Pres. Duterte Fires Envoy Seen Physically Abusing House Help

Marichu Mauro

The Philippine president has dismissed his former ambassador to Brazil, Marichu Mauro, after she was seen on video physically abusing a Filipino member of her household staff (See ABC News for story).

Fil-Am Dies After Cops Apply Knee on His Neck

Angelo Quinto

The deadly knee-to-the-neck technique that killed George Floyd was used by police against a Filipino American and might have caused his death. The family of a 30-year-old Angelo Quinto is filing a wrongful death suit against officers in Antioch, California who answered a 911 call Dec. 23. He was pronounced dead at a hospital three days later (See Ed Diokno Blogspot for story).

US to Sell Arms to PH Despite No Human Rights Reforms

The United States has reaffirmed there are "no restrictions" on arms sales to the Philippine military days after Manila called for more robust defense aid as the two nations open negotiations to renew a key military agreement (See Nikkei.Asia for story).

PH Supreme Court: A Child Can Bear the Mother's Surname

The Supreme Court has granted a child's petition to bear his mother's surname, ruling that the Philippine Civil Code did not say that a father's surname must be exclusively used by children (See Rappler for story).

PH Wants to Trade Nurses for Covid Vaccines

In an unusual proposal the Philippines is asking the United Kingdom and Germany to provide hundreds of thousands of coronavirus vaccines in exchange for the deployment of Filipino nurses who have been in high demand globally as frontline workers during the pandemic (See Vice for story).

Al Sharpton Calls for Justice in Slaying of Teen by Police

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton stood with the family of Christian Hall today, a suicidal teen gunned down by police in Pennsylvania with his hands up. The 19 year old was adopted from Shanghai, China by a Black father and Filipino American mother (See AsAm News for story).

Pinoy's Covid Death Spurs Closure of Canada Meat-Packing Plant

Darwin Doloque

When Darwin Doloque, 35, a Filipino permanent resident in Canada, died in his home here on Jan. 28 from Covid-19 linked to his work at the city’s Olymel meat-processing plant, the plant’s officials told news media they planned to remain open only to reverse themselves three weeks later (See Inquirer.net for story).

Pinoy Plays Key Role in NASA's Perseverance Rover Project

Gregorio Galgana Villar

Gregorio Galgana Villar has been thrust into the spotlight for playing a key role in the Perseverance rover landing on Mars. But Villar, born to Filipino parents, wanted to make it clear — he wasn't the only Filipino who worked on the historic mission (See ABS-CBN for story).