Good morning, Rapplers!
Drug raids on high-value targets continue in the Soccsksargen region, this time netting two brothers in Sarangani province who are also allegedly key players of Ansar al-Khilafa, a Philippine jihadi group said to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham.
Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon calls out the Department of Foreign Affairs for collecting fees from Filipinos abroad who wish to reacquire their citizenship, saying the agency is supposed to render public service, not make money.
In the United States, Twitter “inadvertently” deactivates the account of President Donald Trump, a day after he announced in a series of morning tweets that he wanted the death penalty for the ISIS-influenced man who rammed a truck through a New York bike path, killing 8.
American lawmakers have made accessible to the public some of the advertisements believed to have been placed by Russia on Facebook to cause divisiveness among US citizens during the presidential campaign period in 2016.
In Washington, DC, Rappler is recognized by the National Democratic Institute, led by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, for its work in fighting disinformation and fake news.
Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss this Friday.
Brothers Faroon Honjeras Lumatao and Alhotaibby Honjeras Lumatao – arrested in Sarangani province – are said to be key players of Ansar al-Khilafa, one of the Philippine jihadi groups said to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham.
“Both are protecting the El Patron Drug Group that operates in South Central Mindanao,” PDEA Soccsksargen director Gil Cesasrio Castro said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the collection of allegiance fees will not convince Filipinos who have lost their citizenship to reacquire it.
“We basically have the brightest minds of our tech community here and Russia was able to weaponize your platforms to divide us, to dupe us, and to discredit democracy,” said one US representative.
Just what kinds of ads did the Russian agents allegedly run? Content that are controversial, inciting tribalistic reactions to issues on immigration, race, police brutality, religion, and LGBT.
Seven members of the 12-man Philippine Basketball Association board of governors agreed on a special board meeting that they “will no longer endorse or support” Chito Narvasa’s renewal of term as commissioner.
Narvasa said he is willing to step down as long as proper procedure is observed by the board. “Just follow the procedures and stick to the rules. Let’s be a league of rules and not of men,” he said.
Baguio, along with 63 other cities from various countries, join the exclusive club. It is cited for crafts and folk art.
In her speech, Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa talks about how the excuse of free speech is “being used to stifle free speech” today.
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