Rappler Newscast | March 27, 2014

Story 1: GOV’T, MILF SIGN HISTORIC FINAL PEACE PACT
It’s a historic day, the end of 40 years of armed struggle in the southern Philippines.
After 17 years of negotiations, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front sign a peace deal on Thursday.
President Aquino says we are trading in a history of sorrow for a future of peace.
The milestone signing could be the Aquino presidency’s biggest achievement yet.
Angela Casauay reports.

AL HAJ MURAD EBRAHIM, MILF CHAIRMAN: The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is the crowning glory of our struggle.

Seventeen years of intense negotiations draw to a close as the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front sign a final peace agreement.
The historic event raises hopes for lasting peace in Mindanao.
Hundreds of MILF members, foreign dignitaries, and supporters of the peace process troop to Kalayaan Hall to witness the momentous event.
The rebels hail the peace deal as the grandest articulation of their aspiration.
Their chairman, Al Haj Murad says the MILF has no franchise on the new political entity.

AL HAJ MURAD EBRAHIM, MILF CHAIRMAN: The role of the MILF may be likened to a gatekeeper for the transition – then after the keys will be democratically handed over to the Bangsamoro…To be overly emphatic, it will not be the government of the MILF but the government of the Bangsamoro.

As the peace process in Mindanao enters the implementation phase – the most crucial part of the peace pact – the country that brokered the talks reiterates its support for the deal.
Despite the current crisis in Malaysia, Prime Minister Najib Razak flies to Manila to witness the signing of the comprehensive agreement.

NAJIB RAZAK, MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER: Malaysia would continue to assist with development. We are willing to help build institutions, strengthen education, improve agriculture. This promise stands for as long as it is needed. Malaysia remains a partner for peace and development.

With the peace pact signed, it is now up to Congress to pass the draft law that will provide the legal framework for the new political entity.
The Aquino administration makes a commitment to rally the support of lawmakers behind the deal and issues a warning to those who plan to derail the peace process.

BENIGNO AQUINO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: My administration will go all out to forge a principled consensus for enduring security and prosperity; I expect the deliberations in Congress to be characterized by a sincere desire to improve on the Bangsamoro Basic Law—and not by self-interest that only aims to perpetuate an untenable status quo. I will not let peace be snatched from my people again…Not now, when we have already undertaken the most difficult and most significant steps to achieve it.

Under the peace deal, the envisioned Bangsamoro government has greater political and fiscal powers than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

ANGELA CASAUAY, REPORTING: The real work to make lasting peace a reality in Mindanao now begins. As the peacemakers like to stress, the process would not come easy. It is now up to the stakeholders to make 17 years of negotiations and 4 decades of armed struggle not go to waste. Angela Casauay, Rappler

Story 2: LEFTISTS, MUSLIMS CLASH IN MENDIOLA
At least 10 people are injured in a clash between leftists and Muslims in Mendiola Thursday.
DZMM reports the Muslims are praying to mark the peace deal signing between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, when they are disrupted by protesters tagged by police as members of the left underground.
Reports say the Muslims, angered by what they see as a show of disrespect, runs after the left group.
Police send additional forces to the area to stop the clash.

Story 3: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
For our social media post of the day…
The historic signing gets a mixed response: some hopeful, others skeptical.
Catherine Mejia says, “Hope this is not another band-aid solution to the longstanding conflict in Mindanao.”
Mishael Pueblas says, “Give the government [a] chance to do what they have to do. It’s not at all political unless you think of it.”

Story 4: DOJ APPROVES INDICTMENT OF TIAMZONS
The Department of Justice or DOJ approves the indictment of the top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines or CPP, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.
In a resolution released Thursday, the DOJ found probable cause to charge the Tiamzons for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the Illegal Possession of Explosives Law.
Authorities found 3 guns and two grenades without proper permits from the Tiamzons’ convoy when they were arrested in Cebu on March 22.
The couple remains in police custody.
At large for decades, Benito Tiamzon is the alleged chairman of the CPP-New People’s Army or NPA.
His wife is said to be the secretary-general.
The 40-year-old rebel army of the CPP is Asia’s longest-running insurgency.
The government says the arrest of the Tiamzons is a serious blow to the rebel movement.

Story 5: EGYPT’S SISI ANNOUNCES RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
Egypt’s army chief and defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi quits the military to run for president.
Sisi promises to rid the country of “terrorism” almost nine months after he toppled its elected leader Mohamed Morsi.
Sisi faces no serious competition in the election, which will most likely be held before June.
He is expected to win comfortably, riding on a wave of popularity for his law and order message.
But Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement warns there could be no stability in Egypt under the “shadow” of Sisi’s leadership.
Sisi’s candidacy is likely to be welcomed by the millions of Egyptians tired of more than three years of turmoil since the Arab Spring overthrow of strongman Hosni Mubarak.
But Sisi’s candidacy is likely to inflame Islamist protests and worry secular activists who fear the Egyptian military’s return to power.

Story 6: OBAMA MEETS POPE FRANCIS FOR 1ST TIME
US President Barack Obama meets Pope Francis for the first time Thursday at the Vatican City.
The meeting is expected to focus on fighting global inequality.
CNN says the meeting between the two world leaders could help Obama smooth tensions with Catholics on controversial issues like abortion and a contraception mandate included in Obama’s health reform law.
Obama tells the Pope –quote– “I’m a great admirer” at the start of their meeting in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.

Story 7: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, A New York jury finds Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law and former Al-Qaeda spokesman Suleiman Abu Ghaith guilty on 3 counts of conspiracy to kill Americans and supporting terrorists.
Abu Ghaith is best known for appearing with Bin Laden in a video in September 2001, a day after the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
He was arrested in Turkey in 2013. He denies the charges against him.

At number 6, US President Barack Obama says Russia stands alone on the Ukraine crisis as he pays his first visit to the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
Obama’s visit is viewed as one of the most important trips by a US president in years because of the crisis in Crimea.
The trip is seen as a way to cement Western opposition to Russia’s takeover of the peninsula.
Obama says Russia “miscalculated” in thinking it could drive a “wedge” between Washington and Brussels.

And at number 8, Seoul has an international reputation for plastic surgery, and ads featuring famous surgeons and giant before-and-after photos are everywhere – on street billboards, subway trains, and bus stops.
But citizens say the ads fuel an unhealthy obsession with body image.
Under new regulations, Seoul plans to limit these ads.
No more than 20% of advertising at any subway station can be connected with the plastic surgery industry.