By William Casis | Filam Star Correspondent The military is monitoring the movements of Vice-president Leni Robredo and two opposition senators, revealed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla. He confirmed the military started monitoring Robredo, and Senators Leila de Lima – currently detained at Camp Crame on drug charges – and Antonio Trillanes IV. All three belong to the Minority Bloc in the Senate led by Senate Minority Leader ...

By Daniel Llanto | FilAm Star Correspondent The election of barangay or village officials set by law for October this year after it was postponed in 2016 may be called off anew by a similar act of Congress but President Rodrigo Duterte will be culpably violating the Constitution if he does away with this election entirely and instead appoints officers-in-charge (OICs) to these posts. This was the view held by political analysts and election lawyers seemed widely shared ...

By Corina Oliquino | FilAm Star Correspondent MANILA – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Executions Agnes Callamard got back at Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo after the latter’s appeal for media people and to Vice-president Robredo to “tone down” reports of extra-judicial killings. Teo spoke at a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand last March 22 on the last day of President Duterte’s two-day official visit ...

By William Casis | FilAm Star Correspondent President Rodrigo Duterte, who made international headlines with his war on drugs, resulting in over 7,000 drug suspects killed, is an early front runner in an on-line poll for Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The Poll, which started last March 24, has Duterte at the top spot with four percent of the votes as of March 26. In second place with three percent votes is Pope Francis, l...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent Three Malaysian nationals kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf last year were rescued by government troops, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Eduardo Año said on March 27. Año said Joint Task Force Sulu rescued the three hostages -- Zulkipli Bin Ali, Mohammad Ridzuan Bin Ismail, and Fandy Bin Bakran -- in Barangay Jinggan, Panglima Estino town in Sulu around 11:30 p.m., Sunday. They are now in a military hospital in Sulu. “We ha...

By Macon Araneta | FilAm Star Correspondent Confusing remarks by President Rodrigo Duterte about Philippine claims to Scarborough Shoal and Benham Rise could bring about a crisis in the country’s relationship with its long-time ally, the United States, and other security allies, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, an analyst said March 26. Stratbase ADR Institute Inc. trustee and program convener Renato de Castro said Duterte’s recent remarks on Benham Rise and ...

The Cultural Resource Fair District was a huge success! Newly elected San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, opened the first District 5 Together, Cultural and Resource Fair to the public last March 18 at Jefferson High School in Daly City. District 5 includes Daly City, Brisbane, Colma and parts of South San Francisco and San Bruno. This event was a great opportunity to bring together diverse communities, to learn more about each other and the many services that Cou...

We beam with pride to bring the good news about the recently concluded Alay Pangkalusugan, the first medical-dental mission of The Global Urdanetanians (TGU) based in Southern California, held at Barangay Tulong, Urdaneta City, and Pangasinan. What better way to celebrate love in the Valentine month of February than by rendering service to the residents of the almost obscure Barangay Tulong last February 4. In fact, it was their first medical-dental mission experience there a...

Story by Chetskyman / Photos by Alan M. The Golden State Warriors welcomed the Milwaukee Bucks in Oakland last March 18. Filipinos from all over the Bay area flocked into the Oracle arena to see their favorite basketball team as well as to celebrate Filipino Heritage Night. What seemed to be just another evening of basketball turned into something more special and memorable. Th evening began with a press conference of former Warrior guard Raymond Townsend. He is the fir...