It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2161939/cop-gunned-down-in-zamboanga-sibugay-minutes-before-new-year |
What was meant to be a festive countdown turned into a tragedy after a policeman was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Diplahan town, Zamboanga Sibugay, just 36 minutes before the New Year.
Police Staff Sergeant June Ray Estallo Gamones, 37, was on his was to visit his family when he was ambushed at 11:24 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in Barangay Poblacion.
Captain Mary Joy Necesario, Diplahan police chief, identified Gamones as a resident of Barangay Danlugan, Pagadian City. He was an active member of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company under the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office.
Initial investigations revealed that Gamones, who was in full field service uniform, had earlier asked permission from his team leader to travel to Barangay Mabini in Malangas town to see his family for the holidays.
He was ambushed while traversing a dimly lit portion of the national highway leading to Malangas.
Responding police officers, alerted by local residents, found Gamones lying beside his motorcycle. He was rushed to the Wilfredo Palma Memorial Hospital in Diplahan where he was declared dead despite a 20-minute effort to revive him.
Four fired5.56mm cartridges were found at the crime scene while the victim’s issued firearm was missing, beleived to have been carted away by the gunmen.
Citing initial accounts of witnesses, police said the victim was reportedly tailed by two unidentified men on a yellow-green Yamaha Mio motorcycle. Both men were wearing black jackets and brandished long firearms.Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the killing.
Diplahan police are currently conducting “backtracking” of CCTV footage from nearby establishments to identify the suspects, who were last seen fleeing toward Malangas.
A cop was assassinated just before the New Year began.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/684262/4-cops-involved-in-15-indiscriminate-firing-cases-during-holidays-pnp |
Four police officers were among those involved in 15 cases of indiscriminate firing recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) between December 16, 2025, and January 1, 2026, during the holiday festivities.
Data shared by the PNP with reporters on Thursday showed that two of the indiscriminate firing cases each occurred in Ilocos Sur and Iloilo, while one each took place in Abra, Batangas, Benguet, Cagayan de Oro City, Catanduanes, Isabela, Manila, Negros Occidental, Pampanga, Parañaque City, and Surigao del Sur.
The PNP’s latest tally also noted that six of the cases occurred on Christmas Day, three early on New Year’s Day, two on Dec. 22, and one each on Dec. 18, 19, 21, and 31.
PNP’s data also detailed that the incidents resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals, while three more remain at large.
The cases also led to the confiscation of six caliber 9mm pistols; five caliber 45 pistols; two caliber 22 revolvers; a caliber .38 revolver; and a caliber 5.56 rifle.
Regarding the cases involving police officers, PNP data showed that the incidents involved a police master sergeant in Surigao del Sur, a police senior master sergeant in Iloilo, a patrolman in Parañaque City, and a patrolman in Cagayan de Oro.
The first three officers were arrested in connection with the indiscriminate firing incidents, while the fourth remains at large, according to the PNP.
Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. had previously warned police officers against using their service firearms during holiday festivities, saying they could face criminal and administrative sanctions, including possible dismissal from the police force.
Four cops have been involved in indiscriminate firing over the holidays.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/684617/bulacan-councilor-surrenders-after-new-year-shooting-wounds-neighbor |
A 54-year-old village councilor who allegedly shot and wounded a neighbor during the New Year’s Day revelry surrendered to authorities on Thursday.
According to Col. Jayson San Pedro, chief of police of the City of Baliwag, the victim was a 45-year-old man who was celebrating the New Year with his family under a tree in Pinagbarilan at around 12:45 a.m. when a stray bullet hit him in the neck.
The victim was rushed to the nearest hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.
San Pedro said the bullet’s trajectory was traced to a residential area beyond a vacant lot about 1.5 kilometers away, which pointed to the suspect’s house.
Police seized more than 20 spent shells from a .22-caliber firearm and a 9mm pistol.
The suspect, who was not named in the report, surrendered at around 6 a.m. after the victim’s family reported the incident to the police.
A village councilor who shot a neighbor has surrendered to authorities.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/684970/police-dismissed-over-3000-personnel-in-2025 |
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said it dismissed over 3,000 personnel in 2025.
This developed as it resolved 4,203 administrative cases against 6,527 personnel in 2025.
PNP records showed that the involved personnel included 1,101 Police Commissioned Officers, 5,229 Police Non-Commissioned Officers, and 197 Non-Uniformed Personnel.
Of the 6,529 affected personnel, 3,124 were dismissed. Another 3,403 faced penalties ranging from demotion to suspension following due process and careful review of the evidence.
“These figures show that accountability in the PNP is not selective and not superficial,” PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a news release.
Nartatez said discipline is a foundation of police service.
“Wearing a uniform is a privilege, not a right. Those who betray public trust will be held accountable, while those proven innocent are clearing their names. That balance is essential to a professional police force,” he said.
He said, meanwhile, that internal cleansing efforts will continue alongside reforms aimed at strengthening ethics, professionalism, and public trust.
This, he said, is anchored on the principle that discipline within the organization directly translates to better service to the people.
The Philippine National Police dismissed over 3,000 personnel in 2025.
Retired Air Force General Romeo Poquiz was arrested Monday at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) over an inciting to sedition charge, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.Fresh off a family trip to Thailand, Poquiz arrived at Naia at 8:11 a.m. when police arrested him on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 77, CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) chief Col. John Guiagui told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame.
Poquiz is the convenor of the United People’s Initiative, a group of retired military officers that has called for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step down amid the corruption scandal.
The arrested retired general was brought to the CIDG–NCR headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, at around 9:50 a.m.
According to Guiagui, Poquiz was undergoing standard booking procedures — fingerprinting, mugshots, and a medical exam — before being brought before the RTC, which set his bail at P48,000.
Poquiz’s legal counsels, Ferdinand Topacio and Virgilio Garcia, accused the police of initially preventing them from conferring with their client.
“We were insistent. We wanted to talk to our client. They wouldn’t let us through… We wanted to make sure that our client would be transported safely and to know where he would be brought. We were practically chasing after them,” Garcia said in Filipino in a chance interview at Camp Crame.
He added that their camp plans to file administrative and criminal cases against the arresting police officers.Topacio also said in Filipino, “We blame the executive branch for weaponizing the Department of Justice to persecute and attack those whom they view as enemies of the government.”
“Instead of jailing the corrupt, he jailed those going after the corrupt,” he added.
Guiagui maintained that Poquiz’s legal counsels were unable to immediately confer with their client because they arrived late and had not yet secured clearance to pass through airport security.
In a separate press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, Acting Philippine National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. likewise maintained that the police observed due process in Poquiz’s arrest.
Asked whether the arrest signaled a crackdown on anti-administration sentiments among retired uniformed personnel, Nartatez said in Filipino, “It’s not personal.”
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/01/07/2499246/pnp-general-faces-raps-over-p70599-footwear |
For allegedly refusing to follow lawful directives and wearing expensive footwear, a retired Philippine National Police (PNP) general is facing administrative cases, the National Police Commission announced yesterday.
The Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service filed cases of less grave neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against former PNP-Health Service chief Brig. Gen. Jezebel Imelda Medina.
Medina allegedly failed to comply with repeated directives from the Napolcom to submit the psychiatric and psychological report of a patrolman assigned with the Quezon City Police District.
The QCPD officer, a vlogger, posted seditious remarks online when Medina was Health Service director.
The second basis for the filing of the complaint was Medina’s alleged display of a luxury item, particularly a pair of footwear valued at P70,599.75 or nearly equivalent to one month’s basic salary of a brigadier general.
The act, according to Napolcom, raised concern about modest living and ethical conduct required of all public servants, most especially senior PNP officials.
Medina reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 last Dec. 25.
She is a respected member of the PNP, being the first Igorot woman general in the police force.
A dentist by profession, Medina entered the PNP in 1993 and rose from the ranks.
A graduate of the University of Baguio, Medina has received numerous awards, including dental officer of the year and best regional administrative unit chief.
She spearheaded programs, which provided quality health services not only to PNP personnel but also the marginalized service.
Among these is the Kalinga ni Ina, Abot ng Makakaya and One-Time, Big-time Pangkalusugan Program, which improved access to health services of the poor.
For allegedly refusing to follow lawful directives and wearing expensive footwear, a retired Philippine National Police general is facing administrative cases.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/01/06/pcg-launches-parallel-probe-vs-personnel-accused-of-groping-waitress-in-pasay-restorer |
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday, Jan. 6, that it has launched an administrative investigation against one of its personnel accused of sexually harassing a waitress at a restobar in Pasay City.
According to initial investigation, the incident reportedly happened around 1 a.m. on Jan. 5 at a restobar in Pasay City. The victim was performing her duties as a waitress when the suspect allegedly touched her buttocks before entering the comfort room of the establishment.
The PCG said the victim immediately sought help from security personnel and when the suspect came out of the comfort room, the victim identified him as the one who sexually harassed her.
The suspect was then brought to a police station and placed under police custody for possible violation of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act or “Bawal Bastos Law.”
PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab said the Coast Guard does not tolerate any form of misconduct by its personnel, whether committed on duty or off duty.
“Such behavior runs counter to the core values of the organization and undermines public trust in the service,” Cayabyab said.
The PCG personnel involved was off duty and not in uniform at the time of the incident. He entered the service in 2023, according to Cayabyab.
While the suspect is facing civilian legal proceedings, the PCG has opened a separate administrative case. Cayabyab said the penalty could be severe if the accusation is proven.
“If it is proven that our personnel committed a violation of the Safe Spaces Act, it is possible that he will be removed from the service or dishonorably discharged,” she said.
Cayabyab stressed that the PCG leadership will not tolerate misconduct among its ranks.
“The leadership of the PCG will not condone this kind of misconduct by our personnel, whether inside or outside the performance of their duties,” she said.
She added that the PCG is fully cooperating with authorities to ensure justice for the victim.“We reaffirm that the PCG will give its full cooperation so that justice may be served for the victim,” Cayabyab said.
Asked about the suspect’s explanation and whether alcohol was involved, Cayabyab declined to give details.
“We are conducting an ongoing investigation and continuous inquiry so we cannot disclose details at the moment,” she said.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2164383/eastern-samar-village-exec-stabbed-to-death |
A village official of Barangay Tiguib in Oras town, Eastern Samar was killed in a stabbing incident on Tuesday, January 6, police said.
The victim, Arnel Montallana, 56, the incumbent chairman of Barangay Tiguib, was declared dead on arrival at Oras Doctor’s Hospital after sustaining multiple stab wounds.
According to the Oras Municipal Police Station (MPS), the incident occurred at around 7:50 a.m.
A concerned citizen reported the stabbing to police, prompting responding officers to rush to the area.
The victim was found lying bloodied on the side of the road with visible stab wounds and was immediately transported by the Emergency Response Team to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Initial police investigation revealed that the victim was on his way home aboard his motorcycle after bringing his wife to their store in Barangay Tiguib. Upon reaching an intersection about 40 meters from his residence, he was suddenly attacked and stabbed by the suspect, identified as Erick Lorot, 45, of Brgy. Butnga, also in Oras.
Police said the suspect used a short-bladed weapon locally known as a “dipang,” stabbing the victim in different parts of his body. Despite managing to dismount his motorcycle and seek help, the victim was chased by the suspect and stabbed again, sustaining a fatal wound to the chest.The suspect initially fled on foot toward the mountainous area of Barangay Camanga, Oras.
A hot pursuit operation was immediately launched, leading to his arrest at an isolated house belonging to his younger brother in the same barangay. The suspect and the weapon used in the incident were brought to the Oras MPS for proper disposition.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the attack.
A village official of Barangay Tiguib in Oras town, Eastern Samar was killed in a stabbing incident.
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