It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2038730/laguna-cop-faces-dismissal-for-alleged-robbery-hold-up-involvement |
The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP IAS) has recommended the dismissal of a patrolman detailed to the Laguna police for his alleged involvement in a robbery hold-up last year.
In a statement on Thursday, the IAS did not name the police officer but said the latter was found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
According to IAS, the police officer and two accomplices aboard two motorcycles forcibly took cash and a cell phone from a victim at gunpoint in Western Bicutan in Taguig City last June.
A follow-up operation by police resulted in the arrest of the three suspects and led to the discovery that one of them was the active duty policeman, who used his PNP-issued firearm during the robbery hold-up.
“This kind of criminal behavior is precisely what damages public trust in the Philippine National Police,” IAS Inspector-General Brigido Dulay said in a statement.
“This dismissal serves as a stark reminder that being a police officer is not just a job but a lifelong responsibility to uphold integrity and public trust,” Dulay added.
The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service has recommended the dismissal of a patrolman detailed to the Laguna police for his alleged involvement in a robbery hold-up last year.
A former policeman was shot dead in Purok Michelle, Barangay Dulao, Bago City, Negros Occidental on Thursday morning, Feb. 27.
The victim was identified as Renaldo Bernel, a resident of Barangay Pacol, Bago City.
Bernel was driving a motorcycle when he was shot by unidentified gunmen.
Recovered from the crime scene were 16 fired 5.56 mm caliber cartridges, nine fired cartridges, a fired bullet, a 9mm bullet, a handheld radio, and a cellular phone.
Bernel was gunned down 10 years after he was linked to a shooting incident where a policeman in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental was killed.
Police have yet to ascertain if Bernel’s death could be linked to the incident. Bernel’s murder case from the E.B. Magalona incident was dismissed.
Bernel was dismissed from the service in 2016 for being Absent Without Official Leave.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.
A former policeman was shot dead.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/02/27/2424644/mayors-husband-killed-lanao-del-sur-shooting |
Gunmen shot and killed the 60-year-old husband of the mayor of Lumbaca-Unayan town in Lanao del Sur in an attack on Wednesday, February 26.
Senior officials of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office and local executives separately told reporters on Thursday, February 27, that Abdulazis Tadua Aloyodan was standing outside of their house in the town center of Lumbaca-Unayan when armed men in a vehicle pulled over close to him and opened fire, killing him instantly.
Aloyodan’s spouse, Jamaliah Dimatunday Aloyodan, is the current mayor of Lumbaca-Unayan. The slain Abdulazis Tadua Aloyodan had also served as mayor of the municipality before his wife was elected to the same post in 2022.
The killers of Aloyodan quickly fled the scene amidst the commotion caused by the gunshots, which echoed through the area, not far from the Lumbaca-Unayan town hall.
Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., chairman of the multi-sector Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council, condemned the incident and urged officials of the Lumbaca-Unayan Municipal Police Station and barangay leaders in the municipality to put an immediate closure on the incident.
“We want the people behind that crime prosecuted to the fullest extent of law,” Adiong said.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, stated that investigators are still working to identify the killers of Aloyodan and determine the motive behind the attack.
He also said that it remains unclear whether the murder was politically motivated.
A former Mayor who is now the current mayor's husband has been assassinated.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/1/former-cebu-town-vice-mayor-siblings-arrested-for-illegal-construction-of-fence |
The former vice mayor of Minglanilla, Cebu and his three siblings were arrested for constructing a fence without necessary permits in Barangay Calaojan.
Former Vice Mayor Loben Geonzon, former municipal Councilor and incumbent Barangay Tunghaan Councilor Lynette Geonzon, and Glenson Geonzon and Lonito Geonzon were arrested on Friday afternoon, Feb. 28, on warrants issued by Judge Albie Charisse Faith Sojor of the Municipal Trial Court in Minglanilla for alleged violation of Section 301 of Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
“No person, firm, or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government, shall erect, construct, alter, repair, move, convert, or demolish any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a building permit therefor from the building official assigned in the place where the subject building is located or the building work is to be done,” PD 1096 said.
A group of residents filed the charges after the siblings ordered the construction of a fence in their property that prevented them from accessing their homes.
The local government of Minglanilla discovered that the construction of the fence did not have a permit. In June 2023 and March 2024, notices of illegal construction and violation were sent to the respondents but the construction of the fence continued, prompting the filing of charges against the Geonzons.
“From the evidence presented thus far, the undersigned finds that there is prima facie evidence to charge the respondent for violation of Section 301, Chapter 3 (Illegal Construction) of PD No. 1096 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, and that there is reasonable certainty of conviction based on available witnesses and documentary evidence produced,” said Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ivy B. Susvilla-Layson in her resolution approved by Provincial Prosecutor Ludivico Vistal Cutaran.
Bail was set at P12,000 for the accused. The siblings have posted bail.
The former vice mayor of Minglanilla, Cebu and his three siblings were arrested for constructing a fence without necessary permits in Barangay Calaojan.
Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III yesterday ordered the immediate dismissal of a DAR driver who fled from enforcers after being flagged down for a traffic violation.
“Fire him,” Estrella said, as he directed DAR Assistant Secretary Ubaldo Sadiarin Jr. to ensure that driver Russel Smith surrenders to traffic authorities and takes full responsibility for his violation.
Smith, a DAR contract worker, mentioned Estrella’s name while being apprehended by Quezon City traffic enforcers on Thursday for illegally parking his vehicle along Timog Avenue.
Video footage shows Smith refusing to present his driver’s license and speeding away to evade apprehension.
Smith was hired as an administrative support staff under the office of Sadiarin.
Estrella apologized to the traffic enforcers and commended them for professionalism and commitment to enforcing the law. He denied any direct association with Smith and ordered an immediate and thorough investigation.
“My parents and grandparents taught me to live a simple life. I do not keep police escorts nor do I condone the misuse of my name,” Estrella said in response to reports that Smith resorted to name-dropping during the incident.
Regardless of the findings, Estrella said Smith’s contract of service with the department would not be renewed, and he would be permanently barred from any future employment with the DAR.
“We will recommend the filing of criminal charges against Mr. Smith if our investigation points us to this action. However, the Quezon City Police Department must file charges now if evidence warrants,” Estrella added.
Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III yesterday ordered the immediate dismissal of a DAR driver who fled from enforcers after being flagged down for a traffic violation.
The convoy of a mayoral candidate in the Cordillera province of Abra was attacked at the boundary of Pilar town at 4:40 p.m. on Friday, leaving two dead.
But the primary target, Artemio “Billy Boy” Donato Jr., who is running for mayor of Pidigan town, was unharmed, according to a spot report released by the municipal police of Pilar.
Local sources said the convoy of 11 vehicles was ferrying Donato to Villaviciosa town from Pilar’s Barangay Poblacion when gunmen hidden up a small ridge fired shots at the group.
Responding police officers found a bullet-riddled black Montero sports utility vehicle—with its driver, Kevin Bueno, already dead from a gunshot wound in the head at Sitio Palicad, Barangay Poblacion in Pilar.
The police rushed to the hospital the other injured—Froilan Bueno, the Barangay chair of Quilla in Langiden town, who was shot in the abdomen; and Sonny Bisares Bueno, who was shot in the right leg. It was not clear if the two men were related at press time.
The village chair died while undergoing treatment while Sonny has been confined at Seares Hospital in Bangued town.
Donato is running for mayor of Pidigan against the brother of suspended Vice Gov. Joy Valera Bernos in this year’s midterm polls. He is a former mayor of Langiden, which is now governed by his wife.
Police were also investigating reports that Donato had been involved in an altercation three days ago with a prominent political figure.
In 2013, Donato escaped an attempt on his life following an attack on another convoy while he served as barangay chair of Baac in Langiden. In 2023, the police revoked his licenses to own 15 guns.Abra has been in the spotlight during previous elections due to warring political families with their own private armed groups that the Inquirer revealed in 2005, which was confirmed by a government fact-finding investigation.
Back in January, the towns of Bangued, Bucay and Pilar were classified as “orange” by the Cordillera Regional Joint Command Center, because of the presence of serious armed threats in these Abra municipalities.
It alao designated the Abra towns of Lagayan, Pidigan, Tayum, Tineg, Dolores and Langangilang as “yellow” due to their longstanding history with poll violence.
Only Lubuagan town in Kalinga is also classified as yellow, with the rest of the Cordillera classified as “green”—to signify their are no concerns in these areas once the elections commences in May.
The convoy of a mayoral candidate in the Cordillera province of Abra was attacked at the boundary of Pilar town at 4:40 p.m. on Friday, leaving two dead.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday announced the dismissal of five Land Transportation Office (LTO) enforcers for harassing a motorcycle driver they caught carrying a bladed weapon in Panglao, Bohol on Friday.
“We are the people’s servants, not their lords. In that context, I would like to announce in behalf of the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and the LTO that effective today, we are dismissing the law enforcers involved in the incident in Panglao,” Dizon said at a press conference.
The incident sparked outrage on social media after a netizen uploaded a video showing five LTO men dragging the rider, identified only as 57-year-old Mang Bert, off his motorcycle. Bert reportedly identified himself as a farmer and that he uses the knife when working in his farm.
Dizon stressed that he would not tolerate such behavior from government employees.
“I already consulted (LTO chief) Assistant Secretary Vigor (Mendoza II). Based on the information gathered by (Transportation) Assistant Secretary Jojo Reyes, they will be dismissed immediately. This is without prejudice to future cases that may be filed, depending on the outcome of the pending investigation,” Dizon said.
He added that Reyes met with Bert and his family in the hospital.
“If there are reports that Mang Bert, a farmer from Panglao was drunk, even if it is true that he was holding a knife, even if it comes out during investigation that he was riding a colorum motorcycle – even if all these are true, it cannot justify the violence of the law enforcers,” Dizon said.
The DOTr chief noted that reports of the victim being a brother of a former vice mayor was not considered in his decision.
“Even if there are violations, it is incumbent on law enforcers, especially, to always exercise maximum tolerance,” Dizon said.
Five LTO officers have been sacked for manhandling a motorcycle driver.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/03/04/2425662/pasay-top-cop-sacked |
Pasay police chief Col. Samuel Pabonita was relieved from his post yesterday following a shooting incident in Baclaran on Feb. 3.
Pabonita was replaced by Col. Joselito De Sesto.
Pabonita, who was named Pasay police chief in June 2024, said he was relieved by the National Capital Region Police Office for command responsibility over the shooting.
“As a commander, I am obliged to follow the directive,” he said in a phone interview with The STAR.
Asked whether he was sacked because of the continued proliferation of “underground” Philippine offshore gaming operators in Pasay, Pabonita said no.
He has been reassigned to another post in the Southern Police District.
Pasay police chief Col. Samuel Pabonita was relieved from his post yesterday following a shooting incident in Baclaran on Feb. 3.
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| https://globalnation.inquirer.net/265514/pnp-anti-kidnap-chief-relieved-amid-questions-on-abducted-chinese-rescue |
The chief of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP AKG) was administratively relieved pending an investigation into the rescue operation of a Chinese teenager.
This directive is taking effect amid a “public scrutiny” over the way the activity was reported.
According to the order made public on Saturday, PNP AKG Director Col. Elmer Ragay’s relief was effective on Friday.
In a separate statement also on Saturday, the PNP said the order stemmed from the case of a 14-year-old Chinese student who was reported missing on Feb. 20.
It cited a “need for a thorough review to address growing public scrutiny and ensure full transparency.”
According to the PNP, the move followed “adverse news reports and viral social media discussions questioning the legitimacy” of the operation that supposedly recovered the Chinese victim.
The AKG was reportedly not responsible for the operation, despite the PNP’s statement on Wednesday that attributed the recovery of the Chinese minor to the PNP’s anti-kidnapping arm.
“This review is meant to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and reinforce public trust in the PNP,” Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said in the statement.
The chief of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group was administratively relieved pending an investigation into the rescue operation of a Chinese teenager.
A police colonel wanted for alleged acts of lasciviousness was arrested in Quezon City yesterday.
He was apprehended by operatives of the Anonas police station 9 in Barangay Fairview.
The police official was arrested based on a warrant issued by the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 135 for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code.
A bail of P36,000 was recommended for his temporary liberty.
The suspect’s alleged victim, a non-uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), filed a complaint against the suspect.
The identities of the police colonel and the victim were withheld.
In a nine-page resolution issued on Feb. 11, the Quezon City prosecutor’s office found sufficient evidence to indict the police official for acts of lasciviousness.
The victim said the police official touched her hands, thighs and private parts while she was in his car in June 2023.
She said the police official suggested they go to a motel, which she rejected.
She said the suspect even offered her P10,000 in exchange for having a relationship with him.
The prosecutor’s office dismissed the complaint filed against the suspect for sexual harassment for lack of evidence.
The police official, the victim and other PNP personnel had just attended a meeting in Manila before the incident happened.
According to the victim, the colonel asked her to ride with him. As the suspect has a higher rank in the PNP, she said she and her colleagues could not refuse.
A police colonel wanted for alleged acts of lasciviousness was arrested in Quezon City yesterday.
The chairman of Barangay Cabisera 27 here was shot dead on Tuesday evening, March 4.
Police said Avelino Quitola, 62, was driving a motorcycle with his wife following behind on an electric bike in Purok 7, Barangay Cabisera 27 when he was shot upon reaching a corn field at 7:55 p.m. by a lone gunman.
The gunman fled and the victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
Police took 30 minutes to reach the area as it was in the innermost part of the barangay.
The couple was on their way home when the incident happened.
Follow-up investigation and pursuit operation against the suspect is underway.
The chairman of Barangay Cabisera 27 here was shot dead on Tuesday evening, March 4.
A 63-year-old village head of Cabiseria 27 (Abuan) in this city was shot and killed on Tuesday by two men on a motorcycle, the police said.
Police Captain Noralyn Andal, Ilagan police spokesperson, told the Inquirer that they have identified persons of interest in the killing of Avelino Quitola, 63, who died from bullet wounds to the head and body.
Quitola was on his way home after overseeing operations at his business in Villa Imelda village when two gunmen wearing helmets and black jackets ambushed him.
Investigators said the suspects were riding an unlicensed motorcycle. His wife had left their store earlier on an electric bike, while Quitola followed later on his “kolong-kolong” or improvised tricycle.
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Raposas, Ilagan police chief, said the motive for the killing and the identities of the assailants remained undetermined.
In response, the Ilagan police, with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) and the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), set up checkpoints and conducted dragnet operations, but no arrests had been made so far.
Ilagan City Mayor Josemarie Diaz has ordered stricter peace and security measures, including implementing checkpoints in every village.
Diaz downplayed the possibility of a political motive, describing Quitola as a “peaceful and law-abiding citizen” and noting that most village heads in the city support the local government.But Diaz noted that he did not want to preempt the police investigation.
“I am giving them [full authority] to probe the case,” he added.
A village head has been assassinated.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/27/rama-refuses-to-return-city-hall-owned-vehicle-insists-he-s-still-cebu-city-mayor |
Dismissed Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama continues to insist he is still the city’s chief executive.
Considering himself as the rightful mayor, Rama refused to return a Cebu City Hall-owned vehicle despite repeated demands from the city government.
In a letter addressed to the City Legal Office, Rama argued that there is no official record proving that an order from Office of the Ombudsman removing him from office has been implemented.
Last September, the Ombudsman found Rama guilty of nepotism and ordered him dismissed. The anti-graft court has also dismissed Rama’s motion for reconsideration.
"We clarify that, to date, no record shows that the Decision of the Office of the Ombudsman has been implemented, contrary to the rules of the Office of the Ombudsman itself," Rama’s legal counsel Luis A. Vera Cruz Jr. wrote.
Vera Cruz cited a Nov. 6, 2024 letter from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that stated that it "is not privy to the implementation of the said decision."
Rama’s camp said in the absence of proof showing that the dismissal was properly served, he continues to be the mayor who must retain his privileges, including the use of the Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia that City Hall wants him to return.
Rama would only return the vehicle if there is legal documentation, Vera Cruz said.
Rama urged the city government to formally request all relevant records from the Ombudsman, including proof of service of the implementation order.
"Proper documentation is imperative and must be complied with for any demand or return of the subject vehicle," Vera Cruz said.
The City Hall has warned that charges may be filed against Rama if he fails to return the vehicle.
The city has reported the matter to the Highway Patrol Group-Central Visayas.
"Government vehicles should not be in the hands of private individuals, particularly those no longer in office," Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said.
"If you are not the owner, then you are not authorized to use it, and that can be tantamount to carnapping," Garcia added.
Garcia urged Rama to return the vehicle “so we can have peace moving forward.”
Dismissed Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama continues to insist he is still the city’s chief executive.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/938317/ex-intel-officer-nabbed-after-almost-20-years-for-murder/story/ |
A former police intelligence officer was arrested after almost two decades for murder and other cases.
According to Marisol Abdurahman’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the suspect completely accepted his fate after the Makati City Police finally caught him after being charged for murder in 2006.
(His fingerprint as Arnel Bagise matched with those of his current identity as Niko Garcia. I was also convinced that they were the same person based on his old pictures. He did not undergo plastic surgery to change his facial features.)
Dela Torre said authorities had a hard time finding the suspect after he changed his identity. She added that the suspect even applied for late registration of birth certificate.
The suspect is also facing charges for robbery and direct bribery in Manila and for kidnap for ransom in other regions, the report said. But he was still able to leave the country despite his cases.
(He admitted that he’s been hiding anywhere. He was not able to stay for long in one place.)
The suspect admitted that he was a former cop for 14 years before he hid. When asked why he committed the crimes, he replied: “Trabaho lang.” (It was just for work.)
A former police intelligence officer was arrested after almost two decades for murder and other cases.
