Maniolas

Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army chief Benito Tiamzon (left) and his wife, Wilma (right). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO It’s all systems go for three National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants facing criminal charges to participate in peace talks in Norway later this month, while three others may well be on their way as well. Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina granted on Friday the urgent motions for the issuance of a court order allowing Satur Ocampo and Randall Echanis to travel to the Netherlands and Norway “on Aug. 16 to Sept. 4.” The two are facing multiple murder charges in connection with the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte province in 2006. READ: NDFP consultants granted temporary liberty to join Oslo talks She also granted coaccused Rafael Baylosis’ petition to participate in the peace talks in Oslo, Norway, on Aug. 20 to 27. Medina made the decision after she reinstated bail at P150,000 for Baylosis, who surfaced earlier in the day at her court and was finally arraigned on multiple murder charges. Baylosis had forfeited a P100,000 bail earlier set by the Supreme Court after he skipped his arraignment in July 2015 allegedly due to “intense surveillance and reports of threats to him and his family,” according to Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers that represents him. “I subjected myself to the jurisdiction of the Philippine government court to give the peace process a chance to continue and Read More …

Just when you thought it was bad enough he upset Filipinos worldwide–including the 4 million Asian Americans of Filipino descent in the U.S.–Donald Trump couldn’t leave well enough alone. Or maybe to erase the memory of denigrating all Filipinos as terrorists in a previous news cycle, Trump felt he had to come up with a brand new inanity. What else could he do but hurl yet another slur. First against Hillary Clinton, then President Obama. If you haven’t heard, Trump thinks a veiled threat of assassination is just fun and games in the realm of politics. But like kidding with a TSA screener about how you’re carrying a big bomb between your legs, it’s best not done; especially if you want to set a good example as the potential leader of the free world. Trump continues to give us a preview of what the political horror show known as a Trump presidency might look like. Instead of inspiring confidence, he’s letting us know that one of his chief attributes is his alarming recklessness. It came up during a stump speech in North Carolina on Tuesday, when he speculated about how to stop Hillary Clinton from making SCOTUS appointments who would be tough on gun laws. “If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks,” Trump said, according to a report in The New York Times. “Although the Second Amendment people–maybe there is, I don’t know.” We all know Trump wasn’t really thinking about someone doing extensive lobbying, or Read More …

Arthur Lopez, 55, called Las Vegas Police and said, “I killed my wife.” LV METROPOLITAN POLICE LAS VEGAS — Police arrested a Filipino man on Tuesday, August 9, for allegedly killing his estranged wife. The Metropolitan Police Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Arthur Lopez, 55, on Tuesday, August 9, and took him to the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces a charge of murder with a deadly weapon. An arrest report stated that Lopez killed his wife, Erlinda Penaflor, 78, in a home where she had rented a room after separating from Lopez whom she had described as verbally abusive. She had recently filed for divorce. Lopez is reportedly addicted to gambling and drugs and stole property. He moved to Arizona for a job but often returned to Las Vegas, according to an arrest report. He reportedly arrived unannounced at Penaflor’s residence and spent the night there. The victim asked friend to stay with her and her roommates because she was afraid of Lopez, who left Saturday afternoon. The roommate went to church and when she returned home she found Penaflor in the living room in a pool of blood. Penaflor died from blunt force trauma to the head, the arrest report said. On Monday afternoon police received a call from Lopez, who told the dispatcher, “I killed my wife,” gave an address and hung up the phone. Anyone with any information about the homicide may contact Metro’s homicide section at 702-828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.   Latest Athletics Read More …

From left to right, Prof. Felix Fuders, Ambassador Roberto Mayorga, Chargé d’Affairés and Minister Patrick Chuasoto, and John Dickson during the Calidad Humana photo exhibit and IYLA reception. CONTRIBUTED WASHINGTON, DC – Delegates to an international youth leaders’ convention spent an evening at a reception-photo exhibit hosted by the Philippine Embassy to “spread the Filipino spirit” of resilience and friendship. Several participants in 2016 International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) gathered at the Romulo Hall of the Embassy to view the photo exhibit of the book Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit in the evening of August 10. Calidad Humana or human compassion, defined as a positive and wholesome attitude towards others despite individual differences, is a quality Filipinos are widely known for. Various photos from the Calidad Humana movement in the Philippines displayed at the Romulo Hall showed “the heartfelt concern, resilient spirit, and genuine smiles emanating from the Filipino spirit and that are an essential part of the Filipino culture,” an Embassy press release stated. Chargé d’Affairés and Minister Patrick Chuasoto, explained that the photos speak about the Filipino’s “humanness” and how the youth can make use of their talents, skills and knowledge to be of service to humanity. “Calidad Humana is to give priority to concern for others,” former Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto Mayorga, who edited the book and spearheaded the Calidad Humana Movement in the Philippines, said in his remarks. Ambassador Mayorga lived in the Philippines for six years and his firsthand experience of the Read More …