Faces of the news
Jennifer Dalquez
Her story was a refreshing break from the steady stream of grim news we’re getting from the battle zone that is Marawi City. As the death toll from the battle rose by the day, her mother confirmed that a court in the United Arab Emirates had acquitted her daughter of murder charges, sparing her from the death row. The Department of Foreign Affairs broke the good news to her. For accidentally killing an Emirati policeman who attempted to rape her in 2014, Jennifer was tried and then meted out the capital punishment the following year. From then on, it has been an emotional roller coaster for her. While she had to serve five years in jail, the court ruling brought joy to her family and her supporters. “I’m really glad. It’s as if a big thorn has been plucked out from my chest,” said her mother Alicia.
Arman Ali Ghodsinia
He was born to an Iranian father, who became a naturalized Filipino citizen, and a Filipino mother, who spent a big part of her life in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. Like his two elder siblings, he was born and raised in Metro Manila. He has little memory of Marawi, now in ruins after weeks of fighting between government forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists. But when he delivers the valedictory address before 3,000 graduates at the University of the Philippines in Diliman today, the lakeside city—considered the heartland of Muslim faith in Mindanao—will be on top of his mind. “It’s painful to see the reaction of my mother and relatives to Marawi being torn apart,” said the 22-year-old Ghodsinia, who finished summa cum laude and valedictorian of his molecular biology and biotechnology class in the state university.
Justice Stephen Cruz
A House committee’s order detaining six Ilocos Norte officials has blown over. The body cited the Ilocos Six for contempt for refusing to answer questions on the allegedly anomalous procurement of P66.45 million vehicles by the government under Gov. Imee Marcos, and ordered them detained since May 29. The Court of Appeals’ Special Fourth Division, composed of Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, ordered their release, and asked the House sergeant at arms to explain why he should not be cited for contempt for defying this order. The committee responded by threatening to cite the justices for contempt. Cruz did not budge, saying “If we falter because of some threats, then we would show our weakness as magistrates. As I have said, let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
Rep. Reynaldo Umali
On the motion of the Oriental Mindoro lawmaker, the House committee on good government and public accountability unanimously voted, 30-0, to issue a show cause order to the three Court of Appeals (CA) justices. The justices, Rep. Reynaldo Umali said, should speak up at the risk of citation for contempt. “The sergeant at arms is now being asked to show cause when it should be the justices who initiated this issue and confronted this separate and coequal branch of the Supreme Court to be put in the situation where we are now,” he said. This has prompted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. to express “deep concern over the show cause order,” given its implications on the separation of powers and judicial independence. Both hoped the body would reconsider its order.
Tiger Garrido
Given the debacle that they have suffered in Marawi, soldiers fighting terrorists for weeks needed a balm for their soul. Thanks to Dr. Tiger Garrido, who launched the campaign “Oplan Malasakit” on his Facebook account on Independence Day, a trove of thank-you letters, as well as socks and underwear are on their way to the battle zone. Rinz Araneta, an English teacher at Paref Woodrose School in Muntinlupa City, helped spread the word to her students and fellow teachers. Soon after, students from several schools in the metropolis wrote letters of gratitude to the soldiers. “We just want our heroes to get the recognition and support of the very people they are protecting and giving their lives for,” said Garrido, who was told by a soldier-friend that letters would lift the troops’ spirits.
Kobe Paras
Even as the youngest player in the tournament, Kobe Paras showed he could keep up with the big boys. Paras teamed up with Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng and JR Quiñahan to represent the Philippines in the 2017 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Nantes, France. The group bowed out after the first round, but the 19-year-old made quite an impression early. Putting on a show with some dazzling dunks and drives—including a couple of nifty behind-the-back moves on his way to the bucket—the 6-foot-6 Paras earned Player of the Day honors on Day 2 of the competition. The son of former PBA rookie MVP Benjie Paras also competed in the slam dunk side event where he finished fifth. Recently, national team coach Chot Reyes tapped Paras to suit up for the Gilas cadet team set to see action in the Jones Cup in Taipei next month.
