Martial Law: Persona non Grata

Last week we read that the DND had admitted defeat in the war against the NPA. "We cannot do it," said DND Secretary Lorenzana referring to stated plans to defeat the NPA in 2019. But they can do it in three years time he said. In the meantime the AFP Chief announced a grand scheme to defeat those wily commies, one which will require the assistance of every LGU in the nation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073621/afp-chief-of-staff-to-lgus-declare-reds-persona-non-grata

The Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., urged other local governments to follow the example of Sibagat town in Agusan del Sur, which formally condemned the communist rebels. 

In a statement on Monday, Madrigal lauded the municipality for declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) persona non grata in a Dec. 21, 2018, council resolution. 

“We hope that more LGUs (local government units) will finally recognize the need to take similar actions against the NPA and its front organizations and join the whole-of-nation approach to completely annihilate the communist armed conflict,” he said.

This is undeniably a brilliant move on the part of Sibagat's town council and a how-did-I-not-think-of-that suggestion from the AFP Chief? Why did no one think of this before? Why haven't all the communist organisations and fronts as well as their members been declared persona non grata? However this proposal is still kind of weak. What is needed is a national condemnation from Congress signed by the President. That will end the insurgency by...lowering their morale because it will show they are unwanted?

Of course if the communists were declared persona non grata throughout the land wouldn't that hinder the efforts being led by the government to bribe them into surrendering? Who would risk showing up to get their P65,000 and free housing?

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017104

The Negros Oriental Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has allocated  P260,000 worth of financial assistance to four rebels who have surrendered in the municipalities of Mabinay and Zamboanguita. 

DILG Provincial Director Dennis Quiñones said the rebel returnees were awarded the financial grants through the department’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). 

Quiñones said the former rebel beneficiaries were given immediate livelihood assistance worth P65,000 each to provide them with the necessary aid in their reintegration to the mainstream society where they belong. 

Part of the financial aid distributed includes immediate assistance, livelihood assistance, and firearm remunerations.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1783222

THE City Government, along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), are planning to build a shelter for former New People's Army (NPA) rebels. 

According to Allan Porcadilla, focal person of the Enhanced - Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) concerns, the city is now looking for vacant lots where the proposed halfway house would be built.  

The shelter will house former rebels before they will be returned to their families. They will undergo a rehabilitation program, and will be given livelihood projects, farming, livestock, raising, life skills training, therapeutic and psycho-social activities, value formations, among others, to prepare them in their return to the community. 

City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said the city currently has 10 former rebels from Barangay Besigan but are still under validation. 

Sabuga-a said this project is funded by the national government and is worth P5 million, pointing out that the reintegration of former rebels is a priority program of the government.

With all that free money and housing and job training and healthcare it's a wonder more poor people don't join the NPA just so they can surrender! What a payday that would be.  Probably more than they will ever see again in their entire lifetime. Where is the government getting the money to pay for these programs? I don't know but the DND knows the NPA is getting their funding from local politicians and businesses.

https://www.bworldonline.com/lorenzana-funding-for-reds-a-challenge-to-government/

“For me, funding, more than top-level leadership, is the more critical challenge for the government in 2019. We enter an election year. CPP-NPA generates huge funds by extorting money and collecting permit-to-campaign fees from local candidates,” Mr. Lorenzana said in his speech at a forum in Makati City on Thursday, Jan. 17.  

He added, “What can we do? To businesses and the private sector, stop giving so-called ‘protection money’ to the CPP-NPA. They are actual threats, you need to work closely with the AFP and PNP in your area.” 

The Defense chief added, “To local candidates, show your love for our country. Do not pay any PTCF (permit-to-campaign fees). Stop funding the communist insurgents who do nothing but sow terror and anguish within our communities.” 

Mr. Año said the collection of the said fees is prevalent in Mindanao. Martial law continues to be enforced in this region. 

“This is prevalent in communist insurgency affected areas like in Eastern Mindanao, Western Samar, and Bicol. Konting areas lang pero inaabuso ng (Just a few areas but this is abused by the) CPP, NPA, NDF. They collect from mayors, governors, councilors, and even congressmen,” he said in an interview. 

“If they can campaign in those areas, that’s an advantage against their political opponents and that means votes. Also they are hoping the NPAs will endorse them.”

Mayors, governors, councillors, and congressmen are paying the NPA for the privilege of campaigning. Pathetic if not downright treasonous. One of those congressman is undoubtedly Rep. Reynaldo Umali. In 2017 he practically admitted having paid the NPA's extortion fee. Why does Lorenzana throw up his arms and lament, "What can we do?" Two years ago Duterte warned firms who paid NPA exertion fees that they would be shut down.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/946676/firms-paying-revolutionary-taxes-to-npa-face-closure-duterte

What happened? Another empty, worthless threat? More hot air and bluster? Seems to be that way.

Aside from tempting NPA soldiers with financial freebies the government continues to distribute free bullets to any NPA soldier bold enough to ask for one.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059148

Reports from the 2MIB said government troops were conducting combat clearing operations when they encountered some 30 NPA members at about 7 a.m. 

While there was no casualty on the side of the Philippine Army, Sedano said there were reports saying some rebels were wounded. 

"Residents in the area reported that they saw some wounded armed men being carried by their comrades as they withdrew," he said. "We continue pursuing them until they will surrender and or be driven away from the residential area."

Why didn't the AFP pursue them until they were captured or killed? It's no wonder this war has been going on for 50 years now with no end in sight. Even if there is another shot at peace talks the end is nowhere in sight!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073687/andal-insists-duterte-ordered-him-to-do-back-channel-talks-with-reds

On Monday, Andal told reporters that Duterte asked him to do back-channel talks with the communist leaders, though, he said, “in my private capacity.” 

He claimed that Duterte gave him the order on Tuesday night last week.

YAWN!!! Even if this guy is lying, which the Palace say he is, this is the exact same place the country was in last year at this time!!!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/639468/opapp-pushing-peace-process-with-reds-quietly-unofficially-dureza/story/

In both situations you have a man saying he is doing what he can to press for peace with the reds and both situations are without the express consent of Duterte. Both are dated mid-January. It's like deja vu.

Speaking of which.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/221040-list-philippine-firms-tapped-marawi-debris-clearing

The government has chosen 3 Philippine firms to clear and manage debris in Marawi City’s “most affected area,” an essential step in the war-torn city’s rehabilitation. 

The 3 firms are tasked with debris management in sectors 2 to 9 of Marawi City’s most devastated area. The Bangon Marawi Task Force had divided the 250-hectare area into sectors for efficiency and organisation. 

Sectors 2 to 9 includes the Sectors 5, 6, and 7 where a majority of the commercial establishments and public buildings are located. 

While progress is being made in these sectors, debris clearing in Sector 1, a small “pilot” area where 411 houses once stood, has stalled. 

This was after the NHA suspended the work of contractor FINMAT International Resources, Incorporated (Finmat) when it was found that it demolished “several structures” without obtaining a permit from the Marawi City government. 

The NHA is now waiting for Finmat to respond to the show cause order on its suspension. If NHA is not satisfied with the firm’s response, it may decide to cancel the contract and choose a new firm for the job. 

Finmat’s contract with the NHA is worth P75 million. It was supposed to complete the work in 6 months, after the rehabilitation groundbreaking last October 30, 2018. 

Along with debris clearing, the government wants to ensure there are no more unexploded bombs hidden in Marawi’s most affected area. 

The task force’s target is for the area to be certified clear of bombs in August this year. 

“We need to certify [as cleared of bombs] the 250-hectare property of MAA on or before August 2019,” Escalada said during the subcommittee hearing.

Total deja vu! Groundbreaking started last October. The problem is that they had to stop because the contractor the government hired did not have proper permits! So now they are starting over again. Oh and one more thing...there is still live unexploded ordnance in the area!

Debris clearing is about to start for the second time, the area has still not been cleared of bombs, how much will this project end up costing? Much more than projected no doubt. Thankfully the upcoming BOL plebiscite will be the end of all the war in Mindanao. No more Marawis! Just say "Yes" to the BOL and "No" to terrorism.

http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2019/01/duterte-yes-to-bangsamoro-ends-50-year-armed-struggle-begins-new-chapter-in-our-history/

“This landmark law was not built entirely from scratch. It echoes the aspirations and principles embodied in the past peace agreements with different Moro fronts. Indeed, it is a product of the blood, sweat, and tears of many great men who came before us,” Duterte said in a 35-minute speech at the Peace Assembly for the Ratification of Republic Act No. 11054 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex within the compound of the seat of the 28-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) . 

“We are here. Insha’Allah. God is great. Allahu Akbar,” Duterte, the country’s 16th President and first Mindanawon to lead the nation, declared as he raised his clenched fist. 

Duterte explained that ratification of the law “will not only serve as an expression of your desire to end more than half a century of armed struggle in the region. It will also serve as a testament to your determination to bring genuine peace and development in Muslim Mindanao through an autonomous government that truly represents and understands the needs of the people.”

Bless his misguided and sincere little Muslim heart but Duterte is dead wrong. If these people wanted peace they could have simply dropped their arms and STOPPED killing their own people. No one is forcing the Moros to slaughter their own.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2019/01/poor-governance-security-seen-as-top-problems-in-bangsamoro/

The report cited violent extremism, terrorism and rido (clan feud) as among the leading security problems in the Bangsamoro. 

Marawi City, capital of Lanao del Sur, sustained heavy damage from bombing sorties by the Philippine military during the five-month siege of Islamic State-inspired militants in 2017. Rehabilitation of the country’s lone Islamic city is yet to start after the groundbreaking ceremony late last year. 

Other parts of the ARMM and neighboring provinces had experienced bombing incidents using improvised explosive devices staged by suspected terror groups. 

The report said conflicts also arise due to land disputes, kidnapping and election-related violence. 

Advocates of the Bangsamoro Law said that while it could not solve all the problems in the region it would help address the phenomenon of violent extremism.

How will this law address violent extremism? They don't say because they can't. A big part of the problem fuelling the violence is clan feuds and land disputes. Those incidents could easily be stopped if people didn't get so hot headed. Also there is the problem of IEDs but who is being blown up? They are. The Moros. They are being killed by their own people. Remember the people of Marawi knew about the Maute stockpiling weapons and planning an assault but they said nothing because they thought they would be spared because they are Muslims. They weren't spared! 

And now we are supposed to believe peace will rule the land once the BOL is implemented?

Let me reiterate once more.  The BOL is part of the peace agreement between the government and the MILF and no one else. The MILF is getting a pretty huge chunk of pie and other groups aren't exactly happy about it. Does no one else see the irony that the government and MILF and every BOL proponent is promising peace as soon as the BOL is implemented but the AFP and PNP have increased their presence to ensure a peaceful plebiscite? Do they see the irony that Lorenzana has publicly stated he hoped the MILF could help keep peace and order in the area once the BOL is implemented? 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1074767/red-wearing-mnlf-misuari-members-oppose-dutertes-bol

While President Rodrigo Duterte was rallying the Bangsamoro to vote for the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), about 3,000 members of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF-Misuari faction) gathered at the Cotabato City Hall here, opposing what Duterte was campaigning for. 

He also urged them to stand up against Islamic violent extremism. 

“We must stand together against ISIS because they know nothing but to kill,” Duterte said, adding he would never talk peace with the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) that operates mainly in ARMM provinces. 

But not all were supporting Duterte’s BOL. 

Sam Mundas, an official of Cotabato City government, said the MNLF and other Bangsamoro people voluntarily showed up at the Cotabato City People’s Palace (City Hall) in red shirts chanting “No to BOL” and “Yes to Federalism.” 

They brought with them the original MNLF red flag. 

“We are from MNLF Nur Misuari faction, we are opposed to BOL and we want federalism to come,” Ansarudin Asim, one of the MNLF members gathered at the city hall compound, about 800 meters from ARMM compound where thousands of MILF and pro-BOL gathered to listen to President Duterte.

No to BOL, yes to federalism? What a choice! Duterte is far from the mark in regards to ISIS. There has been bloody Islamic violence long before ISIS appeared on the scene. Much of it was perpetrated by the MILF! And the government is crazy enough to give them the keys to the new BARMM in the name of peace.

Duterte's Wish For Loan Sharks to be Killed Is Beginning to Come True

Words have consequences. Just face the fact. Especially when the leader of the nation says he wants to kill a certain group of people and then they start turning up dead. Remember when Duterte said Vice Mayors should kidnap and kill Mayors? Shortly afterwards several mayors ended up dead. Remember the 2016 election when Duterte said there would be rivers of blood because he would kill drug users and dealers? Thousands have since died in the war on drugs. Now we have a new group of people who might just start turning up dead.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/12/1884430/duterte-wants-kill-5-6-loan-sharks

“The 5-6 system is what I wanted to kill if I cannot kill the system, then I will call those who are into 5-6 and are making life hard for the people,” Duterte said. 

He said those who avail of what loan sharks offer are in perpetual debt with them. 

“Aside from cash, these loan sharks also offer beds, cabinets or other items which add up to the amount of loan,” Duterte added. 

He said if he could not stop the 5-6 system, then he will stop the collectors from getting money from the people.

What group of people is involved with this type of loan system? Indian nationals.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday said that persons especially Indians engaged in the lending business more commonly known as “5-6” would be arrested even without a warrant of arrest. 

“Pinapahuli ni presidente mga bumbay (Indians) na nagpapa 5-6, kawawa [naman ang] mahihirap [sa] 20 percent na taas [ng interest]. They could be arrested without any warrant. When they're doing that they’re committing a crime,” he told reporters. 

Many micro, small and medium enterprises usually resort to “5-6” lenders who are usually Indians.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/10/1661193/5-6-loan-sharks-can-be-arrested-without-warrant-aguirre

Put 'em together and what have you got? Bippity-boppity-Duterte wants Indian loan sharks dead. His fairy motorcycle assassin mother has granted his wish.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/01/20/1886529/indian-robbed-shot

An Indian moneylender was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants as he was collecting debt payments in Caloocan.  

Gurpreet Singh, 34, was with his wife Sonia Rani when he was shot after two assailants held him up and forcibly took the keys of his motorcycle Thursday.

How many more Indian loan sharks will end up dead as they go about collecting debts or as they sleep in their house? They had better start maintaining a low profile or leave the country if they want to be sure to keep their lives. The death of Gurpreet Singh should act as a warning to every Indian loan shark. Of course if Duterte's wish becomes too true and the bodies of dead Indian loan sharks begin to pile up an international incident could be the result thus derailing his plans to strengthen ties with India could go awry.

Or maybe this is an isolated incident motivated by personal grudge? Maybe this has nothing at all to do with Duterte's very public wish that loan sharks be killed. Sure and maybe the PNP is a very well disciplined group with just a few bad eggs spoiling their image.

Retards in the Government 85

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

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/11/19/gun-ban-checkpoints-set-as-poll-period-starts-jan-13

A nationwide gun ban will take effect as the Philippines’ colorful — and often violent — election season kicks off Sunday, 4 months ahead of the midterm polls. 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will put up checkpoints to enforce a strict ban on “bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons.” 

But they should be placed in well-lit areas, manned by policemen in uniform, and include names and contact information of the police and election officers in charge, spokesman James Jimenez told reporters Friday. 

Motorists are “under no obligation” to open car windows or compartments, he said, noting that policemen were bound by the “plain-view doctrine.”

Often violent? The Philippines is always violent election season or not. Politician is a dangerous job in this country. Since they are instating a ban does that mean it's perfectly legal at other times to walk around with a gun in your waistband?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072200/a-panty-for-your-vote-comelec-says-underwear-is-allowed-as-campaign-material

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explained that a panty is not so different from t-shirts or caps that are usually used as campaign giveaways. 

“If you think about it, walang pinag-iba ang panty sa cap o sa t-shirt, right (the panty is no different from a t-shirt or cap, right)? It is an article of clothing,” Jimenez said in a press conference. 

“Ultimately, as far as the law is concerned, there doesn’t seem to be any sort of fundamental reason for making it more unacceptable than say, a printed t-shirt,” he added.

Now that's what I call getting intimate with the voters!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/10/1883942/police-military-vow-cafgus-wont-be-used-private-armies-during-election-period

"The PNP shall take a lead role in law enforcement against criminal syndicates and private armed groups with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said in a press conference earlier Thursday afternoon. 

Albayalde and Armed Forces chief Benjamin Madrigal Jr. promised that while the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units would assist in securing elections, they would not be used as private armies for any politician.

“We assure you that the CAFGUs are under the operational control of the AFP commanders, they are deployed locally, they are ably led by our cadre commanders,” Madrigal told reporters. 

“And of course the commanders on the ground, we'll make sure if there are reports if there are CAFGU being utilized [by politicians], we'll make sure that they are properly punished,” he added.

Crazy that the PNP and AFP have to issue this assurance. Just shows how violent election season is.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072318/all-21-police-from-cebu-island-relieved-for-low-performance

Sinas said during a press briefing that they relieved all the personnel following the low performance of the Daanbantayan police. 

“They have a very low performance,” said Sinas. 

In one year, the Daanbantayan Police station conducted only 11 operations in their jurisdiction, Sinas added. 

Although Daanbantayan is not the only station which has less than 10 operations, Sinas said they expected more from Daanbantayan.

Strange reason. Maybe there is not a lot of crime in this area? What do the higher ups expect? For the officers to waste resources on needless operations just for show?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072326/dilg-implements-ombudsmans-suspension-order-vs-catanduanes-gov

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the suspension of Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua for alleged abuse of authority. 

In a statement on Saturday, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that its regional office in Legazpi City served on Friday the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman. 

The Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon imposed a preventive suspension of six months against Cua pending an investigation on the charges against him for alleged abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, dishonesty and grave misconduct, Año noted.

Funny that an elected official can be suspended while charges are pending but those who have charges pending against them can run for office with no problem.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/11/1884210/trillanes-faces-grave-threat-case-arraignment

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is facing yet another case as a local prosecutor charged the senator with grave threat from a complaint filed by Labor Undersecretary Jing Paras. 

A state prosecutor found probable cause to indict Trillanes on violation of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code. The Department of Labor and Employment official said that Trillanes, on May 29, 2018, threatened to kill him. 

The information or charge sheet included the following quotes Trillanes allegedly told Paras at the sidelines of a Senate hearing: 

“Ang lakas ng loob mo. Hindi magtatanggol ang amo mo. Matatapos din yan. Yayariin kita. Mersenaryo ka. Yayariin kita.” 

(You’re gutsy. Your master won’t protect you. That will end. I will finish you. You are a mercenary. I will finish you.) 

“Tatawa-tawa ka pa. May araw ka din. Yayariin kita.” 

(Go on, laugh. You will have your end. I will end you.) 

“Suwerte mo... mabait itong... secretary kun’di yayariin kita eh.” 

(You’re lucky... this secretary is nice, if he was not, I will finish you.) 

The purportedly statements of Trillanes “[created] fear and anxiety on the mind of [Paras] that the threats will be carried out,” read the document signed by Assistant City Prosecutor Janette Herras-Baggas.

Does that sound like a threat to kill?  Sounds more like a threat to politically end someones career. But a state prosecutor thinks there is enough evidence to charge Trillanes with a crime.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072140/duterte-can-now-assume-jurisdiction-over-cases-probed-by-pacc

President Rodrigo Duterte could now “directly” investigate or “assume jurisdiction” over cases being probed by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) against erring government officials. 

This was contained in Executive Order No. 73 signed by Duterte on December 28 but released to the media only on Friday. 

“[N]othing shall prevent the President, in the interest of the service, from directly investigating and/or hearing an administrative case against any presidential appointee or authorizing other offices under the Office of the President to do the same, as well as from assuming jurisdiction at any stage of the proceedings over cases being investigated by the Commission,” the EO stated.

Nothing expect the Supreme Court who should strike down this EO? Pretty sure nothing in this EO falls under the duties of the executive branch as spelled out in the constitution.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/13/1884660/duterte-getting-p102000-pay-hike

Duterte’s pay will go up from P298,083 to P399,739. He has repeatedly complained that his salary was not enough for his two families. 

In contrast, the lowest-paid government worker is receiving a P1,000 salary increase, from P10,050 to P11,068. He will get a maximum of P11,732 depending on length of service. 

However, the President and the rest of the more than one million officials and employees of the bureaucracy will not receive their pay hikes until the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 national budget is finally approved. 

This year’s pay hike completes the fourth four-year salary upgrading program in the bureaucracy contained under Executive Order 201, which then president Benigno Aquino III signed on Feb. 19, 2016 because lawmakers failed to pass the proposed Salary Standardization Law 4.

President Aquino passed an EO in 2016 granting every government employee a pay raise. Does that fall under the purview of the president? What an abuse of power and a confusion of the legislative and executive branches. No way is this EO constitutional but who would challenge such an order?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/13/1884749/duterte-sacks-bacolod-police-chief-4-others-over-alleged-drug-involvement

President Rodrigo Duterte removed from office a police chief and four other officials of Bacolod, Negros Occidental over their alleged involvement in illegal drugs, according to  Malacañang. 

The Palace said Duterte identified Bacolod police chief Supt. Francis Ebreo as allegedly involved in illegal drugs in his speech in the city. He also said four officials who are now fired are protecting a drug ring. 

“I’d like to know if the chief of police is here. If you are here kindly stand up because you are fired as of this moment," Duterte was quoted by the Palace. 

“Then you have Superintendent Tayuan... And Superintendent Yatar... And there is Victor Paulino, police SI (Senior Inspector)... Macapagal,” the Palace continued quoting the president. 

Duterte ordered the police officers to report to his office on Monday afternoon.

Unproven allegations but a judgement rendered anyway with no recourse to appeal. That is the Duterte way.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/15/1885234/sacked-bacolod-police-chief-not-drug-list-albayalde

“As far as I am concerned, wala (none),” Albayalde said at a press briefing when asked if Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo is in their watchlist of police officers allegedly involved in narcotics. 

From what he heard, Albayalde said Ebreo is a snappy police officer. But Albayalde said he is not discounting the possibility that Ebreo is involved in some illegal activities. 

Albayalde also stressed that they have no right to question Duterte’s directive, adding the President has unlimited sources of information. 

“If that is the wisdom of the President, we should implement the order,” Albayalde said. 

Asked if the information on Ebreo’s supposed illegal activities came from them, he said: “I think a little part of it probably came from the PNP and most of it came from other sources of the President.”

If the PNP does not know about this man's drug activities but Duterte does know then that means the PNP is incompetent and many other people should also be sacked for not knowing and acting on this information. But if this is all fake information supplied by unknown informants or simply made-up by Duterte that is a whole other problem. Apparently Duterte has sources that either the PNP does not or he does not wish to share his information. Either way the sudden and immediate sacking of this man over unproven allegations is very problematic.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/212300/driver-of-town-mayoral-bet-killed-in-an-ambush-in-bohol

The driver of a candidate for mayor of the town of Buenavista jn Bohol was killed when the vehicle he was driving, with the mayoral bet on board, was ambushed in Getafe town this afternoon, January 14.

Election violence resulting in a collateral death.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/212248/congressmans-security-escort-another-arrested-in-cebu-as-election-gun-ban-takes-effect

One of the people caught for possession of a firearm was a security escort of  Salimbangon, who was arrested in Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu. 

Inspector William Homoc, the newly installed Daanbantayan police chief, identified the security escort as Richard Monsato, 31. 

The security escort was caught in possession of a .45 caliber pistol loaded with seven live ammunitions after he was flagged down at  a checkpoint along the Central Nautical Highway in Barangay Agujo at around 12:30 a.m. 

Homoc said that Monsato was not carrying any Permit To Carry Firearms Outside of Residence or a Comelec permit to carry firearms.  

Monsato will be facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.

It's strange that the Comelec would prevent security guards from being able to carry guns as if a ban will mean assassins wont't target candidates. This guy should have acquired his permit though.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/15/administrative-raps-filed-against-daraga-mayor/

The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed administrative charges against mayor of Daraga, Albay, tagged by police as the mastermind in the assassination of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security guard last December, a ranking police official disclosed Tuesday. 

Administrative charges for “Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service” and “Graft and Corruption/ Violation of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act/ Serious Irregularities” were filed against Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, according to Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, PNP-CIDG director. 

The complaints were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman last Friday, Corpus said. 

He said the first complaint is the administrative aspect of the criminal charge filed against Baldo for two counts of murder and six counts of multiple frustrated murder. 

The second complaint is for willfully allowing the disbursement of public funds for the salaries of the six-member hit squad serving as “ghost” employees at the Office of the Municipal Mayor.

This guy has been tagged as the mastermind of an assassination and has criminal charges of murder field against him. So why has he not been arrested?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073615/no-confirmed-death-directly-caused-by-dengvaxia-doh

Upon questioning by Sen. Panfilo Lacson during Senate plenary debates on the DOH budget, Sen. JV Ejercito, who was sponsoring and defending the budget as chair of the Senate health panel, said there had been no confirmed cases of Dengvaxia-caused deaths despite outcry from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). 

“According to the DOH, no deaths are directly attributable to Dengvaxia. The cause of death is for dengue or other diseases” in the reported cases, Ejercito said on the plenary floor after conferring with the DOH officials led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The DOH should publicly state this and put an end to the hysteria surrounding the vaccine. This is not the kind of information that should be revealed only incidentally during a budget meeting.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/15/barangay-exec-husband-nabbed-for-sneaking-guns/

Recovered from the suspects were two hand grenades, a .45 caliber pistol with 73 live ammunition and 5 magazines, a9mm pistol with 64 live ammunitions and 2 magazines, and a Caliber 30 M2 Carbine with 99 bullets along with five short magazines and a long magazine.

The headline is an understatement. They weren't sneaking guns, they were sneaking an arsenal!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1074124/paolo-duterte-asks-court-to-cancel-bail-of-trillanes

In its urgent motion made public Thursday, Duterte’s counsels Rainier L. Madrid, Peter L. Danao and Alvin A. Carullo said Trillanes was already “guilty of flight” when he went abroad last month to attend to his speaking engagements in Amsterdam, Barcelona and London from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 11, 2019. 

“Apparently, accused flew out of Philippine jurisdiction without prior leave or permission from this court,” read the urgent motion. 

“Having departed for abroad without court permission, accused is guilty of flight. He has stepped out of Philippine jurisdiction, hence beyond its reach,” the motion further stated. 

“While he has self-servingly expressed no intention to evade these criminal charges, his actual flight belies it. Intent to flee is irrelevant, when in fact accused had been guilty of actual flight,” the urgent motion stated.

The Dutertes are trying every trick in the book just to get this man.

Now for the Philippine political scandal of the week.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/12/1884444/dfa-passport-maker-runs-all-data

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is requiring some of those renewing their passports to bring their birth certificates as its previous outsourced passport maker “took away” all its applicants’ data, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.  

“We are rebuilding our files from scratch because previous outsourced passport maker took all the data when contract (was) terminated,” Locsin said in his personal Twitter account on Wednesday in response to queries of some netizens. 

“Because previous contractor got pissed when terminated it made off with data. We did nothing about it or couldn’t because we were in the wrong. It won’t happen again. Passports pose national security issues and cannot be kept back by private entities. Data belongs to the state,” he said in another post.

Pretty unbelievable even by Filipino standards of incompetency. This constitutes a massive data breach of millions of Filipinos personal information. How was the contractor able to abscond with this data? Why was a private contractor used? What does the DFA Sec. mean the government was in the wrong and could do nothing about it? 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/12/1884499/privacy-body-start-probe-after-dfa-passport-maker-takes-away-data

The National Privacy Commission on Saturday said it will investigate the Department of Foreign Affairs’ claim that its previous outsourced passport maker “took away” all its applicants’ data when the contract was terminated. 

“We will summon the DFA and concerned agencies including the alleged contractor to determine the facts surrounding the case,” Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said in a statement. 

“Any form of non-availability of personal data, infringement of the rights of data subjects, and harms from processing that include inconveniencing the public, must be adequately explained to the satisfaction of the law,” Liboro added.

This isa job for the Senate.  They should subpoena everyone and get to the bottom of this breach of national security.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1072531/locsin-warns-i-will-identify-those-behind-passport-mess

“Those behind the passport mess will launch a social media campaign against me. I will identify them,” Locsin said in a Twitter post. 

“Apparently the mess crosses partisan lines,” he said.

Already this breach of national security has turned into a personal drama as the DFA Sec. makes it not only all about him,

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/13/teodoro-teddy-boy-locisn-dfa-passport-mess-yellows.html

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary warned that he will "autopsy" the "yellow crowd" over the incident.
"I will autopsy the yellows who did the passport deal alive. This is called evisceration," he said.
Yellow is associated with the Liberal Party, led by Aquino, whose members are known critics of President Rodrigo Duterte.

but he has also turned it into a partisan issue!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/13/19/locsin-on-passport-data-mess-i-just-want-it-fixed-and-not-repeated

He then took to Twitter to answer questions about the development, as he offered blistering takes on the incident. 

The problem started under GMA’s DFA and got worse under PNoy’s DFA. IT WILL BE SOLVED BY PRRD’s DFA under licsin. The yellow crowd who perpetrated the passport fraud are in a panic because we are gonna autopsy their crooked deal. Period. — Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) January 12, 2019

I just want it fixed and not repeated. Redundancy of data was promised by previous contractor but not fulfilled or just denied us. We have no knowledge whatsoever if it has been corrected. Like a cuckolded husband, we are always the last to know. https://t.co/fZtbv5rkKI — Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) January 12, 2019

See how he makes this a political issue by blaming past administrations and asserting that Duterte will fix it. Why is he treating this so lightly? He should not want the problem merely fixed. He should be calling for the blood of the contractor who stole the data. 

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/13/former-dfa-secretary-perfecto-yasay-illegal-contract-dfa-passport-maker.html

Former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. on Sunday admitted to knowing the alleged irregularities in the contract for the printing of passports but did not stop it immediately because it would worsen the passport application backlog. 

In a Facebook post, Yasay said the DFA in October 2015 entered into a deal with APO Production Unit Incorporated (APUI), a company under the Presidential Communications Office, to produce a new e-passport system, provided that it would not subcontract to any company. This is despite the agency's existing contract with French firm Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciare, which was producing passports in line with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. 

In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines, Yasay, who led the DFA from June 2016 to March 2017, said APUI violated its agreement with the DFA when it tapped United Graphic Expression Corporation (UGEC) for the production of the new e-passports. 

Yasay said he found the contract between DFA and APUI “grossly disadvantageous” when he reviewed it before assuming office. However, he did not cancel it immediately because it would worsen the delays in the issuance of passports. 

He said ending the contract with APUI would have a dire impact on passport processing since the DFA would need at least six months to find a new passport printer. 

According to him, even the passport appointment system would’ve been affected by the cancellation because it was controlled by UGEC. 

"Because the contract was between the DFA and APO, I could not even hold UGEC— which was the actual printer and producer of passports and had control over the facility in Lima, Batangas and controlled the appointment and the data and personalized information," he said. 

"I could not for the life of me understand why our DFA officials at that time in 2014, 2015, awarded the contract to APO knowing fully well that the facility, the equipment, the technological capability to undertake the contract that’s why they were forced to subcontract it in violation of the law," he added.

The DFA knowingly entered into a contract with a company to manufacture passports with the stipulation they do not subcontract the process which they immediately do because they do not have the capacity to manufacture passports. The new DFA Sec. Yasay is aware of this but does not stop it because doing so will make the backlog even worse. As a result the personal data of millions of people has been stolen. Or has it?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/15/1885247/perfecto-yasay-jr-no-data-loss-passports-cost-more

There is no data breach or leak in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), but only an apparent inability to access data from the previous contractor, according to former DFA secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. 

Speaking to The Chiefs last night on One News-Cignal TV, Yasay said he believed his plan to scrap the contract cost him his confirmation as DFA chief by the Commission on Appointments, where several opposition members had questioned his resistance to the deal. 

In another interview yesterday, Yasay also described as “false” and “malicious” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s earlier statement that a contractor stole passport data. 

In an interview on ANC’s Headstart, Yasay, DFA chief from June 2016 to March 2017, said Locsin was “misinformed” when he said the contractor “ran away and the DFA couldn’t do anything about it because the DFA was wrong.” 

“I don’t believe and I say this very categorically,” Yasay said. “I’ll say he was misinformed.” 

“When APO and UGEC came in Oberthur withdrew, after all it was just assisting the government in the management and operation of the system for free. It had already completed its contract,” Yasay said. “But to say now that Oberthur ran away with the data is completely false and malicious.” 

Cybersecurity law expert Jose Jesus Disini Jr. agreed with Yasay’s statement that passport data could not have been stolen by a previous contractor because the BSP and DFA have copies of the data. 

“The data has always been with the DFA,” Yasay told The Chiefs. “There was no running away (with the data).” 

In his post on Twitter, Locsin said he was not misinformed about the mess. 

“My predecessors seem to be panicking. I don’t know why. What do you think?” Locsin said as he urged his followers on Twitter to send him their opinions.

How quickly current DFA Secretary Locsin has transformed this fiasco into internet drama.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/221004-locsin-says-no-runaway-passport-data

Days after saying a previous contractor "took all" passport data when its contract was terminated, Foreign Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin Jr on Tuesday, January 15, said there is no runaway of passport data after all. 

"Data is not run-away-able but made inaccessible. Access denied," Locsin said in a tweet Tuesday morning.

Was he lying? Why is he changing stories? This is why politicians should not make pronouncements on Twitter!

This story will only continue to expand and who knows but this might be the scandal of year! And 2019 has just begun!

Riding the Ferry With the PNP

I was on a ferry recently and the stupidest thing happened. For some reason a large contingent of firemen and PNP officers on board. With all their notepads and backpacks it seemed like they were going to a meeting. About halfway through the trip a group of them made their way upstairs from the cabin below and began to mull around standing the middle of the aisles. As we got closer to our destination the number of PNP officers standing around blocking the walkways grew.

Other riders joined the burgeoning crowd. Two of the men in the picture above are firefighters. They are blocking the entrance to the toilets. But no matter to them. They just stood there blocking the path of anyone who might need to relive himself.

By the end of the journey as we were preparing to dock the place was crowded quite considerably.

Of course what was happening is everyone was preparing to disembark. It happens all the time that as the ferry approaches the dock people start to crowd the doors so they can exit speedily. Such action is not safe. Nobody should be crowding the aisles while the ferry is in motion. If there were an emergency, if there were an accident, tragedy could happen quickly.

Which makes it all the more troublesome that PNP officers and firemen, people who should be familiar with safety precautions, created such an unsafe environment by standing around blocking the aisles. If these officers had started crowding the exits to hastily disembark 5 or 10 minutes before the end it would have been understandable. Unsafe but understandable. However these men began waiting to disembark halfway through the trip!

Why didn't the crew make an announcement that all passengers must remains seated until the ferry has come to a complete stop? You certainly would not see this type of thing on an airplane. What's the difference here? There isn't one. Crowding the aisles so you can get off in a hurry is unsafe and rude.

As unsafe as the PNP made the trip there is something even more awful and even more unsafe about this ferry. 

Those are the lifejackets for the upstairs deck. See how they are far away from the passengers and each one is wrapped in plastic. If the boat were to capsize no one would have access to a lifejacket without first making his way to this corner of the boat and then unwrapping it. Which is to say no one would have access to a lifejacket if there was a need.

Why not place a jacket under each seat like in an airplane?

But really we all know safety is not given a premium in the Philippines. From construction workers wearing slippers to road work with no barriers to motorcyclists who ride with their small children safety is simply not given much thought.