Insurgency: Dying Movement

The AFP is beginning the new year on a triumphant tone claiming the insurgency is a dying movement. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191813

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said lack of support is now pushing the communist insurgency to become a "dying movement."

"We have achieved (a) significant breakthrough in our campaign to end local communist armed conflict. With reduced capability and loss of people's support, the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) could hardly initiate (a) tactical offensive to threaten the peace,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement.

“Far away from achieving its political objective, the CPP cadres are hanging on its last breath for the economic benefits afforded by the party's resources generated locally and abroad. Ideology is just a memory to (a) dying movement," he added.

He added that attrition in the CPP leadership and other members of its ranks have made it difficult for its leadership to convene the national congress and install a new set of executive committee members.

"Never before had the party experienced this difficulty in consolidating what remains of its members. Benito Tiamzon is nowhere to be found to make critical decisions for the party. His reported death is feared by the 54-year-old party to cause further demoralization and disintegration within the organization," Aguilar said.

Meanwhile, the AFP spokesperson is pleased to note that their campaign against local terrorist groups (LTGs) are gaining ground.

"The framework we are using in the fight against Daesh, Al Qaeda, Daulah Islamiya and ISIS-affiliated local terror groups resulted to the decline of indiscriminate acts of violence, which include IED (improvised explosive device) explosions and attack to against civilian populace; stoppage of the kidnap-for-ransom activities; neutralization of LTG key personalities; surrender of its fighters; and recovery of its mass bases or civilian supporters," Aguilar said.

If the insurgency is dying and is demoralized with the deaths to Benito Tiamzon and Jose Sison then that should mean we won't hear any more about recruitment efforts this year. Backing up Col. Medel Aguilar's statement that the insurgency is a dying movement are the number of NPA units dismantled last year in Eastern Mindanao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191872

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has managed to tear apart 18 New People’s Army (NPA) units in its area of responsibility in 2022.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said they are anticipating the imminent collapse of the communist rebel units within their joint operational area, consisting mainly of the NPA's five sub-regional committees (SRC), nine guerilla fronts (GFs), and four vertical units.

In a statement Tuesday, Almerol said that of the 32 GFs confronted by Eastmincom since the Campaign Plan "Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao" in 2017, at least 88 percent of the target NPA units have already been destroyed, while the four remaining GFs "are at their weakest."

Almerol said the GF19, SRC Southland, and North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee are among the "most notorious" NPA units in the Caraga Region that the military has dismantled.

These rebel units, he said, forcibly recruited indigenous peoples and minors to join the NPA.

"The GF19 was involved in operating former NPA-linked schools in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, where the IPs children were brainwashed and recruited in the terrorist movement. Its dismantling is an open door for the future declaration of strategic victory in the Caraga region, where significant NPA formations remain," Almerol added.

Aside from the dismantled NPA units, the Eastmincom also neutralized 533 NPA regulars, with 71 killed, 48 captured, and 416 surrendered last year.

Perhaps even the discovery of a long abandoned cache is also a testament that the insurgency is a dying movement. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192125

The Philippine Army has discovered an arms cache in the outskirts of Mahapalag, Leyte buried for years by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) hiding from government forces.

Acting on tips from former rebels and mass supporters, soldiers discovered the four high-powered firearms in the upland Maligaya village on Thursday, according to Philippine Army 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Noel Vestuir on Friday.

Vestuir said the arms cache consist of one AK47 assault rifle, an M16 Armalite rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, a 40mm M79 grenade launcher and assorted magazines belonging to the NPA platoon 1, sub-regional command, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

“I think the firearms have been buried for about two years. The rebels have been hiding from government forces and they left these firearms since they could not carry it anymore,” Vestuir said in a phone interview.

The AFP claims Leyte, Samar, is a hotbed of the NPA which makes it rather odd that this lair had been abandoned for two years. Another cache was revealed by a surrendering rebel in Agusan Norte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191941

A communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who recently surrendered to the military led the government troops to the location of high-powered firearms stashed in the hinterlands of Jabonga town, Agusan del Norte.

Brig. Gen. George Banzon, the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade commander, said Maximo Fuentes Sr., one of three NPA fighters who surrendered on Jan. 1, pinpointed the site of the buried NPA arms cache in Barangay Cuyago, Jabonga.

Recovered from the site were five M16 rifles, an M4 rifle, a 40mm grenade launcher, and a generator set.

Vibas yielded to the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) along with his live-in partner Jennifer Tison Gagbo, and another rebel identified as Nelboy Nanoy Yubos.

The surrenderers are members of the weakened NPA Sentro De Grabidad Guerrilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

During their surrender in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, the rebels also turned over a 5.56 Magpul rifle.

“This accomplishment is another breakthrough in our relentless effort in pursuing the diminishing numbers of NPA following the series of neutralization of seasoned cadres in the province,” Banzon said.

While the NPA may be showing signs of weakness they are still prepared to fight. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192199

A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter was killed while another was wounded in an armed encounter with troopers of the 65th Infantry Battalion (65IB) at the boundary of barangays Taligaman and Bugsukan here on Friday afternoon.

In a statement on Saturday, the 65IB said they dispatched a team after residents alerted them to the presence of an undetermined number of armed men.

A 20-minute gunfight occurred and the rebels immediately fled, leaving behind a dead fighter and another wounded, who was provided with first aid and later taken to a medical facility in Butuan City. 

The identities of the fatality and the injured are still being determined, the 65IB said, adding that no one was hurt on the side of the government troopers during the skirmish.

Recovered from the encounter site were two AK-47 rifles, one M16 rifle, an M203 grenade, a variety of ammunitions, a detonating cord, five mobile phones, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

In the same statement, 65IB commander, Lt. Col. Michel Mortejo, lauded the residents’ alertness and courage to report the presence of the NPA rebels in their area.

The PNP is convinced that the NPA could cause havoc at Sinulog which is why they want to jam the phone signals during the festivities.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/483114/police-wants-signal-jamming-on-sinulog-feast-day

The police here want to suspend telecommunications services via signal jammers during the Festival Day of the Sinulog on January 15, 2023. 

During a security briefing with the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) on Tuesday, January 3, police officials recommended shutting off mobile phone signals at the South Road Properties (SRP) as part of their security measures for the Sinulog, said Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). 

However, Dalogdog said they have yet to receive feedback and recommendations from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“Our regional director (Police Brigadier General Jerry Bearis), according to him, nag request na siya nang, for signal jamming and interruption during the celebration of the Sinulog, especially during sa Mardi Gras or Grand Parade,” Dalogdog told reporters in a press interview on Wednesday, January 4.

But whether or not the proposed signal shutoff will include areas outside SRP, the CCPO official said they will be discussing it further

According to Dalogdog, they all agreed that temporarily switching off telecommunication services this January 15 would help them ensure a peaceful and orderly Sinulog Festival. 

“May mga recommendations yung Task Group sa security, kailangan talaga magkakaroon nang signal jamming,” he said. 

Jamming mobile phone signals had been part of Sinulog’s security protocols since 2017. Metro-wide signal shutdowns were implemented to allay threats but brought inconvenience to spectators. 

No kidding it's an inconvenience. Exactly how strong is the threat that cell phone bombs will be detonated during a fiesta? Pretty high it seems.

https://www.panaynews.net/phone-signal-jamming-still-needed-during-dinagyang/

For the past several years, mobile phone services were suspended during the two-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival as part of security measures.

For Dinagyang 2023, “We will take the advice or opinion of experts, especially the police,” said Councilor Romel Duron, chairman of the committee on transportation and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

The city council passed a resolution inviting telecommunication companies, the Philippine National Police and Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) to present their views on the blocking of phone signals during the Dinagyang festivities.

Duron’s committee hearing on this is on Dec. 15, 10 a.m., at the SP conference room.

“If they can convince us nga may threat sa gihapon like in the past, kay ti anyway para man ‘ni sa kaayuhan sang tanan, sometimes we have to give up some of our privileges and diutay naton nga convenience,” Duron said.

However, he acknowledged there could be emergencies where communication is important.

Duron recalled the previous Dinagyang – Councilor Alan Zaldivar had a medical situation but could not use his phone to seek help.

He also said phone signal is needed to do Dinagyang live feeds on social media.

“Ang means of communication daan subong through cell phone. Ang iban ang sa coverage nila gagamit sila cell phone. Millions will be watching so nami gid tani kon damu ang live coverage,” said Duron.

In the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of Dinagyang, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the police’s request for mobile phone signal jamming.

Explaining the phone signal jamming, NTC said terrorists could detonate improvised explosive devices using cell phone signals.

Just who exactly are they afraid will get off explosive devices using phone signals? This fear shows the NPA and the Islamic Insurgencies have not lost their bite.

The AFP has a new boss. Really he's the old boss since he was AFP Chief back in 2021.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192213

Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Andres Centino, said all available resources must be employed to address current and emerging security threats.

"While significant gains have been achieved in our security campaigns, there remain critical tasks to be carried out that need to be fully complied [with]. We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current and emerging threats,” he said during the change-of-command ceremonies held at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Saturday.

Centino replaced Medal of Valor awardee, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, who was appointed to the AFP's top post on Aug. 8, 2022.

“As I take on the responsibility as chief-of-staff, I reiterate what I have focused on in the past to comply with the urgent tasks at hand," he added.

The change-of-command ceremony was presided over by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Centino took his oath before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañan Palace on Jan. 6 following his appointment to hold the top military position.

He previously served as the AFP chief-of-staff from Nov. 12, 2021 to Aug. 8, 2022.

"We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current and emerging threats." That is not the language of AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar who has dismissed the CPP-NPA as a dying movement. That is the mindset the AFP must have even if the CPP-NPA and the Islamic Insurgency were stamped out. 

Senate Investigating Airport Glitch as a National Security Issue?

2023 began with a bang in the Philippines as all airspace over Manila was closed due to a glitch that shut down everything. It was a total fiasco leaving thousands of passengers stranded. This blackout also laid bare the shoddiness of NAIA which is routinely ranked as one the of the worst airports in the world. Just last month in December, 2022 NAIA was ranked the third most stressful airport in Asia. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1707816/naia-third-most-stressful-airport-in-asia-study

For the longest time, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), considered as the main gateway to the Philippines, has been named one of the worst airports in the world and has received numerous complaints from passengers across the globe.

Ahead of the holiday season and the expected holiday rush, a new report released by the travel website hawaiianislands.com has once again ranked NAIA as among the worst airports in Asia and the world.

Last month, the travel website released its report titled “The Most Stressful Airports in America and the World,” which was done through analysis of over 1,500 Google reviews for over 500 airports across the world.

“We analyzed the sentiment of Google reviews and ranked airports around the world and within the United States based on the percentage of reviews that indicate stress,” hawaiianislands.com explained.

Delays, long queues, and crying babies—according to the report—are just among the many reasons that air travel can be stressful for passengers, adding issues such as turbulence, baggage claim, and costly beverage on the flight.

Yes, NAIA sucks but that is not what I want to discuss.  It is the Senate's reaction that I want to analyze.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1711938/senators-think-air-traffic-hitch-not-ordinary-may-have-huge-natl-security-implications

The disruption at the country’s main airport due to a hitch in the air traffic control system may not be an “ordinary glitch” and “has possibly huge national security implications,” according to two senators on Tuesday.

Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Risa Hontiveros issued separate statements following a power outage at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center on New Year’s Day, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights that affected at least 56,000 domestic and international travelers.

“As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, I believe that this incident has possibly huge national security implications,” Go said. “It appears that all it takes to paralyze the entire Philippine airspace is just one technical glitch.”

The senator added that it is unacceptable to see passengers stranded in airports and forced to spend money for new tickets. He also noted that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now worried about their job status for not returning on time due to flight delays and cancellations.

For Hontiveros, the snag may not just be an “ordinary glitch.” She thought there could be “more unseen problems down the line.”

“This may not be just an ordinary ‘glitch’, as the early diagnosis said. Dismissing it as a simple ‘bug’ ignores the systemic problems at our airports. Let us not take the easy way out and blame the equipment outright. The fact that the back up also failed could mean there are more unseen problems down the line,” she said.

“Before we get the much-talked about ‘upgrade’, let’s see if the problem was compounded by human error or negligence in maintaining the equipment,” she continued.

Vulnerability to cyber attacks using the current system, said Hontiveros, must also be assessed.

The concerns of Senators Bong Go and Grace Poe are well placed. The whole of Manila airspace being taken out as the result of a glitch is a national security issue. If it is this easy to take out NAIA and ground air travel to a halt then it ought not to be dismissed as just a glitch. An investigation is required into the entire matter.  That is exactly what some Senators are demanding. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1712172/senators-seek-thorough-probe-of-naia-fiasco

Senators on Tuesday urged transportation officials to dig deeper into the alleged technical glitch and power outage that crippled the country’s air traffic navigation system on Jan. 1, with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada saying the government should not set aside the possibility that it could be a cyberattack.

“We have to look at all angles possible. We cannot discount that this could be a cyberattack,” Estrada said in an online press briefing. “We do not know if terrorists [were behind it]. Let’s not be too complacent about it.”

When pressed, he clarified that he had no information showing it was a cyberattack.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) should not conveniently blame “outdated” equipment for the incident.

“Before we get the much-talked about ‘upgrade,’ let’s see if the problem was compounded by human error or negligence in maintaining the equipment,” she said in a statement.

Estrada, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. separately filed resolutions seeking a Senate inquiry into the incident, which the former referred to as “air traffic management fiasco.”

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, earlier announced that she would open an investigation of the matter.

Sen. Nancy Binay, meanwhile, rejected suggestions to hand over the country’s air traffic management to private companies to prevent a repeat of the incident in the future.

It's great that the Senate seems to be concerned with national security issues now. But I don't buy it. I don't buy their sudden concern about national security. I say this because it has been almost six years since the Marawi siege and the Senate has yet to make a peep about it.

Let me give a quick rundown on the Marawi siege. The details can be found in my articles Intelligence Failures and Prior Knowledge of the Marawi Siege and Book Review: "The Battle of Marawi" Reveals the AFP is an Inept and Ill-prepared Military Force.

In 2017 the Maute group, an affiliate of ISIS, planned to lay siege to the city of the Marawi in a bid to build a caliphate in the Philippines. The AFP and PNP knew of these plans at least a month before they happened but did nothing to attempt to prevent the siege and ignored and downplayed the fact that ISIS was in the Philippines. According to then DND Secretary Lorenzana prior to the siege the AFP had ceased urban combat training which is why the siege lasted for 5 months. At the end of the siege the AFP executed several men who surrendered while television reporters looked on. This event was covered up by the AFP and the reporters who witnessed the event. 

At no time since has anyone in the media or any politician asked the hard questions about exactly how the siege happened, why it happened, and how it can be prevented from happening again. Without a doubt the Marawi siege was the single most devastating blow to national security since World War 2 and the entire nation does not care to learn more about it or how to prevent it from ever happening again. 

So, please excuse me if I don't buy the Senate's sudden concern about national security because of a glitch at NAIA.

Retards in the Government 291

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

  

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1711206/pnp-saf-member-nabbed-for-firing-gun-on-new-years-eve-in-nueva-vizcaya

A drunk 30-year-old special action police officer was arrested after he fired his gun indiscriminately in front of a videoke bar just an hour before the New Year celebrations in Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya province.

Arrested was Patrolman Loreto Padual Abrio, a member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force-145th Special Action Company based in Lamut, Ifugao, and a native of Mercedes village in Eastern Samar Province, said Police Major Oscar Abrogena, Bagabag police chief.

Bagabag police responded to Barangay (village) Tuao North after receiving a phone call from a villager that a man wearing civilian clothes fired a gun.

Abrio, who was apparently drunk, was seen roaming in front of the videoke bar.

He was accosted and bodily searched.

He yielded his service caliber 9mm gun.

A spent bullet was also found, aside from a magazine with 13 bullets, inside his sling bag.

Abrio was placed under the custody of Bagabag police while paraffin and ballistics tests are being readied prior to the filing of administrative charges for the illegal discharge of his gun.

A PNP-SAF member has been arrested for indiscriminate firing on New Year's Eve.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1711279/cop-arrested-for-shooting-wounding-2-persons-in-cabanatuan-city

A police officer was arrested after he shot two persons with his service firearm in this city on New Year’s day.

Patrolman Andres Quibuyen III was arrested in Barangay (village) Aduas Centro at around 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

He is detailed at the Philippine National Police’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in Camp Crame.

Responding police officers seized a  firearm from the suspect.

“Initial investigation revealed the suspect who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor shot the victims with the use of a short firearm,” the local police reported.

The reason for the shooting was not stated in the report.

Meanwhile, victims Arapat Pandodum, 26, and Salman Mama, 28, of Barangay Rizdelis, also in this city, were being treated in a local hospital, police said.

A formal complaint for double frustrated homicide was filed against Quibuyen before the city prosecutor’s office.

A police officer has been arrested for shooting to people on New Year's Day. 

https://www-philstar-com.translate.goog/pilipino-star-ngayon/metro/2023/01/02/2234766/miyembro-ng-pcg-arestado-sa-indiscriminate-firing?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) went to jail after being involved in the indiscriminate firing during the New Year's celebration in Quezon City last night.

Based on the report of the Pasong Putik Police Station, under the leadership of PLTCOL Vicente Bumalay Jr., the suspect was identified as Ferdinand Bagundol, 40, a PCG member assigned to the General Services Division, Coast Guard Base Parola, and a resident of Brgy. Happiness, Quezon City.

PS-16 personnel were said to be on patrol when they found the suspect, who appeared to be drunk, while firing his gun several times around 8:37 pm in front of Block 8 Lot 16, Don Ramon St., Hobart Subd. , Brgy. Happiness, Quezon City.

The authorities immediately arrested the suspect and brought him to the precinct.

A .99 caliber pistol, two magazines with seven bullets and seven fired cartridge cases were recovered from him.

The suspect is now in custody and will be charged with violation of RA 10591 or The Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

A member of the coast guard has been arrested for indiscriminate firing on New Years. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1712298/abalos-seeks-courtesy-resignation-of-all-pnp-colonels-generals-amid-possible-drug-links

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has called on all colonels and generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit their courtesy resignations, amid fears that high-ranking officials are already linked to the drug trade.

In a surprising move announced in a Wednesday press conference, Abalos said that asking for the courtesy resignation of PNP officials may be the quickest way for the country to address the drug menace that has infiltrated the police force.

(It appears that the problem is big within the police organization, as there are generals and colonels involved in the illegal drug trade.  According to the recommendation from PNP and other police officers, I am calling on all full colonel up to all generals for them to submit a courtesy resignation.)

(I know this is sudden, but this is the only way to make a fresh start. We will do something drastic, it is a very radical approach to this problem, but I do believe we must cleanse our ranks.)

Abalos said that a committee of five would be tasked to review the profile of the officials who would submit a courtesy resignation. While their courtesy resignation is still under review by the committee, the officials would still function in respect to their current assignments.

Once the committee approves the resignation, only then would the officials concerned be removed from the service.

“There will be a committee of five formed, this committee would filter each official. For the meantime, their work continues and they should not worry because if they are really clean, there’s no problem. We can fix this, it’s only a few of them who are involved, but they are in critical positions,” Abalos said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“This is how it works: the courtesy resignations — if they would hand out courtesy resignations — they should not worry because they would work until the resignation is accepted. If it is accepted, then only then would they cease working, it will go through a committee of five,” he added.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief has not yet named who would be the five personalities that would form the said committee, but he assured that he will not be part of it.

“The committee will be the one to go through the records, regarding who is involved and who is not. I mean, you’ve heard Senator Bato (dela Rosa) when he said that there are still ninja cops in the service, there are such comments, and I would say yes, it’s true,” Abalos said.

“Maybe with this, we can start fresh in trusting the PNP.  My trust with the PNP is there, I’ve been working with the PNP, I’ve seen men in uniform, women in uniform risking their lives. It will be unfair to them (if PNP is dragged down by ninja cops),” he added.

Abalos also clarified that this is not a mandatory order, saying that he is “appealing” to the colonels and generals to make the move.

DILG Secretary Abalos has asked all PNP leadership to resign because of increasing corruption within the ranks. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1712831/pnp-chief-azurin-other-top-officials-submit-courtesy-resignations

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and other members of his command group have heeded the appeal of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and submitted their courtesy resignations.

Azurin did not name the other top PNP officials but confirmed the courtesy resignation of their organization's number two man, Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA) Lt. Gen. Rodel Sermonio.

"Yes, actually, all of us here, my command group, we have already submitted. Honestly, DCA (Deputy Chief for Administration) was even ahead of me. On the record, my command group was the first to submit to me," he said.

"And the surprising thing is, even DG-IAS (Inspector General - Internal Affairs Service) will be submitting as well," he added.

This developed a day after Abalos asked PNP generals and colonels to vacate their posts – a surprising move aimed at eliminating police officers allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

According to Azurin, he met with the other PNP colonels and generals and "there were commitments" to tender their courtesy resignation.

Still, the PNP chief clarified that filing of courtesy resignation is not compulsory.

"So that means you can feel that the senior officials, the generals, they are willing to be subjected to an assessment because what is that, it's just repeated accusations in our ranks, and this must stop once and for all," he said.

"'Those who submitted, of course we talked about it yesterday, didn't we, there were commitments, because those of you who attended the conference yesterday, I listened to that one by one. I said let's set aside those ranks, be open, because what's that, that's a career, so it's voluntary," he added.

PNP leadership has heeded the call to resign voluntarily but this will certainly not end corruption within the ranks. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/05/ex-village-exec-shot-dead-in-pangasinan/

A former barangay official was shot dead inside his vehicle in Rosales, Pangasinan on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

The victim was identified as Bryan Trinidad Did, 51, of Barangay Toboy, Asingan, Pangasinan.

Police received a report that a Sports Utility Vehicle was causing traffic on the Don Teofilo Sison Bridge.

Lawmen found the victim with bullet wounds in the body. He was taken to a hospital in Rosales where he was declared dead.

Motive yet to be determined and assailants still unidentified.

A former barangay official has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/01/2234555/ombudsman-indicts-more-public-officials-2022

Work seemed to have gone back to normal at the Office of the Ombudsman as it was able to indict more public officials before the Sandiganbayan in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Based on third quarter data, the Sandiganbayan Judicial Records Division received 209 cases from the ombudsman from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 this year, breaching the 163 cases filed by the ombudsman in 2021. The Sandiganbayan is yet to release its fourth quarter data for 2022.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires had earlier admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the agency’s investigative work and resolution of cases because of a series of closures of its main office and regional offices after a big number of employees tested positive for the virus.

The ombudsman filed a measly 117 cases at the Sandiganbayan in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic. It was the agency’s lowest feat since 2007 when only 93 cases were filed under then ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

As in previous years, 2022 recorded the most number of cases filed with 104 for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act while 86 for malversation of public funds.

Meanwhile, 13 were appealed cases which were originally decided by regional trial courts before being elevated to the Sandiganbayan.

Among the cases lodged by the ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan in 2022 were graft charges against over 40 officials of the Bureau of Immigration in connection with the so-called pastillas scam, wherein143 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were allowed entry into the country from 2017 to 2020 without undergoing immigration procedures supposedly in exchange for money.

The Ombudsman indicted more people in 2022 than in the past two years since the pandemic began.  

Coronavirus Lockdown: Marcos Jr. Very Hesitant, Win War vs COVID-19, and More!

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

China has backed off its zero-COVID policy and now infections are spreading like wildfire. They have also reopened their borders allowing Chinese citizens to travel abroad. Many countries are now imposing restrictions on persons entering from China. But not the Philippines. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/29/2234064/doh-sees-no-need-yet-restrict-arrivals-china-covid-cases-surge

The Department of Health on Thursday said it is not yet time to impose tighter restrictions for travelers from China, which is seeing an explosion of COVID-19 cases following the lifting of strict rules there.

In a briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department is confident that existing health protocols and strengthened surveillance systems are adequate.

"The DOH doesn’t think that it’s required or it’s needed already that we close our borders or have regulations or restrictions specific only to China because of what’s happening in their country," Vergeire said in a briefing.

"We are in a much better position now compared to one or two years ago because most of our citizens are fully vaccinated already, and have learned the good behavior of practicing minimum public health standards," she added.

Vergeire issued the statement a day after Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said he was in favor of imposing COVID-19 measures—such as testing—on visitors from China.

A growing number of countries including the United States and Italy have announced curbs for Chinese visitors.

The health official said that such a policy should be discussed by the government’s inter-agency task force on COVID-19 response first.

"Right now, it is just for us to monitor and observe the situation. But [we will continue to impose] our strengthened surveillance, and of course that regulation that we require a negative antigen test coming from individuals from other countries who are not vaccinated," Vergeire said.

The Department of Tourism disagrees wit the DOH. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710051/covid-19-tests-eyed-for-travelers-from-china

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has recommended the tightening of travel restrictions for people coming from China which is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday floated the idea of requiring testing for travelers from China as a safety measure, saying that the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would iron out the travel guidelines.

“I think we should be very cautious,” he said on the sidelines of an event in Pasay City. Recent reports show that COVID-19 cases in China have been spiking anew, with estimates reaching at least a million per day.

Bautista said they would also look at how other countries were responding to the situation, noting that “other Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are also cautious in accepting Chinese visitors.”

Interestingly enough Marcos is not against placing restrictions on incoming Chinese. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191700

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he is open to having the Philippine government impose additional restrictions on travelers from China following a new surge of severe Covid-19 cases in the east Asian country.

Marcos, however, said the Department of Health (DOH) would first have to study the country's risk of a possible new wave of infections coming from China.

“As long as it’s based on science and we feel that there’s a need, we will do it. But again, it depends on what the true risk is to us,” he said in a video from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

Closing the country’s borders to China will be the last resort, he said, adding that additional Covid-19 testing may suffice.

“Kung (If) it’s something that is manageable, then I’m sure we can find a way to not completely close our borders to China but to find a way, to have a procedure so that those coming from China who may been have exposed or who may have been infected will be tested and ‘yun lang naman ang ating inaalala (and that’s all we are concerned about),” he added.

It's another case of those in charge not being on the same page. But don't worry. They are monitoring the situation. 

President Marcos is off to China despite the surge in COVID cases. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855770/marcos-to-push-through-with-china-state-visit-despite-covid-19-surge/story/

Despite soaring COVID-19 cases in China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will still push through with his state visit in Beijing next week, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial, Marcos' trip to China is scheduled from January 3 to 5. The state visit is upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Our relations with China is very important and we have received assurances from our Chinese host that all arrangements are being made to ensure the safety of the President and the delegation during the visit," Imperial said.

"A bubble arrangement has been agreed for the Philippine delegation to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. There are some visits that we could not postpone," he added.

Imperial said every precaution is being undertaken to ensure that no member of the Philippine delegation will not get infected and will not bring back to the Philippines any variants of the virus.

With the administration wanting to appease on China it's no winder they are not eager to put restrictions on Chinese visitors. China has said doing so would be discriminatory which is exactly the point. Who wants sick people in the country spreading thier sickness? 

Four provinces in Caraga have exceeded a 100% vaccination rate for 12-17 year olds. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191696

Four Caraga Region provinces have attained more than 100 percent coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination rate among children aged 12 to 17.

Based on the Dec. 26 report of the Department of Health in the region (DOH-13) obtained by the Philippine News Agency showed that Agusan del Norte got a 132.86 percent vaccination rate with 42,584 children aged 12-17 fully vaccinated from the 32,052 targets.

Agusan del Sur, meanwhile, garnered 122.17 percent with 77,348 fully vaccinated kids out of 63,313 targets.

Surigao del Norte got a 102.6 percent rate with 47,463 children, while Surigao del Sur with a 115.58 percent rate or 61,725 fully vaccinated children in the age group.

Dinagat Islands province, on the other hand, is more than a point away from attaining 100 percent with a 98.6 percent vaccination rate, or 10,819 from its 10,968 targets.

Butuan City also exceeded its target for the age group as it got a 121.1 percent vaccination rate.

“Caraga region has attained 116.25 vaccination rate for the said age bracket of children with 236,430 fully vaccinated from 274,852 targets,” DOH-13 said.

The report also indicated a 52.2 percent vaccination rate in the region for children aged 5 to 11, with 156,853 children fully vaccinated from the target of 300,245 as of Dec. 26.

However if the state of emergency is not extended the DOH says the vaccination program will not cease but they won't be able to purchase any more vaccines.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/30/2234290/doh-we-cant-buy-more-covid-vaccine-doses-unless-state-calamity-extended

"If the extension will not be approved, we can still continue with the COVID-19 vaccination program using existing doses considering their validity is hinged on their Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs). But, we cannot procure additional doses, including the bivalent vaccines," the DOH said.

"Also, it is expected that the number of vaccinators will decrease as other cadres such as pharmacists may no longer be tapped, and willingness to vaccinate may decrease as immunity from liability is not guaranteed," it added.

However Marcos is hesitant to extended the state of calamity because there is no state of calamity. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710311/marcos-jr-very-hesitant-to-extend-pandemic-induced-state-of-calamity-in-ph

“I’m still very, very hesitant to continue the state of calamity, to extend it because again we are not in a state of calamity anymore. Technically speaking. And that is the wrong mindset to be approaching the new year with,” Marcos said in a video shared over his Instagram stories.

He noted that the government is currently exploring ways to continue granting benefits to healthcare workers in the Philippines sans the state of calamity.

The City of Iloilo echoes this sentiment by declaring they have won they war against COVID-19. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191714

The year 2022 has brought positive vibes to the city and province of Iloilo.

The city government put a premium on the restoration of Ilonggos’ sense of pride as its major accomplishment while winning the war against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that jumpstarted several major programs, including the crafting of its development thrust were considered as among the major achievements for the provincial government in 2022.

“The sense of pride of being Ilonggo, you don’t get that anywhere. We were able to achieve that and that is something that cannot be translated into this project or that project,” said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Friday.

Meanwhile, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said he is happy with the performance of the province in 2022 and thanked stakeholders for their support.

“This is the year where we transitioned from a pandemic-stricken province to the new normal. This is a recovery year and we are happy with the result of our fight against Covid-19,” he said.

Defensor added that this year, Ilonggos were given the chance to lead lives different from their routine during the pandemic.

Contrary to the fear mongering of the DOH the data shows there was no surge over the holidays. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191858

The daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 39 percent from Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 1, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

From 813 daily infections recorded from Dec. 19 to 25, 2022, the number went down to 494 in the recent week.

The latest case bulletin showed 3,458 new cases and 164 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, the DOH said 32 occurred from Dec. 19, 2022 to Jan. 1.

To date, the Philippines has 12,660 active Covid-19 infections.

Hospitalization for COVID is also down. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1711816/not-that-many-covid-19-patients-in-hospitals-over-the-holidays-doh

There were not a lot of COVID-19 patients in hospitals during the holidays, according to Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Eric Tayag on Tuesday.

Tayag said that as per the direction of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH visited different hospitals to see their preparations for COVID-19 cases and firework injuries.

“We are happy because while there are patients in the hospitals, there were not that many COVID patients that hospital services for other ailments were not sacrificed,” said Tayag when asked about COVID-19 patients on Teleradyo.

Will 2022 be the last year the DOH issues worthless fear mongering proclamations about the spread of COVID due to Christmas and New Years celebrations?

Is Manny Pacquiao's Boxing Career Built on a Lie?

Could it be that the career of one of the greatest boxers in modern times and a national hero of the Philippines has all been built on a lie? It seems that is indeed the case. The reason being a corrupt referee.

https://sports.inquirer.net/487960/ref-admits-he-cheated-to-help-pacquiao-win

It has long been an open secret—fans joked about the obvious long count in the aftermath of a fight in 2000.

And in the years that followed, the joke lost its punch, flattened by the frequency of its retelling and the eventual incomparable career of one Manny Pacquiao.

Until the World Boxing Council (WBC) uploaded a video that featured renowned Filipino referee Carlos Padilla admitting he facilitated a rigged result in Pacquiao’s infamous fight against Australian Nadal Hussein.

“So, you know the opponent, Hussein, or whatever his name was. He is taller, younger, stronger and a dirty fighter, managed by Jeff Fenech. So in the [fourth round], Manny got knocked down, I thought he was going to get up, but his eyes were cross-eyed,” Padilla said in a video on the WBC’s YouTube channel that has since been taken down.

“I am Filipino, and everybody watching the fight is Filipino, so I prolonged the count. I know how to do it,” Padilla said after taking nearly twice as long to count to 10. “When he got up, I told him, ‘Hey, are you okay?’ Still prolonging the fight. ‘Are you okay?’ ‘Okay, fight!’”

It turns out this not a new revelation but an old inside...joke? Was the WBC unaware of what the fans new all along? Padilla admits he prolonged the count out of solidarity for being a Filipino. But he wasn't just a Filipino as we shall see. 

“[B]ecause Manny was not like Manny is now, he wasn’t trained by Freddie Roach yet, he holds on for his dear life, and [Hussein] throws him, and he went down again. I said to the opponent, ‘Hey, you don’t do this.’ You know, I was prolonging the fight. ‘You don’t do that. Okay, judges, [point] deduction.’”

To cap it off, Padilla also admitted forcing the outcome when he ruled a head butt as a punch, resulting in the 10-round TKO win for Pacquiao.

“[B]ecause he is shorter, he headbutted the other guy and there is a cut, but I declared it a punch. If there is a headbutt, you have to stop the fight and declare to the judges a point deduction, but I didn’t do that, meaning the fight could continue. [The cut] is not really big—but I never got the doctor to check it [because] I want to see it serious,” Padilla said.

Pacquiao could not be reached for comment.

So, Manny headbutted his opponent and the referee called it a punch!? How did the WBC ever let this ruling stand? 

Hussein, however, had a lot to say, particularly on how both fighters’ paths diverged after that bout.

“I can’t say Pacquiao’s career would never have been the same, but it would have been derailed, that’s for sure,” Hussein said.

After that, the Australian didn’t have much of a career, failing to win a world championship. He eventually settled for a career in sales.

Pacquiao’s career bloomed the following year when he was picked as a replacement fighter on two weeks’ notice to face Lehlo Ledwaba in the undercard of a fight scheduled at MGM Grand in Las Vegas that featured Oscar de la Hoya in the main event. Pacquiao hammered out a sixth-round stoppage in that fight for the International Boxing Federation junior featherweight to engineer one of the finest runs in boxing history.

Hussein said his camp smelled something fishy early on and accused the organizers of using a loophole to slide Padilla into the referee’s position.

“With the referee, the terms were there was going to be an Australian judge, a Filipino judge and a Korean judge. Then they said the referee was going to be American. But … [Padilla] was an American-Filipino. So because he was an American citizen, they had their loophole.

“He was a Filipino all along. But it wasn’t supposed to be an issue because he was based in America. But we didn’t know anything about it until the last minute, to be honest.”

Ah, the perks of dual citizenship! Padilla was not supposed to referee but only snuck in because he is also an American which created a loophole. 

It would certainly be wrong to pin the blame on Manny Pacquiao when the decision here is solely the responsibility of Padilla. 

https://news.yahoo.com/manny-pacquiao-breaks-silence-referee-173956934.html

Speaking to ABS-CBN’s "TV Patrol," Pacquiao denied being involved in any way with Padilla's decision-making. 

“I did not cheat. We were just probably favored because of home court [advantage],” the former Philippine senator told TV Patrol. “As a boxer, I just did what I needed to do. I’m a boxer. I only do my job inside the ring. That is his problem, not mine.”

The WBC has not yet released a formal statement but has formed a panel to review Padilla's remarks. His daughter claims his statements have been misinterpreted. 

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/12/01/2227820/daughter-filipino-referee-says-pacquiao-cheating-statement-misconstrued-misinterpreted

The daughter of now controversial referee Carlos Padilla has called the statements where his father admitted helping Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao win a fight in 2000 as "misconstrued" and "misinterpreted".

In a letter addressed to the "boxing community of the world", Suzy Padilla Tuano came to defense of the 88-year-old referee who was shoved into the center of attention after a recent interview during his induction to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

"My father is an 88 year old man who is just that — old and aging. Despite the fact that he has been living in the United States for decades, English remains his 2nd language," the letter read.

"Communications can be misconstrued and well intentioned words can be misinterpreted. The present situation is one such glaring example of what might actually have been said, (no pun intended), and what may have been taken out of context," she continued.

"My father is a decent and honorable man. He dedicated his life to boxing and boxers and cared for them and their well being, regardless of nationality or circumstance," she said.

"He refereed numerous historic fights with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, and many more fighters for the entirety of his career. He has since retired and has been out of the spotlight for as long as I can remember. Oh, but he loves to talk and entertain because like any other human, he still yearns to feel relevant. I invite everyone to ask about Carlos Padilla among his peers: promoters, fighters, referees, or anyone from his era and hopefully, you will learn about my father's true character," she continued.

"He does not need controversies at this very late stage in his life."

It's hard to see how anything Carlos Padilla said has been taken out of context. Watch the interview for yourself.

The talk about the Manny Pacquiao fight begins at 17:36.