It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/23/davao-city-top-cop-sacked-amid-probe-on-drug-war-deaths |
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Police Col. Richard Bad-ang was relieved from his post on Thursday, May 23, amid the ongoing investigation on the deaths of suspected drug pushers here during police operations between March 23 and 26.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-9 (Davao region) spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey said Bad-ang has been placed under administrative relief upon the recommendation of the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS)-9.
Police Col. Rolindo Suguilon, PRO-9 deputy regional director for operations, has been designated as officer-in-charge of the DCPO.
Bad-ang became officer-in-charge of the DCPO on March 22.
Upon his assumption, Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a war on drugs as well as a warning that those involved in the illegal drugs trade would be dealt with severely.
"I hereby declare the campaign that the city is at war against drugs," Duterte said in a speech. "If you don't stop, if you don't leave, I will kill you."
Since then, eight police officers in this city have been relieved from their posts amid ongoing investigations on the deaths of drug suspects killed in police operations.
The Davao City police director has been relieved of his post while being investigated over drug war deaths.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/25/lto-employee-shot-dead-in-qc |
A female employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding man while aboard her vehicle in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, on Friday, May 24.
Members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) identified the victim as Mercedita Gutierrez.
According to the initial police report, Gutierrez was inside her vehicle at around 6:20 p.m. when a gunman riding a motorcycle suddenly appeared and shot her.
The victim was rushed to East Avenue Medical Center where she was declared dead on arrival.
QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said he has instructed his personnel to form a Special Investigation Task Group (STIG) to conduct a thorough investigation into the LTO employee's killing.
He assigned Col. Amante Daro to lead the investigation.
"Our prayers and sympathy to the bereaved family of the victim. The QCPD will not stop pursuing the suspect, and we will make sure that justice is served," he said.
An LTO employee has been assassinated.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/35-davao-police-relieved-amid-drug-operation-probe |
THE immediate administrative relief of 35 Davao police personnel, effective May 23 and 24, 2024, was recommended by the Police Regional Office-Regional Internal Affairs Service (PRO-Rias-Davao). No additional officers will be named as of this posting.
This decision follows a motu proprio investigation into the deaths of seven individuals during anti-illegal drugs operations from March 23 to 26.
“Based po sa recommendation ng Rias [Davao], 35 personnel lang po ang ma relieve sa post (Based on the recommendation of RIAS Davao, only 35 personnel will be relieved from their posts)," PRO-Davao spokesperson, Major Catherine Dela Rey disclosed to SunStar via a phone interview, Sunday, May 25.
The list includes six station commanders, five deputy commanders, 23 Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs), and former city director Colonel Richard Bad-ang, who served the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for only two months. These officers will now be assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) headquarters.
PRO-Davao director Brigadier General Aligre Martinez stated that this move aims for a transparent and balanced investigation of the buy-bust operations.
"The PNP leadership, particularly Region 11, remains committed to upholding its mandate," said Martinez. "This includes enforcing the law, preventing and controlling crime, maintaining peace and order, and ensuring public safety and internal security – all with the active support of the community."
35 Davao cops have been relieved over investigation in to drug war deaths.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/27/8-lucena-police-intel-agents-held-for-breaking-into-woman-s-house |
Eight intelligence operatives of the Lucena City Police Station were arrested for allegedly entering, pointing guns, and harassing a woman in Purok Masagana, Barangay Ransohan, this city, before dawn on Friday, May 24.
The victim, Renelyn Rianzales, 52, a candidate in the 2023 barangay elections, has filed a case of violation of domicile, grave threats, and unjust vexation against Police Capt. Aaron Herrera, Master Sgt. Richie Yuayan, Staff Sgt. Henry Mago, Staff Sgt. Junar Cabalsa, and Corporals Rainier Zaballa, Allan Abdon, Wilson Bantilan, and Rene John Bartolata.
In her complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the Manila Bulletin, Rianzales said she was awakened by a loud banging on her door at around 3:15 a.m.
Unidentified men wearing dark clothes and face masks with eyes just visible were kicking at her door until it fell.
They barged into her unlocked bedroom and pointed guns at her, shouting "Pulis! Pulis! Dapa! Kamay sa likod! Nasaan si Jonathan?" (Police! Hands on your back! Where is Jonathan?), referring to Rianzales' live-in partner.
Rianzales was scared and replied, "Wala, nasa trabaho" (He’s not here, he is at work) while guns were pointed at her.
They went around the house looking for Jonathan. They failed to find him and returned to her and asked, with flashlights shining on her face that almost blinded her, "Saan nagtatrabaho?" (Where is he working?)
She replied, "Sa Laguna" (in Laguna), and the men left.
Rianzales said she counted around five men inside and later on found out that three more were posted outside.
She and her two grandchildren went to her mother's house and sought help from Armando Paderon, a fellow barangay elections candidate, who accompanied her to the police to report the incident.
Rianzales was informed that a police drug operation was scheduled in the barangay by intelligence personnel on May 24 while she was giving a statement to the police.
She recognized the police personnel by their body build and other body marks.
Upon learning of the policemen's identities, Rianzales filed complaints against them before the city prosecutor’s office.
Rianzales said she suffered trauma and immense fear for the safety of her two grandchildren.
Days earlier, she testified before a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Public Safety and Order chaired by Rep. Dan Fernandez following a resolution filed by Quezon Rep. David Suarez about unreported violence committed by armed men during the barangay elections in Lucena City.
Rianzales thought that the incident is connected with her testimony in the hearing.
The suspects are detained at the Lucena police station and face cases for violation of domicile, grave threats, and unjust vexation.
Lucena police chief Police Lt. Col. Reynaldo Reyes was relieved the same day and replaced by Police Lt. Col. William Angway as officer-in-charge.
Eight intelligence operatives of the Lucena City Police Station were arrested for allegedly entering, pointing guns, and harassing a woman in Purok Masagana, Barangay Ransohan, this city, before dawn on Friday, May 24. They have since been sacked.
A viral video of an alleged "unresponsive" police station in San Enrique town, Iloilo province resulted in the removal of seven policemen, including the town police chief, Capt. Airel Dawn Parcon.
“They were relieved from their posts pending administrative investigation,” said Police Col. Bayani Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Also relieved were Senior Master Sgt. Joan Matutino, Staff Sgts. Maria Ella Cachuela, Jivelyn Parcon, and Dyan Rey Parcon, and Corporals Laurence Sionosa and Ryan Barbosa.
Police were on duty when an alleged social media influencer, Kiko, came to the police station around 4 a.m. on May 21 and no one was there to attend to his needs.
Kiko posted the incident and would later issue an apology through a radio station.
However, the incident reached Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Police Regional Office-6 chief, who called for a deeper probe.
Allegations surfaced that Kiko was made to issue an apology and retract his statements due to pressure.
“We are still investigating the matter,” Razalan said on Tuesday, May 28.
Razalan assured that this incident will not happen again.
“Any lapses in our service are taken seriously, and we are committed to addressing them promptly. We thank everyone for their understanding and continued support as we resolve this matter and strengthen our commitment to public safety," added Razalan.
Capt. Ivon Panes was named officer in-charge of the San Enrique Municipal Police Station.
Seven cops have been relived of duty for not responding to someone's needs when they came for help.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/575837/bohol-governor-68-others-suspended-for-6-months |
Bohol Gov. Erico Aris Aumentado has been placed under suspension for six months over the controversial resort in Chocolate Hills.
Aumentado on Tuesday, May 28, announced that a total of 69 Bohol Capitol officials, including him, mayors, and even present and former officials, received orders from the Ombudsman for a preventive suspension.
The decision stemmed over recent cases filed against him and the province over the construction of a controversial resort in the world famous Chocolate Hills.
The governor’s announcement was also broadcasted on his official Facebook page.
The suspension order made against Aumentado came just weeks after the state’s anti-graft investigating body meted a similar punishment against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
The Governor of Bohol and 68 other officials have been suspended over a resort being built in the Chocolate Hills.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225719 |
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said Tuesday that heads must roll over police officers' involvement in moonlighting activities, emphasizing the need for stricter personnel accounting measures.
“Our guidance is we are giving our IMEG an order to conduct an accounting – even the IAS, I also gave them power to account for our personnel so that these things won't happen," Marbil told reporters in Camp Crame.
He also said he wants to strengthen the implementation of the command responsibility principle, which means that immediate commanders would be held liable if at least one of their men is caught doing illegal acts.
“We are not forgiving sa mga ganitong bagay (on these things). We would not allow this and we have been issuing warnings on this for a long time. We would want to know who is the immediate commander and how the system works. Maybe there is a lapse in the process of accounting and we have to improve our accounting system,” Marbil added.
The move comes as another police officer was caught moonlighting as a motorcycle-riding security escort of an unidentified “VIP (very important person)”, during an operation against illegal blinkers and sirens by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Parañaque City on Monday.
Arrested were Staff Sgt. Rafael Boco, who is assigned to the motorcycle unit of the HPG - National Capital Region (NCR), and his cohort Florencio Rabuya Geñoso Jr., a dismissed member of the Philippine Army.
Another cop and a dismissed solider have been caught working as security for a VIP.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/28/sc-suspends-pasay-city-rtc-judge-clerk-of-court-pending-probe-on-p6-m-bribe-money |
A Pasay City regional trial court (RTC) judge and his acting clerk of court were preventively suspended for 90 days by the Supreme Court (SC) for reportedly demanding and accepting P6 million from a litigant for a favorable decision on a civil case.
Preventively suspended were RTC Judge Albert T. Cansino and his Acting Clerk of Court Mariejoy P. Lagman. Formal administrative proceedings have been initiated against them.
The SC had earlier directed Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva to submit a report on the incident.
Based on Villanueva’s report, Lagman was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on anonymous complaint received by the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) via email.
After verifying the information, Villanueva said an entrapment operation was conducted using five marked P1,000 bills and about P6,000,000 boodle money.
Also confiscated during the entrapment was a copy of the Order bearing the judge's signature on the civil case.
Villanueva’s report also stated that both the judge and the acting clerk of court are now the subject of criminal investigations before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
A Pasay City regional trial court judge and his acting clerk of court were preventively suspended for 90 days by the Supreme Court for reportedly demanding and accepting P6 million from a litigant for a favorable decision on a civil case.
EIGHTEEN of 200 informal settler families displaced by a 2022 flood-control project will file civil cases against officials of the Cebu City Government and National Government agencies for failing to provide promised relocation.
The families, formerly residing near Kinalumsan River, were evicted from their homes to make way for the project.
Novelardo Diacamos, a representative of the group, said in an interview on Thursday, May 23, 2024, that the City Government promised relocation assistance for 200 informal settler families but has not followed through after two years.
The families have been forced to move multiple times and live in cramped conditions, according to Diacomos.
The lawsuit, to be filed on Monday, May 27, 2024, in the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, alleges violations of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, the Right-of-Way Act and other social justice laws.
Named respondents in the cases are the Cebu City Government, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Department of Public Works and Highways 7 and its regional director Ernesto Gregorio Jr., Mark Lester Abella, the National Housing Authority (NHA) 7 and its regional director Rizalino Cabahug.
The complainants are seeking adequate compensation and financial assistance.
The lawyers representing the families hope this case will set a precedent for how housing issues are handled, ensuring proper consultation and humane relocation procedures in future projects.
Retired major general Melquiades Feliciano, former head of Task Force Gubat sa Baha, said in a separate interview that he was not aware of the issue, as no houses were demolished during his term due to the unavailability of temporary housing.
According to Dicamos, the City Government, under the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, gave the families two options: either avail themselves of P35,000 cash assistance without relocation or P12,000 rental assistance per household with a promise of relocation.
The majority chose the latter, Diacamos said.
Opting for a relocation site, Diacamos received P12,000 for three months of rental assistance.
However, two years have passed, and there have been no updates regarding their relocation site.
(It’s not fair that until now we are still burdened with paying rent when we have given them ample time to consider taking action and helping us, but they haven’t.)
EIGHTEEN of 200 informal settler families displaced by a 2022 flood-control project will file civil cases against officials of the Cebu City Government and National Government agencies for failing to provide promised relocation.
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