The Premier Filipino-American Newspaper Since 1961 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION FEBRUARY 1 — 7, 2019 YEAR 58 ISSUE 27 website: www.philippinenews.com San Jose denizens After Jolo bombing show support to protect Coyote Valley By CESAR ANTONIO JR. NUCUM Duterte seeks all-out war vs Abu Sayyaf By BETING LAYGO DOLOR, Editor The Marine Special Operations Group sailed out to surrounding islands in Jolo and conducted clearing operations upon information that ASG members have been sighted in the area. San Jose City Mayor Sam Liccardo urges people to embrace the emerging opportu- nity of building a vibrant Downtown worthy of Silicon Valley’s urban center. SAN JOSE City Mayor Sam Liccardo led a host of other passionate speakers who took turns in addressing a huge crowd that gathered in front of San Jose City Hall to show support to protect Coyote Valley which has been threatened by development for decades. Coyote Valley offers is irreplaceable: wetlands that buffer against fl ooding, an essential wildlife habitat and migratory area, ac- tive farmlands, and open space for all of us to enjoy. As one of the last remaining undevel- oped valley fl oors in the Bay Area and the only connection between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range, ral- lyists emphasized for the need to take MANILA – Amid fears that the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) may next target malls and action to preserve this remarkable place for people, wildlife and our environment. churches in Metro Manila, President Rodrigo Duterte this week declared an all-out war against “We need to move beyond the outdat- the terrorist group with links to the global ISIS network, known for its extreme brutality. ed and unsustainable model of suburban The bombing of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in By Wednesday, Jan 30, the Philippine National Police (PNP) sprawl, to protect our green spaces and the southern province of Jolo during a regular Sunday mass last tried to alleviate the public’s fears by saying there was no con- hillsides, and embrace the emerging Jan. 27 resulted in at least 21 fatalities and more than a hundred fi rmed reports of such a plot. opportunity of building a vibrant Down- church goers injured, with some in critical condition. Still, all the major malls in the metropolis were placed on alert town worthy of Silicon Valley’s urban Following the explosion of two bombs within seconds of each with heightened security, including bomb-sniffi ng dogs. While the center,” appealed Liccardo. other, rumors spread like wildfi re that the terrorists were eyeing National Capital Region Police Offi ce dismissed the reported SAN JOSE 3 an even bigger target in Metro Manila. threats, it still promised to beef up security measures in Metro AFTER 12 Legarda to 3RD ANNUAL OAKLAND 1st FilAm elected in Oakland WOMEN’S MARCH consider reenacted Ways we can to govern by People Power budget proposal in all be Part 2 & Conclusion By CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO Adapted from original published with permission Editor at Large community from usainquirer.net bicam talks MANILA -- Senator Loren Legarda said leaders Wednesday she would take into consid- By NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS eration the reenacted budget proposal Member, Oakland City Council of Senate President Vicente Sotto III in the congressional bicameral conference Good morning, Oakland! meeting on the proposed 2019 national I am so honored to be your budget. new City Councilmember, rep- In a text message, Legarda said the resenting the district that we technical staff of both chambers of Con- are in right now. gress have fi nished going through the I’m also proud to be Oak- disagreeing provisions of the General land’s fi rst Filipina Coun- Appropriations Bill (GAB), noting that cilmember. the original plan was to go through each We all know that there is an provision and corresponding recommen- electric wave of progressive dation line by line. women and women of color “However, upon consultation with the winning elected offi ce. Can Senate leadership and with the Executive you feel the earth quake? It’s Department, I will take into consider- happening right here at home ation the statement of Senate President with me and my fellow Coun- Sotto, as I lead the Senate panel in meet- cilmember Sheng Thao, the ing with our House counterpart later to- fi rst Hmong city councilmem- day,” Legarda said. ber in the state of California. We are the Oakland women’s wave! As we march today and also honor the legacy of Dr. Martin SOCIAL justice activist Nikki Fortunato Bas (foreground) defeated the incumbent to become Luther King, Jr this weekend, Oakland’s fi rst FilAm City Council Member. we are refl ecting on the words of Coretta Scott King: “The OAKLAND, Calif. - District 2 is We must come together to build woman power of this nation where Oakland's fi rst elected Fili- an inclusive, just and equitable can be the power which makes pino American City Council Mem- city, and we need independent us whole.” ber Nikki Fortunato Bas and her leaders, rooted in our commu- WAYS 9 husband Brad Erickson, a lectur- nities, who will take action. It LEGARDA 12 er at San Francisco State Univer- starts with acknowledging that sity, and their 14-year-old daugh- housing is a human right and pri- Comelec releases lists of senatorial ter Balana make their home. oritizing housing solutions for all They thrive among working fam- Oaklanders.” candidates, party-list groups for May 13 polls ilies and individuals of various Her vision is simple: “An Oak- The Commission on Elections be stricken off the list,” said Jimenez. backgrounds and share hope for land for all of us...governing to- (Comelec) released the initial list of The senatorial aspirants with pend- a bright future there. gether with a set of values that senatorial candidates and party-list or- ing Certifi cates of Finality were Albert The New York native “I decided to run because I moved California we promoted - equity, inclusion, ganizations for the midterm elections Alba, Ernesto Ansula, Hussayin Arpa, love Oakland's community, diver- immediately after college and community participation.' All on May 13. Rizalito David, Angelo De Alban, Al- sity, and rich cultural heritage, graduation to be closer to of us' means that I will represent There are 76 candidates for senator exander Encarnacion, Geremy Geroy, and fear that displacement, gen- API and activists. you whether you voted for me or included in the list. However, Comelec William Iliw Iliw, Josefa Javelona, Nor- trifi cation and growing inequality not,” she declared after swearing Spokesman James Jimenez said that man Marquez, Rolando Merona, Frank are threatening our very identity as a city,” Bas in en masse with fellow new council members 13 names on the list might still be Naval, and Eric Negapatan. told this writer. “The #BBQBecky and #Jogger- Sheng Thao (Dist. 4) and Loren Taylor (Dist. 6) dropped from the roster. Some of the ‘big’ names included Joe incidents (Ed: Residents who were white before City Clerk Latonda Simmons. “Note that there are 13 names in- on the list were incumbent and former called police to complain about residents who She recounted the focused steps she took to cluded in this list which are still pend- senators namely; Benigno ‘Bam’ Aqui- were black for engaging in ordinary activities.) listen to constituents and hearing a common ing fi nality. Should a Certifi cate of Fi- no, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor ‘JV’ at Lake Merritt are wake-up calls for all of us. refrain of feeling “left out.” nality be issued, these 13 names will Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Aquilino 1st FilAm 9 COMELEC 12 2 Americas February 1 — 7, 2019 | NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | website: www.philippinenews.com PWC Calls for U.S. and Philippine Governments to Address Issue of Labor Traffi cking After DHS Banned Philippines from H-2 Worker Visa Program ecently the United States Department of Homeland Se- Many of these workers opted to overstay their visa Filipino workers every year. curity (DHS) added the Philippines to the list of coun- and continue to work so they can pay debts and Instead of focusing on who is to blame on the recent inclusion of tries that are banned from participation in the H-2 interests they incurred as a result of being traf- the Philippines on the list of banned countries under the H-2 visa pro- Rtemporary worker visa program. The ban took effect on fi cked; and perhaps, to seek justice against their gram, PWC calls for a serious review and concrete actions to address January 19, 2019, and will be in place for at least a year as the labor traffi ckers. the issue of labor traffi cking of Filipino workers. PWC calls on the list is renewed annually by the DHS. Under the ban, workers Moreover, PWC does not agree that the H-2B ban Philippine government to address the following themes or topics relat- from the Philippines will not be eligible to work under the H-2 is a good response to the issue at hand, particular- ed to the issue of labor traffi cking: transparency and accountability of category, which is for temporary or seasonal work. Filipino work- ly to the issue of labor traffi cking. With this ban, labor recruiters; educating Filipino workers about work opportunities ers have always been able to get employment in the U.S. under labor traffi ckers will simply shift to other forms abroad, about labor traffi cking, and how to exercise their rights; the this program, particularly under the H-2B subcategory to work in of visa categories and continue to victimize Fili- regulation and enforcement of laws on labor recruitment, particularly hotels or construction projects.