Rappler Newscast | February 18, 2014

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The SC says online libel is constitutional. Estrada says witness Tuason offered pork barrel deals to other senators. UN team: Kim Jong-Un should be charged with crimes against humanity.

Today on Rappler.

  • The Supreme Court rules online libel constitutional but strikes down three provisions in the cybercrime law.
  • Senator Jinggoy Estrada says pork barrel scam witness Ruby Tuason offered deals to other senators.
  • A UN commission says North Korea’s Kim Jong Un should face an international court for crimes against humanity.


Story 1: SC RULES CYBERCRIME LAW CONSTITUTIONAL
The Supreme Court rules the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act constitutional.
Which provisions get shut down, and which ones are upheld?
Buena Bernal reports.

The Supreme Court rules most provisions of the beleaguered Cybercrime Prevention Act are constitutional.
Seen by critics as the muzzling of online expression, the law’s libel provision was declared constitutional but covers only the original author of the material.

TED TE, SUPREME COURT SPOKESMAN: The Court also ruled on the constitutionality of online libel when it further declared that Section 4(c)(4), which penalizes online or cyber libel, is not unconstitutional with respect to the original author of the post but unconstitutional only where it penalizes those who simply receive the post or react to it.

The law became the flashpoint of online protests in 2012.
Activists say the decision is an affront to civil liberties.

RENATO REYES, BAYAN SECRETARY-GENERAL: Maaring hindi ginagawang krimen ang pag-like, pag-share or pag-react o pag-comment sa isang post pero yung original author ay nandoon pa din yung banta sa kanya na puede siyang kasuhan ng libel. And that could be anyone. That could be everyone. (Liking, sharing, reacting or commenting to a [libelous] post may not be a crime but there is still the threat of being tagged a criminal and facing a libel suit for the original author. And that could be anyone. That could be everyone.)

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division Chief Ronald Aguto welcomes the court decision, saying the law’s mandated data-retention will make prosecuting cyber criminals easier.

ATTY RONALD AGUTO, NBI CYBERCRIME DIVISION CHIEF: I understand this will be an additional cost to the telecommunication companies. But as far as the law enforcement is concerned, it would be a good and a very effective tool for us to get the necessary informations from the telcos and the ISPs.

BUENA BERNAL, REPORTING: The cybercrime law takes effect after the drafting and publication of its implementing rules and regulation. As its implementation draws near, it is now up to netizens to judge whether the law tramples on fundamental freedoms or is a reasonable form of government control.
Buena Bernal, Rappler, Manila

Image of Hacker typing on a laptop with binary code in background from Shutterstock


Story 2: ONLINE LIBEL RULING VINDICATES SOTTO

In 2012, critics hit Senator Tito Sotto for proposing the inclusion of online libel in the cybercrime law.
But with the Court’s ruling upholding the provision, Sotto says this shows the online libel provision is necessary.

TITO SOTTO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: Medyo bewildered that it had to take the Supreme Court to tell people that libel is libel. Hindi magandang naninira ka ng reputasyon ng kapwa. (It’s not good to destroy others’ reputations. That’s the whole point.)

Sotto moved to include the online libel provision in 2012, but some netizens said he only wanted to get back at those who criticized him for plagiarizing in some of his speeches against the Reproductive Health law.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares says his group is “very disappointed” with the ruling.
He adds, “It is now prohibited for Filipinos to voice their disgust with government.”
Senators Chiz Escudero and Sonny Angara say there’s no need to appeal the decision.
They say Congress’ next move should be to decriminalize libel, or remove the prison penalty.

Story 3: NBI RAIDS CYBERSEX DENS
The National Bureau of Investigation or NBI raids 3 suspected cybersex dens Monday.
At least 30 people suspected of selling pornographic materials are in custody.
The NBI says the centers manage adult porn sites — with some featuring Filipino children — where foreigners can log in for pay.
Among the suspected cybersex centers is a compound that houses Mountaintop Christian Academy in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
The bureau says the suspected cybersex den beside the Christian school is located in a nearby building that shares the same entrance gate with the school.
The NBI is coordinating with the education department to investigate the reported 2006 disaccreditation of the school.

Story 4: JINGGOY: TUASON PEDDLED PDAF DEALS TO OTHER SENATORS
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair TG Guingona denies allegations he prejudged certain colleagues in the ongoing probe into the pork barrel scam.
Sen Jinggoy Estrada, one of 3 senators implicated in the scam, accused Guingona of preempting the outcome of the probe, when he called the testimony of witness Ruby Tuason a –quote– “3-point, buzzer-beater, winning shot” even before she could testify.
On Tuesday, Guingona says he has no intention of prejudging the guilt or innocence of his colleagues involved in the scam…
where lawmakers allegedly funneled their pork barrel funds to fake NGOs.

TG GUINGONA, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: For the record, I have no intention of prejudging the guilt or innocence of any of our peers allegedly involved in the issue now under probe by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. The transcript of the hearing should prove this fact. And I believe I speak for myself as well for our peers who have attended the hearings when I say that we have done our utmost best to assure that the dignity and honor of our colleagues involved in this issue is preserved and protected…Let me assure you as well as our colleagues that to, ‘prejudge’ has never been my intention.

But Estrada says Guingona should have asked Tuason about the other senators she supposedly approached for pork barrel projects.
In her testimony, Tuason admitted handing commissions to Estrada and lawyer Gigi Reyes, who supposedly accepted the cut of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.

JINGGOY ESTRADA, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: Why didn’t you even bother to ask her? Sino mga pinupuntahan nya aside from the office of Sen Enrile and my office, sino pa yung mga ibang senador na pinupuntahan nya? (Who else is she visiting aside from the office of Sen Enrile and my office? Who are the other senators she visits?)

But Guingona says Tuason denied knowing other senators, and Estrada should address his question directly to Tuason.
The two began raising their voices and speaking at the same time, prompting Senate President Franklin Drilon to suspend the session.

Story 5: LEGISLATURE DEFENDS DAP
It’s the legislature’s turn to defend the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP before the Supreme Court.
The government says DAP is designed to fast-track the spending of government funds to boost the Philippine economy.
But petitioners against it question the budget department’s National Budget Circular number 541 or NBC 541, which allows the use of the DAP funds to fund priority programs not in the 2012 budget.
Petitioners say the realignment of funds is illegal.
Former Justice Vicente Mendoza defends DAP, saying its validity cannot be determined in the proceedings because there is no actual case.
He adds, “Petitioners are not aggrieved parties. They do not allege they suffered any injury as result of adoption of DAP.”
But Justice Antonio Carpio counters: “Shouldn’t taxpayers have greater reason to question the illegal disbursement of public funds?”
Carpio says that in NBC 541, billions of pesos were declared savings and realigned by President Benigno Aquino.

Story 6: SC EXTENDS TRO ON MERALCO RATE HIKE
The Supreme Court extends for another 60 days the temporary restraining order on the rate hike of Manila Electric Company or Meralco.
Granting a motion filed by militant and consumer groups, the Court extends the order until April 22.
This means Meralco can’t collect from customers the P4.15 per kilowatt-hour rate hike it announced in December.
The Court also stops generation companies and the electricity spot market operator from demanding and collecting December charges from Meralco.
Groups question Meralco’s rate increase, alleging players in the energy sector committed market abuse.

Story 7: THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY
The town of Guiuan in Samar was one of the hardest-hit areas when Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan hit the Philippines last year.
A hundred days after the disaster, locals start to revive their sources of livelihood.
Pia Ranada reports.

Dawn breaks in Guiuan, Samar, three months after Typhoon Yolanda.
Businesses open in the small town, home to more than 47,000 people.
Some are opening for the first time in months.
Yolanda’s winds and rain shut down businesses within hours.
Stores were reduced to shambles.
The only government fishing and aquaculture facility remains damaged and unusable, affecting 80% of locals who depend on the local fishing industry.
But everyone wakes up from a long night.
The fishermen are back at sea.
In the town proper, store owners repair their shops.
All roads have been cleared of debris.
With 10% of Guiuan still off the grid, many businesses rely on generators for electricity.
Store owner Billy Nadores opened his shop two weeks after Yolanda.

BILLY NADORES, STORE OWNER: Mga ilang week lang, mga two weeks kasi naisip ko na kailangan maayos kaagad ito kasi wala kaming hanapbuhay. Paano kami makakahanap ng pera para at least makuha namin yung pangangailangan namin? (After two weeks, I thought we had to fix the store or else we’ll have no source of livelihood. How will we find the money to at least provide us with our basic needs?)

ALICE SONIO, STORE OWNER: Kahit naman binagyo, may pinagkikitaan naman ang mga tao. Napag-raise naman yung hanapbuhay. Malakas ang negosyo. (Even if there was a storm, people have sources of income. Business is good.)

Yolanda even changes the inventory of some businesses.
Nadores used to sell mainly rice in his small store. Not anymore.

BILLY NADORES, STORE OWNER: Kasi madalang ang bilihan. Sa ngayon wala nang bilihan kasi maraming relief. Hindi mabenta namin ang bigas namin. (It doesn’t sell as much. Right now, no one is buying because there’s a lot of it from relief goods. Our rice doesn’t sell.)

So what sells in Guiuan these days?

BILLY NADORES, STORE OWNER: Sa ngayon, dahil maraming relief, yung inumin. Kahit anong inumin. Yung alak, kahit ano, yung shoktong, lahat ng inumin. Kahit yung softdrinks. (Right now, because of all the relief goods, it’s the drinks. Any kind of drink sells. Alcoholic drinks, all kinds. Even softdrinks.)

Animal feeds and eggs are also hot items.
But there’s more to the residents beyond goods to sell and an enterprising spirit.

BILLY NADORES, STORE OWNER: Okay lang. Mga pagsubok lang yun. Ganoon talaga yun. Yung mga pagsubok yun na nagpapatatag sa atin. (It’s okay. Those are only challenges. That’s the way it is. They are challenges that make us stronger.)
It’s still a long way to go before Guiuan makes a full recovery, but its people are ready to meet the challenge head on.
Pia Ranada, Guiuan, Samar.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, a United Nations commission reports North Korean leaders use murder, torture, slavery, sexual violence, and other abuses to terrorize “the population into submission.”
CNN reports a –quote– “stunning catalog of torture and the widespread abuse” is unparalleled in the contemporary world.
The group says it will refer its findings to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution.
It also sends a letter warning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he could face prosecution for crimes against humanity.

At number 6, at least 10 people are killed and about a dozen others trapped after an auditorium collapsed Monday in the South Korean city of Gyeongju.
As many as 450 students were attending a concert in the building when the roof caved in under heavy snow.
Police fear the toll could rise, with around 400 rescuers on the scene searching for more students trapped inside the collapsed structure.

And at number 8, Japan’s Olympic figure skaters point to one reason behind the country’s figure skating success: scary moms.
Japan’s three women figure skaters at the Sochi Olympics all come from Nagoya, in the Aichi Prefecture.
Japan’s 1992 Olympic silver medalist Midori Ito also came from the area.
Asked how the region produced Olympic contenders, 19-year-old Kanako Murakami says, “The mothers in Aichi are very enthusiastic. Some of them are very scary actually.
It’s not just the coaches who crack the whip but those mothers.”
The three skaters competed in this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, finishing fifth in the team event.


– 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
  Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK Exxon Ruebe
  Emerald Hidalgo
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
  Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro
  Raffy de Guzman
3D GRAPHICS Sten Bautista

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