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AUGUST 22-28, 2019
T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R
Volume 30 - No. 34 • 16 Pages
2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Duterte vows to assert ruling Hague on disputed sea even if it angers Xi Jinping by
CHRISTIA MARIE RAMOS Inquirer.net
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker and immigrant advocate Jose Antonio Vargas gives his a speech as school officials listen at the dedication ceremony for the newly-opened Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School on Thursday, August 15. AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta
MANILA — Nobody can stop President Rodrigo Duterte from asserting the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague even it angers Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This was Duterte’s vow Wednesday, August 21, speaking before participants and guests of a solar power project inauguration in Romblon and days ahead of his scheduled fifth trip to China on August 28. “The first thing I will bring up before [Xi Jinping] there is the arbitral ruling,”
he said, insisting that nobody could control what he would say. “If I’m not allowed as a president of a sovereign nation to talk whatever I want to talk about, then let us not rather talk altogether. No. Do not control my mouth because that is a gift from God,” he added.
The president recalled how Xi told him not to raise the landmark PCA decision, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line or expansive claims in the South China Sea. “There has got to be something. You cannot just talk air and they said let’s not
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Duterte: Emulate Ninoy Silicon Valley elementary Aquino’s ‘remarkable life’ school named after Filipino Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, immigration activist
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.— After seeing two schools close down in the city over the past 19 years, an elementary school named after a Filipino Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and immigration activist was officially opened in a dedication ceremony on Thursday, August 15 attended by district officials, faculty and community members. The newly-built Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School — which will initially offer kindergarten to 4th grade due to district rezoning — is
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Mayweather denies Pacquiao rematch rumors
RETIRED boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. denied any comeback fight that would lead to his potential rematch with reigning World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East. In reaction to the social media video appeared in Arabnews.com last Sunday, the undefeated Mayweather (50-0 record with 27 knockouts) said the video was recorded a long time ago. “The video that you all been seeing is false because I’ve been went to Saudi Arabia. I went there a long time ago,” Mayweather told Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com. Mayweather stated also to Fighthype.com that his visit to Saudi Arabia was in January — nearly nine months ago. “I talked to them about me fighting there, just different fights, but they wanted me to spe-
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by CATHERINE
VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, August 21, called on Filipinos to reflect on the sacrifice of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., as he expressed hope that life of the former senator will move government workers “to serve with honor, integrity and purpose.” The nation on Wednesday observed the Ninoy Aquino Day, which marks the assassination of the former senator at the tarmac of the former Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983. In his message on the 36th Ninoy Aquino Day,
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Filipino American Sonny Vinuya (center), president of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, shares small business highlights under the Trump administration during a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, August 20 alongside former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt (right) and other business owners in the city. Tuesday’s event is part of a nationwide business tour organized by the Republican National Committee. AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal
Dengue task force: No to revival of Dengvaxia Las Vegas AAPI business owners by SHIELA
CRISOSTOMO Philstar.com
share strides under Trump admin
MANILA — The National Dengue Task Force will not recommend the restoration of the certificate of by CHRISTINA M. ORIEL AND KLARIZE MEDENILLA AJPress product registration (CPR) for Dengvaxia, citing evidence that showed the vaccine is not effective in preventing dengue infection. DESPITE reports of an impending recession go- jobs that have been created since 2017. “In Calabarzon, there are patients who were vac- ing into 2020, several Asian American and Pacific The Silver State is reportedly experiencing the cinated but still developed dengue. So what’s the use Islanders in Las Vegas argue that their businesses fastest job growth rate in the United States for the u PAGE 2 have been strong since President Donald Trump 10th straight month. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate is took office. Members of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of 4.1%, nearly cut in half since Trump first took ofCommerce, together with former Nevada Attorney fice when the rate was around 8%. “A lot of businesses found it difficult to take risks General Adam Laxalt, led a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, August 20 to share how the current or to take on another employee because you didn’t administration’s policies have been beneficial for know if some regulation was going to strangle your business,” Laxalt added. “The president has them. “We are here to discuss the great economic suc- cut more regulations on business than any other cesses of Nevada and our great country and we president, and we’re all very grateful for that.” Filipino American Sonny Vinuya, president of want to hear real life stories from businesses across the valley about how President Trump’s economic the chamber, cited that at least 21,000 businesses policies have allowed you all to grow and expand in the state are AAPI-owned. About 300 alone are and be successful businesses,” Laxalt told cham- stretched across Las Vegas’ Chinatown. Eduardo Janairo (right), head of the National Dengue Task Force, and DOH ber members at the meeting, touting 117,000 new u PAGE 5 Epidemiology Bureau director Ferchito Avelino Philstar.com photo
Robredo camp asks: Why is OSG focusing on sedition case? by NEIL
ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net
MANILA — Why this particular case? Barry Gutierrez, the spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo, asked this question as he hit the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) again on Wednesday, August 21, for its involvement in the sedition case filed against the country’ secondhighest government official. Gutierrez, who is a lawyer, the OSG, despite the thousands of cases filed by the government, opted to get involved in the sedition case filed against Robredo and several others over the release of the controversial Bikoy narcolist videos linking President Rodrigo Duterte’s relatives and allies to the illegal drug trade.
“Why are you meddling in this particular case? There are thousands of criminal cases that the government files every year against so many other people,” Gutierrez, speaking partly in Filipino, told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the Political Persecution in a Time of Democracy Forum in Quezon City. “May of those cases involve plunder — big cases involving government funds, involving government power, etc. Why this particular case?” he added. Gutierrez made these remarks after the OSG sought the permission of the Department of Justice to be allowed to represent police in the preliminary investigation of the sedition case. The particular unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) involved in this case is the Crimi-
Vice President Leni Robredo posing for a photo with a portrait of her late husband Jesse Robredo. Photo from the Office of the Vice President
nal Investigation and Detection the respondents of the case have Group – National Capital Region already filed a motion with the Field Unit. DOJ seeking to disqualify the On the other hand, some of u PAGE 2