MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that Vice President Jejomar Binay lied in his television advertisement lamenting the yearlong Senate inquiry into corruption allegations against him.

Trillanes hurled the accusation against Binay on Tuesday, January 26, the 25th and last of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s hearings on the Vice President, the members of his family, and his alleged “dummies.”

In the advertisement released in September 2015, Binay described the Senate probe as “masakit, malupit, pagkatao ay minamaliit(painful, cruel, my person is belittled).”

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In the ad, the Vice President said the Senate panel snubbed all his explanations and the documents he submitted, as piles of documents supposedly left untouched flashed onscreen. 

To this, Trillanes replied: “Para lang sa kaalaman ng lahat, ito pong mga folders na ito na ipinakita diyan po sa video ni Vice President Binay na narito sa likod natin, ay ito po ang ebidensiya laban sa kanya. ‘Yan po, hindi po niya sinubmit ‘yan. Kinuha po naming ebidensiya laban sa kanya at mga kopya po niyan ay naiforward a sa Ombudsman."

(For everyone’s information, the folders shown by Vice President Binay which are now behind me are actually evidence against him. He didn’t submit them. We got these pieces of evidence against him and copies have been forwarded to the Ombudsman.)

Trillanes, a vice presidential candidate and a staunch critic of Binay, said the documents were given by the Makati city government to the subcommittee upon the senator's orders as they investigated the alleged overpricing of the Makati city hall parking building II.

Trillanes added that the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee had repeatedly invited the Vice President to give his testimony, but he refused to show up.

“In relation to his statements na pinagtutulungan siya, pinepersonal, minamaliit, hindi po. Binigyan ng pagkakataon ni Senator [Aquilino] ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, ang ating chairman, ng lahat ng panahon para depensehan niya ang kanyang sarili, pero he chose not to appear,” said Trillanes.

(In relation to his statements that we're ganging up on him, taking the issues personally, and belittling him, those aren't true. Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, our chairman, gave him many chances to defend himself here, but he chose not to appear.)

Instead of showing up at the Senate and answering senators' questions, Binay submitted before the panel an affidavit in November 2014 responding to allegations that the Makati City Hall parking building II was overpriced by as much as P1.38 billion ($28.723 million). Binay's camp released the affidavit on May 29, 2015.

In the 8-page document, Binay said that there was no proof that the P2.28 billion ($47.466 million) building was overpriced. (DOCUMENT: Binay affidavit says no proof of overpricing)

Binay camp: Who lied?

Binay's spokesperson, Joey Salgado, however, said the Vice President did not lie in his ad.

“The folders displayed by the senators were submitted by the city government to show cooperation with the Senate. It shows that all transactions and projects are transparent and in compliance with established rules and procedures. By their own admission, the senators did not read all the documents,” Salgado told Rappler in a text message.

During the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile asked the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee members if they completely analyzed the pile of documents Trillanes was referring to. 

It was the first time Enrile attended the hearings because he was detained for plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam when the Senate investigation began. Enrile was released on bail in August 2015.

“We have gone over a lot of the documents, but I cannot say that it’s 100%,” replied Pimentel.

However, he reasoned that the subcommittee’s partial report, which recommended plunder charges against Binay and his son, dismissed Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr, cited several of the documents from the Makati city government. (READ: Ombudsman sets charges vs VP Binay, 23 others)

Salgado said it is “not surprising” that the Senate panel did not completely go through all the documents.

“This is not surprising because the senators have already prejudged the matter even before the hearings started more than a year ago. Ang malaking kasinungalingan ay ang mga paratang laban kay (What’s false are the accusations against) Vice President Binay,” he said.

Salgado previously said the members of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee – Pimentel, Trillanes, and Alan Peter Cayetano – were politically motivated to derail Binay’s presidential bid. 

Both Trillanes and Cayetano are running for vice president, while Pimentel is the president of the PDP-Laban, the party of presidential candidate and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. – Rappler.com

US$1 = P48.04

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Tuesday, January 26, the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (also known as ISIS, IS, ISIL or Da’esch) is indeed recruiting members in at least 3 provinces in Central Mindanao.

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said this is a concern for the MILF, which has signed a peace agreement with the Aquino administration and has vowed to shun terrorism.

The MILF central committee formed a task force to look into reports that personalities claiming to have links with ISIS are recruiting young professionals in Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces, according to Iqbal.

“The recruitment as well the video of their training that came out are authentic,” Iqbal said.

He’s referring to the video that began circulating early January and which showed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon marching with other extremist leaders from Sulu and Basilan, pledging allegiance to ISIS.

“Whether or not there is already a formal organization of the ISIS in Mindanao, that is still a subject for validation,” Iqbal said.

But while the Philippine government and military remain steadfast in their statements that there are no operational links between ISIS and Filipino groups, a traditional "order of battle" analysis may be moot in today’s threat landscape given ISIS’ ability to spark homegrown attacks like in Paris, wrote Rappler Executive Editor Maria Ressa. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: ISIS in Southeast Asia)

On October 26, 2015, 8 armed men carrying the flag of ISIS, including a suspected Indonesian national, were killed in an encounter with government forces in Sultan Kudarat. The government troops recovered from the scene 5 ISIS flags and documents including radios, firearms and explosive materials.

Iqbal said that as part of the MILF's efforts to promote peace in the region they formed a task force that will study and correct the wrong teachings of Islam used by ISIS recruiters.

“Our task force is composed of members of influential Islamic preachers in Mindanao. Islamic teachings were used in the recruitment but it's distorted. They are going to study it and correct the teachings,” he said.

Iqbal cited two primary reasons why students and young professionals in the region are being encouraged to join ISIS.

“They are frustrated. They think their Muslim leaders in the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front have abandoned their struggle. The failure passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is also a source of frustration,” he explained. The BBL suffered delays in the aftermath of the Mamasapano clash in January 2015.

Maguindanao Governor Ismael Mangudadatu maintained his province is ISIS-free.

“There might be in other areas of Mindanao but I can assure you that our province is still free,” the governor said.

The military has also dismissed reports that ISIS may soon declare a province in Mindanao, saying these statements are more aspirational than real. – Jeff Maitem/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – In the Philippines' first-ever presidential election to have significant social media influence, it makes sense that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and social media giant Twitter forged a partnership for the Filipino voter. 

Dubbed #TwitterElection, the project aims to grant voters with access to more political information; the ability to interact with candidates; and the ease of tweets, Vines, and Periscopes to share their own points of view. India and Indonesia had their own #TwitterElection in 2014 during their respective national polls. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC">@COMELEC</a> Chairman Bautista &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/twitter">@twitter</a>&#39;s Rishi Jaitly sealing the milestone partnership for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasElections2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasElections2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/N767iaS8Ux">pic.twitter.com/N767iaS8Ux</a></p>&mdash; COMELEC (@COMELEC) <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC/status/691610994527698944">January 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC">@COMELEC</a>&#39;s partnership with <a href="https://twitter.com/twitter">@Twitter</a> is a major step forward in terms of fostering the emergence of a well-informed electorate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinas?src=hash">#PiliPinas</a></p>&mdash; COMELEC (@COMELEC) <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC/status/691609423123320833">January 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chair Bautista today announced <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC">@COMELEC</a>&#39;s partnership w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/twitter">@twitter</a>, towards more dynamic &amp; meaningful public engagement! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinas?src=hash">#PiliPinas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoterEd?src=hash">#VoterEd</a></p>&mdash; COMELEC (@COMELEC) <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC/status/691608093826789376">January 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

"We look forward to working with Twitter to make the presidential debates more accessible to millions of Filipinos, and, on a larger scale, to increase voter participation and political transparency throughout the presidential election this year," said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista.

#TwitterElection involves 3 key aspects: content discovery, human connection, and self-expression.

The first aspect will introduce voters to real-time data, visualizations, and analytics during the presidential and vice presidential debates.

The second aspect will crowdsource insights and questions through #PiliPinasDebate2016, which can be relayed to the candidates during the debates.

The final aspect equips the Comelec with a tweet-powered dashboard which can help the poll body collect and act on real-time citizen reports. 

“Being on Twitter is like having a front row seat to the presidential election, it’s the best place to go to get live updates of political campaigns and publicly connect with candidates, while giving every Filipino a voice to be heard during the election. We’re proud to partner with Comelec to make this the first truly Twitter Election for Filipinos and enable more People Power to discuss, debate and choose the next government of the Philippines," said Rishi Jaitly, Twitter’s Vice President of Media for Asia Pacific and Middle East. 

Follow @COMELEC for more updates, tweet using #PiliPinasDebate2016, and take a look at the crowdsourced questions and insights here. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Expelled Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II took the witness stand at the Court of Appeals (CA) for the first time on Tuesday, January 26, to undergo cross examination on his claims that he was abducted and illegally detained for 3 months in 2015 under orders of top church officials. 

But the INC lawyers are questioning Menorca's claims, branding them mere "speculative" and "fanciful" threats instead of actual overt acts of violence, harassment, and intimidation.

The appellate court's 7th division is currently hearing the petitions for writs of habeas corpus and amparo filed by Menorca's relatives in October 2015.

The petitions stemmed from Menorca's claims that he had been abducted in Sorsogon, brought to Dasmariñas City, and charged with illegal possession of firearms in an effort to force him to expose members critical of the church. The expelled church worker also said that his wife and daughter had been detained at the time. (READ: INC minister Lowell Menorca: The story of my kidnapping)

He later said that he had been forced to deny that he was abducted because he feared for his family's safety.

During Tuesday's cross examination proceedings, INC counsel Rogelio Vinluan questioned Menorca on portions of his judicial affidavit and his previous statements where he denied that the abductions had occurred.

Menorca maintained that his earlier statements were scripted and were made under duress.

"We were restrained and stopped from going out, we had guards around us, our liberty was being restrained," he said.

But Vinluan pressed him to identify actual threats made against the ex-minister and his family.

"What do you mean under duress? Were there actual threats? It must be a real threat, not one that is speculative or fanciful," he said.

Actual threat?

In his questioning, Vinluan brought up incidents where the former minister had claimed that he was under duress: a handwritten affidavit Menorca had signed when he was arrested in Cavite, and his television interview on GMA7 where he denied that he was abducted.

In both instances, Menorca responded that he had been told to make those statements and to go along with the leadership's orders because at the time, his wife and daughter were supposedly with the INC.

He added that he had admitted to the charges against him in Cavite to ensure that his family will not be hurt.

To this, Vinluan asked: "Why, did anyone say that they will be harmed?" 

Menorca replied, "Sabi ng pulis, basta sumunod ka lang, walang mangyayaring masama sa asawa ko." (The police said, just follow and nothing bad will happen to your wife.)

But Vinluan was not satisfied, repeatedly asking the ex-minister to identify any instances of actual harm or threats againt him and his family.

The lawyer also pointed out that the Menorcas were even allowed to go outside the INC central compound escorted by security, and to receive visitors. Vinluan also presented photos showing the Menorcas smiling while inside the compound.

Menorca insisted that the restraint on their liberty constituted a threat.

"If by harm you mean a knife, for instance, that was being pointed at us, there was no such thing. But our liberty was restrained," he said in Filipino.

He added, "Being restrained from going out and surrounded by security is a threat."

Implied, indirect threats

But that alleged restraint on the Menorcas' freedom, Vinluan argued, ceased after Menorca moved out from the INC compound and into the house of his wife's nephew in October 2015.

"So the restraint on your liberty ceased?" he asked.

"Yes, but the threat was continuing," Menorca answered, adding that there were motorcycles surveying the area where they had moved.

Asked by Vinluan if the respondents in the petition – INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo and church officials Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago, and Rolando Esguerra – made any overt threats against Menorca, he replied, "Direct, no. Implied and indirect, yes."

In an interview with reporters after the hearing, Menorca clarified, "When I say direct threats, it's in relation to the respondents saying directly, in front of me, verbally, those threats. So that's why I said it's implied and indirect."

But he added that he and his family continue to fear for their lives. 

He expressed the same sentiment last week, when plainclothes policemen arrested him as he was on his way to the CA. The arrest warrant stemmed  from a libel complaint filed against Menorca in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

Two more libel complaints later surfaced against Menorca – one from Marawi City, and another from Cavite. He has since been released after posting bail.

Menorca's family had slammed his arrest as "overkill," saying the move was orchestrated by the influential church to block his testimony in court.

The INC denied any involvement in his arrest, saying their legal team had been prepared and waiting for Menorca to appear in court.

Ongoing legal battle

During Tuesday's hearing, INC lawyers brought up before the court Menorca's earlier statement that his arrest last week had been orchestrated to stop him from testifying.

They asked the court to warn Menorca not to continue "going around town" making accusations against the INC, pointing out that at the time of Menorca's arrest, his testimony was already on record through his judicial affidavit. 

For his part, Menorca said that he remains "confident" about the course of the proceedings.

"I know that it will eventually reveal the whole truth...we are very hopeful that the justice system will prevail and that we will be vindicated," he told reporters.

"The public knows what's happening. I believe they can read between the lines. They're very perceptive and intelligent, they can connect the dots on what's really happening," he added.

The CA held the first hearing on the petitions in November 2015, with the respondents moving to have the petitions dismissed for being "moot and academic."

In earlier hearings, INC lawyers also questioned the accuracy of witness testimonies. They also sought to debunk claims that the Menorcas lived in “deplorable conditions” while supposedly detained for 3 months at the INC compound in Quezon City. – Rappler.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia's government said Tuesday, January 26, that a piece of debris found on Thailand's southern coast was not from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The announcement appeared to end speculation about a link to the doomed aircraft, coming a day after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal panel was probably from a rocket it manufactured.

Malaysia's transport ministry said a team of experts from the government and Malaysia Airlines had examined the debris in Thailand.

"From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777," a transport ministry statement said.

Saturday's find of the debris stirred speculation it may be part of MH370, a Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, though the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

Last July a two-meter-long wing part known as a flaperon washed up on a beach on the French-held Indian Ocean island of Reunion, thousands of kilometers from Thailand.

French authorities subsequently confirmed it was from MH370.

Nothing further has been found despite an extensive Indian Ocean search.

On Monday, January 25, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said images of the debris found in the Gulf of Thailand featured serial numbers indicating it may be from a rocket it made for launching satellites. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Manila Tuesday, January 26, for a 5-day state visit to the Philippines.

The Emperor and Empress arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at around 2:30 pm aboard a Japan Air Force B747-400.

As soon as Akihito stepped out of the plane, he offered a slight bow. He was then welcomed on the tarmac by Philippine President Benigno Aquino and many of his cabinet secretaries.

Their state visit marks the 60th anniversary of the 2 countries’ diplomatic relations, earlier marred by the Second World War and the Japanese occupation of the country.

Their last visit to the country was in 1962, when they were still Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

"In the Philippines, many lives of Filipinos, Americans and Japanese were lost during the war," Akihito said at a ceremony before leaving Tokyo.

Akihito specifically noted the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed.

"We'd like to conduct our visit by always keeping this in mind," he said.

The Philippines is the latest stop in the soft-spoken emperor's pacifist pilgrimage, which has appeared to contradict his government's nationalist bent.

Akihito, 82, has made honoring Japanese and non-Japanese who died in the conflict a touchstone of his near 3-decade reign – known as Heisei, or "achieving peace" – and now in its twilight.

Their itinerary includes a visit to the national Heroes' Cemetery and a memorial for Japanese war dead. – With reports from Agence France-Presse / Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila international airport's cargo assessment division wrote to the Japanese embassy to officially apologize for its personnel's breach of protocol when he reportedly opened a diplomatic shipment earlier in January.

The diplomatic pouch opened by Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) customs examiner Pompeo Manalo was said to contain wine and other items for the 5-day state visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko starting Tuesday, January 26.

Emilen Balatbat, officer-in-charge of the airport’s Paircargo Assessment Composite Division, said in her letter to the embassy: “It was an unfitting action on his part. I myself, when I learned about it, felt we owe you our sincerest apology.”

She said her office had “demanded a written explanation from Manalo why he opened the diplomatic shipment.”

“Please be assured that this be the first and the last,” Balatbat said in her letter.

In a memorandum to Manalo, Balatbat said, “You are hereby reprimanded with a stern warning that a repetition of the same shall be dealt with accordingly.”

Under Article 27.3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), diplomatic shipments “shall not be opened or detained.”

The customs examiner reportedly opened and examined the diplomatic package without permission from Balatbat and Edna Velasquez, the acting chief of the Informal Entry Unit at NAIA.

Manalo apologized in his response to the memo, but said it was an “honest mistake” that he checked the shipment. 

“Rest assured that incident like this won’t happen again and with utmost care, responsible diligence will be given to exercise my duty as a customs examiner,” he said.

Rappler tried to get a comment from the Japanese embassy on the incident but has yet to receive a reply. – Rappler.com 

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Held every 4 years, the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) is one of the biggest events in the Catholic Church. Cebu City is hosting the IEC from January 24 to 31, with 15,000 delegates expected.

During the IEC, high-caliber Catholic speakers discuss their most important form of worship: the Eucharist, better known as the Mass. 

The speakers also discuss the “social dimension” of the Eucharist, as Catholics believe that prayer doesn’t end inside the church building. Previous IECs, in fact, even touched on topics such as capitalism and human trafficking. (READ: IEC: The event that helped make Tagle a ‘papabile’)

The list of IEC speakers includes the following: 

• Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle
• Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo
• New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan
• Former Dominican head and now Vatican consultor Fr Timothy Radcliffe
• Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron

The full schedule for Day 4, January 27, 2016:

This is the second time the IEC is happening in the Philippines.

Manila hosted the IEC when it was first held in the Philippines in 1937. (READ: First IEC in PH: Cardinal Vidal’s First Communion, too)

Watch the livestream of the IEC here. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile challenged the testimonies of two critics of Vice President Jejomar Binay at the last public  hearing on corruption allegations against the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer. 

Lawyer Renato Bondal, who filed a plunder complaint against Binay over the alleged overpricing of the Makati city hall parking building II, summarized witnesses’ testimonies in the past 24 hearings before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on Tuesday, January 26. (READ: After Senate probe, Binay no longer ‘king-in-waiting’ – Trillanes)

In his presentation, Bondal said Binay’s net worth grew by “2,300%,” or from P2 million in 1986 when Binay became Makati mayor, to more than P60 million in 2014 based on the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). (READ: From P2.5M to P60M: How VP Binay amassed his wealth)

Bondal also revisited the claims that Binay’s friend and businessman Gerardo “Gerry” Limlingan and close aide Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy are among the Vice President’s alleged dummies.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) had already filed a civil forfeiture case against Binay, his son dismissed Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr, and his “dummies.”

Source of information

Enrile on Tuesday, however, pressed Bondal where he got the information.

“AMLC ba ang nagbigay sa ’yo ng impormasyon na ‘yan (Did AMLC give you the information)?” Enrile asked Bondal.

Bondal replied he read about the case in a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The newspaper, along with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and   several lawmakers and witnesses, is facing a damage suit filed by the Vice President. 

Enrile was not convinced, saying, “You are just quoting a second party as a basis of your explanation.”

Bondal replied, “But it proves our point na nagkaroon talaga ng malaking nakawan sa Makati (that there was widespread stealing in Makati).” 

Enrile was also skeptical of Bondal’s claims on Binay’s net worth. He inquired if the value of Binay’s properties cited was at cost or fair market value, and if Bondal considered the fluctuating exchange rate of the peso against the US dollar.

“Kaya pinapaliwanag ko sa’yo na medyo misleading ang figures na ‘yan (That’s why I’m explaining to you that the figures are misleading),” Enrile told Bondal, who replied he was only quoting from Binay’s SALNs.

Senate blue ribbon subcommittee chairperson Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III then reminded Enrile that the copies of the SALN forms in the subcommittee's possession provide the value of properties at acquisition cost.

Enrile also questioned the claims of former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado that Limlingan and Baloloy were Binay's "bagmen."

Pimentel said the links to Binay’s alleged dummies were already mentioned in the subpanel’s partial report, which recommended plunder charges to be filed against the Vice President and Junjun Binay.

Enrile leaves

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">JPE leaves hearing, refuses to answer Qs: &quot;Wala akong sasabihin... I&#39;m gonna study my Mamasapano.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/rapplerdotcom">@rapplerdotcom</a> <a href="https://t.co/sI3XZDwMx6">pic.twitter.com/sI3XZDwMx6</a></p>&mdash; Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) <a href="https://twitter.com/maracepeda/status/691821464610312199">January 26, 2016</a></blockquote>
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It was the first and last time Enrile attended the hearing as he was detained for plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam when the probe began  in August 2014. Enrile was only released on bail in August 2015.

The House minority leader left the hearing after an hour, when Pimentel called for a quick break. Enrile refused to answer questions from the media.

“Wala akong sasabihin. No word. I’m going to study my Mamasapano….Kaya nga uuwi ako’t pag-aralan ko pa,” said the senator, referring to his participation in the re-opening of the Senate probe into the bloody police operation set for Wednesday.

(I’m not going to say anything. No word. I’m going to study my Mamasapano.… That’s why I’m going home so I can study it further.)

Enrile ‘fair, objective’

Subcommittee member Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he found Enrile’s interjections as “valid.”

“I don’t think it affected even the flow of presentation ni Atty Bondal, so those are valid interjections of a member of the committee. Hindi naman [biased] (It wasn’t biased). People may say that but I think generally fair naman and objective naman ‘yung queries,” said Trillanes, a staunch Binay critic who leveled a new allegation against the Vice President over his television advertisement about the Senate probe.

Trillanes said the Senate panel welcomed Enrile’s participation because through him, the Senate minority and even the political opposition were represented. 

“It was a healthy exercise of the democratic processes,” said Trillanes, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the 25 hearings. 

Asked by reporters, Trillanes added that he does not think Enrile was lawyering for Binay during the hearing.

“Nakita ko, that’s pretty tame kung standard ni Senator Enrile ang pinag-uusapan. Wala akong nakitang anything beyond the normal,” he said.

(I saw that it was pretty tame if we are going to consider the standard of Senator Enrile. I didn’t see anything beyond the normal.) – Rappler.com

This is part of a series of stories on campaign spending in 2010 and 2013

MANILA, Philippines – Who is funding “Nognog”? 

In his latest television advertisement, Vice President Jejomar Binay referred to himself as Nognog. The self-proclaimed poor man, however, is not as poor as his commercials seem to suggest. Television ads, after all, cost a lot of money.

When he ran for vice president in 2010, Binay spent over P201 million on TV and radio ads during the campaign period, according to his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). This constituted around 92% of his total campaign spending.

The Omnibus Election Code requires all candidates, party-list groups, and political parties to submit their SOCEs. These documents contain information on sources and spending of campaign funds.

Candidates must file their SOCEs within 30 days after the election. Failure to comply will merit a fine ranging from P1,000 to P60,000 – a rather small amount compared to the millions spent by most candidates. A second offense could, however, get them “perpetually” disqualified from holding public office.

Can candidates spend whatever amount they want for their campaigns? No, there are rules that govern campaign expenses:

For example, since Binay ran for a national post, his constituency is the entire Philippine population. To compute his spending cap, multiply the number of registered voters in 2010 by P10. 

Number of registered voters in 2010 x Authorized spending per voter

50,723,733 x 10 = P507,237,330 as Binay's spending limit

For someone running for a local post, multiply the number of registered voters in his municipality or province by P3.

Independent candidates, however, have a different rate:

As for political parties, each can spend a maximum of P5 for every reigstered voter in the constituency where it has official candidates. For example, Binay's party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has the discretion to add to his expenses, as long as it observes the spending cap.

A party can divide its spending among its candidates. So UNA could spend not only for Binay, but for the rest of its slate.

In 2010, Binay declared in his SOCE that he spent P217.9 million – sourcing all of it from contributions.

He received P231,480,000 from 641 contributors, consisting of private corporations and individuals. 

Binay said he did not spend a cent of his own.

His SOCE, however, only covers his transactions from February to May. All his campaign expenses before the campaign period are excluded.

Based on election laws, Binay did not overspend. In 2010, there were 50.7 million registered voters– this means, presidential and vice-presidential candidates were allowed to spend a total of P507 million each.

In January 2016, a leaked survey from research firm Nielsen Philippines claimed that Binay spent P695.55 million ($14.66 million) on TV, radio, and print ads in 2015. 

For the 2016 polls, there are 54.4 million registered voters, putting the spending cap on presidential bets at P544 million.

At first glance, it would seem Binay already overspent, but under election laws, however, expenditure limitations only cover a candidate’s spending during the campaign period itself. 

The campaign period for national positions officially begins on February 9 and ends on May 7, which means the ads and campaign gimmicks we see before then will not be counted in the SOCE.

"Technically, it won't be counted. It's a loophole in the current status of the law, but we cannot do anything but implement it," lawyer Lutchavez Vergara of the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) Campaign Finance Office told Rappler.

Biggest contributors

Who were Binay’s biggest contributors in 2010? Will they be supporting him this year?

In 2010, Binay received P10 million from Darlene Webb Zshornack, owner of Planet Drugstore Corporation.

Planet Drugstore engages in a private-public partnership with the Hospital of Makati, according to an Asian Development Bank report. It began its operations in 2009, when Binay was still mayor. 

Binay’s second biggest contributor, Victor Valdepeñas, gave P5 million. Valdepeñas managed the Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines for 18 years.

In 2015, it was reported that Aboitiz and the Union Bank group were among Makati’s top “tax delinquents” having unpaid real estate taxes. The property in question is a “residential condo project” in 1999.

Also donating P5 million is a certain Victor Binay, a relative. 

Meanwhile, the couple Anne Lorraine Buencamino and James Tiu each contributed P7.5 million. James is the younger brother of Antonio Tiu, identified as “Binay’s dummy” in the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building controversy.

Antonio Tiu is also linked to Binay’s 350-hectare farm in Batangas.

In 2014, lawyer Renato Bondal questioned how the younger Tiu, only 27 years old in 2010, could contribute such a big amount. Bondal argued that James Tiu “was used by someone in order to donate to Binay.”

In the same year, the couple was charged with tax evasion.

Another P5 million came from Enrique Lagdameo, the father of Makati congresswoman Monique Lagdameo – a political ally of the Binays.

Lagdameo is also the treasurer of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), which is headed by Binay. The BSP has been mired in controversy as a suspicious business deal between BSP and Alphaland erupted. 

Binay allegedly kept P200 million for himself and used it for his 2010 campaign funds. Binay, however, denied all claims.

Another hot name in Binay’s list of top contributors is Victor Limlingan, whose brother Gerry is tagged as Binay’s bagman. Victor, a managing director of DMCI Holdings, contributed P3 million.

After allegations against his brother were hurled, Victor denied links to Binay, stressing that their relationship was purely professional. In 2015, a national manhunt for Gerry was conducted; Victor said he does not know where his brother is.

Overspending

Although Binay has reportedly spent more than P600 million in ads in 2015, he is technically not in violation of the law since he spent it before the campaign period.

Under election laws, overspending during the campaign periods is an offense. Violators can be imprisoned from 1 to 6 years. Other penalties like disqualification and removal of right to suffrage are still vague, according to Vergara.

As of January 2016, there are 1,629 cases of overspending during the 2010 and 2013 elections. They are already filed with the Comelec's law department, undergoing preliminary investigation.

The complaints involve cases at the local level.

In 2016, the Comelec Campaign Finance Office promises to monitor the spending of all candidates.

"Citizens and organizations can report [to the Comelec] if campaigns are too grand, like political rallies," said Vergara.

At present, there are Senate and House bills proposing to increase campaign spending limits up to P20 to P30 per voter. Among its supporters is Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentl IIl. Such bills, however, remain pending. (To be continued) – Rappler.com

Piggybank image and wallet image from Shutterstock

To reach the Comelec Campaign Finance Office, contact 525-9334.

Is your candidate following campaign finance rules? Have you seen suspiciously extravagant campaigns? Let us know, e-mail us at move.ph@rappler.com. Stay vigilant, own your vote!

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on Tuesday, January 26, urged Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East as the Islamic Republic's emergence from international isolation took a significant step forward with President Hassan Rouhani's first visit to the Vatican.

Fresh from securing the lifting of international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program, Rouhani spent 40 minutes at the Vatican talking privately to Pope Francis, a strong backer of the deal with Tehran.

In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Iran's important role to promote, together with other countries, "adequate political solutions" to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

"I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told his guest at the end of their meeting, when journalists were briefly allowed to listen in.

A smiling Rouhani, who presented the pope with a hand-made carpet from the ancient city of Qom, replied with one of Francis's catchphrases.

"I ask you to pray for me," he said. "It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you well in your work."

In return for his gift, Rouhani was given a medal depicting St Martin cutting his cloak in half to give to a poorly clothed beggar.

The Iranian leader also went away with English and Arabic versions of Francis's extended essay on the environmental challenges faced by the world. "Laudato Si" (Praise Be) has not been translated into Farsi.

It was the first official visit to the Vatican by an Iranian president since Mohammad Khatami was hosted by John Paul II in 1999. Khatami also attended the Polish pope's funeral in 2005.

Rouhani is on a 5-day trip to Italy and France looking to drum up trade and investment to modernize Iran's economy, partly by pitching the country as a beacon of stability in a conflict-wracked region. 

Safe and stable

Speaking to an audience of Italian and Iranian business leaders earlier in the day, Rouhani also portrayed Iran as the ideal base for companies seeking a foothold in a region of 300 million people, reassuring would-be investors their contracts would be honored.

"Iran is the safest, the most stable country in the entire region," Rouhani said.

"Everyone understood that the nuclear negotiations represented a win-win situation for both sides.

"Now we have created the conditions for investment and for the transfer of know-how. There has to be an advantage for both sides: we invite you to invest and we will provide stability and ensure that you can make adequate returns."

He emphasized that all sections of Iran's often-divided political class, right up to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were firmly behind the post-sanctions drive to secure the trade and investment needed to create new roads, rail links, airports and other infrastructure.

Rouhani outlined a vision of Iran being transformed into a hub for intra-regional economic development, linking the Middle East to South and Central Asia and even the Western fringes of China.

"Do not regard us as just one country but as a country at the centre of a much larger market," Rouhani said, citing the example of the port of Chabahar on Iran's southern coast.

Iran is seeking international investment to help complete a port which will provide a gateway for Indian companies seeking to do business in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as in Iran.

Rouhani also pledged that Tehran would do nothing to jeopordize its stability and said economic growth could help beat terrorism in the region.

"We have no intention of attacking or invading any other country. We have no intention of interfering in the affairs of any other country," he said.

"A lack of development creates the conditions for extremism, unemployment recruits soldiers for terrorism." – Rappler.com

Media handlers and communications specialists are now scrambling and deploying their forces in full as many have been tapped to create, reconfigure, and reinforce the images of candidates seeking to get the maximum positive exposures.

From the grapevine, one presidential candidate was reportedly told by his campaign and media strategists to keep his family away from the limelight, avoid debates, forums, and interviews and to keep their glib spokesmen on a very tight leash.

With headlines now being closely scrutinized by editors and publishers looking for any hint of editorial lapses and discrimination, placing political ads has become an expensive but necessary campaign cost for all presidential candidates.

Standing out for his lack of TV ad exposure is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who, according to his camp, has released only a total of 3 since his name was floated as possible presidential candidate. Only one came out when he declared he was a contender. 

None of them yet as of morning of Wednesday, January 27.

No wonder he trails all the other presidential candidates, except Senator Miriam Santiago, in television ad placements and expenditures.

According to national campaign manager Leoncio Evasco Jr, they did not pay a single centavo for those TV ads. They were paid by supporters. And the figures quoted in the report were probably way above the actual ad placement costs.

The Duterte camp said his supporters paid less than P40 million for the "Tapang at Malasakit" political ad that introduced him to the national audience.

The Christmas greetings TV ad was reportedly bankrolled by a friend.  

No epal

Duterte, the reluctant candidate, does not fit the image of Filipino politicians.

In his home turf in Davao, he is more known for the noticeable absence of tarpaulins, billboards, and decals proclaiming this and that project as his. 

Even ambulances are simply marked vehicles of the city government while other local chief executives insist on the obligatory inclusion of their names – even if these lifesaving vehicles were donated by Pagcor (usually) or the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office or PCSO. 

The incredibly successful 911 emergency project has vehicles – purchased by the city government of Davao – that do not bear his name either.

In a forum last week organized and hosted by Rappler in De La Salle University, Duterte told the audience that Davao City is the only local government unit that has an incubator inside a 911 ambulance.

“Hilasan ko (Gives me goosebumps),” Christopher Lawrence Go, also known as the omnipresent Bong Go, said of Duterte’s aversion to "epals" during a meeting last week of the national campaign executive committee in Davao City. During that meeting, they discussed the two TV ads that are already up for placement. 

The previous TV ads were paid for by his supporters and Duterte did not impose his own restrictions.

When shown the final cut of one of the videos, Duterte gave his approval because it followed his wishes – no image of him.

The two coming ads, after all, are paid for by own campaign funds. Both reportedly followed the instructions of the mayor.

How his communications team is making room for the wishes of Duterte is something they have probably not encountered before. But one can always presume many in the team are scratching their heads and rolling their eyeballs.

No make over

When Duterte made the Pope Francis gaffe, even his political party suggested that he hire public relations specialists to do a makeover of his strong-willed image. Duterte would have none of it.

In General Santos City, he told his host during a private dinner that was strictly off limits to the press he would not change his image or do a makeover.

“Dili nan ako. Ayaw na lang,” he told his host. (It would no longer be me. Don’t bother.)

Peter Laviña, spokesman of Duterte, said the mayor is just being true to himself.

“Showing his humility,” Laviña said. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday, January 27, accused President Benigno Aquino III of “hiding behind” former Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima to escape responsibility over the Mamasapano encounter.

At the Senate probe into the botched police operation which he had asked to  be re-opened, Enrile vowed to present evidence to prove this allegation, along with 7 other points he raised against Aquino in his opening statement. (READ: Senate reopens Mamasapano probe to hear 'new evidence')

“To shield himself from any accountability and responsibility, President Aquino deliberately hid or was hiding himself behind PDG Purisima,” Enrile said.

The Ombudsman sacked Purisima and 10 other police officers over their involvement in Oplan Exodus, the operation targetting high value targets led by Zulkifli bin Hir alis Marwan on January 25, 2015. The former top cop, among others, is also facing criminal charges.

Enrile also accused Aquino of not doing any “effective action” as Commander-in-Chief “to prevent the barbaric slaying and slaughter of the PNP SAF troopers whom he knowingly and deliberately sent on a dangerous mission.”

The senator's statements seemed to contradict his personal advice to his Senate allies in February last year, ahead of the start of the Senate probe into the incident. (READ: Enrile advises allies: Don't use SAF to hit Aquino)

Promise

The senator said his bid to re-open the hearing is not motivated by politics or any personal grudge, as alleged by his critics, but by a “promise” that he had made to survivors of Oplan Exodus, which claimed over 60 people, including 44 member sof the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

Enrile said he made the promise to some of the survivors while he was on hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame.

Enrile was detained for plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam until he was granted bail in August last year, and was unable to participate in the Senate probe into the clash then.

“I vowed to them then that if ever I be given a chance to get bail, I will seek justice for them and for all those who perished,” said Enrile, an ally of United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In her opening statement, Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, also dismissed allegations that the re-opening of the investigation is politically-motivated.

"Let me emphasize it succinctly: the purpose of this inquiry is not only to find fault but more importantly, to know the absolute and complete truth," said Poe, a presidential aspirant.

The Mamasapano encounter is the biggest blow to the Aquino administration. It pulled down the President's approval and trust ratings to their lowest a couple of months after the incident, though he managed to bounce back by June. 

Aquino had alleged that the reopening of the probe on the incident, which had been completed by the Senate, the House of Representatives, and various government agencies, is politically-motivated. (READ: Political foes 'taking advantage' of Mamasapano probe – Aquino) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – President Benigno Aquino III welcomed Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, January 27.

Presidential sister Pinky Abellada joined Aquino in welcoming Japan's imperial couple, who arrived in Manila on Tuesday for a 5-day state visit.

It was the second meeting of the two heads of state, after Aquino visited Japan in June 2015. Aquino was then conferred the highest honor from the Imperial family – the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

The imperial couple's state visit to the Philippines coincides with the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations, earlier marred by Japan's occuption of the Philippines during World War II.

Their last visit to the country was in 1962, when they were still Crown Prince and Crown Princess. 

After the Emperor signed the presidential guest book, Aquino took his guests on a brief palace tour. Akihito and Aquino then had a private meeting.

According to Palace Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, Aquino and Akihito talked about the emperor's previous visit to Baguio and Tagaytay cities.

Other topics they discussed are the "heavier traffic volume in National Capital Region due to increased automobile sales, mostly of Japanese make" and the "significant presence of Japanese retailer Uniqlo and the Heattech technology."

Aquino earlier hinted he would not be discussing the issue of Filipino comfort women with the Japanese head of state. (READ: Comfort women to Aquino: Tackle our plight with Japanese emperor)

Akihito and Michiko are set to attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta on Wednesday afternoon before proceeding to the  Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig to honor the fallen soldiers of the last war. 

Aquino will host a state dinner for the royal couple on Wednesday night.

Honoring World War II dead

Before leaving Tokyo on Tuesday, Akihito said they intend to conduct their visit to the Philippines “by always keeping in mind” the lives lost during the war. (READ: Japanese emperor to honor WWII dead during PH visit)

Akihito specifically noted the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed. 

The Philippines is the latest stop in the soft-spoken emperor's pacifist pilgrimage, which has appeared to contradict his government's nationalist bent. 

Akihito, 82, has made honoring Japanese and non-Japanese who died in the conflict a touchstone of his near 3-decade reign – known as Heisei, or "achieving peace" – and now in its twilight.

Their visit to the Philippines comes at a time when the two countries are consolidating their forces in the wake of China’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea.

In June 2015, the two nations signed a Declaration for a Strengthened Strategic Partnership and its Action Plan, which was strongly condemned by China. (READ: PH beefs up defense deals amid dispute with China)

In a bilateral meeting in November, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan is considering providing large patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard, the main agency tasked to secure the almost 40,000-km coastline of the country.– with reports from Agence France Presse/Rappler.com 

OREGON, USA (2nd UPDATE) – One person was killed and several others arrested Tuesday, January 26, in the US state of Oregon following a shootout between police and members of a militia that had been occupying a wildlife refuge for weeks, the FBI said.

Ammon Bundy, the rancher who led the January 2 occupation of the reserve in rural Oregon, was among 5 people arrested in the highway stand-off between an armed anti-government group and the US authorities.

Bundy, 40, faces a federal felony charge "of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats," the FBI said in a statement.

During the arrest operation conducted FBI agents and Oregon state police "there were shots fired," the statement read.

Authorities did not immediately identify the dead person, who was named by CNN as Robert LaVoy Finicum. 

The FBI said another person "suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment" before being taken into custody.

The group was arrested at a traffic stop while traveling in two vehicles, CNN reported, citing police sources. 

All but two of the men, including Bundy's 43-year-old brother Ryan, surrendered to police, CNN said.

It was unclear who shot first, but CNN said Ryan Bundy was wounded.

The Bundy bothers are the sons of Cliven Bundy, 69, an outspoken anti-government activist who in 2014 engaged in an armed standoff with federal authorities over unpaid cattle grazing fees at his Nevada ranch.

Cliven Bundy confirmed LaVoy Finicum's death on his Facebook page, saying that he "was Shot and murdered in Cold blood today in Burns Oregon" (sic) by the FBI and state police.

Journalist arrested

Separately in Burns, the Oregon town closest to the reserve, state police arrested a 45 year-old man from Arizona and the FBI arrested a 50 year-old man from Ohio "without incident," both connected to the standoff.

The FBI identified the Ohio man as an "independent journalist" who produced videos of the occupation that he posted on YouTube.

The group took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in protest over the jailing of two local ranchers, Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, who were convicted of arson.

Their demands soon grew to include a call for the government to turn over federal land in the area to local ranchers.

The Hammonds however distanced themselves from the movement and voluntarily began their scheduled prison sentences after the occupation began.

Several members of the local community, notably the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, had condemned the takeover of the reserve, while expressing sympathy for the Hammonds.

On January 11, the protesters destroyed fencing surrounding the reserve.

Ammon Bundy has said they were acting at the request of a rancher who wanted to graze his cattle on the property. – Rappler.com

BERLIN, Germany – The world's "up and coming economies" are struggling to shake off corruption, an anti-graft watchdog warned Wednesday, January 27, citing massive scandals in Brazil and Malaysia as cause for concern.

In its "Corruption Perceptions Index 2015," Transparency International (TI) said the Latin American country showed the biggest decline in its ranking of 168 countries, slumping 7 notches to 76th position over a kick-backs scandal engulfing state oil giant Petrobras.

On the other side of the globe, graft allegations surrounding Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak also laid bare corruption dogging the Asian state, it noted.

Overall, 2/3 of the countries measured by TI scored below the 50-point mark out of a top score of 100.

Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland and Sweden – topped the chart with their clean public sectors as in previous years, while strife-torn or repressive states – Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia – brought up the rear.

Emerging giants, in particular, showed a worrisome picture in the index used widely used as a gauge of the level of corruption by governments, legal systems, political parties and bureaucracies.

"All the BRICS are challenged, the countries that are the really up and coming in the world economy, they all score below 50 in our index," Robin Hodess, TI group director for research, told Agence France-Presse, referring to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

South Africa took 61st place with 44 points. Brazil and India were tied at 76th place, with scores of just 38, while China fared slightly worse, at 83th place with 37 points. Russia only came in at 119th position, managing just 29 points.

Hodess noted that the Petrobras case has had a "tremendous impact... in the real uncovering of the way that the political networks and businesses have been covering up decades of corruption in the country". 

"Things are starting to change, but this has been the scandal that brought Brazil into a difficult situation in terms of public sector perception of corruption."

The Latin American giant has been reeling over revelations that executives at Petrobras colluded with politicians and other businessmen to siphon off millions from the company through bribes and rigged contracts.

A massive probe dubbed "Operation Car Wash" has netted dozens of prominent figures, including high-ranking Congress members and executives at Petrobras and major construction firms.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff herself has been investigated but so far emerged unscathed, although she was Petrobras chairwoman through much of the period when the corporation was at the center of the embezzlement scheme.

'Not enough political will'

Meanwhile, hours ahead of the release of TI's latest index, Malaysia's top prosecutor cleared Prime Minister Najib of corruption, putting a spotlight on graft strangling the country's public sector.

In the long-running case that has gripped the nation, the attorney-general on Tuesday said some $681 million (628 million euros) that Najib received in his bank account were a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

Najib has for months denied accusations that the payment was siphoned from a now struggling state-owned company he launched.

Samantha Grant, TI's Southeast Asia coordinator, said the verdict left key questions answered, including "why this donation was made".

"I think this case really highlights that kind of problem and the fact that while some measures have been taken, really getting to the bottom of the problem, and really working at the roots of corruption in Malaysia hasn't really been given enough political will and honest attention," she told Agence France-Presse.

Transparency International urged the public to prod their governments to carry out much needed reforms to end the scourge of corruption.

"Overall we think it's very important that not only the government comes in with the reforms we are looking for – the policy changes, and enforcing them, but that these countries pay attention to people, to the efforts of people on the ground," said Hodess. 

She cited the example of Guatemala, where protests pushed president Otto Perez to stand down last year over graft allegations.

"The people can really make a big difference in drawing attention of elites to corruption issues, and we think in the long term it would make a big impact if people are part of the solution to corruption," added Hodess. – Hui Min Neo, AFP / Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, January 27, deposited in escrow inside a highly-secured vault at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) the first of 3 software for the 2016 national elections.

Comelec chairman Andy Bautista brought to the BSP a metal safety deposit box containing a sealed envelope with a thumb drive inside. Saved in the thumb drive are the election management system (EMS) software, its encrypted source code, and related hash codes.

These files were the result of the final trusted build process spearheaded by international certification entity SLI Global Solutions on Tuesday. 

The deposit of the software in escrow in BSP is required under Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Law, said Bautista.

“The BSP is the most secured place in the Philippines,” noted its deputy governor Vicente Aquino. 

“We will ensure that [the software] will be safe throughout its custody in escrow here in BSP. We will not touch it, we will not look into it, we will not look at it, we will just ensure that it’s there, untouched by anyone.”

Aquino noted that not even BSP officials have access to the vault. “We have to pass through so many security, I’d say, impediments.”

The EMS software will join in the vault the source codes used in the 2010 and 2013 elections, said Bautista.

He added that the Comelec will be paying P1,700 per month to BSP for the safekeeping of the software.

Bautista said he was no stranger to the BSP vault, because confiscated jewelry from the Martial Law regime were also stored there. 

“For me, it’s like déjà vu,” said Bautista, who was the former chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, tasked to go after the ill-gotten wealth during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Two more source codes – those for the vote-counting machines (VCM) and the consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) – will be deposited in BSP on February 9.

The Comelec, meanwhile, will begin loading the executable file of the EMS software in the servers at the Comelec warehouse in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, on Wednesday. This will start the process of preparing the ballot faces, among others. (READ: How does the PH automated election system work?)

Security protocol

Some members of the media, including Rappler, were drawn in a lot for the opportunity to observe the process of depositing the software. For security reasons, no cameras or electronic devices were allowed inside the vault.

The BSP vault has a big, thick metal door that can only be opened electronically. A cage assigned to the Comelec was unlocked. In the cage, a metal vault cabinet was opened.

After Bautista showed the metal boxes with the 2010 and 2013 source code and the 2016 EMS software was placed inside, the metal cabinet was locked and the cage secured again with two padlocks, their keyholes sealed with tape.

Lim explained that any person, even the poll chief, would have to get consent from the Comelec en banc to gain access to the vault. After that, the BSP Monetary Board would have to issue its own resolution, too.

“We also have to make sure that not one person on his or her own can enter the vault,” added Bautista.

Asked about what would warrant the extraction of the source codes from the vault, Lim surmised that one of the cases would be when something goes wrong with the software.

“Then, you want to extract the source code to compare with the hash code being used, to determine if it's still the same. Let's say, in a presidential protest, there's a question of whether the machine counted fraudulently, and you want to compare the hash codes,” Lim explained. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines slid down in the annual Corruption Perceptions Index released by global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International (TI) Wednesday, January 27.

With a score of 35 out of a possible 100, the Philippines is now ranked 95th among 168 countries included in the CPI.

The country's score in the CPI, which is "based on expert opinions of public sector corruption," is down by 3 points compared to the 2014 score of 38, the year when the country was ranked 85th out of 175 countries surveyed.

The score "indicates the perceived level of of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)," TI said.

TI said the 2015 index showed "no significant improvement" across the Asia Pacific region.

New Zealand ranked highest in the region, ranking number 4 globally with a score of 88, followed by Singapore at number 8, with a score of 85.

North Korea was at the lowest rung of the ladder (number 167) with a score of just 8 out of 100.

The region's average score was 43/100.

The report said: "This year’s poor results demand that leaders revisit the genuineness of their efforts and propel the region beyond stagnation. They must fulfill promises, and ensure efforts aren’t undermined in practice."

"From campaign pledges to media coverage to civil society forums, corruption dominates discussion. Yet despite all this talk, there’s little sign of action," the CPI report said.

Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, and Sweden– topped the chart with their clean public sectors as in previous years, while strife-torn or repressive states – Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia – brought up the rear.

Like the previous year, two-thirds of countries surveyed had scores below 50.

"The 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index clearly shows that corruption remains a blight around the world," said TI chair Jose Ugaz.

"But 2015 was also a year when people again took to the streets to protest corruption," Ugaz said. "People across the globe sent a strong signal to those in power: it is time to tackle grand corruption."

"Corruption can be beaten if we work together. To stamp out the abuse of power, bribery and shed light on secret deals, citizens must together tell their governments they have had enough," he added. – With reports from Agence France-Presse / Rappler.com

KAOSHIUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan carried out military drills Wednesday, January 27, with naval chiefs assuring residents the island is safe, as concerns grow that tensions will escalate with China after recent presidential elections. 

The drills were the first since Tsai Ing-wen of the China-skeptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) swept to victory in the elections earlier this month.

She ousted the ruling Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), bringing to an end eight years of unprecedented rapprochement with China.

On Wednesday, the Taiwanese navy displayed 8 warships and fired flares from a missile corvette during an exercise in waters off Tsoying in southern Taiwan, home to the island's naval headquarters.

It was the second and final day of the drills which saw a group of elite "frogmen" land on a beach in motorboats Tuesday, January 26, on the island of Kinmen – a Taiwan-controlled outpost island near China's southeastern Xiamen city.

A fleet of F-16 fighter jets were also scrambled in another exercise Tuesday at the southern Chiayi airbase.

"With the Lunar New Year approaching, our citizens can feel at ease we are able to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait," Vice Admiral Tsai Hung-tu, head of the navy's political warfare office, told Agence France-Presse.

Military exercises are routinely carried out by Taiwan before the Lunar New Year holidays which fall in February this year. 

Although Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo with Beijing, relations are widely expected to cool as the DPP is traditionally a pro-independence party.

It does not recognize that Taiwan is part of "one China" – a principle insisted upon by Beijing. 

Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting from China in 1949 following a civil war, but has never formally declared independence. Beijing still sees it as part of its territory to be reunified.  

China's state-controlled CCTV last week released footage it claimed depicted a drill carried out by Chinese forces after the elections, off the southeast coast of the mainland, near Taiwan.

Taiwan's defense ministry dismissed the footage, saying the images were collated from past maneuvers.

A Taiwanese defense ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Agence France-Presse that the move was part of Beijing's "psychological warfare" against Taiwan.

China has 1,500 missiles trained on Taiwan, according to the island's defense ministry. 

China fired test missiles into the Taiwan Strait in a bid to deter voters in the island's first democratic elections in 1996. – Rappler.com

MIAMI, USA – Chronic infections, smoking and pollution have contributed to skyrocketing cases of cancer in China, with an estimated 4.3 million new diagnoses last year and 2.8 million deaths, researchers said Tuesday, January 26.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in China, said the report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and led by Wanqing Chen of the National Cancer Center in Beijing.

The report described cancer as a major public health problem in China, where the population is about 1.37 billion.

In the past, the burden of cancer has been difficult to estimate because research was based on small samples of the population – less than 2%– and used old data sets from the 1990s, said the findings.

But higher quality data in recent years has come from a number of population-based registries via the National Central Cancer Registry of China. 

The latest report is based on data from 72 local cancer registries, dating from 2009 to 2011 and representing 6.5% of the population.

Using that information, researchers projected there would have been 4,292,000 newly diagnosed invasive cancer cases in 2015 in China.

That would equal almost 12,000 new cancer diagnoses each day, and 7,500 deaths. 

The most common forms of cancer in men were lung, stomach, esophagus, liver, and colorectum.

In women, breast cancer was the most common, making up about 15 percent of all new cases of cancer in Chinese women.

Following breast cancer, cancers of the lungs, stomach, colorectum and esophagus made up the bulk of women's cases.

Cancer is more deadly for men than women in China, killing men at a rate of 166 per 100,000 cases, about twice the rate for women.

Mortality rates from cancer since 2006 are down significantly for both males and females – about 21% per year.

But due to the aging and expanding population, the overall number of cancer deaths has substantially increased – by 74% – during the same period, said the report.

Chronic infections of the stomach, liver and cervix led to nearly one third of all cancer deaths.

Tobacco smoking accounted for about 1/4 of all cancer deaths.

"Outdoor air pollution, considered to be among the worst in the world, indoor air pollution through heating and cooking using coal and other biomass fuels, and the contamination of soil and drinking water mean that the Chinese population is exposed to many environmental carcinogens," said the report. – Rappler.com