MANILA, Philippines – If the intelligence and confidential funds under the proposed 2017 budget of the Office of the President are for the Duterte administration’s anti-drugs and peace and order efforts, why not allocate these directly under intelligence and law enforcement agencies instead?

This was the last minute intervention of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during the Senate hearing on the 2017 proposed budget of the office of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 4. 

Trillanes was almost unable to make his manifestation since Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on finance, had already ended the hearing after around just 10 minutes.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Senator Trillanes asks ES Medialdea to justify P2B increase in confi, intel funds under Office of the Pres <a href="https://t.co/HXDCcok7Fz">pic.twitter.com/HXDCcok7Fz</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/783190826985762816">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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After the short presentation of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Undersecretary Des Justol, Legarda clarified that the bulk of the OP funds would be used for the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

She then said she would not ask any questions on the confidential and intelligence funds given their sensitive nature. After this, she ended the hearing. (READ: EXPLAINER: Office of the President's confidential, intel funds)

She, however, huddled with Medialdea and other Malacañang staff, to ask about these funds specifically.

In a few minutes, Trillanes walked into the room, interrupted the huddle and asked if he could make a manifestation. He could be heard saying he thought the hearing was to start at 1:30 pm. Legarda began the hearing a few minutes after 1 pm.

Upon Trillanes’ request, Legarda resumed the hearing at which point Trillanes proceeded with his manifestation.

“In light of the increase by P2 billion, I’m concerned with the absorptive capacity of the Office of the President per se to handle such a huge amount because, comparatively, the other intelligence units within the government have very small intelligence funds,” said Trillanes. 

Other agencies more 'suited'

Medialdea explained that the funds would be used mostly for intelligence gathering to support Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and fight against security threats, especially during the Philippine hosting of the ASEAN Summit in January 2017 to be attended by ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners, and other foreign dignitaries.

But Trillanes said other agencies would be better equipped to spend such funds.

“If the primary advocacy is the war on illegal drugs, then we can realign it or transfer it to the PDEA  (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) which is very much suited to the war against drugs,” said the senator, among the most outspoken critics of Duterte in Congress. 

Unless Medialdea is able to justify the allocation of such funds to the OP, Trillanes would recommend that the requested intelligence and confidential funds be taken out of Duterte’s budget and allocated elsewhere – in agencies like the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Armed Forces.

“At the appropriate time, I will be making amendments if the Office of the President won’t be able to justify such an increase and assure that it will be transferred to the appropriate agencies that will be in tune with the advocacies of the President,” said Trillanes. 

The soldier-turned-lawmaker made it clear, however, that he was not out to be an "obstructionist” and merely wanted to help strengthen the “checks and balance” between the Executive and Legislative when approving the national budget. 

OP Undersecretary Justol responded to Trillanes’ concerns by pointing out that under a Joint Memorandum Circular, the OP will eventually be giving the funds to the agencies mentioned by Trillanes.

But she said it’s important that Duterte has “control” over these funds.

“Eventually, by the budget itself, it will be realigned to the different departments but it should be under the Office of the President for his control,” said Justol.

The disbursement of such funds would follow the processes outlined in a Joint Memorandum Circular, signed by the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit, Department of National Defense, and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The circular outlines how confidential and intelligence funds are to be used, given their sensitive nature.

Trillanes, however, argued that it would be better to allocate the funds directly to these agencies instead of through the OP.

“Instead of realigning later on, why not we make these amendments to the proposed budget right now?” he said. 

Justol mentioned there are security agencies directly under the OP, including the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, and National Coast Watch Council. 

Legarda ended the hearing by approving the proposed OP budget “pending their submission of the breakdown of the P2 billion” intel and confidential funds.

She asked Medialdea to submit the work and financial plan for these funds to the finance committee and to Trillanes.

Trillanes quickly added that this should be “with the understanding that this is conditional, that if such submissions won’t be satisfactory then we may make or propose amendments at the proper time.”

Interviewed by media after the hearing, Medialdea said Trillanes’ inputs were “fair” and that his office will submit the work and financial plan.

He could not say, however, how much of the intelligence and confidential funds would go to ensuring ASEAN Summit security, anti-drug efforts, or anti-terrorism efforts.  

Duterte himself has defended his request for more confidential and intel funds, saying he needs this for his "fight on many fronts."

The proposed 2017 budget of the OP is P19.99 billion, a 607% increase from the 2016 budget of P2.82 billion.

Of this, P15.46 billion is intended to cover “expenses during leaders’ summits, ministerial and senior officials’ meetings, as well as commemorative activities for the 50th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN in 2017.” (READ: Bulk of P15-B ASEAN budget of President's office for car rentals)

The P2-billion increase is to cover “increased requirements for intelligence information gathering and other surveillance activities.” 

Medialdea’s presentation did not detail how the P15.46 billion ASEAN Summit would be used. – Rappler.com

Expected today:

- Senator Risa Hontiveros to deliver a privilege speech on the alleged  sex video of Senator Leila de Lima

-Senator Sonny Angara to deliver a privilege speech on the hearings on extrajudicial killings. Watch! – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman, the country's first transwoman legislator, is supporting the passage of a bill seeking to legalize same-sex civil unions in the country.

"My personal stance is I am in favor of civil unions. I cannot be a hypocrite and say I recognize the equality of all citizens of our country, but at the same time tell two people who love each other that they cannot have their relationship recognized simply based on the basis of sexual orientation," said Roman in a press conference on Tuesday, October 4. 

"The sky will not fall if a civil union bill is passed. Dapat wala na sigurong langit sa Amerika. Hindi babagsak ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas dahil merong mga couples na same-sex na finally, na-recognize ang kanilang karapatan to inherit property or adopt children," added Roman.

(The sky will not fall if a civil union bill is passed. If that were true, America will not have a sky perhaps. The Philippine economy will not fall if the rights of same-sex couples to inherit property and adopt children are recognized.)

Same-sex marriage is already legal throughout the United States.  

Roman called for the media briefing shortly after meeting with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who a day earlier said he would file a measure institutionalizing same-sex civil marriage in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. 

During the meeting, Roman said Alvarez clarified with her that his measure would lift same-sex civil union prohibitions in the country's almost 3-decade-old Family Code.

"He wants to point out that we're talking about civil rights. Labas po dito 'yung mga religious beliefs (Religious beliefs are not included). We are just talking about civil rights," said Roman.

She added that Alvarez may have only used the word "marriage" instead of "union" because he was ambush interviewed by the media on October 3.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NOW: <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://twitter.com/speakeralvarez">@speakeralvarez</a> and Rep. <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://twitter.com/geraldinebroman">@geraldinebroman</a>, co-authors of the <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://twitter.com/hashtag/ADB?src=hash">#ADB</a>, begin discussions on the same-sex civil union bill. <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://twitter.com/hashtag/EqualityChamps?src=hash">#EqualityChamps</a> <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://t.co/lRYsbjqmJ0">pic.twitter.com/lRYsbjqmJ0</a></p>&mdash; Speaker Alvarez (@speakeralvarez) <a href="http://go.rappler.com/https://twitter.com/speakeralvarez/status/783195799903539200">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Currently, Alvarez's legal team is studying the best provisions to include in the bill that would recognize and protect the rights of couples who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, including the following:

• Inheritance of properties 
• The future of the spouse if a person falls ill
• Adoption

'Live and let live'

Some lawmakers, however, have opposed Alvarez's proposal this early, saying the measure might distract the 17th Congress from passing President Rodrigo Duterte's legislative agenda. 

Some also said that the divorce bill and the Anti Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Discrimination Act, of which Roman is a co-author along with around 150 other legislators, should be prioritized first. (READ: Emotional Roman urges Congress to pass anti-discrimination bill)

"I would say that the anti-discrimination bill has nothing to do with the same-sex civil union. The anti-discrimination bill, as I discussed during my privilege speech last September 19, deals with very specific situations of discrimination against members of the LGBT community," said Roman.

She argued that the anti-discrimination bill is more urgent because "it deals with daily situations where people are denied the right to study, to find a job, denied equal opportunities, denied basic services simply because they are members of the LGBT community."

Asked about possible opposition from various groups and even the Catholic Church, Alvarez already said this is only normal in a democracy. 

Roman added: "Malakas din naman ang oposisyon ng Simbahan sa ating Presidente. May nangyari ba?"

(There is also strong opposition by the Church against our President. Did something happen?)

According to her, the Philippines would benefit more if all Filipinos would uphold equality.

"What we will have are happier citizens. Live and let live. Be happy and let others be happy. Simple lang naman 'yan eh (It's that simple)," she said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – In a refreshing move after weeks of bickering among some of its members, the Senate acted unanimously on Tuesday, October 4, when it supported neophyte Senator Leila De Lima against the planned showing of her alleged video at a congressional inquiry.

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution No 184, condemning "in the strongest possible terms" the "illegal" plan of the House of Representatives. It was the women senators who filed Resolution 184, led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, De Lima’s friend and ally.

In her privilege speech on Tuesday, Hontiveros urged senators to unite against the issue of the alleged sex video, saying political differences should be set aside. In the end, no senator – even those critical of De Lima – opposed the resolution.

“Mr. President, Sen. Leila has her political battles and many of you might disagree with her positions. So be it. But on the singular issue of the sex video, the battle is bigger than Leila. It is about respect and decency between institutions. It is about chipping away at the structural misogyny that pervades our culture,” Hontiveros said.

“This is not just about Senator Leila. This is about every woman,” she added.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, said that as president of the administration party, PDP-Laban, he has ordered his partymates in the House to vote against the showing of the video.

“I gave a directive to partymates in the House. Should it come to a vote, they should vote against showing of the video,” Pimentel said.

De Lima is the fiercest critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, and a regular subject of the Chief Executive's tirades in his public addresses.

‘Illegal, inter-parliamentary courtesy’

The resolution called the House plan as “illegal, violative of inter-parliamentary courtesy and an affront to women’s dignity.”

It reiterated that the showing of the alleged private video violates Republic Act 9995 or the Anti Photo or Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 and RA 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

“It also violates the time-honored principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy, given that Senator De Lima is a sitting senator and should therefore not be subjected to the ridicule and ignominy of a purported sex video,” the resolution said.

“More importantly, it is a blow to our collective struggle to uplift the dignity of women, respect her agency and her autonomy over her own body, and is a form of slut-shaming that will not set a good example for the country,” it added.

Prior to this, several senators have also condemned such proposal. De Lima’s partymates in the Liberal Party also called it illegal while Pimentel cautioned their House counterparts that such move would have a “political price.”

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez retracted his earlier statement that there is nothing wrong with showing the video while Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II claimed on Tuesday that they do not have a copy of the video after repeatedly threatening to release it. (READ: Aguirre: 'De Lima' video won't be shown at House probe)

It was Duterte who first brought to public consciousness the controversial video, alleging De Lima was the woman there. – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON DC, USA – Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and US President Barack Obama joined forces Monday night, October 3, on the White House lawn, calling for a strong and rapid mobilization to curb rising worldwide temperatures.

"We are really in a race against time" said the US president, who has made the fight against global warming a priority of his two-term administration.

Obama's appearance with DiCaprio, who visited the White House to screen a new documentary, occurred as the Paris agreement on climate change is soon to come into force.

Nearly a decade after his first environmental documentary The 11th Hour hit screens, the actor and producer, who won an Oscar earlier this year for his role in The Revenant, screened his new climate change flick Before the Flood, which includes cameos by Obama and Pope Francis.

The meeting between Obama and DiCaprio took place as part of a festival on the White House lawn titled South by South Lawn, which is meant to celebrate creativity and innovation and is modeled after the tech, movie and music conference South by Southwest, which is held every year in Austin, Texas.

"Urgent action must be taken," said DiCaprio, a vocal Democrat, before turning his sights on the US presidential election on November 8.

"If you do not believe in climate change, you do not believe in facts or in science... and therefore in my humble opinion you should not be allowed to be in public office" he said.

The reference was a thinly veiled allusion to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has openly questioned the existence of global warming and the impact human activities have on it.

Obama has long insisted that world leaders take bold steps against global warming, acting against inertia or recalcitrance.

"Climate change is almost perversely designed to be very hard to solve politically" Obama said.

"The natural inclination of political systems is to put that stuff off as long as possible" he added.

'Energy efficiency of Japan'

Obama did however warn against a too austere approach, acknowledging that some people had legitimate concerns on the impact of an environmental transition, such as those who can't afford to buy a low-emission Prius or Tesla.

He also urged against the temptation to wait for revolutionary technological advances before adopting change, noting that an energy transition, by definition, would come bit by bit.

"If we just had the energy efficiency of Japan, we could reduce our energy consumption by 20%" he said.

The main component of Obama's "Clean Power Plan," which requires US power plants to undergo drastic reductions in CO2 emissions, has been placed on hold as it works its way through the US court system.

Critics of the plan say the restrictions it imposes are too costly, both in terms of implementation and job losses, for regions that live off the production of fossil fuels.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change – in which Obama was a key player by sealing an agreement with the world's other biggest polluter, China – is on the verge of entering into force. 

India, the world's third-largest producer of greenhouse gas, ratified the agreement on Sunday, making it the latest big polluter to formally sign on.

The accord, sealed last December in Paris, needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

With India's move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52% of emissions have now ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures.

"I anticipate that this agreement will actually go into force in the next few weeks... much faster than many of us anticipated" Obama said Monday evening.

The Paris agreement requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise of temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and strive for 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Will there be another ethics complaint against Senator Leila de Lima?

A day after the outrage on the Senate floor, Senator Richard Gordon said he is considering filing a complaint against De Lima for her alleged "unparliamentary" behavior during the Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings on Monday, October 3.

These "unparliamentary" acts, Gordon said, include De Lima's supposed withholding of information about witness Edgar Matobato and her "actuations" during the hearing.

If Gordon pushes through with the complaint, it would be the 3rd filed against De Lima, who is the fiercest critic of President Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: Ethics complaint vs De Lima? Issues of the ethics committee)

"Many members have said it should go to the ethics committee. I cannot let it pass eh because pinaghirapan namin 'yan (because we worked hard to prepare for the hearing)," Gordon told reporters on Tuesday, October 4.

Gordon claimed De Lima damaged the Senate's reputation. It was Gordon who replaced De Lima as Senate justice committee chairperson after the latter was ousted in an "unprecedented" move.

"The Senate's reputation has been sullied. You invite all these people, make them wait 13 hours tapos mag-wa-walk out ka (and then you'll just walk out). Tapos may shenanigans, di masisira reputation ng Senado (And then there are shenanigans which will destroy the reputation of the Senate)," Gordon said.

Gordon and De Lima had a heated exchange on Monday night after the former accused the latter of "material concealment" for supposedly hiding the kidnap-for-ransom case filed against Matobato. (READ: Senators gang up on De Lima over Matobato kidnap case)

The confrontation intensified when Gordon refused to apologize to De Lima, which led to her walkout.

Gordon is set to deliver a privilege speech on Wednesday, October 5, to condemn the acts of his colleagues De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV.

But if De Lima apologizes, would he reconsider? Gordon said she should apologize to the Senate and not to him.

'Material concealment'

Even though De Lima and Trillanes presented transcripts of previous hearings, Gordon insisted that De Lima committed "material concealment." This, he said, counts as an "unparliamentary act" and merits an ethics complaint.

De Lima and Trillanes had presented the transcripts of the September 15 and 22 hearings, where Matobato told Gordon himself that there was a kidnapping case filed against him before the National Bureau of Investigation.

Gordon admitted he is "partly" at fault for not remembering the exchange but he maintained he is still not buying it. Gordon then highlighted details of Matobato's testimony, which he called "inconsistent."

"Sinabi niya rito sa (Senate) hearing, mga pulis. Ang lumabas sa NBI, sa counter-affidavit niya, ibang mga tao (mga military), which was said yesterday. (He mentioned policemen in the Senate hearing, but cited the military in his counter-affidavit submitted to the NBI). That's why the concealment was material," Gordon said.

"That goes to character, you have information that this guy had a different set of accused people, that should have been made known to the committee," he added.

Trillanes, for his part, slammed Gordon for "nitpicking" against De Lima, and said Gordon had been humiliated by the release of the transcripts.

"Ngayon, hinarapan siya ng katotohan, pride ang umiiral. Lumalabas bias niya as chairman. Pero naghahanap ng butas. Kahapon nakita natin napahiya sila na 'yung kinapuputok ng butsi nila na 'di daw nagsabi si Matobato na 'yung about kidnapping case, eh 'yun pala nasa transcript," Trillanes said.

(Now, he was presented truth, he let pride get in the way. His bias as chairman is showing. They looked for loopholes. Yesterday, we saw how humiliated they were that what they were talking about – that Matobato did not mention the kidnapping case – turned out to be in the transcript.)

He then urged Gordon to be a "man" and apologize to De Lima for his false accusations. Gordon refuses to do it, saying he did nothing wrong. – Rappler.com

STRASBOURG, France (4th UPDATE) – The landmark Paris climate pact is poised to enter into force globally after the European Parliament joined the world's top polluters in endorsing the deal to slow the planet's dangerous temperature rise.

With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon watching the vote on Tuesday, October 4, the parliament overwhelmingly approved the EU's fast-track ratification of the deal sealed in Paris last December.

That puts the European Union on track to hand over its ratification to the United Nations on Friday, which would then take the international community above the threshold needed for implementation within one month.

"I'm extremely honoured to be able to witness this historic moment," Ban said at the European Parliament building following the vote that passed by 610 to 38, with 31 abstentions.

"I look forward to the Paris agreement entering into force as soon as possible, even in just a few days time."

The Paris accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and strive for 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible.

The European Parliament, the bloc's only elected body, backed a decision by EU environment ministers last Friday to fast-track approval of the deal, despite only seven out of 28 EU countries having themselves ratified it.

Fears that China and the United States, the world's two biggest polluters, were leaving Europe behind on ratifying last year's historic deal pushed them into rushing through the ratification.

'Credibility test'

To come into force the accord needs ratification from 55 countries, which must together account for at least 55% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for climate change.

With a decision in the last few days by India, the third biggest emitter, a total of 62 countries have ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures.

They all account for 52% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, and EU ratification will bring it over 55% threshold by including the seven EU countries who have already approved it.

The seven EU countries – Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia – account for some 5% of global emissions.

The entire bloc accounts for 12% of global emissions.

"It's a big historic moment," said Segolene Royal, the French environment minister Segolene Royal, who hosted the COP21 Paris climate talks.

She added that representatives from France and the six other EU countries will travel to New York on Friday to hand over the ratification documents, which will allow for the deal to enter force 30 days later.

In normal times, for such major international agreements, the EU and its 28 member states must deposit their ratification documents simultaneously under sometimes time-consuming procedures.

However, the member states overcame differences to reach a political agreement last week to bypass the usual process.

Europe has prided itself on taking a global lead on climate change issues but has watched with alarm as the rest of the world has left it behind.

"Europe today is demonstrating it's capable of great things when it puts its energy and forces together," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in Strasbourg at a time when the EU is buffeted by crises from migration to Brexit.

Both Oxfam and conservation group WWF gave a cautious welcome, warning all member states they face a "credibility test" or "enforcement test" in sticking to the deal.

During a White House event on Monday to highlight his campaign to battle climate change, US President Barack Obama warned: "We are really in a race against time." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – After Monday's fiasco, the Senate committee on justice and human rights decided to continue the probe into the spate of extrajudicial killings without witness Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Committee chairperson Senator Richard Gordon told reporters about the decision on Tuesday, October 4, after majority of the committee members held a caucus.

Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV, who belong to the panel, were not invited to the meeting.

"We will continue but Matobato will no longer be an issue because he's already damaged goods. We will set a hearing next week," Gordon told reporters.

Asked where De Lima and Trillanes were, Gordon said: "It's a free country. Manggugulo lang sila doon (They would just be a disturbance there). The majority, I supposed, decided to meet amongst each other. If they don't believe us, listen to us, and hit us outside the Senate, it's their own lookout."

Senators present at the meeting included committee vice chairman Panfilo Lacson, Grace Poe, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Manny Pacquiao. Zubiri and Pacquiao are known allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Gordon said the mood during the meeting was somber, following the heated exchange between senators the night before. (READ: Senators gang up on De Lima over Matobato kidnap case)

"Very sad, very downhearted at the actuations of the two senators. They're going around saying (things)," he said.

Gordon accused De Lima of "material concealment" for allegedly failing to disclose early on the kidnap-for-ransom case filed against Matobato. The case was filed before the National Bureau of Investigation by the wife of Sali Makdum, the alleged terrorist killed by Matobato and other alleged DDS members. (READ: Matobato admitted kidnap case vs him – Senate transcript)

The heated exchange among colleagues led to De Lima's walkout. (READ: De Lima to public: Sorry for my 'outburst, walkout' at Senate probe)

DDS killings out

Moving forward, Gordon said the Senate inquiry would only focus on the spate of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration and would exclude the DDS killings.

But he said he would be open to tackling the DDS again if there would be more witnesses other than Matobato.

Gordon said Matobato would no longer be needed because he has no credibility anymore. It was Matobato who accused Duterte of ordering killings through the DDS when he was Davao City mayor.

"Kung may haharap na iba. Matobato is damaged goods, kahit ilagay mo sa kaso, sira na. Sunog na sunog na," Gordon said. 

(Only if there are other witnesses. Matobato is damaged goods. Even if you use his testimony in a case, his credibility is already destroyed.)

Asked what would happen to the past testimony of the former hitman, Gordon said it might be excluded from the final committee report. (READ: Matobato's hits and misses)

"It has no probative value. He has totally destroyed his credibility," the senator added.

The controversial Senate probe was launched in September through a resolution filed by De Lima seeking an inquiry into the rise of extrajudicial killings.

It then expanded to the DDS killings, through a resolution filed by Trillanes, after Matobato was presented as witness.

Days after Matobato's testimony against the President, senators voted 16-4 to oust De Lima as chairperson of the committee on justice and human rights. – Rappler.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (3rd UPDATE) – Hurricane Matthew made landfall in southwestern Haiti early Tuesday, October 4, triggering major floods and forcing thousands to flee the path of the deadly storm that has already claimed 3 lives in the poorest country in the Americas.

The National Hurricane Center said Matthew made landfall shortly after daybreak as an "extremely dangerous" Category Four storm near the town of Les Anglais, packing maximum sustained winds of around 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour.

The most menacing storm in nearly a decade, Matthew began battering Haiti late Monday with strong winds and rising sea levels, before slamming ashore some 250 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince.

Even before making landfall along the southern edge of a jagged peninsula on Hispaniola – the divided island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic – Matthew was blamed for at least 3 deaths in Haiti, with fears that the toll could climb.

By 1500 GMT it had traveled to the Gulf of Gonave on Haiti's west coast, en route to Cuba, the Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean.

Matthew notched a 4 on the 5-level Saffir-Simpson wind scale, the first Category Four hurricane to make landfall in Haiti since Cleo in 1964, the NHC said.

The hurricane was forecast to dump 38 to 63 centimeters (15 to 25 inches) of rain over southern Haiti with up to a meter possible in isolated areas.

Rising waters already have caused extensive flooding in and around the flimsy homes and buildings in Haiti's southwest.

More than 6,400 Haitians have been evacuated to temporary shelters, although civil protection forces have struggled with locals who refused to leave some of the most vulnerable areas.

They included the capital's extremely impoverished, densely populated neighborhoods, including Cite Soleil – where one fifth of the half-million residents face serious flooding risks – and the seaside Cite L'Eternel.

First deluge, then mudslides

Part of the seaport city of Les Cayes was underwater after being deluged by Matthew, which now is blamed for triggering mudslides.

"We have already recorded a landslide between Les Cayes and Tiburon" in Haiti's Sud department, Marie-Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of Haiti's civil protection told AFP.

Haiti is home to almost 11 million people, many living in fragile housing.

Thousands are still living in tents in Haiti after the country's massive earthquake in 2010. Erosion is especially dangerous because of high mountains and a lack of trees and bushes in areas where they have been cut for fuel.

The head of one international relief group warned not just about the physical ravages from Matthew, but health risks as well.

"As it struggles with Zika and a prolonged cholera epidemic, this hurricane is a natural disaster that compounds an already desperate public health situation," said Gary Gottlieb, the CEO of the group Partners in Health.

UNICEF said it worries in particular about the plight of Haiti's vulnerable children.

"Water-borne diseases are the first threat to children in similar situations – our first priority is to make sure children have enough safe water," the group said.

Blankets, plastic sheeting

Interim President Jocelerme Privert urged Haitians to do what they could to get out of the path of the storm.

"My countrymen, do not be stubborn, do not say 'God is good' and will take care of you," he said in an address on Monday.

"We have no interest in risking your lives."

In nearby Jamaica, officials said the army and military reserves were called up to help deal with hurricane damage. Buses were also sent to flood-prone areas to move residents to shelters.

USAID said it has dispatched an elite disaster response team to Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

It also is sending some $400,000 in assistance to aid groups in Haiti and Jamaica for "critical relief to those impacted by the storm," and emergency relief supplies, including blankets, plastic sheeting and collapsible water containers.

The Red Cross has also deployed disaster teams to the countries most severely affected by Matthew.

Cuba has evacuated some 316,000 people from the east of the island, where Matthew was expected to hit later Tuesday.

"No one likes to leave their homes, but the sea is going to rise and that is very dangerous," said Pedro Gonzalez, a retired chef who had to leave a fishing islet where he lives off the city of Santiago.

Forecasters predict the hurricane could hit the US East Coast around midweek. Florida and parts of North Carolina have declared states of emergency. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Zika virus is endemic in the Philippines.

Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) revealed this on Tuesday, October 4, during the plenary deliberations on its proposed 2017 budget at the House of Representatives.

"After talking with the department, it was just established within the week that the Philippines is indeed endemic for Zika virus, Category 2," said Masbate 3rd District Representative Scott Davies Lanete, who sponsored DOH's proposed budget at the House.

Lanete, vice chairperson of the committee on appropriations, was answering questions during the interpellation by Kabayan Representative Harry Roque Jr. He was in consultation with DOH officials who were at the plenary.

Roque was pointing out the supposed "flip-flopping" of Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on the real status of Zika in the Philippines.

He criticized Ubial for not saying before a House committee that Zika is already endemic in the Philippines, only to say such in a television interview.

"The secretary meant that what is endemic is the carrier of Zika, the Aedes aegypti mosquito," Lanete explained to Roque.

Ubial also said this during a September 26 press conference. 

"We do not recommend travel ban to affected areas since Zika and the mosquito that carries it is actually endemic in the Philippines – it's found all over the country," Ubial said at the time. 

On Tuesday, Roque asked the department again about the status of Zika virus. Lanete said that health officials only established within the week that the Philippines is endemic for Zika virus.

A disease or condition is endemic when it is regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.

"I believe the proper way to deal with a pandemic such as Zika is to be truthful as to…whether [it is] endemic or simply imported," Roque said. (READ: What DOH is doing to deal with Zika, other public health threats)

Travel alert

On September 30, the United States Embassy in the Philippines released a bulletin informing US citizens that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued Travel Guidance for the Philippines regarding the risk of Zika virus infection.

"Zika virus is endemic. The risk of Zika to travelers, especially pregnant women, in endemic countries is likely lower (but not zero) than in areas where Zika is newly introduced and spreading widely," the bulletin read.

"Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their medical provider and consider postponing nonessential travel to the Philippines."

The Philippines has so far reported 12 cases of Zika virus for 2016. One of the patients is a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Cebu.

The World Health Organization classified the Philippines under Category 2, which refers to countries with possible endemic transmission or evidence of local mosquito-borne Zika infections in 2016.

Zika, which resembles a light case of the flu, is transmitted by mosquito species found in tropical and sub-tropical regions: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, or tiger mosquitoes.

The disease is strongly suspected of causing birth defects such as microcephaly and other brain deformities in newborns. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – "Please accept my apology. It will never happen again," said President Rodrigo Duterte to a gathering of Jews, prompting applause and even a standing ovation.

"That is why I am here, to say I'm sorry because I respect the Jewish people," he said during his speech on Tuesday, October 4, during the Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year celebration at the Beit Yaacov Synagogue in Makati.

Duterte said his controversial remarks comparing his drug war to Adolf Hitler's extermination of the Jews was "not intended" and was just "a play of the tongue."

"It was just a mental slip of the numbers of 3 [million] and Hitler's [number]. It had nothing to do with the memory of the Jews because in my country we do not tinker with memories of our ancestors. It was just a play of the tongue," he said. 

Duterte had already given a public apology last October 2 after the remark sparked international outrage.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Jewish community applauds <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentDuterte?src=hash">#PresidentDuterte</a> for apology for Hitler remark, gives standing ovation <a href="https://t.co/84IAQ9a544">pic.twitter.com/84IAQ9a544</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/783305414213382144">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The Philippine President, known for his colorful threats and tirades against world leaders like US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the Jews never heard a word of insult from him before. 

He even managed to establish a personal connection by saying he is connected to their people through his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman.

"For the life of me, you have never heard of a single word. As a matter of fact, my wife, Zimmerman, she was a descendant of an American Jew," said Duterte.

The President, known for his extemporaneous speeches, admitted he had junked the prepared speech given to him for the Jewish event.

"I'm sorry, that's why I did not read my speech because it does not show my emotion…It cannot transmit the emotions which I would like to give to you," said Duterte to laughter from his audience.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentDuterte?src=hash">#PresidentDuterte</a> personally apologizes to Jewish community for his Hitler remark <a href="https://t.co/rZ3BH1CdZW">pic.twitter.com/rZ3BH1CdZW</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/783283285447147520">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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But they laughed harder when he said he would only buy defense equipment from Israel, where many in the audience hail from, instead of the United States.

"In the matters, I said of arms, I said, 'Do not buy from anyone except from Israel.' Why? Because we have excellent relations and if you send us this gadget they will not include a bug there that for them to listen also to what we're saying. If I get it from America, you are talking in secret – blah blah blah – and they are listening before you buy it," said Duterte.

He even likened himself to longtime Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

With a hint of admiration, Duterte said, "You have a President, Netanyahu. He does not even allow himself to be corrected in public."

"America? He does not listen to America. 'Just shut up, we have our own problem.' But can they ever chastise Netanyahu? No, he will never allow it. Me, I will not," he added.

Netanyahu is known to have strained ties with Obama.

'Sincere' apology

Paul Rosenberg, president of the Jewish Association of the Philippines, said he found Duterte's apology sincere. 

"I think it was quite clear that I think it was sincere," Rosenberg told Rappler right after Duterte left the synagogue. 

Asked if he found the apology sufficient, he said: "What more can he do? You can't do more than apologize." 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Jewish Association of PH President Paul Rosenberg says he found Duterte&#39;s apology &#39;sincere&#39; <a href="https://t.co/xVcUvIuW3t">pic.twitter.com/xVcUvIuW3t</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/783279119182082048">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Moshe Alkobi, the cantor or person who leads Jewish prayers, said he also believed in Duterte's apology.

"[The apology] looked like it came from his heart. You don't need a speech, so it was talking emotionally and it touched my heart. I believed it 100%," he told Rappler.

Asked if he thought Duterte's apology was enough, he said he thought so.

"Because he did not mean to say something bad and we believe in our friendship so I believe it was enough," said Alkobi.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Israeli Jew Itamar Gero on what he thought of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentDuterte?src=hash">#PresidentDuterte</a> visiting his synagogue to apologize <a href="https://t.co/Tf5IxU6zZy">pic.twitter.com/Tf5IxU6zZy</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/783297946540314624">October 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Itamar Gero, an Israeli Jewish and a member of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, thinks Duterte's remarks about Hitler may have been due to fatigue from his demanding schedule.

"I think to begin with he didn't mean to offend. I think you know, you can just imagine the schedule of the President, flying around, conferences, different countries and then people are just asking you questions you have to answer, you're not always at the top of your thoughts," said Gero.

He told Rappler he found Duterte's apology "heartfelt."

"Honestly, I didn't feel like he was really after the Jews. Obviously, the guy is not a racist, I never heard of that sort before so there's really no reason for him to start with the Jews," said Gero. 

After giving his speech, Duterte entertained requests for him to pose for photos with members of the Jewish community. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – President Rodrigo Duterte is apparently not slowing down on his tirades against United States President Barack Obama.

"Mr Obama, you can go to hell. EU [European Union], better choose purgatory. Puno na ang impiyerno. Bakit ako matakot sa inyo? (Hell is full. Why should I be scared of you?)" said Duterte on Tuesday, October 4, during a gathering of local government officials in a Makati City hotel.

Ever since the US State Department began releasing statements critical of his drug war, Duterte has filled his speeches with invectives and colorful threats against the United States.

It came to a head when his curse-laden remarks against Obama led to the US President cancelling a meeting with Duterte at an international summit in Laos in early September.

In his Tuesday speech, Duterte said he would never "kneel" before the US.

"Mas mabuti pa magluhod ako sa mga king of Brunei, Thailand. Huwag mo ako paluhurin sa America. Never. Ayaw ko talaga. You can do your worst actually," he said.

(I would rather kneel before the King of Brunei, Thailand. Don't make me kneel before America. Never. I refuse. You can do your worst actually.)

During his visit to a Jewish community in a synagogue in the same city, Duterte said he would "break up" with America during his term if the criticism continue.

"If this is what happens, I said, I will be reconfiguring my foreign policy. Eventually, I might, in my time, I will break up wth America. I'd rather go to China and Russia," he said.

Duterte said he prefers these two countries over the US, a traditional ally of the Philippines in the West, because of the "respect" they have shown.

"At least even if we do not agree with their ideology, they have respect for the people," Duterte said.

At the Jewish event, he again brought up his grievances against the US, blaming them for heaping criticism on him without helping with the Philippines' drug problem.

"America has certainly failed us, instead of being a friend...Reprimand another President in front of the internatonal [community], is that good?" he asked.

According to the Dangerous Drugs Board, there are 1.8 million drug users in the Philippines – a figure much lower than the 3 million estimate Duterte often cites.

To an audience of Israeli Jews, the Philippine leader even expressed admiration for longtime Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, known to have strained ties with Obama.

"America? He does not listen to America. 'Just shut up, we have our own problem.' But can they ever chastise Netanyahu? No, he will never allow it. Me, I will not," said Duterte. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the extent of the Philippines' drug problem has tempted him to declare martial law.

"There are 6,000 barangay captains doing their own thing, manufacturing shabu. How am I supposed to deal with – sometimes I am tempted really to declare martial law," said Duterte on Tuesday night, October 4.

He was explaining his drug war to a Jewish community in a synagogue in Makati where he had come to apologize for his "Hitler" remarks.

Duterte said he was told martial law was "not feasible," and so he settled on declaring a state of lawlessness instead.

"But it is not feasible, they say, well, fine. That's why I declared a state of lawlessness, because narco-politics has entered the country," he said.

His declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao was thought to be prompted by the deadly Davao City bombing on September 2.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea eventually told media that the supposedly alarming drug problem was part of Duterte's reasons for the declaration.

Duterte first threatened martial law could be part of his anti-illegal drugs war when he responded to the criticism of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

But he has also said that he has no intention of declaring martial law to respect the memory of his mother, Soledad Roa Duterte, who was a leading activist against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

Duterte again lashed out at Senator Leila de Lima, his embattled critic in the Senate, for her supposed involvement in the illegal drug trade.

"The portals of the national government [were] already tainted with narco-politics when they elected Senator De Lima," he told his audience of foreign and Filipino Jews.

According to the Dangerous Drugs Board, there are 1.8 million drug users in the Philippines – a figure much lower than the 3 million estimate Duterte often cites.

In aid of his drug war, he has repeatedly given assurances that he will protect police and military from any criminal or administrative charges they might face for doing their "duty."

More than 3,600 deaths have been linked to Duterte's drug war. While the President said he is assuming "full responsibility" for the drug suspects killed during legitimate police operations, he maintained that extrajudicial killings are not sanctioned by the government. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – US Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the military-to-military deal between the Philippines and the US that President Rodrigo Duterte is putting under review is a "binding" agreement that may only be withdrawn through a formal process.  

Earnest said the US remains "committed" to strengthen its alliance with the Philippines, noting US assistance to the Philippine military and the victims of the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that devastated the Visayas region.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed in 2014 under the previous Aquino administration to increase US presence in the Philippines amid escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). It allows US forces to build facilities and place assets inside military bases. 

"As it relates to the defense agreement, it's, of course, a binding one, and there's a formal process for withdrawing from it or changing it, and I'm not aware that that process has commenced in any way," Earnest said on Monday, October 3, at a regular White House press briefing in Washington, DC.

The briefing was held after the Philippine president questioned the validity of the agreement without the signature of Aquino, but before he told US President Barack Obama to "go to hell." These are the latest in a series of Duterte's tirades against the US, whose ties with the Philippines he is threatening to cut.

International agreements do not require a president's signature, however. EDCA was signed by Aquino's defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. The deal has a period of 10 years and is renewable. 

Duterte's pronouncements have not been translated to formal directives. 

PH-China relationship doesn't undermine US

Earnest said Duterte's plan to strengthen alliances with China does not have to hurt its ties with the US, citing the relations of China with Japan and South Korea.  

"Sometimes it's difficult to determine precisely what President Duterte's intent is in offering public comments, but if his intent is to seek a more effective relationship with China, that doesn’t undermine US positioning in that region of the world," Earnest said. 

"When they've had conversations with President Xi [Jinping] or other senior Chinese officials, what we've said at every turn is that the United States believes it's in our interest for our closest friends in the Asia Pacific to have an effective working relationship with the Chinese," he said. (READ: Recalibrating PH-US alliance under Duterte)

Duterte was scheduled to meet Obama on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Laos in September, but their talks were cancelled after Duterte's "son of a bitch" comment. 

Super Typhoon Yolanda

Earnest said the US remains "committed" to the Philippines, confident that Filipinos recognize the benefits of the alliance.

He cited Obama's state visit in Manila in 2014, a few hours after the signing of EDCA, where the US president showcased the transfer of a US Coast Guard vessel to the Philippine Navy to become its most capable warship. 

He also cited US assistance to the small country's maritime security efforts, counter-terrorism campaign, and the rapid mobilization of US troops and assets in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. (READ: Duterte's pivot to China won't be easy for Americanized AFP)

DECADES-LONG BOND. Filipino, American Marines linking arms at 33rd Phiblex war games, conducted against backdrop of Duterte's tirades vs US pic.twitter.com/nLByr7zja7

— Carmela Fonbuena (@carmelafonbuena) October 4, 2016

The same message was echoed by the Americans in Manila on Tuesday, October 4, during the opening ceremony of the Philippine-US Amphibious Landing Exercises (Phiblex). (READ: US, PH marines link arms amid uncertainty)

"The relationship building and  capability enhancement [pays off] during natural disasters, thus allowing our combined troops to preserve life. Response in hours versus days helps us save lives. This was proven in 2013 when Supertyphoon Yoalnda [hit the Philippines]. Within 4 hours, Ospreys arrived to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations," said Brigadier General John Jansen, commander of the US Marine 3rd Mechanized Brigade, in his speech at the ceremony.

US Marine Mike Wiley, one of the US officers who took the first C130 flight to Tacloban City after the typhoon, is among those who returned to the Philippines to join the war games that Duterte threatened to be the last. 

"It's good to be back in the Philippines," said Wiley, refusing to comment on the uncertainty of future war games. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A former official of the International Criminal Court (ICC) called on the court to open a probe into President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, arguing that the President's own words "are compelling evidence that the killings to date have been sanctioned at the highest levels."

"The time has come for the ICC to open a preliminary examination – the first step toward a full investigation – into allegations of the extrajudicial killings of as many as 3,000 suspected drug-dealers and users since Duterte became President last June," said Alex Whiting, a Harvard Law professor and former ICC official, in a blog posted on Just Security on Monday, October 3. 

He said the killings are “committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population” and thus constitute crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute. 

"The appalling announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines that he would like 'to slaughter' 3 million drug addicts in his country, much as 'Hitler massacred three million Jews,' (never mind that it was in fact six million), requires an immediate response from the International Criminal Court (ICC)," he added. 

Whiting hopes that an urgent action from ICC can "contribute to the prevention of crimes."

"Opening a preliminary examination now does not commit the ICC to any ultimate course of action: it could subsequently decide or not decide to begin a full investigation. Starting an inquiry now, however, would unquestionably send a strong signal to Duterte that the day may come when he will have to answer for any crimes he has committed, ordered, tolerated or encouraged in the Philippines," Whiting said.  

The ICC investigates genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Whiting previously served the ICC to oversee all of its investigations. 

ICC’s latest conviction was in March 2016, when it declared former Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba guilty of knowingly commanding a militia that committed mass murder and rape against neighboring Central African Republic.  

ICC's jurisdiction

The ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines because the country joined the court in 2011.  

Whiting said the ICC has no reason to delay action because its usual requirements – prove that the crimes are state sanctioned and prove the state has no intention to probe – have been established by Duterte's own pronouncements. 

Whiting said Duterte cannot also argue that the killings are only targeting a specific group – suspects involved in illegal drugs trade – and not civilians in general. (READ: Execution at Cessna)

"A requirement that perpetrators intend to attack their victims because they are civilians has never been a feature of crimes against humanity, should not become one, and certainly should not be a basis to conclude that the extrajudicial killing of thousands of suspected drug dealers and users by state forces could not qualify as crimes against humanity," Whiting wrote. (READ: The drug war: Danica, my Danica)

Duterte, in speeches around the country and in police and military camps, has used his colorful language to encourage the killing of suspected drug protectors and pushers. He has hurled invectives against countries and organizations that have raised their concern over the situation, even threatening to cut ties with the country's longest ally, the US. 

Duterte is convinced that illegal drugs is the country's biggest problem. The latest survey by the Philippines' Dangerous Drugs Board estimates the number of drug users at 1.8 million Filipinos, or 1.8% of total population. 

His war on drugs has been linked to the death of at least 3,000 people allegedly involved in illegal drugs. – Rappler.com

FARMVILLE, Virginia, USA – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's running mates snatched the spotlight for the White House race Tuesday, October 4 (Wednesday, October 5 in Manila), preparing to face off in their only debate of the campaign with the US elections just 5 weeks away. (Watch live: Kaine-Pence vice presidential debate, 2016 US elections)

Polls show Democrat Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who was hammered by controversies over his taxes, his charitable foundation and treatment of women.

The candidates' understudies – Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence – will take center stage Tuesday evening when they do battle before a national television audience that likely will be the largest to date in their careers.

For many Americans, it will be their first prolonged exposure to the men who would be next in line for the presidency if their side wins on November 8.

Kaine, 58, is an affable senator from Virginia whose liberalism stems in part from his Catholic faith and experiences as a volunteer working in poor communities in Central America.

Pence, 57, is the Christian conservative governor of Indiana, as modest and polite in style as Trump is brash and insulting.

Both will want to convince undecided voters that their bosses are worthy of the Oval Office.

Pence's job will be to reassure Republicans at a time when Trump is mired in difficulties, many of his own making.

Pence will aim to be a "calming influence" on conservatives nervous about Trump, according to Joel Goldstein of Saint Louis University School of Law, a leading authority on the vice presidency.

"His challenge is to steady the ship, convince the American people that there is some adult supervision, some adult presence there, and to appeal to conventional Republicans," Goldstein told Agence France-Presse.

Weighing heavily against the New York billionaire are a mediocre performance in his first debate with Clinton, followed by revelations of a $916 million loss in 1995 that may have meant he paid no taxes for several years, and criticism of his demeaning treatment of a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado.

His campaign manager Kellyanne Conway promised a "fiery" Kaine-Pence debate.

"I think you'll see in Mike Pence somebody who is able to defend Donald Trump the running mate, but at the same time take the case right to Hillary Clinton," she said on CBS.

Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress, is known for his discipline. He has prepared intensively for the debate, unlike Trump, who did little to practice for his September 26 encounter with Clinton.

"We expect them to throw a lot of mud," said Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook, ahead of the debate in Farmville, Virginia.

"It's going to be very interesting to see how Mike Pence responds to questions about Trump's behavior in the last week," he added, also speaking on "CBS This Morning."

Defending Trump has become second nature for Pence: he's had to put out fires on multiple occasions over the past months.

When Trump became embroiled in a bitter feud with the family of a Muslim-American army captain killed in Iraq, it was Pence who put out a statement hailing Humayun Khan as an "American hero."

Reassurance

Besides reassuring voters turned off by Trump's volcanic temper, Pence must attack Clinton while pushing a larger theme of change – something many Americans say they want – and laying out the Republican agenda.

Trump himself framed the showdown in similar terms at a rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona hours before the event.

"The debate will be a contrast between our campaign of big ideas and bold solutions for tomorrow, versus the small and petty Clinton campaign that is totally stuck in the past," Trump said.

But Trump has also warned that he will be "live tweeting the VP debate," potentially overshadowing his running mate during his moment in the sun.

Kaine, who served as Virginia's governor from 2006 to 2010, appears to have the easier task. 

Since the first presidential debate, support for Clinton has risen to 44.3% against 40.6% for Trump, according to an average of recent national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.

Kaine's role so far has been to attack Trump, and he will no doubt seek to force Pence into owning the controversial rhetoric of his running mate.

But Kaine too will likely be forced into defending Clinton, for using a private email server as secretary of state, as well as in other controversies that have undercut her trustworthiness among voters.

While the two men are seen as disciplined and far less blemished than Clinton and Trump, vice presidential clashes can be unpredictable, even though they rarely move the needle.

"Vice presidential debates often can be freewheeling, with so much ground to cover," Goldstein said.

Americans will have a second round of presidential debates on Sunday to look forward to. The format will be a bit different, with candidates fielding questions put to them by people in the audience. – Rappler.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Hurricane Matthew pummeled Haiti and moved on to Cuba after killing 7 people, unleashing floods and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee the Caribbean's worst storm in nearly a decade.

Far to the north, the first evacuations were ordered in the United States as coastal dwellers prepared to flee the approaching monster storm, expected off the east coast later this week.

The death toll stood at 7 – 3 in Haiti and 4 in the Dominican Republic – but was certain to rise as dangerous Matthew bruised its way on.

The full scope of its toll, both human and material, remained unclear. Civil protection officials in Haiti said they were struggling to communicate with the south after Matthew's furious wind and rain blew down telephone lines.

The bridge that collapsed was on the only road linking Port-au-Prince to the peninsula that makes up southern Haiti.

"It's going to be difficult to find an alternative route," civil protection spokesman Edgar Celestin told AFP.

Next-in-line Cuba was hit late in the afternoon on its eastern tip.

The northern eyewall – the most destructive part of a hurricane, just outside the eye – "is already pounding" the eastern tip of the island, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Americans girded for a taste of nature's fury. South Carolina said it would start evacuating 1.1 million people from its coast starting Wednesday, October 5, and try to get them at least 160 kilometers (100 miles) inland. Georgia declared a state of emergency in 13 counties.

"It's not going to be a fast evacuation. It could take up to several hours," South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said. "If you can leave early, do that."

'Extremely dangerous'

Matthew made landfall in Haiti shortly after daybreak as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm – the maximum is 5 – near the southwestern town of Les Anglais, packing top winds of around 230 kilometers per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said.

It marked the first time in 52 years that a Category 4 storm made landfall in Haiti.

Matthew began battering Haiti late Monday, October 3, with strong winds and rising sea levels, before barreling ashore some 400 kilometers west of the capital Port-au-Prince.

Even before making landfall along the southern edge of a jagged peninsula on Hispaniola – the island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic – Matthew was blamed for at least 3 deaths in Haiti, with fears that the toll could climb. 

Four more deaths were reported later in the Dominican Republic.

After Cuba, the storm is expected to hit the Bahamas late Tuesday or Wednesday.

The hurricane was forecast to dump 38 to 63 centimeters (15 to 25 inches) of rain over southern Haiti with up to a meter possible in isolated areas.

Rising waters already have caused extensive flooding in and around the flimsy homes and buildings in Haiti's southwest. 

More than 9,000 Haitians have been evacuated to temporary shelters at area schools and churches, the Interior Ministry said. 

But civil protection forces have struggled with locals who refused to leave some of the most vulnerable areas.

They included the capital's destitute, densely populated neighborhoods, including Cite Soleil – where a fifth of the half-million residents face serious flooding risks – and the seaside Cite L'Eternel.

First deluge, then mudslides

Part of the seaport city of Les Cayes was underwater after being deluged byMatthew, also blamed for triggering mudslides.

Haiti is home to almost 11 million people, many living in fragile housing.

Thousands are still living in tents in Haiti after the country's massive earthquake in 2010. Erosion is especially dangerous because of high mountains and a lack of trees and bushes in areas where they have been cut for fuel.

Before Matthew hit Cuba had evacuated some 316,000 people from the east of the island. In the city of Guantanamo, streets were deserted and streetlights dark. 

One stalwart who stayed, 63-year-old Roberto Gates, ventured out to buy rum. "I have food for today and tomorrow, and then we'll see," Gates said.

USAID said it has dispatched an elite disaster response team to the Bahamas, Haiti, and Jamaica.

It also is sending some $400,000 in assistance to aid groups in Haiti and Jamaica and emergency relief supplies including blankets, plastic sheeting, and water containers.  

The Pentagon said 700 family members were evacuated over the weekend from the Guantanamo Bay US naval base, on Cuba's eastern tip, to Florida.

The 61 prisoners who remain at the US prison for terror suspects there will stay put but if the storm gets worse they will be moved to shelters on the base, the Pentagon said.

Forecasters predict the hurricane could hit the US East Coast around midweek. Florida and parts of North Carolina have also declared states of emergency.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday postponed a trip to South Florida, where he had planned to attend a campaign event in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"If #Matthew directly impacts FL there will be massive destruction that we haven't seen in years," Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Twitter. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) will expand its school-based dengue immunization program to include public school students in Central Visayas.

This was revealed by health officials on Tuesday, October 4, during the plenary deliberations on the 2017 budget in the House of Representatives.

The DOH's proposed budget was sponsored at the plenary by Masbate 3rd District Representative Scott Davies Lanete.

A couple of lawmakers on Tuesday asked the department if the vaccination will continue as scheduled this month.

Around 489,000 Grade 4 students (at least 9 years old) in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the National Capital Region are set to receive their second dose of the dengue vaccine from October to December 2016.

Lanete, who was in consultation with DOH officials during the plenary deliberations, said students in Central Visayas will also get their first dose of the vaccine this month. 

"This dengue vaccine is relatively new to the market, so it has just passed Phase III clinical trials. And since it is undergoing pilot implementation in Regions III, IV-A, and NCR, it is now undergoing Phase 4 clinical trial," he explained to Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman.

Lanete continued: "The department has already also issued a resolution dated October 3, that since the seroprevalence of Region VII is more than 70% or way above the recommendation, it will expand the program to Region VII as well."

"However since it's still in clinical trial, it would be prudent for the department to study the program after 5 years, so in answer to your query, it will expand and continue program to pilot areas which the department has identified, however it holds itself after 5 years before implementing the program nationwide."

Lanete told Lagman that the October 3 resolution has been signed by all members of the expert panel and approved by Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.

Flip-flop?

Meanwhile, during his interpellation, Kabayan Representative Harry Roque Jr called out Ubial's supposed "flip-flopping" on the school-based dengue immunization program.

"My apprehension is, this…resolution...came at a time when there was apparently a previous action on the part of the secretary of the Department of Health to discontinue this program. My concern is the apparent flip-flop of the secretary of health as far as the dengue program is concerned. Will [you] admit this program was suspended? And I believe the suspension was on July 20, 2016," Roque said.

Lanete answered: "The department, as well as the secretary, assures it will continue the program most especially in pilot areas and review within the 5-year clinical trial phase for continuation of program within the entire nation."

Roque than asked if reports are true that when the program was cancelled, P500-million worth of dengue vaccines were recalled form DOH health centers and brought to the department's warehouses.

"The remaining vaccines are left within health centers and were not brought to a central facility within the DOH, but the department assures these are stored in appropriate containers and warehouses where they will last as long as their expiry," Lanete said, adding that the vaccination initially targeted a population of 750,000 children.

He even enumerated a number of reasons why only around 489,000 students were immunized.

"One reason is they could be absent. Another reason is they could be sick, they have fever, flu. Another reason is they may be pregnant…Among others, these are part of reasons why there is a gap between the targeted population and the number of doses given, apart from that fact it was also administered during summer break, wherein many students were having graduation, absent, or some parents didn't sign parental consent for these individuals."

But on Tuesday, Roque repeatedly expressed his concern about the health department's denial that the program was suspended.

"I understand the predicament of the sponsor. It was not he, after all, who caused the suspension of this program," Roque said, referring to Lanete.

He continued: "But for the record, we have had committee deliberations on the budget of the DOH. It was no less than our deputy speaker from Cebu who brought the issue of the dengue vaccination, and it was very clear as the transcripts will in fact show that it was the position of the secretary of health that that dengue vaccination was suspended."

"I am bewildered now why the same secretary of health is saying it was never suspended."

Probe vaccine, lawmakers urged

Health advocates on Monday, October 3, appealed to lawmakers to continue investigating the safety and efficacy of the dengue vaccine.

“There is significant doubt in the scientific community about the safety of the dengue vaccine in question," said Dr Antonio Dans, professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and president of the Asia-Pacific Center for Evidence-Based Medicine.

"A trial that included Filipinos showed that the incidence of severe dengue increased up to 5 times more, 3 years after children were vaccinated," he added.

Dans has been vocal against the department for pushing through with the program

"Evidence matters, but making hasty health policy decisions on incomplete data puts our children at risk. The fact is, the company, Sanofi, is marketing this drug despite doubts of safety. The continuing vaccine trial is the strongest evidence that the dengue immunization program is premature, and that even the company has some doubt," he said in a statement.

Dengue, a disease common in tropical and sub-tropical countries, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. Dengue fever is potentially fatal and mainly affects children.

The Philippines is among countries in the Western Pacific region with the highest incidence of dengue in recent years. – Rappler.com

ACCUMOLI, Italy – Pope Francis on Tuesday, October 4, paid a surprise visit to the Italian mountain communities devastated by an August earthquake, mixing poignant silent prayers amid the ruins with grinning selfies alongside survivors he implored to believe in a brighter future.

In keeping with his desire to make a relatively low-key visit to an area where nearly 300 people died barely 6 weeks ago, the 79-year-old pontiff's trip to the shattered town of Amatrice and the devastated nearby hamlets of Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto was only announced to the media after he had arrived.

He had said he wanted to come like a parish priest carrying out his pastoral duty. But there was no escaping the crowds as news of his visit spread quickly.

In one of the most poignant images of the day, Francis stood briefly in silent prayer in the closed-off "red zone" of Amatrice, his stooped silhouette framed by the shells of condemned buildings and piles of rubble.

He later repeated the gesture outside the ruins of the St Francesco church in Accumoli, having spent two hours over lunch chatting with 60 pensioners in a retirement home where some of the elderly victims of the quake are now housed.

But there were also many lighter moments as he smiled broadly for selfies with local youngsters and group photos with firefighters.

"I did not come earlier so as not to create any problems, knowing the state you were in," he told survivors. "I did not want to cause any bother."

'Always a future'

"But from the outset I felt I had to come to you, simply to tell you that I am with you, nothing more, and that I am praying for you."

After blessing the crowd in Amatrice and saying a brief Ave Maria prayer, Francis issued a message of hope for an area still struggling to come to terms with the scale of Italy's deadliest quake since the 2009 L'Aquila disaster.

"We go forward, there is always a future," he said on what was the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the venerated Catholic figure in whose honor Francis selected his papal name.

"There are many dear ones who have left us, who fell here under the masonry. We pray to the Madonna for them, we all do together.

"Always look forward. Go forward, have courage, and help each other. We walk better together, on our own, we cannot get there."

The pope's first point of call had been the prefabricated huts brought in to replace Amatrice's combined elementary and middle school, which was destroyed in the quake despite having been expensively renovated to make it quake resistant a few years ago.

297 dead

Francis had confirmed his intention to visit the quake-hit area on his flight home from Azerbaijan on Sunday, October 2, saying he wanted to visit "privately, alone, as a priest, a bishop, a pope."

The government has estimated the cost of the damage done to the area hit by the quake at 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) and has vowed to rebuild the worst-affected communities where they were, having ruled out any relocations.

Just under 1,400 people remain housed in temporary accommodation – either tented villages or hotels in the surrounding area, according to an official update issued Tuesday.

The 6.0-6.2-magnitude earthquake, which was felt in Rome, 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the epicenter near Amatrice, killed 297 people and injured hundreds more.

Around two-thirds of the deaths occurred in Amatrice, a beauty spot and popular tourist destination packed with holiday-makers when the quake struck at the height of the summer season.

The devastated area was only 50 kilometers from the city of L'Aquila, which was hit by a 2009 earthquake in which more than 300 people perished. – Rappler.com

CAGAYAN, Philippines – Aparri police have arrested the suspect in the killing of a village traffic enforcer in Quezon City.

Chief Inspector Pepito Mendoza Jr, Aparri acting chief of police, said Geronimo Iquin was apprehended in a hotel in Macanaya village in Aparri, the suspect's hometown, on Tuesday, October 4,

Iquin allegedly shot Ernesto Paras Jr, a traffic enforcer in Holy Spirit village in Quezon City, on September 30 after the latter tried to remove Iquin's car's license plate due to a parking violation.

Footage from a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) showed that the traffic enforcer was removing the car plate of Iquin's vehicle when the latter arrived. After a heated argument, the suspect got a gun from his car then shot Paras several times. Iquin was seen  running over the victim as he fled the crime scene.

Mendoza said the Aparri police received information from the Tuguegarao City police station that Iquin left the city for Aparri on Monday night.

Mendoza said Iquin confessed to the crime, and admitted that he stayed with his relatives in Tuguegarao before he learned that authorities were pursuing him.

Iquin reportedly said he left his Honda Civic and the 9 mm pistol he used in the crime in San Roque village in Antipolo City, Rizal. – Rappler.com