SUMMARY
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- Candidates square off; tell public why they should be president
All roads led to Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday, February 21, as presidential candidates squared off for the first of the PiliPinas 2016 Presidential Debates. Aspirants Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte, Grace Poe, Mar Roxas and Miriam Defensor Santiago answered questions on poverty, Mindanao issues, peace and order, political dynasties, among others. Some of the debate highlights: Roxas emphasized experience and took a dig at Poe by saying the Presidency is not an OJT; Roxas also hit Binay for the 2 faces of Makati City; Poe swiped back at Roxas saying that experience is no guarantee argued for a fresh perspective on issues; she and Miriam Santiago both said they reject the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (EDCA) deal between the Philippines and the US government as it undermines Philippine sovereignty; Duterte reiterated his tough stand against crime and vowed to expand the Bangsamoro Basic Law; he also hit Roxas saying ‘Daang Matuwid’ failed Mindanao.
Checking out our live page on the debate read the candidates’ closing statements and read all the stories about the debate.
- Netizens pick Duterte, analysts, editors pick Poe and Roxas
Rappler editors, researchers, reporters and partners fact-checked the first PiliPinas 2016 debate real time and did live sentiment analysis with help from its partner, Senti. At the end of every round, the Rappler editors picked the winner for the round based on the following criteria: truthfulness (values, consistency), overall impact (vision, leadership, ability to articulate thoughts), and knowledge/facts on file. The loser was judged based on the following criteria: inability to articulate thoughts, express vision and plans; inconsistency, lying, tentativeness, bluffing; lack of vision, leadership. Rappler also featured a scorecard maintained by the Movement for Good Governance, which rated the candidates on whether they were effective, ethical and empowering. Duterte dominated online ratings for the duration of the debate. Rappler editors determined that Roxas took round 1 while Poe took rounds 2 and 3.
Read about the reactions to the debate
- Cameron faces Johnson challenge in Brexit campaign
British Prime Minister David Cameron has got off to a tough start in the EU referendum campaign, scoring a victory in Brussels but then seeing 6 ministers and dozens of his Conservative MPs including Mayor of London Boris Johnson back Brexit, experts said. The charismatic Johnson came out of his house in north London on Sunday, February 21, and declared that he would be supporting a “Leave” vote in the June 23 referendum on EU membership, despite an appeal from Cameron to change his mind. Anand Menon, a European politics professor at King’s College London, told Agence France-Presse that Johnson’s endorsement would give the Brexit campaign “traction” but it was not yet clear how prominent his role would be. More on the EU referendum in Britain.
- ISIS blasts kill more than 140 as US, Russia press Syria truce
A string of suicide bombings near a Shiite shrine outside Syria’s capital and in Homs claimed by jihadists killed at least 142 people Sunday, February 21, as Washington and Moscow worked to secure a ceasefire. The Islamic State group (ISIS) said it was behind the carnage. US Secretary of State John Kerry said a provisional deal had been reached on the terms of a truce in Syria’s brutal 5-year conflict, only for the bloodshed to intensify on the ground. Near Damascus, a car bombing followed by two consecutive suicide attacks ripped through the area of the Shiite shrine of Sayyida Zeinab and killed 83 people, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported. SANA, quoting a police source, said 178 people, including children, were among the wounded. State television said the attacks came as pupils were leaving school in the area. Read more about the situation in Syria
- Carmelite sisters recall the night Cory Aquino hid in Cebu
It was February 22, 1986. Night was falling in Cebu City. A car approached the locked gates and towering walls of the Carmelites Monastery in Barangay Mabolo. The driver honked his horn in a pattern agreed upon with the nuns as a way to identify himself. Mother Superior Aimee heard the honking and ordered the gates opened. The driver of the car was Assemblyman Antonio Cuenco. His passenger: Corazon Aquino, the opponent of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and disputed winner of the 1986 snap election. “Are we safe here?” a worried Aquino asked Carmelite Mother Superior Aimee when she arrived in the compound. The full story by Ryan Macasero on Rappler
- PH Catholic church defends Pacquiao on gay marriage stance
Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, defended Pacquiao’s opposition to gay marriage, saying he was only quoting the Bible. But he says Pacquiao should respect homosexuals and not condemn them. Read the full story
- New North Korean military chief announced after previous chief’s execution
North Korean state media on Sunday, February 21, confirmed the country has a new military chief following earlier reports in Seoul that the former holder of the post had been executed. Ri Myong-Su, former People’s Security Minister, was referred to as “chief of the Korean People’s Army General Staff” when the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on an army exercise guided by leader Kim Jong-Un. His predecessor Ri Yong-Gil was reportedly executed early this month in what would be the latest in a series of purges and executions of top officials. Ri Yong-Gil was accused of forming a political faction and corruption, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said, citing a source familiar with North Korean affairs. Read the full story
- Smartphones replace cards in US ATM machines
The “cardless” automatic teller machine (ATM) is gaining ground in the US and around the world, with smartphone technology allowing for speedier and more secure transactions. Dozens of US banks are installing new ATMs or updating existing ones to allow customers to order cash on a mobile application and then scan a code to get their money without having to insert a bank card. US banking giants Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Chase are in the process of deploying the new ATMs, as are a number of regional banks and financial groups around the world. Makers of ATMs and financial software groups are ramping up to meet this demand. Read the full story.
- North India caste crisis trigger fresh riots, arson
Fresh rioting and arson erupted in a north Indian state Sunday, February 21, in caste protests that have left 10 people dead and about 150 injured. Thousands of troops with shoot-on-sight orders were deployed on Saturday in Haryana state after week-long protests turned violent, with rioters setting fire to homes and railway stations and blocking highways. The Jat rural caste is leading the protests, demanding quotas be set for Jats for highly sought-after government jobs and for university places. Caste members say they are struggling to find places despite India’s strong economic growth. Read the full story
- Samsung introduces Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge
At the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday, February 21 (February 22, Manila time), Samsung unveiled its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. Samsung is banking on advanced camera features to help push the new device. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge use a 12 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. The cameras are equipped with Dual Pixel technology – with each pixel having two photodiodes – for faster autofocus. More on the phone features in the full story.
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