Rappler Newscast | July 28, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• In his 5th State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino hits his detractors, calling them “enemies of transformation.”
• President Aquino is silent on the 3 biggest issues he faced this year the maritime dispute with China, his quarrel with the Supreme Court, and the pork barrel scam.
• Investigators say the crash of MH17 was caused by “massive explosive decompression.”

 

Story 1: AQUINO: DETRACTORS ‘ENEMIES OF TRANSFORMATION’
President Benigno Aquino delivers his 5th State of the Nation address before Congress.
Just a few months ago, the President’s got the lowest approval ratings since he took office.
He also got 3 impeachment complaints.
He starts out the way he did in previous speeches– enumerating his accomplishments and presenting video clips of success stories of everyday people.
But this year is different — he does not mention his predecessor,  instead he lashes out at his detractors.
Paterno Esmaquel tells us more.

PATERNO ESMAQUEL, REPORTING: A walkout by leftist lawmakers sets the tone for President Benigno Aquino’s State of the Address.

As Aquino begins his speech, leftist lawmakers walk out of Congress.
They say they’d rather attend the State of the Nation Address or SONA of the Masses.

NERI COLMENARES, BAYAN MUNA REP: Kami ay lumabas para makiisa sa sambayanang Pilipino na kinukundina at tinutuligsa ang patuloy na korupsyon, patuloy na abuso ni Presidente Benigno S Aquino. (We walked out to join the Filipino nation in condemning and criticizing the continued corruption, continued abuses, by President Benigno S Aquino.)

Their protest revolves around the President’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP, the subject of impeachment complaints against him.
In his SONA, Aquino defends the DAP by presenting its beneficiaries.
He says the DAP helped more than 223,000 scholars, after 1.6 billion pesos went to an education program.
Aquino slams critics who do nothing but oppose his reforms.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Ang totoo po, hindi naman ako ang kinokontra ng mga ito, kundi ang taumbayang nakikinabang sa tuwid na daan. (The truth is, these detractors are not against me, but the people who benefit from the straight and narrow path.) Kontra sila sa napakaraming estudyanteng hindi na kailangang magsiksikan sa mga classroom. Kontra sila sa nagkatrabaho dahil nasanay ng TESDA; kontra sa mga maagang naililikas sa panahon ng bagyo dahil sa pinahusay na PAGASA; kontra sa mga informal settler na nailayo sa panganib dahil sa programang pabahay; kontra sa mga maralitang libre nang nakakapagpagamot sa pampublikong ospital; kontra sa mga sundalong may modernong kagamitan kaya mas may kumpiyansa nang ipagtanggol ang bayan; kontra sa mga Moro at katutubong abot-tanaw na ang kapayapaan. Mga Boss, kontra po sila sa inyo. (They are against all the hundreds of students trying to fit in classrooms. They are against those who got jobs after training with TESDA; against the early evacuees during the typhoon because of a better PAGASA; against informal settlers taken from harm’s way because of housing programs; against the underprivileged who received free medical treatment in public hospitals; against soldiers with upgraded equipment who are now more confident to defend the country; against Moro who see peace is within reach. They are against you.)

As in previous speeches, he also revives the memory of his parents – martyred senator Benigno Aquino Jr and democracy icon Corazon Aquino.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Mga Boss: Binigyan ninyo ako ng pagkakataong pamunuan ang transpormasyon. Kung hinindian ko ang hamon na iniharap niyo sa akin, para ko na ring sinabi na tutulong akong pahabain ang inyong pagdurusa, at hindi maaatim ng konsensiya ko iyon. Kung tinalikuran ko ang pagkakataon, parang tinalikuran ko na rin ang aking ama’t ina, at ang lahat ng inialay nila para sa atin; hindi mangyayari iyon. (You gave me the chance to lead the transformation. Had I turned my back from the challenge, it would have been like me helping prolong your agony, and my conscience cannot handle that. Had I turned my back on the opportunity, it would have been like turning my back from my father and mother, and all they sacrificed for us; That won’t happen.)

Aquino stresses it’s his second to the last SONA. He says he’s not afraid of the attacks, verbal or physical.
It’s an emotional speech toward the end, less direct, full of innuendos. This time around, he didn’t blame the past administration, but his detractors — who in his words want to “sink his boat”.
Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila.

 

Story 2: SONA 2014: WHAT AQUINO DID NOT SAY
In his address to the nation, Aquino says nothing about the 3 biggest challenges he faced this year.
The President does not mention the Philippines’ sea dispute with China or his recent quarrel with the Supreme Court over the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP.
Aquino delivered a combative speech against the High Court after it  declared 3 schemes of the spending program unconstitutional.
In his SONA, Aquino mentioned the benefits from the DAP, but does not talk about the Supreme Court or the judiciary.
Aquino is also silent on the biggest corruption scandal in recent history, which culminated in the arrest of 3 opposition senators for allegedly pocketing public funds meant for development projects.
The Internet Filipino community and senators also spot a glaring omission in Aquino’s speech: the Freedom of Information or FOI bill.
A campaign promise of Aquino in 2010, the FOI bill aims to improve transparency by allowing access to government documents of high public interest.
Senator Grace Poe says she hoped Aquino would push for the bill in his address to get the House of Representatives to pass the measure.
An emotional Aquino appeals to supporters, echoing the words of his martyred father.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Ang transpormasyong tinatamasa natin ngayon, ay magagawa nating permanente sa gabay ng Panginoon. Hangga’t buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala, at hangga’t nagsisilbi tayong lakas ng isa’t isa, patuloy nating mapapatunayan na, “the Filipino is worth dying for”, “the Filipino is worth living for,” at idadagdag ko naman po: “The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.” (The transformation we aim for may be made permanent through the guidance of the Lord. As long as our faith and trust do not waver, as long as we are each other’s strength, we will continue to prove that “the Filipino is worth dying for.” The Filipino is worth living for. Allow me to add to that: The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.)

After downplaying criticism against his administration, Aquino talks about his successor in 2016.
Aquino says it should be someone who will continue the programs his administration started.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Sa 2016, pipili kayo ng bagong pinuno ng ating bayan. Ang sa akin lang po: Para ipagpatuloy at mas mapabilis pa ang pagbabagong tinatamasa na ng ating lipunan, iisa lang ang batayan sa pagpili ng papalit sa akin: Sino ang wala ni katiting na dudang magpapatuloy sa transpormasyong ating isinakatuparan? (In 2016, you will choose a new leader. If you ask me, to continue and hasten the changes we are experiencing, there’s only one criteria in choosing who to replace me: Who will, without a doubt, continue to pursue these changes?)

Rappler’s sources say the President’s party is grooming partymate and close adviser, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to run in 2016.
Earlier in his speech, Aquino praised Roxas and other Cabinet secretaries for their work in the rehabilitation of provinces devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan.

 

Story 3: SONA PROTESTERS TO AQUINO: TIME FOR EXCUSES IS OVER
Hundreds gather to protest President Aquino’s 5th State of the Nation Address.
They say the time for giving him a chance is over.
Pia Ranada reports.

The rally during this year’s State of the Nation Address takes on a new sense of urgency.
It’s President Aquino’s second to the last SONA given during his 4th year in power.
Protesters say their patience is wearing thin.

RENATO REYES JR, SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN: The time for excuses is over. Now is the time for accountability. Kailangan may managot. (Someone has to be punished.)

Hundreds of protesters come in a spectrum of colors, representing the kaleidoscope of issues they want to raise.
From land reform, to corruption, to poverty.

PIA RANADA, REPORTING: Protesters wonder if his last years will bring change for all Filipinos. The rally is dotted by creative metaphors symbolizing their discontent. We see red ribbons in place of Aquino’s yellow ribbons. Protesters were burning effigies depicting Aquino as the pork barrel king.

Those who believed in him say they’ve been let down.
Comedienne Mae Paner takes the stage in a terno she wore when she still believed in Aquino.

MAE PANER, COMEDIAN: Ano ang nangyari mula noon? Walang tunay na pagbabago. Akala natin magbabago para sa ikabubuti, yun pala ang dulo ng tuwid na daan ay bangin. (What happened since then? There was no real change. We thought things would change for the better but it turns out the end of the straight path is a pit.)

As the president finishes his speech, the police push back the protestors with water from hoses.
Every year protesters push back the barrier that separates them from Congress.
This year they fail.
Pia Ranada, Rappler, Manila.

 

Story 4: BEFORE SONA, AQUINO OKS YOLANDA REHAB PLANS FOR TACLOBAN, 5 OTHERS
Rehabilitation Secretary Ping Lacson says President Aquino has approved the local rehabilitation plans for Tacloban City and 5 other areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan.
The rehabilitation for these 6 LGUs will cost P96 billion or about $2.2B.
The budget department can now release funds to implementing agencies and rehabilitation projects can also begin any time.
It’s almost 8 months after the typhoon killed more than 6,000 people, but unapproved plans delay the rehabilitation process.
Lacson says his agency will submit the comprehensive rehabilitation plan for Yolanda-hit areas on August 1.

 

Story 5: BRING NAPOLES TO BICUTAN, ROXAS ORDERS BJMP, PNP
Alleged fund diversion scam mastermind Janet Napoles will be detained inside a “regular” jail after all.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says the Philippine National Police will follow the commitment order issued by anti-graft court Sandiganbayan last Friday.
Napoles is currently detained at a camp in Laguna over kidnapping charges on orders from the Makati Regional Trial Court.
The Sandiganbayan orders her transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac says the transfer happens Monday night.
Napoles faces plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, along with senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile.

 

Story 6: INC MAKES PRESENCE MORE GLOBALLY FELT
Over a million members of Iglesia ni Cristo troop to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, for their centennial celebration, Sunday.
Paterno Esmaquel returns with this report.

PATERNO ESMAQUEL, REPORTING: Now 100 years old, the Iglesia ni Cristo makes the world feel its presence all the more.

On its centennial, the Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ breaks two world records: one for the largest mixed use indoor theater in the world, the Philippine Arena, and another for the largest Gospel choir, which sang during its centennial on Sunday.
Iglesia spokesman Edwil Zabala says this achievement brings pride also to the Philippines.

BRO. EDWIL ZABALA, IGLESIA NI CRISTO SPOKESMAN: Pinakikita natin na sa kabila ng katotohanang maraming negatibong balita – at kayo mismo alam na alam ninyo yon, maraming problema – meron din namang nangyayari dito sa Pilipinas na maganda, masarap ibalita, sapagkat maganda ang naging layunin sa likuran ng pangyayari. (We’re showing that despite the fact that we have lots of negative news – and you yourselves know this; we have many problems – there’s a lot of good news happening in the Philippines because of the good intentions behind the events.)

Up to 1.5 million members of the Iglesia ni Cristo trooped to the Ciudad de Victoria for the centennial.
Many of them spend the night in the Ciudad de Victoria, vowing to to make the Iglesia grow all the more in the next 100 years.
Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Bulacan

 

Story 7: PHILIPPINE POPULATION OFFICIALLY HITS 100 MILLION
A baby girl born Sunday tips the Philippine population to 100 million!
Baby Chonalyn was born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Hospital in Manila at 12:35 am.
2012 research by the University of Asia and the Pacific projects the Philippines will grow to 109.74 million in 2020.
By 2030, the Philippine population is expected to hit 126.32 million.
500 million people in Asia now live in slums.
Asia is the region with the highest growth rate.
The United Nations predicts Asia’s population will be over 5 billion by 2050.
Habitat for Humanity’s Charlie Ayco says, “Housing deficits across the continent need to be tackled decisively now as they will become much harder to solve in the future.”

 

Story 8: CAUGHT ON VIDEO: MAN POINTS GUN AT TAXI DRIVER
For our social media post of the day: In a video that spread on Facebook, two drivers were caught in a heated argument in the middle of a flyover along EDSA and near Camp Crame.
A man wearing a blue shirt kicked the door of a white taxi and tried to stop its driver from getting out.
He pulled out a gun as the taxi driver emerged holding a sharp-pointed object.
The two argued for a while, before the man in the blue shirt put his gun away and drove off in his Mercedes Benz.
But the taxi driver took off after the car, cutting it off at another side of EDSA for another round of confrontation.
The video was shot from inside one of the public buses on EDSA.

 

Story 9: ‘MASSIVE EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION’ CAUSED MH 17 CRASH – INVESTIGATORS
Investigators say the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 was caused by “massive explosive decompression.”
This comes after the United Nations or UN condemned the crash that killed all 298 people on board the passenger plane.
In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the shooting down of MH 17 over rebel-held territory in Ukraine may be a war crime.
She calls for a thorough probe, adding, “Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law, including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are.”
Last week, the Red Cross said Ukraine is now in civil war.
Latest figures from the UN show more than 1,100 people have been killed in fighting on the ground in east Ukraine.

 

Story 10: U.S. UPS PRESSURE ON ISRAEL AS UN DEMANDS GAZA TRUCE
The UN Security Council on Monday joins US President Barack Obama in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Security Council resolution comes during a lull in fighting in Gaza early Monday – the beginning of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival.
Israel and Hamas earlier ignored calls for a truce despite mounting civilian casualties.
At least 1,032 Palestinians have died in the fighting as well as 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.
Obama also stresses the need to –quote– “ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza.”
Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, is disappointed with the council’s statement.
He says -quote- “They should have adopted a resolution a long time ago to condemn this aggression and to call for this aggression to be stopped immediately.”

 

Story 11: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, After his resounding victory, Indonesia’s president-elect Joko Widodo or Jokowi now has to implement reforms and deliver on campaign promises.
The challenges are enormous.
Indonesia is dogged by corruption, bureaucracy, and poverty.
Jokowi pledges to scrap energy subsidies eating up 20% of the state budget.
He also promises to upscale his Jakarta health and education card program to the national level.
Jokowi may also encounter challenges in parliament, where allies of rival Prabowo Subianto hold more seats.

At number 9, fans of a Korean baseball team won’t need to worry if they can’t get to the stadium — they can have robot fans stand in for them.
The Hanwha Eagles are bringing in a crowd of robots that fans can control over the Internet.
The robots can cheer, chant, and display the face of the fan controlling the machine.
A football expert says the novel idea can be monetized and can provide fans a different viewpoint.

And at number 10, “Lucy,” the film starring Scarlett Johansson as a drug mule turned superhuman, took in $44 million in North America over the weekend.
Universal Pictures says audiences were attracted to the story of the main character accessing more and more of her brain to reach superpower levels.
People have also been wanting to see Johansson in an action role, something she’s been doing a lot lately with the Marvel movies.
At a far second is the film “Hercules,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, bringing in an estimated $29 million.

 

– Rappler.com

 

Follow Rappler’s live coverage of the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III through our #SONA2014 microsite. Tell the President how you feel about his 5th SONA by voting on Rappler’s SONA 2014 Mood Meter.

 

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