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Volume 23 - No. 37 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages
S e P t e mbe r 1 6 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 6
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Rody assumes ‘full legal responsibility’ by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while addressing the Philippine Army Scout Rangers at their headquarters at Camp Tecson in San Miguel township, north of Manila, Philippines Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. A former Filipino militiaman testified before the country’s Senate that President Duterte, when he was still a mayor, ordered him and other members
sAN mIGUeL, Bulacan, Philippines – Amid allegations that he ordered the killing of several criminals, President Duterte stressed on thursday, sept. 15, that he is ready to be jailed “alone” for waging a bloody war against illegal drugs. Addressing members of the Army’s 1st scout ranger regiment, Duterte said security forces should not worry about facing charges when running after drug offenders. “In accordance with my order, I will assume full legal responsibility and I will go to jail alone. that’s the guarantee I
can give you,” Duterte said. “for all the things you do that are connected with your work, I will take charge. I am ready to be imprisoned,” he added. Duterte issued the remarks hours after edgar matobato accused Duterte of ordering the killing of several criminals when he was mayor of Davao City. In thursday’s hearing of the senate committee on justice chaired by sen. Leila de Lima, matobato said he was a member of the Davao Death squad and that President Duterte formed the DDs to kill suspected criminals. But the President did not make any reference to the senate hearing during
his speech, which lasted for more than 38 minutes. Duterte said that he was a favorite “whipping boy” in Davao City because of his aggressive campaign against drugs. he said there was even a time when he opposed the relief of police officials who carried out his anti-drug crackdown. “twenty-seven generals were recommended for dismissal…I almost waged a revolution. I did not allow it to happen. son of a whore, don’t give me that b*lls**t,” the President said. “Just do your job and we’re okay,” he added. officials said there are about 3.7 mil-
lion drug addicts in the Philippines, prompting Duterte to elevate the problem into a national security issue. he has tapped the military to assist in addressing the drug problem, which he said has reached “epidemic” proportions. Close to 3,000 suspected drug offenders have been slain, about half of them in law enforcement operations, since Duterte assumed office last June 30. security officials claimed the more than 1,000 people who were killed by policemen resisted arrest. Duterte reminded policemen and solPAGE A2
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from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Gov. Brown expands overtime pay for farmworkers hUNDreDs of thousands of California’s agricultural workers are now guaranteed the same overtime pay as other workers in a historic move by Gov. Jerry Brown. on monday, september 12, the governor signed AB 1066, which will expand overtime pay for farmworkers, a workforce that had long been denied the same overtime pay as other industries. Previously, laws prohibited paying fav rmworkers overtime pay unless they work more than 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week. thanks to the passing of AB 1066, that threshold will be lowered by a half hour each year for four years starting 2019. this means that by 2022, farmworkers will be guaranteed overtime pay if they work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week — a standard in other industries, but a first in the state’s agricultural workforce. the bill was sponsored by the United farm Workers of America, which said that Brown’s passing of the bill was a victory after nearly 80 years of working for the rights of farmworkers. six years ago, then-Gov. Arnold schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill. PAGE A4
BOMBSHELLS Edgar Matobato, former militiaman and confessed member of Davao Death Squad, drops bombshells during his testimony at the Senate. Inquirer.
‘Duterte ordered us to kill’ Confessed hit man testifies in Senate by TARRA
Quismundo Inquirer.net
SENATE PROBE The Senate committee headed by Sen. Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of President Duterte, hears the testimony of Edgar Matobato, a confessed hit man from Davao City, as it continues to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs. Photo by Richard A.
PAL, Cebu Pacific ban use of LA County gun confiscation program Samsung Note 7 on flights inspired by slain Filipino postal worker by Rudy
sAnTos Philstar.com
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by eRic
mANILA, Philippines — Local carriers banned on tuesday, september 13, the use of samsung Galaxy Note 7 cellular phones during flights, following the lead of the U.s. federal Aviation Administration (fAA) against packing the phones into any checked-in luggage after reports emerged of the device exploding during or after charging. flag carrier Philippine Airlines and leading low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific PAGE A3
Fil-Am community leaders, activists outline consequences of not voting in U.S. election LoLIt Lledo and many other activists boycotted the 1986 snap elections that led to Philippine President ferdinand marcos’s ouster. they refused to campaign, vote or otherwise take part in what they viewed as a rigged system. In retrospect, she said the decision not to participate was detrimental to the Philippines in the long run. many of the people representing interests from the past regime that she had fought against eventually re-entered positions of prominence. “Because we did not participate we [activists] were left out when Cory was the president,” said Lledo, who now serves as the associate director for Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). “If you have a chance, you have to be a part of the political process.” resentment has characterized the 2016 U.s. presidential race. however, individu-
A CoNfesseD hit man from Davao City on thursday, sept. 15, pictured the President of the Philippines as a cold-blooded killer. edgar matobato, 57, a former militiaman, told the senate committee on justice and human rights that President Duterte, when he was still mayor of Davao City, ordered him and other members of a death squad to kill criminals and opponents in gangland-style assaults that left about 1,000 people dead. PAGE A2
AnThony licAs AJPress
AssAULt type rifles, handguns and even a submachine gun designed for concealment in a briefcase were among the weapons seized from people on probation and displayed in downtown Los Angeles on thursday, september 8. officers of the Los Angeles County Probation Department laid a wide assortment of weapons out in a conference room of the Kenneth hahn Administration building to showcase the efforts of the Developing Increased safety
through Arms recovery management (DIsArm) program. the illegally possessed items were found as the result of wellness and compliance checks on probationers conducted by various LA County law enforcement agencies. “since I initiated it in 2000, this program has removed nearly 11,000 guns from the streets,” L.A. County supervisor mike Antonovich told the Asian Journal after thursday’s press event. “this means we have saved a number of lives because the criminals don’t have PAGE A3
Imee Marcos: Please forgive my father by leilAnie
AdRiAno Inquirer.net
LAoAG CItY — Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee marcos pled forgiveness for the “sins” of her father, the late strongman ferdinand marcos, at the end of a three-day celebration of his 99th birthday in Batac City on sunday, sept. 11. “Whatever sins my father committed—he was, after all, human who made mistakes— I hope people absolve him. I hope that beyond all these
issues, they would find mercy because in forgiving my father, their anger would be sated and they too would find peace,” Imee said in filipino. she said the family had been hurt by the outrage triggered by the plan to bury marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani in taguig City. the plan was stopped by the supreme Court, which is hearing arguments on whether marcos deserves to be buried at the heroes’ cemetery. Imee thanked the people
who supported the marcos family all these years. “If not for you, the family would have broken down. We draw our strength, our stability and our love from you all,” she said. she described her father as a “simple member of the community who loved the Ilocano dish dinengdeng (vegetable stew), a man who loved to dance the tango, and a father who was indulgent, patient and always joking around.” GOLDEN STATUE. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos leads the “he belonged to the best wreath-laying ceremony at the golden statue of her father, the PAGE A3 late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, in Sarrat town, his birthplace.