#ThewRap: Things you need to know, February 10, 2017

Hello Rappler readers!

United State President Donald Trump’s ban against refugees and nationals from 7 Muslim-majority countries is dealt a big blow as a federal appeals court in San Francisco unanimously dismissed the White House appeal to restore it. In the Philippines, congressmen reach a compromise on the proposed restoration of the capital punishment. The revised bill now gives judges the choice to hand down the penalty of reclusion perpetua or of death for heinous crimes. They have also removed plunder from the list of crimes punishable by death. The police, meanwhile, say they have various ways of getting back behind bars the political prisoners earlier released for the peace talks but have gone into hiding. 

Here are the other big stories you shouldn’t miss: 

 

Appeals court won’t restore Trump’s Muslim travel ban

The federal appeals court in San Francisco unanimously slapped down United States President Donald Trump’s effort to bar refugees and nationals from 7 Muslim-majority countries from US soil to keep out Islamic State and Al-Qaeda fighters migrating from Middle East hotspots. The Republican leader was quick to react to the court’s decision, tweeting within minutes of its publication: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” 

 

Many ways to arrest NDF consultants – police

After the scrapping of peace talks between government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), police said they can arrest NDF consultants in many ways. While saying they would resort to the rule of law and proper legal procedures, they can also resort to warrantless arrests, catch consultants in the act of committing a crime, or charge them with rebellion, a continuing crime.

 

DOJ’s Aguire let Jack Lam’s middleman leave PH

Despite being covered by an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO), how did retired police general Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero – alleged middleman of Chinese gambling tycoon Jack Lam – manage to leave the country? It was Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II who gave him permission to do so, it was learned during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing. Why did he grant permission? Aguirre pointed to immigration officials.

 

Plunder taken off the list in death penalty bill

Plunder has been stricken off the list of crimes punishable by death. Majority congressmen led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also agreed during a caucus to remove the provisions providing for the death penalty under House Bill Number 4727. Instead, judges will be given the option to punish perpetrators of heinous crimes with either life imprisonment or death.

 

Bong Revilla’s PDAF lawyer: It’s not plunder

The same lawyer who got former senator Juan Ponce-Enrile out on bail is now lawyering for former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. On February 9, veteran lawyer Estelito Mendoza argued that the “overt criminal act” committed by Revilla in repeatedly giving and receiving money is not tantamount to plunder. If he were to be charged with another offense, it should be simple bribery.

 

Twitter sputters with more losses

Twitter reported sluggish revenue and user growth, along with widening losses in the past quarter. Shares dropped in pre-market trades by 10.8%, indicating a bleak outlook as it continued to lag behind rivals in the social media market. The social media platform recorded a net loss of $167 million in the 4^th quarter, after a $90 million deficit in the same period in 2016.