Insurgency: Subversive Books

We hear so much about various surrenders spelling the doom of the insurgency or boosting the anti-insurgency drive that it's easy to forget that these people are enemies of the state who have killed and should be killed themselves.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180794

The recent deaths of a commanding officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas and his staff member in clash with government forces in Samar is a big loss to the communist terrorist group in the region, a Philippine Army (PA) official said on Monday.

Col. Lenart Lelina, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade said the death of Rodrigo Mejica Lorezo, 60, commander of the regional operation command of the NPA Eastern Visayas regional party committee (EVRPC) and his staff Rosco Rotalano, 58, is a big accomplishment in the government’s campaign to end the armed conflict.

Lelina said the duo were killed in a 10-minute gun battle between government forces and a band of six rebels in upland Hilumot village in San Jose de Buan, Samar on August 1.

“All directives to launch tactical offensives against government came from Lorezo since he was the commander. He’s been with NPA for decades as one of the original members. This will further weaken their organization,” Lelina told the Philippine News Agency

The clash was part of a series of offensives against armed rebels from Las Navas, Northern Samar to the mountains of Samar province. The remaining NPA members have been evading intensified operations of the PA and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Why shouldn't this boost the anti-insurgency drive? The point is to destroy them. Recently more AFP soldiers received combat medals for engaging the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180837

Three soldiers under the Army's 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) were honored Monday for their contributions to the government's anti-communist insurgency campaign in Misamis Oriental province.

Governor Peter Unabia led the pinning of the Gold Cross Medal to Private 1st Class (PFC) Rogen J. Rollon over the success of the encounter against Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City, in December last year.

Rollon was cited for engaging against two NPA combatants and seizing an M16 rifle, an AR18 rifle, two AK47 rifles and one 203 grenade launcher from the rebels' positions.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, the 58IB commander, also pinned the Silver Cross Medal to Cpl. Junaide Alger, who was recognized as the agent handler during the case operation plan “Magilas.”

That operation led to the three apprehensions of NPA personalities in Barangay Talusan, Balingasag town, in October 2021.

A Military Merit Medal was also given to Pfc. Gabriel Sisayan, who contributed to the success of the Army's encounter in Barangay Libertad, Gingoog City, in June last year.

Sisayan was responsible for the seizure of an M15 rifle and one Carbine rifle from the NPA hideout.

Unabia, who also provided cash reward for each of the awardees, expressed the provincial government's gratitude for the soldiers for maintaining peace and order.

“The reward, amounting to PHP25,000, is nothing compared to the (life-threatening) job that they do,” he said.

Did those soldiers get the money?  I hope so.  

There is a new sheriff in town. Actually it's a new AFP Chief. He has some guidance on defeating the insurgency.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180985

Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro has ordered all military commanders to increase their operational tempo to defeat the remaining communist insurgents in the country.

Bacarro issued this order during his first command conference as military chief on Wednesday, AFP acting spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in an interview with reporters.

While there is no set timeline to do the measure, Bacarro said there is an "urgency of completing the task".

"That is why ang kanyang (his) instruction is to increase yung(the) operational tempo so that we can defeat the armed (communist) group, so kung pwede nga sana tapusin ito kaagad agad, yun ang (if it is possible to complete this task immediately, that is the) objective, but we also understand that insurgency is multi-faceted," Aguilar said.

Aguilar said increasing the operational tempo does not mean the deployment of additional forces in rebel-infested areas but just maximizing the use of all available forces.

When asked how many New People's Army (NPA) insurgents or fighters are still remaining, Medel said that more than 2,000 are still active.

"Nasabi na naman to dati na more than 2,000 na lang sila (We have earlier mentioned that they (NPA) number to just more than 2,000)," he added.

The AFP spokesperson also expressed hope that the NPAs, during Bacarro's three-year term, could be totally defeated provided that the momentum established during past operations are maintained.

He also added that the AFP is providing information to other government agencies on the nature of the insurgency threat and recruitment so that they can take appropriate action from their end.

These are really interesting numbers.  First of all they say there is less than 2,000 active NPA. Then they say the AFP is providing information to other agencies to defeat the insurgency.  What about the 300,000 to 400,000 the NICA said have infiltrated the government? I fail to understand why they ignore this alleged threat. 

Last week we learned that Marcos wanted to defeat the insurgency within his six year term but now we are told they can be defeated within the three year term of the newly instated AFP Chief if everything goes well. And this would be not not due to deploying extra forces but "maximizing the use of all available forces!!!"

What? Has the AFP not been doing this all along? This is hubris and I hope it works out but I don't believe them and neither should you. 

More books are being banned for being subversive but this time there is a twist.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1645315/language-agency-joins-book-purge-tags-5-subversive-works

In a move denounced by artists and academics as signaling the “death of scholarship,” the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) ordered the pullout and stopped the publication of five books it deemed “subversive” for promoting “antigovernment ideologies.”

In a memorandum dated August 9, KWF commissioners Carmelita Abdurahman and Benjamin Mendillo ordered one of their units, the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWK), to cease printing the Filipino-language titles they said contained “political, subversive and creative literary works with subliminal ideologies that encourage to fight the government.”

The memo was addressed to Rochelle Rosita, supply officer, and Minda Blanca Limbo, SWK coordinator.

The five books are “Teatro Politikal Dos” by Malou Jacob, “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay” by Rommel Rodriguez, “Tawid-diwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, ang Manunulat, at ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979” by Dexter Cayanes, “May Hadlang ang Umaga” by Don Pagusara, and “Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro” by Reuel Aguila.

However, three of the books – Teatro Politikal Dos, Kalatas and May Hadlang ang Umaga – had already been published by the commission and featured in the “KWF Publikasyon Paglulunsad 2022” on April 29.

All SWK directors were advised to refrain from distributing the books so that “we would not be accountable to Republic Act No. 11479, particularly Section 9 on inciting to commit to terrorism,” the memo read in part.

How do they know there are "subliminal ideologies?" What exactly do they mean? Based on the titles it appears that these books are all about theater. The twist comes because earlier in the year they were approved by the KWF and three were even published. The KWF is a government agency. So now the government is approving communist propaganda? 

We have not been told exactly what is in these books which is so alarming but from another news source we get a little more information.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/08/12/2202214/academics-culture-orgs-fight-back-vs-kwf-pulling-red-tagged-books

In a YouTube video, three hosts of the SMNI tagged books written by Reuel Aguila, Rommel Rodriguez, Don Pagusara, Malou Jacob, and Dexter Cayanes, and more than a dozen more books published by KWF as “subversive” allegedly because they cited references written by the CPP-NPA. 

The program also red-tagged prominent art critic Alice Guillermo and the late National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera. After the program was aired, the KWF issued a memorandum calling on schools and libraries to pull out the "subversive" books for being "anti-government." 

The KWF is the official government agency and regulating body of the Filipino language in the country and is an attached agency under the Office of the President. 

In a separate statement, KWF chair Arthur Casanova categorically denied the accusations and added that calling books "subversive is a dangerous accusation which may already be stepping on the boundaries of freedom of expression and academic freedom."

"These books which are alleged to be subversive passed through the review process of the KWF. All the books underwent the usual scrutiny that all publications of the KWF must pass, including receiving the imprimatur of the other two full-time commissioners. I did not railroad nor force any publication," he said. 

"The KWF should be at the forefront of the efforts to enrich our language. Contrary to the misguided allegations, the KWF is not limited to publishing dictionaries and technical linguistic materials. Rather, we are tasked to develop and enrich the Filipino language," he added,

Casanova — who did not sign the purported KWF memorandum stopping the publication of the books — said he was willing to divulge any pertinent information at the proper forum but urged authorities "to look into these allegations and see for themselves that they are baseless and malicious."

Not only does the red-tagging of these books published by the government make the NTF-ELCAC look even more petty and foolish than usual but they also put the lives of the authors in danger.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1645809/authors-unbowed-after-govt-purge-of-books

Rommel Rodriguez, writer of “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay,” one of the discontinued titles, said the KWF’s decision only emboldened him further to write stories about the Filipino people.

“Censorship is my muse,” he told the Inquirer on Friday, adding: “The more an artist or writer is prevented from writing, the more enthusiastic we become and the more we want to write.”

Rodriguez, a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Filipino and Philippine literature department, said he felt “very challenged” by the KWF’s actions but also “afraid [for] my security and safety because of the Red-tagging,” with his writings being linked to the communist insurgency.

He acknowledged that his book, a social-realist anthology of flash fiction, contained political themes. “I used the word ‘revolution’ in my work. But I did not tell my readers to take up arms and fight the government,” Rodriguez said.

In a joint statement on Friday, the five authors demanded that the KWF commissioners, as well as the hosts of pro-government media network SMNI who called their works subversive, recant their allegations.

“What is this travesty? Their claims are libelous and would put our lives in grave danger,” they said.

Of course Lorraine Badoy and her ilk will say there is no such thing as red-tagging, only truth telling. That would be one more lie coming out of her vile mouth. If these books really are indeed communist propaganda then the Philippine government needs to surrender and join the reform program like these people:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181098

To prepare them for community reintegration, 15 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are undergoing a 10-day crop production and entrepreneurship training in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.

The training, dubbed Land Preparation for Agricultural Crops Production and Entrepreneurship Training, started on August 9 and organized by the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB), in partnership with the local government, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in the Caraga Region.

“The training aims to empower the former rebels to be more economically resilient by enhancing and developing their skills and capability toward sustainable livelihood,” the 26IB said in a statement Thursday.

Lt. Col. Sandy Majarocom, the 26IB commander, said the support of the local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has sustained the needs of the former rebels as they prepare to return to their families.

“This training will help our former rebels rebuild their lives and become responsible and productive citizens,” Majarocom said.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the crooks in the government were to "rebuild their lives and become responsible and productive citizens?" 

Despite the AFP and NTF-ELCAC warning about the evils of communism the government is still actively engaged in partnering with the Communist Chinese government. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1646275/ph-resumes-talks-with-china-on-chinese-funded-transport-projects

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Chinese ambassador to the country met in a formal meeting, said the agency on Sunday, officially restarting the negotiations on Chinese-funded transportation projects.

According to DOTr in a statement, Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian discussed the resumption of negotiations on several projects during their first meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Makati last Thursday, August 11.

“The two officials discussed the resumption of talks for the major China-funded railway projects such as the PNR South Long Haul Project (North-South Commuter Railway), Subic-Clark Railway, and Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos),” said the DOTr.

Apart from these projects, the two also discussed maritime cooperation projects, specifically the hotline communication and legal affairs cooperation arrangements between the Philippine Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard.

They also discussed a possible collaboration on Maritime Traffic Safety, Ferry Safety, and the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Maritime Search and Rescue, as well as the capacity building for maritime governance, safety supervision, and vessel safety inspection.

The DOTr said that the Chinese government’s funding support for these projects will serve to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance the partnership between the Philippines and China.

Does anyone in the government not see the irony in waging a war against a Maoist insurgency and partnering with Maoists to build infrastructure? Not even the opposition with call this out though. 

Overcrowded Philippine Prisons Keep Inmates Beyond Sentencing Date

Imagine going to prison in the Philippines. You would be subject to all kinds of inhumane conditions including overcrowding.

https://www.ucanews.com/news/packed-like-sardines-philippine-prisons-provide-inhumane-reality/89492

Certainly you would want to leave once your time was up. But what if they refused to let you go? That is the accusation of the Supreme Court.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/05/release-prisoners-who-have-served-jail-termsunless-further-detention-is-warranted-by-law/

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the immediate release of prisoners who have served their jail terms even without release orders from the courts, unless they are being held further for other lawful cause.

“Any further delay in the release from imprisonment of a person deprived of liberty (PDL), except for reasons allowed by law, is nothing but unjust,” stated the circular issued last Thursday, Aug. 4, by SC Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva.

Villanueva said the circular was issued when several government agencies “have expressed concerns over delays” in securing release orders from courts for PDLs who have served their jail terms and the delays also “delayed the release of PDLs from imprisonment.”

The circular issued to all trial courts also stated:

“Considering Release Orders are not necessary for the extinguishment of criminal liability and have no bearing on a PDL’s completion of his/her sentence of imprisonment, all first and second level courts need not issue any Release Order for a PDL who has (a) completed his/her service of sentence and (b) when there is no other lawful reason for him/her to stay incarcerated.”

It's a no-brainer that prisoners should be released once they have served their time. But in the Philippines employees of the BJMP have no brains and prisoners are held over for unlawful reasons. It's more evidence that the Philippine justice system is corrupt and inept beyond belief. 

A Filipino Remake of The Lord of the Rings

The new Rings of Power TV show is set to debut on September 2nd and the whole world is excited. Even the fan boys who have examined every detail of every frame of the trailer and of the cast interviews and absolutely hate it are excited. They are going to meme the heck out of it.

One of the things about this new series we keep hearing about is "representation" meaning, "We need more people of color in the show." But why? Do people have to look like you in order for you to enjoy or relate to a show? Squid Game was a massive worldwide success and it's a South Korean TV show. I enjoy the films of Akria Kurosawa and I am not Japanese.  Neither are the many Weebs who binge anime!

That is all a prelude to this, a Philippine version of the Lord of the Rings.

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/breaking-news/2018/04/03/123785/abs-cbn-remake-lord-of-the-rings-poll-facebook/

ABS-CBN seems to be delegating casting decisions to social media in conducting informal polls on a supposed Filipino remake of “The Lord of the Rings” franchise.

Last week, the Kapamilya network polled Facebook users on actors and actresses they think would be best to play the main characters in JRR Tolkien’s classic trilogy — Lady Galadriel, Arwen Undómiel, Legolas Greenleaf and Frodo Baggins — if a remake were in the works.

"Among these Kapamilya actresses, who would you like to play Galadriel if there is a remake of 'The Lord of the Rings'?" one of the posts says.

ABS-CBN, however, has yet to formally announce if there is any serious pursuit to produce a Filipino version of the epic. The polling came ahead of the network’s Holy Week Filipino-dubbed television broadcast of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed trilogy.

Whether ABC-CBN was serious about remaking the Lord of the Rings or not is moot now since the bootlickers in the Duterte administration denied them a franchise renewal. 

But what is important to note is that Filipinos, who are not British, and anyone who knows Tolkien knows he wrote the Lord of the Rings as a myth and legend for his own country of Britain, care about his world. 

While many chose their picks, not everyone welcomed the idea. Fans questioned the television giant’s ability to equal the award-winning production.

“Dear ABS-CBN, please don’t ruin the movie. You will just humiliate yourself. I’m pretty sure you cannot give justice to it,” commented one Facebook user.

Another Facebook user asked to respect the vision of the author: "LOTR is the best movie with good graphics and good story. If you can't match it, don't remake it!"

Just look at those comments. These people know what's up. Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film series was a flash in the pan. It was lightning in a bottle. It will never be repeated. Yeah he changed some things because that is what happens during an adaption but the Spirit is there. Christopher Tolkien hated them but of course he would since he was the gatekeeper of his father's life work. Sadly Simon Tolkien, the grandson of Professor Tolkien, who is the new gatekeeper says Peter Jackson was too faithful which is why he wanted him to have nothing to do with the new Rings of Power series. 

Facebook ABS-CBN

What's important to note here is this work of fiction is beloved by so many people all around the world. People that nave nothing to do with the ethnic group for whom Tolkien wrote. This is because the themes are universal and timeless. In fact Tolkien confessed that it is a Catholic work and there are billions of Catholics. The world does not need a black elf or the first black female dwarf to be able to get lost in Middle Earth.  All we need is a cozy nook in which to crack open Tolkien's books. The magic works all on its own. Even, perhaps especially, in the very Catholic Philippines.

Retards in the Government 271

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

  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1641155/21-policemen-face-criminal-administrative-charges-over-death-of-fellow-cop-in-masbate

The police in Bicol region filed criminal and administrative charges on Thursday, August 4, against two officials and 19 personnel of the 503rd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) in Masbate province in connection with the death of Patrolman Jaypee Ramores allegedly due to hazing.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 filed the charges against the 21 police officers of the said unit for violating Republic Act (RA) 11053 which amended RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 at the Masbate prosecutors office.

Police Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of Bicol police, said the administrative case of grave misconduct was also filed by the Regional Internal Affairs Service against the suspects.

They were earlier relieved from their posts and were placed under the custody of RMFB 5 in Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City in Albay province.

Ramores, 32, a resident of Talisay town in Camarines Norte, died while being treated at the Ticao District Hospital in San Jacinto town in Masbate around 9:30 p.m. on July 26.

He had severe bruises, burns on his chest, wounds on his feet and knees and other body injuries.

The autopsy conducted by the hospital on July 28 revealed that the victim died due to cardiorespiratory arrest, deep vein thrombosis secondary to pulmonary embolism, and multiple physical injuries secondary to blunt trauma, but the 503rd Maneuver Company reported that he died solely of cardiorespiratory arrest, and urine and blood infection with severe high blood pressure.

21 cops have been charged in the death of a fellow cop during a hazing incident.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180684

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested two suspected drug pushers, including a police officer, and seized PHP3.4 million worth of shabu in Caloocan City, as part of the strengthened anti-drug campaign of the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

In a report released Friday, the agency said members of its northern district office in Metro Manila arrested Cpl. Mark Jefferson Lopez, a member of the Caloocan City Police Station Sub-Station 13, and John Raster Muñoz, in an operation along Zabarte Road in Barangay 172 at around 5 p.m. Thursday.

The suspects yielded around 500 grams of shabu in three transparent plastic bags, two mobile phones, and boodle money.

Authorities also seized Lopez's Philippine National Police (PNP) ID and his issued firearm Glock 17 with Serial No. 2102, pistol magazine, and 19 pieces of 9mm live ammunition.

The suspect, detained at the PDEA headquarters, will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, Northern Police District (NPD) chief Brig. Gen. Ulysses Cruz ordered the administrative relief of the Sub-Station 13 commander, assistant commander, shift supervisor, and Lopez's team members.

“All of them were disarmed of their service firearm and placed under camp restriction pending the in-depth investigation which covers Lopez's current and previous designation. We do not condone the wrongdoings and irregularities of our erring personnel, I will assure the public that they will feel and face the full force of the law,” Cruz said in a statement.

A PNP officer was arrested for drugs and everyone in his substation was let go and placed under camp restriction pending an investigation.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/840466/sc-affirms-dismissal-of-ex-dfa-employee-for-bigamy/story/

The Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal from service of a former employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs after she was found guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude.

In a 10-page decision promulgated on June 15, the High Court affirmed the 2018 resolution of the Court of Appeals and denied the petition for review filed by Rosa Gonzalbo-Macatangay.

“The petition is not meritorious. The Court affirms the CA ruling; the imposition of the penalty of dismissal from service is proper,” the Court said.

According to the SC, Macatangay did not contest that she is guilty of the administrative offense of conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude and that bigamy involves moral turpitude.

Citing the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, the Court said that conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude is punishable with dismissal from service.

In 2014, the Civil Service Commission-National Capital Region found Macatangay guilty of the administrative offense and meted the penalty of dismissal from service, along with imposable accessory penalties.

This was after a complaint was filed before the CSC alleging that Modesto Macatangay Jr. married the petitioner in February 1997 while married to another.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the CSC in August 2017.

However, Macatangay argued that the CA erred in not considering the mitigating circumstances in her case.

For the Supreme Court, mitigating circumstances such as length of service, first commission, and outstanding performance, cannot be applied.

“The Court rules in the negative. The CA is correct in not appreciating the mitigating circumstances petitioner invokes. The facts of the instant case do not justify the mitigation of the prescribed penalty,” it said.

The High Court stressed that bigamy cannot be taken lightly.

“Bigamy cannot be taken lightly as its commission reflects the person's character. It involves moral turpitude as settled in jurisprudence,” it said.

“Petitioner flagrantly disregarded the law in marrying Modesto despite her knowledge of his prior and existing marriage; as the appellate court aptly observed, this ‘shows her moral depravity and cast[s] serious doubt on her fitness and integrity to continue in the public service’,” it added.

The SC has affirmed the dismissal of a DFA employee for bigamy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180779

Members of the anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested two ex-police officers wanted for violation of Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, in separate operations in the provinces of Pangasinan and Rizal.

In a statement on Sunday, Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said their operatives together with Taytay Municipal Police Station (MPS) personnel initiated a search warrant operation that led to the arrest of retired Pat. Ephraim Ferrer Jr. in Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal last August 4.

Nacion said Ferrer is responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs and a protector of drug personalities operating in the areas of Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City and C6 in Taytay. He is also involved in carnapping, gun running and carrying unlicensed firearms.

Confiscated during the search was one unit Armscor .40 caliber pistol and assorted live ammunition.

The arrested suspect was brought to Taytay MPS for documentation and proper disposition.

Meanwhile, SPO1 Armando Arenas Junio Jr., a dismissed member of the Quezon City Police District's Station 6-Batasan, was arrested by virtue of a search warrant by members of the IMEG and Pangasinan Police Provincial Office operatives in Barangay Tambac, Bayambang, Pangasinan last August 2.

“The dismissed policeman was reported for indiscriminate firing whenever he is under the influence of liquor and still introducing himself as cop. The suspect was arrested and was brought to Bayambang PS. The search was done in an orderly manner which was witnessed by the barangay officials,” Nacion said.

Confiscated during the search were a .45 caliber pistol with defaced serial number and inserted magazine containing eight live bullets, as well as other ammunition.

The arrested suspect is now under the custody of Bayambang Municipal Police Station for documentation and eventual filing of case.

Two ex-cops have been arrested. One of them for catnapping, gun running, and drug dealing and the other for indiscriminate firing while drunk.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180736

The City Legal Office here has recommended the filing of administrative charges against the city veterinarian and eight others found to have “euthanized" 11 stray dogs, five of them puppies, in Barangay Navais, Mandurriao on July 20.

In a report furnished to the local media on Friday, lawyers Joseph Edward Areño and Lloni Viterbo submitted their recommendation to the mayor’s office on Thursday.

In their findings, the city lawyers noted that the city veterinarian, Dr. Thomas Forteza Jr., has failed to prove that the dogs were dangerous, suffering from pain or discomfort, or diagnosed with a disease.

“The policy of the state is not to outrightly euthanize stray dogs but to impound them, make them available for adoption, and only under exceptional situation, such as when they are found sick or rabid or vicious or some other justifiable purpose, that the law sanctions killing them, whether instantly or after observation period,” the lawyers said in their report.

They added that the 11 dogs could have been impounded for three days and if suspected to be rabid, they should have been “isolated and observed accordingly” and submitted to laboratory examination upon death.

In a talk on July 27 with the investigating team, Forteza admitted that he and his team, composed of Restituto Ebrada, Junivel Sampiano, Joseph Sesbreño, Raymund Rovido, Lito Amonador, Elanger Suating, Julio Forteza, and Markwel Clamor, conducted an operation in Barangay Navais to catch stray dogs but “in the process killed or euthanized” them, including the five puppies.

Forteza pointed out that there were “rampant stray dogs in the area”, rabies victims at the adjacent barangay, and “consistent positive cases for nine years.”

The city veterinarian also cited provisions of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 as among his legal basis for the mercy killing of the dogs.

Forteza was acting in response to the request of Navais Punong Barangay JJ Jhanneigh L. Mercado on July 14 to “send a competent team in order to catch stray dogs as (they) cause danger” to his constituents.

Forteza also told the investigating team that Mercado requested that the dogs be euthanized, directing them to a spot in the barangay where the team could kill and bury the animals.

They city veterinarian of Iloilo is accused of wrongfully euthanizing 11 stray dogs. In his defense he claims he did it at the behest of a barangay captain. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1642155/pcso-gave-p144-m-aid-to-10-hospitals-despite-incomplete-papers-coa

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gave P144.011 million in financial aid to 10 government hospitals to purchase medical equipment even with incomplete documents, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) report.

State auditors said the donation cast doubts on the “impartiality, objectivity, and consistency” of the PCSO’s evaluation and approval of grants from 2020 to 2021.

This was one of the COA’s findings on the PCSO’s financial assistance for the procurement of medical equipment program.

“The complete documentary requirements serve as basis in confirming the appropriateness of the medical equipment to the level and capability of the hospital to operate and maintain the same, therefore these are vital in the proper evaluation of the eligibility of the applicant to receive the grant of financial assistance,” said the COA’s 2021 audit report on the state lottery agency.

State auditors noted that on different dates from June 2020 to Dec. 2021, the PCSO issued checks to the hospitals in amounts ranging from P1.4 million to P29.9 million.

The money was meant for the purchase of medical equipment of the hospitals, six of them military or police hospitals.

But the hospitals lacked one or more documents needed in evaluating whether they were qualified to receive PCSO financial assistance.

In another block of financial aid from 2017 to 2021, the COA called out the lottery agency for the P144.674 million granted to 13 hospitals for the medical equipment, which remains unliquidated as of end-2021.

The PCSO has been flagged by the COA for giving money to several hospitals but not properly documenting the process.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/08/08/2201101/gang-leader-ex-cop-nabbed

A former police officer tagged as leader of a criminal group has been arrested in Tayug, Pangasinan, authorities reported yesterday.

Former Lt. Col. Wilson Magpali was collared in Barangay Legaspi based on a warrant for murder, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said in a statement.

Magpali, who was arrested by personnel of the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, is reportedly the leader of a gun-for-hire ring targeting politicians in La Union and Ilocos region.

Recovered from the suspect were a 9mm pistol and ammunition.

Magpali denied he is the head of the criminal group.

An ex-cop accused of being the leader of a gun-for-hire group has been arrested. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1644623/coa-flags-lack-of-due-diligence-in-p1-38-b-ppe-purchase

The Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) did not exercise due diligence in buying P1.386 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 front-liners as these were found to be unauthorized for sale or public use, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

State auditors said the seven contracts for PPE lacked the required documents such as the certificate of medical device notification (CMDN) and a product notification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In its 2021 audit report on the PS-DBM, the COA said the agency “cannot assure its client-agencies of the safety of the PPEs” meant for health-care workers directly exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

The PS-DBM is an attached agency of the budget department that has been under fire for questionable procurements on behalf of other government agencies, the latest of which involved the purchase of pricey but slow laptops for the Department of Education.

“The [PS-DBM] did not exercise due diligence in procuring the PPE items, neither in crafting the technical specifications nor in the review and evaluation of the technical capacity of the supplier to deliver the goods to be procured using the nondiscretionary criteria,” the COA said.

It added: “In the absence of the CMDN for the PPE items procured, the PPE were not authorized for sale or for public use.”

The COA found that all seven contracts lacked the CMDN, which is proof that the product has been notified with the FDA prior to its manufacture, importation, export, sale, distribution, transfer, or use in testing, promotion, advertisement and sponsorship.

The CMDN is a requirement under FD Circular 2020-031, which states that importers and manufacturers of PPE should secure a CMDN prior to the commercial sale and distribution of such medical devices.

The COA has called out the PS-DBM for buying PPE's that were not fit for use. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1644588/coa-questions-lto-for-undue-payment-of-it-contractor

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the “undue payment” given to its foreign information technology (IT) contractor, Dermalog, despite the incomplete turnover of deliverables for the P3.19-billion Road IT Infrastructure project.

In its 2021 Consolidated Annual Audit Report (CAAR) for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the COA said that LTO’s “acceptance of customized core applications with missing processes had caused undue payment to the vendor, which is disadvantageous to the government.” 

These core applications include the Driver’s Licensing System (DLS) and the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration System (MVIRS), which were included in Component A of the said IT project also known as the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

According to COA, the DLS and MVIRS have unresolved issues as of December 2021 and their functionalities and processes are not yet fully configured, which caused disruptions in the operations of various LTO sites. In Quezon City Licensing Center, for example, the LTMS automatically rejects transactions of all motorists aged 65 years old and above and has inadequate examination terminals to cater to the big volume of applicants.

The new IT system has also caused massive delays in motor vehicle registration in LTO Baguio as reported by a local news channel Regional News Channel – RNG Luzon on its Facebook page last May 5, 2022. 

According to the report, LTO clients are lining up early in the morning in the hopes of getting the documents they need, only to be told to return the other day. The LTO Baguio admitted that the delays in transactions were due to the rollout of LTMS, which requires more processes, and other factors such as slow internet connection. 

The COA says the LTO paid for a new IT system that is awful. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Resumption of Contact Sports Training, Surveillance Swabbing, and More!

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

Face to face classes are about to start back up and it seems there is no national protocol on the whether or not students and teachers must be vaccinated.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/456734/unvaxxed-teachers-can-still-teach-face-to-face-says-deped-7

There will be no discrimination among vaccinated and unvaccinated teachers who want to teach in a face-to-face setup, the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) assures.

Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, director of DepEd-7, said teachers who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccines can still return to the traditional style of teaching this August 22, 2022.

The same goes for non-teaching personnel in schools such as the administrative staff, said Jimenez. 

“We will not force them, (sic) this is not compulsory)… Even for non-teachers and staff, it’s not compulsory. We’re not demanding them,” said Jimenez. 

According to the DepEd-7 director, Vice President and Education Sec. Sara Duterte-Carpio emphasized to them that teachers should only be encouraged, and not forced, to take the COVID-19 vaccination. 

“According to VP-Secretary Sara nga we keep on having a counseling para for them to reconsider (in taking the vaccines),” Jimenez said. 

“Og mahimo kada adlawon og counsel ang mga teacher who are unvaccinated… Kay we do not know, might be ang parents na maoy moreklamo ngano ni ang teacher patudloan nga unvaccinated,” he added. 

As precautionary measures, unvaccinated teachers will have to undergo rapid antigen COVID-19 tests before they can start their classes. 

In Cebu province, these test kits will be provided to the teachers for free. 

In Cebu teachers will not be forced to get vaccinated per orders of DepEd Secretary Duterte. In La Paz it's a different story.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180689

 Only fully vaccinated teachers and students can participate in the face-to-face classes starting August 22 in the Agusan del Sur town of La Paz.

This was contained in the July 25 executive order of La Paz Mayor Michael Lim which was posted on the town’s official Facebook account on Friday.

In his EO, Lim underscored the importance of protecting the children and the town's residents from the continuing threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Government agencies and local government units are enjoined to undertake critical and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the Covid-19 pandemic threat,” Lim said.

The executive order was issued in consultation with the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force, of which the Department of Education a member, and the approval of the 15 barangay chairpersons of La Paz.

Unvaccinated students and pupils in the town may continue their studies through the modular learning system, the EO said.

It added that only those fully or partially vaccinated students may attend graduation rites while those who are not vaccinated may join through virtual setup.

In Cebu Province the authority of Sara Duterte is being cited to allow unvaccinated teachers to attend classes while in Butuan they are setting their own policy. Perhaps this will be challenged and overturned.

The president has also issued a confusing statement regarding students needing boosters. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/06/22/marcos-get-covid-19-booster-shot-before-in-person-classes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday urged Filipinos to prepare for the resumption of face-to-face classes later this month, particularly by availing of booster shots against COVID-19.

In his weekly vlog, Marcos said that the public needs to be adequately protected against COVID-19 before the expected influx of students to schools.

"The first thing is to make sure that everyone has had a booster shot, especially our young people, to make sure their bodies are ready to go back to school," Marcos said.

"It won't be that simple, but if the preparation is right, it will definitely be successful," he said.

The President did not clarify if this would mean that being vaccinated against COVID-19 would be a requirement for student who wish to go back to school, but the Department of Education earlier said that it would not discriminate against learners who refuse to avail of vaccines against the coronavirus.

Is it really that hard to have one protocol for the entire nation? 

The DOH is planning on turning schools into vaccination centers. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1641878/health-dept-readies-covid-jabs-for-use-in-schools

The Department of Health (DOH) is set to identify the public schools that will turn into jabbing sites in a bid to ramp up inoculation and make vaccines more accessible to children and teens who have yet to complete their primary series or get boosted against COVID-19.

In a media forum on Friday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said health officials would sit down with local governments to draw up strategies on the planned school-based vaccination in preparation for the start of in-person classes on August 22.

This, she noted, was the only request of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte so as not to delay the resumption of in-person classes in some schools this month.

“I was able to speak with the Vice President during the Cabinet meeting a while ago and she asked how to strategize the vaccination in schools once we open them up,” Vergeire said.

“Her only request was for the classes not to be delayed or hampered. So what we will do is talk to local governments to fix the vaccination schedules of the different schools in the country,” she added.

Vergeire said the DOH was also working with the Department of Education (DepEd) to draft the screening protocols for the safe return to schools of children as well as the teaching and non-teaching personnel.

Aside from the strict enforcement of minimum public health standards, “safety officers” should be designated in every school as “health screening” would be the most important component in ensuring the safety of students and teachers.

“We will appoint safety officers in schools for screening of students and [school] personnel. This is being finalized together with DepEd,” said the health undersecretary.

What will they be screening students for? Vaccination status? There are a lot of mixed messages from the DOH, DepEd, and The Palace.

If only the people cooperated and got vaccinated and boosted the pandemic would totally end. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180649

The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) said the cooperation from the people of Abra contributed to the province's high coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination rate and the low cases of dengue.

“Dahil sa cooperation ng mga tao kaya performing well ang local government units in terms of prevention of diseases (The cooperation of the people allows the local government units to perform well in terms of diseases),” Dr. Rio Magpantay, DOH-CAR regional director, said on Thursday.

According to the DOH-CAR regional vaccination operations center (RVOC), Abra has a 117.97-percent accomplishment rate after having fully vaccinated 176,360 people against Covid-19. The region has a 94.73-percent accomplishment rate.

Compare that to the warning given to Davaeños about increasing COVID cases. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180620

The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force reminded residents anew to follow the minimum public health standards (MPHS) amid the city's increasing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positivity rate.

In a radio interview Thursday, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the task force spokesperson, said the positivity rate of 8.3 percent of Covid-19 from July 24 to 31 remains “very high and Dabawenyos should not be complacent.”

Schlosser encouraged the public to continue wearing face masks and observe proper hand hygiene. Establishments and offices are also reminded by the task force to strictly implement MPHS in their respective areas.

“Before, we usually had one to 1.5 percent then it increased to three percent and reached five percent, which is the acceptable positivity rate. More than that, that's not acceptable anymore,” Schlosser pointed out.

She said there should be no room for leniency in implementing the wearing of face masks and hand hygiene.

“To all mall goers, please observe MPHS. Wear your face masks. Imagine sitting or talking with someone inside the mall you never know is already infected,” Schlosser warned.

As of July 31, the city logged 369 active Covid-19 cases – 216 of which are asymptomatic; 140, mild; 10, moderate; two, severe; and one, critical.

It's a catch-22.  The public is blamed when cases go up and applauded when cases go down. What are we supposed to do? How does this make sense? It's a virus that we have to learn to live with and which, as shown from these stats given by Davao, is hardly deadly.

Even weirder Davao wants residents to avail of "free surveillance swabbing" if they get the sniffles. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180889

As cases surge, the local government called on Dabawenyos anew to avail of the free surveillance swabbing for those manifesting influenza-like symptoms and close contacts of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positive patients.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, noted Thursday that active Covid-19 cases increased between July 31 and August 6 by about 38 percent, with an average daily positivity rate of 10.67 percent.

Of the 510 active cases, 294 are asymptomatic cases, 199 are mild, 13 are moderate, two are severe, and two are critical, she said.

Dabawenyos must submit themselves to surveillance swabbing if they are experiencing cough, colds, fever, diarrhea, or sore throat to help break the chain of infection, Schlosser said.

As ever the majority of cases are asymptomatic. And no doubt the death rate is low too. If only they were as fanatical about stopping the spread of dengue.

Here's another catch-22.  Cebu City Mayor Michale Rama had to isolate due to COVID-19 and people were calling him out for not being around during the floods.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/457412/i-was-in-isolation-rama-on-criticisms-over-city-officials-absence-in-recent-floodings

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has responded to criticisms and complaints hurled against him, and several City Hall officials, as to why they were not ‘physically present’ when the city suffered its ‘worst flooding since Typhoon Odette’. 

Rama denied allegations that he ‘neglected his duties’ in responding to the floods that occurred between August 3 to August 5. 

Instead, he said he ‘was working from home’ as he was still in isolation at that time due to COVID-19. 

(Number one, how can Mike Rama visit these places when he still has COVID.)

Now, that he is permitted to go out, the mayor promised that he would be visiting the areas where clearing operations on the city’s easement zones had been conducted.

Rama said that he planned to personally meet the families displaced by the ongoing clearing operations, particularly those formerly residing on the banks of Kinalumsan River, and assess their conditions. 

These people are damned if they do and damned if they don't.  No about Rama was vaccinated and boosted.

COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing have practically stopped all sports training. Senator Zubiri wants to change that.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180856

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he will look into the current protocols on training in boxing and other contact sports to help the country produce more champions.

In a statement, Zubiri said one possible reason why the country has just one world boxing champion for now is limited training time for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, Alert Level 1 areas already allow contact sports’ training in enclosed spaces for adults who are fully vaccinated.

“It's about time that contact sports resume their trainings,” Zubiri said.

If they keep those protocols then only vaccinated people will be allowed to train which would vaccines mandatory for athletes.

The definition of fully vaccinated could change soon to include receiving a booster. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/10/22/doh-revives-push-to-redefine-fully-vaccinated

The Department of Health is reviving its push to redefine the term "fully vaccinated" by including a booster shot against COVID-19.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the agency is concerned with the low uptake of booster shots and waning immunity as cases of omicron subvariants increase.

"We are now again proposing to the Office of the President that our fully vaccinated definition be refined, that we will now include the first booster shot," she told ANC's "Headstart" on Wednesday.

The DOH made a similar proposal to the previous administration but the plan was postponed to prioritize the reopening of the country's economy.

In surveys conducted by the agency, it found out that Filipinos have not only gotten hesitant in getting the additional jab, they have become complacent, too.

"They are already confident with their first 2 doses and that because there are not much severe and critical [cases], so they say that enough na 'yung 2 doses nila," Vergeire said.

Another reason cited by respondents was that booster shots are not required in offices or schools, she added.

That is one way to get everyone to take the booster shot but on what scientific basis does it stand when even with a booster you can still get infected and the efficacy wanes?

The DOH is predicting cases will continue to surge will into Christmas.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/09/rise-in-covid-19-cases-until-december-possible-doh/

The Department of Health (DOH) said there is a possibility that Covid-19 cases in the Philippines may continue to rise until December.

"It is possible that the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in our country will continue even through this October, November, and December," said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Metro Manila may see more than 10,000 Covid-19 cases by October, said Vergeire, citing the recent projection of the Australian Tuberculosis Modeling Network (Autumn).

"We have Autumn projections. Our Autumn projections, we can have as high as 10,612 cases of Covid-19 right here in the National Capital Region by the first week of October," she said.

Vergeire said that these projections were based on various assumptions such as low booster shot coverage, low compliance in minimum public health standards, mobility of people, and entry of Covid-19 virus variants.

"But of course, these are projections. These are projections based on assumptions,” she said.

"These projections may happen, but hopefully not because we have control over two of these assumptions and that would be the uptake of boosters and compliance to minimum public health standards," she said.

These projections are based on assumptions. There you go. It's all made up and it's based on the actions of the public in regards to boosters and following "minimum public health standards." Never mind the nature the virus or how it is spread. The public will always be to blame.