By Harvey I. Barkin SAN JOSE – Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company recently invited day workers to inform them of the dangers of natural gas and make them aware of their look-before-you-leap phone number at the ConXion to Community Day Worker Center. In this case, 811 is the call-before-you-dig number. Retired PG&E gas service expert and Filipino-American Rudy Herras demonstrated to a group of mostly Latino contractors about doing due diligence before dig...

By Harvey I. Barkin SAN FRANCISCO – Some Pinoys who thought they’re living the American Dream realize they still have a bucket list. Getting property in the homeland before kicking the bucket tops the list. To be able to pay for it, show paper work that you own it and go on vacation there in your own territory, allowing entry only to friends you like and denying illegal relatives who are no fun within your own borders. You’ll be in God’s country and it’s just feels right p...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent Sen. Leila De Lima on Monday night finally confirmed she had an affair with her former bodyguard/driver but maintained she had never authorized him or anybody to collect money from drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to bankroll her senatorial bid last May elections. “I am 100 percent sure that I have never received (drug money) or allowed anybody to be my bagman,” stressed De Lima. De Lima was referring to Ronni...

By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent MANILA – Kris Aquino expressed in her Instagram account her thoughts regarding President Duterte’s no-show in their scheduled interview last November 11 in Davao City. The actress-host, popularly known as Queen of All Media, called Duterte’s non-appearance as an ‘epic snub’ and said on her social media account a day after the incident: “Humble and realistic enough to admit it was an epic snub – but learning so much from @bey...

By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent President Rodrigo Duterte accused the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of protecting favored politicians and warned that this may lead to a nasty “confrontation between us.” At the 80th anniversary celebration of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Duterte said, “I’d like to address myself to the Central Bank guys and the AMLA. I’d like to warn you to avoid a confrontation ...

By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent Former President Fidel Ramos, a major player in the 1986 People Power Revolt that toppled the 20-year old Marcos dictatorial rule and catalputed the late Cory Aquino into power, has joined these who oppose the late strongman’s burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) in Taguig City. Speaking in a television interview over GMA 7, Ramos said the 1986 civil uprising that ousted Marcos should neither be forgotten no...

By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent Senators have warned of a constitutional crisis if the Office of the Ombudsman insists on having its order carried out: dismissing Sen. Joel Villanueva over his alleged misuse of PHP 10 million in pork barrel funds when he was a party-list lawmaker in 2008. Senate President pro tempore Franklin Drilon and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said under Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the ombudsman’s disciplinary p...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent After its first and last hearing, the Senate committee on public information and mass media chaired by Sen. Grace Poe approved a measure that would exempt journalists, not only in print, but also in broadcast and online media, from revealing their sources. Poe’s committee in principle gave its nod to legislative measures seeking to amend Republic Act No 53, as amended — also called the Shield or Sotto Law that protects print j...