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Volume 28 - No. 6 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
f e br u a ry 1 6 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 7
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Solicitor General recommends acquittal of Janet Lim Napoles by Dana
M. SioSon
AJPress
solicitor General Jose calida has recommended the acquittal of Janet lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multi-billion priority development assistance funds (PDAf) scam, claiming that she was wrongly convicted by the regional trial court over her serious illegal detention case. “in the case of Napoles, it is my well-considered opinion, as well as the opinion of my assistant solicitor generals, that the court, READY TO WALK? Photo taken on Jan. 20, the regional trial court, erred 2016 shows Janet Lim Napoles being escorted in convicting the accused, Janet to the Sandiganbayan for a hearing of her Napoles, for the crime of serious plunder case in connection with the pork illegal detention,” calida said in a barrel scam Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas press conference on Wednesday,
february 15. in 2014, Napoles was sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or an imprisonment term of 21 up to 40 years. Judge elmo Alameda of the makati regional trial court found Napoles guilty of detaining her cousin and principal scam whistleblower, Benhur luy, from December 2012 to march 2013. But according to calida, luy’s behavior during his supposed three months in detention “belies the fact that he was actually detained or deprived of his liberty.” “Benhur was not actually restrained inside the retreat house. According to witnesses, he acted like any other normal person PAGE A2
PH Supreme Court affirms forfeiture of Imelda Marcos’ jewelry set
USA
DATELINE ‘The needs of the Asian American community in the time of Trump’ from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Community leaders issue call to action: Be more engaged NeW YorK — more than 250 Asian American community leaders, students, advocates and activists gathered at the san Damiano hall of the church of st. francis of Assisi in manhattan to talk about the community’s needs and how the trump administration policies will impact social services in the Asian community. According to the Asian American federation, a New York-based nonprofit organization, the Asian American community, like many immigrant communities, is faced with an uncertain and potentially threatened future under the trump administration, which has pledged to repeal the Affordable care
by aJPreSS
DILG Sec. Ismael Sueno and former Senator Bongbong Marcos Inquirer.net photos
the United states Agency for international Development (UsAiD) is continuing with its assistance programs with the Philippine government this year. this is despite President rodrigo Duterte’s previous pronouncements that the Philippines could survive without any assistance from the U.s. “We continue to have programs with them and no one has asked us to leave or to discontinue. We continue to work together,” Gloria steele, acting assistant administrator for UsAiD’s Bureau for Asia, said, as quoted by inquirer. steele noted that the UsAiD projects in the Philippines were “not aid per se” but rather, “a partnership.” “We have talked about continuing the partnership for growth but i believe they now call it, ‘Partnership for Growth with equity,’” steele remarked. PAGE A4
$110,055 to $153,089, based on the evaluation of auction house the Philippine supreme christie, manson and Woods court (sc) has affirmed an ear- intl., inc. in 1991. lier sandiganbayan ruling which the high court rejected the orders the forfeiture of the third petition for certiorari filed by jewelry collection owned by for- imelda and her daughter, irene mer first lady imelda marcos. marcos-Araneta, the 21-page Also known as the “malaca- decision authored by chief Jusñang collection,” the set is tice ma. lourdes sereno said. assessed be worth between the petition sought to reverse
the anti-graft court’s 2014 finding that the jewelry collection was part of the marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth. the sc said that the petitioners “failed to satisfactorily show that the properties were lawfully acquired.” the high court also denied the marcoses’ claim that they PAGE A2
Sueno open to being replaced by Bongbong Marcos as DILG chief PH death penalty bill to cover plunder by Dana
Catholic Church opposes capital punishment anew
M. SioSon
AJPress
PhiliPPiNe interior secretary ismael “mike” sueno said that he is not offended by the rumors suggesting that he might soon be replaced as the head of the Department of interior and local Government (DilG). in a statement on Wednesday, february 15, sueno said that it is within President rodrigo Duterte’s “power, wisdom and discretion to appoint members of his cabinet.” “We serve at the pleasure of the president,” he said. PAGE A3 the interior secretary made the remarks amid rumors suggesting that Duterte was preparing to appoint former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. as the new PAGE A4
USAID programs in PH continue despite anti-US tirades
UP FOR AUCTION. An official from the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) shows a tiara, seized from a a set of jewellery collection of former first lady Imelda Marcos (inset), at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The third jewelry collection known as the “Malacañang Collection,” which based on the Sandiganbayan decision is assessed to be worth from $110,055 to $153,089, is composed of smaller and less expensive pieces that the Marcoses left behind when they fled during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez
by Dana
M. SioSon
AJPress
PlUNDer will remain on the list of heinous crimes punishable by death in the final version of the bill that seeks the revival of capital punishment in the Philippines, house speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on tuesday, february 14. “i will insist that it be included,” Alvarez, who is an author of
a bill seeking the reimposition of death penalty, said in an interview. Alvarez stressed that there’s “more reason to include plunder,” following the hearing on the supposed anomalous contract between the Philippine Amusement and Gaming corporation (PAGcor) and Vanderwood management corporation, which amounts to a total of P3.2 billion.
During the congressional hearing on tuesday, Alvarez questioned the 15-year lease agreement, claiming that it is “really highly disadvantageous to the government.” PAGcor reportedly agreed to pay P13 million per month to Vanderwood despite the absence of the facility. “P13 million a month? Yun yung ni-rent mo doon sa hangin PAGE A4
Filipino designer on ‘Make America Great Again’ Grammys gown: We have to support the president by ChriStina
M. oriel
AJPress
While most headlines about the 59th annual Grammy Awards are focusing on Adele’s “Album of the Year” win over Beyoncé, a relatively unknown singer was catapulted into the limelight for her bold red carpet look made by a filipino designer bearing a political message to support rather than resist President Donald trump. on sunday night, february 12, Joy Villa arrived in a white coat and subsequently took it off to reveal her navy blue gown with “make America Great Again” emblazoned on it, while Soriano, who currenty resides in “trUmP” in silver glitter was spelled San Diego, was first discovered on out on the backside. Behind the statement piece is Andre Rihanna’s Bravo fashion reality show, soriano, a designer based in san Diego, “Styled to Rock,” back in 2003.
who appeared on rihanna’s Bravo fashion reality show, “styled to rock” back in 2013. “the gown was more a message of love and moving this country forward,” soriano said during an interview with the Asian Journal on monday, february 13. “i design for all types of human. i don’t really care — there are no races or barriers with creativity when it comes to dressing up women.” soriano, who has been working with Villa for three years, said he had a few outfit sketches prepared for her based their conversations about “static, the sun, peace, and love.” however, the designs ultimately changed after watching coverage of the Women’s march in Washington, D.c. following President Donald trump’s inPAGE A3
Filipino designer Andre Soriano shares a photo of his “Make America Great Again” inspired creation for singer Joy Villa at the 59th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night, February 12. On his Instagram account, Soriano wrote that the gown was “A Tribute [to] OUR President of The United States Of America.” Courtesy of Andre Soriano’s Instagram account