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Volume 27 - No. 34 • 2 sections – 16 pages
s e p t e mbe r 1 - 7 , 2 0 1 6
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Duterte, Obama expected to talk Paynor named PH ambassador to US drugs and China at ASEAN summit DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte announced on monday, August 29, that he has appointed malacañang Palace chief protocol officer marciano Paynor as the Philippines’ new ambassador to the United states. Duterte said Paynor has already accepted the posiMarciano Paynor tion. “he is a seasoned foreign career envoy,” the president said of Paynor. Paynor previously served as protocol chief to former presidents fidel ramos and Gloria macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno s. Aquino, III. he also served as Arroyo’s presidential assistant for state and foreign visits. Born and raised in Baguio, Paynor was the director general of the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) 2015 National organizing Council and has served Philippine diplomatic posts in countries, including Israel and Cyprus. PAGE A2
by eriC
anthOny liCas AJPress
hUmAN rights concerns, the south China sea and headline-making comments from Philippine President rodrigo Duterte will dominate his upcoming conversation with U.s. President Barack obama during the Association of southeast Asian Nations (AseAN)
summit next week. the two presidents plan to speak face-to-face for the first time on the sidelines of the summit in Vientiane, Laos on september 6. the meeting will give them a chance to discuss a number of developments impacting relations between the two nations. “the discussion [between obama and Duterte] will encompass both concerns
about statements that have been made by the President of the Philippines... our commitment to supporting human rights and...the regional picture particularly...maritime issues,” said White house Deputy National security Adviser Ben rhodes during a media briefing on monday, August 29. obama previously spoke to Duterte on may 18, congratulating him on win-
Rep. Joe Heck receives key AAPI endorsement by Christina
PAGE A2
M. Oriel
AJPress
US, India urge countries to respect South China Sea ruling more than a month after the international tribunal ruling on the south China sea, the United states and India have called parties concerned to have the “utmost respect” for the international law. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, August 31, the two nations “stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce throughout the region, including in the south China sea.” “they [India and the Us[ urged the utmost respect for international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLos),” the statement said. “they reiterated that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means, and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability.” the two nations released the statement during Us secretary of state John Kerry’s visit in India as part of their annual strategic and Commercial Dialogue. Kerry also said that “there is no military so-
ning the presidency. the U.s. president praised the Philippines’ “vibrant democracy,” but also emphasized the importance of protecting human rights. Extrajudicial killings alarming Notably, the rhetoric and methods employed by the Duterte administration in its aggressive war on drugs have drawn concern from U.s. officials and PAGE A2
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, Aug. 31 said he was ready to defend his take-no-prisoners war on drugs in a discussion of the human rights situation in the Philippines with US President Barack Obama in Laos next week. Mr. Duterte said he was willing to meet with Obama, but he would demand that he be allowed to first explain the context of his merciless crackdown on the illegal drug trade before engaging the US leader in a discussion of the human rights situation in the Philippines. Malacañang photo by Ace Morandan
LAs VeGAs — As the race for the open senate seat in Nevada intensifies, rep. Joe heck (r-Nev.) received a major endorsement from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business leaders this week. for the first LVAACC Pres. Sonny Vinuya and Rep. Jose Heck time, the Las AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal Ve g a s Asia n American Chamber of Commerce (LVAACC) anPAGE A2
Palace dares int’l media to come to PH by JOseph
alMer B. peDraJas AJPress
mANILA — As the Philippines’ war on drugs continuously draws criticisms and earns attention from the international media, Presidential Communications secretary martin Andanar has dared foreign journalists to “come to the Philippines” and experience firsthand the threat of drugs in the country. In an interview during the JapanAseAN media forum on monday, August 29, Andanar stressed that the members of the international press should personally witness the lives of “those who are affected by [illegal] drugs” because it is a real “responsible journalism.” the communications secretary said that
the journalists must write stories not just about extrajudicial killings, but also about the human rights violations committed by illegal drug suspects. “It’s not fair for just anybody to conclude about extrajudicial killings, that there’s so much dead without even qualifying which one is dead because of authorized police operation, which ones were killed because of a gang war or regular murders,” he said. Within two months of President rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs, international media organizations, such as the New York times, Washington Post, tIme magazine, and BBC, have continually re- FINAL FAREWELL. Relatives and friends of Eric Sison weep before his interment on Wednesday at the ported on the loss of lives in this anti-drug Pasay public cemetery. Sison was shot dead last week by patrolling policemen. Witnesses claimed a hail campaign. of bullets felled Sison even when he offered to surrender. Police officials are investigating the incident. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina PAGE A2
Donaire to fight on DOJ to revisit pork barrel probe, says Pacquiao-Vargas card Aquino admin suppressed evidence by Dana
siOsOn AJPress
by Dana
siOsOn AJPress
to rid the government of corruption and to address the previous foLLoWING President ro- administration’s alleged selective tWo internationally-renowned filipino boxing champions will be fighting on the same event on No- drigo Duterte’s previous order, justice, according to Justice secthe Department of Justice (DoJ) retary Vitaliano Aguirre II. vember 5 in Las Vegas. In an ABs-CBN report, boxing promoter Bob Arum is set to review cases related to Aguirre told reporters on monannounced that Nonito “the filipino flash” Donaire Jr. the misuse of the Priority Devel- day, August 29, that there was will fight against Jessie magdaleno at the co-main event opment Assistance fund (PDAf), something “fishy” about the way also referred to as the pork barrel DoJ, under his predecessor senaof manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s comeback fight. “We are looking to do something really spectacular scam. tor Leila De Lima, handled the the re-opening of the probe is case. for all filipino people,” Arum said. Nonito Donaire Jr. “What I know is that the DoJ PAGE A4 part of the president’s platform AJPress file photo by RObert Macabagdal
then suppressed evidence against other politicians,” he told reporters. he, however, refused to name the politicians. the justice secretary also said he will talk to Janet Napoles, the businesswoman alleged to be the brains behind the multi-billion peso fund scam. “When Napoles first surfaced, PAGE A4