ing that the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) fi rst-in-the-nation Of- fi ce of Gun Violence Prevention will provide centralized support from the DOJ for partners to implement strate- gic and innovative programs to reduce gun violence. Page

AG Bonta...

(From page 1)

California has long been a national leader in e ectively preventing gun violence with one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country but still fi rearms were the leading cause of death for children in the United States in making gun violence a true public health crisis that re uires immediate and proactive attention.

At the same time, Bonta outlined the new offi ce, announced a nationwide search for its fi rst director, and launched a new webpage to provide the public with information about the offi ce and resources for learning about California’s work and strategies to further reduce gun violence.

“This moment of crisis demands more than thoughts and prayers we need action now, said Attorney General ob Bonta. “That is why as California Attorney General, I am doubling down on California’s gun safety e orts I am defending our commonsense gun safety laws in court and cracking down on the surge of untraceable ghost guns. I am proud to lead a team of special agents that remove fi rearms from the hands of dangerous individuals as we continue working together to put an end to this crisis once and for all. Bonta’s wife Assemblymember Mia said she believes that gun violence is a national crisis, a state crisis, a local crisis, and a public health crisis.

“ ach gun violence tragedy sits heavy in my heart. I mourn with the families of the victims and wonder, what it will take to fi nally end this gun violence epidemic. The establishment of the Offi ce of Gun Violence Prevention is a testament to the Attorney General also recognizing the need to elevate this matter statewide to identify comprehensive and e ective solutions, Mia Bonta said.

Gi ords Law Center ecutive Director Laura Cutilletta echoes the need for a more coordinated e pert leadership in California and a statewide resource dedicated to breaking down silos across di erent agencies and borders, cutting through red tape, and helping communities implement new resources to stop gun violence.

“In , , Californians died from gun violence. While we have some of the strongest gun laws in the country, this number is unacceptable, and there remains much work that needs to be done to save lives, said Cutilletta. “Throughout his time in offi ce, Attorney General Bonta has been a steadfast partner of Gi ords Law Center and a champion for gun safety as we applaud him for establishing the Offi ce of Gun Violence Prevention and we look forward to working closely with the offi ce to e plore the public health solutions to our gun violence epidemic that we know work to save lives.

“It takes the hood to save the hood, said udy Corpuz Jr., ilipino American ounder and ecutive Director of United Playaz.

The Offi ce of Gun Violence Prevention’s (OGVP) mission is to reduce and prevent gun violence, fi rearm in ury, and related trauma and will support DOJ’s ongoing gun violence reduction e orts led by the Bureau of irearms and DOJ’s litigation sections including the Department’s seizure of fi rearms from dangerous individuals using the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS), prosecution of fi rearms traffi cking cases, and defense of California’s commonsense gun laws.

OGVP will also e amine a broad range of factors from fi rearm availability to e ective resources for crisis prevention to reduce the harm caused by fi rearms and make Californians healthier and safer and aims to reduce gun violence by promoting research and data collection, increasing awareness about e ective legal and policy strategies, and collaborating with federal, state, and local partners.

Gun violence remains a growing threat to public safety throughout the nation. On average, there are over gun deaths each day and nearly , each year in the U.S. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents with U.S. children being more likely to die from gun violence than in any other comparable country.

In , California saw a 7 lower gun death rate than the national average. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California’s gun death rate was the th lowest in the nation, with . gun deaths per , people compared to .7 deaths per , nationally, .6 in Mississippi, .7 in Oklahoma, and . in Te as. California’s gun death rate for children is also lower than other states, and is lower than the national average.

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EDITORIAL

Get the mastermind, not the gunman

The assassination of popul ar radio commentator Percy Lapid – real name Percival Mabasa -- last week was a crime that stunned not just the nation, but the world.

A good number of global leaders expr essed shock and indignation that such a high-profi le ournalist could be killed in a busy street while on his way to record his next podc ast.

The unspoken warning was clear: appr ehend, charge and convict whoever was behind the crime, or the Philippines’ reputation as a place that is now welcoming foreign investors with open arms will be ruined.

It is therefore an absolute must that the authorities solve this case soonest.

Lapid may have been a controversial fi gure given his two-fi sted verbal assaults on those in government who are accused or suspected of serious malfeasance.

Indeed, the previous Duterte administration was a favorite target of his, and he had also started to take potshots at the current regime.

But he did not limit himself to training his verbal shots at the top government offi cials. Lapid also spoke out against any and every government agency or offi cial whose actions he found suspicious.

He, therefore, made a lot of enemies, any one of whom could have ordered his publ ic execution.

Thus far, the reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunman has gone up f rom an Initial P50 0, 000 t o triple that amount.

The Department of Interior and Local Government has also shown a photo of the suspected gunman taken by CCTV, and Secretary Benhur Abalos has warned him to surrender immediately for his own good.

Abalos is correct in stating that the gunm an’s life was now in danger because whoever ordered the hit will not want him to be captured and made to talk.

Especially where very pow erful people are concerned, ordering the killing of the killer is not uncommon as the mere mention of his (or her) name will be costly not just to the mastermind’s reputation, but will most likely lead to the authorities making doubly certain that he (or she) is charged. or now, it would be unfair to point an accusing fi nger at the top offi cials who were targeted by Lapid’s angry if righteous outbursts, as what has been happe ning in social media.

The Marcos administration must insure that justice is served, otherwise the Philippines will continue to have a reputation as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to practice their profession.

It should be noted that on the same week that Lapid was killed, yet another broadcaster was violently beaten up by four goons just outside his place of work. The attack happe ned in Iloilo City, where a police station was less than a mile away.

Luckily, the broadcaster survived and has been given police protection as the case is being investigated.

Lapid’s case is much di erent. He was a national fi gure and his voice was silenced with absolute fi nality.

It is not just justice for the 63- year-old Lapid that his family is crying for. His millions of followers demand it.

We joint that plea: Do not let the mastermind ge t away with murder.

5 FilAm Mayors, Vice Mayors in Bay Area vie for re-election

Part 3 & Conclusion

ast week, we recappe d the highlights of South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales and Vice Mayor lor Nicolas’ fi rst term. This series premiered with a review of the accomplishments and motivation of fi rst-time Daly City Mayor od Daus-Magbual and his mentor Vice Mayor ay Buenaventura. The series conclude s with a focus on longest-serving elected FilAm Council Member in California. Colma Vice Mayor Joanne del osario is the senior- Upside most elected FilAm, having been thrust into public service in 2006. Despite having no expe rience in the politi- CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO cal arena, she became the fi rst ilipino woman elected in her town and the fi rst ilAm female to hold the title Mayor in all 9 Counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Del osario attributes her success to the values instilled by her family and her collaborative nature.

“As a Council Member, I am only one of 5 who make decisions for the City. I do not consider what the Town has accomplished as personal achievements,” she tells Inqui rer.net, citing the pandemic that compelled the city leadership to be strong.” She reports that 10 big businesses including 3 new car dealerships, restaurants and a dialysis center have opened up since 2020. Existing enterprises found “creative ways” to keep operating outdoors. The ecreation Department partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide food deliveries to older residents, veterans and families with children.

In intense deliberations amid the fraught situation, she followed her instincts.

“It’s certainly challenging when you have to make those tough decisions, but you have to do what is best for the greater good. If people do not agree, it might take a little more communication and educ ation to see and better unde rstand the issues,” she drew from her older brother, former PH oreign Sec. Albert del osario’s, advice to “always be magnanimous.”

Colma may be among the smallest towns in the state with its popul ation of about , . It takes a few votes to win, but it also takes as few to lose, as Del osario learned w hen she defeated two incumbents in her debut campaign.

Her colleagues elevated the fulltime executive assistant at a biotech company to Vice Mayor again last month in the passing of her peer ae Gonzalez.

Del osario did not realize the historic signifi cance of her earliest mayoral turn until a friend pointed it out. Having broken the “glass ceiling,” she said she hoped to “encourage ilipina Americans to run for offi ce knowing it can be done, and support each other.”

The New ork-born, Manila-raised leader fully recognizes her transformation and her duty to use her position to reach out to those in her former shoes.

“Beyond offi cial duties, public offi cials have a responsibility to go beyond borders and reach out in ways that a ect not only your specifi c community, but a much (C ont inue d on page 24)

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Crossing the line

One could just imagine the hatred of Lorraine Badoy against the communists and the people who are suspected to support the rebel movement.

She would not hesitate to cross the line and threaten anybody, including a judge, who dismissed a court petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), as terrorist organizations.

The former spokeswoman of the National Task Force to nd Local Communist Armed Confl ict (NT - LCAC) has “redtagged” almost everyone from celebrities, politicians, lawyers, community organizers, to journalists, linking them to the rebel movement without any evidence.

Her actions are far worse than what the Americans had experienced in the 1950s when US senator Joseph McCarthy made unfounded accusations of treason and subversion related to socialism and communism against many people, particularly those in the entertainment industry.

In the Philippines, it is quite understandable for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to hate the communists. They have been fi ghting the rebels, who wanted to overthrow the government, for more than half a century. Many of their comrade-inarms were killed in the battlefi eld or were assassinated in urban centers.

Even before Congress passed an anti-terrorism law in 2020, the military has been labeling NPA guerrillas as “communist terrorists in offi cial reports as early as in the elder Marcos’s regime. Lately, the military added the word “group” to identify the NPA rebels as a “communist terrorist group or CTG.

But it was a puzzle why civilians like Badoy have become rabid anti-communists. Did she su er a harrowing e perience under the communists? Was she a victim of a rebel atrocity or was anyone in her family a victim of the NPA’s unjust actions?

The former president, Rodrigo Duterte, was a self-confessed socialist who trumpeted himself in 6 as the fi rst socialist leader of the country. He was supported by the communists in the election. He even appointed several left-leaning personalities to his cabinet.

A year into offi ce, he abandoned his left-leaning friends, purged them from his government and vowed to crush the communists with the help of the military. Overnight, Duterte turned from Socialist to Fascist to curry the military’s support.

He scrapped peace talks with the Communist Party’s political arm, the National Democratic ront, to fi nd a political settlement to the decades-old insurgency, one of the longest-running in Asia.

Maoist-led guerrillas have been waging a protracted unconventional warfare since 1969, targeting government installations and state agents but also killing civilians, who were considered collateral damage, in the process.

On some occasions, the NPA rebels apologized for the deaths of civilians, like Reuters photojournalist Willie Vicoy when he died in a rebel ambush in northern Luzon in the 1980s. More recently, the rebels also apologized for the death of a collegiate football player in a roadside bomb attack in Masbate.

But soldiers were also equally guilty in killing civilians, like in Lupao, Nueva Ecija when an army lieutenant was killed in a village. The troops retaliated by shooting at civilians.

The vicious killings have to end. There is no point in soldiers and rebels killing each other. More than 40,000 lives have been lost in a confl ict that has also a ected economic growth and development in resource-rich but poor rural communities.

In advanced democracies, communism as an ideology is not outlawed because members participate in a peaceful political process. In the Philippines, people who believed in communist and socialist ideologies were allowed to take part in local elections, getting themselves into local positions and in Congress.

What is not allowed is the use of force or threats to use force, which the NPA employs in remote communities. Leftist politicians must dissociate themselves from the violent NPA guerrillas.

But the government has a big role to play in ending NPA violence in the countryside. It has to address the root causes of the insurgency— injustice, inequality, poverty, ignorance, neglect, and corruption.

Poor people who were victims of injustices and inequalities took up arms not because they believed in communism. They were seeking justice because the wheels of justice grind so slow in the country.

If there are no conditions that will force them to take up arms, there will be no violent rebellions.

MANNY MOGATO

IN THE TRENCHES

Do you need last will, durable power of attorney?

ART GABOT MADLAING

ast month, my good friend and practicing lawyer Atty. Cesar Fumar (licensed lawyer both in California and in the Philippines) called and requested me to notarize the Last Will and Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) of a physically handicapped and elderly father residing near the Westlake Shopping Center in Daly City, California. Health & Wealth

Through our Mobile Signing Services (MSS), I was able to able to visit and notarize the two documents through the arrangement of Rosemarie, the daughter staying with the elderly father. Rosamarie informed me that I need to notarize two copies of the Last Will and two copies of the DPA because the father got properties both in California and in the Philippines. Rosemarie and her father were advised by Atty. Fumar that one copy of the notarized Last Will and DPA be apostilled by the Secretary of State to make them legal and binding in the Philippines.

As accredited and commissioned Notary Public and founder of Mobile Signing Services, I was able to visit Rosemarie and her father last September 13, 2022. I had the father signed the Last Will with two witnesses. I also had the father and Rosemarie signed the DPA and subsequently signed my Journal of Notarial Acts and had them put their right thumb marks.

After notarization, I submitted the Last Will and DPA to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California for apostille . Due to the pandemic lockdown, the apostille processing took about 11 working days. The notarized DPA and Last Will were enclosed inside a prepaid USPS Priority Envelope with corresponding apostille fees issued to the Secretary of State and pertinent enclosures; and submitted through the Apostille box located at the lobby of the Secretary of State building in Sacramento, California.

After 10 days, I received the apostilled DPA and Last Will from the Secretary of State in Sacramento, California. I personally delivered the apostilled documents to Rosemarie the following day who said, ”Thanks so much.”

MSS is committed and will continue to help and assist old and new clients in the notarization and apostille follow up of Durable Power of Attorney (DPA), Last Wil, Affi davits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), DEED OF DONATION, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Partition, Deed of Absolute Sale and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention. Here are some advantages and benefi ts with MSS

ELDERLY DISCOUNT – We give special discounts to all elderly clients.

DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPL SIGNATU S – We o er to discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures for old and new clients.

SAVINGS ON GAS AND MIL AG S – We encourage old and new clients to come to our home-offi ce in San rancisco to save on gas and mileage fees (($60 to $130). PA KING S – Many of our old clients were complaining of the e pensive parking fees when we had our offi ce at the Philippine Center, close to the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California. With our home-offi ce in San rancisco, old and new clients will now have free parking in our driveway and available street parking spaces nearby.

V L IBL APPOINTM NTS – We o er very fl e ible appointments for old and new clients during and after regular offi ce hours and weekends except Sunday.

FLEXIBLE LOCATIONS – For those who can’t come to our home-offi ce in San rancisco, we can do notarization of documents in your home, offi ce, schools, BA T lobby, hospitals, Post Offi ce lobby, restaurants and other locations.

AVOID TAKING O OM WO K – Old and new clients don’t need to take o from work and drive to Sacramento ust to submit and follow up on the apostille of notarized documents. Through our unique, complete and professional services, MSS will take care everything for you.

DISCOUNTED DOCUMENTS PREPARATION – Through our para-legal partner and lawyer-friends, MSS o ers discounts in the drafting and preparation of documents for old and new clients.

CONVENIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND – Old and new clients can have total convenience and peace of mind with the unique, complete, prompt and effi cient services at MSS. Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the services at MSS. For immediate help and assistance in the notarization and apostille follow-up of Affi davits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), DEED OF DONATION, Last Will, Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or call MOBIL SIGNING S VIC S, 7 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or emai artmadlaing gmail.com (A T GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate (C ont inue on page 27)

October 13-19, 2022 12 Always ask for a second opinion if you do not like the fi rst – Imelda did

On October 21, 1988, President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos were indicted in New York for racketeering, fraud, and obstruction of justice, allegedly for having stolen more than $200 million from the Philippine treasury and investing it in New York skyscrapers.

President Marcos was too ill to travel from Hawaii to New York. He died at the age of 72 on September 28, 1989 before jury selection began on March 20, 1990.

A bunch of lawyers who came out of nowhere advised Imelda to plead guilty. “Why should I plead guilty if I am not guilty?” objected Mrs. Marcos.

If you fi ght the charges and lose you will be sent to ail for years for each of the two racketeering counts and fi ve years each for fraud and obstruction of justice charges, but if you plead guilty you might get only 5 years, the lawyers told Mrs. Marcos.

Imelda had diffi culty raising money for her bail of million. Doris Duke, the billionaire tobacco and Duke University heiress who had met the Marcoses during a visit to Manila when he was President, heard of Mrs. Marcos plight. Doris o ered to post the bail to guarantee that Imelda would make all required court appearances. Doris owns a beachside home in Honolulu known as Shangri-La, which is now a museum, and which Imelda often visited.

Doris asked our good friend Ron Oldenburg, a Honolulu attorney, to fi nd a great lawyer for Imelda. on found Gerry Spence, a well-known criminal defense attorney from Wyoming. He said he would defend Imelda for $5 million dollars. Doris provided the money. (Doris reportedly claimed it was a loan, Imelda said it was a gift).

Mrs. Marcos interviewed Spence. (A client is the employer so the client must interview the lawyer who is the employee before hiring him. Most clients are so in awe with lawyers that they do not interview him to determine his ualifi cations and competence to handle their case resulting in much regret and recrimination.) Spence told Mrs. Marcos that he would take the case with one condition – that Mrs. Marcos would only talk if he allowed her. Mrs. Marcos replied that whenever she talks, all men listen, including her husband. So Spence asked if she would agree with his condition. Mrs. Marcos said “yes”. Spence took the case. Mrs. Marcos told the volunteer lawyers to get lost.

After consulting with Spence, Imelda decided to fi ght the charges and pleaded “not guilty”.

U.S. Attorney udolph Giuliani had fi led the case. He made a big thing out of it. He held a news conference to announce that Marcos, a head of state, was the highest-ranking foreign government offi cial ever indicted in the U.S. It was believed that if Giuliani had won the case, it would become his stepping stone to running for higher offi ce – like President of the United States. When he found out that Gerry Spence would be his opponent, he turned over the handling of the case to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles LaBella.

Mrs. Marcos was acquitted on her 61st birthday – July 2, 1990. “This is the best birthday gift I ever had,” exclaimed Mrs. Marcos. She then went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, crawled on her knees on the middle aisle to the altar, and thanked God. See the story headlined “IMELDA ACQUITTED” in our newspaper, U.S.-Philippine Times, July 1990 issue.

MOST CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS DO NOT ASK FOR A SECOND OPINION

Can you imagine if Mrs. Marcos had blindly followed her volunteer lawyers’ advice and pleaded guilty? She would have spent 5 years in a New York jail. And do you realize what the other prisoners would have done to her? Que horror!

The tragedy of most criminal defendants is that they do not ask for a second opinion. For example, a person is charged with rape and sexual assault of a minor. The lawyer, usually a public defender, tells the person, if you plead guilty we will get you a deal, maybe years in ail, but if you fi ght the case and lose, they will hang you by your balls after spending 20 years in jail. The defendant does not want to spend 20 years in jail and be hanged by his balls afterward. He makes a deal. This is known as making a defendant plead guilty by terroristic threatening.

Why does he and others similarly situated not look for another lawyer and ask for a second opinion?

They blindly believe in what their fi rst lawyer tells them even if it is unfavorable. If so, there is not much hope for such person.

They claim they do not have the money to ask for a second opinion. If so, such person is not telling the truth. How much will a lawyer charge for one hour of consultation? $300? Can you not raise this amount from your own funds, your family, and your friends? Go to Waikiki Beach and beg from the tourists. Be sure to get a permit fi rst.

They have all sorts of excuses. As they say in Tagalog “Kung gusto maraming paraan, kung ayaw maraming dahilan” (If you like to do it, there are many ways, if (C ont inue on page 27)

What’s Up Attorney

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON

tin his fi rst d ys to o or not to o

ast Saturday marked President Bongbong Marcos’ fi rst days as chief executive and as expected, various parties gave their respective scorecards on his performance. Unexpe cted, however, was his not giving any rating of himself, as is the practice Offline of most presidents after their fi rst three months in offi ce. BETING DOLOR

His political allies, of course, gave him the highest marks.

I can und erstand his own cousin, the Speaker of the House, gus hing over the performance of Bongbong. But I have to take issue with Senate President Migz Zubiri, who seems to have forgotten that he heads a co-equa l branch of government.

Marcos leads the executive, Zubiri heads the legislative branch of government.

Why then did he try to outdo Speaker Romualdez and all the rest of the president’s allies in practically elevating Marcos to the level of deity?

It is both insulting and humiliating for Zubiri to fawn all over the president. If he truly believed that Marcos did a good job as chief executive, he could have said so in just a few words.

In one of the shows at CNN Philippines where I now work, host Rico Hizon asked a few expe rts how they graded Marcos as head of the country.

Marcos would be most pleased at what the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines had to say. In short, he gave the prez two thumbs up.

Since he speaks for the US companies with Philippine operations, that score is most meaningful.

At the same time, the Social Weather Stations came up with its own survey and Marcos generally got favorable reviews.

The only failing mark he got was in his administration’s inability to keep rising food and oil prices in check.

I can only speak for myself, but God almighty. I can only shed a qui et tear or two whenever my partner and I head to the nearest supermarket for our weekly suppl y of groceries, and everything else.

The bad news is that this current period of high infl ation will last, at least until the end of the year. The good news, if it can be called that, is that the country is still a long way o from double digit infl ation.

I am not an economist and can only speak as a layman, but the president is well advised to take extreme measures if necessary to curb infl ation.

I consider myself as part of the middl e class, but the way prices of commodities are spiraling upw ards, I may see myself as poor sooner or later. Boo hoo, huh?

The objective analysts generally give the president much credit for his choice of Cabinet secretaries, especially those involved in economic and fi scal matters.

While almost all blame the actions of the US Fed for the fall of the peso, which means that the cost of imports goes up, this should not be used as an excuse. Other nations are facing the same e ects of the ed’s non-stop raising of interest rates, but some are doing better than others. What then do our e perts say about keeping infl ation down and arresting the fall of the peso?

As expe cted, Marcos will constantly receive unending advice, some of them contradictory. In the end, the decisions will always have to be his.

One analyst said the president should not be judge d based on his fi rst days in offi ce, but on his fi rst 6 days as president. This makes sense.

Meanwhile, the president should also take note that his actions that are deemed personal – such as heading to Singapore to watch the Formula One races – leave a bad taste in the mouth. PR people would call it negative optics.

In simpler English, it looks bad. So he should be more circumspect in his choice of activities, none of which can be hidden from the public for long.

Personally, I still believe that the President of the Republic of the Philippines should be perceived more as the Chief Executive Offi cer of Philippines, Inc.

Having worked in the private sector for the past four decades, I have to ask: do the (C ont inue on page 27)

To ban or not to ban. That is the question. Based on published reports, there seems to be an snowballing move to totally ban POGO operations. Those in favor of the total ban cite the series of kidnapping, bribery, and rise in criminality , especially involving Chinese and Filipino-Chinese citizens. Not to mention of course the non-payment of taxes by POGO operators. In a nutshell, SPEAKING OUT the reputational damage and the social costs far outweigh the supposed IGNACIO TOTING BUNYE economic gains from POGO.

On the other hand, defenders (principally Congressman Joey Salceda) argue for stricter regulation, not a total ban. Let us not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Totally closing down the POGOs will terminate 7 , direct obs for ilipinos, reduce to nil P .6 billion in rental income from offi ces and P billion in housing rent and a possible ta take of P billion. The rise in criminality is an enforcement issue which can be addressed by the police and the local governments.

As far as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, any response must be calibrated. Already, emulla has his hands full trying to deport POGO workers. At the moment, Remulla is still sorting out with the Chinese government the deportation protocols. A total ban would be a logistical problem as this will result in the deportation of an estimated , POGO workers. *****

Kudos to our.outstanding fellow Muntinlupe os. years and growing stronger. “Worldwide, the average productive lives of companies is years. But we have surpassed that. We are now and still very much around. Thus, businessman, civic leader and Most Outstanding Muntinlupeño Dionisio “Diony” Alog described his company’s journey, co-founded with his wife Ofelia, forty years ago. ALOG & Company, Inc. has not only survived. It has thrived. It is now a leading marketer and distributor of a wide range of products and technologies for the protection of human health, structural properties and the environment against insect pests and microorganisms. It serves government offi ces, commercial pest control operators and private institutions nationwide.

ALOG proudly represents leading multinational chemical companies in the Philippines namely Bayer Environmental Science, BASF, Syngenta, Ensystex as well as professional pest control equipment companies namely Swingtec from Germany, Hockman and B&G from the USA. In addition, it has partnered with NRS Relief, a company that manufactures innovative, high uality and cost-e ective core relief items and multi-purpose shelters. These multi-purpose tents are intended for emergency response during disasters like earth uakes, typhoons, fi res and other calamities. ALOG takes an active role in bringing innovative technologies and products to the Philippines. From the development of control programs concerning public health, particularly in malaria and dengue, general pest control programs for private companies to the most complete termite control products ranging from repellent liquid termiticide to nonrepellent liquid formulation to baiting technologies for structural protection. In , ALOG made its biggest sale tender in the history of public health, by supplying 2 million pieces of long lasting impregnated nets (LLIN) from Bayerhad to malaria endemic provinces in the Philippines. Recently and just in time for the COVID pandemic, ALOG and Co. ventured into products used for virus protection and disinfection through its BioMed Division. “We became part of the spearhead team serving both national and local governments and private institutions, deploying tons of disinfectants used in the communities and targeted areas at the start of the lockdown,” Diony explained. Indeed, ALOG and company has gone a long way from its humble beginnings. Diony and Ofi e fi rst set up shop at a decrepit offi ce along Guadalupe street, Makati. Diony served as the general manager, salesman, delivery man, collector, and technician all at the same time while Ofi e, (his former offi ce mate and former girlfriend) was the receptionist, customer service offi cer, administrative assistant, and accountant. Their son Dennis, at that time 6 years old, was visibly disappointed the fi rst time he visited his parent’s “Makati offi ce . It had only two tables, with manual typewriters and a few telephones.

ALOG initially sold poultry feeds, hog feeds, one-day old chicks, veterinary medicines and supplies. Later products included fertilizers, and agricultural sprayers, pest control equipment and hygienic insecticides. In 7, the company crossed its fi rst st milestone by selling units of Swingfog fogging machine to the National ood Authority (NFA). As the company grew, it also moved out from its decrepit offi ce. In , ALOG Company, Inc. ac uired a commercial lot in Guadalupe Nuevo, and constructed a four 4 -storey building, making it as the offi cial head uarters of the company. In , ALOG Company, Inc. moved to its current offi ce at Unit Alabang Business Tower, 6 Acacia Avenue, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City and retained its warehouses in Las Piñas and Makati City.

During ALOG’S th anniversary celebration (appropriately themed ears – A Legacy of Protection), Dio- (C ont inue on page 27)

ussi s y er tt ks on kr ine ele tes r into hi her le el lo l r

The war going on between Russia and Ukraine with the former staging cyberattacks against the latter recently, has changed the landscape of the war elevating it to a higher scale as it enters its 8th month of hostilities. The following day, true to its announcement that he will be using more air power, Russia’s Vladimir Putin dropped missiles to Ukraine creating more de- ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO struction aggravating the situation.

This time, Putin is using sophisticated weapons after a series of defeats he incurred lately from Ukraine military forces in the ground that reclaimed some cities occupied and annexed by ussia. These setbacks sent Putin to a di erent course of action by ordering cyberattacks and air missiles on Ukraine’s infrastructures to boost his crumbling militia and bolster his bloated ego.

This must be an act of retaliation shown by Putin who is now acting like a wounded animal who becomes more ferocious and angrier after su ering from grave wounds and humiliation from a supposedly weaker nation such as Ukraine.

According to Bloomberg News, “Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened more strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure after his country’s missiles hit cities across Ukraine.” A day after the announcement, missiles were dropped in Ukraine causing more damage to the already ravaged country.

Putin’s latest actions may trigger an escalation of US and the rest of the world’s involvement in the war and may even lead to actual confrontation leading to the start of War . This is because while the war is between Russia and Ukraine, the US and the Western allies (European Union, NATO, etc.) are already involved in the war indirectly. And… with the cyberattacks employed by Russia, this will somehow trigger a more aggressive support from US and its Western Allies.

As a result, in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President Joe Biden pledged to “continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.” With this assurance from Biden and the rest of the world, Zelenskiy is even willing to pursue the war to the very end thus escalating the unprovoked, uncalled-for war staged by Putin eight months ago.

Putin, however said, “they were in retaliation for a strike on a multibillion-dollar bridge connecting Russia to Crimea. Kyiv hasn’t offi cially claimed responsibility for the episode, which further highlighted the woes of Putin’s military in the eighth month of its invasion.”

International support for Ukraine continues to pile up. According to a statement from her offi ce, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss will urge leaders of the Group of Seven nations to “not waver” in their support for Ukraine following Russia’s latest missile attacks on civilian targets. In fact, the leaders are holding an emergency call on Tuesday with Zelenskiy to discuss a response.

Truss will also call for an urgent meeting of NATO leaders where G7 leaders are expected to discuss the global energy crisis and the work they’re doing to implement an international cap on the price of Russian oil.

For his part, in a prepared remark, Jeremy Fleming, the director of the UK’s intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, said Russia’s military commanders in Ukraine know their munitions and supplies are running out. This must have been the reason why Putin is now using air strikes to be able to support its exhausted military forces in the ground.

While Biden didn’t specify what air defense systems the US will provide, a US arms package announced in August included six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. The NATO-standard air defense system, produced by Raytheon Technologies Corp., is used to protect the Washington region, including the White House and two NASAM systems were previously pledged to Ukraine.

According to the Serhiy Prytula Fund, which said on Facebook that it had started raising money for Ukrainian kamikaze drones that have been successfully tested on the battlefi eld, the Russian missile attacks “enraged Ukrainians.”

The group, seven hours later, donated more than 6 million hryvnia ( .6 million). It said its fund-raising for Ukrainian army units fi ghting on the front lines. So far, it has provided more than , 6 drones almost (C ont inue on page 27)

As I See It

Your spousal petition maybe under investigation

BREAKING NEWS

New Regulation will make it easier to immigrate

The Biden Administration will release a regulation by December 2022, making it easier to immigrate for people who have taken public benefi ts. The public charge under Trump era will be revised signifi cantly.

N-400 App lication for Naturalization

The USCIS is now giving priorities to application for naturalization . The reason is obviously to allow ualifi ed immigrants to vote in the coming midterm and presidential election. There are cases when the waiting time is only si months compared to prior years. Pres. Biden is encouraging all ualifi ed to fi le for naturalization. This is a rare opportunity that all ualifi ed should take advantage of.

DACA reinstated

Pres. Biden reiterated to renew the DACA processing as of August ,

Arrest and removal of undocumented is now up to the discretion of IC offi cer

US Supreme Court did not allow Pres. Biden to overturn the immigration policy of Trump with regards to priority in arrest and removal. With increasing migrants at the border White House is now re uiring IC to deport more migrants under political pressure. It is now a decision to be made by the IC offi cer which could include arrest of anyone who is undocumented. It is time to work on your green card now.

Your spous al petition maybe und er investigation

If you fi led a petition for your spouse and the case is pending for so many months or years, chances are that the USCIS is investigating your petition. They could also deny your petition once the evidence they gathered is unfavorable to your case. ou should receive an notice of Intent to Deny before they will deny your petition. If the petition was initially approved, you may get a Notice of Intent to Revoke the appr oval of your petition for reasons that they have discovered later in your case. The best strategy is to plan to defend your case ust in case any unfavorable decision is received. If you failed to respond to the re uest for evidence, your case will be denied. If the proof you submitted is not suffi cient to overcome their fi ndings, they will also deny your petition. ou should consult with an Immigration Attorney who specialized in family immigration and fi ling appeals. If your case is denied you can fi le an appeal to the BIA. Denied I- petition are appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. There are many reasons for denial of petition. One is inconsistencies during the interview. Others include negative fi ndings about the validity of the marriage. There could be uestions about good faith marriage. The most serious fi ndings would be marriage fraud. In this situation, you should submit proof of good faith marriage. If you failed to overcome the fraud charge your spouse will not be able to be appr oved in any petition even if it is employment based petition. The law is specifi c that if there is a fi nding of marriage fraud, no petition will be approved. But before that happens you should be prepared to appeal your case. We have a case that there is a fi nding of marriage fraud. However, the USCIS did not follow the procedural due process dur ing the processing of the petition and the case was ultimately approved for the second petition. Procedural due process is a constitutional guarantee of fairness in ad udication of the petition.

Other reasons for denial of petition and ad ustment of status is if you entered the United States using a di erent name or committed a crime. There are a variety of immigration options you may still pursue but it is best to consult with an e perienced immigration attorney.

Note This is not a legal advice and presented for information purposes only. If you have immigration problems the Law Offi ces of Crispin C. Lozano can help you fi nd a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Bankrupt cy Basics • Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for years, not fi ling bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money udgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

CLAIM O UNPAID WAG S

We help our clients recover from employers unpaid minimum wage and overtime. Undocumented workers are ualifi ed to apply.

CAR ACCIDENTS

Our Law irm successfully settled a car accident for 67 . .

FAMILY LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVO C .

INCOM TA P OBL MS

We can help you if you are unde r IRS audit, need a representation with IRS, need to reduc e your ta liability or need to o er a payment plan to I S,

SUCC SS STO I S

For the month of September 2022, we received appr oval from USCIS four naturalization appl ications, two Fiancée visa petition, two removals of condition on residence and two ad ustment of status applications.

Note: If you have immigration problems write us a letter and we will reply to you with no initial obligation. The Law Offi ces of Crispin C. Lozano can help you fi nd a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Hunt for oil to resume in Palawan - Marcos

MANILA - The government has embarked on an earnest program to search for oil reserves last e perienced during the term of former President erdinand Marcos Sr., the father of the incumbent, amid skyrocketing prices of fuel.

President erdinand Marcos Jr. said the Department of Energy has initiated the oil hunt through the revival of the drilling operations around the Cadlao oil fi eld in Palawan of Nido Petroleum Philippines.

The fi rm, operated by Australian fi rm Sacgasco, holds Service Contract 6B to conduct surveys “by the last uarter of this year.

“While it is the fi rst step, it signals the government’s intent to ma imize indigenous resources and has attracted strong interest from foreign investors in the Philippine upstream oil and gas sector, Marcos said.

Some US 7 million worth of investments are e pected in the two drilling activities of Nido Petroleum Philippines Pty. Ltd. in northwest Palawan, the Department of nergy said. DO Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said Nido aims to spend US 6 million each for drilling Service Contract (SC) 6B and SC .

An additional US million will also be spent for the e tended production test in the Cadlao oil fi eld, he said. Sales said the e tended production test in SC 6B aims “to determine how to optimize future production and determine the more appr opriate way in installing the permanent production facilities . “Foreign investors have taken the assurances made by the Philippine government that our PD (Presidential Decree) 87 framework for giving incentives to the service contractors is going to be upheld, DO Secretary aphael Lotilla said. Lotilla said the ultimate ob ective of the policy is to yield the ma imum benefi t to the ilipino people and to assure ust returns to participating private enterprises. Sales said the drilling activities in Cadlao are e pected in the fi rst half of , with the e tended production testing running up to si months. If the drilling activity is successful, permanent production is e pected by the fi rst half of , he added. President Marcos Jr. has directed the DO to focus on e panding and harnessing the country’s indigenous energy resources to achieve energy security and a ordable electricity prices. Continued economic recovery from pandemic assured

MAKATI CIT – ffi cient implementation of measures to ensure the continued recovery of the domestic economy from the impact of the pandemic is a Herculean task but the government has buckled up, ready to face all the challenge.

In a report for the Marcos administration’s fi rst days in offi ce, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it has completed most of the directive of President erdinand Marcos Jr. in terms of inter-agency coordination in crafting the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) - .

Among others, it has issued the PDP planning guidelines; has convened the Plan Steering Committee, which include the Department of inance (DO ), Department of Budge t and Management (DBM), Department of Labor and Employment (DOL ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of National Defense (DND); and has conduc ted virtual training workshops in mainstreaming the human-rights based appr oach to development planning.

Economic managers, through the inter-agency Development Bud get Coordination Committee (DBCC), have revisited the government’s medium-term fi scal framework for - in line with the bid to further increase the share of investments in infrastructure to to 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Authorities said increasing infrastructure spending has long-term economic effects and will provide more oppor tunities for the e pansion of the economy.

The government’s infrastructure investment accounts for around percent of GDP in the past administrations until it was hiked by the Duterte administration, which the current government intends to continue. esults of fi scal reforms also pushed by the previous administration have allowed the government to help fi nance its needs even during the pandemic.

The present government thus aims to sustain the gains, citing the need for the amendment of the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) law, among others.

The BOT I Committee approved on Sept. this year the amendments to the 2022 implementing rules and regulations (I ) of the Amended BOT Law.

The DO earlier said amendment of the I of the BOT Law is e pected to improve the country’s investment climate and attract more foreign investors in line with the government’s goal to implement more infrastructure pro ects.

In terms infrastructure pro ects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the N DA said 7 new pro ects have been added to the pipeline since June , bringing to 7 pro ects, with total pro ect cost of around PHP . trillion, the updated list as of Aug. , indicates.

The N DA said the new pro ects include road, public transportation, and water suppl y being implemented by local and national agencies.