STEALING FREE NEWSPAPER IS STILL A CRIME ! AB 2612, PLESCIA CRIME Dengue cases drop WEEKLY ISSUE 70 CITIES IN 11 STATES ONLINE Vol. IX Issue 465 1028 Mission Street, 2/F, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel. (415) 593-5955 or (650) 278-0692 March 8 - 14, 2018 Police ordered not to reply to UN human rights investigators; PH NEWS | A4 Palace to invite reporter to swim in Pasig River if she persists By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent Pacquiao next fight in Malaysia? DAVAO CITY – President Du- terte ordered the country’s security forces, the police not to ‘respond’ to United Nations (UN) rapporteurs who would investigate human rights abuses under his administration’s drug war at the National SWAT Chal- lenge last March 1. “Pagdating ng human rights o sino mang rapporteur diyan, ang or- SPORTS NEWS | A5 der ko sa inyo, do not answer. Do not bother,” Duterte told Rappler. “Why would we be answering? Google grant for San Jose Bakit, sino sila? And who are you to school STEM interfere in the way I would run my country?” Duterte added. In a report by Rappler, Duterte said rapporteurs or experts should consider that the Philippines is “be- ing swallowed by drugs” and said that he would want a different UN rapporteur to investigate allegations of human rights violation in his drug war, and not UN rapporteur Agnes COMMUNITY AWARENESS | B3 Callamard. In a statement, Foreign Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano said that the Philip- Dreamer future uncertain pines won’t accept Callamard because of her “bias and antagonistic stance towards the Philippine government.”’ President Duterte at the opening ceremony of the National SWAT Challenge at the Team Davao Inc. Pistol and Rifle Range in Davao TO PAGE A7 (Photo from Presidential Communications/Government of the Philippines Official Facebook Page) De Lima urges probe into alleged maid auctions in Saudi Arabia Feminists mark International By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent Women’s Day by decrying Sen. Leila de Lima raised Filipino HSWs and test the effec- Duterte’s sexist remarks LEGAL & LAW | B4 alarm over the alleged auction tivity of the 2013 bilateral labor By Daniel Llanto of Filipino household service agreement with Saudi Arabia, FilAm Star Correspondent Jessica Soho first Pinoy workers (HSWs) to families that which reinforces the Standard finalist NYF Best New Anchor bid the most money for maids in Employment Contract providing Saudi Arabia. enough protection for HSWs. De Lima, a known anti- “We may need to review human trafficking advocate, the agreement which we entered said the Department of Foreign with Saudi Arabia five years ago Affairs (DFA) and the Depart- to check whether Filipino HSWs ment of Labor and Employment are properly accorded their right (DOLE) should investigate this and are not subjected to modern- illegal “maid auction” of overseas day auctions, as if they are mere Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmie de Jesus Filipino workers in the Kingdom. commodities.” said the Senator (Photo: www.notey.com) Senator Leila De Lima ENTERTAINMENT | B7 She urged DFA and DOLE detained over drug charges. to verify the reported auction of (Photo: www.johnib.wordpress.com) TO PAGE A7 TO PAGE A7 Non-compliant 173 big businesses, informal settlers in 4 out of 9 PH among best countries to invest in – U.S. News wetlands, move Duterte to declare Boracay in a state of calamity By Coina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent By Lara Climaco | FilAm Star Correspondent The Philippines has been named the best country to invest in by U..S President Rodrigo Duterte is going News and has ranked the country 49th with the Department of Interior and on its over-all Best Countries report. Local Government’s (DILG) plan to In its 2018 Best Countries report, declare a state of calamity in Boracay U.S. News said rankings are based on in order to hasten the rehabilitation “how global perceptions define coun- of the top tourist destination and at tries in terms of a number of qualita- the same time provide financial aid to tive characteristics, impressions that displaced workers. have the potential to drive trade, travel The President revealed his next and investment and directly affect move at the oath-taking ceremony for national economies.” officials of the Philippine Anti-Corrup- The study covers perceptions of 80 tion Commission held last March 6 in DENR Secretary Gen. Roy Cimatu countries and gauged them based Malacañang. (Photo from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s Official (Photo: www.thevolatilian.com) TO PAGE A7 TO PAGE A7 Facebook Page) A2 FilAm Star March 8 - 14, 2018 ph news DENR employee in Cebu convicted of graft Chief justice impeachment trial imminent but SC The Cebu City Regional steep,” the Ombudsman said she was teaching for no ap- Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 Seguerra requested that the parent reason than to demand move to oust her could set precedent vs. prez, VP has convicted a Department payment be made on a stag- money.” of Environment and Natural gered basis. The court ruled that Aten- By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent Resources (DENR) employee For the first tranche, tar had no authority to obtain who demanded P100,000 from Atentar received P8,000 from the P100,000 fee. be subjected to a quo warranto woman for the processing of a Seguerra. “This was never refuted by petition. miscellaneous sale application “After waiting for several accused,” the judge said. “More “The moment the Supreme In a statement issued on months without any update telling is accused’s persistence Court entertains and rules on Wednesday, the Office of the on the application, Seguerra in obtaining the money for pur- this – that it has the power Ombudsman said that the demanded that Atentar return ported occupation fee although to, in effect, dismiss the chief accused, Edwin Atentar, was the money,” the Office of the he has no authority to accept justice – that same rule applies found guilty of violating the Ombudsman disclosed. the same.” to them,” Drilon noted. He Anti-Graft and Corrupt Prac- “In August 2006, Atentar said such ruling would apply tices Act (Republic Act 3019). was able to return only P5,000 Singco sentenced Atentar to heads of such constitutional In March 2006, Atentar, as evidenced by a receipt to imprisonment of six years bodies as the Commission on who was a special land inves- acknowledged and signed by and one month to 10 years and Audit, Commission on Elec- tigator of the DENR Commu- him,” it said. six months and perpetually tions, the vice president and nity Environment and Natural In a court judgment dated disqualified him from holding even the president. Resources Office, demanded Feb. 8, 2018, Cebu RTC Branch public office. “This is a slippery slope P100,000 from the complain- 12 Presiding Judge Estela Alma The court also ordered that can set a precedent. Extra ant, Virgilia Seguerra, for the Singco said that “as shown in Atentar to return the remaining (L-R) Sen. Antonio Triullanes IV and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno care must be exercised by the processing of the MSA for a lot the testimony of prosecution amount of P3,000 to Seguerra. (Photo: www.politics.com.ph) Supreme Court. But as I’ve said, in San Isidro, Talisay City. witness Seguerra, accused went (Julius N. Leonen / inquirer. Indications abound that the is Sereno’s previous filing of the ball is in their court and it Since the price was “too twice to the university where net) impeachment complaint against an incomplete Statement of is up to them to decide,” the Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Asset, Liabilities and Net Worth minority leader said. Sereno will soon be approved (SALN). Pimentel somewhat shared in the House of Representatives Senate President Aquilino this view and said a quo war- Bodies of 2 workers retrieved from Bohol landslide and forwarded to the Senate for Pimentel II, as if assuaging ranto action would also weaken TAGBILARAN CITY— ing “anapog” (limestone) on leader, said the soil may have the formal impeachment trial. the Solicitor General, said the the Senate because it would Rescuers found on Wednesday Monday afternoon. cascaded due to intermittent But the Office of the Solici- Senate was ready and willing provide another way to remove the bodies of the two workers Huge rocks rains brought by Typhoon tor General sought to pre-empt to conduct fair impeachment impeachable officials. buried alive in a landslide at When he took a break and “Basyang” last month. the process with a so-called quo proceedings against Sereno. Sen. Francis Escud- a quarry site at the foot of the left the group, he heard a big Anthony Damalerio, head warranto petition asking the The Senate president made it ero viewed Calida’s move as mountain in Sitio San Isidro in commotion. of the provincial disaster risk Supreme Court itself to oust clear that Calida’s filing of a quo a “novel theory” that should Barangay Candabong in Anda He said Galeya and Ariel, reduction management office their chief. warranto petition questioning not be disregarded right away. town, Bohol province. who were digging at that time, (PDRMMO), said rescuers from Solicitor Gen. Jose Calida Sereno’s qualifications was a Although the theory is on shaky Ariel Abac was first found didn’t notice that big rocks as the neighboring towns of Pilar, asked the Supreme Court to legitimate move. But whether grounds, Escudero said some at 11 a.m. while Valeriano big as a barangay hall had rolled Alicia, Ubay, Candijay, Guin- nullify the appointment of Chief the case would succeed would novel theories have become Galeyo was pulled out an hour down toward them, followed by dulman and Duero went to the Justice Sereno, who goes on depend on the Supreme Court.