February 19, 2014 Edition

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, February 18 struck down some provisions of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Law but upheld most of the controversial law as constitutional. Struck down were provisions on unsolicited commercial communications, real-time collection of traffic data, and blocking access to computer data by the government. But the court upheld the constitutionality of online libel with the condition that it only applies to the original author of the libelous statement. The court decision, penned by Justice Roberto Abad, comes a little over a year after oral arguments were first heard on January 15, 2013. The Cybercrime Prevention Act was signed into law in September 2012, 11 years after a first version was filed in Congress. Reaction to the decision was mostly positive. Senator Tito Sotto, who introduced the provision on online libel, said the court’s decision vindicates his position that ‘libel is libel.’ But Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said his group will file a motion for reconsideration on the constitutionality of online libel.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Thai police attempting to clear a protest camp in Bangkok on Tuesday, February 18 had to retreat after shots were fired. It is unclear who fired the shots but police claim the protestors had weapons and ammunition. The clashes left at least one policeman dead and several others injured. At least 44 people were hurt, according to emergency services. The Thai authorities have vowed to clear intersections used as protest camps by opposition groups; but have pledged to carry out the operations ‘slowly’ and ‘peacefully.’ But demonstrators rejected a police demand to leave the area around the office of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra within one hour, a day after they poured buckets of cement onto a sandbag wall in front of a gate to the compound. “The government cannot work here anymore,” said a spokesman for the anti-government movement, Akanat Promphan. Protests began in December 2013, with opposition leaders calling for a shutdown of Bangkok, similar to the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States. Despite elections held on February 2, a political compromise seems hardly likely in the coming weeks.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Hong Kong reiterated its demand for the Philippines to apologize for the way its officials mishandled the hostage crisis incident involving several Hong Kong tourists and a former cop. Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said that the Philippines should apologize for its failure to properly resolve the crisis without loss of life. “The victims and their families are not demanding and have never demanded a personal apology from the Philippine president for the criminal act committed by an individual, as some have alleged,” Leung said on Tuesday, February 18. Previously, President Benigno Aquino III said that the government cannot apologize for the act of one individual, since it cannot be “construed as the act of the entire country.” But Leung rebuked this reasoning and said the Philippine government should be consistent with the findings of its own official investigation that found several officials liable for the failed negotiations, which left 8 Hong Kong residents dead. Hong Kong recently raised a travel restriction against Philippine government officials in response to the Philippine government’s refusal to apologize.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Lawyers for Janet Lim Napoles say that her serious illegal detention case may take a year to resolve. Lead counsel Alfredo Villamor said the defense team will prioritize the “quality of evidence” above all. This is in contrast from the position that the Napoles camp took two months ago. Then lead counsel Lorna Kapunan told media that Napoles was eager to leave detention. Napoles is currently detained at the Fort Sto Domingo in Sta Rosa, Laguna, for serious illegal detention charges connected with the detention of Benhur Luy, Napoles’ former aide. Luy was detained by Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim after Luy was caught dealing with pork barrel funds outside of Napoles’ transactions. Lim is still at large. Now Napoles faces another issue: her health. On Tuesday, Napoles, through her lawyers, filed an urgent motion to undergo medical examination because of suspected ovarian cancer. Nearly 5 months after her transfer to Fort Sto Domingo, “custodial responsibility” of Napoles was officially transferred from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) to Region IV-A Police.


Read the full story on Rappler.

Police in Ukraine’s capital city stormed the main protest camp on Tuesday, February 18, leaven at least 11 people dead and tensions between authorities and protestors high. Helmeted protesters hurling rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails fought back against black-armored riot squads targeting them with stun grenades and water cannon. Kiev was in essential lockdown as authorities halted the city’s metro system and said they would limit road traffic coming into the capital from midnight. More than 150 people were injured in the clash, stemming from anti-government protests that began in November. Protestors are calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. European Union members have called on the government of Yanukovych to refrain from using violence to deal with the protests.


Read the full story on Rappler.

‘Those accused of hubris often come from higher social backgrounds, such as politicians or wealthy celebrities, but they need not. Indeed, the only common characteristic they possess is that each believes so much in his charisma that he presumes everybody else does too. Thus, he makes no effort to be consistent, logical or fair. He is so sure everyone will be taken in by his charm no one will notice. Filipino politicians are so full of hubris that I don’t know where to start!


Perhaps best with Sen Jinggoy Estrada – and this first example has nothing to do with his convoluted attempts at damage control after Ruby Tuason’s testimony.’

Read Dr. Margie Holmes full column on the hubris of Sen Jinggoy Estrada on Rappler.

The developer of the addictive puzzle game Candy Crush announced plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). King Digital Entertainment said it intend to list its ordinary shares on the NYSE under the ticker symbol, “KING.” The number of shares to be offered and the price range have not yet been determined. Candy Crush – King’s top-selling game – launched in 2012 and can be played online, on Facebook and on smartphones. The highly-addictive game is free, but players can pay for in-app extras to help them pass up its more than 500 levels. The game records some 700 million sessions a day and racks up daily sales of $850,000, according to the IDATE digital research and consultancy firm. Previously, the company has come under fire for trademarking the word “Candy” in the European Union. Its chief executive Riccardo Zacconi defended the move last month, saying it was merely to stop copycats cashing in on Candy Crush’s success.


Read the full story on Rappler.

The Philippine National Men’s Football Team will have to go up against Malaysia and Azerbaijan next month undermanned after Chieffy Caligdong sustained an injury in a United Football League match last Saturday, February 15. The former Azkals skipper, who emerged into the public’s consciousness after he scored the spectacular opening goal against Mongolia in Bacolod three years ago, fractured his right foot following a collision with national squad teammate Jeffrey Christiaens in the Green Archers United – Global FC tiff that ended in a scoreless draw. Caligdong was among the players named in the 34-man Azkals training pool but he could be spending the next four to six weeks on the sidelines, making him unavailable for coach Thomas Dooley’s debut match with the Philippines against Malaysia on March 1 and versus Azerbaijan on March 5.


Read the full story on Rappler. 

A company called Enchanted Bitcoins in the US has produced what it believes is the US’ first Bitcoin vending machine. The machine, made by Lamassu, Inc., is installed at an upscale cigar bar and lounge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It accepts cash in exchange for the virtual currency Bitcoin. After the user inserts cash, the machine prints a QR code containing the Bitcoin hash which the buyer scans on their mobile phone. The use of Bitcoins to buy and sell goods is gaining popularity worldwide. The virtual currency’s anonymity and decentralized nature allow cross border trade with minimal service fees or charges. But the currency has drawn criticism for the high speculation on its actual monetary value and its alleged use by drug traders and criminal syndicates.


Read the full story on Mashable.

Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling will publish her second crime novel in June, it was revealed Monday, February 17, under the pen name of Robert Galbraith. “The Silkworm”, to be published on June 19, will be a follow-up to “The Cuckoo’s Calling”, which Rowling wrote using the Galbraith pseudonym. The new novel follows private detective Cormoran Strike in another adventure with his assistant Robin Ellacott. The first book, which saw Strike investigate a model’s suicide, was published in April 2013, to critical acclaim. Two television companies had expressed an interest in adapting the novel. Sales were low, but when Rowling was outed by a newspaper in July, they rose an astonishing 41,000 percent in a week. The lawyer who blew Rowling’s cover was fined £1,000 (1,220 euros, $1,670) for breaching the privacy rules of his profession.


Read the full story on Rappler.