PNP on US involvement, Sulpicio Lines, Filipinas in Mars | The wRap

Today on Rappler:

• Philippine police downplay US involvement in the Mamasapano clash.
• Shipping company Sulpicio Lines can no longer ferry people.
• 2 Filipino women are in the running for slots in the Mars colony project.

FAULTY GRENADES, US IN MAMASAPANO? WAIT FOR PROBE – PNP
Philippine police officials say it’s best to wait for the results of investigations on police operations in Mamasapano, Maguindanao before coming to conclusions.
The police downplay reports the grenades issued to Special Action Force or SAF troopers were duds.
They also downplay reports in the media that claim Americans spearheaded the Mamasapano operation from beginning to end.
Citing a sworn statement by SAF intelligence officer Superintendent Raymund Train, a Philippine Star report says the grenades were “defective and apparently did not explode” and Train’s team ran out of bullets.
Other reports say Americans were involved in the operations in Mamasapano.
Malacañang does not address the question of American involvement directly but Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma says transnational cooperation is acceptable when dealing with crimes such as terrorism.
Acting police chief Leonardo Espina says the BOI should be ready with their findings in one or two weeks’ time.
Pending the BOI probe results, the House of Representatives also suspended its own inquiry which will resume in two weeks.

SULPICIO LINES LOSES PERMIT TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE
Almost 7 years since the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars in 2008, the government decides Sulpicio Lines is now limited to cargo operations.
The Maritime Industry Authority or Marina board found the liability goes to the shipping company for its “failure to exercise its extraordinary duty as a common carrier.”
200 people died and 500 were missing in the 2008 tragedy.
Between 1980 and 2008, Sulpicio reportedly had 15 vessels that ran aground, 5 vessels that sank, 6 vessels in collision incidents, 4 vessels that caught fire, and 3 vessels stalled at sea.

MRT3 MAKES SUDDEN STOP, CAUSES PANIC
Another glitch hits the Metro Rail Transit or MRT3 Tuesday after one of its trains abruptly stopped near the Santolan station, causing some passengers to fall to the floor.
The southbound train makes two sudden stops between the GMA-7 Kamuning and Santolan stations, forcing the passengers to disembark.
MRT3 general manager Roman Buenafe says automatic train protection brakes were activated, likely triggered by aging train parts.
Buenafe adds, no passengers were seriously hurt.

TENS OF THOUSANDS IN COPENHAGEN VIGIL FOR SHOOTING VICTIMS
At least 30,000 people gathered in Copenhagen Monday in honor of two victims of weekend attacks.
Stunned citizens flocked to the center of the city in a vigil.
Denmark is one of the world’s most peaceful countries.
A 55-year-old man was shot during a free speech debate while a 37-year-old was shot in a synagogue last Saturday.
Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt says, “This is a conflict between the core values of our society and violent extremists…”
and “not a conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims.”
The gunman, a Dane of Palestinian origin, was killed by police in a shootout Sunday.

TWO FILIPINOS TO GET A SHOT AT MARS TRIP
Two Filipino women are in the running for a trip to Mars.
Minerva Rañeses and US-based Jaymee Orillosa del Rosario applied for the Netherlands-based Mars One project which aims to get people on Mars by 2024 to establish a colony.
The final list will have 24 who will be sent to Mars in 6 separate launches.

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– Rappler.com

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Production Staff