POPNews|today (22 January 2014 • Wednesday)

2. The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume
negotiations on Wednesday, January 22, in Kuala Lumpur. On the
negotiating table is the most sensitive issue of what to do with the
MILF’s firearms and with the fighters that carry them. Under the annex
on normalization, the MILF will undergo a systematic process of
decommissioning of arms in a "gradual and phased" manner. Unlike
in the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front,
the decommissioning of arms would be mandatory and not involve
any cash incentives. "The normalization process will occur in parallel
tracks. As the MILF decommissions its arms, the government will also
gradually decommission government troops, as well as private
armed groups, in the area while the Bangsamoro government is being
set up," MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said. Aside from the
annex on normalization, both sides will also work on finally arriving at
a deal on Bangsamoro waters. It was left as an addendum when they
signed the annex on power-sharing in December.

3. At least two provinces and 24 towns in Mindanao have been
placed under a state of calamity on Tuesday, January 21,
as flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains
continue to devastate many areas. Rains brought by
Tropical Depression Agaton have killed at least 42
people and injured 65 others. Governors in Lanao del
Norte, including Iligan City, and Agusan del Norte
declared a state of calamity, which allows them to
release emergency funds for disaster relief and
rehabilitation. According to the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) 24 towns
in Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte and
Davao Oriental are also under a state of calamity.

4. The Thai government has imposed a 60-day state of emergency
beginning Wednesday, January 22 following several bombings in the
country’s capital Bangkok. The state of emergency covers Bangkok
and the surrounding areas and is aimed at curbing mass protests
that have gone on for months. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
said that army would not be giving a leading role under the decree.
Yingluck is under intense pressure from demonstrators to step down
after more than two months of street protests aimed at ousting her
elected government and installing an unelected "people's council". It
was not immediately clear how the government would implement the
emergency decree, which enables authorities to impose a curfew,
ban public gatherings of more than five people, detain suspects for
30 days without charge and censor media. The country is gearing up
for special elections on February 2 but the main opposition party is
boycotting the vote.

5. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Monday,
January 20, filed a complaint before the Ombudsman
against President Benigno Aquino III and 12 others for
funneling P125 million of the Malampaya fund to nonexistent projects in 2011. Also included in the complaint
are Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Agrarian Reform
Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Janet Lim Napoles and
Benhur Luy. KMP claims that P100 million went to
supposed non-existent organic farming projects of two
agriculture NGOs. But the projects were never
implemented, according to KMP. The group is blaming
President Aquino for the fund disbursement despite
knowing that it was being allocated to non-energy
related projects, in violation of the law.

6. The Supreme Court can revisit the decision to impeach former Chief Justice
Renato Corona if there was fraud or bribery of the senator-judges. This is the
opinion of Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago, a constitutional law expert, in
reaction to allegations made by Sen Bong Revilla Jr. that the President tried
to persuade him to vote for the impeachment of Corona. Santiago also told
reporters on Tuesday, January 21, that though it is unusual for the High Court
to reopen a case and reverse a final decision, it has the power to do so.
Santiago was one of only 3 senators who voted to acquit Corona in May 2012.
The other two were former Senator Joker Arroyo and Senator Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The other 20 senators voted for conviction. In the
same press briefing, Santiago also said that the 3 senators tagged in the
Pork Barrel Scam are trying to reduce a possible plunder charge to
malversation in order to get a lighter sentence. “What they’re hoping to do is
have the charge of plunder reduced to malversation. The penalty will not be
as severe as plunder. [If they are charged with plunder], automatically, they
will be suspended from the post of senator and cannot report to the Senate,”
Santiago said.

7. SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Rappler
COPYRIGHT:
13 January 2014
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