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New York (AP) — A former U.S. Army sniper and two other ex-American soldiers agreed to become contract killers for an international crime boss who wanted to settle a score with a real estate agent in the Philippines he thought had cheated him on a land deal, a prosecutor said Tuesday in opening statements at the trial of the three men. Joseph Hunter, a onetime sergeant with a Special Forces background, Adam Samia and Carl David Stillwell have denied they planned the 2012 execution-style hit — a case that’s provided an inside glimpse into the secret fraternity of private mercenaries willing to kill in cold blood for cash. Prosecutors said the 52-year-old Hunter was working as a security chief for weapons and drug trafficker Paul Le Roux when he recruited Samia and Stillwell to travel from their homes in Roxboro, North Carolina, to the Philippines for what was called “ninja work.” Hunter provided firearms and silencers and told them Le Roux would pay them $35,000 a piece to get th...

The six-month closure of Boracay may be reduced by two months if more people would support the government’s efforts to save the island from further environmental decay, according to an official of an inter-agency task force. Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III said the government intends to fast track the rehabilitation of Boracay to attain a possible soft opening even before the six-month closure ends. “If we will go through the full six months, it could reach around P18 to P20 billion potential loss in gross receipts. That’s why it is not to the interest of everybody to go the full six months,” he said during a press briefing in Malacanang. “We have to fast track everything. The only way to be able to do this is to ask everybody, all the stakeholders, to be part of the whole rehabilitation process. We have been receiving volunteers outside Boracay that they want to go into the island and help in the rehab process. So if everybody can come i...

Martial Law in Mindanao for 60 days was declared by Duterte (4th UPDATE) President Rodrigo Duterte cuts short his trip to Russia, as Maute Group members attack Marawi City in Mindanao MARAWI BURNING. At least 3 separate fires broke out in the city on May 23, 2017, as the gun battle rages between the military and the Maute Group. MOSCOW, Russia (4th UPDATE) – President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the island of Mindanao following the attack of the Maute Group in Marawi City.  "As of 10 pm Manila time, he has already declared martial law for the entire island of Mindanao," said Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella. "This is possible on the grounds of existence of rebellion because of what is happening in Mindanao," he added. Abella made this announcement on Tuesday, May 23, in Moscow, Russia at around 6:30 pm (11:30 pm Manila time). Martial law will last 60 days, Abella pointed out. Asked if there is already an official document of th...

Senator Leila De Lima ousted as chair of justice committee Senator Manny Pacquiao also moves that the entire committee on justice and human rights, which Senator De Lima heads, be declared vacant. Senator Leila De Lima walked out of the session hall during Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s privilege speech on Monday, September 19. Senator Cayetano's privilege speech In his privilege speech, Cayetano – President Rodrigo Duterte’s former running mate and one of his staunchest allies in the Senate – accused De Lima of destroying the image of the Senate and the Philippines abroad. De Lima said she left the hall “in protest” of Cayetano. "I cannot stand it. I’m gonna deliver my own privilege speech tomorrow instead of confronting him now,” she told reporters.. "Tumayo po ako at umalis bilang protesta sa maiitim na planong patahimikin ako at ipagpatuloy ang paghahanap ng katotohanan sa likod ng mga nagaganap na patayan sa ngalan ng kampanya laban sa droga,"...

Abu Sayaff camp captured by Philippine Military. The last known camp of the terrorist group Abu Sayaff in Tipo, Tipo Basilan was finally captured by the Philippine 4th Military Special Forces Battalion.  The Duterte administration launches series of successful operation since July and the effects of this to the terrorist group is really bad. Col. Andrew Bacala, commander of the Philippine Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion, said the Abu Sayyaf suffered when the military forces attacked the terrorist group in Barangay Silangkum in Tipo Tipo town on August 15.  The relatives of some members of the terrorist group cooperated with the government forces because of their desire to end the terror in their place.  Joel Maturan, the former town mayor of Ungkaya Pukan, said “the Abu Sayyaf was finally flushed out of our towns.” Netizens lauds the campaign of Philippine Army against terrorism and they believe that this news is a sign that Abu Sayaff’s era is goi...

Privilege Speech of SENATOR EMMANUNEL D. PACQUIAO Senate of the Philippines August 8, 2016 The Death Penalty Mr. President, mga kasama kong senador at sa ating mga kababayan, magandang hapon po. Mr. President, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege on matters of public concern. My first ever privilege speech as a Senator will focus on one of the biggest issues plaguing our country. I speak before you because of the sense of urgency on the issue of drug problem which has become alarming as it gets worse each day. Lumalawig na naman ang usapin patungkol sa parusang kamatayan o death penalty. Hindi kasi maiaalis sa akin ang pag-aalala kung maganda rin kaya ang hapon ng mga pamilyang nabibiktima ng ilegal na droga. Bago ako makilala na boksingero, naranasan ko ang buhay sa lansangan ng General Santos at Sarangani. Maging nang ako ay nagsisimula nang lumaban sa professional boxing, naikot ko ang iba’t ibang sulok ng Metro Manila. Dito ko personal na na...

Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday said that Vhon Tanto, arrested suspect in the killing of a cyclist in Quiapo on Monday night, will be getting a "villain's welcome" when he arrives in Manila to face charges.  In a press conference, the PNP announced that Vhon Tanto, who was arrested in Masbate shortly before noon, will be "traveling on escort, by land tonight."  He is expected to arrive on Saturday morning at the Manila Police District, where he will face charges of murder and frustrated murder of Mark Vincent Garalde. Tanto will undergo inquest proceedings when he gets to Manila.  "Pagdating niya du'n bukas ay puntahan natin," Dela Rosa said. "We will give him a villain's welcome. Not a hero's welcome, but a villain's welcome." He added: "Ang hero's welcome is full of joy, palakpakan, pomps and pedantries... Ang villain's welcome is 'yung nakaka...

The Philippines will be hosting the Miss Universe beauty pageant on Jan. 30, 2017, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced yesterday. “I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant will be on Jan. 30, 2017, here in the Philippines,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced during a press briefing. Teo said the DOT is looking at Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, Vigan and Mall of Asia in Pasay City as possible venues for the pageant. It will be the third time the Philippines would be hosting the event. The Philippines hosted Miss Universe pageants in 1974, held at the Folk Arts Theater, and in 1994 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The Philippines has three Miss Universe titleholders to date: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) and current title holder Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Teo, for her part, decided to announce the country’s hosting of the pageant even after reports came out yesterday saying President Duter...

Duterte on Thursday, July 28, threatened to withdraw a ceasefire order he gave three days ago after suspected communist rebels killed a government militiaman and wounded four others in an attack. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday threatened to withdraw a ceasefire order he gave three days ago after suspected communist rebels killed a government militiaman and wounded four others in an attack. After learning about the New People's Army rebel attack, Duterte told army troops he called and asked a left-wing lawmaker to tell the guerrillas they have up to Friday to tell him if they wanted to have a truce, otherwise, both sides can return to fighting. Duterte, who has made friendly overtures to the Maoist guerrillas, warned the rebels if one more soldier or militiaman is killed, "let's just fight." "I was talking to the congressman and asked, 'What is this? Are we into th...

U.S. Warships Surrounded Disputed South China Sea A US warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea Saturday to assert freedom of navigation, drawing a protest from Beijing, officials said. 'We conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea earlier tonight,' Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said in a statement.  Davis said the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur made the 'innocent passage' off Triton Island in the Paracel island chain, which is claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. No Chinese navy ships were in the area at the time the US destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of the tiny 1.2 square kilometer island, he said. The operation was conducted 'to challenge excessive maritime claims of parties that claim the Paracel Islands,' Davis said. While the United States takes no position on the various claims to the island, it does not recognize any claimant's right to its terr...