Rappler Newscast | April 23, 2014

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PH and HK resolve 2010 hostage crisis. Lacson: pork barrel scam critics got kickbacks. Napoles’ lawyer says his client did not ask to be a state witness

Today on Rappler.

  • The Philippines and Hong Kong finally resolve the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.
  • Former senator Panfilo Lacson says critics of the pork barrel scam. 
  • The lawyer of Janet Napoles denies his client asked to be a state witness in the pork barrel corruption case.

Story 1: HK, PH RESOLVE HOSTAGE CRISIS ISSUE
The Philippines and Hong Kong finally resolve differences over the 2010 bus hostage crisis in Manila.
8 Hong Kong tourists died in the mismanaged rescue attempt.
In February, Hong Kong imposed sanctions stopping visa-free entry for Philippine officials after its demand for an official apology from Manila failed.
With the agreement, these sanctions are now dropped.
On Wednesday, the Philippines and Hong Kong issue a joint statement, saying the 4 demands set by the victims’ families have been resolved.
Still, the Philippines does not issue an official apology.
The statement says the Philippines -quote- “expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences” to the families.
The Philippine government will also give “an additional token of solidarity” to the victims’ families.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada left for Hong Kong Tuesday with an undisclosed sum of money.

Story 2: NAPOLES NOT DEMANDING TO BE STATE WITNESS – LAWYER
The lawyer of Janet Napoles says his client is not demanding to be a state witness in exchange for her testimony on the pork barrel scam.
In an interview with ANC’s Headstart, lawyer Bruce Rivera says Napoles set no conditions for her affidavit when she met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
De Lima earlier said Napoles submitted her account and asked to be a state witness in the pork barrel scam case.
Rivera denies this, saying, “It’s false to assume that she wants to be state witness because the testimony…was purely a proper testimony. There were really no conditions as to what she wants to happen.”
The Ombudsman is set to file plunder charges against Napoles and 9 others for allegedly channeling public funds to fake NGOs.
De Lima says the department will have to evaluate Napoles’ affidavit first to determine if she can be a state witness…
but whistleblowers are concerned.
Raymond Mendoza, lawyer of whistleblower Benhur Luy, says if Napoles becomes a witness in the case, she should –quote– “not contradict what has already been laid down” by the whistleblowers at the Senate hearings.
If she does, Mendoza says it would be a battle for credibility.

Story 3: SENATORS TO NAPOLES: FACE US, NAME NAMES
Not all senators are open to the possibility of Janet Napoles turning state witness.
Senator Koko Pimentel earlier said Napoles was the most guilty as the “architect” of the scam.
Earlier, Senator Miriam Santiago urged the Senate blue ribbon committee to summon Napoles and reopen the investigation.
Senator Sonny Trillanes supports her call, saying only a Senate testimony will test Napoles’ credibility.
But Senator Serge Osmena says Blue Ribbon committee chair TG Guingona must make sure Napoles will say something substantial before inviting her.
Trillanes and Osmena also say they’re willing to look past Napoles’ initial denials of her involvement in the scam to prosecute other corrupt officials.
The Justice Department also says it would suspend judgment on her credibility.
Secretary de Lima assures the public Napoles’ testimony will be validated by other sources.
She adds, it would be an “abdication” of her “duty as a truth-seeker” not to listen to Napoles.
De Lima says “truth-seeking” will be the focus of the evaluation of the list of names Napoles implicated and the affidavit she submitted.

Story 4: LACSON: ‘NOISY’ CRITICS ALSO GOT NAPOLES KICKBACKS
Former senator Panfilo Lacson says even critics of the pork barrel scam got kickbacks from Janet Napoles.
In a radio interview Wednesday, Lacson says Napoles’ husband and children met with him in March before Justice Secretary de Lima met Napoles on Monday.
Lacson says they wanted to ask for help in getting President Benigno Aquino and the Ombudsman to grant Napoles immunity.
The Napoleses reportedly gave Lacson a draft affidavit, a narration of the scam, documentary proof and an audio recording of a “revealing” telephone conversation.
Lacson says Napoles identified fewer than 19 senators, but the number was enough to ‘reach a quorum.’
He also says Napoles mentioned more names not previously brought up, including those who staunchly criticized the scam.
Lacson adds, it “seems” there is a lawmaker who earned more from the scam than Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile, who now face plunder charges.

Story 5: EX-MILITARY COMPTROLLER WANTS FORFEITURE CASE DISMISSED
Retired military comptroller Jacinto Ligot asks the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the forfeiture case filed against him and his family.
He says a similar case was filed against them in 2005.
The new case, filed in June 2013, seeks the return of P55.6 million of alleged ill-gotten wealth by the Ligots.
Ligot, his wife and children are accused of amassing P700-million from the coffers of the military.
Ligot retired as comptroller of the Armed Forces in 2004.

Story 6: PHILIPPINES ARRESTS EXTREMIST IN MALAYSIA RESORT KIDNAPPING
Philippine forces arrest a member of the Abu Sayyaf group tagged in the kidnapping of 21 people from a Malaysian resort in 2000.
Colonel Andrelino Colina of the army’s Task Force Zamboanga says Nabil Talahi Idjiran was arrested in Zamboanga City.
Idjiran is believed to have been part of the Abu Sayyaf’s raid on Malaysia’s Sipadan island, where 21 people, mostly Westerners, were kidnapped.
The hostages were brought to Jolo, Sulu and held for months until they were ransomed for millions of dollars.

Story 7: CHINA AND RIVALS SIGN PACT TO EASE MARITIME TENSIONS
China signs the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea with the United States, Japan and more than a dozen other Asia-Pacific countries Tuesday.
The agreement would make sure miscommunication between ships at sea won’t escalate into conflict.
China is involved in a series of territorial disputes with neighbors in the South and East China Seas.
Though there’s no open conflict, military jets are frequently seen around the perimeter.
Beijing may also be threatened by an increase in US naval power in the region.
Analyst Gary Li describes the agreement as “a mechanism towards de-escalation.”

Story 8: STREET CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND BY PH ECONOMIC GROWTH
With the Philippine economy doing better than expected, some international donors are starting to pull out.
They think a better economy means more opportunities for the poor, but one NGO says the benefits have not yet reached those who need them most.
Gen Cruz reports.

Everyday at sunset, street children gather here in Luneta Park.
Jude Natividad has been going to the mobile classrooms for the last 10 years.
He is now 17.

JUDE NATIVIDAD, SCHOLAR, CHILDHOPE ASIA: Nung kinausap ako ng social worker, nahihiya ako. Ininvite niya ako papunta doon sa may kasama nung mga bata, hanggang sa marami akong nakilalang mga bata…Tapos, ayon, then the rest araw-araw na akong umaattend. Sinasali nila ako sa mga program nila. Hanggang sa na-improve yung skills ko. Halimbawa natin yung pagsalita sa harap ng mga tao. Dati ayaw na ayaw ko yun e. (When the social worker approached me, I was shy. They invited me to go to where the children were, until I got to know the other kids. Then there, I just attended everyday. They would let me join their programs until my skills improved. For example public speaking, I could never do that before.)

Jude got a scholarship to finish high school in Japan, under the International School of Asia Karuizawa.
Sadly, he had to decline the offer.
Childhope Asia lacked the funding to process his papers after international donors pulled out.

JUDE NATIVIDAD, SCHOLAR, CHILDHOPE ASIA: Gusto kong i-grab ito e, gustong gusto ko kaso hindi lang sa ako yung isa sa mga batang nabigyan ng pagkakataong makapunta sa ibang bansa dahil sa scholarship kaso yung pagkakataon na iyon, naputol e kasi nga dahil hindi nga kaya ng Child Hope na tustusan yung mga dapat na ibigay sa akin. Tapos, kulang talaga sa budget…Napanghinaan ako ng loob. (I wanted to grab it. I really wanted it because I get to study abroad, but the opportunity is gone now. Child hope could not shoulder the expenses for the things I needed. We didn’t have the budget. I felt really disappointed.)

Childhope Asia founder, 83-year old Teresita Silva, dedicated her life helping street children like Jude.
Silva says international donors scaled back financial support because the Philippine economy is doing well.
The assumption is that a booming economy will create more opportunities for the poor.
She says that’s not yet true for the Philippines.

TERESITA SILVA, FOUNDER CHILDHOPE ASIA: The benefits of economic growth in the Philippines is not yet reaching the poorest of the poor. Street children are very much part of the poorest of the poor. They live on the streets, many of them are abandoned, some of them have families but they are dysfunctional families or urban poor.

Everyday, Childhope Asia teaches lessons on sanitation, reproductive health, and their rights as a child.
The organization provides temporary spaces where street children can feel safe and learn without fear of discrimination.
But now the group is forced to scale down.

CHIPS GUEVARRA, BOARD MEMBER, CHILDHOPE ASIA: As you know we have a street education program as you can see here at the back, but… We used to take care of 1,200 street kids. But because we’ve had to reduce our street educators, we have to pay them salary for them to be sustainable. We had to reduce it down so now we’re down to about 600, down to half that number.

Jude dreams of finishing college and helping Child Hope Asia.

JUDE NATIVIDAD, SCHOLAR, CHILDHOPE ASIA: Almost ten years na po ako sa Child Hope. Gustong gusto ko po tumulong sa Child Hope…Bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa Child Hope, kasi hinding hindi ko po makakalimutan ang Child Hope. (I’ve been in Childhope for almost ten years. I really want to help Childhope. I want to give back after what they’ve given me, I will never forget Childhope.)

GEN CRUZ, REPORTING: Childhope Asia is looking for ways to raise awareness for educating street children. But with limited resources, the NGO is struggling to stay afloat. For children like Jude, the future depends on how much longer Childhope Asia can remain financially viable. Gen Cruz. Rappler, Manila

Story 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 3, US President Barack Obama leaves Washington D.C. Tuesday for a weeklong tour of Asia.
His 5th visit to the region will take him to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Obama will discuss security and trade issues, including a controversial Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.

At number 7, football club Manchester United fires its team manager David Moyes.
Moyes was on his 10th month of a 6-year contract.
The club’s US-based owners were reportedly not satisfied with Moyes’ management.
A devastating 2-0 loss to Everton effectively blocked Man-U from entering the Champion’s League.

And at number 10, Nepal’s government agrees to the demands of Mt Everest sherpas, but many skilled mountain guides are considering a strike for the remainder of the climbing season.
At least 13 sherpas died after a deadly avalanche on April 18.
The incident prompted sherpas to demand for a welfare fund.
Sherpas are employed as cooks, guides, and skilled “ice doctors” who prepare the route for hundreds of climbers.

Story 10: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
For our social media post of the day:
Here’s an example of how a social media campaign could go wrong:
The New York Police District started #MyNYPD, a call-out for netizens in the New York area to post photos with NYPD officers using the hashtag.
But it didn’t turn out the way the NYPD expected.
Instead, people started posting pictures of police brutality.
The NYPD released a statement saying: “Twitter provides an open forum for an uncensored exchange and this is an open dialogue good for our city.”

– 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

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