La weekend edition march 18 21, 2017

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E D I T I OE ND I T I O NI T I O N ED

EMarch D I T18-21, ION 2017

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T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

Volume 27 - No. 23 • 4 Sections – 32 Pages

www.ajdigitaledition.com

1210 S. Brand 1210 Blvd.,S. Glendale, CA Brand Blvd., Glendale, 1210 S. 91204 Brand Blvd

Tels: 818.502.0651Tels: • 213.250.9797 • Fax: 818.502.0858 • 213.481.0854 818.502.0651 • 818.502.0651 213.250.9797 Fax: 818.502.0858 Tels: •• 213.250.9797 • Fax:• 82 Also published in: • Orange County/Inland • Northern California •Empire Las Vegas • New York/ New•Jersey Also published in: published • OrangeEmpire County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas Jersey Also in: • Orange County/Inland • Northern California •New Las York/ VegasNew • New York/ New Jersey 1210 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204

Palace says impeachment complaint against Duterte part of ‘destabilization plot’ Also published in: • Orange County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas • New York/ New Jersey

Robredo denies involvement in latest move to unseat Duterte

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the impeachment complaint recently filed against Philippine President rodrigo Duterte is part of an act to “discredit the administration,” malacañang said on thursday, march 16. earlier on the same day, magdalo representative Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte before the house of repre-

Tels: 818.502.0651 • 213.250.9797 • Fax: 818.502.0858 • 213.481.0854

sentatives, accusing the president of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes. In a statement, Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella maintained that the complaint has no basis, stressing that Duterte did not commit any impeachable offense. “No treason, betrayal of trust, bribery, graft, and corruption, high crime and culpable violation of the Consti-

tution has been committed,” Abella remarked. Abella then said that it “seems rather dramatic that everything seems to be so coordinated at this stage with acts of trying to discredit the administration and trying to throw doubt.” he also reaffirmed that the Duterte administration “upholds due process and is ready for the consequences of his actions, and takes into consideration above all the interest of the fili-

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European Parliament calls for De Lima’s ‘immediate’ release

by AJPress the camp of Philippine Vice President Leni robredo has dismissed allegations that she played a hand in the first impeachment complaint against President rodrigo Duterte. In a television interview, robredo’s spokesperson Georgina hernandez said that “VP Leni and the public know that this is not true.” this response comes after house of representatives speaker Pantaleon Alvarez claimed that robredo is “definitely” behind the case that was filed on thursday, march 16. Alvarez remarked that robredo had a “direct hand” in the impeachment complaint,

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

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DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for end to immigration arrests at courthouses

the chief justice of California’s supreme Court is urging the administration of President Donald trump to cease arresting undocumented immigrations at the state’s courthouses. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Jeff sessions and homeland security secretary John Kelly on thursday, march 16, Chief Justice tani Cantil-sakauye wrote how “deeply concerned” she was following

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Orgies in Manila, lavish perks mark US Navy bribery scandal

A NeW indictment unsealed in san Diego, California on tuesday, march 14, added nine high-ranking U.s. Navy officials, including retired Admiral Bruce Loveless, in connection with the so-called “fat Leonard” bribery scandal. the latest federal indictment charged Loveless, four retired Navy captains, a marine colonel and three others of taking bribes – in the forms of sex parties with prostitutes, extravagant dinners, and luxury travel – in exchange for trading military secrets. “this is a fleecing and betrayal of the United states Navy in epic proportions, and it was allegedly carried out by the Navy’s highest-ranking officers,” Acting U.s. Attorney Alana robinson said in a statement.

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Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella

PEACEFUL RESOLUTION. President Rodrigo Duterte meets Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on Friday, March 17. Also in the photo is Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. The leaders reaffirmed a peaceful settlement of the longstanding maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Inquirer.net photo by Ace Morandante

IN a joint resolution adopted on thursday, march 16, the european (eU) Parliament called for the “immediate” release of Philippine senator Leila De Lima, who was detained last month for drug-related charges. De Lima, who is also a fierce critic of Philippine President rodrigo Duterte, was arrested on february 24 for allegedly violating the republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Acknowledging Amnesty International’s (AI) claim that the De Lima is a “prisoner of conscience,” the eU noted that “there are serious concerns that the offences senator De Lima has been charged with are almost entirely fabricated.” the parliament also called on Philippine authorities “to ensure a fair trial, recalling the right to the presumption of innocence, to drop all politically motivated charges against her, and to end any further acts of ha-

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Environment Secretary Gina PH Foreign Affairs, Defense departments Lopez faces third graft complaint unaware of Benham Rise deal with China by Dana

SioSon AJPress

A NeW graft complaint against Philippine Department of environment and Natural resources by AJPress (DeNr) secretary Gina Lopez of the Philippine has been filed Both the Philippine before the office of the ombudsDepartment of foreign man on thursday, march 16. Affairs (DfA) and DepartLopez was accused of violatment of National Defense ing the republic Act 3019 or the (DND) admitted to hav- Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices ing no knowledge about Act for allegedly influencing the the supposed agreement Philippine Department of energy allowing China to con- (Doe) to award the $100-million duct research in the Ben- power plant service contract to a ham rise. private company she favored. earlier this week, PhilAccording to the complaint ippine President rodrigo filed by ecoglobal Incorporated Duterte said that Beijing u PAGE A3 sought his permission to let Chinese vessels surDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana vey the area for research purposes. “they (China) have no incursion because we have an by Catherine S. Valente agreement,” Duterte told reporters on monday, march ManilaTimes.net 13. “some people are just blowing it up. We previously mALACAÑANG on friday said agreed. It was a research ship. We were advised of it the Australian government had way ahead.” Duterte’s statement came after Philippine Defense committed to continue its develsecretary Delfin Lorenzana raised alarm earlier this opment assistance to the Philipmonth over the reported presence of Chinese surveil- pines, saying that $40 million in fresh aid would be specifically folance ships near Benham rise. DfA said last week that it has sent a note verbale cused on projects for mindanao. this came after Australian forto the Chinese embassy, seeking clarification over the u PAGE A3 eign minister Julie Bishop met

DENR Secretary Gina Lopez

Australia pledges $40-M for peace in Mindanao with President rodrigo Duterte in Davao City, where they talked about the mindanao peace process, terrorism, and responsible mining. In a statement, presidential spokesman ernesto Abella said Duterte and Bishop, during their “warm and cordial” meeting, expressed willingness to cooperate against terrorism, a security threat to both the Philippines and

Australia. “Both underscored that terrorism and violent extremism are serious threats, with both expressing readiness to identify areas of collaboration,” Abella said. the Islamic state (Is) has called on its fighters to conduct attacks in Australia and the Philippines. In mindanao, some terror groups have pledged alle-

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