Retards in the Government 250

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

  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1566553/ex-afp-officer-former-baywalk-bodies-member-arrested-in-qc-buy-bust-ops

Another former member of the uniformed service — this time from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) — was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Quezon City, the city police said on Thursday.

Reports from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that aside from Fidel Samson Jr., who is a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1987 member and a former AFP personnel, Kathrine “Kat” Santos of the disbanded group Baywalk Bodies and three others were arrested on Wednesday night in Barangay Salvacion, La Loma, Quezon City.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina said that operatives from their District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) National Capital Region Office conducted the buy-bust operation in front of a house in Iba Street.

However, the suspects sensed that they were transacting with police operatives and tried to drive away aboard their black Toyota Fortuner.

A brief chase followed, with the suspects firing at the operatives, prompting the latter to return fire.  The chase only stopped after the fleeing suspects bumped into another vehicle along Tecson Street in Manila’s Barangay 379.

A former AFP officer has been arrested on drug charges. He also engaged in a shootout before being apprehended. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/824657/3-cops-arrested-for-alleged-extortion-robbery-sexual-assault-in-leyte-pnp-imeg/story/

The Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) on Friday said three cops in Palo, Leyte were arrested for multiple extortion, robbery, and sexual harassment.

In a statement, the IMEG identified the cops as Police Senior Master Sergeant Alex Garciab Asis, Police Staff Sergeant Raffy Mendoza Retosar, and Police Corporal Jerwin Neopus Dacillo.

The Visayas Field Unit Office arrested the police officers in an entrapment operation.

Citing a report from the IMEG, PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said these cops were allegedly extorting money for almost four months from a suspect they arrested for extortion in October 2021.

The suspect-turned-victim is already out on bail following her arrest in an entrapment operation in a medical mission, the police said.

3 cops have been arrested for extorting and sexually assaulting a woman for the past four months.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169676

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court sentenced five Caloocan City village officials to up to eight years imprisonment for falsification of public documents arising from bogus appointments.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division affirmed the 2018 decision of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 21, handing down penalties of six months to eight years on Barangay 48, Zone 4 Chair Wilfredo Camus, and councilors Benito Ching, Claro Ponce, Zacarias Ferrer, and Ramon Acuña.

The 10-page decision dated March 11 and recently published online also ordered the five to pay a fine of PHP2,000 each.

The Sandigan rejected the accused’s sole basis of appeal that they have been deprived of due process because of the lackluster performance of their lawyer.

Five Caloocan City officials have been sentenced to eight years in prison for falsifying documents.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169666

A mayoral candidate of Calamba, Misamis Occidental survived an assassination attempt by a motorcycle-riding gunman on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Michelle Olaivar, Police Regional Office-10 spokesperson, said George Matunog Jr., 55, is in stable condition at Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Ozamiz City.

The bullet pierced his nape and exited through the right portion of his cheek.

A Quick Response Team vehicle of the Calamba police station first took the victim to Calamba District Hospital.

The security camera footage showed Matunog was walking along a main road in Purok 1 of Barangay Southwestern Poblacion when shot at close range by a back-rider of a motorcycle that sped by.

A mayoral candidate running as an independent but under the coalition of Duterte and Marcos has survived an assassination attempt by unknown men.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1567792/piston-leader-survives-slay-try

A leader of a transport group survived an assassination attempt right at his home in General Santos City on Sunday morning.

Larry Villegas, chair of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) in the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) region, was cleaning his tricycle at the front yard of his house in Buayan village at around 6 a.m. when two men on a motorcycle stopped and opened fire at him.

Villegas, 64, was able to duck but was hit in the leg, said Sonia Eugenio, regional coordinator of Makabayan. He was immediately rushed to a hospital.

By Sunday afternoon he was conscious and was due to undergo an operation for his gunshot wounds.

She said Villegas, who is also the coordinator of party-list group Bayan Muna in General Santos City, was already being targeted because of his involvement in issues concerning drivers and transport groups.

The coordinator of party-list group Bayan Muna survived an assassination attempt.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/429994/far-from-over-ahong-files-another-criminal-case-vs-7-lapu-village-chiefs

Another criminal case was filed by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan against seven barangay captains who earlier filed a complaint against him before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

This time, Chan filed a case of Grave Oral Defamation in relation to Cyber Crime Prevention Act against Association of Barangay Council (ABC) president and Bankal Barangay Captain Eduardo Cuizon, Gun-ob Barangay Captain Eleonor Fontanoza, Looc Barangay Captain Regina Ybañez, Tungasan Barangay Captain Triponia Abayan, Subabasbas Barangay Captain Joselito Tibon, Canjulao Barangay Captain Reynaldo Tampus, and Maribago Barangay Captain Rosalino Abing.

The case was filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Chan said that he filed the case against the barangay captains for fabricating stories and allegations against him.

The mayor of Lapu Lapu has filed more cases against the branchy captains who filed charges against him for malversation of funds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1569521/barangay-chair-companion-nabbed-in-leyte-buy-bust

Law enforcers arrested a barangay chairman and his companion in a Leyte buy-bust and seized from them P680,000 worth of crystal meth, locally known as “shabu.”

The suspects were identified as Rogelio Daño, the 57-year-old chairman of Barangay Santa Fe in Matalong, and Cesario Lambujon, 35, according to a report to Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the chief of the Philippine National Police.

Daño is also the president of the Association of Barangay Chairpersons in Matalom.

The two suspects were arrested in a buy-bust at around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, in the Baywalk area, Barangay Kalanggaman in Bato, Leyte.

A Barangay chairman and his friend were busted for drugs.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Alert 0, Trained Dogs, and More!

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

The government is preparing for the fourth vaccination drive. This time they will focus on far flung, hard-to-reach areas.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/09/2166021/4th-massive-covid-19-vaccination-push-reach-remote-areas-doh

The fourth round of the government’s vaccination push will focus on making COVID-19 vaccination more accessible in far-flung areas in the country, the Department of Health said.

The DOH said it will reach Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and areas where indigenous peoples reside during the fourth National Vaccination Days set on March 10 to 12.

Authorities are aiming to vaccinate 1.8 million people during the upcoming immunization push. According to the DOH, the targets are “more contextualized in consideration of areas with low vaccination rates and coverage.”

The vaccination drive will also prioritize the vaccination of individuals due for second doses and senior citizens who remain unprotected.

Pharmacies, primary care clinics, occupational health clinics, transportation terminals, and churches are being utilized as vaccination sites, the DOH said. The government is also conducting house-to-house vaccination to reach the elderly.

They did not meet their goal last time but now the target number is so low they might just do it this time. But alas, that was not the case.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/13/2166854/vax-drive-nets-less-50-target

Less than half of the 1.8 million target for the three-day National Vaccination Days (NVD) Part 4 was achieved after the first two days of inoculation, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

At a public briefing, DOH Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center head Myrna Cabotaje said only 836,162 individuals received their COVID-19 jabs during the NVD on March 10 and 11.

“We were able to vaccinate 836,162 or 44.49 percent of our target … Majority of the vaccinees are for second doses and booster shots,” Cabotaje said.

She noted that the uptake of vaccines among senior citizens remained low, with only 23,868 availing.

Data showed 359,546 individuals availed of the NVD for their second dose and 202,915 for the first dose. There were 273,701 recipients for boosters.

“The complacency is still there because they think they no longer need boosters since they already had the second dose. They also think cases are decreasing so there is no threat anymore,” Cabotaje said, adding that senior citizens also have the fatalistic attitude that they no longer need the vaccines because of old age.

Because of the low turnout, she said the government is studying if there is a need to extend the NVD activities.

People are in fact turning down being vaccinated due to the low number of cases.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/13/2166987/filipinos-turning-down-vaccines-covid-19-cases-decline-doh

The National Vaccination Operations Center is considering donating COVID-19 vaccines close to their expiry dates to other countries as Filipinos have been turning down jabs, it said Sunday morning. 

Speaking in an interview aired over DZBB Super Radyo, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, who is chairperson of NVOC, said that this was due to complacency and vaccine hesitancy from Filipinos. 

"Our health workers are really struggling to convince people to get vaccinated...They go from house to house but even though some are at home, they still don't want to get vaccinated," she said in mixed Filipino and English, adding that it could be better to donate to make sure the jabs don't go to waste. 

With the pandemic almost over it probably would be wisest to hold out and not get injected with the experimental mRNA injection.

DOH Secretary Duque says excess vaccines will be sent to other countries.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/824530/duque-gov-t-to-donate-excess-vaccine-doses-to-other-countries/story/

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday the Philippine government is looking at donating several COVID-19 vaccine doses to Myanmar, Cambodia, and some African countries, as the country’s current supply is “stable.”

During a Laging Handa briefing, Duque said the country’s vaccine stockpile has continuously increased since October 2021, and with some doses nearing expiration, the government decided to give away supplies to countries with low vaccination coverage.

[Donating near-expiry vaccine doses we won't be able to use  is a good goal as we can help other countries where COVID-19 is still thriving, but vaccine is in short supply.]

(We are looking at Myanmar, Cambodia, and several countries in Africa. The NVOC is still determining how many vaccines will be donated.)

Duque added that AstraZeneca has extended to three months the shelf life of its near-expiry vaccine doses, but are subject to the approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

[It’s good news that the shelf life of vaccines that are about to expire has been extended. AstraZeneca agreed to this but we are just waiting for the FDA to approve the extension by three months.]

However, he pointed out that AstraZeneca vaccine doses that are about to expire will remain in the Philippines and will no longer be donated should the FDA approve the extension of their shelf life.

Not only are there excess vaccines but there are also billions in excess funds not used during the pandemic.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1566070/billions-in-bayanihan-2-loan-funds-still-unused

A total of P4.99 billion — or more than half of the funds allocated for loan distribution to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2 — was unused as of mid-2021 and could have been used for pandemic response, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

In a March 2 report, state auditors said the Small Business Corp. (SB Corp.), a state-run company under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) Program, had been allocated P9.08 billion to be distributed as collateral-free, zero-interest loans to MSMEs.

But the COA said SB Corp. released only P4.09 billion, or 45.04 percent of the P9.08 billion, as of June 30, 2021, the end of its audit period.

“Considering the need for immediate action and limited resources in government in general, these unutilized funds could have been used to fund other emergency measures to address the effects of the pandemic,” the COA said.

The COA cited two major reasons why nearly 55 percent of the allocated amount was unused. One was the “insufficiency” in SB Corp.’s human resources and the other was the “hesitancy of potential clients” to avail of the financial assistance.

Of the 995,745 potential clients of the state corporation, the COA said only 48,010, or 4.82 percent, applied.

“The bulk of the budget is allocated for the tourism industry. Many tourism-based companies are hesitant to restart their business due to the multiple imposition of enhanced community quarantine in the country,” the COA said.

The agency also found that out of the 48,010 loan applicants, 4,378, or 9.12 percent, canceled their applications.

The COA said some of the borrowers canceled their loan applications due to the “long processing time” and lack of updates on their applications.

The reason the funds were not distributed is because there was not enough manpower and potential clients were hesitant to apply and restart their business due to the quarantines. This information shows just how damaging the quarantines were to the economy. There was also a long processing time which means lots of red tape.

The government is now considering dropping to alert level 0 but for that to happen certain conditions must be met.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1567055/covid-19-must-be-declared-endemic-to-shift-to-alert-0

COVID-19 must be declared as endemic, or treated like an ordinary illness, for alert level zero to be imposed in the country, according to Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.

The government’s pandemic managers are studying the metrics for a possible alert level zero amid a continuing decline in coronavirus infections in the country.

“One important thing that has to happen is COVID-19 must be declared to be endemic. When we say it is endemic, this means this is an ordinary illness that we would deal with in our everyday lives and it will not affect the entire country,” Malaya said at the Laging Handa briefing.

Under alert level zero, the limitations on the entry of unvaccinated people in certain areas would be done away with, he said.

The country must first reach a 90-percent vaccination coverage before the government moves ahead with declaring a possible “alert level zero,” infectious specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante said on Friday.

While the country “may be ready” for an “alert level zero” due to the steady decline of COVID-19 cases and low healthcare utilization rate, he said that the government should “be cautious in interpreting data and should not rush into declaring alert level zero.”

Funny how they were quick to impose lockdowns over a rise in cases but are hesitant to ease up when by all measures the threat is diminishing. 

It appears that even if alert level zero were declared face masks would still be required. At least that is what some doctors are recommending.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/03/14/22/masks-a-must-regardless-of-alert-level-status-doctors

The public should keep wearing face masks regardless of the COVID-19 quarantine alert level classification in the Philippines, a group of doctors said Monday.

Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin made the statement when asked about her thoughts about the further easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila.

“Actually the Alert Level 1, if we look at it the same, it's almost Alert Level 0, because all the people are already outside. And if we look at it, even in establishments, in malls, there are a lot of people, ”Limpin noted.

“As well as the restaurants, they have already reached, they are not the usual expected 70 percent, more than 70 percent, maybe 80 percent, 90 percent. So, maybe, let's slow down first, then I hope ‘no, alert level 0 doesn't mean the mask will be removed.”

“Because we still need to wear a mask. That is the most important thing for all of us, the persistence of wearing a mask, ”she added.

The doctor stressed that mask-wearing remains imperative as a number of Filipinos remain in the intensive care unit due to COVID-19.

“Definitely we still need to wear a face mask because the virus is still here. We still have people who are having COVID-19. And we also have compatriots who are in the ICU because of COVID-19. ”

"So at that point, it really shows us that we still need to stay and wear a face mask," she stressed.

The virus will always be here. It's not going extinct any time soon. I suppose there will be other benefits from wearing a mask because the air pollution levels especially in Manila are through the roof!

The government has deployed emotional support dogs to pediatric vaccination sites.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169558

Service dogs are helping calm anxious children at vaccination sites in Quezon City.

Upon seeing Chichi and Coffee, the children’s faces lit up and giggles were heard all around the North Fairview Elementary School where the rescued local dogs of the Quezon City Veterinary Department were deployed on Thursday.

Parents and guardians were assured both have been examined, groomed, vaccinated, and trained for two months to become emotional support dogs.

The city has also trained 14 others as community service dogs or bomb and drug-sniffers of the Quezon City Police District.

“(After months of training, dogs that were previously roaming the streets and rescued by the Quezon City Veterinary Department are now helping the Quezon City government in the children’s vaccination),” the QC government said in a statement on Friday.

Other rescued dogs are being trained to accompany residents in institutions for the aged, rehabilitation centers, and temporary shelters.

It's good that stray dogs are being repurposed.

The pandemic has affected everyone not because it was "deadly" but because everything was shut down. One group who was disproportionately affected is pregnant women.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1567779/pandemics-untold-toll-on-pregnant-women-hardest-yet

In an online briefing recently, Zenaida Recidoro, an official of the Department of Health (DOH), said that pregnant women faced many challenges due to the pandemic, with quarantine restrictions affecting the delivery and utilization of maternal care services in 2020 and 2021.

“You couldn’t go out and there was no public transport, so that made a great impact on the utilization of services,” said Recidoro of the DOH’s adolescent and maternal health division.

“There were many questions [to the DOH] about how they would get to a health facility for prenatal care. And these were coming from women even from the provinces,” she added.

She also reported a decrease in facility-based birthing or those who give birth in hospitals and primary care centers such as birthing homes, rural health units, and lying-in clinics.

Pregnancy complications and maternal deaths are usually due to birthing outside health centers. The World Health Organization defines maternal death as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy… from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.”

“Of course, mothers shouldn’t be dying. That is why our objective is to increase antenatal care coverage, increase facility-based delivery, and we have to increase postnatal coverage. We’re also hoping that we’ll be able to reduce unmet needs for family planning,” Recidoro said.

Gee, maybe the government should not have shut down society for as long as they did. I mean who could have foreseen the consequences?

Hi, My Name Is...22

What do a Golden Retriever, a rapper, and Nigerian love scammers have in common? They all want you to meet them. So, come on and say hello.

Hi, my name is Vergel Naval. I was having an argument with my friend Jeffrey Flores. He owed me 600 pesos and he refused to pay up. Not only that but he threatened to kill me. That was enough. So, I went home and returned with a knife and hacked him to death.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554440/man-hacked-to-death-over-p600-debt-in-cavite

A man was hacked to death early Monday over a P600 debt in Bacoor City in Cavite province.

The Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police reported that Vergel Naval and Jeffrey Flores had a heated argument in Barangay Queens East at 12:54 a.m. over P600 that the former owed the latter.

The report said Flores threatened to kill Naval, prompting the latter to go home and grab a bolo.

Upon his return, Naval repeatedly hacked Flores until the victim died.

The suspect escaped after the incident. The police are conducting manhunt operations to arrest Naval.

Hi, my name is Father and I have been accused of raping my 17-year old daughter. She says I raped her over a period of five months from September 2020 to January 2021. She told the police and a warrant was put out for my arrest in October 2021. They said I went into hiding but that's a lie. I didn't do anything so why would I go into hiding?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/424744/father-accused-of-raping-17-year-old-daughter-nabbed-in-mandaue

A 40-year-old father, who was accused of raping his 17-year-old daughter, was arrested in Mandaue City on Saturday morning, February 12, 2022.

The father, who is from one of the towns in Cebu, is not from Mandaue City and was allegedly hiding in the city after the daughter reported the alleged rape to authorities.

Police Corporal Glenn Bordalba, case investigator of Basak Police Station in Mandaue City, said the arrest was made in the city after they received information that the accused was seen in Barangay Labogon on Saturday, February 12.

Bordalba said they learned about the pending warrant of arrest of the accused and verified it with one of the municipal stations in northern Cebu.

After verifying the information against the accused, the municipal police station immediately forwarded the warrant of arrest against the accused to the Basak Police Station at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 12.

Bordalba said they then served the warrant of arrest to the accused that day.

The warrant of arrest was issued by a judge of a Regional Trial Court in northern Cebu on October 21, 2021.

Bordalba said the alleged rape incidents happened from September 2020 to January 2021.

The victim, the accused’s 17-year-old daughter, was hesitant and afraid to report the incident at first, but she eventually reported it to authorities.

Bordalba said that after the daughter reported the incident to police, the accused had allegedly been in hiding.

However, he said that the accused had denied the accusations against him and that he was not hiding from anybody.

Hi, my name is Carl Clinton Colinas. Rest assure I am a real living man and not a zombie. But when my neighbors saw me misbehaving they sure thought I was a zombie. See, me and my live-in-partner got into an argument which got me real trigged. I was also drunk. That's how I ended up naked and shouting. A neighbor came out to see what was the problem and I grabbed him and gouged his eyes and sucked his blood.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168141

The Valencia City Police Station in Bukidnon province has debunked the "zombie attack" rumors spreading in social media about a commotion that happened in Tungan-tungan village, Valencia City.

In a phone interview on Saturday, Lt. Pablo Jugos Jr., Valencia City police chief investigator, said the incident that occurred on February 17 was just a rare physical assault involving two individuals.

Jugos identified the suspect as Carl Clinton Colinas, 25, from Saligan village, who mauled the victim identified as Anthony Arimas, 30, from Barangay Tungan-tungan.

He believed the incident went viral on social media since aside from mauling the victim, the suspect also pierced the victim's eyes using his fingers, bit the victim's fingers, and sucked his blood.

"During my interview with the victim, the suspect accordingly mauled him, pierced his eyes with his fingers, and sucked his blood," Jugos said.

According to the initial investigation, Arimas heard someone yelling between midnight and 1 a.m. and went outside to confirm. The victim saw the naked suspect running as he was being chased.

Jugos said that Colinas and his live-in partner had a misunderstanding during that day which triggered his aggressive act.

He also said the suspect had a history of going into rehabilitation over illegal drug use.

However, the suspect has said during interrogation that he did not take any drugs but was under the influence of alcohol.

The responding police officers immediately proceeded to the location after being alerted and arrested the suspect.

Hi, my name is Jerson Pantaleon.  My ex-girlfriend and I were being extorted for P1 million over a sex video we made. We were told it would be posted online if we did not pay up. But there's only one thing. There was no sex tape. It was I who was blackmailing us and the video was one I downloaded from the internet.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1557352/police-nab-man-for-p1m-sex-video-extortion

A 30-year-old man was arrested after attempting to extort P1 million from his ex-lover in exchange for not posting their alleged intimate video online.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Jerson Pantaleon was arrested by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit (WCCPU) in Taguig City on February 17, for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children and Robbery Extortion in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

According to the police, Pantaleon was arrested after authorities received a complaint from his 60-year-old ex-girlfriend who first reported that she and Pantaleon were being blackmailed by an extortionist who threatened to post the couple’s alleged intimate video online.

However, operatives of the PNP-ACG discovered that the alleged extortionist was really Pantaleon who created the identity of the extortionist to mislead the victim.

“When we arrested the suspect, the sim card being used by the so-called extortionist was found in his possession,” said PNP ACG spokesperson Michelle Sabino in a separate text message to INQUIRER.net.

“Therefore siya rin yun. (It was him) He just didn’t want her to think it was him all along so he made a scheme that he too is being extorted,” she added.

Police also learned that the alleged intimate video of the couple does not exist.

“During the arrest, we found out that the so-called video na pinangbla-blackmail ni suspect (that the suspect used to blackmail the victim) is not their actual video but a video downloaded from a porn site,” said Sabino.

Hi, our names are Nigerian Love Scammers. They don't want to release our names. See, we have been in the Philippines targeting woman for their money. Yeah, I know imagine Filipinas being bilked out of money for love. Isn't it usually the other way around? Well, this time it was us. And we are not alone. We are working with a South African gang who has connections in the Philippines. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/22/bureau-of-immigration-nabs-3-nigerian-love-scammers

Authorities arrested 3 Nigerian nationals involved a "love scam" targeting Filipino women, the Bureau of Immigration said Sunday.

In a statement, Immigration Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. said the suspects, aged between 27 and 41, were captured in an operation last Feb. 16.

The trio target Filipino women, whom they meet online and defraud large sums of money from, Manahan said.

"We are also investigating their links to a South African organized crime group and other scamming and fraud activities, as well as looking into possible cohorts that are still in the country," he said.

"They have been using several aliases, and their documents reveal that they are already overstaying," he added.

The suspects are facing deportation for overstaying, misrepresentation, and for being undesirable aliens, according to the BI.

Hi, my name is Samson. I am a golden retriever. For my birthday this year I decided to share the wealth. Instead of spending the day lounging about and eating a whole chicken for dinner I went out into the streets and gave food to many of the stray dogs and cats. We even had balloons to celebrate. I love my stray animal friends. Please think about adopting one.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/426184/a-fur-baby-in-mandaue-shares-food-with-strays-for-his-first-birthday

Instead of celebrating his birthday with just some of the closest humans he has, Samson, a golden retriever in Mandaue City went around the streets to give free food for stray animals for his first birthday. 

Samson, turned one last February 19. 

Maria Fides Diaz Peroramas, fur mother of Samson, shared the photos online of their free-feeding last Saturday and it has caught the attention of some netizens. 

In an interview with CDN Digital, Peroramas said that they wanted to share their blessings with the strays on the streets. 

Not to mention how much Samson loves to befriend stray cats and dogs in their area. 

“Since we got Samson, it has become difficult for us to also see some stray dogs on the road with nothing to eat and with no homes. We might not have the luxury to save and feed all of them, so we planned on feeding them on Samson’s birthday to celebrate his day by giving what we have even in small amounts,” she said. 

Samson and his family were able to feed 35 stray dogs and some cats too. 

Hi, my name is OG Kaybee. I am a rapper from Manila. I am also a murderer. That's right, I killed a man back in 2013. But in 2018 the charges were dropped. You better believe I had beef with the streets. What legit rapper does not? Well, all that drama finally caught up with me in the form of three unknown men who pulled up and blasted me. Now, I be rapping in heaven.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/22/rapper-og-kaybee-killed-in-muntinlupa/

A rapper was shot and killed by unidentified suspects in Alabang, Muntinlupa on Monday, Feb. 21.

The Muntinlupa police identified the victim as Jumer Galicia, known as OG Kaybee, 32, and a resident of Singalong in Malate, Manila.

Galicia was killed at about 8 p.m. along the Alabang viaduct in Muntinlupa, according to the police. He was with a fellow rapper and a disc jockey when the incident happened.

According to the police, Galicia, together with the two companions, went to a clothing store along the National Road in Alabang.

When they were returning to their vehicle, a white van with three unidentified male suspects stopped next to the vehicle and one of them shot Galicia. The suspects fled the scene.

Muntinlupa police dispatched a team to the crime scene. Galicia suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body. He was taken to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa where he was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m. by attending physician Dr. Lawrence Domingo.

His body was taken to the Our Lady of Loreto Funeral Services for autopsy.

The Muntinlupa police said Galicia was previously charged with murder and was detained at the Manila City jail in 2013. The charges were dismissed in 2018, according to Galicia’s stepbrother.

Hi, my name is Caren Joy Garcia, My live-in partner's name is Dexter Adornado. One day he wanted to have sex but I was not feeling it. He kept asking and pressuring me and we got into a heated argument. But he would not take no for an answer so he stabbed me in the back with a knife. Then he ran off and the cops are now hunting for him.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1561013/man-stabs-live-in-partner-in-quezon-after-being-refused-sex

A 25-year-old woman was wounded Sunday when her partner stabbed her in General Nakar town in Quezon province after she refused to have sex.

General Nakar police, in a report, said Caren Joy Garcia and Dexter Adornado, 25, were inside their house in Barangay Minahan around 9:30 p.m.

Adornado reportedly asked Garcia to have sex with him, but the woman refused, and a heated argument ensued between them.

The police said Garcia fought Adornado, prompting the latter to get a bladed weapon and stab the victim once on her back.

The suspect escaped after the incident and is now the subject of a police manhunt.

Garcia was taken to the Claro M. Recto Hospital in neighboring Infanta town to be treated.

Hi, my name is Ejiofor Smart. I was part of a group that delivers drugs by hiding them inside boxes of powdered milk. On a recent delivery I had to deliver 2 kilos of shabu. Turns out it was a buy-bust operation set up by the PNP. No way was I going to be arrested so I opened fire. The cops fired back and now I am dead.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168644

A Nigerian national was killed in a buy-bust operation that yielded PHP13.6 million worth of shabu in Quezon City on Sunday evening, the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) said Monday.

DEG chief Brig. Gen. Randy Peralta, citing the report of the DEG's Special Operations Unit, identified the suspect as Ejiofor Smart, who died during the operation at around 11:10 p.m. along the Batasan-San Mateo Road in Barangay Batasan Hills.

Smart was killed after he opened fire on arresting officers, prompting them to retaliate.

Recovered from the suspect were two kilos of shabu, boodle money, a wallet with assorted IDs, and a caliber .45 pistol with one inserted magazine.

Initial reports showed the suspects had two cohorts identified by their aliases "KC Bamba" and "Oga Aboy", who fled during the operation.

The suspect is a known drug dealer in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces. His group, police said, delivers illegal drugs by placing these inside boxes of powdered milk that are mixed with assorted grocery items. 

Hi, my name is Rey John Lazo. I was out drinking and when I came home drunk my mom scolded me and told me to not come home. That made me real angry. So, I stabbed my mother, my sister, and  neighbor lady to death. I also stabbed another neighbor lady but she did not die. After I killed them I ran over to a friend's house. Later the cops found me and I went with them peacefully.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1561567/teen-stabs-mother-sister-neighbor-to-death-in-quezon

An 18-year-old boy on Monday stabbed and killed his mother, sister, and a female neighbor in Catanauan town in Quezon province, police said Tuesday.

In a phone interview, Staff Sergeant Michael Adao, case investigator under the Quezon police, said Rey John Lazo, without provocation, first stabbed a neighbor Loreta Donor, 68, in Barangay Madulao around 2:30 a.m.

Another neighbor, who was not identified in the report, rushed to Lazo’s house to ask for help from the suspect’s mother Rosita, 54.

Lazo followed and met his mother and sister, who was also not named in the report, in front of their house.

Without any reason, the suspect also stabbed his mother, sister, and the girl neighbor several times.

The three suffered grave stab wounds and died on the spot.

Donor, 68, survived and was taken to the Bondoc Peninsula District Hospital for treatment.

Adao said the suspect went to his friend’s house, also located in the village, after the stabbing incident.

“When we arrived in the village, we found the suspect in his friend’s house. He peacefully came with us back to the crime scene,” Adao said.

The police claimed that the suspect voluntarily admitted the stabbing. The suspect also pointed at where the knife was, that he used in the killings, and the bloodied short pants that he wore during the stabbing.

According to Police Captain Lindley Tibuc, acting chief of the Catanauan Police Station, the suspect pointed out where he threw the knife used in the crime.

Tibuc further revealed that the suspect allegedly said he was drunk when he committed the crime.

"He drank and then when he came home he was scolded. He was told not to go home," said the official.

"It's just according to him but we're still looking at it from an angle. It's possible that he had another motive so he did it because he even killed his neighbor," Tibuc continued.

https://www-gmanetwork-com.translate.goog/news/balitambayan/promdi/823581/binata-sinaksak-ang-kaniyang-ina-at-kapatid-kapitbahay-damay-din/story/?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Insurgency: Bomb Attacks

It was early in March when the AFP bombed an ISIS hideout in Lanao del Sur claiming that they intended to wreck havoc during the elections. This week they discovered a bomb making lair that would ostensibly be used to create that chaos.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169458

Government forces hunting down terrorists in Maguindanao have stumbled upon a makeshift bomb factory of the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terror group in the province, the military here reported Thursday.

Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the explosives and war materials were discovered late Tuesday by the Army-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) forces in Barangay Pagatin of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.

Uy, also the JFTC commander, said the bomb factory containing assorted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other bomb components are believed to be fabricated by the DI-Toraife Group under Ustadz Esmael Abdulmalik.

Found in a well-camouflaged shanty were 12 assorted container type IEDs; blasting caps; several grams of ammonium nitrate;  black powder; sulfur powder; a 9-volt battery; an anti-personnel claymore mine; ammunition for rocket-propelled grenade launchers; 40mm high explosive anti-tank rounds; laboratory test tube glasses; electric wires; improvised switches; cartridge shell of 57RR; and a remote control of unknown type.

Buses have been on a heightened alert status as someone continues to plant bombs in buses and bus stations in Mindanao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169252

Police authorities here and in North Cotabato have taken extra steps to ensure the safety of the commuters against terrorism and bombings.

The stricter safety measures came about after authorities recently foiled a bombing attempt at a bus terminal in Kidapawan City, and the explosion that took place inside another passenger bus while parked in Cotabato City last week.

On Tuesday, Lt. Col. Peter Pinalgan, Kidapawan police director, said a box found unclaimed for three days inside the city integrated public terminal that bomb experts intentionally set off was an improvised explosive device.

Pinalgan said the improvised bomb was mixed with dried fish so that the bomb-sniffing dog would not be able to detect it.

“The scent of dried fish covered the smell of explosive powder that K-9 dogs are trained to identify,” he said in the vernacular.

The extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) has been blamed for the series of bus bombings in Central Mindanao last year.

Authorities said extortion could be behind the bombings of several buses plying major routes in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato last year.

Police are not sure who is behind these recent bombings. It could be ISIS. It could also be the NPA. Recently bomb making components were seized from an Abu Sayyaf member who is the wife of leader Mundi Swadaan.

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2022/03/sayyaf-bomber-captured-in-sulu.html

Security forces captured a suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber who is also the wife of a notorious terror leader and bomb expert Mundi Sawadaan in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said Monday.

Officials said the woman, Nursitta Malud alias Kirsita Ismael, was captured over the weekend after soldiers and policemen swooped down on her house in the village of Tulay in the capital town of Jolo.

The 34-year old woman is the second wife of Abu Sayyaf terror leader Mundi Sawadjaan, said Brig. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11^th Infantry Division and the Joint Task Force Sulu.

He said troops recovered an 81mm mortar bomb, detonation cord, one detonator, a blasting cap, electric wire, and a nine volt battery, among others.

That will be a big aid to the weakening of the ASG. Another blow is the arrest of the most wanted ASG bandit in Tawi-Tawi.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169464

Authorities arrested an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit in a law enforcement operation in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, police reported Thursday.

Capt. Kuhutan Imlani Jr., acting Bongao police chief, identified the arrested ASG bandit as Abu Al, 26, who is listed as one of the most wanted persons in the municipality.

Abu Al was arrested around 9 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Poblacion, Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.

Imlani said the suspect has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping with ransom issued by a Tawi-Tawi court in 2019.

Another significant arrest this week is that of a notorious NPA bombmaker and his two accomplices in Tagum City.  Along with their arrest five others surrendered.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/notorious-communist-terrorist-ct-bombmaker-and-cohorts-neutralized5-others-surrender-in-a-day/

Joint law enforcement operation by the 1001st Infantry “Pag-asa” Brigade and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) XI resulted to the arrest of a CTG notorious bomb-maker along with two others in Tagum City on March 9, 2022.

BGen Jesus P Durante III, Commander of the 1001st Brigade identified the arrested personalities as Victor P Rollon, also known as Rico Rollon alias GO/PONG/MIGO, a bomb maker of Komisyong Mindanao (KOMMID) and Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC); Christine Joy Adorza Dula alias RYE/RAYRAY, Finance Officer of Weakened Guerrilla Front 3, Sub-Regional Committee 4, SMRC; and Chargelyn Monta Casquejo alias GAB/JILLIAN, Political Instructor, Pulang Bagani Command (PBC), Regional Operations Command (ROC), SMRC.

Rollon has a standing warrant of arrest for Murder and Serious Illegal Detention while Dula is wanted for the crime of Rebellion and Insurrection both in Tagum City. On the other hand, Casquejo is wanted for Homicide in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Recovered from their possession were: two (2) pcs Improvised Explosive Device; one (1) unit 5.56mm M16 Colt rifle; one (1) unit cal. 45 pistol; one (1) piece cal. 45 magazine loaded with seven (7) rounds ammunition; one (1) pc M16 magazine loaded with 9 pcs of 5.56 mm ammunition; stethoscope; thermometer; sphygmomanometer; cellphones, sim cards, and subversive documents.

“The arrest of Rico Rollon, the bomb expert of the CTG paved the way for safer environment for the people. With this, many lives are saved and spared from the atrocities of the Communist Terrorist Group. Moreover, the surrender of numerous personalities in 10ID is a manifestation of the dire situation and near extinction of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Southern Mindanao,” MGen Mempin added.

On March 3rd the AFP foiled an attempted bombing in August del Sur.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168937

Authorities have averted a bombing plot by a still-unidentified group in Agusan del Sur town, a police official said Thursday.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the Police Regional Office – Caraga (PRO-13) director, said three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were planted Wednesday along the National Irrigation Administration Road in Sitios Igang and Quarry, Barangay Basa, Trento town, prompting military and police units to secure the area.

“Personnel from Trento police, together with the 2nd Agusan del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company, 1303rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Agusan del Sur and PRO-13 intelligence units, and troopers from the 25th Army’s Infantry Battalion responded to the area,” Caramat said.

He added that concerned citizens discovered the IEDs and immediately reported the matter to authorities.

Personnel from the Agusan del Sur Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (ADS-PECU) immediately conducted a safe recovery procedure of the IEDs in the area, Caramat said.

Recovered from the site were explosive concoctions contained in an eight-liter plastic container weighing 12.90 pounds (lbs.); an eight-liter plastic container weighing 12.20 lbs.; and a six-liter plastic container weighing 10.50 lbs.

Six blasting caps and a black electric firing wire were also recovered by ADS-PECU at the site.

The authorities are not sure who planted those bombs. It could be any of a number of groups from the NPA to BIFF to ASG or ISIS. Whatever the case bombings, even if infrequently, will continue in Mindanao and elsewhere in the nation until these bombmakers are eliminated.