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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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NEW YORK– For 25 years, Dr. Pedro Servano and his family enjoyed every bit of life in the United States. He worked for the Geisinger Medical Group for 15 years, his wife Salvacion owns a small bakery in Sunbury, and his kids, all American-born studied in the finest universities. However, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities finally caught up with them and successfully put a stop to the Servano’s American dreams. Now, Pedro and his wife are scheduled to report to the Allenwood Federal Prison to begin the removal proceedings.
According to the ICE, the Servanos misrepresented their marital status when they applied as singles before they migrated to the US in 1978.
The information was discovered when the couple filed for citizenship in 1990. Upon discovering the original application and knowing the misrepresentation they committed, the ICE immediately began deportation proceedings.
The case has been through an immigration law judge, an appeals board and, in 2002, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, all of which agreed the Servanos aren’t welcome here.
“They have had their due process’, ICE spokesman Michael Gilhooly said. Meanwhile, their USborn children can stay.
A Homeland Security employee, writing as a private citizen in support of the Servanos' bid to remain in the United States, told immigration officials in a letter, "I cannot fathom how deporting the Servanos fulfills any portion of the ICE mission." He said they did not sneak into the country, have broken no laws, have not been a burden to the economy and pose no threat to U.S. security.
However, some anti-illegal immigrant groups praised the resilience of the ICE, but expressed their disdain over the long period of time it took the bureau to remove the Servanos.
On the other hand, Sunbury City Clerk, Terry Specht, who frequents Salvacion’s bakery, said, “They had an error on their visas when they first came here. It’s ridiculous to think they would lie about that.”
For all the pains that the snuffing out of their American dream have caused, Salvacion had only one thing to say: “We love this country and this is our American dream to be here,” Salvacion Servano said in a telephone interview. “We’ve been here for 25 years. This is our home.”
For his part, Pedro belives that there were no intentions to mislead the immigration authorities: “I guess it’s an honest mistake,” Salvacion Servano said. “It’s not premeditated.”
It is indeed a sad tale of two Filipinos who searched for their dreams, found it, then lost it all in the end.
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FAYETTEVILLE–Two Fayetteville men, including a Fil Am, are in police custody for their alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting on the University of Arkansas campus.
John Chanthavong, 18, of 4458 W. Putting Green Drive, and Felipe Ibarra, 18, of 10027 Arkansas 265 South, face multiple felony charges including committing a terroristic act.
University police responded to a drive-by shooting at the Sigma Chi fraternity house, near the corner of Maple Street and Gregg Avenue, in the early morning hours of Nov. 3. Witnesses told police that three uninvited, unidentified people entered the house during a party and were escorted out of the fraternity house by members. A short time later, three shots were fired toward a group of people standing in the breezeway on the east side of the house along Gregg Avenue. No injuries were reported.
"They said they were having a function that night that was for members only and one (specific ) sorority," said Lt. Vance Rice, public safety commander for UAPD. "Unfortunately, a Hispanic and a Filipino didn't fit the bill for that party."
As the suspects were being escorted out, Rice said, one of them offered to sell ecstacy to a fraternity member.
“The member didn’t like that and apparently they exchanged words,” he said.
Chanthavong and Ibarra were arrested during separate traffic stops at about 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Chanthavong was arrested by UA police officers during a stop in Fayetteville on Arkansas 16 West, near North Salem Road. Minutes later, Washington County sheriff's deputies arrested Ibarra during another stop.
"We were looking for them," Rice said. "An informant came forward with the names of the suspects. When we informed Fayetteville police about their identities, we learned that the 4 th Judicial District Drug Task Force was working a case against Felipe. "Both men were arrested without incident and transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
Rice said committing a terroristic act is a class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 15, 000.
"Terroristic act is actually higher than aggravated assault," Rice said. "It's basically the same thing as attempted murder. The only difference is that with attempted murder, you have to have injury."
Chanthavong also faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and no driver's license.
Ibarra faces additional charges involving six counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of no driver's license and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and carrying certain prohibited weapons.
Both suspects were being held in the county jail Tuesday night, but a bond amount had not been posted.
Chanthavong will make his first appearance in the Washington County Circuit Court today, while Ibarra's court date has been set for Nov. 26.
University police think they have identified a third suspect who is still at large.
None of the three men involved in the shooting were students at the UA.
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