#ThewRap: Videos you need to watch this week, July 30-August 5, 2017

Dear Rappler readers,

It is the first week of August, and in the Philippines, the month began with the continuing woes in the Bureau of Customs. Apart from the shabu shipment that reportedly got through, commissioner Nicanor Faeldon hits back at detractors, calling shame on politicians who have “unreasonable requests.” The saga of slain Ozamiz mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and his relatives are far from over, with police chief Ronald dela Rosa saying their deaths should serve as a “warning” to other mayors.

Embattled ride-sharing services such as Grab and Uber also faced two consecutive hearings from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Awaiting congressional endorsement, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption filed an impeachment complaint versus Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. President Rodrigo Duterte signs the free tuition bill for state universities into law.

In the US, the revolving door among Trump appointees continue. Barely 10 days after being named as communications director, Anthony Scaramucci was fired after an expletive-laden attack on then-chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Here are the stories we think you shouldn’t miss.

Faeldon to ‘corrupt’ politicians: Shame on you

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon refuses to name these politicians with ‘unreasonable requests’ to the Bureau of Customs, but tells them to stop their corrupt ways

Parojinog death a warning to other mayors – Dela Rosa

Mayors are warned not to fight back should police come knocking at their door

Senate hearing on LTFRB issues vs Grab, Uber and Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights

The Senate public services committee held a hearing on the issues hounding ride-hailing companies Grab and Uber, as well as the proposed Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights

VACC seeks Chief Justice Sereno impeachment

The complaint is jointly submitted by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution, but it has not yet been endorsed by a lawmaker

Scaramucci out as Trump’s new chief of staff takes reins

Anthony Scaramucci’s firing, after John Kelly became White House chief of staff, is the latest in a series of personal shifts that have made Trump’s White House feel more like a soap opera than a presidential administration.

What’s The Big Idea? Metropolitan Theater: Reviving an Architectural Icon

The National Commission of Culture and the Arts has finally bought the Metropolitan Theater and is in the first phase of resurrecting it.

Rappler Talk: Amy Searight on changing Southeast Asian & global power dynamics

Policy analyst Amy Searight talks about the changing power dynamics in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, as well as the Philippines’ pivot to China.