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Volume 37 - No. 14 • 12 Pages
APRIL 3 - 9, 2026 info@asianjournalinc.com • Tel: (818) 937-9981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 • 611 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1300, Glendale, CA 91203
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Philippines opens Iran energy talks, DATELINE USA but Hormuz passage remains unclear FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Los Angeles County leads California’s domestic outmigration as structural pressures mount Residents leaving Los Angeles County are increasingly relocating to Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida as housing costs, affordability pressures, and shifting economic conditions reshape migration patterns.
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said Wednesday, April 1, she has discussed “energy cooperation” with Iran, but it remains unclear whether the talks addressed the current top concern for Manila: securing fuel shipments through the vola-
tile Strait of Hormuz. Lazaro shared her meeting with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh in a social media post, saying both sides were “committed to deepening cooperation… particularly energy cooperation.” The talks were also joined by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. “Building on the momentum of our Political Con-
Probable cause stage of Duterte impeachment hearings may end in April by Jan Escosio Inquirer.net
LOS ANGELES — New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Finance show that Los Angeles County continues to post the largest numeric population decline of any U.S. county, underscoring its central role in California’s ongoing domestic outmigration. As of early 2026, the county’s population is estimated at about 9.7 million, down from more u PAGE 3
U.S. expands social media vetting in visa process worldwide State Department reinforces five-year disclosure requirement as digital footprint becomes central to visa screening. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State has reinforced the role of social media vetting in visa adjudication, requiring applicants to disclose online identifiers as part of security and identity screening. The policy, reflected in consular operations as of late March 2026, builds on measures first implemented in 2019, when most visa applicants were required to list social media identifiers used within the previous five years on forms such as the DS-160 and DS-260. U.S. officials state that the information is used to verify identity and assess eligibility under immigration law, including the evaluation u PAGE 4
NO PRICE INCREASE. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque leads the special monitoring of basic necessities and commodities in several supermarkets in Taguig City on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Over the weekend, the DTI said the prices of goods have remained steady but might increase beyond April 16. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Corruption remains a sticking point in trade between Manila and Washington, with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) again flagging irregularities across Philippine institutions as a major trade barrier. In its 2026 National Trade Estimate report, the USTR described corruption in the Philippines as “pervasive and longstanding.” The agency warned that graft and bribery could disrupt markets and “frustrate broader reforms and economic stabilization programs.” “Corruption is a pervasive and longstanding problem in both the private and public sector in
MANILA — The House committee on justice could complete the probable cause stage of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte as early as April and elevate the case to the plenary once Congress resumes session, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said. Flores, vice chair of the justice panel, said the committee is now determining probable cause following earlier findings of sufficiency in form, substance and grounds — steps required under House rules before any case can be transmitted to the Senate for trial. The panel has set hearings on April 14, 22 and 29, but Flores said the timeline could be shortened depending on the pace of the proceedings. “Well, if it’s done by the 22nd, the third meeting, or on the 14th, then we could present it before the plenary when it comes back,” he said in a Bilyonaryo program interview. Congress is on recess from March 21 to May 3, but the justice panel has been authorized to continue hearings during the break. Once session resumes, its findu PAGE 3
Marcos: All Kalayaan Island Peso rebounds from Group features must have Filipino names record low on hopes for Mideast war deescalation by Dexter Cabalza Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the adoption of Philippine names for the 131 maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to reinforce its sovereignty in the area. KIG lies on the western section of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, but its features form part of the West
Philippine Sea. The Philippines has occupied nine features in the KIG since the 1970s: Rizal (Commodore) Reef; Patag (Flat) Island; Panata (Melchora Aquino Cay/Loaita Cay) Island; Kota (Loaita) Island, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Likas (West York) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola (Northeast) Island, and Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. Pag-asa is the only Philippine-inhabited island in the Spratlys archipelago and is u PAGE 2
USTR flags ‘widespread’ ‘Governent may need to pass Philippine customs corruption P400 billion extra budget’ by Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta
sultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation,” Lazaro said in a social media post. But beyond the broad statement, no specifics have been released, including whether Manila raised the possibility of securing assurances from Tehran on u PAGE 2
the Philippines,” the report said. “National and local government agencies, for example the Bureau of Customs (BOC), are beset with various corruption issues, including allegations of overt bribery.” Singling out the BOC, the USTR said some shipments are subjected to 100-percent inspection and testing. Others face inconsistent fee assessments and processing delays. The report also cited complications in customs valuation, such as the continued use of reference pricing for certain goods. This, even when importers submit complete transaction documents, such as contracts and purchase orders. u PAGE 3
by Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral Inquirer.net
MANILA — The peso rebounded from all-time lows on Wednesday, gaining at the close of a shortened trading week, as the U.S. dollar weakened on hopes of deescalation of the Middle East war. The currency strengthened by 58.8 centavos to settle at 60.16 per dollar, recovering from Tuesday’s record-low close of 60.748. Trading was brisk, with vol-
by Neil Jayson Servallos Philstar.com
MANILA — The government may need to pass a P400-billion “Bayanihan 3” supplemental budget to keep the economy afloat, as the escalating Middle East conflict threatens to completely choke off the country’s oil supply, Sen. Win Gatchalian warned yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Gatchalian revealed that based on projections by the Senate PROTECT committee, a massive legislative intervention would be the only way to fund the state’s survival if vital maritime chokepoints – aside from the Strait of Hormuz – shut down completely. The House of Representatives is also moving to craft a “Bayanihan 3” measure in response to the ongoing oil crisis, but unlike its pandemic-era predecessors, the new package will go beyond direct cash aid toward long-term structural reforms, chairman of the House committee on ways and means Rep. Miro Quimbo said on Tuesday. Gatchalian pointed specifically to the threatened closure of the Red Sea, a critical trade route that serves as the primary artery for u PAGE 2 Forex closing April 1, 2026
ume rising to $2.7 billion from $1.6 billion in the previous session, ahead of market closures for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The U.S. dollar slipped as expectations of a ceasefire grew after President Donald Trump signaled that the United States could end its military campaign against Iran within two to three weeks. n