Rappler Newscast | November 5, 2013

Today on Rappler.

• At least 10 lawmakers may face charges in the second batch of pork barrel scam cases.
• A strong tropical storm may hit the Philippines Friday.
• Hong Kong’s chief executive threatens sanctions against the Philippines over the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.

 

Story 1: AT LEAST 10 LAWMAKERS COULD FACE PORK CHARGES
In the second batch of cases being prepared by the Department of Justice or DOJ, at least 10 lawmakers could be charged for conniving with alleged pork barrel queen Janet Napoles to pocket their pork barrel.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima says the documents are not yet complete for the second batch of pork barrel cases, causing a delay in the filing.
She says the department will be ready to file the charges by next week.
The DOJ will also file another batch of cases — this time related to all other funds reportedly plundered by Napoles that were not from lawmakers’ pork barrel.
Counsel for whistleblowers Levi Baligod says the cases will include the alleged misuse of a P407-million government fund.
He does not identify the agency, but says the fund went to a Napoles corporation and was split among 10 legislators.
Baligod adds this happened during the early days of the Arroyo administration.
In September, the DOJ filed the first batch of plunder charges against 38 people, including three senators: Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Bong Revilla.
Another batch of cases was filed on the alleged plunder of the multi-billion peso Malampaya Fund.

Story 2: NAPOLES WANTS SENATE TESTIMONY MOVED
Alleged pork barrel queen Janet Napoles wants the Senate to postpone her November 7 testimony, but the chamber turns down the request.
In her letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman TG Guingona, Napoles says she has no lawyer who will –quote– “guard [her] rights.”
Last week, Napoles’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan resigned because of conflict in the strategy of the defense lawyers.
But in response, Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management Director General Rodolfo Noel Quimbo says Napoles had enough time to prepare for the hearing because she received the subpoena on October 21.
Napoles is accused of siphoning millions in lawmakers’ pork barrel.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano criticizes Napoles’ request as a form of deceit and a delaying tactic.
Senators are split on the value of Napoles’ testimony, with some saying she will simply invoke her right to remain silent.

Story 3: GSIS SHOULD RETURN P1.3B TO MEMBERS – COA
The Commission on Audit or COA orders the Government Service Insurance System or GSIS to return some P1.3 billion worth of loan interests that it overcharged its members last year.
COA says loopholes in the GSIS and other procedures result in members being overcharged “capitalized interest” totaling P859.835 million.
Delays in the posting or crediting of loan payments caused “excess interest” amounting to P441.122 million.
GSIS says the borrowers will not be reimbursed what they overpaid but the overpayment will be credited as “advance payment” to existing loans.
For fully paid loans, members will receive the due amount as reimbursement.

Story 4: ‘INDECISIVE’ PINOYS BLAMED OVER SAUDI DELAY
The Philippines on Tuesday blames the –quote– “indecision” of Filipinos for its failure to repatriate them before the deadline set by Saudi Arabia.
Foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario adds the Saudi Arabia government’s sluggish process worsened the problem.

ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY: I think that you can consider that the Philippines, the Philippine government has done everything possible to facilitate the repatriation of our people, contributing to the delay of the repatriation is the indecision of our own people.

The Philippines repatriated only around 4,420 illegal Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia in time for the deadline to legalize their status last Sunday.
That is only 49% of the 9,000 Filipinos who originally face repatriation.
Starting Sunday, illegal workers face up to two years in prison and fines of at least 100,000 riyal or $27,000.

Story 5: HK TO PH: TAKE ‘CONCRETE STEPS’ OR FACE SANCTIONS
Hong Kong’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying threatens sanctions against the Philippines, over a row involving the deaths of its tourists in a 2010 hostage crisis in Manila.
Hong Kong wants a formal apology for the incident or else it will take –quote– “necessary actions to apply sanctions.”
Hong Kong maintains a travel warning to the country since the episode, while the city’s lawmakers have mooted a cancellation of its visa-free arrangement for visitors from the Philippines and possible trade sanctions.
In October, Manila mayor Joseph Estrada offered to apologize for the hostage-taking incident.
But Philippine President Benigno Aquino refused to issue a formal apology, saying the deaths were caused by the actions of a lone individual.
Media reports say Manila offers compensation of US$75,000 to the family of the deceased and up to US$150,000 to those injured.
But the families involved in the hostage crisis have not accepted the money, saying the amount was too low.

Story 6: NEW STORM COMING TO PH THIS WEEK
The Philippines should brace for a new storm that will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
State weather bureau Pagasa says as of 2pm Tuesday, tropical storm Haiyan is estimated at 2,026 km east of Mindanao.
Once it enters the PAR, it will be given the codename Yolanda.
Haiyan is estimated to have maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gusts of up to 120 km/h.
It is forecast to make landfall in the Samar-Leyte area by Friday afternoon.
It will then cross the archipelago, most probably through the Visayas, before exiting between Palawan and Mindoro islands by Saturday.
Forecast models released by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center both show the typhoon moving towards the west-northwest.
NASA says Haiyan is still intensifying within the next 24 to 48 hours, and could become a Category 4 typhoon by Wednesday.
This is equivalent to a Signal Number 4 typhoon.

Story 7: DEFIANT MORSI TELLS EGYPT COURT TO TRY ‘COUP’ LEADERS
Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi appears in court Monday on the first day of his trial for inciting violence and murder.
Morsi remains defiant, rejecting the legitimacy of the court and demanding that coup leaders be prosecuted.
The trial marks his first public appearance since he was overthrown on July 3.
During the trial, Morsi refuses to wear prison clothes, insists on defending himself and reiterates he is the legitimate president of Egypt.
The trial resumes in 2 months.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, a bill seeking to absolve Thailand’s leaders of crimes committed over a decade triggers protests in Bangkok.
The Wall Street Journal reports, supporters of the opposition Democrat Party march across the city and set up camp in the historic Democracy Monument.
The amnesty includes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
His overthrow in a military coup in 2006 started years of instability for Thailand.
The proposed amnesty also covers Thaksin’s rivals accused of crimes in the coup.

At number 8, India launches an unmanned probe to Mars — its most ambitious space mission to date.
The project was conceived in just 15 months on a tiny budget.
India seeks to become the first Asian power to reach the Red Planet.
On Tuesday, the Mars Orbiter Mission blasts off from the southern spaceport.
It is expected to reach the Red Planet by September 2014.

And at number 10, after the departure of its chief executive, struggling phone maker BlackBerry abandons hopes of finding a buyer and pegs its future on cash infusion and new management.
Its largest shareholder, Ontario-based Fairfax Financial, says it will invest $1 billion.
CEO Thorsten Heins steps down and will be replaced on an interim basis by John Chen.

Story 9: FLOOR COLLAPSES; MEGAN YOUNG UNHURT IN HAITI
In a visit to an orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti, Miss World 2013 winner Megan Young and Miss World Chairman Julia Morley fall about 8 to 10 feet when the floor of the building’s second story collapsed.
Around 20 children rushed towards Young when they saw her enter the classroom, causing the floor to collapse.
Morley was badly injured, with X-rays showing she suffered a significant fracture on her hip.
The Miss World website reports Young was “able to land on her feet,” escaping injury.

Story 10: SLAUGHTER LEADS 44 HOPEFULS IN PBA DRAFT
This year’s PBA Rookie Draft went as far as seven rounds selecting from a talented pool of applicants.
Jane Bracher reports.

This year’s PBA Rookie Draft yields 44 talented rookies from 79 hopefuls, after going as far as seven selection rounds.
As expected, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel picks seven-foot big man Greg Slaughter on round 1.
The Atenean is looking forward to playing for the popular ball club.

GREG SLAUGHTER, BARANGAY GINEBRA: Just the whole experience of it working towards one goal. We’re all working for one thing. And I’m just really excited to get started and work with everyone towards one thing.

Ginebra also selects Arellano standout James Forrester for the fourth pick.

ATO AGUSTIN, HEAD COACH, GINEBRA: Forrester kasi can play 2 and 3. Syempre andyan sila Caguioa and Helterbrand. Pwede siyang support. Tapos syempre scorer kasi siya. Energy guy na kailangan namin. Alam mo naman ang Ginebra run and gun, di ba? (Forrester can play 2 and 3. Of course we have (Mark) Caguioa and (Jayjay) Helterbrand. (Forrester) He can be the support. He’s also a scorer. The kind of energy guy that we need. You know Ginebra’s style of play. We run and gun.)

Also a big winner in the draft is Globalport Batang Pier.
Rebuilding its team, Globalport drafts big names: Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Isaac Holstein, Nico Salva, LA Revilla and Jopher Custodio.

ISAAC HOLSTEIN, GLOBALPORT: I’m probably gonna be the best shot blocker in the league. That and rebounding is gonna be my job so I’m just gonna do my job.

Zamboanga’s pride Darwin Cordero also comes one step closer to his dream after being drafted by Barako Bull.
Ryan Buenafe went to Alaska, followed by Alex Nuyles to Rain or Shine, and Justin Chua to San Mig Coffee.
UAAP stars Nico Salva and Jeric Teng, expected to be snapped up in the first round, slide to the second round.
With the amount of talent available, there are calls for the PBA to consider adding more teams.

TIM CONE, HEAD COACH, SAN MIG COFFEE: That’s really up to the owners. It’s not that easy. It would be nice for the players because we have so many players outside the league that could be playing but again it’s a complex issue that has to be tackled by the owners.

One thing is certain, great things are in store for the PBA.

JANE BRACHER, REPORTING: This PBA Rookie Draft caps off a year when Philippine basketball is experiencing a tremendous resurgence. At the same time, it is also the beginning of a bright new future for the sport Filipinos can’t live without. Jane Bracher, 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