Rappler Newscast | October 14, 2013

Today on Rappler.

• President Aquino’s satisfaction ratings drop by 15 points.
• Filipinos believe the misuse of pork barrel continues under Aquino.
• Legislators fail to break the deadlock on the US debt ceiling as the deadline looms.

 

Story 1: SWS: DISSATISFACTION WITH AQUINO RISES
The latest Social Weather Stations survey shows more Filipinos are dissatisfied with President Benigno Aquino.
From 12% of Filipinos who reported they were dissatisfied with Aquino’s performance in June, the number rises to 19% in September.
Aquino’s net satisfaction rating for the third quarter of 2013 is at 49%, down from 64% in June.
On Monday, Malacanang blames recent reports on the massive misuse of government funds as the reason for the public’s dissatisfaction.

ABIGAIL VALTE, DEPUTY PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON: We recognize that the increase in those dissatisfied reflects the depth of anger and disappointment of the people at the way public funds have been stolen.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte says the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam happened during the past administration, but Commission on Audit reports show it went on under the Aquino regime.
Those satisfied with the President’s performance are at 68% in September, down from 76% in June.
Valte says the challenge to prosecute those who allegedly pocketed public funds is the Aquino administration’s “most significant fight yet.”
Alleged mastermind Janet Napoles faces plunder charges with 37 others, including 3 senators. 

Story 2: PINOYS THINK PORK BARREL MISUSE CONTINUES UNDER AQUINO
The latest Pulse Asia survey shows majority of Filipinos – 6 % – believe the misuse of pork barrel continues under the Aquino administration.
In the survey conducted between September 14 to 27, 9 of 10 Filipinos have heard, read or watched reports about the pork barrel scam.
Of the number, 45% believe the pork barrel should be removed.
In August, following exposes about the systematic corruption of lawmakers’ funds, President Aquino said it was time to abolish the pork barrel.
The multi-billion peso pork barrel scam involved lawmakers’ funds channeled to fake non-governmental organizations.
In response to public clamor, the House of Representatives re-aligned the funds to various government agencies.
Only 20% of the survey respondents agree lawmakers should still be allowed to have their pork barrel as long as there are stringent measures.
An even lesser number – 10% – believe the pork barrel at its current status should be retained.
The survey also shows 1 out of 3 Filipinos agree politicians use the funds to get elected, while 27% believe the fund provides lawmakers the opportunity to receive bribes and commissions.

Story 3: SENATE CAUCUS ON NAPOLES POSTPONED
The Senate’s much-awaited caucus on whether to allow the testimony of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles is postponed to Wednesday.
It was initially scheduled for Monday.
The Office of Senate President Franklin Drilon issues a notice saying the postponement is –quote– “due to the unavailability of some members on account of sickness or official mission abroad.”
The Senate is set to decide on whether or not to summon Napoles to the blue ribbon committee investigation into the pork barrel scam.
Senators clash on the subpoena, with Drilon against calling Napoles to the Senate while committee chairman TG Guingona is in favor of the testimony.
Drilon says the Ombudsman should be allowed to finish its fact-finding probe into the plunder complaint filed in relation to the scam.
But Guingona says the Senate is not bound by the Ombudsman’s advice.
In a statement, Senator Miriam Santiago says she supports issuing a subpoena, saying: “The Constitution gives this power to the Senate…It might upset the delicate system of checks and balances if the Senate itself dilutes this power by seeking an external agency such as the Ombudsman.”
Other senators also question whether Napoles’ testimony will be helpful to the Senate probe, since she may just invoke her right against self-incrimination. (Editor’s note: This sentence has been changed from “right to self-incrimination” to “right against self-incrimination.” We apologize for the error.)

Sen Bong Revilla backs calls for Napoles to face the Senate.
He is one of 3 senators facing a plunder complaint over the controversy.
In an interview with reporters, Revilla says he will vote for the issuance of a subpoena to compel Napoles to appear in its probe.

BONG REVILLA JR, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: It’s high time na, mas magandang pumunta si Jenny Napoles dito, nang lumabas na yung katotohanan at matapos na tong gulo na to. (Maybe it’s high time and good for Jenny Napoles to come here so the truth will come out and this mess will end.) 

Story 4: PROBE INTO ‘MA’AM ARLENE,’ LIFESTYLE OF JUDGES ON
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno asks the justice secretary and the Ombudsman to investigate a supposed big-time fixer in the judiciary and the lifestyle of the justices the person had been bribing.
Sereno asks Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to help investigate a certain “Ma’am Arlene,” referred to in news reports as the Janet Napoles of the judiciary.
De Lima says Sereno wants the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the activities of the woman who allegedly exerts influence on judges and justices on behalf of her litigant-clients.
De Lima also says the issue is linked to the recent elections of the Philippine Judges Association or PJA.
Sereno wants the justice department to look into reported irregularities during the PJA election and the alleged rivalry among the contenders.
Judge Ralph Lee of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City Branch 83 was elected president in the PJA elections.

Story 5: INC: NOTHING POLITICAL ABOUT MEDICAL MISSION
The influential Iglesia ni Cristo holds a medical mission for up to 1.6 million people, large enough to push local governments to cancel classes.
The group insists there’s nothing political about it.
Paterno Esmaquel files this video blog.

Thousands of Filipinos gather here in Manila for the Iglesia ni Cristo’s medical mission.
It’s part of the Iglesia ni Cristo’s aim — to help the poor and boost its membership.
Its leaders deny speculations that this event is politically motivated.

BRO EDWIL ZABALA, IGLESIA NI CRISTO MINISTER: Wala. Walang bahid pulitika ito. Kung na-obserbahan ninyo yung ginawa namin mula noong magsimula hanggang kanina, maging noong magtapos yung pag-aaral. O kung nakita ninyo yung mga tarpaulins, yung mga banners na nandoon, walang political message talaga. (This doesn’t have any political color. If you observed what we did from the beginning, until a while ago, until we finished the Bible study, or if you saw the tarpaulins, the banners, there is really no political message.)

In fact, many of the people we met are none members of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

SARAH CORPUZ, PARTICIPANT, INC MEDICAL MISSION: Pinagsikapan ko po, kapatid, na makarating dito para po maano ako sa Diyos. (Ano ang pakay ninyo, ‘yung pamigay o ‘yung pakikinig?) Pakikinig po, hindi po lang ‘yung pamigay. (I really tried, brother, to come here so I can be closer to God. (What did you really want, the give-aways or the preaching?) The preaching, not just the give-aways.)

MIA GABIETA, PARTICIPANT, INC MEDICAL MISSION: Sabi niya po kasi may parang pagpapahayag nga daw po na magaganap, kaya sumama ako. Parang na-curious lang kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila. (He said there will be preaching, so I came. I was curious about what they do.)

They say they came here not only to get medicines and relief goods, but to listen to the preaching of this 99-year-old Church.
Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila

Story 6: NO GPH-MILF DEAL YET ON POWER-SHARING
After holding a session for more than 18 hours, the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF fail to agree on how power will be shared between the proposed Bangsamoro political entity and the national government.
The 41st round of talks started October 12 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and ends 5 am of October 13.
An MILF source says both panels reached a “technical impasse,” with their failure to reach a consensus on details regarding the Bangsamoro’s ministerial form of government.
The negotiations are down to the final details of the peace pact.
Also yet to be completed is the annex on normalization, which contains the sensitive issues of decommissioning of arms and disposition of armed forces.

Story 7: SANTI: P2.9B AGRI DAMAGE IN AURORA, NUEVA ECIJA
Typhoon Santi — international name Nari — leaves more than P2.9 billion in damages to agriculture in two provinces alone.
Two of the worst hit provinces, Aurora and Nueva Ecija, report damage to crops, fisheries and related industries.
More than 740,000 people or more than 154,000 families are affected across Regions I, II, III, and IV-A.
A major clean-up operation is under way in Luzon after the typhoon swept through the region Saturday, leaving 13 dead.
On Monday, state weather bureau Pagasa says the Philippines can expect cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers as new typhoon Tino — international name Wipha — passes through the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Story 8: US LAWMAKERS SPLIT DESPITE OCT 17 DEBT DEADLINE
The United States faces a potentially devastating debt default, after senators fail to agree on terms to reopen the federal government and raise the country’s borrowing limit.
If the US debt ceiling is not raised by October 17, the Treasury would run out of money and could begin defaulting on its obligations for the first time in history.
On Saturday, Senate Democratic leaders turn down a compromise proposal by Republican Senator Susan Collins.
It called for lifting the US debt limit for up to a year, reopening the government and repealing a tax on medical services under Obama’s health care law.
The Senate began weekend talks to break the impasse, with Democratic senator Harry Reid and Republican leader Mitch McConnell leading the negotiations.

Story 9: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, Some two million pilgrims pour out of the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to begin the annual hajj — fewer because of the deadly MERS virus.
Saudi’s health minister says there are no detected cases yet among the pilgrims of the virus which killed 60 people worldwide, 51 in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh imposed a 20% cut this year on the quota for pilgrims coming from abroad.

At number 7, The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank hold annual meetings this week in Washington.
With all eyes fixed on the US budget crisis, the meeting of finance leaders in the US capital spares the IMF another debate on the damaging effects of the austerity it imposes in the eurozone.
For years, emerging economies say their small voting rights in the institution don’t reflect their real power in the world economy.

And at number 8, Facebook ends a feature that allowed users to hide from the network’s billion-plus members.
This means Facebook users can more easily find other people on the social network.
Under scrutiny by privacy advocates, Facebook recently revamped its search functions to include “graph search” that allows users to search through a wide range of posts.
The company says the changes won’t have an impact on overall privacy.

Story 10: LA SALLE BEATS UST, WINS #UAAP76 TITLE
Season 76 of the UAAP Men’s basketball tournament ends on a high note, with the De La Salle Green Archers beating the UST Growling Tigers in overtime to win the championship.
Bea Cupin reports.

La Salle head coach Juno Sauler finally has reason to smile.
The Green Archers bag the 2013 UAAP Men’s Basketball crown, defeating the UST Growling Tigers, 71-69, in a thrilling overtime game.  
Last year’s rookie of the year Jeron Teng is Finals MVP and finishes with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

JUNO SAULER, GREEN ARCHERS HEAD COACH: He played unbelievably. He had the cramps somewhere in the second half but he continued to fight, played extraordinary basketball.

Game 3 of the Finals prove to be a fitting end to this year’s UAAP Men’s Basketball season.
With 34 seconds left in overtime, the Tigers lead, 69-67, thanks to back-to-back baskets from Kevin Ferrer and the graduating Jeric Teng.
Momentum swings to La Salle’s side after UST’s Aljon Mariano commits a costly turnover that later leads to a game-clinching basket by Almond Vosotros.
Jeric Teng and Center Kareem Abdul lead UST’s attack.
But several key players from UST collapse under the pressure of the do-or-die game.
Ferrer, Mariano, and Clark Bautista combine for a measly 14 points.
Despite La Salle’s victory, Sauler is still all-business.

JUNO SAULER, GREEN ARCHERS HEAD COACH: And I can promise you and guarantee each and every one of you… we will be better next season.

For now, the Green Archers savor its victory.

BEA CUPIN, REPORTING: It’s the Green Archers first championship since 2007 and coach Juno Sauler’s first crown as men’s basketball head coach. UAAP fans wonder: is it beginners luck or the start of a dynasty? Bea Cupin, Rappler, Manila.

– 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
	Jom Tolentino
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN	Charlie Salazar
	Adrian Portugal
	Francis Lopez
	Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS	Jessica Lazaro
	Matthew Hebrona
3D GRAPHICS	Sten Bautista