Rappler Newscast | June 23, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• Senator Jinggoy Estrada goes to jail for the second time.
• One of the most influential jihadists is in the Philippines.
• Egypt sentences three Al-Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison.

Story 1: JINGGOY ESTRADA NOW IN CAMP CRAME JAIL
Senator Jinggoy Estrada goes to jail for the second time for plunder.
On Monday, anti-graft court Sandiganbayan upholds the finding of probable cause by the Ombudsman against Estrada and orders his arrest warrant.
Unlike Senator Bong Revilla last Friday, Estrada skips going to the Sandiganbayan and goes straight to Crame.
He surrenders to his father, former President and current Manila mayor Joseph Estrada, before proceeding to Camp Crame for booking procedures.
Father and son hug each other as the former President left his son to face detention.
Estrada is the second senator detained over the biggest corruption scandal in recent history.
The actor-turned-politician is accused of pocketing P183 million or more than $4 million from public funds meant for development projects.
While plunder is a non-bailable offense, Estrada’s lawyer says he file a motion for bail.
In 2001, Estrada was also jailed with his father on plunder charges for allegedly receiving payoffs from the illegal numbers game jueteng.
The younger Estrada was acquitted, while his father was convicted and later pardoned.

Story 2: ARTHUR YAP, 2 EX-CONGRESSMEN FACE PDAF SCAM CHARGES
Former Agriculture Secretary and current Bohol representative Arthur Yap and 16 others face charges of diverting public funds to fake NGOs.
Ombudsman investigators file separate formal complaints against two groups: One complaint includes Yap, former Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonino, and 5 others.
The second complaint charges former Isabela Representative Anthony Miranda and 9 others.
Yap was the agriculture secretary during the administration of former President Gloria Arroyo.
Many of the diverted lawmakers’ funds were reportedly coursed through the Agriculture Department at that time.
Antonino is accused of using P14.5 million or $331,000 of his discretionary funds for a ghost livelihood project.
Miranda is charged with channeling funds to an NGO he controls.
In February 2007, the congressman requested the release of P10 million or $228,000 of his pork barrel to Aksyon Makamasa Foundation Incorporated, which lists Miranda as incorporator, director, and chairman.
The Ombudsman says the NGOs used are outside the network
of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles.

Story 3: 23 OF 54 ACCUSED IN PDAF SCAM POST BAIL
At least 23 of the 54 accused in the fund diversion scandal post bail by Monday before the Sandiganbayan.
Some of those who had posted bail were again ordered arrested, this time for their cases with Senator Estrada.
Bail was initially set at P30,000 per count for the graft charges, but the court granted the request of Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and other officials to bring down bail to P5,000 per count.
Aside from Relampagos, 4 others from the budget department also posted bail, Napoles’ children James and Jo Christine, along with some JLN Corporation employees, and Former Technology Research Center director general Dennis Cunanan and four others from the TRC.
Also among those who posted bail are current and former directors and employees
from the National Livelihood Development Corporation and several non-governmental organizations.

Story 4: AQUINO APPOINTS NEW SANDIGANBAYAN JUSTICE
President Benigno Aquino appoints a new justice to the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.
Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Theresa Estoesta fills the vacancy in the Sandiganbayan’s 5th division, the division handling the plunder and graft cases against Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
Aquino earlier drew flak for failing to appoint a new justice within the prescribed 90-day deadline.
Before her stint at the Manila court, Estoesta served in the solicitor general’s office from 1991 to 2002.

Story 5: KERRY IN BAGHDAD ON MISSION TO SHORE UP IRAQ
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Baghdad as Sunni jihadists continue their advance towards the Iraqi capital.
Kerry will meet with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other officials to push for unity and stability within the country.
Kerry earlier said minority Kurds and Sunni Arabs are dissatisfied with Maliki’s leadership.
He urged the Iraqi government to –quote– “rise above sectarian motivations.”
Militants led by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS continue to capture more towns and cities.
CNN reports at least 70% of the western Iraqi province of Anbar is under the control of the group.
The United States said last week it was considering ordering air strikes against the jihadists.

Story 6: ISIS ONLINE CHEERLEADER MUSA CERANTONIO SPOTTED IN PH
One of the most influential jihadist “inspirations” for fighters in Syria and Iraq is in the Philippines.
Australian and Philippine authorities confirm Melbourne-born Musa Cerantonio is in the country and was spotted in Manila, Cebu and Zamboanga.
Raised a Christian, the 29-year-old Cerantonio converted to Islam.
He combines traditional media with new media to urge Muslims to join the jihad in Syria and Iraq.
His radical teachings are on YouTube, and he spreads the ideology espoused by terrorist group al-Qaeda on Twitter and Facebook.
Reacting to reports of Australian police moving against him, he tweeted, “Come and meet us in the mountains of Sulu if you wish to find me.”
He added, “We will be waiting, no promises that we will be gentle though.”
His Twitter account has since been taken down.
When asked why Cerantonio isn’t being arrested, an official said, “Cerantonio knows what governments can do to him so he makes sure he stays in the gray area.”

Story 7: EGYPT SENTENCES AL-JAZEERA JOURNALISTS
An Egyptian court on Monday sentences three Al-Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison.
The journalists are accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohammed Morsi.
Australian Peter Greste and two other reporters working for Qatar-based Al-Jazeera English were among the 20 defendants.
The trial triggered international outrage and fears of more media crackdowns in Egypt.
Greste and Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy were sentenced to seven years, while producer Baher Mohamed received two sentences — one for seven years and another for three years.
Egypt considers Al-Jazeera the voice of Qatar, and accuses Doha of backing the Muslim Brotherhood.

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, anger grows in Japan after lawmakers hurled sexist comments at a colleague giving a speech about the plight of women.
Assemblywoman Ayaka Shiomura was talking about the struggles of Japanese women with motherhood when she was heckled by two male lawmakers.  
The first one shouted, “You should get married,” while the second said “Can you even bear a child?”
With tears in her eyes, Shiomura carried on with her speech.
She later said on Facebook the comments were like “a punch in the gut.”
A backlash ensues, with women lawmakers demanding that the hecklers be named.

At number 6, Hong Kong citizens voted in an unofficial electoral reform poll.
Beijing was vocal in its criticism of the exercise, calling it “illegal.” Online polling started Friday with more than half a million residents taking part in the “civil referendum.”
The poll asked how voters would like to choose their next leader. China promised direct elections in 2017, but ruled out allowing voters to choose which candidates can run.

And at number 9, CNN’s technology forecaster Paul Saffo says Amazon’s new Fire Phone is not a phone but a shopping mall.
He says its a ‘gorgeous’ marketplace with quote “infinite selections and endless opportunities.”
Noting Amazon had entered the mobile game later than most, Saffo says the phone won’t be able to catch up with tech giants Apple or Google.
But he says the Fire Phone is changing the game by shifting the focus of mobile to –quote– “satisfying our seemingly endless desire to buy stuff.”

Story 9: LATE GOALS SAVE ARGENTINA, PORTUGAL
In World Cup news: A last-minute goal from football superstar Lionel Messi spared Argentina a disappointing draw Sunday.
The 1-0 victory over Iran came courtesy of second-half saves from goalkeeper Sergio Romero and Messi’s magic moment.
Argentina advances to the last 16.
In another match, Portugal escapes elimination after a 2-2 draw with USA.
The Americans appeared to be on their way to a win but a header by Silvestre Varela late into the game tied the score.
A loss would have booted Portugal out of contention after losing to Germany, 4 to zero, in their opening match.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff