January 28, 2015 Edition

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will conduct its own probe into a deadly clash between MILF fighters and government troops that left more than 45 people dead in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. On Tuesday, January 27, MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim said the MILF remains committed to the peace process but ‘wants to know the truth.’ The Philippine National Police (PNP) has begun its own investigation into the matter and has suspended the head of the Special Action Force (SAF) for the duration of the investigation. Lawmakers and an International Monitoring Team overseeing the ceasefire agreement are likely to conduct their own investigations into the clash. Meanwhile, the PNP leadership has admitted it was unaware of the SAF’s plans to enter the known MILF territory.

Read the full story on Rappler here and here.

The President of the Philippines is set to address the nation on Wednesday, January 28, 3 days after a clash between elite cops and Muslim rebels killed dozens from the government side in Maguindanao. The address is set for 6:30 pm and can be viewed on television or online via Rappler.com. Malacañang did not disclose the topic of the President’s message but Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the President would likely discuss the recent Maguindanao clash and its implications on the peace deal between the government and the MILF. In the past, Aquino delivered national addresses to alert the country on the pending Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, and to defend the administration’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program in 2014.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Gunmen stormed a luxury Tripoli hotel popular with diplomats and officials Tuesday, January 27, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group, killing at least 9 people – including five foreigners – before blowing themselves up. Two Filipino women were among the 9 killed in the attack. The other foreign casualties included an American, a French citizen and a South Korean. Another two Filipino women, employed by the hotel, were injured. The Libyan government said Tuesday’s attack was an assassination attempt on Libya’s self-declared leader, Omar al-Hassi.

Read the full story on Rappler here.

The Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group threatened Tuesday, January 27, to kill a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian pilot held hostage unless Amman frees a jailed female militant. A video released on a jihadist website shows a picture of hostage Kenji Goto holding a photograph of captured Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh. A voiced-over message warns that the hostages will be killed within 24 hours if the militant figure Sajida al-Rishawi, currently in a Jordanian jail, is not freed. Rishawi was a suicide bomber but was caught when her bomb vest failed to detonate.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The Philippines first subway project inches one step closer to reality as it awaits final approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC). The 12-kilometer underground system will link the business and entertainment districts of Makati City, Pasay City, and Taguig City. It will be financed under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme expected to cost P370 billion – the biggest in the history of the Aquino administration.

Read the full story on Rappler.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim warned Tuesday, January 27, that the world remains “dangerously unprepared” for deadly pandemics like the Ebola outbreak that has killed thousands in West Africa. Kim called on international organizations, governments, businesses, and civil society to put more efforts into planning for future possible pandemics and to build stronger health systems. He added that the World Bank is preparing a financial facility akin to an insurance policy to encourage countries to better prepare for disease outbreaks.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines brought forth an outpouring of love and admiration from ordinary Filipinos towards the pontiff. Many wanted to ask for the Pope’s blessing or to pray for someone in their lives. Others just wanted to say “Mabuhay!” and “hello.” Rappler conducted a crowdsourcing initiative to ask the public what they wanted to #ShowthePope before and during his visit here. Watch this 15-minute documentary on what Francis saw in Asia’s largest Catholic country.

Watch the documentary here.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 27, approved the recommendation to move the 2015 Bar examinations from October to November in consideration of the academic calendar shift of some law schools in the country. The move was recommended by the Philippine Association of Law Schools, and endorsed by Bar Confidant Cristina Layusa. This is not the first time the annual Bar exams will be conducted in November. The 2011 exams happened on all 4 Sundays of November.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Popular social networks Facebook and Instagram went down for about an hour on Tuesday, January 27, causing users mostly in North America and Asia to complain online and try to look for ‘alternative pursuits.’ Facebook allayed fears of a hack against their service and said the downtime was a result of an upgrade that affected their “configuration systems.” Netizens took to Twitter to express their collective shock and ponder what they would do with their lives without Facebook.

Read the full story and see some of the amusing thoughts on a world without Facebook on Rappler.

Apple’s quarterly profit soared to a record $18 billion on the back of booming iPhone sales, especially in China. The California-based tech giant also announced Tuesday, January 27, that its highly anticipated Apple Watch wearable devices unveiled last year are on track to begin shipping in April. Apple posted record revenue of $74.6 billion in the quarter, during which 74.5 million iPhones were sold. Analysts credited freshly released larger screen iPhone 6 models along with a partnership with China Mobile as powering sales. Apple shares rose nearly five percent to $114.25 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures.

Read the full story on Rappler.