April 2, 2014 Edition

The Ombudsman has found probable cause to file 3 separate plunder indictments against Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Jinggoy Estrada with the inclusion of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and 6 others. On Tuesday, April 1, Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan announced the Ombudsman’s findings, some six months after it received the plunder complaint. Rafanan said the 3 senators clearly “took undue advantage of their positions.” Earlier in the day, Senator Teofisto Guingona called a press conference to announce the Senate blue ribbon committee’s findings that also recommended the filing of plunder charges against government officials and private individuals. By some estimates, these individuals benefitted from almost P597 million in kickbacks and commissions from the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of senators and congressmen from 2007 to 2009. Senator Jinggoy Estrada called the twin announcements a “very well synchronized April Fool’s Day operation.” He added he is ready to face all charges.


Read more of the story on the following links:

Napoles, 3 Senators Indicted for Plunder

Guingona: File Plunder case vs Enrile, Estrada and Revilla

Jinggoy: Plunder case April Fools’ Operation

China warned Tuesday, April 1, that the Philippines has “seriously damaged” bilateral ties by asking the United Nations to rule in their favor in a maritime dispute. Chinese Charge d’affiars Sun Xiangyang, in a statement, said they “find it very hard to understand these moves of the Philippines.” He added that China is “deeply disturbed by and concerned with the consequences of such moves.” On Sunday, March 31, the Philippines asked a UN tribunal to declare Beijing’s claims over most of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) illegal. The Philippines asserted its sovereign and economic rights over its continental shelf, which includes territory claimed by China and other neighboring countries. The Philippines is ready to face possible sanctions by China, according to Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.

Read the full story on Rappler here and here.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) paid tribute to its ‘everyday heroes’ on Monday, April 1 at special recognition rites attended by President Benigno Aquino III. The PNP recognize 38 members – both police officers and non-uniformed staff – for their dedication and service during the biggest calamities in 2013 as well as in its anti-crime and anti terrorism campaigns. The sole non-uniformed personnel awardee, Noli Cua dela Cruz, rescued 10 families from the storm surges in Barangay 89 of Tacloban City. Dela Cruz and his families knotted together their clothes, using them to rope in their neighbors into the safety of his brother’s house. Another Tacloban police officer, Police Inspector Marjorie Lubo Manuta, was awarded the PNP Merit Award for being one of only 20 police officers to report to work after Yolanda.


Read the full story on Rappler.

A 8.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded off Chile’s Pacific coast on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:46 AM PST (Tuesday April 1, 23:46 GMT). The location was reported to be 83 kilometers from Iquique on Chile’s northern coast, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. Authorities in Chile have reportedly carried out pre-emptive evacuations ahead of any possible tsunami. In February 2010, central and southern Chile were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8-magnitude followed by a tsunami that devastated dozens of towns.


Get the latest updates on Rappler.

The most recent United Nations report on climate change released on Monday, March 30, concluded that the warming of the planet will hit the poor the hardest, particularly those who depend on agriculture and fisheries for income and subsistence.  “Climate change will create new poor between now and 2100, in low-, medium-, and high-income countries and jeopardize sustainable development,” reads the report, the second report released by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this year. The poor will be hit in two major ways: rice and corn farmers will experience significant decreases in crop yields while the same reduced crop yields, together with growing population, will drive up food prices, making food less affordable for those in poverty. These effects are already being observed, but have been confirmed by the IPCC report, which was produced by more than 700 scientists and experts from more than 70 countries.


Read the findings of the report on Rappler.

World number one Tiger Woods said Tuesday he would not be able to play in the Masters after undergoing back surgery earlier this week to treat a pinched nerve that has been troubling him for several months. “Sad to say I’m missing the Masters. Thanks to the fans for so many kind wishes,” Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, said on Twitter and on his website. It will be the first time Woods has missed the Masters, which starts on Thursday, since he made his debut at Augusta National in Georgia as an amateur in 1995. In 1997, in his first major championship as a pro, Woods won the Masters by a record 12 shots, the first of his 14 major titles. He went on to win the Masters in 2001, 2002 and 2005.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG) said Tuesday, April 1 that it asked a local court to stop the group of Japanese gaming magnate Kazuo Okada from terminating their agreement to develop a $2-billion casino complex in Pagcor’s Entertainment City. The property firm said it wants the court to ensure that the deal continues, despite a notice of termination issued by the local units of the Okada group. CPG and the Okada group, composed of Eagle I Landholdings Inc., Eagle II Holdco Inc., and Brontia Ltd., entered into a deal to develop a 30-hectare property in the state gaming-owned Entertainment City. But CPG has accused the Okada group of frustrating the closing of the agreement by not providing the company due diligence materials. Kazuo Okada was also sued by his US partner Steve Wynn for alleged bribery of Pagcor officials in an separate case.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Former president and now Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, April 1, to allow her family and relatives to stay with her at her suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for her birthday. Arroyo celebrates her 67th birthday on April 5, Saturday. Arroyo has been under hospital arrest since October 4, 2012. She is facing a plunder charge for allegedly conspiring with Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office executives to misuse around P366 million in intelligence funds during her presidency. Her health has deterioration due to problems with her spine, according to doctors. Arroyo’s lawyers said the anti-graft court allowed such visits in the past on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But security protocol prohibits visitors from staying overnight.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Fans of the hit US TV series ‘How I Met Your Mother’ expressed mixed reactions at the one-hour show finale which aired in the US on March 31 (April 1 in Manila). The series is about a guy, played by Josh Radnor, narrating to his two children how he met their mother and ran for 9 long seasons. The finale had a number of flashbacks and plot twists that left fans both amused and angry, with many going to social media to express their emotions. One common thread that united fans was the hope the series would never end. Not to worry though, a spin-off series is already in the works.


Read the full story on Rappler.

April 1 passed in the Philippines with some serious news and hardly any fun at all. But in the United States, many companies take April Fool’s Day seriously – with each company trying to outdo the other in tomfoolery and silly stunts. US Tech companies seem to be especially fond of the tradition, taking April Fool’s to a whole new level. Google is known for going into high gear on this day with elaborate videos and online games. By one count, they ran 14 pranks on April 1 alone. Mashable has compiled a sampling of some of the best pranks around. So what’s your favorite prank?


See the round up of April Fool’s Day pranks on Mashable.