Top 5 News This Week: Franco Mabanta, Martin Romualdez, Nicholas Kaufman, the Senate

An alleged extortion attempt has social media operator Franco Mabanta in handcuffs. His supposed victim, former House speaker Martin Romualdez, is linked to even more questionable property acquisitions, according to Rappler’s own investigations. Former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang is vindicated from the trouble he got from Rodrigo Duterte, who has since parted ways with lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.

Meanwhile, Filipino seafarers on two international vessels face trouble: an Iranian drone attack on one, a hantavirus outbreak on the other. In the Senate, Panfilo Lacson struggles to secure signatures for his committee’s partial report on flood control corruption.

These are the week’s most consequential news stories:

#5: Arrest of PGMN founder Franco Mabanta: What we know so far + Is Franco Mabanta pro-Duterte or pro-Marcos? Check the receipts.

#4: Leyte properties linked to Martin Romualdez: Tropics Hotel + Leyte properties linked to Martin Romualdez: Tacloban Golf and Country Club

#3: SC voids ex-overall deputy ombudsman Carandang’s Duterte-time dismissal + Why Carandang’s victory vs Duterte is also a win for Ombudsman’s independence + [Rappler’s Best] Is it justice if delayed?

#2: Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship with 38 Filipino crew: What we know so far + Countries scramble to track passengers of virus-hit cruise ship + 7 Filipino seafarers hurt in Iranian drone attack on ship, says DMW

#1: Lacson defends flood control probe report amid lack of support from colleagues + Flood control corruption: Senate blue ribbon panel’s partial findings, recommendations
BONUS: Nicholas Kaufman withdraws as Duterte’s ICC lawyer

TL;DR? Watch the video. – Rappler.com

Presenter, producer: JC Gotinga
Video editor, graphics artist: Franz Lawrence de Castro
Supervising producer: Beth Frondoso