SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2024 Volume 34 - No. 68 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages
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DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
California must create permanent investments to combat hate SACRAMENTO — Thousands of California residents who are vulnerable to hate crimes and incidents have received support and awareness services through a $190 million multi-year grant the state of California has allocated to combat hate. That funding, which helped build a statewide communication infrastructure pairing ethnic media and community-based organizations, will end over the next 15 months. $10 million of the AAPI Equity Budget was granted to more than 60 ethnic media outlets around the state. Those outlets used the twoyear grant to amplify stories of victims and to address the root causes of hate crimes and incidents, including school bullying. They also partnered with CBOs to be “first responders,” and to collectively work towards permanent solutions to combating hate in the state. The ethnic media grant, administered by the California State Library, will end in December. With all funding from the AAPI Equity Budget having been allocated, the ethnic media sector will receive no additional funding from that initiative. ‘More work to do’ “It’s really remarkable when we think of the countless stories that have been written, the
Año: No plan to pull out US missiles from PH by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA — There are no plans to pull out a U.S. mid-range missile system in the Philippines, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año confirmed on Friday, September 20, saying China cannot dictate to Manila “what to do.” He said the withdrawal of the Typhon mid-range missile system would be decided by the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDBSEB). “There are no plans to pull it out any time soon. It
will be the decision of the MDBSEB. They are the ones who have a say and there will be a consultation,” Año said in a chance interview at Sangley Point in Cavite. “But for now, we need what you call the Typhon missile launcher for the training and capability upgrading of our armed forces. We should also know how to operate this because, in the future, this will be the equipment we want to procure,” he added. The top security adviser noted there is no timeline for the deployment of the missile system in the country. China urged the U.S. to quickly pull out the missile
PH mulls leasing foreign ships to expand West Philippine Sea presence by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net
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Suspect in murder of newlywed Fil-Am nurse pleads not guilty THE suspect in the killing of a 32-year-old Filipino American nurse from Oregon pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing Monday afternoon, September 16. Bryce Schubert, 27, accused of killing her neighbor Melissa Jubane, now faces an updated charge of first-degree murder, according to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. Jubane, who was reported missing on Sept. 4 after returning home from her Hawaii wedding, was found dead on Sept. 7. Schubert, who had been Jubane’s neighbor at a Beaverton apartment complex, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. It has been updated to first-degree murder, and Schubert now also faces new charges of kidnapping and abuse of a corpse, according to the DA’s office. On Sept. 4, Jubane, a nurse at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Southwest Portland,
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system, calling the deployment a move to turn back the wheel of history that gravely threatens regional countries’ security. “We are an independent country. We have an independent foreign policy. Nobody can dictate us on what to do and at the same time it is also our duty to perform our role as a partner of the United States as far as the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) is concerned,” Año said. “We know what is best for our country, so they cannot dictate anything on us, particularly on the u PAGE A2
TRIBAL CRAFTS. Bae Mary Ann Lindongan (left) of the Matigsalug-Manobo tribe of Kitaotao, Bukidnon displays her native handmade products during the second day of the Davao Agri Trade Expo 2024 at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Friday, September 20. The prices of the native products, consisting mainly of bags and accessories, range from PHP200 to PHP2,500. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
MANILA — The Philippines is open to leasing ships from other countries to expand its presence in the West Philippine Sea, said the National Maritime Council (NMC) on Thursday, September 19. “Actually parang stop-gap measure–habang wala pa talaga tayong atin, it’s an area, it’s an option na siguro mag-arkila tayo,” said NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday. (Actually, it’s like a stop-gap measure–while we don’t really have our own yet, it’s an area, it’s an option that we might lease.) The idea was initially proposed on Wednesday, September 18 by Senator Francis Tolentino, who suggested that leasing ships could help strengthen the country’s presence in the West Philippine Sea. But Lopez said the government had already been considering the prospect of leasing ships even before. u PAGE A5
China urges US to pull out missile system by JavieR Joe isMael ManilaTimes.net
CHINA on Thursday, September 19 called on the United States to remove a midrange system deployed in the Philippines, following reports that said Washington has no plans to withdraw them. "We urge the relevant country to heed the call of countries in the region, correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible, stop inciting military confrontation, quickly withdraw the missile system as publicly pledged, and avoid going further down the wrong path," Lin Jian, the spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), said in his regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. The Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of
THE WHOLE TRUTH. Former Mayor Alice Guo is placed under oath before the start of the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on Thursday, Sept. 19. Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and one of the committee’s leaders said Friday (Sept. 20) that those who have operated with impunity, using corporate fronts to conceal their illegal operations, will be held accountable. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
striking Chinese targets, was brought into the country for joint exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines earlier this year. Although it was not fired during the exercises, the missile system has remained in the country. Lin Jian noted that in recent years, the U.S. has been hellbent on advancing military deployment, including the mid-range capability missile system, in the Asia-Pacific to pursue an absolute military advantage. "This move will heighten the arms race, exacerbate regional tensions, threaten peace and security in this region, and disrupt In OCTA’s third-quarter survey, Erwin Tulfo (right) had a 60 percent voting preference, followed global strategic balance and stability. China by Ben Tulfo (left), host of the investigative show “Bitag”, with 57 percent. has made clear its opposition more than ManilaTimes.net file photo once," he said. "We urge the U.S. to give up its u PAGE A2
Tulfo brothers still leading Trafficking charges filed vs Guo Senate bets in new survey NON-BAILABLE criminal charges for qualified trafficking have been filed before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and 13 others, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday, September 18. "The DOJ would like to confirm that the case against Alice Guo, including Dennis Cunanan, with the former TLRC (Technology and Livelihood Resource Center) deputy director general and representative of the Zun Yuan Technology, as well as 12 executives and founders of three companies and Guo's alleged business partners, has been filed
in the RTC of Pasig City," DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano told reporters. Clavano said that they filed the case before the Pasig RTC following a Supreme Court ruling granting the DoJ's request for the transfer of venue of cases involving Guo. "Initially, we were going to file it before the Capas court because the crime happened there. However, the Supreme Court released an administrative circular to transfer the case to the Pasig City RTC. All relevant and relative cases to those filed are also going to be filed now in Pasig City," he said. u PAGE A2
by Red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net
WITH only a few weeks before the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2025 elections, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo and broadcaster Ben Tulfo continue to lead in the latest survey of independent pollster OCTA Research. In OCTA's third-quarter survey, Erwin Tulfo had a 60 percent voting preference, followed by Ben Tulfo, host of the investigative show "Bitag", with 57 percent. Rounding out the top six are former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Bong Go, former Senator Panfilo Lacson, and
Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. In seventh to 15th places are Senators Pia Cayetano and Francis Tolentino, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senators Imee Marcos and Lito Lapid, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. Interior Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. and physician Willie Ong were in 10th to 16th place. Other names mentioned in the survey were former senator Gregorio Honasan, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Makati City Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, u PAGE A4