Rappler Newscast | May 27, 2014

Today on Rappler:

Alleged mastermind Janet Napoles claims she is a scapegoat in the pork barrel scam
Did MRT general manager Al Vitangcol resign, or was he fired?
A Chinese ship attacks a Vietnamese fishing boat in disputed territory

NAPOLES: I’M VICTIM OF SYSTEM, SCAPEGOAT OF OFFICIALS

The woman at the center of the biggest corruption scandal in recent history denies she is the mastermind.
Janet Napoles says she was “a victim of a wrong system in society.”
In her affidavits, Napoles appealed to the Ombudsman, the justice department and an angry public not to blame her for the scheme.
She tries to downplay her liability in the scam, saying she was not the most guilty and that high-ranking officials used her as a scapegoat.
The alleged mastermind asks forgiveness from the public, adding,
“I did not expect that those in high offices in government will betray me after using me.”
Napoles faces plunder charges for allegedly conniving with lawmakers to divert pork barrel to her fake non-governmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks.
Napoles submitted two affidavits to the Senate, naming a total of 20 senators, 100 congressmen, and 10 officials of implementing agencies.
In her affidavits, Napoles blames the lawmakers who controlled the funds and the implementing agencies.
She says she could not be the mastermind because the pork barrel system has been around since the 1990s.
Napoles also claims she did not know the scheme was illegal.
As proof of her “truthful and wholehearted regret,” Napoles says she is ready to testify in any investigation.

SENATORS TO NAPOLES: ‘WHAT AGENT?’ TO ‘A LIE’

Senators named in the Napoles affidavits deny working with Janet Napoles nor even knowing the agents she named.
While some issue general denials or refuse to comment, others deny specific details.
Senator Gringo Honasan denies having an employee known as “Atty Danny,” identified by Napoles as her link to the senator.
Senator Bongbong Marcos admits supposed agent Maya Santos was a consultant at the Senate, but says her services were terminated 4 months before the pork barrel scam became public.
Senator Loren Legarda denies dealing with Napoles.
She says every single accusation is a “perjured lie,” but did not comment on her alleged ties to Santos.
Senator Tito Sotto refuses to comment on Napoles.
He adds, “It does not deserve my attention.”
Senators Manny Villar and Cynthia Villar deny dealing with Napoles or with her NGOs.
A feisty Cynthia Villar also responds to Napoles’ claim that she gave campaign funds to her husband for the 2010 elections.
The Villar couple traditionally ranked as the richest lawmakers in Congress.
Villar says her family had enough savings to finance their campaign.
She adds, “Do you think Senator Manny Villar needs funds from Napoles?”
Senator Chiz Escudero says Napoles’ allegations were wrong, starting with the date she claimed she met him.
Senator Koko Pimentel laughed at and questioned the affidavit, while his father former senator Nene Pimentel, says his lawyers are preparing to file cases against those “maliciously dragging” him into the scandal.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada says his mother, Loi Estrada, knew nothing about transactions with Napoles.
He adds, “My mommy knows nothing about this. I already asked her. She was surprised that she was included in the list.”
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano dismisses Napoles’ affidavit, saying it was full of half-truths and inconsistencies.
He also denies receiving campaign funds from her for his 2013 re-election bid.
Napoles says she learned how to divert funds to fake NGOs through Budget Secretary Butch Abad.
She says, “There were people who had a big influence in expanding my knowledge and transactions with government. I learned from Congressman Butch Abad that NGOs or cooperatives are needed to transact with agencies.”
Abad denies her claims, saying he “never dealt with Janet Lim Napoles in any manner, much less through an agent or a middleman.”
He says their alleged friendship is “nothing short of ridiculous.”

AQUINO BELITTLES NAPOLES’ CREDIBILITY

A day after Napoles’ affidavit was released, President Benigno Aquino says he doubts the credibility of her testimony.
Aquino says it is possible Napoles is muddling the issue.
He adds, “We are open to the possibility that she is just messing up the story. She cannot defend herself so she is implicating everyone.”
The President also defends Budget Secretary Butch Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, both implicated.
Napoles’ affidavit details alleged transactions, including deals she made with 20 former and incumbent senators.
But Aquino says of Napoles’ strategy, “If you can’t look good, make everyone else look bad.”

THREATS TO TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY ‘REAL AND PRESENT’ – PH NAVY CHIEF

The Philippine Navy celebrates its 116th anniversary at the Naval Forces West, the station primarily in charge of the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea. 

President Aquino says the celebration is meaningful, showing that the Philippines won’t back down from its disputes over the South China Sea.

BENIGNO AQUINO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Tunay pong makahulugan na sa unang pagkakataon ay dito natin ginaganap ang anniversary ng Philippine Navy sa headquarters ng Naval Forces West. Ito po ang pangunahing operational command ng Philippine Navy na nagbatantay at nangangala sa West Philippines Sea.

(This opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of the Philippine Navy at the headquarters of the Naval Forces West is truly significant. This is at the forefront of the Philippine Navy’s operational command protecting the West Philippine Sea.)

Navy Vice Admiral Jesus Milan says the President’s visit brings him closer to the navy manning warships in Ulugan Bay and Ayungin Shoal.
He says, the situation is volatile, adding, “the menace of various threats to national security and territorial integrity are real and present.”
China has been increasingly aggressive in the South China Sea reclaiming land in Mabini Reef and patrolling the Spratlys islands.
To boost Manila’s case against Beijing, Aquino says the government will present China’s “clear violations” of the Declaration on Conduct to the arbitral tribunal including the airstrip construction on disputed territory.

CHINESE SHIP SINKS VIETNAM FISHING BOAT: VIETNAM OFFICIAL

A Chinese ship rams a Vietnamese fishing boat Monday near the contested Paracel Islands, causing the Vietnamese boat to sink.
The Vietnamese crew says their boat was encircled by 40 Chinese vessels before the attack.
This is the latest incident in increasing hostilities between the two countries over China’s deployment of an oil rig to disputed territory.
China and Vietnam both claim the Paracel Islands.
The deployment of the rig sparks violent protests in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung earlier said China’s actions violate international law and threaten peace and freedom of navigation.

SACKED OR RESIGNED? IT’S BOTH, SAYS VITANGCOL

Metro Railway Transit 3 general manager Al Vitangcol confirms he was fired over allegations of an anomalous deal with an in-law.
But in a hearing at the House of Representatives, Vitangcol says he resigned after Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya issued a special order to relieve him of his duties.
Abaya says he ordered an investigation after Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc wrote that Vitangcol awarded a  P517.5-million service deal to a company reportedly owned by the uncle of his wife.
The contract was allegedly awarded without public bidding.
In 2013, the Czech Ambassador also accused Vitangcol of trying to extort $30 million from a Czech firm in exchange for a contract to supply trains for MRT 3.
Vitangcol went on leave following the controversy, but returned to office when the issue died down.

POPE CONFIRMS PHILIPPINE TRIP IN JANUARY 2015

For the first time in two decades, the head of the Catholic Church will visit the Philippines.
Pope Francis confirms he plans to visit the country in January 2015.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle says the Pope wants to visit areas hit by disasters like Super Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan in November 2013 and the magnitude-7.2 earthquake in the Visayas in October last year.
The Pope has long said he wants to visit the Philippines, Asia’s most predominantly Catholic country.
The last time a Pope visited the Philippines was in 1995, when the late John Paul II led World Youth Day in Manila.

MALAYSIA RELEASES SATELLITE DATA ON MH370

Malaysia’s aviation authority releases satellite data on the missing plane that vanished more than two months ago.
Family members of the 239 people on board MH 370 demanded the raw satellite data be made public for independent analysis after an initial undersea search found no wreckage.
Officials say the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean.
The 47-page document released Tuesday contains data communication logs between the plane and the satellite system of British company Inmarsat.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

wRap #6: NIGERIAN MILITARY: SCHOOLGIRLS LOCATION KNOWN

A top Nigerian military official says he knows the location of the schoolgirls kidnapped last month by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
But Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh says Nigeria’s military won’t use force to try to rescue them.
State-run News Agency of Nigeria cited him saying, “We can’t kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back.”
Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls last month from a boarding school in northern Nigeria. More than 200 girls are still missing.

wRap #8: HACKER HELPS FBI THWART 300 CYBER ATTACKS

US government documents show celebrity hacker “Sabu” helped the FBI stop more than 300 cyber-attacks in the three years he turned informant.
CNN reports the work of Hector Monsegur AKA Sabu helped stop attacks on websites belonging to the US
A member of Anonymous and LulzSec, Monsegur was part of a group of hacktivists who became notorious in 2011 for breaking U.S. government and corporate websites.
He pleaded guilty to charges including identity theft and credit card fraud and faces up to 26 years in prison, but the government is seeking leniency.

wRap #9: FACEBOOK TAKES DOWN PAGE DESCRIBING ISLA VISTA KILLER AS ‘HERO’

Facebook takes down a page describing Elliot Rodger, the Isla Vista killer, as an “American hero.”
The page said Rodger made “the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle against feminazi ideology.”
Many Facebook users reported the page for violating Facebook’s rules against harassment, hate speech, and threats of violence.
Facebook initially refused to take the page down, but eventually relented.

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

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