Rappler Newscast: pork barrel scam, Janet Napoles, Egypt violence

Summary

In this news report, the Philippines' pork barrel scam is exposed, implicating Janet Lim Napoles who allegedly received 2.1 billion pesos in lawmakers' funds. The Court of Appeals freezes her bank accounts, and the National Bureau of Investigation urges her surrender. The report also covers a military agreement between the US and the Philippines, safety violations by Zest Air, and global events like the UN investigating chemical weapons in Syria and Google's new personal assistant features.

Takeaways

• 📊 A report reveals that Janet Napoles, known as the 'pork barrel queen', received over 2 billion pesos of lawmakers' funds between 2007 and 2009.
• 💵 It is suspected that around 6 billion pesos went to questionable NGOs with the collusion of legislators.
• 🏦 The Court of Appeals has frozen the bank accounts of Napoles, her family, relatives, and staff, as well as those of NGOs linked to her, following a petition by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
• 🚫 Over 400 accounts are affected by the freeze order, including 107 belonging to Napoles.
• 🏢 The National Museum's employees demand an explanation for the 331 million pesos endowment fund allegedly invested in private banks without proper authorization.
• 🛫 Janet Napoles' brother tried to leave the Philippines twice in one day, amid an ongoing scandal and arrest warrants against them.
• 🔍 The Philippines and the United States are in talks for a new agreement to expand the US military presence in the country, with concerns over potential infringement on citizens' rights.
• ✈️ The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines suspends the license of budget carrier Zest Air for safety violations.
• 💉 Health Secretary Enrique Ona faces calls for resignation over his stance on allowing stem cell products in the market without proper registration.
• 🌍 Islamists in Egypt call for a 'Friday of anger' following a violent crackdown on protesters, raising fears of further violence.

Q & A

How much did Janet Napoles receive in pork barrel funds between 2007 to 2009?

Janet Napoles received more than 2 billion pesos of lawmakers funds between 2007 to 2009.

What was the total amount of questionable funds that went to NGOs as revealed by the Commission on Audit?

The Commission on Audit revealed that around 6 billion pesos went to questionable NGOs with the collusion of legislators.

Which other NGOs were linked to Janet Napoles besides the 10 mentioned in the report?

Six other NGOs were found to have received a total of 189 million pesos and were linked to Janet Napoles.

What is the pork barrel system in the Philippines and why is it controversial?

The pork barrel system in the Philippines refers to the discretionary funds given to legislators to be used for their pet projects. It is controversial because it has been a source of corruption, with lawmakers allegedly diverting funds to NGOs they have connections with.

What actions were taken by the Court of Appeals against Janet Napoles and her family?

The Court of Appeals ordered all bank accounts of Janet Napoles, her family members, relatives, and staff to be frozen. The freeze order also covers the accounts of non-government organizations linked to the Napoles family and their staff.

How many accounts were covered by the freeze order issued by the Court of Appeals?

The freeze order covers more than 400 accounts, out of which 107 belong to Janet Napoles.

What charges were filed against Janet Napoles and her brother, Raldo Lim?

Janet Napoles and her brother Raldo Lim were charged with illegally detaining whistleblower Benhur Luy.

What was the issue with the National Museum's endowment fund?

The issue was that 331 million pesos of the National Museum's endowment fund meant for research and development were invested in two private investment banks without proper authorization, raising questions about the management of the fund.

What is the stance of Senate President Franklin Dron on the new agreement between the Philippines and the United States regarding military presence?

Senate President Franklin Dron wants the Senate to be actively involved in the ongoing talks to ensure that the agreement will not infringe on the lives of the people and their guaranteed rights.

What was the reason behind the suspension of Zest Air's license by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines?

Zest Air's license was suspended due to safety violations until the airline undertakes necessary corrective actions and complies with aviation safety standards.

What was the global reaction to the violence in Egypt following the ousting of President Muhammad Morsi?

The global reaction included criticism from world leaders, an emergency meeting by the United Nations Security Council, and various governments summoning Egyptian envoys to voice their concern. The US President Barack Obama announced the cancellation of a joint US-Egyptian military exercise.