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News in 2015: Stories that made you click

Philstar.com

January 1, 2016 | 10:00am

The year started with a month highlighted by Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines and punctuated by the killing of police Special Action Force commandos. These and other major headlines affected the Filipino the past year:

44 SAF commandos killed in Mamasapano clash; Slim chance for BBL passage
Philippines challenges China's excessive claims over South China Sea
Iglesia Ni Cristo stages massive protest vs DOJ
Senate continues probe into corruption allegations vs Binay
Mary Jane Veloso given last minute reprieve
2016 election buzz
Pope Francis visits Philippines for the first time
NBI files criminal raps versus 'laglag-bala' perpetrators
Key convictions
Infrastructure woes

Special mentions:

Notable deaths
Calamities
People stopped talking about
High-profile cases

44 SAF commandos killed in Mamasapano clash; Slim chance for BBL passage

Philippine National Police troops carry the bodies of their fallen comrades as they arrived in Manila from Mindanao in February. PNP photo

In an operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias "Marwan" and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman, 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandoes died during an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

This prompted the probe of the incident in the Senate, House of Representatives and the Department of Justice. President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima drew flak for allegedly being responsible for the incident.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, cleared Aquino of any liability in the incident while Purisima, former PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) commander Director Getulio Napeñas and nine other police officers were charged with grave misconduct and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Department of Justice has recently wrapped up its investigation into the incident.

What followed was the delay in the approval of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. filed a substitute bill before the Senate but the House of Representatives is reported to be discussing a Palace version of the proposed measure. The senator said that there is still a "slim chance" for the Senate to pass the bill.

DOCUMENT: PNP Board of Inquiry's Mamasapano Report
FULL TEXT: MILF report on the Mamasapano clash
FULL TEXT: Senate panel's report on Mamasapano clash

Philippines challenges China's excessive claims over South China Sea

The Philippine delegation at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands was comprised of representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government. Malacañang/Released

The Philippines has filed an arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations against China for its excessive claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines is the first country to challenge China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed sea.

China has been building airstrips on its artificial islands and is expected to build more. China has refused to participate in the proceedings of the arbitration case and reiterated its “indisputable sovereignty” over the disputed territory.

The international tribunal has issued its award on jurisdiction on the case between the Philippines and China. The Philippine delegation has presented its arguments against China's claims. The tribunal is set to release a decision in 2016.

IN PHOTOS: Philippine military's aerial shots of China's man-made islands
FULL TEXT: Transcript of merits hearing on Philippines vs China case
FULL TEXT: Transcript of oral arguments on Philippines vs China arbitration case

Iglesia Ni Cristo stages massive protest vs DOJ

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo stage protests in August on Shaw Boulevard and EDSA against what they call as persecution by the Department of Justice. STAR/Michael Varcas

Tensions rose in the Iglesia Ni Cristo when the mother and brother of executive minister Eduardo Manalo released a video calling for help and claiming that their lives were in danger. Tenny and Angel Manalo claimed that some of the religious sect's ministers have been kidnapped.

The religious group staged a massive protest when the Department of Justice started its investigation on the alleged forced detention of expelled church members. The group concluded its five-day protest following a meeting with the government.

The Supreme Court later on issued writs of habeas corpus and amparo to compel the leadership of the INC to present a former minister it had allegedly held in custody. The group, however, has sought the dismissal of petitions against them.

Senate continues probe into corruption allegations vs Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay and family were hounded by corruption allegations throughout the year. In this July photo, he is seen at the July launching of the United Nationalist Alliance as the main opposition party. Philstar.com / Jonathan Asuncion

In the continuation of the Senate probe into the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr. was cited in contempt for refusal to appear before the hearings. The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of the younger Binay, which caused tension in the Makati City Hall. Later on, the younger Binay was dismissed from service following the administrative case filed against him.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) released a report claiming that the vice president has 242 bank accounts, investments and insurance policies under the name of Binay, his family and his friends. The Court of Appeals issued a freeze order against the vice president's assets. The Binay camp questioned the AMLC forfeiture case and filed an omnibus motion against it.

Earlier in 2015, the elder Binay resigned from his post in President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet and criticized the current administration. He conducted his "true state of the nation address" following the president's SONA.

The vice president launched the United Nationalist Alliance as the main opposition party in the 2016 national elections. Binay topped the latest presidential survey conducted by Pulse Asia despite the drop in his satisfaction ratings.

Mary Jane Veloso given last minute reprieve

Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee pray with Mary Jane Veloso in July at a Yogyakarta jail in Indonesia. Pacquiao team/Released

Family and supporters of convicted Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso rejoiced after she was spared from execution during the last minute of the scheduled death penalty on April 29.

Thirty-year-old Veloso, convicted for drug trafficking in Indonesia, was among those to be executed by firing squad but was given reprieve after her alleged recruiter Maria Cristina Sergio voluntarily surrendered at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office, hours before the expiration of Indonesia's 72-hour execution notice.

Based on the report of Jakarta Post, Spokesperson of Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo announced that Veloso’s execution has been postponed due to the request of President Benigno S. Aquino III in relation to the alleged human trafficker who recently gave herself up in the Philippines.

Sergio and two other individuals now face complaints of illegal recruitment, swindling and human trafficking before the Department of Justice under the National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Human Trafficking Division.

Meanwhile, even if Veloso was spared from the death row, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, three Nigerians, a Brazilian, a Ghanaian and an Indonesian were executed during the scheduled death penalty.

2016 election buzz

The Commission on Elections Second Division disqualified Sen. Grace Poe from the presidential race. Facebook/Grace Poe

As a year of prelude to the 2016 elections, several poll-related issues emerged in 2016.

As early as the first half of 2015, political announcements were made by the presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial aspirants as well as local government posts aspirants prior to the filing of the certificate of candidacy in October.

Several neophytes jumped from local and national posts to the highest post while some candidates surprised the public with their tandems.

For presidential and vice presidential candidates, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II became the standard bearer of the Liberal Party with running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo. Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay runs as the standard bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance with Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago also decided to run for president after conquering her cancer and chose Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as her vice presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe is seeking to run for presidency with her friend, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as both independent candidates.

Among those issues that made a huge impact to the upcoming elections are the disqualification cases faced by Poe, questioning her years of residency in the country and her citizenship. The cases were upheld by the two divisions of the Commission on Elections when they canceled her candidacy early December.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, a prospective presidential candidate, also made news as he repeatedly announced he is not running for president but later on decided to join the election race after the Senate Electoral Tribunal favored Poe and ruled that she is a natural born Filipino. He then decided to run as a substitute for Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s former standard bearer, Martin Diño and chose Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as his running mate.

Recently, the mayor’s candidacy was accepted by the Comelec while he also faces disqualification cases.

Pope Francis visits Philippines for the first time

Pope Francis waves to the crowd at the University of Santo Tomas on January 18. Philstar.com / Jonathan Asuncion

Pope Francis made a historic state and apostolic visit as he set foot in Manila last January.

The Pope kicked off several historic visits in 2015. Pope Francis arrived at the Villamor Airbase in January 15 and stayed at the Apolistic Nunciature in Manila until he departed Manila in January 19.

During the course of his visit, Pope Francis was welcomed by President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Malacañang Palace, held motorcades around Manila, visited Tacloban and the victims of Yolanda, held Mass at the Manila Cathedral, Palo Cathedral, University of Santo Tomas, SM Mall of Asia Arena and a concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand.

Reports said Pope Francis’s concluding Mass drew 6 to 7 million attendees in Quirino Grandstand and Luneta.

The papal visit was successful and orderly. However, there were also issues which enveloped the visit such as the preparation of the Metro Manila Development Authorities when enforcers were allegedly asked to wear diapers as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s alleged move to hide homeless, which drew flak in social media for supposedly violating of human rights.

There was also Typhoon “Amang” which lashed Leyte during Pope Francis’s visit where a volunteer named Kristel Padasas died after scaffolding collapsed on her.

READ: 99 things Pope Francis said in the Philippines

NBI files criminal raps versus 'laglag-bala' perpetrators

Travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport had their luggage wrapped and sealed with packaging tape amid fears over the alleged "laglag-bala" (bullet-planting) scheme supposedly perpetrated by airport authorities. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

The National Bureau of Investigation filed criminal charges against two personnel of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and four members of the Philippine National Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSE Group) on December 10 for their alleged involvement in the “laglag-bala” or bullet-planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The filing of charges against OTS and PNP-AVSE personnel were recommended by the Department of Justice who found out that there was an extortion scheme in airports. These personnel allegedly drop bullets in passengers’ baggage and later on ask money from them in exchange for freedom, otherwise the passengers will be detained.

The number of alleged bullet-planting scheme cases rose in 2015 and reached United States’ leading news channel Fox News program “On the Record” after it drew attention from netizens.

Aside from the NBI, the Senate also conducted probe regarding the scheme as the number of cases increasing is getting alarming.

Key convictions

United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton is seen after a hearing on the murder case against him in Olongapo in December. AP/File

This year has been great for Philippine justice as some high-profile cases were resolved.

Alleged ‘pork barrel scam’ master mind Janet Lim-Napoles was sentenced by a Makati court on April of life imprisonment for illegally detaining whistleblower Benhur Luy, while a Quezon City court also handed down Jason Ivler a life sentence for killing the son of a former Malacañang official in a road rage incident six years ago.

One of the most controversial convictions of 2015 came in December after US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was found guilty of homicide for killing Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in a rented room in Olongapo City last year.

He was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison, but the family of the victim said that it should have been for murder and not homicide.

Infrastructure woes

Traffic is at a standstill as commuters wait for public transport at the intersection of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard following a brief downpour in September. STAR/Bernardo Batuigas

Arguably, a lot of things happened to Filipinos while inside private or public vehicles due to the worsening traffic situation in the metro that resulted to people questioning the efforts of the government in finding a solution.

Aside from the usual rush hours in major roads, including EDSA and C5 Road, the public experienced horrendous traffic buildup due to Iglesia Ni Cristo rally in August, APEC summit in November and during a heavy downpour because of typhoons.

One of the alternative modes of transportation to at least avoid wasting time in roads is the Metro Rail Transit 3 but turned unreliable in some circumstances due to high volume of passengers but limited trains, defective railings and power shortages that saw commuters walking in the middle of every stations, to name a few.

Amid these problems, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earned the ire of the public after commenting that the traffic in metro is not fatal.

Abaya was also summoned in a Senate sub-committee on public services hearing on the MRT, where Sen. Grace Poe said that the Filipinos deserve a better DOTC chief.

On the other hand, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group took over the management of traffic in EDSA from the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Notable deaths

As a congressman and a senator, Joker Arroyo had no bodyguards. He did not enjoy the trappings and perks of power. Philstar.com, file

Former Sen. Joker Arroyo, 88, a human rights lawyer and freedom fighter, succumbed to heart attack on October 7.

Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Sr., 74, passed away on July 18 due to liver cancer before any conviction has been made on the incident in 2009.

The deaths of the 44 police Special Action Force commandos in the anti-terror operation gone wrong in January shocked the country, leading to a firestorm against government. The suspects, mostly members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, remain at large.

A slippers factory owned by Kentex Manufacturing Corp. in Valenzuela City went up in flames, killing 72 workers. The family members of the victims sued the owners, who face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries.

Special mentions

Calamities

A few died and thousands were displaced when Typhoons “Lando” and “Nona” barreled through the country. The onslaught of Nona forced President Benigno Aquino III on December 18 to declare a state of national calamity as relief efforts went underway.

People stopped talking about

They say Filipinos easily forget. While some issues made headlines and stirred emotions the past year, they easily fizzled.

The alleged death due to milk tea in Manila ended with charges filed against the son of the owner of the teahouse. The suspect was acquitted on December 4.

The skyrocketing onion prices brought to fore a garlic cartel, with 127 government officials and importers charged in January.

In Congress, calls for the passing of the proposed Freedom of Information and the anti-political dynasty bills arise every now and then, but various political agenda and other legislative issues pile up before the bills even advance.

The Senate launched an inquiry into the Philippines’s Internet connection, found to be the second slowest in Asia after Afghanistan. In August, telecommunication firms vowed to comply with new rules on broadband measurement, but no concrete report has been released on the inquiries.

High-profile cases

The Supreme Court tackled the petition against the construction of the towering residential building seen on the skyline of the Rizal Memorial Park in Manila. The high court halted the construction of DMCI’s Torre de Manila, while sectors debate on whether it should be demolished or continued.

Brothers Joel and Mario Reyes, suspects in the killing of radio broadcaster Gerry Ortega in 2011, were nabbed in Thailand in September for overstaying. Thai authorities then deported the fugitives to the Philippines where the former local government officials face murder charges.

Businessman Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman, the alleged mastermind behind the death of race car driver Enzo Pastor, who was slain in Quezon City in 2014, was tracked in Cavite by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and arrested in early December. His suspected partner-in-crime and alleged lover, Dalia Guerrero-Pastor, is Pastor’s widow reportedly hiding behind a new identity in Indonesia.