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NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 5, 2019 Volume 13 - No. 4 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Robredo to Duterte: What are you scared of? by STEPHANIE
FLORIDA Inquirer.net
SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur — “If they think this is over, they don’t know me,” Vice President Leni Robredo said on Monday, November 25, after President Rodrigo Duterte fired her from her lead role in his brutal war on drugs. “I have just begun,” Robredo told reporters here. “If we had the same goal, why did they not just cooperate? Were they not really serious in fighting drugs or did I put some interests Vice President Leni Robredo meets with officials involved in drug at risk?” “What were you afraid I might find out, the rehabilitation efforts in Bicol on Monday, November 25.
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Photo from the Office of the Vice President
USA
DATELINE Pinay filmmaker sues LA’s Catholic Archdiocese over childhood sexual assault by Filipino priest FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
A FILIPINA American filmmaker from Hollywood is suing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles over sexual assault she experienced as a child by a Filipino priest. The suit is said to be the first civil lawsuit against the nation’s largest Catholic diocese since California passed a law giving childhood sexual assault survivors more time to file civil lawsuits. Aimee Galicia Torres, 34, said that Filipino Catholic priest Fr. Honesto Bayranta Bismonte began sexually abusing her in 1993 when she was just 8 years old. Bismonte, whom Torres knew as ‘Lolo Nes’ or ‘Grandpa Nes,’ continued to sexually assault her until she was 12 years old. The assault allegedly took place in the home of Torres’ aunt while Bismonte served as a priest in Gardena’s St. Anthony of Padua
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ASEAN-ROK SUMMIT. President Rodrigo Duterte joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in during the ASEAN-ROK Innovation Showcase 2019 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday, November 26. Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo
Hontiveros presses for security audit of national power grid by LEILA
SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net
MANILA — Expressing alarm over reports that China could control and remotely shut down the Philippine power transmission network, Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, November 26, sought a security audit of the national grid system. Hontiveros filed a resolu-
Palace slams Midler for Duterte criticism
tion calling for the audit as well as a legislative inquiry into the operations and facilities of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s sole transmission service provider, which is 40percent owned by State Grid Corp. of China. ‘Hostile third party’ “We need to know for certain if our energy systems and
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by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Sunday, November 24, slammed singer-actress Bette Midler for describing President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the world’s most detestable leaders as well as lumping him together with the likes of U.S. President Donald Trump and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. “She, however, has no right as she is incompetent and a gullible talking head as well, on matters concerning foreign leaders she has no Sen. Risa Hontiveros
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Filipino fast food giant Jollibee opens North American headquarters in West Covina by AJPRESS FILIPINO fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) is setting out to bring more Chickenjoy across North America with the opening of its headquarters in West Covina, California. The grand opening of the company’s Jollibee Foods Corporation executives led by North America President Beth Dela Cruz office space on Tuesday, November 19 (center) and local leaders, such as Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz, West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, and Los Angeles Board of Public Workers Commissioner Jessica was attended by JFC executives, digniCaloza, mark the grand opening of the company’s new North American headquarters taries from the Philippine Consulate in in West Covina, California on Tuesday, November 19. AJPress photos by Noel Ty Los Angeles, local elected officials, and
Filipino American business leaders. “This new headquarters is extremely rewarding because it shows how far we have come as a company,” said Beth Dela Cruz, JFC North America – Philippine Brands president at the opening. The event featured the beloved Jollibee mascot entertaining the crowd, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a feast of best sellers from the company’s brands, such as the Jollibee Chicken-
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