July 24, 2014 Edition

Senate President Franklin Drilon and other Aquino allies at the Senate helped the Cabinet defend the administration’s accelerated spending program, with one of them dismissing the controversy over it as a mere “communication problem.” Drilon sought to debunk criticism of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) by helping Budget Secretary Florencio Abad explain that the stimulus measure was done by past administrations, has legal basis, and benefitted both administration and opposition lawmakers. Abad faced the Senate to defend the administration’s controversial spending program, saying a Supreme Court decision declaring key acts under it unconstitutional could reverse economic growth in one of Asia’s best performing economies.

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Barely a week after the tragic shooting down of a Malaysia Airline plane, a Taiwanese airline crashed in Taiwan on July 23 killing 48 people. Ten survived. TransAsia Airways flight GE222, with 58 on board, had smashed into two houses after an aborted landing near Magong airport. It was flying from Kaohsiung and had been delayed due to Typhoon Matmo. Television images showed firefighters working at site of the mangled wreckage and soldiers on the scene. TransAsia said it planned to compensate each family of the deceased with Tw$1 million ($33,000).

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Hoisted in 40 wooden coffins, the first bodies from flight MH17 arrived in the Netherlands on July 23, almost a week after it was shot down over Ukraine, in a somber ceremony attended by a large crowd of the bereaved. Church bells rang throughout the country as the planes touched down in a much-delayed return for the first as-yet unidentified remains of the 298 people killed in the disaster, most of them Dutch. The televised two-hour ceremony watched across the Netherlands and abroad came in stark contrast to the chaotic and disturbing scenes filmed in the aftermath of the plane crash. Kiev said missiles fired from Russia – accused by the West of provoking the MH17 disaster – took down two of its warplanes in the rebel-controlled area of the crash.

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For the first time in years, Gaza City’s Greek Orthodox church is packed to overflowing, having offered refuge to hundreds of Palestinians who fled their homes under Israeli bombardment. Around 600 people, mostly women and children, are sheltering in the church compound in the old sector of Gaza City, after escaping the inferno of neighboring areas like Shejaiya. More than 70 people were killed July 20 in Shejaiya, many buried under the rubble of their homes. Hamas, meanwhile, said the suspension of international flights to and from Israel over security concerns about Gaza rocket fire was a “great victory.”

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Read the full story on Hamas’ statement on Rappler

US President Barack Obama has called Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to congratulate him on his victory in Indonesia’s “free and fair” presidential elections. Obama told the new leader of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy that he looked forward to meeting him “at the earliest opportunity.” Following a highly divisive presidential campaign and tense electoral process, the next 3 months will see Jokowi return to work in Jakarta while preparing for his new job. At the same time, the camp of former general Prabowo Subianto will press on with its legal challenge of the election results. Jokowi was declared the winner of the July 9 election by more than 6 percentage points.

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Read the full story on post-election scenarios on Rappler

President Benigno Aquino III continued to hit the judiciary and accused the Supreme Court of  committing what he said was a similar fund transfer that it said was unconstitutional. Aquino said that the Court had also requested the budget department to transfer funds from the justice department to the judiciary for the building of a court. It was his 3rd public criticism of the High Tribunal after his July 14 televised speech to defend the Disbursement Acceleration Program and attack the unanimous decision of the justices against it. But the President’s tone on July 23 sounded more subdued.

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A red-faced Manuel V. Panglinan on July 23 apologized to Filipino fans who paid to see an exhibition game between NBA stars and the country’s national team Gilas Pilipinas – only to settle for practice drills and workouts. The tycoon, chairman of PLDT and top Gilas patron said, “It was a sudden turn of events and we, ourselves, are disappointed with the way things developed contrary to our expectations.” The Last Home Stand basketball charity event on July 22 turned from a spectacle to a disaster in a matter of hours after the 5-on-5 game was scrapped. Fans stormed out of the event; they paid anywhere from P750 (about $17) to P23,300 (about $535) to watch the game. The NBA didn’t allow the game to push through because the organizers failed to meet the league’s deadline and they “didn’t take the necessary steps” that would have allowed the NBA players to participate in an exhibition game.

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Read the fans’ reactions on Rappler

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You’ve been warned: At least 10,000 buses and 2,400 vans and AUVs are expected to take the SMART-connect interchange and NLEX on Sunday, July 27, going to Iglesia ni Cristo’s Arena in Bulacan. INC members are expected to arrive in Bulacan a day before the event, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advised commuters to plan ahead for this weekend’s massive traffic. Over 3,200 police personnel will be deployed in Bocaue, Bulacan, the center of the INC’s centennial. Should the NLEX experience gridlock, a “zipper lane” will be opened up so northbound vehicles could counter-flow on the opposite lane. MMDA may also open booths solely for Bocaue-bound vehicles and introduce “prepaid toll fees” to make it easier for vehicles to enter NLEX.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Read a special report on the INC on Rappler

It’s an experiment that will run only until August 10. But it may be extended if successful. Five Paris hotels, located away from the city’s tourist centers, have launched a scheme allowing guests to “pay what you want.” The owners are bullish about the prospects and confident that clients will not abuse the scheme. The scheme will run until August 10 and will be available only to those who have made bookings through the website payezcequevousvoulez.net (Pay what you want). Tourists often complain about high hotel rates in Paris and tiny rooms. France attracts more tourists than any other country in the world.

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