The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Thursday, January 5, 2012 

By her own and her friends' account, Arlie Ricasa-Bagaporo alias Arlie Ricasa, is a multi-awarded educator who enjoys "the distinction as being the highest-ranking Filipino-American elected official in San Diego County". Next week, on Jan. 13, at 1:30 p.m., Ms. Ricasa, along with four others, will be arraigned in Superior Court of California in San Diego for alleged involvement in what District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis calls "shameful and outrageous" widespread corruption.

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'SHAMEFUL,' 'OUTRAGEOUS,' SAYS DISTRICT ATTORNEY

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Asian-American Journalists Association (AAJA)

and National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC)

T ORONTO - A Filipin0-American educator cited four weeks ago by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) with a "special recognition" is among five persons who will be arraigned next week in California Superior Court for what District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis called the "largest, widespread corruption" uncovered by her office.

Named defendants in the case Dumanis announced on Wednesday, Jan. 4, in San Diego were former Sweetwater Union High School Superintendent Jesus Gandara; school board trustees Arlie Ricasa, Pearl Quiñones, and former trustee Greg Sandoval. Also charged is Henry Amigable, a contractor who worked for a construction company hired by the school district.

A spokesperson for the DA's Office said she did not believe there will be arrests because they are already given dates to show up and are not considered flight risks.

"(The) charges begin the process of holding those officials accountable for their actions on behalf of the taxpayers, who footed the bill for lavish dinners, concert and theater tickets, and much more,” a press statement by the DA and furnished The Filipino Web Channel said.

“The widespread corruption we uncovered during our investigation of this case is outrageous and shameful,” said DA Dumanis who explained that the charges include bribery, perjury, filing a false instrument, influencing an elected official and obtaining a thing of value to influence a member of a legislative body. Additional misdemeanor charges include wrongful influence.  

One of the defendants, Arlie Ricasa, 47, has been with the Sweetwater district school board since 1998. She's a daughter of Filipino immigrants. Her late father was a retired US navy man.

The DA's office has charged Ms. Ricasa with four counts of felony and two counts of misdemeanor. In one felony count, the sentence ranges from two to 16 years. A misdemeanor carries a penalty of six months in prison and a fine of $10,000.

According to the DA, in count 1- perjury by declaration, Ms. Ricasa, including Gandara, Sandoval and Quinones, "failed to report gifts and meals from developer, did willfully and unlawfully state as true a material matter which he/she knew to be false".

Ms. Ricasa and her co-defendants were also accused of filing false instrument when they "did knowingly and unlawfully procure and offer a false and forged instrument to be filed, registered and recorded in a public office".

As of this writing, Ms. Ricasa has not replied to questions sent to her by e-mail at her school board office.

At its regional conference in early December in San Diego, the NaFFAA - which has its own unresolved financial problems – praised Ms. Ricasa for being one of the "influential Filipino-American women" in the US.

By her own accounts, Ms. Ricasa is the recipient of several awards, including being named one of the “100 Most Influential Filipina Americans in the United States”, a two-time honoree of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher’s”, and another as “Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty”.

Press releases from her office also stated that she's recognized as “Distinguished Alumnus of the Year”, “Outstanding Professional of the Year” and one of the “Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans in the United States and Canada”. # # #

To view my other channels, here are the links:

1. For Filipino community news, visit The Filipino Web Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/FilipinoWebChannel#g/u

2. For mainstream news in Canada and the United States, visit The Gotcha Journalist's Currents & Breaking News Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGotchaJournalist#g/u

3. For Filipino entertainment news, visit The Filipino Web Entertainment Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/FilWebEntertainment#g/u

For other stories and photos, please visit: 

1. http://currentsbreakingnews.blogspot.com/ 

2. http://torontonewsroom.blogspot.com/

3. http://timecircumstance.blogspot.com/

4. http://travelsthemes.blogspot.com/ 

5. http://gotchajournalist.blogspot.com/ .