Rappler Newscast | October 13, 2014

DE LIMA TO BINAY CAMP: I CANNOT BE INTIMIDATED
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima hits the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay for “overreacting” to her statements about her plan to investigate corruption allegations against Binay.
Binay’s party, the United Nationalist Alliance, accused De Lima of having –quote– “prejudged the matter” following her –quote– “sudden interest” in the controversy.
De Lima earlier said she will “most likely” investigate Binay based on the information disclosed at the Senate hearings.
Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado led the charge in a series of exposés against Binay before the Senate, the latest of which points to a 350-hectare farm in Rosario, Batangas.

COA: ALCALA OFFICE MISHANDLED P759M IN PDAF
The Commission on Audit says the office of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala misused P759.1 million worth of lawmakers’ funds.
State auditors found that the pork barrel of 27 lawmakers were channeled to to non-governmental organizations mostly under the network of Godofredo Roque.
The agency says the agriculture department used satellite agencies as conduits instead of implementing the projects itself.

MORE FILIPINOS FEEL AQUINO STRAYED FROM ‘STRAIGHT PATH’: SURVEY
A Pulse Asia survey shows many Filipinos feel the President did not remain true to his battle cry of tuwid na daan or straight path.
Only 29% of Filipinos say Aquino fulfilled his promise for a transparent and corrupt-free government.
36% of Filipinos say Aquino strayed from his policy, while 34% are undecided.

EMPOWERING THE FILIPINO TAXPAYER
Possible good news for wage earners: the House of Representatives on September approved a bill increasing the tax exemption ceiling of bonuses from P30,000 to P70,000.
Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo says if the Senate approves the bill within the year Filipino taxpayers can enjoy tax-free bonuses by June 2015.

MIRO QUIMBO, WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: We need to be able to empower the taxpayer. They are the most tax-burdened in the entire ASEAN. We have the highest tax rate…Bonuses are bonuses. They’re not supposed to be taxed. They should be given to you in whole…It uplifts the spirit of the worker. So when he goes to work he’s able to work better… he’s more productive (knowing he can bring home more) that he’s able to bring more.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue or BIR opposes the proposed bill.

MAYON VOLCANO HAVING A NON-EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or Phivolcs   director Renato Solidum says Mayon Volcano in Albay is having a non-explosive eruption.
Authorities observed lava flow on the volcano’s eastern side Sunday stretching further down the slopes.
Solidum says this is due to magma reaching the volcano’s crater.
Solidum adds, Mayon remains on Alert Level 3, with a hazardous eruption possible within weeks.

FIRST US EBOLA INFECTION RESULT OF ‘PROTOCOL BREACH’
Health officials blame a breach of protocol for the first Ebola infection on US soil.
On Saturday, a female caregiver from Texas tested positive for Ebola.
Officials say the woman had “extensive contact” with Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who died in the US Wednesday.
The latest case underlines the United Nations’ fears in the United States about Ebola…
for which there is no vaccine or widely available treatment.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

ROCK LEGEND U2 ACCUSED OF SPAMMING
At number 9, U2 faces a backlash for releasing its latest album, Songs of Innocence, to half a billion iTunes users for free.
Some accuse U2 of spamming, calling it “heavy-handed and inappropriate.”
About 26 million people downloaded the new album.
U2 frontman Bono says more people listened to it…
than those who bought their top-selling album “The Joshua Tree.”

GOOGLE REJECTS 58% OF ‘RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN’ REQUESTS
And at number 10, Being “forgotten” on search engine Google will be a long-shot.
Google says it granted only 42% of more than a hundred thousand “right to be forgotten’ requests.
Google grants requests containing inaccurate or outdated information, but not when public interest is at stake.

BRITISH QUEEN MAKES ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE A DAME
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II confers honorary damehood on American actress Angelina Jolie.
The title is given to those “who render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country.”
Jolie, a United Nations goodwill ambassador since 2001, campaigned to raise awareness of sexual violence in war zones with former British foreign minister William Hague.

Newscast Production Staff