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MANILA -- The Philippine government will challenge the U.S. District Court in Honolulu's decision to take control of $35.3 million allegedly belonging to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, press secretary Ricardo Puno said today. Fight over Marcos wealth in isle court
Associated Press
Merrill Lynch Asset Management LP managed the assets for Arelma Corp., a Panamanian company allegedly set up to conceal Marcos' millions.
Puno said the Philippine agency in charge of recovering the alleged ill-gotten wealth will argue that the Honolulu court has no jurisdiction over the assets since Arelma is a Panamanian firm.
Korean War veterans will be remembered later this month along with the USS Missouri, a battleship that saw action during that war. Mighty Mo benefit to honor Korean War vets
A benefit will begin with cocktails at 5:45 p.m. with dinner and entertainment to follow at 6:30 Sept. 20 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel ballroom. "We Remember ... the Veterans of the Korean War" is the theme. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of that war.
"It's a privilege to serve as honorary chairman of an event that honors the brave veterans of the Korean War," said Wayne Minami, president and CEO, American Savings Bank. "As Americans, we enjoy the rewards of the efforts of these men to preserve democracy and freedom. It is our responsibility to ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to learn from them as well."
Keynote speaker will be Gen. John Tilelli, president and chief executive officer of USO Worldwide Operations. Tilelli took command of the USO March 1 after 37 years of Army service, which most recently included three years in South Korea as commander in chief, United Nations Command and U.S. Combined Forces.
The USS Missouri Memorial Association is offering Korean War veterans a price of $50 for individual seats, which will go at higher prices to all others. Tables with 10 seats may also be purchased. Proceeds will go to restoration and education programs at the Battleship Missouri Memorial. For more information, call 423-1260 on Oahu or 1-888-877-6477, ext. 2, from other locations.
Chelsea off to Sydney after short stop here
First daughter Chelsea Clinton was to leave Honolulu this morning after an overnight stop en route to the Olympic Games.She is among dignitaries who will represent the United States at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She is traveling with Donna Shalala, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The delegation arrived in an Air Force C-37 plane at Hickam Air Force Base at 3:20 p.m.
Clinton is taking a semester off from her senior year at Stanford University to fill in for her mother, Hillary, who is campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat in New York.
Olowalu development gets shoreline permit
WAILUKU -- The Maui Planning Commission has approved a shoreline permit that clears a major hurdle in the development of former sugarcane lands at Olowalu in west Maui.The proposal calls for the development of 34 lots mauka and seven lots makai of Honoapiilani Highway near Olowalu Store.
Commissioners yesterday approved the permit after the developer Olowalu Elua Associates promised to provide four public accesses across the makai property.
The partnership also is providing public access through a cultural preserve that extends from the sea to the mountains and allows access to archaeological and historical sites.
The partners said the design and development of 41 lots will take a year to a year and a half and perhaps longer if a civil lawsuit continues in Maui Circuit Court.
Maui resident Ed Lindsey has filed a lawsuit challenging the state's finding of no significant environmental impact occurring as a result of the development.
Lindsey's lawsuit alleges the state should require the developer to provide an environmental impact statement that examines the effect of the development on the health of the ocean and reefs.
Woman guilty in tax-claims case gets 6 months
Evonnelle L. Hurley has been found guilty of filing false claims for tax refunds from 1996 to 1998.She has been sentenced to six months of incarceration to be served at a minimum of six days a month.
She also has to pay $5,200 in restitution to the state Tax Department.
Hurley filed six false tax returns, each in excess of $300, committing theft in the second degree, according to Tax Director Marie Okamura.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
6 p.m., Waianae Neighborhood Community Center: Vision meeting. Contact: Clifford Jamile, 527-6180.
Correction
A story yesterday on poll results omitted Mufi Hannemann's first name in its initial reference to him.
Clarification
The Honolulu Police Department contacted the National Forensic Science Technology Center in Florida about doing an audit on its serology lab. The center was recommended to Chief Lee Donohue by the FBI's Hawaii office. A headline Saturday may have given a different impression of the FBI's role.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Big Island man dies after being hit by cars
Big Island police detectives are investigating the traffic death of a Puna man who was hit by several vehicles after initially being struck by a car near his home.Florencio Mendoza, 62, of Hawaiian Paradise Park died after being struck while crossing the Keaau-Pahoa Highway (Route 130) on the Pahoa side of the Shower Drive intersection in the dark during a rain yesterday morning, police said.
A 23-year-old woman who was the driver of the car that initially struck him close to 5:40 a.m. stopped and tried to halt other vehicles from hitting Mendoza.
"She was yelling at cars," Police Sgt. Samuel Jelsma said. "They were clipping him and flipping him until he got on the shoulder."
Jelsma said there were several cars that struck Mendoza and none of the drivers, except the woman, stopped to offer assistance.
Mendoza was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:37 a.m. Neither Branco, nor her 2-year-old son, Kaimi Medeiros, was injured in the accident.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have observed the victim on the road or side of the road is asked to call Officer Gregory Ikeda at 961-2332.
Mendoza's death was the 28th traffic fatality so far this year on the Big Island, compared to 22 at the same time last year.
Authorities warning of sweepstakes scam
HILO -- Police are warning Big Island residents about a telephone scam in which the caller assures the victim he has won a large sum of money from a "Canadian sweepstakes."The catch is that the victim must wire the caller several thousand dollars for "taxes" on the money before he can receive the award.
Investigators said one victim in Kona was told that he had won $500,000 in the sweepstakes, but to collect the award, he would have to pay several thousand dollars in U.S. taxes.
Investigators said the victim was also telephoned by another person claiming to be a California police officer, who assured him the scheme was legitimate.
The telephone scam is apparently aimed at the elderly, police said.
Anyone receiving such a call is asked to call Big Island police at 326-4646 in Kona or 935-3311 in Hilo.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. The identification of callers is kept strictly confidential.
