Rappler Newscast | February 20, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• Sen Santiago says the Supreme Court’s ruling on online libel is wrong.
• Lawyer JJ Disini says the cybercrime law has a chilling effect on freedom of speech.
• Gunfire shatters a shaky truce in Ukraine as deadly clashes in Kiev continue.

Story 1: MIRIAM: SC RULING ON ONLINE LIBEL ERRONEOUS
Senator Miriam Santiago says the Supreme Court ruling on online libel in the cybercrime law is wrong because the provision is too vague and broad.
In a press briefing Thursday, Santiago says the online libel provision violated two principles of constitutional law against vagueness and overbreadth.
Santiago says the ruling poses a –quote– “a very significant constraint” on the fundamental rights to free speech and free expression.
Santiago also says the decision mistakenly treated the Internet as similar to traditional media.

MIRIAM SANTIAGO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: The Supreme Court is treating social media as if it were just a scion, a successor or just another classification of traditional media. It is not!

Santiago joins her other colleagues in calling for the decriminalization of libel, or the removal of the prison penalty.
The lone senator who voted against the law, TG Guingona, filed a bill Thursday to decriminalize libel.

Media Signpost image from Shutterstock

Story 2: DISINI: CYBERCRIME HAS CHILLING EFFECT ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Lawyer JJ Disini, one of the petitioners against the cybercrime law, says the online libel provision has a chilling effect on free speech.
Media groups and netizens say the provision violates the right to expression.
Disini also says determining whether something is libelous is a tricky area of the law.

JJ DISINI, PETITIONER VS CYBERCRIME LAW: In a situation where the law is not so clear on whether you’re going to jail, then the only way to protect yourself is to be even more conservative about what you say in public.

But others, like lawyer Chris Lao, say it makes people more accountable about what they say or post online.
Lao was a victim of cyberbullying in 2011 because of a video that went viral online.

CHRIS LAO, LAWYER: It’s wrong to say that having this law curtails freedom of expression and speech. You can still say whatever it is you want but if that injures somebody, you have to answer for that.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld most provisions of the controversial measure, a decision praised by agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation.
Disini also says the law will help in law enforcement because its definition of the different types of cybercrimes are consistent with international definitions.

JJ DISINI, PETITIONER VS CYBERCRIME LAW: If you look at the first 4 sections of the law, they are defining different types of cybercrime…Since our cybercrimes are defined in the same way as in all other places, later when we ask these countries for assistance in law enforcement events…It’s easier for law enforcement agencies to coordinate on international basis since a lot of cybercrimes are cross-border in nature, so that will help.

Story 3: THE 7107 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL: WHO’S FUNDING IT
12 international music acts, 43 local musicians.
Avid music fans are counting down to the biggest music event in the Philippines — the 7107 International Music Festival — but insiders in the events-organizing industry believe the money for the event
may be linked to Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel fund.
Napoles’ son James is a friend and former business partner of festival organizer Jon Herrera.
But the organizers deny Napoles’ involvement in the festival, saying they are funding the event with their own money and through sponsors.
Documents show the incomes of the organizers’ declared businesses aren’t enough to mount an extravagant event worth hundreds of millions of pesos.
Their cash assets total only P18.95 million, not enough to pay their headliner, American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The band’s talent fee alone amounts to P86.2 million or $2 million — excluding  taxes and logistical expenses.
The entire festival, which features both local and international acts, is estimated to cost P253.4 million.
Less than a month before the festival, the Department of Tourism or DOT distanced itself from the event and says it would ask organizers to remove the DOT seal from its promotional materials.
DOT clarifies that it has -quote- “no direct business dealing with them other than that we acknowledge 7107 to be a help to tourism.”

Story 4: SICK? NO BAIL FOR ARROYO, SAYS COURT
The Sandiganbayan denies the latest motion for bail by former President Gloria Arroyo.
Arroyo faces plunder charges over the alleged misuse of P366 million worth of charity funds.
Arroyo’s lawyers earlier filed a motion for reconsideration, saying the former president is sick and has no plans of being a fugitive.
But the court denies the motion, and affirms its earlier position that the evidence against Arroyo is strong.

Story 5: PMA: IT’S NOT ABOUT CADET BEING LATE
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA says it followed due process when it decided to dismiss a graduating cadet.
The family of cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia criticized the PMA for what they say was a “trivial” cause of his dismissal – that he was reportedly late for 2 minutes in one class.
But in a statement, the PMA says it decided to exclude Cudia from this year’s roster of PMA graduates after their findings showed Cudia violated the Honor Code.
The Honor Code asks cadets to “not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate among them those who do.”
Cadets guilty of violating the code are asked to resign or face ostracism.
On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista orders a re-investigation of the case.

GEN. EMMANUEL BAUTISTA, AFP CHIEF OF STAFF: I have ordered a review of the case, so that we can find out the real facts behind this and so let’s wait for the result of the investigation…The case has been submitted to general headquarters, it has not reached me personally but I have ordered that it be remanded back to PMA for review.

Story 6: LIVE BULLETS USED IN LATEST KIEV CLASH
Gunfire shatters a shaky truce in Ukraine as the bloody clashes in the capital Kiev continue.
News reports say live rounds were used, but it’s unclear who fired them.
At least 26 people died in the fighting that left parts of Kiev’s historic city center engulfed in flames.
Just hours earlier, President Viktor Yanukovych called a truce with the opposition in a bid to ease tensions.
The government blames the protesters for breaking the truce.
The deadly protests began November when Yanukovych ditched a trade deal with the European Union.
This Youtube video with over 3 million views explains the protesters cause.
I am Ukranian, Native of Kiev, and now I’m on Maidan, on the central part of my city. I want you to know why thousands of my people are on the streets. There is only one reason. We want to be free from dictatorship…We are a civilized people, but our government are barbarians…We have this freedom in our hearts. We have this freedom in our hands. And now I ask you to build this freedom in our country.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 4, a Thai court orders the government not to use force against protesters, a day after street clashes left at least 5 dead and dozens wounded.
For several months now, protesters have taken to the streets in a bid to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from power.
The ruling by the Civil Court could complicate the government’s handling of the rallies, though they have promised to avoid using violence.

And at number 8, Facebook is buying the fast-growing mobile messaging service WhatsApp in a deal worth a whopping $19 billion.
The mega-deal supports the world’s biggest social network with the 450-million-strong WhatsApp.
The messaging service is set to be operated independently with its own board.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER	Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR	Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER	Rodneil Quiteles
	Dindin Reyes
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER	Katerina Francisco
	Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK	Exxon Ruebe
	Emerald Hidalgo
	Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN	Charlie Salazar
	Adrian Portugal
	Francis Lopez
	Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS	Jessica Lazaro
	Raffy de Guzman
3D GRAPHICS	Sten Bautista