WEEKLY ISSUE 70 CITIES IN 11 STATES ONLINE Vol. IX Issue 401 1028 Mission Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel. (415) 593-5955 or (650) 278-0692 [email protected] Dec. 15 - 21, 2016 MNLF aids gov’t forces Jets derail 49’ers NFTC to work with Trump Emotional Geronimo D&B opens in D.C. PH NEWS | A2 SPORTS NEWS | A5 WORLD NEWS | A9 ENTERTAINMENT | B7 COMMUNITY | B8 Duterte fires 92 officials from Self-confessed hitman claims transportation, immigration & Duterte sometimes watched other gov’t agencies for corruption By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent slain victims get chopped up At least 92 employees of the two frontline agencies regulating land transport, four of them ranking officials, have been sacked in what could be the largest en By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent masse dismissal of government personnel as part of President Duterte’s intensi- fied campaign against corruption. BI Commissioners Michael Robles (left) and Al Argosino (right) (photo: www.interaksiyon.com) Before this, Duterte asked all officials and employees of the Energy Regula- tory Commission (ERC) to resign following the suicide of the chairman of its bids and awards committee, who was allegedly pressured to approve anomalous deals. TO PAGE A4 Edgar Matobato 8 trillion pesos for 6 years needed for (photo: www.smninews.com) PH to be at China’s & Thailand’s level Self-confessed Davao Death Squad Matobato with murder, kidnapping, Vice-mayor Paolo Duterte, Philippine (DDS) hitman Edgar Matobato filed a violation of the Anti-Torture Act, Phil- National Police Chief Director General By Lara Climaco | FilAm Star Correspondent criminal complaint before the Office ippine Act on Crimes Against Interna- Ronald Dela Rosa and 25 others were of the Ombudsman against President tional Humanitarian Law, Genocide, also charged by Matobato. Infrastructure spending in the Rodrigo Duterte and 27 others. and Other Crimes Against Humanity. Matobato’s lawyer Jude Sabio filed magnitude of PHP 8 trillion is needed over the next six years to allow the Duterte was charged by Edgardo The President’s son, Davao City TO PAGE A4 Philippines to catch up with Thailand and China and steer the country’s Debate with Duterte on drug killings Senators divided over report economy into an investment-led growth that could free some six million or no probe, UN rapporteur told on extra-judicial killings Filipinos from extreme poverty. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III This was revealed by Finance Sec. By Macon Araneta (photo: www.bworldonline.com) TO PAGE A7 FilAm Star Correspondent “People of the Philippines, your President is a murderer,” said Sen. Duterte bans Miss Universe swimsuit competition Leila De Lima as she tagged Presi- dent Rodrigo Duterte the “Father of in Davao, welcomes emcee Steve Harvey extra-judicial killings” who ordered the By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Roland Espinosa, inside the subprovincial jail The swimsuit competition for the in Leyte last November 5. much-anticipated 2016 Miss Universe “Nothing can be clearer than that,” pageant will be held in Cebu after stressed De Lima, the staunchest critic President Rodrigo Duterte reminded of the President in the Senate. the Department of Tourism (DOT) and organizers about the existing ban on Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay (left) and U.N. special rapporteur on EJK Agnes Callamard (right) De Lima held as incriminating Du- (photos: www.japantimes.co.jp / www.ipinst.org) terte’s remark that he would not allow swimsuits for beauty contestants in the policemen involved in the killing of Davao City, said Tourism Undersecre- DOT USec. Kat De Castro (left) and Ms. Universe tary Katherine de Castro. PHNOM PENH—The government will insist that the UN rapporteur on sum the Albuera mayor to go to jail. 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (right) TO PAGE B6 TO PAGE A4 (photo: www.politics.com.ph) TO PAGE A7 A2 FilAm Star Dec. 15 - 21, 2016 ph news MNLF aids gov’t forces in fighting Abu Sayyaf PNP to forego taping gun muzzle By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent ceremony this holiday season By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent The military acknowl- “They were released by the validated through intelligence edged the support of the Moro ASG captors to Moro National reports that 10 Abu Sayyaf MANILA -- The Philippine PNP has been sealing National Liberation Front Liberation Front commander (members) were killed and 6 National Police (PNP) will forego muzzles of guns. But how (MNLF), which once sowed Tahir Sali in Indanan town after were wounded. Actually, we a longtime yearly tradition of will the people see that terror for being excluded in the being pressured by non-stop know where they live because sealing their gun muzzles with the police are disciplined government’s peace initiatives military operations and pres- the civilian populace also con- tapes during the Christmas and and responsible enough?” with Muslim rebels, in the effort sure by the MNLF,” Tan said. firmed to us,” he added. New Year revelry to observe dis- Cascolan said. to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf In the offensive, at least Tan said during the en- cipline among its members and Furthermore, Cascol- terror group. three soldiers were also killed counter, ground artilleries and to combat indiscriminate firing an assured the public that Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., while 21 others were wounded air supports were also provided among its rank. the non-sealing of gun to engaging soldiers on the In a report by the Philippine muzzles will not result to ground. News Agency (PNA) at a press cases of indiscriminate conference in Camp Crame, Que- firing among their ranks The Westmincom spokes- (Photo from The National Police’s (PNP) Of- zon City last, December 13, PNP and will see to it that their man said that there were ficial Facebook Page) Public Information Office (PIO) members will abide by the reports that some of the Abu Chief and spokesman Senior rules in the use of their the organization on its very own Sayyaf Group sub-leaders were Supt. Dionardo Carlos said that in service firearms. policemen such that we need also wounded but they have to their last command conference, “By doing that, (the people) to require unit commanders to confirm and verify the informa- a proposal to forego the putting will be able to trust the PNP and physically put a tape around the tion on the ground. of tape on the muzzle of the guns our credibility will be raised,” muzzle of the firearms of police- He said the slain and had been approved by PNP Chief Cascolan said. men,” Constantino said, accord- wounded Abu Sayyaf militants Director General Ronald “Bato” In another report by GMA ing to SunStar Cagayan de Oro. were identified already. Tan Dela Rosa. News, based on the data they Constantino also clarified said there were no immediate ”Basically, the leadership gathered, since 2012, most of the that the PNP leadership trusts sightings of any kidnap victims of the PNP believes that this is victims of indiscriminate firing of and treats every policeman as a during the encounter. a disciplined organization and guns during Christmas and New responsible officer and gun holder Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Filemon Tan Jr. “However, we believed so members of the PNP down to the Year are children while according and reminded police officers to (Photo: www.untvradio.com) that some of the hostages may patrolman on the ground... the to the December 2015 records use their service firearms when be at the rear position of the PNP chief trusts they are disci- from the Department of Health’s “extremely necessary in the line spokesman of the Western Min- from the government side in the engaging militants because the plined and professional enough National Epidemiology Center, of duty.” danao Command of the Philip- more than two-hour encounter signs that the kidnap victims that they know what is the right two of the stray bullet victims On the other hand, PRO- pine Army, said on Monday that Saturday at Bud (Mountain) are there is that the Abu Sayyaf thing to do,” Carlos said. accounted for were nine-year-old Northern Mindanao spokesper- Carlos further explained girls. son Superintendent Surki Sereñas at least 10 Abu Sayyaf militants Taming, Barangay Kabuntakas, Group are not retreating im- that although taping the muzzle However, according to GMA explained that this is the initiative have been killed and six other Patikul town. mediately in the encounter to of (government-issued guns) by News Research, the number of “only” of the Northern Mindanao members wounded in the of- Tan said troops from the buy time for the rest of their PNP personnel is “a symbolic way victims caused by stray bullets Police while other PNP regional fensive operation in the jungle 35th Infantry Battalion (35th companions to slip out their in the previous years of remind- and indiscriminate firing is on a offices can keep and follow the of Patikul town in Sulu because IB) clashed with 150 militants captives,” he said. ing our personnel not to use their downward trend from 44 cases practice of gun muzzle taping this of the MNLF’s assistance. led by Abu Sayyaf senior leader Tan said reports they gath- guns (during the revelry) it’s a in 2010, the number of victims holiday season. Tan said the relentless Radullan Sahiron, and sub- ered showed the Abu Sayyaf are violation (of the law)” and noted dropped to 13 in 2015. “The yearly PNP tradition of pressure exerted by the military leaders Hatib Hajan Sawad- still holding 20 foreigners and that the view of the PNP chief Taping of gun muzzles show taping the muzzle of firearms is and the MNLF on the Abu jaan, Yasser Igasan, and Mujer five locals.