Taal Volcanic Tsunami Eruption Feared by Daniel Llanto Filam Star Correspondent
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WEEKLY ISSUE @FilAmNewspaper www.filamstar.com Vol. IX Issue 562 1028 Mission Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94103 Email: [email protected] Tel. (415) 593-5955 or (650) 278-0692 January 16-22, 2020 Rescue of OFWs in Iran, Iraq on hold By Beting Laygo Dolor -- where more than 200,000 OFWs are Contributing Editor based -- after the US military launched an attack near a Baghdad airport, kill- OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) ing Iranian Gen. Qasem Suleimani. based in Iran and Iraq may or may not President Rodrigo Duterte imme- be “rescued” by the Philippine gov- diately dispatched former ambassador Democrat Cory Booker ernment. It all depends on the state of and Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu to relations between the US and Iran. bring back as many Filipinos as possi- quits presidential race Last week saw a heightened possi- ble, specifically those in Iraq. OFWs (Photo: Twitter) US NEWS | A2 bility of war in the volatile Middle East ■ TO PAGE A7 Duterte threatens nationalization of water providers PH NEWS | A3 Taal volcanic tsunami eruption feared By Daniel Llanto FilAm Star Correspondent IF THE alert level on the eruptive Taal Volcano is raised from the cur- rent 4 to 5, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phi- 49ers progress to volcs) warned that a volcanic tsunami NFC championship would devastate the country far worse SPORTS NEWS | A9 than the heavy ash-fall that now poses health risks in some Metro Manila cities. Pompeo A volcanic tsunami may occur in caldera lakes when water is displaced by warns Silicon deformation of the lake floor caused by rising magma. Phivolcs earlier raised alert level 4 over Taal which means a Valley on hazardous explosion may occur within hours or days. China ahead TheTaal volcano (Photo: Twitter/Michael Sagaran) of trade pact ■ TO PAGE A7 US SECRETARY of State Mike Visa Upon Arrival De Lima hits PH ‘red carpet Pompeo on Monday warned Silicon Valley not to bolster China’s “Orwel- lian” state, two days before the world’s program amended to treatment’ of China Coast two largest economies sign a partial trade deal. Speaking to a tech-heavy crowd prevent overstaying Guard on goodwill visit in San Francisco, Pompeo trumpeted the “phase one” deal to tame a two- By Daniel Llanto year trade war but told businesses Chinese tourists, others FilAm Star Correspondent that they needed to do more. By Corina Oliquino Philippine offshore gaming operator “We need to make sure American FilAm Star Correspondent (POGO) establishments. A CHINA Coast Guard vessel docked technology doesn’t power a truly Or- Perete said amendments to VUA at the Port of Manila last January 13 wellian surveillance state. We need to for a “friendly visit,” which raised the MANILA -- Department of Justice will take effect immediately. make sure American principles aren’t hackles of Sen. Leila de Lima for the (DoJ) Undersec. Mark Perete said the “Technically what is required by sacrificed for prosperity,” Pompeo supposedly red carpet treatment of an department will publish and make effec- law is a reasonable period to notify the said at the Commonwealth Club. armed group that “regularly intimi- tive this week a circular to impose strict- public after the publication. But in this He said he was not discouraging dates” Filipino fishermen. er policies for Chinese nationals who are case, this (VUA) is a privilege being firms from heading to China, insisting “Imagine our Coast Guard discuss- holders of Visa Upon Arrival (VUA). granted to foreign individuals. So, in that the Trump administration wants ing protocols at sea with the very people The amended rules of the VUA essence, the publication requirement is “American companies to get rich do- who regularly intimidate our own fish- program will cover Chinese visitors enough notice, and the effectivity put in ing business there.” ermen, in our own territory! Duterte and businessmen who would be stay- the department circular is immediate “At the same time, we need to gives the best seat at the banquet table ing for short durations in the country, upon publication,” Perete said. make sure that our companies don’t to China, while we wait for whatever as well as athletes and delegates to “This will make sure that no one do deals that strengthen our competi- crumbs they might throw around,” De international conferences. Chinese would overstay in the Philippines,” tor’s military or tighten their regime’s Lima said in a dispatch from her deten- tourists will also Perete added, with the changes to VUA grip of repression in parts of that tion cell in Camp Crame. not be allowed more restrictive and will order Chinese country,” he said. employment in Rights advocates have voiced ■ TO PAGE A7 Sen. Leila De Lima (Photo: Facebook) ■ TO PAGE A7 growing concern about China’s use of technology to develop intrusive Bongbong’s call to revise textbooks electronic surveillance. In the tightly controlled western region of Xinjiang, where experts say an attempt at ‘historical revisionism’ more than one million mostly Muslim By Corina Oliquino attempt at historical revisionism. the Martial Law era of the late dictator people are incarcerated, China FilAm Star Correspondent “This is a clear move at historical Ferdinand Marcos. is said to be fine-tuning revisionism and another desperate Tañada cited Amnesty International technology that will allow attempt by the Marcoses to erase the which said that over 3,200 people were MANILA -- The Liberal Party (LP) security forces to quickly memory of the horrors of Martial Law killed from 1972 to 1981 while some 70,000 Vice-president for External Affairs and absolve the sins of their father,” were arrested and 32,000 were tortured. identify anyone and give Erin Tañada criticized on January 11 Tañada said, noting the Marcos family “Nais ng mga Marcos na ibaon na details about their move- former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” ments and background. “cannot hide the atrocities, human lang sa limot ang mga pag-abusong Marcos Jr. after he called for the re- rights violations and corruption” during “Ask yourselves vision of history books, labelling it an ■ TO PAGE A7 just a few questions -- who am I dealing with? What’s the true risk/return calculus to doing business in China?” Pompeo said. Trump is set to sign the partial deal on Wednesday after prolonged feuding, dropping new tariffs that were set to take effect on TO PAGE A7 Sen. Bongbong Marcos ■ (Photo: Facebook) A2 FilAm Star January 16-22, 2020 US News Democrats to clash Democrat Cory Booker, campaign in final debate optimist, exits White House race CITING a lack of funds, US Senator Cory Book- Moral clarity er dropped out of the Democratic presidential All six candidates in Tuesday’s debate are before Iowa votes nomination race Monday, a move that leaves a white: former vice president Joe Biden, senators less diverse field vying to face Donald Trump in Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobu- SIX DEMOCRATS braced for Tuesday’s final still refuses to admit he was dead wrong on the November’s election. char, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg and presidential debate before Iowa kicks off the Iraq War, the worst foreign policy blunder in “It’s with a full heart that I share this news,” billionaire activist Tom Steyer. nomination process February 3, and with no modern American history,” Sanders senior advi- Booker said in a statement on the eve of the last Candidate Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur candidate yet gaining the upper hand, they were sor Jeff Weaver said in a statement. Democratic debate before Iowa kicks off the nomi- of Taiwanese descent, and Tulsi Gabbard, who is ready to rumble. Sanders has also apparently chided Warren nation voting on February 3. Samoan-American, failed to qualify for Tuesday’s Former vice president Joe Biden is leading as the candidate of the elite, with Politico report- “Our campaign has reached the point where we debate stage. nationally, but no clear frontrunner has emerged ing that Sanders volunteers were instructed to tell need more money to scale up and continue building Obama-era cabinet member Julian Castro, in Iowa, and candidates are scrambling for a voters that Warren could not expand the Demo- a campaign that can win -- money we don’t have, the only Latino in the race, called it quits last breakout moment that could translate into the first cratic base in a general election. and money that is harder to raise because I won’t be week. tangible victory in a tight contest over who chal- Warren said she was “disappointed” by the on the next debate stage,” Booker said. Yang was the only candidate of color on the lenges President Donald Trump in November. report that Sanders sent volunteers to “trash” The New Jersey senator said his role as a juror debate stage in December, and he poignantly With the battle intensifying, some of the her, telling reporters in Iowa that “I hope Bernie in the upcoming impeachment trial of President called it “both an honor and disappointment.” sharpest exchanges of the year-long campaign reconsiders and turns his campaign in a different Donald Trump would further cramp his fund- Booker, an effervescent presence on the trail, were leveled between top liberals Bernie Sanders direction.” raising abilities, “because the urgent business had called for a revival of civic grace, saying moral and Elizabeth Warren, senators and self-de- of impeachment will rightly be keeping me in clarity was necessary in trying times. scribed friends whose cordiality accord appears ‘Feud brewing?’ Washington.” He earned praise from Democratic voters for to have unraveled. In a further sign that the gloves were off, Perhaps more than any candidate, the advocating for criminal justice reform and stron- The debate in Des Moines, Iowa risks being CNN reported Monday that Sanders told Warren 50-year-old Booker, a skilled orator with a mil- ger gun safety laws.