Rappler Newscast | October 20, 2014

• 4 American witnesses in Laude case left the Philippines.
• The public wants Binay to face the Senate but his camp calls it a ‘kangaroo court’.
• Indonesian president Joko Widodo or Jokowi takes office.

Story 1: 79% OF PINOYS WANT VP BINAY TO FACE SENATE PROBE – SWS

Should Vice President Jejomar Binay appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee?
A Social Weather Stations or SWS survey says 79% of Filipinos agree that Binay should face the Senate to explain his view of the string of corruption exposés against him.
Only 10% disagree while 11 % were undecided
The survey polled 1,200 respondents from September 26-29…
a month after the Senate probe was launched in August…
and about a week after Binay delivered a 21-minute televised speech to defend himself.
But Binay’s camp says it is not swayed by the survey.
Binay’s spokesman, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla says it will be futile for the Vice President to attend the hearings.
He adds, “There are other venues where the Vice President can address the baseless allegations and lies.”

Story 2: 4 US WITNESSES IN OLONGAPO SLAY LEFT PHILIPPINES – DFA
Citing information from the US Embassy, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs or DFA says 4 American witnesses in the murder of Jennifer Laude have left the Philippines.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose says the 4 witnesses “have already satisfied the legal requirements.”
He adds, the US assures the department the witnesses will be available for the trial.
In a related development, Laude’s German boyfriend arrives at her wake Monday.
Jennifer met him online, and they planned to get married in Thailand.
Laude’s family is looking to hold cremation on Friday.

Story 3: MAN ARRESTED IN NLEX HOSTAGE-TAKING INCIDENT
Police in Bulacan take a man into custody who took at least 13 people hostage inside a bus at the North Luzon Expressway.
Authorities identified the suspect as 35-year-old Lauro Sanchez from Agoncillo town in Batangas.
Radio reports say a police SWAT team was able to enter the bus at around 8:40 am and arrested the hostage taker.

Story 4: MILITARY FINDS ABANDONED ABU SAYYAF ‘CAMPS’
The Philippine military says it discovered 2 abandoned Abu Sayyaf “camps” in Patikul, Sulu, Sunday.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said one was found in barangay Buhanginan where the German hostages were likely hidden.
The other camp, which can house 100 people, was found in Kabuntakas village.
Cabunoc said war materials found in the camps could help the military identify the location of the Abu Sayyaf and their hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf released kidnapped Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Dielen, 55, Friday night.

Story 5: JOKOWI TAKES OFFICE, URGES INDONESIA TO WORK TOGETHER
It’s official: Joko Widodo or Jokowi is now Indonesia’s president.
Sworn in Monday, Jokowi is the first leader without deep roots in the Suharto dictatorship, an outsider not a member of its political elite.
Analysts say the euphoria is likely to be short-lived, as Jokowi faces a number of challenges in leading the world’s fourth most populous country.
Among those problems are an opposition parliament, rampant corruption, and fears of growing support for terrorist group ISIS or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
In his inauguration speech Jokowi calls for a united, collective effort.
The man he defeated, former Gen Prabowo Subianto, saluted him from the audience.
He says hard work is a “prerequisite to becoming a big nation.”
“We will never become a big nation if we’re divided, we will never be truly free without hard work.”

Story 6: NIGERIA IS EBOLA-FREE – WHO
The World Health Organization officially declares Nigeria Ebola-free Monday.
This comes after 42 days — equivalent to two incubation periods without new confirmed cases of the deadly virus.
Nigeria’s WHO country representative Rui Gama Vaz says Ebola is gone for now…. calling it a “spectacular success story.”

Story 7: THE wRap
Let’s now look at Rappler’s “wRap” for today.
a list of the ten most important events around the world you shouldn’t miss.
At number 4, People found guilty of Internet “trolling” in Britain could be jailed for up to two years under government proposals.
The proposals come after a number of high-profile case of abuse on Twitter.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says the move marks the government’s determination “to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob.”
And at number 5, gay activists lashed out Sunday at the Catholic Church’s failure at a major synod to open its doors to gay people.
After two weeks of fierce debate, the prelates approved a final document but sidelined 3 paragraphs that could have signaled a more welcoming stance towards gays and allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion.
The disappointed activists hoped the liberal-leaning Pope would be able to bring groundbreaking change at the conference of bishops.

Story 8: CHARICE: ‘MY SOUL IS MALE’
Filipino singing sensation Charice Pempengco tells Oprah Winfrey she identifies as a male.
Pempengco says, “My soul is male.”
But says she is not thinking about going through gender reassignment surgery.
Pempengco became famous after her videos on Youtube caught the attention of talk show hosts Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.

Story 9: PACQUIAO MAKES PBA DEBUT, DONAIRE LOSES BY KO
In Sports, two Filipino boxers take center stage Sunday but not for the usual reasons.
People’s champ Manny Pacquiao made his Philippine Basketball Association debut as a player-coach when the PBA opened its 40th Season.
Pacquiao’s team – the KIA Sorentos – won the first game of the season against the Blackwater Elite.
But the boxer won’t be seeing basketball action for a while as he prepares for his November fight against American boxer Chris Algieri.
Nonito Donaire Jr suffers the first knockout loss of his career when he went down in the 6th round against undefeated Jamaican boxer Nicholas Walters.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff