Rappler Newscast | May 8, 2013

Story 1: SC STOPS LIQUOR BAN EXTENSION
The Supreme Court issues a Temporary Restraining Order stopping the implementation of the liquor ban from May 9 to 11, limiting it to only two days.
In a press conference, SC spokesperson Theodore Te announces the ruling, citing a petition filed by liquor companies Food and Beverage Inc., and International Wines and Spirit Association Inc.
The petitioners say the poll body has the authority to promulgate rules, but adds, “Comelec’s rule-making power should be exercised in accordance with the prevailing law.”
They say Comelec violated their right to due process, because it did not conduct any hearing before issuing the resolution.
The liquor ban was originally scheduled from May 12 to 13 only, but the Comelec extended it at the request of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.
Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes says he’s not affected by the court’s decision.

SIXTO BRILLANTES, COMELEC CHAIR: Hindi ganoon kahalaga, because the law really provides for two days only. We wanted to expand it. If the Supreme Court feels na hindi dapat, by issuing a TRO, eh ‘di okay lang. (It’s not that important, because the law really provides for two days only. We wanted to expand it. If the Supreme Court feels it shouldn’t be, then it’s okay.)

Story 2: BSP RELUCTANT TO IMPLEMENT ELECTION ‘MONEY BAN’
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas says it is reluctant to implement Comelec’s money ban because it violates bank secrecy laws.
On Tuesday, the Commission on Elections releases a resolution limiting cash withdrawals to P100,000 in an effort to curb vote buying.
BSP calls the resolution “essentially unsound,” saying it would involve looking at bank accounts and violating secrecy laws.
Local banks are still waiting for directives from the Central Bank.
In a phone interview with Rappler, a top executive of a commercial bank says, “If we go against the bank secrecy law, we are answerable to the BSP, not the Comelec.”

Story 3: SWS: 6 BETS FIGHTING FOR LAST 3 SLOTS
Social Weather Stations says 9 senatorial candidates are –quote– “guaranteed wins” in next week’s polls and 6 are fighting for the last 3 slots.
In the final pre-election survey conducted from May 2 to 3, SWS says the 9 “safe” candidates are 7 bets from Team PNoy and two bets from opposition United Nationalist Alliance.
The 9 are Sen Loren Legarda, Sen Alan Peter Cayetano, Nancy Binay, Sen Chiz Escudero, former censors chief Grace Poe, San Juan Rep JV Ejercito, former Las Piñas Rep Cynthia Villar, Sen Koko Pimentel, and Bam Aquino.
SWS says the last 6 candidates fighting for the final 3 slots are Aurora Rep Sonny Angara and Sen Sonny Trillanes, both at rank 10-11; Sen Gringo Honasan, who ranks 12th; Cagayan Rep Jack Enrile, who’s ranked no. 13; and former Senators Jun Magsaysay and Migz Zubiri, who are ranked at no. 14-15.
SWS says the best scenario for Team PNoy is a 9-3 win.

Story 4: CEBU VOTERS MUST CHOOSE: CHANGE OR CONTINUITY?
In the race for Cebu leadership, voters can stick with what’s familiar — UNA’s PJ Garcia — or gamble on the promises of change by the Liberal Party’s Junjun Davide.
Ayee Macaraig reports.

It’s yellow fever in this campaign stage in Danao City, Cebu.
The Duranos of the 5th district and their local Bakud Party has a new ally– Liberal Party gubernatorial bet Hilario “Junjun” Davide III.
Davide is running against Congressman Pablo John “PJ” Garcia.
The Duranos supported his sister, suspended Governor Gwen Garcia over Davide, just 3 years ago.  
In a tight race in the country’s most vote-rich province, the Durano turnaround is a gamechanger.
It was in the 5th district where Davide suffered his biggest loss in 2010.  
Despite the defection, PJ says his One Cebu party remains more organized than the ruling party, having more incumbents and complete slates.
Staunch Garcia critic and Davide ally Cebu congressman Tomas Osmeña dismisses this.

REP TOMAS OSMEÑA, 2ND DISTRICT, CEBU CITY: The evil is organized. They’ve got the forces but the people are just angry…Gwen it turns out has a negative vote so it’s not so much Junjun. People don’t like her. She’s so obnoxious. She’s been involved in so many anomalies.

Harping on the controversies, Osmeña and Davide urge Cebuanos not to allow her brother to continue the Garcia dynasty.

AYEE MACARAIG, REPORTING: This is the controversial Balili property in Tinaan, Naga, Cebu. In 2008, the provincial government under Gwen Garcia bought this property for P98.9 million. But the Ombudsman said that a huge portion is underwater. It is now the subject of a graft case before the Sandiganbayan.

Political sociology professor Phoebe Sanchez says LP’s message appeals to intellectuals.
But she says it’s a different case for many residents of Cebu’s coastal barangays.
After all, Gwen and her father Congressman Pabling Garcia pampered these barangays with perks and projects for 18 years.

PROF PHOEBE SANCHEZ, POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY, UP CEBU: May problema ang kay Gwen dahil nga sa mga kaso niya pero has this affected the small communities, the barangay levels? Hindi naman tumatagos sa kanila eh kasi top level lang ang nag-aaway at di sila apektado. Ang iisipin nila: kinsay makasalba, who can save us? (There’s a problem with Gwen (Garcia) because of her cases but has this affected the small communities, the barangay levels? These cases don’t sink in because it’s the top level that’s quarreling. They are not affected. They will think, “Who can save us?”)

Still, Davide hopes Cebuanos will heed his call for change.
For PJ, voters must give him the mandate to continue his sister’s exceptional leadership.

HILARIO “JUNJUN” DAVIDE III, LP CEBU GUBERNATORIAL BET: If we allow another Garcia to sit there, kawawa ang Cebu because what’s going to happen is that this Garcia who sits there, if he wins, he’s going to cover up lahat ng sins ng sister. (If we allow another Garcia to sit there, Cebu will suffer because what’s going to happen is that this Garcia who sits there, if he wins, he’s going to cover up all of his sister’s sins.)

REP PABLO JOHN “PJ” GARCIA, ONE CEBU GUBERNATORIAL BET: All these accusations against my sister are still unproven accusations. They will be taken up in court…They will see these accusations are really baseless and political.  

Alliances, party strength, perks.
All these are factors in determining who will be the next leader of the country’s de facto capital.
As Cebuanos go to the polls, they face the choice not just between two personalities, but also between the two opposing ideals they claim to represent.
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Cebu.

Story 5: WRAP: ELECTION NEWS
Here’s a quick wrap of the latest election news around the Philippines.

VICE MAYOR, VILLAGE CHIEF ENGAGE IN FIST FIGHT
In Pangasinan, Carmen Vice-Mayor Jojo Pajela allegedly engaged in a fist fight with barangay chairman Victor Chan.
Radyo Natin reports a remark by Pajela triggers a fight between the two officials, with a member of the vice-mayor’s group allegedly drawing a handgun. No shots were fired.
The police is investigating the incident and considers it a possible case of grave threat.

WANTED MAYOR OF BANGUED, ABRA RESURFACES
In Abra, fugitive Bangued Mayor Ryan Luna makes his first appearance after hiding last week for the murder of a political rival in 2007.
In a YouTube video, Luna says his rivals are conspiring to grab power from him.
A regional trial court signs an arrest warrant against Luna for ordering the shooting of Brenda Crisologo.
She is the wife of Tineg Mayor Edward Crisologo.

FIGHT ERUPTS IN FRONT OF ERAP’S RESIDENCE
In Manila, at least 3 people are injured in a fight in front of the residence of mayoral candidate Joseph Estrada.
The incident occurs after a text message circulated that Estrada was set to distribute groceries.
Estrada says his rival, re-electionist Mayor Alfredo Lim, is behind the incident.

JOSEPH ESTRADA, CANDIDATE FOR MANILA MAYOR: Sino pa bang gagawa nito? Dalawa lang kaming kumakandidatong mayor eh. (Who else would be behind this? There are only 2 of us running for the mayoral post in Manila.)

Story 6: POWER OUTAGE HITS PARTS OF LUZON
The tripping of 5 generation plants in Luzon causes a widespread power failure Wednesday.
It originates from the Ilijan power plant in Batangas, triggering a domino effect.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla says the incident reduced the energy supply load of Manila Electric Co. by at least half.
He says they are trying to figure out what caused the tripping.
The 5 affected power plants contribute about 3,700 megawatts to the Luzon grid.

Story 7: BRILLANTES: PCOS CAN RUN DURING BLACKOUT
Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes says ballot counting machines can run even without power during the voting period.
On Wednesday, a widespread blackout hits parts of Luzon, raising fears power outage could lead to failure of elections.
But Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla says the precinct count optical scan machines can run on batteries for 16 hours.
Brillantes says the poll body is ready for this situation on election day.

SIXTO BRILLANTES JR, COMELEC CHAIR: Doon natin makikita kung gaano kaganda ang PCOS. Kahit mag-blackout, tumatakbo pa rin. (That’s how we will see how good the PCOS is. Even if there’s a brownout, it is able to run.)

Story 8: PH CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF 4 PEACEKEEPERS
The Philippines condemns the abduction of 4 United Nations peacekeepers in Golan Heights, Syria.
On Tuesday, an armed group seized the peacekeepers while they were patrolling near the ceasefire zone between Israel and Syria.
In a Facebook post, the Yarmuk Martyrs Brigade rebel group says they took the peacekeepers for their own safety because of heavy fighting in the zone.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez asks the Security Council to use its influence for the early and safe release of the peacekeepers.

Story 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 7, Three women abducted in their teens are rescued Tuesday from a house in Cleveland, Ohio after a decade of captivity.
The three were either in their teens or early 20s when they disappeared.
Police rescue the three women after one got the attention of a neighbor.
Police also arrest three brothers in connection with the case.

At number 8, several sources confirm Syria loses Internet connectivity.
The Renesys Corporation and Umbrella Security Labs spotlight the loss of Internet connectivity or an otherwise sharp drop in traffic from Syria.
No official word yet about the cutoff.

And at number 10, three Philippine universities make it to the 2013 QS World Rankings for Subjects.
The University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University make it to the top 51-100 schools for English Language and Literature, while De La Salle University is in the top 101-150.
Harvard University is ranked number one in 10 disciplines.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject series gathers the opinion of academics and employers through a global survey.