STEALING FREE NEWSPAPER IS STILL A CRIME ! AB 2612, PLESCIA CRIME Foreigners may soon own firms without 100% capital WEEKLY ISSUE 70 CITIES IN 11 STATES ONLINE Vol. IX Issue 461 1028 Mission Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel. (415) 593-5955 or (650) 278-0692 February 8 - 14, 2017 Malacañang unconcerned, under fire as China PH NEWS | A4 ends militarization in disputed territories By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent George, Westbrook steal thunder from Durant, Warriors As the Duterte administration came under fire for its “silence and inaction” as China apparently com- pletes its militarization in the South China Sea, Malacañang admitted it could not do anything and instead tossed the blame on the previous administration for allowing the recla- mation spree. Presidential spokesman Harry SPORTS NEWS | A5 Roque said the Philippine-owned seven reefs in the South China Sea, iPhone X missed calls also called West Philippine Sea, were reclaimed by China during the due to glitch administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. “If the Aquino administration was not able to do anything about these artificial islands, what (do) they want us to do? We cannot declare war. Not only is it illegal but it is also... because it’s impossible for us to declare war at this point,” Roque (L-R) Senator Bam Aquino and Representative Gary Alejano (Photos: www.newsbytes.ph / www.facebook.com) TO PAGE A7 BUSINESS & TECH NEWS | A8 Trump won’t budge on Oil crisis, prioritizing of Saudi nationals for reducing immigration PDEA reveals drugs still come from employment displace 600+ OFWs in Qatar China, Mexico, new players at Bilibid By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent Due to a prevailing diplomatic cri- sis among Arab countries, more than 600 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar have lost their jobs and more may suffer the same, said Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. WORLD NEWS | A9 Silvestre Bello III Last February 5. He noted that the prevailing dip- Paid family leave hike lomatic crisis between Qatar and other in January Middle East countries has led to clo- sures of companies and re-trenchment of hundreds of Filipino workers. He said the situation in Qatar seems to be getting worse. He also (Photo: Screenshot from PDEA’s official website: http://pdea.gov.ph) said the high number of displacements MANILA – In an interview with and the operation of drug laboratories among Filipino workers in Qatar is Radyo Inquirer 990 AM last February are still rampant in the country.” now a cause of concern for the Philip- 4, the Philippine Drug Enforcement According to PDEA, since July pine government. Agency (PDEA) spokesperson Derrick 2016, they have seized more than 2.5 “In fact, the leader of our OFW Carreon said, “The smuggling of meth- kilos of shabu with a street value of COMMUNITY AWARENESS | B3 organization visited me last week and amphetamine hydrochloride or shabu TO PAGE A7 informed me about the incidents of stoppage and separation from work,” ‘Weak rule of law’ drags down Bello said. Furor over anti-dengue vaccination ignites scare PH’s world ranking – Index of TO PAGE A7 over other inoculation programs; further autopsy DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III (top) and tests needed to build case vs. maker Economic Freedom Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III By Lara Climaco | FilAm Star Correspondent By Corina Oliquino (bottom) (Photos: www.sunstar.com.ph / www.calabar- FilAm Star Correspondent zon.dole.gov.ph) The public health scare over MANILA – The Philippines Dengvaxia has spilled over to other has slipped three spots in the lat- Trillanes doubles down on alleged ill-gotten vaccination and de-worming programs est Heritage Foundation 2018 Index of the Department of Health (DoH), of Economic Freedom (IEF). The PHP 100M in Duterte family account which now has to face long-term Washington-based think tank cited the monitoring of about 870,000 Filipinos government’s low scores in integrity, By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent without an indemnity fund from Sanofi monetary freedom and property rights Pasteur. The Davao City Mayor and currencies to conduct a formal inquiry as the reasons for the drop. “This is really a cause for concern daughter of President Duterte, Sara into the alleged unexplained wealth of In 2017, the country’s global just because of this one controversial Duterte-Carpio, went ballistic when the President and his family. ranking jumped 12 notches to 58 but it vaccine, it has indeed tainted the cred- Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed Senate Duterte-Carpio said this confirms slipped this 2018 to 61st. However, ibility of the entire DoH immunization Resolution No. 602 asking the commit- rumors that Trillanes, arch-critic of the program,” Health Sec. Francisco DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III TO PAGE A7 tee on banks, financial institutions and TO PAGE A7 TO PAGE A7 (Photo: www.en.wikipedia.org) A2 FilAm Star February 8 - 14, 2017 ph news NFA stops supplying rice to retailers Expedited self-rule for Mindanao urged before change to Federal gov’t By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent Former Supreme Court Chief holding public hearings among the the fiscal math that will opera- Drilon said that the craft- Justice Hilario Davide Jr. last Feb- stakeholders in order to improve tionalize the relationship between ing of the Bangsamoro Basic ruary 5 urged President Rodrigo and strengthen the draft BBL that the proposed Bangsamoro region law offers an opportunity “for Duterte to certify as “urgent” the aims to give self-rule to Mindanao. and the rest of the Philippines,” Congress to correct certain issues proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law “But there is an old time say- he said. which stand in the way of moving (BBL), noting that it is an embodi- ing about taxes being the sinews “We will need to go deep into democracy forward, particularly in ment of a peace agreement of long of the state — the very fibers that the details and make sure the fis- the ARMM,” referring to the well- negotiations. hold a state together and enable it cal autonomy and revenue sharing entrenched political dynasties “I hope and pray that this to operate. stipulations in the BBL are clear. and weak political party system President will certify to Congress “They ensure that our roads I am hopeful that we will achieve in the ARMM and the country, in as urgent the bills now pending are paved, that our policemen are just that,” Angara added. general. before the subcommittee,” said Majority of the resource per- Davide, describing the BBL as an sons of the sub-committee agreed extraordinary special law not only with Drilon’s proposal includ- because of its nature as an organic ing Former Chief Justice Hilario act. Davide Jr., who said: “I agree (Photo: www.manilatimes.net) Speaking during the sixth with you, Sen. Drilon. Perhaps it hearing of the Senate subcommit- is high time to exercise some kind tee on the BBL, Davide told the of political will, make it a model Camarines Sur Rep. Luis “Ang capital ng Camarines panel chaired by Sen. Migz Zubiri providing for an anti-political Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte ac- Sur is Pili, na dun kayo nagbobola that the BBL must be approved dynasty provision. I think that will cused on Tuesday Rodolfo “Bong” … Papatunayan ko mamaya na “at the soonest possible time” be a good step forward.” Pineda, the husband of Pampanga dummy ka lang ni Bong Pineda. and ahead of the discussions on Citing the passage of an anti- Gov. Lilia Pineda, of running a hindi mo alam ang nangyari sa Charter change and the shift to political dynasty provision in the Small Town Lottery (STL) outlet CamSur,” the lawmaker said. federalism. Sanggunian Kabataan Reform Act through a dummy. [The capital of Camarines He proposed that the creation in the last Congress, the minority During the resumption of the Sur is Pili. It’s where you draw the of the Bangsamoro state be made leader believes “that it is highly hearing of the House Committee numbers. I will prove to you later as an “experiment” for a federal possible that the draft Bangsam- on Games and Amusements hear- that you’re just a dummy of Bong system. oro Basic Law would contain the ing, Villafuerte said it was Pineda Pineda. You don’t know what’s “If in 10 years, we see the suc- same provision.” who actually owned Everchance happening in Camarines Sur.] cess of the Bangsamoro autono- Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. “This is not something that Gaming Corp., which is based in Canlas said that he was not mous region, then we can begin (Photo: www.sunstar.com.ph) we have not done yet. As a mat- Camarines Sur. privy in the operations of his talking about federalism,” he said. ter of policy, I think there is no The firm, he previously al- company. Davide has repeatedly said debate that we should adopt an leged, continued to operate illegal “Bagsak ka na sa manage- that federalism, a priority of the well equipped, that our teachers As this developed, Senate anti-political dynasty provision,” jueteng games in the province. ment structure,” Villafuerte said. ruling party PDP-Laban, is a have chalk and blackboards, that Minority Leader Franklin Drilon Drilon said. According to Villafuerte, he [So you have a failure in your “lethal experiment, a fatal leap, a our country is able to run and recommended: “In the Committee He added that, “It may not has evidence to prove that Osler management structure.] plunge death and a leap to hell.” move towards prosperity,” the Report, I will push for the inclu- be perfect and it may not be to the Luis Canlas, Everchance presi- The lawmaker also ques- He said the proposed law cre- chair of the Senate committee on sion of a prohibition on political liking of the people in the ARMM dent, is merely working as the tioned the Philippine Charity ating a Bangsamoro autonomous local government said.