Rappler Newscast | June 10, 2013

Today on Rappler.

• An ex-CIA employee reveals he exposed details of a secret US program that monitors Internet users and phone records.
• The Philippine Navy deploys a gunboat and surveillance plane to Tubbataha after a Vietnamese vessel is allegedly spotted there.
• North and South Korea hold official talks for the first time in more than two years.

Story 1: U.S. CONTRACTOR SAYS HE LEAKED INTEL DATA
A 29-year-old US government contractor says he is the source who leaked details of a vast, secret US program to monitor Internet users and phone records.
Edward Snowden admits his role in a video interview posted on the website of the Guardian.
Snowden was a former technical assistant for the CIA and worked for a company outsourced by National Security Agency for the past 4 years.

EDWARD SNOWDEN, NSA WHISTLEBLOWER: I think that the public is owed an explanation of the motivations behind the people who make these disclosures that are outside of the democratic model…’This is something that’s not our place to decide, the public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong.’ And I’m willing to go on the record to defend the authenticity of them and say, ‘I didn’t change these, I didn’t modify the story. This is the truth; this is what’s happening. You should decide whether we need to be doing this.’

On Saturday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper confirms the NSA uses a program called PRISM to gather data trails left by targeted foreign citizens using the Internet outside the United States.
The Guardian’s report also says a separate program is used to collect the telephone records of millions of Americans.
President Barack Obama and the chief of US intelligence say the secret programs are necessary to keep Americans safe.
Obama says America is –quote– “going to have to make some choices between balancing privacy and security to protect against terror.”
Civil liberties and privacy groups raise alarm at both programs.
Some even brand it “Orwellian” and possibly unconstitutional.
The Justice Department says it launched a probe into the disclosures but declined further comment.
US lawmaker Pete King calls for Snowden’s extradition to the United States, saying he must be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Internet service providers deny they had given the government free access to customer data, unless compelled by law.

Data Trail image from Shutterstock

Story 2: SC DISMISSES MORE PARTY-LIST GROUPS

The Supreme Court dismisses the petitions of 23 party-list groups which applied for accreditation but were disqualified from the May polls.
The High Court orders the petitions dismissed for being “moot and academic.”
The petitions of 7 other party-list groups are remanded back to the poll body to determine if they can be accredited.

Story 3: LENI CALLS DQ CASE ‘DESPERATE’
Camarines Representative-elect Leni Robredo dismisses the disqualification case filed against her by political rival Nelly Villafuerte as a –quote– “a desperate attempt to keep [the VIllafuerte] family in power.”
In a statement Monday, Robredo dismisses allegations she accepted donations from non-Filipino citizens.
Villafuerte filed a complaint 10 days after elections, accusing Robredo of soliciting donations from “at least seven American nationals and three American entities.”
Section 96 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits soliciting donations from foreign sources.
Villafuerte says Robredo received support from Loida Lewis, a naturalized American citizen.
Villafuerte adds, Lewis could not cite the dual citizenship law in defense of Robredo, because Lewis acquired her American citizenship before the enactment of the law.
But Robredo says Lewis is a natural-born Filipino citizen.
She says Lewis testified she only accepted donations for Robredo’s campaign from fellow Filipinos.
If found guilty, Robredo could face possible disqualification and imprisonment.

Story 4: ROXAS: AYALA NOT YET LIABLE FOR SERENDRA BLAST
Ten days after the deadly May 31 blast in Two Serendra, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says it is still too early to tell who is liable for the blast.
In a press conference Friday, Roxas says a liquefied petroleum gas leak caused the blast.
But in a television interview Monday, he adds, “As of now, we have no indications of who’s at fault.”
Roxas says Ayala Land cannot be held liable for the explosion for now.
Ayala Land is the developer of Serendra and has a stake in Bonifacio Gas Corp or BGC, provider of centralized gas in Global City.
Roxas says the investigation team will check the building’s maintenance, safety devices and renovations done at the site of the blast.
Investigators will also check if the the gas is odorless.
An odorant is usually added to LPG to detect gas leaks by smell.
A source familiar with the probe tells Rappler the centralized gas used in Two Serendra is odorless.
But another source who is part of the crime scene team says it is “not yet established” the LPG in Serendra has no smell.
Roxas says the government will bring in independent international experts to help the energy department with the probe.

Story 5: NAVY CHASES BOAT FROM TUBBATAHA
The Philippine Navy deploys a gunboat and a surveillance plane to the Tubbataha Reef after a Vietnamese fishing vessel was allegedly seen there.
Park superintendent Angelique Songco says marine rangers saw the vessel at the marine sanctuary Saturday and asked for the navy’s help after a failed chase.
She says authorities suspect it was a Vietnamese vessel, but adds the navy failed to find or identify the boat.
The Vietnamese embassy spokesman in Manila could not be reached for comment Monday.
The incident is the latest in a series of accidents in the marine protected area.
In January, a US Navy minesweeper ran aground on the reef, triggering a public outcry.
In April, a Chinese fishing vessel also ran aground on the reef, causing even more damage.

Story 6: THE FUTURE AHEAD
Shell International’s chief political analyst Dr. Cho Khong discusses energy outlooks, which explore what the global energy system will look like over the 21st century.
The energy company releases the “New Lens Scenarios” outlook, which uses two “lenses” to imagine what the future holds.
In the first scenario called “Mountains,” nation-states address 3 key challenges: governance, reforming the economic models and climate change.  
The second scenario “Oceans” deals with these challenges through a new form of people power enabled by technology.  
Khong says both scenarios demand change.

DR. CHO-OON KHONG, SHELL INTERNATIONAL CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: These two scenarios — mountain is top-down, ocean is bottom-up, but both scenarios require change. So it’s not that one scenario is about the status quo and the other scenario is about change, both scenarios require change, but with the understanding that in a mountains world, in the spirit wanting to preserve as much as possible of what you carry from the past, your inheritance from before…An oceans world is about going with the flow, it’s about a multifaceted, liberalized, globalized world filled with all sorts of opportunities and threats.

Khong says the need for reform is a main issue that needs to be addressed on a global level.

DR. CHO-OON KHONG, SHELL INTERNATIONAL CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Everyone needs to reform. The point is, is your economic model, is your governance model past its sell-by date? If so, you do need to think seriously but how to make it relevant for today? How to make it work?

Story 7: PAGASA DECLARES RAINY SEASON
PAGASA officially declares the beginning of rainy season in the Philippines.
The weather bureau does this after the consistent –quote–  “southwesterly to westerly windflow, high humidity, presence of rain clouds and the daily occurrence of rainshowers and thunderstorms.”
PAGASA says, expect enhanced rainfall over the country especially on the western section.
In its 4pm bulletin, PAGASA says Tropical Storm DANTE, international name Yagi, was estimated at 1,295 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.
It continues to move away from the country.

Story 8: VETERAN JOURNALIST UNVEILS ‘ALTAR OF SECRETS’
A veteran journalist launches a book on the abuses of bishops and priests. The book Altar of Secrets is the first of its kind in the Philippines.
Paterno Esmaquel reports.

In the Vatican, Pope Francis denounces the hypocrisy of priests, admonishes “intolerant” Catholics, and says prelates should become “shepherds… and not collectors of antiques and novelties.”
In the Philippines, veteran journalist Aries Rufo launches a groundbreaking book called “Altar of Secrets.”
The first of its kind in the Philippines, the book exposes sexual misconduct, political interference, and financial mismanagement by bishops and priests.
These include investigative stories on a high-ranking prelate who fathered a child and later resigned, and on multimillion-peso donations to Radyo Veritas that remain unaccounted for.

ARIES RUFO, AUTHOR, ‘ALTAR OF SECRETS’: That’s a lie, bishop. Who told you that?” Bishop responds nervously: “Office, the office.”

The book also includes some of Rufo’s most heated discussions with Catholic bishops.

ARIES RUFO, AUTHOR, ‘ALTAR OF SECRETS’: So if I will ask for all the donations received for all the calamity victims and all the disbursements, will you be able to give these to me?”
BISHOP JESSE MERCADO: I think we have the right to ask also. Why?
RUFO: For publication.
BISHOP MERCADO: What for?
RUFO: For transparency.
BISHOP MERCADO: What for? What for? What for?
RUFO: For transparency.

Bishop Jesse Mercado is accused of mishandling funds donated to the Church for typhoon victims.

PATERNO ESMAQUEL, REPORTING: The book comes at an interesting time for the Catholic Church. It’s published during the papacy of Pope Francis, who urges the Church to engage in self-criticism. The book Altar of Secrets does exactly this: it exposes the shortcomings of bishops and priests. But the book’s author, Aries Rufo, says the book is meant not to destroy the Catholic Church, but to help rebuild it.

Rufo says while the Church is divine, the book focuses on its human weaknesses.

ARIES RUFO, AUTHOR, ‘ALTAR OF SECRETS’: Are we out to destroy the Church? Of course the answer is no. How can one book destroy a Church that has been in existence for more than 2,000 years? As my favorite archbishop, Oscar Cruz, said, the Church has been there for two millennia. There must be something divine in it to survive that long – which is true, actually.

By writing about these, Rufo demands accountability from the Catholic clergy.

ARIES RUFO, AUTHOR, ‘ALTAR OF SECRETS’: Not only are they accountable to the people, but also to a higher source from where they draw their moral responsibility.
Veteran journalist Miriam Grace Go, says Altar of Secrets can strengthen the Catholic Church.

MIRIAM GRACE GO, VETERAN JOURNALIST: Let us assure you that Aries is somebody who loves his Church, the Catholic Church. But it’s a tough love. How else can you fix it and make it stronger and more effective in serving and ministering to the flock, but by cleansing it?

Now it’s up to Church leaders to turn the Altar of Secrets into an altar of accountability.
Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila

Story 9: KOREAS HOLD TALKS, FIRST IN YEARS
North and South Korea hold official talks Sunday — the first in more than two years — after months of military tensions and threats of nuclear war.
The working-level discussions are held in the border truce village of Panmunjom where the armistice ending the Korean War was signed.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Seok says, “The overall atmosphere was… calm and the discussion proceeded with no major debate.”
The two sides seek a framework for their first ministerial-level meeting since 2007 – tentatively scheduled in Seoul on Wednesday.
The agenda will focus on restoring suspended commercial links, including the Kaesong joint industrial complex the North shut down in April.
Sunday’s talks come after North Korea proposed opening a dialogue on Thursday.
South Korean President President Park Geun-hye earlier said her government wants to end a “vicious cycle” where the South appeases the North after its provocations.

Story 10: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping end two days of talks in California with pledges of building a — quote — “new model of major country relationship” despite remaining divided over the issue of cyberespionage.
Senior officials from the meetings say Obama and Xi discussed climate change plans, North Korea, and cyberhacking charges.
On North Korea, Obama’s national security adviser Tom Donilon says — quote — “neither country will accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state”
and both countries will work together to pressure Pyongyang to denuclearize.
The talks revolve around American accusations of an alleged Chinese Internet spying effort targeting military, commercial secrets, and intellectual property.
Obama urges “common rules of the road” to protect against hacking.
Xi responds by saying China was also “a victim of cyberattacks.”
Xi adds he wants “good-faith cooperation” to clear up “misgivings” by the United States about cybersecurity.

At number 7, South Africans offer prayers as they wait Sunday for news of Nelson Mandela after the 94-year-old icon spent a second night in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
There have been no updates since he was hospitalized early Saturday at a Pretoria hospital with a recurring lung infection.
The Nobel peace laureate has been in and out of hospitals in recent years.
On Sunday, the front page of South Africa’s Sunday Times read, “It’s time to let him go.”
Mandela’s longtime friend Andrew Mlangeni tells the paper South Africans may have to say goodbye to their beloved icon.
He says, “Once the family releases him, the people of South Africa will follow.”

And at number 9, Rafael Nadal becomes the first man to capture the same Grand Slam title eight times with his victory in the French Open final Sunday.
Nadal claims his 12th major with a win over his Spanish opponent David Ferrer.
The win is Nadal’s 59th out of 60 matches played in Paris.
It is also his seventh title of 2013 after returning to the tour in February following a seven-month injury lay-off.

Story 11: GOOGLE CLOSE TO WAZE ACQUISITION
The Wall Street Journal reports Google is close to acquiring traffic information crowdsourcing app Waze.
While no deal is completed yet, an announcement is expected as early as Tuesday.
Reports say Waze will remain independent after the purchase.
Israel business news daily Globes reports the deal to acquire the app could reach up to $1.3 billion.

Story 12: HEAT TIES NBA FINALS SERIES VS SPURS, 1-1
The Miami Heat use a sizzling run bridging the 3rd and 4th quarters to get a 103 to 84 blowout win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
LeBron James, who finished the first half with only 4 points, is a major catalyst in Miami’s huge run tallying 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
He teams up with point guard Mario Chalmers for crucial plays helping put the Heat on top for good.
Wingman Danny Green is the lone bright spot for the Spurs hitting all 5 of his shots from 3-point land.

– Rappler.com

Newscast production staff

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