Did Cory Aquino Really Have Lunch with Tom Cruise in 1989?

Did Cory Aquino really have lunch with Tom Cruise when he was in the Philippines filming Born on the Fourth of July back in 1989? Why even ask? Because this event is used by Marcos revisionists to paint Marcos as a saint who wished to give 90% of his wealth to the Filipino people and Cory as an evil woman who spurned that offer. Let's take a look at this strange tale.

This story originates in former Vice President under Cory Aquino Salvador Laurel's book Neither Trumpets nor Drums. Laurel was summoned by Marcos to visit him in Hawaii on February 3-4 1989. During that visit Marcos had a confidential message he wanted given to President Aquino.

“Please tell Mrs. Aquino to stop sending her relatives to me," he continued. "They are proposing  so many things. I have already established a foundation and I am turning over 90% of all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people. Enrique Zobel has all the papers. He and the Papal Nuncio, Msgr. Torpigliani, will sit in the Board to see to it that 90% of all that I have are properly distributed to our people. That is much better than what Mrs' Aquino's relatives have been proposing. I am leaving only 10% for my family."

p. 108 

Upon his return to the Philippines Doy went to visit Cory in order to relay the message but she refused to see him. He notes that she "allotted an hour to Tom Cruise."

I hurried back to Manila to transmit Marcos' message to President Aquino. I asked for an appointment but Cory would not see me. Here I was, her own Vice President, asking only for three minutes of her time to convey a very important message from her predecessor, and she would not see me. I was told she was busy. Later I was told that she allotted an hour to Tom Cruise, the American movie actor.

p. 108

Laurel then wrote Cory a letter imploring her to receive Marcos' message.

"I hope you will find time to listen to the highly confidential message of Mr. Marcos considering its serious import and far-reaching consequences upon your administration and the nation as a whole"

Cory replied:

"I have since Friday, February 3rd, received a copy of the letter of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. As to the highly confidential message from Ferdinand E. Marcos, I feel that in the light of your representation of its 'serious import and far-reaching consequences upon your (my) administration and the nation as a whole, such a message should be disclosed to the public rather than kept confidential. This is in accordance with my announced policy of utmost transparency in the management of the affairs of the country."

p. 108-109

He writes a reply hoping she will change her mind and receive the message directly from him but she refuses. He then assesses this situation calling her refusal to receive the message "her biggest mistake."

Cory's refusal to receive Marcos' message was perhaps her biggest mistake. Had she received the message openmindedly, and studied it carefully, she might have obtained enough money to pay off half of our foreign debt and only 20 percent of the budget would have to be set aside for debt service. The other 20 percent would have freed billions of pesos for infrastructure, roads, peace and order, education, etc.

p. 110

He then cites an unnamed commentator who had this to say about Cory's refusal to receive Marcos' message.

"With the decision of the Hawaii court that victims of the Marcos' martial law atrocities, brutalities and inhumanities are entitled to payment 

"How much would 90 percent of Marcos' money be? If he had squirreled away $10 billion, the top figure mentioned bu those who speculated on Marcos' wealth, the government would have received $9 billion. 

"How much shoring up of a faltering government could have been done? Unless Marcos had specified as condition that the money he was returning would be for specific purposes like paying the foreign debt, it is possible that Cory would have channeled most of it to her favorite projects  like the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). She would probably not have turned the money to the treasury to be appropriated by the Congress. Perhaps, unless Marcos has specified the uses of his money, it might have been dissipated in other favorite projects of Cory.

"But if the $9 billion would have been utilized properly, the country would have been lifted from its status as a beggar nation. With wise planning and honest spending, the Philippines might have had a chance to become one of the tigers of Southeast Asia.

"There is nothing sadder than what might have been. It is even sadder than being the basket case of Asia-Pacific. To have had $9 billion on hand and squandered it on favorite projects, the tragedy would have been double. So, the way things actually turned out might have been better than becoming  suddenly a rich nation that did not know how to make its riches permanent. Under Cory, there would have been very little chance that matters would have materially improved.

"The biggest error of the Cory administration was to spurn Doy and the message he carried from Honolulu."

p. 111

Whoever wrote that commentary is a real piece of work. He starts off saying so much good could have been done had Cory received the message and the money from Marcos. Then he says Cory would have wasted it anyway so its probably better the money was not received. Then he finishes by saying her biggest error was to spurn Doy and his message and thus not receive the money. Pick a scenario please! Either Cory would have wasted the money or she would not have wasted the money. If it was her biggest mistake to not receive the message and money then that assumes she would not have wasted it. 

Of course these scenarios rest on the assumption that Marcos would actually have given 90% of his wealth or $9 billion to the Philippines. But did you know that there is more to the story? Imelda Marcos was dead set against the idea.

Anyway. Doy Laurel was approaching the core of his conversation with Ferdinand Marcos. The dying ex-president chose his words carefully: "I have decided to donate to the Philippine government and the Filipino people 90 percent of the Marcos wealth. We the Marcos family will get only 10 percent and no more. I want that to be very clear. I want you to communicate that to President Aquino. We will take care of the details later." Laurel was dumbfounded. The amount of wealth was not mentioned but the estimate at that time was about 10 to 15 billion US dollars. In any language – fantabulous! 

But right there and then in the hospital, Laurel realized the whole thing, the proffered donation, what seemed to be the last will of the dying ex-dictator, wouldn’t work. Imelda, according to Laurel, heard the whole conversation. And she told Doy as he left Marcos’ bed – this according to Doy – that they, the Marcoses, particularly she, Imelda, would only agree to 70 to 75 percent going to the government, while they would retain 25 to 30 percent. "Ten percent is out of the question," she said. Imelda held dominion and that was that. The empress dowager had spoken. 

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2001/12/05/142497/doy-macoy-yorac-corner

Why did Laurel not include his exchange with Imelda in his book? Her refusal sheds more light on this situation. Knowing that Laurel knew this offer would not work reveals that there was nothing for Cory to refuse in the first place because Imelda would not have let it happen. So, why paint a picture of him pleading with Cory to a receive a message which he knew would ultimately be fruitless?

But did Marcos actually say he would give 90% of his wealth to the government? No. He did not say that. Here is his message:

I have already established a foundation and I am turning over 90% of all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people. Enrique Zobel has all the papers. He and the Papal Nuncio, Msgr. Torpigliani, will sit in the Board to see to it that 90% of all that I have are properly distributed to our people.

Marcos said he had ALREADY established a foundation and he said, "I AM TURNING OVER 90% OF ALL MY WORLDLY POSSESSIONS TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE." There is no offer here. There is nothing contingent about his turning over 90% of his wealth. This is a pledge. Marcos said he had already set up a foundation to distribute his wealth.  The Papal Nuncio and Filipino businessman Erinque Zobel were appointed to the Board to oversee this distribution. There is nothing said about giving a one time lump sum to the government. From the sound of it the foundation would have distributed the money to the people directly. 

The real issue in this situation is not that Cory refused the message and thus the money. The real issue is that Marcos did not follow through on his promise to set up a foundation through which he would distribute his money directly to the Filipino people. Doy and the commentator are both wrong in their assessment of this event. Even Wikipedia gets this story wrong referring to Marcos' pledge as an offer.

During the meeting with Laurel, Marcos offered to return 90% of his ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people in exchange for being buried back in the Philippines beside his mother, an offer also disclosed to Enrique Zobel. However, Marcos's offer was rebuffed by the Aquino government and by Imelda Marcos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos#Death_and_burial

At least this article mentions Imelda's refusal to go along with her husband's plan. 

What happened to the foundation Marcos claimed he had already established? The roots of this pledge extend back to the end of 1969. On December 31, 1969 Marcos wrote in his diary that he had planned to set up a foundation to distribute all his worldly goods to the Filipino people.

https://philippinediaryproject.wordpress.com/1970/01/01/january-1-1970/

I have today given away by general instrument of transfer all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people through a foundation to be organized known as the Marcos Foundation. 

Moved by the strongest desire and the purest will to set the example of self-denial and self-sacrifice for all our people, I have today decided to give away all my worldly possessions so that they may serve the greater needs of the greater number of our people.

It is my wish that these properties will be used in advancing education, science, technology and the arts. 

This act I undertake of my own free will, knowing that my need of material possessions will, having always been a simple man, my needs will always be lesser that those of many of our people, who have given me the highest honor within their gift, an honor unshared by any one of my predecessors and not likely to be shared by any one else in the future no other Filipino leader.

Since about a year ago, I have asked my closest some of very my closest confidants to study the mechanics of this decision. Today studies have been completed, and a foundation will be formed to administer these properties and all funds that may be generated therefrom.

My wife, Imelda, is in agreement with this decision. Provisions will be made for my children, so that they shall be assured of satisfactory education and be prepared to meet their lifetime duties and endeavors. 

For the moment, my most sincere hope is that this humble act shall set the example and move to greater deeds of unselfishness and compassion, many of our countrymen whose position in society gives them a stronger duty to minister to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and countrymen.

It seems that he never did establish the foundation he had dreamt of in 1969 as it was Enrique Zobel who in 1989 suggested that he establish a foundation to distribute his wealth.

From Zobel's deposition before a Blue Ribbon Committee in Hawaii on October 27, 1999 we read the following about the genesis of this foundation:

THE  CHAIRMAN.  All right.  You also indicated in  the  same affidavit,   paragraph  10,  that you  suggested  to   him   the establishment  of a foundation for the interest of  the Filipino people. Can you tell this Committee what his  reaction to  that suggestion?

MR.  ZOBEL.    He said, that was an excellent idea  and,  in fact, he has--if I do this, would you please be the chairman.   I said,  Mr. President, if I am the chairman, I will be sued  right and  left  by the people in Manila for envy, so please why  don't you  choose  someone  Filipinos will not sue.  Then he  asked  me who?   I said, well, the Vatican.   So, he said, excellent  idea. Could you please arrange to talk to Papal  Nuncio in Manila,  who was Torpigliani then.

The foundation was ultimately not put into force.

THE  CHAIRMAN.  All right.   Now, let's pursue the  question of  the  establishment  of  a  foundation.   Can  you  tell  this Committee whether or not the foundation was, in fact, formed?

MR.  ZOBEL.   It was not formed.   The Papal Nuncio,  I  was able to talk to him through Father Alarcon who brought me to  his residence  in front of La Salle, and he went to Rome.   He  first came, talked to the President and the President made a confession with  him but he can't tell to the priest.  But he went  to  Rome and  he  got the foundation  but instead of the Vatican,  it  was Torpigliani, which was the--he had the title changed in Rome.  It should  be  the trust of the Vatican.  That was the  only  thing. Otherwise, everything was in order.

Zobel had set everything up with a lawyer.

THE CHAIRMAN.  It will have more weight. Now,  regarding  the formation of this foundation,  did  you have to employ the services of a lawyer?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Yes.   I  employed the services  of  Mr.  Mike Garcia, who is a lawyer in Honolulu.  In fact, he charged me  the bill because Marcos died so I have to pay the bill which is 4,000 dollar.  I have the receipt here.

Zobel then testified that Marcos was unable to sign any documents because the local doctor would not allow him to since he was not mentally competent. Two Filipino doctors were summoned to certify Marcos' lucidity but they were barred by the Bureau of Immigration from leaving the country.

THE CHAIRMAN.  All right.   Now, regarding your meeting with Vice  President Laurel, can you tell this Committee what was  the tenor of your conversation with him?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Yes.   There  were two  things--two  important things  came  about.  One was to send two doctors, I  forgot  the names,   and  I  have the record of their flight, everything was arranged.   To check if Marcos could really talk or not,  because the  doctor here said, he could not and so we could not establish the  foundation.    But  at the airport,  then  health  secretary Bengzon stopped them at Immigration, didn't allow them to  board, upon orders of Cory.

Zobel testified that Vice President Laurel told him that the two doctors summoned to certify Marcos' lucidity to sign the documents establishing the foundation were prevented from leaving the country on the orders of Cory. 

Why does Salvador Laurel not mention this fact in his book Neither Trumpets nor Drums? He mentions that Marcos said he set up a foundation but he neglects to tell us that he was not lucid enough to actually sign any legal documents and needed two Filipino doctors to give the ok and that they were prevented from leaving the country on orders of Cory Aquino. Why? That is very pertinent information which makes his analysis that Cory's biggest mistake was her refusal to receive Marcos' message just plain wrong. By February 1989 Marcos was in no state to be setting up a foundation or making any decision about what to do with his wealth. It also raises the question of why these doctors were prevented from leaving. Did Cory know that they were going to certify Marcos as being lucid so he could sign documents establishing a foundation? But that would mean she knew the content of Marcos' secret message before Laurel returned from Hawaii and asked for an audience. Something is missing here.

The deposition continues: 

SEN.  FLAVIER.  I see.   In sum, the foundation never really got born, so to speak?

MR. ZOBEL.   Because the doctors  did not allow him to sign. But  you see that foundation of his gold was revocable until  the government had agreed on the two conditions, that would  be  come automatically irrevocable.

SEN.  FLAVIER.    I see. And so it was that illness  that prevented the final signing of the foundation papers?

MR.  ZOBEL.    No.   His health, the local doctor would  not certify....They would certify that he was capable of  knowing  he was signing.

SEN.  FLAVIER.   I see. It was the certification that he was lucid and able to sign that document?

MR. ZOBEL.  Correct.

SEN.  FLAVIER.  Those two doctors I happened to  know,  then Dr. Sawit  and Dr. Alano were notallowed to come?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Were not allowed to leave Manila Airport  when they had the tickets on hand.

SEN. FLAVIER.  Did you get an inkling of why?

MR.  ZOBEL.    Well, according to Doy, he told me  that  the doctors were stopped by an order to Immigration from Secretary of Health which was Bengzon.   Bengzon ba? 

SEN. FLAVIER.  Yes.

MR.  ZOBEL.   Bengzon.  That's what the Vice President told me.

Zobel says that the foundation was revocable until the two conditions, being buried in the Philippines and his family protected from government prosecution, were met which gives weight to this being an offer and not a mere pledge. But coupled with Marcos' exact words to Doy Laurel and his desire in 1969 to set up a foundation to transfer his wealth to the Filipino people it would seem that it was more of a pledge than an offer. If Marcos had signed the documents it would be hard to imagine him suddenly revoking the whole thing because two conditions were not met. At least if he were serious about helping out his countrymen it would seem unlikely he would revoke the foundation. 

Here is how the foundation would have worked:

THE CHAIRMAN.    All right.  I think we can resume.Mr.  Zobel,  will  you  kindly tell this  Committee  if  you remember the terms of  that--the term of sharing of the wealth of Mr. Marcos as put into the foundation agreement?

MR. ZOBEL. It's in the Vatican trust.  But if I recall right, 10 percent would go to the Marcos family, the wife and children. 

THE CHAIRMAN. Ten percent. 

MR.  ZOBEL. Ten percent would go to the Vatican  for  the poor people and in the missions. 

THE CHAIRMAN.   And in the... 

MR.  ZOBEL.   In the missions for the Vatican to dispose of. One percent to the people in Hawaii that were loyal to him. And then I don't know. But the rest would go to the foundation to be used specifically or schools, hospitals and infrastructure and agriculture.

This set-up would leave only 79% for the Filipino people which is less than the amount Marcos promised to Laurel. Note that none of that money is going to the government coffers generally but is specified to be used in certain sectors. It is not clear that the money would even be distributed through government agencies though that is likely.

Even if Cory had agreed to what Marcos had planned the foundation would never have been a reality. In the first place Marcos was in no state to legally consent to such a plan as he was bedridden in the ICU and he could not even talk due to a tracheotomy. Local doctors would not approve of his signing any legal documents so Zobel was reduced to hiring two Filipino doctors travel to Hawaii so they could clear Marcos. Even if they had been allowed to travel by the BI their decision to clear Marcos as being lucid would have been highly unethical and likely have been challenged successfully in court if anyone cared to do so. Second of all Imelda was dead set against this idea as she told Doy Laurel she wanted to keep 30% of the wealth. With these very real factors considered (Marcos' incapacity due to poor health and Imelda's resistance) one cannot blame Cory Aquino for keeping Marcos from distributing his wealth to the Filipino people by "rejecting his offer." Marcos had ample time to set up the foundation he had first proposed back in 1969. Marcos would remain in the ICU until his death on September 28th, 1989. 

These facts do not even take into account the question of just how much wealth Marcos had and how much of it was his lawfully. If Zobel's testimony is to be believed Marcos had amassed much more than $10 billion dollars.

THE  CHAIRMAN.  So,  are you telling  the  Committee,  Mr. Zobel,  that  there is basis for this figure  of  the  amount  of Marcos wealth running to several billions of U.S. dollars?

MR.  ZOBEL.  Yes. I would take gold, assets and  dollars over  all comments  even  bank certificates,  I  would  say 100 billion.

That is Zobel's estimate of the value of Marcos' fortune. Truly a mind-boggling sum in every way.

Several foundations were set-up by Marcos but none of them were for the purpose of transferring his wealth to the Filipino people. They were all used to hide his assets. These include the Xandy Foundation, the Trinidad Foundation, the Azizo Foundation, the Rosayls Foundation, the Charis Foundation, and the Rayby Foundation. See more at this link.

But what about Tom Cruise? Did Cory meet him? From Doy's account it would appear she met with him for an hour. The South China Morning Post greatly expands on this story.

Actually, Doy was the last Filipino politician to talk to Marcos before he died in Hawaii. Marcos gave him a final message to deliver to his nemesis, Cory Aquino, but when Doy arrived at Malacanang Palace to see Cory he was told that she was unable to see him because of a pressing engagement (which turned out to be lunch with Hollywood star Tom Cruise).

https://www.scmp.com/article/43566/coy-doy-stays-quiet-reasons-visit

Lunch with Tom Cruise sounds pretty awesome. But did it really happen? No. The appointed visit was scheduled a few days before Doy Laurel returned from Hawaii. Tom was late and Cory did not want to wait around for him.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/31/Quirks-in-the-News/6774602226000/

Despite pleas from her daughter to wait for a 'chance of a lifetime' meeting with actor Tom Cruise, President Corazon Aquino went home Monday when the Hollywood star failed to appear on time.

'Hey, Kris, I waited for them.

Just tell them I waited,' Aquino told her daughter before departing the presidential palace. Aquino is known for her punctuality -- a trait uncommon among Filipinos.

'Please mom, it's a chance of a lifetime,' said Kris, an aspiring actress who will turn 18on Valentine's Day.

Presidential palace aides said Aquino was as excited as her daughter in meeting Cruise.

Kris Aquino had invited Cruise to the presidential palace before his departure for the United States after filming the Vietnam War film 'Fourth of July' in the Philippines.

Cruise, accompanied by his wife, Mimi Rogers, strolled into the palace wearing a black air force cap, printed polo shirt over blue denims and rubber shoes long after the president had left.

'I am sorry you missed my mom,' said Kris to Cruise.

A later article says Cruise was 5 minutes late so Cory left.

How do we reconcile this with Doy's account? It's not very hard. Doy was told by someone else that Cory had allotted an hour to meet with Tom Cruise. He never says Cory actually met with Tom Cruise. But the way the book is written it appears that Cory would not meet with Doy BECAUSE she was meeting with Tom Cruise. That is exactly how the SCMP frames the event. In fact they even expand the narrative calling it a lunch. Only Kris Aquino knows for sure what happened but I do not have the privilege of being able to ask her. I bet she has pictures.

Retards in the Government 243

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1543044/eastern-samar-village-chief-nabbed-for-violating-gun-ban

A village chairman from the town of Oras in Eastern Samar province was arrested for allegedly violating the gun ban on Thursday afternoon.

Leo Quimada, 46, village chairman of Nadacpan, was arrested while inside a public market located in Barangay Tingib at around 8 a.m.

Police Major Jose Tiu, the officer-in-charge of the Oras police station, said that a concerned citizen called their station to inform them that the suspect had a firearm protruding in his waist.

Tiu, accompanied by two other cops, responded to the information and approached Quimada who did not resist arrest.

“He (Quimada) was in possession of one 9 mm pistol with 15 live ammunition, and extra magazines loaded with 13 live ammunition, and one 45 caliber pistol with eight live ammunition,” Tiu said in a phone interview.

Aside from the firearm tucked in his waist, the other firearm and ammunition were placed inside in a sling bag of the suspect.

“We asked him why he was carrying firearms. He told us that he did it for security reasons. But we don’t have any record stating that his life is in danger,” Tiu said.

Tiu added that the suspect failed to show any document which would allow him to carry a firearm as the gun ban is now being imposed across the country in relation to the forthcoming May elections.

A village chief was arrested for violating the election gun ban. He says he was packing heat for security reasons and the cops said they have no record of his life being in danger. Do they not realize that in the Philippines every politician's life is in danger? As a politician at any moment you could be shot to death by unknown men on motorcycles.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166044

A police intelligence officer died when his service pistol reportedly accidentally fell and went off while preparing his uniform and paraphernalia at his residence in Mobo, Masbate province Thursday night.

The police officer was identified as Lt. Col. Steve dela Rosa, Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) chief of the Masbate police provincial office, according to Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol), in a report on Friday.

At around 10:45 p.m., the victim was said to be in his room at their house in Barangay Umabay Exterior and was cleaning his firearm of still undetermined caliber when the gun suddenly fell and exploded, hitting him in the stomach.

"The victim was rushed to Masbate Medical Mission Group Hospital Service Cooperative but died upon reaching the hospital," the report said.

Dela Rosa’s wife told the police that while her husband was in the room, she suddenly heard a burst of gunfire and as she entered, saw him sprawled on the floor, bleeding.

Police investigators have yet to submit a report on whether the incident was an accident or not.

Cop dies when his gun falls and goes off firing into his stomach.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165988

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday ordered the relief of the acting superintendent of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP)'s Maximum Security Compound (MSC) where four persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) escaped on Monday morning.

In an order signed by Corrections Technical (CT) Chief Supt. John Paul Santos, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) acting director for administration, MSC acting superintendent, CT Supt. Arnold Guzman was relieved from his post but will remain as deputy chief of the bureau's Supply Division.

The superintendent of New Bilibid Prison was relieved of his duty after four inmates escaped.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1543396/cop-brother-held-over-killing-of-village-exec-indian-national-in-albay-town

A policeman and his half-brother were arrested Friday (Jan. 21) morning after allegedly killing a village councilman and an Indian national in Oas town, Albay province.

The suspects were identified as Cpl. Bryan Aguilar of Barangay Maporong, a crime investigator assigned to the Polangui town police station, and Raymond Isaac Salanga, 23, of Barangay Mendez, both in Polangui town, according to Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, the Bicol police spokesperson.

Investigators identified the victims as Marlon Rebusquillo, 43, a village councilman of Barangay Maporong, and Parmindes Singh, an Indian national from Barangay Gabon, also in Polangui.

Police said Aguilar and his brother allegedly abducted the Indian national and took off on board a Toyota Wigo.

Aguilar, who was driving, lost control of the car while negotiating a road in Maporong around 9 a.m., causing the vehicle to fall into a rice field.

Rebusquillo and an unidentified companion saw the accident and approached the suspects’ car and tried to help.

But when the village councilman was about to ride his motorcycle, Aguilar drew his handgun and fired at him before shooting the Indian national.

Aguilar then fled the crime scene on board Rebusquillo’s motorcycle, investigators said.

Later that day, Aguilar returned to the crime scene while investigators were processing the area and he was positively identified by Rebusquillo’s companion as the responsible for shooting dead the two victims.

Police immediately arrested Aguilar while his half-brother was arrested at his residence in Polangui.

A policeman and his brother kidnapped an Indian national and got in a car wreck. A passerby who just happened to be a village councilor stopped to assist. The cop shot and killed both him and the Indian but not the councilor's friend who identified him when he returned to the scene of the crime.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166157

The alleged mastermind of the killing of a hospital chief in this city last month has voluntarily surrendered in a monastery, the police here said in a statement Monday.

Richard Gepte, 51, of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental was met by joint units of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) and Police Regional Office (PRO-10) in the compounds of the Carmelite Monastery in Barangay Camaman-an here.

Maj. Evan Viñas, the COCPO spokesperson, said the suspect’s surrender took place on Sunday.

Gepte, who is running for vice-mayor of his hometown, was suspected to be the brains behind the ambush-slay of Dr. Raul Winston Andutan, chief of the Maria Reyna-Xavier University Hospital, after allegedly hiring assassins to kill the latter on December 2, 2021.

A man running for vice-mayor has been accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of a hospital chief.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/421762/two-lapu-lapu-dads-cry-foul-over-death-threats-point-to-administration-as-possible-culprit

Two Lapu-Lapu City councilors have claimed to have received death threats and have suspected the administration to have allegedly something to do with them. 

Councilor Michael Dignos said that their threats that they received through text messages were related to what they were doing as city officials. 

(We don’t have anybody to point our fingers too on these death threats, it’s possible that these came from the administration.) 

But Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan strongly denied the allegations that his administration was responsible for the death threats. 

Chan said that he had no time for it, and that this might only be propaganda from his rivals in politics.

(I have no time for politics, this is the time to help each other. But are they doing? There are always engaging in politics, they are always trying to say bad things but I don’t mind that at all. I don’t mind.) 

Councilor Dignos said that he received his threat in December, which he believed was due to his continued scrutiny of the 2022 proposed annual budget of Mayor Chan.

Two councilors claim to have received death threats and with no proof have accused the Mayor. The reason being that they have continued to scrutinize his proposed budget.

https://www-gmanetwork-com.translate.goog/news/balitambayan/balita/819607/dating-pulis-itinumba-sa-harap-ng-kaniyang-bahay-sa-maynila/story/?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=fil&_x_tr_pto=wapp

A former policeman in Tondo, Manila was shot and killed while standing in front of his house.

In a report by Darlene Cay on GMA News "Unang Balita" on Wednesday, the victim was identified as Richard Ramos.

According to the victim's relative, Ramos was kind so he should not be killed. He said he has four daughters who are still children who need a parent.

He added that the victim was sitting in front of the house and texting when the perpetrators arrived.

"He was texting. When he did that [looked up], he took off his face mask and shot him in the face at the same time," the relative cried.

The investigation revealed that the culprits were in the van.

Three people allegedly got out of the van with their faces covered but many more were said to be inside.

Ramos was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

According to the police, Ramos was a former police officer who went AWOL [absent without leave].

A policeman who had gone AWOL was assassinated in front of his house.

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2022/01/26/209235/exec-anti-illegal-drugs-party-list-candidate-nabbed-buy-bust-ops/

A regional director of party-list candidate, People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs (PVAID), was arrested in a buy-bust operation for allegedly selling methamphetamine or “shabu.” 

ABS-CBN News reported that Jerklie Abdulkarim and two other individuals were apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Tuesday.

The NBI said that the PVAID regional director was the mastermind of the group selling half a kilo of shabu for more than P1 million. 

Abdulkarim also allegedly used a minor as a drug courier.

Lawyer Jonathan Galicia, chief of the NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs, said that the group has been selling drugs in Cavite and the National Capital Region for years.

A regional director of a party-list has been arrested for selling drugs.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/01/27/2156591/8-cidg-agents-nabbed-pogo-workers-robbery

Eight operatives of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were arrested for allegedly robbing Chinese workers of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm in Angeles, Pampanga yesterday.

Maj. Ferdinand Mendoza, S/Sgts. Mark Anthony Iral and Sanny Ric Alicante, Pat. Leandro Mangale and Hermogines Rosario Jr. and Cpls. Richmond Francia, John Gervic Fajardo and Kenneth Rheiner Delfin of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime unit were apprehended in Barangay Balibago at around 1 a.m., according to a report from the CIDG-Angeles field office.

Two unidentified Chinese citizens and a Filipino were also arrested.

Police said it received information that a group of armed men in civilian clothes who claimed to be CIDG operatives had barged into a house being used as a workstation of the Chinese POGO workers.

Seven Chinese men and a Filipino house helper were rescued.

The CIDG operatives claimed they were conducting a drug bust and an operation against loose firearms.

Police found P300,000 in cash and an unspecified amount of US dollar bills from the vehicles of the CIDG agents.

8 cops have been charged with robbing several POGO workers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166470

A village councilman here and his companion were arrested for violating the election gun ban on Wednesday night, according to the police.

In an interview Thursday, Maj. Rustom Pastolero, city police station 1 chief, said the two were arrested at a checkpoint along Sinsuat Avenue for carrying firearms without authority from the Commission on Elections.

Apprehended were Abdulmuiz Maulana, 31, village councilor of Barangay Rosary Heights 5, and Camsa Tatak, 37, both from this city.

Police and members of the Army-led Joint Task Group Kutawato were implementing an election gun ban law at about 9 p.m. when the two passed by aboard a vehicle and were inspected.

Found in the suspects’ car were an M16 rifle, a Glock .45-caliber pistol, and ammunition.

“During verification, Maulana could not present exemptions from the Commission on Elections for carrying firearms,” Pastolero said.

A village councilman has been arrested for violating the gun ban.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166453

Three fishermen, including a village chief, were injured when they went dynamite fishing in the seawaters of Zumarraga, Samar early Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported.

The incident occurred when Elino Sobrino, 58, the village chief of Maputi, was trying to throw the ignited gelatin sticks when it accidentally exploded, wounding two other fishermen who were standing on the boat, police said on Thursday.

Other blast victims were Fernan Hinundayan, 24, and a 16-year-old boy, who are both Maputi village residents in Zumarraga town.

Victims were rushed to Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City.

Sobrino was referred to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City due to more severe injuries.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has repeatedly warned fishermen not to engage in dynamite fishing since its dangerous and destructive to nature.

“This is a classic case that crime against nature does pay. Let this be a warning to illegal fishers, particularly blast fishing, that primarily it is hazardous to the life and limbs but most importantly, (causing) habitat loss for fish and deprives the new generation to prosper,” BFAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a press statement.

A village chief was hurt while dynamite fishing illegally.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Plastic Bubble Wrap, Restrict the Unvaxxed, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

The third year of the pandemic has just begun and lockdowns continue to increasing.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/content/819256/areas-under-granular-lockdown-nationwide-jump-to-900-from-700-pnp/story/

The number of areas under granular lockdown nationwide due to COVID-19 cases has increased to 900 from 700, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

Based on the PNP data as of Sunday, Cagayan, which previously had zero locked down areas, has placed 212 areas under restriction.

At least 330 areas also have been locked down in Cordillera, 233 in Ilocos, 106 in the National Capital Region, and 19 in Mimaropa.

A total of 2,557 people were affected by the granular lockdowns, according to the PNP.

The PNP has deployed 211 personnel and 443 force multipliers to the affected areas to ensure security and adherence to minimum health standards.

Seems kind odd that there are only 900 areas under lockdown affecting only 2,557 individuals when there are allegedly 280,000 active cases according to the COVID-19 dashboard.

The Philippine Statistic Authority says COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death nationwide last year.

https://www.rappler.com/business/philippine-statistics-authority-report-covid-19-deaths-january-october-2021/

COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, based on preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). But figures show a discrepancy between those written on death certificates and those reported by the Department of Health (DOH).

PSA figures showed a total of 75,285 deaths were due to COVID-19 from January to October 2021, representing 12.5% of the total registered deaths during the period. 

For 2020, the PSA registered 27,967 deaths due to the coronavirus or 4.9% of the total registered deaths during the entire year.

That would mean at least 103,252 pandemic-related deaths, based on PSA data.

The figure differs compared to that of the DOH, which has recorded 52,929 pandemic-related deaths as of Monday, January 17.

The PSA noted the discrepancy, explaining that its figures were obtained from descriptions written on death certificates. The DOH figures were obtained through a surveillance system.

PSA figures also refer to confirmed, probable, and clinically-epidemiologically diagnosed cases of COVID-19. 

Deaths categorized as “COVID-19 virus identified” totaled 51,514, while “COVID-19 with virus not identified” cases accounted for 23,771 deaths from January to October 2021.

The total number of COVID deaths recorded by the PSA is twice that recorded by the DOH. How are we supposed to trust any of these statistics when they differ from agency to agency? The collection method is not even the same. The PSA is including "probable" deaths in its total number of deaths which is completely dishonest. That's at least 23,771 deaths that should not be a part of this total because COVID has not been verified in the person's death.

So, how is the "no vax, no ride" policy going? Not good for some folks. According to Labor Secretary Bello one woman was refused a ride because she had only one shot.

(I saw the woman yesterday crying because she was not allowed to ride public transport since she only received one vaccine dose. Our implementers must have been so enthusiastic in protecting the public that they forgot that workers are exempted.)

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1542297/no-vax-no-ride-policy-maybe-its-time-for-govt-to-say-sorry-bello

For another rider there was also a lot of trouble.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1542656/simple-trip-turns-tearful-for-unvaxxed-commuter

Jeremy Pineda, 27 and unvaccinated against COVID-19, headed out on Tuesday morning to get her unified multipurpose identification card.

Pineda prepared for the Department of Transportation’s mandatory “no vaccinations, no rides” policy by bringing along a copy of her medical records, including a document showing that she needed to undergo medical tests, and a copy of a news report indicating that people like her are exempt from the policy.

“I brought even my previous medical records from my previous doctor, just to be sure that I have the necessary documents to present [to an enforcer],” she told the Inquirer by phone.

Pineda boarded a UV Express from Barangay Bagong Ilog in Pasig City, where she lives, to get to Robinsons Galleria on Ortigas Avenue—by her estimate, a 15-minute ride. The vehicle driver asked for her vaccination card.

When Pineda presented her medical records, which she believed would be enough to allow her to ride a public utility vehicle (PUV), the driver said it was up to her to answer for him if he got caught.

“I showed my medical certificate proving that I have an existing illness, but the driver told me that it won’t be accepted [by enforcers],” she said.

Seated in the vehicle filled with fully vaccinated passengers, Pineda decided to disembark, embarrassed by the driver’s remarks. But she said she understood the driver, who apologized to her and said he was merely complying with the policy.

Pineda said she wanted to walk to Galleria so she could get the ID needed for her medical transactions there. But she was “just too emotional” and began to cry.

Still, she decided to push through with her other plan for the day: a meeting with her doctor at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). She took the first jeepney from Pasig headed to Quiapo, Manila. On Legarda, she rode a second jeepney going to Divisoria.

She got on a third jeepney on Rizal Avenue that went straight to Taft Avenue and PGH.

Pineda rode a total of six jeepneys for her round trip, but none of the drivers asked for her vaccination card or her medical papers. She said there were no enforcers during all that time and observed that they were “more focused” on UV Express rides.

“The jeepneys were far more relaxed, from what I saw,” she said.

Seems there is confusion amongst the drivers of what kind of documentation is acceptable and who is exempt from the policy. Since he would be liable and fined its no wonder he hesitated over her papers. But it also seems that the policy is not being equally enforced since on the six jeepenies she rode no one asked to see her papers.

LGUs around the country are issuing measures left and right to bar unvaccinated folks from participating public life. DILG Secretary Año is pressing for every municipality in the nation to implement such measures.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1543113/dilg-presses-local-govts-restrict-the-unvaxxed-folk

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) in other parts of the country to copy what the National Capital Region (NCR) did and also implement policies to restrict the movement of unvaccinated persons.

In a statement on Thursday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año supported the call of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the regional pandemic task forces in encouraging LGUs to implement similar policies.

“Let us all move in one pace so that we can collectively surmount the threat of Omicron,” he said, referring to the coronavirus variant that is being blamed for the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

During a Laging Handa public briefing on Jan. 15, LPP national president and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. said local chief executives instructed their city and municipal councils to impose restrictions on their unvaccinated constituents.

Velasco, a former Supreme Court associate justice, explained that while Filipinos have the constitutional right to travel or freedom of movement, there were exceptions to uphold public health or public safety.

The DILG chief said his directive was “neither unconstitutional nor violative of a person’s right to privacy because the data of unvaccinated persons is being collected for a legitimate purpose and that is to address the latest wave of COVID-19 infection.”

Año assured the Commission on Human Rights that the list would not be published or made public.

He said the information “is needed by the State to properly implement quarantine protocols needed to protect the unvaccinated as well as to protect the health system from being overwhelmed.”

There is still no law making mandatory vaccination enforceable. Republic Act No. 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act, states that vaccination shall not be considered as an additional mandatory requirement for educational or employment purposes or conducting transactions with government.

If they want to make the vaccine mandatory they should stop messing around and write a law making it so. As it is now they are doing their best to get around the law with all these measures which make vaccines mandatory de facto.

The face mask mandate is not the only aspect of the pandemic that has led to an increase in garbage. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166140

The pandemic-driven surge in online merchandise sales is generating a huge volume of new plastic waste every day, mainly from the widespread use of “bubble wraps” to package goods ordered by consumers, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said on Sunday.

“If you make an online purchase today, chances are you will receive the item that you ordered in a packet or carton draped in throwaway plastic bubble wrap,” Campos said.

“The problem with these elastic wraps with air-filled cushions is that they cannot be reused. Once they are ripped to open a package, the wraps get trashed and add to all the plastic waste escaping into our water environment,” Campos said.

He said Laguna Lake, the Pasig River, Manila Bay, and the country’s coastal waters are bound to be swamped with tons of discarded plastic bubble wraps.

“Online shopping destinations should ask their logistics partners to reduce their use of bubble wraps, and to consider alternative packaging materials that are either reusable or easier to recycle,” Campos said.

Campos is among the authors of House Bill 9147, which calls for the phaseout of all plastic products designed to be disposed, destroyed, or recycled, after only one use.

How much waste has been generated from food delivery? All those plastic wrappers and paper cups all destined for a landfill if they don't get tossed on the ground first.

You know what else what be a waste? All the money spent on vaccines if they were not injected into people. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166223

The national vaccination drive aims to protect the public from Covid-19 and creating hindrances against the pandemic response will not help any.

On Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III asked individuals or groups not to influence Filipinos against getting vaccinated.

He cited the viral videos of those against the “no vaccination, no ride’’ policy, with most saying they cannot be forced to be inoculated because they do not believe the jabs will benefit them.

“(Let’s not come up with any hindrance for the national vaccination program not to succeed),” Duque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Since January 17, only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to take public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) as per the Department of Transportation order.

Duque added that the policy has exemptions, like those purchasing essential goods and medicines, paying bills, going to work, or those with comorbidities as advised by doctors.

He emphasized that vaccination benefits everyone, especially senior citizens and those with comorbidities.

“(Since the government purchased these [Covid-19 vaccines] with the taxes it has collected, let us support [the national vaccination drive] so every person will have enough protection and our lives will go back to normal),” Duque said.

What exactly is the criteria for the national vaccination program to be considered a success? Is it when everyone is vaccinated? Or is it when there is zero COVID? Because neither one of those things will happen. Some simply don't want to be injected with an experimental serum which neither protects from transmission or infection of the virus. Zero COVID is not at all a realistic goal.

So, what is the benefit of taking a vaccine that does not prevent infection?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166331

Majority of the patients tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in this city since January 2 are either asymptomatic or mildly ill, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said Tuesday.

Dr. Carol Cajegas, a data analyst of the EOC, said during the Covid Task Force convergence meeting through Zoom that the data showed the difference between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated residents.

Cajegas reported that 2,800 of about 7,000 individuals who contracted the virus have not felt any indications of sickness while close to 4,000 people reported mild symptoms.

She said that most of those asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients were isolated at home, rendering most of the barangay patient care centers and other temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) in the city vacant.

“It’s clear what a vaccine can do against Covid. But we should not be negligent,” Cajegas said.

The chief pathologist of the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, supported the view that vaccinated individuals have relished the benefits of the vaccines as she also observed that most of the asymptomatic and mildly-ill Covid-19 patients are vaccinated.

The benefit of the vaccine is to suffer asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 symptoms. But it still does not stop infection or transmission which means zero COVID will never be achieved.