Daily News Highlights – September 9, 2015

President Benigno Aquino III will not raise the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China when Manila hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Aquino said it “will be more prudent for us to await the decision of the arbitral tribunal rather than engage them in this dialogue.” Aquino said he will instead stress China’s major role in the world economy. The Philppines expects the tribunal at The Hague to issue a definitive ruling against China by 2016. China refuses to join the arbitration proceedings.

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Pope Francis on Tuesday, September 8, issued new guidelines that will make it easier and quicker for Catholics seeking an annulment of their marriage. The Pope issued instructions to churches across the world to streamline the annulment procedure by requiring only one decision by a single church tribunal instead of two church tribunals. The Pope also said there should be no costs, wherever possible, in the process of annulment. The reform in the annulment process is the biggest in the Catholic Church in nearly 3 centuries. The conditions for approving an annulment, however, remain the same.

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President Benigno Aquino III confirmed on Tuesday, September 8 that Western Samar Representative and Liberal Party (LP) secretary-general Mel Senen Sarmiento will take over the reigns at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). In a Q&A with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday, Aquino said he offered Sarmiento the job and that a transition was being “worked out”. In August, current DILG Secretary Mar Roxas handed in his resignation letter to the President a few days after he announced his plans to run for president in 2016. Aquino put his resignation on hold saying he needed to find a suitable replacement first.

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A sudden but consistently strong downpour during the rush hour brought traffic to a grinding standstill on Tuesday evening, September 8, in Metro Manila. Roads were flooded at critical junctures including Taft Avenue, Osmeña Highway, and parts of EDSA. This resulted in traffic gridlock with many cars unable to traverse the floods. Thousands of people were stranded on the road or at their workplaces as buses, trains and taxis filled to capacity. Many took to social media to report flooded areas and complain about the traffic. Early Wednesday morning, Malacanang said President Aquino issued an order on Tuesday night for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to manage the traffic. Still, it took hours before people were able to get a ride to go home. 

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Filipinos can lift their heads a little higher soon and remove some of the shame they feel at having what’s been called the world’s worst airport. The rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 will soon be complete – in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Manila in November. The P1.3-billion ($27.70 million) facelift is “99.5% complete” according to the government. Prior to the rehabilitation, NAIA Terminal 1 was notoriously known for its overcrowded and hot departure area. The government hopes this facelift will help it save face. 

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Hillary Clinton apologized Tuesday, September 8, for using a private email server while secretary of state, calling the decision, which has dogged her Democratic presidential bid, a “mistake.” The Democratic frontrunner, who is facing eroding support, has long dismissed the email uproar as a manufactured imbroglio. “That was a mistake. I’m sorry about that. I take responsibility,” she told ABC’s anchor David Muir. Clinton used her private email account and home server in lieu of the official government email system while she served as top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. Her opponents have used the issue to question Clinton’s motives and whether she may have inappropriately sent confidential material over her private server. 

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Different indigenous, students, and rights groups took to the House of Representatives (HOR) on Tuesday, September 8, their protest against the murder of Lumad tribal leaders and a school principal in Lianga, Surigao del Sur by a paramilitary group. The group was allegedly created by the Philippine military to combat the New People’s Army (NPA) there. Human rights groups believe the military may still have links to the paramilitary group. The military, however, has denied its involvement and says it is assisting the police and civil society groups in an ongoing investigation of the murders. 

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Germany said it could take half a million refugees annually to help Europe’s migrant crisis as Greece’s Aegean islands struggled Tuesday, September 8, to cope with another wave of desperate asylum seekers. The European Union’s president warned the EU faced a years-long refugee crisis, while the UN called on all countries of the world to join in tackling the problem. Germany admitted it could accept more migrants because of its strong economy but called on other European countries to do more. Europe is facing its worst migrant crisis since World War II forced many Jews and minorities to seek refuge outside of their home countries. Today, thousands of refugees, mainly from Syria and Iraq are moving towards Europe in the hopes of getting asylum in Germany and other more developed European countries. Conditions at the refugee centers and transient points are said to be deplorable with no toilets, bath and food. 

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After announcing that he would not seek the highest office in the land in 2016, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he will also decline any offers to run as vice president or join the cabinet of the winner. Duterte reiterated on Tuesday, September 8, that he is going to fully retire from politics after his terms as mayor ends. “I don’t even want to work as barangay captain,” he said during a visit to Navotas and Malabon on Tuesday. Duterte added he will not endorse a presidential candidate unless the candidate will support federalism or the devolution of centralized government authority to provinces or states. Despite his announced retirement, Duterte still remains a popular figure in national politics.

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Rappler’s Social Media team takes a look at how a short TV drama series has captivated the hearts and Twitter feeds of Filipinos everywhere. #AlDub – the tandem of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza playing two star-crossed lovers – has trended every time the “kalyeserye” airs on GMA TV. Using Rappler’s data analytics platform Reach, the Social Media team looked at the network and reach of Twitter users tweeting and retweeting the different hashtags made popular after each episode. It’s a fascinating look at the power of social media to capture sentiment and networks of everyday Filipinos, giddy over a good love story and compelling characters.

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