MRT fare hike, SWS on Roxas, Obama on Sony | The wRap

Today on Rappler

• MRT and LRT to hike fares in January.
• SWS says Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is one of 3 “top of mind” candidates for 2016.
• US President Barack Obama says the Sony hack was an act of ‘cyber vandalism’ not war.

MRT, LRT FARE HIKES TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 4
Here’s news for Metro Manila commuters: mass transport systems MRT and LRT will hike fares by January 4, 2015. The Transportation Department or DOTC approves the fare hikes after postponing it for several years. Transport secretary Jun Abaya says “It’s a tough decision, but it had to be made.” But Senator Grace Poe asks the DOTC to defer the fare hike. She calls the hike an ‘added insult and an injustice to the suffering of the riding public.’

MAR SURGES IN SWS ‘TOP-OF-MIND’ POLL FOR 2016
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ ratings surge in the latest top-of-mind poll on the 2016 elections, behind Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe. In a poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations or SWS from November 27 to December 1, Roxas is at number 3, with 19 percent of 1800 respondents favoring him as President Aquino’s successor in 2016. In Pulse Asia’s last survey, Roxas ranked 6th. Binay has consistently topped presidential surveys but his numbers declined after corruption allegations. Poe recently admitted she is considering running for higher office in 2016. Unlike before, SWS asked respondents to name 3, not just one, favored bet.

LACSON TO STEP DOWN AS YOLANDA REHAB CZAR
Rehabilitation secretary Ping Lacson says he will step down from  office February 2015. Lacson says his office has served its purpose. Lacson says he will step down once the post-Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda reconstruction and rehabilitation duties are formally transferred to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. He says he submitted his letter of resignation, but has yet to talk to President Benigno Aquino about his plans. Malacañang Palace says there’s no decision yet on Lacson’s move.

YOUTH ENCOUNTER WITH POPE IN UST ‘OPEN TO PUBLIC’
Catholic church leader Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines’ oldest university will be open to the public. Francis will be at the University of Santo Tomas or UST on January 18 but its football field and grandstand will be available only to youth delegates. UST also says no tickets will be distributed to those who want to go. In UST the pope will deliver his message to the Filipino youth followed by prayers spoken in different FIlipino dialects. The pope will be in the country from January 15 to 19.

OBAMA: SONY HACK WAS NOT ‘AN ACT OF WAR’
US President Barack Obama says North Korea’s alleged hack on Sony Pictures is more of “cyber vandalism” rather than “an act of war.” The US accuses North Korea of hacking Sony Pictures described as “Sonycalypse” — one of the worst cyber attacks in recent history. Embarrassing emails, scripts, salaries and personal details of personnel and celebrities were made public. The hackers also successfully bullied executives to pull out parody film “The Interview” after warning of a “bitter fate” similar to 9/11 for moviegoers. The Interview is a movie about an assassination plot on North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un. Obama says Washington could review whether or not to put North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

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