It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
Three policemen assigned to the Calamba City, Laguna Police Office are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a 54-year-old man in Los Banos, Laguna on March 26.
The Police Regional Office 4-A led by Police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas ordered on Tuesday, April 9, a comprehensive investigation on the incident.
The Los Baños Police Station said Erwin Española Magbanua reported that his youngest brother, Randy Magbanua, from Barangay Lalakay, Los Banos, has been missing since March 26.
Randy was last seen on the national road in Barangay Lalakay.
Police conducted an investigation and backtracking of surveillance footage on the national highway and adjacent areas.
They found out that Randy was abducted by eight individuals on board a black Toyota Wigo and motorcycle. The suspects fled towards Calamba City.
Follow-up investigation resulted in a witness identifying two Persons of Interest (POI) – Burda and Naredo. Six other POIs are under investigation for possible proof of identity.
The Laguna Police Provincial Office found out that three POIs were police officers based on witness and surveillance footage in area.
They were assigned to the Calamba City Police Station and immediately relieved from their posts and placed under the Provincial Headquarters Administrative Holding Center pending investigation.
Lucas ordered a deeper probe into the roles and actions of the three lawmen.
“We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth and justice for the families of the missing persons. Every effort is being made to ascertain the whereabouts and ensure the safety of the missing individual, and those responsible for any wrongdoing will be brought to justice,” Lucas said.
Police are also determining if the three police officers are linked to another missing persons incident in Calamba City.
3 PNP officers are being probed for kidnapping and links to another missing person.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the officials of Ramos town in Tarlac for "lack of responsiveness to the real needs of residents' when 90 percent of the town's farmlands were inundated and 1,126 families were affected by typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon" in July and August 2023.
In its 2023 audit report, COA scrutinized the municipality's Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) fund utilization.
It said its auditors found that the municipality appropriated P5,326,229 as its LDRRM fund for 2023. However, they noticed that the municipality simply adopted the same programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) from its 2021 LDRRM plan.
For the COA, the findings showed a "lack of responsiveness by the management to the real needs of its constituents."
COA's audit report showed that 15 out of the 20 PPAs were implemented, while five PPAs with a total appropriation of P1,025,654.97 were still not implemented as of Dec. 31, 2023.
These unimplemented PPAs included the purchase of swab testing kits, purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, purchase of subsidized vegetable seeds, climate and disaster risk assessment (CDRA) training, and titling of acquired lots.
"The non-implementation of identified PPAs for the cited reasons may be indication that the planned PPAs were again not responsive to the real needs of the constituents," the report also said.
At the same time, COA said that the auditors found that the municipality stored 21 cavans of rice as part of its rice subsidy program. Unfortunately, these were "already infested with insects and were still in the municipality's stock room," it said.
Another concern raised was the incomplete details submitted in the distribution list for various medicines, dengue solution, palay seeds, and relief goods. While the municipality was able to provide auditors copies of distribution lists, these were found to be incomplete, COA said.
It said: "One common observation was that the submitted distribution lists lacked necessary details such as quantity and type of items received. Also, several pages of the list do not bear the signature of the recipients, their respective addresses, and the date of receipt," the report said. "These deficiencies precluded the audit team from timely verifying the transactions."
COA asked officials of Ramon town to complete all the necessary details in the supporting distribution list in order to help them conduct its validation, as well as design guidelines on distributing farm inputs to farmers for approval in order to prevent excessive disbursements and other future complaints.
Also, it said that concerned town officials should closely monitor perishable goods like rice so as to avoid spoilage.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the officials of Ramos town in Tarlac for "lack of responsiveness to the real needs of residents' when 90 percent of the town's farmlands were inundated and 1,126 families were affected by typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon" in July and August 2023.
The Office of the President (OP) placed Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib under preventive suspension for 60 days starting April 11.
In an interview Thursday, Abdullah Matalam, the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Davao Region (DILG-11) regional director said Vice Governor De Carlo Uy will serve as acting governor of Davao del Norte for 60 days while Jubahib is still suspended.
"The suspension order came from the Office of the President. We followed the order, and we just did our job. It's nothing personal," he said.
The order was the result of the Nov. 24, 2022, affidavit complaint filed by Board Member Orly Amit against Jubahib for grave abuse of authority and oppression and the latter's Oct. 9, 2023, answer.
Amit filed the complaint against the governor in connection with last year's barangay elections in the area.
"After a preliminary evaluation and consideration of the parties' allegations and evidence, this Office finds strong evidence of guilt against Gov. Jubahib. Likewise, given the gravity of the offense charged, there is a great probability that his continuance in office could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence," the April 8, 2024 order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said.
The order was under Section 63 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", and Section 1, Rule 6 of Administrative Order No. 23, s. 1992.
The Office of the President (OP) placed Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib under preventive suspension for 60 days starting April 11.
A barangay public safety officer was killed while two others, including a policeman, were wounded when a man went on a stabbing spree in Quezon City on Wednesday.
The victim, Vinalita Salazar, 45, of Barangay Payatas-A, and another barangay officer, Ronaldo Mataya, 51, went to Morning Star street at around 1:30 p.m. in response to a call about an unruly person in the area.
Probers identified the suspect as Wilfredo Belgera, 41, whom Salazar and Mataya confronted for his behavior.Thinking they had pacified Belgera, the watchmen turned to leave when the suspect stabbed them.
Executive M/Sgt. Roel Relox, a resident of the area, responded to the scene but was stabbed by the suspect in the left arm and stomach.
Bystanders ganged up on Belgera and subdued the suspect.
Belgera is facing criminal charges of murder and frustrated murder. He is recuperating in another hospital in Quezon City.
A barangay public safety officer was killed while two others, including a policeman, were wounded when a man went on a stabbing spree in Quezon City on Wednesday.
A policeman who had gone Absent Without Official Leave was nabbed for allegedly robbing a fast food restaurant in Carigara, Leyte, on Wednesday, April 10.
The suspect was identified as Salvador Humbria, 37, formerly assigned to the Leyte Police Provincial Office and a resident of Barangay Ponong, Carigara.
Police said that the suspect suddenly approached the cashier at gunpoint and declared a holdup.
The suspect grabbed cash from the cash register amounting to P2,580 and fled to an unknown direction.
Lawmen caught the suspect in a hot-pursuit operation on Thursday, April 11, in Barangay Ponong.
Suspect face appropriate charges.
A policeman who had gone Absent Without Official Leave was nabbed for allegedly robbing a fast food restaurant in Carigara, Leyte, on Wednesday, April 10.
Two policemen were arrested in Cotabato City on Friday for allegedly extorting money from a motorist in exchange for his impounded vehicle.
M/Sgt. Nassrolah Abdula Gani and Executive M/Sgt. Benigno Mercado Jr. were apprehended by operatives of the police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Barangay Rosary Heights I at 7:05 p.m.
IMEG director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon said police conducted an entrapment in response to a complaint of an engineer.
The victim said the policemen and his four cohorts asked for P50,000 in exchange for the release of his vehicle, a green Honda Civic, which was impounded for an unspecified violation.
The suspects were held after they accepted P20,000 in marked money from the victim. Two cell phones, a 9mm handgun and a Galil rifle were also seized from the two.
Two cops have been arrested for extortion.
CRIMINAL charges have been brought against five Mandaue City officials in connection with the 9.5 hectares of land that reportedly belong to a private individual but were distributed to the informal settlers.
Maria Priscilla Melendres filed the charges against Mayor Jonas Cortes and city councilors Maline Zafra, Oscar Del Castillo, Jen Del Mar, and Cynthia Remedio at the Office of Ombudsman Samuel Reyes Martires in Quezon City on March 16, 2024, for violating Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In the case of "oppression, gross misconduct in office, and grave abuse of authority" Melendres also filed a separate complaint at the Office of the President.
The plaintiff requested President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to put those officials involved under preventive suspension, while the case is being heard so that they could not influence the witnesses and threaten those who handle the investigation.
"The respondents could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence," read part of Melendres' complaint.
But according to lawyer Julius Caesar Entice, the city's Assistant City Assessor, the city has the right to own the land because it is classified as timberland, which means that a private individual cannot own it.
In spite of that, Melendres, a resident of Barangay Lahug in Cebu City, insisted that they own the lot located in Barangay Paknaan, which has been used as a relocation site for informal settlers.
Melendres said the land was owned by his grandmother and was sold to her.
According to Melendres, more than 100 houses have already been built in the area.
She revealed that the tax declaration which she filed was also registered under her name and was recognized by the city government.
She added that the City Assessor’s Office also recognized her as the real owner based on the Real Property Tax Statement that she filed.
Melendres stated that she had further paid P100,291.50 for the lot's increased assessment price.
Additionally, Melendres filed a complaint against Cortes, which is still pending at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities 2 in Mandaue.
Melendres believes that the respondents ignored the legal process and proceeded in awarding the lots to the informal settlers even though the ejection case was still pending.
Melendres also accused the city of destroying the fence that she installed in the area.
The Mayor of Mandaue City and four other officials are being sued for using private land as a relocation area.
A high school teacher was killed in an ambush in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur on Thursday.
Jerome Etorma of Dumingag National High School was driving home on his motorcycle when he was waylaid in Barangay Boniao, according to reports reaching the office of Zamboanga del Sur police director Col. Restituto Pangusban.
Etorma suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killing.
Relatives and co-workers of Etorma said the victim had no known enemies.
A high school teacher has been assassinated.
Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) personnel hired by Eastern Samar province were were not only paid below the daily minimum wage, but worse, their salaries were always delayed in 2023, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
In its annual audit report, COA said that when the audit team checked the disbursement vouchers (DVs), payrolls, and supporting documents attached to the payments of wages of COS and JO personnel, they discovered delays in the payments of wages.
"The payments of wages of COS/JO personnel were late, depriving them of the timely release of their compensation to support their daily needs and expenses. The elapsed time of processing payrolls and DVs for the payment of COS/JO personnel wages for the period January to November 2023, ranged from six to 279 days, thus causing delayed payment by one day to 263 days," COA said in its report.
It said the province's accounting office explained that the delay was due to late submission of the required supporting documents by the personnel in charge of preparing payrolls, such as Contract of Service and Daily Time Records. However, this was unacceptable to the audit team, it also said.
"The foregoing delay in the payment of wages would ultimately cause undue burden/inconvenience to the CSO/JO personnel, affecting their focus and performance at work," it pointed out.
As if the delays were not bad enough, COA said its audit team even found that wages paid were below the minimum daily rate. For the period of January to April 2023, around 1,923 COS/JO personnel were paid below the minimum daily wage rate of P375.
All the personnel, ranging from those working for the Provincial Health Office to the provincial-paid teachers from various schools, received only P300 as their daily wage, it stressed.
It noted: "The additional compensation could have helped them support their daily needs and expenses. Further, an increase in their wages will also promote an increase in these personnel's morale."
It recommended that the local chief executive direct all officials concerned to streamline the payroll-related process by addressing any problems in the procedure to reduce delays.
It also asked them to comply with the mandated daily minimum wage at rates prescribed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards in Contracts of Service in the future.
Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) personnel hired by Eastern Samar province were were not only paid below the daily minimum wage, but worse, their salaries were always delayed in 2023, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
Approximately 30 city government personnel assigned to the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) have been dismissed from their positions due to alleged corrupt activities while performing their duties.
Patrick Lacson, head of BTAO, said that since he assumed the post in November of the previous year, 30 job order casual employees have been removed.
Additionally, some regular employees were allegedly involved in illegal activities. However, they will be reassigned to the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) due to their status as regular government employees.
“There was a violation, so they were transferred to POSO and have also been assessed by POSO head Primitivo Tabujara,” said Lacson.
He further said BTAO observes the “one-strike” policy against illegal activities involving its personnel to discourage corruption.
The head of BTAO issued an unnumbered memorandum dated April 16, addressed to all BTAO personnel: “All personnel caught engaging in illegal activities will be summarily terminated and face legal charges from the City Legal Office (CLO).”
But Lacson also noted that there was a consensus that termination should not be the only consequence for those caught in illegal activities.
Additional repercussions should be implemented, including filing charges, he added.
30 job order BATO personnel and several regular BATO personnel have been axed for corruption.
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of National Director Demosthenes R. Escoto of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for grave misconduct over the purchases of transmitters and transceivers in 2018.
The penalty of dismissal also carries with it the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
The administrative charge against former Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary Hansel O. Didulo has been dismissed for insufficiency of evidence. BFAR is under the DA.
The purchases of transmitters and transceivers, which were subject of Escoto's administrative charges, were intended for the BFAR's Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project), which was supposed to enhance the government's capability to safeguard and monitor the country's marine resources and to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.
The French government granted a loan to the Philippine government amounting to €28,520,000 on Dec. 18, 2015 payable in 30 years with an interest rate of 0.115 percent per annum in order to finance the PHILO Project. The condition of the loan was that the source of the products to be purchased for the PHILO Project must originate from French suppliers.
Two companies participated in the bidding for the transmitters and transceivers: CLS Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) and SRT-France, a subsidiary company of SRT-United Kingdom (SRT-UK) incorporated in France. After checking the bids, the former was disqualified and the latter was declared the winner of the contract.
However, when the French Embassy in the Philippines checked, it declared that SRT-France was unqualified under the terms of its loan since SRT-France has no manufacturing or engineering facilities in France. It also has no record of activities in France, and its parent company is incorporated and domiciled in the UK.
The BFAR then sought to increase the project cost from P1.675 billion to P2,097 billion and to close the French loan. It also sought to change the funding source from foreign assistance to local funding, which was later approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) - Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) then alloted P2,097,819,000 for the PHILO project as requested, and the final procurement for the transceivers took place on Oct. 30, 2018. Around 5,000 transceivers were purchased for commercial catcher vessels above 30 gross tons and Satellite Services subscription during the entire duration of the project.
Since the contract was no longer limited to French suppliers, the participants to the bidding were Fleet Automation Services Pte. Ltd. JV Comfac Corporation and SRT-UK. Since Fleet Automation was found "wanting" in qualification, SRT-UK was awarded the contract.
However, the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a Notice of Suspension on Jan. 24, 2020 claiming that a portion of the money paid to SRT-UK worth P722.639 million was not supported with complete documents, and that there was failure to pay the appropriate withholding tax.
Escoto and Didulo were then slapped with administrative charges for accepting the bid of SRT-UK and causing the loss of the French loan. They were also accused of failing to account for the P722.639 million and for adopting a project that is not "sustainable."
For the Ombudsman, SRT-France was indeed not qualified to participate in the bidding. It added that an "anomalous scheme" was adopted by the respondent (Escoto) to cause the award of the contract to SRT-UK, even though it was disadvantageous to the government.
The Ombudsman said that their suspicions were raised at the outset that SRT-UK was really the bidder for the transceivers, and SRT-France was only used to satisfy the French-related conditions of the loan.
"Despite knowledge of the French-related conditions, the newly created French company, and with no proof of activities in France, [SRT-France] made use of the documents pertaining to its parent company (SRT-UK) to justify its eligibility to bid. These documents were found to be acceptable by Escoto," the Ombudsman said.
It found that SRT-France was created just a month before the bidding. With the sudden termination of the award to SRT-France for some "baseless reason," as well as the immediate cancellation of the French loan, the Ombudsman said that Escoto paved the way for SRT-UK to participate in the new bidding with expanded scope and increased coverage.
The Ombudsman added that Escoto gave unwarranted benefit to SRT-France by allowing the company to participate in the bid despite its ineligibility, and his actions constitutes a "willful violation of the law and established rule."
"His actions as Chairman of the bids and awards committee culminated in the award of a very favorable contract to SRT-UK. In this contract, the government was made to assume a contractual obligation way beyond what was asked for. As mentioned, instead of purchasing merely 3,736 units of VMS Transceivers, he agreed to compel the government to procure 5,000 units of these items. This is a contractual obligation that is grossly disadvantageous to the government and unreasonably beneficial to SRT-UK," it ruled.
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of National Director Demosthenes R. Escoto of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for grave misconduct over the purchases of transmitters and transceivers in 2018.
