It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/22/ex-cop-accused-of-killing-girlfriend-in-sta-mesa-motel |
Operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) are searching for a former policeman who reportedly shot his girlfriend dead inside a motel room in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Friday, July 21.
Police identified the victim as Charmaine Baesa Medina, 32, a resident of Tondo, Manila.
Investigators have yet to disclose the name and rank of the suspect.
Based on the investigation, the woman and the suspect checked in at the said hotel Thursday afternoon, July 20.
The following day, the security guard of the hotel saw the suspect rushing to leave the hotel at around 7:30 a.m.
The guard tried to stop him but the suspect told him that he already informed the front desk and continued walking.
Police said the guard called the hotel personnel to check the room of the suspect. They found the woman lying on the floor and already dead.
The branch manager of the hotel immediately reported the incident to MPD Sta. Mesa Station (PS-8).
Responding police officers said the witnesses did not hear a gunshot or commotion in the area.
Police conducted a follow-up operation and went to the known address of the suspect, but they didn't find him there.
The MPD said follow-up operations continues to arrest the suspect.
An ex-cop is wanted for murder.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/517377/coa-ccmc-project-contract-price-was-bloated-by-p62m |
Government auditors said that the contract price of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) construction project was “bloated” by P62.64 million.
From its supposed contract price of P845.12 million, its actual cost reached P907.99 million.
The excess amount resulted “as certain work items were erroneously subjected to Overhead, Contingencies and Miscellaneous (OCM) and Profit mark-up and the use of the 12 percent VAT instead of 5 percent.,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2022 audit report.
Auditors said this was contrary to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Department Order (DO) No. 197, series of 2016 in relation to the Manual of Procedures for the Procurement of Infrastructure Projects as it also placed the government in a “disadvantageous position.”
COA urged the city government to consider their audit observations in the final computation of settlement with project contractor M.E. Sicat Construction and AVECS Corporation, after both parties mutually agree to terminate the P97.99 million contact in November 2022.
“We likewise recommended that the City Mayor direct the DEPW (Department of Engineering and Public Works) to observe the guidelines issued by the DPWH relative to the preparation of the Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) for future infrastructure projects, particularly the composition of VAT and OCM and Profit mark-up components to avoid bloated estimated cost estimates which ultimately placed the interest of the government in a disadvantage position,” auditors said in their 2022 audit report.
During the issuance of the audit report on June 22, 2023, COA said that they were still waiting for the written reply from the city government. But during the exit conference that was held earlier, city officials who were present, have signified their willingness to observe the audit observations mentioned in the report.
The COA says the Cebu City Medical Center construction project was “bloated” by P62.64 million.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/07/23/2283201/cop-dismissed-beating-girlfriend |
A policeman caught on video beating up and pointing his gun at his girlfriend in April has been dismissed from the service.
Cpl. Louie Jay Lumancas of the Magpet police station in North Cotabato was dismissed for grave misconduct based on the recommendation of the police Internal Affairs Service, IAS inspector general Alfegar Trimabulo said yesterday.
The video, which has gone viral, shows Lumancas punching and kicking his partner during a birthday party. He also hit the woman several times on the head with his knees.
Lumancas was arrested on April 10.
Investigation showed that Lumancas, who was drunk at the time, confronted his girlfriend over her alleged involvement with a suitor.
A cop has been dismissed for beating up his girlfriend.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/07/24/2283387/ampatuans-graft-conviction-upheld |
The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan in connection with the allegedly fictitious purchase of food supplies worth P16.3 million in 2009.
In a resolution promulgated on July 19, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division refused to give due course to Ampatuan’s motion, which sought to reverse an earlier decision finding him guilty of graft and malversation of public funds.
The court said Amptuan lost his privilege to appeal his conviction as he failed to surrender to authorities within 15 days from the promulgation of judgment on May 5.
“The failure of the respondent to regain his standing in court rendered the judgment of conviction against him final and immutable,” the Fifth Division said as it denied Ampatuan’s motion.
Ampatuan and his lawyer were absent during the promulgation of judgment.
The anti-graft court earlier issued an arrest warrant against Ampatuan as he failed to present himself before the court even after he was informed of his conviction.
The law states that an accused who fails to attend the promulgation of his case may regain his good standing in court if he surrenders within 15 days from the date of promulgation and file a motion for leave to avail himself of the legal remedies.
The Fifth Division said that Ampatuan lost his standing in court and failed to regain such prior to the filing of the motion.
The former governor of Maguindanao's graft conviction has been upheld.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1806654/retired-cop-busted-for-selling-loose-firearms |
A retired Philippine National Police personnel was arrested in Laguna for allegedly selling loose firearms, authorities said on Monday.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Police Major General Romeo Caramat Jr. identified the suspect as Marcelito Michelana Marcial, 60, who was caught in the act of selling loose firearms to a police undercover in a buy-bust operation last Wednesday, July 19.Caramat said Marcial was found to be in possession of the following pieces of evidence: one unit Caliber 45 pistol (Remington) M1911 A1 U.S; two pieces steel magazine for caliber 45 pistol; six rounds of live ammunition for caliber 45; and one piece black holster for caliber 45, along with the boodle money.
“Marcial is transacting through text and call to the buyers of illegal firearms around Batangas and Laguna,” Caramat said in a statement in Filipino.
The arrested person was brought to CIDG Batangas for documentation and proper disposition.
Marcial is now facing a criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law.
A retired cop has been arrested for illegally selling weapons.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1806988/fwd-marcos-accepts-resignation-of-18-cops-tagged-in-illegal-drugs |
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday announced that he accepted the courtesy resignations of 18 officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who are “allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.”
This information was disclosed a day after Marcos said in his second State of the Nation Address on Monday that he would accept the resignation of “unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade.”
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Tuesday that he has accepted the resignation of eighteen (18) Third-Level Officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) allegedly involved in illegal drugs activities, upon the recommendation of the National Police Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group that investigated the matter,” the Palace in a statement.Although Department of Interior and the Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. previously said that there will be no disclosure of the names of the resigned police officials, the Palace statement included the list of the 18 PNP generals and colonels.
The president has accepted the resignation of 18 cops alledgely involed in drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/25/police-major-4-other-cops-face-charges-as-crackdown-on-fraudulent-gun-registration-starts |
The Civil Security Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-CSG), is now preparing criminal and administrative charges against five policemen, including an official with a rank of major, as the crackdown against erring cops involved in fraudulent firearms registration begins.
CSG director Police Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo, Jr. said the five policemen, mostly from the PNP Health Service, were found to have intervened on the results of the neuro-examination to ensure that some gun owners would be assured of approval for gun registration.
He said the cops are asking P30,000 to P35,000 to ensure that the gun owners who would seek their assistance would pass the neuro-examination, one of the major requirements in gun registration.
“We found out about this through our computer system and with the help of our IT (information technology) experts. We also secured the testimonies of clients being victimized by this group,” said Silo.
“Right now, we are filing admin and criminal cases against them before the Office of the Ombudsman. We also recommended they should be placed on floating,” he added.
Five cops have been charged with fraudulent gun registration.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/518262/coa-flags-cebu-citys-excessive-cash-advances |
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged several lapses in the cash advances of the Cebu City government for foreign travel to Canada in 2022 amounting to P1.992 million.
The state auditor is also set to issue a notice of disallowance.
COA, in its 2022 annual audit report, noted that the foreign travel to Canada of four city personnel, including Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, last August 2022, with a total cash advance of P1,992,000, “contravenes several provisions of Executive Order No. 77,” which resulted to irregular disbursement of public funds.
When a government transaction is disallowed, either due to “irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or illegal,” the public funds used for this transaction must be returned to the government by the people who approved of it.
The COA said that except for the City Mayor, the three other city personnel: the chief protocol, director of the Sister Cities Commission, and Secretary to the Mayor, lacked travel authority from the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The payment of travel cash advances to these officials were not approved by the Secretary pursuant to the aforesaid regulation,” COA said.
Moreover, the state auditor also noted that the amount of the cash advances exceeded by at least P54,444 each, or a total of P217,776, which is equivalent to 2.5 days as Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA).
Rama and three other city personnel went to Canada on August 19 to 27, 2022, upon invitation from the Vancouver-Kensington Constituency Office.
The travel was for the historic enthronement of the image of Sto. Niño at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Agassiz, British Columbia.
The COA, however, noted that the authority of the travels for the three other personnel was only given by Mayor Rama, and without any authority from the Secretary of the DILG, in contrast with the EO 77.
COA also questioned the discrepancy between the cash advance granted for airfare and the airline’s flight price. The state auditor noted that the cash advance granted amounting to P300,000 each for airfare was not supported by the airline’s flight price.
“Based on our research, airline fares from Cebu to Vancouver, Canada were only at a range for one-way tickets from $450 to $500 or P25,128 to P27,920 in Philippine currency. Thus, the cash advance granted is considered excessive,” COA said.
The state auditor also flagged the purpose of the travel of the three personnel who went with the mayor in Canada, as the purpose of the travel of these three employees, as per the travel order signed by Mayor Rama, was to accomplish the same purpose.
The state auditor emphasized that in case of trips involving delegations, the authorized approving authority should ensure that the number of participants is kept at the “barest minimum and the role of each member in the delegation is clearly specified and justified in the travel application or proposal.”
COA said that it recommended and the city government agreed to follow all the provisions of EO 77 for future similar travels to avoid disallowance in the audit.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/27/barangay-kagawad-in-leyte-survives-stabbing-incident |
A barangay councilor or kagawad survived a stabbing incident in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Canipaan, Palompon, Leyte, on Wednesday, July 26.
The victim was identified as Renelito Evangelista, 56, a councilor of Barangay Canipaan.
Initial investigation disclosed that the suspect, Galicano Ruizo Sr., 58, a tanod or watchman of Barangay Magsaysay, Palompon, stopped Evangelista who was driving a single motorcycle, resulting in a heated altercation during which the until the suspect took a short bladed weapon and stabbed the victim.
Evangelista was able to run home where he was found by responding police officers.
He was taken to a hospital and the police launched a hot pursuit operation that resulted in the apprehension of the suspect in Mount Eagle Ville, Sitio Bilwang, Barangay Magsaysay, with the help of a witness.
A barangay councilor has survived being stabbed.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1808301/cop-allegedly-linked-to-illegal-drugs-nabbed-in-albay-bust |
An active member of the municipal police force in this town was arrested on Thursday by his comrades for selling illegal drugs in Albay province.
Police Staff Sargent Gregg Redoblado, a resident of Barangay Iraya Norte in Oas, was arrested in a lodge in Barangay Calzada around 4 a.m., Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police information officer, said in report.
She said before the arrest of the suspect, Redoblado had been under surveillance by police for a while.
Seized from his possession were about 30 grams of shabu (crystal meth) individually heat-sealed in transparent plastic sachets with market value P204,000.
His government-issued Glock 17 firearm with serial number PNP53876, along with one magazine loaded with 16 live ammunition for caliber 9mm were taken from him.
A cop has been arrested on drug charges.
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