Retards in the Government 263

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

  

 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/gunman-kills-losing-mayoral-bet-basilan-june-9-2022/

A still unidentified gunman shot in Lamitan City a man who ran for mayor in a Basilan town on Thursday afternoon, June 9.

Police identified the victim as Ujud Ujuran, who lost in the mayoral race in the town of Akbar in last month’s elections.

The gun attack was the first documented post-election shooting in Lamitan City.

Ujuran was rushed to the hospital but died while being treated in the emergency room.

A losing mayoral candidate was assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176323

Outgoing Surigao del Sur Vice Gov. Librado Navarro and four others were arrested Thursday for investment scam charges, a police official said.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr, the Police Regional Office-Caraga Region director, said the four arrested were Letecia Navarro, 55, of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur; Estev Cirene Macheca, 33, of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Suad Asad Fayyad, 24, and Lafi Asad Fayyad, 25, both of Malate, Manila.

The suspects were arrested in an operation by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office in Barangay Poblacion of Lianga town.

Navarro, 64, together with Letecia and Macheca are respondents to an arrest warrant dated June 7, 2022, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Lianga town for charges of syndicated estafa.

The vice governor, along with the Fayyads, also has standing arrest warrants for two counts of charges for violation of Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulations Code.

The Surigao del Sur Vice Governor along with 4 others was arrested and charged with estafa over an investment scam.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1609024/election-officer-slain-another-hurt-in-zamboanga-del-norte-ambush

An election officer was killed, while another critically injured Thursday in a gun attack in Piñan town, Zamboanga del Norte.

Maricel Adriatico Peralta, 45, election officer of Mutia town, died immediately, said Police Captain Pocholo Rolando Guerrero, town cop chief.

Maritess Inding, 52, assistant election officer in Mutia, was being treated in a hospital, Guerrero added.

Guerrero said police investigation showed that Peralta was driving her car and traveling with Inding when motorcycle-riding armed men shot them at 8:42 p.m. as they reached Lapu-Lapu bridge in Piñan.

Dr. Ricardo Awit of the Piñan Municipal Health Office pronounced Peralta dead.

Guerrero said a pursuit operation was ongoing against the suspects.

An election officer was gunned down by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176388

The Sandiganbayan has found a former Bataan mayor and a businessman guilty of malversation and sentenced them to up to 18 years imprisonment.

The court's Third Division convicted former Mariveles, Bataan mayor Angel Peliglorio Jr. for malversation in connection with irregularities in the construction of the Mariveles Public Market in 2007.

Likewise convicted was Cedric Lee, president and chief executive officer of Izumo Contractors, Inc., which received advanced mobilization funds for the project which never commenced.

"(T)he totality of the facts arising from the evidence undoubtedly shows conspiracy between accused Lee and accused Peliglorio Jr.,” read the 54-page decision promulgated June 3.

The court sentenced both to imprisonment of 12 to 18 years and a fine of PHP23.47 million in fine "equal to the funds malversed".

The amount represents 15 percent of the construction budget amounting to PHP110 million for the building, construction and site development of the market.

The court noted that no documents were presented to prove that Izumo is entitled to a lump sum advance payment.

A former mayor has been convicted of malversation of funds over a construction project.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/10/2187475/doj-fires-18-immigration-personnel-over-pastillas-scheme

The Department of Justice dismissed 18 Bureau of Immigration officers and employees over their involvement in the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme where foreigners were allegedly whisked past airport counters in exchange for money.

The DOJ announced Friday that it found the following immigration officers and employees administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“They facilitated or allowed the facilitation of the arrival and/or departure of Chinese nationals, without undergoing appropriate immigration formalities, for a consideration,” the DOJ said in a statement.

The firing of the Immigration officers and employees came after the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against 43 Immigration personnel also over their alleged involvement in the pastillas scheme which the Senate investigated on suspicions that it had been used for sex trafficking and for letting Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations workers into the country.

18 BI employees charged with graft over a bribery scheme have been dismissed.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/10/2187278/pcgg-flagged-over-unrecorded-ill-gotten-wealth-recoveries

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) over 122 art pieces and P54.61 million in surrendered or recovered stocks which remain unrecorded in its books.

In its 2021 PCGG Annual Audit released recently, the COA noted “laxity in the monitoring and recovery efforts” in connection with the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and their alleged cronies.

For instance, 772,594,488 shares of stocks worth P54.614 million, which were surrendered by the defendants or were recovered by the government, remain unrecorded in the PCGG’s books as of Dec. 31, 2021.

The COA said that while the PCGG reasoned out that a majority of the shares of stocks were already inactive, the entire amount should have still been inventoried in its books.

“The non-recording of the surrendered/recovered shares is tantamount to voluntarily giving away possession and control of what is due to the government and without due regard to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations,” the COA report said.

It pointed out that instead of outright non-recognition of the surrendered and recovered stocks, the PCGG could have requested the inactive ones to be dropped off from its books but only after submitting the “appropriate documents to support its derecognition, pursuant to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.”

In the same audit report, the COA also called out the PCGG over 122 pieces of artwork which are not entered in its books as of end-2021.

“One hundred twenty-two pieces of surrendered artworks such as paintings, statues, jars, framed wood carvings, wood carvings, tapestries, lithographs, framed cross-stitch artwork, wine goblet, upright piano, decanter, collage, brass item, abstract, news clipping, framed news print, drawings, plaque, and brass sculpture found at PCGG station remained unrecorded in the books of PCGG, thereby understating agency’s Abandoned/ Surrendered Property/Assets account by its total fair market value which are yet to be determined,” the COA said.

The COA recommended that the PCGG direct its Asset Management Department to “verify the accuracy of the inventory report, cause the appraisal of properties and coordinate with the Chief Accountant for proper accounting/recording in the books.”

Meanwhile, the COA said the PCGG’s laxity in transferring titles over several surrendered or recovered shares of stocks to the government led to the non-collection of dividends since 2005.

The PCGG has been flagged for mismanagement of recovered Marcos assets.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/12/2187745/barangay-councilor-husband-nabbed-over-fake-papers

A barangay councilor and her husband, who are wanted for falsification of public documents and perjury, were arrested in Quezon City on Friday.

Glady Perez, 46, and her husband, Henry Perez, 49, were apprehended at their residence in Barangay E. Rodriguez at around 1:30 p.m., according to Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina.

Medina said police apprehended the couple based on a warrant of arrest issued by Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 132 Jude Peter Filip Abelita.

A barangay coucniolr and her husband have been arrested for perjury and falsification of public documents. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/12/omb-orders-dismissal-of-45-immigration-officials-employees-in-pastillas-scheme/

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered the dismissal from government service of 45 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over their alleged involvement in the “Pastillas” extortion scheme.

In a 143-page decision dated last March 21, the OMB found them “administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

“In case the penalty of Dismissal from Service can no longer be served due to respondent’s separation from public office, a fine equivalent to one (1) year salary shall be imposed. Nevertheless, all accessory penalties of Dismissal from Service shall apply,” the OMB said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), in resolving the administrative case filed before it, issued a resolution last Friday, June 10, that also ordered the dismissal of Robles, Comia, Magbuhos Jr., Albao, Binsol, Borja, Calaca, Lopez, Estacio, Naniong, Garcia, Villanueva, Guevarra, So, Orozco, Ortanez, Deudor and Fidel S. Mendoza.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Neal Vincent M. Bainto earlier said the 18 BI officials and employees were found “liable for Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, in relation to the so called ‘Pastillas Scheme.’’’

Bainto said those dismissed “facilitated or allowed the facilitation of the arrival and/or departure of Chinese nationals, without undergoing appropriate immigration formalities, for a consideration.”

In addition to the 18 officials dismissed by the DOJ the OMB has ordered the dismissal of 27 more.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176511

A former local government employee in Maguindanao and his companion, both former drug personalities who surrendered to authorities in 2019, were arrested during a drug sting, an official said Monday.

Director Rogelito Daculla of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) identified the suspects as Tapia Malingco, 41; and Jhon Jickery Malingco Ayunan, 29; both of Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

Daculla said the two were arrested after they sold shabu to a PDEA agent disguised as a buyer at 5 p.m. Sunday in  Barangay Poblacion, Pagalungan.

“Tapia, a former LGU employee, and Ayunan, both voluntarily surrendered to authorities due to their involvement in illegal drugs some two years ago,” Daculla said.

Seized from them were PHP102,000 worth of shabu, the buy-bust money, identification cards, two mobile phones, a Tomahawk shotgun, a magazine assembly, three pieces of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition, and a wallet.

A former government employee has been arrested on drug and weapons charges.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/14/2188214/coa-flags-pia-p2063-million-discrepancy

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) over a P206.304-million discrepancy on the value of its property plant and equipment (PPE) from what was declared in its books as compared to the physical inventory.

In its 2021 annual audit report, the COA noted that based on PIA’s books of accounts of General Ledger as of Dec. 31, 2021, its PPE has a total value of P420.128 million.

However, the COA noted on the report on the Physical Count of PPE (RPCPPE) as of last Dec. 31, there was a balance of only P237.102 million, hence a discrepancy of P206.304 million from its books.

The audit body said this could mean that some PPE were missing or unaccounted for or that they were erroneously evaluated or classified.

The largest discrepancy was in office equipment, which was valued at P119.768 million but the physical count valuation only yielded P15.388 million, a difference of P104.380 million. Meanwhile, the value of “Other Machineries and Equipment” was declared in the books to be at P26.020 million but the physical count report only amounted to P2.852 million, a discrepancy of P23.168 million.

The COA said the discrepancy between the PIA’s books and physical inventory report has been a recurring adverse observation since 2017 but the agency did little to address the issue.

The COA has flagged the PIA for financial discrepancies which have been occurring since 2017.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1610869/cop-shot-dead-in-iligan-city

A police investigator of Iligan City Police Station 4 (ICPS 4) based in Barangay Tambacan here was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon.

Police Major Zandrex Panolong, spokesperson of the Iligan City Police Office, said Police Senior Master Sergeant Ruel C. Vacal 42, ICPS 4 chief investigator, was traveling home past 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Santa Elena aboard his motorcycle when two motorcycle-riding gunmen flagged him down in Purok Violeta Orellana in Barangay Tubod.

One of the men then shot Vacal in his abdomen thrice before fleeing.

Vacal was rushed to nearby Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Panolong said they are still investigating the possible motive of the attack.

A police officer was assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176640

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has found a former Pampanga mayor liable for the delay in the construction of the town slaughterhouse that started during his term and was sentenced up to eight years in prison.

A 34-page decision dated June 8 said former Guagua mayor Ricardo Rivera is guilty of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The PHP28.5-million project started on April 21, 2009 was supposed to be completed within 240 days.

In 2013 when the project remained unfinished, a complaint was filed by a losing candidate, citing a 2011 Commission on Audit report that said the municipality lost PHP801,901 annually in amortization due to the project’s non-operational status.

Rivera claimed that road closures due to repairs, excavation, dredging of rivers, and inclement weather were responsible for the delay.

The project eventually went into full operation in August 2019, or 10 years after the start of construction.

The court found Rivera liable for “failing to take appropriate action to ensure the completion of the construction” and “to institute proper legal action “against the contractor, NC’s General Contractor, through termination of contract or enforcing payment of liquidated damages for failure to complete and deliver the project on time. 

An ex-mayor has been convicted for the delay of the construction of a slaughterhouse and faces up to 8 years in prison. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/15/2188571/coa-calls-out-youth-commissions-illegal-use-sk-funds-anti-communism-campaign

State auditors flagged the National Youth Commission’s “illegal” use of funds meant for the mandatory and continuing training of Sangguniang Kabataan officers for the government’s controversial anti-communist campaign.

In its annual audit report on the youth body, the Commission on Audit said the NYC was wrong to use the training funds for the anti-communist campaign as the SK law provides that “in no case shall said amount be used for any other purpose.”

The COA specifically called out the the group's spending of P651,999.73 for the payment of salaries of three contractual workers assigned to perform tasks relating to the anti-communist campaign.

“As there were no funds issued for implementing [anti-communist] activities, it would appear that the agency is defrauding the government by using funds for a different purpose other than that which intended,” state auditors said.

They continued: “Therefore, the above salary payments … are considered irregular/illegal expenditures.”
The NYC justified its spending for anti-communist activities by saying that orientations are included in SK trainings.

“As a member agency to the ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict), it is NYC’s commitment to encourage the youth to be conscious of the deceptive recruitment of the communist front organizations which target participants are the SK,” it said.

The COA, however, was not satisfied. In response to the NYC, state auditors said the contractual workers only performed facilitative or administrative tasks “which do not amount to provision of SK training.”

“We maintain our stand that the [SK training fund] was not used for its intended purpose.”

The COA has called out the SK youth commission for using funds illegally. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176805

Members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led a joint team here in arresting an alleged fake dentist following a tip from the Philippine Dentists' Association (PDA) in Negros Oriental.

A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) said the suspect, Marwa Biston Salic, alias “Precious”, 23, was arrested Wednesday night at a pension house in Barangay Looc.

The woman is said to be a former kagawad (village councilor) of Barangay Ilian, Bacolod-Kawali in Lanao Del Sur.

The local CIDG and the local police, accompanied by representatives of the Philippine Dental Association-Negros Oriental, swooped down on the suspect in an entrapment while she was engaging in the illegal practice of dentistry.

Police said Salic was operating without authority from the law, without a certificate of registration and professional identification card, as well as a special permit issued by the proper authority which constitutes a violation of Republic Act 9484 or An Act to Regulate the Practice of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Technology in the Philippines.

A former village councilor has been arrested for illegally practicing dentistry.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/sandiganbayan-affirms-conviction-of-5-caloocan-city-barangay-officials/

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that convicted five Caloocan City barangay officials of falsification of public document.

It denied the appeal for reconsideration filed by Barangay Chairman Wilfredo M. Camus, Barangay Councilmen Benito A. Ching, Claro Melarpis Ponce, and Zacarias M. Ferrer, and Barangay Secretary Ramon E. Acuna of Barangay 48, Zone 4, District II.

They had been sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of six months and one day as minimum to eight years as maximum with the accessory penalty of P2,000.

The affirmed decision of the Sandiganbayan was the dismissal of the barangay officials’ appeal which challenged their conviction by the Caloocan City regional trial court (RTC).

The criminal charges against them stemmed from the falsification of Resolution No. 001, Series of 2013, which stated that the Sangguniang Barangay held a session on Dec. 1, 2013 and all of its members unanimously approved the appointment of Acuna as barangay secretary. However, no session actually took place.

In their motion to reconsider the decision, the barangay officials told the anti-graft court that they “became victims of dirty politics.”

They said they were reportedly “made to believe that the signing of the resolution would be valid due to the fact that the [same] was needed in order for [accused-appellants] not to be charged with dereliction of their duties.”

They also said they were convinced that the issue had been consulted with the Department of Interior and Local Government, which then advised them that it was “within the discretion of the barangay captain.”

They appealed for leniency as they pointed out that they are all senior citizens and their removal from officer after less than one year of service was more than enough punishment for their negligence.

But the Sandiganbayan said: “While the Court commiserates with the accused-appellants who are ‘senior citizens in the twilight of their lives’ and have been removed from their respective positions after less than a year in service, it cannot reverse its findings on this score alone. Nowhere in our laws and jurisprudence can one find authority for acquitting a person on the sole basis of age.”

The conviction of five barangay officials for falsifying a document has been upheld and their pleas of leniency due to their age has been denied.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/dismissed-police-sarge-tagged-in-pasay-killing-in-2008-arrested-in-rizal/

Operatives of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-IMEG) arrested on Wednesday, June 15, a former police sergeant who was tagged in various criminal activities, including a homicide case in 2008, during a follow-up operation in Taytay, Rizal. 

PNP-IMEG Director Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion said an additional case will be slapped against former Police Staff Sgt. Luis Jomok III after he tried to bribe the arresting officers P2 million in exchange for his release.

Jomok was demoted three times before for his involvement in various illegal activities. He was later dismissed from the service.

Nacion was tagged as the gunman in the killing of a certain Billy Lozada in Pasay City in August 2008. An arrest warrant was issued against him in September last year. 

“Despite the fact that nine months have passed, the suspect continues to enjoy his freedom and indulged in the unlawful sale of nearly expired food,” said Nacion.

Nacion said they first obtained information about the whereabouts of Jomok in June 3 wherein he was spotted in Barangay Dolores in Taytay town. It was there where he was arrested on Wednesday.

A cop who was demoted three times for his involvement in various illegal activities before he was finally dismissed has been arrested for a homicide committed back in 2008.