Rappler Newscast | November 13, 2012

Today on Rappler.

• Investigators say pilot error and safety lapses caused the plane crash that killed Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
• Senate President Enrile drags his feet on amendments to the Reproductive Health bill.
• Senator Sotto apologizes to the family of Robert Kennedy.

Story 1: COMPLAINANTS TO SOTTO: TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE
Thirty-seven members of the academe file an ethics complaint against Senator Tito Sotto before the Senate Ethics Committee.
The complaint signed by 37 individuals asks the Senate to find Sotto guilty for violating Section 193 of the Intellectual Property Code, granting authors the right to be attributed and for the works not to be distorted.
The complainants also say Sotto violated the rules of the Ethics Committee through “improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.”
The complaint details 9 instances of plagiarism Sotto committed in his speeches against the Reproductive Health bill from August to September.
The complainants say they are not asking for a specific sanction, just for the Senate to acknowledge that Sotto was wrong.
The academics say the Senate must show there is no double standard for senators who commit plagiarism.

Story 2: ‘I’M SORRY,’ SOTTO TELLS KENNEDY FAMILY
Senator Tito Sotto apologizes, at last, to the family of Robert Kennedy for using a quote from the late senator without giving credit to the author.
Sotto used Kennedy’s 1966 Day of Affirmation speech but says it is not plagiarism because he translated the passage.
Ayee Macaraig reports.

Three speeches, 4 months, and an ethics complaint later, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto finally says sorry.
But there’s a catch.
In a privilege speech Tuesday, Sotto apologizes to the Kennedy family for using the speech of the late US Senator Robert F Kennedy without attribution.
Sotto says he only got the quote from a friend’s text message.
He insists it is not plagiarism.

VICENTE “TITO” SOTTO III, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Copying or imitation is the highest form of flattery but if it upsets the Kennedy family then I’m sorry but that is not the intention that we have when we used it.

Sotto says the 8 other instances of non-attribution in his speeches against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill also can’t be considered intellectual theft.
The other bloggers and writers don’t get an apology.

VICENTE “TITO” SOTTO III, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Kung sasabihin lang sa akin, nangopya, mag-apologize ka, ay talagang madali iyon eh. Talagang kinopya eh pero hindi plinagiarize. Iba yun, maliwanag iyon. Wala ho akong ninakaw.

Academics who filed of an ethics complaint against Sotto say it’s too late for him to apologize.

DR SYLIVA ESTRADA CLAUDIO, UP CENTER FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES: Ikinatutuwa ng maraming Pilipino ang aming ginawa ngayong araw na ito. Dahil finile na namin, nasa larangan na ng public discussion hindi na rin amin lang yung complaint to withdraw.

Sotto calls the ethics case persecution for his anti-RH stand.
But the complainants say that’s not the issue.

ANTONIO CONTRERAS, PROFESSOR, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY: Usapin ito ng tamang asal, di pangongopya, pag-attribute ng intellectual work ng isang tao.

The ethics committee is set to tackle Sotto’s case next week.

AYEE MACARAIG, REPORTING: Senator Sotto apologizes but for the complainants, that’s not enough.
They hope the committee acts on the case and puts an end to this issue, at long last.
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler.

Story 3: AQUINO: SAFETY LAPSES CAUSED ROBREDO CRASH
Investigators say pilot error and a series of safety lapses led to the Masbate City plane crash that killed Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
President Benigno Aquino presents the results of the probe by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Tuesday.
The report says Capt Jessup Bahinting lacks experience flying a plane on a single engine after the other engine died.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Malinaw ito nang nabigo niyang panatilihin ang ligtas na paglipad ng eroplano nang iisang makina na lamang ang gumagana.

Instead of returning to Mactan when they encountered engine trouble, Bahinting continued to fly to Naga City.
The CAAP says improper approach procedures as the plane neared the Masbate airport are also to blame.
Extending the landing gear added “drag” and slowed down the plane until it was beyond the pilot’s control.
The probe report says Aviatour, the company that owned the Piper Seneca plane, circumvented requirements by conniving with an inspector of the CAAP, Fernando Abalos.
Aviatour filed a propeller overhaul report in January which was immediately approved by Abalos.
CAAP records show the plane underwent a test flight, but there was no record on the aircraft logbook and no flight plan at the Mactan International Airport.
Aquino says the safety lapses are unacceptable.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Malinaw po ang ginawa nilang panlilinlang at pandaraya. Ang naging kabayaran: buhay ng tatlong tao. Sintomas ito sa paglaganap ng katiwalian sa isang sistemang matagal nang umiiral, na isinasaayos na ngayon ng pamahalaan. Hindi po tayo papayag na manatili ang ganitong kalakaran, kaya naman patuloy po ang paglilikom ng iba pang ebidensya upang mapanagot ang sinumang may pagkukulang sa panig ng Aviatour’s, at maging ng CAAP.

Story 4: LENI ROBREDO SAYS CRASH DETAILS NO LONGER MATTER TO FAMILY
Almost 3 months since the death of late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, his wife Leni says the family chooses to detach themselves from details of his death.
On Tuesday, President Aquino presents the findings of a probe that blames the pilot and inspectors for the crash that killed Robredo and 2 pilots on August 18.
Mrs Robredo says the family has chosen to move on.

LENI ROBREDO, WIFE OF JESSE ROBREDO: As far as the family is concerned, we have sort of detached ourselves from that kasi it brings back so many painful memories. Whatever it was, deep inside, I believe it was an accident…I  no longer analyze it na, could the accident have been prevented kasi if I do that parang and dami dami lang na, di ba, parang and dami-dami lang na pakiramdam na unpleasant emotions which will not bring my husband back anyway.

Story 5: ENRILE TO CAYETANO: I’M NOT YET READY FOR RH BILL
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile says Senator Pia Cayetano cannot compel him to present his amendments to the Reproductive Health bill.
The two senators clash after Cayetano calls on the Senate to fast-track the discussion of amendments to the bill.
Cayetano says Enrile and Sen. Ralph Recto are the only ones left in the Senate to introduce individual amendments.

JUAN PONCE ENRILE, SENATE PRESIDENT: I’m ready to defend my position in any debate here. I hope that they will understand that I’m not ready yet to propose any amendment.
PIA CAYETANO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: May I know when the Senate president be ready? Because during the caucus, his honor informed me that he will be ready and so I was hoping…
ENRILE: I do not know, Madame Senator, when I’m ready…I’m ready for any remedy that the gentle lady would want to take if you want to put it into a vote that I be censured or I’ll be kicked out as a Senate President or I’ll be outvoted, so be it.

Enrile says the measure is not a priority because the chamber is focused on passing the budget and the sin tax bill on time.
In a tweet, Cayetano acknowledges the RH bill is not Enrile’s priority.
She adds, “Sometimes I am truly embarrassed by the company I keep. We are not perfect. But c’mon, we know what’s right and wrong.”

Story 6: EARLY CAMPAIGNING IN CAMARINES SUR
Six months before the 2013 local elections, Rappler goes around potential hotspots in the country.
This week, Natashya Gutierrez visits Camarines Sur, a place where political families have ruled for decades.
She filed this video blog.

I’m here in Camarines Sur to observe the political climate of the province 6 months before the 2012 midterm elections.
The politics of Camarines Sur is unique.
It is home to some of the country’s longest serving political dynasties, including one clan that has served for over a century.
As early as now, despite Commission on elections ban, the faces of some of this family members are already plastered on posters like these and on commercials airing on local TV.
Other regular candidates I have spoken to who don’t have the same funds to campaign early or to use the same expensive campaign materials know they are at a disadvantage.
However, they are relying on volunteers and grass-roots efforts to level the playing field.
Analysts are adamant of the need to put a stop on the unhealthy nature of this political dynasties.
The good news is, not one candidate from mayor to governor is running unopposed. There are options and there are choices. The question is, are voters ready for change?
Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Calabanga.

Story 7: SC STOPS DISQUALIFICATION OF AKO BICOL, 3 OTHERS
The Supreme Court temporarily stops the Commission on Elections from disqualifying 4 party-list groups from participating in the 2013 elections.
On Tuesday, the Court grants the petitions filed by party-list groups Ako Bicol, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives, 1-Care and Alliance of Rural Concerns.
The poll body disqualified the groups in October because they allegedly do not represent marginalized sectors.
In their petitions, the groups question Comelec’s basis for its decision.
Comelec says under the Party-List System Act, marginalized sectors cover only specific sectors.
You can see that list on your screens.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, British lawmakers grill executives of the world’s top firms on the issue of tax avoidance following a 4-month investigation that reveals coffee giant Starbucks paid just 8.6 million pounds in taxes over 14 years.
In a government hearing, Starbucks confirms it has not paid taxes in Britain for the past 3 years because of fees paid to its businesses in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Amazon and Google confirm the companies both use favorable tax jurisdictions — Luxembourg and Ireland respectively — due to their low taxation levels.
Committee chair Margaret Hodge tells the executives, “We’re not accusing you of being illegal, we’re accusing you of being immoral.”

At number 8, Eurozone finance ministers agree to meet again November 20 to clear the way for a long-delayed Greek aid payment, but a proposal to change its debt reduction deadline sparks the ire of the International Monetary Fund.
Greek officials say the nation, which would go broke by Friday, made progress in reducing debt, but ministers still had work to do before approving the funding of some 31 billion euros — 39 billion dollars — debts due that day.
IMF chief Christine Lagarde says the deadline should remain and that it is “critical that the Greek debt be sustainable.”

And at number 9, Online video sharing giant YouTube says it will maintain funding for only 30% to 40% of its content partners, cutting several partnered shows from a second round of funding.
This means only content channel partners creating shareable content and engaging in community building will receive between 1 million and 5 million dollars to create a couple hours of programming a week.
CNET reports, once that money was recouped through ad dollars, Google and the content creators would split advertising revenues.

– Rappler.com

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• Rappler Newscast | November 12, 2012