SUMMARY
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Today on Rappler.
- State auditors say funds and foreign donations for post-Haiyan relief did not reach the victims.
- Two cops in the Manila kidnapping that went viral are linked to another case.
- Actor George Clooney will marry his fiancee in two weeks.
COA: YOLANDA FUND, DONATIONS DID NOT REACH VICTIMS
State auditors reveal hundreds of millions of pesos in funds for the relief and rehabilitation after Super Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda, did not reach the victims.
The report says government offices used them for operations or kept them in banks.
In a Commission on Audit or COA report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council received a total of P48.82 million or $1.1 million in donations.
COA says the local and foreign cash donations were never used by the NDRRMC.
The report says “The donations remained intact with the depository bank.”
“There were no donations to date out of the donations received.”
COA says holding back the funds deprives calamity victims of timely assistance, defeating the purpose of the donations.
COA also looked into how the Office of Civil Defense or OCD used its Quick Response funds or QRFs, which should have served as “standby fund for relief and rehabilitation.”
The OCD administers the NDRRMC.
The QRFs of the Civil Defense office amounted to P692.77 million or $15.82 million for 2013.
Based on the COA report, only 17% of the total quick response fund for 2013 – P121.18 million or $2.77 million, was spent on Haiyan-related operations.
Of the 17% used, the biggest expense was for petroleum, oil and lubricants.
Groceries and medical supplies were purchased, but these were for government personnel.
COA says many of the supplies were never used and now near their expiration dates.
The council’s Memorandum Order 13 says families affected by disasters were supposed to receive P10,000 or $230 cash assistance for each dead relative and P5,000 or $114 for those injured.
MALACAÑANG: NO UNDUE DELAY IN ZAMBOANGA REHAB
Malacañang defends government’s rebuilding efforts in Zamboanga a year after rebels attacked the city, saying there is — in the words of the spokesman– “no undue delay.”
Almost 10,000 homes were burned down in the siege of Zamboanga City, with over 120,000 individuals displaced by the conflict.
Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma on Tuesday says the government aims to finish permanent houses for the victims by December.
He adds the sheer number of families affected makes it impossible to complete the housing projects within a year.
Coloma also says funding for the city’s rehabilitation has been released and is readily available.
Earlier, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco admitted more internally displaced people or IDPs died after the siege than during the actual conflict.
On September 2013, a group of Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF rebels marched into the city…
sparking a riot that killed 38 civilians and military… and at least 153 rebels from the MNLF.
COPS IN EDSA ‘KIDNAP’ CHARGED FOR SAME MODUS IN 2011
Two Police officers in a viral photo of a robbery and kidnapping on one of Manila’s main roads, EDSA, may have done it before.
National Police Commission Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta on Tuesday says 2 of 8 police officers involved in the incident are charged in a similar case in 2011.
Rameil Hachero and Jonathan Rodriguez were charged for illegal arrest, detention, and extorting money from motorists.
Escueta says the two cops stopped a vehicle in 2011, arrested its passengers, and brought them to the police station.
The two cops allegedly told their victims they were being charged for possession of illegal drugs.
The victims were eventually released, but only after the cops got money from the victims.
Escueta said Hechero and Rodriguez were relieved in 2011 pending the resolution of the case.
Relief in the PNP does not mean being discharged from the service.
A police officer may be re-assigned, put on “floating” status, or detained.
Of the two only Rodriguez is under police custody.
Hachero has yet to report for work.
The 2014 EDSA kidnapping used the same methods.
Cops blocked a White Fortuner and arrested its passengers along EDSA and brought them to the La Loma police station in Quezon City.
The victims were later released with no charges filed against them.
The Philippine Stock Exchange or PSE delists Alphaland Corporation for repeated violations of disclosure rules.
The PSE bars the company from relisting for the next 5 years.
The PSE says Alphaland repeatedly failed to submit full, fair, accurate and timely disclosures of material information to shareholders…
on the alleged simulated sale of shares between its Singapore holdings unit and Credit Suisse Singapore.
It also disqualifies Alphaland officials CEO Roberto Ongpin, president Mario Oreta and corporate secretary Rodolfo Ponferrada…
from holding board posts or executive positions in any company applying for listing with the exchange.
In his appeal to the PSE, Ongpin says Alphaland disclosures did not violate rules and requests.
He also requests for the reversal of the penalty imposed against Ponferrada and Oreta.
PSE president Hans Sicat says the company observed due process in handling Alphaland’s case.
Trading in Alphaland has been suspended since January this year.
The stock was last traded on January 19, when it closed at P17.48 per share.
SAN MIGUEL AGREES TO SELL PAL STAKE BACK TO TAN
San Miguel Corporation agrees to sell legacy carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL back to tobacco billionaire Lucio Tan.
San Miguel says it signed an agreement stating it will sell its 49% stake to Tan’s group.
The anticipated change in PAL’s ownership comes after the company posted a financial turnaround.
Informed sources say San Miguel gave Tan a week to raise $1 billion to acquire the stake…
and get Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as partner.
The foreign airline is expected to buy a 40% stake in PAL.
SCRAMBLE TO ‘SAVE’ UK AFTER SCOTLAND REFERENDUM SHOCK
Supporters of the United Kingdom fought back Monday to stop Scotland voting for independence in an upcoming referendum.
An opinion poll put separatists ahead for the first time.
The YouGov poll in The Sunday Times newspaper gave separatists 51% support compared to the unionists’ 49%.
In a speech urging Scots to vote to stay in the union, former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown said…
the draft laws that will grant Scotland further powers over taxation and spending would be ready by January.
But the pro-independence campaign said the opposition party can’t guarantee their promise.
Pro-independence leader First Minister Alex Salmond warned of “panic” in the unionist camp.
The British pound fell to a 10-month low over the news, triggering fears of a break-up of the 300-year-old union.
THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
APPLE SET TO UNVEIL NEW DEVICES
Apple is expected to unveil Tuesday a new big-screen iPhone and possibly an “iWatch”.
The iWatch could shake up the world of wearable computing, adding to the line-up of Apple’s mobile and desktop devices.
Apple chief Tim Cook earlier said wearable computing makes more sense on the wrist than in eyewear, an obvious reference to Google Glass.
Apple is also expected to dive into the phablet market with the release of a 5.5-inch version of the iPhone 6.
SECOND ARTIFICIAL HEART TRANSPLANT IN FRANCE
French Health Minister Marisol Touraine announced Monday the success of a new-generation artificial heart’s transplant last August.
The operation was done at a university hospital in the city of Nantes.
The artificial heart is powered by lithium batteries and uses soft “biomaterials” that will lessen the risk of blood clots and rejection by the body’s immune system.
Twitter starts testing its “buy buttons” that will make shopping from mobile devices “convenient and easy.”
The test is limited to a small group of Twitter users in the US…
among them brands such as Home Depot, Burberry, and The Nature Conservancy.
Once it rolls out, advertisers will be able to pay to promote and push Twitter messages featuring buy buttons.
For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’
GEORGE CLOONEY TO WED IN VENICE IN ‘COUPLE OF WEEKS’
Oscar-winning actor George Clooney says he will marry fiancee Amal Alamuddin in the next two weeks.
In an interview with Preview magazine Clooney says he met Alamuddin in Italy and will marry her in Venice.
Reports suggest they could tie the knot on September 26, but Clooney’s representative says there’s no specific date.
One of Hollywood’s most sought-after bachelors, Clooney was married to US actress Talia Balsam from 1989 until 1993 but has shown little interest in settling down until he started dating Alamuddin.
Alamuddin is a human rights lawyer.
She worked with the international tribunal to probe the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri…
and assisted ex-UN head Kofi Annan in peace efforts in Syria.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS AND DAVID BURTKA GET MARRIED
Actor Neil Patrick Harris and partner David Burtka tie the knot.
Harris’ representative confirmed the couple got married Saturday in Italy.
Harris also confirmed the news by tweeting a photo of him and Burka together.
The ceremony was officiated by Pam Fryman, Harris’ director in the TV show How I Met Your Mother.
The two have been together for 10 years.
– Rappler.com
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