Retards in the Government 187

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375925/2-qc-cops-demoted-for-unlawful-arrest-searching-without-warrants

Two police officers were demoted over a grave misconduct case, which stemmed from complaints of unlawful arrest and conduct of search without proper warrants, the city government said on Friday.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said Patrolmen Zaldy Mejos Jr. and Julie Boison received a penalty of one-rank demotion based on a decision of the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) District 1 of Quezon City.

The policemen were demoted after they received the complaint of a certain Marissa Torres, who accused that the two policemen searched her house and arrested her without proper warrants issued by the court on January 19, 2019.

The policemen denied the charges, saying they were on foot patrol when they received a report that Torres was carrying a firearm.

Boison said he found a nozzle of a suspected firearm inside the sling bag at Torres’ sari-sari store. This prompted the police officers to search inside Torres’ residence.

Police officers then arrested Torres after they discovered a firearm and suspected narcotics inside the victim’s house. Torres, however, said the gun and illegal drugs were planted evidence.

Under the QC PLEB decision, police conducted the warrantless arrest. It also said the search and seizure done by the respondent policemen “cannot be justified under the plain view doctrine.”

There must be a lot more to this case. What happened to Torres? Did they really plant evidence? If the cops saw a gun nozzle sucking out of a bag then how was that not a justified search? 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375994/sc-fines-cabanatuan-judge-in-baguio-traffic-feud

A judge in Cabanatuan City was found guilty of simple misconduct by the Supreme Court when he charged traffic enforcers here with indirect contempt after they cited him for parking violations last year.

Judge Nelson Largo of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 in Cabanatuan was also directed by the high court’s first division to pay P11,000 in fine. The Supreme Court acted on a complaint filed by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, after Largo subpoenaed enforcer Bernard Batnag and the police officers for giving him a ticket for illegal parking at the city market and for removing his license plates on Oct. 25 last year.

Last year a judge had his plates removed after being cited for traffic violations and he in turn subpoenaed the enforcers.  Now the SC has handed down their judgment by fining him.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376001/palawan-town-residents-want-mayor-7-councilors-out-due-to-loss-of-confidence

A group of residents of Narra town in Palawan province has filed a recall petition against sitting Mayor Crispin Lumba Jr. and seven municipal councilors, citing “loss of confidence” due to poor public service.

Guillermo Aficial, president of the Sulong sa Pagbabago Bangon Narra and supporters of suspended Mayor Gerandy Danao, said they had so far gathered 28,495 signatures to back their petition for a recall election against Lumba and the seven Sangguniang Bayan members. “We lost our trust in them,” said Aficial in a phone interview, pointing out instances of unmet social welfare needs by those severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“During the pandemic, [Danao] climbed mountains to distribute food aids. Unlike now, [with Lumba], everything is self-serving,” Aficial claimed.

The supporters of Danao filed the recall petition against the suspended mayor’s political detractors, who were behind the administrative raps that resulted in Danao’s 20-month suspension after the Provincial Board pronounced him guilty of various counts of grave misconduct, gross negligence, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

The complaints were filed by Lumba and majority of the Narra SB members. An appeal to reconsider Danao’s suspension is now pending before the Office of the President.

The residents of a town want to recall the acting mayor but the mayor he replaced is suspended. This article is bit confusing and it appears the names are switched.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376700/cop-shot-dead-in-cagayan-de-oro-city

A 42-year-old policeman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen past 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 26, in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Police Captain Julius Saluta, chief of the Agora police station in Cagayan de Oro City, said Patrolman Roy Aguas just left his boarding house in Lapasan village on a motorcycle when he was shot by the gunmen who were aboard a motorcycle as he approached a vulcanizing shop.

“He was about to park near a vulcanizing shop when men riding in tandem suddenly appeared and shot him,” Saluta said.

Aguas died after being shot five times to the head, police said.

Another cop assassinated by unknown gunmen.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376763/p2-7b-in-sea-games-funds-still-unexplained

“[Financial assistance] released to Phisgoc and POC in 2019 in the total amount of P1,815,169,762.67 [and] P535,413,045.56, respectively … remained unliquidated as of year-end despite completion of the intended purpose,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said in a report.

In addition, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) also “granted additional [assistance] to Phisgoc from Jan. 29, 2020, to June 19, 2020, in the total amount of P417,546,728.08 despite nonliquidation of previous assistance, thus further increasing Phisgoc’s unliquidated accounts to P2,232,716,490.75.”

But when the PSC demanded that the two groups submit liquidation reports, Phisgoc replied on June 25 that the PSC should first remit unreleased monies to Phisgoc so that it could settle balances with contractors and suppliers before they submit their fund utilization report.

The COA replied: “It is expected that related expenses were already paid/settled by Phisgoc and POC. As such, there is no reason to wait for the remaining support from the PSC because the same are intended for other purposes.”

State auditors also said they were unable to establish the financial stability of Phisgoc to handle the SEA Games because Phisgoc was only incorporated on July 2, 2018, as a nonstock profit corporation.

In its audit, the COA noted that of the P305,117,477.56 in financial assistance released to 51 different national sports associations (NSAs), P256,968,475.84 remain unliquidated as of July 31.

But the NSAs, in their replies to demand letters, cited difficulties in complying with the requirements due to lockdown measures, while 18 NSAs did not even bother to reply to the demand letters.

Billions of pesos remain unliquidated and unremitted to the government. Some agencies the COA sent letters to said the lockdown measures have hampered efforts to liquidate the money and some did not even respond!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377055/duterte-names-lawmakers-allegedly-linked-to-corruption

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday bared the names of lawmakers included in the list made by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s (PACC) of government officials allegedly involved in corruption.

Before reading their names, the President noted that inclusion in the list does not mean there is hard evidence against them.

“The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that it cannot be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would like all throughout until conviction or acquittal,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech.

“I just want to assure everybody that yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo is a condemnation or indictment that you are guilty of something. In the same manner that I would tell people, do not take it as gospel truth na totoo talaga ito,” he went on.

Despite acknowledging that there is no hard evidence and that there is a presumption of innocence Duterte went and ahead and read the names of 9 Congressmen who he claims are linked to corruption. Of course the solon's named denied involvement in corruption and the Palace justified reading the names. But it's too late.  The president has smeared these people's good names. In addition to this he fired several DPWH workers connected to these Congressmen over alleged corruption.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377080/duterte-relieves-district-engineers-allegedly-involved-with-congressmens-corrupt-practices

After mentioning their names, Duterte said: “You are relieved tomorrow…By noontime, you should be talking with your boss.”

Nevertheless, the chief executive said that he was presuming the innocence of the district engineers he mentioned in his speech.

“These engineers that I mentioned, I do not condemn you, I give you the presumption of innocence just like the congressmen. It just so happens that your name cropped up in the investigation,” Duterte said.

He added that he would order the reorganization of the assignments of district engineers.

Just like the solons he named Duterte says these engineers are presumed innocent. So why publicly name them and fire them?

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/12/30/2067037/cop-shot-dead-cavite

A police officer was gunned down in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Monday afternoon.

S/Sgt. Roseman Batao was fixing his Toyota Hi-Ace in front of his house in Barangay Datu Esmael at around 2:20 p.m. when three men arrived in a car and shot the victim several times, according to a report of the Cavite police.

Another cop assassinated by unknown gunmen.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125933

A police officer assigned in Central Visayas is now in hot water after he tested positive for shabu during a random drug test, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Tuesday.

Sinas said Corporal Manuel Alconten Paez will undergo investigation and administrative proceedings by the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

Paez, 42, assigned at the Regional Police Recruitment Unit-7 under the Police Recruitment Service (PRS), turned out positive for shabu during mandatory drug testing by the Regional Crime Laboratory 7 in Cebu City on December 17.

Another cop fails his drug test.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/770010/dilg-issues-show-cause-order-vs-laoag-city-mayor-over-alleged-istmas-gathering/story/

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday issued a show cause order against Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon over a Christmas gathering that he supposedly organized.

In a statement, DILG said the photos of the Christmas gathering, which is prohibited amid the threat of COVID-19, have circulated in social media.

“We received reports that a Christmas party was organized by the mayor together with other government and barangay officials,” DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

“Acting on these reports, the Secretary has directed the issuance of the SCO for the mayor to explain if he should be held administratively liable for violating health protocols,” he said.

According to Malaya, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año has directed the issuance of the order against Keon for alleged violation of the prohibition against mass gathering and of minimum health standards during a pandemic.

Another LGU accused of violating health protocols by throwing a party.

Coronavirus Lockdown: New Virus Variant, 20 Million Vaccines From the USA or No VFA, and More!

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

Vaccine procurement has been a challenge but the Philippines seem dead set on ordering one from China. But their is a problem. It's only 50% effective!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/24/20/acceptable-for-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-to-have-50-percent-efficacy-dost

The reported 50-percent efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac is "acceptable" as this is the minimum requirement for use, the Department of Science and Technology said on Thursday.  

“The 50-percent efficacy is acceptable because that is the minimum requirement set by the World Health Organization for a vaccine to be used by the country,” said Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. 

“We have to also bear in mind that the vaccine efficacy may actually change, it may go up or it may go down, as more and more people are using it when they are actually rolled out,” he said. 

 

The reported efficacy is for "overall" participants and could be higher "if we actually break them down into groups," he said.  

“Maybe it is more effective in a particular group of people – maybe health care workers, maybe in the elderly, maybe with those with co-existing morbidity so we have to look at them,” Montoya said. “So we have to also look at where they are actually going to be most useful, in what group, before we can actually make a decision.”  

“Until such time na na-review natin ang (that we review) data, we cannot make any conclusion,” he added. 

Other vaccine candidates from Pfizer and Moderna, which reported 95 and 94.5 percent efficacy, respectively, have secured emergency use authorization (EUA) in the US, said Montoya

Why scrape the bottom of the brake for the bare minimum? If this is a serious pandemic then the DOH should be trying to procure the best not what is adequate.

Apparently DOH secretary is more concerned about "theatrics" than getting the Philippines the best vaccine available.

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2020/12/24/182588/theatrics-duque-accused-of-pulling-stunt-in-mall-covid-19-protocol-inspections/

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was accused of engaging in “theatrics” after he was seen personally enforcing safety protocols for the coronavirus pandemic at a mall in Taguig City on Thursday morning. 

The chief public authority on health held a meter stick and measured the distance between two people in Bonifacio Global City, as seen in a video obtained by a local news outlet. 

"It should be at least one meter," Duque said in a video which has since gone viral.

One meter is the minimum required physical distance among people to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus, especially in public places. 

The Department of Health said it is almost equivalent to a motorcycle’s length. 

Based on reports, Duque went to BGC to inspect establishments and check if the management and mall-goers are complying with the health and safety protocols which include physical distancing and the wearing of face masks and face shields. 

However, he earned criticisms after the video of him checking the distance between two people was uploaded online. 

Duque’s inspection was perceived as “theatrics” as some Filipinos recalled his involvement in the country’s vaccine deal with Pfizer, a US-based pharmaceutical company. 

“Sec. Duque is busy doing photo op rounds with a ruler for social distancing measures, while the rest of the world is busy vaccinating their people,” a tweet of Tony Leachon, the former special adviser to National Task Force against COVID-19, reads.

Theatrics or not certainly Duque has men who can do the rounds for him. The PNP are supposed to be enforcing the rules also.

The DOH promised there would be no Christmas lockdowns but one town in Leyte has decided to lockdown for both Christmas and New Year's Day.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125522

Palompon town in Leyte will impose a community lockdown on Christmas and New Year's Day to control the movement of people amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Mayor Myra Georgina Arevalo signed Executive Order No. 82 on Dec. 21, a copy of which was released on Tuesday night, prohibiting entry of non-residents on Dec. 24 to 25 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 as people are expected to gather for reunions and other similar activities on these dates.

"Despite interventions and the implementation of stricter measures, the threat of Covid-19 remains high and alarming. Under this circumstance, the exercise of due diligence is provident to prevent the spread of the virus," Arevalo said in a statement.

Household gatherings must be limited to a maximum of 10 persons and may exceed for immediate family members only, no outsiders, she added.

Will they be arresting violators?

There's nothing like a natural disaster to mess up all the pandemic safety measures.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375837/social-distancing-briefly-disturbed-as-quake-hits-batangas-lemery-mayor

Social distancing was briefly not observed as residents of Lemery panicked amid the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit Batangas on Christmas day, the town mayor said Friday.

(Initially, people panicked so it can’t be avoided and physical distancing was briefly interrupted but after that and when residents were able to move on, they observed physical distancing quickly.)

To be honest I hardly ever see social distancing 100% practiced anywhere. It's impractical and basically impossible to always keep a one meter distance from everyone.

The world is entering stage 2 of the coronavirus pandemic with new strains affecting the UK and other countries.  The Philippines is bracing for the new strain.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376065/ph-braces-for-threat-of-new-virus-variant

President Rodrigo Duterte has called infectious disease experts and the managers of the country’s COVID-19 response to a special meeting on Saturday to discuss possible changes in policies to deal with the new coronavirus variant that emerged in the United Kingdom, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. 

In a Viber message to reporters, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, a longtime aide of the President, said Duterte was “very much worried” about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the severe respiratory disease. 

Scientists said in a new study that the mutated coronavirus was on average 56 percent more contagious than the original version. 

Roque said the officials would determine whether there was a need “to change some policies in the fight against COVID-19” like the possible extension of the one-week ban on people traveling from the United Kingdom, which started on Dec. 24, or to impose the same ban on travelers from places that have reported cases of the new variant like Singapore, Nigeria, and Hong Kong. 

If the new variant is proven to spread more easily, there would be a need for stricter implementation of health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of the disease, he said. 

But when asked whether a more infectious variant would mean stricter quarantine, Roque said, “Maybe not because we are really making sure our people have a means of living.”

This is the perfect time to rectify their mistake from last year and close the borders especially if this variant is so deadly. Instead they are mulling more lockdowns.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125721

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday broached the idea of reimposing stricter lockdown nationwide in an effort to prevent the entry of a new strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) from the United Kingdom (UK) to the Philippines.

Duterte floated the idea in a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and infectious diseases experts held at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

“Actually, ‘yung (the reimposition of another national) lockdown is a possibility. I said we’re making some projection. But if the severity in numbers would demand that we take corrective measures immediately, then we just have to go back to lockdown,” he said.

Duterte said he would decide depending on the “severity on the number” of cases of the new variant of the SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes Covid-2019.

“It depends on the severity of the number. Kasi kapag marami na (If the cases rise) and we do not have the antidote on how to kill those variants, we’ll have a problem there and of course, we’ll also be hard-pressed on looking for the money for the expenses in the meantime. Magastos iyan (That will be costly),” he said.

With the way the narrative is shifting globally concerning this new strain a new lockdown could very well happen.

In the midst of attempting to procure vaccines for the country Duterte has given the USA an ultimatum: 20 million vaccines or no VFA!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/27/2066539/duterte-says-end-vfa-if-us-cant-deliver-least-20-million-doses-vaccine

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night threatened to go through with ending the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States if it fails to deliver millions of doses of US-made COVID-19 vaccine.

The president's latest pronouncement follows the supposed botched negotiations with the US drugmaker Pfizer for 10 million doses and as his administration faces criticism of lagging behind in the global race to secure doses.

"If they can't deliver at least 20 million doses at a minimum, they better get out," Duterte said in English during his televised meeting with the coronavirus task force. "No vaccine, no stay here."

Surprisingly, maybe not though, this comment was met with laughter and applause.  It says so on the transcript at the PCOO's website.

At this same meeting Dutere revealed that some soldiers had already taken the vaccine. It turns out that those military personnel were actually Duterte's personal bodyguards, the PSG.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/769620/soldiers-vaccinated-vs-covid-19-are-psg-members-afp-spox/story/

Soldiers who are part of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the ones who got vaccinated against COVID-19, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said Monday.

"Per our inquiry, members of the Presidential Security Group were the first ones from the AFP who were vaccinated owing to the nature of their mission and function," Arevalo said in a press statement.

"As the unit primarily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats—including COVID-19," he added.

Arevalo issued the statement days after President Rodrigo Duterte bared that some soldiers have already vaccinated against the virus that already killed over 9,000 in the Philippines.

This, despite the fact that the Philippine Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve any COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA earlier warned that the use of unregistered vaccine could be unsafe.

They got the jab to protect Duterte but it would seem the best way to protect him would be to give the vaccine.

Without an FDA approved vaccine the question arises: How did they get this vaccine?  The DOH and FDA say administering non-FDA authorized vaccines is a crime. Yet the FDA and DOH are loathe to blame anyone in the government. The BOC has been more explicit saying that smuggling charges could be brought against whoever is responsible for getting the vaccine in the country.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/769737/boc-says-vaccine-used-by-military-had-no-papers-officials-could-face-smuggling-charges/story/

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it did not receive any formal communication on the importation of COVID-19 vaccines administered to the Presidential Security Group (PSG), and administrative and civil cases could be filed to those involved should the medicines be proven smuggled.

According to BOC assistant commissioner and spokesperson Philip Vincent Maronilla, all COVID-19 vaccines that enter the country should secure the necessary permits from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), which already said it has not given any go-ahead for such medicines.

"In such cases, we need a license to operate coming from the FDA or any provisional authority coming from the FDA," he said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo DZBB.

"That's what we are currently looking at in our records but so far as vaccines being brought in for, again, the use of general public, no one has communicated with us and no one has indicated to us such instructions. , "added Maronilla.

The FDA - also investigating the issue - has since clarified that there is still no vaccine approved for general use in the Philippines, and it has not yet given licenses to distribute and dispense the vaccine.

"If it is proven that it was entered without government permission and clearly smuggled, they can be charged with violation of our Customs Modernization Act or smuggling," Maronilla said.

"There are also certain special laws about bringing in illicit medicines that can be prosecuted against them both civilly and criminally, and those with lapses who are our officers, can be held administratively liable," he added.

It remains to be seen if anyone will actually be charged.

Is there a new travel ban due to the mutant virus or not? Nobody knows!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/29/2066942/confusion-palace-contradicts-3-agencies-broader-travel-ban

It was like 11 months ago on Tuesday when government agencies contradicted each other on whether or not a ban on travelers from 19 countries where a new strain of coronavirus would finally be enforced. 

The confusion started after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied an announcement from the Manila International Airport Authority, which oversees Manila’s main gateway, that the Philippines was prohibiting people from 19 territories, in addition to the United Kingdom, from flying in. MIAA tweeted that decision on its official account, only to be deleted after Roque’s pronouncements.

“If you ask me, is there currently a travel ban? My answer is no. Will there be? Perhaps. Anong detalye? (What are the details?) Let's wait for it,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a virtual briefing aired over state-run PTV.

“Wait for us to issue an announcement if it is effective… The [Office of the President] is already preparing, just wait for the official pronouncement,” he added in Filipino.

The only problem was it was not only MIAA that declared the ban before Roque precipitated the mix-up. The health and labor departments, in separate instances early on Tuesday, likewise said travelers from 19 nations, apart from the UK, will not be allowed in from December 29 to January 15 because of the presence of a more contagious coronavirus strain. 

This has caught the ire of many, including legislators who felt the Duterte administration has not learned from a painful early experience of delaying a travel ban. Back in January, President Rodrigo Duterte himself initially rejected proposals to prevent Chinese mainlanders from entering in the initial stages of the pandemic. 

Lots of mixed signals form the government about travel bans. Hopefully they get coordinated soon.

The biggest coronavirus story of the week by far is the unauthorized vaccination of the PSG. The only reason anybody knows about it is because Duterte blabbed about it in his weekly address. It turns out the PSG were vaccinated back in September unbeknownst to Duterte.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377566/psg-chief-personnel-vaccinated-as-early-as-september-sans-duterte-nod

“We didn’t ask permission. So we just informed him about it after all of the close-in security was vaccinated,” Durante said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if they sought Duterte’s permission in vaccinating their personnel.

“He [Duterte] was surprised. Asking the same questions as you do. And I’m answering the same questions, the same answers,” he added.

Furthermore the PSG admitted they vaccinated themselves.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377555/who-administered-covid-19-vaccine-we-vaccinated-ourselves-says-psg-chief

“We vaccinated ourselves. It’s so easy,” Durante admitted in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.” 

 Asked if Durante himself inoculated the vaccine to the PSG officials, he said: “As I’ve said, we vaccinated ourselves. It is within our command.” 

 “We’ve done our research. For now, we’ve found the appropriate vaccine for us, which I could say is a traditional vaccine, so we took the risk,” he said. 

It's so easy!  It's also very illegal. The FDA says they are investigating how this unauthorized vaccine entered the country and DND Secretary Lorenzna admitted it was smuggled.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/30/2067159/lorenzana-admits-sinopharm-vaccines-used-dutertes-security-detail-were-smuggled

"Yes, it’s smuggled," Lorenzana told ABS-CBN, referring to the Sinopharm vaccines used by the PSG, during a ceremony held in commemoration of Rizal Day.

"Because its not authorized to enter here. Only the government can authorize that through the [Food and Drug Administration],” he further explained.

The question now becomes "Who gave them the vaccine and how did it get in the country?" The PSG ain't talking.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377584/psg-admits-requesting-for-covid-vaccines-but-refuses-to-disclose-source

(As I’ve always said, I cannot say publicly and openly about our source because it’s unfair to our source. It could be a person, a state, or a businessman, or anybody.)

(Actually, it was us who approached, we were the ones who requested that we would be acquiring the vaccines but rest assured that no public funds were used in that transaction and it was only a handful of vaccines purposely for the use of the security personnel of the President himself.)

Pressed if they asked to have the vaccines donated, Durante said: “Yes, kami mismo. We acted independently without the knowledge of any other, especially the President, without his knowledge or any other agency within the Republic of the Philippines.”

I am sure we will find out soon enough who "donated" these vaccines and just how exactly they got into the Philippines.

A PNP Mural

A new mural at a PNP camp has been painted. In nine panels we get a gist of how the PNP view themselves and their mission. Let's take a look.

It's a little hard to take a full panoramic picture of this mural especially with all the traffic but this is what it looks like from the side. The first panel features the SAF being watched over by the Archangel Michael as they are out on a mission.

The mission is to bust down the door of ISIS which is hiding in the next panel. Above the SAF is a verse from the Psalms.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Inside the room where ISIS is hiding is the devil.  Above him is another scripture.

1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil

And of course on the table in front of the Devil is a bag of money.

There is also a skull, a knife, some pills, and of to the side a naked couple is engaged in an embrace.

But what does the love of money have to do with the Muslim insurgency and the rise of ISIS in the Philippines? Aboslutley nothing. The MNLF was formed in the 70's as a separatist group seeking the cessation of Mindanao as a Muslim homeland. In the subsequent years the MNLF splintered into the MILF, Abu Sayyaf, and BIFF. The MNLF became complacent with the establishment of the ARMM while the other groups continued the fight. To make a long story short money is not the goal of any of the Muslim groups in Mindanao but rather the relinquishing of the whole of Mindanao as a Muslim homeland. That is clearly the case as stated in the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which the government actually signed but which was later overturned by the Supreme Court as being unconstitutional.

And why have Satan over looking the whole scene? ISIS is an Islamic group so the proper one to be overlooking the situation would be Mohammed. Does the artist not know that ISIS believe they are waging a holy war against Christianity? Remember the church bombing in Jolo? Perhaps the artist saying that Islam is satanic. Perhaps he means ISIS is evil and not truly representative of Islam. 

The next panel is this delightful little sight.

The PNP is holding the line against angry demonstrators. What are they demonstrating against? It doesn't matter. What does matter is that the PNP is the bulwark between these demonstrators and peacefulness. Behind them is Van Gogh's Starry Night. Little know fact: Starry Night was painted while Van Gogh was in an asylum. There is a lot of tumultuous emotion placed in the bush strokes which give the illusion of movement to the glowing stars as they swirl across the sky. In short Starry Night is not simply a stylized painting of the night sky. It is a physical representation of Van Gogh's mental illness. 

So what we are really looking at here is the symbolic manifestation of the PNP schizophrenic mentations who think labelling protesters as terrorists and doing all they can to curtail the people's right to petition the government for the redress of grievances is good. The manic intensity of the stars and the sky reflects the manic intensity of their delusional self-perception.

The next panel looks kind of like Yosemite valley with El Capitan and Half Dome in the background.

Obviously that is not what it is. This panel seems to be out of place within the mural as a whole. There is no artistic statement and no action. Are those PNP officers on patrol? Listen closely and you can hear the slow approach of a Huey and the soft strains of Fortunate Son.

The next three pictures are all part of one long scene. The PNP is telling us that they make the community safe.

Everyone is working together. What are they doing?  They are spraying a hose to fight back the CPP-NPA and the coronavirus, COVID-19. 

This picture of Joma Sison and an NPA fighter is ridiculous propaganda. First the fighter.  He is wearing a straw hat and sandals and is not at all properly equipped.  That is not the reality on the ground. The reality is that the NPA has plenty of weapons and equipment. After all they have waged a 52 year campaign against the government. They are not backwards rice farmers who happened to pick up a gun and have no idea how to use it. The AFP is regularly busting open NPA lairs and recovering bombs and heavy firepower.

Second of all is Sison himself. He is painted as a distorted caricature standing on a pile of skulls in a lake of blood. He is holding out the communist hammer and sickle over the head of his minion, the fighter. The hammer and sickle has become a question mark. What is that man fighting for? What are his goals? The implication is he does not know which is rather presumptuous. 

The sickle and hammer are also crumbling just as the AFP and PNP claim the NPA is on the wan due to the many rebels who have surrendered.

Floating around Sison and the NPA fighter is the coronavirus, COVID-19. Thank goodness the PNP is around to protect the nation from the virus by enforcing quarantine rules in the longest ongoing lockdown in the world. Thank goodness the PNP is out in the streets battling the invisible enemy which is floating around in the air waiting to infect any passerby. 

This is how the PNP see themselves. They are the only thing standing between chaos and order. They are holding back all the evil that is just waiting to be unleashed on the public. It's not a bad mural. It's not a great mural. Given the current state of the PNP it is a rather narcissistic and unrealistic mural.