Rappler Newscast | September 30, 2014

Today on Rappler.

• Senators hit controversial police chief Alan Purisima for his “white house”
• Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying calls for an end to protests
• The Ebola epidemic brings Liberia near its breaking point

PNP CHIEF NOT RESIGNING: CORRUPT WON’T WIN

The Senate grills Philippine police chief Alan Purisima Tuesday.
Purisima faces at least 3 graft and plunder complaints over alleged anomalous deals, an under-declared home in Nueva Ecija, and the lavish construction of his quarters in Camp Crame.
Purisima hits back at his detractors and says he will not resign.
He says the motive behind attacks against him are clear: the police force’s crusade to eradicate corruption and fix systems within its ranks.

ALAN PURISIMA, PNP CHIEF: Hindi tayo nagulat na sadya tayong sinisiraan… [pero] hindi tayo tatalikod sa ating tungkulin… Hindi tayo papayag na mananalo ang katiwalian.

(I wasn’t surprised that people were attacking me but I will not turn my back on my responsibilities. I will not let the corrupt win.)

Purisima says his Nueva Ecija property was built through his hard work.
He says he allowed contractors to build his Crame quarters for free as he did not see anything wrong with it.
Purisima identified the pro-bono contractors of the so-called “White House” as Carlos Gonzales of ULTICON Builders, Alexander Lopez of Pacific Concrete Corporation, and Christopher Pastrana of CAPP Industries.
Documents reveal the house to cost around P 12 million or about $266,000.
Senator Grace Poe grills Purisima about the contractors and donors.
Poe says there’s nothing wrong with donations but “the right process” needs to be followed.

GRACE POE, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: So Chief PNP, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Under mitigating circumstances, you will perhaps have to explain it in the Ombudsman since you have a pending case.

Purisima admits the Philippine National Police or PNP is far from perfect.

ALAN PURISIMA, PNP CHIEF: I will not deny that PNP is a work in progress…The PNP needs a transformation process to chip away imperfections to become an ideal law enforcement organization that deserves the respect of its people.

Despite the allegations, Purisima enjoys the trust of President Benigno Aquino, who has publicly defended the police chief.
The two have a long history.
Purisima was part of the team tasked to secure the young Aquino during the presidency of his mother, the late Corazon Aquino.
On Monday Purisima called for a command conference among the PNP’s top officials.
PNP spokesman Wilben Mayor says top officials discussed key lessons from Purisima’s anti-kidnapping conference in Colombia.
He adds, there were no loyalty checks.

AQUINO VOWS: SPECIAL POWERS ONLY FOR ENERGY SHORTAGE
President Aquino says his request for special powers from Congress will be used solely to address a pending energy crisis.
Aquino says there is a need for Congress authorization to contract additional generating capacity…
in the face of a possible 300- megawatt energy shortfall in 2015.
He says he wants to make sure the economy “does not lose its momentum” because of an energy shortage.
Lawmakers have yet to decide on giving additional powers to the President.
Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA states Congress, through a joint resolution…
may authorize the granting of special powers if power shortage is imminent.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla earlier warned of a 7-week rotating brownout in the summer of 2015
if Aquino is not granted special powers.
Purchasing or leasing power generators takes months.

PH HITS CHINA, SALUTES PEACEKEEPERS IN UN
The Philippines criticizes China’s expansionist claims in the South China Sea before the world’s largest gathering of diplomats.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario addresses the annual UN General Assembly in New York, defending Manila’s decision to take Beijing to court.
Ayee Macaraig files this video blog.

“Dangerous, reckless. forceful.”
The Philippines does not mince words as it raises before the United Nations China’s acts of aggression in the South China Sea.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario asks the UN General Assembly to support Manila’s historic arbitration case against Beijing under its so-called Triple Action Plan.

Del Rosario details Beijing’s activities from refusing to leave the Scarborough Shoal to imposing fishing rules to conducting reclamation.
The Philippines’ top diplomat says contrary to its words, China is repeatedly violating international law.

ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY: It has refused to join us and has continued to unilaterally embark on an expansionist claim that violates the legitimate rights of the Philippines and other littoral neighbors under UNCLOS such as their Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves. Instead of peacefully resolving the maritime disputes within the framework of UNCLOS, said State embarked on a series of dangerous, reckless and forceful activities in an attempt to impose unilateral change in the maritime status quo of the South China Sea.

Del Rosario also urges the UN to immediately address the dangers peacekeepers face.
The secretary praises Filipino blue helmets after they were called cowards for defying a controversial order to supposedly surrender their weapons to the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front.

ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY: In the face of grave danger, Filipino peacekeepers have bravely helped to safeguard world peace. They have served with honor, distinction and professionalism in implementing peacekeeping mandates. We believe that outstanding operational and tactical issues relating to United Nations peacekeeping must be resolved at the highest levels possible.

Del Rosario says terrorism, maritime tensions and climate change are the top issues the Philippines faces.
Despite the controversies, he says Manila remains committed to engaging with the UN, and resolving disputes through peaceful means.
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, United Nations.

PAL RESUMES FLIGHTS TO NEW YORK
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL will fly again to New York on March 15, 2015.
The new US route comes fifteen days after businessman Lucio Tan bought back the 49% stake he used to own from conglomerate San Miguel Corporation for $1.3 billion.
PAL used to fly to New York but was forced to suspend the operations in 1997 due to the Asian financial crisis.
Tan says the airline is flying to New York City via Vancouver in Canada with flights 4 times a week.

DEMOCRACY PROTESTERS IGNORE HK LEADER’S CALL TO END DEMO
Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying calls for an immediate end to street protests, saying it had gone  “out of control.”
The protests paralyzed the city, causing business and travel to grind to a halt.
But protesters reject Leung’s demands, calling for him to step down.
Tens of thousands refuse to move from the heart of Hong Kong’s protests until China grants the financial hub democracy.
The protests were triggered by China’s decision not to grant full electoral democracy to the city.
Hong Kong will be able to vote for their next chief executive in 2017…
but only after candidates are vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.

EBOLA-HIT LIBERIA ON BRINK OF SOCIETAL COLLAPSE – EXPERTS
Ebola-hit Liberia finds itself near breaking point.
The impoverished west African state was on the slow road to recovery after a 14-year civil war caused 250,000 deaths…
until the Ebola outbreak.
At least 1,800 died from Ebola this year, and the risks plunge Liberians back into conflict.
On Saturday police came to investigate a murdered body on the streets of Liberian capital Monrovia.
A small crowd hurled stones at police officers, sparking a riot.
The atmosphere in Liberia is tense, with an undermanned security force unable to intervene in riots.
Several police stations in Monrovia closed after officers died of Ebola, and a military camp reported around 30 sick soldiers.
The World Health Organization says Liberia already lost 89 out of 184 infected health workers.
The World Bank gave Liberia 41 million euros or $52 million in aid.

SPANISH COURT SUSPENDS CATALONIA INDEPENDENCE VOTE
In a unanimous decision…
Spain’s Constitutional Court on Monday suspended an independence referendum called by the Catalonia region for November 9.
The decision came hours after Spain’s central government asked to declare the independence referendum illegal.
Last Saturday Catalonia region leader Artur Mas signed a decree calling for the referendum.
Conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says the move “divides Catalans, alienates them from Europe and the rest of Spain and seriously harms their welfare”.
But Catalonian leaders remain undaunted as they vow to press ahead with preparations for the vote.
Buoyed by mass street demonstrations, Mas pushed ahead for a vote in defiance of Madrid.
The independence movement in Catalonia gathered strength in recent years as Spain’s economic crisis led to an increase in unemployment and fiscal debt.
Catalonia formally adopted the status of a “nation” in 2006 but the Spanish Constitutional Court overruled that claim.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

CHINA BLOCKS INSTAGRAM IN HONG KONG; PROTESTERS TURN FESTIVE
Beijing seeks to wipe social media coverage of mass protests in Hong Kong by blocking photo-sharing service Instagram.
Wanting a free choice in the 2017 elections, protesters flood Hong Kong’s Central District as netizens tweet and post photos of chaos.
China’s legislature rules the vetting of candidates by a pro-Beijing committee.
Protesters turned parts of Hong Kong into a massive street party, with protesters calling their mass action the “umbrella revolution.”

PILGRIMS HEAD TO MECCA FOR HAJJ
Muslim pilgrims start heading to Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage starting Thursday.
The hajj this year comes as two deadly viruses hit predominantly Islamic regions.
The Ebola virus hit Africa, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus hit Saudi Arabia.
Ebola-stricken countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were not granted permission to send pilgrims.

ASIA’S ECONOMIC BOOM HOBBLED BY WEAK GOVERNANCE
The Asian Development Bank or ADB warns, Asia’s fast economic growth may be jeopardized by poor governance.
In a report, the ADB says “government effectiveness, rule of law, regulatory quality, and curbing corruption
facilitate the achievement of economic, social and environmental outcomes.”
ADB adds, addressing governance issues could improve human development, gender equality, infrastructure quality and water security.

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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