The numbers this week: 2 assassinated local politicians, 650 rogue cops, and 1 admission by Duterte that he is a lame duck.
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| http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/187503/barangay-tanod-wife-arrested-lorega-drug-bust |
The wife admitted her involvement in selling drugs.
The barangay tanod, however, denied any involvement and said that he has advised his wife several times to stop selling illegal drugs.
The arrested suspects are now detained at the jail facility of Parian police station pending the filing of charges against them.
Can't you see? Oh, cant you see? What that woman, Lord, she been doin' to me.
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| https://www.rappler.com/nation/208734-coa-decision-philhealth-officials-allowances-bonuses |
COA also reminded PhilHealth that its funding is mainly sourced from its members' contributions.
“Like any other social insurance, the members’ contributions are treated as a trust fund, and thus, should be managed and protected with utmost integrity,” the commission said.
COA said only the PhilHealth Board and its certifying officials may be held liable for the P80.79 million in performance incentives, Christmas packages, and anniversary gifts. It said rank and file employees only received these benefits in the "honest belief that the amounts were due them."
In the case of the P83.062 million in education assistance and birthday cash gifts, COA said PhilHealth's good faith defense does not apply because there are existing rules prohibiting such extra compensation.
Just how exactly is this money supposed to be returned since all funding comes from contributions and those who received these illegal benefits are, seemingly, not being compelled to return them? All that money is long gone!
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1017432/malacanang-expects-martires-to-fire-deputy-ombudsman |
“It is immediately executory, and we would want to see that the order be implemented immediately, as soon as the new Ombudsman takes his oath,” Roque said in a press briefing in Bukidnon.
Roque also denied allegations that the OP waited for former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to retire before it released the dismissal order against Carandang.
This story ties together two stories from last week. New Ombudsman Martires has said he would not do the bidding of any politician and it appears since Carandang has not been immediately dismissed that is is not in the purview of the President to fire him as Morales said only the Ombudsman can discipline the Deputy Ombudsman. Now the Palace hopes the new Ombudsman will enforce its unconstitutional order. How will this play out?
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1018266/if-all-else-fails-for-carandang-martires-bound-to-implement-dismissal-order |
“I don’t think there is anything for me [to implement the order] because once ODO goes to the Court of Appeals, I think he knows that immediately he has to leave the office. I don’t have to implement the decision of Malacañang,” Martires told reporters acknowledging the possibility that the case could even reach the Supreme Court.
However, once Carandang’s motion for reconsideration has been denied or he fails to get a restraining order from the Court of Appeals, Martires said: “I have no choice.”
“It will depend on ODO…I do not think he’s that hard headed. I see him as a very reasonable guy. I knew him since I was in the Sandiganbayan. I think ODO Carandang will just follow what the law provides,” Martires added.
Asked on why he would enforce the dismissal order despite the standing 2014 Supreme Court ruling that voided the president’s disciplinary jurisdiction over a deputy ombudsman, he replied: “This is a matter that is left to the courts to decide, I don’t want to comment on that at the moment.”
Martires’ predecessor, Conchita Carpio-Morales, refused to enforce an earlier suspension order issued by the Palace also against Carandang due to this jurisprudence.It's playing out just like the standard game of corrupt Philippine politics. Martires is attempting to wash his hands of the matter but he is ready to get them dirty.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1017402/village-councilor-gunned-down-in-occidental-mindoro |
Another murdered politician.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/08/03/1839131/tugade-villar-have-patience-traffic-jams |
Top government officials appealed for more understanding and patience from the public yesterday for the traffic gridlocks caused by the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, in a joint briefing at the Palace, said the construction projects are causing heavy traffic now but will help boost infrastructure development and eventually ease traffic congestion.
Actually only seven Build x 3 programs have been implemented and not all of the projects are roads. Not only that but traffic is bad all over Manila and elsewhere. This is a Philippine phenomenon and it absolutely has to do with drivers and the road being cluttered with tricycles, shanties, food carts, dogs, and even parked cars! What Tugade and Villar are telling the public is not quite the truth.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/31/1838459/robredo-spokesman-dares-cayetano-release-50-100-diplomatic-protests |
Cayetano has been criticized by some opposition politicians for his attempt to redefine a "diplomatic protest."
During a hearing of the House Special Panel on the West Philippine Sea in May, the country's foreign secretary said that Manila had filed 50 to 100 diplomatic protests against China in the past two years.
Cayetano said that a simple objection by Duterte could already be considered a diplomatic protest.
According to the US State Department, a diplomatic protest or demarche is a request or intercession with a foreign official or a protest about a government's policy or actions.If, as Cayetano alleges, Robredo is being fed wrong information then releasing those documents is a reasonable request. However, as a commenter notes, Robredo should pay the DFA office a visit and ask for them in person rather than having her spokesman make noise in the media. But of course what's the fun in that? Where is the drama in that?
It has five parts: its objective, arguments, background, suggested talking points and written material, according to a presentation on the website of Harvard University.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756106/Manila/Local-News/P68-M-shabu-recovered-from-Maguindanao-village-councilor |
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756139/Manila/Local-News/Rolando-Andaya-No-zero-budget-for-congressional-districts |
Andaya believes that opposition lawmakers should not be stripped off the budget for their respective districts, as their constituents pay taxes, thus "they are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their payments."
"So taxation without appropriation is wrong," he said.
This should not even be an issue but sadly it is because last budget Alvarez reduced the amount received by opposition lawmaker's districts. "No taxation without appropriation!," could be the cry of a revolution. Politicians in the Philippines tend to forget they are servants of the people and not servants of their party or ideology.
It is pointless for these two to keep exchanging banter. Aquino should fully debrief Cayetano on his actions regarding China and the SCS. Just go to his office and have a chat. Simple. But again as with Robredo, where is the drama in that?
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/03/1839434/aquino-cayetano-google-can-answer-your-questions |
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/662933/duterte-says-he-asked-god-to-let-into-heaven-ejk-victims/story/ |
I guess these people can't handle Duterte's brand of comedy.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1016996/luxury-car-police-lacson-vehicles-pnp-armed-forces |
“’Yung Porsche nga pwedeng gamitin for surveillance, sayang. Dahil sinong mag aakala na yung Porsche umaali-aligid sa iyong hideout e police pala,” he said.
(The Porsche can be used for surveillance, what a waste. Because who would think a Porsche that’s hanging around at a hideout would be a police car?)
The multi-million-peso super cars that the Bureau of Customs recently seized and that are facing condemnation were donated by Porsche Germany to a technical school offering trainings to underprivileged students.
Don Bosco students who undergo a two-year-training on the Porsches are reportedly assured of jobs with Porsche in the Middle East.
Part of the contract between Porsche and Don Bosco are the destructin of the vehicles after the training program is finished.
"We are a bit sad because Don Bosco has been working for this technical training for the past 40 years," said Fr. Dindo Vitug, the school's technical director.
Whoops! But 40 years?? 40 years and NOW they are having their cars seized? Is something more going on here?
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| https://www.projectjurisprudence.com/2018/08/duterte-i-want-to-make-philippines-like-davao-crimes-drugs-no-time-left.html |
President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he had "little time left" to replicate the success of the anti-drug war, which he started during his term as mayor in Davao City, in the entire country.
"Look at Davao now, you can walk around. Maybe it’s not really the safest city in the Philippines but you can walk about whatever -- night-time," Duterte said in his speech during the inauguration of Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center in Bukidnon on Friday.
"Sana ‘yun ang gusto kong gawin sa Pilipinas (That’s what I want to do for the entire Philippines). And yet I have a little time left. Baka kung masunod lang nila ‘yang Davao (Maybe if they were only able to replicate what they did in Davao)," he added.
Make the Philippines like Davao? Crime and drug free??
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/04/01/1568394/murder-rate-highest-davao-city-pnp |
Davao City posted the highest murder rate from 2010 to 2015, data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed.
Davao also ranked second among the cities with the highest rape incidents with 843 cases. Quezon City topped the list with 1,122 cases.
Definitely not.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1018200/ex-leyte-regional-prison-colony-chief-survives-ambush |
The incident happened just after Aro formally stepped down as chief of the regional penal colony and was on his way to Tacloban City, Supt. Norberto Tuazon, police provincial director for Leyte, said.Attempted assassination of a government official. Maybe by ex-cons or someone who has friends inside?
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1017954/house-to-rush-charter-change-in-two-months-says-panel-head-veloso |
“This is the President’s priority legislation,” he said.
Because Duterte wants it done they will do it but they drag their butts on everything else!
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1018003/evidence-of-graft-strong-against-ex-pcso-officials |
Former General Manager and Vice Chair Rosario Uriarte and former board members Jose Taruc V and Fatima Valdes — who all served during the Arroyo administration — were accused of getting a free trip to Australia from the contractor of a now scuttled lottery paper supply deal.Another slow moving case through the overburdened Sandiganbayan.
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| http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/07/18/nayong-pilipino-resort-breaks-ground-as-duterte-sacks-board |
Hong Kong's Landing International and the Nayong Pilipino Foundation on Tuesday broke ground on a $1.5 billion theme park, just as Malacanang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte sacked the entire board of the Filipino entity.
The board was fired after President Rodrigo Duterte found that the 70-year lease of government would be "grossly disadvantageous" to the state, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The project has $1.5 billion in investment commitments and will include a Nayong Pilipino Theme Park, convention center, hotels, offices and commercial facilities in a nearly 100,000 square-meter space, PAGCOR said.
Roque, however, could not yet give details as to which contract the President was referring to and if the sacked officials also include his relative, Maria Fema Duterte, who recently feuded with her fellow board members.
"He did not say. He did not even specify. Basta sabi niya everyone (He just said everyone)," Roque said, adding the President was "just exasperated."
Nayong Pilipino is a foundation created by Marcos to "promote, encourage and initiate research and development projects and activities in social sciences, humanities, social and amelioration and allied fields." They do this by building amusement parks. The first amusement park is closed. This organisation sounds wholly worthless and its tasks could be performed by the DOT which is also a wholly worthless bureaucracy.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/08/1840702/prices-rise-57-fastest-5-years |
Prices rose faster in the National Capital Region (NCR) as seen in the regional inflation growth of 6.5 percent in July. This was faster than 5.8 in June and 2.9 percent in July 2017. Increases were seen in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; healthcare; transportation; communication; as well as recreation and culture.Supply-side factors?? Is there a lack of supply in tobacco and alcohol and clothing and footwear?? These guys will say anything to take the heat off the TRAIN law which raised excise taxes and thus consumer prices across the board.
In a joint statement, the government’s economic managers said the steep rise in consumer prices in July comes mostly from supply-side factors, especially with regard to rice supply. Thus, the need to address supply constraints must become the utmost priority of government.
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| http://business.inquirer.net/255214/dof-official-train-law-not-cause-july-inflation |
“Rice is still in the top contributor to inflation. Surprisingly, one region recorded 2.7 percent inflation — Central Luzon, signifying that a very productive rice sector and agriculture is key to bringing food prices down,” he explained.
“We will learn from that and move the rice tariffication bill faster […] So you can see the far majority is not Train. It is the international price that is causing the inflation,” he added.Right. The international price of rice is what is driving inflation.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/08/1840652/train-2s-name-modified-trabaho-after-backlash |
The second package proposed to cut corporate income tax from 30 percent to 25 percent and take away fiscal incentives, including tax exemption, from hundreds of businesses in export processing zones.
“It’s not called TRAIN 2 because TRAIN 2 is misleading. This is going to be a corporate incentives reform. Remember in the SONA (State of the Nation Address) of President Duterte, it’s there,” she said.
“It is a corrective measure to address redundant incentives given to firms, which fixed income earners are in a way subsidizing. We should support infant industries but it should be time bound. We are lowering the corporate income tax. That will cushion the effect of removing the incentives of those companies which for so long enjoy the incentives but had no inputs to exports and labor,” Abu said.
He said 57 percent of all businesses enjoying fiscal incentives do not deserve to continue enjoying such privileges.
Changing the name will not make it anymore palatable to businesses. Some have already voiced concern about it and have held off from investing more. This law will also be about more than just businesses.
Religious organisations across the country will have plenty to say about this.
Religious organisations across the country will have plenty to say about this.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1019065/govt-eyeing-official-jingle-to-promote-federalism-andanar |
He said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a member of the inter-agency group, has already conceptualized a “rap jingle.”
But Andanar said there have been suggestions to “tweak” the jingle to make it easier to memorize.
Andanar said the government was also eyeing to tap celebrities to promote federalism, including those from civil society groups.
A rap jingle and celebrities to promote federalism. What are they thinking? They aren't! They aren't thinking at all. The intricacies of federalism cannot be reduced to a rap and a TV spot.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756935/Manila/Local-News/President-Rodrigo-Duterte-berates-threatens-to-kill-corrupt-police-on-live-TV |
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 7, threatened to kill corrupt police, including those accused of involvement in illegal drugs and other crimes, in an expletives-laden encounter on live TV.
More than 100 policemen, many of them facing administrative and criminal complaints including rape, kidnapping and robbery, were escorted to the presidential palace to meet Duterte, police officials said.
The national police, which Duterte once called "corrupt to the core," have been undergoing an internal cleansing since they were removed twice from the President's crackdown on illegal drugs last year due to reports of abuses. Duterte later allowed them to rejoin drug raids, partly because the small lead anti-narcotics agency lacks personnel and firepower to quell the drug menace.
"If you'll stay like this, son of a bitch, I will really kill you," Duterte told the policemen in the dressing-down broadcast by local TV networks.
The cases of some of the policemen will be reviewed, but Duterte warned, "I have a special unit which will watch you for life and if you commit even a small mistake, I'll ask that you be killed."
Addressing the policemen's families, Duterte said, "If these sons of bitches die, don't come to us yelling 'human rights, due process' because I warned you already."
Doubtful he will really have these men executed but in any case these cops don't care.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1019450/cops-in-hot-water-for-peeing-on-century-old-balete-tree-in-malacanang |
Rogue policemen are set to sink into deeper trouble for taking a leak on a century-old tree in Malacañang.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is poised to investigate a report that some of the policemen, who was scolded by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on Tuesday, urinated on a balete tree inside the Palace grounds.
Funny if true!
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1757037/Davao/Local-News/649-cops-face-administrative-cases |
From 2016 to July 2018, Driz said 83 were dismissed from the service; demotion (19); restriction (5); reprimand (20); suspension (211); exonerated (188); forfeiture of salary (1); case dismissed (104) and drop from rules (18) after they underwent due process.
In 2016 alone, they reported 170 personnel involved in administrative cases then 247 in 2017 and 263 from January to July 2018.
They are proud of this accomplishment and say it shows a commitment to weed out bad cops but did they notice that the number keeps going up each year!? Just how many bad cops are there in Davao?
Another cop involved with drugs.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1757107/Manila/Local-News/Cop-killed-in-Quezon-drug-bust |
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| https://www.rappler.com/nation/209166-barangay-chairman-jovie-decena-shot-dead-august-8-2018 |
According to the police report, Barangay 28 Chairman Jovie Decena, 47, was just "sitting at the barangay outpost" along Villaruel Street in Pasay City at around 10:30 pm when two unidentified suspects aboard a motorcycle shot him "several times."Another politician murdered by motorcycle gunmen.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1757130/Manila/Local-News/Duterte-repeats-Do-not-hesitate-to-kill |
In the same speech, Duterte claimed he is a "lame duck president," considering he could not run for another term whether under the current system of government or under the proposed federal government.
"Look, I have hit the firewall. I cannot run again. For all intents and purposes, actually, I am a lame duck president," Duterte told the policemen.Quack, quack!
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1018985/pet-orders-robredo-marcos-to-pay-p50k-fine-for-violating-gag-order |
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1019588/robredo-pays-p50000-fine-for-violating-gag-order-on-electoral-protest |
Robredo’s lead counsel, Romulo Macalintal, explained that they had to act in self-defense in order to dispel the malicious statements of MarcosIt works like this: Marcos says something to the media and Robredo feels the need to counter said statement. They both get fined, pay the fine, and the cycle repeats. I wish they would both shut up and just let the process continue but where is the drama in that?
