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Volume 28 - No. 2 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
‘Here to Stay’ event honors immigrant contributions, quells fear from incoming admin
J A N U A RY 1 9 - 2 5 , 2 0 1 7
‘I’LL BE QUIET IF NEEDED’
Duterte denies plan to declare martial law by DANA
M. SIOSON
AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, January 18, stressed that he has no plans to put the country under martial law. He added, however, that he would be quiet if he is compelled to do so. “I will not declare martial law at LAS VEGAS -- Leading up to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, elected officials, immigration activists, labor organizers, and members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community came together over the weekend bearing the message: immigrants are here to stay. The immigrants rights resource fair and press conference at the Pearson Community Center in North Las Vegas on Saturday, January 14 coincided with similar National Day of Action events across the country, including one in downtown Los Angeles. During the presidential campaign and since PAGE A2
kung mag-declare ako ng Martial Law hindi ako mag-iingay (and if I do, I will not make noise),” Duterte said in his speech during the 20th anniversary of the Premier Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. “But if I feel as a president that I have to preserve my country, I will declare martial law,” he added Duterte also expressed his agree-
ment with the military that, as of present, there was “no compelling reason” to declare martial law. However, he warned that Mindanao is being “contaminated” by the Islamic State (ISIS). “But I will just fill you in in the days to come. It’s ISIS coming in very fast and Mindanao is a pure case of rising nationalism,” he noted.
by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
New US envoy affirms ‘solid’ ties with PH
Pope Francis receives Duterte’s thank-you letter by DANA
PAGE A2
Pacquiao asks DOT for P3-B to fund his match against Marquez in PH
‘PRODUCTIVE MEETING’. President Rodrigo Duterte (right), accompanied by some Cabinet members, meets the new US ambassador to Manila, Sung Kim (second from right), at the Panacan presidential guesthouse in Davao City on Sunday, Jan. 15. Malacañang photo
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal
In his speech, Duterte also hit media outlets regarding their reporting of his pronouncements. “And media kasi hindi nakikinig. Ang marinig lang nila, Martial law. Hindi ako stupido. Mas bright tayo sa kanila (The media do not listen. All they hear is Martial Law. I am not stupid. We are brighter than them),”
M. SIOSON
AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has personally written Pope Francis a letter to express his gratitude to the Pontiff for visiting the country in 2015. According to the Office of the Presidential THE United States Ambassador to the PhilipAdviser on the Peace Process, Foreign Affairs pines Sung Kim has affirmed the long-standing ties between Manila and Washington, Malaca- Secretary Perfecto Yasay personally handed Duterte’s letter to Pope Francis on Wednesday, ñang said. “[Kim] reiterated the commitment of the U.S. January 18. “Our countrymen remember your Holiness’ to the bilateral relationship with the Philippines, which he described as ‘solid,’” Presidential apostolic visit in 2015 with deep appreciaPresidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in tion, knowing that it was made with the most sincere regard for the welfare of the Church’s a statement on Sunday, January 15. According to Abella, Philippine President flock,” Duterte said in his letter addressed to Pope Francis welcomes chief government peace negotiator Jesus Dureza at PAGE A2 PAGE A2 the Vatican on Jan. 18, 2017. Photo from the Facebook page of Mr. Dureza
Senator Manny Pacquiao
FILIPINO boxing champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao announced that he is anticipating a rematch in the Philippines against Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez. In a radio interview with DZMM’s Fastbreak, Pacquiao related that he asked Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo to fund his bout against Marquez that is reportedly scheduled for
sometime in November. “Approximately, sabi ko sa kanya [Secretary Teo] nasa 3 o 2.5 billion [pesos]. Kasi plano ko mag-rematch kay Marquez tapos dito ko dalhin si Marquez sa Pilipinas (Approximately, I told her we need 3 or 2.5 billion. I plan to have a rematch with Marquez here in the Philippines),” Pacquiao said. He added, “Maganda kasi ‘pag kami naglaban, hindi takbu-takbuhan (Our fight will be good because there will be no running around).” Teo confirmed that Pacquiao had asked her to help provide funds for his fifth fight against the Mexican boxer. “Kinausap nga ako ni Manny Pacquiao, we talked and he said, humingi siya ng P3 billion for the fight (Manny Pacquiao indeed talked to me and asked P3 billion for the fight),” Teo said in a radio interview with DZMM’s Pasada Sais Trenta. According to her, the DOT would only grant Pacquiao’s request if he fights another big name PAGE A2
Miss Universe bets grace Baguio City PH seeks explanation by ROSETTE
ADEL
Philstar.com
SOME delegates of the 65th Miss Universe and reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach on Wednesday, Jan. 18 headed north and visited the country’s summer
capital, Baguio City. The ladies were welcomed by cadets of the Philippine military with an arrival ceremony at the Loakan Airport. After which, the candidates held a parade from upper Session Road to the Baguio Country Club.
Some delegates of the 65th Miss Universe and reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach on Wednesday, Jan. 18 headed north and visited the country’s summer capital, Baguio City.
Waves and smiles greeted them as they rode colorful flower-decorated floats. Street dancers, who also performed, escorted the Miss Universe bets during the parade. Earlier, Baguio Mayor Mauro Domogan ordered closure of the
three-kilometer parade route to avoid traffic. Miss U candidates who are in the City of Pines also visited Baguio Country Club to go strawberry picking. Wurtzbach planted a tree at the same venue. They also attended a gala dinner.
from China over weapon installations on islands by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
FOLLOWING the reports from a U.S. think thank stating that China has installed weapons on all of its seven artificial islands in the South China Sea, the Philippines has sent Beijing “low-key” notes verbale to seek clarifications on the issue. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) previously reported that China has installed anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems on its newly built islands situated along the disputed areas in the South China Sea. “We have taken action on that, we have issued a note verbale,” Philippines’ Foreign Secretary
Perfecto Yasay told CNN in an interview on Monday, January 16. According to Yasay, Manila has sent “three to four” notes verbale to China. A notes verbale is a diplomatic communication, less formal than a diplomatic note, that is not signed and is issued in the third person. “I just want to assure the Filipino people that when we take action at engaging China in this dispute, we do not want to take such aggressive, provocative action that will not solve the problem,” Yasay said. ”We cannot engage China in a war.” The foreign secretary did not disclose when the notes were isPAGE A4