Rappler Newscast | April 17, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• Anger in South Korea after reports passengers of the sunken ferry were ordered to stay in their cabins.
• The Philippines ranks 3rd in the 2014 Impunity Index by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
• President Aquino apologizes for broken airconditioners at the Philippines’ international airport.

Story 1: ‘SHOULDN’T WE MOVE?’ FERRY EVACUATION UNDER SCRUTINY
South Korean rescuers continue the search for nearly 300 people missing after a ferry sank Wednesday with 475 people on board.
Most were high school students bound for a holiday island.
At least nine people died after the ferry listed violently, capsized, and sank within two hours of sending a distress signal.
As the search continues, troubling reports from some survivors spark anger.
They say many passengers were repeatedly told to stay in their cabins instead of trying to escape the sinking ferry.
Those who obeyed found their possible escape route blocked when the vessel suddenly listed sharply to the port side.
One student tells reporters, “If only we had been told to get out earlier, then more of us would have been able to jump into the sea.”
With only 179 rescued so far, the fear is that most of those missing are trapped inside the ship as it sank.

Story 2: PH 3RD WORST COUNTRY IN UNSOLVED MEDIA MURDERS
For the 5th year now, the Philippines is the third worst country in solving the murders of journalists.
Based on the 2014 Impunity Index by New York-based watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists or CPJ, the Philippines ranks just behind Iraq and Somalia.
CPJ praises the successful conviction of the gunman who shot Palawan-based Filipino broadcaster Gerardo Ortega in January 2011.
But the report adds it did little to change –quote– “the rampant impunity in the Philippines.”
There were 3 new murders in the Philippines in 2013, hiking the total to 51
journalists still waiting for justice since the CPJ started its monitoring in 2008.
The report also criticizes a government statement declaring the end of impunity in the Philippines.
The report cites the 2009 massacre of 32 journalists in Maguindanao, in what is considered the world’s worst case of violence against journalists.

Story 3: AQUINO APOLOGIZES OVER ‘WORLD’S WORST AIRPORT’
President Benigno Aquino apologizes for the broken air conditioners at the the international airport named after his father.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1, used by foreign airlines, has been branded by travel guides as one of the world’s worst.
On Wednesday, the President inspected major passenger terminals as millions of Filipinos begin travelling for the Easter holidays during one of the hottest months of the year.
During a visit to NAIA 1, Aquino says the replacement for the airport’s broken airconditioners will be delivered in August because of procurement rules.
He adds, “We ask for understanding and patience but the processes in government are really strict.”

Story 4: PAL PARENT’S LOSSES QUADRUPLE TO NEARLY P12B
The parent company of Philippine Airlines or PAL reports a quadruple increase in losses in the first 9 months of 2013 because of low passenger volume and high expenses.
PAL Holdings Inc., jointly owned by tycoon Lucio Tan and the San Miguel group, says its net loss reached P11.85 billion in the 9 months ending December…
over 4 times its P2.74 billion net loss in the same period of its fiscal year 2012.
The number of passengers fall to about 5 million, as total expenses rise 5.2% to P61.5 billion.
PAL is planning to mount more flights to the United States and Europe after upgrades from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union.

Story 5: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
For our social media post of the day:
It’s another transportation nightmare for travelers preparing for the Easter holiday.
In Cubao, lines at bus terminals snake  along EDSA sidewalks and footbridges.
Some say they spent almost 5 hours in line for a bus ticket to their provinces.
On the road, frustrated commuters get stuck in traffic along EDSA as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority prepares to finish major road work until Monday.

Story 6: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, a convicted killer sentenced to death in Iran is spared after the victim’s parents stopped the execution.
The Guardian reports the mother of an 18-year-old killed in a brawl went up to the convicted man, slapped him in the face, and decided to forgive him.
The victim’s father then removed the noose around the suspect’s neck.
The moment was caught on camera by Arash Khamooshi of the Isna news agency.

At number 7, Meet Honda’s latest humanoid robot, ASIMO.
Resembling a tiny astronaut, ASIMO can walk and run, even up and down stairs.
It can even open a bottle and serve a drink, and it politely tries to shake hands with strangers.
ASIMO, short for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, was first unveiled in 2000 after 14 years of research.

And at number 9, Ford celebrates the 50th birthday of its Mustang by displaying a new model of the convertible on top of the Empire State Building in New York.
The Triple Yellow 2015 Mustang was taken apart, whisked up by elevator to the observation deck, and reassembled overnight.
It’s the second time a Ford Mustang went on display on top of the Empire State Building. The first was in 1965.

Story 7: HOLY WEEK: 7 ‘SACRED SPACES’ IN CYBERSPACE
Today, Maundy Thursday, the Catholic faithful visit churches to reflect on the passion and death of Christ.
If you’re unable to do the traditional Visita Iglesia, Rappler compiles 7 online retreats, recollections, and reflections for Holy Week.
Rappler’s Holy Week Online also presents multimedia reflections and a virtual Visita Iglesia through 14 Philippine churches and the traditional Stations of the Cross in text and audio.

– Rappler.com 

Newscast Production Staff