Philippine economy

Rappler Newscast | June 10, 2014

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Rappler Newscast | June 10, 2014
Jinggoy to deliver privilege speech. PH and China are defense partners. Murder trial opens for South Korea ferry captain and crew

Today on Rappler.

  • After Senator Bong Revilla’s emotional speech, it’s Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s turn.
  • A little known fact: the Philippines and China have an existing defense agreement.
  • The murder trial of crew members of the sunken Korean ferry begins.

ENRILE READY FOR CRAME; JINGGOY TO GIVE SPEECH, TOO

After Senator Bong Revilla’s emotional speech, another senator charged in the pork barrel corruption scandal is set to take the floor.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada says he will also deliver a privilege speech on Wednesday to respond to the plunder charges filed against him over the pork barrel scam.
On Friday, the Ombudsman charged Revilla, Estrada, and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for diverting public funds to fake NGOs in exchange for kickbacks.
Estrada says he will meet with his lawyers to stop the issuance of an arrest warrant.
But the 90-year-old Enrile says he’s ready to spend time in jail.
The former Senate President is no stranger to arrests and controversies, having been arrested twice.
Now that the case is in the jurisdiction of the courts, Enrile says, it will be time for him to respond after months of silence.
He adds he and his former chief of staff, Gigi Reyes, will be vindicated.

GIGI REYES SEEKS SC TRO VS PLUNDER CASE

Senator Enrile’s former chief of staff Gigi Reyes asks the Supreme Court to stop her plunder case filed by the Ombudsman with the graft court Sandiganbayan.
In her petition, Reyes says she stands to “suffer grave and irreparable injury” if the Ombudsman is not ordered to stop criminal proceedings.
Reyes adds, her prosecution exposes her to “public contempt and disrepute” even when presumed innocent.
Reyes also asks the High Court to require the Ombudsman to give her copies of data sent by whistleblower Ruby Tuason so she can file a supplemental counter-affidavit.
In her affidavit, Tuason tags Enrile and Senator Estrada as direct recipients of kickbacks in the scam.
Tuason said Reyes personally received Enrile’s share.
Reyes resigned as chief of staff in January 2013.

SC SEEKS SANDIGAN’S SIDE ON PDAF SPECIAL COURTS

The Supreme Court is set to hear the side of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan before deciding on the creation of special courts that will try cases related to the fund diversion scandal.
In a letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales asked for “at least two special divisions within the Sandiganbayan” to hear and decide on the cases.
The trial of three opposition senators and others charged in the scam will be a rare moment in Philippine history…
where top officials will be sent to jail for alleged corruption.
Morales said the cases must be tried exclusively by at least two special courts because of the “national magnitude” and “far-reaching consequences” of the scam.

SC: NO DECISION YET ON DAP

The Supreme Court defers voting on the constitutionality of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP.
It was expected to hand down a decision Tuesday.
The Aquino administration earlier said the DAP was meant to boost the economy and fast-track government spending by diverting unused funds from slow-moving projects to quick-disbursing ones.
On Tuesday, protesters gather in front of the Supreme Court, calling for the immediate resolution of the petitions against the DAP.
Nine petitions were brought before the Court in 2013, questioning the power of the executive branch to control the budget through DAP.
DAP became controversial when Senator Jinggoy Estrada exposed the disbursements given to senators…
immediately following the impeachment of former chief justice Renato Corona.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad denied allegations the disbursements were bribes in exchange for votes to impeach Corona.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: PH AND CHINA ARE DEFENSE PARTNERS

Relations between the Philippines and China may be tense at the moment but here’s a little known fact: the two are defense partners.
A memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation signed in 2004 binds the Philippines and China as defense partners.
In 2012, a word war over the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea escalated…
but security officials of the two countries met in Beijing a year later to assure each other ties remain strong.
Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta told his Chinese counterparts…
the sea dispute is “not the totality of PH-China relations, hence engagement with China should be maintained.”
The defense pact guarantees “mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “peaceful coexistence.”
Defense Assistant Secretary Raymund Quilop says the line of communications helps contain the conflict between the two countries.
But he adds, international pronouncements from the Philippines that it does not accept China’s claims and activities are necessary.

CHINESE AMBASSADOR: MARITIME DISPUTE WITH PH ‘TEMPORARY’

China’s ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua assures President Aquino the row between the two countries is only temporary.
During the joint celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence Day and 13th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day, Zhao says China also values peace and stability in the region, especially because it contributes to its economic growth.

PH WEIGHS PROPOSED ASEAN MEET ON SOUTH CHINA SEA

The Philippines is considering a proposed special meeting among foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN to discuss rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Japanese network Kyodo News reported Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa proposed the meeting.
Kyodo News cited an unnamed Filipino diplomat, saying the Philippines favors the proposal to send a “strong signal to China.”
Southeast Asian countries have grown increasingly concerned over China’s moves in the disputed sea.
China has consistently rejected the historic case filed by the Philippines with an international court…
and accused Vietnam of provoking Chinese ships in disputed waters.
Asked about the proposal, Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose says the Philippines is open to it.
He adds, “We go along with the consensus.”

SENATE OKS BILL ALLOWING FULL FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF PH BANKS

The Senate approves a bill allowing full foreign ownership of domestic banks.
It permits the entry of “established, reputable, and financially sound foreign banks” in the Philippines.
The bill’s proponent, Senator Serge Osmeña, says the bill grants locally incorporated subsidiaries of foreign banks “the same banking privileges as domestic banks of the same category.”
The bill is expected to benefit the Philippines’ economic integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, where a common banking framework will be implemented.
It will allow qualified banks to operate within ASEAN jurisdictions on equal terms as domestic banks.
It will be implemented by 2020.

RAINY SEASON BEGINS FOR WESTERN PH

The rainy season officially begins for the western section of the Philippines.
State weather bureau PAGASA says the arrival of the southwest monsoon heralds months of rain from June to August.
But it will be marked by monsoon breaks that can last several days.
This comes the same day Tropical Depression Ester is spotted 200 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes.
Storm signal number 1 is up over the Batanes group of islands.
It is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing moderate to heavy rains over the Ilocos Region, Zambales and Bataan.

MURDER TRIAL OPENS FOR S. KOREA FERRY CAPTAIN AND CREW

With South Korean divers still searching for victims of April’s Sewol ferry disaster, the murder trial of 15 crew members opens Tuesday.
Captain Lee Joon-Seok and 3 senior crew members are accused of “homicide through willful negligence” which carries the death penalty.
Eleven other crew members are tried on lesser charges of criminal negligence.
The charges stem from the crew members’ abandonment of the ferry while hundreds of people were still trapped inside.
The tragedy also prompted South Korean President Park Geun-Hye to dismantle the coastguard and reshuffle her cabinet…
appointing former journalist Moon Chang-Keuk as prime minister Tuesday.
The ferry was carrying 476 passengers, including 325 students on a school trip, when it sank off the southwest coast.
So far 292 have been confirmed dead, with 12 still missing.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

wRap #4: ANGELINA JOLIE LEADS SUMMIT VS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT

Actress Angelina Jolie, special envoy for the UN Commissioner for Refugees, joins British Foreign Secretary William Hague and delegations from over 100 countries in a summit that aims to put an end to using rape as a tool of war.
A Filipino delegation composed of key figures in the peace process in Mindanao is also part of the summit.
UN figures show that between 100,000 and 250,000 women were raped during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
More than 60,000 women were raped during the civil war in Sierra Leone in 1991-2002, more than 40,000 in Liberia in 1989-2003, up to 60,000 in the former Yugoslavia in 1992-1995 and at least 200,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1998..

wRap #8: POLICE CRACKDOWN ON PRE-WORLD CUP PROTEST

Police in Sao Paulo fired tear gas at about 300 protesters supporting a subway strike, days before the city hosts the World Cup kick-off.
Subway workers earlier staged a strike to demand an increase in wages.
The move caused transport chaos in the city of 20 million people.
The protests come as World Cup teams arrive in Brazil, with heads of state expected to arrive for the opening ceremony and match.

wRap #10: HIGHLIGHTS OF TONY AWARDS 2014

Emotional wins and powerhouse performances from some of the best of theater mark this year’s Tony Awards.
Among the highlights of the night: a killer performance of “Frozen” star Idina Menzel
a historic win for Audra McDonald, who now has 6 Tonys — the most wins for an actress
and a first Tony win for Neil Patrick Harris, who staged a performance that included giving Sting a lapdance and planting a big kiss on partner David Burtka.
The classic Les Miserables also returns to the stage, while popular musical “Wicked” celebrates its 10th anniversary.

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

SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY

Space engineer Reid Wiseman posts the first-ever Vine video from space.
The 6-second video captures a stunning view from the International Space Station.
Wiseman’s clip is a condensed timelapse of a 92-minute orbit.
The Daily Mail reports, Wiseman says the sun never sets from the ISS’ vantage point due to its current position.
The ISS is flying parallel to the terminator, the imaginary line straddling night and day.

 

– 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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