Retards in the Government 176

 It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1345683/ex-councilor-of-samar-companion-slain

A former councilor of Calbayog City in Samar and his female companion were shot dead by still unidentified assailants on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Jessie Jackson and Erika Ygrubay were aboard a motorcycle in Tinambacan District at 1:50 p.m. when they were suddenly fired upon by the still unknown assailants who were also on a motorcycle.

Jackson served as a town councilor from 2016 to 2019.

Another ex-politican assassinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118016

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former mayor, vice mayor, and nine council members of a town in Catanduanes province to up to 10 years in jail over irregularities in the procurement of a backhoe loader worth more than PHP13 million in 2005. 

15 years to get a verdict.  These people are going to jail for irregularities over buying a backhoe loader.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118007

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Service Unit has been placed under restrictive custody after he was charged for sexually assaulting former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog who is detained at the facility.

In a press statement on Friday, PNP spokesperson, Col. Ysmael Yu said Lt. Col. Jigger Noceda is charged with rape, acts of lasciviousness, unjust vexation, and a violation of the Safe Spaces Act filed by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) based on the affidavit submitted by Parojinog.

The charges were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday.

“He will be administratively held and inquired. The Chief PNP strongly stresses that this act is not a virtue of police being responsible, respected, and disciplined. It will be dealt with accordingly,” Yu said.

The Chief of the PNP's Custodial Unit has been charged with raping an inmate.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/345070/judge-tagged-in-fellow-magistrates-slay-yields

A retired judge allegedly behind the murder of a fellow magistrate has surrendered to agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Supreme Court said on Saturday. 

Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said he had informed Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta of the surrender of retired judge Oscar Tomarong, formerly of the regional trial court (RTC) in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Tomarong is accused of plotting the May 9, 2019, murder of Judge Reymar Lacaya of the RTC in nearby Liloy town. 

Marquez said his office had earlier received reports about Tomarong while he was still a judge in Liloy. He then reshuffled Tomarong’s court assignment with that of Lacaya, who was then the RTC judge in Sindangan. 

According to the NBI investigation, Lacaya, during his three months on the Liloy court, may have discovered numerous irregularities as well as court orders reversed by Tomarong which led to the release of several drug suspects. 

Lacaya was killed shortly after the rearrest of those suspects, the NBI said.

A judge finds out his colleague is corrupt and reverses some of his orders. The corrupt judge then has the man murdered.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118187

More than 4,000 police officers were dismissed from the service as part of the intensified internal cleansing program of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the country's top cop said on Monday.

“Of (the) total number of personnel found guilty of administrative offenses, 4,591 were summarily dismissed from the service for serious infractions, while 7,888 were meted suspension terms and 846 cops were demoted in rank,” PNP chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan, said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Cascolan said these policemen were punished for their involvement in criminal activity including illegal drugs, grave misconduct, serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity, malversation, dishonesty, and graft and corruption.

He said 608 erring personnel were penalized with forfeiture of salary, 119 were restricted to quarters, and privileges of 205 others were withheld.

Among those dismissed from the service, 549 were for drug-related cases comprising 410 who tested positive for drug use and 139 for involvement in illegal drug activities, Cascolan noted.

“The PNP Internal Cleansing Program doesn’t stop there, rather it will continue to be implemented with greater zeal and commitment in the best interest of transparency and accountability in public service,” he said.

Thousands of cops dismissed or disciplined in one way or other since....they don't say. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/759250/coa-flags-philhealth-for-nearly-p1b-in-overpayments-p6-9b-in-disallowances/story/

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) made overpayments of P936.653 million to health care institutions (HCIs) in 2019, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its annual audit report.

For the same year, the state health insurer also incurred a total of P6.967 billion in unsettled audit suspensions (P84.36 million), disallowances (P6.88 billion) and charges (P2.41 million), COA also reported.

“Full reimbursement of the package rates (All Case Rates or ARC and Z Benefit) to various health care institutions for 312,577 sampled claims despite the lower member-patients’ hospital charges plus the maximum amount of professional fees resulted in overpayment of P936.653 million,” the state auditor said.

It pointed out that this deprived the people and the government of “fully achieving PhilHealth’s program objective of increasing financial health protection of member-patients since the HCIs were the ones who benefited more therefrom.”

More financial irregularities with PhilHealth.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118265

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has recently filed cases against officials of Angeles City, Pampanga for violating various sections of the Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

ARTA director-general Jeremiah Belgica personally filed three cases before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) against officials of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) of the Department of Energy of Angeles City in Pampanga.

The first complaint filed by ARTA before the Office of the Ombudsman cites “violation of Section 21 (d), (e), (g), and (h) of RA. 11032" which accounts their failure to give the requesting party a written notice on the disapproval of an application; failure to render government services within the prescribed processing time without due cause; and failure or refusal to issue official receipts.

Angeles City engineer Donato Dizon and former administrative aide Rowena Tiamzon were identified in this complaint.

The second complaint was against REMB director Mylene Capongcol for violation of Section 21 (d) and (e) of the Ease of Doing Business Act.

ARTA also filed charges at the CSC against other officials in the same bureau — lawyers Marissa Cerezo, Fortunato Sibayon, Ronald Angeles, and Clarita de Jesus.

Charges filed against seven Angeles City officials for violating the Ease of Doing Business Act.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/14/2049540/coa-flags-ntcs-excessive-purchase-44-smartphones

State auditors flagged the purchase of 44 smartphones by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) totalling P2.1 million in 2018 and 2019 for being “excessive” as only four of them were being used for their intended purpose.

Of the 15 Samsung Galaxy S9 phones and the 29 Samsung Galaxy S10 phones bought by the NTC’s headquarters and Metro Manila office, the Commission on Audit (COA) found that only four phones were being used by engineers to measure broadband speed, reliability and coverage.

The COA found that of the 13 personnel conducting tests to measure broadband speeds, only three of them were issued the smartphones, while the rest had to borrow from other personnel to conduct tests.

So where are the rest of the smartphones? The NTC admitted in their reply to the COA that these were issued to branch directors and officers-in-charge and their technical staff.

In their defense, the NTC said that these officials also conducted broadband testing “anytime and anywhere” and that the smartphones helped them in the “conduct of their study and research so they can propose or formulate new policies or regulations for improved services.”

But the COA said these broadband tests and the use of the smartphones for study and research should have also been documented.

“We believe that there should be documentations prepared as a result of these activities to be used as inputs in the formulation of new policies or regulations,” state auditors said.

The COA also questioned why the NTC headquarters bought 22 units of the Samsung Galaxy S10 for P49,990 each, when the NTC office in Metro Manila was able to buy seven units of the same phone for just P46,500 each.

Even in the simple matter of purchasing phones the government can't help but be irregular about it.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/759687/coa-philhealth-illegally-released-p291-m-worth-of-hazard-pay-to-employees/story/

State insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) granted P291-million worth of hazard pay to its employees illegally, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

In its 2019 annual audit report on PhilHealth, state auditors said that the amount —P236 million for regular employees and P55 million for casual employees—were distributed from 2016 to 2019 even if it is in violation of Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers (PHW), among other rules and regulations.

COA said that while the passage of the Universal Health Care law classified PhilHealth employees as health workers, their entitlement to benefits and allowances—including hazard pay enumerated under the magna carta—is not absolute since it is still subject to the law's pertinent provisions and regulations.

More irregularities from PhilHealth.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1347483/official-in-trouble-for-repeating-flag-rites

An official of a government-run sanitarium has found herself in a legal bind for ordering a repeat of a flag ceremony, claiming it was held too early and that she didn’t want to be marked absent.

Dr. Gemma Suelo, chief of the medical professional staff of Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Santa Barbara town, Iloilo province, is now charged in court for alleged violation of a law on respect and reverence to the national flag.

She posted a P6,000 bail last week after Judge Rodolfo Convocar of the 13th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) issued a warrant for her arrest for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

The provision prescribes that the lowering of the Philippine flag should be done “solemnly and slowly so that the flag shall be down the mast at the sound of the last note of the anthem.”

It also mandates that “those in the assembly shall observe the same deportment or shall observe the same behavior as for the flag-raising ceremony.”

A complaint filed on behalf of WVS by Conrado Soronongon Jr., officer-in-charge of hospital operations and patient support service, said Suelo ordered a repeat of the sanitarium’s flag-lowering ceremony on Oct. 7, 2016, even after the flag was already lowered and folded.

Flag retreat in the government-run facility is held every Friday in accordance with Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 19 series of 2012, which also enjoined all public servants to attend the flag raising ceremony every Monday.

Soronongon said he sued Suelo because he found the repetition of the flag retreat ceremony an “abuse of authority, demeaning and an irreverence to the national flag.”

But Suelo denied violating any law. In her counteraffidavit, she said she ordered a repeat of the flag retreat ceremony because it was held way too early and so that she and other sanitarium personnel who had arrived minutes before or at 5 p.m., the prescribed time, would not be marked absent in the event.

The resolution issued by Assisting Provincial Prosecutor June Ann Bernal said the repetition of the ceremony “ran contrary to the observance of the ceremony in an honored or esteemed manner.”

Violating the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. At least it's not graft but the penalties might be steep.  She faces up to a year in prison plus thousands in fines if convicted.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1998/02/12/republic-act-no-8491/

A former police officer who went absent without official leave (AWOL) was killed in a buy-bust in Barangay Del Carmen, San Jose town in Camarines Sur Monday night.

In an interview on Tuesday, Major Malou Calubaquib, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) spokesperson identified the suspect as Vicente Imperial, a resident of the said village.

She said the anti-drug operation was launched by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the provincial and local police forces in Camarines Sur.

“Sensing that he was transacting with police operatives, the suspect drew his gun and shot it out with the buy-bust operators,” Calubaquib said.

She said Imperial was placed under AWOL status when he went missing after getting involved in several illegal drug transactions.

Another cop involved in drugs.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/759963/ex-bulacan-police-chief-shot-dead/story/

A retired police official was shot dead in Calumpit, Bulacan on Wednesday evening, police said on Thursday.

An initial information from the Police Regional Office III identified the victim as retired police colonel Fernando Villanueva, former chief of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office.

Authorities said the shooting incident happened around 6 p.m. along Bagbag Bridge in Barangay Iba O Este.

The victim and his driver were onboard a Mitsubishi Estrada when the suspects, riding a motorcycle, fired at them. Villanueva's vehicle was traversing the northbound direction from Malolos Capitol.

The suspects were able to escape, police said.

Another retired PNP officer shot dead by assassins. This happens way too often. Why? Was he involved in drugs? Did he know too much? Did someone hold a grudge? All of the above?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1347979/senators-on-slow-moving-2-dpwh-projects

Two senators aired their frustration on Wednesday over the slow progress of two infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), one of which has not been completed after 20 years while the other has been on the “drawing board” for just as long.

During the Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the DPWH, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked officials about the Cagayan de Oro Convention Center, which was conceptualized in 1998 by his late father, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Pimentel said the construction of the convention center, which started in 2001, has not yet been completed until now.

“I hope we can find out what really is the problem because I think I wrote you in exasperation,” Pimentel said, speaking partly in Filipino. “I told you that the pyramids in Egypt were built in 18 years. And there were no backhoes, cranes, dump trucks. They were able to finish them in 18 years. I mean, in modern times, a convention center, we cannot finish in 20 years? Let’s be frank here: What really is the problem with it?”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, expressed frustration over the still-pending 32-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge.

“May we exactly know what is the status of this project? Up to now, it is still on the drawing board. It is so frustrating,” Drilon said.

“I am sharing with you the frustration of the people of Region 6 [Western Visayas]. This project has been pending, I think, for the last 20 years, and up to now, it has not even seen the first nail or the first sack of cement being poured. So really frustrating,” he added.

What's the problem? Corruption of course. Everyone knows that!

https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/15/duterte-hits-dpwh-for-rampant-corruption/

“If Congress would want really to know, ang mga project ng DPWH meron talaga ‘yan para sa ‘give’ (there is really a portion of DPWH projects being used to ‘give’ to certain people),” he said. 

“Hindi ko alam kung sino (I just don’t know who they are). There are so many officials lined up in the bureaucratic mix so hindi ko alam kung sino na (I don’t know anymore),” he added. 

According to the President, corruption stinks in DPWH. 

“The first whiff… Dito sa DPWH malakas ‘yan diyan. Projects, yung mga project engineers, ‘yan lahat, right-of-way (It reeks in the DPWH. The projects, project engineers, right-of-way, everything)…” he said. 

“Grabe ang corruption diyan. Walang construction na uumpisa dito na walang transaction. Meron ‘yan (The corruption is worst there. No construction starts without a prior transaction. I’m sure there is corruption there),” he added. 

Senators have questioned DPWH’s proposed “lump-sum-riddled” budget for 2021, citing the P345.25-billion in lump-sum appropriations lodged under the agency’s central office.

The DPWH is historically one of the most corrupt bureaucracies in the whole government. But why? Where is the oversight?

Coronavirus Lockdown: Ice Cream Makers, Arresting Beggars, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

This series is title "Coronavirus Lockdown" and that is because the Philippines remains under lockdown at various levels.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/758968/up-experts-recommend-11-areas-for-stricter-quarantine-classifications/story/

The University of the Philippines OCTA Research has advised the government to implement stricter quarantine classifications in 11 areas, based on the data from August 25 to October 5.

In its report dated October 6, the experts said nine areas are considered high-risk because their daily attack rate per 1000 is greater than 1.0%.

Aside from this, the experts said these areas have an attack rate for the current week that is also higher compared to both of the two previous weeks.

“The national government may consider reverting to a stricter quarantine classification for the aforementioned areas,” the group said.

As part of the rolling quarantines four villages in Samar have been placed under an enhanced quarantine.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117765

Four villages in Catbalogan City in Samar were placed under enhanced community quarantine on Tuesday to prevent further spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

 

The strict movement restrictions in Maulong, Muñoz, Poblacion 7, and Poblacion 13 will be enforced until revoked or extended by the city government, Mayor Dexter Uy said in a statement. 

 

"These areas within the critical zone have the highest number of active coronavirus cases in the city. The stricter quarantine measures will limit movement of people and further spread of the virus," he added.

 

Of its 57 villages, Uy said 37 have reported at least one case, of which 18 have active cases.

 

As directed, strict home quarantine must be observed in all households except for availing essential goods and services.

 

The city government will enforce a 24/7 curfew and liquor ban in affected areas and prohibit all social and religious gatherings, including outdoor exercises.

 

Uy said they will also strictly monitor establishments to ensure full compliance with health protocols such as availability of handwashing area and footbath at entrances, use of thermal scanners, installation of physical barriers and appropriate markings to encourage physical distancing, and digital quarantine pass scanner.

 

Stores are also encouraged to adopt cashless transactions, he added.

 

Meanwhile, all villages outside the critical zone were placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Perhaps there will be no need for these measures as it appears the number of cases is declining. So say experts with the UP.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/758962/covid-19-cases-in-the-philippines-decreasing-up-experts/story/

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has been decreasing, according to the University of the Philippines OCTA Research team.

In its report dated October 6, an advance copy of which has been provided to GMA News, the team said the country's reproduction number, which describes the reproduction of COVID-19 cases, has kept its downward trend.

“The number of cases in the Philippines has been decreasing, and currently at less around 2,500 new cases per day (based on case reports),” the OCTA Research team said.

This is lower compared to the almost 4,000 new cases per day recorded during the last week of August.

“The reproduction number in the Philippines is 0.87, in line with the downward trend in test reports,” it added. A reproduction number below 1 means a flattened curve, according to the experts.

There are the same experts urging the government to place 11 areas under a restricted quarantine classifications!

The Philippines could soon participate in phase 3 trials for a COVID-19 vaccine.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1345127/3-intl-covid-19-vaccine-makers-gunning-for-phase-3-clinical-trials-in-ph

Local vaccine experts are currently reviewing the applications of three international vaccine manufacturers to decide if Phase 3 of their respective clinical trials can be done in the Philippines to test the safety and efficacy of the vaccines developed against COVID-19.

According to Dr. Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the three drug makers are China’s Sinovac, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, and the Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

During Phase 3 of the clinical trials, thousands of patients will be inoculated to assess the safeness and effectiveness of the COVID-19 shots.

But since the Philippines does not have proper cold storage facilities to house the vaccine how would this work exactly? Would they bring their own storage facilities? Pills would be better.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/09/2048356/doh-greenlights-recruitment-participants-avigan-trial

The Department of Health said it has given the go signal for the recruitment of participants in a clinical trial that aims to study the efficiency of anti-flu drug Avigan on treating the coronavirus disease.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department is just waiting for the insurance documents to be finalized but it has given the permission for the recruitment of study participants to go ahead.

“We already gave the signal to our proponents. They are now going to start recruiting for the trial,” Vergeire said in a media briefing Friday.

Some 100 patients would take part in the trial that would study Avigan as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

Once participants are enrolled in the trial, the study can officially start “hopefully by next week,” Vergeire added.

The clinical evaluation of the Japanese drug was initially slated on August 17 but processing delays hampered the start of the trial.

The Philippine General Hospital, Santa Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Quirino Memorial Center are the participating hospitals.

The DOH earlier said that P18 million had been allocated for the clinical trial.

Clinical trials in China suggested that Avigan could play a role in shortening the recovery time for patients who have contracted the new coronavirus. However, there are concerns about the drug’s side effects such as birth defects

Hopefully it works out. The Palace is jumping the gun and already declaring that the pandemic may be over soon because of these vaccine trials.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/13/2049208/palace-says-pandemic-may-soon-be-over

Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that the COVID-19 pandemic would end soon after three groups have expressed interest to conduct vaccine clinical trials in the Philippines.

“Good news: it seems that the pandemic is about to end,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in Filipino.

“According to the Department of Science and Technology, there are three players that submitted requirements to the Food and Drug Administration indicating their interest to conduct clinical trials in the Philippines,” he added.

Does Roque know there is still months to years left in developing the vaccine even with 3rd phase trials commencing? Plus the Philippines has nowhere to store a vaccine.

Problems abound with the new normal schooling at home.  Here's one.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1344942/depeds-modules-stump-even-adults

Just two days after schools opened officially nationwide, Shin struggled with questions in an English subject.

No, it was not college English but Grade 4 English that the 2019 graduate of information technology confronted while assisting his young cousin, Simon, on Tuesday.

Shin’s uncle, the boy’s father, also could not understand the questions on the learning module that all of them were reading on the website of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Shin did not say what the questions were, but they were too difficult even for an adult like him to figure out.

“As a college graduate, even I could not understand the questions in the modules and I don’t think the questions are answerable by young students. If we can’t understand the question, how much more the students?” he said in an interview on Wednesday.

Shin and Simon’s parents resorted to answering the questions themselves to meet a 10-minute deadline and two attempts to submit the correct answers.

There was no interaction between the teacher and the student who may want to clarify the questions, he said.

Shin was worried that his cousins might not learn anything this year as the subjects appear not to be taught appropriately through the remote learning system they had experienced.

There was also the problem of logging in to DepEd Commons, the online platform containing lessons that are accessible to parents, students and teachers. In one instance, they had to wait 12 hours just to finish a quiz after the website reached full capacity, Shin said.

Hopefully these problems correct themselves as the school year continues.

There are some who say that COVID-19 is a psy-op designed to get us all to change our behavior. Those people are crazy. Right?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117931

National Policy against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., on Thursday said the economic reboot is not causing the spike of the coronavirus cases in the country.

"Nakikita po natin na ang spike ng virus (As we see, the spike of Covid-19) is not because we open the economy, but the consciousness of the people and the lack of safety of the people", Galvez said in a virtual press briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Galvez said there should be a "change of behavior" among the public to further reduce the risks of infection.

He said the most essential part in curbing Covid-19 transmission is making sure that people are aware of the danger posed by the virus.

As a response, Galvez said the government, with the help of the private sector, is conducting massive education drive on self-protection and health safety awareness.

"Once people are aware, they can go out with confidence that will not be infected by the virus," he said, noting that “prevention” is the most vital response that people could always practice. 

"We are informing the public to go out with the caution to always observe the minimum health standards," he added.

Every time I go out I see people wearing face masks and face shields. I have no idea what Galvez is talking about. Is he aware that the minimum health standards such as mask and shields have little to no effectiveness is stopping the spread of the virus?  That is a scientific fact you can read about in the many studies at this link.

Senator Tolentino has come up with a proposal to remedy the Philippines' lack of cold facility storage for a coronavirus vaccine.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/10/2048594/doh-pushed-tap-ice-cream-makers-covid-19-vaccine-storage

Sen. Francis Tolentino on Friday proposed that the government look into partnering with ice cream manufacturers in order to address the Philippines' current lack of freezers needed to stock up on the much-awaited coronavirus vaccine. 

"I am offering a policy solution. Why don't you, at this earliest stage, touch base with Magnolia Ice cream, Selecta Ice cream, and all other ice cream manufacturers to utilize their ice cream storage facilities?" Tolentino said during a Senate panel hearing on the Department of Health's proposed P203.74 billion budget for 2021. 

Vaccine storage is a critical component to the massive immunization program promised by President Rodrigo Duterte. A key challenge is finding cold storage facilities big enough to store coronavirus vaccines at temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius to maintain their potency. 

The health department said an inventory of cold storage facilities is underway, but industry officials believe the government would need to build them from scratch.

"The cold chain industry does not have that capability now because there is no existing need for that capability,” Anthony Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines Inc., an industry group, said in a response to e-mailed questions.

Do any of the ice cream manufacturers even have facilities that get to -80 Celsius?

DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño has suggested a great new way to battle COVID-19. Arrest all the beggars!

https://manilastandard.net/news/national/336528/dilg-wants-beggars-out-of-city-streets.html

The Department of Interior and Local Government has directed barangay officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to address the increasing number of beggars in the country’s metropolis.

In an online news forum on Sunday, DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said that beggars should be apprehended to prevent them from possibly spreading the coronavirus.

“The law is the law. The police should apprehend these beggars and bring them to the DSWD because we don’t know if they have already been infected,” Diño.

The DILG official said the numbers of beggars grew after they were joined by locally-stranded individuals, displace jeepney drivers and several others who have lost their jobs because of the ongoing pandemic.

Dino said that barangay officials and the police are duty-bound to apprehended these individuals and bring them to the DSWD to be taken cared of.

The government shutdown the economy causing thousands of people to lose their jobs and the ranks of beggars to grow, particularly from jeepney drivers who were forced to stop driving, and their solution is to round them all up! How brilliant is that? As for  "the law is the law" some are saying the DILG should be going after high profile quarantine violators who keep getting away with violating protocols.

The NCR is looking to ease age restrictions on who can go out during the quarantine.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1346530/from-21-60-to-18-65-ncr-mayors-eyeing-lockdown-age-restriction-adjustment

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) will recommend the adjustment of age restriction on persons allowed to leave their homes amid the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila from the current 21 to 60 years old to 18 to 65 years old.

MMC chairman and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said Monday that mayors of Metro Manila want to maintain the curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. but said they will recommend an adjustment in the age of persons allowed to step out of their residences.

(Based on our last discussion, the consensus was to maintain the curfew of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. But we will have a recommendation on the adjustment of age of restriction on persons allowed to go out.)

(Right now, persons allowed to go out are only those aged 21 to 60. Our recommendation is maybe we can adjust it for those aged 18 to 65.)

Why this recommendation? It will still keep thousands of people inside their homes for no reason except an arbitrarily imposed rule. Better to just nix the whole thing.

A slow internet plus online classes has lead to the death of two men.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1347718/2-brothers-die-from-electrocution-while-installing-internet-device-for-online-class-in-bohol-town

Two brothers died from electrocution while installing an internet device for an online class in Dimiao town at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Police Staff Sergeant Anselmo Nayve, desk officer of the Dimiao Police Station, identified the fatalities as siblings Tristian Dexter Namoco Hamlag, 26; and Christian Val Hamlag, 20—both residents of Barangay Limokon Ilaod, Dimiao.

Tristian, a seaman, helped Christian install an internet device to boost internet connectivity for the younger brother’s online class.

However, the antenna fell and accidentally hit an electric post near their home.

Both died on the spot.

What exactly is this "internet device to boost internet connectivity?" It would not be surprising if more incidents like this happen.

Another man has ridden his bike a very long distance because the pandemic has complicated transportation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118390

A man from Cavite pedaled for 21 hours amid bad weather to Anda town in Pangasinan province to personally meet his long-distance girlfriend.

 

John Paul ‘JP’ Gatbonton started his journey for a ‘fairy-tale’ and not-your-average chick flick stunt on October 10 from Imus, Cavite with the intent to say “I love you” face-to-face to Donna Ocomen who lives here.

 

JP and Donna met each other some time ago through a Facebook group. He was working in Cavite, while Donna was a second-year Accountancy student then. 

Gatbonton said they both planned to meet each other personally but due to the sudden lockdown brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, it became impossible for him to travel.

 

Travel from Pangasinan to Metro Manila has been banned since the lockdown last March.

 

But that did not stop him from pursuing Ocomen. Gatbonton then began securing the necessary documents for travel, such as barangay and health certificates, and travel authority.

Even in this time of lockdowns long distance love still blooms.

Abandon Kittens I Have Rescued

As far as I can count I have rescued 10 abandoned kittens over the past few years. Small kittens. Little mewling things. The first one I found wrapped up tight in plastic bag on the side of the road. I heard it crying when I went to take out the dog for his morning duties. That kitten died because my helper fed it spoiled milk.

Likewise the next two cats I recused were also found on the side of the road in a box and killed by the negligence of my helper. These two kittens I found when I was on my morning run. I ran home with them of course. It's not too difficult to run with a cardboard box but it's not so easy either.

The next two kittens I rescued were found in the middle of the road next to a cemetery on my morning run. This was Good Friday 2019.

Despite my best efforts one of the kittens died. I am not sure what was wrong with it but it stayed real thin and small no matter how much it was fed and did not make it. The other cat, the black and white one on the right, grew up just fine and even nursed on one of the dogs who had recently given birth but whose puppies were weaned. They became good friends.

Shortly after these kittens were rescued I found another kitten mewling in the darkness of an early morning while I was on my run. I took it home but sadly the Belgian ate it! Quite literally chomped it's face off. I was very upset at her. That dog suddenly died a few months later from ehrlichiosis.

A few weeks ago I was again out for a morning run when I heard the familiar mewling of a kitten.  I found her in the tall grass by the side of the road, picked her up, and carried her home.

This little calico I tried to get rid of but it did not happen. At the home I placed her the other cats attacked her. So she is stuck here but she likes it. She had made friends with all the dogs and she even had a male cat friend who was one of the kittens I rescued on Good Friday last year. But for some reason that cat disappeared recently. It's been two weeks and no sight of him.

On August 7th, I was out for an afternoon run and on the return route home I heard the familiar mewling.  Lo and behold in the tall grass on the side of the road I found a tiny kitten and ran home with him.

She was very tiny but had been eating and adjusted to life in the yard with the other dogs and cats. Sadly she did not grow and ended up dying.

Two weeks later I was out on a morning run and despite my ears being plugged with earphones I again heard the familiar cry of a kitten. But I decided to keep going and stop on the return. There were two kittens. I wrapped them both in a shirt that was in the middle of the road and ran back home with them.

These kittens are very healthy and will surely grow to be fine cats. They are inseparable sleeping, playing, and eating together.

On September 29th I woke up late because my alarm did not go off. At 4:45 I threw on my gear and began my morning run.  On the return route I heard the familiar mewing of a kitten and stopped to look for it. Much to my disgust this is what I found:

Someone tied a kitten inside a bag and tossed it on the side of the road amongst the sugarcane. I was unable to successfully flag down a tricycle to take home so I ran the final 2 miles trying my best to keep the kitten secure. She could not have been there more than 15 minutes as I did not hear her cries when I passed the area where I found her the first time.

Back at home she cleaned up pretty good. Underneath all that filth was a beautiful calico coat.

Here she is with two of the other cats.

It's impossible to say where these kittens have all come from. The first one I found tied up in a bag was certainly put there by a human and is an instance not just of abandonment but of unbridled cruelty. The others seem to have been either lost or abandoned. I have yet to find any abandoned puppies. So why all the kittens? I think Filipinos put a lesser value on cats than on dogs. While cats are good at catching all the vermin which run around at night dogs can alert their owners to the presence of burglars. In this country the protection of a dog, a fence, or both is essential. The protection of a cat? Not so much.

Insurgency: No Reason to Rebel

Remember a few weeks ago when the AFP sponsored a peace rally against the NPA? It seems the AFP has done it again this time in Iloilo.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/iloilo-villages-hold-peace-rally-condemn-npa/

Participants marched together and loudly voiced-out their sentiments on how the CPP-NPA made their lives miserable by hampering the existence of peace and development. They also expressed that these communist terrorists are no longer welcome and are banned from entering their barangays. Their goal is to have a peaceful community and be free from violence and abuses from these lawless elements. Present in the occasion are the Local Government Unit of Miagao headed by the honorable Mayor. Macario N. Napulan, M.D. and the Army’s 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion under LTC Joel Benedict G Batara, its Commanding Officer.

Furthermore, the highlight of the activity was the Signing of the Oath of Allegiance by the formerly influenced residents by the communist terrorist. This was followed by the burning of CPP-NPA Flag to strongly condemn and withdraw their support to achieve inclusive peace and development in their barangay. The last part of the program is the Release of Doves as a symbol of peace and unity to reign in the people’s hearts. Meanwhile, Mayor Napulan stated that “To the people of Miagao, to those who are here today, who have been a victim of the CPP-NPA, do not be hesitant, do not have doubts, our Philippine Army is here, the local government officials of our town is here, and they are showing their full support so that we can achieve what we aim for. Ang akon lang ginapangayo kaninyo, parapet kamo, indi naton masarangan kung mga barangay officials lang, parapet kamo sa banwa kay para manginmarapit man kami sa inyo, ginatinguwaan ko nga magparapit kaninyo. Kay wala nani sang katapusan ang ila nga systema gani tyempo ron dya kag tapuson naton. Mabuhay ang banwa kang Miagao! Mabuhay ang kalinong kag katawhay kang banwa naton! Ibagsak ang CPP-NPA.”

This article does not explicitly say the AFP sponsored this rally but with their presence what can one concede otherwise? It's right in line with their psyop efforts on social media and their attempt to bribe rebels to surrender.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055329

“(What else are they going to reason to rebel when they have already been given everything. From TESDA, DOLE, DTI, DSWD, and other agencies, everything has been given to them so they can sustain their livelihood),” he said.

Libayao especially cited the farm-to-market road project given by the government as “the most important thing” to the communities’ livelihood because without the road, it was too difficult for people to move and get access.

As well, one of the many programs of the government for Talaingod is the housing project, which Libayao confidently believes will make the IPs in Haran come back to Talaingod.

“([For those in Haran] Of course they will come back because they now have houses to live in, they will be envious of their fellows who have received their own decent house to live in),” he explained.

He explained that the reason why some of the IPs moved to Haran is because of their lack of homes.

“(Our IP brothers, they just go from place to place to live because they never had a concrete house to live in, they always just had temporary houses…That’s why they moved to Haran because they didn’t have a place to stay),” he said.

But now that there is the government’s housing project for the IPs, Libayao believes this will encourage the communities to stay in one place and work hard towards their livelihood.

“(So now that the government gave them a decent housing, that’s where they will work hard towards their livelihood),” he said.

He added that these houses are a complete package, since there will be water system, and electricity  for the housing sites.

“(So what reason do they have to rebel? They have the complete package, there is water system, there is a program by the province to bring electricity there),” Libayao added.

Everything has been give to them.  They have the complete package. Why should they rebel?  Why indeed? Why are they relying on the Philippine government for anything when they, as indigenous people, have been living just fine for centuries. What changed? 

The number of terrorist the government has successfully bribed into laying down their arms continues to multiply.

 https://www.kalinawnews.com/271-sulu-asg-returnees-avail-social-integration-benefits/

Heeding to the Localized Social Integration Program (LSIP) of Joint Task Force Sulu, at 2:00 o’clock PM today, the Minister of MSSD, BARMM, Atty Raisa Jajurie, extended financial assistance in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php 15, 000.00) to the 144 qualified ASG returnees of Sulu. The cash assistance is a seed money intended for the livelihood projects of the surrenderees such as farming, fishing, aquaculture, poultry, and livestock raising. Also present during the activity to extend their organization’s services are WESTMINCOM Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan Jr, JTF Sulu Commander BGen William Gonzales, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) Representative Mr Ariel Hernandez, United Nation Development Program (UNDP) Representative Mr Chetan Kumar, and Balay Mindanao Foundation Inc (BMFI) Representative Mr Richard Rejas.

The LSIP is a joint program of Sulu LGU and JTF Sulu through its Provincial and Municipal Task Force ELAC. It encompasses three stages: RETURN, REFORM, and REINTEGRATE. The first stage is the formal surrender of the ASG to the military, police, or LGU where he will be undergoing medical check-up and profiling; the second is the reformation stage where he will undertake psychosocial intervention, non-formal education and trainings, and introduction to livelihood opportunities; and the third stage is the integration process where he will be granted with a livelihood assistance, enrolment to housing programs, and an active partner in advocating peace initiatives.

It appears this headline is incorrect as only 144 ASG returnees have received bribe money from the government just as it says in the body. It is not clear what psychosocial intervention is. Sounds like reeducation or brainwashing. When did these people surrender? There are only an estimated 500 or so members of Abu Sayyf. This amount of surrenderees would cut the group nearly in half.  Maybe some of these are supporters only and not actual terrorists.

The AFP also says 55 ASG members have been killed since the beginning of the year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117675

A total of 55 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists were killed during intense military operations from January 1 to September 30 this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

In a press statement, AFP public affairs office chief Navy Capt. Jonathan Zata said 78 ASG members also surrendered in Eastern and Western Mindanao.

During the same period, the AFP also arrested six terrorists and seized 97 high and low-powered firearms, seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and nine encampments.

55 killed, 6 arrested, and 78 surrendered. So where do the 144 come from? Is the rehabilitation program longer than 9 months? 

The week the AFP caught 3 Indonesians with links to Abu Sayyf who are allegedly responsible for the 2019 Jolo bombing. This incident has pumped them up and excited them about ending the terror threat.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118108

The arrest of a female Indonesian suicide bomber and two other persons with reported links with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu Saturday highlights the resolve of the Philippine Army (PA) and other security troops to eliminate the terrorist threat.

“The arrest of these individuals is a manifestation that the Army and its subordinate units are now more capacitated to find, fix, fight, and finish the enemy. We will continue to support our troops on the ground as they go after these threats and keep our communities safe,” PA chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in a media statement.

Meanwhile, Arevalo said focused military operations ordered by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay on the Dawlah Islamiya-inspired terrorist group, following the August 24 suicide bombing in Jolo which killed 14 people and wounded 75 others, has seriously degraded the capabilities of the terror organization.

He was referring to military operations that neutralized notable ASG sub-leaders which include Samir Nani, a bomb-maker who was killed last August 29; Rullie's husband Baso, who was also killed August 29; and Arsibar Sawadjaan, another bomb-maker, and cousin of Mundi Sawadjaan, who was killed last September 28.

Another factor in the decline of the ASG is the series of surrenders from the terror group due to intense pressure from the AFP.

"Gen. Gapay commends the operating units under Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, the Commander of 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu for this string of successes. To decisively defeat the ASG by December 2020 and relegate them to criminality problem was Gen. Gapay’s specific orders for Western Mindanao Command under Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan," Arevalo said.

What does it mean that the Army is now "more capacitated?" If you remember from my review of the book "The Battle of Marawi" recall that the AFP regularly ignored intel, falsified reports, and failed to learn any lessons from previous battles with terrorists. What exactly has changed to render them more capable to "finish the enemy? Will enough ASG members surrender or be caught to declare them decisively defeated in two months? We'll see.

NPA surrenderees are also going through rehabilitation programs in order to avail of the government's bribery programs.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055402

“They voluntarily surrendered and underwent a ‘de-radicalization’ program. The STT was organized by the Army's 3ID with the support of People's Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (PeACE), an FR organization,” Pancito said in a press release.

STT aims to educate FR's on the fundamentals of public speaking and encourage them to assist the government in its peace and development initiatives; to capacitate the FRs in their role as third party advocate of the government through training; and contribute in the de-radicalization of FRs and discuss ideological corrections on issues concerning peace.

The training also aims to realign the experience and knowledge of the FRs towards peace and development efforts of the government and enlighten students/youth and other target audience on communist terrorist groups' infiltration through their actual accounts, narrative, and testimonies; and to strengthen the partnership between the PeACE.

On the other hand, Major General Eric Vinoya, 3ID Commander, said that the De-Radicalization Training will prevent the FRs from being lured by communist ideologies again to NPA recruitment.

Vinoya stressed that the training will also help the FRs embrace new lives and succeed in life after choosing the right path of returning to their families and communities.

"Your Army in Western and Central Visayas is here to help and support you as you return to the folds of the law. Start a peaceful life by moving on and embracing what you've learned, he said.

Are we to assume that all surrenderees went through this same program or only a select few? No matter because this is 100% propaganda. The government is turning NPA surrederees into spokesman for government propaganda. It's no wonder the AFP is sponsoring anti-CPP-NPA peace rallies held by former NPA members.

Just because many NPA members have surrendered is no guarantee that an area is insurgency free even though the AFP declares it to be so.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/344519/ferro-bohol-still-insurgency-free

Bohol is still insurgency-free despite having indicators of the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) after a series of alleged surrender of its members lately 

This was what Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro told reporters in a call conference on Thursday, October 8, 2020. 

Ferro said despite being declared insurgency-free last 2010, they have spotted several “indicators” of NPA presence but these were immediately addressed through military and police operations.  

“In 2010, ang Bohol man gud gi declare na insurgency-free. So because of that pronouncement 10 years ago, there are indications last year that naay na discover na training camp, naay encounter, naay napatay na believed and suspected to be government informant na gipatay sa CTG (Communist-Terrorist Groups),” said Ferro.  

Just last October 6, Tuesday, another individual who claimed to be a member of the NPA surrendered to the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).  

According to Ferro, they are on the lookout for possible remaining members of the NPA in the province.

But Ferro put an emphasis on those who have surrendered, saying it is an indication of the “dwindling” force of the NPA in Bohol. He said that the police will still not be complacent as they want Bohol to remain insurgency-free. 

If there are still NPA in the area and if the AFP discovered a training camp last year then how can they possibly say that Bohol is insurgency free? It makes no sense even with the AFP's own definition of insurgency-free.

“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province. 

“Insignificant level. Wala na rito ang mga armed groups,” Luga said during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held at the Capitol Social Hall.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/09/martial-law-insurgent-free.html

How is a training camp insignificant? It's not. If the NPA is dwindling then how is Bohol insurgency free?  It's not! It's a total contradiction. These terms and phrases as used buy the AFP are certainly all part of their psychological operations. Facebook is just the tip of an immense iceberg.

Picture of the Week: A Filipino Biergarten

They do things different in the Philippines.  Here we have a Filipino biergarten.

Surely these plants will grow up "extra strong."