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Vol. 5 No. 20
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Friday - Thursday, February 12 - 18, 2016
PHL’s raucous election season gets underway By Karl Malakunas
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 2/7/2016 − The Philippines’ raucous democracy cranks into top gear this week as campaigning begins for national elections, with familiar themes of corruption, dictatorship and celebrity star-power to dominate.
Commission on Election Chairman Andres Bautista demonstrates the function of a vote-counting machine (VCM), which will be used for the May 9 national and local elections, at a warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Thursday. The machines are currently undergoing Hardware Acceptance Test (HAT).(MNS photo)
Local mayor shot in pre-election ambush M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Sunday 2/7/2016 − A Philippine town mayor was shot and wounded in an ambush in the conflict-wracked south on Sunday, two days before the official campaign for general elections in May kick off, police said. A gunman riding a motorcycle opened fire on Mayor Jasper Que as he drove with his two bodyguards in the port city of Zamboanga at around 9 am, city police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Helen Galvez told AFP.
Que, who is not seeking reelection, is mayor of Bongao, a remote seaside town in Tawi-Tawi, an impoverished island chain on the country’s southernmost tip. A relative is running to succeed him, according to election records. Que, who suffered three gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and buttocks, is recovering in a Zamboanga hospital while his assailant escaped. It was not immediately clear if the attack was election-related, See AMBUSH, page 12
The three-month campaign launches Tuesday with most interest on a crowded contest to succeed President Benigno Aquino, who has won global applause for six years of strong economic growth and a bruising anti-graft campaign. There are myriad other subplots, including a bid by dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s son to take the vice presidency and eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s run for a Senate seat. The jailhouse campaigns of two politicians charged with murder who are running in local mayoral elections, as well as graft-tainted
ex-president Gloria Arroyo’s run for a third term as congresswoman while behind bars, fuel a sizzling political atmosphere of chaos and chicanery. There are four major contenders in the battle to move into the presidential palace and most analysts predict the deciding factors will − as usual − be name recognition and charisma rather than ideology or policy. “In the Philippines, elections are like a circus with the candidates trying to attract attention with their performances,” Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Manila-based See ELECTION, page 12
13 Filipino workers killed in Iraq hotel fire identified
MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − The 13 Filipino women workers who died in a hotel fire in Iraq have all been identified, the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad said Monday, as it clarified earlier reports that 14 Filipinas died in the incident. “Kahapon, natapos namin yung pag-identify ng mga remains nung ating mga sinawing palad ng mga kababayan. Right now, we’re in the process of notifying their next of See IRAQ FIRE, page 12
President Benigno Aquino III with PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma grace the ceremony of Manila Bulletin 116th anniversary, offered a toast along with Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio Yap III and President of Manila Hotel Joey Lina in celebration of the anniversary. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation (MB) was founded as the Daily Bulletin on February 2, 1900 for the purpose of engaging in the publishing business. (MNS photo)
Tsinoy community a ‘treasured 2 Pinoys among 5 seafarers held hostage part of nation’: Aquino MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − reaching as they are varied; your in Nigeria: report President Benigno Aquino III on unique culture has become part of
PAL-LAX Sales Manager Jemma Saranillo with her Team
PAL announces the launching of its non-stop LAX-Cebu flight on March 15 By Joy Marino
LOS ANGELES − Philippine Airlines is expanding its United States service with the launching of its non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Cebu, an executive of the Philippines’ national flag carrier announced. The launch of the flights between Cebu and Los Angeles coincides with the airline’s 75th founding anniversary on March 15, said Jemma Saranillo, PAL Los Angeles Sales Manager during the Roadshow Presentation held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles last Wednesday, February 3. According to Ms. Saranillo, PAL will utilize its 254-seater Airbus A340 for the Cebu-Los Angeles flights. The Airbus A340 is equipped with a 36-lie flat business seats and 218 economy-class seats. See PAL ANNOUNCES, page 12
MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) -Five crew members of an oil tanker − two of them Filipinos − are believed to be being held hostage by separatist rebels off Nigerian waters, according to a US News report over the weekend. The report, citing the Associated Press, said the rebels hijacked first the Greek-owned MT Leon Dias then took with them the crew members − the Filipino cap-
See HOSTAGE, page 12
Monday joined the Filipino-Chinese community in celebration the Lunar New Year, calling it “a treasured component of our nation.” In a message, Aquino wished Tsinoys “happiness, prosperity, and good health” for the coming year. Aquino highlighted the heritage of Chinese-Filipinos, which he said, “adds depth and vibrancy to our Republic’s history.” “Your contributions are as far
our collective identity as Filipinos,” he said. “Thus, the government is one with you in celebrating the Lunar New Year − one of the most significant events in the Chinese calendar. May this event enrich, highlight, and promote the qualities, values, and ideals that make your community a treasured component of our nation; may it embody the harmony and hope signaled by the See TSINOY, page 12
Two die while running PHL marathon M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Monday 2/8/2016 − Two men including a decorated military officer died while running a charity marathon in the Philippines, organizers said Monday. “We are devastated over the loss of our two brothers who ran for a Hero during the 8th Condura Skyway marathon last February 7,
2016,” the organizers said on their Facebook page. It said a 38-year-old and a 40-year-old military officer died during Sunday’s race in Manila but gave no cause of death. Army spokesman Colonel Benjamin Hao said Major Arnold Lubang collapsed just a kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the finish
line, adding that an autopsy indicated he died of cardiac arrest. “We were shocked when he collapsed. He ran a lot. He was into all kinds of sports. When he was into something, he really went to excel,” Hao told AFP. Lubang had previously won the army’s third highest honour See TWO DIE, page 12
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Rep. Roy Señeres dies
Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay while hearing Mass along with his children before Senate representatives arrived to arrest him at Makati City Hall last year. Mayor Binay was cited for contempt after failing to attend several hearings called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee regarding corruption issues in Makati. (MNS photo)
Court denies Trillanes’ petition to quash libel case filed by Junjun Binay MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -The Makati Regional Trial Court denied on Friday the petition of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to quash the libel case filed against him by dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Branch 142 of the Makati RTC also refused Trillanes’ petition to recall the warrant of arrest issued against the senator. Judge Dina Pestaño Teves said Trillanes has a pending
petition for review at the Department of Justice. Teves added Trillanes cannot be arrested as long as he posts bail as soon as he arrives in the Philippines from the US. Trillanes’ legal counsel gave the assurance that the senator will surrender and will post the P10,000 bail for the libel case. The case stemmed from a comment reportedly given by Trillanes that the young Binay bribed justices of the
Court of Appeals to get a temporary restraining order on the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Ombudsman in 2015. The arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 1 by the court after it found probable cause on the case filed against the senator. His lawyer on Monday said Trillanes is on an official trip abroad attending an international forum but will submit himself to court and face the libel raps. (MNS)
MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed its earlier ruling finding probable cause to file criminal charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and 22 others over the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati parking building. In a statement issued on Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that the respective motions for reconsideration filed by the younger Binay and the other respondents in
the complaint were denied by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales through a recently signed joint resolution. “In three separate Joint Orders approved on 3 February 2016, Ombudsman Morales affirmed the finding of probable cause against Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sr. and Mayor Binay Jr. for four counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019, six counts of Falsification of Public Documents, and one count each for Malversation for their involvement in the various phases of the con-
struction of the P2.2billion Makati carpark project from 2007 to 2013,” the Ombudsman said. (MNS)
Ombudsman upholds raps VP Binay, Junjun Binay, et al
MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres passed away Monday morning, his eldest son Roy Señeres Jr. said. The lawmaker died of cardiac arrest due to complications from diabetes at around 8 a.m. Señeres, 68, was to run for president under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka until he withdrew his candidacy last Friday for health reasons. He said he was suffering from diabetes. His son, Roy Jr. said that the lawmaker fought “a couple of times” for a few hours before passing away. “Kina-cardiac arrest na siya [ng] 2 or 3 in the morning, tapos lumaban siya,” Roy Jr. said. He added: “Hanggang the doctors were really trying their best to revive him. He fought a couple of times but in the morning hindi na niya kinaya.” Señeres’ lawyer, Candy Rivas, also confirmed the lawmaker’s death in a News To Go interview.
“Diabetes po ang kanyang sakit at medyo nagkaroon lang po ng komplikasyon. Kami ay umaasa na bumalik siya at umayos ang kanyang kalagayan. Ngunit, hindi po talaga natin...Maaring ito na talaga yung panahon,” Rivas said. Señeres’ campaign coordinator, Boston Sanchez, requested for prayers for the late legislator. “We’ve lost a good man in the passing away of former Ambassador and OFW Family party-list congressman Roy Señeres. Amba Roy has championed the fight to end contractualization. May we request for your prayers for his eternal repose,” he said in a text message. Señeres gained prominence for helping save distressed maid Sarah Balabagan from the death row in the United Arab Emirates in the mid-1990s. Señeres obtained his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas and proceeded to take up law at San Beda College. He started his govern-
ment career at the Department of Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Labor Relations, where he served as hearing officer I from 1972 to 1974. He rose through the ranks until he became assistant regional director of DOLE’s Metro Manila office in 1977. In 1990, he was appointed labor attaché in Washington, DC and served until 1993 before he was designated as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in 1994. He held his post in the Middle East until 1998. From 2000 to 2005, Señeres served as chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission. The first-term party-list lawmaker had vowed to fight for workers’ rights and end contractualization should he win as president. He said one of his priorities as president would be making all contractual workers in the country permanent employees until they reach the age of 65. (MNS)
Palace extends condolences to Señeres family MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − Malacañang on Monday offered its condolences to the kin of OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres, who died of cardiac arrest due to complications from diabetes. In a statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. recognized Señeres’ contributions to the labor sector, having served
as chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission from 2000 to 2005. “Nakikiramay kami sa kanyang pamilya. Siya ay nagtaguyod sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa bilang tagapangulo ng NLRC at nang itinalaga siya sa Gitnang Silangan bilang ambassador,” Coloma said. The late lawmaker was appointed labor attaché in
Washington, DC in 1990 and served there until 1993. He was then designated as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in 1994. He held his post in the Middle East until 1998. Señeres, 68, was to run for president under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka until he withdrew his candidacy last Friday for health reasons. (MNS)
VACC files complaint vs. ex-PNP chief Purisima over Mamasapano incident MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Friday filed a criminal complaint against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima over the bloody Mamasapano incident last year. In a seven-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, the VACC, led by its chairman Dante Jimenez and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, said Purisima should be investigated for the crime of usurpation of official functions as defined under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). The complaint stemmed from Purisima’s alleged participation in the planning and implementation of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) operation in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015 dubbed as Oplan Exodus. “This is in connection with his [Purisima] participation in the operation despite being suspended at that time,” Topacio said. The operation was aimed to neutralize three high-profile terrorists, including Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan. At the time, Purisima was under preventive suspension by the Ombudsman in connection with a graft complaint, which stemmed from an alleged anomalous contract the PNP entered into with a courier company. “Respondent is guilty of usurping official functions. He could not have legally participated in the planning and execution of the Oplan Exodus while under preventive suspension,” the complaint read. “Due to his preventive suspension, he could not legally exercise the functions of his former office. Therefore, the act of respondent Purisima in relation to Oplan Exodus constitute usurpation of official functions punishable under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code,” it added.
The VACC said two acts of Purisima constitute the crime. First was his alleged participation in the briefing about Oplan Exodus held in Malacañang on Jan. 9, 2015 and his exchange of text messages to President Benigno Aquino III and some military officials during the actual implementation of the operation on Jan. 25, 2015. “According to the Senate Mamasapano Report, Respondent admitted bringing former director of SAF Getulio Napeñas to the President in Bahay Pangarap on Jan. 9, 2015 and confirmed that he advised Napeñas to keep the mission strictly between them and not to inform OICPNP Espina and DILG Mar Roxas,” the complaint read. “In the early morning of 25 Jan. 2015, while respondent was in Nueva Ecija, he sent an SMS to the President that Marwan was already taken down by SAF Commandos … At the same time, respondent requested for reinforcements for the SAF troopers from CSAFP (chief of staff of AFP) [Gen. Gregorio] Catapang and [WESMINCOM Lt. Gen. Rustico] Guerrero,” it added. Purisima has repeatedly denied the allegation. In the re-opening of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident last week, Purisima maintained that he just acted as a “facilitator” during a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III about the operation. The infamous meeting was held between Purisima, Aquino, then SAF head Getulio Napeñas and PNP Intelligence Group Director Senior Superintendent Fernando Mendez at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang on January 9, 2015. It was after the said meeting that Purisima allegedly “advised” Napeñas not to tell or inform then-acting PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and then-Interior Secretary Mar Roxas about the operation. “Ito ay hinain namin dito sa Ombudsman dahil
naniniwala kami na kahit suspended siya nun as chief PNP ay inutusan pa rin siya ni Presidente Aquino para gamitin ang posisyon niya para dito sa operation ng paghuli kay Marwan,” Jimenez said after the filing of the complaint. “Ito po ay usurpation of functions. Hindi na po siya chief PNP pero siya ay nagbibigay pa ng direct order kay General Napeñas na dapat ay ang utos ay manggaling kay General Espina dahil siya na po ang acting chief PNP noon,” Jimenez added. The January 25 Mamasapano encounter between the PNP-SAF, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), left 44 SAF troopers, 18 MILF members, and five civilians dead. Purisima, Napeñas and nine other PNP officials are already facing an investigation before the Ombudsman for a graft complaint also in connection with the Mamasapano incident. Meanwhile, Jimenez maintained that Aquino should also be held liable over the incident for supposedly allowing Purisima to get involved in the SAF operation. He said a legal team in the VACC is already drafting more complaints against Aquino and Purisima, among them is for alleged reckless imprudence resulting to homicide. “Sa July 1, 2016 ay isasama na po namin si Aquino rito [sa filing of complaint] dahil sa ginawa nilang injustice sa ating mga kapulisan…We will be filing series of complaints against them,” Jimenez said. (MNS)
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Roxas on Duterte: ‘Yan ang number 1 fan ko MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- For hurling repeated criticisms against him, administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appears to be his “number one fan.” Roxas said Duterte, his friend-turned-foe, has focused his campaign on targeting his character. “’Yan ang number 1 fan ko eh. Wala na siyang nakita kung hindi si Mar Roxas,” he said. “Kami, [ang] pinag-uusapan namin saan kayo dadalhin,” Roxas added, touting how he plans to continue the “Daang Matuwid” program of President Benigno Aquino III, his fellow Liberal Party member. Duterte had claimed that
Roxas had a nervous breakdown as Interior Secretary during Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013. The worst storm ever to make landfall, Yolanda hit the country on November 8, 2013, affecting over 1.4 million families and killing around 6,300 people. “Mar Roxas got the scare of his life during Yolanda,” Duterte said. “I was there on Day Two. Si Mar nagka-breakdown.” “I was there. I was talking to him. Nag-momonologue siya,” he said. “He was not acting like a person who was in charge of a disaster (relief operation), giving commands or critical orders.” That same day, Roxas hit back at Duterte. “Ay siguro naman itong si kaibigan
nating si Rody ay nagiging saling-pusa na naman na kung saan ay naghahanap ng paraan upang makabalik sa pagiging kabahagi ng usapin.” Roxas’ allies also belied Duterte’s claim. Daang Matuwid coalition spokesperson and Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said that Roxas’ actions during Yolanda were well-documented and were “far more believable” than Duterte’s statements. Roxas and Duterte have been in a heated exchange of words since late last year after they both announced their intentions to run for president. The war of words even escalated into “sampalan threats” where they both threatened to slap each other. (MNS)
Comelec exec raises chance of poll postponement in some areas MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − A member of the Commission on Elections has raised the possibility of some areas having the 2016 elections at a date later than May 9. Commissioner Christian Robert Lim made the remark following delays in the poll body’s preparations for the national and local elections. “Ang problema kasi nakatali lahat ‘yan. Let’s say marami pa kaming mga problema, at let’s say May 7 na nagko-configure pa rin kami ng machines. Kung hindi umabot sa area [’yung machines by May 9], hindi ka magkakaroon ng eleksyon,” Lim said. Asked if there is a possibility for the elections to be moved as a whole, Lim— who heads the Comelec’s steering committee— said, “Depende.” “Kung, let’s say, 50 percent of the entire area is not ready for May 9, then you may have to look into postponing, kasi that’s major. Pero let’s say 5 percent lang ang affected, then why will you postpone the 95 percent?” Lim said. The poll body and technology provider Smartmatic-TMI are re-doing the process for the final trusted build or code for the Election Management System (EMS), after a problem in transmission was found in the Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS).
The EMS generates the design of the ballot. Moreover, the printing of ballots has been postponed several times. Moving date ‘not allowed’ Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, the chairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Elections, said the date of the elections is “constitutionally fixed” and cannot be moved as a whole. “Hindi po, kaya nga talagang dapat sikapin ng Comelec na hindi mangyari ‘yun.... Moving the date of the elections is some areas can be done, but for grave and unavoidable reasons dapat,” Pimentel told reporters. “Nangyari na ‘yan in the past elections—kahit ready ang Comelec, tapos may nangyaring pagsabog sa isang lugar, napo-postpone. Allowed po ‘yun. But not the date of the elections, that cannot be moved,” he added. Pimentel said that Congress cannot interfere with the said provision in the constitution. “The Congress can intervene by providing more funds if Comelec should request for more funds. That’s all we can do as of the moment,” Pimentel said. “If there is a provision of law that needs to be interpreted by joint resolution, then Congress can help by clarifying the interpretation of the law. That’s all we can do, but we cannot move
the date of the elections,” he added. Pimentel said Comelec has the option to call for partial manual elections, as provided by law. “From what I have seen, Comelec will be ready with automated elections on May 9,2016. Ang tanong na lang is kung mako-cover ‘yung buong bansa. Let us pray na ma-cover ‘yung buong bansa para maiwasan ‘yung additional problems,” Pimentel said. “This time, ‘yung problems ay political na in nature kasi ‘yung mga natatalo o maghahabol, magsasabi na nadaya sila,” he added. Pimentel said he was “disappointed” that Comelec did not have enough early preparations for the polls. He said that the Comelec’s four-week buffer has been reduced to two weeks. “It’s worrisome, a very short period of time, because anything can happen... They’re still compiling the source codes now and building the program. Who knows if there will be a bug that will be discovered? In the printing of ballots, who knows that maybe, they will encounter a problem with the printers?” Pimentel said. “I am disappointed na ang dami nilang na-encounter na delays. With anticipation and foresight, sana na-foresee na nila,” he added.(MNS)
Valte goes on leave as Palace spokesperson to do campaign work for Roxas MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte has filed a leave of absence from Malacañang to campaign for former Interior Sec. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who is running for president under the administration banner. “I’ve been on leave since January 9,” Valte said in a text message. “I am in charge of coordinating Communications-related assignments. More support staff work than campaigning.” On her Facebook account, Valte called out United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesperson Mon Ilagan for asking her to file a resignation so she may continue to openly campaign for Roxas. UNA is fielding Vice President Jejomar Binay as its presidential candidate in the May national elections. “Hahaha! This is rich, coming from the camp that has been campaigning for the last five and a half years while holding on to their positions in government,”
said Valte. “In true UNA fashion, they have taken a public interest issue such as censorship and twisted it to suit their needs, completely sidestepping the question of whether it is legal or not. Sabagay, why am I even surprised?” she added. In a statement last week, Ilagan said Valte was acting like a spokesperson for the LP rather than for Malacañang. “Baka naman mali na ang pagkakaintindi ni Ms. Valte sa trabaho niya. Hindi siya spokesperson ng Liberal Party kundi spokesperson ng Palasyo. If she’s still confused as to her job description after all these years, then it might be time she considers resigning,” he said. Ilagan’s remarks stemmed from Valte’s comments about a provision in Comelec Resolution No. 10049, which she said effectively censors public officials from posting their political views on social media.
“Since she is clearly distressed by the Comelec rule, perhaps campaigning is more her thing. If so, then she and her cohorts must resign and spare the Filipino people from their undue advertising of the LP candidates,” Ilagan suggested. (MNS)
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Vice President Jejomar Binay as he walks among his supporters at the Makati City hall when people gathered at the city hall grounds to show their support for the older Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, who was removed from his post and was suspended by the Ombudsman. (MNS photo)
Roxas on ads vs. VP Binay: Bakit ko gagastusan ‘yan? MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- Administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday denied that his camp was behind the negative advertisements against his fellow presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay. “Bakit ko gagastusan ‘yan? Eh hirap na nga ako gastusan ‘yung mga ads ko,” Roxas said. The camp of Vice President and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Binay earlier accused Roxas and the Liberal Party of being behind the ads
where an elderly man was asking Binay to explain the corruption allegations against him. However, on Tuesday, LP distanced itself from the issue, saying it would rather spend its money on its own candidates. Roxas said records would show that Binay’s expenditures for television advertisements are more than his. In contrast, Binay’s camp, through a text message of his spokesperson Joey Salgado said: “Report on political ad spending by AC Nielsen from Jan
to December 2015 shows Mar Roxas is biggest ad spender. Poe: P694,603,000; Binay: P695,555,000; Roxas: P774,192,000; Duterte: P129,599,000.” Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, LP political affairs chief, there was nothing new on being dragged into the issue about the anti-Binay ads. Roxas and Binay have been fierce political rivals since the 2010 vice-presidential elections. Binay received 14,084,879 votes against Roxas’ 13,440,127 votes. (MNS)
VP Binay-Honasan tandem will bank on their track records MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − The tandem of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Gringo Honasan will bank on their track records to convince the people to vote for them in the May 2016 elections. “Ako at si Vice President (Binay) may track record. Dapat naipakita mo na ‘yan dahil (noon) pa, ‘yung track record namin naipakita na,” Honasan said. Binay and Honasan are running as presidential and vice presidential bets respectively of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), a coalition between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas
ng Bayan (PDP Laban) and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). “’Yung track record hindi pwedeng tapatan ‘yan ng pangako during the 90 days of campaign,” Honasan said, adding that the accusations hurled against them should be heard before the courts. “’Yung kaso, sa korte ‘yan,” the senator said, referring to allegations of corruption against Binay and “pork barrel” scam against himself. In June last year, the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee recommended the filing of plunder charges against Binay; his son Junjun, for-
mer Makati Mayor, as well as 10 others because of the alleged conspiracy to inflate the price of construction of Makati City Hall Building II. The subcommittee claimed that the overpricing ranged from P1.124 billion to P1.389 billion — an act that constitutes plunder. On the other hand, Honasan and eight other lawmakers faced graft raps in 2015 for allegedly allocating their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF, commonly known as “pork barrel”) to fund fake foundations allegedly owned by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
6 names each in Comelec certified lists for president, VP MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- Six names each will likely make it in the ballot for the May polls which the Commission on Elections will start printing next week. The following names will be included for president: Vice President Jejomar Binay Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Sen. Grace Poe former Interior Sec. Mar
Roxas party-list Rep. Roy Señeres. The list has been narrowed down after the Supreme Court junked the appeal filed by independent candidate Dante Valencia, who was initially included in the eight names released for verification. Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s Romel “Mel” Mendoza also withdrew his candidacy. Poe stays on the list with a standing temporary
restraining order on two Comelec en banc rulings that upheld the cancellation of her candidacy. Oral arguments are ongoing for her case, with the fourth one scheduled next Tuesday. Meanwhile, four petitions against Duterte’s candidacy were dismissed by the Comelec First Division on Thursday. Petitioners have five days upon receipt of the decision to file their motion for reconsideration.
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30 years after EDSA, Gringo thinks ‘system’ still the same MANILA, Feb 8 (Mabuhay) − Sen. Gringo Honasan, one of the key figures in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, said on Monday that the system and the problems that existed 30 years ago remain the same. In a radio interview, Honasan said: “Bago na ang mga personalidad pero ang sistema, yung improvement sa system, nakakaligtaan natin.” “Ang mga problema natin, patingkad na naman ng patingkad, yung gutom, yung kawalan ng pabahay, yung basic services,” Honasan said. In 1986, Honasan was one of the military colonels who attempted to overthrow the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. The soldiers were backed by then-Philippine Constabulary and later Philippine President Fidel Ramos as well as then-Defense Secretary and now Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. When the coup plot was uncovered, millions of civilians stepped up to provide protection to Enrile, Honasan, and the revolutionaries from February 22 to 25, 1986. The Philippines was praised all over the world for this bloodless revolution that ended when the Marcos family decided to leave the country and seek refuge in Hawaii. Corazon Aquino, the widow of assassinated Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., was then catapulted into power. Asked if he thinks the principles he fought for during the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 have already been achieved, Honasan said, “Kahit na kami noon, batid namin na hindi magiging madali [makamit ito].” “Thirty years after, patuloy pa rin tayo sa pagsisikap na baguhin ang sistema,” he said.
Mar: Leni won’t be a spare tire in my administration MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) − Administration presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, won’t be his “spare tire” if they both win in the May elections. Roxas said, “Malaki ang magiging papel ni Leni Robredo. Itinuturing ko siyang full partner, hindi spare tire, hindi ‘yung parang nag-aantay lang.” “May kakayahan siya, may mako-contribute siya at siya ay magiging action person,” Roxas added. Roxas and Robredo are both running under the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Robredo is the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash on August 18, 2012. Roxas was the one who succeeded Jesse as Interior Secretary in 2012 and held the post until he resigned in 2015 to focus on his presidential campaign. Roxas said Robredo, a lawyer by profession, does not want to be tied up with administrative work if she wins the vice presidency. “Sabi niya sakin, kung sakaling manalo tayo, hindi niya nais na yung humawak ng burukrasya kasi mauubos ang oras sa kakapirma ng mga papeles, yung sa mga administrative,” he said. Robredo said she wants to pursue regional development if elected vice president. As a congresswoman of Camarines Sur, Robredo spends three days a week making unannounced visits to barangays in her district. Robredo said she prefers making unannounced visits as barangay leaders tend to make a fuss when they are expecting an official visit from her. Robredo and her husband Jesse are known for their simplicity. Jesse was extolled for his “tsinelas leadership,” as he would show up for work in slippers especially as he went around flood-stricken areas in the country. He was the first Filipino local official to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, said to be the Asian equivalent of the Nobel prize. (MNS)
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Roxas: Why would Enrile use Mamasapano against me? MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) − Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday reiterated that he had no role in the Mamasapano operation following Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile’s statement that he will use the issue against him. “Senator Enrile is a senator of the land. He can do and say whatever he wants. Malinaw naman sa mga hearing, sa dami ng pagdinig ng Kamara at Senado, malinaw na itinago sa amin itong operasyon nato. Wala namang nag-refute nito,” Roxas said in an ambush interview. “Sabihin ko lang, kayo nadinig niyo ‘yun eh. Nakita niyo ‘yun eh. Isn’t it incumbent na bakit ko kailangan mag-respond doon eh kayo mismo ni minsan, in fact, inulit doon na itinago itong operasyon na ito,” Roxas said. “So anong gagamitin niya sa akin na...eh itinago nga eh, ‘diba?” he added. During the congressional hearings, Roxas said
he was kept out of the loop during the planning for the Mamasapano operation. On Thursday, Enrile said the incompetence shown during the bloody January 25 Mamaspano incident will be a topic to be raised by the opposition during the campaign. Enrile said this after Senate President Franklin Drilon said that corruption will be an election issue. “I will use Mamasapano as katapat. They use corruption, maliwanag ’yung Mamasapano e,” said Enrile. Last week, Enrile spearheaded the reopening of the probe of the incident that killed at least 60 people, including 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force. After nearly seven hours, however, the hearing did not provide any new information that would have altered the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ report last year. (MNS)
At least 2,297 journalists killed since 1990: IFJ Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Wednesday 2/3/2016 − At least 2,297 journalists and media workers have been killed in the last 25 years, with Iraq ranking as the most deadly country, the International Federation of Journalists said Wednesday. Journalists lost their lives in targeted killings, bomb attacks, in the cross-fire and kidnappings in wars and armed conflicts across the globe while others were killed by organised crime barons and corrupt officials, the IFJ said. Some 112 journalists and media professionals were killed last year alone, although the peak year was 155 killings in 2006, it said. “At least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed since 1990,” the report said. With just one out of 10 killings investigated, the IFJ said failure to end the impunity for killings and other attacks on media professionals only fuels the violence against them. “This milestone publication charts the trajectory of safety crisis in journalism and bears witness to the IFJ’s long running campaign to end impunity for violence against media professionals,” IFJ President Jim Boumelha said in a statement. “These annual reports were more than just about
recording the killings of colleagues,” Boumelha said. “They also represented our tribute for their courage and the ultimate sacrifice paid by journalists in their thousands who lost their lives fulfilling the role to inform and empower the public,” he added. The following countries accounted for the highest numbers of killings: Iraq (309), the Philippines (146), Mexico (120), Pakistan (115), Russian Federation (109), Algeria (106), India (95), Somalia (75), Syria (67) and Brazil (62). In 2015, ten journalists and staff died in France when jihadists attacked the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, meaning France shared the top spot with Iraq and Yemen last year for media killings. Since 1990, the Asia Pacific region registered the highest death toll at 571, followed by the Middle East with 473 killings, the Americas at 472, Africa at 424, and Europe with 357 dead. The IFJ called on government officials, security and military officers and others who deal with them to respect their independence. It urged “governments to comply with their international obligations by investigating journalists’ killings and bringing those responsible to justice, thus deterring future violence.”
Inflation down to 1.3% in January: NEDA MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) − Inflation was pulled down to 1.3 percent in January owing to the slower price adjustments in both food and non-food items, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Friday. The latest number noted a decrease from the 2.4 percent in January 2015 and a slight slowdown from the 1.5 percent the previous month, as inflation for the food subgroup decreased following the stabilization of prices of fish, fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs. “Good weather conditions at the onset of 2016 allowed prices of these food items to stabilize. This was an improvement from the previous month when Typhoon Nona pushed up prices due to hampered production, transport, and delivery of agricultural products in the affected areas,” newly-appointed Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel F. Esguerra said in an emailed statement. January’s inflation figure was also in line with the central bank’s forecasted inflation range of 0.8 to 1.6 percent, exactly the same as the median forecast. In terms of non-food items, inflation likewise showed a deceleration across all commodity groups, with transport having the biggest change. “Domestic prices of petrol—gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, and gasoline—continued to go down. This was still due to persistent global oversupply and record stockpile of crude oil
which weakened prices of Dubai oil, Brean, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI),” Esguerra said. The month of January also saw a price reduction in electricity on the back of lower generation costs. Core inflation, on the other hand, eased to 1.8 percent in January from the 2.1 percent in December. This excludes price sensitive food and energy items. Despite this, NEDA noted the continued risk of higher food prices brought about by waning farm output. “While it is noted that El Niño will gradually weaken beginning next month, the onset of the summer season may constrain farm output,” Esguerra said. According to Esguerra, the government has already concerted its efforts to mitigate this under the Roadmap for Addressing the Impact of El Niño (RAIN) and avoid supply disruptions. “Such developments could adversely affect overseas Filipino workers as the governments of the said economies implement austerity measures, cut back on subsidies, postpone infrastructure outlays, and raise taxes,” he said. “The government should actively extend assistance to displaced workers, including re-training, livelihood, re-integration or placement services,” he added. Consumer prices rose at an average of 1.4 percent for 2015, with full-year core inflation registered at 2.0 percent. (MNS)
Caregivers must be paid overtime compensation Under California law most caregivers must be paid overtime compensation when working 24-hour shifts. With the increase in California’s minimum wage to $10 an hour on January 1, 2016, that means a 24-hour caregiver must be paid $315 a day to comply with the current law. Many caregivers are working under a day rate or monthly salary. A day rate or monthly salary does not compensate for the overtime hours worked and results in a substantial unpaid overtime claim for the employee. Oftentimes, employers attempt to avoid liability by claiming the caregiver is an “independent contractor.” In most circumstances, this argument will fail as typically employers maintain significant control over the caregiver such that that California law will find the caregiver to be an employee. This change in the overtime rules for caregivers became effective on January 1, 2014, when the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (DWBR) became law in the State of California. Previously, employees who qualified as “personal attendants,” including caregivers, nannies and babysitters who worked in private households, were exempt from overtime. The DWBR eliminated the overtime exemption for personal attendants and provides that personal attendants, “shall not be employed more than nine hours in any workday or more than 45 hours in any workweek unless the employee receives one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours worked over nine hours in any workday and for all hours worked more than 45 hours in the workweek.” So now caregivers, nannies and babysitters (with
limited exceptions) must be paid overtime compensation. Under Labor Code § 1194, domestic workers are not only able to recover their unpaid overtime in a civil action, but they also may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. California law also provides interest and penalties for workers who are not properly paid overtime compensation. If you are working as a caregiver who is not paid overtime when working more than nine hours a day or 45 hours a week, you should consult with an attorney to discuss your rights under this law. With all the penalties, interest and attorneys fees allowed, claims often exceed $100,000 for 24-hour employees working just over 1 year. Article written by Daniel Chaleff, Employment Law Attorney of Chaleff Rehwald. Mr. Chaleff has been practicing employment law for over 21 years. For free and confidential consultation call (818) 8074168.
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How much Vilma Santos earned for first acting role Veteran actress Vilma Santos, who has been in the industry since she was nine, explained the reason she turned down an offer to do a “tell-all” book. The 62-year-old Santos teased: “Ino-offer sa akin na gawin libro ang buhay ko. Pero sabi ko hindi puwedeng ‘tell-all.’ Kasi may mga sekreto ako na hindi niyo pa puwedeng malaman.” Santos, the star of Star Cinema’s newest offering “Everything About Her,” also talked about the things she would willingly share on her book should she write one. The “Star for All Seasons” said that she would begin her book, which she gave
Vilma Santos
the tile of “Abstract,” writing about how her parents raised her before segueing into a story on her first acting job. “Alam ng lahat na nine pa lang ako nagtratrabaho na ako, na ang suweldo ko para sa una kong pelikula ay 100 pesos, at nagkakaroon ako ng stage show ay ang bayad sa akin ay trenta pesos. ...Dinaanan ko lahat iyon,” she said. Santos further said that she would then talk about the various milestones of her career − her first dramatic role, the first time she took on a more liberated film, and her experience working with celebrated directors. (MNS)
Jed more than just a voice MANILA, Feb 5 (Mabuhay) -- For Jed Madela, there is more to singing than just having a beautiful voice. He believes a true artist bares his heart and soul with every performance. This is why, after being in the business for over a decade now, the 38-year-old singer continues to learn and improve his craft. “I’m always open to new things. Hindi ako ’yung tipong, ‘Eto na ’ko eh. Eto na ’yung Jed Madela na style eh.’ No, I’m not like that,” he said. Jed gained greater prominence after becoming the first Filipino to win the Grand Champion Performer of the World title at The World championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in 2005. Known for his wide vocal range, Jed is one of the industry’s best singers because of his skill and the fact that he is a performer who puts a high premium on
Jed Madela
audience satisfaction. “It’s more of giving them an experience na when they leave the concert venue they’ll bring a part of you with them,” he added. “Walang maliit na show, lahat malaking show. Kahit na three minutes lang na kanta ’yan, worth ng time nila ’yung performance na ’yun.” Another secret to Jed’s
success is never letting fame get to his head, and this attitude is what keeps him grounded. “Whenever I go around, I’m still the same person (I was)11 years ago. I’m very simple compared to the guy you see on TV,” he said. However, it’s not like Jed doesn’t know how to enjoy the perks of a career in the limelight. There is, after all, joy in performing in front of an audience and receiving applause for a job well done. And while he makes good money from what he loves to do, you can never really put a price tag on making a connection with fans and listeners. Still, he is acutely aware of its drawbacks – from little to no privacy, to not having a lot of time for one’s self or family. “It can also be really nice but sometimes it’s a curse. It’s both positive and negative, it’s just a matter of
Second chance for Ellen, Ejay? It seems that Ellen Adarna is open to giving Ejay Falcon a second chance, months after putting her “Pasion de Amor” co-star in the friend zone. In a press conference, Adarna was asked why her friendship with Falcon did not blossom into a romantic relationship. But instead of answering the question, the actress said: “Wala pa, wait lang. It’s not the end yet.” “May one month pa kami,” she added in jest. Their show is now down to its last four weeks. In the press conference, Adarna finally confirmed that Falcon indeed courted her, contrary to initial reports that they just went out together. “Yes,” she said, drawing loud cheers from members of the press. Falcon agreed as he shared why he thought the
Ellen Adarna and Ejay Falcon
courtship did not work out. “Kasi noong mga panahon na ‘yon siguro mas pinili na lang naming mag-focus muna kami sa trabaho,” he said. When asked if she will entertain Falcon as a suitor again, Adarna said: “Open, pero not now. Hindi nga ako nagdi-date. I’m not really
sure what I want.” It was August last year when Falcon admitted that he is going out with Adarna. The two also went to the 2015 Star Magic Ball together, but not without controversy. By October, Falcon said he has accepted the fact that he and Adarna are just friends.(MNS)
Arron Villaflor shares real score with Yen Santos Actor Arron Villaflor finally talked about the real score between him and his “All of Me” co-star, Yen Santos. In an interview on Friday, Villaflor admitted that he and Santos reached the point of being “more than friends.” But he was quick to add that they never became a couple. “Naging sweet-sweetan kami. Umabot doon. Not officially na naging kami pero
more than friends,” he said. In the end, however, the two decided to stay as friends. Villaflor said he respects Santos’ decision to prioritize her family. “I guess mas priority niya ang family, binanggit niya sa akin. Ako rin naman hindi nagmamadali, nandito lang naman ako,” he said. “Nirespeto ko ‘yong sinabi niya sa akin... Sabi ko sige, dahil busy din ako sa trabaho, busy ako sa family ko.” “Kasi mahirap ituloy ang
plano na hindi handa sa isa’t isa or ‘yung isa handa pero ‘yung isa hindi. It’s not going to work,” he added. “Nandito lang ako, ayaw ko namang mangulit sa kanya.” In an interview in August last year, Santos confirmed that Villaflor is courting her. “All of Me” aired its final episode last January 29. After “All of Me,” Villaflor will be part of the upcoming film “Gregorio del Pilar” starring Paulo Avelino. (MNS)
how you handle it,” he said. While being a public figure entails some sacrifice, Jed doesn’t see himself giving it up any time soon. “Music will always be a part of me. I cannot imagine myself without music. I see myself get older in this industry,” he said. More importantly, he added, “Feeling ko marami pa ’kong maa-achieve, feeling ko marami pa ’kong matutulungan na mga striving artists.” (MNS)
Rufa Mae Quinto
Rufa Mae Quinto gets engaged to non-showbiz boyfriend Sexy comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto got engaged to non-showbiz boyfriend Trev Magallanes in San Francisco, California. The couple took to image-sharing application Instagram to share the exciting news to friends and family. “Thanks for coming and welcoming me to your family... Todo na to guys!!! Happy engagement party,” Quinto
wrote. She added: “Thanks my new family for the love and support, for hosting, for throwing a wonderful, amazing, happy, lovely engagement dinner party. Can’t say much coz I’m so overwhelmed.” The couple’s families were both present during the engagement dinner arranged by Magallanes. (MNS)
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The Godiva Valentine’s Day Collection
GODIVA is encouraging its customers to share their love and create lasting memories this Valentine’s Day with the following new and unique collection of products created especially for the holiday: Coupes d’amour Collection: With whimsical packaging designed by French artist Charlotte Gastaut, the Coupes d’amour chocolates are little “cups of love,” with flavors including ganache and caramel layered in milk, white or dark chocolate Valentine’s Day Keepsake Heart: Wrapped in sumptuous red satin, the 2016 Keepsake Heart contains iconic heart-shaped chocolates, spectacular seasonal truffles, and classic GODIVA pieces Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries: Juicy, ripe strawberries dipped in milk or dark chocolate, freshly made and hand-packed in a gold gift box. Available for same day delivery through select local GODIVA boutiques Valentine’s Day Ballotin: An outstanding assortment of milk, dark, and white chocolates with classic fillings, presented in the iconic GODIVA gold gift box tied with lux red ribbon All products from the limited edition GODIVA Valentine’s Day collection are now available at your local GODIVA store and on GODIVA.com until Feb. 14, or while supplies last. Visit http://www. godiva.com/seasonal-collection for more information
All products from the limited edition GODIVA Valentine’s Day collection are now available at your local GODIVA store and on GODIVA.com until Feb. 14, or while supplies last. Visit godiva.com/seasonal-collection for more information and for store locations.
and for store locations. About GODIVA Chocolatier With a Belgian heritage dating back to 1926, GODIVA Chocolatier is the global leader in premium chocolate. Inspired by the values of Lady Godiva – her passion, generosity, and pioneering spirit -- GODIVA’s legendary name has become a universal symbol of luxury, quality and the most delicious chocolate. The company has a presence in more than 80 countries with over 500 boutiques, in addition to a presence in Global Travel Retail, department and specialty
stores, and online. GODIVA offers a range of chocolate creations and is dedicated to innovation and excellence in the Belgian tradition. From its famous truffles and shell-molded chocolate pieces to its European-style biscuits, individually wrapped chocolates, gourmet coffees, hot cocoa and other indulgences, GODIVA is committed to bringing the ultimate chocolate experience to the world. For media inquiries or for more information, please contact Jen Ju, IW Group, Inc. at jennifer.ju@ iwgroupinc.com or (310)2895564.
As metallic balloon outages soar SCE urges customers to secure them this Valentine’s Day ROSEMEAD, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016 — Records might be made to be broken, but Southern California Edison just experienced onethat it never wants to come close to again. SCE saw an all-time high 924 power outages caused by free-floating metallic balloons last year, far surpassing its previous high of 714 in 2012. With Valentine’s Day near, SCE strongly urges its customers to make sure their balloons are always tied to a weight — as required by California law — and to never release them outdoors because of the thousands of customers left without power when the metallic balloons float into power lines and other electrical equipment. Serious injuries and property damage can occur when the balloon contact is severe enough to bring down power lines — which happened 96 times last year for SCE. Anyone who sees a downed line or dangling wire — even if it appears not to be live — should not touch or approach it or anything in contact with it and call 911 immediately. “Metallic balloons look harmless, but there’s no way to overstate how dangerous they can be when released outside,” said Paul Jeske, SCE’s director of Cor-
porate Health and Safety. “Merchants should always ensure that balloons are property weighted and remind their customers to never release them outdoors.” To illustrate the spike in balloon outages that typically begins in February and peaks in June, they rose 82 percent last year from January (33) to February (60), peaking with an all-time monthly high of 152 in June. To prevent outages and
injuries, SCE recommends some other safety tips for handling metallic balloons: — Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon — or any foreign object — tangled in power lines or inside a substation. Instead, callSCE at 800-611-1911 and report the problem. — Never tie a metallic balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon contacts electricity, such as the service drop to a home, it can travel through the balloon and into the child, causing serious injury or death. — Never attach streamers to any balloon — latex or metallic. — When done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to prevent them from floating away. More on metallic balloon safety can be found at on.sce.com/staysafe. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
200 years in prison for OC man convicted of mortgage fraud SANTA ANA, California – A federal jury today convicted an Orange County man for leading a “builder bailout” real estate scheme that resulted in the fraudulent purchase of more than 100 condominium units around the country with mortgages that mostly went into default, resulting in foreclosures and millions of dollars in losses. Momoud Aref Abaji, 34, of Huntington Beach, was convicted this afternoon in United States District Court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and two counts of tax evasion. Five of Abaji’s co-conspirators have already been convicted, and one, Wajieh Tbakhi, remains a fugitive. “Abaji’s fraud cost these financial institutions millions of dollars and put taxpayer funds at risk,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the public fisc from this type of fraud.” Abaji and his co-conspirators operated the scheme through Excel
Investments and related companies in Santa Ana and then Irvine. In the scheme, Abaji and his co-conspirators identified condominium developments in which the developers were struggling to sell units and then arranged with the developers to purchase the units in return for large commissions. The developers benefitted by making it appear that their condos were selling and maintaining their value, while Abaji and his co-conspirators benefitted from the hefty commissions that they received, which were concealed from the mortgage lenders. The defendants recruited a number of straw buyers to purchase the properties as “investors,” and ensured that they qualified for financing by filing false loan applications on their behalf. Abaji and his co-conspirators negotiated with condominium developers in California, Florida and Arizona to purchase condominium units in exchange for a hefty commission, which they often misleadingly referred to as “marketing fees” and
did not disclose to the lenders. The defendants bought units for themselves, their relatives, and on behalf of “investors” with good credit scores who served as “straw buyers.” They recruited the straw buyers by presenting the scheme as an investment opportunity that required no down payment and would generate income through rental payments. To obtain mortgages for the properties, Abaji and his co-conspirators prepared loan applications with false information about the straw buyers – inventing fake employment, income and assets for these individuals to qualify them for loans. They also submitted fabricated and altered W2 forms, pay stubs and bank statements in support of those applications, and they concealed the huge commissions from mortgage lenders by submitting false and misleading purchase and sale agreements and fake HUD-1 settlement statements. Based on these false statements, mortgage lenders funded more than $21 million in loans
‘Document mill’ operator that produced fake IDs nabbed LOS ANGELES – A Porter Ranch man who allegedly operated a “document mill” in Sylmar that produced fake IDs – including the credentials used to access secure areas of the Port of Los Angeles – has been arrested on federal charges of illegally manufacturing the counterfeit documents. Brian Allen Dunmore, 54, was arrested Wednesday by special agents with the United States Coast Guard Investigative Services (CGIS), which is involved in an ongoing investigation into document mills that manufacture fraudulent identification, such as Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWICs), which are needed to access secure areas of the Port of Los Angeles. Dunmore was arrested pur-
suant to a criminal complaint filed on Monday that charges him with one count of unlawfully possessing and producing an authentication feature. At his initial appearanceWednesday afternoon in United States District Court, Dunmore was ordered detained (held without bond), in part because he is a previously convicted felon who had a cache of firearms at his Porter Ranch residence. “Our national security depends in part upon our ability to restrict access to sensitive areas, including significant transportation hubs such as the Port of Los Angeles,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Here, false identification documents were given to unauthorized individuals by a person who also illegally possessed an arsenal of high-powered weapons, making this
crime extremely serious.” Special agents with CGIS yesterday arrested a second man allegedly involved in the trafficking of counterfeit documents. A man charged in a second criminal complaint under the name Ricardo Gama-Diaz, also known as “Coy,” appeared in federal court yesterday afternoon and said his true name was Ricardo Rios-Gama. Rios-Gama, 51, who resides in South Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with producing a false identification document. An affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that Rios-Gama sold undercover agents counterfeit identification documents – including bogus TWICs, California driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and “Green Cards” – on three occasions.
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Knowing Joross Gamboa The actor. He understands deeply the role. An abusive husband, a transgender, a confidant, a romantic. That’s just a few of the interesting and wildly diverse characters that award-winning actor Joross Gamboa has taken on. But what will really surprise you is the man. Embracing his job as an actor makes him grounded. He loves his work. He is a craftsman in the entertainment industry, and he enjoys his chosen work. Joross relishes every role, every project for the satisfaction that his work brings to him. What does it mean for an
actor to have a tough role? Sometimes an actor has to really stretch to pull you in to a feeling or a situation that you never imagined yourself being close to. A tough role means difficult for an actor, not for the audience. It’s supposed to be easy for the actor to ask the impossible of the audience. It’s a very rare talent who can do that. Usually writers won’t take the chance and they’ll surround a difficult
acting job with lots of supporting talent. Very rarely can an actor do the impossible all on his own, and Joross delivers that. He can connect with his viewers far from anything in their lives and is very convincing. Joross showed his versatility as an actor with captivating roles in movies like “I love you. Thank you.”, “Intoy Syokoy Ng Kalye Marino”, “My Amnesia Girl” and“Suddenly It’s Magic”. His television appearances in “Maalaala Mo Kaya”, “My Fair Lady”, “Ipaglaban Mo”, and “Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang”, among others has delighted his audiences. He’s deep, mysterious, and always in character. Joross has been the goto-guy for an astonishing variety of character roles in Philippine entertainment. He has the ability to transport his audience from reality to fiction which is in contrast to how grounded he is in real life. Career path. He started his acting career in 2004 as a commercial model when he was 19 years old. Being in the industry for more than a decade, he appears ageless. Perhaps that’s just a part of his chameleon nature. Joross spends a lot of time and effort developing different parts of his craft. This passion is keeping him young. He has been exploring scriptwriting and directing. He takes visual approach to things, “Pag nakatanggap ako ng script, my imagination goes wild,” he explains. That is what I saw when I watched Joross as a transgender bestie in a recent Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. His character couldn’t be more different than the home body that I know him
Visit www.usasianpost.com to be. How does he keep the balance between his two worlds? “Huwag kang magpakain sa system,” he seriously says. Then he continues, “I look at it as work. Nagtatrabaho ako para mabuhay.” He sounded determined and focused on what is important, but it is not easy. My prediction is that he will be the rare case. He will manage the balance, his family and his work life. From what I have seen he’s got the passion and the dedication to pull it off. As a family man. I met Joross in a writer’s workshop last summer in Manila. He struck me as a low key, funny, quick-witted young man. He’s a very interesting character. I knew he is an actor but he did not have the arrogance of a showbiz personality. His down-to-earth persona is endearing. When I asked him to tell me more about himself, he offered to show me the video of his wedding. This was for me a revealing moment. His first instinct when wanting to express what he is really all about, was to show me his wedding video. This is a man in love. “Hindi lang siya maganda pero matalino pa siya,” he happily narrates. Then endearingly continues, “Noong na -meet ko siya, I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anybody else.” His non-showbiz wife, Katz, gives a funny and quite amusing account of their first meeting. Her first impression was that he is insensitive. Katz did not even know he’s an actor. She recalls, “I did not think of a possible second date,” and with a childlike tone she says, “On our first movie date he did not even share his popcorn.” That first impression gave way to the warm and won-
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Katz and Joross with their baby Jace Kyler
Joross and Katz
derful man who stole her heart. As she got to know him better they fell in love and got married. Joross has a busy and very active family life, not just with his wife but with his parents and his extended family. “I am lucky to have the support of family and friends to be able to do something when I’m not working on a project,” he explains. His dedication to his family and his faith has kept him far from the usual party scene
common in this profession. Recently, Joross is inspired and excited about the new phase in his life. It’s fatherhood. He’s a proud father of 4-month-old Jace Kyler. Joross took time off from his busy schedule to spend time with his newborn. Changing diapers, helping with his feeding, and being as involved as he possibly could. His family values strengthens and support his artistic values. We need more like him in the industry.
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A good book can change your life according to new research Friday February 5 2016 (Relaxnews) − New research out of the UK has found yet another benefit of picking up a good book, with avid readers likely to feel satisfied with their lives. The study, conducted by the University of Liverpool’s Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society (CRILS), found that reading has many more benefits than simply being good entertainment, with those who read reporting better connections with others and greater feelings of happiness within themselves and with their life overall. The study also found that books can have the power to encourage us to make life changing decisions, with 27% of people reporting that a book has inspired them to make a change such as look for a new job, or end a bad relationship. Thirty-six percent said it was a book that inspired them to travel, and 19% said a book that inspired them to take up a new hobby. And not only did 38% say a book is their favorite way to relax and reduce stress, compared to 31% who choose a glass of wine and 10% who choose a hot bath, but a book has also inspired readers to take better care of their well-being in general, with a fifth saying they started
to take better care of their health thanks to a book. And although they might not be real, our favorite literary characters can also be an inspiration to us, with flawed and more “real” characters such as Bridget Jones showing us that it is ok to make mistakes, and helping us feel better about ourselves. Commenting on the results Dr Josie Billington, who headed up the study said: “35% of respondents in our research reported that they would like to spend more time reading, but cite using their phones or watching television as frequent distractions: no wonder there is concern that reading is at risk of becoming a forgotten pleasure. The positive effects that reading can have on society are widely documented and what has been made abundantly clear by this research is that books can help us to enjoy the little things in life, and be happier in ourselves; a useful and timely reminder for all of us to draw on the many benefits that only reading can deliver.” Top 5 most inspiring literary characters from best-selling novels Most inspirational characters for women: 1. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
2. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series) 3. Harry Potter (Harry Potter series) 4. Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones’ Diary series) 5. Anna Fitzgerald (My Sister’s Keeper) Most inspirational characters for men: 1. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) 2. Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings series) 3. Harry Potter (Harry Potter series) 4. Robert Langdon (Da Vinci Code / Angels and Demons) 5. Amir (The Kite Runner) / Pi Patel (Life of Pi) The study was commissioned by Galaxy chocolate on behalf of Quick Reads, a reading program that produces short books by wellknown authors designed for those lacking the time or confidence to read.
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New research has found yet another benefit of picking up a good book, with avid readers likely to feel satisfied with their lives.©Goodluz/shutterstock.com
Behavioral factors linked to half of postmenopausal breast cancer cases, study finds Friday February 5 2016 (Relaxnews) − A French study carried out at the Insistut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif and published in the International Journal of Cancer has found that half of postmenopausal breast cancer cases can be attributed to behavioral factors such as poor diet, alcohol consumption and being overweight. The research showed that more than half (53.5%) of breast cancer cases diagnosed after menopause could have been avoided through changes in behavior at this stage of life. Postmenopausal women could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 50% by eating a healthy, balanced diet, limiting alcohol to one glass per day and maintaining a healthy weight (a body mass index equal to or lower than 25kg/ sq m), a new study has found. A team of researchers from Inserm − France’s public institute of health and medical research − found that these so-called “behavioral” risk factors contributed to the development of breast cancer after menopause. In other words, women could considerably reduce their chances of developing the disease by
Over half of breast cancer cases (53.5%) diagnosed after the menopause could be avoided though appropriate changes in behavior.©Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com
making suitable lifestyle choices during this stage of life. Other risk factors include hormone replacement therapies (HRT) used after menopause. However, the scientists pointed out that HRT drugs are now much less widely used and that their composition has changed since they were first introduced. The study followed 67,634 French women aged 42 to 72 years old for 15 years. During that time, 497 women were diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause and 3,138 were diagnosed with breast cancer after menopause. “Before menopause, breast cancer cases are
61.2% attributable to non-behavioral risk factors and only 39.9% attributable to behavioral factors. Statistically, cases of breast cancer diagnosed before menopause cannot be attributed to any behavioral factor taken in isolation,” said Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, research director at Inserm. However, she adds, “after menopause, more than half (53.5%) of cancer diagnoses could have been avoided through appropriately modified behavior.” The findings suggest that preventing the kind of behavior associated with increased risk could lead to a reduction in the number of breast cancer diagnoses in postmenopausal women.
Not getting enough sleep? You’re probably on Facebook says new study Friday February 5 2016 (Relaxnews) − In a recent study by the University of California, Irvine, researchers found that a lack of sleep is linked to a higher level of online browsing, including checking social media websites such as Facebook. Wanting to look at how sleep duration could affect internet use, rather than how internet use affects sleep, the team recruited 76 UCI students and monitored them for a one-week period. Using logging software the team could monitor participants’ computers and smartphones to see how often they spoke on the phone, texted, or used applications. Sensors were used to measure their behavior, activities, and levels of stress. Participants were also asked to complete a survey every morning reporting on their sleep and to complete an end-of-day survey at night. The students also had to complete a general questionnaire and take part in an interview. The researchers collected further data by asking participants during the week about their mood, the level of engagement in their
In a recent study by the University of California, Irvine, researchers found that a lack of sleep is linked to a higher level of online browsing. ©ymgerman/Shutterstock
work, and how difficult they were finding the task they were currently working on. The study also looked into the idea of “sleep debt,” the accumulated difference between the amount of sleep needed and the amount experienced. After taking into account factors such as gender, age, university work load, and course deadlines, the results showed a direct connection between a chronic lack of sleep, a cranky mood, lower productivity, and also more time spent checking Facebook. The researchers also found that not enough sleep leads people to be more easily distracted, with their attention flicking between different computer screens and apps. “When you get less
sleep, you’re more prone to distraction,” said lead researcher Gloria Mark, “If you’re being distracted, what do you do? You go to Facebook. It’s lightweight, it’s easy, and you’re tired.” The study’s findings will be presented at CHI, a leading computer-human interaction conference in May in San Jose, California. The effect of technology on quality of sleep has been shown in many previous studies, with a study published last month in the Journal of Child Neurologyfinding that teenagers who continue to text at night after they have switched out the lights experience poorer sleep and poorer grades than those who text with the lights on. The study found once the lights go out, the “blue light” emitted from smartphones and tablets is intensified in the dark, delaying the release of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy, and disrupting our sleep patterns and quality. Blue light can affect the release of melatonin and our sleep even if it is emitted from the phone when eyelids are closed.
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MOTORING Say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SayĹ?naraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to Scion Wednesday February 3 2016 (Relaxnews) â&#x2C6;&#x2019; After 12 years and over 1 million vehicle sales, Toyota is dropping its youth-focused US brand and will be incorporating its existing models back into the fold. Just as Lexus was created as a brand focused on luxury without any of the positive or negative connotations associated with Toyota, Scionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raison dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;etre was to win the hearts and minds of younger drivers through offering cars that were exciting, simple, or simply more fun than a
The Scion tC Sports CoupÊ. ŠScion
Corolla or Prius. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scion has allowed us to fast track ideas that would have been challenging to test through the Toyota network,â&#x20AC;? said Jim Lentz, founding vice president of Scion and now CEO, Toyota Motor North America. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was there when we established Scion and our goal was to make Toyota and our dealers stronger by learning how to better attract and engage young customers. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very proud because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what we have accomplished.â&#x20AC;? To find a younger average
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2009 HONDA ACCORD EX-L NAVI WAS $13,491
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2013 HONDA ACCORD WAS $17,791
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2008 HONDA CIVIC WAS $11,091
2011 NISSAN LEAF WAS $11,491
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2014 FORD FOCUS SE WAS $14,091
NOW
$12,591
(92090/EL306311)
2013 HONDA CR-V WAS $20,091
NOW
$18,591 (92080/DG706296)
NOW
$9,991
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2013 HONDA FIT
Stk/VIN (26083/015845) Model RL5H3GEW Starting at $34,255. $5,419 due at lease signing plus destination, tax, title & tags. 36 month lease, 12k miles/yr. 36 miles with $0.15 per excess mile. No security deposit required. On approved above average credit through American Honda Financial Services.
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$10,951 (26314A/D6231318)
2011 LEXUS HS 250H HYBRID
WAS $14,998
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$13,498 (92011/DC078526)
2013 SCION FR-S WAS $21,991
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$20,491
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STK/VIN (26569/517965, 26574/517962) Model RM3H3FEW
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customer, one would need to look to exotic marquees like Porsche, Ferrari or Bentley to compare with Scion. A typical Scion owner is 36 years old and with the tC sports coupĂŠ, that drops to 29, the lowest average age in the US market. However, times are changing and now that Scion has convinced a new generation of car owners that Toyotas are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that coolness is set to be assimilated into the brand proper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a step backward for Scion; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a leap forward for Toyota,â&#x20AC;? said Lentz. In practical terms, what it means is that from August, the Scion FR-S, iA, iM and the new C-HR will be re-badged as core Toyota models and will be staying in production. However, production of the tC sports coupĂŠ will also be phased out at the same timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the 2016 model will be the last. As for existing owners, getting a Scion serviced or maintained will not be affected. They can be taken to any Toyota dealershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s service department. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scion has had some amazing products over the years and our current vehicles are packed with premium features at value prices,â&#x20AC;? said Andrew Gilleland, Scion vice president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a great run and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud that the spirit of Scion will live on through the knowledge and products soon to be available through the Toyota network.â&#x20AC;?
WAS $15,484
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2012 HONDA CIVIC EX-L WAS $15,498
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2012 MAZDA CX-9 GRAND TOURING
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Tuesday February 2 2016 (Chicago, United StatesAFP) - A massive snowstorm took a bite out of US auto sales last month, but the industry looked set to post one of its best Januarys on record, results showed Tuesday. Edmunds.com forecast that total industry sales would reach an annualized pace of 17.5 million vehicles in January once all automakers have reported results. That would be down about 30 percent from December but only a 0.5 percent dip from a year ago, according to the projection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many brands had their best January sales ever, suggesting the new-car party will continue into the new year,â&#x20AC;? said Karl Brauer, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With transaction prices still rising, incentive levels holding steady, and minimal auto loan defaults, the health of the market remains high while demand for new cars shows no sign of slowing.â&#x20AC;? General Motors, the largest US automaker, delivered 203,745 cars and trucks in the month, up a bare 0.5 percent from a year ago, while Ford sales fell 2.6 percent to 173,723 units. FCA US, the US arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, turned in a better month, with an overall gain of 6.9 percent to 155,037 units. Toyota sales fell 4.7 percent to 161,283 vehicles, but the Japanese automaker noted that in addition to the massive winter storm which shuttered dealerships along the East Coast there were also two fewer selling days compared with January 2015.
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KITCHENOMICS
Day Boat Cod with Melted Tomatoes and Shaved Fennel and Orange Salad
FAMILY FEATURES
I
t may sound contrary to your healthy eating plan, but the human body actually needs some types of fat for heart and brain health. One common source is cooking oil, such as olive oil. Of the cooking oils most commonly used in North America, such as olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil and various vegetable oils, olive oil contains the most monounsaturated fat, which is widely recognized for its potential role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. In fact, beginning in 2016, olive oils will display the American Heart Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heart Check-Mark* to alert consumers about olive oilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart-healthy benefits. Experience the distinctive tastes of different varieties of olive oil in these delicious dishes and find more hearthealthy recipes at AboutOliveOil.org.
Vegetable Frittata with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes Serves: 6 6 large eggs 1 tablespoon water 2 tablespoons Parmesan Reggiano, grated, plus additional for garnish 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 2 teaspoons shallots, small diced 1 cup russet potatoes, peeled, small diced, boiled until tender, drained and chilled 1 roasted red pepper, peeled, deseeded and diced 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon basil, chopped 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup cremini mushrooms, sliced salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup fontina cheese Lemon, Basil and Garlic Roasted Asparagus (recipe below) Roasted Tomatoes (recipe below) Beat eggs with water, then beat Parmesan into egg mixture and reserve. Combine garlic, shallots, potato, pepper, parsley and basil, and set aside. Heat extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch non-stick saute pan over high heat. Add mushrooms and saute until they start to brown. Reduce heat to medium and add reserved vegetable mixture. Saute for about 1 1/2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add additional olive oil, if needed, then add reserved egg mixture to hot saute pan. Cook 2-3 minutes until egg cooks and sets on bottom. Transfer saute pan to broiler and broil until light and fluffy, and almost totally set, about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle fontina cheese on top of frittata and place back under broiler until melted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove to cutting board and cut into six triangle servings. Place one serving in center of plate. Garnish each portion with four stalks of Lemon, Basil and Garlic Roasted Asparagus and two wedges of Roasted Tomato. Sprinkle each portion with Parmesan.
Lemon, Basil and Garlic Roasted Asparagus 3 1 1 24 1/4
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Peppers Serves: 6-8 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed, cut in half and outside leaves removed 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 6 medium garlic cloves, chopped 3 tablespoons basil, chopped 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped salt and pepper, to taste 2 red sweet peppers, large diced 2 yellow sweet peppers, large diced 1 cup balsamic vinegar, reduced to light syrup Heat oven to 375 F. Combine Brussels sprouts with all ingredients except peppers and balsamic syrup. Toss Brussels sprout mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to sheet pan and roast in oven for 15 minutes. Stir sweet peppers into mixture and roast 5-10 minutes more. Remove from oven and place on serving platter. Drizzle with balsamic syrup and serve immediately.
tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves, finely sliced lemon, zested large garlic clove, minced large asparagus stalks (snap bottoms of individual stalks) cup extra-virgin olive oil salt and pepper, to taste Heat oven to 400 F. Combine parsley, lemon zest and garlic. Set aside. Place asparagus on sheet pan in one layer and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley mixture and place back in oven for 3-5 minutes.
Roasted Tomatoes 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 6 large Roma tomatoes, quartered 3 fresh thyme leaves 1/2 garlic clove, minced sugar, to taste salt and pepper, to taste Heat oven to 400 F. Combine all ingredients in bowl and transfer to sheet pan lined with baking paper. Roast for about 20 minutes, or until done. *Heart-Check Certification does not apply to recipes.
Serves: 4 olive oil salt and pepper, to taste 4 cod filets (6 ounces each) Olive Oil Melted Tomatoes (recipe below) Orange, Fennel and Olive Oil Salad (recipe below) 4 lemons, cut into eighths Heat oven to 400 F. Heat medium sized saute pan on high. Add olive oil and heat. Salt and pepper cod. Add cod to hot oil and sear very hard on one side, until fish is golden brown and crisp. Transfer cod to baking sheet that has been brushed with olive oil. Place cod in oven until it starts to flake, about 12 minutes. Remove cod from oven and keep warm. Using spoon, portion Olive Oil Melted Tomatoes onto four large dinner plates. Allow some flavored oil to puddle on plate. Carefully transfer cod on top of warm tomatoes. Then top cod with Orange, Fennel and Olive Oil Salad. Squeeze lemon wedge over entire plate.
Olive Oil Melted Tomatoes 8 large Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and cut in half salt and pepper, to taste 6 basil leaves, shredded 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped 1 lemon, zested 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin extra-virgin olive oil Heat oven to 325 F. Place tomatoes in 9-inch cake pan and season to taste with salt and pepper. Scatter herbs, lemon zest and garlic on top of tomatoes. Drizzle tomatoes with extra-virgin olive oil, which should come up about three-quarters of the way on tomatoes. Cover with foil and bake until tomatoes are tender, approximately 40 minutes.
Orange, Shaved Fennel and Olive Oil Salad 1/2 large fennel bulb, sliced thin on mandolin 2 medium oranges, rind and seeds removed, cut into slices 1/2 medium lemon, juice only 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped salt and pepper, to taste Combine all ingredients and gently toss just before garnishing cod.
11
12
TSINOY turn of the year,” Aquino added. “The strong, resilient, and vibrant country that we are today is powered by our multifaceted milieu. Let us rejoice in the stable environment that has
allowed us to harness this multiplicity of talents and perspectives towards our resurgence, and continue to foster it as a foundation of a truly progressive and inclusive Philippines for all of our people.”
HOSTAGE From page 1
tain and third engineer, the Russian chief engineer and electrician, and a fitter from Georgia. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is still “awaiting official confirmation” from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja regarding the report. The rebels were reportedly espousing an independent state of Biafra in southeast Nigeria. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in the world. A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of
the world’s 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks. Piracy and ransom kidnappings of Filipino sailors have long been a problem for the Philippine government as it lacks the capacity to monitor their movements when at sea. As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors. (MNS)
ELECTION Institute for Political and Economic Reform, told AFP. “Programmes and policies are secondary... it’s a personality contest.” Aquino won in a landslide six years ago largely due to the popularity of his parents, who led the democracy movement that saw Marcos flee into US exile in 1986. Aquino, 56, is still relatively popular but the constitution limits him to a single term. His preferred successor is US-educated investment banker Mar Roxas, a trusted ally with many years governing experience who is vowing to continue the pair’s “straight path” agenda of steady reforms and fighting graft.
But Roxas, 58, is trailing in polls and analysts say he has a huge task to ignite an electorate that generally perceives him as having little charisma. “He is dry, he can’t connect to ordinary people,” Parreno said. Charismatic campaigner In contrast is Jejomar Binay, 73, a natural campaigner who grew up in poverty but rose to become one of the nation’s most powerful politicians. Binay heads the main opposition party and is the current vice president—the nation’s two top posts are elected separately in the Philippines—but he has had to endure a barrage of corruption allegations.
THE US ASIAN POST
PAL ANNOUNCES
7 Marines hurt in Sulu blast
This new direct flight from Los Angeles to Cebu will provide travellers to either Visayas or Mindanao the convenience of having to travel without stopping in Manila. Cebu is a short stop to any point in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as to Palawan. No less than Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim endorsed Philippine Airlines. “PAL is the best carrier if you are travelling to the Philippines,” he said, citing the many advantages of taking PAL’s non-stop flights to the Philippines. While Philippine Airlines expects strong traffic from Filipino travelers and balikbayans for the Los Angeles-Cebu flight, the Philippine Department of Tourism sees this development as a great opportunity to further promote Cebu as a tourist destination. Rowena Montecillo, Director of DOT-Region 7, in power point presentation highlighted the many tour destinations and tourism products that are available in Cebu, including diving, nature tourism, sun and beach, cultural tourism, Sinulog festival, health and wellness tourism, shopping and leisure, and MICE events. The Roadshow Presentation was jointly hosted by Philippine Airlines and the
MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) -- Seven Marines were wounded following an improvised explosive device explosion in Talipao, Sulu early Thursday morning, a regional military commander said. Citing field reports, Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said around 6:50 a.m., a convoy of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10’s 30th Marine Company was hit by a roadside blast in Barangay Lagtoh. The seven Marines suffered minor wounds due to stones and debris from the explosion, Arrojado said. At the time of the blast, the Marines were on their way to Barangay Kuhaw. A separate military report said an explosives ord-
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Philippine Department of Tourism and was supported by local tour operators and travel agencies from the Philippines who flew in to the US with PAL and DOT delegation. The event in Los Angeles was the third leg in the fourcity PAL-DOT Roadshow Presentation that includes Las Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco. The Roadshow Presentation in Los Angeles was attended by travel agents and tour operators as well as members of the media. Prizes were raffled off including the major prize of one PAL business class round trip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila to Cebu that comes with a 3 days/2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast at Shangri-la at the Fort, 4 days/3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast for two at Shangri-la Mactan Resort & Spa, 3 days/2 nights at Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa for two persons with Bohol countryside tour with lunch for 2 persons (courtesy of Travelite Travel & Tours).
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AMBUSH From page 1
Galvez said. The mayor is a member of President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party. Elections in one of Southeast Asia’s most chaotic democracies are routinely marred by violence due to intense political rivalries. In 2010, 179 people were killed or injured in election-related attacks.
No election-related violent incidents have so far been recorded ahead of the May vote. The official campaign for national positions including president and members of parliament will start on Tuesday while campaigning for local executive positions will start in March.
nance disposal team was dispatched to the blast site. Another IED was detonated not far from the blast site. The wounded Marines were later airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. (MNS)
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TWO DIE From page 1
for bravery in combat, he added. The Condura marathon is a popular annual event
which raises money for various causes. This year, it was raising funds for children of slain soldiers.
IRAQ FIRE From page 1
kin,” charge d’affaires Elmer Cato said. The Filipinas were among the 21 killed in a fire that struck the Capitol Hotel in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan autonomous region on Saturday. Cato said the regional government of Kurdistan mistakenly identified one of the fatalities as a Filipina. “Nung dumating kami nung Saturday at binilang namin yung mga remains na nandoon, 13 lang and in-explain nila sa amin na yung isang biktima ay akala nilang Pilipino ay hindi pala...Tinanggal na nila sa listahan kaya naging 13,” he said. The envoy said they hope to fly the remains to the
Philippines as soon as possible. “Sa normal process, it would take dalawang linggo bago maiuwi pero sa palagay namin, dahil sa assurance ng regional government ay mapapaaga natin yung pag-repatriate ng remains,” he said. The Philippine government has placed most of Iraq under Alert Level 4, which calls for mandatory repatriation. Kurdistan, however, remains only under Alert Level 1 due to a more “stable security situation.” “Yung Kurdistan ay host sa pinakamaraming mga OFWs sa Iraq. Estimate natin is 2,000 Filipinos siguro, 1,500 ay nasa Kurdistan region,” Cato said.(MNS)