June 21-23, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 49 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages
USA
DATELINE Homeland Security rescinds Obama-era protection for immigrant parents FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Citizenship prospects of undocumented parents threatened
THE United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John F. Kelly signed a memorandum on Thursday, June 15, revoking a program that would have offered a pathway to citizenship for immigrant parents of U.S. legal permanent residents or citizens. The program — called the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) — was introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2014 after the success of his landmark Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provided benefits for undocumented youth. In 2015, a federal court blocked DAPA and since then, it has never been formally executed. According to a press release from the DHS, Kelly consulted with Attorney Gen-
Fil-Am among 7 sailors killed in US destroyer, merchant ship collision by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
A FILIPINO American was one of the seven sailors killed in a collision between a United States Navy destroyer and a Philippineflagged container ship over the weekend. The Fil-Am was identified as 23-year-old Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan from Chula Vista, California. Sibayan, whose father retired after 21 years in the Navy, was remembered by friends and family as a leader and “sweet.” Other victims were identified as Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia; Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego, California; Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25,
from Oakville, Connecticut; Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas; Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland; and Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio. The three others on the ship were evacuated to a nearby Navy hospital, according to various reports. Early on Saturday, June 17, the USS Fitzgerald collided with the ACX Crystal off the Izu peninsula located southwest of Tokyo, Japan. According to data from the Marine Traffic website, the ACX Crystal, made an 180-degree turn shortly before the accident. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returns to Fleet The reason for the immediate turn, how- Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka following a collision with a merchant vessel while operating southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. Fil-Am Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan (inset) was one of the ever, has yet to be confirmed.
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seven sailors killed in a collision.
Duterte denies health cover-up allegations by JENNIFER
Washington alarmed over IS threats, wants ‘bigger role’ in Marawi operations Washington alarmed over IS threats, wants ‘bigger role’ in Marawi operations
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SORIANO
AJPress
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THE government of the United States expressed alarm over the growing presence of jihadis in Southeast Asia amid the ongoing battle between the Philippine troopers and Islamic State (IS)-inspired rebels in Marawi City, Mindanao. The U.S. government has been providing support to the Philippine troopers in Marawi but Malacañang said it was only limited to “technical assistance” and “does not involve any boots on the ground.” Duterte’s spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, explained in an earlier statement that the Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops from directly participating in combat operations. But according to a report by The Associated Press, U.S. lawmakers are pushing
U.S. Navy photos by Peter Burghart
TARGET ACQUIRED. President Rodrigo Duterte looks through the scope of a sniper rifle as he led the inspection of firearms recovered by the troops of the 4th Infantry Division upon his visit at the 4th Infantry Division Advance command Post in Butuan City on Saturday, June 17.
DESPITE rumors surrounding his recent absence from the public eye, President Rodrigo Duterte dispelled allegations that he is covering up his health issues by clarifying that he went on a confidential trip. “My state of health is what you see is what you get,” he told a reporter in Butuan City Saturday, June 17 following his first appearance after a fiveday hiatus. “I went on a trip somewhere, I cannot divulge it. I had to go there incognito. Yan ang totoo (that’s the truth). Confidential. I traveled like a private citizen para makaabot sa gusto kong puntahan (to arrive to the place I wanted to visit),” the president said. The 72-year-old president did not participate in any public events for almost an entire week, beginning with his non-appearance at the country’s 119th Independence Day celebration last June 12. His critics became skeptical, accusing Malacañang of being privy to the real condition of the president and not disclosing it to the public. His supporters, on the other hand, expressed support and under-
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Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal
Duterte: Marawi crisis is not a failure of intelligence by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
AS the ongoing confrontation between the Philippine military and terrorists in Marawi City enters its fifth week, President Rodrigo Duterte said the crisis cannot be blamed on the government’s failed intelligence. Speaking before the Army’s 401st Brigade in Butuan City on Saturday,
June 16, Duterte insisted that the government is aware that militants are stockpiling firearms and ammunition in Mindanao but did not intervene due to peace negotiations. Duterte further noted that the proIslamic State (IS) Maute group, which laid siege to Marawi City on May 23, may have acquired its supply of weapons from other rebel groups, citing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). “It was not a question of failure on the part of government. It was not a failure of intelligence. It is because we have adopted a very soft policy toward the rebels. These rebels carry firearms,” the president remarked in his speech. He then blamed the government’s “very soft policy” towards rebel
groups which later posed greater problems, such as the current case of the war-torn city of Marawi. The government “took [the arms deal] for granted,” according to him, in hopes of getting successful peace deals with the rebel groups. “All the while, the Maute group, with the connivance of the politicians there, the warlords…they were stock-
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PH Independence Day celebrated at LA City Hall Ombudsman drops charges LA City Council recognizes impact of the Fil-Am community by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA
pinotown — recognized the impact of the Filipino-American community. TO celebrate the 119th Philip“It’s important we recognize pine Independence Day, the Los that the Filipino community Angeles Filipino Association [has] been integral to makof City Employees (LAFACE) ing Los Angeles one of the dihosted its annual commemora- verse cities in the world. This is tion on Friday, June 16 at Los something we are all profoundly Angeles City Hall. proud of,” O’Farrell said. The celebration began with The city also presented the a presentation at an LA City LA Fil-Am community with a Council meeting in which resolution recognizing PhilipCouncilmember of the 13th Dis- pine Independence Day as well Council member Mitch O’Farrell and Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz — along with LAFACE trict Mitch O’Farrell — whose as acknowledging the cultural members and Fil-Am members of the LAPD — pose with the city’s resolution recognizing the district comprises Historic Filiu PAGE A4 AJPress
119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day.
AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla
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against Aquino, Trillanes
THE Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the treason and espionage complaint filed against Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former President Benigno Aquino III for their alleged backchannel negotiations with China. Trillanes believes that the decision is a manifestation that “the truth will always come out.” “The decision proves our point from the very start that the case was merely filed to harass and tarnish my reputation,” the senator said in a statement on Sun-
day, June 18. “This is what happens when your political opponents start to believe their own propaganda. But no matter how they twist the facts, in the end, the truth will always come out,” Trillanes added. In a statement released to media on Sunday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales cited “lack of probable cause” for treason and the evidence presented “cannot sufficiently establish the accusations” for espionage.
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