Volume18 18- -No. No.17 17••22Sections Sections––16 16Pages Pages Volume
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA NORTHERN
Volume18 19- -No. No.44 1 •• 22 Sections Volume Sections –– 16 16 Pages Pages
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USA DATELINEUSA DATELINE from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Palace slams raises Midler The US officially the for Duterte criticism buying age of tobacco to 21 MALACAĂ‘ANG on Sunday, November 24, The major public slammed singer-actress Bettehealth Midler move for describing President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the follows the national vaping world’s most detestable leaders as well as lumpcrisis which resulted in lung ing him together with the likes of U.S. President Donald Trump and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. injuries among vapers “She, however, has no right as she is inthe United prohibits the sale competent and a states gulliblenow talking head as well, of tobacco products to anybody under 21 years on matters concerning foreign leaders she has age, according to a new minimum age law noof personal knowledge of,â€? said presidential signed into effect last week by President Donald spokesperson Salvador Panelo. trump. “She should be circumspect as an influencer newrefrain law, called tobacco-free andthe should fromthe giving one-sided Youth and Act, was a part of a massive $738 billion spendjudgmental comments on internal affairs of ing bill sovereign that also included funding for thereferborder another state, especially if her wall, are the false newly-formed force ences narrativesspace coming frombranch the po-of the military and paid parental leave for federal litical opposition and some biased media outlets employees. whose agenda is to besmirch President Rodrigo the U.s. food and Drug Administration u PAGE (fDA) noted on its website on friday, Dec.A2 27
Governor Newsom Stockton school to be announces Early Childhood named afterand California’ Policy Council a teams Fil-Am teacher tofirst develop master plan for The new elementary school will early honorlearning Flora Arcaand Mata,care who was
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alsothe first woman of color teach SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin to Newsom onat Friday, November 22, announced the selecStockton Unified School District tion of diverse experts, practitioners and parentsAtoneW guideelementary California’sschool effortsinon early learnstockton, caliing and care. The the Governor appointed 20 fornia will bear name today of flora Arca mata, members the state’s new Childhood the first of filipino teacher in Early the golden state who Council laid theand groundwork for Asian American Policy advisory committees, includeducators come.practitioners, and parents. ing national to experts, Unified He the also stockton announced the school creationDistrict of an(sUsD) Early accepted Action name Research suggestions for to thedevelop new K-8 Childhood Team a school, which will be scheduled be completMaster Plan for Early Learning andtoCare, which
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Firing VP akinslams to EJK‘irrational — Lagman US senator
threat’ vs Americans by JESS
DIAZ Philstar.com
OPPOSITION Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay on Tuesday, November 26, likened to an extrajudicial killing President Duterte’s removal of Vice President by evelyn mAcAiRAn Leni Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency PiA leeDrugs -BRAgo & Committee on Anti-Illegal (ICAD). “The summary dismissal the vice president as PAolo RofomeRo ICAD co-chair withoutPhilstar.com any valid reasons and due process is akin to an extrajudicial killing. Like EJK UnIteD states sen. Patrick Leahy on sunday, Devictims, Robredo fought and criticized the Duterte cember 29, slammed “irrational administration’s bloody the war government’s on drugs,� Lagman threat� to require visas for Us citizens who want to said. enter the Philippines. He claimed that the president fired Robredo to he said Philippine government should release hide from herthe data on the anti-drugs campaign. sen. Leila de Lima instead of “irrationally� threatening to enforce visa restrictions on visiting Americans. “rather than responding by irrationally threatening to deny visas to American citizens, the Duterte government should either release senator De Lima
PNP says Robredo did not commit ‘missteps’ as drug czar Rely onRGod’sMprovidence, not lucky charm — bishops by
Her dismissal “is similar to the extrajudicial killing of some victims to silence them and cover up incriminatory information known to them,� he said. Lagman belongs to the opposition Liberal Party (LP), which Robredo chairs. Another LP leader, Jose Christopher Belmonte of immediately provide the fair, publicgeneral, trial she Quezon City, or who is theher party’s secretary is entitled to,� Leahy said statement. said the vice president wasinfiared as she might have he added signifi that the imprisonment Lima “discovered cant information of onDe the rootand of the nation’s threats against rappler ceo maria ressa have our drug trade.� been criticized around to theher world, not least by the “What was important was putting a stop to U.s.killings. Department state and the United nations. the That’sofwhy she talked to the right peohave alwayswith stoodthe upright for the right of journalists ple,“Icoordinated agencies, asked the to report the news inwas the United states removed?� and around right questions. Why she suddenly the world asked. and no one can force me to stop standing Belmonte upAnother for theircongressman, rights,� Leahy Rufus tweeted. Rodriguez of CaPresident Duterte earlier ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to bar Democrat senators Leahy and Dick Durbin from entering the country—a decision that apparently stemmed from their filing of a provision in the U.s. 2020 budget that supports the call to free De Lima and to ban the entry of Philip-
gayan de Oro City, said Robredo’s removal was “rather unfortunate.â€? “President Duterte’s experiment in appointing her was doomed from the very start. The VP is leader of the opposition, a lawyer and an advocate of human rights. Her views on the anti-illegal drugs campaign pine officials involved in her to “wrongfulâ€? detention. were diametrically opposed the current thrusts of and Durbin he proposed theLeahy administration,â€? said. the amendment to the 2020 state and appropriations Rodriguez saidforeign Duterte’soperations “All Boys Club was therebill. worried, to say the least, on her entry into the fore U.s. President Donald trump has signed the budpicture.â€? get that includes an amendment authorizing the Us “To them, her appointment was totally unacceptsecretary state to prohibit the entry of Philippine able. So it’sofnow business as usual,â€? he added. officials to the United states. Alyansang Makabayan The militant group Bagong A provision in people the budget on “Prohibition on en(Bayan) said the are awaiting Robredo’s retryâ€? on allows U.s. secretary state mike Pompeoâ– to port the drug war. (WithofRhodina Villanueva) “apply sub-section (c) to foreign government officials about whom the secretary has credible information have been involved in the wrongful imprisonment of‌ senator Leila de Lima who was arrested in the Philippines in 2017.â€?
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ITCHEL ENDIOLA AJPress
CONTRARY MalacaĂąang’s reasons for byto evelyn mAcAiRAn firing Vice President Leni Robredo as coPhilstar.com chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on to welcome year 2020, do not rely Anti-Illegal Drugsthe (ICAD), the Philippine on lucky charms quirkyNovember beliefs to bring National Police on and Tuesday, 26, the catholic saidprosperity, they did officials not see of Robredo make Bishany ops’ conference Philippines (cBcP) “misstepsâ€? during of herthe 18-day stint as the sunday, December 29, 2019 administration’s anti-drug czar. enjoined the faithful. her stay as co-chair of ICAD, we “During cBcP-episcopal Lahaven’t really noticedcommission any reportonorthe misity (ecL) chairman and manila Auxiliary steps,â€? said PNP spokesman Bernard Banac Bishop Broderick Pabillo “Early reminded cathoin an interview with ANC’s Edition.â€? lics toinseek guidance and the good“But thedivine continuing discussion, of ness there of godisinstead. course, that exchange of ideas and for cBcP-Public insofar as discussion on aAffairs highercommittee level, the (PAc) executive secretaryanymore fr. Jerome sePNP is not really involved so we cillano, it would be authorities,â€? better if people make leave it to the higher he added. a different kind of preparation for the incoming year one that involves improving According to –Presidential spokesperson their own capabilities andcommitted strengths. sevSalvador Panelo, Robredo “Luck is not a sureseeking thing. It’s eral ‘missteps’ including the chance. advice What we need to do is prepare of certain foreign institutions and ourselves person-
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FRIENDLY VISIT. President withleaders pediatric cancer patients heof visited at theAsian Southern Philippines Center-Children’s Cancer LINKED TOGETHER. PresidentRodrigo RodrigoDuterte Duterteinteracts joins other from the Association Southeast Nations (ASEAN)Medical and Republic of Korea President Institute in as Davao the cancer patients in his hometown is Duterte’s regular activity even when he was still a mayor. his Christmas message, Moon Jae-in theyCity. poseVisiting for a family photo prior to the start of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit at the BusanIn Exhibition and Convention the President urged Filipinos26. to help the less fortunate. Malacaùang photo byby Richard Center on Tuesday, November Malacaùang photo ArmanMadelo Baylon
Drilon saysaHouse to blame for SEAnoGames ‘Rizal Day reminder Philippine longerbudget vassalmess state’ Senate 65% of law billFilipinos seeks towant teachmartial GMRC anew by RomeRo byAlexis AJPRESS Philstar.com
SENATOR Franklin Drilon on the commemoration of the Tuesday, November 26, said death of national hero Dr. Jose he House of Representatives is rizal reminds filipinos of their o“continuing blame for the mishaps in this revolutionâ€? against year’s AsiantheGames those Southeast who still view Philipwhich the country is hosting. pines as a vassal state, malacaAccording to theDecember opposition Ăąang said sunday, 29, senator, the House of Represen2019 atives was late spokesman in submitting Presidential salhe proposed national budget vador Panelo said while Dec. n30December, containing dayâ€? somein marks a “mournful P95 billion in pork barrel that fu-a Philippine history, it is also eled debates. Thisfruits delay, some reminder of the of the ulcongressmen claimed, led who to the timate sacrifice of rizal, he SEAG said blunders. contributed “freedom from “If there was any delay, itmemwas bondageâ€? in the collective because of them,â€? Drilon said in ory of filipinos. Filipino. “December 30 of each year Last part December, some memforms of our collective imagbers of the House of Represenination of our continuing revoluatives were accused Presition against those whobystill treat dential Spokesperson Salvador
Panelo of employing diversionary and delayed transportation after tactics such as accusing Budget their arrival in the Philippines, Secretary Benjamin Diokno of ir- inadequate food served to the regularities in the preparation of athletes, and unfinished venues. the 2019 national budget. ‘Apology not enough’ Drilon, however, pointed out Sen. Christopher “Bong� Go, that there are only three oppo- for his part, said that the orgasition members in the Senate nizers of SEAG this year will be — not enough to delay the pas- made “answerable� for “apparsage of the budget. ent inefficiencies� that happened Furthermore, he said that even in the past few days. if the budget was delayed, most “They said before, the preparaof the funds used for the SEA tion, venues, and everything that Games infrastructure were from will be used for the games were separate loans. almost ready and complete. As “I really do not understand of October 30, 2019, PHISGOC the relationship between the stated that preparations are 90% A Philippineand flag billows in the winddelay,� near the monument of national Dr. Jose Rizal have in Rizal blunders the budget complete. Howhero come these Park yesterday. the anniversary of Rizal’s 1896 execution at Drilon said. The country observes Rizal Day today, happened?� he said in Filipino Bagumbayan, the park’s former name. Philstar.com photo KJ Rosales Some of the mishaps experi- on Monday, Nov. 25. enced before the launch of dividuals “To all the or parties, groups remember, that regard our nation as offi a cial vassal state,� the regional include failure is theasfailure of usstate all. the Philippines a vassal Panelo saidsports in hisevent statement for one’s members butme he remind has usedeveryone the termthat to assail you rizal Day.of foreign delegations Let to the sporting event complainthe PresiPanelo did not identify the in- will be answerable to u PAGE A2 ing about awful accommodations u PAGE A2
Palace: 2019 ‘exemplary’ Hontiveros: ‘China-made’ year for the blackouts canPhilippines cripple PH
by DivinA novA Joy DelA cRuz by RITCHEL MENDIOLA ManilaTimes.net AJ Press
mALAcAĂ‘Ang said 2019 had SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on been an “exemplaryâ€? year for the Monday, November 25, warned Philippines. hat “China-made blackoutsâ€? In a statement on sunday, Decould paralyze the country’s econcember 29, Presidential spokesomy, vital communications system man salvador Panelo said the and even the electoral system.
economy “is on a roll with a BBB+ According to her, with China rating. the Board of Investments controlling 40 percent of the Nahas also breached its P1-trillion tional Grid Corp. of the Philippines 2019 investment target as of oc(NGCP), it has the capability to tober 2019, according to the Deundermine national security and partment of trade and Industry. “even topple the government.� there are fewer poor filipinos Hontiveros gave out the warnwith almost six million lifted out ing after deliberating on the
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in Mindanao to end this year
by MARION
RAMOS Inquirer.net
by KRissy
AguilAR
SENATORInquirer.net Panfilo Lacson has filed a measure institutionalizing good manners and right conduct mAJorItYof filipinos believe (GMRC) as a separate for that martial law in subject mindanao pupils to Grade shouldfrom not kindergarten go beyond 2019, ac3cording to counter negative effects to a the social Weather staof the internet on the results attitude reof tions (sWs) survey young leasedFilipinos. late sunday, December 29. In ling1,200 Senate Billrespondents No. 1185, offithe adult Lacson saidfrom no less than Educasurveyed December 13 to tion Leonor Briones 16, Secretary 2019, it was found out had that pointed out that “technology 65 percent of filipino adults withthink out goodlaw manners a disaster� martial shouldislapse at the and that end of the“online year. or technologydriven inculonlypedagogy� 35 percentcould thinknot it should cate social values and skills among be extended beyond the Decemyoung students. ber 31, 2019 deadline, while one Strongdid values percent not give an answer. By separate GMRC thehaving survey anoted 22 percent of subject, he said the students would those who support the extension be able to understand “human dig-
mon cArgo 1/32
nity, respect for oneself and giving oneself to others in the spirit of community, for said the effective of martial law it shouldand be holistic development of the prolonged in the whole of deciminsion-making skills ofsaid the child.â€? danao, 7 percent it should is the aimonly of this act‌ to betbe“Itextended in marawi city ter our youthofto have del strong andmold the province Lanao sur values moral foundation which while and 5 percent believe it should will contributein inmarawi shaping a Larebe extended city, spectable society,â€? read a portion
of Lacson’s bill, a copy of which was furnished the media on Sunday, November 24. nao del sur and nearby provinces. “The teaching method shall be mindanao has been under martial actual or situational, rather than law since may 2017 following the conceptual, thereby allowing the siege of marawi city. [students] to directly relate to the meanwhile, malacaĂąang earlier lessons, readily incorporate them said President rodrigo Duterte in practice and make such behavPAGE A2 ior commonplace,â€? heuadded. â–
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From the Front Page
US senator slams ‘irrational threat’... PAGE A1 The provision is in line with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, allowing the US government to impose sanctions on foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses in any part of the world. These actions target serious human rights abuse and corruption on a global scale, demonstrating the U.S.’ action to pursue tangible and significant consequences for those who undermine the rule of law, disregard internationally accepted human rights standards, and threaten the stability of international political and economic systems.
The Philippine embassy in Washington called on the U.S. to respect the Philippines’ domestic laws and processes after Trump signed the 2020 budget. But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said it does not matter whether the ban is true or not. “What’s important is if they ban any government official, then we will require (American citizens) to apply for a visa and we will ban the two senators (from entering the Philippines),” he said. He clarified though that changing the visa rules would not have an effect on Philippines-U.S. relations – a point that Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III agreed on.
“The provision simply says you’re not welcome here (U.S.), so don’t go there. We would save money. It could become a dead letter law if no one will be named,” Pimentel said. He believes the issue is so minor that it would not affect relations between the Philippines and the U.S. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would welcome the staff of the two U.S. senators should they wish to come to the Philippines to personally check on court records instead of relying on reports that he described as “at best, second-hand evidence and, at worst, multiple hearsay.” n
The US officially raises the buying age...
PAGE A1 t that “it is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product — including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes — to anyone under 21. FDA will provide additional details on this issue as they become available.” The new federal law follows that of 19 states that have raised the minimum age of tobacco purchases: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. A bipartisan group of lawmakers — including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sens Mitt Romney (R-UT), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) — helped push the inclusion of the TobaccoFree Youth Act in the must-pass spending package in order to avoid a government shutdown.
“Passage of this lifesaving legislation is an enormous victory for the health of our young people,” Kaine said in a statement. “By raising the age to buy tobacco products nationwide, we can save 223,000 lives and reduce youth tobacco use. This is one of many steps we should take to tackle the youth e-cigarette epidemic that touches every corner of our nation.” This past September, Trump promised to address the national vaping crisis and to curb the rising levels of vaping among youth, noting that the FDA would announce “some very strong recommendations” for the sale of flavored e-cigarette products. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2019, more than 6 million middle and high school students in the U.S. were current users of tobacco; 1 in 3 high school students and 1 in 8 middle schoolers said they have used some form of tobacco prod-
uct in the last 30 days. Advocates for reducing vape and tobacco usage praised the Trump administration for its efforts to reduce vaping among youth, but Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement that raising the minimum age “is a positive step” but it will not stop the epidemic in the long-term. “To reverse the e-cigarette epidemic, policymakers must prohibit flavored e-cigarettes and cannot be limited by what the tobacco industry says is acceptable,” Myers said. “The evidence is clear that flavored e-cigarettes are driving the youth epidemic. Most youth e-cigarette users use flavored products and cite flavors as a key reason for their use. As long as flavored e-cigarettes remain available, kids will find ways to get them and this epidemic will continue.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n
YEAR OF THE RAT. Some stores along Ongpin St. in Sta. Cruz, Manila put on display lucky charms, particularly mouse figurines in different sizes, ready to welcome 2020 which is Year of the Rat in Chinese zodiac. In Chinese culture, rat as the first of all zodiac animals is a sign of wealth and surplus. People born under this sign are believed to be very industrious and thrifty, diligent and positive. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
65% of Filipinos want martial law in Mindanao...
Stockton school to be named after California’s first... PAGE A1 ed in June 2020 and occupied by the following August. The Stockton-based Filipino American organization Little Manila rising campaigned to put Mata’s name in the running and, according to the organization, the Filipina educator “overwhelmingly had the most votes.” “WE DID IT! The new K-8 school in Quail Lakes will be named after Flora Arca Mata! Thank you to all of you who filled out SUSD’s naming survey and reposted our campaign,” Little Rising Manila wrote in a Facebook post on Dec. 17. “Thank you for being such a beautiful community and standing up for one of our own. Your voices matter.” Born on Dec. 19, 1917, Mata was originally from Honolulu, Hawaii but her family relocated to Stockton when Mata was two
years old. Her older sister worked on the farms in the Central Valley to help pay for Mata’s education at UCLA. Mata was the first Filipino American to graduate from UCLA during a time when anti-Filipino sentiment was rampant across the state and opportunities were scarce for Asian Americans. After graduation, she worked as a tutor and as a maid, and then, in 1940, she and her husband moved to the Philippines where they stayed for the remainder of the Second World War. The couple returned to Stockton shortly thereafter and Mata continued to teach, this time at the schools she attended in her youth. She was the first woman of color to teach at the SUSD and taught for 32 years before retiring in 1980; but, a teacher through and through, she continued to substitute teach into her 80s.
Mata died in 2013 at 95 years old and is survived by her son, Eddie Mata; her daughter Vida Longely-Mata and her 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of her granddaughters, Sheree Mata, is a kindergarten teacher and said in 2013 that “education has just been a part of our family. I think it runs in the blood.” In her time, Mata broke many barriers and went above and beyond to become a beloved figure in education and among Asian Americans. But Mata believed that it isn’t enough just to break barriers; rather, it is more important to leave a legacy upon which others can build. “To be first is not that important,” Mata told the Stocktonbased news organization The Record in 1975. “It’s what you do after that’s important. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n
‘Rizal Day a reminder Philippine no longer vassal state’ PAGE A1 foreigners who criticize President Duterte’s policies, including his controversial crackdown on illegal drugs. Panelo said Rizal’s passing 123 years ago did not go to waste because it fueled the “re-awakening” of the Filipinos’ forefathers who stood up against the abuses of colonizers that extended for
over three centuries. Meanwhile the popularity of social media should also not be a reason for millennials and netizens to forget about the supreme sacrifice of Rizal, a lawmaker said. Rep. Fidel Nograles of Rizal province’s second district called on Filipinos, especially the youth, to make use of the new digital
platform to be aware of what is going on in their environment, just like the way Rizal did during his time in the late 1800s. The neophyte administration lawmaker urged the youth to maximize the benefits they can derive from the internet and use their knowledge of technology to create solutions to society’s problems. (With Delon Porcalla) n
Rely on God’s providence, not lucky charm... PAGE A1 well, work hard and do the right things. With or without lucky charms, we hope that there will be good consequences along the way,” he added. Aside from working hard, Secillano pointed out that given the many factors beyond human control, the faithful should also always
remember to ask for God’s continued blessings. Over the years, many Filipinos observe different traditions and beliefs in welcoming the New Year such as preparing 12 different round fruits for prosperity; eating sticky food to help keep the family bond strong; and eating noodles for long life.
People would also be seen wearing polka dots to symbolize money and fortune, while jumping on New Year’s Eve would help them grow taller. They also light up firecrackers to drive away bad spirits and open the doors and windows of their homes to let in good fortune and positive vibes. n
Inquirer.net file photo
PAGE A1 will no longer seek another extension of martial law in Mindanao. ‘No more threat’ Almost half or 49 percent of those surveyed agreed “there is no more threat that another Marawi-like terrorist attack can happen anywhere in Mindanao.”
While 20 percent said they strongly agree and 29 percent said they somewhat agree, 16 percent of the surveyed people still think there is a threat in Mindanao and 35 percent are undecided about the matter. This received a “very strong” +33 net agreement score, the survey noted. The survey also showed 55
percent of the respondents think the military has committed very few, if any, human rights abuses in Mindanao since martial law was declared. Fourteen percent of the surveyed disagreed, while 35% were undecided about the matter. This translates to a “very strong” net agreement score of +41. n
Palace: 2019 ‘exemplary’ year... PAGE A1 from poverty. Employment has hit a 14-year high. Inflation has been tamed.” Panelo also cited the latest Social Weather Stations survey indicating that 96 percent of Filipinos were entering the New Year with hope rather than fear. He said “a similar survey, done by another independent pollster, also revealed earlier that practically all Filipinos are welcoming the new year with hope and positivity.” Panelo also cited the “successful” hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, with the Philippines taking the over-
all championship with a 385medal haul, 149 of them gold. These are reasons “to be confident in the new year under the leadership and administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said. “Signifcant strides have been made with the president undertaking difficult but game-changing reforms which are important in achieving our goal of bringing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos,” Panelo said. “As we wish each Filipino a happy, peaceful and successful 2020, we assure everyone that the best is yet to come. Let us continue to rally behind the
Duterte administration as the Chief Executive does his best in serving and protecting the Filipino people, as well as delivering genuine and meaningful change to our nation,” he added. In a separate interview over DZIQ radio, Panelo bared that Duterte continues to wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year for all Filipinos and vows to uplift the people’s conditions. “The president will respond accordingly to the Filipino people’s needs, to give them comfortable lives, to bring changes to bring about a healthy and progressive nation,” he said. n
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New health laws for 2020 to start on Jan. 1, including requirement that Californians have health insurance SACRAMENTO, Calif. — While a recent federal court ruling leaves the federal individual mandate in legal limbo, Californians are reminded that a state law will take effect on Jan. 1 requiring all Californians to have health insurance. “Open enrollment is underway right now. That means now is the time to sign up for a quality health plan through Covered California so you are protected in case you get sick or injured, and so you do not have to worry about a possible penalty,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “Writing a check to the Franchise Tax Board when you file your 2020 taxes isn’t the real penalty — it’s getting hurt or ill and ending up with $50,000 hospital bill.” California created a new state individual mandate penalty that is similar to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s penalty. It will be administered by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and collected when people file their 2020 taxes starting in 2021. “It’s important that everyone acts now to get health insurance starting in January 2020 to avoid the penalty when filing state tax returns in 2021,” said FTB Executive Officer Selvi Stanislaus. For those facing a penalty, a family of four would pay at least $2,000, and potentially more, for not having health insurance throughout 2020. The return of the penalty was an important element in Covered California’s record-low rate change of 0.8 percent in 2020, meaning consumers have already benefited from the new policy. New financial help In addition to the penalty, California is making new financial help available to eligible consumers to help further lower the cost of their coverage. On average, consumers between 200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will receive $21 per household, per month on top of their federal tax credits. Meanwhile, for the first time in the nation, people who earn between 400
12 ROUND FRUITS. Shoppers crowd in front a fruit stand in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Sunday (Dec. 29, 2019) as they rush to prepare for the New Year’s tradition of serving 12 round fruits. Longan fruit is a perfect addition to 12 round fruits to welcome the year 2020 or the Year of the Rat in Chinese tradition PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Photo courtsey of coveredca.com
and 600 percent of the federal poverty level will be receiving an average of $460 per household, per month. “More than half a million Californians have already found out they will benefit from this new money,” Lee said. “Consumers have through the end of January to see what plans are available to them and whether they qualify for financial help from the federal government, the state, or both.” Gov. Gavin Newsom also reiterated his support of the Affordable Care Act when he joined Covered California during a teleconference last week. “The Affordable Care Act is alive and well here in the state of California,” Newsom said. “We are saving lives, we’re expanding coverage, we’re deepening subsidies, and we’re doubling down on our commitment to fulfill the law’s promise and its potential.” Californians already set to benefit from the state subsidy program include: • Yuriana and Hector, who say their daughter is a Covered California miracle because without their health insurance they would not have been able to afford getting pregnant.
Suspect identified in 1982 cold case murder of 2 Fil-Ams SAN FRANCISCO — Closure has finally come to the family of two young Filipino Americans murdered 37 years ago as their suspected killer has been identified through DNA and genetic technology. Cousins Jeffrey Flores Atup and Mary Jane Malatag, both 16, were found dead along roadways on the morning of Dec. 20, 1982, according to Fremont police. They were last seen alive walking home from a movie and a convenience store. Malatag was sexually assaulted. Their bodies were found eight miles apart at intersections in Fremont and Milpitas, Califor-
nia. Examination of DNA left the murder scenes, genetic genealogy research, and exhumation of Hudspeth’s remains led to his identity as the most likely killer of the teens. Hudspeth, aged 31 in 1982, had a criminal history of bank robberies, sexual assaults and attempted homicide, was 31 years old at the time of the crime, police said. He lived a 4-minute drive from where Atup’s body was found, according to an ABC News report. Anyone with information can call Det. Jacob Blass at 510-7906963. n
New OFW agency must not overlap with DFA – Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. by Bernadette
tamayo ManilaTimes.net
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. over the weekend said the proposed creation of an agency to focus on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) must not overlap with the functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “A new department of OFWs must be a stand alone department; no overlap with Foreign Affairs. Unless it wants to be a bureau under DFA,” Locsin said on Twitter on Friday midnight, December 27. Sen. Richard Gordon said the DFA’s major policy thrusts for 2020 should be the following: protect Philippine territorial integrity and national sovereignty; strengthen economic and cultural diplomacy; ensure efficient delivery of consular services; and strengthen services for OFWs and continue working for the promotion and protection of their rights. For his part, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go filed on July 2 Senate Bill (SB) 202, or the “Department of Overseas Filipi-
Manilatimes.net file photo
nos Act of 2019,” to improve coordination among concerned offices by putting them under one roof and to avoid finger-pointing in relation to addressing OFWs’ concerns. Go earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte “would like to put an end to manpower agencies that demand excessive fees from Filipinos seeking jobs abroad and to protect Filipino migrant workers from abusive illegal recruiters.” He explained the need to streamline functions of government agencies in order to provide fast, accessible and quality services to OFWs and to aid their families in the Philippines. This is what the Department of Overseas Filipinos (DoOFW) is all about. SB 202 proposes that the following agencies be transferred to the DoOFW — Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Commission on Filipino Overseas, International Labor Affairs Bureau of the Department of Labor and Employment and National Reintegration Center for OFWs. n
“We do not want people to miss out on this opportunity. We don’t want them to leave money on the table, and we don’t want them to get stuck with a big bill when they pay their taxes in 2021,” Lee said. Recent court ruling California’s individual mandate and penalty remain in place as state leaders prepare to respond to the recent ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. On Wednesday, December 18, the panel ruled that the individual mandate was unconstitutional, but remanded the case to a lower PAGE A4
HHS, Dept. of Education release updated joint guidance on privacy, student education and health records THE U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released updated joint guidance on Dec. 19 addressing the application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to records maintained on students. The guidance, which was first issued in November 2008, clari-
fies for school administrators, health care professionals, families, and others how FERPA and HIPAA apply to education and health records maintained about students. The revised guidance includes additional frequently asked questions and answers addressing when a student’s health information can be shared without the written consent of the parent or eligible student under FERPA, or without written authorization under the HIPAA Privacy
Rule. New clarifications and examples address: • When can protected health information (PHI) or personally identifiable information from an education record (PII) be shared with the parent of an adult student? • What options do family members of an adult student have under HIPAA if they are concerned about the student’s mental health and the student does not agree to
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Good news: California’s population growth has slowed But overpopulation and its effects force people to flee
VENTURA, CA – According to California’s Department of Finance (DOF), the state grew by “only” 141,300 over the last year, but that was only because of a net outflow of almost 200,000 Californians to other states. The official state estimate for July 1, 2019, puts California’s population at 39.96 million, a growth rate of 0.35 percent, the lowest recorded rate since 1900. The DOF estimate indicates that the net domestic outmigration of 198,000 was offset by foreign immigration of 158,000 and natural increase (births minus deaths) of 181,000. Immigration drives population growth in the U.S., and even more so in California. According to the Pew Research Center, “Future immigrants and their descendants… are projected to account for 88 percent of the U.S. population increase,” between 2015 and 2065. Californians for Population Stabilization Executive Director Ric Oberlink responded: “It’s good news that California’s growth rate is slowing.
Photo courtesy of calmatter.org
Decades of unsustainable population growth have resulted in crumbling infrastructure, massive traffic jams, increased air pollution, and the destruction of large swathes of California’s precious ecosystems. The fact is, California is already overpopulated; it is why we’re seeing Californians leave the state in record numbers. Overpopulation leads to reduced quality of life. “We think of Europe as the crowded Old World and think of America, especially the West, as the land of wide-open spaces, yet
the population density of California already exceeds that of Europe by one-third… and is still increasing. “Population growth drives up the cost of housing and increases the cost of living. These contribute to our crisis of homelessness. “While this exodus slows our increase, it is a sad commentary on conditions in California. Where are the leaders who recognize that we should stabilize our population to regain the high quality of life that used to be the hallmark of California?” n
OLD BUT GRAND. Vintage and classic cars are on display for the annual ‘19 Kopong Kopong’ car show at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand in Quezon City on Sunday, December 29. Manilatimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote
PH, 4 other nations on top of boxing world by EddiE
G. AlinEA ManilaTimes.net
WITH four international champions, bannered by eight-division titlist Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, the Philippines emerged as the fifth best boxing nation in the world this year. Joining the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super titleholder and now senator Pacquiao in the elite list are World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas and IBF mini-flyweight Pedro Taduran. The United States has the most world champions with 15, followed by Mexico with 10 and Japan and the United Kingdom with five each. The Philippines shares 5th place with Russia. Two other Filipinos were on the hunt for boxing glory this year but fell short. Fil-American Nonito Donaire, the former IBF flyweight, unified World Boxing Council and WBO bantamweight, IBF super-bantamweight, IBF/WBO/WBA super-bantamweight and WBA super-featherweight champ, made waves early in the year by reaching the finals of the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight classic. But the “Filipino Flash” lost to Japanese Naoya Inoue in the gold medal bout by unanimous decision. Four-division boxing world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes vacated his WBO super-flyweight
world championship to pursue bigger fights against the other 115-pound champions, but at age 34 failed to sustain his wish. Had the two held on to their crowns, the Philippines could have ranked higher. Pacquiao, who at 41 is the oldest 147-pound campaigner, can enjoy the New Year with more honors if the Boxing Writers Association of America anoints him as “Fighter of the Decade” and “Fighter of the Year.” He is one of five nominees for the titles. His 12-round unanimous-decision victory over Keith Thurman last July is also lined up for the “Fight of the Year” plum. Equally successful this year are Filipino amateur fighters. Nesthy Petecio, who at 27 had been carrying the country’s flag in international tournaments for a dozen years, was crowned the AIBA world women’s featherweight champion last October in Ulan-Ude, Russia. A month earlier, Eumir Marcial, now 24 and an ex-world junior champion, brought home the silver medal in the AIBA world men’s middleweight championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Petecio and Marcial presided over the Philippines’ domination in boxing at the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games. The boxing team delivered seven gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes to dethrone perennial champion Thailand. Other Filipino gold medalists at the Games were light-fly Carlo Paalam, flyweight Rogen Ladon, lightweight Charly Suarez, lightwelterweight James Palicte, all
in the men’s division, and lightflyweight Josie Gabuco, herself a former AIBA world champ, in the women’s side. The United States has the most number of world boxing champions with 431, three times more than Mexico, the second-best. The Philippines with 39 past and present world titlists is ranked sixth, according to shortboxing.com, behind the US, United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia and Japan and ahead of Ukraine and Germany. Besides having the distinction as the first Asian country to win a world boxing champion via the legend, Pancho Villa, the Philippines has the first fighter to be elevated to the International boxing Hall of Fame. Villa, Francisco Guilledo in real life, was world flyweight champion on June18, 1923. Born Aug. 1, 1901, he died 18 days before his 24th birthday in the US. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in October 1961, or 28 years after he knocked out Jimmy Wilde in seven rounds at New York’s Polo Ground. The Philippines is currently home to some of the best fighters on the planet. After Villa came Ceferino Garcia, the only Filipino to fight as a middleweight and became world champion. He is the originator of the now-outlawed “bolo punch.” Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, the longest reigning world junior-lightweight champion at seven years, is the second Filipino boxer to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. Pacquiao could be next. He is a first-ballot nominee to the Hall. n
HHS, Dept. of Education release... PAGE A3 disclosures of their PHI? • Does HIPAA allow a covered health care provider to disclose PHI about a minor with a mental health condition or substance use disorder to the minor’s parents? When can PHI or PII be shared about a student who presents a danger to self or others? • Under FERPA, can an educational agency or institution disclose, without prior written consent, PII from a student’s education records, including health records, to the educational agency’s or institution’s law enforcement officials? • Does FERPA permit an educational agency or institution to disclose, without prior written consent, PII from a student’s education records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)? “Confusion on when records
can be shared should not stand in the way of protecting students while they are in school,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “This update will provide much-needed clarity and help ensure that students get the assistance they need, and school leaders have the information they need to keep students safe.” “The Trump Administration has made it a priority to help Americans with substance use disorder or serious mental illness, and their families, and this resource takes another meaningful step by clarifying how students’ health information can be shared with those in the best position to help them,” said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. “This updated resource empowers school officials, health care providers, and mental health professionals by dispelling the myth that HIPAA prohibits the sharing of
health information in emergencies,” said OCR Director Roger Severino. The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our nation’s students, schools, and communities. This comprehensive guidance document contributes to this important effort by improving the public’s understanding of how FERPA and HIPAA apply to students’ health and educational information and when regulated entities can disclose such information, especially in connection with health and safety emergency situations. The joint guidance may be viewed at: https://www.hhs.gov/ hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/ guidance/index.html and https:// studentprivacy.ed.gov/resources/joint-guidance-applicationferpa-and-hipaa-student-healthrecords. n
New health laws for 2020 to start on Jan. 1... PAGE A3 court. “The court ruling will not impact California and should not deter anyone from signing up during the current open-enrollment period,” Lee said. “The legal battle will continue for the foreseeable future, and Covered California will be working to educate people about the penalty and enroll as many as possible.” Getting help enrolling Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible for financial help and see which plans are available in their area by entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage into Covered California’s Shop and Compare Tool. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can: • Visit www.CoveredCA.com. • Get free and confidential inperson assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller. • Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506. California’s open-enrollment period continues through Jan. 31, 2020. New health laws for 2020 Critical new laws will affect Californians and their health care in 2020: • Senate Bill (SB) 106 provides the appropriations for the state subsidy program, along with income eligibility and specified funding allocation by eligibility levels. (SB 106, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 55, Statutes of 2019.) • SB 78 is the omnibus health trailer bill that establishes the individual mandate and penalty, as well as the requirements for the state subsidy program. (SB 78, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 38, Statutes of 2019.) • Assembly Bill (AB) 1309 expands the individual market open-enrollment period to Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. It sets Feb. 1 as the effectuation date for those who enroll between Dec. 16 and Jan. 31. This will give consum-
ers additional time to sign up for coverage, thereby helping more Californians to become insured. (AB 1309, Bauer-Kahan, Chapter 828, Statutes of 2019.) • AB 5 limits California companies’ use of workers as independent contractors rather than as employees. This bill may affect the provision of health insurance to these employees. (AB5, Gonzalez, Chapter 296, Statutes of 2019.) • SB 104 authorizes the provision of full-scope Medi-Cal to adults aged 19-25 regardless of their immigration status. (SB 104, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 67, Statutes of 2019.) • SB 276 standardized the provision of medical exemptions for vaccination by requiring the California Department of Public Health to develop a statewide electronic request form, tracking school immunization levels and addressing physicians who submit an unusually high number of medical exemption forms. (SB 276, Pan, Chapter 278, Statutes of 2019.) (Covered California) n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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Crime solution rate in Manila improving by Joshua
VeRa CRuz ManilaTimes.net
HOMEWARD BOUND. Government troopers send home the remains of a 29-year-old rebel, identified as “LJ�, to his family in Agusan del Norte. The military exhumed LJ’s remains on Nov. 30 in Nueva Vizcaya after his former comrades bared to authorities the place where his body was buried after he succumbed to pneumonia. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Chinese nationals top foreign violators in PH by RobeRtzon
RamiRez
Philstar.com
MANILA — The influx of Chinese citizens in the Philippines has resulted into their getting the top spot in the list of foreign violators in 2019, records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed. The BI said they arrested 2,257 erring foreigners in its various operations from January
to December 2019. Of the number, at least 1,577 were Chinese. Other violators came from Taiwan (66), Myanmar (45), India (25) and Vietnam (19). The BI intelligence division collared 1,836 of the foreigners while the fugitive search unit arrested 421. Fortunato Manahan Jr., BI acting intelligence chief, said major-
ity of the Chinese were arrested either for illegally staying in the country, engaging in cyber fraud activities or operating unauthorized online gaming. “Some of those arrested were not only illegally working here. They were also suspected of involvement in terrorism while others are wanted fugitives,� he added. n
Duterte tells ABS-CBN to just sell the network by nestoR
CoRRales
Inquirer.net
MANILA — After threatening television giant ABS-CBN with closure by not renewing its franchise, President Duterte on Monday, December 30, 2019 gave an unsolicited advice to the network — put it on sale. Duterte made the proposal with just three months left until ABS-CBN’s broadcast rights expires. It is congress that is mandated by the constitution to enact franchise bills pending before it. If the franchise is not granted, the country’s largest network would have to close down its TV and radio operations by March 30, 2020. “Itong ABS, mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan,� Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato. “Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan. And I will make sure that
Inquirer.net file photo
you will remember this episode of our times forever,� he added. Duterte has several times in the past threatened to block the franchise renewal of the Kapamilya network after what he claimed to be unfair treatment of him during the presidential campaign period. The president has also repeatedly accused ABS-CBN of estafa for supposedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for during the May 2016 presidential
elections. He has also slammed the network for airing what he deemed to be unfair or slanted reports about him. The proposed sale of ABS-CBN came on the heels of reports that Duterte’s friend, Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy recently formed the Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp, which expands his business to media and entertainment sector. n
‘I want billionaires in prison’: Duterte threatens to jail Ayala, Pangilinan over water deal by JeoffRey
maitem nestoR CoRRales ManilaTimes.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 30, 2019 threatened to jail the owners of the two biggest water utilities in the country, Manila Water chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Maynilad chairman Manuel Pangilinan, for having committed what he described as syndicated estafa against consumers for years. “’Yung nagtatanong kayo, saan ‘yung big fish? Saan ‘yung mga corruption, saan ‘yung malalaki? Oh, ideliver ko na sa inyo ngayon. Si Ayala pati si Pangilinan,â€? Duterte said in a speech before earthquake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato. (To those who are asking where are the big fish in corruption, I will deliver to you‌ Ayala and Pangilinan.) Ayala and Pangilinan have earned the ire of Duterte over the 1997 water deal between the government, Maynilad, and Manila Water, which he called as “onerous.â€? The president vowed to go after those behind the contracts,
including the powerful businessmen behind the two firms, whom he accused of “economic plunder.â€? “That is f‌g contract. On the other hand, I go after them,â€? he said. “’Pag nagkamali yang gagong yan, ipakukulong ko talaga sila. Huh. Kita mo maski anong insulto ko, hindi na sumasagot. Sigurado swak sila. Syndicated estafa,â€? Duterte said.â€? (If they commit another mistake, I will put them in jail. See, even how I will insult them they are not responding. I will jail them for syndicated estafa.) “I want billionaires inside the prison,â€? he added. “They are just water distributors. But as it turned out, they are the richest and they think they are the owners of water. That’s why in the contracts they are the only allowed to implement (an) increase‌not the government,â€? the president said. “We surrendered (our) sovereignty on that,â€? he said, explaining that the contract considered water as a commodity and not part of the country’s natural resources. He referred to it as a “really crooked way of interpreting a
Constitution.� In separate decisions, the Singapore-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ordered the Philippine government in 2017 to pay P3.6 billion to Maynilad and in November to compensate P7 billion to Manila Water for losses suffered by the water firms due to disallowed water rate increases from 2013 to 2017. Duterte has said he would never pay the amount, saying the Filipinos were being “milked by the billions� with the onerous deals. He cited the firms’ corporate income taxes, saying that instead of paying the government their tax liabilities, they instead pass it on to the consumers. “Since 1997 they have environmental enhancement fee. That’s (for) water treatment facility that is not exiting until now and they continue collecting. Since 1997 until now that is already worth trillions,� the president said. Maynilad and Manila Water have said they would no longer collect P10.8 billion in compensation. Despite the move of Maynilad and Manila Water, Duterte warned of military takeover over the two water concessionaires. n
Drug war tougher in 2020 – PNP chief by emmanuel
tupas
Philstar.com
MANILA — Human rights groups may find it hard to believe, but lately the Philippine National Police has been exercising tolerance in dealing with drug suspects. This, however, is about to change in 2020, according to the PNP officer-in-charge. Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa warned over the weekend that drug personalities should change their ways or face the “maximum force of the law� in the coming year. He noted that drug suspects seem to be oblivious to the government’s war on drugs despite the killing of thousands. “We will give you the maximum force of the law. If it would mean your neutralization in the course of it, hindi kami magda-
Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa warned over the weekend that drug personalities should change their ways or face the “maximum force of the law� in the coming year. Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos
dalawang isip lalo na marami many of our policemen have kaming kapulisan na namatay na been killed because of our tolerdahil tolerance kami (we won’t ance),� he said. PAGE A7 think twice, especially now that
THERE was a 20-percent increase in crime solution rate in 2019 in Manila compared to the previous year, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). Lt. Col. Carlo Magno Manuel, MPD spokesman, this week said of the recorded crimes this year, nearly 90 percent were solved compared to 2018’s 70percent solution rate. The recorded crimes were those committed against property and against persons. “There were particular crimes that went up and some that went down, but the important part is the increase in our crime solution efficiency,� Manuel said in Filipino. According to the MPD spokesman, crimes against property rose because of the lack of police visibility inside private establishments such as malls, especially during the onset of the Christmas season. Crimes against property include burglary, theft, pickpocketing, car theft, shoplifting and vandalism. “We don’t have much hold on this since these malls are private and are manned by private security guards. So our police visibility there is very limited,� Manuel said. But, he pointed out, the police can control crimes against property. For a crime to transpire, Manuel explained, three factors should be present: motive, suspects’ capability and opportunity. Recent police interventions, he said, aimed to remove the suspects’ opportunity by adopting a “surgical approach� to police deployment. “It all starts with a study of prevalent crimes in the area, where they happen and around what time they happen,� Manuel added in Filipino. Based on previous recorded cases, the MPD has determined that snatching is one of the prevalent crimes that takes place on Recto Avenue and Rizal Avenue in downtown Manila between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. or the “crime clock.� “Noong araw, full compliance lang at ide-deploy ang police without knowing na ang dami palang nangyayari sa madaling
araw (Back then, we just deployed our police force without knowing that there are a lot of crimes happening at dawn),� Manuel said. As part of police intervention today, he added, the force is deployed to watch the crime clock. The MPD spokesman urged the public to keep a keen eye on suspicious individuals in their community and report their activities to authorities.
“We are calling for the help of the public in reporting suspicious individuals in their immediate vicinity,� he said. Manuel also appealed to the public to report crooked policemen, assuring that identities of informants will be kept strictly confidential. “In that manner, the public can help us in maintaining peace and order in the community,� he said. n
PAUNAWA PARA SA MGA HIHIRANGIN PARA SA PAMPUBLIKONG TANGGAPAN Ang PAUNAWANG ITO AY NAGLALAHAD na ang mga sumusunod ay hinirang para sa mga tanggapang itinalaga na punan sa Pangkalahatang Halalan sa Muni- sipyo na gaganapin sa Lungsod ng San JosĂŠ sa Martes, Marso 3, 2020. Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 2 Jonathan Fleming Sergio Jimenez
Bumoto ng Isa
Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 4 David Cohen Lan Diep Jamal Khan Huy Tran
Bumoto ng Isa
Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 4 Marshall Woodmansee Ruben Navarro Devora “Dev� Davis Jake Tonkel
Bumoto ng Isa
Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 4 Sylvia Arenas Jim Zito
Bumoto ng Isa
Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 4 Jenny Higgins Bradanini Helen P. Wang Matt Mahan
Bumoto ng Isa
Mga Panukalang Pagbobotohan: Panukalang E Upang pondohan ang pangkalahatang mga serbisyo ng Lungsod ng San JosĂŠ, kabilang ang abot-kayang pabahay para sa mga matatanda, beterano, may kapansanan, at mga pamilyang mababa ang kita, at tulungan ang mga residenteng walang tirahan na ilipat sa mga kanlungan/permanenteng pabahay, ay dapat magpatupad ng isang ordinansa na gumawa ng batas sa isang real property transfer tax kabilang ang mga di-natukoy na paglilipat sa mga rate na ito : HUWAG ISAMA ang paglilipat ng mas mababa sa $ 2,000,000 na LQLODSDW SDUD VD LQĂ€DWLRQ KDQJJDQJ VD KDQJJDQJ VD DW PDV PDWDDV VD VD QD OXPLOLNKD QJ humigit-kumulang $ 70,000,000 taun-taon, hanggang sa mabago, na lahat ng pera ay mananatili sa komunidad?
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Toni J. Taber, CMC Klerk ng Lungsod Petsa: Disyembre 13, 2019
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january 3-9, 2020 • nOrCaL aSIan jOurnaL
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OpiniOn
Slowing down
Features
THE projection was that the number of Filipinos would surpass 110 million by 2020. Now the Commission on Population has lowered its forecast amid a reported deceleration in the number of childbirths. PopCom says that by July 2020, there would be 108.7 million Filipinos — 1.2 million lower than the 109.9 million originally projected by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Editorial
PopCom reported that in the past decade, the country’s population growth has been slowing down, dipping by 0.21 percent from the 1.73 percent between 2010 and 2015 to 1.52 percent in the second half of the decade. Between 2019 and 2020, PopCom is projecting an increase of 1.38 percent, or over 1.48 million added to the population. While the birth rate is dipping, more Filipinos are living longer and accounting for a greater percentage of the population. By 2020, PopCom estimates that Filipinos 60 years and older will grow to nearly 9.69 million, accounting for 8.8 percent of the population. PopCom attributes the slower population growth rate to reproductive health and family planning programs gaining acceptance among Filipinos and yielding results. PopCom, however, stresses that the
IT is a colossal deception that the Philippines in 2016 won the arbitration suit against China involving our disputes in the South China Sea and that the country should pursue the “enforcement” of the arbitral tribunal’s “award.” The arbitral tribunal declared only one feature occupied by China in the Spratlys, Mischief Reef, as within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which the superpower cannot claim since as a “low-tide elevation,” or one which sinks to the sea at high tide, it cannot be appropriated by any country. Even that victory is doubtful because China argues that it claims Mischief Reef not as a separate feature, but as part of its Nansha islands. Whether China is right or not, that the tribunal declared Mischief Reef as within our EEZ is dwarfed in significance by what we lost as a result of the award, which prompted not a few scholars to conclude that the arbitration ruling was a pyrrhic victory for the Philippines. The term’s origins refer to King Pyrrhus of Epirus who lost so many of his
troops in one victorious battle with the Romans. In this case, the Philippines lost so much in getting the tribunal to rule that Mischief Reef is ours. The tribunal extended its ruling on the Chinese-occupied features to all of the Spratlys, including the features we claim or occupy. It declared: “None of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands, in their natural condition, are capable of sustaining human habitation or economic life of their own within the meaning of Article 121(3) of the Convention; and that none of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands generate entitlements to an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.” The tribunal reduced the status of all islands in the area as mere “rocks,” under the Unclos definition. It’s a huge loss for us since we have, after Taiwan’s Taiping island, the biggest feature in the Spratlys, Pag-Asa (37 hectares in size) and several relatively big islands such as Likas (19 has.) and Parola (13 has), which, as is the practice with most states, are without doubt considered as islands. But the tribunal declared that these are only “rocks” in its much criticized interpretation of Unclos provisions, and therefore not entitled to a 200-
AS A WORD war raged over the US ban on selected Philippine officials and the freezing of their assets, President Duterte rejected a standing invitation to visit the White House, barred the entry of two U.S. senators and threatened to require visiting Americans to secure visas. There are so far no indications, however, that the ordinary Filipino traveler would become collateral damage in the tit for tat that could get out of hand if mishandled. Only officials involved in the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima since 2017 on drug-related charges are being targeted by a provision in the 2020 U.S. budget law allowing President Trump to ban her persecutors and freeze their assets in the U.S. Denouncing what it said was U.S. meddling in internal Philippine affairs, Malacañang threatened Thursday to require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to first secure an entry visa. This knee-jerk reaction could remain just a threat, because it could inflict more harm to the Philippines than to the U.S. if carried out. Also, many of those to be affected are Fil-Ams holding only U.S. passports.
nautical mile EEZ. The flaw of tribunal’s ruling indeed was starkly demonstrated when it declared that the biggest island in the Spratlys, Taiping–47 has. in size and controlled by Taiwan, which has a garrison with an airport that can accommodate even C-130 planes, and is energy self-sufficient because of its huge array of solar panels–is not an island. We could have claimed in future negotiations for delimitation of EEZs with other countries, that Pag-Asa island as well as the other islands we occupy and claim are each entitled 200-nautical mile EEZs, each of which is an area of 430 sq km, four times bigger than the entire island of Luzon. This vast area may contain oil and gas wells that we would have the right to look for. But the tribunal we asked to rule on our dispute with China declared that these are not islands but merely “rocks,” and therefore not entitled to EEZs. The Aquino government’s attempt to shoot down China’s claims of sovereignty in the Spratlys backfired in a huge way on the Philippines, The tribunal’s ruling on what are not islands goes against the current definitions of many countries. For example, Japan’s Okino-
torishima isn’t eroding into the sea only because the Japanese built an embankment around it. Its 10 sq m of land area is 1/37,000 the size of our PagAsa island. Yet the Japanese claim it is an island which has a territorial sea and EEZ, which gives it a huge 156,000 sq km of EEZ. Japan rigorously patrols that EEZ, protesting every time any foreign ship not on an innocent passage enters it, such as vessels surveying for hydrocarbon deposits.. Not only Japan. Almost all the major powers have “rocks,” which they claim have EEZs. The U.S. claims Howland Island, Baker Island and Kingman Reef have EEZs which gives it huge areas in the Pacific where it vigorously exercises its sovereign right. Australia has McDonald Island, and France, Clipperton Island. It verges on treason that the Aquino government allowed its American lawyers to argue at great length that our Pag-Asa island is not an “island” by Unclos standards, and to disclose to the world details that should have been confidential as it involved matters of national security. The lawyers’ written statements disclosed, using the island’s American nomenclature, “Thitu” instead of our Pag-Asa:
“The local population on Thitu, transplanted there and maintained by the Philippine government since 2001, keeps a few animals and grows some vegetables, which is possible only because soil is continually brought from Palawan. The amount of food produced is not enough to sustain even this small community, and supplies are shipped from the mainland by a naval vessel once a month. The Philippines maintains military and civilian administrative personnel on Thitu, also supplied from outside.” The lead counsel Paul Reichler of the Washington law firm Foley Hoag LLP in the oral arguments said, in effect announcing to the world that the Philippines was merely putting up a show to make Pag-asa look like an island: “Everyone on Thitu has been transplanted from the Philippine mainland. Human habitation is not naturally sustainable there. Without regular supplies of essentials from Palawan or other major Philippine islands, it would disappear. The conditions are even harsher at much smaller West York Island, which is a sandy cay with more coconut trees than human beings. Only seven Philippine military personnel are stationed there. There are no civilians. All sup-
plies are brought in from outside.” Worse, Aquino-del Rosario through their lawyers lied to the tribunal, and misrepresented the Philippines when they claimed: “The Philippines… claims only a 12 [mile] territorial sea from it. The Philippines considers the feature a ‘rock’ governed by Article 121(3).” The Philippines has not officially declared, after Unclos took effect in 1994, whether Pag-Asa island and the other islands in the Spratlys generate a 430 sq km EEZ. The Aquino-del Rosario suit has in effect deprived, forever as it were, our government — without consulting with Congress — the right to do so. The tribunal’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed. The tragedy here is that it is only the Philippines that is bound by the arbitration suit, as China refused to participate in it. Only the Philippines will be losing the right to claim EEZs around its islands in the KIG. Taiwan, whose Taiping island was also ruled as a mere “rock,” will definitely obviously ignore the arbitration’s ruling since it is not a part of it. Vietnam which has the biggest number of islands, next to us, will ignore it. (ManilaTimes. net)
Duterte drops US visit as visa row heats up
Postscript
Federico Pascual Jr.
Philstar.com photo
We lost our islands with arbitration award
Commentary
RigobeRto tiglao
country still has one of the highest population growth rates in Southeast Asia, with a rising number of adolescent and teenage pregnancies. From the start of his administration, the full implementation of reproductive health programs has been part of President Duterte’s socioeconomic development agenda. He tried to overcome legal roadblocks by issuing an executive order, but the RH campaign began taking off only when the legal hurdles were lifted. Today the implementation of the RH program still needs full support from local government units, so the President may need to exert pressure to get the cooperation that is critical to the success of the program. The latest statistics show a downward trend in population growth, but this must be sustained, and there is no room for complacency. (Philstar.com)
At present, Americans are allowed visa-free visits of 30 days like the citizens of fellow ASEAN members and other favored nations. Chinese arriving without visas are routinely granted one upon presenting their passports at the port of entry. Panicking Filipino officials, including senators and congressmen with businesses and assets in the U.S., have started to distance themselves from De Lima’s detention despite their having been active in the campaign against the opposition senator and critic of Duterte. Many Duterte apologists and trolls in social media have also been lying low since the reiteration of the ban and the freezing of assets of aliens deemed to be undesirable under the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Friday that should a ban from entry into the U.S. be enforced against Philippine officials linked to De Lima’s imprisonment, the government will require all Americans intending to enter the Philippines to apply and secure a visa first. He added that President Duterte was immediately ordering the Bureau of Immigration to bar the entry of Sens. Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Patrick Leahy (Vermont) who introduced the ban in the U.S. budget law. Their insertion includes a
clause on “Prohibition on Entry” that specified “foreign government officials” about whom the (State) Secretary has “credible information” that they have been involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of De Lima. Panelo also announced that President Duterte said he would officially decline a standing invitation to visit the United States. He recalled that the president had told him many times before that he never intended to visit the U.S. in the first place. The president who turns 75 in March has also said that the longhaul flight (around 15 hours) to Washington would be too grueling for him. Heads of government routinely invite one another, almost as part of the small talk, when they meet in summits, forums and such gatherings. Trump has been inviting Duterte to the White House since April 2017. With this jarring turn of events, we think the Duterte administration should try working out things quietly. Braggadocio and empty threats will not work in dealing with the U.S. Panelo claimed that U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim had agreed with him when he said that the State department will only act when it has “credible information” about a Filipino official’s involvement in De Lima’s detention. He quoted Kim telling him: “I
read your statement, it’s a very good statement, I agree with it. It’s Congress that passed that law.” The ambassador may want to confirm or clarify what he said before it is mangled beyond recognition. Rebel exiles still control NPA? Before communist rebel leader Jose Ma. Sison sits down for peace talks with President Duterte or his emissaries, he may have to prove that he and his cabal ensconced in the Netherlands are still in full control of the New People’s Army insurgents back home. There is no point negotiating with Sison and his group if the self-exiled rebel leaders cannot enforce any agreement reached with the Duterte administration on the ending the five-decade rebellion that has taken tens of thousands of Filipino lives. The possible disconnect between Sison’s group and the NPA fighters on the ground was raised after the insurgents attacked government forces in Camarines Norte and Iloilo on the first day of a Dec. 23-Jan. 7 ceasefire preparatory to peace talks. A report from the Joint Task Force Bicolandia said a soldier was killed and six others were wounded when NPA members ambushed troops from the 92nd Division Reconnaissance Co. in Labo, Camarines Norte. Minutes after the attack, another group of rebels fired at a
Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Patrick Leahy
police vehicle in Tubungan, Iloilo, wounding two policemen. Despite his decision in 2017 to stop negotiating with the communist insurgents, Duterte has sent emissaries to Sison in an effort to forge peace with them before his term ends in 2022. Duterte said he wanted to talk directly with SIson, his former professor in college, promising that he would not be arrested if he returned to the country for the one-on-one. Sison said he was amenable to meeting Duterte anywhere in Asia but not in the Philippines. The government, he said, would be in a position to manipulate the talks if held in the president’s
Photos from U.S. Senate
home ground. The founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines said he did not trust individuals and groups moving to sabotage the peace process and that he would only talk to the president alone, without distracting entities. He claimed that the Duterte administration was “going downhill to hell” and “could not find enough relief from its imperialist masters to overcome the rising revolutionary movement of the Filipino people.” (Philstar.com) *** NOTA BENE: All Postscripts can be accessed at manilamail.com. Follow author on Twitter as @FDPascual. Email feedback to dikpascual@gmail.com.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 3-9, 2020
Tourism booms: 8-M visit PH
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat
ManilaTimes.net photo
TOURISM is booming in the Philippines with more than 8 million visitors coming in 2019, the government said. “Breaking the 8-million mark is another milestone to celebrate, as it marks the unprecedented growth of the country’s tourism industry,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said in a statement. The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed on Friday, December 27, the country’s 8 millionth visitor — a Japanese. “The momentous occasion is part of the DoT’s tradition of celebrating the arrival of significant number of tourists following the welcoming of the Philippines’ 5 millionth visitor in 2015,” Puyat
arrivals for 2019 will be released early in January next year. The Philippines hopes to reach its target of 8.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2019, a million higher than 2018. China, being its second largest tourist origin, the Philippines has welcomed a total of 1,499,524 Chinese tourists in the first 10 months of the year, increasing 41 percent from the same period in 2018. Every week, more than 300 flights are shuttling between China and the Philippines. According to the Philippines Statistics Authority, tourism industries contributed 12.7 percent to the Philippine economy in 2018. (Manilatimes.net) n
said. She attributed the historic 8-million mark to a number of factors, especially to the coming of Chinese holidaymakers, the refreshed “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign, and the reopening of Boracay island resort after a six-month clean up. Puyat said advocating sustainable tourism also improved air connectivity and hosting of big ticket tourism events. It also helped to promote digital and online marketing, different tourism product portfolios, including culinary tourism and farm tourism, healthy private-public partnerships, international accolades and recognitions. The detailed report of visitor
Drug war tougher in 2020 – PNP... PAGE A5 The PNP, meanwhile, said Gamboa, who is a lawyer, said more than 50 police officers drug suspects continue to ply have died in clashes with drug their trade as police have been suspects. “probably lenient” and careful to Police have shifted focus from avoid casualties. street peddlers to high-value tarHe directed police anti-nar- gets in an effort to further put a cotics officers not to hesitate to dent on the illegal drug trade. take action in law enforcement Since July 2016, a total of 8,85 operations when their lives are high-value targets in the drug in danger. war have been “If there is an immediate threat arrested, including 297 electthen by all means we are allowed ed officials, 347 government emto neutralize them in whatever ployees and 82 members of the capacity we have,” Gamboa uniformed service. said. Also arrested were 222 forAt least 5,552 suspected drug eigners and 10 celebrities. The pushers and users have been rest were either high-profile killed for allegedly resisting ar- leaders and members of drug x 10.55.pdf 1 12/30/19 PM rest sinceAARP_Census_Talker_5.6 President Duterte took syndicates, members 10:30 of private office in July 2016. armed groups and drug den
maintainers. Gamboa earlier said the last quarter of the year was a difficult time for the PNP as they grappled with the controversies which hounded former police chief Oscar Albayalde. Albayalde went on non-duty status after weeks of controversy linking him to “ninja cops” or police officers who recycle illegal drugs. Gamboa, who took over the PNP’s top post following Albayalde’s departure, has promised to institute reforms to repair the police force’s image. “We admit we faltered and that’s why I had a very great challenge ahead of me on how we can regain the public’s trust,” he said. n
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GIFTS FOR OFWS. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III leads the distribution of Pamaskong Handog to some 800 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Riyadh and Singapore at the NAIA Terminal 1. The OFWs, regarded as modern day heroes of the country’s economy, received P10,000 each from DOLE and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. OFWs remit USD32.2 billion to the government coffers last year. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
DOH most trusted agency – Pulse Asia by Joshua
Vera Cruz ManilaTimes.net
THE Department of Health (DOH) came out on top as the most trusted government agency from the December Ulat ng Bayan Report of Pulse Asia Research Inc. Other agencies included in the survey were the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). In the report, the Health department received a trust rating of 80 percent, followed by the AFP at 75 percent and the PNP at 72 percent. The recent development was a jump from the department’s rating of 72 percent in September. “I congratulate the entire DOH workforce, officials and employees alike, for their dedication and commitment,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said. “Without their untiring and selfless efforts in improving our health services and making these felt by the people, we would not have earned the people’s trust,” he added. In the same report, Duque earned a 74-percent approval rat-
Department of health
ing, claiming the top spot among other select officials and Cabinet members. He got the approval rating from an 87 awareness rate from participants. Those included in the survey were Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Finance Secretary
Photo courtesy of CNN Philippines
Carlos Dominguez 3rd, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno. Duque expressed his gratitude for the positive feedback the department got and said they are exhilarated to deliver Universal Health Care and provide responsive, accessible and quality health services to every Filipino. n
Ang aking resolusyon sa Bagong Taon? Kumuha ng REAL ID!
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january 3-9, 2020 • nOrCaL aSIan jOurnaL
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