By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent President Rodrigo Duterte flared up and called United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein an “idiot” over the latter’s comment that he should be held accountable for murder. “I think there is one United Nations official, human rights. He said Duterte is a murderer, should be charged for murder. I should be slapped with a case. This guy is either the joker or somewhat crazy,” Duterte said in his spee...

By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent The House committee on labor and employment approved House Bill 269 or the proposed “Caregivers Welfare Act,” which seeks to institute policies for the protection of the rights of caregivers and the promotion of their welfare. Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman said the proposed legislative measure which she authored also seeks to ensure that the policies would maintain excellent and globally competitive standards for the caregiver p...

By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent A Kuwaiti court sentenced a Fillipino woman to 10 years in jail for joining the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group. Consequently, the overseas placement sector in the Philippines quickly aired concern that this could dampen the job placement of overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait even as prospects sees to be looking up. The Kuwait interior ministry said on Monday the unnamed Pinay had confessed to being a member of the Islam...

By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent The Sandiganbayan acquitted Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito of graft charges over alleged diversion of PHP 2.1 million in city funds to purchase high-powered firearms for the local police. The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, comprised of Associate Justices Roland Jurado, Rafael Lagos and Maria Theresa Arcega, granted Ejercito’s demurrer to evidence¸ noting the absence of evidence to prove firearms supplier HK Tactical Defe...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent An anti-crime watchdog filed a complaint against Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam and four others for violating the Anti-Dummy Law. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), through its President Dante Jimenez and legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said Lam and four others broke the law to get around the prohibition on foreign ownership of real estate. Lam’s co-respondents were Rosanno Nisce, former president of Fort I...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants the Constitution amended to make it less difficult for any president to declare Martial Law but Vice-president Leni Robredo said she is ready to fight against its return. According to Duterte, he wants the declaration of Martial Law to be the sole prerogative of the president. He said this would bypass the “inefficiency” of having Congress and the Supreme Court to agree to the declaratio...

Rachel Bergado is only 14 years of age. However her passion for singing is immense. She competed at the 2016 Sing Pilipinas San Francisco last Dec. 12 and won. Immediately after winning, she and her mom took a flight out and went on to compete at the final stage of the competition in Manila last Dec. 20. Facing all the other champions (eleven total) from different parts of the world. Rachel, being the youngest of them all, took the challenge and made it as far as the final...

Lucky Chances Casino held their annual Christmas party last December 15. It has been a successful 18 year-run. CEO Rommel Medina thanked almost 650 employees (mostly Filipino and Chinese) and their families for their dedication in making Lucky Chances the Northern California casino with one of the best service staff and a 60-table cardroom that feels like home to many. Because it’s Lucky Chances Casino, everyone had a chance to win raffle prizes. The venue was Rene’s, s...

Rene’s Fine Dining turned into an impromptu sports bar as Colma residents enjoyed the double treat of a sumptuous dinner and the spectacle of the Golden State Warriors beating the Pelicans on big screen TV. That was last December 13 when Lucky Chances Casino threw open its doors in appreciation for Colma residents who have supported the casino since it opened in the late 1990s. There were about 275 reservations. The biggest party was for 12 and they started coming in ar...

By Harvey I. Barkin BURLINGAME – Philippine Airlines (PAL) once again threw the mother of all Christmas parties at the Double Tree Hotel last December 14. It was an event planner’s fantasy come true. The volume of raffle prizes happily cut into the program before it got too long, guest participation was a hundred percent at the line dancing and even in the talent showcase, and the banquet was definitely not just plain vanilla as is the rote for some hotels. The overc...