February 3, 2015 Edition

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the justice department is gathering evidence and collating reports from concerned agencies in preparation for the filing of criminal charges against members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. This is in connection with the deaths of 44 elite cops in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on January 25. The names of the suspects were taken from the testimonies of witnesses who were interviewed by authorities.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Lawmakers filed a bill creating a truth commission to investigate the January 25 clash between elite cops from the Special Action Force and rebels in Mamapasano in Maguindanao. The bill was filed by senators and representatives allied with the Aquino administration. Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Aquilino Pimentel III suggested that the proposed truth commission have as members former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr, former senator Wigberto Tañada, and Ateneo School of Government Dean Antonio La Viña. It will be the President who will appoint members of the Commission.

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Director General Alan Purisima, the suspended chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is attending hearings in the Senate set for February 9 and 10. Contrary to reports, his lawyer said Purisima – alleged “remote” commander of the Special Action Forces’ operation to neutralize high-value terrorist targets, Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman – has not left the country. He will “testify on what he knows about the Mamasapano operation,” Purisima’s lawyer added. Meanwhile, the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Police Director Benjamin Magalong, is heading the PNP’s Board of Inquiry that will probe the failed Mamasapano operation.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The story on CIDG chief Benjamin Magalong is also on Rappler.

Hearings by the Senate committee on local government on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will resume if conditions that include bilateral confidence-building measures are fulfilled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government. These measures include, among others: the return by the MILF of arms, equipment, and personal effects of slain Special Action Forces; help by the MILF in the hunt for Abdul Basit Usman; provision by the MILF of a list of commanders whose units were involved in the clash. On the part of government, Marcos said suspended Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima should explain his role in the botched operations.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Indonesian divers recovered 6 more bodies – two inside the fuselage of the crashed AirAsia plane and 4 near the wreckage on the bottom of the Java Sea – on Monday, February 2. The day before, another body was found. An Indonesian official said divers will continue their search on Tuesday as part of their mission to recover the remaining 78 passengers who were aboard AirAsia Flight QZ8501 when it crashed due to stormy weather.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr and Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph retired from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, February 2. The 3 officials of the poll body thanked employees and bid them farewell in their last flag-raising ceremony. Commissioner Christian Robert Lim has been designated acting Comelec chair until March 21.

Read the full story on Rappler.

During a hearing of the Senate public services sub-committee on transport, Senator Grace Poe questioned the timing of the decision of transport authorities to raise fares of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit. She said officials should have both “political will” and “political compassion”. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the proposed rate hike has been raised  since 2011 and that public consultations were held in November of the same year and again in November 2013. Fare adjustments were approved in December 2013.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Security firm FireEye uncovered a hacking scheme using Skype chats that stole vital information on military operations against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. The key data included tactical battle plans, geographical coordinates, and weapons which were lost when members of Syrian opposition groups fell victim to attractive female avatars via Skype chat. Computers and phones were injected with malware, researchers said.

Read the full story on Rappler.

A related story is on the New York Times.

A new mega-casino opened on Manila Bay on Monday, February 2, aiming to rival Macau and Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenues. The “City of Dreams” is a casino joint venture between the country’s richest man Henry Sy, Australian billionaire James Packer, and Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho. Standing on reclaimed portions of Manila Bay with 6 golden towers surrounding a huge egg-shaped dome, the casino hopes to boost the country’s bid to become a world gaming destination.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The New England Patriots led by Tom Brady defeated Seattle 28-24 in Super Bowl 49 on Monday, Philippine time, denying the Seahawks a second consecutive title in the NFL championship spectacular. They rallied from a 24-14 third-quarter deficit to bag their 4th Super Bowl win, their first in a decade. The Patriots have proven again they remain the league’s dominant team for the past 15 years. Singer Katy Perry performed in a fabulous halftime show that featured dancing land sharks, a prowling metallic lion, and a levitating star that shot sparkles in the night.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The related story on Katy Perry’s performance is also on Rappler.