Rappler Newscast | April 24, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• Without evidence, Senator Drilon opposes the release of senators’ names linked to the pork barrel scam.
• Miriam Santiago thinks Enrile played a role in the Lacson expose dragging more senators into the corruption scandal.
• US President Obama promises to defend Japan in its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

  

STORY 1: ESCUDERO, CAYETANO: RELEASE NAPOLES LIST, WE’LL RESPOND

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero want the justice department to release the names of lawmakers tagged in the pork barrel scam.
Alleged mastermind Janet Napoles met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima Monday night…
saying she was ready to tell what she knew about the scam.
Napoles submitted her affidavit and a list of lawmakers allegedly involved in the worst corruption scandal in recent history.
Cayetano and Escudero say withholding the names of the reported 12 senators and over 100 congressmen will cast doubt on all legislators.
They also say they are ready to respond in case they are named in the list.
Napoles and opposition senators face plunder charges for allegedly conniving to funnel public funds to her fake NGOs.
Sen Miriam Santiago wants the Senate to reopen its probe and summon Napoles…
but Blue Ribbon committee chair TG Guingona says he will wait for the justice department to finish evaluating Napoles’ affidavit.
Escudero says the department should carefully assess Napoles’ statements because she is “slightly a polluted source.”
In a Senate hearing in November 2013, Napoles denied any involvement.
Escudero adds, “She already lied to the Senate and the public once.
How can we trust that she is saying the whole truth and without any lies now?”

 

STORY 2: DRILON: DON’T RELEASE NAPOLES LIST WITHOUT DOCS

Unlike his other colleagues, Senate President Franklin Drilon does not want the list of lawmakers implicated in the pork barrel scam released if it’s not supported by “compelling documentary evidence.”
Drilon says releasing the list without documents will harm the Senate’s image.
He also cites cited legal arguments to justify the need for Napoles to produce supporting documents.
Drilon says, “No other evidence is better than the document because documents do not lie.”
The senate president also warns against “mudslinging and smear campaigns,” referring to rumors that his name was included in Napoles’ list.

 

STORY 3: MIRIAM SEES ENRILE HAND IN LACSON EXPOSÉ

Senator Miriam Santiago thinks Senator Juan Ponce Enrile has a hand in the latest exposé of former senator Panfilo Lacson.
Santiago questions Lacson’s statement that the family of Janet Napoles gave him a draft affidavit…
reportedly naming 12 senators and more than 100 congressmen in the corruption scandal.
Santiago says Lacson showed no proof the affidavit was authentic.
Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera confirms the Napoleses approached Lacson…
before meeting with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima Monday.
Santiago says she believes Lacson is only speaking to prevent Napoles from naming Enrile as the scam leader.
Santiago has repeatedly tagged Enrile as the real brains behind the scheme.
She says “There is no secret that I think the most guilty here is former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
No matter what the level of Napoles’ cunning might be, she cannot equal the influence of the Senate President.”
She also calls Lacson Enrile’s “attack dog.”
Responding to Santiago’s comments, Lacson says, “Let her quake in her shoes. More than anybody else, she, Benhur Luy and Mrs Napoles…
knows where she stands on the pork barrel and fertilizer scam issues.”
Santiago clashed with Lacson after he defended Enrile at the height of the controversy.
The two have since exchanged sharp criticism.
Enrile and Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada face plunder charges for allegedly funneling their pork barrel funds to Napoles’ fake NGOs in exchange for kickbacks.

 

STORY 4: BIR ‘HAPPY’ WITH COMPROMISE PACQUIAO CASH BOND

The Bureau of Internal Revenue or BIR says it is “happy” with the decision of the Court of Tax Appeals on the tax evasion case of boxer Manny Pacquiao.
The court resolution suspends the BIR’s collection of Pacquiao’s alleged unpaid taxes, but requires him to pay cash bond.
BIR Deputy Commissioner Estela Sales says the resolution still protects government interest.
Pacquiao allegedly owes the government 2.2 billion pesos or around 49.21 million dollars in unpaid taxes.
The BIR says Pacquiao did not report his dollar winnings from his fights in 2008 and 2009.

 

STORY 5: OBAMA TO SPEND DAY 2 OF PH VISIT WITH FILIPINO SOLDIERS

US President Barack Obama will spend the second day of his trip to the Philippines with Filipino troops at the military headquarters in Taguig City.
The US Embassy says Obama will deliver a speech “recognizing the longstanding partnership and cooperation” between the two countries’ armed forces.
Malacanang says defense is the top agenda of Obama’s visit on April 28 to 29.
The Philippines seeks military assistance from the US in the face of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
Obama’s visit also comes as the Philippines and the US are set to sign a military deal that would allow US troops access to Philippine military bases.

STORY 6: OBAMA IN TOKYO BACKS JAPAN IN CHINA ISLAND ROW

US President Obama promises to defend Japan if China attacks over the two countries’ territorial dispute.
Both claim the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China calls the Diaoyus.
In his visit to Japan — the first stop of his Asian tour — Obama says the disputed islands are covered by a defense treaty that would oblige Washington to act if Japan is attacked.
While talks on security were positive, trade talks between the US and Japan stall.
Both leaders hoped to announce a breakthrough on the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP, a proposed 12-nation free trade bloc.
But on Thursday, Obama says the two sides have not found common ground on key issues…
like restrictions on access to Japan’s agricultural and automobile sectors.

 

STORY 7: CHINESE DIPLOMAT CALLS FOR BILATERAL RESOLUTION

As US President Obama tours Asia…
Chinese diplomat Liu Zhenmin presses for the bilateral resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
China and the Philippines both claim territories in the South China Sea.
The Philippines brought the case to a United Nations tribunal for arbitration.
In an article written by Liu Tuesday, he says disputing countries should settle their differences directly, and not through a third party.
He adds, “China never imposes its practice or opinions on other countries;
even less does it attempt to grab the interests of other countries by use of threat or force.”
The statement contradicts the Philippine government’s claims of repeated harassment by Chinese ships in disputed areas.

 

STORY 8: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES BANS SHARK FIN IN CARGO FLIGHTS

Philippine Airlines takes a stand for marine conservation, joining other Asia-Pacific carriers that stopped carrying shark fin as cargo.
In a statement Thursday, PAL says it “values the issue on protection and conservation of endangered marine life seriously…
recognizing that the company’s long-term interest is and should be consistent
with sustainable and responsible business practices.”
In 2013, Air New Zealand and South Korea’s two largest airlines, Korean Air and Asiana, said they would ban shark fins from their cargo flights.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific also stopped shipping them in 2012.
The fins are used in shark fin soup, a much-valued delicacy in Hong Kong and China.
Conservationists call for measures to restrict shark fin trade as booming demand endangers the world’s shark populations.

 

STORY 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

At number 5, South Korean authorities search the office of the company that owns the ferry that sank last week, with more than 300 high school students on board.
The family of Yoo Byung-eun, known as the “millionaire with no face,” appears to control Cheonghaejin Marine Company.
CNN reports the company has been struggling and reported losses in 2013.
Days after the ferry sank on April 16, the company’s president apologized for the tragedy.
As of early Thursday, 159 bodies have been recovered, leaving at least 143 more missing.

At number 7, Facebook’s profits nearly triple in the first quarter of 2014.
The reason? Mobile users and more mobile advertising.
The social network registers earnings of $642 million, helped in part by advertising revenues that soared by 82% to $2.27 billion from 2013.
Close to 60% of these advertising earnings come from mobile ads.
Facebook users have increased and shifted over to mobile devices.
Daily active users increase to 802 million.
609 million are mobile users.

At number 9, actress Jodie Foster marries photographer-actress Alexandra Hedison over the weekend.
The couple started dating in 2013.
Foster announced she was gay in a speech at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards.
She has two sons with previous partner Cydney Bernard.
They ended their 20-year relationship in 2008.

For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’

 

STORY 10: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY

Today in internet history, the first Youtube video was uploaded 9 years ago.
It’s a 19-second video clip of Youtube co-founder Jawed Karim at the zoo.
Founded in February 2005, Youtube is the world’s largest video-sharing website.

 

 – 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