It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1201154/sandiganbayan-imposes-90-day-suspension-vs-eastern-samar-town-mayor |
The Sandiganbayan has preventively suspended the mayor of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar for 90 days pending an investigation on a graft case filed against her.
In its resolution dated November 25, the Sixth Division denied Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan’s bid to overturn the ruling, as Section 13 of the Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act mandates the preventive suspension of incumbent officials.
That is, even if Gonzales-Kwan contended that the informations were filed prior to her election as Guiuan mayor. The accused is facing graft charges for the alleged anomalous purchase of firetrucks in 2007, that was reportedly conducted without public bidding.
Purchasing fire trucks without public bidding. It's not fertiliser anyway.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088577 |
A woman who works as a clerk in a village here was arrested by anti-drug operatives after she was caught selling shabu to a poseur buyer on Wednesday night.
The drug enforcement unit of Police Station 6 (San Nicolas Police Station) acted on a concerned citizen's report about a barangay worker who reportedly was selling shabu at Sitio Magpalaser, Hipodromo village here.
Major Kenneth Albotra, chief of Station 6 who led the operation, identified the suspect as Anna Liza Mendez, 40, who is tasked to issue barangay clearance to the village residents.
Another LGU official caught selling drugs.
President Rodrigo Duterte has floated the possibility of enlisting military men to run the operations of water services in Metro Manila as he continued to slam the concession agreements entered into by the government.
Speaking at the birthday celebration of former Senate President Manny Villar in Las Piñas City on Thursday, Duterte said he broached the idea of a military takeover before a gathering of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) on Wednesday.
“Last night I was talking to the PSG, sinabi ko sa kanila huwag mo akong laruan na takot takutin ninyo ako, sige magsibat kami, bahala wala kayong tubig,” said Duterte, who threatened on Tuesday to “expropriate everything” from Maynilad and Manila Water if he is not satisfied with their explanation of the concession agreements.
“I will order the Armed Forces to operate. Sige sundalo, take over kayo.”
He also warned of a warrantless arrest of people he accused of committing economic sabotage due to the supposed onerous provisions in the concession agreements.
“‘Pag niloko mo ako, niloko mo [ang] Pilipino. I will suspend the [privilege of the] writ of habeas corprus and I will arrest all of you. Gusto ko makita ang mga bilyonaryo na nakakulong,” Duterte said.
Just more big guy tough talk that will not solve anything. The Manila Water mess is indeed a mess. It appears that the deal crafted under the Ramos administration was "onerous" and not beneficial to the city. However instead of renegotiating a better deal as well as improving the delivery of water to the city Duterte is doing exactly what he has accused Robredo of doing, running his mouth. In fact a large part of the blame of Manila's water woes lies with the government.
 |
| https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/12/12/1976483/manilas-water-shortage-seen-persist-amid-blame-game-supply-woes |
A water shortage in Metro Manila would likely persist over the next two years, but it seems President Rodrigo Duterte may be blaming the wrong parties for the problem.
Not only did the government repeatedly drag its feet on establishing an alternative water source, it has also allocated limited funds to develop the water sector, a duty it has since effectively relegated to the private sector.
Now, as Duterte orders a review of supposedly “onerous” contracts with water firms, his subordinates also rely on Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services for a short-term fix that will buy the government time to address the capital's water shortage.
Politically, the popular Duterte has the upper hand, forcing the Ayala- and Pangilinan-led water firms to drop their arbitration claims—unrelated to the present water problem—totalling some P11 billion.
"Fundamentally, it was a problem of lack of foresight, planning and political will. Government agencies from past administrations were basically kicking the can down the road. They all knew that (water) demand will outstrip supply," said Eduardo Araral, director of the Institute for Water Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
But as dams nearly ran empty early this year due to inadequate rainfall, old problems resurfaced, and less water flowed into household taps.
On the government side, there seems to be a dearth of funds for water infrastructure.
Official data showed a budget of P70.1 billion for water resources and flood control projects for 2020, up 15% year-on-year although the bulk of funds would go to flood control instead of improving water supply. The amount also accounts for just 1.71 percent of the budget, down from 2.6 percent in 2018.Under the contract with Manila Water the government is tasked with finding new water sources and improving infrastructure to improve water delivery but they have failed to do this. Coupled with the extended dry season and you get all the problems earlier this year. But Duterte wants to focus on the P11billion settlement as if money is the sole problem here. And it could be. It could be that government funds to improve water infrastructure were plundered.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1201819/alleged-drug-pusher-shoots-down-village-exec-in-batangas |
A village councilor in Batangas City was shot and killed allegedly by a man tagged as an illegal drug pusher in their barangay (village).
The victim was identified as Jorge Almarez, a councilor in Barangay Bolbok.
Batangas city police chief Lt. Col. Julius Añonuevo, meanwhile, identified the suspect as Gilbert Acuña.
“Allegedly, it was Almarez who [submitted] the information [that Acuña was into drug dealings],” Añonuevo said.
He said that around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Almarez came across Acuña in a drinking session in the village.
The two had argued shortly before the suspect allegedly drew his gun and shot Almarez several times.At least the authorities know who shot and killed the man. Maybe they will find him.
 |
| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1836350 |
Businessman Roberto “Kaisek” Lo Tan, elder brother of former Bacolod councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan, was gunned down by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle Sunday morning, December 15.
A report by the Bacolod City Police Office said Tan, 70, was driving his Nissan Sentra car when one of two motorcycle-riding men shot him dead at 9:45 a.m. along CL Montelibano Avenue in Greensville 1 subdivision in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.
The report said the motorcycle overtook the victim’s car. The assassin fired six times before he and his driver fled towards the west. Tan died on the spot.
In 2018, former councilor Tan was also ambushed along with his wife. Both were wounded, but survived the attack.
The former councilor was earlier mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the local government officials who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
In 2018 assassins tried to kill Bacolod Councillor Cano Tan. They failed and he fled the country with charges of being invloved in drugs following him. Now the assassins have killed his brother.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088799 |
The village chief of Kalamtukan in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental and one of his companions were shot dead by suspects believed known to them in that Saturday night.
A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) on Sunday identified the slain victims as barangay chairman Johnny Semillano Condez, 47, and Danny Marata Jr.
Condez, Marata Jr., and the latter's father, Danny Sr. were on board a rescue vehicle with two others riding their motorcycles and headed towards Sitio Candollon in Barangay Kalamtukan in search of a wireless network signal at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday when they were shot at, the NOPPO report said.
Initial police investigation revealed that upon reaching the place that had a strong cellular network signal, the barangay chairman disembarked from the vehicle.
Witnesses said they then heard bursts of gunfire that hit Condez and Maratas.Driving around searching for a strong signal ends in the deaths of a village chief and another man.
The former mayor of Dinagat town in Dinagat Island has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment for failing to declare ownership of five motorcycles in her 2007 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) in 2007.
“The motorcycles were purchased by Ecleo on different dates in 2006. As such, they should be declared as among her personal properties in her 2006 SALN, as well as in SALNs for 2007 and 2010,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz said.
“Not only are the CRs of the motorcycles in the name of Ecleo as their owner, their corresponding ORs (official receipts) for the years 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011 are also still in her name,” the court added.
A whole year in prison for not declaring five motorcycles.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1202323/dutertes-reaction-to-monsods-praise-f-you |
It seems that President Rodrigo Duterte does not take too kindly to praises from his critics.
Inquirer columnist Solita Monsod, a former socioeconomic planning secretary, drew the ire of Duterte for a recent column in which she congratulated his administration’s poverty reduction efforts.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was a surprise that Monsod wrote something favorable about the President, because she “has not said any good word” about him.
“The President asked me to give his response to this columnist. He said: ‘Tell her, I hate being patronized! F*** you!’”
“The Duterte administration must be congratulated,” she said.
“Not since the Ramos administration has the war on poverty been so effectively pursued; it managed to reduce family and population poverty incidence by 8.8 and 8.3 percentage points respectively between 1994 and 1997,” she added.
Instead of welcoming the praise, Panelo cast doubt on Monsod’s motives.
“Aren’t you surprised with that column? I’m asking: Aren’t you surprised suddenly this columnist is praising, is heaping praise on the President?” he said.
He said Monsod “has not said any good word and then suddenly there is praising.”
“There must be some reason. Is she laying a predicate?” Panelo asked.
Cursing this lady is not very nice and it screams of paranoia.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1202190/house-oks-bill-lowering-optional-retirement-age-of-govt-workers-to-56 |
The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill lowering the optional retirement age of government workers from 65 years old to 56.
“With a lower optional retirement age, the retirees can enjoy a better quality of life thorough their pension and retirement benefits at an earlier age…” said one of the bill’s authors, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., in his explanatory note.
“The lower retirement age ultimately helps the bureaucracy, as it hastens the turnover of government positions to younger professionals, making way for infusion of fresh blood in public service,” he added.
This is an example of a bill with good intentions but who's sponsors are not thinking ahead. Where will the money come from to pay for all these retirees for extra years? What will they do if they retire at so young an age? One cannot be on vacation forever.
 |
| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/275528/pro-7-director-to-police-station-chiefs-close-illegal-gambling-booths-in-your-areas-or-be-relieved |
Station commanders and provincial directors under the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) may be relieved from their post if there will still be illegal gambling booths operating in their areas of responsibility.
This is the warning of Police Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, after he found that there were still unauthorized gambling booths operating around Central Visayas.
After shutting down operations on unregistered Small Town Lottery (STL), Peryahan ng Bayan and other games under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), De Leon said that reports from their intelligence monitoring had verified operations of unauthorized booths.
Once again cops having to be told to do their jobs.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088944 |
Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara on Tuesday expressed dismay over the apparently bloated damage reports submitted by various local government units (LGUs) after Typhoon Tisoy hit Bicol last December 3.
Data from the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) indicated that as of Dec. 10, damages to infrastructure, social services, and agriculture were placed at PHP6.3 billion.
Infrastructure and social services incurred the highest damages at PHP6 billion while agriculture suffered PHP314 million worth of production losses, the report said.
Bichara, in an interview after reviewing the damage reports from 15 towns and three cities of the province, said they found out, however, that almost all of the reported figures were padded by as much as 50 percent.
“You can just imagine 50 percent of the PHP6.3 billion damages. That’s equivalent to PHP3.1 billion damages that were reportedly padded,” the governor said.
He said, “the reports need to be reviewed and validated by the APSEMO in coordination with appropriate agencies like the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Agriculture and Social Welfare”.
“I understand and don’t blame the LGUs since they are forced to jack up their estimates believing that only half of what they submitted may be granted and eventually released in the form of rehabilitation funds,” Bichara said.
Citing how the damage reports are accomplished, he said the normal practice starts at the village level where barangay officials gather the list of damages then submits this to the town or city mayors which in turn submits a consolidated report to the province.
“Generally the bloated estimates of damages start at the barangay levels, then these go to the town or city for another round of padding," he said.
Asked whether he has reprimanded those LGUs with padded reports, Bichara said: “We called for their attention while avoiding to offend them and their credibility. These LGUs instead were asked to make a revision on their respective damage reports.”LGU's padded their damage estimates in hopes of getting more money and the governor actually defends them! Says he does not want to offend them! He is actually tolerating corruption.
 |
| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/16/1977478/taking-nap-or-getting-trim-contradicting-statements-what-duterte-was-doing-during-quake |
President Rodrigo Duterte and his family were safe after a powerful quake that struck Davao del Sur Sunday afternoon but there are some inconsistencies on what the president was supposedly doing when it struck.
Brig. Gen. JoseNiembra, chief of the Presidential Security Guard that provides close-in security to the president, said Sunday that Duterte went back to sleep after the shaking stopped.
Niembra initially told reporters that the president was resting at his home in Davao City when the quake jolted southern Mindanao.
Sen. Bong Go, the president's long-time aide and de facto spokesperson, also said Duterte remained in his room with his nurse during the incident.
According to a report from SMNI, Go said he immediately called Duterte's nurse after the quake but the president refused to get out of his room.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, claimed Monday that the president was getting a haircut when the earthquake happened.
"When the quake hit Davao, the president was having his hair cut. That's what the first lady said," Panelo said.
This is not the first time that those close to Duterte have had different accounts about the president.
Two things here. First Duterte has a nurse! Second how is it Dutere's men are giving differing explanations of where he was during an event? Why does this keep happening?
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088914 |
Police in Kabayan, Benguet continue to provide tour guide services to trekkers in Mt. Pulag, considered a best practice in ensuring safety of tourists.
“Involving tourists' safety, they are very safe. We are implementing the ‘my police officer is my guide’ program,” said Lieutenant Gilbert Anselmo, Kabayan chief of police, on Monday.
Kabayan police have been trained on how to serve as tour guides doubling as security, which they do without a fee. The practice has been in effect for years upon request of visitors.The PNP cannot patrol the roads and enforce traffic laws but they can act as tour guides. Unbelievable.
The Sandiganbayan’s First Division found former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Camilo Sabio guilty in two graft complaints filed against him and several others in connection with two deals for the lease of service vehicles.
In a 20-page decision promulgated on Thursday, the court sentenced Sabio to six up to 10 years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“In the instant case, two points prove the fact that there was bad faith on the part of Sabio in entering into the subject contracts: (1) not undertaking the required procurement process; and (2), subjecting government funds to unnecessary expenditure without the pre-allocation and the necessity for the same,” the court said
The cases stemmed from two lease deals allegedly entered into with the UCPB Leasing and Finance Corporation (ULFC) through negotiated procurement without public bidding.
According to the court’s ruling, ULFC leased out four vehicles to the PCGG through the April 18, 2007 contract while the undated contract leased out five vehicles.
Facing up to 10 years imprisonment because he did not go through the required procurement process for leasing vehicles.
 |
| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/719617/ampatuans-convicted-over-2009-maguindanao-massacre/story/ |
A trial court has declared several members of the influential Ampatuan clan guilty of multiple murder for the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao in 2009 that is known as an unprecedented case of election-related violence and an exceptionally brutal attack on the press.
Among the Ampatuan clan members convicted were former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Anwar "Ipi" Ampatuan Jr., and Anwar Sajid "Ulo" Ampatuan. They were judged guilty for 57 counts of murder.
Along with Manny, Mohades, and Misuari Ampatuan, several police officers and other personalities, they were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years of imprisonment, without parole.
Fourteen police officers and Bong Andal, who operated the backhoe in the infamous massacre, were sentenced to six to 10 years in prison after they were found to have acted as accessories to the crime.
On November 23, 2009, the wife, sisters, relatives, and supporters of a 2010 Maguindanao gubernatorial candidate — challenging an Ampatuan — were on their way to file his candidacy when they were abducted by around a hundred armed men, forced up a remote hill, and shot using high-powered firearms. They were buried in a mass grave.
Thirty-two of the victims were members of the media who had accompanied the camp of the candidate, Mangudadatu, to cover the filing. Mangudadatu is now a congressman.
Six of the victims were not part of the Mangudadatu and media convoy.
Aside from being the Philippines' worst case of election-related violence, the massacre is considered by the Committee to Protect Journalists as the single deadliest attack on the press since it began keeping records on journalist deaths.
It took ten years but finally justice has been delivered in this the deadliest case of election violence in the Philippines. A former mayor, his brother who was governor, and a host of police men and others ambushed a gubernatorial candidate and his supporters and massacred them all. Don't think it could never happen again. It certainly could.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089146 |
The Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) needs PHP17 million just to remove the 200 electric posts affected by the road widening project from Barangay Atabay here to Barangay Cubay in Sibalom, Antique.
In an interview Thursday, ANTECO Technical Services Division manager Neal Peter C. Veñegas said they had a dialogue last Dec. 10 with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6 officials about the posts affected by the road widening.
He said the affected posts will be removed within this year or early next year.
“ANTECO has so far removed already 80 posts from Barangay Bantayan to Barangay San Pedro in San Jose de Buenavista town toward Barangay Cubay, Sibalom town but those were the ones that had been prioritized because of the danger these pose to commuters,” he said.
“Once we remove the pole we have to have it replaced by a new one outside of the DPWH road right of way,” Veñegas said.
Why didn't the DPWH make sure these poles were moved BEFORE they widened the road? Very stupid and dangerous!
 |
| https://www.rappler.com/nation/247150-panelo-says-no-need-duterte-release-2018-saln |
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's promise to be transparent, his own office says it's not his responsibility to make public his 2018 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
The SALN is a critical document that shows the growth or decline in a public official's wealth for the years they held the position. Its public release is seen to be a safeguard against corruption.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, in a statement sent on Friday, December 13, said that the responsibility of releasing Duterte SALN for public scrutiny lies with the Office of the Ombudsman, not with the President.
"Neither instrument (the Constitution or a law) requires the President to personally and directly furnish a copy thereof to the media or to whomever wants it," said Panelo.
Duterte's own Freedom of Information executive order reminds officials to "file and make available for scrutiny their (SALN) in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations, and the spirit and letter of this Order.”
RA 6713's Implementing Rules and Regulations also state that a copy of SALNs of all filers “shall also be filed with their respective departments, offices or agencies.”
The supposed absence of rules for public officials to release their own SALNs did not stop Vice President Leni Robredo from having her own office disclose her 2018 SALN.
Panelo said it was unfair of some camps to take the non-release of Duterte's SALN as proof that the President lacks commitment to transparency. He said saying so is "baseless if not malicious."
Panelo is totally wrong. Duterte's unwillingness to release his SALN does indeed highlight his lack of commitment to transparency. The Office of the President has not even signed up for the online FOI portal and Duterte's promise to sign an FOI bill has gone unfulfilled.
