Insurgency: SIPS

As always there is a lot of stuff happening as regards the insurgency this week. The old mill keeps turning. Batangas has now been declared insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133206

The Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) has declared the province of Batangas as now free from communist insurgency.

Maj. Gen. Greg Almerol, 2ID commander, made the announcement during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) declaring the province as an area with "stable internal peace and security", between ranking military and provincial government officials held at the Provincial Capitol on Wednesday.

Almerol and Governor Hermilando Mandanas signed the MOA in the presence of members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, mayors, officials of government agencies in the province, and military and police commanders.

Almerol said the province has already met the parameters set under the Armed Forces of the Philippines' phases of normalization, specifically the absence of recorded New People's Army (NPA) violent activities for at least one year.

The ceremony also highlighted the presentation of surrendered firearms and distribution of food packs to seven former rebels who were earlier granted monetary support amounting to PHP455,000, as well as medical services among other benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

"The government’s desire to end insurgency through the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or PTF-ELCAC of Batangas made the impossible possible for the people we have sworn to serve," he said.

Almerol also expressed hope that Batangas would now be able to further enhance its commercial viability, tourism, and other development opportunities that would benefit the people.

Batangas is the fifth province in the 2ID's area of responsibility to be declared as having stable internal peace and security, after the provinces of Cavite, Romblon, Marinduque, and Laguna.

The Manila Times provides the dates when the other provinces were declared insurgency free.

Batangas became the fifth province in the 2nd ID’s area of responsibility to be declared as SIPS after Cavite on December 4, 2018, Romblon on February 21, 2019, Marinduque on March 25, 2019 and Laguna on September 26, 2019.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/03/12/news/regions/batangas-now-insurgency-free/850140/

The thing is though that all of those provinces were already declared insurgency free years ago in 2014.

To date, 34 provinces in various regions have been declared free from communist influence. 

These are Biliran, Guimaras, Siquijor, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Romblon, Bohol, Apayao, Aurora, Cebu, Quirino, Tarlac, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Marinduque, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Kalinga, Southern Leyte, South Cotabato, Northern Leyte, Benguet, Aklan, Sarangani, Antique, Eastern Samar, Davao Oriental, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Laguna, Batanes, Bulacan, and Pampanga. 

http://retiredanalyst.blogspot.com/2014/01/decline-in-insurgency-threat-in.html

The article that blog links to which lists all the provinces the AFP had once declared insurgency free is no longer online but other news items from the same time say the same thing except for naming each province.

The Northern Luzon Command said other provinces in Regions 1,2,3 and Cordillera were declared rebel-free between 2009 and 2013:  La Union and Nueva Viscaya in 2009; Apayao, Aurora, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Kalinga in 2010; Ilocos Norte and Benguet in 2011; Zambales, Abra and Bataan in 2012; and Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Cagayan, Ifugao, Bulacan and Mt. Province in 2013.  

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/01/16/1279535/military-says-northern-luzon-insurgency-free

In Romblon's case the province was declared insurgency free in 2009 and the AFP handed security operations over to local government and the PNP.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/12/17/09/romblon-govt-takes-over-counter-insurgency-ops

“Per our assessment, the province is insurgency free, meaning it is now the ownership of the peace and order council as to the maintenance of the peace and order in the area. With this turn over or handover, the Philippine National Police will now  play a more active role in maintaining peace and order in their area,” Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces public affairs office chief, said. 

Brawner said the Southern Luzon Command Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali and 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia led the turnover to Gov. Natalio Belbran following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement.

He said soldiers will remain in the area to play a support role to the PNP in the anti-insurgency campaign. He added that the soldiers will also help in intelligence gathering, maintenance or supervision of Cafgus; and security of vital installations. 

For Marinduque, which was also declared insurgency free in 2009, it seems it was a matter of actually validating that status. After ten years it became official.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/689280/marinduque-declared-insurgency-free/story/

The province of Marinduque has been officially declared as an insurgency-free province and with stable internal peace and security, the third province in the country to achieve the status.

The declaration was announced on Tuesday, March 26, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Stable Internal Peace and Security of the Province of Marinduque was signed between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Provincial Government held in the Provincial Capitol Building in the town of Boac.

The declaration of insurgency-free province means the province is now free from the factions of CPP–NPA–NDF in the province, and is no longer a threat to peace and order.

 According to Police Regional Office director Police Brigadier General Tomas Apolinario, the last sighting of NPA factions in the province was 10 years ago.

Marinduque province was initially recommended to be declared insurgency-free in July 2009 since no insurgent activity was recorded in the province. After a series of validation conducted by different Intelligence units, the province was finally declared insurgency-free today on March 26.

Marinduque joined Cavite and Romblon, which was declared insurgency-free in 2017 and 2019, respectively, in the roster of provinces without communist rebels.

It is unclear why it would take ten years to verify the status of the insurgency in Marinduque especially when the AFP had declared NPA strength was down to zero.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/168637/npa-strength-in-marinduque-down-to-zero-afp/story/

The Philippine military on Thursday claimed that it has reduced the number of communist rebels in Marinduque province in western Philippines to zero. Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) has also been significantly downgraded in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Romblon. 

"Over the years, we have reduced them to zero. They no longer have activity for the past years, no reported incident," Detabali said of the NPA rebels in Marinduque. Because of this development, the AFP is now considering the insurgency problem in the province as a police matter.

If the NPA had been reduced to zero and there were no incidents over the past few years then it would seem that a formal declaration should not have taken 10 years.

The AFP says Marinduque is the third province and Batangas the fifth province in the entire nation to be declared insurgent free. But in 2014 they had declared 34 provinces to be insurgency free? So what happened? This is due to the provinces meeting AFP's new parameters for being insurgency free, specifically no NPA activity for one year. That is certainly more objective than their previous criteria.

“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 

The AFP has had a problem over the years of declaring an area insurgency free but then facing the fact of a resurgence of insurgents.  At the link above I outlined some of those problems. Now provinces that are insurgency free will be declared as SIPS "Stable Internal Peace and Security" area.

The NTF-ELCAC is tasked with ending the insurgency. The Senate says the man who is the spokesperson for that task force should resign.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405504/parlade-as-active-military-officer-cant-hold-post-in-anti-communist-task-force-senate

The Senate recommended on Wednesday the removal of Army Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), a civilian body created by the Duterte administration that has become controversial for “red-tagging” — or painting activists and government critics as supporters of the communist insurgency or terrorist groups. 

The recommendation was introduced as an amendment to the Senate national defense and security committee’s report after conducting an inquiry on the issues raised against red-tagging.

Parlade’s appointment to the post, according to the amendment adopted by the chamber, was in violation of Article 16, Section 5 of the Constitution banning any active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from holding a civilian position in the government.

Parlade also heads the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, making him one of the military’s key officers in the campaign against the decades-old insurgency.

That seems like a rather cut and dry reason. Paralade's inclusion on a civilian governmental body is a violation of the constitution. Ergo he must vacate the post. Parade says he will not be leaving.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779229/parlade-won-t-resign-as-ntf-elcac-spox-despite-senate-recommendation/story/

Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. has no intention to resign as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) despite the recommendation of the Senate to remove him from the post.

“Very good. Welcome ‘yan. Makes my job easier. But it’s just a recommendation and it’s the executive branch who will decide on it. It’s up to them,” Parlade said in a text message to Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad when asked on the matter.

Parlade said he will stay in the post adding that NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson and National Security Adviser Hermogenes told him that official orders have been issued for him to remain as spokesperson.

“Of course (I will stay). In fact, the Vice Chair NTF ELCAC Sec Esperon just called to say he has issues official orders for me to remain as spox eff(ective) 1 Jan 2021,” the AFP Southern Luzon Command chief said.

Those official orders for Parlade to remain as spokesperson probably came from Duterte. If so that would mean Duterte has no problem with Parlade being on the task force and does not consider it a violation of the constitution. Defense secretary Lorenzana says the same thing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133282

In a Laging Handa briefing, Lorenzana said the military and the police are obliged to take the lead in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which was created by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's Executive 70 calling for a whole-of-nation approach in defeating the security threat posed by the local communist terrorist groups and their allies.

"The main effort is being led by the PNP and the AFP, and Gen. Parlade is part of the AFP and so his expertise is being utilized as spokesman of the NTF ELCAC so ang, wala akong nakikitang (I don't see any) violation of the Constitution," Lorenzana said.

He also added that the security forces are the primary implementers of NTF ELCAC, with other government agencies only in a supporting role.

"So kami ang nandyan (we are involved there), kung tanggalin mo yan si Gen. Parlade ay tanggalin mo na rin kami dyan sa (NTF ELCAC), yung Armed Forces. Ibig sabihin yung Armed Forces walang pakialam dyan sa NTF ELCAC (if you remove Gen. Parlade from the NTF ELCAC, then remove us too. It only means the Armed Forces does not have anything to do with the NTF ELCAC), which is not true," Lorenzana said.

Of course the NTF-ELCAC stands behind Parlade.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133367

"The NTF ELCAC stands solidly behind Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade and rejects calls for him to step down as spokesperson of the task force," Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy said in a statement forwarded to the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

Badoy, who is also a spokesperson of NTF ELCAC, said Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claims that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force is wrong.

"Senator Lacson is wrong when he says that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force. It is a task force that enlists each and every member of the government in the battle to end this 52-year communist scourge that has brought so much grievous harm and endless suffering to the Filipino people," she added.

She added that it is only fitting that members of the military who carried the burden of the more than 50 years insurgency, to be part of the NTF ELCAC that is tasked to neutralize for good communist terrorists.

"And it is but right that those who have borne this problem on their own for over five decades- our men and women in uniform- be in the forefront of this fight," she added.

As with many things, Lorraine Badoy is wrong. The NTF-ELCAC is a civilian body created by E.O. 70. Here is the relevant passage from that E.O.

Section 2. Creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. To ensure efficient and effective implementation of the Whole-of-Nation approach, a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Task Force) is hereby created under the Office of the President (OP). 

Section 3. Composition. The Task Force shall be composed of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, as Chair; the National Security Adviser, as Vice-Chair. and the following as members, 

a. Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government; 

b. Secretary, Department of Justice: 

c. Secretary, Department of National Defense; 

d. Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways; 

e. Secretary, Department of Budget and Management; 

f. Secretary, Department of Finance; 

g. Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform; 

h. Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development; 

i. Secretary, Department of Education, 

j. Director General, National Economic and Development Authority; 

k. Director General, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; 

l. Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; 

m. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process: 

n. Presidential Adviser for Indigenous Peoples' Concerns; 

o. Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines;

p. Director General, Philippine National Police; 

q. Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; 

r. Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office, and 

s. Two (2) Representatives from the private sector. 

https://www.doj.gov.ph/files/2018/MC/MC043-2018DEC%20Executive%20Order%20No%2070%20(04%20Dec%202018)%20dtd%2018%20Dec%202018.pdf

The NTF-ELCAC is a civilian body created under the Office of the President. It is not a military body. Ergo Parlade should not be a member. The solution to allowing him to stay is to make it a military body answerable to the DND and AFP. Since the arguments from both Lorenzana and Badoy are that the military is the one leading the fight against the NPA then making that change should be no problem.

Retards in the Government 197

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132665

A policeman was killed while two others were wounded in an ambush Friday morning along the national highway in Tupi town, South Cotabato province.

Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director, said the policemen were aboard a private vehicle and proceeding to this city when they were waylaid by unidentified armed men carrying automatic rifles around 6 a.m. at a portion of Purok 15B, Barangay Polonuling.

He said the vehicle’s driver, as Staff Sgt. Renante Espero, died on-the-spot due to multiple gunshot wounds while his companions, Staff Sgts. Rey Jerome Silvederio and Jorex Velasco, were hit on the hand and legs.

Siason said the victims were former members of the drug enforcement unit of the Koronadal City police station and temporarily assigned at the regional police holding and accounting unit due to their pending administrative cases

He said the policemen were facing complaints related to their previous anti-illegal drug operations.

The police official said the pursuit operations are ongoing against the suspects in coordination with various police units.

“We’re considering all angles, including the possible involvement of local terrorist elements,” he said in a radio interview.

PNP officers who were part of the local drug enforcement unit were shot at by unknown men for unknown reasons. These men were also facing complaints due to their operations. One officer is dead and two were hurt.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/21/ex-barangay-captain-patay-matapos-manlaban-umano-sa-davao

A former barangay captain died after he allegedly fought with the authorities in a buy -bust operation in this city Thursday night. 

According to police, they staged such an operation against Jorge Taho, 58, at an inn in Brgy. Submerged in Toril district but instead of surrendering after the buy-bust, he allegedly tried to shoot the operatives. 

He was taken to the hospital after the operation but was declared dead on arrival.

About P35,000 worth of shabu was allegedly recovered from him. A .45 caliber pistol with ammunition was also recovered from the victim.

A former barangay captain was shot dead by police during a buy bust operation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1404002/aurora-cop-disarmed-detained-after-fatal-accidental-shooting-of-inmate

A rookie policeman in Aurora province has been disarmed and detained after he reportedly accidentally fired his gun and killed an inmate, the Central Luzon police confirmed on Sunday.

Col. Julius Lizardo, provincial police chief, ordered that Patrolman Christian Torres, 27, be placed under restrictive custody at the police station of  San Luis town on orders of Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, regional police director following the shooting Saturday night.

A report from the regional headquarters in Camp Olivas said Torres “went in front of the detention cell and without apparent reason drew his issued short firearm.”

Investigators said the suspect reportedly began playing with the gun that allegedly accidentally shot the inmate identified as Christian Gabral who was then watching television.”

Gabral, 30, was hit on the chest and was pronounced dead in a hospital The type and caliber of the service gun involved in the incident were not mentioned in the report.

A rookie cop pulls out his gun, plays with it, and ends up killing an inmate.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132881

A former police officer wanted for two counts of murder and physical injuries was arrested in Abu Dhabi last Feb. 3, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said Monday.

PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group chief Col. Thomas Frias Jr. identified the arrested suspect as ex-Police Officer 3 Ruben Baliong, who is set to arrive Monday at 2 p.m.

Baliong, who was arrested in a sting operation in Abu Dhabi, has pending warrants of arrest for murder issued by the Caloocan Regional Court and another by a Parañaque court, also for murder and physical injuries.

He was formerly assigned at the Mandaluyong Police Station 3 and has been tagged as involved in illegal drugs and identified as a “contract killer”.

Police verified Baliong's travel records with the Bureau of Immigration last Nov. 5, 2020.

Frias said Baliong flew to Abu Dhabi on Jan. 4, 2019 to work as a security officer at Star Security Services.

A former PNP officer charged with drug offenses and as being a contract killer traveled to Abu Dhabi to work as a security guard. Now the law has caught up with him and he is returning to the Philippines to face justice.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/366644/3-lapu-city-hall-employees-get-citation-tickets-for-failure-to-wear-face-masks

Three employees of the Lapu-Lapu City Halll received citation tickets from Mayor Junard Chan on Monday morning, March 8, for their failure to comply with health and safety protocols. 

Loue Llimit, Fidel Inihao, and Rexor Dulangon agreed to render community service as a penalty instead of paying the P1, 000 fine. 

Chan warned them of suspension, worst, termination from service if they are caught again for the same violation. 

(If you do this again, you will no longer be issued with citation tickets.  I will already order for your suspension next time.  If you do this again for the third time, I’m sorry but you will have to already face dismissal from service.) 

Chan invited the three men, who are assigned to the city’s clearing team that is under the Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO), to appear at his City Hall office on Monday after he received a photo of the three who were without face masks that was sent through his Facebook page. 

The photo was taken by a netizen on Sunday, March 7, when the service vehicle which they boarded came to a stop near a traffic light along M.L. Quezon Highway in Barangay Pusok.

An anonymous busybody sent a photo of three city employees to the Mayor's FB page and he called them into reprimand them for not wearing face masks. He said next time they will be dismissed.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/778887/cop-caught-on-video-firing-gun-before-placing-it-beside-body-of-slain-drug-suspect/story/

An amateur video has caught a policeman in Bukidnon firing a gun three times before putting it beside the body of a slain drug suspect, according to a Saksi report on Monday.

The incident reportedly took place in Valencia City on February 20.

The suspect was killed after he allegedly fought it out with arresting policemen during a buy-bust operation.

According to the police, three spent slugs were found in the crime scene.

The report said Police Regional Office 10 insists that the suspect had resisted arrest and fired at the policemen. It said the policeman on the video fired the weapon out of frustration.

The report also said the policeman on the video died five days after the buy-bust operation after he figured in an accident.

A separate report by GMA Regional TV "One Mindanao" identified the policeman as Police Corporal Benzon Gonzales while the slain drug suspect was identified as Pol Estañol.

Police Captain Francisco Sabud, spokesperson for PRO-10, said they will determine the authenticity of the video that has since gone viral on social media. He also said they will not condone police officers if ever there were irregularities in the buy-bust operation. 

On February 20 a cop was caught on video firing a gun 3 times and placing it next to a suspect. The PNP does not deny this happened but says the cop fired it out of frustration after they killed the man. The PNP also says this cop died 5 days later but they do not say how or under what circumstances.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132989

Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino and two of his bodyguards were killed in an ambush late Monday afternoon.

The victims were on board a white van and cruising through Laboyao Bridge in the city’s Lonoy village heading north when fired at by gunmen riding two cars at around 5:30 p.m.

Aquino's three bodyguards retaliated, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.

The mayor and two of his security personnel died on the spot site while one bodyguard was brought by some residents to a nearby hospital. 

One of the suspects also died, a sketchy police report said.

“Probers of Calbayog police station are now conducting an on-site investigation to determine the motive of the said incident,” the initial report sent to the local media by the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here said.

Aquino, who was on his third and last term as the city's chief executive, served as mayor since 2011 after then Mayor Reynaldo Uy was killed in a fiesta celebration in Hinabangan, Samar.

Calbayog City had witnessed a series of shooting incidents that targeted local government officials.

A Mayor who began his term after the former Mayor was assassinated in 2011 has now been assassinated himself.  Further investigation of this incident has been most revealing.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/03/10/2083290/anti-drug-cops-gun-down-calbayog-mayor-police-escorts

The mayor of Calbayog City, Samar and five other persons, including a municipal police chief, were killed in what authorities described as a clash between the local chief executive’s security escorts and police anti-narcotics officers on Monday.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, 59, was on his way to his son’s birthday celebration north of Calbayog in a Toyota Hi-Ace van when his bodyguards reportedly opened fire at several vehicles which they believed were tailing them.

The people in the other vehicles turned out to be lawmen from the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU).

Other policemen who were inside the vehicle of Tabada’s group were reportedly held in custody by investigators.

Eastern Visayas Police Director Brig. Gen. Ronaldo de Jesus said Aquino was not the target of the policemen who were headed to another operation.

“I can only assume that it was mistaken, and there were suspicions on our police that’s why they opened fire and the police retaliated,” De Jesus said in English and Filipino in a phone interview.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana yesterday said Aquino’s bodyguards opened fire at an unmarked vehicle used by lawmen of the IMEG and PDEU that was traveling in the same direction.

“The group of Mayor Aquino was alleged to have initiated the shootout when his close-in security fired at the unmarked vehicle of the IMEG-PDEU group,” Usana said in a statement.

Usana described the clash as an “unfortunate incident,” which is now being looked into a special investigation task group (SITG).

This report only raises more questions such as why would the security guards fire first just because of a suspicion? Testimony from others casts doubt on the PNP's scenario.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/21/binaril-binalikan-calbayog-mayor-was-killed-by-cops-from-outside-city-lawmaker

A political ally of slain Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino denounced Wednesday police claims that law enforcers did not know that they were shooting the mayor's van.  

Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento refuted a police report saying the mayor's group was the first to fire at antinarcotics officers that were tailing their vehicle. He said the police were already waiting for Aquino's vehicle at Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City before the shooting incident at 5:30 p.m. 

Videos of the shooting, he said, showed the police went to the vehicle and shot the mayor when he was already dead.

It would be interesting to see that video footage which has not surface publicly yet. Will we ever know the truth? Perhaps. But the corruption of the PNP does not lend them to credibility.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133063

The newly-revived Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Malapatan town, Sarangani province is gearing up to start hearing cases following its formal launching on Monday.

Officials and representatives from the judiciary, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the municipal government of Malapatan led the court’s reopening, which came over 12 years after it ceased operations.

Acting Presiding Judge Chalmer Gevieso said the court, which is set up at the old municipal council session hall, is already functional and ready to tackle assigned cases from Malapatan and Glan towns.

He said the resumption of the court’s operations will mainly benefit residents of the two municipalities as well as the neighboring areas.

It will no longer be a burden for residents to attend case hearings and process court-related transactions, he said.

“What we are celebrating today is the result of the joint effort of everyone,” he said during the simple launching ceremony.

This is a very good thing but we are not told why the court was shut for 12 years. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133016

A former police officer who went rogue and is now listed as one of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) most wanted person was arrested in Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said on Tuesday.

Sinas identified the suspect as Bernard Villena, who was arrested by police operatives on Monday noon at a hardware store in Barangay Bintog, Plaridel Bulacan. 

Villena, who was previously assigned at the Manila Police District (MPD), joined the police service in 1997 and was dismissed in 2018. In 2015, he was accused of raping his 12-year-old daughter in Valenzuela City.

This guy was dismissed from the PNP in 2018 but accused of raping his 12 year old daughter in 2015 and only now has he been arrested.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Blessing The Vaccine, Pandemic Fatigue, and More!

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

Before the vaccine rollout started at San Lazaro hospital a priest was called in to bless the vaccines.

https://twitter.com/_iancruz/status/1366910376873369603

There is really nothing so odd about this. The Catholic's bless bells and animals and the local mall opened only after a mass.

Many are eagerly awaiting the lifting of restrictions but not the mayor of Tacloban.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132400

The city government has welcomed the decision of the national inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases (IATF) to place the city under general community quarantine (GCQ) for six months in a row.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez said in a press briefing Wednesday the city’s current pandemic situation warrants a more strict movement restriction to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Romualdez said with 80 active cases in the city, he cannot guarantee that the numbers will decrease soon.

“Tacloban is the center of the region and with many entry points in the city, we cannot really guarantee to sustain the zero case in two to three weeks,” he told reporters.

“We may not have cases today but the next day somebody infected may be able to enter the city considering that the airport and major port are in the city. When we are under GCQ, it is easier for the authorities to guard the city,” he added.

The quarantine status, according to Romualdez, will make the city a priority in the distribution of vaccines.

Stricter quarantine measures will help the authorities to guard the city says the mayor.

When can the we expect the easing of restrictions? Duterte has spoken.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/778292/duterte-open-to-easing-restrictions-after-vaccinating-2m-pinoys-nograles/story/

President Rodrigo Duterte will consider easing restrictions in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) status once at least two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday.

Nograles made the remark when asked if President Rodrigo Duterte is now open to resume limited face-to-face classes with the COVID-19 vaccination program up and running. 

“The President reiterated his stand that he wants a more rigorous, more widespread vaccination program. Ang sabi niya, unless he sees two million vaccine doses are being administered, that's when he will start considering the opening of GCQ areas, to consider putting it under MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine),” Nograles said.

2 million people means 4 millions vaccines because the COVID-19 vaccine is a two step process.  Two injections.  Who knows when that will happen!

The government is going all out to convict people to get jabbed.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132553

The Presidential Communications Operations Office – Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA) is releasing a series of explainer videos dubbed "The VAXplainer” just in time for the rollout of the government’s nationwide vaccination program.

It aims to boost the confidence of the Filipino people in Covid-19 vaccine by educating about the importance of getting vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccines against the virus.

“The VAXplainer is only a part of our numerous efforts and commitment to make Filipinos fully understand the importance of vaccines and convince them to be inoculated with the available safe and effective vaccines provided by the government,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in a news release on Wednesday.

Andanar said the PCOO also has Laging Handa Dokyu Series, Network Briefing, and Laging Handa Public Briefing, among others, “as part of our information campaign to inform the people”.

He added that “The VAXplainer” is part of the PCOO’s drive to encourage Filipinos to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Philippine government, and the international community to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to save lives, revive hopes, and shape our future.

This is propaganda. There is no propaganda to get people healthy to eliminate comorbidities which exacerbate COVID-19 deaths. Instead they want you to take the vaccine which contains.......?

The DOLE is being urged to protect workers from employers who would penalize them for not taking the vaccine.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/778285/dole-urged-to-issue-guidelines-to-protect-workers-vs-no-vaccine-no-work-policy/story/

Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday appealed to the Department of Labor and Employment to issue clear guidelines on the reported "no vaccine, no work" policy to ensure that workers' rights are upheld and protected.

In a statement, Villanueva, who chairs the Senate committee on labor, warned against discriminating workers who decide not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“A worker can be late for work and be penalized with salary deduction. But a government guilty of vaccine tardiness faces no such reprimand, even if it causes the nation P2.8 billion in economic losses daily,” Villanueva said.

“A worker who is not yet immune from the virus shouldn't lose his immunity from being fired arbitrarily," he added.

The senator said that instead of forcing workers to get a vaccine and threatening their employment, employers should be carrying out confidence building efforts in their company.

Several groups have opposed the supposed plan of some companies to impose a "no vaccine, no work" policy.

Some workers have reportedly approached the Associated Labor Union as early as last year expressing their concern over a warning by employers that their company will implement a "no vaccine, no work" policy.

Villanueva said workers should not be faulted for refusing to be vaccinated if they still have concerns on the vaccine to be used on them.

And what about other venues like airplanes? Why should anyone be forced to get a vaccine for any reason whatsoever be it travel or employment.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again with 3,439 in just one day. The DOH says more variants have been detected in the nation but they are not causing the rise in cases. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/21/doh-spike-in-covid-19-cases-due-to-breach-of-health-protocol-variants-just-a-factor

The Department of Health (DOH) is attributing the recent spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country to people's failure to comply with minimum health standards that seek to prevent infection.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this in a public press briefing Saturday, adding that the presence of more transmissible coronavirus variants in the country were just "aggravating factors" in the rising number of cases.  

(We need to change public perception about this. Yes, we have detected variants but we need to also see that we did not comply with health protocols. So if we see continuous violations of health guidance, definitely, the cases will rise. And the variants are just aggravating factors. 

The Philippines has been enforcing a nearly yearlong quarantine, with face masks, face shields and physical distancing required in public places. Mass gatherings are still prohibited, but restrictions have been loosened to revive the economy. 

(We are monitoring our situation. We can't assure the public that we will not have another enhanced community quarantine when we reach a point that we will need to close cities and regions because of the situation. We will just do this as an additional measure. But this situation will not happen if we help the government and comply with the minimum standards we have.) 

Again the DOH is blaming the people for being lax with health protocols when every survey says otherwise. The variants are likely what's causing the surge.

Predictions about how the current surge in cases will develop seem rather dire. The OCTA says there could be up to 6,000 new cases per day by the end of March.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1404034/octa-projects-up-to-6000-new-daily-covid-19-cases-in-ph-by-end-march

The country is projected to have 5,000 to 6,000 new COVID-19 cases per day by the end of March after it saw an increase in additional coronavirus cases being reported daily, the OCTA Research said Sunday.

OCTA Research said in its latest monitoring report that “based on the current reproduction number, NCR is projected to have 2,000 new COVID-19 cases per day by March 21 and 3,000 new cases per day by March 31, while the country is projected to have 5,000 to 6,000 new cases per day by the end of March.”

“The last time the region had seen this rate of increase was in July [2020]. However, this surge is spreading more quickly than the July-August surge, and this suggests the possibility that the surge is driven by SARS-CoV-2 variants,” said OCTA.

“The original strain does not spread this quickly considering the health guidelines in place,” it added.

This group says the surge is due to variants while the DOH says health protocol violations are what's driving the surge. How can both groups come to such different conclusions?

There are many proposals on how to stop this surge. The PNP says people should refrain from public displays of affection.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779040/pnp-appeals-vs-public-display-of-affection-amid-surge-in-covid-19-cases/story/

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is discouraging people from displaying "physical, social and romantic relationships" in public, citing health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The virus may be right before them. Infection happens to families, it can happen to anyone, anywhere," said PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana on Wednesday.

As the country faces a surge in new COVID-19 cases, Usana said people "should maintain being cautious from the spread of the virus."

Government officials are placing various barangays under lockdown again.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405156/list-manila-qc-impose-lockdowns-on-several-areas-after-covid-19-surge

The city governments of Manila and Quezon City on Tuesday have placed several areas under localized lockdown in a bid to address the increasing number of COVID-19 infections. 

In a Facebook Live, Moreno explained that the listed areas were tagged as areas of concern since they have more than 10 cases of COVID-19 in their localities. 

According to him, Barangay 351 has 12 active cases and Barangay 725 has 14 active cases. On the other hand, there were 14 confirmed cases in Malate Bayview Mansion while Hop Inn Hotel has three detected cases. 

Under the EO, residents will be restricted to their homes and are not allowed to go outside.

However, Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) are exempted from the order and will be allowed to leave their homes.

Undoubtedly these new lockdowns will make a lot of people mad. Or they might just sigh in exhaustion. They might be suffering from COVID-19 fatigue.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779053/pandemic-fatigue-driving-increase-in-covid-19-cases-says-expert/story/

The fresh spike in COVID-19 cases is mainly being driven by “pandemic fatigue,” an expert said Wednesday.

Dr. Edsel Salvana, a molecular biologist and Department of Health (DOH) advisor, said some Filipinos have eased their adherence to health protocols due to fatigue.

The Philippines has been battling COVID-19 for over a year now, with Filipinos close to marking one year under quarantine.

"The main driver of it right now [is] the so-called 'pandemic fatigue' because people are really relaxing because they see, 'Well, everyone's out.' It’s okay, ’” Salvana said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"The virus doesn't really relax, so the transmission is continuous," he added.

The DOH similarly said the public’s relaxed observance of health protocols led to the spike in cases.

Salvana also noted that the new coronavirus variants that were recently detected in the country contributed to the case increase.

“The variant, sure, can certainly be a factor. But the percentage of variants that we see in the genomic sequencing we test is still low, about 5%, ”he said.

Again, they are blaming Filipinos for being lax about protocols as the main driver of the surge and downplaying the variants. Whatever the case surely everyone in the entire world is fatigued with this pandemic.

Chess, The Philippines, and Wesely So

Perhaps you have seen chess being played on the street as you have been out and about.

Chess is indeed very popular in the Philippines. So much so in fact that one government official was convicted of graft in regards to sponsoring a chess tournament using illicit funds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1402242/pichays-bid-to-overturn-graft-conviction-denied-by-sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has denied a bid by Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. to reverse the guilty verdict handed over to him in his graft case.

The anti-graft court found “no compelling reason” to grant Pichay’s motion for reconsideration and another motion for leave to admit supplemental documents to his previous motion because these were filed over one month after the case was promulgated.

The court’s Fifth Division issued this decision in a resolution dated Feb. 23.

Pichay was convicted of graft on Oct. 23, 2020, for approving a P1.5 million budget for a chess competition at the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in 2010 when he was still its acting chair, as well as chair of its board of trustees.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) was tapped to oversee the competition, which was called the 2nd Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Chess Championship.  Pichay was then also the NCFP president.

I don't want to talk about that guy. I want to talk about Filipino Super Grandmaster Wesley So. This man recently obtained United States citizenship so he could play chess for the USA. He said this decision was based on the fact that he lacked the connections to succeed in the Philippines.

https://sports.inquirer.net/417238/so-i-lacked-connections-to-succeed-in-ph-culture

Super Grandmaster Wesley So tried to sugarcoat it, but his statement following his officially becoming a United States citizen was a punch to the gut for Philippine sports, and for the “godfather” culture prevalent in Filipino society. 

Saying he still “loved the Philippines,” So expressed elation over receiving his citizenship papers last Feb. 26, about seven years after first defecting to the US Chess Federation (USCF). 

“I love that anyone can strive to succeed [here],” So told the USCF. “You are not held back by your color, lack of connections or the amount of money you have. If you work hard, you have a better chance of making it here than anywhere else in the world. I came here ready to work hard, and it turned out just as I dreamed.” 

So bolted the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and joined USCF in 2014, saying he saw no path to his goal as a Philippine national athlete. 

“I did not have the connections needed to succeed in that culture,” said the 27-year-old So, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, lamenting the prevalence of the “godfather” culture in Filipino society, where those with connections can easily make their way to the top. 

“I was from the province, not a city boy. Had no money etc. I wanted to go further, and there was only one country a nobody can make it. The USA!” added So. 

So, who now resides in Excelsior, Minnesota, has been representing the United States since 2014 and he has risen to as high as No. 2 in the world ranking and is currently ranked ninth in the world by the International Chess Federation (Fide). As a Filipino, he rose to as high as 12th in the Fide rankings.

“That does not mean I don’t love the Philippines,” So said. “I have good memories from there.”

It seems rather melodramatic because Wesley So appeared to be doing well in the Philippines. But then Webster College offered him a scholarship and that is how he ended up in the USA. His Wikipedia page says he continued to rise through the ranks and moved to Minnesota to live with his adoptive Filipino parents in 2015. Since then he has experienced a lot of success in the world of chess representing the USA. 

But now that he has officially left the Filipino fold and has aired his grievances what is the result? Well the result is that Wesley So has shown himself to be a rather magnanimous fellow.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/03/09/2083093/2nd-pcap-conference-be-known-wesley-so-cup

The second conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the Reinforced Conference, will be known as the “Wesley So Cup.”

PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria bared that Wesley So, the first and reigning World Champion of Fischer-Random Chess, will sponsor the second leg of the league’s inaugural tournament. 

Aside from lending his name, the Super Grandmaster likewise personally pledged to provide the funds for the event’s cash prizes.

So’s only request, according to Elauria, is to ensure that the prizes are distributed to the players themselves. This is because So wants to help the players directly.

This is a welcome development, considering So’s recent citizenship change that has been contentious among Filipinos.

So was recently conferred US citizenship.

“It only confirms that SGM So is true to his words that he remains a Filipino by heart and confirms his continued support to the Pinoy chess players. While this partnership has long been finalized, we deemed it timely to announce it now, to somehow remind our chess players that SGM So has always been concerned with his countrymen, despite his move to the US. After all, chess knows no citizenship,” Elauria added.

It is a sad story with a good ending.  A man who could not succeed in his own country is forced to find a new home. But he has not forgotten his homeland. Maybe one day everyone can succeed in the Philippines on the principle of equality.