Rappler Newscast | January 22, 2013

Story 1: PH ELEVATES CHINA DISPUTE TO INT’L TRIBUNAL
The Philippine government announces Tuesday it will bring its territorial dispute with China to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
The Foreign Affairs department says the government will elevate the South China Sea maritime disputes to Annex 7 arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Both the Philippines and China are signatories.
In a press conference, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario says the Philippines will ask the tribunal to declare China’s claims invalid.
He says China’s 9-Dash Line claim is against the UNCLOS and is “unlawful.”
China uses the 9-Dash line to claim the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands also claimed by Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The DFA gives Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing a note verbale regarding the Philippines’ Notification and State of Claim in the West Philippine Sea.
Del Rosario says, “The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute with China.”
A senior official familiar with the plan says President Benigno Aquino was initially reluctant to take the dispute to the UN tribunal because he feared the government would lose in the arbitration.

Story 2: SENATE ROW OVER ENRILE ‘CASH GIFTS’ CONTINUES
From the controversy over the senate president’s selective fund giving to coup threats, the arguments in the Senate continue.
Ayee Macaraig reports.

A series of speeches marks the latest twist in the Senate saga involving Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and his almost but not quite resignation.
It’s Senator Pia Cayetano’s turn to take the podium, a day after Enrile offers to resign over the Senate savings controversy but 11 senators stop him.
Breaking her silence, Cayetano asks why Enrile excluded her and 3 other critics from receiving P1.6 million each in maintenance funds last December.
The senator has a theory.

PIA CAYETANO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: I cannot apologize for the stand I have taken on the RH and sin tax laws and if this is the price I have to pay to fight for the things that I believe in then I will accept the implications that come with my job.

Even if she’s on sick leave, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago also accuses Enrile of grave abuse of discretion through a letter sent to the Commission on Audit.
Enrile says she should just take him to court.

JUAN PONCE ENRILE, SENATE PRESIDENT: If that’s a grave abuse of discretion then she can file a case before the Supreme Court. I would suggest to her instead of just talking to people to put to action.

The Senate President also remains unfazed as another enemy, Sen Sonny Trillanes continues to warn of a Senate coup.
Other senators agree a coup is unlikely, with only 7 session days left.

SERGIO OSMENA III, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: Parang nagiging wishful thinking na magkakaroon ng coup d’etat eh wala namang lumalapit sa kanila.

TITO SOTTO, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Yung P250,000 na Christmas gift, there’s nothing wrong at wala nga sa kalingkingan ‘yun ng bonus ko sa Eat Bulaga. At tingnan naman natin ang legislative work ng Senate. I think we are worth every centavo.

Still, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has no plans of dropping the issue, calling for a private audit of Senate funds.
Cayetano says the crux of the controversy has not been addressed.

ALAN PETER CAYETANO, SENATE MINORITY LEADER: That’s why to me ang isyu di ang leadership kundi ang pera ng mamamayan.

Cayetano will deliver his response to Enrile’s privilege speech on Wednesday.

AYEE MACARAIG, REPORTING: What comes after the speeches? For Enrile’s critics, the COA and the courts should step in.
The question is what resolution will be reached in an issue that’s not just about laws but also power, politics and ethics.
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler.

Story 3: ADMIN TICKET SHOOTS ITS SLATE AD
The Liberal Party goes head to head with the United Nationalist Alliance when its campaign ad airs late January.
Candidates know media ads can make or break their Senate bids.
Carmela Fonbuena reports.

We’ve seen the slate ads of Vice President Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance or UNA.
Here we see President Aquino’s senatorial candidates during the shoot of their first ad.

SONNY ANGARA, LP SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Okay. Quite relaxed compared to some of the other shoots na medyo matagal. It’s quite fast. Walang speaking parts. It did not need our acting abilities.

KOKO PIMENTEL, LP SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I had fun and a little exercise too.

The administration ad will air late January, two weeks before the official campaign period. They say they’re not worried that UNA’s ad has been airing for two weeks now.

CHIZ ESCUDERO, LP SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Dapat lang naman mauna sila kasi UNA sila. {laughs}. Hindi naman unahan yan.  Hindi pa nagsisimula ang kampanya. Boto pa rin sa araw ng eleksyon ang pinagbabaehan kung sino makakapasok at sino ang hindi.

One of the best performers was 74-year-old former Senator Jun Magsaysay, who finished his shoot in less than 30 minutes.

FORMER SEN JUN MAGSAYSAY, LP SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: As long as there’s no voice. Whenever they are voices or voice over for me, I have a little tension. Because I am a man of few words. Engineer e.

The last elections he joined was in 2001, a few months after the Philippine Congress lifted the ban on political advertising.
It was a time when only a few politicians understood the new campaign tool.
He returns to the campaign with an open mind, knowing how media have become the best way to reach voters.
The same team behind President Aquino’s ads in the 2010 presidential campaign is doing the commercial.
Party bosses say it makes sense because they want to capitalize on the president’s popularity to push for his candidates.

JUN REYES, DIRECTOR: I feel honored. I did most of PNoy’s campaign so I guess it’s the natural progression that the confidence is there.

But Reyes concedes the senatorial campaign is a totally different ballgame.

REYES: It’s almost always difficult to sell 13 people successfully. The idea is to develop cohesive for the 12 and then let the 12 actually speak for 12.

That’s the thing about senatorial campaigns.
Candidates will end up fighting each other for the votes.
Carmela Fonbuena, Rappler, Manila.

Story 4: AMERICAN DIPLOMAT SHARES VIEWS ON REGIONAL ISSUES IN ASIA
Former US Ambassador to Manila John Negroponte shares his unique perspective on burning regional issues in Asia.
Katherine Visconti reports.

Career American diplomat John Negroponte, a former US Ambassador to the Philippines and former Deputy Secretary of State is in Manila.
Negroponte points out, the Philippines’ decision to bring its territorial dispute with China to an international tribunal may be futile.
He points out the tribunal only has authority over the sea dispute if both parties have agreed to have it decide the case.

JOHN NEGROPONTE, FORMER AMBASSADOR: It takes two to tango. Still it sounds like an interesting and positive development.

The former Philippine Ambassador also says the US Navy feels terrible about its minesweeper stuck in the the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

NEGROPONTE: It’s very embarrassing and obviously they didn’t do it on purpose and don’t want to see it happen again.

He dismisses conspiracy theories the minesweeper was purposely in the reef because it is too high tech to have miscalculated its position.

NEGROPONTE: Why would a naval captain do this? Basically from the career point of view it’s a suicidal thing to do.

He also says the U.S. will keep supporting Philippine interests.
But he adds in this new century America will ease out of playing the world’s cop.

NEGROPONTE: So we’re not always the first one to do things so that it can be more of a balanced approached. But it won’t be some sort of  abandonment or ostrich act of putting our heads in the sand. We will do this together.

His message is in line with Obama’s inauguration speech.

BARACK OBAMA: We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.

Obama says America will pursue strong alliances and manage crises abroad.
Negroponte echoes what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US will protect the Philippines as laid out in the Mutual Defense Treaty.
He ends the interview by sharing what he thinks is the biggest security threat today – cyber wars.

NEGROPONTE: I worry about cyber because we have been seeing lately in the United States more cyber attacks.

Katherine Visconti Rappler Manila.

Watch the full interview January 24 on Rappler.com’s Talk Thursday at 10am.

Story 5: US SHIP IN TUBBATAHA ‘FLOODED’
A US Navy publication says the US minesweper that ran aground on Tubbataha Reef Natural Park has –quote “multiple spaces” flooded on board.
An article published by the Navy Times newsletter says, “Weather conditions remain rough, and the ship, once pointed straight into the reef with her bow hard aground has swung broadside on, where most of the starboard hull is in contact with the coral.”
At least 17 meters of the hull already penetrates the reef after the vessel turned 90 degrees due to the strong currents and winds.
The newsletter says the digital mapping system misplaced the location of the reef by about 8 nautical miles, and it –quote “may have been a significant factor” that led to the crash.
It says, US Navy ships are ordered to –quote “operate with caution” when using similar electronic charts and compare the data with paper maps considered more accurate.
Aerial surveys conducted by American aircraft indicate there are no fuel leaks, but –quote “the hull continues to be battered, particularly on the port side.”

Story 6: OBAMA: WE WILL RESPOND TO THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
US President Barack Obama goes back to his campaign themes of equality and fairness as he starts his second term of office, casting himself as the enemy of budget-cutters and defender of ordinary Americans.
He talks about immigration reform and gun control.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity.

But the centerpiece of his inaugural promise is climate change.
Obama failed to pass comprehensive legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming in his first term.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it.

He also makes history by advocating gay rights, the first ever mention of the controversial issue in a high-profile speech.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.

Obama supported gay rights for most of his career, but has not endorsed same-sex marriage.
In May 2012, the president said he “evolved” his position on the issue and he now personally supports gay marriage.
The ceremonies also reflect the President’s liberal views.
A lesbian and gay band marches in the parade and officials choose a gay poet to read at the celebration.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, Prince Harry of Britain says he shot and killed Taliban insurgents during his 5-month deployment in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot.
Asked if he ever pulled the trigger, the royal answers, “Yeah… If there’s people trying to do bad stuff to our guys, then we’ll take them out of the game.”
Prince Harry is the first member of the Royal Family to go into active duty since his uncle Prince Andrew was deployed to the Falklands War in 1982.

At number 8, five years after the global financial crisis hit, unemployment numbers continue to soar, with 202 million people worldwide expected to be officially jobless in 2013.
An annual report on global employment trends by the International Labor Organization says jobless numbers rose by 4 million to 197 million in 2012, close to the all-time record of 199 million during the global financial crisis in 2009.
Young people are especially hard-hit by the expanding jobless trend.
ILO says there are currently about 73.8 million youths, aged 15 to 24, without work worldwide.

At number 9, A new study shows that cases of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in US children increase 24% in the past decade.
ADHD is a medical condition characterized by difficulty concentrating and impulsive behavior.
The study is based on a review of medical records of children covered by the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan.
Experts believe better diagnosis and increased awareness of the disease contribute to the reported trend.

And at number 10, Following rumors of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung executives reveal plans to launch an 8-inch tablet at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Korean site iNews24 says the announcement was made by Samsung Mobile Business Head Jong-Kyun Shin.
Aside from its size, no other specs were revealed.
The device will go head-to-head with Apple’s iPad mini.
Samsung android tablets include a 10.1-inch Galaxy Note 10.1 and the 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

 

– Rappler.com

Newscast production staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER	Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR	Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER	Rodneil Quiteles
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER	Katerina Francisco
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK	Vicente Roxas
	Tre Batenga
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN	Charlie Salazar
	Adrian Portugal
	Francis Lopez
GRAPHICS	Jessica Lazaro