Friday, January 11, 2019

Retards in the Government 84

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics. 


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069265/supporters-of-rival-bets-accuse-each-other-of-failed-ambush-in-abra-town
Supporters of rival mayoral candidates in the Abra town of Lagayan allegedly engaged in a gunfight on Thursday morning (Jan. 3) along a river bank.  
Abra Governor Jocelyn Bernos urged both parties “to calm down and exercise political maturity.” 
“We do not need these kinds of bravado,” she said, and encouraged political leaders in the province “to instead focus on sustaining the gains of the province towards growth, prosperity, and progress.”
A good start to 2019. Surely a scolding from the Governor, rather than an investigation and arrests, will stop the violence. 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069498/2-negros-oriental-cops-face-raps-for-cowardice-dishonesty
Two police officers face dismissal from service after they allegedly hid during an operation in Negros Oriental to protect themselves. 
Sinas said the two policemen, who are cousins, did not participate during the One Time, Big Time operation in Negros Oriental last Dec. 27. 
“They had lots of reasons. They said they got lost and they fell down the river,” he said.
Pretty funny. Where will they transfer these two chuckleheads? Maybe give them an office job?


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069470/ex-maguindanao-mayor-brother-killed-in-shootout-with-narc-agents
A former mayor of Parang, Maguindanao and his brother were killed in separate alleged shootouts with anti-narcotics agents early dawn Friday in Cotabato City, an official said.
Another politician dead after a shoot out with the cops.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069424/andaya-p10-b-sorsogon-projects-all-went-to-diokno-in-laws-firm-dummies

A construction company owned by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s in-laws and its “dummies” snared the entire P10 billion worth of infrastructure projects earmarked for Sorsogon province in 2018, according to House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. 
Presiding over a public hearing on Thursday here, the Camarines Sur representative said Aremar Construction Corp. had partnered with CT Leoncio Construction and Trading and seven other companies to bag several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts. 
Documents obtained by the Inquirer showed that Aremar got government project contracts in Sorsogon worth P551 million in the past 12 months. 
Andaya said, the amount could be bigger than what he had earlier suspected. 
In this case, it seems that CT Leoncio is just a dummy. The real project proponent is Aremar Construction,” Andaya told the legislative inquiry attended by local DPWH officials from the Bicol region. 
The bidding (process) was just for a show. The role of ‘triple A’ (construction) companies is just to secure the contract and then lend their license to the company that will really undertake the project,” he added.
This story keeps growing. From 551 million to 10 billion and all projects in Sorsogon. And still not a word from Duterte.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069652/duterte-wishes-for-typhoon-names-like-leni
He is too busy talking about more important things.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069661/pnp-chief-says-daraga-mayor-will-get-his-day-in-court
Albayalde said no one will admit to a serious crime such as murder. 
“Walang a-admit sa isang krimen (No one will admit to a crime) especially with this kind of seriousness. This is serious offense. Remember murder is without bail, double murder at that and six counts of frustrated murder,” Albayalde said during a press conference in Camarines Sur. 
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año echoed Albayalde, saying the evidence was strong against the mayor and that “denial” is not a “ground for good defense.” 
“Napaka-strong ng evidence  against the mayor nakikita naman ninyo ang mayor yung kanyang denial is not a ground for good defense so korte na bahala diyan but the evidence is very strong,” Año said during the press briefing. 
(The evidence is strong against the mayor. His denial is not a ground for good defense so the court will take care of that, but the evidence is very strong.)  
If the evidence is so strong then why has the man not been arrested? Why is he still walking free?


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069637/cop-nabbed-for-collision-that-killed-tricycle-driver-in-isabela-province
Viernes is facing a charge of homicide due to reckless imprudence.
There must be more to this accident then is being reported. Was he speeding?
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069814/ecija-village-councilor-held-for-murder-of-colleague-at-a-funeral
A 31-year-old village councilor was arrested on Friday night (Jan. 4) for allegedly masterminding the murder of a colleague at the public cemetery earlier that day. 
Jervie Bondoc, councilman of Barangay (village) Dimasalang Sur reportedly gave the whereabouts of fellow councilor Ramoncito Magtalapa, 55, to a contract killer. 
Magtalapa was shot at the back of his head during a funeral at 10:12 a.m., said Supt. Alexie Desamito, Talavera police chief. He was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital, she said. 
Desamito said Bondoc allegedly had an ax to grind against the victim, believing that Magtalapa was behind the August 2018 murder of Bondoc’s father, who was re-elected for a second term as councilman
“Initially we considered the attack as political. But as we went deeper, we realized it was an act of revenge,” Desamito said.
It seems to be both a political and a revenge killing. The cycle of violence continues.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069994/south-cotabato-village-councilman-slain-in-ambush
 Unidentified gunmen shot dead a village councilman here and injured his wife in an early evening shooting on Saturday, police said Sunday. 
Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, police regional director for Region 12, identified the slain official as Dima Macaludos, 45, a village council member of Barangay Lumakil, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Another assassinated local politician.

Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence operatives have been visiting schools nationwide, asking for “an inventory” of members or allies of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT),” officials of the 180,000-member association told ABS-CBN News. 
“Some areas, like Manila and Zambales, even have memo from the division offices of the Department of Education,” Basilio said. 
“In other cities, there is no memo, but requests come in via SMS or messages to mobile phones of via Facebook messenger and some orders are verbal.” 
At least three schools in Manila’s third district received visits from police intelligence officers, Manila Public School Teachers Association president Solita Diaz also confirmed in an interview. 
"They were polite, said they were only following instructions," Resaba said. "But they only flashed some memo on a mobile phone, that I could not read." 
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News, denied ordering the school visits. 
“Walang order, hindi ko alam iyan,” Eleazar said. (I have not issued any order. I do not know anything about that.) 
Manila police district head, Supt. Vicenta Dupa Danao, Jr., also said he had never issued an order, nor had seen the Layug document. 
When shown the document, Danao said it was his first sight of it. He did not, however, question the authenticity of the document. 
ABS-CBN News also called the NCRPO’s Intelligence Office for a response from its top officers, division head Senior Supr Glicerio Cansilao, and his deputy, Sr. Supt Bernard Yang. 
A PO3 Leope Santos called back to ask for the document. ABS-CBN News read the contents to him. He has yet to return subsequent calls and text messages. 
But Doble, the intelligence chief of the Zambales provincial police, confirmed the document passed on by ACT was genuine. 
“We’re just following orders,” Doble said in a phone interview. 
Asked what was the reason for the “inventory”, Doble replied: “You don’t ask why. It’s up to the region. We only pass the order to the stations.” 
President Rodrigo Duterte, military officials and national police officials have been attacking legal militant organizations as “fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
In a bid to crush the communist rebellion the government is now going after front organisations one of which may be the ACT teacher's union. But instead of being open about it the PNP is being shady going around without a warrant, flashing memos on phone screens, and issuing denials about having given an order to compile such a list even when shown a document ordering the PNP to do so and then saying, "We're just following orders." Is it any wonder no one trusts this organisation?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070156/pnp-intel-officials-relieved-for-leaked-info-on-act-teachers-profiling
“I will check on that. As far as I am concerned wala akong pinirmahan na ganyan (I have not signed anything like that),” he said in a press briefing. 
Albayalde said he has yet to check which police official has issued the directive, although he admitted that not all memorandum of directorates of the PNP requires his signature “especially if it’s a routine function” of the unit. 
“The different directorates of the PNP, they can always give out memorandum lalo na (especially) if it falls under their functional jurisdiction,” he said. 
He also rejected the term “profiling” as claimed in media reports and said that the PNP normally conducts monitoring of members of other organizations. 
“Sabi nga natin, this is not profiling. It has been part of our intelligence monitoring lang naman (Like what we said, this is not profiling. It has just been part of our intelligence monitoring),” he said. 
Albayalde said the PNP acknowledges the feeling that “profiling” from the police may trigger to someone, but said teachers associated with ACT should not fear if they have not done anything illegal. 
“Remember if you are a member, kung talagang sila ay proud doon sa pagiging member ng ACT, anong ikakatakot mo naman kung wala ka naman ginagawang masama?” he said. 
(Remember if you are a member, if they are really proud of being a member of ACT, what will they be afraid of if they have not done anything wrong?) 
The PNP Chief claims he did not issue a directive to compile a list of ACT members but then he claims what sh happening is part of their intelligence efforts and that if they aren't doing anything illegal then the members of ACT should have nothing to fear as the PNP collects information on them. Once again the PNP shows that the government does not understand the concept of freedom of privacy and association.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070451/lacson-urges-profiling-lifestyle-check-of-dismissed-cops-soldiers
The PNP should instead conduct profiling and surveillance on dishonorably discharged PNP and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel to keep track of their post discharge activities including their lifestyle,” Lacson in a text message when asked to comment on the issue. 
“In that way, they may be able to solve a lot of crimes, even preempt them,” he added. 
In a press conference on Monday, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde denied ordering the surveillance of ACT members but said the PNP usually normally conducts monitoring of other organizations. 
“Sabi nga natin, this is not profiling. It has been part of our intelligence monitoring lang naman (Like what we said, this is not profiling. It has just been part of our intelligence monitoring),” Albayalde said. 
The PNP chief nevertheless sacked three police intelligence officers not because of profiling the ACT members but for their “scary” method of intelligence gathering.
Senator Lacson, in one fell swoop, accuses dismissed AFP and PNP personnel of being criminals! Many do resort to drugs and other crimes. The PNP Chief once again admits they were profiling the ACT union but calls it intelligence gathering and we learn that those he fired were fired for their methods and not for the substance of what they were doing.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/06/comelec-says-batos-movie-should-not-be-shown-during-campaign-period/
This is so as not to violate election rules. 
“(It) should not be exhibited or played in theaters at all during the campaign period,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said in an interview. 
“If showing, whether or not there’s a boycott, there will still be a violation of election rules,” he added. 
Based on Republic Act No. 9006 or the “Fair Elections Act”, no movie, cinematography or documentary portraying the life or biography of a candidate shall be publicly exhibited in a theater, television station, or any public forum during the campaign period.
Violation of the prohibition shall be considered as an election offense, which carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and removal of their right of suffrage. 
The “Bato: The Gen. Ronald dela Rosa Story” is expected to be shown in cinemas this year.
So let me get this straight.  The Comelec is not willing or able to punish those who campaign early but showing this movie would be a major offence resulting in a loss of the right to vote as well as imprisonment and the loss of the right to hold office? These rules are insane.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069773/woman-who-claimed-signature-drive-vs-power-firm-was-forged-slain-in-iloilo
Nava recently became controversial when she publicly claimed that a signature campaign against the Panay Electric Company, the city’s power distributor, was forged.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070389/killing-of-anti-peco-bid-critic-councilors-bodyguards-arrested
Two bodyguards of an Iloilo City councilor were arrested at the Iloilo City Hall on Monday for the killing of the councilor’s estranged first cousin who had accused him of orchestrating a fake signature campaign against the city’s electric distributor. 
Mercedes had accused her cousin, the councilor, of being among those behind the gathering of fake signatures against Panay Electric Co. (Peco). 
The councilor, chair of the council’s committee on public utilities, was among the critics of Peco opposed to the renewal of its distribution franchise, which would expire on Jan. 19.
This is a potentially huge story with all the hallmarks of Philippine politics: corruption, family infighting, conspiracy, and murder. Someone wants PECO out so they can put their own company in and profit from raising electricity costs. Now a lady who was exposing this corruption of which her cousin was the alleged mastermind is dead. But no one cares. There is no P50 million reward and the lady is a nobody. Just another story to bury along with her body.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070393/baldo-accused-of-plotting-vs-predecessor-too

Corpus, quoting Judavar, said Baldo had planned to hire the same six-man hit squad that killed Batocabe for the hit on Jaucian. 
The plot was not executed because Jaucian died of cancer, Corpus said. 
“We are not closing this investigation,” Albayalde said. “This case is solved but we do not consider it closed,” said the PNP chief.
No arrest of the alleged mastermind, no trial, no conviction, and yet the PNP Chief declares the case solved but he's not going to close the case even though a solved case is a closed case! Can the PNP be more arrogant and stupid? Now go and solve the hundreds of other motorcycle slayings.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070378/motorcycle-riders-gun-down-ex-cop-in-marikina
Another cop gunned down for no apparent reason. Will the PNP put all their manpower into solving the slaying of one of their own? Will there be a TV presentation with flowcharts and allegations?


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070385/palace-on-probe-of-3-cabinet-men-president-to-await-findings
First Duterte said just a whiff of corruption and you are out and indeed he has fired many officials based only on accusations with on actual charges ever following. Now that some of his trusted men are being investigated they are still in until something substantial shows up. The whiff off corruption standard is just another lie.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070713/duterte-lets-kidnap-and-torture-coa-execs
“Ah, putanginang COA yan, letse. Yung COA, every time, may mali talaga. Ano ba itong COA na ito? Mag kidnap tayo ng taga COA, lagay natin dito, torture natin dito. Tangina,” Duterte said in a speech during the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order in Pasay City. 
[Damn that COA. Every time, it has something wrong with it. What’s with this COA? Let’s just kidnap COA [officials], put them here, and torture them. Son of a bitch.] 
“Puro yan pahirapan. Yan ang ayaw ko — ang pahirapan,” he added. 
[All it does is make things difficult. That’s what I don’t want — making things difficult.]
The irony is he said this during a speech at a summit on peace and order! Wakka-wakka-wakka!


https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/07/19/judge-denies-trillanes-mr-over-amnesty-application-issue

In a 6-page order dated December 18, 2018 but released to the media only on Monday, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda stood by his September 25, 2018 ruling. 
“Sen. Trillanes was not able to prove through testimonial and documentary evidence that he filed his application for amnesty nor expressly admitted his guilt in the application form for the crime he committed during the Manila Peninsula incident which are the minimum requirements set forth under Proclamation No. 75,” he said. 
Alameda’s ruling is in stark contrast to the ruling of Judge Andres Soriano of Makati City RTC Branch 148 who ruled that Trillanes applied for amnesty and admitted his guilt, hence, there was no basis to arrest him. 
Soriano said that the absence of the original application form does not mean that no application was filed. 
Instead, Soriano said it was the prosecution who failed to sufficiently establish that Trillanes did not apply for amnesty.

He added that the loss of the document was not Trillanes’ fault but those of the public officers who should have custody over the document.
Two courts giving different rulings on what amounts to the same case. So when the Palace rejoices over this ruling and says things like:
“It should dawn on the departing Senator and to others who are prone to challenge the majesty of the law that it is no respecter of anyone regardless of the political and social status of the violator.”
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/08/19/palace-rejoices-as-court-denies-trillanes-amnesty-appeal
 just remember this "law" is fluid and amenable to whichever court is doing the interpreting.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/09/1883580/mpd-closes-honesty-store
After six months of operation, the Manila Police District (MPD) “honesty store” closed shop over the weekend, citing financial losses attributed to dishonest buyers. 
Tan said they are losing an average of P500 to P1,000 a month or a total of more than P20,000, including the more than P15,000 they lost to a thief since they started operating last June. 
“We wanted to replenish the store but it was an exercise in futility considering that it was not really doing any good,” she said. 
Tan said they have footage from the lobby’s closed-circuit television showing “nameless people who just get money from the box as if it is their personal ATM machine.” 
The store is just a meter away from the guard  at the lobby but that did not stop the thieves. 
She said some “buyers” did not pay the correct amount of what they purchased, while others were getting more than the change due them. 
The store sells food, beverages, noodles and other items and is left unattended.  
“We would like to open the eyes of the (police officers) that if they can be honest in small things they can also be trustworthy in bigger things,” Anduyan said during the launch. 
He said the store’s target customers are the police officers on duty, visitors and other guests who frequent the headquarters. 
A store targeting the PNP selling food items based on paying honest prices and not stealing closes down due to theft and dishonesty proving that MPD is full of dishonest crooks. Big shock!
https://business.inquirer.net/263261/govt-hews-to-tradition-and-starts-2019-with-1-5-b-borrowing
In what has become an international financial market habit early in the new year, the Philippine government on Wednesday successfully borrowed $1.5 billion from foreign creditors by issuing a new batch of bonds which will mature in 10 years, the Department of Finance said.
What a wacky tradition!


https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/09/ano-commends-bjmp-for-jail-decongestion-efforts/
“BJMP has always been at the forefront in providing humane treatment to persons deprived of liberty and what is valuable for this agency is that BJMP keeps on finding reformative approaches to transform them,” Año said. 
Año has recognized the BJMP for living up to great odds “as it has faced the challenges of the previous year with a number of success stories.” 
“Worth noting is the decongestion efforts which has significantly recorded a decrease on the national congestion rate of more than 120 percent from its previous record of 612 percent on December 2017 to 488 percent on November 2018,’’ he added. 
BJMP spokesman, Chief Inspector Xavier Solda, said a notable measure undertaken by the BJMP to address the problem of congestion is “to prioritize the infrastructure projects’’ under its fold. 
He noted that 188 jail facilities are set for expansion this year while an additional 60 jail buildings and 13 additional perimeter fences are being expedited to decongest the BJMP-manned jails nationwide. 
Año also encouraged the agency to focus not only on the improvement of physical structures but more on capability-building and delivery of efficient services in order to provide quality jail management service for persons deprived of liberty (PDL).

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/world/asia/philippines-manila-jail-overcrowding.html
Few of these inmates have been convicted — most are pretrial detainees — but many will spend months or even years in the jail because the court system is so jammed. 
The overcrowding has gone on for so long, and the detainees outnumber the guards by so many, that a tacit agreement between officials and jailhouse gangs has become the rule. 
The gangs are technically illegal, but they help keep things from melting down into chaos and often help stretch scarce jail resources to keep inmates fed, officials and inmates said. 
“There’s an equilibrium of peace and order here,” said Capt. Jayrex Bustinera, the spokesman and chief of records for the jail. “Formally, we don’t allow inmates to police other inmates. Informally, we do because of a lack of resources.” 
One inmate, Buboy Mendiola, 37, heads up the Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang, and also oversees an informal prison economy, where earnings are pooled to fund the needs of his group — one of the five main gangs that functionally govern the jail from within. 
In a recent raid, jail administrators found that the Sputnik gang’s treasury held 720,000 pesos, or about $13,700. Mr. Mendiola bought pigs and hundreds of chickens for the Sputniks’ Christmas feast last month. 
And he keeps a fund for medical emergencies and basic needs for the dorm, like soap and toothpaste, he said.
Two stories about jails in the Philippines. The New York Times article is focused on the Manila City Jail while Año is referring to the jail and prison system over all. Which one paints the more realistic picture? Which one is true? Are they both true? In order to clean up the jails one will have to clean up and decongest the courts.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/211470/3-cops-who-left-posts-during-guihulngan-sempo-relieved
Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) identified the relieved officials as Chief Inspector Jomar Medel, Inspector Clifton Gairanod, and Inspector Mark Eric Pabong. 
The three allegedly left their posts after the Sempo and went home without reporting back to their base in Giuhulngan City.  
Medel was the chief of the Cebu Tourist Police while Gairanod and Pabong were assigned in the Regional Mobile Force.
The chief of the Tourist Police abandoned his post. Quick have the DOT issue a statement that the government values the lives of tourists and the tourists are safe and secure in Cebu despite this incident.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070810/bello-linked-to-extortion-says-pacc-exec
Jimenez said the commission had received complaints accusing Bello of extorting money from manpower agencies sending workers abroad. 
“I’m pretty sure it’s a tight case. We’re just waiting for the opportunity to hear his side,” he said in a TV interview. 
Jimenez said Bello was aware of the allegation against him as early as last year, when one of his former undersecretaries was embroiled in a P6.8-million extortion case involving Azizzah Manpower Services.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070885/bello-sees-demolition-job-in-corruption-probe
(“I don’t see any reason behind these accusations except someone might be interested in my position.”)
Same old story. A government official is accused of corruption and claims its all lies and a hit job to get his position.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071247/dilg-chief-asks-pnp-to-ban-cops-from-drinking-in-public-places
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to issue an administrative circular that would prohibit policemen from drinking in public places. 
“Si Presidente na mismo ang nagsabi na bawal na uminom ang mga police sa mga bar, pub at mga kalsada. Kasuhan ninyo agad ang sinumang lalabag dito,” Año said in a statement. 
(It was the President himself who said that the police should not be seen drinking in bars, pubs, and on the streets. File a case immediately against cops violating the directive.) 
Año’s statement was issued after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered law enforcers to refrain from drinking in public places as drunk law enforcers tend to be involved in trouble. 
“Kayong mga pulis (policemen), I’m warning you, do not drink in public. Sa Davao pinagbawalan ko ‘yan (I banned that in Davao), ngayon (now) all over the Philippines. Do not enter into drinking places,” Duterte said in a speech on Tuesday. 
Año added that police officers seen drinking in public paces may “face administrative charges such as dereliction of duty, insubordination and gross neglect of duty.” 
“We cannot have armed policemen walking around in public reeking of alcohol and not in their best state of mind as it implies lack of discipline among our uniformed personnel. Respetuhin ninyo ang tsapa at uniporme ninyo (Respect your uniform),” he said.
Is this necessary? Is it not a violation already to be drunk on duty or to drink while on duty or in uniform? Apparently it was not if a memo is required. But what about PNP stations? I have been to one before and in the kitchen I saw a bottle of Tanduay rum and a bottle of brandy. Will they ban alcohol from PNP stations too?
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071388/duterte-i-hope-i-have-not-offended-anyone-by-my-harsh-words
“Sinadya ko ‘yan para pang-bastos … kasi kampanya pa lang binabastos na nila ako,” (I am deliberately being rude because they have been rude to me even during the campaign period) Duterte said in a speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate. 
However, after saying he was trying to push the “limits of civility,” he added, “I hope I have not offended anybody by my strong words or my jokes,”
Duterte admits he is being deliberately rude and then says he hopes he has not offended anyone. Joke again?


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071390/duterte-human-rights-groups-are-enemies-of-the-govt
“Ang mga human rights wala akong narinig ni isa. That’s the problem,” (I never heard anything from human rights (groups),” he said. 
“Ang human rights ninyo is ‘yung kalaban ang gobyerno. Gusto ninyo sirain talaga ang gobyerno,” (For you, human rights is ‘the government is the enemy.’ You want to destroy the government) he said. 
“Isali ninyo ‘yung mga inosenteng pinatay ng mga criminal. Mas marami ‘yan,” (Show concern also for innocent people murdered by criminals) he said.
Duterte, a lawyer, does not understand what Human Rights Groups do which is monitor governments. They are not police agencies. But he has publicly declared his disdain for human rights on multiple occasions.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070782/elenita-binay-asks-sc-to-junk-evidence-in-p45-m-graft-case

Former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay has challenged in the Supreme Court the Sandiganbayan’s admission of several key pieces of evidence against her in connection with the case regarding the allegedly anomalous purchase of P45 million worth of beds, cabinets and sterilizers for the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak).
This lady is only challenging the authenticity of the documents used against her and not the actual contents of the documents or any other evidence. She is admitting guilt but wants to get off with a technicality. This all happened in 2000 and 2001 which means it has been almost 20 years just to get to this point.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071686/pnp-probes-manila-cop-for-hitting-disobedient-rookie-policemen
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started its investigation on an official of the Manila Police District (MPD) for allegedly hitting three police officers with a wooden block for supposedly not following his orders during Traslacion on Wednesday. 
Albayalde said PNP would also investigate the three police officers.
Will the PNP also be investigating the case of the dishonest cops who ransacked the honesty store? Or does that hit to close to home? Oh I know! Someone has to file a case before they get off their butts.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071628/bridge-under-construction-collapses-in-laguna-contractor-blamed
Nilo Gavia, district engineer of the DPWH in Laguna, said on Thursday that the lack of scaffolds and support system caused the structure to give in when the workers poured cement on Wednesday. 
“There was insufficient scaffold and support that was why it collapsed,” Gavia said in a phone interview. 
“It’s not our fault but of the contractor,” he added. 
Gavia said the DPWH has asked the company to make the necessary repairs “without additional costs to the government.” 
He said the project should have been completed in November but was delayed due to bad weather and lack of construction materials.
Two months behind, lack of materials, and now a terrible accident that will only setback the project further. I would not be surprised if some local official or even someone from the DPWH skimmed off the top and/or did not even bother to fully vet the contractor before he was awarded the job. This situation deserves a thorough investigation.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071728/cebu-town-councilor-slain-inside-his-sari-sari-store
A municipal councilor in San Fernando town, south Cebu was shot dead inside his sari-sari store in Barangay Poblacion around 3 p.m. Thursday. 
The police identified the victim as Rene Boy Dacalos.

Awful. But all too common.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070797/palace-insists-on-criminalizing-drug-addiction
How does one even criminalise addiction? What does that law look like? R.A. 9165 does not criminalise addiction but recommends treatment. Use and possession are very different from addiction. One can be in possession of drugs or use them without being an addict. How do you measure addiction or prove it? It's nonsense.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071639/duterte-to-bystanders-rob-attack-bishops
“Kaya pagdating ko sabi ko, ‘Hoy, kayong mga tambay diyan, ‘pag dumaan ‘yang obispo ninyo holdapan ‘yan maraming pera ‘yan p***** i** niya.  Patayin mo,” Duterte said in a speech during the birth anniversary celebration of Gov. Antonio Kho in Masbate, eliciting laughter from the crowd. 
(To bystanders, if your bishop passes by, rob them, they have lots of money,  Kill them.)
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071776/duterte-kill-loan-sharks-to-end-5-6-lending-scheme
In a speech during the groundbreaking of a school in Bulacan, Duterte said: “‘Yang 5-6 ang gusto kong patayin na sistema. Kung hindi ko mapatay ang sistema, ‘yung nagdadala na lang ng 5-6 ang ating patayin.”
It's always kill, kill, kill with Duterte.

Here's a bizarre story involving a Duterte assistant.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/09/Presidential-Assistant-for-the-Visayas-Michael-Diño-Ultra-chopper-video.html
A video showing Diño alighting from a helicopter in the middle of the Philsports Arena or Ultra Stadium in Pasig City during an ongoing Department of Education event went viral online on Tuesday. He was criticized because in the Facebook video posted by Newsph.org, it seemed like he disturbed the athletic event of DepEd to take a restroom break.  
Diño's spokesperson clarified the official appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte was informed they were picking someone up in Ultra, so he alighted the chopper to go to the restroom. 
"He had no way of knowing that there was any ongoing event in Ultra. He was just told that the chopper will pick up other passengers. While waiting for the others to board the chopper, he took his only chance to go to the restroom before their onward destination," OPAV spokesperson Jonji Gonzales told CNN Philippines. 
 https://www.rappler.com/nation/220653-philippine-sports-commission-chief-says-michael-dino-landed-chopper-without-permission
Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino landed his chopper at the Ultra Philippine Sports Complex without the permission of its authorities, Rappler learned. 
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez said he was told by PhilSports Arena staff that no such clearance was issued to Dino’s staff. 
The PSC, an agency under the Office of the President, owns the Ultra sports complex. The sports complex's administrator, Queenie Evangelista, answers to the PSC. 
“I was informed by PhilSports personnel that there was no clearance re landing that day,” Ramirez told Rappler in a message on Thursday, January 10. 
Dino making an unauthorized landing flouts the sports complex’s protocols as well as protocols for landing choppers in general. 
“Any public or private officials who seek landing must clear from the PhilSports Administrator who is under the leadership of the Philippine Sports Commission,” said Ramirez, also a Duterte appointee.
This guy's chopper made an unauthorised landing at a sports arena while athletes were competing allegedly to pick up someone but he made a bee-line for the bathroom as soon as they touched down and no word of who this passenger is they picked up. What it sounds like is this guy had a full bladder that needed emptying and he directed the chopper to land in the arena. Pretty strange and hopefully more light will be shed on this incident.


http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058203
Accordingly, Abrugena himself caught the five policemen in the act of taking pictures of themselves in “happy faces” along with two drug personalities identified as Armando Unabia, 54, and Gerald Geraldizo, 42, who were arrested during the police operation. 
To recall, Central Visayas’ Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas ordered the relief of all the policemen assigned in Talisay City in September 2018, following reports that some of them were protecting drug personalities.
Were they going to upload these selfies to Facebook? They definitely would have been caught then.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Man Running From Dog and Getting Hit By A Speeding Car Is A Tragically Filipino Story

Another typical dog story from the Philippines. In fact this story is tragically and typically Filipino in every aspect.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070355/college-student-run-over-dies
A 20-year-old college student died last Friday, Jan. 4, after a car ran him over as he and three friends were running away from a dog chasing them in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City. 
Joshua Cabag had just gone out with his friends to buy food to celebrate his birthday, Chrisha Lingad, a friend of his, told INQUIRER.net. 
Cabag was a Secondary Education major at the Batangas State University – San Juan Campus. He was supposed to graduate this June, Lingad said. 
Lingad also shared on Facebook a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident, which happened at 1:57 a.m. 
The video showed Cabag and three others passing a house on Sto. Niño Street when a dog emerged from the gate and chased them. 
The group then turned at a street corner that led up to a road where a speeding car hit Cabag. 
The driver of the car did not stop. 
According to Lingad, Cabag was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital and was still alive on arrival. But he eventually died. 
About an hour before the accident, at 12:02 a.m. Cabag made a post on Facebook mentioning his birthday. 
First of all you have this man Joshua Cabag who had literally just turned 20 years old making a Birthday Post on Facebook two minutes after midnight as if he had been staying awake just to post that very thing, blissfully unaware it would be the last FB post he would ever make. Hashtag Ironic. That's the always on Facebook angle.

Then you have Joshua and his friends going out at sometime between 12:02 am and his death at 1:57 am to buy food to celebrate his birthday. Going where? To a sari-sari store for beer and cookies? This is the can't wait to do something at the appropriate time/always in a rush angle.

Next you have a dog running out of the gate supposed to be housing him and chasing Joshua and his friends as they frantically run away to get out of the dog's path. What happens is one of the men points at the dog and then they all crowd up against the wall and begin running as the dog emerges and chases them. The entire scene is very cartoonish. This is the stupid dog owner who does not properly take care of his dog angle.

After that you have Joshua reaching the end of the alleyway or street and turning the corner right into the path of an oncoming vehicle which tosses him in the air like a chew toy and keeps on going! 

Joshua's last moment on earth
This is the careless driver angle.

Finally Joshua's friends return to the scene of the crime to light a candle in his honour when the owner of the CCTV footage approaches them and offers to give them the footage rather than to the appropriate authorities. His friend then promptly uploads the video to Facebook for the whole world to view.
“We celebrated his birthday and lit a candle on the site of the incident, that’s when the owner of the CCTV approached us and gave us [the video],” Lingad said. “We posted it so people can help us one way or another to find justice for our friend.”
https://coconuts.co/manila/news/watch-guy-running-away-dog-gets-hit-car/
This is the don't trust the corrupt PNP let's instead use Facebook to help solve this mystery angle.

If you watch this video you will not be able to make out the car.  You can't tell who the driver is.  You can't read the plates. All you can see is the dog chase the men and the car knock the life out of Joshua. You can slow it down, rewind it, play it again, put it in slow motion, pause at the moment of impact but nothing you see will ever help the girl who posted it "find justice for our friend."

However you will get the perverse pleasure out of making witty memes and puns while shouting, "You got knocked the fugg out!" as you click like and share. Joshua's death has now been stripped of any dignity and has become a spectacle. This is exactly the kind of video tabloids like The Mirror and The Daily Mail publish as clickbait.

That is the schadenfreude angle.

This story hits all the low notes of tragedy in the Philippines and will quickly be forgotten by next week. These men were just out late celebrating a friend's birthday and they would have gotten away with it if weren't for the negligent owner and his stupid dog.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Martial Law: Counter Travel Advisories

The first big challenge of martial law 2019 actually happened on the last day of 2018 when an unknown person or group bombed the Cotabato Mall. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068621/isis-inspired-groups-eyed-in-cotabato-blast-pnp
The police are eyeing the possible involvement of local terrorist groups inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the deadly blast in front of a mall in Cotabato City on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said Tuesday. 
According to Durana, the improvised explosive device used in the blast is similar to the signature composition of explosives being used by ISIS-inspired local terrorist groups. 
“‘Yung modus operandi, ‘yung signature [composition of the IED], the way it was constructed, and the way it was deployed [show] ito po ay nanggaling lamang sa Daesh-inspired or ISIS-inspired terrorist groups doon sa Mindanao,” he told Radyo Inquirer. 
(The modus operandi, the signature, the way it was constructed, and the way it was deployed show this was caused by Daesh-inspired or ISIS-inspired terrorist groups in Mindanao.) 
Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. 
Durana, however, said the police are not ruling out the possibility that other terrorist groups may be involved in the fatal attack, but he said they are considering ISIS-inspired groups as the mastermind “on hindsight.”
What he means by "hindsight" is last year when bombs when off in Cotabato ISIS claimed responsibility, the PNP and AFP denied it was them, then they had to retract and admit it was ISIS and that ISIS is a bigger threat than previously disclosed. Whoever the group was the blast not only tore holes in the buildings and people but also in the fabric used to justify another year long extension in the whole of Mindanao as well as in the intelligence capabilities of the AFP and PNP.

Shortly after the bombing the UK, Australia, and the USA each issued travel warnings for Mindanao. The area is dangerous and unnecessary travel should be avoided to the entire region. But not so fast, says DILG Secretary and former AFP Chief General Año.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/172293/dilg-chief-on-uk-advisory-not-right-to-generalize-threat-in-mindanao
Año said the government admits the presence of terror groups and communist rebels in the region but said “they are isolated in certain areas of Mindanao only.” 
“It is not right to generalize the existence of threat in the whole of Mindanao,” he said in a text message to reporters. 
“We will intensify military and police operations in those concerned or affected areas of Mindanao. We assure the safety of tourists and travellers in Mindanao,” he said.
If it is not right to generalise the existence of the threat in the whole of Mindanao and if terror groups and rebels are in certain parts of Mindanao only then doesn't that mean martial law should be restricted to those areas? Imposing martial law on the whole region is to generalise the threat. Año has undercut and destroyed the reasoning for extending martial law over the whole island. 

The PNP also weighed in being a bit reasonable in noting that issuing such warnings is standard operating procedure for those countries. But as usual they said something zany that went unnoticed.
“But as far as the PNP is concerned, everything is back to normal in Cotabato City. The security services of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP are on top of the situation,” he said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068868/uk-travel-advisory-for-mindanao-part-of-sop-pnp
Everything is back to normal? The city is under martial law, has seen several bombings since August, has been receiving threats for months, and yet the PNP says everything is back to normal. No wonder there are travel warnings being issued for Mindanao since even before martial law was declared in May 2017.  And yes you read that right, the authorities were aware of threats in the area. The AFP admitted they had been receiving warnings for months and that security threats remain which cancels out any notion that things are back to normalcy.

http://cnnphilippines.com/resource/2019/01/02/Cotabato-blast-Mindanao-security.html
"We have been receiving threats even before the blast last December 31. It has been there for several months now and it becomes a norm. But of course we are not lowering our guard. We remain vigilant," he told CNN Philippines. 
Sobejana said they have new leads based on security camera footage. They already have names of suspects and a manhunt is ongoing to capture them, he added. 
"We are monitoring any other hostile plans of terror goups. We don't want them to succeed in their hostile activities in Cotabato," he said.
The AFP claims constant threats is normalcy so it looks like I was wrong! In Cotabato everything is normal. Since the AFP has been receiving threats for months now and somehow missed this one there is only one thing to be done: increase intelligence operations.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/02/pnp-11-police-intensifies-security-intelligence-gathering/
Morales said the maximum number of foot and mobile patrols will be deployed in the region, particularly in highly-populated areas. 
He said all chiefs of police need to coordinate with private security providers and security managers to establish and enhance joint security protocols, and to intensify intelligence monitoring and sharing of information with other units. 
“We will surely help in providing whatever information we have to the Cotabato police, being an adjacent city, for fast identifications of the perpetrators of this inhumane act,” he said. 
The region’s top cop said there will be a duty police official who will make the rounds in all of police assistance desks situated in places of convergence, such as malls, churches, transport terminals, airport and seaport, to ensure all security measures are properly implemented. 
Morales said he ordered all police personnel to thoroughly check their bags so that the incident in Cotabato City will be prevented here.
Increased foot patrols and bag searching. What threats do you think they will find? Lumpia wrappers and green peas maybe?
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068911/cops-find-lumpia-wrappers-in-abandoned-box-in-qc
Supt. Giovanni Hycenth Caliao, station commander of Cubao Police Station, told INQUIRER.net that the box was found past 3 p.m. as operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal of the Quezon City Police District were patrolling the area
Police later found that the box only contained lumpia wrappers and a pack of green peas
Caliao said the box cannot be considered a bomb scare and that it did not cause alarm among passersby and was immediately responded to by the police. 
Perhaps the AFP should share information with the PNP. Are they doing that? Was every single one of those threats they claim to have been receiving for months followed up? If the AFP thinks constant threats and warnings are a norm then likely not. Never forget the sorry state of AFP and PNP intelligence which resulted in the Marawi siege happening. 

Intelligence is for dummies. What's more effective and important for waging war against the insurgents is propaganda.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/02/ex-npas-celebrate-new-year-with-army-soldiers-in-agusan/
Formerly known as “Commander Boss and Mark” (surname withheld for his safety and security), former commanding officer of GF-3 and nine others of his command group and squad leaders happily joined soldiers of the 401st Brigade under the command of Brig. Gen. Andres C. Centino in welcoming the New Year. 
Government soldiers welcomed their former foes and feasted on a joint “Media Noche” at the 401st Brigade headquarters here. 
“This is really a very historic event,” observed Brig. Gen. Centino, as he disclosed that this was the very first time that they celebrated the New Year with the former enemies of the state. 
“Despite several decades of fighting the CPP-NPA, I still believe that it is still best to choose the path to peace,” he said. 
“To our brothers and sisters who just returned to the government last Christmas day, I am happy that you chose the path to peace just in time for this yuletide season. Let us work together for a peaceful 2019 by helping us convince your former comrades to follow suit in heeding the government’s call for peace. Let them know that we welcome former NPA members who returned to the folds of the law and that they are taken cared of just like what we are doing with you,” said the 401st Brigade commander in his New Year’s eve message during the program. 
I don’t know how to feel tonight. I can’t believe that just few days ago, the soldiers are our enemy but since Christmas day until now, you are the ones taking care of us including our dependents. This is the most memorable New Year I and my family have ever experienced because not only did we regain our freedom, we also celebrate this occasion with soldiers who are doing their best to help us. All I can say is thank you very much and happy new year to all,” said “Commander Boss.”
Does the media really think the NPA does not know who "Commander Boss Mark" is and that withholding his surname is going to make him any safer or that placing a tiny blue stripe over the eyes of those in the photo will actually conceal their identities from those who know them?

One of the reasons to annul the new year-long extension cited by the petitioners against marital law is that no rebels have been captured. No one who has been arrested under matrial law has been charged with rebellion therefore no rebellion exists.
“It is unmistakable that no one was apprehended or indicted for rebellion because in fact rebellion, which is an armed uprising against he government for the purpose of removing the country or a portion thereof from allegiance to the Republic, does not actually exist,” Lagman said in a statement. 
“There are no rebels, only terrorists and lawless elements who can be subdued by an overwhelmingly mighty combined force of the AFP and the Philippine National Police, who do not need the extension of martial law to finish their job,” he added.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069886/petition-at-sc-vs-martial-law-cites-afp-intel-report
Presidential Spokesman Panelo thinks this is faulty reasoning. He says the fact that no one has been charged with rebellion only proves the rebels are still out there waiting to be captured.
"If no arrest has been made on the rebels then with more reason martial law in Mindanao should continue because the rebellion continues. That should be common sense," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. 
The spokesman did not say why no rebels were arrested. 
"If substantial or all of the rebels have been arrested then the rebellion has been crushed. That’s another common sense. The argument of Lagman not only is faulty but intellectually challenged," he added. 
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/06/1882785/no-rebel-arrests-means-rebellion-mindanao-persists-palace-says
Both Panelo and Lagman are overlooking the reason why no rebels were arrested last year in Mindanao. It is because they are surrendering to the government so they can reap all the economic benefits surrenderees have been promised. This Christmas party between the AFP and former NPA rebels is proof positive that rebels are being coddled rather than being arrested and charged with the crime of rebellion.

How could either of those two forget the government's E-CLIP program? Millions are being spent not on prosecuting rebels for their crimes but at reintegrating them into society.
At least 217 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels received benefits worth P15.6 million from the government, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced yesterday. 
Reynaldo Mapagu, defense undersecretary for civil, veterans and retiree affairs and chairman of the Task Force Balik Loob, welcomed the rebel returnees in a ceremony recently held in Agusan del Sur. 
“We must work harder to implement the E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) and bring more of our fellow Filipinos who were recruited by the NPA... back to their families,” Mapagu said. 
Earlier this week, the DND announced the surrender of 134 NPA rebels in Bicol. Each surrenderee received livelihood assistance worth P65,000 from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Agusan del Sur is the same place where 2 AFP troops and 12 militiaman were taken captive by the NPA in December. While their comrades are rotting away as prisoners these soldiers are partaking in a propaganda meal of peace to convince the thousands of remaining NPA rebels to surrender. Maybe the AFP did not get the news but the CPP-NPA is not about to surrender in 2019.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/02/Sison-oust-Duterte-CPP-NPA.html
Even though they are bent on ousting Duterte they are still up for peace talks as is Duterte.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069715/reds-open-to-resumption-of-peace-talks

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1069656/duterte-govt-not-closing-doors-on-peace-talks-with-reds
Will they, won't they? Ultimately it does not matter. There will be bombs and blood from the communists and the Muslims and the most important way to handle that is to counter the negative image such violence brings to Mindanao in order to ensure tourists visit.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/05/1882521/dot-must-implement-measures-counter-travel-advisories
The Department of Tourism (DOT) should immediately implement measures that will counter the possible negative effects of the advisories issued by the United Kingdom and Australia warning their nationals against traveling to Mindanao, Sen. Nancy Binay said yesterday. 
Binay, who chairs the Senate committee on tourism, said the DOT should update Philippine travel guides to correct the negative impression of local destinations in Mindanao. 
A New Year’s Eve bombing in Cotabato City that killed two persons and wounded 34 others prompted the travel warning. 
DOT must work double time to counter the negative publicity as a result of the travel advisories,” Binay said in Filipino. 
She also urged the police and military to help ensure that accurate reports on the security situation in localities are provided to the embassies of other countries. 
“Of course, we have to respect these countries’ prerogatives in issuing advisories out of concern for their citizens. There are times, though, that these advisories are unnecessary and sometimes exaggerated,” the senator said. 
She said the burden of convincing tourists that the country has a safe environment and that their welfare is a top priority lies with the Philippine government.   
Close coordination with embassies, particularly in rectifying inaccurate reports and updating peace and order measures, among others, should be undertaken, Binay said. 
“We must have constant dialogue with different countries. If we can, maybe let’s use mediators, their own nationals who are happy and satisfied tourists in our country to help dispel their misconceptions,” she added. 
These mediators could also be tapped for social media, where issues could easily snowball and become unmanageable, Binay said.
Dear readers the above is not a joke. A Senator of the Philippines, Nancy Binay, who did not even bother to vote yay or nay on the martial law extension, because she "had to leave" but apparently does not agree with the martial law extension yet was too cowardly to put her name on record, wants the DOT to lie about the situation in Mindanao. Not only that but she is advising them to recruit foreigners, "satisfied tourists,"  to lie about the situation on social media! She is obviously unaware that there are plenty of deluded foreigners doing this already. Some of these people are safe and snug in Europe having only visited Luzon many years ago when they met their bride-to-be for the first time and then booked on back to the West with her or their name is Kyle Jennermann and they are doing stunts for the internet ad money.

As if the terrorism problem is a public relations campaign and not an actual campaign of terror! Tell it to this Indonesian fisherman who was minding his own business when he was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/172345/indonesian-kidnapped-by-abu-sayyaf-seen-crying-and-pleading-for-help-in-video
The man, who has been identified as Samsul Sangunim, is seen in a freshly dug hole, crying and pleading for help in the video that apparently made its rounds on social media. 
He was heard saying, “tolong saya boss, tolong saya boss, tolong… (please help boss, please help boss, please help).”
Nancy Binay is not just an idiot and a moron she is a danger to the Philippines. When she actively tells the DOT to cover-up the truth about terrorism in the name of tourism she is a threat to the stability of this nation and those who would visit it. May the horrifying pleas of this man haunt her sleeping and waking hours.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Tony Labrusca Proves Blood Does Not Make One A Filipino

Last month the nation was delighted when Miss Philippines was crowned the new Miss Universe. The fact that the winner was a born and bred Australian whose only claim to being a Filipino was her Pinay mother caused a lot of controversy throughout the social media sphere. I even wrote two articles about Miss Catriona Gray and what makes one a Filipino. One opinion column I analysed proclaimed there is no Filipino race or culture and that the category of Filipino is legal and political only while in another article I wrote that one can be Filipino by choice.

Now enter Tony Labrusca.

https://entertainment.inquirer.net/312331/tony-labrusca-apologizes-for-outburst-vs-immigration-officers
Labrusca narrated that he was frustrated on the Immigration official after revealing that he only has 30 days to stay in the Philippines. 
“After lining up and crossing the immigration, I went up to the superior and we ended up going inside an enclosed space inside her office to discuss privately. I admit I was a bit frustrated and that I asked why I was only given 30 days to stay in the country this time,” he said. 
He also confessed that he was unaware of the Immigration policy on the Balikbayan Privilege. 
“I was unaware of the policy that because I was not with my mother, I did not qualify for a Balikbayan stamp,” Labrusca said. 
To recall, the Bureau of Immigration reminded foreign nationals that the one-year Balikbayan Privilege was “exclusively given to former Filipinos naturalized abroad and their spouse and children who are traveling with them.”
Who is Tony Labrusca and what happened at the Immigration desk?

Tony Labrusca Jr. is an American born and Canadian raised actor who is the son of Filipino celebrities Tony Labrusca and Angel Jones. It seems that Tony Sr., also known as Boom, left his girlfriend Angel and their son Tony Jr. and returned to the Philippines where years later his son would join him to pursue a career in show business. Slowly he built up his career appearing in a talent show and then a popular Mc Donald's commercial and the TV show La Luna Sangre. As this article so succinctly puts it:
Meet Anthony Labrusca, full-blooded Filipino, but spent part of his growing up years in Canada (oh, and he's the son of Angel Jones of the hip hop/R&B group Kulay so you know where he got that singing prowess from, and actor Boom Labrusca).
https://lifestyle.abs-cbn.com/articles/1814/hottie-alert-whos-that-cutie-who-broke-his-girlfriends-heart-in-that-new-fastfood-commercial/
Full-blooded Filipino? Well if you subscribe to the theory that there is no Filipino race then no he is not for such a thing does not exist. But if you mean both of his parents are natural born citizens then yes he is a full-blooded Filipino. Too bad for Tony such nuances did not pass through the mind of the immigration officer processing him into the country. The only consideration was his passport. Not his looks or his lineage.

What happened at the immigration desk was the officer took one look at Tony's United States passport and lack of work visa and gave him the appropriate 30 day tourist stamp which of course as an American he can extend for up to 3 years before he has to exit the country. Immediately the question arises: "How has this foreigner been working in the Philippines for so long without a work visa?" Even Canadian Kyle Jennermann of Becoming Filipino has a work visa! Here are two screenshots from the Facebook page of an Immigration officer who was present as Tony was processed into the country.


One has to wonder why in all the time he has been living and working in the country he has not availed of the right of dual citizenship? He obviously knows what a balikbayan stamp is so how is he completely ignorant of the immigration process and the qualifications for obtaining that kind of visa? How has Tony been able to work without having the proper visa? Is ABS-CBN wilfully committing fraud by allowing him to work for their company? A thorough investigation should ensue since it is the government who grants them a license to operate.

Amazingly enough despite being an American and being rude with Immigration officers plenty of people are tweeting and Facebooking that they have this man's back and support him 100%. That is despite him being a jerk, an illegal worker, and an ugly American to boot! 

Someone should yell "Hey Joe!" to this American and send him packing just like they would do and have done with many other rude foreigners.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/163872/immigration-officer-entry-philippines-foreigner-tourist-barred-rude-disrespect
“The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is not a right but a mere privilege,” Morente said in a statement.  “Thus, they ought to show respect and courtesy to immigration officers upon their arrival in our ports of entry.”
The situation with Tony Labrusca proves beyond doubt that blood does not make one a Filipino. One is either a natural born Filipino or one is given citizenship based on his lineage but only after filing the proper paperwork. As it stands Tony Labrusca Jr. is not a Filipino.

Now once more to the question of what makes one a Filipino citizen, the constitution is not helpful at all. Article 4 sec. 1 states that those whose parents are citizens of the Philippines are citizens of the Philippines. But Tony has two parents who are Filipino citizens yet he is not a citizen. But the constitution!

In this case the constitution is faulty and should be amended to indicate and clear up any confusion that those born abroad to Filipino parents are not automatically citizens but must apply for citizenship.
Foreign nationals who were born outside of the Philippines to a Filipino parent (Note: the parent/s must be Philippine citizen/s at the time of the applicant’s birth) may apply for Recognition as a Filipino citizen, without losing the current citizenship of the applicant. 
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/citizenship
Note that even the BOI refers to persons born abroad to Pinoy parents as FOREIGN NATIONALS. If they wish to become citizens the matter is a simple process of compiling documents and paying the fee. This is what Catriona Gray did and it is what Tony Jr. should do if he wishes to work in the Philippines without any hassle. Of course that means double taxes so why bother? Until he does though he will remain a foreign national. The choice to be Filipino is completely up to him.

Just as I wrote in a previous article this type of citizenship is one that can be passed on in perpetuity which raises the possibility of whole generations of Philippine citizens who know nothing about the Philippines.
The child or person born abroad of a Filipino parent is a Philippine citizen from birth, and that citizenship may pass to subsequent generations in perpetuity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_nationality_law
Thus being a Filipino citizen becomes meaningless and a political and legal category and tool only.