Rappler Newscast | February 5, 2013

Story 1: SC EXTENDS TRO ON CYBERCRIME LAW
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extends its temporary restraining order on the controversial cybercrime law.
The extension comes a day before the 120-day TRO it issued in October last year lapses on February 6.
The court’s public information office says the extension covers an indefinite period.
A total of 15 petitions are filed with the High Court questioning the constitutionality of the law.
Among other provisions, the law criminalizes libel, increases penalties of crimes under the Revised Penal Code to one degree, and allows government agencies to collect traffic data.
Critics slam the law for its ambiguities and the power it grants the justice department.

Story 2: SC DENIES PETITION VS POLITICAL DYNASTIES
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismisses a petition filed by a senatorial candidate against political dynasties.
Senatorial candidate Ricardo Penson filed a petition on January 28, urging the court to require lawmakers to enact a law against political dynasties.
The Supreme Court cites the same reasons it used to junk a similar petition filed by businessman Louis Biraogo.
In its decision January 8 on the Biraogo case, the Supreme Court says the prohibition of political dynasties needs an enabling law as stated in Section 26, Article II of the Constitution.
The provision specifies –quote, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Story 3: CLASHES DISPLACE 2,000 IN SULU
Police say clashes between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf Group displace 2,000 people or about 349 families in Sulu.
They are now in evacuation centers in Patikul town.
Sulu provincial spokesman Sonny Abing III says the displaced families are from the villages of Danag, Kaunayan and Buhanginan.
The MNLF says at least 50 died in the clashes that began Saturday night after the release of two Filipinos kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf
But the police and military say 21 are killed, 13 from the Abu Sayyaf.
The MNLF signed a peace agreement with the government under then President Fidel Ramos.
A senior leader of the MNLF’s Islamic Command Council calls on their chief Nur Misuari to intervene in the unrest.

Story 4: AMAN FUTURES HEAD HOLDS FAKE PH PASSPORT, COURT RULES
A Malaysian court sentences Aman Futures head Manuel Amalilio to two years imprisonment for carrying a fake Philippine passport.
But the verdict favors Amalilio because it reinforces his claim that he is a Malaysian citizen.
The Philippine government wants Amalilio tried in Manila on charges that he duped hundreds of investors in a pyramid scam.
Philippine officials also insist Amalilio is a Filipino citizen.

Story 5: INFLATION PICKS UP ON HIGHER TOBACCO, ALCOHOL PRICES
Inflation rises in January because of the implementation of the sin tax law.
Data from the National Statistics Office show the law pushed up prices of tobacco and alcohol when it took effect January 1.
Inflation, or the rise in the cost of goods and services, increases to 3% in January from 2.9% in December 2012.
The January figure is the highest since October 2012’s 3.1%.
The NSO says the alcoholic beverage and tobacco index registers a double-digit growth of 17.3% in January, against 5.1% in December 2012.

Story 6: INDONESIA SAYS ECONOMY GREW 6.23% IN 2012
Indonesia reports its economy grows 6.23% in 2012, supported by strong private consumption and investment.
But the economy slowed because of the ongoing global financial crisis.
Indonesia’s full year growth figure falls short of government forecast of 6.5% growth and the central bank’s estimate of 6.3%.
Indonesia is considered by business news site Market Watch as one of Asia’s next tiger economies, along with the Philippines, which grows 6.6% in 2012, exceeding forecasts placing it among Asia’s best performing economies.

Story 7: PCG: CRANE SHIP BOUND FOR TUBBATAHA
The Philippine Coast Guard agrees to the US Navy’s plan to pull out the USS Guardian stuck in Tubbataha Reef by cutting the ship into pieces.
The PCG says the plan to dismantle the minesweeper and transfer the sections to a barge using giant cranes is still being reviewed.
Final approval for the salvage operation is on hold.
The Coast guard says the Singapore-based SMIT Borneo may not be allowed to anchor close to the USS Guardian.
PCG Spokesman Commander Armando Balilo says, “It may cause even more damage.”
The SMIT Borneo arrived in the Philippines Sunday and is on its way to Tubbataha from Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
A 2nd crane from Singapore is expected to arrive in the next few days to assist in the salvage operation.
The US ship ran aground on January 17 inside the protected area of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Story 8: JAPAN SUMMONS CHINA ENVOY IN ISLAND ROW
Tokyo summons China’s envoy Tuesday to protest what it says is another incursion into its territorial waters in the East China Sea.
On Monday, Chinese state vessels entered water near the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims as the Diaoyu Islands.
The Japanese coastguard says the two surveillance boats remained in the area for around 14 hours.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga tells a news conference the actions are “absolutely unacceptable.”
He says Ambassador Cheng Yonghua was called to the foreign ministry to hear Japan’s “strong protest”.
Chinese ships are repeatedly venturing near the disputed islands.
Observers say it’s Beijing’s bid to create a “new normal” in which Tokyo does not have control over the archipelago.

Story 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 1, South Korea and the United States begins a joint naval exercise involving a US nuclear submarine Monday.
This comes in the middle of tensions in the Korean peninsula ahead of an expected nuclear test by North Korea.
While North Korea sees this as a warmongering exercise, South Korean officials say the drill was scheduled before the North threatened to detonate its third nuclear device.

At number 7, The latest survey by Citi Philippines reports Filipinos are saving more than spending.
Filipinos scored a record high of 53 out of 100 points in the survey, which measures consumers’ financial quotient.
The results? 9 out of 10 Filipinos set a budget and 65% of them are sticking to it.

At number 9, After 3 months away from the public eye, Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro surprises his countrymen by voting in legislative elections.
Stooped and using a cane, Castro casts his ballot at a school in Havana and speaks with reporters at the polling station for more than an hour.

And at number 10, Scientists confirm on Monday that a skeleton found under a parking lot in Leicester, England belongs to King Richard III.
He is widely depicted as one of history’s most notorious villains.
Shakespeare immortalized him in the play Richard III.
The skeleton, squashed into a grave too small for the body, had 10 wounds, eight on the skull and two on the body.

Story 10: BRANDS COMPLEMENT SUPERBOWL ADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Ad placements on America’s Superbowl are prime spots.
But two companies, agile on their feet, adapt to the situation– transforming a bad situation into a great opportunity.
Josh Villanueva reports.

From the advertising point of view, TV ads during last Sunday’s Superbowl are nearly as important as the game itself.
The commercials went for as high as 4 million dollars for a 30-second spot.
But social media is changing the advertising landscape.
Take the case of little known home soda maker “Sodastream”.
The company’s Superbowl ad – which took digs at other Superbowl sponsors Coke & Pepsi, was rejected by CBS – the network which airs the game.
But interest surrounding the ad – named “Game changer,” catapults the un-aired ad to over 4 million views on YouTube.
That’s a view for every dollar the company was supposed to spend for that 30 second spot, except that they didn’t spend a cent.
Another brand that took advantage of social media to great success was Oreo.
Taking advantage of the 34-minute power outage at the middle of the game, the cookie company was quick to tweet a photo that said: “Power out? No problem you can dunk in the dark.”
The tweet was retweeted more than 15 thousand times and received more attention than Oreo’s own super bowl commercial.
Both cases show how if done right, social media can be used to turn lemons into lemonade.
Josh Villanueva, Rappler.

Story 11: PH MODELS POSE NUDE FOR ELEPHANT MALI
Here’s another way to get the public’s attention.
PETA taps nude models to push the transfer of elephant Mali from the Manila Zoo to a sanctuary in Thailand.
Katherine Visconti reports.

She’s nearing 40.
She has arthritis.
She has more wrinkles than we can count.
And she’s already grey
but then she’s an elephant.
Still Mali’s not hiding anything, and neither are these 9 models.
They’re baring it all to support her.

SANYA SMITH, MODEL: I wanted to put myself in her shoes… or in her feet rather.

Activists from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, stage a photo shoot with nude models to draw attention to their campaign for Mali.
They want to move her from her home in the Manila Zoo to a sanctuary in Thailand.
PETA knows nudity get’s people’s attention. So much for us being the more evolved species.
PETA enjoys a long line of celebrities posing nude for its causes.
‘I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur’ campaign includes Eva Mendes, Khloe Kardashian and Holly Madison.
It’s a tactic they are more than willing to use in the Philippines.
9 Filipino models say they are happy to help even if it means showing a little skin.

SANYA SMITH, MODEL: We’re such a conservative country and the shock factor. You know it will draw some attention.

The nude photo shoot is the latest stint in a battle for public sentiment.
The activists say female elephants are social creatures who live in herds.
Mali has been cooped up alone in this zoo for 3 decades, but zoo veterinarians say she is too old to travel.

DONALD MANALASTAS, MANILA ZOO VETERINARIAN: The average lifespan of a captive Asian elephant is 42 so she is geriatric or what you may call a senior citizen. We believe it is not safe for her to be transported at this age.

It’s a battle for public opinion that’s only heating up.
For both sides, its time to discuss the naked elephant in the room.
Katherine Visconti, Rappler Manila.