Rappler Newscast | May 15, 2014

Rappler.com

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Secretary de Lima submits her list of lawmakers in the pork barrel corruption. The Philippines shows photos of China’s construction in Johnson reef. Nigeria’s president says no to swapping Boko Haram prisoners for abducted girls

Today on Rappler.

  • Justice Secretary Leila de Lima submits her list of corrupt lawmakers implicated by Janet Lim Napoles.
  • The Philippines releases photos of China’s construction in Johnson reef.
  • Nigeria’s president refuses to swap Boko Haram prisoners for kidnapped schoolgirls.

 

Story 1: ABAD, ALCALA, 12 SENATORS IN DE LIMA’S NAPOLES LIST

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima submits to the Senate her copy of the signed list of lawmakers implicated by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
The list names Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, and 12 former and incumbent senators: Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda, Koko Pimentel, Manny Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gringo Honasan, Robert Barbers, Chiz Escudero, JV Ejercito, and three senators already facing plunder charges over the scam: Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair TG Guingona says the committee granted De Lima a one-week extension for the affidavit of Napoles.
Following confusion over different versions of the lists, the Senate also orders principal whistleblower Benhur Luy to submit his records of the pork barrel scam to the chamber.

Story 2: PH SHOWS ‘DESTABILIZING’ CHINA MOVES IN SPRATLYS

The Philippines releases photos to prove what it calls China’s “destabilizing” moves in the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
The photos show China’s construction on Mabini Reef or Johnson Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands over a span of two years.
In a statement Thursday, the Philippine Foreign Affairs department says “These actions are considered destabilizing and in violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and international law.”
It adds, “Mabini Reef is part of the Kalayaan Island Group which is part of Philippine territory.”
The first photo, dated March 13, 2012, shows a predominantly blue sea.
The two succeeding photos dated February 28, 2013 and February 25, 2014 show gradual construction and reclamation activities.
The last photo, dated March 11, 2014, shows a huge patch of reclaimed land.
Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says China is likely building an airstrip and a military base in the disputed area.

Story 3: PH OFFERS 3 BASES FOR US MILITARY USE

Philippine military chief General Emmanuel Bautista names 3 military bases that will be offered for American troops to use.
This comes after the two countries signed a military deal that would give US troops increased access to Philippine military bases.
The bases face the South China Sea, the site of a territorial row between the Philippines and China.
The first base is the naval detachment in Palawan’s Oyster Bay, which is located near the disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands or Spratlys.
The second is the Naval Education & Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales
near the disputed Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.
The third is Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, one of the biggest military bases in Asia.

Story 4: SANDIGANBAYAN ORDERS SEIZURE OF CORONA’S ASSETS

The Sandiganbayan orders the temporary seizure of the properties of dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The properties are estimated to be worth over P130.59 million or over $2 million, the amount the Corona couple allegedly owes the government.
The anti-graft court issued a writ of preliminary attachment in connection with the forfeiture case filed against the couple last March by the Ombudsman.
The order is meant to protect the “victim,” in this case the government, in case the court decides in the Coronas’ favor.
The Coronas are accused of using their government positions to enrich themselves.

Story 6: BALISACAN: PH REFORMS IN ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE IN SPOTLIGHT FOR WEF

The Philippines will be in the spotlight as it hosts the World Economic Forum East Asia on May 21 to 23.
National Economic and Development Authority Director General Arsenio Balisacan says the Philippines’ economic successes will be highlighted, including its better-than-expected GDP growth.
But corruption scandals, like the pork barrel scam, threaten to slow down the economic momentum.
Balisacan says the corruption scandals can also be seen in a positive light: of a government that is trying to implement reforms in a corrupt system.

ARSENIO BALISACAN, NEDA DIRECTOR GENERAL: It should be seen positively, in the sense that you are unearthing abuses and you are learning from that, you are putting better safeguards, better institutions so that this will not be repeated in the future.

What’s important for us is they are seeing us now as a country that is doing a lot of reforms, that’s pushing for improvements in our governance, and that we really mean business when we say we’ll achieve inclusive growth.

Critics say the Philippines’ growth isn’t trickling down to the poor.
Balisacan says poverty is a problem that spans generations.

ARSENIO BALISACAN, NEDA DIRECTOR GENERAL: Poverty is often, in this country at least, an inter-generational issue. We are trying to break that by investing heavily in human capital formation among the children of the poor.


Story 7: NIGERIA: NO TO PRISONER SWAP

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan rules out a swap for the release of imprisoned Islamist militants in exchange for schoolgirls kidnapped a month ago.
Britain’s Africa minister Mark Simmonds says he raised the issue with Jonathan.
He says -quote- “I did discuss this with the president and he made it very clear that there will be no negotiation with Boko Haram that involves a swap of abducted schoolgirls for prisoners.”
In a video released Monday, the Islamist militant group says they may release the girls if Nigeria freed imprisoned militants.
This comes as international powers ramp up the search effort, including the use of US military surveillance drones and manned aircraft.
On April 14, 276 girls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok.
223 are still missing.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

wRap #7: RAGING WILDFIRES TRIGGER EVACUATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

Thousands of people in southern California evacuate to escape raging wildfires Wednesday.
At least 15 buildings have been destroyed, including 3 homes.
The fire also causes a major highway and a nearby nuclear power plant to close down.

wRap #8: NEW YORK TIMES LETS GO OF FIRST FEMALE BOSS

The New York Times abruptly replaces its first female executive editor, Jill Abramson.
A former investigative correspondent, Abramson was appointed to lead the newsroom in 2011.
The paper’s own report on her departure says: “The reasons for the switch were not immediately clear.”
Managing editor Dean Baquet will replace her.
Baquet will become the first African-American executive editor at the New York Times.

wRap #9: WEDDING BELLS FOR ANGELINA JOLIE AND BRAD PITT?

The children of Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children are keen to help their parents plan their long-awaited wedding.
Jolie says if the kids had their way, they would organize a Disney or paintball party.
Jolie also reveals she’s doing well a year after going through a double mastectomy to reduce her high risk of breast cancer.
The couple has been engaged since 2012, but Pitt has often said they will not marry in the United States so long as same-sex marriage equality is not the law of the land.

For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’

Story 9: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY

Five years after the death of pop icon Michael Jackson, his posthumous album Xscape is released.
The first single to drop is “Love Never Felt So Good.”
Its music video debuts Wednesday featuring Justin Timberlake.
The video shows file footage of Jackson’s performances, superimposed with Timberlake and other people dancing to the King of Pop’s trademark dance moves.
The video raked up to more than 1 million views on Youtube less than 24 hours since its posting.

 

– 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
  Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
  Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro
  Raffy de Guzman

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