Rappler Newscast | March 1, 2013

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14 people are dead as the stand-off in Sabah ends in a shootout, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI officially steps down as pope

Today on Rappler.

  • 14 people are dead as the stand-off in Sabah ends in a shootout.
  • Opposition UNA criticizes, Team PNoy defends, President Aquino’s handling of the Sabah stand-off.
  • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI leaves the Vatican and steps down as pope.
 

Story 1: MALAYSIA: 12 ‘SULU RAIDERS’ KILLED
Malaysia says the 17-day standoff between its security forces and a group of Filipinos claiming Sabah is over.
At a press conference Friday, Sabah police chief Datuk Hamza Taib says 12 “Sulu raiders” and two Malaysian security forces are killed in the attack in Lahad Datu.
Earlier, Malaysian ambassador Dato Mohd Zamri Kassim tells Philippine foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario only 3 were killed: one civilian and two Malaysian policemen.
Kassim says 10 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III also surrender.
Rajah Mudah Kiram and around 180 followers sailed to Sabah on February 12 to pursue their claim on Sabah.
The updated death toll reflects the earlier estimate of Sulu sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani, who says Malaysian snipers fired first, killing 10 of the sultan’s men and injuring 4.
But in a tweet, Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein disputes the claim, saying the Kiram group started the gunfight.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez says the Philippines issues a note verbale asking Malaysia for a full report on the assault.
The Philippine government also asked Malaysia to allow its ship to dock in Lahad Datu so it can bring the wounded home.

Story 2: TEAM PNOY ON SABAH: BLAME KIRAM, NOT AQUINO
Members of the administration coalition Team PNoy believes the Sabah standoff does not reflect on President Benigno Aquino’s leadership.
On the sidelines of a coalition sortie in Candaba town in Pampanga, bets see the conflict as the fault of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram and not Aquino’s.
They say Kiram should have heeded the President’s call to withdraw their forces from Sabah.
Senatorial bet Ramon Magsaysay Jr. says, “If there is a firefight, that is Mr. Kiram’s problem.”
Kiram complains about Aquino’s lack of assistance in the Sabah standoff.
He says Aquino sides with the Malaysians over the Filipinos.
Administration bet Sen Koko Pimentel agrees the government should serve its people but defends the President on his decision to ask Karim to leave Sabah.

KOKO PIMENTEL, TEAM PNOY SENATORIAL BET: Let us incorporate in the teaching of Philippine history the teaching of the legal as well as the historical basis of the Sabah claim. Let us assure the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu that his particular claim will not be forgotten by Filipino people by teaching the historical basis. This is aside from the diplomatic work that is needed.

Team PNoy campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon says the president is pursuing efforts to peacefully end the situation.

FRANKLIN DRILON, TEAM PNOY CAMPAIGN MANAGER: If their purpose is only to surface their claims, I think they have achieved their purpose, therefore it’s about time for them to come home and remove their followers from harms way.

Story 3: UNA ON SABAH: AQUINO SENT MIXED SIGNALS
Senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance says the Aquino administration could have avoided violence in Sabah.
Sen Gregorio Honasan says President Aquino sent the Kiram group mixed signals when he asked Kiram’s group to stand down but also reminded them of possible violations of the Constitution.
Honasan says, “It’s like being made to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. ‘You go home but we’ll file charges against you.”
In a press statement, former Sen Richard Gordon calls the administration’s response — quote — “severely, woeful, anti-Filipino and subservient to Malaysia.”

Story 4: TEAM PNOY SLAMS ARROYO IN PAMPANGA
Confident of his popularity in Pampanga, President Aquino criticizes the past administration in a rally in San Fernando town, as he campaigned for his senatorial candidates.
Natashya Gutierrez files this video blog.

Arroyo country? More like Aquino country. This is the belief of Team PNoy, the coalition of President Benigno Aquino III, as it visits Pampanga, the home province of former president GMA.
It makes sense. While Arroyo is the representative of Pampanga’s 2nd district, the province overwhelmingly voted for Aquino in the 2010 presidential race, garnering 36.5% of the votes cast here.
Perhaps because of it, Aquino and his bets are unafraid to slam Arroyo, something the opposition United Nationalist Alliance chose not to do in their last visit here.
Here’s what they have to say:

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Nagtataka nga po ako minsan, may mga nagsasabi po kasi na balwarte na raw ng isang makapangyarihang pamilya ang Pampanga. Ayon nga sa mga nasasagap natin kung ano raw ang idikta nila, asahan na raw ang pagsunod ng mga Kapampangan dito. Sabi ko, imposible yata yan. Kilala ko ang mga Kapampangan. Kung pumanig sila dati sa demokrasya, pagkakaisa, at pagbabago, tiyak sa katapatan at katotohan lamang susuporta ang mga Cabalen.

RISA HONTIVEROS, TEAM PNOY SENATORIAL BET: Ang chances ko dito sa Pampanga at least as good as, if not better than, 2010. Nung 2010 pumasok ako dito sa Pampanga. I was number 12. Kaya ganoon ako kasaya bumalik dito sa Pampanga at magpapakilala ulit sa aking mga Cabalen dito dahil naniniwala ako kasama namin ang Pampanga sa daang matuwid.

While in the province, Aquino refuses to talk about the standoff in Sabah, an issue of concern. In a further sign of unity, Campaign manager Franklin Drilon says the coalition will take a common stance and back the President in his decisions regarding the conflict. Bets believe the situation in Sabah does not reflect badly on Aquino.

KOKO PIMENTEL, TEAM PNOY SENATORIAL BET: The president had nothing to do with Filipinos being there in Sabah. The foreign policy and matters like this should be under the leadership of the president so we will support whatever is his solution, whatever is his decision. At reality po yun, sometimes there are things beyond our control.

Pampanga has 1.2 m voters registered for the 2013 elections. Team Pnoy remains confident of its chances in the province and rightfully so — if the warm reception and the 2010 results are any indication.
Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler. Pampanga.

Story 5: UNA: WE’RE NOT DEFINED BY PARTY LINES
For the opposition, it helps to have friends not just in high but in local places as well.
While UNA only has a few candidates in Cavite, which has 1.6 million voters, it counts personal allies and friends from other parties as key players in its ground war.
Senator Gringo Honasan enjoys the support of 7th District Representaive Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Nacionalista Party.
Honasan says -quote, “We are crossing party lines because first of all, there is no political party system in our country.”
Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay echoes Honasan.
She says –quote, “Leaders will not support you based on party lines.
but they will support you because they are your personal friend.”
Magsaysay says this is why Team PNoy cannot ensure a straight 12-0 for its slate, because in Cavite and other provinces, many leaders were once allies of UNA members in the past administration.

Story 6: VITUG VLOGS: WOMEN: GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
On the first day of Women’s Month, Rappler’s editor at large Marites Vitug talks about the growing role of women in politics and business.
Here’s her video blog.

South Korea now has a woman president, a first for this East Asian country.
South Korea joins the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Thailand—Asian countries which have had female heads of state.
This month of March, as we celebrate women, we have reason to rejoice.
In our country, women who aspire for high office, both in government and corporations, encounter few obstacles.
In 2012, the World Economic Forum ranked the Philippines among the top 10 in terms of women legislators, senior officials and managers, and number of years with a female head of state.
We are also among those with the highest percentage of women in boardrooms.
To all these women, it is not much to ask to give back to the community.
Mentor the successor generation. Create opportunities for other women to grow.
This is the best gift you can give the nation.
This is Marites Vitug for VitugVlogs.

Story 7: BENEDICT XVI: ‘I AM NO LONGER THE POPE’
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI leaves the Vatican for the last time as Pope on Thursday, riding a white helicopter for the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome.
He officially resigned as pope at 8pm.
Benedict thanks his supporters and promises to work for the common good.
He says, “You know that this day is different for me than the preceding ones.
I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.”
He also posts his last tweet, saying: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the center of your lives.”
Earlier on Thursday, Benedict met 144 cardinals to bid them farewell and to vow obedience to the next pope.
In a few days, the cardinals will hold the conclave to elect Benedict’s successor.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 4, A World Health Organization report says the trauma caused by radioactive emissions of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant two years ago is worse than the actual threat of human diseases.
The report says the risk of contracting certain cancer types was small but the psychological effects of the disaster – fear, anxiety and depression – can be worse because radiation is invisible.
The Fukushima disaster was prompted by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that generated a tsunami of historic proportions on March 11, 2011.

At number 8, The American soldier accused of leaking secret documents to Wikileaks pleads guilty to 10 of 22 charges against him.
But Private first class Bradley Manning denies the most serious charge – aiding the enemy – which carries a potential life sentence.
Manning says he divulged documents to Wikileaks to spark public debate about US military action.
He is accused of sending out thousands of battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq while he was based in Baghdad.
If found guilty, he faces 20 years in prison.

At number 9, The medieval king Richard the Lionheart, known for his courage as a military leader, was not killed by a poisoned arrow.
Forensic experts did not find poisonous metals in their analysis of the king’s mummified heart.
Experts did find pollen, which suggests Richard died at the end of April, May or the start of June, when grains from poplar and bellflowers are in bloom.

And at number 10, a study by a German research institute finds older pessimists tend to live longer than optimists.
The researchers say it’s possible a pessimistic outlook leads elderly people to take care of their health better.
The study says older people who are optimists face a 10% higher mortality risk, and are more prone to developing physical health problems.
For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’

Story 9: SAMSUNG FORUM IN JAKARTA
While technology showcase Mobile World Congress is happening in Barcelona, Samsung holds its own event in Jakarta introducing a slew of the devices it hopes would “shape a new era of technology.”
Michael Josh Villanueva reports.

At the Samsung Forum in Jakarta all sorts of technology is on display.
There are plenty of devices for the home — televisions, washing machines, microwaves, even this robotic vacuum cleaner.
But the centerpiece is this massive 85-inch 4K ULTRA High Def television.
The TV is built into its easel-like stand, reminiscent of a large painting at a gallery.
You can’t walk into a store and buy one of these — it’s only available by special order for an also massive price tag – P1.6 million or $40,000.
Not as big but equally impressive is this 55-inch multiview 3D HDTV, that allows a group of people to watch up to 4 programs at the same time on TV set.
You’ll need these special 3D glasses with built in earphones. Your program of choice is the press of a button away.
This TV will be available in the Philippines this August for P750,000 or around $18,000 dollars.
Still a bit pricey but just imagine you’ll never have to fight over the remote again.
Also grabbing our attention is this 45mm prime lens made specifically for the Samsung’s NX-300 mirrorless camera this lens allows you to take 3 dimensional photos and video.
You’ll no longer need expensive equipment to shoot your own 3D movie.
And for normal use you can also switch back to 2D mode with the flick of a switch.
Finally we get our hands on this 8-inch tablet – the Galaxy Note 8.
Not available till the 2nd Quarter of 2013 – this iPad mini competitor stands out because of its ability to take phone calls, its optional expandable memory, and its accompanying S pen perfect for drawing or taking notes.
While we may not be able to take home most of the devices on display at the show floor today, they give us a peak into what’s possible through technology and how they could possibly chart the course of the next few years of our life.
Michael Josh Villanueva, Rappler, Jakarta.

 
Rappler.com

Newscast production staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER Rodneil Quiteles
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER Katerina Francisco
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK Vicente Roxas
  Exxon Ruebe
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro

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