Retards in the Government 399

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

 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/01/04/2411840/2-barangay-execs-killed-mindanao-gun-attacks

A barangay chairman in Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur and a councilor in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur were killed in separate gun attacks on Friday, January 3.

The first to die in the two incidents is Kamran Abubakar, killed by gunmen right in their yard in Barangay Sambulawan in Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur.

Barangays in Salibo, a dangerous and politically-troubled town, where there is presence of remnants of the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, are scenes of deadly gun attacks and clashes between armed groups in recent months.

Officials of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office and Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Saturday, January 4, that Abubakar, chairman of Barangay Sambulawan, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

Relatives of Abubakar had told reporters he had no known enemies and was not involved in any “rido,” or clan war, either.

His assailants managed to escape before responding policemen arrived at the crime scene.

The incident preceded the murder, late Friday, by pistol-wielding men of Michael Virallo in a dark and secluded area in Sitio Mangga in Barangay Upper Dumalinao in Dumalinao Zamboanga del Sur.

The slain Virallo, a member of the barangay council in Upper Dumalinao, died from 12 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Officials of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office and the Dumalinao Police Station told reporters that Virallo was walking alone in a dark area in Purok Mangga when he was approached and shot with pistols 12 times by his attackers, who immediately ran away, leaving him sprawled on the ground, lifeless.

A barangay chairman in Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur and a councilor in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur were killed in separate gun attacks on Friday, January 3.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/4/retired-soldier-shoots-son-dead-in-ilocos-norte

A 25-year-old man was allegedly gunned down by his father during a heated altercation in Barangay San Guillermo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte on Friday morning, Dec. 3. 

Police Capt. Randy Damo, San Nicolas chief of police, identified the victim as Jovanie Fer Cabbat. 

Investigation said that Jovanie saw his father, Fermin Cabbat Jr., 58, and a retired soldier, burning his mother’s belongings inside their house. Jovanie punched his father in the face to stop him. 

The suspect was irked and grabbed a firearm in his room and shot Jovanie. The victim sustained multiple bullet wounds and declared dead in a hospital.  

Police arrested Fermin and recovered five empty caliber 5.56 shells, two magazine assemblies for caliber 5.56, and two magazine assemblies for caliber 7.62 in the scene.  

Damo said they searching for the firearm. Fermin is facing appropriate cases.

A retired solider gunned down his son during an argument.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/4/retired-cop-gunned-down-in-cotabato

A retired police officer was shot dead in Barangay Simbo, Tupi town, South Cotabato province on Friday afternoon, Jan. 3. 

Police identified the victim as Teodorico Bastan, 79, of Barangay Datal Bob, T’boli town, South Cotabato. 

Investigation said Bastan, chief of barangay tanods of Barangay Simbo, was driving a motorcycle with his wife as back rider on their way home when two unidentified men on another motorcycle appeared and fired at them. 

Bastan sustained bullet wounds in the body and died on the spot. His wife was unhurt. The suspects fled. 

Three empty .45 caliber pistol shells were recovered in the area. 

Police said motive of the killing could be Bastan’s work as head of tanods. Follow-up investigation is under way.

A retired police officer who is chief of Barangay tanods has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/5/bu-cor-relieves-preventively-suspends-4-corrections-officers-after-stabbing-incident-at-bilibid

Four corrections officers have been relieved and preventively suspended after the stabbing incident inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City where one person deprived of liberty (PDL) died and two other prisoners wounded.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) identified them as C/Insp. Louie Rodelas, acting commander of the guards; Corrections Officers 1 (CO1) Christian Alonzo and Joshua Mondres, both keepers of Building 8; and CO1 Glicerio Cinco Jr., officer of Gate 1 A.

“Our personnel should be alert and vigilant to enhance the safety protocols that govern the custody and management of inmates anytime of the day,” said BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr.

The stabbing incident happened at 7 a.m. last Jan. 2 at Gate 1A of Quadrant 4 of the Bilibid’s Maximum Security Compound.

“This situation indicates a lapse in our operations, resulting in the death of PDL Ricardo Peralta and the wounding of PDLs Reginal Lacuerta and  Bert Cupada,” Catapang said. 

“It is essential that we hold individuals accountable for these failures," he pointed out. 

The BuCor had asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct parallel investigations over the incident.

At the same time, Catapang said he had also asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct its own parallel investigation.

The investigations, he said, would establish the facts, promote transparency and determine accountability.

Four corrections officers have been relieved and preventively suspended after the stabbing incident inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City where one person deprived of liberty died and two other prisoners wounded.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/01/05/2412050/another-barangay-exec-zamboanga-del-sur-dies-gun-attack

Another barangay councilor in Zamboanga del Sur was killed in an ambush on Saturday afternoon, January 4, the second in the province in just two days.

Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, director of the Police Regional Office-9, told reporters on Sunday, January 5, that Joemar Requilme, a member of the barangay council in Lantawan in San Miguel town in Zamboanga del Sur, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

A report from the San Miguel Police Station stated that Requilme was riding his motorcycle on his way to somewhere when he was attacked by men armed with pistols at a secluded stretch of a highway in Barangay Poblacion in San Miguel.

Officials of the municipal police and local executives told reporters the gunmen who ambushed Requilme immediately escaped using a getaway motorcycle.

Another barangay councilor in Zamboanga del Sur was killed in an ambush.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/8/ex-cop-in-p3-1-m-capiz-heist-identified

The former policeman who was part of a group behind the P3.1-million robbery on Jan. 5 in Pilar town, Capiz province has been identified. 

Police Col. Albert Tapulao, chief of the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), said the suspect Lyman John Ochenta from Iloilo province was one of the three suspects wearing police athletic uniforms when they and three companions  robbed collectors of a prominent bottling company.

The Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) said Ochenta was dismissed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in September 2017 for the administrative case of grave irregularity in the performance of duty while assigned to the Sara Municipal Police Station in Iloilo.

Ochenta was allegedly involved in major crimes, including a P1-million robbery in Sara town, Iloilo.

He was also allegedly behind a robbery and homicide in Sicogon Island, a resort island in the northern Iloilo town of Carles in September 2022. He has warrants of arrests for these two crimes prior to the robbery in Pilar. 

The former policeman who was part of a group behind the P3.1-million robbery on Jan. 5 in Pilar town, Capiz province has been identified.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2022577/south-cotabato-provl-board-suspends-2-mayors

The South Cotabato provincial board suspended two reelectionist mayors for abuse of authority and violation of the Constitution stemming from cases earlier filed against them by a Small Town Lottery (STL) operator and a constituent.

Banga Mayor Evangeline Palencia and Tboli Mayor Keo Dale Tuan were ordered suspended for 120 days and 180 days, respectively, in a resolution issued by the provincial board on Monday. Their suspension took effect on Tuesday.

Palencia’s suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by STL operator JY Archers against her and members of the municipal council last year after the council passed a resolution suspending all STL operations in the town.

JY Archers, in its complaint, said the local lottery was under the control and supervision of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President, hence, can not be closed down by local authorities.

Palencia said she would seek a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals or from the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, Tuan was suspended for 180 days for granting tax incentives to the family-owned Crown Jewel Hotel in his town.

Evelyn Montil Gregorio, a resident of Tboli who filed the complaint as a taxpayer, claimed that local officials bypassed procedures in the granting of tax incentives.

Albert Palencia, municipal administrator and the mayor’s husband, described the provincial board’s action as “politically motivated.”

But South Cotabato Vice Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr., the board’s presiding officer, said they processed the complaints against Tuan and Palencia with impartiality and objectivity

The South Cotabato provincial board suspended two reelectionist mayors for abuse of authority and violation of the Constitution stemming from cases earlier filed against them by a Small Town Lottery operator and a constituent.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/01/09/2412943/4-nbi-employees-7-clearance-fixers-nabbed

Four National Bureau of Investigation employees were arrested for allegedly conniving with seven fixers at the NBI clearance center on Monday.

According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the operation targeted people accused of facilitating the expedited processing of NBI clearance certificates in exchange for bribes of P800 to P2,000.

The operation was conducted by the NBI Cybercrime Division and Special Task Force.

The NBI employees, who are assigned at the bureau’s Information and Communications Technology Division, are facing charges of graft and direct bribery.

They were also charged for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Four National Bureau of Investigation employees were arrested for allegedly conniving with seven fixers at the NBI clearance center.

Retards in the Government 398

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

 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/26/2409946/coa-flags-dost-sei-over-scholarship-fund-delays-p175b-still-unreported

Up to a year-long wait for vital funding has plagued graduate science scholars due to delays at the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), with state auditors finding P1.748 billion in scholarship funds still unreported.

According to the 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report, financial assistance to scholars of the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) was delayed by one to twelve months. 

State auditors believe that the crux of the fund release delays lies in the lack of documented disbursements to scholars, pointing to the failure to establish a mechanism for effectively implementing the scholarship program.

“The SEI did not formulate policy and mechanism to ensure the efficient implementation of the ASTHRDP scholarship program, thereby the timely submission of reports by the member universities of the consortium was not observed, causing delay in the release of financial assistance to beneficiaries of the scholarship program,” COA said. 

This scholarship program aims to produce highly skilled science and technology researchers to boost the country's global competitiveness and innovation in the field.

While COA acknowledged that the scholarship funds for the program's 1,884 scholars from 2021 to 2023 were largely utilized, it also flagged a strikingly low liquidation rate for transferred funds.

In 2021, the entire P1.728 billion allocation was utilized, and in 2022, 97.75% of the P1.390 billion allocation was spent. By 2023, the utilization rate dropped to 79.71% — or nearly four-fifths of the P1.306 billion allocation — though this was still deemed high.

However, COA found a significant discrepancy in 2023. Of the P642.109 million released funds to universities, responsible for disbursing funds to scholars, only 16.40% was liquidated.

Meanwhile, the liquidation rate for previous years was 44.41% of the P2.179 billion in transferred funds.

This leaves the scholarship program with P1.748 billion in transferred funds, considered unspent or not yet received by scholars.

This high utilization, coupled with low liquidation, indicates that a significant portion of the released funds lacked proper documentation, raising concerns about whether the funds reached the scholars' pockets.

COA clarified the key distinction: transferring funds to universities does not count as disbursement. 

Citing National Budget Circular 590, auditors explained that disbursement occurs only when payment is made for rendered, inspected, and accepted goods or services.

However, to be eligible for these benefits, scholars must maintain full-time enrollment in their graduate program. They are also prohibited from being employed or practicing their profession.

The funds allocated for the DOST-SEI program are intended to support students in financial need, helping them pursue their education and contribute to the country’s development.

Due to COA's finding of low disbursement, the unexpended or undisbursed funds are expected to be returned to the National Treasury after a specified period.

The responsibility for disbursing and liquidating scholarship funds largely rests with member universities, as they are tasked with verifying student eligibility and ensuring compliance with the scholarship agreement.

COA pointed out that the issue stems from the lack of standardized guidelines for fund disbursement. Some universities release funds monthly, while others do so on a quarterly or semestral basis.

“Having no policy or guidelines on the frequency of the release of financial assistance to scholars affects the efficient implementation of the scholarship program,” state auditors said.

Due to the flexibility universities have in releasing financial assistance, scholars have reportedly been forced to take part-time jobs while pursuing postgraduate studies, which breaches their scholarship agreements.

“It is important to ensure the timely release of financial assistance to scholars to allow them to focus on their studies and comply with the terms of the scholarship agreement, as delays forced some scholars to seek part-time jobs/employment to sustain their daily needs,” COA said.  

The report also noted complaints from scholars about the SEI or coordinators failing to inform them of issues related to their scholarship status and allowances, and, at times, not responding to email inquiries.

The SEI explained that they release funds to universities only upon receiving status or financial reports on the scholarship program. However, since some universities fail to submit these reports on time, the agency said it is forced to withhold funds, resulting in delayed payments.

A solution the agency came up with is to centralize fund distribution through Land Bank of the Philippines’ weAccess platform, directly releasing financial aid to scholars instead of transferring funds to universities. 

It will also hold a "reorientation meeting" with staff involved in the graduate scholarship program to refresh and update the requirements for issuing scholarship funds, along with other relevant policies.

The agency agreed to comply with COA’s recommendations, which include formulating a policy and mechanism for the timely release of funds by universities and effective monitoring of report submissions. 

The SEI also committed to centralizing fund distribution, regularly updating scholars on delays or concerns, and providing clear instructions on how scholars can seek help with scholarship issues.

Up to a year-long wait for vital funding has plagued graduate science scholars due to delays at the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), with state auditors finding P1.748 billion in scholarship funds still unreported.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/28/drunk-off-duty-cop-shoots-security-guard-dead-inside-bus

An off-duty policeman allegedly shot and killed a security guard who intervened during a marital altercation inside a bus in Bansalan, Davao del Sur before dawn on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Police identified the victim as Reynaldo Bigno Jr. from Makilala, Cotabato.

Investigation said the suspect, Police Corporal Alfred Dawatan Sabas, assigned to the General Santos City Police Station 7, and his wife were riding a bus from Barangay Batasan, Makilala, Cotabato when they figured in an altercation at past 2 a.m.

Bigno stepped in to diffuse the situation but the suspect, who was allegedly drunk, was irked and shot the victim in the head. The victim died on the spot.

Sabas fled with his wife and the bus driver asked assistance from policemen manning a checkpoint in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

The suspect fired at responding policemen – Police Corporals Kenth Maurith Ramos and Police Patrolman Russel Love Tapia – who sustained bullet wounds and taken to a hospital.

Sabas and his wife were apprehended in a pursuit operation. The couple faces appropriate cases.

The victim’s family, particularly his son, a graduating elementary pupil, expressed anger over his death in a radio interview.

According to them, the victim left money to buy gifts and food for media noche (New Year’s Eve repast) as he won’t be able to join them as he is on duty on Dec. 31.

Top police officers in Davao del Sur and the Police Regional Office-12 are monitoring the case.

An off-duty policeman allegedly shot and killed a security guard who intervened during a marital altercation inside a bus in Bansalan, Davao del Sur before dawn on Saturday, Dec. 28.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240713

Three active cops and another on absent without official leave (AWOL) status were arrested for allegedly conspiring to rob an establishment in Bulacan on Saturday night.

Cpl. Jayson Medallada and Staff Sgt. Mark Raian Vicente, assigned at Caloocan City Police Station; Cpl. Jayson Medallada, assigned at Quezon City Police District; and Pat. Reiniel Basilio, who was previously assigned at Malabon City Police Station, were arrested at around 10:20 p.m. along El Camino Road, Barangay Perez in Meycauayan City, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Sunday.

An initial investigation revealed that the Meycauayan City Police Station received a telephone call from a concerned citizen regarding suspicious persons about to rob an establishment. 

Police officers who responded to the scene found the suspects in possession of a .45 caliber pistol, four .9mm pistols, and some 23 grams of suspected shabu. 

They also recovered PNP identification cards, nine mobile phones, three motorcycles, two Land Transportation Office motorcycle license plates, four motorcycle helmets, assorted items of clothing with three caps, and six bonnets. 

The four officers were turned over to the Meycauayan police and will face administrative cases for violations on Republic Act Nos. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Three active cops and another on absent without official leave status were arrested for allegedly conspiring to rob an establishment in Bulacan.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/29/coa-flags-down-dilg-for-unauthorized-maintenance-of-land-bank-accounts

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for ‘maintaining’ four unauthorized bank accounts, stressing that “their creation and retention’’ as of 2023 “have no legal basis.’’

However following the COA’s report, the DILG closed its four trust fund accounts at the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) with an aggregate amount of  over P12.98 million.

In a statement, the DILG explained the accounts were used as depository accounts for funds from other national government agencies, adding that “the accounts were created to ensure the prompt release of funds to support the implementation of various programs and projects.’’

Earlier, the DILG had closed the P1.73-million RO IX Trust Regular Account and the DILG-NCR Local Government Academy Special Project Account with P111,009.42.

Further, the DILG  is processing the closing of the  P1.116-million DILG-NCR Special Project Account and the P10.025-million DILG Central Office Trust Account.

For the latter, the Department has returned the unutilized P2.363-million balance to the source agency; and has utilized the P5.834-million from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Fire Protection-Interagency Task Force.  

“As of today (December 28), the BFP-IATF fund balance of only P199,627.90  shall be utilized for unpaid claims, afterwhich, any remaining balances shall be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) at year-end.

The DILG is now coordinating with the BTr to open the Modified Disbursement System Trust Account under the LBP. 

“This account will be used for fund transfers granted or entrusted to the Department and may take effect in January 2025,’’ the DILG explained.

The Commission on Audit flagged the Department of the Interior and Local Government for ‘maintaining’ four unauthorized bank accounts, stressing that “their creation and retention’’ as of 2023 “have no legal basis.’’

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/30/2410663/ombudsman-affirms-ex-bfar-execs-indictment

Former fisheries undersecretary Eduardo Gongona has failed in his bid to reverse his graft indictment over alleged irregularities in the awarding of a P2.1-billion contract for vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceivers to a British company in 2018.

In a 13-page order, the Office of the Ombudsman denied Gongona’s motions for partial reconsideration for the reversal of the graft indictments against him, former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) national director Demosthenes Escoto and Simon Tucker of SRT Marine Systems Solutions.

The ombudsman said the motions lacked basis.

“Succinctly, the respondent-movant did not include any newly discovered evidence that would materially affect the assailed findings of this office; neither was he able to show any errors of law or irregularities committed therein that would warrant its reversal,” the ombudsman said.

“The arguments he has put forth have either been already considered or passed upon in the assailed resolution, or better ventilated during trial proper than at the preliminary investigation level,” it added.

The complaint was filed by lawyer James Mier Victoriano after the contract to supply VMS transmitters and transceivers for BFAR’s Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project) was awarded to SRT-UK.

The supply contract was initially awarded to an unqualified bidder, SRT-France, before it was cancelled and awarded to the parent company, SRT-UK.

The PHILO project aimed to strengthen BFAR’s capability to monitor the country’s maritime resources by requiring all commercial fishing vessels to install a monitoring system showing their location at sea.

Former fisheries undersecretary Eduardo Gongona has failed in his bid to reverse his graft indictment over alleged irregularities in the awarding of a P2.1-billion contract for vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceivers to a British company in 2018.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/12/29/2410391/cop-held-shooting-2-men

A police officer was detained after he allegedly shot dead a construction worker and wounded the victim’s father in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on Christmas Day.

The 21-year-old victim was declared dead on arrival at the Valladolid District Hospital, where his father was also taken for treatment.

Reports said Cpl. Armin Alanza, 36, a member of the 604th Maneuver Company of the Western Visayas police, and the victims figured in a spat in a shop in Barangay Canjusa.

Police said Alanza drew his service pistol and allegedly shot the victims, killing one of them.

Alanza suffered an injury in the head after the victim’s father hit him during the commotion, reports said.

The Western Visayas police assured the family of the victims that a thorough and impartial investigation would be conducted on the case.

A police officer was detained after he allegedly shot dead a construction worker and wounded the victim’s father in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on Christmas Day.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/30/fireman-shot-dead-in-vigan-city

A member of Bureau of Fire Protection was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in front of his house in Barangay Pantay Daya here on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Police identified the victim as Senior Fire Officer 1 Anthony T. Manuel, 40, assigned to the BFP-Vigan.

Investigation said that the victim was on his way out of his house to work onboard a motorcycle at about 10 p.m. when he was shot.

He was declared dead in the hospital from multiple bullet wounds.

Police recovered four empty shells and one fired bullet in the crime scene.

Follow-up investigation is underway.

A fireman has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2020071/cop-9-others-arrested-for-indiscriminate-firing

The Philippine National Police has recorded 15 cases of indiscriminate discharge of firearms ahead of the New Year’s Eve revelry, with 10 of the lawbreakers taken into custody following the incidents between Dec. 16 and Dec. 29.

The 10 arrested included government personnel, one of them a police officer, the other a member of the Bureau of Corrections, and the third a security guard. The other seven were civilians.

A total of nine firearms were confiscated by the PNP.

By region, of the 15 cases of indiscriminate firing, six were from Calabarzon; four from National Capital Region; two from Central Visayas; and one each from Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The PNP also reported that four people were wounded due to indiscriminate firing while a fifth person was hit by a stray bullet. There were also four incidents of stray bullets.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Sunday placed all police units nationwide on heightened alert to assist the public, particularly travelers and those facing emergencies.

He said that police units had been mobilized to maintain peace and order during New Year celebrations and ensure public safety.

“Our officers are trained and equipped to handle emergencies, from providing immediate first aid to assisting in fire response operations. We are ready to serve the public in every way possible,” Marbil said in a statement.

A PNP officer and a member of the Bureau of Corrections have been arrested for indiscriminate firing. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2020162/cop-killed-3-hurt-in-sultan-kudarat-shooting

A police intelligence officer was killed while three persons were wounded after two unidentified gunmen shot them while they were sitting at a small store in Lebak town, Sultan Kudarat province on Monday night.

Colonel Bernard Lao, Sultan Kudarat police director, identified the victim as Staff Master Sgt. Louie Noble, who was assigned to the Lebak municipal police office.

Lao said Noble was conducting surveillance in the town’s amusement park in Barangay Poblacion 1 together with other civilian agents when they were attacked past 11 p.m.

Noble suffered a gunshot wound in the head and body.

The three other victims were Cresensiano Sia, 33; Ronaldo Fernando, 32; and Christian Pedro, 24.

Cresensiano sustained a gunshot wound on his left ankle, while Fernando was hit on his right biceps. Pedro was wounded on his back.

Police scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered 10 empty shells for caliber .45 and caliber .40 pistols.

Pursuit operation against the suspects is ongoing.

Initial police investigation revealed that the attack could be work-related.

A PNP officer has been assassinated by unknown men.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/614618/air-force-man-mistress-caught-by-wife-land-in-jail-in-lapu-lapu

An active member of the Philippine Air Force landed in detention after he was caught spending time with his alleged mistress in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Monday, Dec. 30.

On Sunday evening, Dec. 29, police in Lapu-Lapu City responded to a complaint filed by a 42-year-old woman who accused her husband of having illicit affairs.

The husband turned out to be an active member of the Philippine Air Force.

According to reports from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station, the wife told police that she received a tip from a friend, claiming to have spotted her 41-year-old husband with another woman. 

The victim also told the police that she had long suspected that her husband had a mistress, adding that she had been lied to multiple times.

The police then proceeded to Brgy. Agus, also in Lapu-Lapu City, where the suspect was reportedly spotted with his mistress.

A few hours later, at approximately 1 a.m. the next day, Monday, authorities managed to track down the suspect and his mistress inside the latter’s rented boarding house in Sitio Malinao, also in Brgy. Agus. 

Police said they caught the suspect sleeping with his mistress, who was a 38-year-old seamstress.

Both the suspect and his mistress are currently under the custody of Lapu-Lapu City Police Station.

The former may face charges of concubinage while adultery for the latter. 

An active member of the Philippine Air Force landed in detention after he was caught spending time with his alleged mistress.

Retards in the Government 397

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2017562/sulu-election-exec-survives-ambush-in-zamboanga-city

Lawyer Vidzfar Amil Julie, provincial election supervisor in Sulu, escaped death from an ambush on Saturday morning in Barangay Santa Maria, this city.

In a police report obtained by the Inquirer, Patrolman Joshua Amilhussin, investigator of the case, said the incident took place around 10:30 a.m.

Julie, 51, was with his older brother, Nasser Asiri, 57, when attacked. Although he was unharmed, Nasser reportedly suffered a gunshot wound in the head.

Both were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police said the suspects, wearing black jackets with full-face helmets on, were on board a motorcycle.

After he was declared safe from harm, Julie took to social media to slam his attackers as “cowards” for not facing him squarely.

An election executive has survived an assassination attempt. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2017430/coa-p152-m-tesda-tool-kits-undistributed

More than 50,000 entrepreneurship starter tool kits in 2023 that were left undistributed to scholars of one of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (Tesda) programs could lead to wastage that would cost the government at least P152 million, state auditors said.

Of the 58,222 undistributed tool kits for Special Training for Employment Program (Step) beneficiaries, 42,080 units, or the majority were worth a total P151.85 million, while the remaining 16,142 units had an undetermined cost due to the agency’s “still unresolved problems on late procurement,” according to the 2023 annual report by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Step was implemented in line with Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA).

Based on a 2021 circular issued by Tesda, the tool kits would help Step beneficiaries jump-start any income-generating activities they plan to pursue once they graduate.

COA also called out Tesda for having produced only 20 graduates in its five-year implementation of the UAQTEA despite having an allocation of P276.37 million and a total of 2,071 filled slots for scholarship. The graduates obtained a three-year diploma in hotel and restaurant technology.

The Sariling Sikap Program (SSP), a revolving fund meant to enable Tesda to become a self-sufficient and income-generating entity, was also found with irregularities, as its accumulated balance remained high at P631.1 million at the end of 2023.

This balance resulted in the “improper utilization” by Tesda operating unit of the SSP funds that amounted to P28.6 million, “which are not related to training-cum-production activities and contrary to the purpose of the SSP fund as provided under EO No. 939,” COA examiners said, referring to the executive order that created the program.

In the Metro Manila office alone, charges or disbursements under the SSP fund “soared so high which resulted [in] negative operating results or surplus deficit” in 2023,” government auditors pointed out.

More than 50,000 entrepreneurship starter tool kits in 2023 that were left undistributed to scholars of one of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (Tesda) programs could lead to wastage that would cost the government at least P152 million, state auditors said.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/12/23/2409275/ex-barangay-chairman-kin-killed-sulu-ambush

Armed men killed a 27-year-old Tausug man and his relative, a former barangay chairman, in an ambush in Indanan town in Sulu on Saturday.

In separate reports yesterday, officials of the Sulu provincial police office and Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police director, said Fadjiri Abdirajan Biao and his 61-year-old elder, Faizal Ibrahim Biao, died on the spot from gunshot wounds.

The older Biao served as chairman of Barangay Kandaga in Talipao town in Sulu.

According to the Indanan municipal police station, the Biaos were on a motorcycle when they were attacked by armed men in a sport utility vehicle along a secluded stretch of the highway in Barangay Kajatian.

A former barangay chairman and his brother have been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/22/ombudsman-affirms-dismissal-of-bfar-director-escoto

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has upheld its decision that ordered the dismissal of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Demosthenes R. Escoto.

In an eight-page joint order, the OMB denied Escoto’s motion to reconsider its Feb. 5 orders that dismissed him from the service for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the service, and the filing of graft charges against him and his co-accused.  

“The assailed Resolution and Decision both dated 5 February 2024 stand,” declared the OMB.

However, the OMB modified its earlier ruling as it declared that Escoto is now perpetually disqualified for re-employment in the government service.

It reiterated that Escoto's dismissal carries with it the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

The case stemmed from the 2018 purchase of transmitters and transceivers for the BFAR's Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project) which was supposed to enhance the government's capability to safeguard and monitor the country's marine resources and to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.

The project was awarded to SRT-France, a subsidiary company of SRT-United Kingdom (SRT-UK) incorporated in France.

However, the French government, which granted to the Philippines a loan of €28,520,000 for the project,  declared that SRT-France was unqualified under the terms of its loan since SRT-France has no manufacturing or engineering facilities in France. It also has no record of activities in France, and its parent company is incorporated and domiciled in the UK.

“His (Escoto) actions, minute or substantial, were all instrumental in the success of the anomalous scheme that led to the award of the contract to SRT-UK,” declared the OMB.

The Office of the Ombudsman has upheld its decision that ordered the dismissal of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Director Demosthenes R. Escoto.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/23/2409362/coa-deped-spent-p1-billion-unusable-digital-system

The Department of Education paid P1.064 billion for an unusable digital infrastructure project, with state auditors criticizing the department for continuing payments even after key components of the system remained undelivered, according to the Commission on Audit's 2023 report. 

COA found that DepEd paid out the billion-peso sum — over 78% of the project's P1.356-billion total cost — to a contractor with a questionable financial capacity and a record of delayed projects. The department proceeded with payments despite receiving no working system that could streamline its payroll, inventory, and financial records as promised. 

The project, called the DepEd Enterprise Resource Planning System (DERPS), was meant to automate and connect all the department's systems so that data would be available "at the click of a button."

Instead, state auditors said the project, under then-DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, resulted in a "wastage of public funds" as none of the promised services were delivered despite the payments made.

The failed implementation has left DepEd still manually processing its payroll, procurement, and financial records — tasks DERPS was meant to automate. COA's findings also show DepEd incurred additional costs. These include P22.6 million in extra maintenance fees and P9.06 million worth of unused computer equipment gathering dust in one regional office.

According to the annual audit report, COA flagged nearly every facet of the procurement process for the DERPS project, the second phase of which was procured directly by the department in 2019. (No date was stated for the procurement of the first phase.)

State auditors questioned DepEd for awarding the P697-million contract for Phase II to a joint venture despite one party having only P92.5 million in net worth. The flagged contractor also had a documented history of delays in the majority of its ongoing projects.

Specifically, COA considered it irregular that "Contractor Party I" was able to bag the project with a net worth that is "substantially less than its share and interest in the project, with equivalent cost of P690 million." 

"Its seemingly financial incapability, considering that the latter will utilize all its resources in the project, create doubts as to whether the contractor will be able to sustain all its deliverables as stated in the approved contract, and deliver the same on time," the audit report read. 

State auditors found that, as of December 2019, "Contracting Party I" had at least six delayed projects with various government agencies, including DepEd and the Office of the Vice President. It also had five delayed projects with private companies. Other contracts' status were undetermined.  

The status of these ongoing contracts should have been reviewed by DepEd, and "any deficiencies found therein should had been a ground for disqualification," COA said. 

"The awarding of the P700 million project to the winning bidder creates doubts as to the competency of the DepEd officials/personnel involved in the procurement process which is apparent in the lackluster review of the relevant documents submitted by the winning bidder," COA said.

State auditors added that DepEd's failure to spot the financial incapability and the capacity of the contractor to deliver the project's milestones on time had placed "the government at a disadvantage."

As a response to state auditors' observations, DepEd explained that the contractors for DERPS had satisfied the financial capacity requirement of the government's procurement laws. "Contracting Party I" had submitted a line of credit to prove its financial capacity, according to DepEd. 

However, state auditors believe this was insufficient. "We maintain our stance that the Department should have conducted a thorough validation considering the indicative financial incapability of the winning bidder / minimal net worth," COA said. 

"It is stressed that the management has the duty to diligently review the financial capacity of the bidder to sustain the project’s implementation in order not to put public funds at risk for possible wastage," state auditors said. 

State auditors found that DepEd split the procurement into phases when it could have been integrated into a single process. The department also proceeded with implementing later phases despite knowing Phase I — handled by the Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) procurement service — was incomplete. 

Based on interviews with DepEd, COA said the first phase of the project concerned the procurement of the module or software system. The second phase dealt with the installation and configuration of the subject modules created in the first phase, along with the delivery of the hardware components. 

"The implementation of DERPS is dependent upon the successful completion of each phase of the procurement project. Simply put, the initial phase (DERPS Phase I) has to be completed first before Phase 2 can be started/implemented," COA explained.

State auditors found it problematic that DepEd gave DBM's procurement service the responsibility of implementing the first phase of the project even as it had no technical expertise to do so. Based on government laws on procurement, DBM's procurement service is responsible only for procuring commonly used supplies, materials and equipment. 

In the end, DepEd decided to "partially terminate the remaining undelivered milestones" of the first phase of DERPS. This is because the undelivered milestones had already piled up to at least 10% of the liquidated damages threshold — a sufficient ground for the termination of the contract. 

However, according to state auditors, despite major delays in implementation, DepEd did not proceed with collecting the liquidated damages, according to the COA report.

DepEd had also paid the entire Phase I contract price of P358.93 million upfront, contrary to the agreed payment terms, the COA report added.

"The transfer of funds at the start of the project is not in consonance with the terms stipulated in the covering contract that [the procurement service] shall bill the Department for the actual goods received on a quarterly basis and in accordance with the billing statement issued by the contractor or consultant," state auditors said.

State auditors also found that even if the first phase was never completed, DepEd continued paying the contractors for the completion of other advanced project milestones that could not have proceeded without the first phase.

For instance, state auditors found that DepEd paid the contractors for two milestones related to "Change Management" and "Delivery of HRIS" — tagged as milestones 5 and 6 — even as the software in the first phase was not delivered. This also means milestone 4 (deployment of DERPS I module) was skipped altogether.

State auditors also found instances where Certificates of Completion and Acceptance were issued despite non-delivery of project milestones. These were issued by the office of former DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua, who occupied the post from 2016 to 2023.  

Pascua was one of several DepEd officials suspended over the procurement of overpriced laptops for teachers.

"The foregoing conditions create doubt as to the regularity of the transactions and may be considered as gross neglect of duties for failure to give proper attention to such important details and is characterized by lack of care in safeguarding the public funds," the audit report stated.   

COA recommended that DepEd investigate those involved in the project's implementation for possible gross neglect of duties that led to the improper disposition of public funds. 

The failed project has left tangible evidence of waste. In DepEd's regional office in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), computer equipment worth P9.06 million received from the central office in 2021 remains unused to this day. This is because the actual software for the DERPS was never completed.

In addition, COA flagged DepEd for proceeding to pay P290 million to the joint venture for a related project called the "Core Network and Managed Co-Location Facilities" even as DERPS remained unfinished. This co-location project was meant to "provide connectivity" in relation to DERPS. 

As a result, the department incurred P22.6 million in additional costs for maintaining co-location services after the contract expired in October 2023.  

DepEd explained that it conducted the second phase "almost simultaneously" with the first phase, which was why it proceeded with payments for Phase II and the co-location facilities even as Phase I was incomplete. 

The explanation did not satisfy the state auditors, who said that DepEd had skipped a key milestone and rendered payments anyway.

As a result, the "inefficient and ineffective contract implementation of the DERPS Interrelated projects is tantamount to the wastage of government funds," according to COA.

The Department of Education paid P1.064 billion for an unusable digital infrastructure project, with state auditors criticizing the department for continuing payments even after key components of the system remained undelivered, according to the Commission on Audit's 2023 report. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2017986/ombudsman-suspends-2-batangas-town-execs-over-grave-misconduct-complaint

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of two Batangas municipality officials over allegations of grave misconduct.

Lobo Municipality Accountant Ethel Magnaye and Treasurer Leandro Canuel were suspended “without pay but not exceeding six months” pending their investigation over the purchase of a P5-million heavy equipment.

On Dec. 16, a barangay chairman filed a complaint against the two and Lobo Mayor Lota Manalo, accusing them of misappropriating the P5 million for purchasing heavy equipment when the public money was intended for a solar-powered water system.

Manalo was excluded from the suspension order as she was already previously ordered dismissed from service for violation of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, Grave Misconduct, and Gross Neglect of Duty.

“After a careful evaluation of the complaint and its supporting documents, this Office finds sufficient basis to place respondents under preventive suspension pending investigation of the case,” the Ombudsman order states.

“The acts leveled against respondents constitute grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service,” it also says.

The Ombudsman order further explains that “[i]n case of delay in the disposition of the case due to the fault, negligence or any cause attributable to the respondents, the period of such delay shall not be counted in computing the period of the preventive suspension.”

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of two Batangas municipality officials over allegations of grave misconduct.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/23/coa-warns-lto-of-notice-of-disallowance-over-deficiencies-in-p1-2-b-transactions

Around P1.272 billion worth of transactions of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) with German firm Dermalog Identification System GMBH could be the subject of a notice of disallowance (ND) from the Commission on Audit (COA) if the transport agency fails to address the deficiencies unearthed.

The COA issued the warning in a notice of suspension (NS) addressed to LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, dated last Nov. 29.

The audit body said the transactions amounting to P1,272,440.22.34 cover payments to Dermalog for the Road Transportation Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Project – Component A, also known as the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), from 2019 to 2022.

It said it had to suspend the audit due “to various deficiencies involving non-compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; non-conformance with the contract requirements; and incomplete submission and/or presentation of all the relevant supporting documents/evidences.’

“Please settle the above audit suspension through compliance with the requirements indicated which we will evaluate and refer to COA-ITAO for further review/evaluation,” the COA instructed the LTO.

It warned that "items suspended in audit which are not settled within ninety (90) days from receipt hereof shall become a disallowance….”

It identified Dermalog and 70 LTO officers as responsible for complying with the requirements.

The COA defines disallowance as "the disapproval in audit of a transaction, either in whole or in part”.

It said it already sent to the LTO a Feb. 6 audit observation memorandum (AOM) that contains “the observations noted by the COA-Information Technology Audit Office (ITAO) on their technical evaluation of the contract and inspection which are contained in 13 Technical Evaluation and Inspection Reports (TEIRs) dated March 13, 2023 to September 13, 2023.”

“The observations cited in the 13 TEIRs which were communicated to the Management through the aforesaid AOM pertain to various deficiencies involving non-compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; non-conformance with the contract requirements; and incomplete submission and/or presentation of all the relevant supporting documents/evidences,” it also said.

“The Audit Team has yet to receive the complete compliance and/or justifications from the Management on these noted observations/issues on the aforesaid AOM. On May 21, 2024 and Nov. 26, 2024, the Audit Team issued two (2) follow-up letters to the LTO but still no response has been given by the Management as of this date, hence, the issuance of this Notice of Suspension (NS),” it recounted.

Around P1.272 billion worth of transactions of the Land Transportation Office with German firm Dermalog Identification System GMBH could be the subject of a notice of disallowance from the Commission on Audit if the transport agency fails to address the deficiencies unearthed.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2018086/coa-flags-mtrcb-over-15-consultants-paid-p4-million

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for paying P4.4 million to 15 consultants without the required documentary requirements, “casting doubt as to the necessity, regularity, and propriety of the transactions.”

State auditors noted in their 2023 annual audit report for the MTRCB that the 15 consultants had been hired for the following areas:

• gender and development planning and social media (P268,766.52)
• communication planning (P340,953.12)
• graphic art production (P340,953.12)
• photojournalism (P312,217.49)
• speech writer (P545,524.98)
• legal researcher (P545,524.98)
• artist relations (P312,195.49)
• photography, (P168,539.32)
• resource speaker for MTRCB’s ISO Quality Management System Awareness (P148,314.65)
• media relations (P284,773.34)
• critical stakeholder management (P681,907.62)
• electrical system and distribution preventive maintenance (P103,448.28)
• property (P143,678.15)
• technical consultant for the development of “Responsableng Panonood” module (P68,965.52), and
• MTRCB Reputation Management, (P197,318.03).

Upon audit of the MTRCB’s submitted disbursement vouchers and all supporting documents, the COA found out the hired consultants did not submit all required documents as prescribed under COA rules for consultancy services.

“The nonsubmission of the curriculum vitae deprived the audit team in determining the propriety of hiring the consultants, whether or not these consultants possessed the minimum qualifications for the consultancy engagement, e.g. highly specialized or technical expertise to perform the output/services which cannot be provided by the regular staff of the MTRCB,” the COA explained in its report.

As for the procurement documents, failure to submit these cast doubts on whether the procurement processes under the Government Procurement Act were “faithfully observed” by the MTRCB in hiring the consultants, auditors said.

Of the 15 consultants, state auditors highlighted the hiring of the MTRCB critical stakeholder management consultant, who turned out to be a private lawyer.

Auditors pointed out that there was no “prior concurrence” from the COA itself and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), “considering that the consultant is a lawyer, and her task involves the practice of law.”

“Public funds shall not be utilized for the payment of the services of a private legal counsel or law firm to represent government agencies in court or to render legal services for them,” the COA said, citing a provision from the 1987 Constitution.

There should have been written conformity and acquiescence of the solicitor general and written concurrence of the COA before any government agency hires or employs the services of private lawyers.

The MTRCB paid the lawyer a monthly fee of P56,180 from January to June 2023 and P57,471.27 from July to December of that same year.

“However, the MTRCB failed to secure the written approval and acquiescence of the solicitor general and COA’s written concurrence since the monthly fee exceeded P50,000 prior to the engagement of MTRCB’s Critical Stakeholder Management Consultant” that is “contrary” to the requirements under the Constitution and COA rules, said the state auditors.

“These circumstances cast doubt unto the necessity, regularity and propriety of the engagement of the consultants and their payment thereof,” they noted.

The COA told the MTRCB, which agreed with the recommendations, to submit its justifications on the necessity of hiring the consultants for their respective services.

Among the recommendations were for all hired consultants to issue official receipts for all the payments made to them; the MTRCB’s Human Resources Unit should require all consultants to submit their updated curriculum vitae; and for the consultants to specify in their respective accomplishment reports the services they performed.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for paying P4.4 million to 15 consultants without the required documentary requirements, “casting doubt as to the necessity, regularity, and propriety of the transactions.”

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/12/24/2409491/bjmp-officers-gun-goes-off-2-hurt

Two female employees of the Quezon City government were wounded when the handgun of a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer went off yesterday.

The victims aged 27 and 42 work as office aide and administrative staff, respectively, at city hall.

They are recuperating at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC).

The incident occurred at the Quezon City hall building in Barangay Central at 9:01 a.m.

Police investigators said Jail Officer 1 Joen Adarayan, 26, and other BJMP personnel were about to surrender their firearms to security guards at the city hall’s lobby when his gun, which he took out from his bag, went off.

The bullet ricocheted on the ground, hitting the victims, police said.

One of the victims was hit in her lower leg. The other was hit in her left ankle.

Members of the city disaster risk reduction and management office gave first aid to the victims before they were brought to the EAMC.

Adarayan surrendered to police and turned over his firearm, a 9mm loaded with seven bullets.

Probers recovered five bullet fragments at the scene.

Police said they are preparing criminal cases against Adarayan.

Two female employees of the Quezon City government were wounded when the handgun of a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer went off.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/23/2-barangay-tanods-in-abra-wounded-in-shootout

Two barangay tanods (watchmen) were injured in a shootout in the barangay hall of Poblacion, Pilar, Abra on Sunday night, Dec. 22.

Police identified the victims as Romel Reyes and Denver Cayetano.

Investigation said Reyes and Cayetano were drinking in the barangay hall when a heated argument erupted allegedly over a woman they were courting.

Cayetano drew a gun and shot Reyes who was also reportedly armed and returned fire. A colleague, Alvin Apolonio, 38, who sitting on a chair, was hit by a stray bullet.

Cayetano and Reyes sustained bullet wounds in the stomach and taken to the hospital where they are recuperating.

Apolonio was also taken to the hospital and was discharged after treatment. 

Police recovered empty .45 caliber shells in the crime scene but no gun was recovered. 

Pilar Mayor Tyron R. Beronia said Reyes and Cayetano are under investigation to determine any administrative liability.

Beronia said the incident is not related to politics and was a result of a reported love triangle.

He said that initial investigation showed that witnesses only saw Cayetano with a gun. 

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

Two barangay tanods were injured in a shootout in the barangay hall of Poblacion, Pilar, Abra during a drunken argument about a woman. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2017246/teacher-slain-in-cotabato-gun-attack

An Islamic teacher who also served as treasurer of one of the villages in the Bangsamoro’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman on Wednesday, Dec. 19, in Pikit, Cotabato, police said.

Major Arvin John Cambang, Pikit municipal police chief, said Yasser Mama Abdullah, a part-time teacher who just passed the Licensure Exams for Teachers and who taught at the Noorul Eilm Academy Foundation Inc. was standing in front of the school’s annex building in Barangay Inug-og when two men riding in tandem on motorbikes arrived around 3:30 p.m. and opened fire.

“He was about to board his motorcycle heading for home when attacked by one of the two gunmen,” Cambang said.

“His relatives said he had no known enemies as he was a religious leader,” Cambang told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

Abdullah sustained gunshot wounds in the head and was rushed to the Cruzado Medical Hospital but he died along the way.

Police found empty shells for 9mm pistol at the crime scene.

Aside from being an ustadz (teacher), Abdullah also served as the treasurer of Barangay Macabual, Tugunan town of the SGA of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

An Islamic teacher who also served as treasurer of one of the villages in the Bangsamoro’s Special Geographic Area was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/25/treasurer-accused-of-misusing-barangay-funds

Police are tracking down the treasurer of Barangay 1 here who allegedly used barangay funds to pay for her online gambling debts. 

Officer-on-case Police Master Sgt. Jomar Villaflor identified the suspect as Jessa Rosales.

Chairman Godofredo L. Martinez and councilor Angelina Saludares Rañeses, chairperson of the committee on budget and finance, filed a complaint before the police on Dec. 24 against Rosales.

Investigation said Martinez asked the suspect on Dec. 17 to encash a check to pay the honorarium, salary, and performance enhancement incentive of barangay officials.

However, the suspect said no budget was available for the month of December, prompting the complainants to verify the matter with the Landbank of the Philippines-Lucban branch.

Bank statements obtained by the two barangays officials showed that the suspect withdrew three checks with a total amount of P340,000 without their knowledge in November and December.

They claim that the suspect misused public funds for personal gain. Investigation also revealed that the suspect was addicted to online gaming.

The suspect faces a criminal complaint for violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds) before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Lucena City, Quezon.

A barangay treasurer has been accused of using funds to pay her gambling debts. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/26/2409881/government-agencies-sucs-flagged-over-p242-billion-delayed-defective-projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out 15 national government agencies (NGAs) and 34 state universities and colleges (SUCs) over delayed, unimplemented and defective infrastructure projects for 2023 totaling P242.19 billion.

In its “2023 Annual Financial Report for the National Government” released last Dec. 2, the COA said that as of Dec. 31, 2023, various infrastructure projects by NGAs with an aggregate cost of P239.82 billion and by SUCs with aggregate cost of P2.37 billion were either “not executed in accordance with the plan,” “with noted deficiencies,” “unutilized or not fully utilized,” “not completed on time” or “not completed at all.”

The COA said these existing conditions “may result in waste of government funds or delayed enjoyment of project benefits.”?The audit body said the delays were mainly due to the NGAs and SUCs’ “poor planning, inadequate detailed engineering, inefficiency in monitoring and supervision of project implementation, non-observance of the provisions of contracts/ agreements, delayed or long procurement process, and lack of coordination with LGUs (local government units) and other agencies concerned.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways was identified as responsible for the bulk of the delayed, unimplemented and defective projects, consisting of 3,047 locally funded projects with an aggregate cost of P131.569 billion.

The COA said this was on top of 17 foreign-assisted projects with an aggregate cost of P84.411 billion, which were also delayed or uncompleted, as evidenced by the negative slippages (the difference between target accomplishment and actual accomplishment) ranging from 0.78 percent to 36.60 percent and increased project costs.

Furthermore, the COA said 828 infrastructure projects undertaken by DPWH were not executed in accordance with the plans and agreed terms of the contract, “thereby resulting in various technical defects equivalent to a total amount of at least P343,524,212.86.”

Meanwhile, “prolonged project timeline” and delays in completion were also observed in locally funded and foreign-assisted infrastructure projects implemented by the Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary (DOTr-OSEC) with an aggregate contract cost of P8.714 billion.

Among the delayed DOTr-OSEC projects identified in the audit report were the MRT3 Capacity Expansion Projects; MRT3 – Structural Retrofitting and Monitoring Project for the Retaining Walls between Buendia Station and Ayala Station, which was identified as “high priority” and DOTr-MRT3 Design, Supply and Installation of the Ventilation System at the MRT3 Depot.

Also with delays in implementation were the Unified Grand Central Station (Area A); EDSA Greenways Project and Cauayan Airport Development Project (repair of runway pavement and drainage system).

The Land Transportation Office, an attached agency of the DOTr, meanwhile, was called out for the long-overdue implementation of the Land Transportation Management System with a project cost of P8.227 billion.

Also called out was the Department of Health over its delayed, unimplemented and unutilized projects with an aggregate cost of P2.831 billion under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program and the Philippine National Police over terminated and suspended projects totaling P1.22 billion.

Other NGAs called out for the delays and other deficiencies in implementation of their respective infrastructure projects were the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (P1.166 billion); Office of the Ombudsman (P498.59 million); Department of Social Welfare and Development (P352.62 million); Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (P200 million); Philippine Sports Commission (P170.63 million); National Economic and Development Authority (P168.58 million); Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (P100 million); National Meat Inspection Service (P50 million); Philippine Carabao Center (P46.46 million); Department of the Interior and Local Government (P23.97 million) and Office of the Civil Defense (P12.79 million).

The Commission on Audit has called out 15 national government agencies and 34 state universities and colleges over delayed, unimplemented and defective infrastructure projects for 2023 totaling P242.19 billion.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2018633/lto-ncr-official-faces-probe-over-illegally-registered-truck

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II has demanded an explanation from the head of an LTO district office in the National Capital Region (NCR) regarding the fraudulent registration of a truck that was involved in a road accident in Parañaque City earlier this month.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mendoza said the explanation he was seeking from the LTO-NCR district office head, whom he did not identify, was part of the “thorough” investigation he had ordered into the Dec. 6 accident on the Skyway At-Grade Southbound in Barangay Sun Valley that killed one person and left five others injured.

The vehicle involved was an Isuzu wing van with plate number JA06375, whose driver claimed the brakes malfunctioned. The truck hit another vehicle, which led to a series of collisions involving several other vehicles.

“We want to have a clear explanation from the LTO officer involved, under the concept of command responsibility, as to why the truck was able to register without the necessary roadworthiness inspection,” Mendoza said in his letter to the district office head.

He gave the LTO official five days upon receipt of the letter to explain why no administrative action should be taken for violating the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

“Failure on your part to submit the required explanation within a specified period shall be construed as a waiver on your part to controvert the issues raised against you and the case shall be decided on the basis of evidence at hand,” Mendoza’s letter read.

Immediately after the Dec. 6 accident, the LTO suspended the license of the driver for 90 days pending an investigation and also ordered him and the truck’s registered owner to explain why they should not be held liable for the incident.

Land Transportation Officer chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II has demanded an explanation from the head of an LTO district office in the National Capital Region regarding the fraudulent registration of a truck that was involved in a road accident in Parañaque City earlier this month.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/26/2409936/depeds-classroom-construction-remote-areas-delayed-555-days-coa

More than a year and a half after their promised completion date, 76 school facilities in the country's most isolated communities remain unfinished as the Department of Education Central Office struggles to complete P1.4 billion worth of Last Mile School projects, according to state auditors.

In its audit report, the Commission on Audit said only 22 out of 98 school facilities under the Last Mile Schools Program (LMSP) procured by DepEd's main office were completed in 2023, even though the projects were awarded in 2021 and had received mobilization fees of P211.2 million.

The program, which aims to transform makeshift classrooms into standard ones in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, was supposed to be completed within 150 calendar days from the start of construction, but not later than May 31, 2022. 

Three contractors handling four lots have already gone past the deadline by over 500 days, according to the report. 

"Verification pertaining to the status of implementation of construction of classrooms centrally-procured by CO revealed that majority of the projects are still not completed in the current year," state auditors said.

One contractor handling projects worth P327.8 million had become unreachable at the time of the audit. "It was also disclosed during the interview that projects under Lot 4 with a total contract cost of P327,867,809.66, were on-hold. The Department is said to have been facing difficulties in contacting/getting updates from the said contractor," the audit report read.  

DepEd attributed the delays to various factors, including COVID-19 restrictions during the pre-construction phase and unforeseen circumstances like flooding, landslides, and community opposition during construction. 

However, COA noted that these issues "affect only a fraction of the total projects" and blamed the delays on the department's "inaction in taking remedial measures in a timely manner."

"The delays of 555 days as of December 31, 2023, is of paramount concern, as the learners from far-flung communities were denied access to quality education and did not benefit from the project's target that no learner is left behind," COA said.

The audit body recommended that DepEd submit a catch-up plan with definite timelines for completing the remaining projects and improve its planning for future undertakings.

More than a year and a half after their promised completion date, 76 school facilities in the country's most isolated communities remain unfinished as the Department of Education Central Office struggles to complete P1.4 billion worth of Last Mile School projects, according to state auditors.