Retards in the Government 269

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

  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179534

Armed with an arrest warrant, authorities arrested a soldier facing criminal cases in a remote barangay in this southern port city, police officials said Friday.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said Private 1st Class Gilbert Paje was arrested around 12:16 a.m. Friday in Barangay Tictapul here.

Lorenzo said Paje, 33, has standing warrant of arrest for three counts of rape with no recommended bail and violation of Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

Maj. Jamar Tagayan, ZCPO’s Station 1 chief, said the suspect is listed as the top 3 most wanted regional level, top five most wanted city level and top one most wanted provincial level due to the criminal cases he is facing.

A solider has been arrested on 3 counts of rape.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632493/cagayan-town-vice-mayor-3-others-charged-with-murder-of-trader

Vice Mayor Matthew Nolasco of Gattaran town, Cagayan province, and three others were charged with murder in connection with the killing of a local businessman in December last year.

The Cagayan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office lodged the murder case before the Regional Trial Court in Aparri town on July 13. Details were released on Wednesday, July 20, to the media.

Nolasco and his alleged three cohorts were accused of killing on December 5 last year Jefferson Torricer, a 29-year-old trader inside a resto-bar at Barangay Magapit, in Lal-lo town, also in Cagayan.

Nolasco, who was a mayor at the time of the killing, allegedly shot Torricer. His cohorts reportedly manhandled the victim. No bail was recommended.

A Vice Mayor and three others have been charged with murder.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632337/court-upholds-graft-conviction-of-ex-pnp-chief-five-other-officials

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the 2021 graft conviction of former Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa and five other retired police officials in connection with the purchase of rubber boats and outboard motors for the PNP in 2009.

The antigraft court’s Third Division denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Verzosa and the other officers involved in the P131.5-million transaction, namely retired police Lieutenant Generals Benjamin Belarmino Jr. and Jefferson Soriano; retired Major Generals Luizo Ticman and Romeo Hilomen; and retired Brig. Gen. Villamor Bumanglag.

In their motions filed last year, the former PNP officials sought the reversal of the court’s June 25, 2021, decision that sentenced them each to six to eight years of imprisonment and barred them from public office.

In the 2021 decision, Verzosa and the other officials—all former members of the national headquarter’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)—were found guilty of graft for proceeding with the procurement of the boats and the motors, which were later found to be incompatible.

They were found to have conspired with one another to give “unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference’’ to three suppliers—EnviroAire Inc., Geneve SA Corp. and Bay Industrial.

The graft convictions of a former PNP Chief and 5 other retired PNP Officers has been upheld.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632691/four-govt-officials-guilty-of-fraud-in-negros-occidental-sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan found two current and two retired officials of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental guilty of “frauds against the public treasury” in connection with a heavy equipment lease contract with a private firm in 2008.

The Sandiganbayan, in a decision promulgated on July 15, ordered Sipalay City treasurer Renato Manilla, engineer Porferio Calderon Jr., retired budget officer Fernando Balbin, and general services officer Elizer Balbin to pay a fine of P40,000 each.

Four government officals have been convicted of fraudin realtion to an equipment lease contract from 2008.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/22/ex-vice-mayor-of-quezon-town-ambushed-in-san-pablo-city/

A former municipal vice mayor of Quezon town was ambushed by unidentified gunmen while driving his sports car on Friday afternoon at Barangay San Francisco in San Pablo City, this province.

San Pablo City Police report identified the victim as Danilo Amat, businessman, and former municipal vice mayor of Dolores town in Quezon province.

Based on the initial police report, the victim was driving his sports sedan around 6:30 p.m. when he was attacked by the suspects who shot him several times. He was hit on the back.

The suspect fled on foot right after the incident.

The victim was brought by a concerned citizen to San Pablo City General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Rowena Rovillos.

A former vice mayor has been assassinated.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/23/cop-dies-in-accidental-firing-in-iloilo-city/

A 30-year-old policeman died after he accidentally shot himself with his wife’s gun in Jaro, this city, Friday, July 22.

The victim was identified as Police Corporal Paul Eric Uyaco, assigned to the San Miguel, Iloilo police station. 

“He allegedly was killed while checking a firearm at home,” said Police Capt. Eduardo Siacon, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)-Jaro district.

The gun that killed Uyaco was owned by his 32-year-old wife, Police Corporal Louise Kate Uyaco, assigned to the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company.

Initial investigation showed that Mrs. Uyaco told Paul Eric that her gun was malfunctioning at past 7 a.m. Mr. Uyaco went to the third of their house to check the gun.

His wife heard a gunshot on the third floor while preparing breakfast. She went upstairs and saw her husband with a bullet wound in the right temple.

A cop accidentally killed himself while checking his wife's gun.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632862/p-48b-in-pnp-gear-arms-undelivered-since-2016

Bomb-sniffing dogs and assorted police equipment worth nearly half a billion pesos have not yet been delivered by the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) since it received a P1.348-billion fund for the procurement from the Philippine National Police six years ago, the Commission on Audit (COA) has reported.

In 2016, the PNP transferred the fund to the PITC to purchase, among others, utility trucks, genetic DNA analyzers, tactical or handheld radios, light personnel carrier, generators, motorcycles, ponchos and automatic grenade launchers, the COA said in its 2021 audit report on the PNP that was published on its website this week.

“Although completion of deliveries is expected in 2022, delays in the procurement by PITC and the schedule of deliveries by suppliers affected the operations of PNP and deprived its personnel of timely use of the equipment,” the audit body said.

The PITC is a state-owned and -controlled corporation, which provides, among others, the “most efficient and cost-effective procurement services” to other government agencies. It is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry.

During the years 2018 to 2021, the PITC delivered and liquidated some of the requested items worth P744,848,393.32, the COA said.

This left a balance of P602,768,059.58, or about 44.7 percent of the original amount handed to the PITC, as of end-December 2021, it said.

The balance included P486,291,674.21 for other items that had not been delivered, P56,059,825.00 items that were delivered but not yet liquidated or distributed to PNP sites and P60,416,560.37 in savings, the COA said.

“Although the fund was made available in 2016, the noted procurement backlogs in the PITC occurred because contracts for the requested items were only awarded in 2021,” the audit body said.

The PITC is expected to complete the deliveries to the PNP this year.

The COA observed that in 2016, the PNP’s national bids and awards committee (BAC) “seemingly lacked proficiency and capability to procure the equipment, which paved the way to transfer the procurement activities to PITC.”

The COA has flagged the PITC for not delivering equipment ordered by the PNP in 2016.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179647

Three died in a shooting incident at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon while the suspect, a doctor, is under police custody.

According to the report of the Anonas Police Station, the fatalities were Rosita Furigay, former mayor of Lamitan City in Basilan province; Victor George Capistrano, the executive assistant of Furigay; and a certain Bandiola Jeneven.

The incident happened at about 2:55 p.m.

Hannait, reportedly Furigay's daughter who was supposed to join the graduation ceremony of the School of Law, is undergoing treatment.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) identified the alleged shooter as Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol, 38, and a resident of Basilan.

He allegedly resented Furigay for allowing the proliferation of illegal drugs, according to an update from the NCRPO.

It appears that this ex-mayor was targeted for allowing illegal drugs to proliferate and also for bringing cyber libel charges against the shooter which resulted in his suspension as a physician. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179661

Members of the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) recently arrested six erring police officers in separate operations for their involvement in illegal activities.

In a statement Monday, IMEG acting chief Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion, said these operations are part of the PNP's relentless internal cleansing.

On July 17, IMEG operatives arrested Pat. David Bolor Jr., who is wanted for frustrated murder in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

Meanwhile, the IMEG nabbed dismissed police officer, Rodrigo Sanoy, the top eight most wanted person in Malabon, along Roxas St. Sampaloc, Manila on July 15.

Nacion said Sanoy, who is wanted for murder, is also known in the area to be involved in various illegal activities such as gambling and is facing "complaints in the barangay for sorts of local ordinance violations.”

In Calabarzon, three active members of the Biñan City Police Station (CPS) allegedly involved in a shooting on July 14 surrendered to authorities.

The July 15 surrender of Cpl. Mark Jefferson Arzola, Cpl. Gerald Casanova and Pat. Amiel Howell Alcantara, was facilitated by the IMEG's Team Calabarzon.

On July 19, Pat. Karl Mikhail Almazan, a member of the Highway Patrol Group's (HPG) Intelligence Division, was nabbed by the IMEG Central Luzon members together with the Bulacan police.

Almazan has a standing arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Six cops have been arrested for various crimes including murder and child abuse. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179681

An official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was killed in an accidental firing at his rented home in Zamboanga Sibugay province, a top police official said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Franco Simborio, Police Regional Office – Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, said Akmad Sampang, the provincial NBI chief of Zamboanga Sibugay, was fatally hit on the chest while cleaning his service firearm, Glock 40 pistol around 8 a.m. Saturday at his place in Purok Golden Mango, Barangay Poblacion of Ipil town.

His live-in partner told investigators that Sampang, 59, asked her to go out and buy coconut water.

“Upon returning home, she was surprised when the victim was already lying with blood with a gunshot wound on his chest while his issued firearm was beside him,” Simborio said in a statement.

An NBI official accidentally killed himself while cleaning his gun.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1633111/coa-costly-airport-x-ray-machine-cant-even-detect-guns-in-cars

The agency managing the country’s second leading gateway was singled out by state auditors for buying a pricey X-ray machine that proved incapable of detecting firearms and ammunition that are concealed in vehicles.

“The purchased Mobile X-Ray Screening System amounting to P196.382 million cannot detect or scan guns and ammunitions placed inside vehicles,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said in an “executive summary” posted on its website early this month regarding the year-end financial statements of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

The machine, therefore, “cannot serve MCIAA’s purpose of enhancing its security posturing against terrorists,” the COA report said.

The airport authority bought the equipment, the X-ray Backscatter, from Ad Lib International Sales Inc. in January 2020.

According to the MCIAA, the machine underwent inspection that month and was found to be in working condition.

But the COA said that in three separate inspections conducted by its personnel the following year, the machine could not even “scan the inside of an armored vehicle.”

“[T]his condition is a clear manifestation that there was a lack of rigid inspection of the equipment before accepting it,” the COA said as it called on the airport management to “submit … a written explanation [as to] why this transaction shall not be disallowed….”

Cebu's airport bought an expensive X-ray machine which does not work properly according to the COA.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1936003/bacolod/local-news/5-opa-employees-facing-probe-for-allegedly-holding-drinking-session-on-official-travel

FOR allegedly having a drinking session while on official travel, five employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental are under investigation.

Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. said yesterday, July 25, that the employees including a division head, three engineers and a staff member have been issued with show cause orders so that they can explain their side.

A formal complaint for Misuse of Government Property and Grave Misconduct was filed by a Capitol employee who serviced them while on official travel to Victorias City on July 15, 2022.

The complainant, a driver, claimed that he waited for the respondents until 8 p.m. but was later informed that they were at a restaurant allegedly having a drinking session.

The senior employee allegedly uttered bad words against the driver when he informed them that he waited for them.

Nellas said that the division head involved could face additional charges for conduct unbecoming because of allegedly bad mouthing the employee.

“We will be getting their side and they have to answer the investigation report against them," Nellas said.

Five government employees are accused have having a drinking session while on the job and one is accused of bad mouthing the driver. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179797

Backed by the police Special Action Force, anti-narcotics agents arrested an employee of M’lang town and his father for possession of illegal drugs and firearms, an official reported Tuesday.

Director Naravy Duquiatan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Soccsksargen said operatives implemented a search warrant against two high-value targets in Barangay Dungguan at past 5 a.m. Monday.

The suspects were identified as Mohar Talimbo, 34, a civil security unit officer assigned to the M’lang District Hospital, and his father Jimmy, 62, a farmer.

Both are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Seized during the operation were suspected shabu with a street value of PHP81,000, an M16 rifle, a Bushmaster rifle, a  component of an improvised explosive device, firearm magazines, and ammunition.

A government employee who is also a MILF terrorist and his father have been arrested on drug charges. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179675

The Sandiganbayan turned down the plea of a former lawmaker and a former town mayor of Sulu to junk their graft charges arising from an allegedly anomalous PHP5-million agriculture project in 2004.

In a resolution dated July 22, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division denied the motion filed by former Sulu 1st District Rep. Hussin Amin and former Hadji Panglima Tahil mayor Nedra Burahan, who are facing multiple counts of graft.

Also accused are regional agriculture officials Oscar Parawan, Samuel Simbajon, and Ma. Perlice Socorro Julian, and Commission on Audit’s Abduljamar Ingui.

They are implicated in the alleged questionable release in three tranches of PHP5 million for the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program of Amin -- PHP3.25 million, PHP700,000, and PHP1.05 million.

Amin, Burahan and Parawan entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the procurement of farm inputs and implements while Simbajon, Julian, and Parawan processed and approved the disbursement “without reviewing the work and financial plan of the project contrary to the provisions of the MOA.”

The local government, through Burahan, made a pact with Sunny Marketing Supplies, a supplier of farm inputs and implements without public bidding, progress reports, and proof of implementation.

Ingui was indicted for allowing the transactions without proper liquidation.

The court ordered the initial presentation of defense on Tuesday as it denied for “utter lack of merit” the motions for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence.

A demurrer filed by an accused seeks the outright dismissal of the case, citing the prosecution’s failure to make a case even without the defense having to give their side.

Graft charges against a former Sulu Representative and a former Mayor will proceed. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1635246/tarlac-cops-face-raps-over-tinang-83-arrest

At least 30 policemen from Concepcion town in Tarlac province are facing multiple complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the mass arrest of 83 farmers and their supporters while conducting a community cultivation at a disputed agrarian property in Barangay Tinang last month.

Members of the so-called Tinang 83 on Tuesday lodged criminal complaints against Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas, chief of the Concepcion police, and his men who arrested them on June 9, accusing the police officers of violating the rights of those arrested, detained, and under custodial investigation.

Tinang 83 refers to the farmers, activists, journalists, and students who occupied a 2-hectare section of a disputed property and were detained by Concepcion policemen for allegedly destroying sugarcane planted there.

Complaints for perjury, unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, physical and mental/psychological torture, and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment or punishment were also lodged against the policemen.

The group also filed administrative complaints against the policemen for grave and serious misconduct when the lawmen allegedly failed to bring them to a medical facility or a doctor for medical examinations before they were detained.

According to the complainants, they were put in a detention cell that was “very crowded and cramped.”

Another administrative complaint for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service was filed against the policemen for alleged “gross ignorance of the law” that “tainted the image and integrity of the police force.”

The complainants also asked the Office of the Ombudsman to remove the policemen from service and issue a preventive suspension against them while the investigation is ongoing.

Macabitas on Tuesday reiterated that they were prepared to answer all complaints filed against them in relation to the arrest of Tinang 83. “As law enforcers, it’s inherent for us to respond to complaints. They (Tinang 83) destroyed a property and there was a complaint [filed against them]. We will respond to the case,” he told the Inquirer in a text message.Macabitas said they had exhausted all means to stop what the farmers and their supporters were doing before they were arrested.

“We’re just doing our job to keep the peace and order within our jurisdiction. We had a complainant, evidence and witnesses saying the property was damaged. What we did was not illegal,” he said.

30 PNP officer are facing complaints from the 83 people they arrested over a land dispute back in June. These people were eventually set free and several of the charges were dismissed. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: 1 Million Vax in 100 Days, Social Mobilizers, and More!

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

The vaccine remains voluntary but if you are a migrant worker coming for the sugarcane harvest in Negros you will need to submit your vaccine card.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179371

The Negros Occidental provincial government will require migrant sugarcane workers (MSWs) to submit a coronavirus virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination card or certificate when entering the province for the start of the new crop year in September.

In Executive Order 22-35 issued on Wednesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson outlined the guidelines for returning migrant workers from Panay island, mostly from the province of Antique.

“In light of the forthcoming sugarcane crop season for 2022 to 2023, there will be an expected influx of MSWs entering Negros Occidental hence, there is a need to issue proactive guidelines to prevent the potential surge of Covid-19 cases in the province,” the governor said.

Some 5,000 cane cutters, also known as “sacadas”, from Antique are employed every year in sugarcane plantations in Negros Occidental, the country’s top sugar-producing province.

This year, the province requires the fully vaccinated plantation workers to present a verifiable vaccination card or certificate.

Among those that will be honored are the Negros Occidental management information system vaccination card, Covid-19 domestic vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, and an official Department of Health vaccination certificate with a quick response code.

If without verifiable vaccination cards, the MSWs will undergo a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for free upon arrival.

Those who underwent a swab test will be brought to quarantine facilities on the farms until the results are released by the Provincial Health Office.

All positive Covid-19 cases will have to undergo quarantine.

Anyone without a vaccine card will be swabbed and automatically quarantined until the results are known. That is ridiculous seeing as even the vaccinated can be infected and would likely not even know it. This is one reason why Bacolod is prepping their isolation facilities. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179402

The city government here is readying its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) isolation facility anew amid a possible increase in infections among the Bacolodnons.

Located in Barangay Alijis, the structure, now called the temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF), was built by the Department of Public Works and Highways at the height of the pandemic two years ago.

As of Wednesday, the city has a total of 108 active cases, based on the bulletin issued by the Department of Health-Western Visayas.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, chair of the Covid-19 Action Team, said active cases are admitted to various clinics and hospitals while there are those in home isolation and supervised by the City Health Office.

Earlier this week, city personnel cleaned the surroundings of the quarantine and isolation buildings.

The TTMF will be used as a “step-up facility”, where a patient can stay while waiting for the available hospital room, and as a “step-down facility” for those who have been discharged from a hospital but has yet to complete the required isolation period.

Are they really expecting this place to be filled?  

Surveys matter right? Is that not the lesson of the past election?  Take a look at this survey.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/20/22/83-pct-of-pinoys-say-worst-of-pandemic-behind-us-sws

A record-high 83 percent of Filipinos believe that the country has hurdled through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey said Wednesday

"This is 3 points above the previous record of 80% in December 2021, and nearly twice as high as the 44% when SWS first asked the question in May 2020," SWS said in a statement.

Filipinos who said they fear the "worst is yet to come" fell to 16 percent in 2022, from 19 percent in December last year.

Most of those who believe that the worst of the pandemic "is behind us" are from Mindanao, with 86 percent of respondents saying they were optimistic of the situation.

This is followed by Metro Manila and Luzon at 82 percent, and the Visayas at 81 percent.

Majority of respondents who said that the "worst is behind us" either had no formal education or some elementary education (or non-elementary graduates), the pollster said.

"On the other hand, the percentage of those fearing 'the worst is yet to come' rises with education... It was highest among college graduates," it pointed out.

But despite the growing optimism among Filipinos, SWS noted that there is still a high number of respondents who said they were worried about catching COVID-19.

According to the polling firm, 88 percent of Filipinos expressed "a great deal" of worry or were "somewhat worried" about getting infected.

Well then perhaps it is past time to ditch things like the mask mandate!

COVID cases are increasing and the public is to blame. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179564

The presence of the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variants, lax observance of the minimum health standards, and increased interaction of people due to more relaxed restrictions led to the increased risk of transmission in Western Visayas, a regional health official said on Friday.

As of July 21, 2022, the region has a total of 2,031 active cases as reported by the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD).

“Yesterday (July 21), we have 177 new cases for a total of 2,031 active cases. We have recorded 91 recoveries and zero deaths,” said Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, head of the DOH WV CHD Infectious Disease Section, in an interview.

Most of the cases or 93.60 percent have mild symptoms or asymptomatic, she added.

Are they even looking at their own statistics? There is not massive deaths so none of this matters. Dengue cases are rising too and the is more deadly than COVID! 

Monkeypox has recently been declared an emergency by the WHO and the PHL says they are ready to respond. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/839183/doh-says-covid-19-health-protocols-may-be-used-vs-monkeypox/story/

The Department of Health (DOH) asked the public to adhere to the same health protocols against COVID-19 to protect themselves should the monkeypox virus enter the Philippines.

The DOH re-issued the public health advisory on monkeypox after the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday declared it as a "public health emergency of international concern” — the highest alarm it can sound.

Just like the minimum public health standards for COVID-19, measures to prevent the transmission of monkeypox virus include wearing the best-fitted mask, ensuring good airflow, keeping hands clean, and observing physical distance, the DOH said.

The agency also noted that the smallpox vaccine has been proven to be "85% effective" in preventing monkeypox.

In a statement on Sunday, the DOH said they have been preparing their monkeypox response along with their partners ever since an uptick in cases was reported in several countries in May 2022.

This is more fear mongering. Monkeypox is being spreading the gay community. If you are not a sick degenerate homosexual man then you will likely never get Monkeypox. Is no one looking at the statistics of these viruses?

The DOH has a new goal for their Mindanao vaccination effort. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179664

The Department of Health (DOH) 10 (Northern Mindanao) said Monday it is targeting at least one million inoculations in Northern Mindanao within 100 days.

Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr., DOH-10 director, said the move is part of the national mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his first 100 days in office.

“I would like to assure you, we have sufficient vaccine (supply). In fact, we have more than what we needed,” Llacuna said.

He said the new vaccination drive is part of the national program under “PinasLakas”.

The one million target is 50 percent of the region’s general population, set as minimum figures.

As of July 24, only 514,797 out of the 1.53 million target population have been inoculated.

Dr. Emma Pilar Imperio, DOH-10 Family Health Cluster Medical Officer, also said within 100 days, at least 90 percent or 65,304 of the target population of senior citizens must be inoculated.

Ok, so they have the supply but how will they convince 1 million people to get in ejected with the vaccine? In Ilocos they will be going door to door.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179728

The Department of Health Center for Health Development in the Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) will deploy social mobilizers in La Union and Pangasinan to aid in the campaign to increase the booster vaccination rate in the provinces.

Glen Ramos, DOH-CHD-1 Health Education Promotion Unit media relations officer, said social mobilizers are nurses who will help convince people to get their free vaccination to further enhance the booster dose coverage of the target population in the region.

“The social mobilizers will conduct house-to-house information campaign, including office and school visits, and explain the side effects and the advantages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine and convince people to be inoculated,” he said in a phone interview on Monday.

Ramos said they will also identify the factors on the low acceptance of vaccination in various communities.

Two teams will be deployed in La Union and five in Pangasinan.

The two provinces have a low booster vaccination rate among the four provinces in the region.

“This will be a big challenge for them because they have to convince those who refuse and are afraid of the vaccine. We really need everyone’s help to convince them and provide them the protection they need against the virus, especially now that cases are already on the rise,” DOH-CHD-1 regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in a statement.

It would be interesting to read their playbook. Just what will they say to convince people who refuse the vaccine to get injected?  Do they have a response to the fact that it is wholly untested and did not go through the rigorous process like every other vaccine? Do they have a response if someone brings up the fact that it does not prevent infection?

Well, if you have not been injected then you better do it or you will be the cause for perhaps 19,000 cases a day in August.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1634771/fwd-doh-projects-19k-daily-covid-19-cases-by-end-of-august-if-booster-rates-do-not-improve

The number reported COVID-19 infections per day may reach as high as 19,306 by August 31, if vaccination and booster rates, as well as compliance to minimum public health standards, do not improve, said the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.

If both vaccination and booster shot numbers improve, however, the daily cases may hover between 6,000 to 8,000 cases per day.

“Based on our latest projections and our current case trends, the number of detected cases at the national level are projected to be on a continuous uptrend, with an estimated 19,306 cases reported daily by August 31,” said DOH in a message to reporters.

“However, with the improvement of vaccination and booster rates and MPHS compliance, case increase may be slower and more controlled at about 6,194 to 8,346 cases by the end of August,” it added.

Despite the increasing number of infections, the DOH assured the public that it is currently focused more on admission and hospital utilization rates in determining an area’s alert level.

It also assured that with available COVID-19 treatment and the availability of vaccines, “we now have the capability to reduce the vulnerable population and keep hospital utilization and fatalities to a minimum.”

“In line with this, the Department of Health reiterates the need to continue wearing of best-fitting face masks, isolating and informing our close contacts when sick, doubling-up protection via vaccines, and ensuring good airflow to control the spread of the virus,” the DOH said,

 “If such factors will be adhered to and implemented by ourselves immediately, a decline in cases may be observed sooner,” it added.

Yes, if we continue doing the same things the virus will decrease. Only that hasn't happened! At least Bongo says there will be no more lockdowns despite the number of rising cases.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1634191/no-more-lockdowns-despite-rising-covid-cases-marcos-vows

There will be no more lockdowns imposed in the country despite the increase in COVID-19 infections, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. pledged on Monday during his first State of the Nation Address (Sona).

"In our health situation, the threat of COVID-19 is still there. Especially since new variants of the coronavirus are being discovered. But we cannot afford another lockdown," Marcos said during his speech.

"We will not do any more lockdown. We must properly balance the health and welfare of our citizens on the one hand and the economy on the other," he added.

However, Marcos told the public that the COVID-19 alert level will still remain.

At least that's good news. 

Hi, My Name is...26

Have you ever met any of these people? If not then it's time to say hello and make new friends. 

Hi, my name is Sunny Miller. I am a 64 year old man from Michigan in the USA. I bought some seaside property here and, well, the locals simply do not respect my property rights. Little children swim in front of my house and I have to chase them off.  Some of these people harass me and steal my stuff which is why I have prevented them from using a road near my house. The BI finally arrested me after getting so many complaints and it was then that the realized I had been over staying. But much to the chagrin of my neighbors they released me. Now these folks want me gone.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/18/cebu-townsfolk-want-unruly-american-neighbor-deported/

A group of residents in San Remigio, Cebu staged a protest rally Sunday, July 17, calling for the deportation of their unruly American neighbor arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) last May.

Carrying placards, about 100 residents of Barangay Punta assembled outside the house of Sunny Miller around noon.

They called on government officials to intervene and help address their plight.

“We humbly implore President Bongbong Marcos, Senators Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros to intercede and help us to have Miller deported immediately,” said Alfredo Arcipe, president of the Punta Fisherfolks Association. 

The residents want Miller be deported as they accused him of harassing them ever since he arrived in their place in 2018. 

They alleged that some of them were accused of being thieves and they were not allowed to use a road near his house.

The American was also accused of throwing stones at children who swam in the sea in front his house.

Miller arrived in the place in 2018 and claimed to own a 4,000-square meter lot in a coastal area. 

The American had several physical encounters with some residents because of his boorish behavior, the residents said.

Because of the complaints against Miller, the barangay council declared him persona non grata in a session on July 16, 2021.

Miller, a 64-year-old native of Michigan, was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Division of the BI.  

He was arrested after the BI acted on the complaints of residents.  

Immigration officials later discovered that Miller has been overstaying in the country. 

After his arrest, Miller returned to the place early this month.

“We are devastated and frustrated with the Immigration for allowing Miller to come back in the area,” said Alma Patalinghug, president of the barangay’s women’s association.

Hi, my name is being withheld because I am a minor. My mother is an OFW and she and my dad would get into arguments on the phone. Afterwards my dad would take his frustration on me and my siblings. We had noisy arguments that the neighbors knew about but they shrugged it off as nothing. Well, I got tired of it and so after one heated argument I stabbed him in the chest and abdomen killing him. I am sorry I did it though. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1629279/son-who-killed-father-in-cotabato-town-a-battered-child-police-probe-shows

A police probe has recently established that a minor who killed his father in Libungan town, Cotabato province last Tuesday is a battered child who has borne physical abuse for over two years.

Citing the account of neighbors in Barangay Ulamian, Maj. Jojie Barotas, Libungan police chief, said Rafael, 44, had a heated argument with his 15-year-old son prior to being stabbed to death at around 6 a.m.

Barotas added that the suspect confessed to being mauled by his father that morning after quarreling over the phone with his mother who is working abroad.

The battering prompted the suspect to grab a knife and stab his father in the chest and abdomen.

According to Barotas, the physical abuse of the 15-year-old boy and his three other siblings happens every time Raphael had a quarrel over the phone with his wife who left for overseas work in 2019.

“Actually, the neighbors are used to it already. But they didn’t expect that it would worsen into having the son kill his father,” Barotas added.

Barotas said that while undergoing interrogation, the minor showed remorse for the incident, admitting that he was overrun by anger.

Hi, my name is Jeovanie Castillo Collado. I work as a driver and am married.  But on the side I have a lover. Of course my wife's womanly instincts eventually went off and she filed a complaint with the cops. They acted on it and caught me with my girl and a sachets of shabu. Now I will probably lose my wife and my freedom.  

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/26/driver-lover-caught-high-thanks-to-mans-wife-who-got-wind-of-affair/

Two alleged lovers were caught by the police in a pot session in San Juan here Saturday, June 25, after the man’s wife filed a complaint that her husband has an affair.

Police identified the lovers as Jeovanie Castillo Collado, 30, driver, of San Juan, this city, and Rizza Duli Agosto, 28, single, unemployed, of Magsaysay here. 

According to the local police, Jeovanie’s wife, Emy Jane, 33, accused her husband of having an affair and intelligence operatives led by Police Lt. Dalmacio Mangigil acted on the complaint.

Police found the lovers engaging in a pot session in a house at around 9:05 a.m. and seized from them 12 plastic sachets in various sizes containing suspected shabu weighing five grams with an estimated value of P34,000.

Also recovered from the suspects were a weighing scale, five used lighters, a plastic heat sealer, a roll foil, a small surgical scissor, a plastic bag of used foil, and an improvised tooter.

Hi, my name is Ronald Coronel Mayormita. I practice spearfishing for a living. One night it was raining heavy and there was a lot of lighting. Not minding the weather I lifted up my spear intending to thrust it through a fish but the lightning cracked and the bolt was attracted by my long metal spear held aloft like a lightning rod. I was immediately electrocuted to death. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/442754/lightning-kills-fisherman-who-went-spearfishing-in-badian-cebu

A 33-year-old fisherman, who went spearfishing on Saturday evening, May 21, 2022, was apparently hit by lightning and was found dead inside his boat off the waters of Barangay Zaragosa in Badian town in southwestern Cebu.

Another fisherman found the body of Ronald Coronel Mayormita inside his boat on the early morning of Sunday, May 22, and reported this to the police, said Police Staff Sergeant Goeffrey Badilles, desk officer of the Badian Police Station.

Police responded and rushed Mayormita to the Badian District Hospital where the attending physician declared him dead on arrival.

The physician also told police that Mayormita died due to an electric shock caused by lightning.

Police Staff Sergeant Badilles said that the live-in partner of Mayormita told them that Mayormita left their house in Barangay Banhigan, Badian town at around 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 21,  to go spearfishing.

Barangay Zaragosa, where the victim’s body was found off the barangay’s waters, was around 20 to 30 meters away from the victim’s residence in Barangay Banhigan.

Badilles also said that Mayormita was probably alone spearfishing when he was hit by lightning.

Badilles said that spearfishing was the victim’s source of income.

Hi, my name is Noel Abaquita. I love mahjong. It is a very addicting game and this has plunged me into debt and a lot of trouble. To pay off those debts I resorted to stealing bikes and pawning them. The latest bike I stole was worth P30,000. But the cops were hot on my trail and now I am in jail. This is not the first time I have been arrested for this crime and it probably won't be the last time either.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/445297/man-who-turned-to-stealing-bicycles-to-pay-off-his-gambling-debts-lands-in-talisay-jail

A 52-year-old man, who was allegedly addicted to gambling, particularly, playing mahjong, ended in jail after he was caught stealing a bicycle that he pawned to raise money to allegedly pay off his debts.

Noel Abaquita of Hanging Bridge, Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City, was detained at the Talisay City Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Station, said that Abaquita, during interrogation, admitted that he had allegedly resorted to stealing bicycles to raise money to pay off his debts, and so that he could allegedly continue to play mahjong.

Abaquita told police that that this was because he could not get out of his addiction to mahjong.

He said that prior to the theft of Ruiz’s bicycle, there were three other bicycles that were stolen in the past two weeks.

Caballes also said that Abaquita was also arrested for a similar offense in the past.

He, however, did not say what year Abaquita was arrested.

The police chief described Abaquita as someone, who allegedly had been doing this illegal activity for quite awhile now.

Hi, my name is Noel delos Santos. I was waiting in a store along a railroad track around 1:35 pm when I decided to lay down on the tracks. Naturally a train ran right over me and I was dismembered. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632809/man-killed-after-lying-on-train-track-in-quezon

A 61-year-old man died Friday (July 22) afternoon after he was hit by a passing Philippine National Railway (PNR) train in this city, authorities said.

Lt. Col.  Reynaldo Reyes, Lucena police chief, identified the victim as Noel delos Santos, a city resident.

Quoting witnesses, the police said Delos Santos was waiting in the store along the railroad track in Barangay Ibabang Iyam around 1:35 p.m. when he suddenly lay down on the steel track as the San Pablo-bound train was approaching and consequently ran him over.

“As a result, the victim’s body was dismembered,” the police said.

Hi, I don't have a name. In fact I don't even have a mother. Just after I was born she abandoned me in an empty lot. She not bother to clothe me or cut my umbilical cord. It was only when a tricycle driver went to urinate that I was found. I was covered in dirt and animal bites. The police said they will try to find my mother but she has already made it clear that she does not want me.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/454443/baby-girl-found-in-vacant-lot-in-lapu-lapu-barangay-is-rescued

A tricycle driver, who was answering the call of nature, found an abandoned five-day old baby girl on a vacant lot in Sitio Sangi, Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday afternoon, July 23, 2022.

Pajo Barangay Captain Lyndel Bullos told CDN Digital that the tricycle driver happened to be a tanod of the barangay, who immediately reported the baby at the lot to him.

The vacant lot, where the baby was found, is just adjacent to the Mactan Airbase gate.

Bullos said that the baby girl when found still had her umbilical cord and had already smelled.

He said that the baby had no clothes on her when she was found, and she had wounds on her back, which were believed to be caused by animal bites.

The baby was really dirty when she was found and when she was brought to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, the nurses there immediately cleaned her up and bathed her.

Bullos said that the baby was then cared and treated at the hospital.

The Pajo barangay captain also said that the attending physician described the baby to be five days old.

Hi, my name is Villadolid or that was my last name. My mom told me to go to sleep but when checked later at 1 am I was still awake. To punish me she made me do squats and when I failed to do them my parents beat me. They said they used slippers but the bruises on my arms and legs and the fact that I am dead prove otherwise. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1603710/8-year-old-boy-in-pasig-dies-after-alleged-beating-for-staying-up-late

An 8-year-old boy from Barangay (village) Rosario in Pasig City died after he was allegedly beaten up by his mother and his stepfather for allegedly staying up late, police said.

The suspects were identified by the police as Kimberly Villadolid, 29, and Germarc Franklin Villadolid, 39.

According to the Eastern Police District, the victim was rushed to the hospital by his stepfather and his mother on Friday afternoon. The boy was declared dead at around 3:51 p.m.

The suspects, who both work as call center agents, admitted punishing the boy for staying up late, Pasig City Police chief public information officer Resel Guevarra told INQUIRER.net on Saturday.

“The mother told the child to go to sleep. Then at around one am, when the mother suddenly woke up, she saw that the child was still awake. That’s where it started,” Guevarra said in Filipino over the phone when asked what the motive was.

The EPD said the parents admitted having punished the boy by forcing him to perform squats.

The suspects said they only hit the boy with slippers when he failed to do his squats. However, examination showed that the boy sustained bruises in his legs and arms, the EPD said.

Hi, my name is Regie Castino. I drive a tricycle but on the side I have some fighting cocks. Maybe one day I will hit the jackpot in the cockpit. One night I was watching over my fighting cocks when I saw a guy steal a few of my birds. Naturally I ran after him and stabbed him twice. Turns out it was some 17 year old...Kid? Man? Teen? The cops pulled out the cocks he had stuffed his bag. More of my cocks had being stolen previously but I am not sure if it was this guy. I was able to reach a settlement with the family so I did not go to jail.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/06/teen-stabbed-over-stolen-fighting-cocks-in-negros-occidental/

A teenage boy was wounded after he was stabbed by a tricycle driver who allegedly caught him stealing his fighting cocks in Sitio Tuyuman, Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Sunday, June 5. 

Police Lt. Markelly Laganipa, deputy chief of the Himamaylan City Police Station, said 33-year-old Regie Castino was watching over his fighting cocks when he saw an unidentified man allegedly stealing his fighting cocks tied in the yard of his house.

Castino chased the suspect and caught up with him. However, out of anger, Castino allegedly stabbed the 17-year-old suspect twice, Laganipa said.

The suspect managed to escape but he was later caught by the victim’s neighbor in a sugarcane plantation.

Police recovered from the suspect a backpack containing the two stolen fighting cocks valued at P2,500 each.

The suspect was brought to Gov. Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan.

Laganipa said the victim’s other fighting cocks were also reported stolen in the past days. Castino, however, could not identify if the same suspect was behind those incidents.

Laganipa said that both parties already had an initial settlement.

Hi, my name is John (not my real name) and my wife's name is Diane (not her real name.) I had a suspicion that Diane was having an affair so I followed her around. She got into a company-owned car with a workmate and they drove off to a condominium. When the went into the room together that is when I immediately called the police. They kicked in the door like gangbusters. It was great to catch her in the act but also heartbreaking and pitiful because we have two children. She begged for forgiveness and I gave it to her. Hopefully she does not do it again. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/451428/husband-catches-wife-having-an-affair-but-still-forgives-her

A husband decided to forgive his wife, whom he caught having a relationship with another man on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

Personnel from the Waterfront Police Station responded to a call for assistance from a man who found out about his wife’s infidelity with her officemate in a condominium in Cebu City.

Police Major Henry Orbiso, chief of Waterfront Police Station, said they responded to the call from the husband John (not his real name) and went to the condominium where they caught his wife Diane (not her real name) with another man.

However, instead of filing a case against his wife, the husband opted to forgive her as long as she goes back to him and their two children.

(The husband is very kind. He forgave his wife even if he caught her with another man in a room.)

After the incident, the couple went back to their home in Barangay Pardo.

Police said Diane, who is in her 40s, was found having a relationship with her workmate, a division manager of a big company in Cebu City. Diane is also a manager of a separate division in the same company

John already suspected that his wife was seeing another man.

On Tuesday morning, he decided to follow his wife run some errands. She was reportedly seen boarding a company-issued car with her workmate.

Police said John followed the two to the condominium in Cebu City. He reportedly followed his wife until he saw her go inside a room. This is when John called the police for assistance.

The responding policemen, together with John, went inside the room and saw the wife and her workmate there.

John did not pursue filing a formal complaint against his wife after the latter begged for forgiveness.