Retards in the Government 325

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/25/15-year-old-shot-dead-by-police-in-rizal

The policeman and his cohort behind the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Southville 8B, Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal on Sunday, Aug. 20, have been arrested and charged, the Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) said.

The police identified the victim as John Francis Ompad and the suspects as PCpl. Arnulfo Sabillo, 37-years-old from the Rodriguez Municipal Police, and Jeffrey Baguio, 27-years-old.

According to the police report, the victim's brother, identified as John Ace Ompad, was flagged down while riding his motorcycle by Sabillo and Baguio at a checkpoint where they demanded to see his driver's license.

John Ace said he was scared and refused to present his license to the suspects as they were wearing civilian clothes and were allegedly reeking of alcohol. This prompted him to take off his helmet and throw it at the suspects.

Sabillo drew out his firearm and shot John Ace but the bullet instead hit John Francis in the abdomen when the boy emerged from their house.

The victim was first rushed to the Casimiro Ynares Memorial Hospital and was later transferred to East Avenue Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where he died while undergoing medical treatment.

Meanwhile, police officers arrested Sabillo and Baguio and seized Sabillo's Taurus pistol loaded with live ammunition.

 

The pistol was turned over to the Rizal Provincial Forensic Unit for ballistic and gunpowder examination. Sabillo was also subjected to paraffin tests to determine the presence of gunpowder residue.

The two suspects were charged with homicide and attempted homicide while Sabillo will also be charged administratively. The Rizal PPO added that all personnel of ComPAC 5, the team of Sabillo, were administratively relieved from their duty for further investigation and possible lapses that might have occurred before and during the shooting incident.

A cop has been arrested for shooting a 15 year old boy. Seems he was drunk at the time.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/25/dep-ed-official-suspended-due-to-overpriced-laptops

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Aug. 25, confirmed that one of its high-ranking officials has been suspended following the order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In an official statement, the DepEd announced that it has received an Order from the Office of the Ombudsman concerning the “alleged overpriced laptops” for public school teachers procured in 2021.

The Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of one of DepEd’s current officials, Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn M. Sevilla, for the "duration of the proceedings but not to exceed six months." 

Sevilla also served under the leadership of former DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.

DepEd stated that it will “adhere to due process” and comply with the issued Order.

A DepEd official has been suspended in connection with the overpriced laptops.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/27/mmda-personnel-nabbed-for-threatening-to-shoot-neighbors-in-qc

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) operatives arrested a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel after he allegedly threatened to shoot his neighbors with a gun in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City on Friday, Aug. 25.

Lt. Col. May Genio, QCPD Holy Spirit Station (PS 14), identified the suspect as Recto Barasi, 40, a MMDA constable.

The report showed that the suspect was irritated from the noise coming from outside his house, which was allegedly caused by his neighbors at around 9:45 p.m. on Friday.

Police said Barasi went outside his house, pointed a handgun towards his neighbors, and threatened to shoot them, saying “Gusto nyo pagbabarilin ko kayo diyan?! Ang iingay niyo ha (Do you want me to shoot you?! You’re all noisy).“

The PS 1 deployed personnel to the area after concerned citizens reported the incident.

Upon their arrival, operatives asked Barasi to present the pertinent documents for his firearm.

The suspect showed an expired License to Own and Possess a Firearm document, which led to his arrest.

Seized from the suspect were one Armscor calibre.45 pistol and one magazine with eight live ammunition.

He is facing charges for grave threats and violation of Repulic Act 10591 or the "Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act." 

An MMDA personnel has been arrested for threatening to shot his neighbors and for not having a properly licensed gun. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1822583/ombudsman-orders-dismissal-of-pampanga-town-mayor-3-others-for-anomalous-purchases

The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the mayor of Mexico, Pampanga and three others on Wednesday for grave misconduct in purchasing the municipality’s construction materials.

A 17-page consolidated decision concluded that Mayor Teddy Tumang, municipal accountant Perlita Lagman, municipal engineer and former Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) vice chair Jesus S. Punzalan, and Administrative Officer V and former BAC member Luz C. Bondoc, were found guilty following the anomalous purchases of construction materials.

The mayor and three other local officials were also meted with forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancelation of eligibility, and barred from taking civil service examinations.

“The evidence presented is substantial to find respondents liable as all the above-mentioned elements of Grave Misconduct are evidently present when respondents knowingly and intentionally circumvented R.A No. 9184 to make it appear that the purchase of the base coarse and other materials were legal,” the decision said.

A separate consolidated resolution also recommended the filing of 41 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, by way of conspiracy, against Tumang, Punzalan, Bondoc, BAC chair Marlon Maniacup, BAC members Lucila Agento, Romeo Razon; as well as William Colis, the supplier of the construction materials.

The resolution also recommended the filing of 23 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 and seven counts of violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code against Tumang, Maniacup, Agento, Punzalan, Bondoc, Razon, Lagman, and Colis.

The Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal off the mayor of Mexico, Pampanga and three others over anomalous construction purchases. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1823133/village-chief-shot-dead-in-albay-town-hours-after-filing-coc

A village chief in this town was gunned down by an unidentified assailant on Monday afternoon (Aug. 28), authorities said.

Based on an initial police investigation, victim Alex Repato of Barangay San Jose was killed in front of his house around 5 p.m.

Prior to the shooting incident, Repato had filed his certificate of candidacy around 11 a.m. as he was seeking re-election in the barangay polls in October.

Police were still investigating the killing, including the motive.

Libon Vice Mayor Mark Gregor Edward Sayson condemned the attack, describing it as a “senseless act [that] has no place in our society.”

A village chief was assassinated shortly after filing his COC.

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/08/28/road-rage-driver-a-dismissed-qc-cop/

The driver of the vehicle, who identified himself as Wilfredo “Willie” Gonzales, THE DAILY TRIBUNE found, is a 63-year old former Quezon City policeman assigned at the QCPD Station 9  in Anonas.

Gonzales was ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman along with ten others including his station commander in 2000 for releasing two Chinese nationals in exchange for P650,000.

The two Chinese nationals, Jimmy Tan and Albert Koo were found to be carrying some 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride when they were arrested.

The driver of the red sedan who figured in a road rage incident with a bicycle rider in Quezon City is not the registered owner of the vehicle, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II disclosed on Monday, 28 August.

Mendoza explained that there are two violations that appeared to have been committed in relation to the Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code as a result of the incident between the driver of the KIA Rio and the bicycle rider on August 8—the first is Section 27 (Improper Person to Operate a Vehicle) and Section 48 (Reckless Driving).

A man involved in a road rage incident is a dismissed corrupt cop. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/880307/10-maritime-cops-in-custody-as-persons-of-interest-in-navotas-teen-s-beating/story/

Ten members of the Maritime Police in Navotas, including a police major, are now in restrictive custody of the Navotas Police over an attack on a teenager that left him bruised and wounded.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, the 10 are considered persons of interest in the incident where, according to the 15-year-old victim's mother, the boy was struck, kicked, and hit with a heavy blunt object by Maritime Group (MG) members last Friday, August 25.

The victim was brought to a nearby hospital, and then was accompanied by the Navotas Police to the Maritime Police to identify the perpetrators, but the victim said none was present during the visit.

Following the statement, the mother then said she would no longer be filing a case. GMA Integrated News has reached out to the family for comment on the matter, but they declined.

"It’s a fact now na merong nanakit sa kanya. 'Yun ang gusto nating malaman ngayon kung sino among the reported na mga tao ng MG ang may kagagawan nito," said Northern Police District chief Police Brigadier General Rizalito Gapas, who went to the maritime police station himself to learn more about the incident. 

(It's a fact now that somebody hurt him. That is what we want to know: who among the reported people of the MG did this.)

Northern NCR Maritime Police chief Police Major Randy Ludovice said that the 10 are now required to explain the incident. 

(They must explain within 24 hours...we only learned [of this] yesterday because nobody made a report to us.)

Investigation shows that the boy may have been stopped by the maritime police over the suspected theft of a cellphone. However, said Gapas, "Kahit pa siya ang kumuha o hindi, ang issue dito ay 'yung sinaktan 'yung bata."

(Whether he took it or not, the issue is the child was hurt.)

The 10 maritime police officers have given their statements to the Navotas Police's Women and Children's Desk.

"This investigation would include possible criminal or administrative charges pag na-establish natin [when we establish the case]," said Gapas.

The Navotas City Police also hope that the victim will come forward and speak with them.

(We spoke to the chairman. He assured us that they will comb the fish port area to find the victim.)

The city police said that there will be no cover-up and that they will seek justice for the victim even if he and his family do not want to come forward.

10 cops are being held in connection with the beating of a 15 year old boy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1208813

The chief of police of Mandaluyong City has been relieved from his post after testing positive for illegal drugs.

Col. Cesar Gerente yielded positive results during a random drug test with top officials of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), along with other commanders and chiefs of different offices and support units on Aug. 24.

Based on the copy of the dated Aug. 27 obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday, Col. Mary Grace Madayag replaced Gerente as the city's acting chief of police.

Gerente has been assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section under the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division of NCRPO for further investigation on administrative charges.

Following the incident, the NCRPO ordered all 497 personnel of the Mandaluyong City Police Station to submit to a random drug test on Aug. 28, all of whom yielded negative results.

NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, meanwhile, said random drug testing seeks to weed out drug-using police officers within their ranks.

The police chief of Mandaluyong City has been relieved after testing positive for drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1208762

Unidentified gunmen shot dead an aspiring village chairperson while having lunch with companions shortly after he filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office here Tuesday.

Haron Dimalanis, 40, of Barangay Malingao, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Malingao is one of the 63 villages in North Cotabato that are now part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under the so-called Special Geographic Area.

Lt. Col.Peter Pinalgan Jr., Midsayap town police chief, said the victim was having lunch in front of the municipal hall when suspected guns-for-hire opened fire at about 11:45 a.m.

The Comelec office is beside the town hall in Barangay Poblacion 3.

Injured was Dimalanis’s companion, identified as Habir Kambiong, 27.

The two gunmen, in bull caps and bonnets, fled onboard a motorbike.

Police investigators found eight empty shells for .45 caliber pistols at the scene.

A candidate for village chairman has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/30/coa-flags-dep-ed-over-p362-m-deposits-in-unauthorized-unnecessary-dormant-bank-accounts

The Commission on Audit (COA) said the Department of Education (DepEd) has more than P362.7 million in "unauthorized, unnecessary, and dormant bank accounts" that violate the General Appropriations Act of 2022.

In its audit report, COA said that DepEd has a total of P362,760,156.45 cash in banks under the accounts of its central office and nine regional offices and the funds have not been reverted to the national treasury.

"Results of audit, verification, and validation of cash accounts revealed that some bank accounts were maintained without specific authority or legal basis, contrary to the pertinent provisions of laws, rules, and regulations," it said.

"Furthermore, these bank accounts include collections/receipts from various sources still retained in the said unauthorized current accounts as standby funds and are kept available at their disposal," it added.

COA expressed apprehension that the funds in the bank accounts could be exposed to misuse or misappropriation, when instead these could be used to augment the financial requirements of unprogrammed activities and settlement of valid obligations.

It pointed out that one law violated is Section 10 of the General Provisions of the General Appropriations Act for 2022, which states that all departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of the government are mandated to close and revert all balances of special accounts, fiduciary or trust funds and revolving funds to the general fund.

It noted that there are three conditions on the reversion to the general fund, namely: when there is no legal basis for its creation, when its terms have expired, and when it is no longer necessary for the attainment of the purposes for which it was established.

COA recommended that DepEd should initiate the closure of "unauthorized, unnecessary, and dormant" bank accounts, discontinue the practice of transferring unutilized Notice of Cash Allocations (NCAs) from the Modified Disbursement System (MDS) account to their bank accounts, and remit the balance to the national treasury.

The COA says the DepEd has millions in unauthorized bank accounts.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1208816

Police and military authorities arrested here Tuesday night four armed men, one of them a candidate for village chair, for possession of unlicensed high-powered firearms.

The arrest of the group came hours after a village chair aspirant was murdered near the Commission on Elections office here at about noontime of the same day.

Lt. Col. Peter Pinalgan Jr., Midsayap police chief, said a police team was conducting a checkpoint operation in Barangay Bual when a white pick-up truck without license plates was flagged down for inspection at about 6:30 p.m.

“Our police officers were implementing gun ban via plain view principle when they noticed what appeared to be a pistol protruding in the waist of one passenger,” Pinalgan said in a radio interview Wednesday.

The four were asked to alight from the vehicle and further inspection resulted in the discovery of four .45-caliber pistols and two M16 rifles with ammunition from the suspects.

“They have no gun ban exemption from the Comelec. Their guns were unlicensed,” Pinalgan said. “They are still undergoing investigation while the firearms have been forwarded to the police crime lab for validation and cross-matching.”

Pinalgan said one of the arrested suspects was a candidate for village chair of Barangay Sambulawan, also in Midsayap. 

He withheld the identities of the suspects pending further investigation.

A candidate for village chair has been arrested for violating the gun ban. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Child Workers, College Students, and More!

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

Officials are now being held accountable for the contact given to Pharmally for RT-PCR test kits. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/879920/ombudsman-orders-filing-of-graft-raps-vs-lao-ex-dbm-officials-pharmally-execs/story

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of three counts of graft charges against former Budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, two other former Budget executives, and Pharmally officials in connection with the government’s purchase of P4 billion worth of RT-PCR test kits.

“There is no doubt that without the individual acts of the aforementioned respondents, the procurement of the test kits would not have materialized. Respondents concerted and conspirational acts enabled the award of the multi-billion worth of contract to Pharmally, notwithstanding the existence of other corporations that are financially and technically capable to supply and deliver test kits at lower prices,” the Ombudsman said in its 37-page resolution.

Aside from Lao, also ordered indicted for three counts of graft were former DBM procurement director Warren Liong, DBM procurement management officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, and Pharmally officials Twinkle Dargani, Linconn Ong, Justine Garado, and Huang Tzu Yen.

The Ombudsman said Pharmally got the huge P4 billion government contract even if its paid up capital is only P625,000.

“Said award to Pharmally was a complete disregard of the provision that the procuring entity should directly negotiate or procure from a legally, technically and financially capable supplier, distributor, manufacturer, contractor or consultant as embodies in the Government Procurement Policy Board and the Procurement law,” it added.

Likewise, the Ombudsman said that public officials accused in this case allowed the further delay of delivery of test kits, even though they alleged of its urgent need to ramp up the testing capacity due to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the country.

“Allowing the several delays of delivery provided Pharmally an excuse and additional period to comply with its obligation. This act is clear evidence of public respondents’ manifest partiality toward said company,” it further said.

Finally, the anti-graft body said the public respondents favored Pharmally over One Top Medical Systems Resources which offered the same prices as the former and Biosite Medical Instruments, Inc., one of the suppliers included in the suppliers directory of the government.

“They apparently acted with manifest partiality and in bad faith for unlawfully and willingly awarding the contracts to a newly incorporated corporation and without any business experience with the government,” it said.

In response to the Ombudsman’s decision, the camp of Pharmally officials maintained that they are not liable for graft or any form of corruption.

It remains to be seen if anyone will be convicted. 

The lockdowns doubled the rate of attrition for college students says the CHED.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/23/2290834/pandemic-doubled-attrition-rate-college-students-ched-data

Pandemic-era students were more likely to drop out or temporarily leave college, according to new data from the Commission on Higher Education, with the attrition rate of the most recent graduating batch doubling compared to pre-pandemic students.

CHED data shared during House budget deliberations on Wednesday show at least 41.16% of students who were sophomores when the pandemic first hit during SY 2020-2021 — and were supposed to graduate this year — paused or stopped their schooling. 

This is more than double the attrition rate of college students who graduated early 2020 (17.56%), or the last batch of students who were not forced to experience full school years during the pandemic, according to CHED data.

CHED defines the attrition rate as the percentage of students who either temporarily leave college or drop out permanently. It is computed by measuring the percent change in enrollment between the first and last years of schooling of a batch of students.

Meanwhile, the cohort of students who graduated in SY 2020-2021 had a modest uptick in attrition at 18.45%.

But the attrition rate skyrocketed the next year, going up to 38.95% for the graduating batch of SY 2021-2022.

And in 2023, the most recent graduating batch recorded the highest attrition rate at 41.16%. 

A more extreme case of attrition happened in one cohort of architecture students at a private university in Laguna. 

In an interview with Philstar.com, architecture graduate Leejay Corea said that of the 34 students part of his batch in his first year, he was the only one to graduate and walk the stage in May.

Students every year seemingly got picked off one by one until only five students made it to their penultimate year in school, Corea recounted.

Most of his classmates did their best but did not have enough money to purchase materials for their plates or had other responsibilities at home, Corea said.

“We were down to just five during the fourth year of the second semester. Completing and passing online tasks became extremely difficult. Some had issues with internet connectivity, while others faced financial and mental problems,” he said in Filipino.

CHED also provided data for the cohorts of students who have yet to complete four years of schooling. 

For college students who entered SY 2020-2021 — meaning they were first-year students when the pandemic happened — have seen at least 36.83% dropping out or temporarily leaving school.

Meanwhile, the cohort of students who entered college the following year during SY 2021-2022 recorded a lower attrition rate at 27.20% — still higher than the cohort who graduated in SY 2019-2020.

Colleges and universities officially began returning to full face-to-face classes in early 2023, making the Philippines one of the last countries to reopen campuses in higher and basic education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While several studies have underscored the impact of the pandemic on younger students, there is also evidence pointing to the health crisis' impact on tertiary education students. 

Lack of adequate infrastructure, mental health difficulties and the hefty costs of online classes have forced several students to pause or stop their education.

That's one more piece of evidence that the lockdowns were destructive and not helpful in any way. 

Barangay health workers are being lauded for their role during the pandemic. The DOH says they "sacrificed their lives."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1208513

The Department of Health and the provincial government acknowledged the roles of barangay health workers (BHWs) during the health pandemic and the conduct of supplemental immunization activity for measles-rubella and the oral polio vaccine (MR-OPV) in Iloilo province.

More or less 10,000 BHWs gathered for the Iloilo Provincial BHW Congress 2023 at the Iloilo Sports Complex on Thursday.

“As front-liners you have sacrificed your lives to ensure the safety of the community, said Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. in his virtual message.

Defensor added that, with their help, the province has achieved 90.73 percent coverage of the target population for the MR-OPV, with 20 municipalities hitting over 95 percent accomplishment.

The accomplishment translates to 146, 590 children vaccinated out of the 161 566 target in the province. 

He hoped they remain committed to their work as there is more to do under the provincial government’s development agenda.

Dr. Mary Pauline C. Gestosani representing Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) Regional Director Adriano Suba-an, shared the sentiment of the governor of BHWs as partners in the Covid-19 response and immunization activity.

She said the roles of BHWs have been highlighted during the crafting of the Universal Health Care Law, where they will serve as health promotion officers in their barangay.

“Together with the Provincial Health Office, the DOH will continue to capacitate BHWs to become better health promotion officers. They will be the source of correct information and provide basic health services because they are the first contact of people in barangay,” she added.

She hoped that local government units could craft policies that would also provide them benefits.

BHW Partylist Rep. Angelica Natasha A. Co, in her message, announced the Magna Carta for BHWs is now in the hands of the Senate.

The Magna Carta, she said, contains benefits and incentives for barangay health workers, including a monthly honorarium of not less than PHP3,000.

Now how about paying them the money they are owed?

The DOLE has lifted COVID-19 restrictions for child workers in the entertainment sector.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/27/2291725/dole-lifts-covid-19-restrictions-child-workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has lifted all restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic for children under 18 years of age who are working in the public entertainment or information sector.

In its Labor Advisory No. 18-2023, DOLE said it is revoking all previous COVID-19 restrictions provided under Labor Advisory Nos. 23-2020, 24-2020 and 22-2021.

“The following Labor Advisories related to the engagement or participation of children below 18 years of age in public entertainment or information are hereby deemed revoked and shall no longer be in effect,” the DOLE said.

In the previous labor advisories, it said that a child actor’s performance shall be done in the former’s home.

Employers or production staff are only allowed to be present to provide assistance such as ensuring that minimum public health standards are implemented and observed on set, including wearing of well-fitted face masks and face shields, if necessary; physical distancing of at least one-meter; compliance on venue capacity and ensuring that the costumes, props, or materials needed are thoroughly disinfected.

The DOLE said the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions is in accordance with the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 throughout the country last July 21.

The labor department though still urged employers of child performers to continue observing measures that will help prevent virus transmission in their work areas.

“Employers who will engage children in public entertainment or information are enjoined to observe and follow the recommendations in the updated health protocols,” the DOLE said.

What took them so long to lift these restrictions?

Hi, my name is ...39

They say lightning never strikes twice. But in the Philippines lighting does strike farmers and other people quite often. In fact "lightning strikes are one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the Philippines." Let's say hello to some of them. 

 Hi, my name is Jessie Gabato. I am a married man with nine children. A storm came and me and my wife and our children sought shelter in our hut. I stood up to change my wet clothes and that is when a bolt of lighting hit me in the head! I died and now my children are selling produce on the side of the road. What is my supped to do?? God killed her provider. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1961811/cebu/local-news/farmer-dies-after-being-hit-by-lightning-in-cebu-city-barangay

A 52-YEAR-OLD farmer died after being struck by lightning during a heavy downpour in Lower Mahiga, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City on Friday at 2:30 p.m., May 19, 2023.

The victim was identified as Jessie Gabato, married, with nine children.

According to his wife, Vevencia, 53, her husband was farming with his children, when they took shelter in their hut during a downpour.

She said that the victim was hit by lightning when he stood up inside the hut to change clothes.

She added that even their children – Jestonie, 30; Jeson, 27; Jeqoulo, 20; and Justin, 9, a PWD – were thrown across the room when lightning struck.

(We were surprised, sir, when the lightning started twirling around the hut, then my husband, who had been drenched in rain, stood up to change clothes but lightning struck his exposed head).

Jessie got unconscious with a burn on his head.

According to Vevencia, they quickly called for assistance from their neighbors, but because of the heavy rain, it took them some time to respond and carry the casualty to the hospital.

The victim was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Vevencia acknowledged that her husband raised their nine children through farming.

On the side of the road, their children also sell farm produce and livestock.

Concerning how to sustain her children, especially the PWD, Vevencia stated her worries.

(Who will take care of my children, sir? I don't have a husband to provide for our food).

Hi, my name is Bernardo Tapia, I was delivering a hog with my helper. Along the way a storm arose and I got struck by lightning and died. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1936188/bacolod/local-news/lightning-kills-sexagenarian-companion-hurt

A HOG raiser died while his helper was hurt when lightning struck them while they were seeking shelter at a waiting shed at Barangay Puey in Sagay City, Negros Occidental Tuesday night, July 26.

Case investigator Corporal Richer Salve identified the fatality as Bernardo Tapia, 60, of Purok Kalubihan in the city’s Barangay Maquiling while the identity of his helper is being withheld as he is a minor.

Investigation showed that the two came to deliver a hog to a customer at Purok Dalia in the city’s Barangay Puey when the incident happened.

Tapia died due to injuries he sustained upon arrival at the Alfredo E. Maranon Sr. Memorial District Hospital where the boy was also treated.

Hi, my name is Romeo Sayam. I was seeking refuge in the middle of a rice field when I was struck by lighting and killed. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/20/farmer-killed-village-chair-hurt-in-lightning-strike-in-quezon

A farmer died and a barangay chairman was injured in a lightning strike in Barangay Ilayang Nangka, this city, on Tuesday afternoon, July 18.

Tayabas police chief Police Lt. Col. Bonna Obmerga identified the fatality as Romeo Sayam, 30.

Sayam was taken to the Tayabas Community Hospital where he was declared dead.

Obmerga said that the injured, Rowell Cabuyao de la Torre, 37, chairman of Barangay Ilayang Nangka, sustained burns in half of his body and is confined at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Tayabas Community Hospital.

The victims were seeking refuge in the rest house of De la Torre in the middle of the rice field when lightning struck them during a thunderstorm.

Hi, my name is Jessie Palapala. I was working my farm when I was struck by lighting and died. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/14/farmer-killed-in-lightning-strike-in-ilocos-sur

A farmer was killed in a lightning strike in Barangay Bahet, San Ildefonso, this province, on Thursday, July 13.

Newly installed provincial police chief Police Col. Judgith del Prado identified the victim as Jessie Palapala, 55.

Investigation said Palapala was struck by lightning after working in his farm and was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.

Hi, my name is Jomar Funtilar. Me and my daughter Jona were resting in our house when we were struck by lighting and killed. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/455790/father-daughter-dead-after-lightning-strike-in-quezon-town

A farmer and his nine-year-old daughter died after they were struck by lightning in Catanauan town in Quezon province on Thursday night, police said in a belated report Saturday.

Catanauan police said Jomar Funtilar and daughter Jona were resting inside their house in Barangay (village) Tagbacan Ilaya around 7 p.m. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the house, hitting the pair.

The victims died on the spot from severe burns.

Ginilyn Funtilar, Jomar’s wife, reported the incident to the police morning of the next day.

In a phone interview Saturday morning, Police Staff Sergeant Michael Adao, the case investigator, said Ginilyn was not around when the lightning struck. He did not say where she was at the time of the incident.

“The victims were in their open-air kitchen when they were hit by lightning,” Adao said.

Another child, a four-year-old son of the Funtilars, was able to seek shelter inside their bedroom when the lightning storm started and was unharmed

Hi, my name is Myrna Soriano. I was outside when a heavy downpour started. I took shelter under a mango tree but that was not enough as the lightning struck me even there. Be sure to stay away from trees during storms. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202903

A 33-year-old female farmer was struck and killed by lightning in Barangay Tococ-Barikir this town on Sunday.

In an interview on Monday, Mangatarem Police Station deputy chief Capt. Jorlan Salcedo identified the victim as Myrna Soriano, a local resident here.

“The victim was discovered lifeless by her brother Sunday late afternoon. She was still brought to the nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the physician,” he said.

Salcedo said the attending physician confirmed that the victim was hit by lightning as proven by the burnt parts of her body, especially at the back of her neck that caused her death.

Based on the police’s investigation, the victim took shelter under a mango tree following a sudden heavy downpour where she was struck by the lightning.

Salcedo said this is the first death caused by lightning in the town from January to June 4 this year. 

The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has reminded the public to stop all outdoor activities and get inside the house, building, or car with a sturdy roof during a thunderstorm to prevent accidents.

The PDRRMO also advised that the appliances and gadgets, such as the television, should be turned off and removed from the outlet.

“Stay away from windows and doors as well as on terraces. Stay away from electric posts, tall trees, and those in open areas. Wait for 30 minutes from the last lightning or thunder before going out,” the PDRRMO said.

Hi, my name is Sofronio Pal Taneo. I was out fishing at midnight when I got struck by lightning. Thankfully a neighbor saw what happened from his window and he attempted to rescue me. But it was too late as I was already dead.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1780520/fisherman-dead-after-lightning-hit-him-in-davao-city-waters

A man fishing along the waters off the coastline of Aplaya Beach in Lanang in this city died on the spot after lightning struck him shortly before midnight of Tuesday, June 6.

Police Major Jake Goles, Sasa police station chief, said Sofronio Pal Taneo, 65, a resident of Sitio Bolakan, Barangay Aquino of Agdao here, was hit by lightning and was immediately rescued by a certain Armand Alcociba, who saw the incident from the window of his house in Barangay Lizada.

Alcociba told the police that he immediately called his brother and friends to rescue the fisherman.

But although they retrieved Taneo’s body and brought him to the shore, their attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Responding police units and the search-and-rescue team of the Davao Central 991 also tried to revive the victim when they arrived at the scene but to no avail.

Taneo, a native of Manual Barangay Site in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, was declared dead by physicians and  was brought to a local funeral parlor for proper disposition.

Authorities have been warning individuals to keep away from flat areas and high grounds during thunderstorms; and to avoid using their cellular devices  as precautionary measures against lightning.

Early this year, five youths  were killed and another one survived up in the slopes of Barangay Binaton, Digos City, when a fierce lightning struck the makeshift hut, where they took shelter from the rain and thunder.

Hi, my name is Joel Cailo. A storm hit so I used a giant leaf to protect me from the rain. That was not enough to protect me from the lightning. Another farmer saw what happened and was able to retrieve my body with the help of a village offical.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748083/lighting-kills-farmer-in-samar

A 42-year-old farmer in Gandara town, Samar province, died after he was hit by lightning during a heavy downpour on Friday, March 24.

Joel Cailo was using a giant leaf as cover while walking in an open rice field when the lightning struck him at around 2 p.m.

Another farmer, Lito Velarde, was able to take shelter in a nearby nipa house about 15 meters away from Cailo.

Velarde sought assistance from a village official to retrieve Cailo’s body, which sustained severe burns due to the lightning strike.

Lightning strikes are one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the Philippines, particularly during thunderstorms. Experts suggest seeking immediate shelter indoors or inside a vehicle when a thunderstorm is detected.

Hi, my name is Jordan Batralo. I was collecting seashells along the coast when I was struck by a bolt go lightning and killed. Villagers recovered my body and alerted the authorities the next day. 

Hi, my name is John Alexander Ballon. I am an 11-year old 5th grade student. I was out swimming when a thunderstorm suddenly appeared and I was struck and killed by lightning. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1817280/lightning-strikes-kills-fisherman-boy-in-quezon

A fisherman and a boy died after lightning struck them in separate incidents in Quezon province on Monday, police said in a report on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Quezon police said fisherman Jordan Batralo, 52, was collecting sea shells along the coast of Tayabas Bay in Barangay Soliyao Ibaba in Pitogo town when a bolt of lightning struck and hit him around 4 p.m. on Monday. His body was recovered by villagers who reported the incident to the police the next day.

In Lucena City, John Alexander Ballon, 11, was swimming in the waters off the coastal village of Dalahican when lightning struck him around 3 p.m.

Ballon suffered burn injuries and died while being taken to St. Anne General Hospital in the city center.

On Monday afternoon, heavy rains suddenly poured in the city accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms.

Hi, we are the Soberano family. We were farming charcoal when a storm hit so we took shelter in a nipa hut. But that was not enough as lightning struck the hut killing 3 of us and injuring 9 more. Even our dog died. Among the dead was a pregnant 14 year old girl. Her live-in partner said she was three months pregnant. 

https://www.panaynews.net/lightning-kills-3-injures-9-in-banate/

A lightning strike that hit a family of 12 killed three members in Sitio Giragid, Barangay Magdalo, Banate town around 12:18 p.m. yesterday.

Declared “dead upon arrival” at the hospital were Mila Soberano, 38; Rosalie Soberano, 48; and Britney Labos, 14, who was around three months pregnant, according to her live-in partner.

Meanwhile, injured were Felomino Sadiangibon, 77; Janelyn Igona, 38; Carlo Soberano, 11; Jumar Soberano, 42; Larry Soberano, 30; Sharime Soberano, 20; IJ Siberano, 20; Aime Soberano, 14; and Ivan Soberano, 44. They were treated at the Barotac Viejo District Hospital.

All are residents of Barangay Libertad, Banate.

Police Lieutenant Dandy Ilalto, chief of the Banate Municipal Police Station, said the victims were farming charcoal when the rain poured and they took shelter in a nipa hut.

A dog owned by one of the victims also died.