MILF training camp, total eclipse, One Direction | The wRap

Today on Rappler.

• The Philippine Army wants to dismantle an MILF training camp.
• The first total solar eclipse for 2015 casts its shadow on Earth.
• British boyband One Direction is scheduled to arrive in Manila.

ARMY REPORTS MILF TRAINING CAMP NEAR LANAO DEL SUR
The Army plans to dismantle a newly-built training facility of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF.
Colonel Gilbert Gapay of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade says the facility is complete with obstacle courses and watch towers.
He adds, the army is concerned because the facility is near Lanao Del Sur…
a province not within the Bangsamoro area.
The MILF denies having a training camp near Lanao del Sur.
In a related development…
The latest Pulse Asia survey shows 62% of Filipinos in Mindanao are against the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL.
The BBL seeks to create a new autonomous region in Mindanao with more fiscal and political powers.

AQUINO OKAYS RELEASE OF SMS TRANSCRIPT TO SENATE
President Benigno Aquino finally agrees to release a transcript of text messages with resigned police chief Alan Purisima regarding the Mamasapano incident.
The transcripts are being released after a subpoena from the Senate…
asking telecommunication company Smart to submit SMS conversations from 5 am to 7 pm on January 25 between Aquino and Purisima.
A recent survey showed 8 out of 10 Filipinos are not satisfied with the explanation of the President.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2015
The year’s only solar eclipse darkens the morning skies in parts of northern Europe and Asia.
Total eclipses occur when the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun…
casting a shadow on the planet and leaving only a thin ring of light.
The eclipse was visible in just two places – Denmark’s Faroe Islands and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.
Other locations had partial eclipses ranging from 30 to 98 percent.

MAYWEATHER REJECTS $5 MILLION PENALTY FOR DIRTY PED TEST
Floyd Mayweather reportedly rejects a request by Manny Pacquiao for a $5 million penalty should either boxer test positive for drugs.
The information comes from Pacquiao’s advisor Michael Koncz in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency or USADA will screen the fighters for steroids and other substances. 
A positive result calls for a 4-year ban for the offender.
The big fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas could be canceled if either Mayweather or Pacquiao tests positive.

ONE DIRECTION MANILA TOUR
British pop phenomenon One Direction is scheduled to arrive Manila March 20, for their concerts at the Mall of Asia Arena on March 21 and 22.
The English-Irish boy band is a 4-man band for now, after member Zayn Malik flew back to the UK to recover from stress. 
The band recently paid the ‘marijuana bond’ required by the Bureau of Immigration… after an incident where two of the members were caught smoking marijuana on video.
One Direction gained popularity after winning third place at Britain’s The X Factor in 2010.
The band’s hits include “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Live While We’re Young,” and “Little Things.”

For those on desktop, click on the links on your screen.
You can also click on the tabs below to go to a story in the video.
And for those on smartphones and tablets, the links can be found below the video.

– Rappler.com 

Click here for audio version:

Production Staff