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Rene Ballenas being held at Rikers Island
By Cristina DC Pastor Rene Ballenas is currently serving one year at Rikers Island after he pleaded guilty on March 5 to two counts of second degree grand larceny. His lawyer told The FilAm he could be out in eight months on good behavior. From the courtroom, Ballenas was promptly taken to the Eric M. […]
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Say that again? The Saudi king contributed money for Dondon Lanuza’s freedom?
The report came from no less than CEO and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis. She said: “This morning (February 4th), Arab News called me up to say that the King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah and the Royal Family are going to fill up the blood money that is due to the family of the victim […]
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Human trafficking charges filed vs newspaper publisher’s family
By Cristina DC Pastor Two couples from New York, including a newspaper publisher, are being sued for human trafficking by a woman who filed charges of forced labor and false imprisonment against them. Rosenda Millabangco Gonzaga sued Joy and Chris McCarthy and Linda and Bert Pelayo, in Manhattan Federal Court, according to a report in […]
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Newtown trying ‘very hard’ to move on: resident
By Cristina DC Pastor Newtown in Connecticut is in a “lot of pain” right now, declared Mari Wassmann-McIlrath, 29, a long-time resident. Mari, who works as a medical assistant in neighboring Danbury town, has been living in Newtown since she was adopted from the Philippines at age 3. In this quiet little corner of New […]
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Guns and deaths in idyllic Connecticut
By Rene Meily People come to Connecticut to find nature, a piece of land and serenity. It is a nice mix of the small town and country lifestyle, with Manhattan an hour or an hour and a half away. It is less crowded and people are generally more relaxed. All that changed on Friday, December […]
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A light in a dark place
By Pamela K. Santos Since news broke yesterday afternoon about the senseless killing in an elementary school of Newtown, Connecticut, I haven’t been able to stay away from some form of media outlet. What else could I do for the two hours before my son arrived safe and sound from his school bus? Among the […]
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Consulate verifying if Connecticut shooting has FilAm casualty
The Philippine Consulate in New York is checking if the victims in the shooting incident in Connecticut included Filipino Americans. This was revealed by Ambassador Jose Cuisia in a press statement. Cuisia said he was informed by Consul General Mario De Leon that there are around seven Filipino American families registered with the Filipino American […]
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Rene Ballenas faces felony charges: Manhattan DA
By Cristina DC Pastor Community leader Rene Ballenas is facing felony charges of burglary in the second degree and grand larceny in the third degree, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Felony charges are, by comparison to misdemeanors and violations, more serious. “Burglary in the second degree” is a C felony that carries a […]
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Hearing for Rene Ballenas’ grand larceny charges slated for Dec. 6
By Cristina DC Pastor A second hearing in the grand larceny and burglary case against Rene Ballenas is set for Dec 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Center Street, according to lawyer Oscar Michelen. “This is the second hearing already,” he told The FilAm. The first was on October 5 […]