#ThewRap: Things you need to know, July 31, 2017

Dear Rappler Reader,

On Sunday, July 30, at 2:30 am, members of the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), together with the Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Ozamiz City Police Station raided the residence of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.

The raid ended in the death of Parojinog and 14 others, including his wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr, and sister Mona.  The Parojinogs are among those included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list, but they deny the allegations. We continue to monitor these developments. 

Meanwhile, this week’s #AnimatED takes on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) wishy-washy approach to a modern-world management problem: how to regulate app-enabled transport services like Grab and Uber. 

We note that year ago, the agency did the correct thing, which was to suspend the issuance of such permits after these transport network vehicle services (TNVs) deployed drivers beyond the number they were allowed. 

The LTFRB promised at the time to draft new regulations. It has so far failed to do. Worse, it lost the companies’ accreditation papers. Now it’s saying perhaps these drivers should have minimum working hours. Or that government should tax them. 

Is this a question of incompetence or bad faith? What do you think?

We ask you to ponder over this question as we bring you the top news of the day. 

Duterte infra: Bigger, more imperial and China-linked

With increased ambition, could there also be more risk?

Ozamiz mayor Parojinog killed in police raid

The Parojinogs are among those included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list, but they deny the allegations. 

What you should know about the agency hunting Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth

Should the Presidential Commission on Good Government be abolished?

Europe battles Google News over ‘snippet tax’ proposal

The so-called ‘snippet tax’ proposal is only one of several components of a major EU draft law intended to update European copyright law in the digital age.

U.S. to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, July 30, said the United States would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin.