Retards in the Government 311

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

 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/19/2267507/doj-indicts-bantag-pressuring-guards-cover-shootout-penal-farm

Prosecutors will be filing a new case against suspended corrections chief Gerald Bantag, this time for allegedly pressuring and threatening prison officers to deny that a shootout took place inside Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan in 2020.

In a resolution dated May 11, the DOJ indicted Bantag and former Bureau of Corrections spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag after it found that they “unlawfully coerced,  through violence,  threats,  and intimidation” prison officials into signing a document denying a shooting incident took place on March 1, 2020.

The corrections officers who filed the complaint were Lazaro Rafols Jr., Jer Sahid Mojado, Eddie Jimenez, Richie Canja, Roy Gacasa, and Asher Labrador.

Prosecutors also found enough basis to charge Bantag and Chaclag for unlawfully forcing the officers to withdraw their criminal complaint against the prisons chief's men over the incident at Ihawig.

“Bantag and Chaclag, even if they were then the superior officers of complainants, had no authority or any right to prevent Canja from filing a criminal case against those involved,” the DOJ resolution read.

“As a result, Bantag and Chaclag should be held liable for the crime of grave coercion,” it noted.

Former BuCor Chief Bantag has been charged anew with covering up a shoot out at a penal farm. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/22/sandigan-convicts-napoles-four-others-in-p15-m-pdaf-cases

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and four other persons have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and malversation of public funds in the misuse of the P15.36 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of the late Davao del Sur 1st District Rep. Douglas R. Cagas in 2007.

Napoles was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for each count of graft and 12 to 17 years imprisonment for each count of malversation.

Former Technology Resource Center (TRC) legislative liaison officer Belina A. Concepcion, former TRC group manager Maria Rosalinda M. Lacsamana and private individuals Mylene T. Encarnacion and Evelyn D. de Leon  were convicted each of one graft charge and one malversation charge.

Together with Concepcion and Encarnacion, Napoles was ordered to indemnify the national treasury of P7,680,000, which represents the amount wrongfully and illegally disbursed, and another P7,680,000 for the amount malversed.

Also, together with Lacsamana and De Leon, Napoles was ordered to indemnify the government P7,680,000 for their graft conviction and another P7,680,000 for their malversation conviction.

All of them were barred perpetually from holding public office.

The accused were also sentenced to perpetual special disqualification from holding any public office.

Janet Napoles and several others have been convicted of malversation and graft regarding the PDAF of late Davao del Sur 1st District Rep. Douglas R. Cagas in 2007.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/23/coa-orders-defunct-manila-gas-corp-to-return-25-watches-unconscionably-bought-for-centennial-anniversary

Eleven years after it ceased operation in 2001 and even if it did not operate for 100 years, the defunct Manila Gas Corporation (MGC) still celebrated its “centennial” in 2012 and purchased 25 watches as tokens during the celebration.

During its “centennial” anniversary on Sept. 9, 2012, MGC purchased 25 Skagen Titanium Tin watches as tokens to select officers, staff, and shareholders.

In affirming the notice of disallowance on the use of P203,140 for the purchase of the watches, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the purchase was "unnecessary and unconscionable" given that MGC ceased operation in 2001.

"MGC did not reach 100 years when it ceased operations on Dec. 1, 2001. Hence, there was nothing to commemorate," the COA said.

It pointed out that it was "inappropriate" for MGC to celebrate an anniversary when it has already been inoperative for more than 10 years. As of April 2012, the MGC has been advised only to proceed with its dissolution, it said.

"Disbursement of funds for extravagance or indulgence, more so granted three days before an agency ceases to exist, is unwarranted. It is an unnecessary and irregular expenditure that should be disallowed," the COA stressed.

It affirmed the Notice of Disallowance (ND) No. MGC 2013-001 issued on Nov. 21, 2013 on the purchase of the wrist watches as centennial anniversary tokens and said that "the recipients shall be liable to refund to the extent of the equivalent value of the Skagen watches at the time of their purchase."

Since 12 of the 25 recipients of the watches were unidentified, COA directed its audit team leader and supervising auditor of MGC to determine liability.

The Manila Gas Corporation hasted out watches in celebration of its 100th anniversary despite being disbanded years prior.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1774145/5-cops-asset-tagged-in-kidnap-rape-of-cebu-teen

Five policemen and their informant or “asset” are facing charges over accusations that they sexually abused an 18-year-old woman whom they held for three days last year.

While only the informant, identified only as Luis, allegedly raped the complainant, the five policemen were impleaded in the case since they took part in bringing the woman, a drug suspect, to an apartment in this city.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas filed charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, rape, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service against the respondents in the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas on May 9. A copy of the complaint was released to reporters only on Wednesday.

Named respondents were Police Corporals Johnrober Rebusa, Jeffrey Alabata, and Keven Gilbuena; Staff Sergeants Donald Balansag and Joy Marie Alad-ad; and Luis, the police asset. The policemen, all assigned at Mambaling station here, had been relieved by the Central Visayas police on Wednesday.

According to the NBI, they learned from the respondents’ superiors and from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas that they were not notified of any anti-drug operation in the area where the complainant was arrested.

“The acts of the subjects in simultaneously raiding the house, the taking and detaining of the victim against her will from Sept. 19 to her release on Sept. 22, is indicative of a meeting of the minds toward a common criminal objective between the conspirators,” it said.

Five cops have been arrested for the kidnapping and rape of a teenager.