Martial Law: Normalisation

Mindanao seems to have been quite since the January church bombing in Jolo however the AFP is still out in the jungles engaging in clashes with and chasing down rebels and terrorists.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/687322/4-troops-wounded-in-clash-with-suspected-reds-in-quezon/story/

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/08/afp-troops-continue-hot-pursuit-on-asg-fighters-under-sahiron-sawadjaan/

Col. Gerry Besana, the Spokesman of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, said at 6:40 a.m. Friday (March 8), the Philippine Air Force conducted a bomb run targeting 200 ASG members under ASG leaders Radulan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in Sitios Agas-Agas and Limasan of Barangay Kabbun Takas, Patikul, Sulu. 

Besana said the result of the bombardment is yet to be determined as clearing operations were still being conducted. 

Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr. said they have stepped-up their tactical offensives against the ASG following the monitored and validated consolidation of the ASG terrorists in the hinterland of Patikul. 

“This military offensive is launched before they could carry out whatever terroristic action they are planning which I believe something big as they have consolidated such number of terrorists,” Pabayo said.

Dropping bombs on suspected terrorist lairs is a new tactic as Duterte said he did not wish to drop bombs because of the risk of civilian casualties. But since he he did tell the AFP to crush Abu Sayyaf by any means necessary it appears anything goes.The sooner Abu Sayyaf is crushed the better because they are bad for the economy.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/04/1898714/duterte-says-abu-sayyaf-threat-driving-away-investments

"If we do not get rid of them, everybody who wants to invest in the Philippines will never do that. So we cannot be productive," the president said during a campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan last Sunday in Zamboanga City. 

Recently Brig. Gen. Antonio Paralde was appointed deputy chief of staff for civil military operations and he has vowed to expose the CPP-NPA for the scam that they are.

https://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/general-vows-expose-communist-‘evils’

“We will expose the CPP as the greatest scam of the century. They are the reason why our poor remain to be poor. They are the reason why our rural areas remain undeveloped,” he said. 

“We (military) have to share with the people the correct narrative of everything. The thing is, the people are not yet aware how mischievous the CPP and NPA are… civil military operations will be a big factor (to reverse this),” he said. 

He said he would “expose” how the communists “exploited” indigenous peoples, teachers, peasants and other groups just to advance their 50-year-old revolutionary struggle. 

He also he would make public how the communist movement has “manipulated international organs like EU (European Union) and UN (United Nations) in order to solicit billions of funding from them.” 

He said the communists have been soliciting funds from the EU and the UN through “bogus front organizations.”

Aside from politicians paying the CPP-NPA a collective P200 million to campaign and win it appears that the CPP-NPA is also recieving funds from the EU and UN via front organisations.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/06/cpp-foreign-funding-revealed-ph-asks-belgium-eu-to-stop-cash-flow/

As the government takes its war against communist terrorists a step further, the National Task Force was assured by European officials that it would look into the reported funding of the Com­munist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by Belgium and other EU-member countries. 

Data presented by the Phil­ippine delegation showed that communist front organizations receive funds from the Belgian government and some European countries in the guise of marginalized and pro-poor programs. 

Documents obtained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also revealed that the Belgian government has released its first tranche of more than 621,000 Euros (P36,663,840) out of the 15-million Euro (P885,600,000) grant to some non-government organizations for the 2017-2021 program. 

This year, some 1.3 million Euros (P76,752,000) are expected to be re­leased. 

According to Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, the com­munist terrorist groups hide behind legitimate organisations. 

Parlade said the information about the EU and Belgian government unwit­tingly funding organizations affiliated with the CPP and NewPeople’s Army (NPA), came from EU and the Belgian government themselves. 

“Many of these money was chan­neled by these NGOs to other organiza­tions whose only objective is to portray President (Rodrigo) Duterte as a tyrant and his administration as oppressive,” he added. 

“What we wanted the EU and UN (United Nations) to also know is that the CPP and its front organizations, like Karapatan, are consistent and per­sistent in providing UN and European governments with all these false data,” Parlade added. 

Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism coordinator, vowed to look into the information very seriously and develop a more intense cooperation. 

He said he will talk with his col­leagues in the European Commission and conduct an independent financial audit. 

“You can be assured that we will monitor the country’s expenditures and donors who may have given to the organizations for the same activity,” de Kerchove added. “We will share with you the outcome of (the) external audit.

Unwittingly giving money to foreign organisations that are actually fronts for terrorists is just one reason among many why foreign governments should not be quick to dispense aid around the world especially without vetting the organisations they are funding. Is the Philippine government giving money to these organisations? If not then why not and why should the EU or the UN give them money? Those are questions to ask before handing out money pell-mell to every outstretched hand.

In a stunning irony not only is the EU unwittingly supporting NPA terrorists but it is they who will be training MILF terrorists on how to govern their newly given BARMM.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064079

The 41 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be trained on public policy, governance and management through a European Union-funded program this summer, the EU delegation in Manila announced Friday. 

Of the 41 MILF members, six are from the MILF central committee, the EU said. 

A consultation is set between the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS), a Cambodian-based organization working on peace-building in Asia, and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) to align the design, content, and timeline of activities included in the program. 

According to the delegation, part of the EU-funded technical support is a seven-day study tour to yet unspecified "country or countries where peace processes allowed for revolutionary organization's transition to political organisation". 

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said the upcoming transition in the region is "definitely critical" but also presents an opportunity for all actors to work toward the laying down of a solid foundation for political, economic and social stability in Mindanao. 

"The EU remains committed to support the need for a better future for Bangsamoro and its people- the aspirations and visions for the future of every well-meaning citizen, not only of Bangsamoro but outside of Bangsamoro," he said.

Why don't Duterte and Murad Ebrahim tell the EU to F-off and stop meddling in Philippine affairs? Why is the EU committed to support the future of the BARMM? Where were they or other countries when the ARMM was formed? Did they offer to help the ARMM succeed? Why can't the MILF learn to govern from the Philippine government? 

Everybody is banking on the BARMM to succeed. The Philippine government as well as outside organisations consider such success the most important goal against terrorism. 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/225082-bangsamoro-government-success-most-important-goal-vs-terrorism-philippines

Ensuring the success of the Bangsamoro government in fostering peace and development in the new autonomous region is the "single most important goal" of counter-terrorism efforts in the Philippines, a Jakarta-based think tank said. 

"The single most important goal of counter-terrorism programs and funding in the Philippines now should be trying to ensure that BARMM succeeds in meeting the huge challenges it faces," the report said. 

The report said failure to establish a functioning government Bangsamoro Autobnomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where there may be corruption, dispute over access to jobs, resources, and land, among others could leave residents disillusioned and give Islamic State-inspired groups "a new lease on life." 

"Stronger support for pro-ISIS components is only one of several possible outcomes of a failed BARMM but it could be the deadliest…. The key to reducing the appeal of Islamic State is to produce a more attractive alternative for Mindanao’s Muslims," said IPAC.

One of the keys, the final key in fact, to the full implementation of the MILF peace deal is normalisation.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/08/full-implementation-of-milf-normalization-process-under-way/

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are working on the formulation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the proposed Executive Order on the Normalization Track under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). 

The CAB, which was signed between the government and the MILF, has two tracks, namely the Political Track that covers the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the Normalization process, which includes the decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons and the transformation of several camps into productive and resilient communities. 

The EO will provide the necessary framework for the implementation of the Normalization Track to include the creation of an inter-cabinet mechanism responsible for coordinating and mobilizing government agencies, generating resource, and providing policy and legal advice. 

Galvez said the IRR of the EO will be finalized “within next month.” 

“The MILF forces will be decommissioned in four phases. The ceremonial decommissioning of 145 combatants was completed in 2015. Thirty percent, or more or less 12,000 combatants, will be scheduled late this year 2019. Another 35 percent will be decommissioned next year in 2020, while the remaining will be done in 2021-2022 before the signing of the exit agreements,” the chief peace adviser explained.

Normalisation is an important part of the peace process and it consists in decommissioning MILF forces and absolving MILF members charges with crimes. That is amnesty for past terrorist acts. Let's take a brief look at it.  The document can be viewed here. 

It starts off:

In the name of God the beneficent, the merciful.

That is the Islamic Bismillah.  What kind of treaty starts off with a religious invocation? Right away we get a glimpse that this whole normalisation process is in accord with Islamic law and will be more favourable to the MILF than the Philippine government.  Let's take a look at of some of the provisions.

A. Policing 

5. Upon its establishment and pending the implementation of the agreed policing in the Bangsomoro, the BTA shall have substantial participation in choosing the head and in the employment and deployment of the existing PNP in the Bangsomoro. The head of the police force will be selected from a list of three (3) eligible officers recommended by the PNP.  

B. Transitional Components of Normalisation 

2. To ensure effective security collaboration, several joint mechanisms shall be established. The Joint Normalisation Committee (JNC) shall coordinate the different processes in normalisation. The Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) shall coordinate the security component of the normalisation process. The Joint Peace Security Teams (JPSTs) shall be operating units composed of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP), the PNP, and the MILF's Bangsomoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). These mechanisms shall work for the maintenance of peace and order and the stability of the areas mutually identified by the GPH and the MILF. 

B3. Joint Peace and Security Teams 

1. Contingents from the AFP, PNP, and the BIAF, shall be organised into the JPSTs that will work for the maintenance of peace and order and the stability of the areas mutually identified by the PGH and the MILF. 

2. The JPSTs shall have the falling additional functions: 

a. Tracking and documenting of private armies and other armed groups, and the reduction and control of weapons and material 

C. Decomissioning 

2. Decommissioning shall be a process that includes achieves aimed at achieving a smooth transition for the BIAF members to productive civilian life.   

3. To achieve the above goal, a comprehensive needs assessment shall be undertaken for the members of the BIAF and their communities as a basis for a comprehensive socio-economic development program. 

D. Redeployment of the AFP 

1. The government shall redeploy AFP units  and troops from or within the Bangsamoro, consistent with a normal and peaceful life and the progress in the other aspects of normalisation.  

2. There shall be a joint security assessment and an inventory of AFP units and troops in the Bangsamoro to ensure an order redeployment of AFP units and troops, and avoid a security vacuum in the Bangsamoro. The AFP shall only retain installations necessary for national defence and security.  

4. There shall be coordination between the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government in the movement of the AFP in the Bangsamoro. In the exercise of this coordination, protocols shall be established by the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government. 

G. Socio-economic Development Program 

5. The Parties recognise the need to attract multi-donor country support, assistance and pledges to the normalisation process. For this purpose, a Trust Fund shall be established through which urgent support, recurrent and investment budget cost will be released with efficiency, transparency and accountability. The Parties agree to adopt criteria for eligible financing schemes, such as, priority areas of capacity building, institutional strengthening, impact programs to address imbalances in development and infrastructures, and economic facilitation for return to normal life affecting combatant and non-combatant elements of the MILF, indigenous peoples, women, children, and internally displaced persons. 

I. Resource Mobilisation 

1. The GPH shall provide the necessary funding for the normalisation process. 

J. Confidence-Building Measures 

1. Upon the signing of this Annex on Normalisation and as a gesture of goodwill, the two parties shall constitute joint task forces for the previously acknowledged MILF camps: 

a. Camp Abubaker as-Siddique in Maguindanao
b. Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur
c. Camp Omar ibn-al Khattab in Maguindano
d. Camp Rajaumda in North Cotabato and Maguindanao
e. Camp Badre in Maguindanao
f. Camp Busrah Somiorang in Lana del Sur 

The task forces will assess the needs, plan appropriate programs, and undertake the necessary measures to transform these areas into peaceful and productive communities. 

2. To facilitate the healing of the wounds of conflict and the return to normal life, the Government shall take immediate steps through amnesty, pardon and other available processes towards the resolution of cases of persons charged with or convicted of crimes and offences connected to the armed conflict in Mindanao.

What benefits do the Philippine government receive from any of the foregoing? Peace? Stability? Neither of those are assured. The GPH is giving up land and authority to the MILF. They are allowing the MILF to dictate who heads the PNP as well the movement of PNP officers and AFP units and troops in the BARMM. The AFP, PNP, and BIAF are to collaborate together to ensure security in the BARMM but the BIAF is also set to be decommissioned and BIAF camps are to be transformed into "peaceful and productive communities." The GPH is also giving up prosecuting MILF terrorists who have been charged with crimes related to the conflict in Mindanao. The MILF is getting off scot-free and will not be held accountable for their deeds.  This is not a deal at all. Why would anyone in the GPH sign this document?

To add insult to injury the GPH is charged with paying for the whole process! Already the leaders of the BTA have received P31 billion which is the budget for the former ARMM.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/28/1897436/barmm-leaders-get-p31-billion-budget

In his still-to-be-enacted proposed budget for this year, the President allocated a total of P31.117 billion to ARMM divided as P13.4 billion for salaries, P4.659 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses and P13.059 billion for capital outlay, the bulk of which is for infrastructure projects.

They call it a normalisation process but there is nothing normal about it. The Philippine people will be paying to provide MILF terrorists socio-economic benefits through their taxes with little to benefits to themselves. President Aquino famously called the ARMM a "failed experiment" but seeing that the BARMM is the ARMM with a facelift why should anyone expect things to go differently? How much money will be wasted being pumped into this region?

Guess what else the people are paying for. Housing and social programs for NPA terrorists.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064042

Who cares about all those poor indigent squatters throughout the country building shanties where they should not be, barely squeaking by, and living in squalor when CPP-NPA terrorists have surrendered?

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063944

The activity was initiated by the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion to address the needs of the surrenderers who recently yielded to military authorities. 

“After returning to the mainstream of society, former rebels have to be indulged in activities like this (values formation and psychosocial activity),” said Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063872

Sobejana said that if they are eligible, the returnees may avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government for them to start a new life and live peacefully with their families.

After fighting against the government and then deciding to thrown down their arms the government had better build them houses and give them money and jobs right? Right!??

Smoky Piles 7

There is nothing more hateful and pestilent than the constant burning piles of trash and leaves polluting the otherwise peaceful and clean air of the Philippines. The other morning I went for a run later than usual and what a difference an hour makes. Instead of the cool calm of the morning everyone was now awake and bustling about. Many of them were burning newly swept piles of leaves and trash and their dogs were let out of the house to run about and chase strangers. I had to hold my breath for almost the whole 4 miles. Then you think you are safe inside your house but the smoke from some unseen conflagration makes its way through the cracks in the windows and sitting in your own room becomes most unpleasant because of the suffocating smell. 

Here are some more pictures of smoky piles for you to bite your thumb at and loathe.

Retards in the Government 92

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

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/01/1897751/dismantled-posters-be-used-evidence-vs-bets

“We will preserve the recovered materials. That will form part of the evidence in the cases we will file after today. We will be able to identify the violators,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez. 

He added that the poll body has already sent notices to candidates who own the illegally posted campaign materials.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1091575/comelec-to-take-legal-move-vs-partylist-group-for-not-removing-huge-billboard-in-bacolod

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is taking legal action against a partylist group for failing to remove an oversized campaign billboard on top of a building on Lacson Street here.

We shall see if the Comelec really will be filing cases against errant candidates. There are many illegally placed posters everywhere!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1091582/provincial-board-secretary-shot-dead-by-3-gunmen-in-bukidnon

A provincial board secretary was gunned down by three unknown gunmen in the municipality of Maramag in the province of Bukidnon. 

According to the police, Lacson was heading to Brgy. Kuya with his father and nephew when three unnamed suspects onboard a white Toyota Fortuner shot five times at the victim and fled right after.

Another LGU official assassinated.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1091807/biliran-mayor-no-online-games-during-office-hours-or-else

Naval, Biliran Mayor Gerard Espina warned municipal employees to focus on public service rather than wasting time on mobile phone and online games and apps during office hours or find a new work place. 

In an office memorandum dated March 1, 2019, Espina said that “a significant number of employees” were reported to be playing mobile games, particularly Mobile Legends and Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) during office hours. 

The mayor further said that he hopes the said memorandum would prompt erring employees to “level-up” their “maturity in terms of the seriousness of public service or ‘squad up’ to find a new place of employment.”

Why not ban Facebook too? And watching videos. Just ban all social media use during work hours.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1091855/palace-nothing-wrong-with-duterte-calling-court-to-let-misuari-travel-abroad

When asked if this was not interference on the judiciary, Panelo said it was “persuasion” and not interference.

I suppose it's not surprising that the Palace does not see anything wrong with the President "persuading" the court to allow a terrorist wanted for rebellion to leave the country to attend conferences in the UAE and Morocco.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1091832/pdea-chief-says-no-to-release-of-narco-list-before-may-polls

Eighty-three politicians, including mayors, vice mayors, governors, vice governors, and congressmen, were reportedly included in the list. 

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said releasing the list is unfair to politicians as it can be considered negative campaigning by the government.

Duterte's so-called narco list has been floating around since 2016. Some want the list released so voters know who to not vote for. Some want the list to not be released because the names are not verified. The problem with this list is that if it is indeed verified these people are indeed involved in the drug trade then they should be apprehended and charged. But they are still free and no charges have been brought. So what is the point of the list?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/19/prosecutors-oppose-jinggoy-motion-insist-ex-senator-got-p70m-in-pdaf-kickbacks

Prosecutors insisted that former Senator Jinggoy Estrada received over P70 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam, as they opposed his motion for leave to file demurrer to evidence. 

The prosecution quoted the Anti-Money Laundering Council bank inquiry report which disclosed financial transactions supposedly made by Estrada or through his former senate staff Pauline Labayen and others identified as Carl Dominic Labayen and Juan Ng.  

“Such verification and confirmation by the AMLC is nothing less than corroborative to the testimonies on record that indeed Estrada received kickbacks/commissions, thereby amassing, accumulating and acquiring ill-gotten wealth,” prosecutors led by Deputy Special Prosecutor Cornelio Somido said in the opposition. 

Estrada’s motion for leave filed before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division will pave the way for the filing of a demurrer to evidence for the outright dismissal of his plunder case.

The prosecution thinks their case is airtight and Estrada is guilty. Would be a shame if he was eventually acquitted like Revilla.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1092270/pdea-chief-dutertes-estimate-on-7m-8m-drug-users-not-from-us

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino on Tuesday said the agency was not the source of President Rodrigo Duterte’s estimate that there are around 7 to 8 million drug users in the country. 

Aquino however said he thinks the estimate is correct as the President might have included drug pushers in the figure. 

“The figure did not come from us, and when I asked where the figure came hindi pa malaman kung saan nanggaling ‘yung figure (the source of the figure is still unknown) but I believe the President,” Aquino told reporters. 

The estimate also did not come from the Philippine National Police, its chief General Oscar Albayalde said, but added that the President has unlimited sources of information that might have been his basis for the figure.

This number didn't come from the PDEA or the PNP and no one knows the source yet the believe him. Why? Because he is the President and the President is always right. Remember when he fired DDB Chairman Benjamin Reyes for contradicting his figure of 4 million back in 2017? "You do not contradict your own government."

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/03/04/Duterte-Otso-Diretso-opposition-Senate-slate.html

The President criticized the Otso Diretso slate and almost all of its eight senatorial candidates — save for one bet because she's a woman. 

He said the opposition party, backed by Vice President Leni Robredo, is going straight to hell for their endless criticisms. 

"Sinong ipalit mo diyan sa 'yang 'Otso Diretso' papuntang impyerno? Walang ginawa 'yang mga tao na 'yan puro criticize," he said in a campaign rally in Zamboanga City on March 3.

You criticise the President and you go to hell.  You go to hell and you die!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1092219/64-narco-politicians-vying-for-reelection-in-may-polls-pdea-chief

Aquino said the 64 politicians are among the 82 included in the government’s drug watch list, which includes mayors, vice mayors, governors, vice governors, and congressmen. 

“I think it’s 64. They filed their COCs (certificate of candidacies) and the remaining 18 decided not to file [their COCs],” Aquino told reporters when asked on the number of politicians in the narco-list who are seeking another term for their respective posts.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/03/04/narco-list-politicians-libel-case.html

"If they feel like they've been libeled, they can file a case," Panelo said in a media briefing when asked if the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) planned release of "narco list" will go against the "presumption of innocence." 

"Me, as a lawyer, mas gusto kong ilabas niyo ang pangalan ng kliyente ko. Para I can immediately respond to it at magawan ko ng paglilinis kung inosente naman," he said. 

[Translation: Me, as a lawyer, I would rather have my client's name released so I can immediately respond to it, especially if he or she is innocent.]

If the PDEA knows who these people are they should file charges. It is the duty of the accuser to prove guilt because innocence is alway assumed. File a libel case? Ridiculous. Panelo the lawyer should know that.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/05/president-duterte-wants-to-see-more-educated-debates/

“I hope that the next presidential debates in the coming years would be a more educated one, give all the time to the candidates to expound and talk about the issues, the one to bring to the people,” Duterte said in his remarks. 

“Otherwise, it’s just an exercise of money and you know expenses are — they do not come easy,” he added.

http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/03/05/Bato-dela-Rosa-Hugpong-ng-Pagbabago-campaign.html

Former Philippine National Police chief-turned-senatorial candidate Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa defended Hugpong ng Pagbabago's (HNP) style of campaigning, which has been chided by some opposition bets as mere entertainment. 

"Mag-prangkahan tayo. 'Yung mga tao na 'yan, pupunta diyan purposely ba para lang makinig ng issues? I don't think so. Ang mga tao na 'yan pumupunta diyan para sumaya. Kung mapatawa 'yung tao diyan, gagaan na 'yung loob sa'yo," Dela Rosa told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday. 

[Translation: Let's be frank. Those people, would they purposely go just to listen to issues? I don't think so. Those people go there to be happy. If you make people there laugh, they'd be more at ease with you.]

Bato certainly has his hand on the pulse of the nation more than Duterte does in this case.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/686988/foreign-gov-ts-wiretapped-filipino-candidates-on-narco-list-palace/story/

Foreign governments have supplied the Philippines "wiretapped" information regarding criminals and politicians alleged to have links to the illegal drug trade, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday. 

Panelo issued the statement as he vouched for the integrity of the list of candidates in the May midterm elections with drug ties. The government plans to release the so-called "narco-list" next week. 

"Ang mga nagpo-provide sa atin ibang bansa eh. Ang magagaling diyan Israel, magaling diyan America, Russia, China. In other words, they provide us with the information. Kung tayo lang, eh wala, kopong-kopong pa yata iyong mga instrumento natin," he told reporters.

Panelo, meanwhile, reiterated that the public deserves to know about the narco-list. 

He said candidates with drug links do not enjoy the presumption of innocence. 

"How can you demand that you are presumed innocent when you are involved in something criminal? Another thing, the due process clause applies to the life, the liberty or property," Panelo said.

So Israel, the USA, Russia, and China have the nation wiretapped? And the Palace is ok with that? Panelo's understanding of jurisprudence, especially the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence, is woefully lacking. How is he even a lawyer??

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/07/narco-list-info-not-from-wiretapped-sources-pdea/

PDEA Director and spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon said “as far as PDEA is concerned, the narco-list came from its counterparts from the local anti-narcotics agencies.’’ 

With regards to Malacanang’s earlier pronouncement, Carreon noted that PDEA is not privy to the information that the narco-list came from foreign sources. 

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the information about politicians named in the narco list came from local government agencies. 

“Wala po kami natatanggap na mga information or intelligence regarding sa narco list na nanggagaling po sa ibang bansa (We have not received any information or intelligence with regards to the narco-list that came from foreign sources),” Aquino said.

Either the PDEA or the Palace is lying. Who do you think it is?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/687188/panelo-foreign-wiretapping-on-drug-suspects-an-educated-guess/story/

Panelo told reporters that he does not have any information whether a foreign government is wiretapping Filipinos suspected of links to illegal drugs and other criminal activities. 

The Palace official said his statement during a press briefing on Tuesday regarding wiretapped information provided by foreign governments was based on “logic” and “educated guess.” 

“As far as I know, walang nagpo-provide sa atin ng wiretapped information,” Panelo said as he admitted he used the wrong word when he said other countries “provided” information based on wiretapped conversations.

It was Panelo! But he wasn't lying. He was just guessing.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/224752-auditors-flag-philippine-coast-guard-transactions

Auditors have flagged P3.6 billion worth of transactions in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), adding to the list of financial irregularities that the agency has to answer for.  

Rappler obtained two Audit Observation Memoranda (AOMs) showing that, on February 11 and 18, resident auditors found that:  

• P1.75 billion worth of allotments were issued without final contracts or even bidding;

• P1.91 billion worth of programs remain unliquidated.

Millions worth of flagged transactions have hounded the PCG for years now, with the COA constantly reminding it to fix its financial control mechanism. The COA has repeatedly found in PCG records millions worth of fake receipts as well as transactions “disowned” by suppliers. 

Past anomalies have subjected top level officials of PCG to graft charges; some of them were even suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman last year. (READ: Duterte again promotes PH Coast Guard officers facing graft raps)

If it's been happening for years it will likely continue for years.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/225049-entire-pasay-police-station-anti-drug-team-fired-extortion-march-2019

The entire anti-drug team of the Pasay City Police Station 1 was sacked on Wednesday, March 6, after allegedly extorting from the family of a detained drug suspect in exchange for freedom. 

According to the report from the police Counterintelligence Task Force (CITF), they received a complaint from a certain Joan dela Torre who alleged that her partner George Revilla was arrested by the Pasay station's drug enforcement team (SDET) then demanded P100,000 for his freedom.

The rule here is that everyone knows so everyone is liable. Especially the men in charge.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/05/1898887/china-loan-process-different-other-countries

During the Senate committee on economic affairs' inquiry into the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" program, Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Tan admitted that the Philippine government goes through a limited competitive bidding process when it comes to China loan offers. 

"In the case of the Chinese, they first would want to have a contract for us to go through a bidding process before they say 'Okay, I'm okay to confirm to finance it,'" Tan told the Senate panel headed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. 

Tan also said the Chinese usually starts with providing three contractors of "good standing" before the bidding process. 

The Chinese want to be assured first that they will be getting a Chinese contractor if they will be funding a project as it would be a tied loan.

If China is going to lend the Philippines money they want a guarantee that Chinese contractors will be leading the project. Nice. Build, build, build with the Chinese.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/19/sara-duterte-honesty-should-not-be-an-election-issue

Everybody lies anyway. 

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had this to say Wednesday as she asserted that honesty should not be an issue in this year’s elections, defending her candidates under the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) accused of dishonesty and corruption. 

“Sinasabi ko sa kanilang lahat: Walang isang kandidato d'yan na hindi nagsisinungaling kaya hindi dapat nagiging issue ang honesty ngayon.” 

(I tell them all that there is no single candidate who does not lie so honesty should not be an issue now.) 

Duterte-Carpio said Alejano and his fellow opposition candidates also “deliberately say false statements” against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“Lahat sila sinungaling, lahat ng tao sa mundong ito sinungaling,” she said. 

(All of them lie. Everyone in this world is a liar.)

Everyone is a liar. Sure. That means Sara and her party are most certainly liars.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1093078/7-las-pinas-cops-arrested-for-kidnapping

The seven, who have been under restrictive custody at the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City since November 29, 2018, were served their warrants and were placed under arrest at the police camp on Wednesday afternoon. 

To recall, the police officers, assigned at the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Las Piñas City Police, allegedly extorted money from a certain Shelane Lugutan, sister of Cyrus Wency Lugutan who was arrested in an anti-drug operation. 

According to NCRPO, the police officers demanded cash from Shelane in exchange of the release of her brother. She then reported the incident to the Regional Special Operations Unit of the NCRPO, which later launched an entrapment operation on November 21 last year. The seven evaded arrest at that time but later surrendered to police and were put under restrictive custody.

These men have been site ing custody since November 29th but only now have been served with warrants, charged wit a crime, and arrested. How did it take so long?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1093109/cop-nabbed-for-p2-6m-estafa-complaint-filed-by-fellow-cop

Operatives of the Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday served an arrest warrant against a police officer who allegedly duped a fellow police officer of some P2.6 million in an investment scam. 

The NCRPO reported on Thursday that the arrest of Muchuelas stemmed from the complaint of Master Sergeant Jenaline Sad-Ang of the Taguig City Police Station. According to police, in 2015, Sad-Ang invested in the Rafael Muchuelas Group of Companies. 

Police said Muchuelas told Sad-Ang that the he owns the Rafael Muchuelas Group of Companies and that his company has ties with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor). 

According to police, Sad-Ang was not able to recover her investment, prompting her to file a complaint for estafa against Muchuelas.

PNP officers were supposedly poor until Duterte raised their salaries so how was this PNP officer duped into believing her fellow officer owned a group of companies with ties to Pagcor and where did she get P2.6 million to invest?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/19/barangay-chairman-at-tanod-huli-sa-pagtatago-ng-ilegal-na-armas

Arrested a barangay chairman and watchman in Barangay Mabantao town of Davao del Norte due to the secretion of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. 

Arrested by the Philippine National Police Composite Team by search warrant barangay chairman of Mabantao Edgar Allan Quilla Friday night. 

Eventually the village watchmen that Rolando Pamat also after reaching home in Purok Sampaloc. 

Different types of guns and ammunition got two, including the following:

• 1 piece MK IV caliber .45 Colt pistol

• 1 piece .45 norinco 1911

• 6 pieces .45 caliber magazine

• 47 pieces .45 caliber ammunition

• 45 pieces 9mm caliber ammunition

• 3 pieces .38 caliber ammunition

• 4 pieces .22 caliber ammunition

• 1 piece .380 caliber ammunition

A barangay chairman hiding illegal weapons and violating the election gun ban.

The Filthy Pig Table

There is this night market kind of place where they slice up a pig and sell the meat every single evening. I have wanted to get a picture of that but I have not been able to do so. But recently I was able to get a picture of the table on which the pig is slaughtered. Here it is in all its gory glory!

Can you see what is going on with this table?  No? You want a close up? Ok. Here is a close up.

Can you see it now?  Can you see all the filth?  The dried blood and flecks of flesh? You would need a microscope to see all the salmonella and e-coli and listeria embedded in this wooden table but you know it's there.

Contrast this foul, unclean, blood caked table with this table down the street.

This is a stall where fish is sold. You can see the scales on the floor.  Pretty gross. But a tarp is covering the wood so they can place the fish on the tarp and even cut them up and then wipe it clean. The germs won't stick! Or they will stick less.  Anyway it's a heck of a lot more clean than the bloody pig table.

Do they wipe it clean? I don't know.  But I know the table where they slice open the pig is absolutely disgusting and whoever is buying pork from that butcher is risking their health.

A Public Cemetery Desecrated by Campaign Posters

When I first saw signs designating a public cemetery a "Comelec Common Poster Area" I thought it was a joke. Even Comelec spokesman James Jimenez thought it was a terribly unfunny photoshop on my part.

https://twitter.com/Philippinefails/status/1096531046516977664

Sadly these signs are not a joke. Even sadder is that the various campaigns have taken these signs seriously and hung up their posters all over the Granada Public Cemetery.

Here is video footage to verify this is not a photoshop.

Two more "Comelec Common Poster Area" signs are also hanging in front of the barangay hall.

That anyone involved in campaigning has taken these signs seriously just goes to show they do not even know the Comelec's rules about where posters may not be hung.

Section 7. Prohibited Forms of Election Propaganda. - During the campaign period it is unlawful: 

f. To post, display or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda material outside of authorised common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner thereof. 

Public places include any of the following: 

5. Schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centres, public structures and buildings of any edifice thereof. 

The printing press, printer, or publisher who prints reproduces or publishes said campaign material, and the broadcaster , station manager, owner of the radio or televisions station, or owner or administrator of any website who airs or shows the political advertisements without the required data or in violation of these rules shall be criminally liable with the candidate and, if applicable, further suffer the penalties of suspension or revocation of franchise or permit in accordance with the law. 

Nothing in these rules shall be construed as limiting the author of the appropriate agencies and instrumentalities of the government to promulgate their own rules and regulations, regarding the posting of political print advertising on any regulated land, sea and air vehicle, including but not limited to public utility vehicles and tricycles.

http://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2019NLE/Resolutions/com_res_10488.pdf

Campaign posters cannot be displayed or exhibited at barangay halls or public shrines and yet someone has hung huge signs in front of the barangay hall and the public cemetery designating these places as "Comelec Common Poster Areas." Admittedly the Comelec rules do not explicitly prohibit the hanging of campaign materials in a public cemetery. But surely that would fall under public shrines? Every November 1st the whole nation pours into the cemeteries to honour the dead. What kind of person would dare desecrate a cemetery in such a way? Does everything need to be explicitly spelled out?

In our brief Twitter exchange Comelec spokesman James Jimenez asked for the location of these banners and assured me he would send someone to check on this situation. That tweet is not available anymore. He must have deleted it. Nevertheless I was under the impression he would send someone to see just what is happening in Brgy. Granada. That was February 16th.

I have no idea if he has sent anyone nor do I have any idea if he knows who put up these "Comelec Common Poster Area" signs in areas prohibited by Comelec rules but I know who did and now I will tell you.

This guy did it:

https://www.facebook.com/Brgy.GranadaOfficialPage/photos/a.1483713411755790/1494733687320429/?type=3&theater

Alfredo Talimodao, Jr the Punong Barangay.  He is the individual who placed the Comelec signs at both the cemetery and in front of the barangay hall. He did it so people would hang up their posters in one spot and not all over the place. Of course posters are still being hung all over the place.  Take a look at this mess right in front of the cemetery:

It looks like someone's wash hanging out to dry! Is this even necessary? Does this display endear you to and make you want to vote for those candidates? Of course not. But there it is. 

Unbelievably Alfredo Talimodao is apparently unaware that the Comelec forbids campaign materials to be posted at barangay halls and public shrines. He actually denied that this is the case.

Now you are probably wondering how I know for a 100% sure fact that the Barangay Captain is the culprit. Well I can't tell you that. I'm sorry. I know how politics works here and I don't want to be visited unexpectedly by unwanted guests. All I can tell you is that I know this to be true with the utmost certainty. One thing I don't know is why he chose the cemetery to be a poster area. The barangay hall I understand but the cemetery? It's a scared place of rest for the dead and now this tomb of a husband and wife is covered in pictures of Duterte, Bong Go, Bato, and Tolentino.

Rest in peace Ernesto Carillo Moises, Sr. and Adoracion T. Moises.

What would the families and friends of this couple think if they knew this tomb was being desecrated all at the instigation of the Punong Barangay?