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Human trafficking and the rescue of Rina Hernandez
By Cristina DC Pastor Rina Hernandez was grateful to October superstorm Sandy. Somewhat. If not for the widespread destruction and chaos the hurricane brought on Staten Island, this nanny would not be able to plan her escape from her allegedly abusive Egyptian employers. “Nagpapasalamat po talaga ako sa Sandy,” Rina, 52, told reporters at a […]
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Newspaper publisher responds to trafficking charges
By Bert Pelayo You may have heard about a civil action filed against my daughter for alleged unpaid wages and false imprisonment. In a puzzling twist, Linda and I were also named defendants. Even more puzzling is the fact that the Philippine Consulate employee who brought her here legally as a domestic worker was not […]
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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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Grace Grande: Modern-day concubine
By Cristina DC Pastor It’s been five years since Grace Grande left her common-law husband – a well-connected politician from Cagayan Valley – to make a new life for herself and their two boys in Los Angeles. But while she thought leaving the Philippines would put an end to her misery, it created more problems, […]
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Lorna Schofield is named federal judge in N.Y., first FilAm to hold position
The nomination of Lorna G. Schofield to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York was confirmed December 13th by the Senate, making her the first Filipino American to serve as an Article III federal judge. Schofield, who currently is Of Counsel to Debevoise & Plimpton LLP was 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 […]
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Trafficked maid wins settlement against diplomat, allowed to stay in U.S.
Deadema ‘Dema’ Ramos narrated her harrowing experience which began in 2009 when she arrived in New York City with her employer, a Kuwaiti diplomat assigned to the UN mission. On arrival, the diplomat confiscated her passport and confined her to the house. Dema said she was forced into often backbreaking work seven days a week, […]
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DACA and the Filipino DREAMer
By Cristina DC Pastor The teener sat with unease at the center of Kalayaan Hall listening to the lawyers. She and her mother held hands. Up the stage were lawyers JT Mallonga and Merit Salud of the Filipino American Legal and Education Defense Fund (Faldef), explaining the fine points of the Obama initiative to legalize […]
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R.I. court rules Filipina victim of human trafficking is entitled to compensation
A Rhode Island federal judge has ordered default against an Emirati colonel in a human trafficking civil suit. The decision paves the way for the award of compensation to Elizabeth Cabitla Ballesteros, according to a statement from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) which provided legal assistance to the Filipina domestic worker. […]