It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
A former Solon and several others have been convicted of graft involving PDAF releases.The Sandiganbayan on Friday found former Bukidnon lawmaker Candido Pancrudo Jr. and two others guilty of multiple counts of graft, malversation of public funds, and malversation of public funds via falsification of public documents.
The case involved the disbursement of P36.9 million worth of pork barrel funds for training and livelihood seminars that turned out to be ghost projects.
Aside from Pancrudo, also found guilty by the court were former Technology and Resource Center (TRC) legislative liaison officer Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana and Farmerbusiness Development Corp. (FDC) representative Johanne Edward Labay.
Voting 3-2, the court's Special Second Division ruled that the three are guilty of eight counts of graft, four counts of malversation of public funds, and four counts of malversation of public funds via falsification of public documents.
The three were charged for the release of Pancrudo's P36.9 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — the official name of pork barrel — in 2007 to 2008 supposedly to finance training and livelihood seminars, as well as to purchase training kits for Pancrudo's constituents. Both, however, turned out to be ghost projects.
Based on the charges filed by state prosecutors, the P36.9 million PDAF were channeled through the state-run TRC and the National AgriBusiness Corporation (NABCOR) as implementing agencies, with Farmerbusiness Development Corporation (FDC) and Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Incorporated (UPFI) as non-government organization (NGO) partners.
Government prosecutors also alleged that such transactions lacked public bidding in the NGO-selection process, were not liquidated, and were subjected to unusual accommodation in the examination, processing and approval of PDAF releases.
The Sandiganbayan sentenced Pancrudo, Lacsamana and Labay to six to eight years in prison and perpetual disqualification from public office for each of the convictions on eight counts of graft charges. This jail time is on top of the P36.9 million civil liability that the court imposed on Pancrudo, Lacsamana and Labay, payable to the Bureau of Treasury.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756785/2-cebu-city-cops-sacked-for-sleeping-on-the-job |
Two police officers were relieved from their posts after they were caught sleeping inside a patrol car along General Maxilom Avenue here on Thursday.
The two officers, who have ranks of staff sergeant and corporal, will be temporarily assigned to the Cebu City Holding Admin Unit, according to Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Both are also facing a pre-charge investigation conducted by the City Investigation and Detective Management Unit (CIDMU) for a possible administrative case.
“We will give the two of them the chance to explain. The investigation is ongoing and the CIDMU is preparing the appropriate administrative case to be filed against them. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” Dalogdog said.
Major Nolan Tagsip, chief of the Abellana Police Station in Cebu City, said the two police officers were on-duty at the time they were seen sleeping.
As mobile patrol personnel, the two policemen were assigned to conduct roving duties at crime-prone areas in the city.
Tagsip said he was shocked to learn that at 6 a.m., a photo of the two policemen went viral on social media.
“We immediately relieved them pending the ongoing investigation. We will let them stay at the city headquarters and then we will file an administrative case against them per Napolcom 2016-002 memorandum for pre-charge investigation,” he said.
Dalogdog said sleeping while on duty is strictly prohibited by the Philippine National Police.
He said violators will be suspended for 30 to 60 days.
Two cops have been relieved for sleeping on the job.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/16/article-403 |
Police nabbed seven suspected drug pushers, including a an alleged member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and seized 250 grams of shabu in buy-bust operations in Batangas and Laguna on Saturday, April 15.
The Police Regional Office 4-A identified the suspects as Jerico Magbatoc, Jairoden Musa, an alleged member of the PCG, Jaimela Polo, and Taming Balimbingan, all listed as high-value individuals (HVI); and Sahar Polo, Reynalae Polo, and Jamaludin Polo, all newly identified drug personalities.
Magbatoc was arrested in Barangay San Isidro in Batangas City and yielded 100 grams of suspected shabu with a Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) value of P680,000, marked money, a smartphone, and a car.
Musa, the Polos, and Balimbingan were apprehended at Oliver Compound, Barangay Landayan, San Pedro City, Laguna.
Confiscated from them were 16 medium heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing 150 grams with an estimated street value of P225,000, marked money, and P1,500 suspected profit from the sale of illegal drugs.
A member of the Coast Guard has been arrested on drug charges.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756963/49-cops-face-raps-for-drug-raid-cover-up-pilferage-try |
Forty-nine police officers were found liable for the alleged cover-up of irregularities committed by anti-drug operatives of the Philippine National Police in connection with the seizure of 990 kilograms of crystal meth (“shabu”) worth P6.7 billion and the attempted pilfering of some of the confiscated drugs in October last year.
In a memorandum from the Special Investigation Task Group 990 (SITG 990) dated April 13, the 49 members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) were “found to have committed criminal and administrative liabilities.” They were directed to surrender their firearms.
The memo was signed by Police Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, and the head of the SITG 990.
Cruz did not say how the task group arrived at its findings but said that he would elaborate on them at a press conference set for today.
“There we will lay down what the SITG have found out, our recommendations, and other things that we will do,” he said in a phone interview with reporters on Saturday.
The highest-ranked official cited in the memo was the DEG’s former director, Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo. It also named two colonels, three lieutenant colonels, one major and five lieutenants.
The rest were noncommissioned officers: two chief master sergeants; two senior master sergeants; five master sergeants; three staff sergeants; four corporals; and 21 patrolmen and women.
Of the 49 cited in the memo, Domingo and seven other senior officers, and four noncommissioned officers were mentioned earlier by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos as having been involved in the “massive cover-up attempt” during the drug raid on Oct. 8, 2022.
49 police officers have been implicated in the cover up of the arrest of a fellow officer during a drug raid.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757459/maguindanao-del-sur-town-councilor-slain-in-daylight-gun-attack |
Gunmen shot dead on Monday a town councilor in Maguindanao del Sur while the latter was on his way to the Sangguniang Bayan session.
Daemon Daglok Silongan, 50, a resident and councilor of Datu Salibo town of Maguindanao del Sur, just arrived at the Sangguniang Bayan building to attend the 9 a.m. regular session when unidentified gunmen attacked him around 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 17, said Rex Torino, information officer of Datu Salibo.
Police Major Roldan Kuntong, Datu Salibo municipal police chief, said the town councilor just alighted from his vehicle when the gunman approached him and opened fire.
The suspect fled on a motorbike driven by an accomplice, he said.
Another town councilor has been assassinated.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757445/pampanga-legal-officer-wounded-in-gun-attack |
Two helmet-wearing men fired several shots Monday at the Pampanga provincial legal officer in the parking lot of a hospital in the City of San Fernando.
A police report obtained by the Inquirer identified the victim as lawyer Gerome Tubig.
Police said Tubig arrived around 7:30 a.m. at the parking lot in front of VL Makabali Memorial Hospital along B. Mendoza Road in downtown San Fernando on board his car when two men aboard a black and red Yamaha Aerox motorcycle arrived and fired at his car several times.
The provincial legal officer reportedly suffered bullet wounds in different parts of his body.
The still-unidentified assailants immediately fled toward the MacArthur Highway.
It was not known what gun caliber was used in the attack.
Police said Tubig was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Pampanga legal officer has been wounded in an attempted assassination.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199521 |
There will be no special treatment to a patrolman who was arrested in a drug buy-bust in Surigao City, the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) assured the public Monday.Patrolman Elton Jay Alabat Galanida, 28, a member of the anti-drug operation unit of the 1st Surigao del Norte Police Mobile Force Company, was arrested early morning Sunday in a buy-bust in Barangay Cagniog, Surigao City.“Like other drug suspects arrested in our police operations, we would ensure an airtight case against him aside from not giving him a special treatment of any kind,” PRO-13 said in a statement.Galanida’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs does not represent the whole image of the PRO-13, it emphasized.“The PRO-13 remains the home of exemplary cops whose lives echo the true essence of public service,” it said.PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II, said an in-depth investigation into the involvement of Galanida in the illegal drug trade is ongoing , including those who had prior transactions with him.In addition, Labra directed police unit commanders in the region to maintain their squad weekly interactive meetings for the personnel's spiritual growth and to beef up intelligence operations as a monitoring mechanism for their subordinates.In a separate statement Monday, the Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) said Galanida's arrest indicates that "no one is above the law" in the continuing anti-illegal drugs campaign in the province.“Patrolman Galaninda shall face the consequences and punishment for the wrongdoing he committed following the law and due process,” SDNPPO said.
A cop has been busted for drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/19/murder-charges-filed-against-retired-soldier-who-killed-ambulance-driver-in-negros-town |
A retired soldier surrendered to the police several hours after a shooting incident that resulted in the death of an ambulance driver in Barangay Magticol, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Monday, April 17.
Eduardo said that Paltuob allegedly shot Ronnie Villasis when the latter pacified the suspect and a barangay councilman who were arguing over something during a barangay fiesta.
Villasis suffered four bullet wounds and was declared dead on arrival in a hospital, according to Eduardo.
Eduardo, however, said that the suspect failed to bring with him the firearm used in the incident.
A retired soldier has been arrested for shooting an ambulance driver.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758111/senate-detains-cop-who-allegedly-refused-to-make-blotter-report-on-slay-attempt |
Senators on Tuesday cited in contempt a police officer who is in hot water for allegedly refusing to write a blotter report on an attempted killing of an aspiring councilor in Bayawan, Negros Oriental.
A certain Wilfred Estiñoso, the father of slain Juwim Estiñoso, said Police Staff Sgt. Renevic Rizaldo purportedly declined to entertain Juwim when he sought assistance after the first attempt on his life a year ago.
“Juwim went to the police station to report that something had happened to him and that he received a death threat. The policeman did not entertain the report and told him it was just a figment of his imagination,” Wilfred said, speaking partly in Filipino, before the Senate public order and dangerous drugs.
Asked who this police officer was, Wilfred did not hold back and alleged it was Rizaldo.
With his voice slightly shaking, Rizaldo – who bared that he was formerly a security personnel for suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. – denied the claim and insisted that he does not remember not entertaining Juwim’s complaint.
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. first dangled the threat of citing Rizaldo in contempt if he was found dishonest in his testimony while under oath.
Wilfred and Juwim’s wife Marisol Estiñoso, however, were firm in their claim.
Further pressed against the wall, Rizaldo said it was possible he didn’t entertain Juwim’s report since he really cannot recall the incident.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who is also a former national police chief, made Rizaldo, now teary-eyed, read his police badge to remind him that service, honor, and justice are the pillars of being a law enforcer.
“You violated all those three basic virtues of our organization – the Philippine National Police. You don’t have the right to wear that badge of honor,” he said.
But Dela Rosa said he believes Rizaldo may have learned his lesson.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, however, was seemingly less forgiving as he officially asked the Senate to put Rizaldo under its custody.
“I would like to move that this particular policeman, Staff Sergeant Rizaldo, be cited in contempt,” he said.
Revilla seconded Estrada’s motion, saying Rizaldo “seems like he’s lying.”
With no objections, Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, approved the motion of Estrada.
A cop who refused to write up a blotter when a politician said there was an assassination attempt against him has been held in contempt by the Senate.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199793 |
A police officer and 12 others were arrested during separate anti-drug operations in this town, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said Thursday.Asnawi Salik, PDEA-Maguindanao operations officer, said two drug dens were also dismantled during the series of operations Wednesday.In one of the operations, Salik said PDEA operatives caught Master Sgt. Sarip Mastura of the BARMM police force and seven other suspects during a 5 p.m. buy-bust at a drug den in Barangay Salimbao here.Salik identified those arrested with Mastura as Kasumi Quindapa, Esmael Macalbas, Sam Sandakan, Michael Compaña, Jamil Macalimbol and Tato Madin.“One of the suspects managed to elude arrest,” Salik said in a statement, referring to a certain Saheiden Utto who managed to escape after sensing the approaching lawmen.Seized from them were an undetermined amount of suspected shabu, a Glock pistol with ammunition, and shabu paraphernalia.
A cop has been busted for drugs.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199774 |
A Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco) official was killed in an ambush by still unidentified gunmen along the diversion road here at past 1 p.m. Wednesday.Maj. Reggie Albellera, municipal police station chief, identified the victim as Alhassan Maongco, a manager of Magelco’s institutional services department.Albellera said the victim was on his car on the way home from a midday prayer at a mosque when waylaid by the gunmen along the diversion road in Barangay Upper Capiton.Staff Sgt. Jhemin Untong, the municipal police investigator, said the victim’s car hit a tree after the ambush.Maongco is the younger brother of former Magelco former general manager Ashary Maongco.The victim had just celebrated his 50th birthday on Sunday, April 16.Albellera said investigation is ongoing.
A Maguindanao Electric Cooperative official has been assassinated.
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