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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– “The case was not well-fought.” It was all what Dr. Pedro Servano could comment on why he, together with his wife, Salvacion, are now facing imminent deportation.
In a press conference held this afternoon of Jan. 24, 2008 at the Philippine Consulate in Manhattan, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), led by Eastern Region Chairperson J.T. Mallonga, and the Philippine Consulate announced their wholehearted support on the Servanos’ legal fight to be allowed to stay in the US which is now in a legal dead end. Mallonga said that a Phil-Am Action TaskForce was formed to help the Servanos by generating awareness about the case and in the gathering of signatures to be presented to US Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania as an appeal to sponsor them for a private immigration bill. It is a bill authored by a congressman or senator to remedy the case of a person whose case merits special attention.
Dr. Servano lives and works as a primary care physician for the Geisinger Health System in Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania for the past 15 years. He and his wife Salvacion, who owns and operate a bakery, has 4 children who were born here in the US.
They are now on a “Deferred Action Status” which means that their stay is “deferred” or postponed, but does not in any way give legal status or make their stay legal. The last resort would be the filing of the private immigration bill. If passed and signed into law by the President, it would end deportation proceedings against them, waive all grounds of inadmissibility to their legal permanent residency and finally grant them legal residency status.
“The chances are slim,” agreed lead lawyer Jason Nielson and advocacy leader lawyer Merit Salud. But if they realize the great contributions of Dr. Servano in providing healthcare services to no less than 2,000 patients in an underserved area of Pennsylvania, then the chances would increase.
US Senator Arlen Specter, in an interview with CNN, has already made his intentions known that he will help. Preparations are now ongoing for the group and the family to meet with the senator. They also will present him with signatures from the senator’s constituents appealing the case.
The Philippine Consulate, on the other hand, is, by law, cannot interfere in US domestic affairs, such as this case. However, Consul Rebong said that they will do their best to drum up interest and support for the Servanos. Also present were Drs. Rommel and Aida Rivera of the Philippine American Executive Council of greater Philadelphia, who are spearheading the drive in Pennsylvania, and other officers and members of NaFFAA.
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CHICAGO - Authorities have until February 19 within which to file indictment charges against 21 people, including five Filipinos, involved in the distribution of tens of millions of dollars of ecstasy pills and marijuana to the Chicago area and Mexico from Canada.
In a two-page order last Dec. 27, acting chief Judge Robert W. Gettleman of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division in Chicago, Illinois gave due course to a government motion "for an extension of time in which to return an indictment."
Judge Gettleman said, "it is hereby ordered that the time within which to file an indictment against the defendants be extended from Jan. 5, 2008, through and including February 19, 2008. Specifically, this Court finds that the ends of justice served by the extension outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant."
Last Jan. 3, 17 of 21 defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan R. Nolan in the U.S. District Court and waived their right to preliminary examination and a "finding of probable cause" has been entered in a minute entry.
Those who waived their rights were Yvonne Law, Susan Chen, Thomas Man Lung Lo, Yong Ouyang, Li Xien Wu, Sejin Oh, Jong Kyun Chae, Carlos Panadero, Jr., Jung Bae, Melvin Dumanlang, Andrew So, Henry Chun, Michael Cruz, Roberto Valdez, Michael Myint, Jorge Huerta and Joahan Trujillo.
Those who did not waive their rights to preliminary examination were Ju Wen Zhou a.k.a. "Goi," Kenneth Quoc Luong, Su Jung Chen alias "Tina," and Carlo Panadero alias "Chito" or "Ted." Sejin Oh, 37, a South Korean and U.S. permanent resident and Carlo Panadero, a Filipino and U.S. permanent resident, fled to the Philippines while another Filipino, Ivan Myint, of Gurnee, Illinois, who was named in a separate "criminal complaint, which was placed under seal," fled to Mexico and continued to push marijuana and ecstasy pills also known as "MDMA" (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) south of the border.
The other Filipinos named in the 150-page complaint were Carlo Panadero's younger brother, Carlos Panadero, Jr., 27; Ivan Myint's younger brother, Michael Myint, and Melvin Dumanlang. While the Panadero brothers are both U.S. permanent residents, Michael Myint and Dumanlang are both U.S. Citizens.
All 21 defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and more than 500 grams of mixtures containing methamphetamine and quantities of ecstasy or MDMA.
Drug suppliers, Ju Wen Zhou, 33, and Kenneth Quoc Luong, 31, both believed Canadian citizens and residing at Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, distributed the drug to two trafficking crews. One of the crews was led by a 38-year old Filipino named Ivan Myint, who is a member of a Filipino based faction of the Latin Kings street gang in Chicago called "Flip City Kings," according to court records.
The other crew were brokered and facilitated by individuals with connections to Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, including Thomas Man Lung Lo, 29, Yong Ouyang, 32, both of the People's Republic of China and both lawful permanent residents and Li Xien Wu, 32, a U.S. citizen.
In early 2005, Myint was arrested and charged with a federal narcotics offense, but fled to Mexico, where he allegedly attempted to continue his drug trafficking operation in both the United States and in Mexico. He returned to the United States this past summer and remains in federal custody after entering a plea of not guilty in that case.
In addition to Oh, others charged in the federal case are: Jong Kyun Chae, 39, of Skokie; Carlo Panadero, 36, formerly of Des Plaines and believed to be in the Philippines; his brother, Carlos Panadero, Jr., 27, formerly of Berwyn; Melvin Dumanlang, 25, of Chicago; and Henry Chun, 36, of Morton Grove. Also charged are Myint's brother, Michael Myint, 33, of Chicago; Joahan Trujillo, 25, of Chicago; Yvonne Law, 28, of Ontario; and sisters Su Jung Chen, 49, of Ontario; and Susan Chen, 62, of Skokie, according to court records.
Each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life without parole and fines up to $4 million if convicted. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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CHICAGO – An American awaiting resolution of federal charges of child sex tourism and possession of child pornography after traveling from the Philippines had died in prison, it was learned here
Tuesday, Jan. 22. Sharon Paul, spokesperson of the United States Attorneys office of the Central District of
Illinois based in the capital of Springfield told this reporter that Amon Paul Carlock, 57, had died after a struggle with
his jailers at the Sangamon County Jail in Springfield last November.
The State Journal Register, a daily newspaper in Springfield, said Sangamon County coroner’s was unable to determine the cause of Carlock’s death. But it came after Carlock was shocked with a Taser gun while one correctional officer laid and sat on his shoulders during the struggle.
The accused sex offender, who performed for children as Klutzo the Clown and magician, died last Nov. 17 at St. John’s Hospital, six hours after the struggle. His pulse weakened and the pace of his breathing changed after the 50,000-volt Taser jolted his body for several seconds.
The jailers were trying to take Carlock to St. John’s Hospital “because of recent erratic behavior.” Carlock, however, resisted, prompting the jailers to get him into a restraint chair. Carlock was wrestled to the ground but kept on fighting.
It was the third time Carlock was “Tasered.” Immigration agents stopped Carlock at the San Francisco airport when he returned from the Philippines last June.
Because the Philippines has developed a reputation as a popular child sex tourism destination, travelers from the Philippines are getting close scrutiny.
Carlock told investigators that he had been working at an orphanage called “House of Joy” in San Isidro, a small town in Davao Oriental. Because of his direct contact with children, the agents examined Carlock’s digital camera and his lap top computer. The investigators found numerous pictures of nude young boys.
At least 21 child pornography movies were later seized from Carlock’s residence at Springfield, according to the affidavit filed in court by SA (Special Agent) Michael F. Mitchell of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security.
Carlock had traveled to HOJ in 2004 through arrangements made by someone he befriended thru the Internet. He said he and his wife had been in the clown business for about 10 years, entertaining children at birthday parties and hospitals. His wife clowns under the name of “Smilee.”
He said he traveled alone to an orphanage in Mexico in 2002 to entertain them thru clowning. When asked why he
took pictures of naked minor boys from Philippines and Taiwan, Carlock explained that he wanted to show to the people in the U.S. that people in those countries are “so poor they can’t even afford clothes.”
Three of the minors in HOJ interviewed by SSA Julius Arambulo, the Philippine National Police Officer 2, Ruth Castillones and Philippine Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer 1, Ana Brenda A. Buga-ay, said that when “they woke up Paul Carlock (was) fondling and caressing their penis and that he walked out of the room when they awoke.” (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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