Rappler Newscast | May 7, 2013

Story 1: CASUALTIES AFTER MAYON SPEWS ASH
Five mountain climbers die after the Mayon Volcano spewed rocks and steam in a phreatic explosion early Tuesday.
In a television interview, Albay Governor Joey Salceda says the five died after being hit by rocks cascading down the slopes of the volcano.
Four were Germans while one was a Filipino tour guide.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports at least 5 climbers were also injured.
NDRRMC Executive Director Eduardo del Rosario says there were 3 groups of climbers going up the volcano when the event happened.
In its official advisory, Phivolcs says the volcano produced a small phreatic event that lasted about 73 seconds.
A phreatic explosion is caused by the heating of water by the magma underneath the volcano’s crater, sending steam, water, and volcanic material out.
The agency says the alert level for the volcano is still at zero, which means “no eruption is imminent.”
The Albay local government suspends all activity within the volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone, which extends 6 km out from the crater area of the volcano.

Story 2: INT’L OBSERVERS TO WATCH PH ELECTIONS
The Compact for Peaceful Democratic Elections deploys 30 international observers to watch the 2013 polls.
COMPACT’s national coordinator Arnold Tarrobago says viewers from 16 countries will be dispatched in 6 areas for the 10-day mission.
Tarrobago says the observers will monitor “iconic electoral contests between those that proclaim to be on the side of reforms and those that are widely associated with traditional patronage politics.”
The teams specifically want to observe several electoral battles, like that of ARMM officer in charge Mujiv Hataman and Pax Mangudadatu.
The international observers mission contingent will be sent out to Cagayan, Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Cebu and ARMM.

Story 3: COMELEC: ‘MONEY BAN’ TO FIGHT VOTE BUYING
In an unprecedented move to curb vote buying, the Commission on Elections will control the –quote– “unusual withdrawal of cash” close to election day.
From Wednesday until election day, Comelec will limit cash withdrawals to P100,000.
The new Comelec resolution also prohibits the transportation of cash exceeding P500,000 or its equivalent in any foreign currency.
Brillantes says trade and industry will not be affected because the resolution only covers cash withdrawals.

SIXTO BRILLANTES JR., COMELEC CHAIR: We’re trying to prevent the circulation of cash, which can be used for vote buying… If we will limit it to only P100,000 each, it will be very difficult to withdraw millions of pesos.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas says the rule may constitute a “restraint of trade” and a violation of bank secrecy.
But Brillantes defends the Comelec resolution.

SIXTO BRILLANTES JR., COMELEC CHAIR: Hindi naman maapektuhan ang commerce. Our position is, commerce, trade will not be affected. Hindi hulihan to. Wala kang mahuhuli. This is just a deterrent. (We’re not looking to catch anyone. This is just a deterrent.)

The Comelec uses the powers given by the Constitution to –quote– “deputize… law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.”

Story 4: MAGSAYSAY, AQUINO GET EL SHADDAI SUPPORT
The Catholic charismatic El Shaddai Movement completes the list of senatorial candidates it supports by picking Team PNoy candidates Jun Magsaysay and Bam Aquino.
El Shaddai founder Brother Mike Velarde says Magsaysay meets his organization’s 3C criteria: commitment, conscience, and competence.
Magsaysay accepts the endorsement.
He says –quote– “It’s a very significant strength added to our legions of supporters all over the country.”
El Shaddai is the lead group in the White Vote movement.
They earlier endorsed senatorial bets based on a set of standards called LASER or lifestyle, action, supporters, election activities, and reputation.
The 10 candidates are JV Ejercito, Gregorio Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Cynthia Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Koko Pimentel, Nancy Binay, Richard Gordon, Marwil Llasos, and Miguel Zubiri.

Story 5: WRAP: ELECTION NEWS

TARLAC: SLAIN BET’S DAUGHTER TO RUN FOR MAYOR
In Tarlac, the daughter of slain San Jose mayoral candidate Rudy Abella will run for the position in place of her father.
Lalaine Abella files her certificate of candidacy Tuesday, a day after armed men on motorcycles shot and killed her father.
A Facebook page set up by his family says Rudy Abella was shot five times.
Abella, a former barangay captain, was running against re-electionist Mayor Jose Yap of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

NUJP: CABANATUAN MAYOR, ARMED MEN ASSAULT TV CREW
In Cabanatuan, re-electionist mayor Julius Vergara and his armed men allegedly assaulted a local TV crew on April 27.
In a report released Monday, the National Union of Journalists says the crew was harassed while shooting video footage of Vergara.
The cameramen are from Station TV 48, owned by Vergara’s mayoral rival, Anthony Umali.

SC DISQUALIFIES KAUSWAGAN MAYOR
In Lanao del Norte, the Supreme Court disqualifies re-electionist Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado from running for any local position for his continued use of his US passport even after he claimed to have renounced his American citizenship.
The Court, voting 10-5, also declares Casan Maquiling, Arnado’s rival in the May 2010 polls, the new mayor of Kauswagan.

COMELEC ORDER RE-INVENTORY OF CDO ELECTION MATERIALS
In Cagayan De Oro, Acting Comelec election officer in Palmer Palamine orders the Office of the City Treasurer to do a re-inventory of election materials.
Three city hall employees allegedly took out the boxes from the Treasurer’s office where other election paraphernalia were stored.
Acting City Treasurer Marilyn Legaspi says her office is open for all to see.
She adds –quote–,  “The only way we can erase all doubts is through an inventory.”

2 TAN DYNASTY MEMBERS IN SAMAR DELISTED
In Samar, two members of the Tan political dynasty are delisted from the voters’ list because they are not bona fide voters in their registered election areas.
Arnold Tan is running for congressman of the 1st district of Samar, while Angelie Tan is running for mayor of Calbayog City.
The regional trial court ruling effectively disqualifies them from their respective races.

Story 6: CHINA SENDS LARGE FLEET TO DISPUTED ISLANDS
China sends one of its largest fishing fleets to disputed islands in the South China Sea.
The China Daily says a fleet of 30 fishing vessels set sail on Monday for the Spratly Islands.
The Spratly Islands is an archipelago disputed between China and other countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
The report says the fleet left China’s southern province of Hainan for a 40-day trip.
It includes two large transport and supply ships.
China and neighboring countries have long used fishing fleets and maritime patrols to assert their territorial claims.
The waters around the Spratlys are rich in fishing resources and is believed to hold large oil and gas reserves.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 2, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim calls for a rally to protest what he calls the “worst electoral fraud in our history.”
Anwar lost to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is sworn in for a second term Monday, after his 56-year-old ruling coalition retained power.
Anwar says he had hoped the recent polls would result in a historic change of government.

At number 9, 82-year-old Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan will defend his title as the oldest person to reach the peak of Mount Everest against an 80-year-old Japanese competitor.
Sherchan’s record for scaling Everest at 76 is being challenged by Yuichiro Miura of Japan, who is already on his way up the mountain.
The company organizing Sherchan’s expedition says the campaign aims to generate awareness about the strength of the elderly.

And at number 10, Twitter is hiring a ‘head of news’ in a bid to be more indispensable to global media.
But The Guardian’s Michael Wolff asks, “Will it work?”
The job description considers the microblogging site as both the front and back end of news: the first responder and eyes on the ground.
Wolff says the best bet to fill the position is someone “seasoned enough to have worked for an actual news organization…
but astute enough to have migrated into the new news space.”

Story 8: PACQUIAO TO FACE RIOS IN MACAU
Manny Pacquiao looks to redeem himself as he climbs the ring for the first time after his two straight losses in 2012.
Sports network ESPN reports Pacquiao will face Brandon Rios at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel on November 24.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says both fighters agreed to terms and contracts are being finalized.
They will fight at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Arum says –quote– “People want to see a real fight and that is what you get with Rios.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz says Rios was chosen after Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley turned down offers to fight Pacquiao.
Marquez and Bradley chose to fight each other instead.

Newscast production staff