|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO – Six Filipino Americans were among the 24 people named in a 13- count indictment and forfeiture allegations by a grand jury last Feb. 13 for distributing tens of millions of dollars of ecstasy pills and indoor-grown (hydroponic) marijuana in the Chicago area and Mexico from Canada, according to the court documents made available Wednesday, Feb. 20.
In a 21-page indictment returned before Magistrate Judge Nan R. Nolan of the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois in Chicago, the Filipino Americans charged with possessing and distributing controlled substance of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and MDMA known as “Ecstasy” designer pills popular among disco goers were Ivan Myint, 38, of Gurnee, Illinois; his younger brother, Michael Myint, 33, of Chicago, Illinois, a U.S. citizen; Carlo Panadero alias “Chito” or “Ted,” 36, formerly of Des Plaines, Illinois and believed hiding in the Philippines and his younger brother, Carlos Panadero, Jr., aka “CJ,” 27, formerly of Berwyn, Illinois, both Permanent US residents; Melvin Dumanlang, 25, of Chicago, also a US citizen; and Michael Cruz, of Chicago, a Philippine native and a U.S. citizen.
Others indicted were the drug suppliers from Scarborough, Ontario, Ju Wen Zhou, 33, and Kenneth Quoc Luong, aka “Kenny,” both believed to be Canadian citizens; the Chicago China town distributors, Thomas Man Lung Lo, aka “Tommy Lo,” 29, and Yong Ouyang, aka “Lun,” 32, both of Chicago and both nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) and both Permanent US residents; Li Xien Wu, aka “Ray,” 32, also of Chicago, a naturalized U.S. citizen and native of PROC; couriers, Yvonne Law, 28, of Ontario, Canada; Su Jung Chen, aka “Tina,” 49, believed to be a Canadian citizen, of Ontario; and her elder sister, Susan Chen, aka “Sue,” 62, of Skokie, Illinois, a US citizen. The sisters are both natives of Taiwan.
Sejin Oh, 37, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a South Korean citizen and U.S. lawful permanent resident; Jong Kyun Chae, aka “Big John,” 39, of Skokie, Illinois, a U.S. citizen and native of South Korea; Jung Bae, aka “John,” a native of Federal Republic of Germany and U.S. lawful permanent resident and Korean descent; Andrew So, a U.S. citizen and native of South Korea; Henry Chun, 36, of Morton Grove, Illinois, a native of South Korea and naturalized US citizen; Roberto Valdez, a U.S. citizen and native of Mexico, member of Latin Kings street gang; Jorge Huerta and Joahan Trujillo, 25, both of Chicago and both U.S. citizens and both Latino descent; Jerry Left and Hubert Chow.
Except for Ju Wen Zhou a.k.a. "Goi," Kenneth Quoc Luong, Su Jung Chen alias "Tina," and Carlo Panadero, alias “Chito” or “Ted,” who were indicted in absentia, the rest of the defendants had posted bail.
Carlo Panadero fled to the Philippines when he learned that authorities were tracking him down.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman told this reporter that the U.S. authorities will explore every means to bring these defendants who are at large “before the Northern District of Illinois,” including “defendants' extradition from Canada.”
According to the court records, Ju Wen Zhou and Kenneth Quoc Luong and another accomplice started supplying the crews separately led by Sejin Oh and Ivan Myint from November 2003 until 2006 with large quantities of MDMA and indoor-grown marijuana.
Yvonne Law assisted by “co-conspirator A, one of the Canadian suppliers,” smuggled MDMA and marijuana from Canada into the United States and distributed them “in Greater Chicago area and elsewhere.” Yvonne and defendants Su Jung Chen and her sister Susan Chen collected the narcotics proceeds in Chicago area and elsewhere and smuggled cash into Canada.
Jong Kyun Chae, Carlos and Carlo Panadero, Jung Bae, Melvin Dumanlang and Andew So were members of Sejin Oh’s crew.
Michael Cruz, Roberto Valdez, Jerry Left, Hubert Chow, Michael Myint and other co-conspirators were members of Ivan Myint crew.
Thomas Man Lung Lo and Henry Chun are the two man crew also pushing MDMA and marijuana in Chicago’s China Town.
The defendants are forfeiting some US$1.5-Million cash that was seized from them.
Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life without parole and fines up to $4 million if convicted.
“Ecstasy” or “MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug in tablets or pills from 250 mg.or “double stack pills” in 500 mg in size in distinct color or a “logo” or “stamp” often distributed at night clubs, parties, concerts or other social events. Its overdose can result in injury, including loss of consciousness, seizure, stroke, brain damage or death. It becomes riskier to use when taken with other drugs.
The “hydrophonic” marijuana, commonly known as “hydro,” is grown in controlled water environment with special techniques. It is more potent than the field-grown marijuana. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Filipino-Americans feel burden of backlash
|
|
|
|
BAYONNE–Bayonne police and members of the Drug Enforcement Agency put an end to perhaps the community’s biggest drug ring in recent memory.
The authorities seized more than $341,000 in cash, a 2002 BMW, and $ 10,000 in crystal meth from the hands of six Filipinos: Bayonne residents Marie Cuneta, Arlon Macatangay, Alejandro Guinto of
Old Bridge, Edwin Padilla of Maspeth, Queens, Reynaldo Gomez of Manville, and Raymond Dimayuga of Sommerville.
Cuneta and Macatangay, the drug ring leaders, were charged with possession of methamphetamines and intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and within 500 feet of public housing, as well as conspiracy to violate narcotic laws.
According to Bayonne police chief Robert “Red” Kubert, the authorities started investigating the ring with the DEA in 2006. They have put surveillance teams in the house on Kennedy Boulevard between West third and Juliette Streets.
Kubert added that officers saw Cuneta meet Gomez and Dimayuga near the house in an apparent drug deal. Cuneta handed over an envelope, while the two men handed over cash to Cuneta.
The officers followed the two men and arrested them at Route 440 and 34th Street. Authorities later arrested Cuneta at a shopping mall parking lot after more transactions that are apparent.
Macatangay was arrested in the house that authorities found out to be the center of the ring that imports meth from the straight from Philippines.
The six suspects were taken to the Hudson County Jail in Kearny.
Meanwhile, some Fil-Ams expressed concern about the bust and braced themselves for a backlash. “This is the last thing we need as a community. It tarnishes our image as law abiding citizens of this country,” said Jonze Lao, a nurse from West Orange.
“Definitely there will be a backlash when things like this hit the papers,” said Rick Laurena of Bayonne. “It is hard to be proud of your origins when most people think drug dealing is our birthright.”
(With reports from The Jersey Journal)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO – On the eve of the 62nd anniversary of the passing of the Rescission Act of 1946 Sunday (Feb. 17), Sen. Larry E. Craig (Rep.-Idaho), one of the ranking members of the U.S. Senate Veterans committee blocking the passage of the S. 1315 or the Veterans Benefits Enhancements Act, said in an email that the “pension benefit (of S. 1315) is far too generous.”
The Senate bill, S. 1315, designed to repeal the law that took away the full benefits of Filipino World War II veterans is pending before the full Senate.
However, Senator Craig disclosed to this reporter that he is “pleased to be an original co-sponsor of S. 2640” introduced by Sen. Richard Burr (Rep. North Carolina) last Feb. 14 “as an alternative to S. 1315” because “it incorporates many of the very important provisions of S. 1315.”
He said the bill provides “retroactive payments of up to $100,000 to all disabled veterans who sustained severe injuries since the war on terror began; increased insurance coverage for severely disabled veterans under the Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance Program; and housing and auto grants to veterans with severe burns who require modifications to either their homes or vehicles.”
The senator, who responded to the letter of retired Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, the head of the Office of the Veterans Affairs of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., told General Lorenzana that “S. 2640 contains $107 million over 10 years to provide full pension to Filipino veterans legally residing in the United States; full disability compensation to Filipino veterans wherever they reside; and full access to the VA (Veterans Affairs) clinic in Manila for Filipino veterans with service related disabilities.
“My support for these provisions should be confirmation of what I have said all along: I support legislation improving benefits for Filipino veterans so long as it is done in a responsible manner and so long as other improvements in benefits for U.S. veterans receive the highest priorities.”
The email sent to this reporter by Senator Craig’s legislative assistant, Patrick Meuleman, quoted then-Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Carl Hayden, speaking about the Rescission Act: “As I see it, the best thing the American government can do is to help the Filipino people help themselves. Where there was a choice between expenditures for the rehabilitation of the economy of the Philippine Islands (sic) and payments in cash to Filipino veterans, I am sure it is better to spend any equal sum of money, for example, on improving the roads and port facilities. What the Filipino veteran needs is a steady employment rather than to depend for his living upon a monthly payment sent from the United States.”
Craig further quoted Senator Hayden as saying that “there is no suggestion that Congress had in mind covering under GI bill of rights any classes not therefore understood to be included within the meaning of the words ‘in the active military or naval service of the United States,’ which is the primary basis for entitlement to its benefits. It is certainly unthinkable that the Congress would extend the normal meaning of the term to cover the large number of Filipinos to whom it has been suggested that the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1940 applies, at a cost running into billions of dollars…”
The S. 1315, sponsored by Hawaii Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (Dem.), chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee, provides for a flat rate of $3,600 annual non-service disability pension for single Filipino veterans living in the Philippines; $4,500 annually for married veterans; and $2,400 annually for surviving spouses. The House version pending before Veterans Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Filner (Dem.-San Diego) offers a higher benefit.
Passage of S. 1315 will have the effect of repealing Public Law 79-310 or the Rescission Act of 1946 that was passed on Feb. 18, 1946, which reduced to peso (half-dollar) the service pay that the Filipino veterans would receive instead of the full dollar equivalent that their American counterpart veterans received for their services during World War II.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK-- Edith Burgos, the mother of missing Filipino agriculturalist Jonas Burgos, and widow of the late Filipino press freedom-fighter Joe Burgos, will be coming to the US in March for a month long national speaking tour in at least 7 cities across the US.
Her first stop will be New York City, where the NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) will be holding a community benefit dinner and welcome for her on Saturday, March 1st, 6pm at the BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center on 40-2169th Street in Woodside.
The national speaking tour is being sponsored by GMA WATCH, a national grassroots advocacy network that has been actively participating in church lobbying efforts after the US Senate hearing last March 2007 on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines.
NYCHRP is a founding member of GMA WATCH. Ms. Burgos, a secular Carmelite (a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites), has been traveling extensively on speaking engagements to call public attention to the case of her son, who was abducted by elements of the Philippine military on April 28, 2007 and remains missing to this day.
Jonas Burgos, 36, is a land rights activist who was affiliated with the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) or Alliance of Peasants in Central Luzon, a local affiliate of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) or Peasant Movement of the Philippines.
Many believe Jonas was abducted because of his activism and support for genuine agrarian reform, as well as organizing other peasants and farmers to fight for their rights through peaceful means.
Ms. Burgos has testified to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva that she still believes her son is at the brutal hands of the Philippine military. Jonas Burgos' case was also numerously referenced in the 2007 UN report of Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings and Summary Executions, who released 3 reports on the Philippines last year. Burgos is set to have a private meeting with Alston during her brief stay in New York to update him on Jonas' case.
"We are concerned that not enough is being done for Jonas' case by the Philippine government," states Jamie Mapa, a member of NYCHRP and Jonas' Burgos' first cousin. "We have a moral responsibility to seek justice for the victims of human rights violations in our motherland."
Shortly after New York, Burgos is set to travel to Washington DC, where she will attend the Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), an annual ecumenical gathering of Christian Church representatives that speak on global human rights, social, economic, and political concerns. She will make her way westward from there ending up in California by the end of March.
As a result of national grassroots advocacy efforts from various church groups, the 2008 Appropriations Bill included specific restrictive language on US military aid to the Philippines, with recommendations for the Arroyo government by Alston himself.
Many are concerned such aid has been directly contributing to training a Philippine military that has been guilty of perpetrating these human rights violations, which includes over 890+ victims of killings and 300+ victims of abductions.
The Arroyo government is currently under intensifying public scrutiny in Manila for exposed graft and corruption. An initial protest calling for Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo's resignation topped at 15,000 last Friday, and the protests are only projected to get bigger as more social unrest unfolds.
Joe Burgos, Edith's late husband, was also a significant press figure that defied censorship under the martial law of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970's. The late Burgos founded the popular newspapers We Forum and Malaya. For helping restore democratic processes to the country, Joe Burgos was honored as a World Press Freedom Hero Awardee by the International Press Institute in Boston in 2000.
Ms. Burgos, whose family continues to face political harassment in the Philippines, will be speaking on behalf of the Desaparacidos, a rapidly growing national organization of families and loved ones of the disappeared in the Philippines.
She will be traveling with her daughter, Virginia Ann, and Mervyn Toquero of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
KAPAYAPAAN, the Edith Burgos Community Benefit Dinner will have an entrance fee of $20.00 per person. RSVPs are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, send an email NYCHRP at nychrp@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO – The Philippines, India and Mongolia have until Thursday, Feb. 21, within which to file in court the amounts in taxes they owed to the City of New York as a result of the adverse ruling the
United States District Court of New York issued last Feb. 8th.
In a 26-page decision, Judge Jed S. Rakoff denied summary judgment on taxes being levied by the City of New York on the Philippine Center’s operation of Maharlika restaurant but granted summary judgment for the Center’s operation of the Philippine National Bank and the Philippine Airlines offices in its premises.
At the same time, Rakoff also granted City’s motions for “summary judgment validating the liens and assessing taxes against India and Mongolia.”
Atty. Robert A. Kandel , counsel for the three countries, told this reporter that he was ordered to “submit to the Court by no later than February 13, 2008 a letter setting forth the amounts due to the City as a result of these rulings, including the specification of any interest due through Feb. 21, 2008. Defendants should submit to the Court by no later than Feb. 19, 2008, a letter specifying any objections to the calculations. The Court will then enter Final Judgment on Feb. 21, 2008.”
Calls placed by this reporter on the embassies of the Philippines and Mongolia were not returned. A spokesman of the Indian Embassy could not be reached for comment.
The cases involving the three countries had dragged on for years. Its original judge, Judge Richard Conway Casey, died in office, while handling the cases.
Originally, India and Mongolia moved to dismiss the cases on the ground that they were immune from “this court’s jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976.” Judge Casey, however, concluded that he had jurisdiction pursuant to the FSIA’s “immoval property exception” that was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and later the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Philippines “made a similar argument in papers filed” prior to the ruling of Supreme Court in support of the summary judgment but the argument “is no longer tenable” in the light of the Supreme Court decision.
The City had been arguing that that the Philippines owed $19-Million as of 2005 but this will likely change in view of Rakoff’s ruling that the law did not require the Philippine government to pay taxes on Maharlika restaurant because it “was not intended to be a commercial venture” but “a showcase (of) Filipino culture.” The restaurant operated from 1974 to 1982. But Rakoff said the Center should pay taxes for the bank that leased its space and an airline office that rented one of its floors.
The Philippine Center at 556 Fifth Avenue in New York City was acquired by the Philippine government in 1973 housing the country’s Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General. After closing the Maharlika restaurant, the Center leased the space from Nov. 5, 1987 up to May 1996 to Philippine National Bank and rented the “fourth floor” to the Philippine Airlines from 1974 to 1988.
In the case of India, it owned a 26-story building at 235 East 43rd St. in New York City. The first six floors house India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations while the upper 20 floors are the residential units of employes of the Mission and the Indian Consulate, “all ranking below the head of mission,” being rented free of charge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
