Friday, February 15, 2019

Retards in the Government 89

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



https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/07/army-7th-id-gets-ready-for-2019-elections/
“Rest assured that the 7th ID will take its election role seriously and will do its best to make the election in its area of responsibility be peaceful and orderly,” Agustin said. 

“We are in close coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections in the performance of our role in the upcoming election,” he added. 

On December 28, 2018, President Duterte issued Memorandum Order (MO) 35 which deputizes the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through Comelec and other law enforcement agencies to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.
In a healthy society you would not need the military to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083222/tacloban-city-a-former-village-official-in-eastern-samar-was-arrested-for-illegal-possession-of-firearms-and-ammunition-on-thursday-morning
Seized from Pomasin were one grenade; one caliber .45 pistol; one magazine for caliber .45; 14 live ammunition for caliber .45; 12 pieces live ammunition for caliber .38; one ammunition for caliber .38; one live ammunition for caliber .40; 13 pieces live ammunition for caliber 5.56 M16 Rifle; four pieces assorted magazines; one silencer for Ingram sub-machine gun; four holster for caliber .45; two magazines pouches for caliber .45; and one piece holster for caliber 9mm. 

Also confiscated were three sachets of suspected shabu worth about P3,000 and one sachet of suspected marijuana.
A nice little weapon cache. Where do these guys get grenades from?
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083229/iloilo-city-dad-files-complaint-vs-city-police-chief-16-cops
An Iloilo City councilor has filed an administrative complaint at the Ombudsman against the city police chief and 16 other police officers concerning the arrest of his security escorts. 
In an 11-page complaint filed on Wednesday at the Ombudsman Iloilo field office, Councilor Plaridel Nava II accused Senior Supt. Martin Defensor, Iloilo City police director, and the other respondents of committing grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service. 
Nava sought the respondents’ dismissal from public service, forfeiture of all their benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding government office. 
The complaint stemmed from the arrest on Jan. 7 of brothers Julius and Roy de Los Reyes who served as Nava’s security escorts. 
They were tagged in the Jan. 4 killing of Mercedes “Ging-Ging” Nava, a first cousin and vocal critic of the councilor. 
Mercedes earlier accused the councilor of being among those behind the alleged fake signature campaign against the Panay Electric Company. 
The councilor has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing of Mercedes.
This article's headline is confusing. It should read councillor and not dad. So this councillor's security escorts were arrested in connection with the murder of his cousin who was a vocal critic of the councillor and charged him with being behind a fake signature campaign. He denies he had any doing in the murder but that remains to be seen. In the meantime he has filed a frivolous lawsuit against 17 PNP officers for arresting his men.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083223/deadlock-ends-as-senate-house-panel-approves-p3-8-t-natl-budget-for-2019
“Basically, yes, the P160 million per House member plus the billion-peso insertions made by a number of their colleagues, and the P23-billion Department of Public Works and Highways insertions by a number of senators plus other insertions in different agencies have all been retained,” Lacson said in an earlier Inquirer report.
All this delay over allegations of pork and they keep the pork anyway!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/684336/more-violent-polls-comelec-alarmed-over-shootings-amid-gun-ban/story/
According to the election official, the current atmosphere calls for "stricter enforcement of the gun ban" and "better implementation of checkpoint operations." 
The gun ban for the May 2019 elections took effect last January 13. The PNP, as of Friday, has seized more than 8,000 firearms, over 7,000 of which are "deadly weapons." 
For his part, PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac insisted that the current strategy in conducting Comelec checkpoints remains effective in thwarting election-related violence.
If people are intent on killing they will do it gun ban or no. That is why assassinations continue to occur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083949/joseph-estrada-hits-man-chinese-new-year-parade
A short clip which circulated on social media showed Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada hitting a man during a Chinese New Year parade in Binondo. 
During the said parade last Tuesday, Estrada gave away “ang-paus,” or red envelopes, which he said contained 20-peso and 50-peso bills. 
[While I was giving away the traditional angpao, a man clutched at my hand. He almost pulled me off the truck I was riding on and he bumped an old man standing near him and the old man almost fell.] 
[It’s true I let my fist fly because of the incident. If that rowdy man managed to make the older man all, I might have gone down and punched him again.] 
[This incident caused a sudden burst of anger because of someone who didn’t care about others. Nobody likes what happened and it was so sudden. That’s why I’m asking for forgiveness from the public.]
While handing out money Estrada was grabbed by a man and almost pulled off the truck so he gave the man a punch. Then Estrada, a man who plundered the coffers of the nation and was pardoned by GMA, a man who has proven he does not care about others, chides this man who grabbed him for not caring about others!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084041/politicians-exploit-party-list-system-to-build-dynasties
What was once meant to be a reform measure, the party-list system has “deteriorated” over the last two decades into a mechanism in which those who belong to political dynasties are able to perpetuate themselves in power. 
Of the 134 party-list groups vying in the May midterm polls, nearly half, or at least 62 of the groups, have ties with political dynasties, represent special business interests or are running with questionable advocacies, according to election watchdog group Kontra Daya. 
When Republic Act No. 7941, which established the party-list system, was enacted in 1995, it meant to provide the marginalized and underrepresented sectors a voice in Congress. 
Inspired by the European model, particularly that of Germany, the system seeks to expand proportional representation by including in policymaking groups that felt that their concerns were not being addressed by the government. 
One reason the party-list system has become what it is today is a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2013, which said that parties need not represent “any marginalized and underrepresented sector.” 
“To require all national and regional parties under the party-list system to represent the ‘marginalized and underrepresented’ is to deprive and exclude, by judicial fiat, ideology-based and cause-oriented parties from the party-list system,” the high court said.
Leave it to the Supreme Court to tear down the rule of law piece by piece by running over the spirit of the letter of the law.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084347/cop-shot-dead-in-north-cotabato-town
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a police officer along the national highway in Sitio Malabuaya, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato at around 8:15 p.m. Sunday. 
Police investigators said Lilangan was aboard his multicab and heading towards Kabacan town when he was chased and shot by two gunmen on board a single motorcycle.
Another cop, this one stationed in Davao, assassinated by unknown motorcycle assailants.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084766/manila-barangay-chairman-shot-dead
A barangay chairman was shot dead by two still unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tondo, Manila Tuesday afternoon. 
Marcelino Ortega, chairman of Barangay 199, Zone 18 was gunned down at the corner of Hermosa and Pilar streets at around 2:58 p.m., Police Officer 3 Jimmy Pelagio told INQUIRER.net.
These stories are all the same. Just change the name of the victim.

In a speech in Baluan, Maguindanao, Duterte said changing the country's name to "Maharlika", which means nobility, should be done in the near future.  
He said the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos did the "right" thing when he promoted the name "Maharlika". 
"Philippines. [It's named] Philippines because it was discovered by Magellan using the money from King Philip [II]. Kaya pag dating ng ulol, ginawang Philippines (That's why when the stupid explorer came, he named it the Philippines)," Duterte said. 
"Pero okay na 'yan. Balang araw palitan natin. Actually tama si Marcos, panahon ni Marcos, tama talaga si Marcos. Gusto niya palitan [ng] Maharlika, the Republic of Maharlika because Maharlika is a Malay word and it means serenity. Tama si Marcos nun," he added. 
(But that would be fine. In the future, let's change it. Actually, Marcos was right. He wanted to change [the Philippines's name] to Maharlika, the Republic of Maharlika because Maharlika is a Malay word and it means serenity. Marcos was right.)
It's always funny how former colonies malign their old European masters but when they finally toss off their "grievous yokes" they always go on a downward spiral of violence and tribalism. Like the whole of Africa for instance. Even the Philippines has never been able to ascend the heights of which it so loftily dreams. If there is anything the Philippines should not be named its "nobility" or "serenity." What's a good word that means polluted, corrupt, and violent?


https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1787290/Manila/Local-News/701-hotspots-identified-for-2019-midterm-elections
"On election matters, as the campaign period gets underway for national elective positions in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections, the PNP is seriously considering some adjustments in our projected deployment of police units and personnel for election duties," PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said.  
"The move is prompted by latest validated information of election watchlist of areas that identified a total of 701 election hotspots that comprise 42.9 percentof the 1,634 cities and municipalities across the country," he added.
That is almost half the nation. "Serenity" indeed!

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar ordered on Tuesday, February 12, the relief of five policemen over the alleged facilitation of settlement of a Chinese national who allegedly molested three female students in a theme park in Manila. 
Eleazar said based on initial reports, Zhang Yang, 19, was accosted by security personnel of the theme park after receiving a complaint from three students the Chinese national allegedly molested while inside the horror house. 
In a radio interview of the mother of one of the victims, she said they were dismayed of how the policemen handled the case. 
She said her daughter initially called and told them that policemen are encouraging them to not to call their parents and settle the issue by themselves as they are already on legal age. 
"Hindi namin na feel kasi that we were protected in that substation. Parang kami pa yung may kasalanan, parang nakaka-disappoint lang. Hindi tama yung ganung procedure," the mother said. 
(We did not feel that we were protected in that substation. It feels like we were at fault. It's so disappointing. Such procedure is wrong.) 
"Sa mga bata, para sa kanila, iniisip nila na OK na...magkano, tinanong sila. Sinabi daw na P300 to P500 na lang daw. Sabi ng arresting officer, 'Ay hindi...mga P20,000 lang yan, paano naman kami?' Yun ang sabi ng arresting officer," she added. 
Yang was charged with acts of lasciviousness.
Isn't settling a case the standard operating procedure in the Philippines? You can kill a guy and just pay his relatives to not file a case.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/223341-pork-barrel-scam-behind-them-jinggoy-estrada-bong-revilla-kick-off-senate-bids
Two senators charged with plunder or graft for allegedly misusing their pork barrel are seeking a return to the Senate, and are counting on the support of President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. 
Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr joined the younger Duterte on Tuesday, February 12, to kick off their senatorial campaign with Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the presidential daughter's regional party. 
They shared the stage with HNP's other senatorial bets: Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Go, Jiggy Manicad, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Zajid Mangudadatu.
Truly disgusting. Even if Revilla was acquitted and Estrada will be they still have the most pungent whiff of corruption about them and the fact that they are counting on the support of the President and his daughter is sickening. Anyone who supports these men are part of the problem.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084581/hontiveros-hits-back-at-sara-im-not-the-one-with-my-head-in-my-ass
“And unfortunately for the good Mayor, the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showed that the majority of Filipinos oppose the lowering of the MACR. How’s that for a reality check? Pardon my French, but I’m not the one with my head in my ass,” he added.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085058/sara-lectures-hontiveros-on-attacks-validation-and-vindication
“Ai naku po, an attack is an attack. Don’t use attack, validation and vindication in one sentence,”  Duterte-Carpio wrote on her Instagram. 
She then applied the logic of Hontiveros on the senator’s attacks against President Rodrigo Duterte. 
“Otherwise, your attacks against the administration are validations to say that PRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) is correct and therefore vindicated,” she added. 
“And you still believe your head is in your shoulders? #dropmic na wall is a wall. At sa bawat banat mo ke PRD ay nasasabi ng lahat na tama si Presidente Duterte,” she added.
Meow! It's a catfight between the Mayor and the Senator. Does anyone care?

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/02/12/1893085/pacquiaos-plan-a-mayweather-may
Unless it’s the rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao will have to set aside his plans of returning to the ring in May. 
But there’s a lot going on for Pacquiao, the senator, who was tapped as PDP-Laban’s senatorial campaign manager for the mid-term elections on May 13. 
Pacquiao’s tenure does not end until 2022 but with his new role, he has his hands full. 
“It’s the elections,” said Gibbons. 
“He’s working on the campaign doing a lot of stuff for some people,” he added.
If Pacquiao returns to the ring in May he will have to start training in April which means he won't be able to perform his duties as campaign manager for PDP-Laban thus putting their election card in jeopardy. He should really retire from boxing if he wants to be a politician or quit politics if he wants to be a boxer.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/10/1892433/dar-creates-task-force-investigate-irregularities
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones has ordered the creation of a task force that would look into reported irregularities in one of the agency’s regional offices. 
Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption regional head Pyra Lucas, who accompanied the farmers, alleged that there have been anomalies in the regional office that have delayed the awarding of the farmers’ land titles for a number of years.
Corrupt agency to investigate itself. What could go wrong?
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/19/fake-scheme-guarantees-poll-win-for-p50m-election-lawyer
An election lawyer on Wednesday warned candidates against falling for groups claiming they could rig the results of the May automated elections for a hefty fee. 
People purportedly working with the Commission on Elections’ information technology department have offered the service in exchange for P50 million to P60 million, said lawyer George Garcia, who cited complaints from several of his clients in the provinces. 
"Wag maniniwala. Imposible. Nobody can manipulate the result of the computerized election," he said in a media forum. 
Garcia said some of his clients for local posts had been told that these syndicates could fix the results in their favor "in 5 minutes." 
"That cannot happen. Definitely, that will never, never happen," he said.
The only reason a scam like this would exist is because there are willing customers. Also is this an admission that the election system is unhackable? Does this mean the VP recount which is now ongoing and all the accusations of vote fixing are without merit?

Maria Ressa, the CEO of online news site Rappler critical of the Duterte administration, was arrested after office hours on Wednesday in connection with a cyberlibel complaint filed against her by a businessman. 
The arrest warrant did not state recommended bail, according to Ressa’s lawyer, JJ Disini.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085575/mayor-linked-to-solons-slay-freed-on-bail
A mayor suspected of plotting the murder of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in December last year walked out of his detention cell on Wednesday after posting P3-million bail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. 
Aside from the gun charges, Baldo is facing cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated homicide.
The disparity between these two stories is striking. A woman accused of cyberlibel, a bailable offence, is not allowed to post bail while a man facing murder and weapons charges is out walking around after posting bail. That's the Philippine justice system!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/19/doj-indicts-ilocos-sur-mayor-for-serious-illegal-detention-grave-coercion
The Department of Justice has indicted an Ilocos Sur mayor over the closure of a resort which resulted in the detention of a resort operator, her 4-year-old son and several employees. 
The case stemmed from Mayor Cobangbang’s 2017 order to close government-owned Cabugao Beach Resort in Cabugao town, Ilocos Sur. 
Savellano-Ong operated the resort, taking over from her industrial partner, Antonio Valera, who had a contract of lease with the municipality for the use of the resort since 2005. 
But after Valera executed a quitclaim in 2016 thinking that Savellano-Ong will continue operating the resort, the municipality passed an ordinance authorizing the lease of the resort to another lessee.  
The municipal treasurer then refused to receive payment of rentals from Savellano-Ong.
Instead, Mayor Cobangbang asked her to leave the premises in June 2017, according to the findings of the DOJ.
 
When Savellano-Ong refused, municipal employees in August 2017, without any court document, padlocked the resort leaving Savellano-Ong, her 4-year-old son and 7 employees trapped inside overnight.
Sounds like a lot of drama and misunderstanding over a business deal. At least it's not murder or plunder.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085597/watch-out-for-policemen-handing-out-roses-on-valentines-day
On Valentine’s Day, members of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) were ordered to stop commuters and motorists and give them roses. 
The PNP-HPG will deploy 30 of its men for this special activity along major thoroughfares, including Ortigas Ilalim Bus Stop, Megamall Bus Terminal and the entrance of La Salle Greenhills School. 
Along with the flowers, the lawmen will hand out flyers to educate the public about road safety. 
HPG Deputy for Administration Senior Superintendent Marvin Pepino said the activity was aimed at connecting the police with the community.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085620/traffic-cops-surprise-motorists-with-flowers-love-notes-in-south-cotabato
Highway traffic enforcers stopped motorists along Alunan Avenue here with flowers and love notes as the country observed Valentine’s Day. 
“This is our way of showing love, reminding our commuters that we value life, their lives,” Chief Inspector Von Alejandrino, team leader of the South Cotabato Highway Patrol Group, told the Inquirer. 
Aside from flowers, members of the highway patrol also gave out safety tips to motorists. 
Motorists thought the highway patrol were just doing the routine check on their vehicle registration, drivers’ licenses, among others, and were surprised to get flowers and love notes, instead. 
Imagine being pulled over by the police and your heart is pounding because your registration is not valid and you don't have a driver's licence and instead of taking you in and impounding your car you get flowers and a love note! Ridiculous.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/217264/couple-living-on-the-streets-of-cebu-city-treated-to-surprise-date-by-the-police
After having been married for over 20 years now, the Perales couple, who live on the sidewalks of Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City, finally got out on a date on Thursday, February 14, 2019.  
And it was for free.  
The Perales couple were among the two homeless families who were treated to a surprise date organized by the Cebu City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) for Valentine’s Day.  
The two families were shocked when they were picked up by personnel from the CMFC only to find themselves serenaded by police officers with love songs. The police also gave them flowers, heart-shaped balloons, food, and wine. 
“Nakuyawan gyud mi kay police na nidampot namo. Karun, na shock mi unya nalipay sad mi,” said Rosalina Perales, whose husband and five children live on the streets.  
The Peraleses have 12 children but most of them have already left Cebu City and now have their own families.  
Rosalina watches over their remaining children while her husband, Sixto, works as an assistant for a tire repair shop in Barangay Labangon.  
“These people, they may have already forgotten that February 14 is Valentine’s Day and it’s something to celebrate. But more often than not, they can’t because of their situation,” said Barandog. 
“This is why we choose them so that they, too, can still feel the essence of Valentine’s Day,” he added.  
Aside from food, wine, and flowers, the Police Advisory Council also donated food packs, sacks of rice, and financial assistance to the families.
What a messed up story. These people have 12 children and the ones who have grown up cant afford to let them stay with them? They are just letting their parents and siblings live on the street? How horrible. That is much worse than the cops picking you up and then bursting into song and handing you a bottle of wine and saying, "Happy Valentine's Day!"


https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/14/1893674/dilg-95-lgus-around-manila-bay-failed-comply-environmental-laws
Ninety-five local government units within the Manila Bay watershed failed to comply with environmental laws, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Thursday. 
The 95 make up the 53 percent of the 178 LGUs from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon within the Manila Bay watershed area.
53%!! 


https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/13/1893377/despite-evidence-imee-marcos-insists-she-graduated-princeton
An official of Princeton University itself earlier confirmed that Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos did not earn a degree but she insisted, once again, that she graduated from the Ivy League university. 
"Pumasok ako sa Princeton at pagkakaalam ko, nag-graduate ako (I went to Princeton and as far as I know, I graduated)," she told News5 chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes on "Aplikante sa Senado."

As far as she knows? That must not very far!


https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/13/coa-advises-book-supplier-to-go-after-deped-officials/
Sue the officials not the government. 
This was the advice given by the Commission on Audit to a supplier of books and educational materials that demanded from the Department of Education the payment of P67,902,116.55 for supplementary educational materials delivered to DepEd Region VI – Western Visayas in 2005. 
In its ruling, the COA-Commission Proper (COA-CP) supported the petitioner’s argument that it be paid based on “quantum meruit” but granted payment of only P2,462,6127.50 of the amount sought to be paid. 
The COA body said petitioner Bookcraft Publishing Company Inc. should go after DepEd officials involved in the fiasco, instead of retrieving its losses from government. 
In a petition for money claim, Jovita D. Aquino, vice president of Bookcraft Publishing Company Inc., asked the COA Commission Proper to order DepEd to pay the supplementary educational material her firm allegedly delivered in 2005 to DepEd Region VI Divisions in Iloilo City, Passi City, Roxas City, Capiz, and Antique.

Fourteen years have passed and the will probably not see anymore money except what the COA has granted to them.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

From Christmas Greetings to Happy Valentine's Day

When it comes to lazy political banners it's a hard race to the bottom but it seems Congressman Monico and his son Councillor Kalaw are the champions in this game. I already wrote about their lazy Christmas banner from last year but now they have taken things a step further upping the ante for Philippine politicians everywhere.



Unlike Jason Villarosa who printed out a blank white tarp with Happy Valentines writ large on it Congressman Monico and his son Kalaw printed out a banner matching the top half of their Christmas banner with the phrase, correctly spelled, Happy Valentine's Day. They literally only replaced the text and kept all the trimmings to match the old banner.  And it seems they decided to only refurbish one of them because just 100 yards away is another of their Christmas Greetings signs.


Why they chose to not repurpose this banner I cannot say but at least one of these banners has gotten a new lease on life and it appears neither of these tarps will be coming down anytime soon.

Happy (Holidays) Valentines

Politicians are lazy. Nowhere is this laziness more laid bare in full view than election time. Rather than come up with a well thought out platform too many politicians rely on tricks and gimmicks to secure the vote of the people. In the Philippines there is really only one gimmick and that is to plaster your face everywhere and on everything especially on large banners and tarps wishing the people a happy festival whatever that festival happens to be.

Despite Christmas being over for almost two months many politician's holiday banners remain in place. One plucky candidate for office has taken it upon himself to recycle his Christmas banner. Take a look at Jason Villarosa.


Rather than properly dispose of his Happy Holidays tarp he has decided to rebrand it into a Happy Valentines tarp. He literally printed out a banner with the phrase Happy Valentines and pasted it over the words Happy Holidays and left everything else the same. Look up close.



Nothing says Happy Valentine's day like wreaths and bells. This guy's face oozes a smugness which  pairs quite well with this apathetic and insincere banner. You can even see the phrase Happy Holidays phrase bleeding through the phrase Happy Valentines.



This is absolutely the laziest stunt I have seen a politician engage in. He didn't even spell Valentine's right! He forgot the apostrophe. Ostensibly he did this to all his signs but I only saw the one above and the one below. 


Happy Holidays Valentines everyone!

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Pop-Up Restaurant

One thing the Philippines is famous for is it's food. Balut, dried fish, adobo, lechon manok, liempo, lumpia, chickenjoy, Jolliburgers, Philippine cuisine is very well known globally due to the diaspora and annually there are rumours it is poised to take the culinary world by storm.

That's all well and good but just because one has eaten a piece of chicken prepared the Pinoy way doesn't mean you have partaken of Filipino cuisine in the proper manner. There is more to food than just cuisine. In three words it's location, location, location. It's the difference between eating fish and chips at a chip shop in the UK and eating a fish filet and french fries at your home in the US.

The only way to truly enjoy Filipino eats is to consume them in a pop-up restaurant. 



These types of restaurants are popular all throughout the Philippines. The premise is simple: find a vacant lot or stretch of sidewalk and quickly set up shop. Then start serving food. That's it. Be sure to find an empty space close to an area with a lot of traffic like right outside the mall.


Attracted by the smells wafting through the air and guided by their hungry stomachs customers will come pouring right in. And they had better act fast before you are forced to close up shop forever because you have no permit to operate, no running water, and are a major health hazard to anyone who would venture to consume the food you have prepared.


Time to move to another location, location, location!

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Martial Law: US Intel Support

Immediately after the Jolo bombing the AFP and PNP shifted into high gear and set about to decimate Abu Sayyaf. An annual ambitious goal always just within arms reach but never yet realised the AFP swore this time would be it. They would finally destroy Abu Syyaf. 

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/03/philippine-army-vows-to-crush-abu-sayyaf-in-sulu/
This declaration came on the heels of days of fighting Abu Sayyaf in the jungles and Duterte's order to crush them by "whatever means." Two days after issuing that order Duterte also gave the go-ahead for the AFP to conduct airstrikes.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2184428/philippine-military-launches-air-strikes-against-abu-sayyaf
President Rodrigo Duterte’s “directive is to crush the Abu Sayyaf,” Lorenzana said. The military has been receiving reports of a possible terrorist attack in the province as early as August last year, he said.
The decision to conduct airstrikes is an abrupt about-face from earlier statements Duterte made against using this same tactic on the NPA.
President Rodrigo Duterte said the government can easily bomb rebel positions but had not done so to spare civilians and other non-combatants. 
“Nakikita kayo sa drone, helicopter,” (You are visible to drones, helicopters) the President said Wednesday in a speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate province. 
“Maraming tumutulong … Israel, USA,” (Many are assisting us … Israel, the USA) he also said. 
“Gusto nila na titirahin kayo diyan sa taas. Ako lang ang tiga-pigil. Sabi ko, huwag na,” (They want to hit you from the air. But I stop them. I tell them ‘Don’t.’) Duterte added.
“The waging of war, kinokontrol ko ‘yan, lalo na paggamit ng bomba. Kasi alam mo pagka-bomba, bomba. Kung i-landing diyan ‘yang isa, ubos tayo dito lahat. Eh paano ‘yung mga civilian?” (I control the waging of war, especially in the use of bombs. With bombs, land one here and we’re all goners. Now, how about civilians?) he said. 
“Kung wala lang civilian, medyo matagal na sigurong malinis ito. Hulugan ko na lang ng bomba,” (Had there been no civilians, this would have long been over. I’ll just bomb them.) he said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071410/duterte-its-easy-to-bomb-npa-camps-but
Duterte may control the waging of war in the Philippines but as he admitted he is getting a lot of assistance especially from the USA. Coincidentally just as the airstrikes were taking place training exercises between the USAF and PAF were wrapping up.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/05/paf-usaf-wrap-up-air-exercises/
According to the United States Embassy in Manila, the BACE-P was conducted from January 21 to February 1 and provided an opportunity for U.S. Air Force F-16s and PAF FA-50s fighter aircraft to practice “interfly training” and conduct subject matter expert exchanges including intelligence, flight line, and maintenance operations. 
With such joint training and exchanges, Mendazo said he sees a “stronger alliance in the future and brighter days ahead for the two countries.”
How much stronger can the alliance get when despite Duterte's public disdain for the USA they keep sending aid in the forms of money and weapons and training as well as doing much of the legwork when it comes to intelligence?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084109/palace-welcomes-us-intel-support-vs-terrorism
Malacañang on Monday welcomed the United States (US) government’s commitment of over P300 million intel support to the Philippines. 
“We welcome the United States’ commitment in fighting terrorism. This shows that our military alliance with the United States remains strong,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. 
“We need all the help as every member-country in the United Nations needs the assistance and cooperation of each other to combat and crush terrorism,” he added.
Every member-country in the UN should assist each other to combat terrorism? What happened to:
“Fuck you UN, you can’t even solve the Middle East carnage… couldn’t even lift a finger in Africa… shut up all of you.”
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/139888/now-duterte-launches-attack-on-un
Why even bring the UN into the picture in the first place? The Philippines is receiving help from the US as part of their mutual defence treaty. The UN has nothing to do with it.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/07/ISIS-Philippines-emir-Hatib-Hajan-Sawadjaan.html
The U.S. report said that ISIS-P is still active in Mindanao, with approximately 300-500 fighters but its activities remain limited to the Sulu archipelago. It noted that the terror group was unable to expand its areas of operation and influence in the last quarter of 2018, noting the weakening of ISIS operations worldwide.

It said the AFP still needs extensive help from U.S. when it comes to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). In the report, the U.S. Special Operation Command Pacific said the AFP has "limited ability to collect information on a target and provide that intelligence to a unit on the ground to act on it" due to lack of assets and "institutional problem, using its limited ISR assets for live tracking of active operations to provide a semblance of battle tracking for friendly and suspected enemy elements rather than strategic threat analysis."
Translation: despite billions in intel funds the AFP is woefully lacking in intelligence gathering skills and equipment. But they aren't fully in the dark. See above where Lorenzana notes they had been receiving threats in the area since August last year. And don't forget about the fact that the DND and the Palace knew about the impending Marawi siege at least month before it happened. In both of these cases the problem is that the AFP did not act on this information and that concurs with this report from the US.

The AFP need not worry about the US leaving anytime soon. They were helping out in Jolo even before the bombing.  Operation Pacific Eagle is in full swing.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/683768/lorenzana-us-troops-aiding-phl-army-in-fight-vs-terrorism-in-mindanao/story/
"They helped us immediately...they were first to rescue our assets also, to bring [our] wounded to Zamboanga," Lorenzana said. 
Aside from giving assistance to the wounded soldiers, the US has also helped by relaying intelligence reports on possible terror threats to its Philippine counterpart. 
"They have been helping us track these terrorists even before the bombing [in Jolo]," Lorenzana said. 
Singapore and Indonesia also warned the Philippine government about possible terror attacks prior to the Jolo blasts, he said.
Intelligence reports from three countries and still the bombing happened? Why? This is another situation that deserves a thorough investigation as to who know what when and what was done about it and how was it able to happen? But there probably will not be an investigation just like the DND and Senate refuse to investigate the failures and lapses which led to the Marawi siege.

The second BOL plebiscite came and went without a hitch expect for all the bombings and explosions which preceded it.
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/05/explosions-before-bangasamoro-plebiscite-mindanao.html
Four explosions have been reported on Tuesday, a day before the Bangsamoro second plebiscite. 
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Dimaporo said that she suspected that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were behind the explosions in the two Lanao towns. 
Dimaporo said she thought "the MILF under Commander Bravo" was behind the bombings, adding that the group was in Lanao del Norte for a peace rally backed by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. 
Dimaporo is against the inclusion of six towns in her province in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Commander Bravo has denied these charges but just take a look at this guy:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083592/dimaporo-to-milf-leader-respect-lanao-del-norte-no-vote
With the results of the Feb. 6 plebiscite indicating that the six towns proposed for inclusion in the Bangsamoro region will stay with Lanao del Norte, Gov. Imelda Dimaporo has this message to a ranking leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who had campaigned for the inclusion: “Respect the will of the people.’’ 
Dimaporo, who had led calls for a no vote, said she was willing to meet with Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo and the chief MILF figure in northwestern Mindanao. 
“I call on Commander Bravo to respect the will of the people,” Dimaporo said in an interview after the canvassing results were announced here on Thursday.
Bravo, who has about 10,000 armed followers, denied the allegations.
Funny that not everyone wants to be part of the BARMM.  Funny that Commander Bravo looks like a cartoonish cowboy from a dystopian future but he is actually part of a dystopian present! Funny that this man has 10,000 armed followers and yet the Comelec cannot verify if there were armed groups attempting to influence the vote.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1082393/comelec-verifying-reported-presence-of-armed-groups-during-bol-plebiscite
There are some places where there are persistent rumors of armed men coming in to the territories supposedly, allegedly, MILF fighters,” Comelec spokesperson Jimenez said in a press briefing. 
“We are trying or verifying these rumors,” he added.
The plebiscite is over and now it is time for these armed men, MILF fighters, to take the reigns of power and lead the region to its destiny. The MILF will need the best of the best for this duty. They will need Commander Bravo.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/19/milf-taps-renegade-commander-to-join-new-bangsamoro-government
A renegade commander who once led bloody attacks following an unsuccessful attempt at self-rule in the southern Philippines is now being considered to help govern the country’s new autonomous region for its Muslim minority. 
Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo, was among 41 individuals the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) nominated to the interim government for the Bangsamoro, said Ghazali Jaafar, the group’s vice chairman. 
“We’re giving him a chance to prove to the people that he is not that harsh, that he is not uncontrollable,” Jaafar told ABS-CBN News. 
“As a matter of fact, he follows orders from the leadership of the MILF.” 
Macaapar was one of two rogue MILF commanders who raided communites in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte in 2008 after the Supreme Court halted the signing of an agreement, which many feared would give rise to a Mindanao sub-state.
Seeing as Commander Bravo follows the orders of MILF leadership it can be assumed that anything he does or says comes from the top. But before Commander Bravo or anyone else can take a position on the ruling transition council there is one tiny matter which must be taken care of. Amnesty.

https://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1725/gov---t-to-fast-tract-amnesty-for-milf-fighters
Amnesty will be granted to thousands of fighters of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as among the immediate steps in healing the wounds of conflict brought about by 40 years of revolutionary war waged by Moro rebels that started in 1968.  
“We're trying to fast track the amnesty, but you know the amnesty has to be concurred with by Congress, so we're working on that,” Undersecretary Nabil Tan told ANC’s Early Edition on Wednesday. 
Around 10 MILF commanders are still facing criminal cases for “common cases” in connection with the Mindanao conflict, he told ABS-CBN News. 
Some 35,000 to 40,000 combatants may be covered by the amnesty, he said, based on the list earlier submitted by the MILF. 
The amnesty will provide MILF combatants with a “clean slate,” said Benedicto Bacani, executive director of the Cotabato City-based Institute for Autonomy and Governance, said the report by ABS-CBN News.
Perhaps these combatants will have a clean slate when it comes to the justice system as all their cases will be tossed but they will still be criminals, combatants, terrorists at heart. The actions of the past will not be wiped away and those they have killed will not return to their loved ones from the dead. Will we be hearing from those families?

One thing for sure the public will never hear about is the fundamentally religious nature of the conflict in Mindanao when it comes to the Muslims. Less so for the NPA obviously.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083760/logger-killed-in-basilan-for-failing-to-say-quran-verses
Armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf members shot dead a logger on Saturday morning in Maluso town in Basilan province for being unable to say Al Fatihah, the first seven verses of the Quran. 
The men, who were carrying M16 rifles, took seven loggers – five men and two boys – who were hauling coco lumber in Sitio Camp Alih in Barangay Abong-abong, according to Insp. Robert Jay B. Bacalangco. 
“They were held and asked to recite a Muslim prayer, those who could not recite was shot in the head, those who were able to recite were freed,” Bacalangco said in Filipino.
1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 
2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, 
3 The Beneficent, the Merciful. 
4 Master of the Day of Judgment, 
5 Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. 
6 Show us the straight path, 
7 The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.

Bismillah?

Monday, February 11, 2019

To God Be the Glory

There are a number of ways to interpret the phenomena documented in the pictures below. The phrase "To God be the Glory" or a variation thereof is to be found in many places in the Philippines: on buildings, on vehicles, etc. It could be that in lieu of a tiny bumper sticker the owners of the trucks opted to paint in large lettering their praises to God as a testament to their great faith. It could be that whoever decorated the vehicles with these slogans sees them as a kind of protective talisman. 

The difference between having the phrase "To God be the Glory" on the front of the truck rather than on the back is significant. Locating the phrase on the front signifies that it is God who is doing the leading for his glory as he omnisciently directs the driver safely down the highway. To have the phrasing on the rear, as many people do with bumper stickers, indicates that the driver and not God is in control. Indeed the final picture in this series lends itself readily to that interpretation.

Or maybe they just think it looks good!












Saturday, February 9, 2019

Road Accidents

The news outlets regularly publish stories of road accidents so I thought I would take a look at a few and see if any sort of pattern emerges. Filipino drivers are among the worst in the world which makes accidents inevitable.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066358/nine-hurt-in-quezon-bypass-road-mishap
A report from Candelaria police station said a sedan being driven by Frederick Fang was negotiating the bypass road in Barangay (village) Masin Sur around 1 p.m. Tuesday when an incoming sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by Alfredo Morano Jr. bumped into it. 
Police said the northbound SUV overtook another vehicle and occupied the opposite lane when it collided head-on against the incoming car. 
Due to the strong impact, the car spun while the SUV fell on the rice field on the side of the road.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1067203/2-killed-2-hurt-in-pangasinan-road-accidents
Two motorcycle riders were killed while two others were injured on Thursday in separate road accidents in Pangasinan province, police said on Friday. 
Robin Malacad, 18, died while being taken to a hospital after his motorcycle crashed into a tricycle at 7:10 p.m. along the Manila North Road (MNR) in Barangay Cablong in Pozorrubio town. 
Police said Malacad was traversing the southbound lane when the tricycle suddenly entered the road from a gasoline station. Malacad reportedly tried but failed to avoid the tricycle. 
Earlier in Bani town, Liezel Mamaril, 21, was killed after she was thrown off a motorcycle that crashed into a passenger bus along the highway in Barangay Garrita at 5:40 p.m. 
Motorcycle driver Perfien Farnacio, 22, may not have noticed the bus when he took a left turn and slammed right into the middle of the bus.

In Taal town, a four-vehicle collision happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday along the diversion road in Barangay Latag. 
In San Juan, two motorcycles collided head on in Barangay Maraykit around 1 a.m.  Tuesday.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1068843/2-dead-5-hurt-in-separate-quezon-road-accidents
A report from the Quezon police said Ramil Atienza, 26, was accidentally hit by a still unidentified bus while standing along the side of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Sto. Cristo in Sariaya town around 7:55 p.m. 
Atienza died while being taken to Sariaya Greg Hospital. 
Police added that Atienza could have also been possibly run over by a passing sports utility vehicle after he was hit by the bus. 
Meanwhile in the island town of Alabat, two motorcycles collided head-on while cruising along the Alabat-Quezon road at around 4 a.m.
A report from Calabarzon police indicated the incident happened around 3 a.m., involving a car driven by Kelly Villanueva and a tricycle driven by a certain Levy Gamil. 
Police said the tricycle was heading towards Barangay Hugom when it was hit by the car.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1071096/van-plows-into-tricycles-in-isabela-province-2-dead-4-hurt
Two tricycle drivers died, and four were hurt in a road accident about 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday (January 9) in Barangay (village) San Pedro-San Pablo, police said. 
Tricycle drivers Danilo Ancheta and Manny Balaba were killed when a van driven by Gregorio Tolentino, 54, of San Luis town in Pampanga province, plowed into their respective vehicles. 
Rolly Wania, who was sitting behind Balaba on the tricycle, was seriously hurt in the crash. 
Tolentino fell asleep on the wheel as he drove south, causing the van to swerve and plow into the two parked tricycles.
Three persons were killed while 9 others were hurt in a three-vehicle smash-up when one of the drivers fell asleep at the wheel along the national highway here Monday afternoon. 
“The Toyota Hi-Lux driver falls asleep at the wheel,” said Police Chief Inspector Bryan Placer, Matalam town police chief, referring to Ridznul Tandih, 34, who was driving the Toyota Hi-Lux from Zamboanga heading to Davao, when it crashed into a tricycle and a Kia Bongo from Matalam heading to Kabacan town at 1:45 p.m. in Barangay Kilada, Matalam. 
Placer said the Toyota Hi-Lux first hit the tricycle and then the Kia Bongo double cab vehicle. Both four-wheeled vehicles sit on their sides beside the highway following the accident. 
Placer said Tandih and his companions left Zamboanga at 1:30 a.m. bound for Davao City.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073679/2-slain-2-hurt-in-pangasinan-road-accidents
Police identified the fatalities in the Asingan road accident as Czarino Manibog, 25, and his back rider Jemray Castillo, 22. 
Czarino and Castillo were on board a motorcycle when they collided with a pickup driven by John Mark Calrion, 24. Calrion was also injured in the accident and was treated in a hospital. 
In Sual, two motorcycles collided head-on along the national road in Caoayan village at 5:30 p.m. injuring the riders identified as Ralph Alvarez, 23, and Jovell Castro, 27. 
Police said both were driving at a high speed but Castro was believed to be drunk.
Nine passengers were injured in a crash when the van they were riding skidded and hit a tree in Garcia Hernandez town in Bohol province on Sunday morning. 
Those hurt, including an Australian, were brought to hospitals in Jagna town and Tagbilaran City, according to PO3 Elvan Cadiz of the Garcia Hernandez Municipal Police Station. 
Kenneth Centorias, 23-year-old driver of the van-for-hire, was detained at the police station pending the filing of a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries. 
The van was heading for Tagbilaran from Jagna town past 11 a.m. when it had an accident. 
When it reached the national highway in Barangay West Canayaon in Garcia Hernandez town, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off and hit a gmelina tree. 
Centorias told police that he was not able to step on the brakes on time because of the slippery road due to rains.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1079796/4-die-as-bus-slams-into-rear-of-truck-on-sctex
Authorities said the bus, which was carrying mostly government employees from Cavite, slammed into the rear of the cargo truck at about 5:20 a.m.
That is 10 articles and 12 accidents. Two of these accidents took place during the day and the rest happened at dusk, early evening, and early in the morning when still dark. Four involved tricycles and two were the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.  One unfortunate casualty was standing on the side of the highway when he was hit by a bus and then run over by a passing SUV. Another accident was the result of one vehicle attempting to pass another which resulted in a head-on collision. Eight of these accidents involved motorcycles and three of those accidents were head-on collisions! Two of those collisions occurred at 1:30 am and 4:30 am respectively.

What can we learn here? What are the patterns if any?

The fact that the majority of these accidents take place at night coupled with my experiences of driving at night leads me to believe that some of these drivers were not using headlights. Especially the motorcycles colliding head-on in the early morning leads me to suspect they were not using lights. Too many motorcycles do not use lights at night. The same goes for tricycles. It is always a shock to be driving along and then suddenly see the shadow of a lightless pedicab or tricycle.

Two of these accidents involve drivers falling asleep. How many truckers are on the road half asleep? The case of the guy walking along the highway is not surprising at all. The lack of sidewalks or any kind of pedestrian path alongside roads is trouble waiting to happen. It is a common sight to see people walking along highways.

What can be done about this? According to authorities. Nothing. Nothing can be done because they have don't everything they can and they are having a "hard time" figuring out a solution.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/200170-ph-difficulty-road-crash-deaths-cesar-sarmiento
The Philippines is having a "hard time" reducing deaths from road crashes despite efforts to curb casualties, a Philippine lawmaker told the United Nations General Assembly (GA) during the second regular session of its 82nd plenary meeting in New York on Friday, April 13 (Manila time). 

Despite the action plan and policies passed, road crash fatalities continued to climb over the years. In 2015, a total of 10,012 people died due to road mishaps across the country. 
Sarmiento added that intensifying law enforcement will "help instill discipline and deter unsafe driving behavior." Awareness through social marketing will also prioritize road safety on a daily basis, he said.
The last part about intensifying law enforcement is the key here.  From R.A. 6975 which set up the PNP and lays out their duties we read:
Sec. 35 (B) (8) Traffic Management Unit. – Headed by a Director with the rank of chief superintendent, the Traffic Management Unit shall enforce traffic laws and regulations.
https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html
It's rather obvious the lack of any law enforcement patrolling the roads and enforcing the law is to blame for many of these accidents. Pull over all vehicles not using lights and fine them. If they don't have working lights then impound the vehicle. Enforce helmet laws. Pull over speeding and reckless drivers. That's really what it will take. Not social programs or action plans. Not good wishes or goodwill. Just plain good old fashioned enforcing the law.