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october 12-18, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL
Cubs’ Addison Russell suspended 40 games for domestic abuse allegations
Dateline USa
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Ex-wife of Fil-Am shortstop opens up to MLB investigators, speaks publicly for the first time since divorce filing by Klarize
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On Wednesday, October 3, the Major League Baseball league suspended Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell for 40 games for violating the league’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse after Russell’s ex-wife opened up to investigators regarding alleged domestic abuse by Russell. Melisa Reidy-Russell, who filed for divorce from Russell (who is half-Filipino on his mother’s side) in June 2017,wrote an emotionally-charged blog post last month that detailed years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. This week, she spoke with ESPn and said that league investigators reached out to her last year in response to a since-deleted Instagram post suggesting Russell was unfaithful and abusive. She said she wasn’t ready to speak then, but after her September blog post is ready to speak publicly. “Last year when the MLB contacted me, I wasn’t ready,” Reidy-Russell, 24, told ESPn this week. “I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. I didn’t even believe in myself enough to think I should do that. I just left my husband and
all this blew up.” On Wednesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the league had completed the investigation and concluded that Russell violated league policy “and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover 40 games.” Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein gave a news conference on Wednesday condemned domestic violence and when asked if Russell will return to the team next season Epstein answered, “I don’t know. With all of our words and actions going forward, whether we know it or not, we’re sending messages to our fans.” “Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” Epstein added. “Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. Discipline, in a case like this, is part of the solution going forward.” Russell, 24, initially denied his ex-wife’s allegations, but in a statement released on Wednesday, he said that he has “gained better understanding” of the situation. “I have concluded it’s the best interest of my family to accept MLB’s proposed resolution of this matter,” Russell said
through his lawyers “I wish my ex-wife well and hope we can live in peace for the benefit of our child. Reidy-Russell, with whom Russell has a 3-year-old son, alleges that the Cubs shortstop has been unfaithful to her. On the Instagram photo posted June 2017, a user, who is reportedly a close friend to ReidyRussell, claimed that Russell “hit” his wife. On Sept. 19, 2018, Reidy-Russell published a blog post titled, “you no longer have a secret, you have a story” which details her emotional and psychological distress allegedly brought on by physical, emotional and verbal abuse and infidelity on Russell’s part. “The way I was treated and the way he made me feel about myself, tore me down to nothing,” Reidy-Russell, a licensed cosmetologist from Bay Minette, Alabama, wrote. “no matter who you are or what you’re going through, you should not be afraid or ashamed to speak out about any type of abuse regardless [of] who it will offend.” Less than 12 hours after the blog post was published, the MLB announced that Russell had been put on paid leave under the league’s domestic violence policy. n
NEWLY-PROMOTED SENIOR AFP OFFICERS. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (center right) chair of the Commission on Appointments, and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (center left) pose with the 74 newly promoted senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Plenary Hall of the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, October 10. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Philippines performs below regional average in World Bank’s Human Capital Index THE Philippines performed below the average for the East Asia and Pacific region in the inaugural World Bank Human Capital Index, which measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18. Human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives— has been a key factor behind the sustained economic growth and poverty reduction rates of many countries in the 20th century, the World Bank said. According to the Washingtonbased lender’s report released
Thursday, children born in the Philippines will only fulfill 55 percent of their potential when they grow up if they enjoy complete education and full health. HCI measure for girls is higher than for boys in the country, it added. The report noted that the Philippines’ HCI percentage is below the 61 percent of potential average for East Asia and Pacific and 57 percent of potential worldwide average. But the World Bank said the Philippines’ HCI value was better than the average for countries that are also in the lower middle income group. Philippines addressing nutrition, education gaps Malnutrition is a major challenge in the Philippines, the World Bank highlighted, adding that children who are malnourished at a young age will face difficulties in learning and are more likely to drop out of school early. “The Government of the Philippines recognizes these challenges and has initiated critical reforms to improve human capital in the country,” said Mara Warwick, World Bank country director for Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.
“Going forward, key policy priorities in the Philippines are reducing stunting and improving the effectiveness of teachers to boost learning,” Warwick added. Overall, the World Bank found that 56 percent of children born today across the world will lose more than half their potential lifetime earnings because governments are not making effective investments in their people. Singapore is best country for developing human capital The multilateral lender also said out of 157 economies covered by its new report, Singapore is the best country for developing human capital, followed by South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong in the second, third and fourth positions, respectively. “For the poorest people, human capital is often the only capital they have,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “This index creates a direct line between improving outcomes in health and education, productivity, and economic growth. I hope that it drives countries to take urgent action and invest more – and more effectively – in their people,” Kim added. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com)
Trump nominates Patrick...
PAGE A1 egy and transnational organized crime. Patrick has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, serving as a Department of Justice attorney during the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Mr. Bumatay has also served in other positions in the Department of Justice, including the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the Office of the Associate Attorney General, where he was responsible for overseeing various aspects of the Department’s civil enforcement programs, and the Office of Legal Policy. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Bumatay served as a law clerk for Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Court. He also clerked for Judge Sandra L. Townes of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of new York. Mr. Bumatay received his B.A., cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the national Filipino American Lawyers Association (nFALA), the national Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, and the Federal Bar Association. “We congratulate Patrick on the announcement of the President’s intent to nominate him to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the ninth Circuit,” said David Mesa, president of the national Filipino American Lawyers Association (nFALA). “Patrick’s strong qualifications, including his breadth of experience as a federal prosecutor, a defense attorney, and a senior Department of Justice attorney make him ide-
al for the ninth Circuit.” Mesa added: “Patrick is a proud first generation Filipino-American, the son of Filipino immigrants to the United States, and I have no doubt he will serve the ninth Circuit and the people of California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the northern Mariana Islands with excellence, fairness, integrity, and intellect.” Patrick is a member of nFALA and two of nFALA’s affiliates, the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego (FALSD) and Filipino American Lawyers of Washington, D.C. (FALA DC). nFALA and its Judicial Executive nominations and Appointments Committee (JEnAC) supported Patrick through the nomination process and during that time, Patrick earned the joint endorsements of six other national, statewide, and California regional bar associations, including four of nFALA’s affiliates. nFALA commends President Trump for announcing his intent to nominate Patrick to the ninth Circuit. nFALA is the national voice for the Filipino-American legal profession. It advocates for justice, civil rights, and equal opportunity for the Filipino-American community. It cultivates high standards of integrity and professionalism among its members and strives for the advancement and success of FilipinoAmericans within the profession. nFALA is a family, comprised of members throughout the United States, with the shared goal of increasing its national growth, impact, and visibility while also celebrating its members’ cultural heritage. n
San Francisco’s ‘comfort...
PAGE A3 the struggle faced by all women who have been, and are currently, forced to endure the horrors of enslavement and sex trafficking,” Breed wrote. “These victims deserve our respect and this memorial reminds us all of events and lessons we must never forget.” Japan’s official view on World War II comfort women has changed over the decades. In 1993, it formally recognized that the Imperial Japanese Army forced women from neighboring Asian countries to work in brothels for the army’s soldiers. The “Column of Strength” memorial was erected and funded through an alliance of immigrant women’s groups called the Comfort Women Justice Coalition. Several years ago, the coalition and 11 human rights groups launched a grassroots campaign
for the memorial which was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2015. In november 2017, the late Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco signed a resolution to formally designate the statue as a city monument, a move that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan called “not only deeply regrettable, but it also opposes the views of the Japanese government.” Despite both Abe’s and Yoshimura’s condemnation of the statue, there are no motions to have it removed. Retired Superior Court Judge and chairwoman of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition Lillian Sing responded to Yoshimura’s threat to break ties with the city, saying, “He wants to remove the memorial because he is afraid of the truth. Removing it does not eradicate history.” n