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Volume 16 - No. 47 • 3 Sections – 22 Pages
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Supreme Court begins oral arguments DATELINE USA Defrocked priest in US on constitutionality of PH drug war arrested in Laguna FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
by DANA
A FORMER Filipino priest wanted in the United States for allegedly molesting two minors in North Dakota between the years 1995 to 1998 has been arrested in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines on Sunday, November 19. Reports say Fernando Laude Sayasaya was consequently brought to Manila for extradition to the U.S. where he is facing two counts of “gross sexual imposition� filed by brothers Hugo Zamarron and Pablo Zamarron. Sayasaya faces accusations of engaging the then 15-year-old brothers in sexual contact, both in their home and church, during his assignment as priest at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in West Fargo, North Dakota. The ex-Catholic priest reportedly asked for the church’s permission in December 1998 to visit the Philippines for Christmas, and said he would return to the U.S. in January 1999 which he failed to do. “Alam niya na papalabas na ‘yung warrant of arrest [so] nagpaalam siya dun sa
SIOSON AJPress
THIS week, the Supreme Court (SC) began hearing arguments in the petition to declare Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs as unconstitutional. More than 3,900 Filipinos have been killed since the so-called drug war launched last year mostly for supposedly resisting arrest. Critics of the campaign have claimed that summary executions are occurring during operations—an allegation that the police has repeatedly denied.
Last month, lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) filed a petition before the SC. They argued that the the drug war should be declared unconstitutional because it paves way for the police to kill suspects in guise of “neutralizing� them during operations. “That could be subject to misinterpretation by the policeman on the ground,� Jose Manuel “Chel� Diokno of FLAG said during the course of oral arguments on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Diokno pointed out that the term “neutralize� could mean “kill�. Supreme Court justices, led by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, enter the SC en banc session hall in Manila during In their petition, human rights the start of oral arguments on the consolidated petitions to declare President Duterte’s drug war unconstitutional
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on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman
Duterte warns of revolutionary gov’t if ‘things go out of control’
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White-born Florida woman claims to identify as Filipina
by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
Ja Du, a transgender woman, now speaks up about newfound Filipina identity
A WHITE transgender woman in Florida announced this week that she identifies as a Filipina. In a story that first broke on the Tampa area WTSP on Monday, November 13, the woman — who was born Adam and said she’s in the process of legally changing her name to Ja Du — told the station that she considers herself Filipina. Ja Du says she grew up watching The History Channel and said that “nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture.� She has since concluded that she is Filipina and intends to live a “transracial� lifestyle as a Filipina. “Whenever I’m around the music, around the food, I feel like I’m in my own skin,� she told WTSP. Ja Du drives around town in what she calls
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RAISING THE TROOP’s MORALE. President Rodrigo Duterte expresses his high praises to the troops of the 1st Infantry Battalion (1IB) who were preparing to leave at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, November 20. The 1IB were among the ďŹ rst units deployed in Marawi City when the battle against the terrorists broke out almost ďŹ ve months ago. MalacaĂąang photo by Ace Morandante
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, Nov. 18, warned anew that he would declare a revolutionary government if things have gone “out of control� and the government is at risk of being overthrown violently. “If things go out of control and [the] government is weakened—that is my predicate,� Duterte told reporters in Davao City. “If my country is weakened and I see revolutionaries bringing firearms on the streets, well, maybe you shouldn’t have second thoughts, I will declare a revolutionary government,� he added. The president also pointed out that he
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Filipinos named in Paradise Papers leak Pacquiao mulls quitting politics SEVERAL Filipinos were included in the so-called Paradise Papers—one of the world’s largest leak of financial documents showing how personalities manage to keep from paying higher taxes—according to a report from the Philippine Star. The recent leak detailed how some politi-
by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
cians and business personalities use complex structures to launder money, fend off sanctions, and evade tax. The controversial documents were first obtained by the German newspaper SĂźddeutsche Zeitung, and were shared with the
PHILIPPINE Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, Nov. 21 admitted that thoughts of resigning from politics have been crossing his mind. In a press briefing at the Senate, Pacquiao expressed dismay toward “destabilizers� and politicians with “hidden agenda[s],� saying such feelings have made him ponder if he will still seek a new government post after his term ends in 2022. “If you would ask me right now about politics, I feel like getting dismayed, discouraged. I’m thinking about quitting, like—so
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Filipina sworn in as member of key US Treasury advisory board by CARINA
ORIEL/AJPress
WASHINGTON – A Filipina community leader was sworn in as a member of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund Community Advisory Board on Thursday, November 16. Faith Bautista, the president and CEO of the National Diversity Coalition (NDC) and National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), was appointed by the Trump administration to serve for a total of four years. The swearing-in ceremony was led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin inside U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin swore in nine new private citizens, including Filipina community the Cash Room of the departleader Faith Bautista, to serve on the department’s Community Development Financial Institutions ment’s building. Bautista is one of nine pri(CDFI) Fund Community Advisory Board on Thursday, November 16. AJPress photo
vate citizens to serve on the board, alongside six public representatives, totaling 15 members. She is one of two officers on the board coming from a national consumer or public interest organization. The Advisory Board advises the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund on policies and activities focusing on economic development and empowerment for underserved and low-to-moderate income communities. “I am honored to be the first person of Filipino descent to serve on the CDFI Fund’s Community Advisory Board. Through this role, I will continue to advocate for
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Sen. Manny Pacquiao
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Inquirer.net photo
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