Sara Duterte: Get to Da Choppa!

It's amazing how bold Sara Duterte really is and not in a good way either. From punching the court sheriff to influencing who is House Speaker to unashamedly claiming that honesty does not matter Sara has proven herself to be a short fused, dishonest, pompous windbag who ultimately does not care about her constituents (going so far as to mock them by cosplaying as an indigenous person) and, like the President she serves alongside, has as her best and only qualification her surname.

Sara is so bold that now she is bragging on Twitter about using government helicopters to fly home every night in order to tuck her children in bed. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/09/13/2209432/duterte-thanks-marcos-use-paf-aircraft-so-she-can-be-her-kids

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also education secretary, on Tuesday thanked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for allowing her the use of Air Force aircraft to ferry her back home so she can be with her kids at night.

In a message for Marcos' birthday, Duterte wished the president God's favor as well as strength and wisdom in "the difficult road ahead" at the helm of the Republic of the Philippines.

"Thank you, [President Bongbong], and your 250th PAW for ensuring that wherever I may be found in the country during the day, I am home in time to tuck my children to bed," she also said.

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing is tasked with providing the air transportation needs of the president, his Cabinet members and staff. The wing operates both airplanes and helicopters 

"Thank you for putting a premium on the desire of a working mother to be present in her children's lives," Duterte, who has three young children, said.

At an inauguration program in Davao City in June, Vice President Duterte stressed the importance of family, saying "[a] strong, loving, happy family sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child."

Here is the tweet in question:

https://twitter.com/indaysara/status/1569488104972763137

Understandably many people balked at the thought of Sara Duterte using taxpayer money to fly to Davao every night just to be with her children. However, that appears to not be the case. It turns out her family has moved to Manila. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1183658

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) refuted on Wednesday accusations and remarks circulating online about Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged daily use of a presidential chopper in Davao City.

In a Viber message, OVP Spokesperson Reynold Munsayac debunked the matter, labeling it as fake news, following Duterte’s posted birthday greeting to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“That’s fake news, the claim saying she’s using a chopper bound to Davao City on a daily basis. VP Sara Duterte now lives in Manila, with her family, even her kids are studying here,” he said.

The allegations surfaced online after Duterte thanked the chief executive for allowing her to fulfill both her official and maternal duties by lending her a 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW).

“Thank you, PBB, and your 250th PAW (presidential airlift wing) for ensuring that wherever I may be found in the country during the day, I am home in time to tuck my children to bed. Thank you for putting a premium on the desire of a working mother to be present in her children’s lives,” she said earlier in her birthday greetings.

Moreover, Munsayac clarified that the said aircraft is only being used for official travels.

“They are using land vehicles daily. The chopper is only used when needed for official work and functions, depending on the place and urgency of schedule,” he added.

That certainly is much needed context but it doesn't really solve the problem here. Sara said

Thank you, PBB, and your 250th PAW (presidential airlift wing) for ensuring that wherever I may be found in the country during the day, I am home in time to tuck my children to bed. 

On its face that is saying the PAW flies Sara home every day to be with her children at night. The wording is quite plain. But apparently her words are not to be taken at face value. That is the hot take of one tweeter.

https://twitter.com/ManuelPSev/status/1570395438028845056

Lazy journalism… and you people really took her word literally huh… geez

Imagine scolding someone for taking the words of the Vice President literally. How else are her words to be taken? It says a lot that Sara Duterte's words cannot be trusted on their own.

It also should be noted that Sara's spokesman, Reynold Munsayac, contradicted her claim that the PAW makes sure she is home at night to tuck her children in bed.

The chopper is only used when needed for official work and functions, depending on the place and urgency of schedule.

So, which is it? Does the PAW make sure she is at home every night to be with her children or does she only use the chopper for official functions? They cannot both be true. 

Sara issued a statement blaming bad actors for maliciously misinterpreting her tweet.

https://twitter.com/indaysara/status/1570325668445163520

I believe that a person who can conjure a lie from an appreciation post — that a helicopter is being used to go home every day, even giving in to the itch of maliciously suggesting that it is for personal use — should seriously reflect on why he had to lie.

I think that if this person can recognize his anger, he will be able to overcome his bitter and spiteful self. Hopefully, he becomes a better version of himself — despite the cycle of hate that has enslaved him. 

This tweet is oozing a lot of needless drama. Instead of issuing an apology for causing confusion and clarifying her previous statement she goes on the attack in the most passive aggressive way. The fact is many people read her tweet and immediately jumped to the conclusion that she is taking daily flights home with the PAW because that is exactly what she indicated. There is not much leeway for interpretation. Sara thanked the PAW and Marcos for ensuring that wherever she is by day she will be with her children at night. End of tweet.

The Office of the Vice President is seriously considering charging with a crime anyone who claims Sara flies daily to Davao. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/15/22/ovp-mulls-charges-over-claims-on-saras-chopper-use

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said Thursday it was looking at the possibility of filing charges against those who claimed that Vice President Sara Duterte was using the presidential chopper daily to travel between Manila and Davao City. 

(We are studying if that qualifies as a criminal case because a lot of people were fooled or misled by those types of posts.)

(If we allow those to propagate, sometimes the people will believe it.)

Duterte "doesn't use government resources for personal purposes," Munsayac said earlier in the day. 

(It's very clear that there's malice on the part of the people who made those claims... That's not true because our Vice President and her family are already based in Manila.)

What malice? For taking Sara's own words at face value? This issue could have been avoided had Sara never thanked the PAW for making sure she is at home each night or at least by clarifying her statement. It's simply another controversy caused solely by her own doing. Perhaps she revels in this kind of negative attention.

Modernizing the Philippines

Is the Philippines a backward nation? Yes. Everything from infrastructure to the healthcare system to even the lottery the government admits is way behind the times and in need of modernization. Modernization is a sort of mantra of the government to justify billions of pesos in spending. Some modernization projects have been ongoing for decades. Many of them have been total failures. Of course now with the COVID-19 pandemic some of these modernization programs will likely be put on hold as the government scrounges for cash.

Let's take a look at some of these modernization projects in no particular order.

The Bureau of Fire Protection

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095912

Go said they already conducted a Senate committee hearing regarding Senate Bill 204 or the proposed Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019. 

He added that not only the upgrading of equipment is stipulated in the bill, but also the education campaign and safety measures component. 

“President Rodrigo Duterte is in full support and he wanted to modernize the BFP in a three-year plan,” he said. 

To recall, Duterte urged Congress during his 4th State of the Nation Address in July 2019 to pass a law mandating a BFP modernization program. 

SB 204 seeks to strengthen the BFP by giving it additional functions and authorize it to establish and implement a Fire Protection Modernization Program.

Duterte wanted the Congress to pass a law in 2019 mandating a BFP modernization program but such a program has already existed since 2010. A COA report issued in January 2019, six months before Duterte's plea to Congress, laid bare this failed BFP modernization program.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/221741-bureau-fire-protection-modernization-program-audit-report

The modernization program of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is flailing, with auditors saying that the agency "failed" to upgrade its capacities despite the program already being 8 years on. 

The modernization program was launched in 2010, and it was released with a total of P13.17-billion budget from 2011 to 2017. 

The Commission on Audit (COA) was compelled to do a performance audit because despite the program, the country still registered 96,447 fire incidents from 2011 to 2017 which resulted in 1,924 deaths, 5,750 injuries, and P31.06 billion in property damage. 

"[It] thereby raise issues as to the effectiveness of the program," the COA said in its special audit released on Wednesday, January 23. 

"The BFP is not on track in accomplishing the Modernization Program's goals and objectives within its timelines," the COA said. 

For example, as of June 30, 2018, the BFP only completed 263 out of its target 945 fire stations. This equates to 308 municipalities without a fire station. 

What's worse, the COA found that some contractors have abandoned 11 out of the 44 ongoing construction of fire stations. 

The COA said the P13.7-billion budget is only 22% of the total funding requirement which is P60.29 billion. 

Because they do not have enough funding, the BFP eventually failed in utilizing the money that it has that in the end, it had to forfeit P1.91 billion to the national treasury.As for fire trucks, the BFP procured only 621 trucks out of the target 1,057. 

As of 2016, the COA found that 176 out of the 469 fire trucks delivered in 2015 already had defects. 

The COA doubts that the BFP can fulfill its deliverables under the Modernization Program by 2020. 

The COA also found that the BFP did not have a fully-functioning Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) "because no one was interested to become members of its BAC for fear of lawsuits from the losing bidders." 

Outsourcing of some of its procurements resulted in delays that only 33% of a total P526.81 million procurements were delayed, while the rest remain undelivered for 4 years now. 

The COA also found that the BFP does not track its progress. It also didn't have clear agreements with local governments. In the end, the COA found that 34% of barangays they visited have no organized fire brigades.

What a mess. In eight years time the BFP has run out of money, had contractors abandon projects, not met goals on firetrucks, delivered faulty firetrucks, does not have a Bids and Awards Committee to properly procure projects, does not track its progress, and has no clear agreements with local governments. And Bong Go thinks the BFP can be modernized under Duterte's watch in three years?

Funny enough the House has passed ANOTHER BFP modernization bill.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122021

The House of Representatives on Monday night approved on second reading a measure seeking to strengthen and modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The lower chamber passed via voice voting House Bill 7406, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act.

The bill mandates the establishment and implementation of a Fire Protection Modernization Program with the following components: fire protection service, force restructuring and organizational development, capability, material, and technology development, specialized services development, and human resource development.

Surely everything will go smoothly this time, right? Almost a year later in 2021 Duterte signed what I assume is this bill into law. The most important thing about this modernization act is that it allows for the arming of firemen.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1486355/duterte-signs-bfp-modernization-law-justifies-arming-firefighters

The President signed the measure and even justified the reason behind arming firefighters in a ceremony in Malacañang attended by some members of Congress.

“Bakit mo bigyan ng baril ang mga bumbero e sunog lang ang kalaban nyan? You know, the organization itself and the individual bumbero, they are exposed to so many dangers,” Duterte said in his speech.

(Why would you give a gun to a firefighter when they are only putting out fire? You know, the organization and the firefighters themselves are exposed to so many dangers.)

(There are so many challenges in the work of a firefighter, in the day of his life which needs protection. By providing them with a gun, or even giving them a few units,  it would really be just to ward off threats and destruction of government properties.)

Fourteen firefighters for every fire regional office and city station will be authorized to carry a firearm as members of the security and protection unit.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who sponsored the measure, said there are 17 fire regional offices and 146 city fire stations, which means only 2,282 firefighters or 7.9 percent of the 32,800-strong BFP will be armed.

Dela Rosa also estimated about P80 million would be needed to purchase the firearm units.

This law is actually a ten year modernization program that will transform the BFP into a world-class institution.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11589 that will strengthen and modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

During the ceremonial signing of the BFP Modernization Act on Friday, Duterte said the new law would help boost the morale, efficiency, responsiveness, and professionalism of the bureau’s personnel as they continue to fulfill their mandate to save people’s lives.

“The Bureau of Fire Protection has been instrumental in the success of our collective efforts to provide rescue and relief operations in areas hit by destructive fire and calamities,” Duterte said in a keynote speech delivered at Malacañang Palace’s Rizal Hall.

RA 11589, Duterte said, will enable the BFP to embark on a 10-year modernization period, transforming it into a modern and world-class institution.

The newly signed law also creates the BFP Modernization Trust Fund, which will include appropriations for BFP modernization, as well as 80 percent of the share of the BFP from all taxes, fees, and fines collected pursuant to Republic Act 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines.

Other sources for the modernization fund include proceeds from the disposal of excess and uneconomically repairable equipment and other movable assets of the BFP, supplemental assistance from Congress due to surpluses, loans, grants, or donations, and the fund’s interest income.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153215 

Surely this 10-year modernization program will do the trick, right? Right?? I would not count on it.

The Bureau of Customs

https://business.inquirer.net/292034/boc-modernization-project-okd

Economic managers on Friday green-lighted the planned P5.5-billion project to mo­dernize the Bureau of Customs (BOC) which was aimed at further boosting the government’s tax revenue. 

The project was aimed at not only improving the efficiency of the country’s second biggest revenue agency, but also redu­cing trade costs in the Philippines, the World Bank had said.

This article is from March 7th, 2020 and goes on to make this program appear to be part of the Build Build Build infrastructure projects.  However in 2016 Aquino signed a bill into law providing for the modernization of the BOC.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/568227/aquino-signs-cmta-into-law/story/

President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the Bureau of Customs said on Tuesday. 

The law - Republic Act 10863 - updates the Tariff and Customs Code, last amended in 1978, and is supposed to modernize the bureau's facilities, procedures, and overall operations. 

With the CMTA in place, several reforms will be implemented at the BOC that include full electronic processing of shipments, streamlining of export and import procedures, and simplified processes for seizure and disposition of illegal goods. 

The act will also reduce corruption and technical smuggling, as well as improve revenues, as it establishes a "cashless, faceless, and paperless environment," Lina noted. 

"Efforts are already underway to attune current BOC systems to the new provisions in the CMTA focused on business process re-engineering, computer-based systems development, organizational development, capacity building, and external communication and education," he said. 

The law likewise imposes stiffer penalties on the smuggling of goods. It slaps a minimum jail time of 31 days to six months or a fine of not less than P25,000 but not more than P75,000, or both, if the appraised value of the goods were unlawfully imported. 

With this law in place why four years later is the NEDA approving another BOC modernization program? Did this one succeed in any part?  A month and a half before Aquino signed the CMTA into law the DTI was already lauding the rollout of the BOC modernization program.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. lauded the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) technology modernization plan to improve customs services. 

“The use of technology solutions to ease documentation and customs procedures will allow our exporters to expeditiously move goods across borders and to capitalize on the growing benefits of our trade engagements,” said Cristobal. 

The BOC recently launched a series of information technology projects in preparation for the passage of the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA). The CMTA will amend the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines to comply with the World Customs Organization (WCO) – Revised Kyoto Convention that lays down international guidelines for modern and efficient customs practices in the 21st century.

http://industry.gov.ph/dti-welcomes-rollout-of-boc-modernization-plan/

Since the BOC is still modernizing it is safe to say that the CMTA has not fully succeeded yet especially since corruption in the BOC has in nowise abated.


Department of Agriculture

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/02/19/da-p3-billion-to-fuel-farm-fishery-modernization/

THE government has initially allotted P3 billion to fuel the modernization and industrialization of the country’s agriculture and fishery sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. 

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA has been pursuing innovative approaches across all agri-fishery programs, making use of the advances in science and technology (S&T) and inclusive market-oriented development (IMOD). 

“We are allotting an initial P3 billion to fund various innovative agri-fishery projects and agribusiness incubation enterprises for millennials, hobbyists, FCAs, and agri-preneurs,” said Dar following a technical meeting on the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the Philippines last February 17. 

Dar said the DA will implement a management internship program, where it will hire top graduates —particularly those with Latin honors‚from SUCs and private academic institutions to work at any of the DA family agencies that fit their field of interest and academic attainment. He said the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is establishing a Young Farmers’ Academy that integrates under one roof all their programs and initiatives for the youth. 

P3 billion to fund millennials, hobbyists, and agri-preneurs? The modernization of the Philippines agricultural system has been going on since 1999.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2003/12/21/232419/senate-body-wants-5-year-extension-afma-funding-support

AFMA was enacted in 1997 and implemented in 1999. As mandated by law, funding for the modernization of the agriculture and fisheries sector should be provided until 2005.  

Magsaysay, who chairs both the Senate committee on agriculture and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM), said the lack of government resources and minimal private sector investments in agriculture have hampered the full implementation of the law.  

"AFMA’s implementation was hampered by serious funding constraints. When its implementation was commenced in 1999, two years after its enactment, a meager P9.95 billion was granted; P11.68 billion in 2000; P11.38 billion in 2001 and P11.057 billion in 2002," Magsaysay said.  

As of August this year, funding for AFMA totaled only P4.02 billion, he said. "AFMA, as mandated by law, was supposed to get an initial budget appropriation of P20 billion in the first year of its implementation and P17 billion yearly thereafter for six years," Magsaysay said.  

The DA has also been seeking for the extension of the funding support for AFMA.  

The DA and the farmers view AFMA as a "safety net" which could help farmers cope with trade liberalization caused by the country’s entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO).  

Among the salient provisions of the law include the improvement of credit delivery for farmers and fisherfolks, improvement of research and development and funding for the acquisition of modern farm equipment.

In 1997 the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act was signed into law to modernize the farm and fishery sectors yet it was underfunded! What's the point of passing a law to modernize the agricultural and fishery sectors if it's not going to be funded? If this program had been funded and food production improved the country would be better off today.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119433

Agriculture Secretary William Dar led Thursday the harvesting of the different varieties of hybrid rice inside the 100-hectare demonstration farm of the Department of Agriculture in Caraga (DA-13) in Barangay Lemon here on Thursday.

The highlight of the 11th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF), the ceremonial harvesting is part of DA's effort to promote farm modernization among the rice farmers in the region, whom Dar encouraged to go into hybrid rice farming.

“This activity (NRTF) aims to show you the available types of machinery for efficient farming as this is the time to modernize and adapt proper technologies and equipment to enable the agriculture sector to survive the pandemic,” Dar told the farmers.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar is wrong. Now is not the time to modernize the agricultural sector. Now should be the time the Philippines is reaping the benefits of modernization but instead they are playing catch-up.

Those are only three of the many sectors of the government that are in need of modernization. I shall explore more in a future article. If we examine these plans we will begin to see a pattern which is a law for modernization is passed and funds are not properly allocated. If they are then programs are not properly implemented such as in the case of the BFP. It seems to be less a problem of corruption and more a problem of incompetence.

Not an Isolated Incident

The fallout from and the PNP's response to the shooting of a woman and her son by their neighbor who was an off-duty cop has been just what everyone has come to expect of that very corrupt organization. They say it's an isolated case and let's not focus on the bad apples because there are so many good cops. Pure deflection.

First the "isolated incident" canard.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/pnp-chief-says-cops-shooting-of-unarmed-neighbors-an-isolated-case

"The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement.

Of course then we all found out that this cop was a bad cop who had many cases filed against him. He should have been fired years ago. Two of those cases were even for homicide.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374548/policeman-linked-to-2-homicides-says-pnp-chief

He said that based on Nuezca’s records gathered by the Central Luzon police, the officer was investigated twice by the Internal Affairs Service for grave misconduct involving two homicides on May 9 and Dec. 29 last year.

“All of these were dismissed because of lack of evidence and witnesses to pursue the administrative cases. So, more or less, no criminal case was filed against him,” Sinas said.

He noted that Nuezca was also charged administratively for grave misconduct in 2013, less serious neglect of duty for failing to submit himself to drug testing in 2014, and serious neglect of duty for failing to appear as a prosecution witness in a drug case in 2016.

Sinas said the most Nuezca got was a 31-day suspension for avoiding the drug test because the other two less grave offenses were “dropped and closed.”

How convenient that there was warrant enough to investigate but then there was no evidence or witnesses to pursue the cases! Well there is the whole presumed innocent thing. But surely the PNP knew they had a problem cop on their hand when he refused to show up for a drug test, right?

The fact that he was able to operate with such impunity shows that the PNP is not as interested in cleaning its ranks as they claim. It also shows that, contrary to what Año says, the sin of this man IS the sin of PNP.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374265/ano-sin-of-cop-in-tarlac-shooting-not-the-sin-of-entire-pnp

“While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties everyday with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” Año said.

“The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response,” he added, referring to Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who is the suspect in the crime.

To Año this brazen and evil killing is just an "unfortunate incident." Shit happens right? That's what former PNP chief Bato said when a toddler was killed during a drug bust.

Maybe Año is a lapsed Catholic and does not understand that even though we did not commit Adam's personal sin we are still just as guilty as he because he is our representative. In the same way because the PNP did nothing to stop this man they are guilty of this crime which is a culmination of all his other misbehavior.

This ties nicely into the second deflection which is "not all cops."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374735/remember-cops-heroic-acts-too-pnp-says-amid-backlash-from-tarlac-shooting

But PNP spokesman Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the incident should not overshadow the PNP’s good deeds.

"We respect all accusations because of Nuezca but let's also look at the many good examples that our police have already shared," Usana said Tuesday in a televised Always Ready Public Briefing.

“It can no longer be counted. Maybe it will be fair and just to pay attention to the heroic acts of our police over this particular case of Nuezca, ”he added.

What a straw man! No one is saying the entire PNP head for head is corrupt. Sure there are good cops. Check out this "good cop" the PNP showed off as an example.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375705/good-cop-in-pnp-tale-hit-protesters-in-2016

What should have been a feel-good story to restore public trust on the police had backfired when the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) made the wrong choice of its poster boy for a model officer.

In a statement earlier this week, the NCRPO praised Police Staff Sgt. Franklin Kho, a decorated officer with the Manila Police District (MPD), for using a month’s worth of salary to help the “Hijos del Nazareno” — honor guards of the Black Nazarene image of the Quiapo Church during the annual January traslacion or procession.

“This is another proof that not all police officers stray from the path,” he said.

While some applauded his charitable deed, others questioned the choice of Kho as a model officer after he had bulldozed and ran over a crowd of protesters using a police van during a rally in front of the US Embassy on Oct. 19, 2016. Dozens were injured in the potentially fatal action by the officer.

It was not the first time that Kho used a police vehicle in responding to protesters. In December 2010, Kho used a police truck to crash into a barricade put up by “kuliglig” (motorized rickshaw) drivers on Padre Burgos Street near the Manila City Hall. The drivers were then protesting an order by then-Mayor Alfredo Lim banning three-wheeled vehicles from the capital’s main roads.

The PNP's model cop ran down protestors twice! But since that was in 2016 and 2010 I guess we should forget all about it.  Let bygones be bygones right?

One local PNP chief, former chief, thinks along the same lines as Año and Bato and is protective of PNP officers. The lesson learned is to respect cops, he says.

https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/155698/catanduanes-police-chief-respect-a734-20201221

“My Father is a Policeeee Mannnnn ha !!! I don’t care eh eh eh eh eh err !!! Putangina you want to finish you now ???? Bang Bang Bang Bang .. 

"Lesson learn even if we have white hair or we are gray, we can learn to respect our policemen. It is difficult to resist restraint and patience.

"RIP Mom and Sonny."

That is an actual Facebook post from a former police chief. Former because the mayor requested he be fired because of this post.

This refers to the current news about the killings of a mother and her son by a policeman in Tarlac province which have gone viral on the internet.

Accordingly we find it very disturbing that PNP Bato Municipal Station Chief-of-Police, Cptn. Ariel R Buraga has posted in his Facebook account that the slain mother was at fault because she did not give due respect to the policeman prompting him to shot her fatally.

Much as we respect his right to publicly pronounce his personal opinion regarding the killings, he should have exercised restraint and prudence in doing so considering that he is Chief-of-Police in this LGU, on the one hand, and that he should let the PNP's investigation into the matter run its natural course so that the truth about the tragedy would emerge, on the other hand.

In this regard, we will highly appreciate it if the PNP could assign another Chief-of-Police in this municipality to assuage the fears of the constituents of this LGU of a seemingly biased chief-of-police whose loyalty it seems, rests primarily with his fellow policemen than with the constituents in his area of responsibility.

Of course his loyalty rests with his fellow policeman. Where else would it lie? DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin even had a word to say about this man's Facebook post.

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1341184923097395200

"you piece of native shit and incontrovertible proof that Independence was premature."

Maybe reverting back to a colony of the USA would fix all the problems in the PNP and the entire government. Why not? The USA gives this nation billions in aid of all kinds every single year while their own citizens get nothing!

Worry not, there will be no changes in the PNP as result of this case.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/22/20/pnp-spox-says-tarlac-killings-wont-trigger-change-in-police-force-cites-earlier-reforms

The brutal killing of unarmed civilians by a police officer in Tarlac province will not spur any changes in the Philippine National Police (PNP) as earlier reforms have been implemented, its spokesman said Tuesday, saying the shooting incident was isolated and would not dampen the "best intentions" of the police force.

"I guess what [Police Master Senior Sgt. Jonel] Nuezca did is something that will not even trigger any change at all in the PNP because we have had many changes [that] had already been initiated," Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana told ANC amid calls for reform. 

"This particular case actually will not make the PNP as if we're totally wrong because as I was saying, this is an isolated case. The murder criminal action has already been filed. The [officer's] dismissal will be forthcoming. The PNP will have to move on from there." 

Usana maintained that Nuezca's action, which he described as abominable, does not represent the 221,000-strong police force. 

He said the PNP had already dismissed some 4,800 out of 16,800 police officers who were facing various administrative cases. 

"We have had these number of cases involving erring police officers... they are all dismissed from the service. If they stay longer in the service, the PNP itself may be at [the] wrong," Usana said. 

"But in this case, we will not waste any minute longer for them to stay in the service because they don't deserve to be a police officer at all."

In fact the Palace has told those calling for reform in the PNP to reform themselves!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/22/2065620/asked-about-changes-after-tarlac-killings-roque-says-opposition-should-change-instead

If any change is to come out of the killing of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac, the president's press secretary said Tuesday that he thinks it should be on the part of the opposition, whose criticism, he said, has become repetitive.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Roque leaned once again on the narrative that concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration.

"The only test for a police officer to use violence is if there is a threat to his life. It's the opposition who should probably recalibrate because they sound like broken records," the president's spokesman said. 

"Concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration."

It's funny that Harry Roque could ever utter such a sentiment because he was once a prominent a human rights attorney. The depths to which this man has fallen are unbelievable. He's gone all the way down the black pit towards the lowest circle of hell.

I've written about police reform before and the fact is the PNP has been, now is, and ever will be a corrupt organization. The reforms they enact have been useless to stomp out  corruption within the ranks.  But this is all par for the course. Let s not forget our friend Gaspar de San Augustin who wrote the following 300 years ago:

43. They act tyrannically one toward another. Consequently, the Indian who has some power from the Spaniard is insolent and intolerable among, them—so much so that, in the midst of their ingratitude, some of them recognize it, although very few of them. Yet it is a fact that, if the Spaniards had not come to these islands, the Indians would have been destroyed; for, like fish, the greater would have swallowed the lesser, in accordance with the tyranny which they exercised in their paganism.

http://www.philippinehistory.net/views/1720sanagustinb.htm

Sounds a lot like the PNP today, huh?  A little bit of power and they lord it over their fellowmen. Reform? Never gonna happen.

Old Man in Leyte Outperforms Government By Planting 10,000 Trees

One old man in Leyte is doing more for typhoon disaster prevention and environmental protection than the inutile Philippine government.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121468

For eight years now, a 65-year-old man in Matalom, Leyte has planted about 10,000 mangroves along a coastal area at the back of his house.

Gary Dabasol, jobless, has been planting mangroves in Punong village because he was worried of the danger of big waves especially during typhoons.

In doing so, he just gathered mangrove seedlings along the coastline in their village. Among the mangrove species that he planted include miyapi, pagatpat, and bakawan.

“I'm glad that I was able to inspire people, I hope that they will also follow what I am doing. I also want to contribute to higher marine production by cultivating a spooning area for fish, crabs, and shrimps and other species," Dabasol said in an interview on Wednesday.

The story of Dabasol was shared by netizen Dan Niez from Hilongos town, who visited the coastal area of Matalom last week to unwind.

Niez said the last time he went to the area several years ago, the place was just an open space along the shoreline.

He was surprised that during his visit last week, there are full-grown mangroves planted along the coastline.

“When I posted it, many people reacted especially millennials and praised Tatay Gary for what he did. I think they were inspired, and I hope they are inspired because planting 10,000 mangroves is not that easy,” Niez said.

“I hope that the government will also help him because what he did is extraordinary. It is not usual for one person to have this kind of initiative," Niez added.

Right now there has been typhoon after typhoon hitting the Philippines and the Senate and everyone else are wondering what can be done? This man is showing what can and should be done to prevent flooding during a typhoon. Doing a Google search for "philippines deforestation floods" and thousands of results show up. Here is one from 2005:

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2005/11/10/306119/deforestation-one-major-causes-rp-floods

"If FAO/CIFOR concluded that in those countries deforestation is not a cause of flooding, such findings do not hold true in the Philippines where forest degradation has gone from mild to severe, from 70 percent forest cover in 1900 to barely 18 percent in 1998," said Anabelle Plantilla, executive director of Haribon Foundation (www.haribon.org.ph), the country’s foremost environmental non-government organization in the forefront of issues for more than three decades. 

According to Norman Myers, author of the Primary Source, Tropical Forests and Our Future (1992), "the forests exert a sponge effect, soaking up moisture before releasing it at regular rates… The multi-storied structure of the forest, together with its vast amount of foliage, helps break the impact of a tropical downpour." 

He added that "the region where deforestation is most advanced is Southern-Southeast Asia, and it suffers (from) floods that increase in rage and intensity year by year." 

It seems as if nothing has been done as 15 years later conservation groups are calling for the same thing: reforestation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1361520/group-says-protection-of-forests-must-be-core-of-disaster-response

Restoration and conservation of the Philippines’ existing forests, from rainforests to mangrove forests, should be at the core of the country’s disaster risk reduction plans, according to the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).

Noting that deforestation caused massive flooding in Cagayan Valley due to Ulysses, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Sunday said planting trees would soon be mandatory for public transport cooperatives and individuals seeking franchises or licenses.

In a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet officials, Tugade said a regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had suggested that members of cooperatives must plant 500 trees before being granted a franchise.

He said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) was closely coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units in identifying areas for reforestation.

Transportation Secretary Tugade says it will be mediator for public transport cooperatives and individuals seeking franchisee to plant 500 trees before they are granted a franchise. Where will these trees come form? The Department of Agriculture? The DOA donated 1,500 trees for the local INC to plant back in 2017 and those trees are all dead now because nobody maintained them. Who will maintain the trees these franchise seekers plant? 

Even if these groups plant 500 trees each it will likely all go to waste somehow. Maybe the Philippines needs less government programs and more men like Gary Dabasol. Look at what he did all by himself.

https://www.facebook.com/nowinleyte/posts/225676302223133

All it takes to succeed it initiative and determination. The government could do these kinds of things too but they don't. That is a result of more red tape and corruption.