It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics.
A policeman assigned to the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group was gunned down near the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame yesterday morning.
S/Sgt. Fernando Diamzon, 49, and a colleague were riding their respective motorcycles along Boni Serrano Avenue when Diamzon was attacked by assailants riding a gray Yamaha NMAX at around 8:50 a.m., probers said.
Diamzon, who had just driven from Camp Crame, died at the scene.
PNP officer gets ambushed near police headquarters and no one was around to chase the suspects. Where was everybody at?
The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for overstocking P15.5 million worth of medication for its inmates, and for the poor quality of food it serves detainees that endanger their health and safety.
“Actual demand [and needs] of patients were not considered in the procurement of drugs and medicine,” the annual audit report said.
The COA said the BuCor received 99,300 Verapamil tablets for high blood pressure last year, but only 3,450 tablets were actually issued to inmate patients.
The COA also flagged two of three BuCor caterers for failing to comply with the food safety requirement under the food subsistence agreement.
If the actual demands and needs of patients were not considered in the procurement of drugs and medicine then what was being considered? Is this another moneymaking scam for a BuCor employee with interests in a pharmaceutical company?
Police are looking at his money lending business and alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade as possible motives in the killing of Police Chief Master Sergeant Deogenes Carillo.
Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said they are now verifying reports that Carillo was receiving payola from drug syndicates operating in areas where he was previously assigned.
Sinas said they are looking into the possibility that Carillo was receiving drugs money from self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.
But he does not discount the possibility that Carillo’s killing was related to his money lending business.
Quoting outcome of their initial investigation by the Cordova police, Sinas said that Carillo used his position to lend money to market vendors, teachers and even government employees and collect repayment with interest.
“Maybe he found an enemy because of that business. We found out only after he died that that when he went on rounds during his duty, he was actually also collecting money,” Sinas said during a press conference held earlier today, June 21.
Sinas also warned other policemen in the region against engaging in the 5-6 lending business saying that this “will not do them any good.”
He said that this kind of a business will also affect their credibility as law enforcers. Policemen, who wanted to earn extra income, should look for a legitimate business.
The cop who was ambushed last week was involved in money lending and possibly drugs. He was also collecting payments during work hours. Just another bad egg right?
Authorities have arrested nine individuals for their alleged involvement in the sale of illegal drugs inside the Malacañang Complex in Manila.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) presented the suspects on Friday. They were nabbed in a series of anti-drug operations this month following reports from the Presidential Security Group that certain indiviuals were "engaged in the selling and distribution of shabu inside the Malacañang Complex," the NBI said in a statement.
A buy bust operation on June 7 resulted in the arrest of three suspects who sold shabu to informants right inside the Malacañang compound.
Drug dealing right inside the Presidential Palace.
“Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes, consistently criminally prosecute labor traffickers, or increase the availability of specialized protection and assistance services for child victims of sex trafficking or services for male victims,” read the report.
The report also found that forced labor and sex trafficking of men, women and children still posed a significant problem in the Philippines.
It's a start. Right?
The Commission on Audit (COA) has chided the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for its failure to account for P38.8 million allocated for the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in 2017.
The COA previously called out the PCOO for its rental of information technology equipment for P4 million that was found to be more expensive than its selling price by P964,872.
It also questioned the payments for various goods and services, and the lease of vehicles for the total amount of P34.76 million.
These goods included handmade soaps and bags, as well as jackets and umbrellas for the summit.
In its earlier report, the audit body sought an explanation from the PCOO and recommended that the latter investigate the contracts awarded to suppliers and to file charges against erring officials who may have favored particular suppliers.
The COA said the PCOO had yet to follow through with its recommendations.
It also flagged the P778.9 million the PCOO spent as part of the Asean fund for lack of supporting documents.
Millions of pesos spent by the PCOO on soaps and jackets among other things. What a waste. And they have yet to offer any explanation two years on.
In her weekly radio show, “BISErbisyong Leni,” Robredo expressed her views on the cancellation of the diplomatic passports of former foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario, who was barred from entering Hong Kong last June 19.
“Ang reaksyon ng bansa natin imbes na ipagtanggol iyong mamamayan ng Pilipinas, parang sinisi pa at kinancel (Our country’s reaction is to throw blame and cancel [the diplomatic passport]),” Robredo said.
Locsin, however, said all courtesy diplomatic passports were canceled so as not to “single out Del Rosario.
“Hey boba, that is precisely why I have ordered the cancellation of all courtesy diplomatic passports because I refuse to single out Del Rosario,” Locsin said on Twitter.
Locsin's Twitter account is a collection of his petty rants. No need to name call or threaten people as he has in the past. Just give your explanation as to why ALL courtesy diplomatic passports were cancelled even though that is likely just to cover your butt so you don't appear to be singling out one man when you really are.
Cpl. Joeten Samson was arrested at around 9:46 a.m. by joint elements of the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and Intelligence Group (IG) after receiving P150,000 in boodle cash from a complainant, whose identity is being withheld.
According to a police report, Samson demanded cash from the complainant in exchange for the release of her Toyota Vios, which was confiscated during an anti-drug operation by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit.
Instead of surrendering, the suspect, who is assigned at the Mabalacat City Police, sped off with his Toyota Wigo, prompting the arresting officers to shoot the tires of his vehicle.
He was later cornered along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Sindalan where he fired at the police officers. Police retaliated, hitting the suspect on the left shoulder.
Oh no it's another bad egg making the PNP look bad!
The National Printing Office (NPO) violated procurement laws by subcontracting jobs to private firms in the guise of equipment rentals, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said.
The deals, which did not undergo public bidding and were thus “without any valid contract,” totaled a little over P121 million last year.
This is not the first time that the NPO has been charged with failing to meet government regulations. Just recently, the Commission on Elections(Comelec) said it would withhold payment of P244 million to the NPO as it had subcontracted the printing of voters’ information sheets (VIS) for the May 13 midterm polls in violation of CoA rules.
Once again the point is driven home that not a single government office is free from corruption or financial irregularities.
As new chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he is ready to investigate any allegations of extrajudicial killings in the country.
At this point, however, the former Philippine National Police chief saw no reason why he should inhibit from such investigation.
“Bakit ako mag-iinhibit, ako ba ang pumatay? Hindi man ako ang pumatay,” he said in an interview at the Senate after attending a briefing for incoming senators and staff.
(Why should I inhibit, am I the one who killed them? I did not do the killing?)
He did not do the killing but he presided over the PNP when they happened. But let's get real. There won't be any EJK investigation by the Senate.
Malacañang on Tuesday defended Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s “colorful language,” citing how President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly earned the admiration of the international community for his tough-talking persona.
“Ang Presidente natin diba ganun din ang style? Pero kita mo naman ang epekto. Look at the effect when he curses (former US President) Obama di ba? Bigla siyang tiningala ng buong mundo as an emerging world leader,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
“He (Duterte) stood up. Kung minsan marami ring nagagawa ‘yang mga ganyan,” he added.
Imagine if every politician and bureaucrat were as foul mouthed and loathsome as Duterte. It would bring Philippine politics lower than it is even now.
Marcos said she wants to hold an Igorot ritual to have the office "blessed" and ward off evil spirits. The Igorots are an indigenous group in Northern Luzon.
"Siguro magpapatawag ako ng Igorot namin dahil kailangan basbasan office ko (Maybe I will call for Igorots to bless my office)," Marcos told reporters as she attended an orientation for the first-time senators.
"Kung papayag si Senator Trillanes, sabihin ko kay Sonny e makikisayaw kami sa Igorot namin para mabendisyunan nang todo," she added.
[Translation: If Senator Trillanes will agree, I'll tell him that we should dance with the Igorots for the full effect of the blessing.]
This was similar to the advice given to her by her ally, fellow neophyte Senator Bong Go.
"Galit na galit nga si Senator Imee dahil yun ang kwarto natitira sa kanya. Sabi ko wala ka na magagawa, ikaw huling bumunot. Gawin mo nalang tumawag ka ng pari, pabendisyunan mo opisina baka, mahirap na masapian ka pa ng masamang espirtu," Go said.
[Translation: Senator Imee was so mad because that was the room left to her. I said she could no longer do anything about it because she was the last to pick. Just call a priest for an office blessing for you might be possessed by evil spirits.]
In a statement, Trillanes said, "If the religious ritual is meant to help her fulfill her mandate as a newly elected Senator, then that's a good thing."
"But if she's saying it to insinuate na masama akong tao (that I am a bad man), then sobrang ka impokritohan naman yun (that's too much of a hypocrisy), even for a Marcos," he added.
“It’s like the first day of school. We’re the newbies,” she said after the briefing.
But unlike Go, Dela Rosa, and Tolentino, Marcos has experience in legislation as a former member of the House of Representatives.
So when asked what she learned from the orientation, she said it would be embarrassing to say as she has long been in government.
“First day of school nga. Nakakaaliw…(It’s like the first day of school. It’s fun),” Marcos said.
I don't know who will be more entertaining in the new Senate: Imee Marcos or Bato!
Senators-elect and reelectionists endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's Hugpong ng Pagbabago political party took their oath of office before President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.
The President administered the oath to Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
Duterte's former top aide, Christopher "Bong" Go attended the Malacañang event but has yet to take his oath. Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III meanwhile was not around.
Nine of Hugpong's 13 senatorial candidates, campaigned for heavily by Duterte-Carpio, won the midterm polls, guaranteeing a friendlier upper chamber of Congress for the President.
Basically this certifies that these people will be Duterte's rubber stamp.
In a turnaround, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he is no longer batting for a federal form of government.
Instead, he wants the Constitution changed.
“You should change the Constitution, actually. Not for anything. If you don’t want federalism, fine. But change the Constitution that would really change this nation," Duterte said in a speech during the oath-taking of newly-elected officials from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party.
Duterte's federalism initiative is one of his campaign promises. He has repeatedly said a federal form of government can help address insurgency and promote peace in Mindanao.
Another campaign promise in the trashcan. But what changes to the constitution does he think will make the nation better?
Police on Tuesday arrested the provincial director of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Basilan after she was caught inside a house that allegedly contained ammunition and explosives.
Muida Hataman, TESDA-Basilan Director, was “visiting” a house that was the subject of a search warrant in Barangay San Rafael, Isabela City at around 4 in the morning, said Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac, national police spokesman.
The owner of the house was unknown.
“Naroon lang siya sa bahay bilang bisita. Hindi siya talaga ang nagma-may-ari ng gamit pampasabog,” Banac clarified. “Subalit dahil sa search warrant at siya ang nadatnan doon ay siya po ay naaresto.”
(She was only there as a visitor. She is not really the owner of the devices for explosives. But because of the search warrant and she was there, she was arrested.)
Banac said authorities were verifying Hataman’s possible links to the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group. She denied the charge.
Since when did a search warrant become an arrest warrant? How did the cops obtain a search warrant not even knowing who owns the house? Is this government employee really linked to ASG? Lots of questions here.
As critics question the presence of the Chinese ship that hit a Filipino boat near Recto Bank earlier this month, President Duterte said China would continue to fish within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) because of the friendship between the two countries.
“I don’t think that China would do that. Why? Because we’re friends,” Duterte told reporters Monday in Mandaluyong City, when asked if China should be prevented from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ.
“And they are of the same view that that should not result in any bloody confrontation,” he added.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a coastal state has sovereign rights to explore, use, conserve and manage the natural resources in its 200-nautical- mile EEZ. Recto Bank, known internationally as Reed Bank, is within the Philippines’ EEZ.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said China would not allow itself to be barred from fishing in Philippine EEZ because it claims historic rights over the area.
“They will not allow it because as far as they are concerned, they have historical right to that. Two, if we will allow it because we’re friends naman, eh di magbigayan muna tayo, yun ang punto ni Presidente (Let’s share resources. That’s the point of the President),” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday.
But Panelo stressed that the Philippines does not recognize China’s claim of historic rights.
“Didn’t the President ask them what was their basis for claiming the entire South China Sea? Just because its name is South China Sea? We don’t believe that,” the spokesman said.
But Panelo said the President does not grant China the right to fish in the Philippines’ EEZ.
“Hindi naman grant, siguro parang tino-tolerate mo lang (Not really grant, perhaps you are just tolerating it), not necessarily grant. Para kasing friends nga daw eh, kung friends eh di magbibigayan kayo (Since we are friends, let’s share resources),” he said.
The Philippines does not recognise China's historic claim to Reed Bank but they will allow them to fish in the area anyway this depriving Filipino fishermen of a large catch because of friendship? It's more bowing down to China from Duterte.
Residents of Tinglayan town in Kalinga province have sought help from the police on how best to restore their pine tree plantations, which were razed by a fire triggered by law enforcers carrying out marijuana eradication in March.
An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday said the fire razed pine trees planted in 22.5 hectares.
Marijuana plants uprooted were automatically destroyed by burning but the operations might have triggered brush fires that spread to a 50-ha tree farm overseen by three peoples’ organizations in Tinglayan town, according to Ralph Pablo, DENR Cordillera director.
“Residents fought to suppress the fire. It took them two days to beat the blaze, which spread due to the steep terrain and high winds,” said lawyer Severino Dalutag, Tabuk City community environment and natural resources officer.
The PDEA started a 2-day fire when they burned marijuana plants. It sounds like they did not gather them all into a pile somewhere safe before burning but rather burned them on the spot as they were uprooted. Whatever happened this is nothing less than pure incompetence on the part of the PDEA.
Authorities on Wednesday arrested an officer of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) for allegedly extorting P400,000 from a carnapping victim.
The PNP identified the suspect as Police Maj. Raul Salle, the Operations Management Division deputy chief based inside Camp Crame, headquarters of the PNP.
The victim, a woman who was not identified by authorities, allegedly dealt with Salle after her Mitsubishi Pajero was stolen in November.
According to the complainant, Salle asked for P140,000 to begin an investigation.
Having no cash at the time, the victim was advised by Salle to borrow money from a non-uniformed HPG personnel who allegedly lent her P70,000.
The complainant, an OFW, said she sent money several times as payment through Salle but the money allegedly never reached the HPG personnel.
Stupidity goes both ways. This PNP officer is stupid for attempting to extort this lady but the lady s stupid for thinking she actually had to pay money for the PNP to investigate the case of her stolen car! Idiocy all around.
Despite the Philippine National Police falling short of its 2018 targets, the salaries of its personnel nearly doubled in the past year, the Commission on Audit (COA) bared in its annual audit report.
The PNP managed to arrest only 19.37 percent of the most wanted persons on its list, despite an earlier target of at least 51.57 percent. And yet, the salaries and wages of its personnel spiked from P41.9 billion in 2017, to P74.7 billion in 2018, the COA reported.
The same report showed that the PNP fell short of its 60-percent target to arrest persons with outstanding warrants within 30 days of receipt of their warrants, and managed to reach only 34.70 percent of such timely arrests.
In terms of crime investigations undertaken, the PNP reached only 464,661 of its 522,301 target.
Despite the less than stellar performance and thanks to the implementation of the third tranche of Executive Order No. 2, which granted additional benefits for all PNP personnel, the COA said the combined salaries and wages of PNP personnel rose by P32.73 billion in 2018.
The PNP is inefficient and corrupt yet they will continue to get salary raises because of Duterte's Executive Order which was designed to stop PNP corruption by giving them more pay. The people continue to pay these idiots to do nothing or commit crimes (like extortion and drug dealing) against them.
The suspect was identified as Dexter Salarda, 21, and SK chairman of Barangay Faraon in Jagna town.
The Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Bohol Provincial Police Office conducted the operation at the Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Dao about 6 p.m.
The arrest came after an undercover agent bought a sachet of suspected shabu from Salarda.
Police seized shabu amounting to P108,000.
Another young man and LGU official involved in the drug trade.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the state-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to refund some P260.530 million worth of “illegal” incentives given to 90 percent of its 2,689 employees in 2018.
In its 2018 audit report, the COA said the “GSIS GALING Pagkilala Incentive” worth P100,000 was given to 2,615 employees of the government insurance firm without the required approval of the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management.
Meanwhile, the state auditor has also flagged GSIS over its “accounts for clearing” amounting to P3.393 billion and P6.216 billion in 2018 and 2017, respectively. This, COA said, represents collections of premiums and loans, “which have not yet been posted to the individual member’s accounts… ultimately delaying the processing of benefits of members/pensioners. ”
Some agencies apparently think money can be drawn from thin air and they can do with it whatever they like.
President Rodrigo Duterte cited a previous agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping which allows Beijing to fish in Recto Bank.
[Translation: Will you allow the Chinese to fish? Of course. That’s what we talked about before, that’s why we talked. And that was why we were allowed to fish again. It was a mutual agreement. Let’s give and take. You can fish here, and I can fish there.]
Duterte had discussed fishing rights in Scarborough Shoal with Xi during his state visit to China in 2016.
The President, in his speech, also argued that enforcing a ban on Chinese fishing in Philippine waters would cause a problem.
[Translation: If I prohibit, how do I enforce. America is scared. It does not want to confront. And then they will have me face it? They really want me to receive the blow.]
Duterte's words and his actions speak for themselves. Some think his allowing Chinese to fish in the Philippines EEZ is an impeachable offence. Time will tell if anyone decides to file such a case. In the lawsuit happy Philippines it is very like a case will be filed.
On second thought perhaps no one should file an impeachment case against him!
Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco refuses to share the House Speakership position, Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano bemoans.
The ruling political party PDP-LABAN chose Velasco as their candidate for House Speaker of the 18th Congress over Cayetano, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez and Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez.
"I want to reiterate that I am committed to support and follow the President as he in many occasions mentioned term sharing between myself and Congressman Velasco... It is for this reason that I am deeply disappointed that after we both expressed full agreement with the President's proposal [Velasco] and his wife are now making a turnaround and won't honor President's wishes," Cayetano said Thursday.
Cayetano added that there was already an "agreement in principle" on term sharing last Monday night. The term sharing agreement would have Cayetano sit as Speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, and Velasco taking over for the remaining 21 months.
"The term sharing scheme has been proposed as a ‘win win solution’ to resolve the Speakership issue. I am willing to abide by the recommendation of the President," said Cayetano, who was President Rodrigo Duterte's running mate during the 2016 elections.
Problems here: This position is not shareable, Cayetano has ZERO seniority, and Duterte said he would not interfere but now he is telling them to share the position. It's more silliness from the Retards in the Government!
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