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Hello, Rappler readers!
It’s Friday once again. The United States prepares to embrace the controversial Donald Trump as its 45th president on Friday noon, June 20, US time. In Rome, the National Democratic Front and representatives of the government opened the 3rd round of peace talks, with NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison expressing concern about the war on drugs and the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses.
Meanwhile, police chief Ronald dela Rosa said abducted South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was killed inside police headquarters in Camp Crame after he was abducted. Such boldness and daring!
Be up to speed with the news. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) is concerned over President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and his approval of the burial of dictator and former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. At the opening of the 3rd round of talks with the government in Rome, NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said on January 19 these two issues are hurting the prospects of peace because they violate the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
On the eve of his inauguration as 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump flew from New York to a military base near Washington on board an official government jet. Pledging unity and embracing patriotism, the 70-year-old Trump told a crowd in front of the Lincoln Memorial after a pre-inauguration concert, “We’re going to do things that haven’t been done for our country for many, many decades…It’s going to change. I promise you.”
Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said the kidnapped South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was killed inside the premises of Camp Crame. Cops used the ongoing war on drugs as a cover and used a fake arrest warrant too. This, after Jee’s wife paid P5 million in ransom. Jee, had however, long been dead by the time kidnappers asked for ransom money.
A devastating avalanche buried an ill-fated Hotel Rigopiano under snow and mud January 19, leaving at least 25 people dead. The hotel was submerged by a two-meter high wall of snow on January 18, so powerful it ripped the 3-story hotel from its foundations and moved it 10 meters. Prospects of rescuing possible survivors – including children – appeared bleak.
President Rodrigo Duterte was less threatening and calmer to governors when he met with them January 19 to discuss his war against illegal drugs. Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said the President sounded more like he was appealing to them rather than threatening them. Duterte previously warned mayors on the drug list they would be killed if they don’t resign.
Solicitor General Jose Calida is on the same wavelength as President Rodrigo Duterte when it comes to the 1987 constitutional provisions on martial law. He said these provisions were a “reflex” reaction to the Marcos experience, but added there was a need for “safeguards” in the amended charter.
Wow! A record 7 million subscribers were added over the past quarter to the Netflix database, signalling a surge in revenues and profits for the streaming television giant. In its quarterly report, Netflix said it had a total of 94 million subscribers by yearend, 5 million of them from outside the United States in the last 3 months of 2016.
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