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September 5-11, 2024 Volume 35 - No. 36 • 12 Pages
T h e F i l i p i n o A m e r i ca n C o m mu n i t y N e ws pa p e r
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DATELINE Fil-Am swimmer wins gold at 2024 Paris Paralympics from the AJPress NEWS TEAM across America
US condemns China’s aggression, reminds defense treaty covers attacks
The U.S., a treaty ally of the Philippines, called the sovereignty’ over ocean areas where no land territory by Ian Laqui Gia Pergolini delivers the incident “dangerous and escalatory,” according to a exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to Philstar.com from the U.S. State Department. enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation U.S. team’s first gold at the MANILA— The United States has condemned the statement The condemnation follows a Chinese Coast Guard and overflight of all nations,” the U.S. statement read. recent aggression by Chinese maritime forces against vessel’s ramming of the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP The U.S. reiterated its call for China to align Paralympic Games a Philippine Coast Guard ship on August 31 (Manila Teresa Magbanua three times near Escoda Shoal. its claims and actions with international law and
Following the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the city seamlessly transitioned into hosting the 2024 Paralympics, where Filipino athletes have been making significant strides in the medal race. Among the standout performers is Gia Pergolini, a Filipino American swimmer who captured gold at just 20 years old. Competing in the 100-meter backstroke S13, Pergolini secured her victory with an impressive time of 1:04.93. And it’s her second time around. Reflecting on her achievement, Pergolini shared with USA Today, “I’m just so happy to be here and representing one of the greatest countries in the world and getting its first gold medal at the Paralympics. It’s just unreal, especially after watching the Olympians dominate the Olympics, I wanted
time).
“The PRC’s unlawful claims of ‘territorial
DFA urged to bring China’s ‘concerning’ acts to UN by ReinaTolentino and Bernadette Tamayo ManilaTimes.net
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Procession held to honor Fil-Am cop killed in pursuit crash Community mourns death of San Diego police officer Austin Machitar SAN DIEGO – A procession was held Friday, August 30 to honor Filipino American police officer Austin Machitar, who was killed in a fiery crash while pursuing a suspect in San Diego. First responders from the San Diego FireRescue and the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) stood with their vehicles on the bridges near the State route 52 interchange to pay tribute to SDPD Officer Michitar, who was on his way to his final resting place, FOX 5 reported. Machitar’s body was being moved from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to El Camino Memorial in Sorrento Valley ahead of his funeral. Community members have been mourning the loss of Machitar, bringing flowers and candles to the scene of the crash. Others brought cards and flowers to the Northern Division police station where the Fil-Am officer was assigned. The American flag was flown half-staff at
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QUICK RESPONSE. Government maintenance teams remove a fallen tree at the corner of C.P. Garcia Avenue and Maginhawa Street in Diliman, Quezon City on Monday, September 2. Metro Manila has been under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 since the previous day due to Tropical Storm Enteng. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to bring China's "concerning actions" in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations. In a statement on Sunday, September 1, Romualdez said it was time "to consider stronger measures" as he condemned the ramming by the China Coast Guard (CCG) of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel on Saturday, August 31. "With a heavy heart and unwavering resolve, I strongly condemn the recent acts of aggression by the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea. The ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of our largest and most modern patrol vessels, is a troubling incident that raises serious questions about respect for international law and our nation's dignity," Romualdez said. "This event, the fifth of its kind this month alone, represents a significant escalation in tensions over the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal — an area clearly within the Philippines' 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," he said. Romualdez said the CCG's actions "are cause for u PAGE 2
PNP starts probe of drug war ‘quota’ system by Francis Earl Cueto ManilaTimes.net
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil Philstar.com file photo
THE Philippine National Police has initiated an in-depth review of the allegations made by former lieutenant colonel Jovie Espenido on the supposed existence of a "quota" and "reward" system during the PNP's anti-drug campaign known as Oplan Double Barrel, implemented during the previous administration. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil emphasized the seriousness and gravity of these allegations, which have raised significant public concern. He assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted as part of an ongoing comprehensive assessment and evaluation by the PNP's oversight bodies. "We take these allegations with the utmost gravity. The review panel, which is led by the Office of the The UniTeam alliance of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio draws thousands of supporters at their campaign rally in Cagayan de Oro City in 2022. Philstar.com file photo
DepEd in the dark on how VP Sara spent confidential funds VP Sara apologizes anew for u PAGE 2
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by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
Education Secretary Sonny Angara
MANILA — The Department of Education’s finance unit is not aware of how Vice President Sara Duterte spent the department’s P112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023. DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla told the House appropriations committee on Monday, September 3, that the finance department was not involved in the “process of utilization and liquidation” of the secret fund. After releasing three-quarters Philstar.com file photo of the P150-million confidential
fund lodged in the agency’s 2023 budget, Sevilla said the finance unit “recorded [the confidential funds] as liquidated because we were given a copy of the cover letter only of the liquidation.” DepEd did not release the remaining confidential funds for the fourth quarter of 2023 because no request was made. Sevilla explained that DepEd adhered to the Commission on Audit’s 2015 joint circular that governs the release of confidential funds through cash advances. “There is a three-month requirement, that it (the confidential fund) should be u PAGE 3
asking Quiboloy followers to back Marcos in 2022 polls by Neil Jayson Servallos Philstar.com
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte reiterated her apology for asking the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) to support Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he ran for the presidency in 2022. “I was on the mistaken belief that we were together on the platform of unity and continuity. I made a mistake and I ask for your forgiveness,” said Duterte,
who ran with Marcos under the UniTeam ticket. Pastor Apollo Quiboloy endorsed the tandem of Marcos and Duterte in the 2022 elections. After two years, the vice president broke free from the UniTeam, saying it was only good for the elections. Shortly after, she resigned from the Cabinet as Department of Education secretary. Duterte said she would reveal u PAGE 4