Rappler Newscast | December 23, 2013

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The Supreme Court stops Meralco’s power rate hike. Talumpa daughter hints at rival behind case. Apple, China Mobile sign iPhone deal

Today on Rappler.

  • The Supreme Court stops Meralco’s power rate hike.
  • Daughter of slain mayor hints her father’s political rival is behind the killing.
  • Apple signs a deal bringing the iPhone to China’s markets.
 

Story 1: SC STOPS MERALCO POWER RATE HIKE
The Supreme Court issues a 60-day temporary restraining order or TRO on the P4.15-per-kilowatt-hour power rate hike from Meralco.
The High Court says the TRO takes effect immediately.
Meralco was set to implement the increase this month, following a December 9 approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
But two groups led by leftist lawmakers asked the High Court last week to stop the rate hike.
On December 19, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives sought a TRO against the record-high price hike, citing -quote- “transcendental public interest.”
On December 20, 3 homeowners groups also sought the Court’s intervention, saying the increase is against public interest.
The High Tribunal orders both petitions consolidated.
Oral arguments are scheduled on January 21.

Story 2: TALUMPA DAUGHTER HINTS AT RIVAL BEHIND CASE
The daughter of the man killed last Friday in Manila’s airport – Mayor Ukol Talumpa of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur – is asking for government protection after hinting her father’s political rival masterminded his murder.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Rayyam Talumpa, says an eyewitness -quote- “who stood next to my parents” said the gunman “was closely associated” with former Labangan Mayor Wilson Nandang.
Ms Talumpa identified the gunman as a former staff member of the Labangan local government unit.
De Lima enumerates 3 possible motives behind the killing– “intense” political rivalry, Talumpa’s campaign against illegal drugs, and clan war or rido.
The Philippine National Police or PNP says it is preparing a case against the suspects.
In an interview on ANC, Senior Supt Billy Beltran says in Filipino…
Right now, we can say we have found leads on the suspects.
And what we’re looking at is whether or not we have enough evidence to file a case against the suspects.
He refused to identify the suspects.
Beltran heads Task Force Talumpa, which is in charge of investigating the fatal incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday.
The attack killed Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Ukol Talumpa, his wife, his nephew, and 18-month-old baby Phil Tomas Lirazan.
It also injured 5 others, including a 3-year-old girl.
It was the 3rd violent attack that targeted Talumpa.
The attack raised security concerns at the NAIA-3, particularly over the lack of closed circuit television or CCTV cameras in the airport.
Beltran says the PNP is looking into possible motives, but declined to disclose these until the PNP files a case.

Story 3: SOLDIER WHO DIED IN ZAMBO GETS MEDAL FOR VALOR
The Philippine military honors the bravery of soldiers in combat.
One of those awarded the medal of valor is 21 year old Private Ian Paquit.
Carmela Fonbuena reports.

IRENE PAQUIT, SISTER: Sabi ko sa kaniya, “Utang na loob, huwag mo nang gawin yan. Ayokong ako ang maglibing sa ‘yo. Sabi niya sa akin, “I love my job more than anything else.” Kaya napakasakit sa amin yun na napakabata pa niya namatay na siya.
(I told him, “I beg you, please don’t do this. I don’t want to be the one to bury you.” He told me, “I love my job more than anything else.” It was very painful for us that he passed away at such a young age.)

Irene’s brother, Private First Class Ian Paquit, was 21.
He died fighting the MNLF in Zamboanga City in September.
He intentionally put himself in the line of fire to save his team.
President Aquino awards Ian the posthumous Medal of Valor, the highest military honor for bravery in combat.
His father Eduardo receives the honor.

IRENE PAQUIT: “Super proud kami sa kaniya, hindi lang ang pamilya namin.”
(We are very proud of him. Not just our family.)

Ian had been pulled out earlier for a shrapnel wound.

IRENE PAQUIT: Sabi niya magaling na daw siya gusto niyang bumalik. Sabi ko bakit babalik ka pa? Nasaktan na nga siya. Hindi na siya tumawag sakin yun pala bumalik na siya. Tumawag na lang sila ulit sa akin noong nasa ICU na siya.
(He said he wanted to go back. I asked him why since he was already injured. He didn’t call after that, we didn’t know he already went back (to Zamboanga). The next call I got, he was already in the intensive care unit (ICU).

It was Week 3 of the standoff.
Ian’s team was trapped by the MNLF’s massive firepower.
He decided to leave his position to get a better line of sight and provide fire cover for his team to reposition.
Ian’s heroic move allowed the soldiers to turn the situation around.
They captured 41 MNLF fighters and killed another 15.
But it cost him his life.
Bullets came flying and one hit his neck.
He was brought to the hospital, where he died days later.
The father was so angry he ordered his children to join the military and avenge Ian’s death.

IRENE PAQUIT: Sa galit niya noong nandun pa kami sa Zambo kasi halos katabi lang naming yung MI na nandoon sugatan. Galit na galit ang tatay ko gusto niya ganon magsundalo nga kami.
(Our father was so angry because we were almost just next to the wounded when we were in Zamboanga. He was so angry he wanted as to join the army too.)

There are many stories of heroism during the Zamboanga City stand-off Paquit’s story is just one of them.
2013 is a busy year for the military.
But Ian is a testament to the resolve of Filipino soldiers even when their leaders fall short.
Carmela Fonbuena, Rappler, Quezon City.

Story 4: ESTRADA VISITS ARROYO AT VETERANS
Manila mayor and ousted president Joseph Estrada on Sunday pays a visit to the woman he once accused of grabbing power from him – Pampanga Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Reports say Estrada visited Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on Sunday shortly before 3 pm.
Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno accompanied Estrada to the hospital.
Moreno says “It’s very touching. It’s a different feeling when you see them talking.
Every Filipino knows what happened between Erap and Arroyo.”
Arroyo was Estrada’s vice president until she replaced her following the Edsa 2 revolt that forced him to quit the presidency.

Story 5: AQUINO LAUDS STRENGTH OF DISASTER SURVIVORS
Two days before Christmas, President Benigno Aquino records a message for the Filipino people.
Aquino pays tribute to the Filipino spirit that inspires others despite all the disasters that hit the country.
He says the most important message this Christmas is remembering God’s love and bringing hope to the people.

BENIGNO AQUINO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Malinaw natin itong naipamalas sa mga nagdaang trahedya at pagsubok sa bansa. Kamakailan, naglibot po tayo sa mga komunidad na naging biktima ng lindol sa bohol, at binisita ang mga kababayang sinalanta ng bagyong Yolanda. Katulad po ng bituin ng Bethlehem na nagsilbing liwanag at inspirasyon sa tatlong hari, napuno rin tayo ng sigla at pag-asa sa katatagan ng ating mga kababayan sa kabila ng trahedyang kanilang naranasan.
Ngayong Pasko, pag-alabin nawa natin ang liwanag ng pagmamahal na alay ni Hesukristo. Maging tanglaw tayo ng pag-asa sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Isang maligayang Pasko po sa ating lahat.
(We showed we are one in the tragedies the country recently faced. I recently went to the communities devastated by the earthquake in Bohol, and visited our countrymen ravaged by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Just like the star of Bethlehem that guided and inspired the three kings, we were also delighted to see the strength displayed by the survivors.
This Christmas, let’s strengthen the light of love from Jesus Christ
Let us be a light of hope for our fellow Filipinos. Merry Christmas.)

Story 6: The wRap
At number 3, Al -Qaeda says it will pay blood money after admitting that a deadly December 5 attack on a Yemeni defense ministry hospital was a mistake.
The brazen daylight attack on the defense ministry complex killed 56 people including patients and foreign medics from the Philippines, Germany, Vietnam and India.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claims responsibility for the attack.
It says the target was the ministry of defense, but one jihadist disobeyed orders.

At number 5, “How can the Church help couples and their children who find themselves” in live-in relationships or situations of divorce?
This isn’t a survey question from a profitable firm; it’s from Catholic bishops surveying Filipinos on family issues.
The survey was requested by the Vatican for a worldwide meeting on the family in 2014.
The survey includes questions on contraception and gay unions.

And at number 10, Former PR executive Justine Sacco becomes a worldwide target for nasty jokes and vicious insults over the weekend after posting a Twitter message mocking AIDS victims.
Sacco’s tweet reads “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” as she boarded an 11-hour flight to South Africa.
Her tweet creates an online uproar, and in a few hours, #JustineSacco and #HasJustineLandedYet were trending on Twitter worldwide.
Sacco deleted the tweet and her Twitter account upon landing in South Africa, but it’s too late.
IAC, her employer, announced they had “parted ways.”

Story 7: APPLE, CHINA MOBILE SIGN IPHONE DEAL
Apple unveils a long-anticipated deal with China Mobile, the world’s biggest wireless carrier, to bring the iPhone to customers in a market dominated by low-cost Android smartphones.
The deal gives Apple a bigger entry into the huge Chinese market and China Mobile’s estimated 760 million subscribers.
The network is also rolling out the world’s biggest 4G network.
Under the agreement, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c phones will be available at China Mobile and Apple retail stores across mainland China starting January 17.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook says “China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network.”
Negotiations between Apple and China Mobile took years, with one key hurdle reportedly being the US firm’s demand for sales volume guarantees.

Story 8: SPACEWALKING ASTRONAUTS MAKE SPEEDY ISS REPAIRS
NASA says two American astronauts made quick progress during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Saturday to replace a broken equipment cooling system.
A cooling valve failed on December 11, prompting the risky outing.
NASA says the problem caused a partial shutdown in the system that regulates equipment temperature at the space station but did not pose any danger to the six-man crew.

– 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


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