OCTOBER 28-31, 2023 Volume 33 - No. 86 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
Pres. Biden says US defense commitments to PH ironclad by Ian LaquI Philstar.com
MANILA — The Mutual Defense Treaty extends to the Philippines and the United States in the Pacific, defense secretaries of both nations said. In a joint statement issued on Friday, October 27, both defense secretaries reaffirmed U.S. support for the Philippines in the wake of the recent West Philippine Sea incident involving China. On Monday, October 23 the Philippines protested China's risky actions involving two Chinese Coast Guard vessels SAFETY FIRST. A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel inspects the North Port Passenger Terminal in Tondo, Manila on Friday, October 27, in the West Philippine Sea U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Australia’s Prime Minister ahead of the local elections and the observance of “Undas 2023.” The PCG will be on heightened alert until Nov. 5 for the orderly operation Anthony Albanese at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 25, u PAGE A2 2023. PNA photo by Yancy Lim Philstar.com photo of sea transport facilities, convenient sea travel, and security of tourists.
DATELINE USA
Napoles gets life term in another ‘pork’ case by ariC John Sy Cua ManilaTimes.net
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
California expands paid sick days and boosts health worker wages
THE Sandiganbayan has sentenced businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to life imprisonment in another case involving pork barrel funds. In a 60-page ruling released on Friday, October 27, the court convicted Napoles on four counts of malversation, with two prison terms of 6-10 years each and two sentences of reclusion SACRAMENTO — California continues to perpetua, or life term. Based on the records of the case, burnish its reputation as a progressive state for health policy as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills Napoles' nongovernment organization expanding paid sick leave, adding bereavement leave for miscarriages, and boosting wages for health workers. Newsom blessed a rare agreement between labor and the health industry to gradually phase in a nation-leading $25-an-hour statewide minimum wage for health workers. Estimates based on earlier versions of the bill found it would increase health care costs by billions of dollars each year and put pressure on the state’s Medicaid program to raise reimbursement rates for long-term care to maintain patients’ access to services. Other new laws aim to strengthen reproductive rights, as well as patient protections against
(NGO) Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc. (KMFI) was endorsed by then Ilocos Sur 1st District Rep. Salacnib Baterina to handle projects covered by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The Sandiganbayan said Napoles, along with Godofredo Roque, Carlos Soriano, and France Mercado, "acted with manifested partiality, evident bad faith, and/or inexcusable negligence" and had caused "undue injury to the government" by giving P9.6 million, which was based on a memorandum recommending the release of Baterina's
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Need help with immigration? Enroll in community college New California program helps students navigate immigration system, for free and regardless of status CALIFORNIANS who need trustworthy legal help to get through the lengthy and complicated U.S. immigration process can find it for free at any of the state’s 115 physical community colleges. At an Oct. 24 press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services, lawyers, community college officials and a formerly undocumented student described their experiences with the Higher Education Legal Services Project. “Over 10,000 students have benefited from the program” since its launch four years ago, says Alonso Garcia with the Foundation for Community Colleges, “and over 5,700 just last year.” Garcia notes as well that community college faculty and staff are also eligible to receive services whatever their age
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the oath taking ceremony of newly promoted generals of the Armed forces of the Philippines on friday at the Malacanang Palace, where he told them to get ready to defend the archipelago during his speech. A total of 31 generals were promoted, including AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner. Malacañang photo
PDAF in the amount of P10 million, but with P400,000 in deductions. Baterina and Antonio Ortiz, the director general of the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) at the time, signed an undated memorandum of agreement with KMFI. Baterina had also endorsed the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., (PSDFI), another NGO run by Napoles, and gave it the same amount. The PSDFI served as a "project partner" for livelihood projects in the first
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Janet Lim Napoles
File Photo
PH seeks help in finding missing Filipinos by Bernadette tamayo ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines has sought the help of other countries in finding two missing Filipinos or securing their release if they were indeed kidnapped by Hamas militants, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said. "As to whether they are hostages, we cannot affirm that, although Israel believes that one of them, a male, is likely a hostage. They haven't shown us the evidence," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said. "The wife though of the supposed hostage has said from the beginning [of the Hamas attack on Israel] that she saw her husband taken on video." "As to what we are doing, well, for the
protection of the hostages, we won't reveal exactly what we're doing other than to confirm that we are talking to all who may be able to help us," de Vega said. "After all, it did produce results for these four hostages who have been released, as you know, [the] two Americans and two Israelis [who were freed recently by Hamas]," he said. "We are not talking to Hamas, but we are talking to governments," he added. Meanwhile, he said three Filipinos — a father and son, and a nun — who were already evacuated to southern Gaza to cross the Rafah border to Egypt decided to return to Gaza City. The father and son, the official said, u PAGE A2
Marcos warns AFP of Filipina caregiver’s courage ‘emerging threats’ touches thousands of Israelis by Catherine S. Valente and FranCiSCo tuyay ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, October 27 told the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be "ready to defend the archipelago from emerging threats," following the United States' "ironclad" commitment to defend the Philippines against China's aggressive actions. Speaking after the oathtaking of the newly promoted AFP officers in Malacañang, the president urged the military u PAGE A3 "to enhance joint planning
and operations to ensure interoperability across all AFP units and platforms" as they respond to emerging national security and defense realities in the country and within the region. He reminded the new officers that "you are expected to help ensure that the Armed Forces will be more agile, flexible, and responsive to better address emerging issues confronting our nation. We must be ready. u PAGE A2
by PIa Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA — “The morning of October 7th was a very dark hour for humanity. But amongst all the darkness, there is Camille’s story,” Emanuel Miller, a media analyst in Israel, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Camille Jesalva, 31, came to Israel from the Philippines five years ago. She takes care of Nitza, a 95-year-old woman in Kibbutz Nirim. Like their neighbors, the two woke up that morning to the sound of a heavy barrage of incoming rocket and mortar fire, and they sought cover in their bomb shelter. Shortly before 8 a.m. Jesalva began to hear people talking outside. Having previously worked in Dubai, Photo shows Camille Jesalva with her Israeli File photo u PAGE A2 employer Nitza.