Today on Rappler.
- Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles tags more than 100 lawmakers in her affidavit.
- The Philippines denies spying on Qatar after a Filipino is sentenced to death for passing on state secrets.
- The king of Thailand formally appoints its military’s chief to run the nation.
Story 1: NAPOLES AFFIDAVIT TAGS MORE THAN 100 LAWMAKERS
The lawyer of Janet Napoles says more than 100 lawmakers are implicated in the corruption scandal.
Napoles is the woman in the center of the pork barrel scam.
Napoles lawyer Stephen David says more names were added to the Napoles affidavit.
Another Napoles lawyer Bruce Rivera says the document covers transactions made by Napoles from 2000 to 2009.
Her affidavit includes more names, including 9 senators: Former Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Loi Estrada, Robert Jaworski, Ramon Magsaysay, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Nene Pimentel, and current Senators Bongbong Marcos, Cynthia Villar, and Lito Lapid.
Whistleblowers initially named opposition lawmakers who allegedly diverted public funds to fake NGOs.
Napoles’ affidavit now implicates allies of the Aquino administration.
Earlier, Napoles also asks for immunity for her children, but senators say they played key roles in the corruption scandal.
Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair TG Guingona says the Senate will release Napoles’ affidavits to the public.
Story 2: DOCTOR: NAPOLES CAN BE DISCHARGED BY MAY 29
Janet Napoles could be discharged from the Makati Hospital soon.
During a hearing for Napoles’ motion to extend her stay in the hospital, gynecologist Josefina Villanueva says Napoles could be discharged by May 29.
Napoles was moved to the Makati Hospital in March to remove a mass in her uterus.
She was originally discharged early May, a week after she had a hysterectomy.
Two days before the deadline of her scheduled transfer, Napoles’ physicians reported her condition worsened, prompting the court to withdraw the discharge order.
Lawyer Stephen David says Napoles had several visitors during her hospital confinement, which took a toll on his client.
STEPHEN DAVID, LEGAL COUNSEL FOR JANET NAPOLES: Syempre gusto mong matulog diba, tapos andaming bisita, pano ka matutulog… Sana maano rin yun, kaya sabi ko nga, papano maaddress yung issue na yan, yang mga unwelcome guests and visitors, sana matulungan. (Of course, you’d want to sleep, but there are many visitors, how can you get some sleep? I hope they get to address the issue of unwelcome guests and visitors.)
Napoles faces serious illegal detention charges for allegedly kidnapping former aide turned whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Story 3: GUINGONA, 10 OTHER SENATORS RICHER IN 2013
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair TG Guingona leads the list of senators richer in 2013 than in 2012.
His latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN shows his wealth doubled – from P43.5 million in 2012 to P114.95 million in 2013.
Among the 3 senators charged with plunder over the pork barrel scam, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile were also richer compared to the past year.
Of the 3, only Senator Bong Revilla reports a decrease in wealth: from P171.94 million in 2012 to P151.51 million in 2013.
The latest SALNs also show Senators Estrada and Revilla failed to declare their new multi-million peso houses.
Last year, Estrada admitted he owned a new house in Wack-Wack Subdivision, but the property, estimated to be worth P120 million or $2.7 million, was not listed.
Rappler reported Senator Revilla also owns a new house under construction in Ayala Alabang, estimated at P105 million or $2.4 million, but failed to declare it.
SALN guidelines say even real properties –quote– “not yet titled” shall form part of the SALN declaration of public officials.
Story 4: DECLARE EDCA UNCONSTITUTIONAL, EDCA ASKED
Petitioners ask the Supreme Court to declare the defense deal between the Philippines and United States unconstitutional.
They say the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA is –quote– “grossly disadvantageous” and will cause “irreparable injury.”
The defense deal allows American troops more access to Philippine military facilities.
It also allows them to construct and upgrade infrastructure and equipment.
But petitioners argue the deal is invalid because it was signed without Senate approval.
The group, which includes former Senators Rene Saguisag and Bobby Tañada, says EDCA is –quote– “contrary to national interest” and “will result [in] an unlawful use of public funds.”
Saguisag and Tanada were among the senators who voted to close down US bases in the Philippines.
The group also calls relations between the Philippines and the US a –quote– “unequal and exploitative love affair.”
The deal was signed on April 28, just hours before US President Barack Obama arrived for a two-day state visit to the Philippines.
Story 5: PHILIPPINES DENIED IT SPIED ON QATAR
The Philippines denies it spied on Qatar, after a court sentenced a Filipino to death for allegedly passing on state secrets to the Philippine government.
The Philippines’ foreign affairs department says embassy officials raised the issue in high-level meetings with Qatari officials.
Foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose confirms a Filipino is on the Qatari death row “for espionage and economic sabotage.”
Two other Filipinos face life imprisonment.
Doha News reports the Filipino sentenced to death is reportedly a “lieutenant in the Philippine state security force
working as a budgeting and contracting supervisor at large state-owned Qatari company.”
GMA News reports one of the convicted Filipinos may have been the fall guy to protect Qatari nationals allegedly implicated in an anomaly in the company.
Story 6: THAI KING APPOINTS ARMY CHIEF AS JUNTA HEAD
Thailand’s king Bhumibol Adulyadej formally appoints army chief General Prayut Chan-o-Cha as head of the nation’s new military junta.
This comes after Prayut seized power last week, in a bid to end protests and political unrest in the country.
A royal command says Prayut is endorsed as regime leader to –quote– “restore peace and order in the country and for sake of unity.”
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony in Bangkok, Prayut says, “I gave my oath that I will perform my duty with honesty.
We hope that the problems will be solved soon so we can return to the right democratic system.”
The king’s blessing is traditionally a key step in legitimizing coups in Thailand, which has seen 12 takeovers since 1932.
Story 7: POPE: ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT MUST END
After stopping spontaneously at the West Bank separation wall during his 3-day visit to the Middle East, Pope Francis calls for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The 77-year-old pontiff says, “The time has come to put an end to this situation which has become increasingly unacceptable.”
Dressed in his white cassock and flanked by Palestinian security guards, Pope Francis walked to the concrete barrier, and rested his palm against it in prayer.
It was a show of support that Palestinians hoped for, weeks after the collapse of US-brokered peace talks with the Israelis.
The pope also invites Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to the Vatican for a “heartfelt prayer” for peace.
His visit to the Middle East began in Jordan Saturday.
Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 7, A political earthquake shakes France as the right-winged National Front or FN wins in the European Parliament elections.
The anti-immigration and anti-European Union party gets 26% of the vote, guaranteeing it about one-third of France’s 74 seats in the European Parliament.
The FN is seen to have benefited from widespread disillusionment with mainstream parties plagued by corruption scandals.
At number 9, Hit musical Miss Saigon returns to the stage after more than a year of preparations.
It opens at the Prince Edward Theater in London.
Filipino-American Eva Noblezada plays Kim, a role that propelled singer Lea Salonga to international fame in 1989.
Filipina singer Rachelle Ann Go also joins the cast as Gigi van Tranh, originally portrayed by singer Isay Alvarez.
Miss Saigon is about a Vietnamese bar girl Kim who falls in love with an American G.I. Chris during the Vietnam war.
And at number 10, Actress Julianne Moore bags the best actress award in the 67th Cannes Film Festival Saturday.
In “Maps to the Stars,” Moore plays the role of an ageing actress increasingly sidelined by an industry that prefers youth.
Also big winners at Cannes are Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge, who took home the prized Palme d’Or for “Winter Sleep,” and British actor Timothy Spall, who wins best actor for historical biopic “Mr Turner.”
Story 9: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
For our social media post of the day…
Online activity reveals the inner agitation of Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who killed six people in a shooting spree Friday.
In a video posted before the murders, Rodger said the killings were “retribution” for the women who ignored and rejected him.
Reports say Rodger frequented “Men’s Rights” forums.
In response to male supremacists condemning women for not reciprocating their feelings, the hashtag YesAllWomen started trending on Twitter.
People from all over the world express their indignation online — from condemning harassment, to cultural issues, to societal norms.
– Rappler.com
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