Rappler Newscast | May 14, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• The camp of Janet Napoles says there’s only one version of the controversial list: the one they gave justice secretary Leila de Lima.
• The Philippines protests China’s construction of a suspected airstrip in the disputed South China Sea.
• More than 200 people are killed in an explosion at a coal mine in Turkey.

Story 1: NAPOLES CAMP: THERE’S ONLY 1 LIST, IT’S WITH DE LIMA
The camp of alleged pork barrel queen Janet Napoles says there’s only one version of the controversial list of government officials implicated in the worst corruption scandal in recent Philippine history.
It’s the one they gave to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
This comes after at least 3 different lists were released to the public: the list of former senator Ping Lacson, that he submitted to the Senate, a list from pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, relative and former aide of Napoles; and another list from jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam.
The so-called Napoles list is part of an affidavit that she executed when she told De Lima she was willing to tell all she knew about the scam.
Napoles counsel Bruce Rivera says some lists published on print media contain names that are not in Napoles’ original list.

BRUCE RIVERA, LAWYER OF JANET NAPOLES: We only have one list, the list of Secretary De Lima. May mga na implicate na wala sa listahan kaya nahihiya kami sa mga lumabas na wala sa listahan. (There were people implicated who were not in the original list so we’re embarrassed for those who weren’t really part of the list.)

Napoles’ decision to tell all threatens public officials who allegedly connived with her to steal public money.
But critics warn Napoles is muddling the issue.
She and other public officials, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, face plunder complaints over the scam.

Story 2: ‘LUY, NAPOLES LISTS MUDDLING CASE’
After hailing the list of whistleblower Benhur Luy as “definitive and substantiated,” Senator Miriam Santiago now changes her tune.
Santiago takes exception to her inclusion in Luy’s list of lawmakers who supposedly received money from alleged pork barrel queen Janet Napoles.
On Wednesday, the Inquirer reported Santiago received a rebate from Napoles in exchange for an agriculture-related project she agreed to fund.
Santiago denies this, saying the documents and details are fake.
In a statement, Santiago says, “Someone has made money by using my name, and I will make that person pay, big time.The Luy list is nothing but mudslinging.”
Calling Napoles and her aides a “gang of thieves,” Santiago says the Luy list is forgery and is no longer admissible in court.
Luy’s former lawyer Levito Baligod says there appears to be one motive for the distribution of different lists by the Napoles camp: for Napoles to plead insanity.
Baligod says Lacson’s version includes senators who cancelled transactions and returned money.
He adds, “It is full of lies and I will not be surprised if the defense of Mrs Napoles, assuming she was the one who made that document, is to plead insanity.”

Story 3: CHINA CONSTRUCTING IN WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
The Department of National Defense or DND on Wednesday confirms China’s construction of a suspected airstrip on Mabini Reef or Johnson Reef in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
DND spokesperson Peter Galvez says there is a –quote– “ongoing reclamation or earthmoving activities in that portion.”
Philippine presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda says China’s construction proves Manila right in filing a case against Beijing with an international court.
China has consistently pushed for a bilateral approach in resolving disputes, but the Philippines insists on a multilateral discussion because there are several claimant countries.
Lacierda says Mabini Reef is claimed by 3 countries: the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.
The Philippines’ foreign affairs department protests the ongoing construction, but China rejects this, saying the reef is supposedly part of their territory.
Construction activities in the disputed territories is a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This was signed by China and member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2002.

Story 4: PH DEPORTS UNDERAGE CHINESE POACHERS
The Philippines deports two minors arrested with 9 other Chinese fishermen off the coast of Palawan on May 6.
In a statement, the Bureau of Immigration says the two minors were also put in the Philippine immigration blacklist for poaching and illegal entry.
The 9 other Chinese fishermen will face charges for violating the Philippine Wildlife Act and the Philippine Fisheries Code.
They will also be blacklisted and banned from entering the Philippines.
The Chinese fishing boat intercepted at Hasa-Hasa Shoal or Half-Moon Shoal was found with over 500 turtles.
China earlier demanded the immediate release of the fishermen, which the Philippines rejected.

Story 5: SENATORS POINT OUT 7 FLAWS IN EDCA
Senators point out 7 flaws in the new military deal between the Philippines and the United States.
During a hearing on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement Tuesday, Senators Serge Osmeña and Bongbong Marcos
cite provisions to show how the deal benefits the US more than the Philippines.
First, the deal expands the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA and Mutual Defense Treaty or MDT.
The senators disagree with the Philippine negotiating panel, who said the deal merely implements the agreements.
Second, Marcos says it’s possible the Philippine military will establish new bases and facilities if the US asks for them.
Third, the Philippines may have to pay for facilities the US will build. Sections 2 and 5 of the Defense Agreement say agreed locations and defense assets no longer required by the US may be returned with “possible compensation.”
Fourth, citing Section 3, Article 4 of the Defense Agreement, Marcos says the deal won’t help the Philippine military’s modernization because US facilities and assets will be for the exclusive use of US troops.
Fifth, the Philippine military can’t check if US ships carry nuclear weapons.
Osmeña says the US military has a policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons.
Sixth, the US military will be allowed to operate a telecommunications system without Congressional approval.
Lastly, there is no specific requirement to remove hazardous waste in cases of a spill.
The deal requires the US to -quote- “contain and address environmental contamination resulting from the spill.”
But Osmeña says this is not enough, adding containment is different from removal.

Story 6: TURKEY MINE BLAST KILLS AT LEAST 201
More than 200 people are killed and hundreds more remain trapped underground after an explosion at a coal mine in western Turkey.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says 363 workers were pulled out alive in the initial stages of the rescue Tuesday.
But Yildiz says fires and the risk of toxic carbon monoxide hamper rescue efforts.
A total of 787 mineworkers were trapped when a faulty electrical transformer triggered an explosion.
Fire officials pump clean air into the mine shaft for the survivors, many of whom are stuck in an area 4 kilometers from the entrance.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, Search engine giant Google may soon have to comb its entire archive of the Internet to delete links upon users’ requests.
A top EU court rules Google must remove links to “irrelevant” and outdated data upon request.
The so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ case was sparked by a Spanish man who said an auction notice of his repossessed home on Google’s search engine infringed on his privacy.
Google says the ruling is “disappointing,” adding it does not control data but only links to information freely available online.

At number 7, the televised apology of embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling took a turn for the worse when he took a swipe at basketball icon Magic Johnson.
Sterling, already banned for life in the National Basketball Association or NBA, apologizes for his bigoted comments against African-Americans.
But in his interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Sterling criticizes Johnson for being a poor role model because he contracted HIV.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he’s disappointed with Sterling’s remarks.
He adds, “The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible.”

And at number 10, Google Glass is now on sale in the United States.
TechRadar reports, a Google spokesperson confirms the availability of Glass on its retail site, ahead of a much wider consumer launch.
Supplies of Google Glass are limited, and they don’t come cheap.
It retails for about $1,500 or a little over P65,000.

Story 8: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
For our social media post of the day:
When American football player Michael Sam heard he was being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the National Football League, he jumped for joy.
And then, he kissed his boyfriend on television.
The video immediately went viral.
Sam is the first openly-gay athlete drafted by a pro football team.
The video now has more than 3 million views since it was posted on May 10.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff