4 Philippine Showbiz Today
4 Philippine Showbiz Today
October 8 - 21 , 2017
Headline News
Marilou Danley , the Filipino- Australian earlier considered as a person of interest in the Las Vegas , Nevada shooting on October 1 that killed 59 persons , is reportedly in the Philippines .
According to media reports quoting sources at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila , the 62- year-old Danley reportedly arrived in the Philippines last September 25 from Hong Kong .
This means that Danley was in the Philippines before the Las Vegas shooting .
Danley is said to be a girlfriend or partner of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock , 64 .
She is said to be Filipino but an Australian national and has been living in the United States .
At least 59 people were killed and more than 500 others were injured when Paddock fired an automatic rifle from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay Hotel at the crowd attending a concert in Las Vegas .
Australian media said she was on holiday in the Philippines with three girlfriends .
News Corp Australia newspapers said the Filipino- Australian used to live on the Gold Coast tourist strip and still had a sister there . “ I can ’ t comment at the
A group of 39 countries , which includes Canada , has raised “ serious concern ” regarding the human rights situation in the Philippines amid the war on drugs by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte .
The group issued a joint statement on September 28 during the United Nations ( UN ) Human Rights Council ’ s 36th Session in Geneva .
The group emphasized that the Philippines needs to investigate all killings , combat a climate of impunity , and protect human rights defenders .
Duterte took power in June 2016 and declared a war on drugs .
“ We urge the government to pursue investigations of alleged human rights violations and abuses and to create a safe and secure environment for indigenous communities , journalists and HRDs ,” said the statement read by Iceland ’ s representative to the Human Rights Council ( HRC ).
The HRC members also called upon the government to work with the UN and civil society
Pinay girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman was in the Philippines at time of shooting
moment , I can ’ t say anything ,” her sister Liza Werner told the Sydney Daily Telegraph , which said she was a grandmother .
The newspaper cited friends as saying she resided on the Gold Coast for more than a decade and was married to an Australian man who has since died .
She moved to the U . S . about 20 years ago and reportedly shared a house with Paddock in a new golf course development in the desert just outside Mesquite , Nevada , 130 kilometers from Las Vegas .
It was not clear if they were in a relationship or were simply friends .
Some reports refer to Danley as Paddock ’ s “ regular companion .”
Paddock , a high-stakes gambler with no criminal record , killed himself after mowing down concert-goers in Las Vegas .
“ Based on reports , Marilou Danley is not a suspect and appears to have been cleared by the police , we are not inclined to release any information at this time , the information being confidential ,” said Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Ma . Antonette Mangrobang .
“ We assure though that the BI shall cooperate with any and all of our international counterparts in providing any relevant information that would help their investigation ,” Mangrobang added .
The Las Vegas police have cleared Danley of involvement in the shooting , the worst gun attack incident in the U . S . in recent history .
“ We believe her not to be involved ,” the Las Vegas sheriff relayed to Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz of the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles .
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department ( LVMPD ) said , “ Marilou Danley is no longer being sought out as a person of interest .”
“ LVMPD detectives have made contact with her and do not believe she is involved with the shooting on the strip ,” the police said .
Canada , 38 other countries call for end of drug war killings in Philippines
organizations to “ promote and protect human rights , including by welcoming a visit from the SR [ Special Rapporteur ] on extrajudicial , summary or arbitrary executions , without preconditions or limitations .”
The Philippines has invited UNSR Agnes Callamard to investigate extrajudicial killings , but only on the condition that can be personally interrogated by Duterte in a public debate .
Duterte has repeatedly cursed Callamard , calling her a “ son of a bitch ” and “ stupid .”
In Washington , Philippine Foreign minister Alan Peter
Cayetano told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the Philippines had “ nothing to hide ”, was open to an “ independent and fair ” investigation of its human rights situation .
Cayetano also thanked Washington for US $ 2 million in support of the drugs war .
Duterte has even said the police should kill his own son , Davao City ’ s Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte , who stands accused of being involved with shipments of illicit drugs from China .
The Philippine government has denounced 39 mostly Western nations , including the US , which have urged it to end the drug war killings .
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that its diplomats told the countries , which issued a joint statement in Geneva expressing serious concern over human rights conditions in the Philippines , “ to respect Manila ’ s domestic processes .”
The government , through its diplomatic mission to the UN in Geneva , said it takes “ grave exception to the sweeping and
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ), authorities said Danley was not in the U . S . at the time of the incident and is no longer a person of interest in the investigation .
“ She was reported to have been in the Philippines at the time of the incident but there are unconfirmed reports that she is no longer in the Philippines at this time . Ms . Danley was not in the U . S . when the incident happened ,” the DFA said , also citing information relayed to the consul general by the Las Vegas sheriff ’ s office .
The DFA said the consulate was verifying a report about a Filipino-American among 500 people injured in the shooting rampage on the Las Vegas strip .
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tweeted : “ I understand US authorities have ruled out Australian Marilou Danley as a person of interest .”
As of press time , Marilou arrived back in the United States Tuesday evening and was met by FBI agents eager to hear whatever she might know about the motive .
Authorities are investigating reports that while she was in the Philippines , Paddock wired her $ 100,000 . ●
politicized statement ” delivered by Iceland on behalf of the 39 countries .
“ We urge the government of the Philippines to take all necessary measures to bring these killings to an end and cooperate with the international community to pursue appropriate investigations ,” the countries said , citing the need for Manila to adhere to “ universal principles of democratic accountability and the rule of law .”
A senior Filipino diplomat in Geneva , Maria Teresa Almojuela , said , “ It is ironic that many of these states joining the statement are the very same states that are the sources of arms , bombs , machines and mercenaries that maim , kill and massacre thousands of people all over the world , not only during their colonial past , but even up to today .”
She said the Philippines seriously investigates documented allegations of human rights violations and has filed criminal complaints against abusive police officials . ●