Part 46 of Retards in the Government features graft, extortion, murder, gun crimes, smuggling, and plain silliness from both known and obscure Philippine politicians across the nation.
Gonda said only President Rodrigo Duterte can reveal the names and said the police could not divulge the names on the list as doing so may violate human rights.
Doesn't that mean that if Duterte releases this list that will also be a violation of human rights??
The City Health Office (CHO) said the trend of dog bites cases in Cagayan de Oro is increasing.
In 2015, the CHO recorded a total of 10,000 dog bites, 2016 with 11,000 bites cases, year 2017 with 12,800 cases, and for the first quarter of this year, 3,800 cases of dog bites are recorded so far.
That's a lot of dog bites!!! If the government enforced animal control rules and if the people controlled their dogs then this situation would be non-existent. 3,800 dog bites this year so far?? That is ridiculous!
"To be candid, if Usec. Say did not resign he would have been fired [due to corruption the President knows about]," the Palace official said at a news conference.
In the phone interview, Say denied committing any wrongdoing. "I did not betray his (Duterte's) trust," he said, adding the accusation against him by a "whistleblower" is purely hearsay.
Say said he may be a "collateral damage" in a demolition job against Bello. "[Baka] si Secretary ang tina-target nito, collateral damage lang ako, opinion ko lang 'yan," he said.
If DOLE Under Secretary Say is really guilty of graft then Duterte would bring charges against him and not simply fire him. But this has not been Duterte's modus operandi when dealing with allegedly corrupt officials. To date he has merely fired officials accused of corruption rather than bringing criminal charges against them and holding them accountable for their alleged crimes.
Sotto has filed Senate Resolution 702, to urge President Duterte to create the “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” which, he said, shall focus on the prosecution of suspects in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes.
The Senate Majority Floor Leader made the appeal as he raised alarm over the huge number of drug cases dismissed by courts. Citing records, he said more than 70 percent of drug cases in the Philippines are being dismissed.
“Despite the strong cases filed, cases are eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between the law enforcers and prosecutors especially in the case buildup stage,” Sotto lamented.
Sotto said the proposed Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes, which will be created through an Executive Order, would combine the mandates of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs.
It shall formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers, he added.
Just what the Philippines needs, more bureaucracy. I don't know what records he is citing but perhaps it's this:
In a report obtained by The STAR, the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said data from the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court (OCASC) showed that 90 percent of criminal cases have either been dismissed or resulted in the acquittal of the accused for various reasons.
Quoting OCASC, the PNP-DIDM reported 70 percent were drug-related cases.
The most prevalent reason were the lapses and/or negligence committed by police personnel, said the report prepared by the PNP DIDM headed by Chief Superintendent Francisco Don Montenegro.
In a memorandum, PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said that the dismissal of cases was recorded despite numerous seminars and training conducted by the DIDM to enhance investigative and operational capabilities of police investigators and other PNP operatives.
Unless Sotto is relying on these old statistics from 2014 this information has not changed one bit in four years! "Despite numerous seminars and training" the PNP is still bungling cases to this very day. How does Sotto expect a brand new bureaucracy to improve the situation? I would say just do more training but such a route seems to lead to nowhere.
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ordered the Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc., the company that owns Sofitel Manila, to vacate the place where the Sofitel hotel in Pasay City stands due to unpaid P80 million in rent.
In a notice to vacate, GSIS General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas said that Philippine Plaza Holdings has not paid its rentals since June 2006. GSIS owns Lot 19 and Lot 41, where the hotel is located.
Is it really believable that the owner of a 5-star upscale hotel in Manila has not paid rent for 12 years!! No. It is completely unbelievable. Even more so unbelievable because the owners of the land this hotel sits on is the GSIS. Would the government really allow rent to go unpaid for 12 years? Maybe someone in the GSIS was pocketing the rental fee? Everything about this stinks and there will surely be more information forthcoming. What's worse is that all the DDS'ers will come out of the woodwork and say, "This happened on the evil Diliwan's watch but now Papa Duterte is making sure everyone pays their rent!" As if this is about politics. I personally know a lady who has not paid rent in years but still she is squatting on the property operating a restaurant and the owner allows this to happen! Not paying rents and fees and dues is a Filipino thing. You wouldn't understand.
The village councilor, who was being detained here as charges were being prepared against him, became the fifth barangay official arrested in Misamis Oriental’s second district over drug charges this year.
Another local village official arrested on drug charges.
Baja was accused of pocketing insurance payments amounting to $17,524 for a damaged government-owned apartment in New York City in 2006. He said he would appeal his conviction.
The court gave weight to the testimony of mission finance officer Tomas Valerio Jr. who said that he advised Baja to deposit the checks to the mission’s official Philippine National Bank (PNB) bank account.
Baja reportedly refused and instead opened a separate account at the PNB under the name “Philippine Mission to the UN-Renovation of Townhouse.”
“Accused Baja disregarded protocol and insisted on opening a separate PNB account...Consequently, the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) had no information about the insurance proceeds because the funds were purposely isolated and separated from the (mission’s) official bank accounts,” the court said.
The court noted Baja also “kept mum about the withdrawal of the insurance proceeds and the subsequent closure of the (separate) PNB account.”
“Under the circumstances, the Court is convinced that the feigned transparency of accused Baja betrays his active concealment of the use and disposal of the insurance proceeds he received on behalf of the (mission),” the decision read.
Seems like a really dumb scam which would have been found out sooner or later. And indeed it was found out!
Arrested for illegal possession of weapons. Or possession of illegal weapons. The article is not clear.
In a three-page complaint filed with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), MMDA acting general manager Jojo Garcia alleged that Barangay 659, Zone 71 chairperson Ligaya Santos did not comply with her obligation to maintain cleanliness and order in her barangay after the MMDA’s clearing operations team removed traffic obstructions on Oct. 25, 2017.
He said when the MMDA inspected the barangay in December 2017, the team found the obstructions were either still there or returned after being removed.
That's one way to clean up the country. At least it's not graft and plunder.
The high court on April 3 gave the PNP 15 days to comply with a December order to submit records related to the bloody drug war, which Solicitor General Jose Calida attempted to block on grounds of national security, arguing it could endanger police, informants and witnesses.
“As of this time, there is a motion being prepared,” Albayalde told a news conference.
He said the police would take orders from Mr. Duterte before releasing any information about the drug war.
“Maybe, even without the Supreme Court order, he may order us to give the records,” he added.
Albayalde’s predecessor, Ronald dela Rosa, on Wednesday said the 15-day deadline was not feasible because the paperwork was “voluminous.”
The PNP sure do not want to release these records. If warrants were filed that paperwork would be on file with courts. If paperwork was done properly following each operation and death it would all be in place. It would only be a matter of gathering it all together. Gathering these records should not be a problem at all. But the worst thing is that the new PNP chief is refusing to comply with a lawful order from the Supreme Court unless President Duterte gives him permission. That is a violation of the principle of the separation of powers.
“This will be rigorous. They will be under the basic internal security operations course for the next six months,” Albayalde said in a news briefing in Camp Crame.
In the current setup, recruits undergo basic physical and educational training at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) for six months before they are transferred to the PNP for immersion in field work.
Albayalde said this practice has to change as there have been cases where recruits were exposed to corruption by field training officers who ordered them to collect protection money from ambulant vendors and owners of illegal establishments.
Why don't they simply address the problem of the field training officers? How is making all recruits undergo special forces training going to stop corruption? Will they also be receiving the salary of an SAF officer?
The Isabela Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday sentenced a retired Army colonel, a former corporal and their civilian accomplice to 40 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Jones Vice Mayor Florante Raspado.
Former Col. Reynaldo Jacinto Tapia, Army Cpl. Michael Deocariza and Victor Fontilara were found guilty of killing Raspado inside the Jones town hall on June 19, 2015.
The court decision came after Jones was listed as an election hotspot due to its history of violence in the last four polls.
No mention of motive but what does that matter? Political violence is very common in the Philippines.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has sacked its regional director in Bicol over allegations of corruption.
A report on Balitanghali said sacked was Jun Abrazaldo, LTFRB's regional director in Bicol.
The report said that according to Abrazaldo, his dismissal was a form of harassment because it did not go through due process.
Abrazaldo said that he was not even notified about the dismissal proceedings against him.
He denied that he was involved in any anomaly.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra, meanwhile, insisted that his order to dismiss Abrazaldo has basis.
Delgra added that President Rodrigo Duterte himself ordered Abrazaldo's dismissal.
Allegations of corruption. Allegations. Just a whiff? If this man really is corrupt he should be charged and brought before the proper authorities. But that is not going to happen. Duterte ordered him out therefore he is out!
In separate case information sheets filed on April 13 before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the ombudsman charged the late former Ilocos Norte First District representative Roque Ablan Jr. with four counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Ablan passed away on March 26 of this year. He was 85.
It was not the first time that the ombudsman charged a dead public official. In October last year, it filed graft charges against Maguindanao Second District representative Simeon Datumanong, who passed away in February of that year, in connection with the alleged misuse of P3.686-million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel in 2012 to 2013.
The ombudsman, in August last year, also filed a graft case against Mountain Province representative Maximo Dalog who died on June 3.
In a statement issued after the story of its filing of a case against Dalog came out in newspapers, the ombudsman defended that “it is not expected to know or take notice of the death of an accused without a proper manifestation from his counsel”.
“Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales stressed that the death of a party to a case is not among the matters that her office is mandated to take notice of,” the ombudsman said.
The ombudsman, however, admitted that the case filed against a deceased accused is facing “inevitable dismissal.”
I suppose the ombudsman can't be blamed for not knowing when a party to a case has died but then why is this not the first time? Why does this keep happening? Why all this wasted time and paperwork? The lawyers should inform the Ombudsman immediately upon the death of their client. Perhaps fix a penalty for not informing in a timely manner?
Unidentified gunmen shot dead the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley on Saturday, authorities said.
The governor said the slain village chief was seeking reelection and was the lone candidate for the post in his barangay.
The lone candidate? Interesting. Unexplained political violence.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has fired an aviation inspector accused of involvement in extortion activities.
The sacked Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officer allegedly demanded money from a religious group in exchange for airworthiness certification, the transportation department said in a statement released Sunday.
The group initially complied with the demand, but reported the officer when he asked for more money, the department said.
The CAAP later found out that it was not the first time that the inspector allegedly dabbled with extortion, it added.
The inspector, who is a former Air Force colonel, will face possible criminal charges for violating the Corrupt Practices Act.
This group should have declined and immediately reported him. But they only reported him after he asked for more money! See the problem is not just corrupt officials but those who tolerate them. This man should not face possible charges. He should have the book thrown at him!
Election time means open season on incumbent and would-be politicians.
“This time we’ll breathe discipline 24/7 as we will more firmly implement reforms in all levels in the PNP,” Albayalde said in his first flag-raising ceremony speech at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Basta’t may disiplina kayo magkakaroon kayo ng tunay (na) respeto sa sarili at magiging maayos ang inyong serbisyo,” he added.
(As long as you have discipline, you will have true respect for yourselves and your service to the public will get better.)
Albayalde admitted that there are “few misguided souls” in the police ranks “who continue to live on the dark side and refuse to toe the line.”
“There are only a handful of them in our ranks but they can cause more trouble to the organization if we do not take action and allow these people to insist in their own wicked ways,” he said.
“Because discipline shall be the hallmark of my administration, we will all address this concern with utmost urgency and forcefully if necessary,” he added.
Sure. Ok. Mhmm. I'm not holding my breath!
The Committee on Basic Education and Culture's approval of House Bill (HB) 1022, or the "National Writing System Act", which seeks to declare Baybayin as the country's national writing system, elicited negative responses from netizens on Twitter.
Baybayin is an ancient pre-Spanish script of the Philippines.
HB 1022, authored by 2nd District Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, seeks to require all local government units to inscribe Baybayin script and their translations on labels of locally produced, processed food, and on the signage of public facilities, street names, public buildings, and public service establishments such as hospitals and government halls.
Publishers will also be required to include Baybayin translations for the names of their newspapers and magazines, while government agencies will be tasked to distribute Baybayin reading materials to all educational institutions, and government and private agencies and offices.
The bill was supported by the Department of Education, advocacy group Baybayin, Buhayin, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, who is tasked to preserve Baybayin as a national cultural treasure.
Do I need to explain why this bill is a waste of time? This is a purely symbolic bill with no chance of becoming a law. Now the public is thinking about Baybayin. Mission accomplished.
A complaint for obstruction of justice has been filed against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for allegedly preventing further investigation on the deaths of children inoculated with the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.
“He (Duque) is clearly averting autopsies that may otherwise be conducted by other government or private persons and entities, including and especially that of PAO which has been publicly known as conducting autopsies pursuant to DOJ Department Order No. 792,” the complainant further alleged.
The complaint added that there was also AO 2018-0011 or the Interim Guidelines on the Release of Documents Related to Dengue Immunization” heavily restricting the release of official documents including clinical or medical records even to relatives of the victims.
“There is no doubt that Sec. Duque is effectively and willfully suppressing, and concealing the records of the victims and the cadavers of the deceased victims – a matter that is subject to criminal investigations by several government agencies including PAO,” read the 19-page complaint.
The complainant also accused Duque of conflict of interest.
“To be precise, Sec. Duque served as chairman of the search committee to evaluate nominations for appointment of undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and board members of specialty hospitals and attached agencies in the DOH that Dr. Garin created during her term as DOJ secretary,” they pointed out.
More raps in the dengevaxia scandal. Will Aquino be next? It's shaping up to be an interesting scandal which is only happening in the Philippines and nowhere else this vaccine is being used!
In its annual report evaluating the youth agency’s financial performance in 2017, COA auditors flagged the NYC’s “unnecessary expenses,” including almost P300,000 in meals and snacks during 126 meetings, of which 112 were not official.
“We reviewed the petty cash vouchers and found out that of the total sample of 126 meetings and related activities held during the year, the total cost of P296,968.30 was used for the payment of meals and snacks served, 112 of which with a total cost of P268,068.55 were considered not official,” the COA said.
P300,000 for snacks at 126 meetings? Thats almost P2400 per meeting actually. Is that excessive? COA says it is. "Unnecessary expenditures." I say start them out young. From excessive snacking to plundering billions. These youths will be professionals in no time at all.
The "happy ending" to a story posted above about Bukidnon. They caught the one who got away.
Former agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala and 23 others are facing graft charges over the illegal importation of garlic into the country.
Graft charges over the illegal importation of garlic! The illegal importation of garlic. Illegal importation. Of garlic.
You know what would be great? Reviving a government program that turned into a scam where billions were lost and the small time farmers and fisherman who were supposed to be the beneficiaries were left behind. This time around the program will be scam proof. Honest!
In a message to reporters, Palace spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said the appointment of La Vina was a prerogative of the President.
This is how Duterte is fulfilling his promise to fight corruption.
The CITF said that the policemen would collect P300 to P500 from each bus or van driver in exchange for allowing them to pick-up passengers at the illegal terminal along M. Dela Cruz Street.
He said that instead of apprehending violating drivers, the policemen collected money from them through a collector.
Malayo said that the policemen’s immediate supervisor would be relieved from his position.
PNP officers extorting drivers. At least it's not kidnapping and murder!
“The increase in number was swift,” he said. “We are doing double screenings because we don’t want anyone involved in illegal drugs to join our party.”
“We’re anticipating the possibility of narcopoliticians joining PDP-Laban just so they could say that they belong to the President’s party,” he added.
Pimentel hoped that the party could keep its numbers even after the President had stepped down.
Failure to do so, he said, would mean the party’s failure to educate its members about personality politics.
“We will have to accept our responsibility that we failed to educate them,” he said.
It remains to be seen whether the numbers will stay or not but it is doubtful they will because Philippine politics is personality politics. There not much party loyalty here either. 300,000 politicians jumping ship is proof of that.
Now for the biggest Philippine political scandal of the week: The rescue of abused OFWs in Kuwait. What started this row was the posting of a video showing OFWs being rescued by Philippine diplomats.
Rescue operations require police assistance but Office of Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Raul Dado said that, in some cases, rescue teams had to do it on their own, especially in cases on sexual and physical abuse.
Rescue operations require police assistance. That is a very important to know because these rescue operations were done without the assistance of the local police. The operation was therefore illegal to start with and supposed to be covert. Why it was filmed and then uploaded to the internet remain unanswered questions. This video of OFWs being rescued went viral after being posted by RJ Nieto on his blog which led to the Kuwaiti government to take notice and summon the ambassador who then brazenly lied about the whole thing.
In a statement, which was recorded live by PTV, the Philippine government TV station, he said: “In this connection I would like to clarify a statement attributed to me that ‘we do not need the help of Kuwaiti authorities, particularly the police, in extending assistance to our nationals.’ The embassy always coordinates with the Ministry of the Interior and the police when responding to requests for assistance from our nationals. This is standard procedure. And we will continue to do so.”
Understandably the Kuwaiti government was upset at such a diplomatic scofflaw, declaring that its sovereignty had been violated. The Philippine government was immediately apologetic.
The Philippines apologized yesterday to Kuwait for the rescue of distressed Filipino workers after the Gulf state protested the mission, which it viewed as a violation of diplomatic norms and an infringement on Kuwait’s sovereignty.
But an apology was not enough.
Kuwait also recalled its own ambassador from Manila over the row, according to a bulletin on the state-run KUNA news agency.
What will happen next? Will diplomatic relations between Kuwait and the Philippines end? Will all OFWs be expelled? Will Duterte curse the Kuwaitis while declaring that he does not care if he will die and burn in hell as long as all OFWs are safe? Will the situation escalate beyond all control?
Tune in next week for the exciting continuation!
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