.
“And also kasi sa amin ng sisters ko, ako yung morena. Although when i look at somebody, gandang-ganda ako sa kanila and for some reason, when i look at myself parang hindi ako masaya that’s why i’m so happy now that the beauty standards have evolved so much.
“Now, a lot more people, a lot more filipinas are proud to be morena and i’m one of them. i’m really, really happy about that. And i feel like it definitely shapes and just changes the mentality of young girls now.”
meanwhile, Kaila welcomed the positive reviews of her role as the hacker and cyber ops specialist max Alvero in the action-drama series “incognito.” i feel like there is beauty in turning pain into power,” Kaila on her character as max, who’s dealing with grief following the demise of her fiancé. “Grief is a very difficult thing to go through whether it be loss of a loved one or a heartbreak, in general. We all experience grief in life. And i feel like there is beauty in using it to empower yourself.
i
Sofronio Vasquez with David Foster and Katharine McPhee Photo from Instagram/@sofroniovasquez
Arci Muñoz Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes
Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark Photo courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization
In celebration of Women’s Month, Kaila Estrada thanks her mom, Janice de Belen, for being a strong example of a strong woman.’ The actress-model was recently launched as the celebrity endorser of local skincare brand Barefaced.
Kaila Estrada portrays Max Alvero in the action-drama series ‘Incognito.’ Photos from Instagram/@kailaestrada
PCGSF promotes financial literacy and inclusion for Filipinos in US
community
wallet platform. on march 11, 2025, Joanne
rivera, Business Development Consultant for North America of GCash, conducted a brief financial literacy session for filipinos taking their oath of allegiance as dual citizens at the Consulate. her presentation highlighted the importance of smart financial management and provided practical guidance on the use of digital financial tools such as GCash. the initiative supports the Consulate’s efforts to equip overseas filipinos with knowledge and resources to make informed financial decisions.
the previous day, march 10, 2025, Consul General Neil frank r ferrer and officers of PCG san francisco met with rivera to learn more about GCash's services and explore avenues for cooperation. rivera explained how filipinos in the United states can use GCash for cross-border remittances, bills payment, and other secure and convenient financial transactions.
“We appreciate GCash’s initiatives to empower overseas filipinos through accessible, technology-driven financial solutions, and look forward to future collaborations that promote the financial well-being of the filipino community in the U.s.” said Consul General ferrer. the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco reaffirms its commitment to financial literacy and inclusion as essential pillars in advancing the rights and welfare of filipinos abroad.
(PcGSF release)
this sunday, Citizen Pinoy presents a special “Your Tanong my Sagot” episode, filmed at the iconic Ling Nam restaurant in the Bay Area. A beloved filipino Chinese institution founded by tony Lim in 1990, Ling Nam is known for its homestyle dishes and strong ties to the community, having supported Citizen Pinoy since its early years.
Now, it sets the stage for an insightful Q&A, where customers got the chance to ask leading U.s immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel their most pressing immigration questions. Vivian, one of the guests, expressed concern about job opportunities for healthcare professionals, asking, "Do
sAN frANCisCo – on tuesday, march 25 mayor Daniel Lurie launched a new street team response model, a key part of his strategy to get people into treatment, ensure safe and clean public spaces, and responsibly manage taxpayer resources. the new model coordinates seven key departments to deliver one unified street outreach team model focused on geographic neighborhoods to ensure individuals facing high-acuity behavioral health challenges or chronic homelessness get on path toward long-term stability.
“every san franciscan has walked by someone suffering on the street and wished they could do something about it,” said mayor Lurie. “this new, integrated, neighborhood-based street team model will help us get more people off the street and on a path to stability. i’m grateful to our city departments and the front-line workers who’ve helped shape this change and who work tirelessly every day and night to help our most vulnerable.” this announcement comes after the mayor signed the “Breaking the Cycle” executive Directive last week, outlining a framework to fundamentally transform the city’s response to the homelessness and behavioral health crisis with more coordinated services, better measurement of outcomes, and accountability for government and providers to deliver those outcomes. As part of the directive, the mayor announced last friday, march 21 his plan to open 1500 more interim housing beds, with early 700 beds already in implementation planning. enabled by mayor Lurie’s fentanyl state of
emergency ordinance, the new surge in interim housing beds will allow this new Neighborhood street team to successfully get people off the street and into stability. the new street teams model creates increased accountability for the homelessness and behavioral health response by combining teams from across seven departments — including Police, fire, sheriff, Public Works, Public health, homelessness and supportive housing, and emergency management — into a single, team that focuses on specific geographic areas to ensure the city is strategically managing resources, ordinating operations, and responding swiftly to conditions on the street. Previously there were nine service-oriented street outreach teams, alongside sfPD and sfDPW managed street responses, including 3-1-1 calls for service. the new model aims to respond swiftly to emerging issues while working to identify and prevent larger-scale displacement and public safety concerns. Using the learnings from the first 30 days of
mArCh is the Women’s month. i will feature women from all walks of life. i asked female respondents (1st batch): What is the significant role of women in our society? their replies are as follows:
singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino, Philippines’ Pop rock royalty and one of the biggest hitmakers in the Philippine music industry: “Women in music bring so much more than just our talent – we bring diverse perspectives, emotion and creativity. Women have been instrumental in shaping genres and pushing boundaries. We’ve brought unique experiences to our work, enriching the music world with our diverse voices.”
Singer Yeng Constantino’s view of women in music
Noted writer-editor margie t. Logarta: “Like in our homes, they make excellent managers and provide a listening ear even when facing challenges of their own.”
oregon-based megan Acelar, an alumna of Washington state University, who loves her mother Paula Powers, the strongest, kindest and biggest person who will ever be in your corner: “our roles are diverse, essential, and necessary for all communities worldwide.”
Vallejo City-based nurse Anna toribio isip, a product of Western Governors University in Utah: “Women by nature have a nurturing, caring, compassionate, protective, prayerful and supportive character. mothers, wives, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and girlfriends are the backbone of a family unit. Women play a very significant role in society. When there is no father or men in the family unit, women step up to the plate and take on two roles, a father and mother, dual role. i salute all women!”
Quezon City resident regina Benitez, a University of the Philippines Diliman alumna: “Women are the catalysts in our society.”
former solid Gold Dancers member ma. Bella Bonito Bautista: “the role of women is to obey God’s direction, to rear children with fear and obedience to all God’s order to be a good person.”
Vallejo City-based April Joy samantha Ayson, a UP alumna: “As a newly born-again Christian, my
relationship with the Lord has helped me realize the true role of women in society. As a mother to a toddler, i now understand that being a ‘good mother’ isn’t just about ensuring my child excels in school. it is about teaching them morals, guiding them toward righteousness, and, most importantly, helping them build a personal relationship with Jesus. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, ‘train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ When we raise children with strong values, we help build a better society — one that is guided by honesty, compassion, and responsibility. Women play a crucial role in shaping society through their faith, love, and commitment to raising godly children. By nurturing and guiding the next generation, women contribute to a strong moral foundation that benefits everyone. our role is not just to care for children but to prepare them to be positive influences in the world, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.”
former overseas filipino worker teresita santos, who was married to reynaldo santos (a relative of the late Las Pinas City mayor filemon Aguilar): “Women have many roles in our society that men could not be able to do. one of these roles is being a mother to give what the children and husband need. Women are flexible especially during these hard times because we can do tasks or professional works that they say are only for men. We need to earn an income for our family.”
* * *
U.s first Lady melania trump said during the Be Best roundtable on A. i. and Deepfakes: “i am here with you today with a common goal – to protect our youth from online harm. the widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families, and communities.”
*
* * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
‘Unprecedented times call for decisive action’: Commissioner Lara acts to protect policyholders in State Farm emergency rate request
Los ANGeLes — in an effort to safeguard Californians during the ongoing insurance crisis and stabilize the market, insurance Commissioner ricardo Lara has provisionally approved state farm’s request for an emergency interim rate increase following recent devastating wildfires only if the company can justify it with data in a public hearing scheduled for April 8, 2025. Additionally, Commissioner Lara called on state farm to halt non-renewals and pursue
a $500 million capital infusion from its parent company to restore financial stability. he presented this proposal during a meeting with state farm representatives, the Department of insurance, and the intervenor in this matter. the transcript of that meeting can be viewed by visiting https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400news/0100-press-releases/2025/upload/CD i f ollow-up- m eeting-re- s tate- f arm-GeneralPAGE 11
Governor Newsom announces record-breaking $76M to safeguard local faith communities and nonprofits
sACrAmeNto – safeguarding Californians from hate-motivated incidents that have surged nationally, Governor Gavin Newsom on monday, march 24 announced $76 million in grants, made in partnership with the state Legislature, to 347 community groups across the state to protect nonprofits and houses of worship from violence, the most that’s ever been awarded.
“today more than ever, our state stands together to support our communities. Californians deserve the right to worship, love, and gather safely, without fear of violence,” Gov. Newsom said in a release sent out by his office.
Nearly doubling previous award amounts, this year’s California state Nonprofit security Grant Program awardees received funding due to their high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs or mission with funding for security enhancements.
“Despite facing significant budget challenges, the California Legislature will continue to stand firm in our commitment to supporting vulnerable communities targeted by hate,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-encino) and senator scott Wiener (D-san francisco), the Budget Chairs of the California Legislature. “We are particularly grateful to Governor Newsom for his longstanding leadership in funding the Nonprofit security Grant Program and for his efforts to expedite the disbursement of these vital grants. We have no doubt that this funding will continue to make a major difference in protecting the Jewish community and all communities targeted by hate.” of the 347 awardees, 269 are
ideology and spiritually-based organizations. more than 1,600 organizations applied during this round of funding, totaling over $325 million in requested support. the California Governor’s office of emergency services (Cal oes) administers these funds which directly support physical security measures such as reinforced doors, gates, highintensity lighting, access control systems, development and enhancement of security plans and protocols. since the inception of the program in fiscal year 2015, the state has awarded $228,750,000 in state funding to 1,271 highrisk organizations. funds are awarded through a competitive grant application for organizations that are targeted on the basis of race, religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status. Applications are graded using specified criteria set out in the request for proposal.
Fighting hate and protecting all communities California is taking nationleading measures to improve the safety, health, and well-being of the state’s diverse communities. since 2019, the state has invested over $400 million in funding to increase community resources and address hate, including $217 million in state and federal grants to fund security infrastructure for faith-based and other non-profit institutions and $196 million in anti-hate investments to support community services for victims and survivors of hate acts.
Amidst the ongoing conflict in the middle east and recent hate-related incidents throughout the nation, earlier this year, Governor Newsom released the Golden state Plan to Counter Antisemitism to address increasing attacks on California’s Jewish communities, and wrote a letter to California’s muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American communities denouncing hate-based attacks and the loss of innocent lives.
Last year, the governor signed legislation that established the Commission on the state of hate and improved the tracking of hate crimes. the governor also signed an executive order in 2022 to further protect communities against hate violence and discrimination. California launched CA vs hate in 2023, a multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. reports can be made anonymously by calling 833-8-No-hAte for individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911. (cA Governor’s office release)
you think visa availability for filipino nurses will improve under President trump?"
Another hot topic involved stricter re-entry policies, as she followed up with, "is it true that immigration might ask permanent residents to surrender their green cards upon re-entry?"
Ludy, another guest, faced a heartbreaking situation. she had petitioned her brother for immigration, but just before his medical exam and interview, he sadly passed away. she asked, "Can i still bring over his children?"
Valerie, concerned about her aging parents, inquired, "my father has Parkinson's, and my mom is in her 70s. i'm a U.s. citizen. What can i do to help them and my relatives in the Philippines?"
With real questions from real people, this episode offers valuable insights that may help other filipinos facing similar challenges. Atty. Gurfinkel provides critical insights on these pressing concerns, explaining how immigration laws handle unfortunate circumstances, potential policy changes affecting filipinos seeking work and residency, and possible legal relief to keep
with Atty. Gurfinkel
(right) with Atty. Gurfinkel
Valerie (right) with Atty. Gurfinkel
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump (3rd from left) during the recent Be Best Roundtable on A. I. and Deepfakes.
Megan Acelar (right) with her mom Paula Powers. Nurse Anna Toribio-Isip
Singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino Photos compiled by Rogelio Medina
Former Solid Gold Dancers member Ma. Bella Benito Bautista
Former OFW Teresita Santos with her favorite pet.
Writer-editor Margie T. Logarta
April Joy Samantha Ayson with her family.
Regina Benitez with her brother Atty. Bienvenido Benitez, administrator of Parole and Probation Administration.
‘Unprecedented times call for decisive action...
for months, the Department of insurance staff have engaged in informal discussions with state farm and the intervenor, to reach a resolution regarding state farm’s request for increased rates. however, the parties did not reach an agreement, with state farm asserting that its financial situation has deteriorated. state farm then reached out directly to Commissioner Lara requesting an emergency interim rate increase.
Commissioner Lara’s actions follow an unprecedented meeting at the Department of insurance’s oakland office on february 26, 2025. During this meeting, state farm informed the Commissioner that while it can cover claims from the southern California wildfires, the disaster has worsened its financial condition.
Commissioner Lara has pressed the state’s largest home insurer
for a plan to improve its financial standing and maintain its commitment to its more than 1 million California homeowner customers.
Commissioner Lara issued the following statement regarding his actions: the role of insurance Commissioner involves balancing a stable and sustainable insurance market that serves consumers with effective oversight. to ensure long-term choices for Californians, i had to make an unprecedented decision in the short term.
state farm claims it is committed to its California customers and aims to restore financial stability. i expect both state farm and its parent company to meet their responsibilities and not shift the burden entirely onto their customers. the facts will be revealed in an open, transparent hearing.
“Currently, too many Californians live in fear of having their insurance policies non-renewed. this anxiety perpetuates misinformation and
discourages consumers from accessing their entitled benefits. this situation is unacceptable. i will remain vigilant in ensuring that state farm processes claims fairly, fully, and promptly, and stands by its California customers.
to resolve this matter, i am ordering state farm to respond to questions in an official hearing, promoting transparency and a path forward. it is evident that other California insurers are unable to absorb state farm’s existing customers, which poses a significant risk of these customers ending up on the fAir Plan—a scenario we all wish to avoid as my sustainable insurance strategy is implemented.
“We will finally get to the bottom of state farm’s financial condition. i am confident that my approach will provide Californians with greater choices in a competitive and stable insurance market — exactly what they deserve.”
(cA Dep’t of insurance release)
Mayor Lurie launches integrated neighborhood...
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the mobile triage Pilot this new initiative will continue the rhythm of interdepartmental street engagement and data tracking. the new model was created in partnership with the highly skilled frontline workers who work tirelessly every day to get people into the care they need.
Key reforms include:
• The reimagined Street Teams will serve as five tightly knit neighborhood units, with an additional citywide unit. the teams will conduct outreach to get people into the care they need while enforcing sit/lie laws and ADA requirements.
• Each neighborhood team will work with individuals who have high acuity behavioral health challenges or experience chronic homelessness. the team will support them to exit the street into stable care and housing or connections to loved ones.
• Each team will be led by a Department of emergency management (Dem) personnel acting as team conductor, ensuring communication between city agencies and creating clarity for neighborhood stakeholders, such as business owners and residents.
the neighborhood-based operations will address encampments and unsafe behavior with urgency across san francisco, in compliance with all applicable legal requirements, while the Citywide team will deploy resources to high-need areas, preventing displacement and public safety issues before they escalate. operational leads under the strategic leadership of the mayor’s office, Dem, and sfPD will lead implementation of this new unified model, coordinating law enforcement, and services across multiple partner agencies.
“the Department of emergency management is uniquely positioned to coordinate across agencies using our expertise in the incident Command system, as we did during the CoViD-19 pandemic and multiple large events, including APeC and the NBA Allstar Game,” said executive Director mary ellen Carroll. “Under this new model, we look forward to closer collaboration with partner agencies and neighborhood stakeholders.”
“our top priority is keeping our streets safe and clean, and the strategic street response will be a tremendous help in this effort,” said sfPD Chief Bill scott. “We welcome this deeper partnership as our hard-working officers continue enforcing the law and responding to calls for service. i want to thank mayor Daniel Lurie for his vision, which will assist our officers and help connect people with services they desperately need.” the san francisco fire Department’s street Crisis response team will continue to respond to 911 calls for individuals in acute behavioral distress and perform well checks for vulnerable individuals,” said sffD Chief Dean Crispen. sffD supports the mission of the neighborhood-based street teams by supplying a community paramedicine trained incident commander to coordinate the daily street response. We appreciate the leadership of mayor Daniel Lurie and we look forward to working in collaboration with our City partners to address the challenges facing san francisco.”
“this commonsense restructuring of our street teams across city departments will significantly improve our ability to help people on the street get into effective treatment and sustained recovery,” said Director of health Dan tsai.
“By working together as one team in each neighborhood, we can be more effective and coordinated in resolving unique neighborhood issues, improving conditions of the streets, and better helping individuals in greatest need of support get plugged into treatment and care.”
“this new, neighborhood-based model builds on the momentum to improve street conditions in san francisco through a strategic response,” said san francisco Public Works Director Carla short.
“it takes all of us, from outreach workers, street inspectors and medical providers to police officers and street cleaners, to remain hyper-focused as a united team to achieve our shared goals.”
mayor Lurie’s initiative to launch integrated neighborhood street teams multiplies the combined efforts of city agencies into many neighborhoods and ensures those in crisis receive timely, com-
EMPLOYMENT HOUSING SERVICES
passionate support,” said sheriff Paul miyamoto. “Getting help and access to services on the streets is better than getting that same help and access to services in jail.”
“Getting people off the streets and into treatment is one of the most important things we can do to improve public safety and help people in crisis,” said District 6 supervisor matt Dorsey. “mayor Lurie’s ‘Breaking the Cycle’ directive and the launch of integrated neighborhood street teams reflect a thoughtful, coordinated approach — one that brings city departments together to deliver real help where it’s needed most. it’s a smart and compassionate step forward for our city.” the westside is in dire need of new resources to address the quality-of-life issues of our neighborhoods,” said District 7 supervisor myrna melgar. “the restructuring of our street teams is long overdue, and i look forward to working with mayor Lurie to ensure the potential of these teams becomes a reality.”
san francisco is crying out for new, more effective approaches to our homelessness crisis. this overhaul of our street teams will mean coordinated care and resources reach those on our streets faster,” said District 3 supervisor Danny sauter. “i'm optimistic that this change will greatly improve our outreach and outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.”
“integrating our city departments and following evidence-based models will better serve those struggling with mental health and homelessness in our streets through compassionate, individualized care,” said District 5 supervisor Bilal mahmood, who represents the tenderloin. “i commend mayor Lurie for prioritizing solutions to improve quality of life for all residents.” if there's one thing i've known to be true in my 15 years of work in street safety in the tenderloin, it's that consistency and coordination is key,” said Kate robinson, executive director, tenderloin Community Benefit District. “it's very encouraging to see the city lean into what has been clearly working to make the tenderloin a safer place to live, work, and frequent our amazing small businesses.”
(SF Mayor’s office release)
