Rappler Newscast | September 23, 2014

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Rappler Newscast | September 23, 2014
The Supreme Court sacks justice Gregory Ong. Only a third of Filipinos have internet access. The US and its Arab allies launch strikes against ISIS

Today on Rappler.

  • The Supreme Court dismisses anti-graft court justice Gregory Ong for links to Janet Napoles.
  • A United Nations report shows only a third of Filipinos have access to the Internet.
  • The United States and its Arab allies launch strikes against ISIS.

 

SC DISMISSES ANTI-GRAFT JUSTICE LINKED TO NAPOLES
The Supreme Court dismisses anti-graft court justice Gregory Ong for his links with alleged public fund scam mastermind Janet Napoles.
In its en banc session, the Court voted 8-5-2 declaring Sandiganbayan justice Ong guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety.
Rappler exposed Ong’s links to Napoles in August 2013 at the height of the scandal that became the worst corruption case in recent history.
Rappler asked Ong to look at a photo showing him with Napoles and Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
He denied knowing Napoles.
Napoles allegedly diverted lawmakers’ discretionary funds – better known as the pork barrel – to bogus non-profit foundations she controlled.
In 2010, the Sandiganbayan division chaired by Ong acquitted Napoles in a Kevlar helmet case.
Ong’s name surfaced in various affidavits whistleblowers Benhur Luy and Marina Sula submitted to the Senate.
The decision affirms the recommendation made by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Angelina Gutierrez…
who in 2013 was tasked to probe Ong’s involvement with Napoles.
As part of the investigation, Gutierrez summoned Ong and other personalities who could shed light on the case.
Sources say Ong denied any wrongdoing but admitted knowing Napoles.
Gutierrez’s investigation concluded Ong was Napoles’ main contact at the Sandiganbayan.
Ong forfeits all his retirement benefits.

‘NO ALTERNATIVE’ TO MAR IN 2016, SAYS LP PRESIDENT ABAYA
Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya on Tuesday dismisses the possibility of the Liberal Party…
fielding a presidential candidate other than Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the 2016 polls.
Roxas trails behind opposition candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay in presidential surveys.
Roxas was also slated to run in the 2010 presidential polls but gave way to Aquino.
Roxas ran for vice president but lost to Binay.

MAYON ‘RELAXING BEFORE FULL-BLOWN ERUPTION’
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or Phivolcs senior volcanologist Ed Laguerta called for caution Monday despite a lull in Mayon Volcano.
Laguerta recalled in the past there was a decrease in seismic activity for a few days, even weeks, before the big eruption began.
Phivolcs says “Even the rockfall event stops – this is just a process of Mayon relaxation before a full-blown eruption,
a pattern similar to the 2000 and 2001 explosions with pyroclastic flow.”
Mayon Volcano’s seismic network recorded at least 3 volcanic earthquakes and 13 rockfall events in the past 24-hours.
The volcano’s alert status stands at Alert Level 3.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda banned all human activity in a 6-kilometer permanent danger zone called “no man’s land” to prevent casualties.

TERMINAL FEES PART OF AIRLINE TICKET COST STARTING OCT 1
The Manila International Airport Authority or MIAA said Monday the integration of terminal fees into the cost of airline tickets will push through as scheduled on October 1.
The transportation department announced the integration of the international passenger service charge or terminal fee back in June.
It also instructed the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, the Clark International Airport Corporation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to implement the new rule.
MIAA says the P550 terminal fee is essential to the continued operations of the airport.
Exempt from terminal fees are Philippine Overseas Employment Administration certified Filipino workers, pilgrims endorsed by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, athletes endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission, and others authorized by the Office of the President.

UN REPORT: ONLY 37% OF FILIPINOS HAVE INTERNET ACCESS
Despite being dubbed the social networking capital of the world, a United Nations report shows only a third of Filipinos have access to the Internet.
The 2014 edition of the State of Broadband report shows only 37% of Filipinos were able to use the Internet in 2013.
The number is below the world average of 37.9%.
It ranks the Philippines 106th out of the 191 countries evaluated in the report.
Four countries part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations beat the Philippines in terms of Internet penetration.
Singapore ranks 35th with a 73% internet penetration followed by Malaysia at number 45, Brunei Darussalam at number 51 and then Vietnam at rank 89.
Early this year, a report showed the Philippines has a general Internet speed of around 3.55 Mbps, ranking 155th among 190 countries.

SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
Mall chain SM is under fire for selling shirts with the statement
“It’s not rape; it’s a snuggle with a struggle” printed in front.
Writer Karen Kunawicz posted on Facebook a photo of the shirt Monday…
her anger over the statement echoed by hundreds of netizens.
Filipinos online accuse SM’s management of propagating sexism and a rape culture.
Some comments demand the shirts be pulled from circulation.
Apologizing and calling it “unacceptable”…
the largest mall chain in the country responded by pulling out the t-shirts.
But netizens remain angry.

EBOLA KILLS 2,811, OUTBREAK ‘CONTAINED’ IN SENEGAL, NIGERIA – WHO
The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak is now contained in West African countries Senegal and Nigeria.
Senegal has not reported any new cases of the deadly virus since it registered its first and only case on August 29.
And Nigeria, where 8 died, has not reported any new cases since September 8.
The deadly outbreak killed over 2,800 and infected more than 5,800 as of last Thursday.
WHO says Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone account for most of the cases by far.

US, ARAB ALLIES LAUNCH AIR STRIKES ON ISIS JIHADISTS IN SYRIA
The United States and Arab allies launch strikes from air, land, and sea against militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS Tuesday.
The US Central Command says Arab states Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates join the US in its war against the brutal jihadist group.
The coalition conducted a total of 14 strikes against ISIS targets in Syria…
destroying command centers and armed vehicles in the jihadists’ stronghold.
The US’ guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea also launches land attack missiles against ISIS targets.
The US-led assault marks a turning point in the war against ISIS, which seized swathes of territories in Iraq and Syria and declared an Islamic caliphate.
The US was initially reluctant to intervene in Syria’s raging civil war.
ISIS atrocities including the on-camera beheadings of three Western hostages triggered US action.
ISIS militants on Monday warned the US-led campaign would be met with a harsh response.
Monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 20 militants were killed.
The new strikes came less than two weeks after US President Barack
Obama approved an expansion of the campaign against ISIS.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

MUSLIMS USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIGHT TERRORISM
British Muslims are using social media to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS’ ’ “ideology of hate.”
London-based Active Change Foundation or ACF urges Muslims to use the hashtag #notinmyname on Twitter to denounce the violence of ISIS.
ISIS has been using social media to recruit followers.
It has recently beheaded two American journalists and a British aid worker.

HILLARY: DISTRESSING TO SEE WOMEN PAID LESS
Former US State Secretary Hillary Clinton expresses distress over how hard change comes in terms of women’s income.
Last week, figures showed that American women’s income compared to that of men increased slightly, pushing them up “78 cents on a dollar.”
Referring to the gender pay gap, Clinton, who may yet again vie to become the US’ first female president, said the cultural and religious obstacles based on views of women’s roles and capacities are not only wrong but “also no longer affordable.”

GREEKS CAPTIVATED BY LARGEST BURIAL SITE EVER DISCOVERED
In Greece, archaeologists discover the largest burial site, which dates back to the late 4th century BC.
Greek Culture Minister Konstantinos Tasoulas tells BBC the Greeks are awestruck over the magnificence of the tomb.
Archaeologists say it might be a nobleman’s grave. Experts however have yet to reach a verdict.

PH GETS FIRST ASIAD MEDAL IN WUSHU
Daniel Parantac gives the Philippines its first medal in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
He bags the silver for the wushu men’s taijiquan event Tuesday.
The 23-year old Baguio native finished with a score of 9.68.
Parantac was a recipient of the Athlete of the Year award at the 2013 Kafagway Sports Achievers Awards.
He won the bronze medal for the same taijiquan event during the 2013 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Philippines is assured of at least a silver medal In Sanda Wushu, as Jean Claude Saclag defeats India’s Narender Grewal, 2-0 to advance to the Finals.
In basketball, Gilas Pilipinas opens its Asiad campaign with an 85-76 win over India.
Marcus Douthit and Jeff Chan both score 14 points to lead 6 Gilas players in double figures.

– 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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