081617 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

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August 16-19, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 66 • 3 Sections - 24 Pages

PH urges US, N. Korea to desist from actions that may escalate tensions by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippine government on Monday, August 14 called on the United States and North Korea to “desist from threats and military action” that may escalate nuclear tensions between countries. In a media conference, Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also urged Washington and Pyongyang to conduct talks and put an end to any further missile tests and attack threats. “We continue to enjoin all concerned parties to desist from threats and military action and we enjoin all sides to start talks,

which should be greatly facilitated by an end to missile test and attack threats,” the Philippine spokesperson said. Last week, North Korea threatened to launch nuclear missiles attacks near the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which shelters massive U.S. Air Force and Navy bases. North Korea made the threat in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Pyongyang will be met with “fire and fury” if it continues to threaten Washington. Abella reassured that the Philippine government has prepared contingency plans in case North

USA

DATELINE The future of Obamacare, health care in California FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

EVER since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, the future of American health care has become a central issue that has left millions of Americans uncertain of their health coverage. One of the president’s campaign promises involved the repealing and replacing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, which he has consistently labeled a “disaster.” He also promised to drastically cut Medicaid, a program that serves nearly 75 million Americans. So far, congressional Republicans have made several attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare, but each iteration of the GOP bill has not made it past both houses of Congress. Each of those bills, including the House’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (and its scaled back “skinny repeal” version), called for similar things: dismantle Obamacare effective immediately, slash government funding to Medicaid and scale back federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

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Number of dialysis patients in Calif. surges THE number of Californians who are getting care at dialysis centers has jumped in recent years — but not because kidney disease is more prevalent. The reason is that people are living longer with end-stage renal disease, said Anjay Rastogi, a professor of nephrology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. The number of new cases has generally leveled off in recent years, Rastogi said. “The same number of patients are being put on dialysis, but they stay on dialysis,” he said. More than 139,000 kidney patients sought treatment at dialysis clinics around the state last year, a rise of about 46 percent from about 95,000 eight years earlier, according to

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Korea pushes its plan to launch missile attacks in Guam. “We commend our Seoul embassy and our Guam consulate for their contingency plans to secure Filipinos even when military conflict erupts,” he said. According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are around 42,800 Filipinos in Guam. Abella also urged all Filipinos in Guam and Korea and their families to inform DFA or its consular officials of their whereabouts. On Tuesday, August 15, Pyongyang’s state news agen-

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END CRIME, NOT LIFE. Senator Risa Hontiveros together with New York-based Japanese photographer Toshi Kazama (left) and Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy Senior Advisor Rafendi Djamin (right) gesture symbolizing the need to stop the re-imposition of death penalty during the opening of a photo exhibit called “End Crime, Not Life”, which was held at the Philippine Senate, Monday, August 14. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

Palace: Duterte supports impeachment of corrupt officials by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is going to support any move—including impeaching any official regardless of position—that would help in ridding the government of corruption, Malacañang said on Monday, August 14. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella stressed that keeping the administration clean from any irregularities has been among Duterte’s major campaign promises.

“Without making references to any particular individual, the president, of course, is highly supportive of all moves that will set the house, the Philippine government in order. And he’s been very clear about that, that is one of his campaign promises,” Abella told reporters. Abella made the statement in a media conference when asked if Duterte will back possible impeachment complaints against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista. He said that Duterte is supportive of

any move that would bring “correction” to the government institutions. “And so, each and every act — each and every move that entails bringing about a correction in our — especially in our institutions is welcome and I’m sure he is supportive of. That is not in reference to any particular individual,” he added. Bautista’s estranged wife, Patricia, alleged that the Comelec chief has amassed nearly P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth. He was also accused of wrongly declaring his 2016 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth

(SALN). Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has authorized the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) to investigate Patricia’s claims against her husband. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is also conducting a separate probe into possible violations committed by Bautista when he was still the agency’s head. Last week, a report from the Philippine Star said Oliver Lozano, a lawyer and Marcos loyalist, has filed an impeachment complaint against

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More Filipinos expect better lives in next 12 months by HELEN

FLORES Philstar.com

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano

MANILA - More Filipinos expect better lives in the next 12 months, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll published by the newspaper BusinessWorld on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The nationwide survey, taken from June 23 to 26, showed 44 Inquirer.net photo percent of 1,200 respondents saying they expect their quality

PH embassies ordered to update Group eyes second impeachment contingency plans complaint against Comelec chief u PAGE A2

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has ordered all embassies abroad to review and update their contingency plans following threats from North Korea to launch missiles towards Guam. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano gave instructions to all Philippine embassies and consulates general to make sure that their contingency plans are current to ensure the safety of Filipinos, particularly in or near conflict areas. The order came after the Philippine Consulate General in Agana raised Alert Level 1 in Guam following threats of a nuclear missile attack from North Korea. “Our people all over the world are counting on us to lead them to safety in case worse comes to worst.

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According to a recent poll by the Social Weather Statios (SWS), more Filipinos are expecting better lives in the next 12 months. Inquirer.net photo

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is planning to file a second impeachment complaint against Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista. Earlier this week, former Negros Oriental Representative and current VACC member Jacinto Paras requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for copies of documents related to the allegations made by Bautis- Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista links arms with Comelec employees who

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prepared a program to show their support for him on Monday, Aug. 14.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma


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