Insurgency: Over 500 Community Projects

The AFP is trying new things to end the insurgency. Well, maybe these community programs are nothing new exactly. But they really do underscore the fact that the AFP has transformed good governance into a counterinsurgency program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211518

The Visayas Command (Viscom) on Tuesday said 569 community development projects in central Philippines’ 16 provinces immensely contributed to the impending complete downfall of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom chief, said the projects hatched through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC) Barangay Development Program (BDP) aided the military to further neutralize communist leaders, most of whom surrendered to authorities.

“We have sustained our gains and prevented the CPP-NPA from regaining their foothold in the region. We will continue our relentless focused military operations to further push the terrorist group to their imminent collapse,” he said on the sidelines of a command conference at the Viscom headquarters here late Monday.

Arevalo said 263 of the BDP in the Visayas were programmed in 2021 while 306 were in 2022.

He disclosed that cases filed against NPA rebels include recruitment, killings, use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines, destruction of civilian properties, and use of children in armed conflict.

“The CPP-NPA’s reign of terror in the region is nearing its end. Their leaders continue to fall and their members continue to return to the fold of the law,” he said

They do not disclose exactly what these programs are which is disappointing. Where is the transparency? What is it? Roads? Feeding programs? Who knows!

The AFP is now targeting the families of NPA rebels in an effort "to completely wipe out the insurgency in the province." 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211572

The Philippine Army and the local government of Borongan in Eastern Samar will extend more assistance to families of active members of the New People’s Army (NPA) as part of their strategy to completely wipe out the insurgency in the province.

This developed as the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade recently launched the Friends Rescued Engagement through their Families (FReE Families) project to prevent the recruitment of family members of active NPA combatants.

“The FReE Families project aims to help the families of active NPA members in the 802nd Brigade’s area of operation in Eastern Samar from the anxiety caused by the continued membership of their relatives in the NPA," commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, said in an interview on Wednesday.

"It has been observed that these family members are also pressured by the Communist Terrorist Group’s leadership to join or support the armed struggle through disinformation, such as instilling hate and fear of the government."

Some officials of the military, police, and local governments, and 29 family members of 19 active NPA members who are residents of the province witnessed the launch of the project in Borongan on Oct. 4.

“The launch was also a venue to know the families’ concerns on having loved ones involved in the communist armed movement. These family members and relatives of active NPA members were also accompanied by their respective village chiefs during the activity to show their endless support in bringing their misguided loved ones to return to the mainstream society and live a peaceful life,” Vestuir added.

Since the transfer of the 802nd brigade from Ormoc City in Leyte to Borongan City in Eastern Samar in May this year, at least seven active NPA combatants have surrendered, while hundreds of their supporters in some parts of Samar provinces have abandoned the communist ideology.

Vestuir attributed this accomplishment to the FReE Families-related program of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in collaboration with family members.

This raises a lot of questions. Notably if the AFP knows who is kin to NPA rebels then they know who these rebels are by name. That means they could get a better count on how many rebels remain but we have seen that when it comes to numbers the AFP is just guessing. 

In Neros Island the AFP is ramping up peace programs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211617

The Philippine Army is strengthening local peace engagements in Negros Island to resolve conflict and encourage Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels to return to the fold of the law.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) and Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, underscored such an initiative in support of the whole-of-government approach mandated under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELAC).

“We should support the NTF-ELCAC and local peace engagement to prevent and resolve conflicts and violence,” Sison said in a statement on Wednesday.

He assured that the 3ID would protect the Negrenses and end the decades-long insurgency.

“Whatever we are doing now is part of the efforts that the soldiers of the 3ID are undertaking. It’s not just a promise, it's our commitment to the Filipino people and our country,” he added.

Data from the 3ID showed that from January 2022 to date, the CPP-NPA has been responsible for the deaths of 34 civilians, five soldiers, three former rebels, four government officials, and one police officer in Negros Island.

The communist group had admitted responsibility for 25 violent incidents as published on their websites.

“We are pursuing more comprehensive local peace engagements so that the remaining NPA fighters in the mountains can surrender and avail of our government’s program to start a new life with their families,” Edralin said.

According to the NTF-ELCAC, the local peace engagement intends to facilitate the peace process from the bottom level of the locality or community.

“This is highly encouraged as its main essence is to reach the possible group of surrenderers down the line,” it added.

The main essence of these programs is to reach surrenderers!? If that is the case then there is no reason Marcos has not declared amnesty yet. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211688

The implementation of an amnesty program for active members of the New People’s Army could help the government address the insurgency problem in Northern Samar, according to Governor Edwin Ongchuan.

The governor said he noticed that rebels with standing warrants of arrest are hesitant to surrender, which hinders the goal of the government to completely wipe out insurgency in the province.

“Many are willing to surrender, but they don’t want to get arrested. The amnesty program will convince more of them to abandon the armed struggle and join the government’s peace and development efforts,” Ongchuan said in an interview Thursday.

During his second State of the Nation Address last July, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said he will sign a proclamation granting amnesty to rebels involved in armed struggle.

An organization of former rebels in the region, the USWAG Siniringan Bisayas, supported the initiative.

The group said the amnesty program could be a tool to convince those who are still active members of the communist group to lay down their arms and return to the folds of law.

Recently, 35 former rebels from the province received financial assistance from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Program, a government initiative aiming to provide a comprehensive package of benefits and assistance for those who decided to return to the fold of the law.

Countering insurgency is a top priority of the provincial government as Northern Samar is the last bastion of insurgency with the existence of two active NPA guerilla fronts.

Rebels with long standing warrants means they are known by name. Again that means the AFP knows who these people are. And to give these people amnesty would be a travesty of justice. No doubt these warrants are for murder.

The AFP says the NPA is responsible for the deaths of 34 civilains in Negros Island in the past year. 

https://visayandailystar.com/npa-blamed-for-34-civilian-deaths-in-negros/

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported that the New People’s Army perpetrated 51 violent incidents in Negros Island alone, from 2022 up to August 9 this year, which resulted in the death of 34 civilians, five Army soldiers, three former rebels, four barangay officials, and a police officer

Of the 34 slain civilians, 22 were suspected as military informants, according to a military report.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who yesterday attended a press briefing organized by the National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, noted that almost all the killings were claimed by the New People’s Army, as published in their social media accounts.

Edralin noted that the increase in numbers of civilians being liquidated also came in the wake of increased encounters between NPA remnants and Army soldiers, where many rebels died, including their leaders.

According to Edralin, their admission of responsibility for killings of alleged military informants form part of the NPA propaganda to prove that they still exist, despite the debacles they suffered in sustained military focused operations of the Philippine Army, the general said.

Aside from killing innocent civilians, Edralin also reported the ongoing purging of suspected military informants among the rank and file of the NPA.

“It shows how frustrated they are, on their current situation,” he added.

Military records further showed that eight heavy equipment and cargo trucks were burned by the NPA.

Why should these criminals be given amnesty and not be held accountable for their crimes? 

It turns out that the AFP does not want these people held accountable because they are convincing families of those slain by the NPA to not press charges.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1845385/courts-acquit-13-npa-surrenderees-in-zamboanga-del-sur

Around 13 former New People’s Army rebels who had surrendered to the military were recently acquitted of various charges by several courts in Zamboanga del Sur, an Army official said.

Lt. Col. Terence Ylanan, commander of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, told the Inquirer that the former rebels received their respective copies of the decisions on the cases last Monday.

Ylanan disclosed that every former rebel faced three to four cases, mostly murder, frustrated murder, grave threats, and arson — crimes that they allegedly committed while still active in the communist guerrilla movement.

Lawyer Jose Ruel Saniel, head of the legal cluster of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), assisted the 13 former rebels in the process of dealing with the charges for about a year and a half.

Before having their records cleared, “and in between court hearings, the PTF-ELCAC prepared them for their reintegration to their communities through livelihood and skills trainings while they were secured at the halfway houses constructed specifically for the surrenderees,” Ylanan said.

Ylanan also explained that the legal team assisted in dialogues with families, both from the military and civilians killed in encounters, to convince them to desist from the cases filed against the former rebels.

That is simply outrageous. 

Plastic as a Firestarter

Who does not like a good barbecue or rotisserie chicken? Filipinos know how to prepare juicy meats on the grill and the spit. Some folks have secret recipes for meat sauce. Others know just what to burn to get the flavor into the meat. This guy, like so many others, uses plastic to get his charcoals started. 

Yummy, yummy, yummy! 

Who doesn't want toxins released from burning plastic cooked into their dinner? It gives the meat that perfect flavor so unique to the Philippines. 

The God Culture: The Philippines Is Not Ophir

Have you heard the chatter across the internet that the Philippines is actually the Biblical land of Ophir? It sounds good but once the evidence is sifted the claims turn out to be completely false. Let's take a look at several important reasons why the Philippines is most certainly not Ophir. All of these points have been discussed in my articles debunking Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture. 

1. Josephus says India is Ophir

If we want to know where the land of Ophir is why would we not go back to the oldest sources? In the first century AD Josephus wrote an extensive history of the Jewish nation. He tells us in no uncertain terms that Ophir is the Golden Chersonesus which belongs to India. 

4. Moreover the King built many ships in the Egyptian bay of the Red Sea; in a certain place called Ezion-geber. It is now called Berenice; and is not far from the city Eloth. This countrey belonged formerly to the Jews; and became useful for shipping, from the donations of Hiram King of Tyre. For he sent a sufficient number of men thither for pilots, and such as were skilfull in navigation: to whom Solomon gave this command, that they should go along with his own stewards to the land that was of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus: which belongs to India: to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four hundred talents together, they returned to the King again.

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-8.html

There is only one place in the entire world which is called the Golden Chersonesus and that is the Malay Peninsula. Therefore the Philippines is not Ophir. 

2. Timothy Jay Schwab agrees India has all the resources attributed to Ophir

In his testing the resources of Ophir The God Culture admits that India has all the resources attributed to Ophir. 

#33: Is India Ophir? 100 Clues The Philippines Is Ophir

2:29 One such claim is that India must be Ophir. Now we will give them that India does in fact have the resources on Solomon's list. Yes it does.

In his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure he says the same thing. 

The only other coherent claim as far as resources are concerned is India yet it’s own history says it had a source of ancient gold and silver, isles to the East thus none of these make any sense except the Philippines. 

 Every resource of Solomon tests as native to the Philippines and all other claims fail in this chapter except India whose claim already failed the test of it’s own history. 

Solomon's Treasure, pgs. 110 and 115

Notice how in the same sentence Tim contradicts himself by saying India's claim does not fail but also fails the test of history despite Josephus claiming India is Ophir. What is important to note is that Tim admits India has all the resources of Ophir which affirms the historical claim of Josephus that Ophir is in India. 

3. No Ancient Map Shows the Philippines

If the Philippines is actually Ophir then why do all ancient geographies omit the Philippines? 

Because no ancient Romans or Greeks ever sailed to the Philippines. If they did then these expert cartographers would have included it in their descriptions of the world. As it is Ptolemy's map, which is the pinnacle of ancient geography, ends with the Golden Chersonesus and an enclosed Indian Ocean. There is no room for any islands east of the Malay Peninsula because no one had sailed that far east. Yet The God Culture claims Filipinos and Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to trade with one another until the time of Jesus Christ. That is ridiculous and there is simply no getting around this fact no matter how many hoops The God Culture jumps through.

4. Roman artifacts have been found in Mainland Asia but not in the Philippines

If the ancient Romans and Greeks had been sailing to the Philippines to trade then why is there no record of their presence? Roman coins have been found as far east as Vietnam.

Óc Eo (Vietnamese) is an archaeological site in modern-day Óc Eo commune of Thoại Sơn District in An Giang Province of southern Vietnam. Located in the Mekong Delta, Óc Eo was a busy port of the kingdom of Funan between the 2nd century BC and 12th century AD and it may have been the port known to the Romans as Cattigara.

The remains found at Óc Eo include pottery, tools, jewelry, casts for making jewelry, coins, and religious statues. Among the finds are gold jewellery imitating coins from the Roman Empire of the Antonine period. Roman golden medallions from the reign of Antoninus Pius, and possibly his successor Marcus Aurelius, have been discovered at Óc Eo, which was near Chinese-controlled Jiaozhou and the region where Chinese historical texts claim the Romans first landed before venturing further into China to conduct diplomacy in 166. Many of the remains have been collected and are on exhibition in Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City.

Funan was part of the region of Southeast Asia referred to in ancient Indian texts as Suvarnabhumi, and may have been the part to which the term was first applied.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattigara

There have been plenty of archaeological digs and finds across the Philippines but no ancient Roman or Greek artifacts have ever been found in the Philippines. That is because they never sailed to or traded with the Philippines.

5. Ophir is Never Described as a Group of Islands

One thing The God Culture is fond of saying is that in the Bible Ophir is called "the isles in the east at the ends of the earth." 

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 89

These isles are East at the ends of the Earth and they are identified as Tarshish, Ophir and Sheba.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 93

However, the Bible never mentions Isles in the East or At the Ends of the Earth. 

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?hs=1&q=%22isles+in+the+east%22

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?hs=1&q=%22at+the+ends+of+the+earth%22

Chapter 8 in his book is a very convoluted misinterpretation of Scripture but unravelling Tim's ridiculous Bible interpretation is beyond the scope of this article. Here is every mention of Ophir in the Bible. At no time is Ophir ever described as a group of islands.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?hs=1&q=ophir

What the Bible has to say about Ophir is very limited. All we know about Ophir geographically is that it is in the east from the Red Sea port of Ezion-geber. Other than that and the list of resources brought back nothing is known about Ophir.  Neither Ophir, Tarshish, or Sheba are ever described as being islands and to twist the Bible to make it say otherwise is bad hermeneutics. 

6. The God Culture Lies Too Much to be Trusted About Anything

The above five reasons are more than enough to reject any claim that the Philippines is Ophir. But The God Culture has gone a step further and produced a series of videos and a book full of convoluted, byzantine, and in some cases fabricated evidence to prove the Philippines is Ophir. Here are just a few of those claims:

Antonio Pigafetta saw elephants in the Philippines.

Fernando Pinto shipwrecked in the Philippines and placed them at 9N20.

Filipinos and Greeks regularly circumnavigated Africa to trade with one another. 

The Lequios Islands are Luzon Island in the Philippines.

Antonio Pigafetta's journal is the only eyewitness source to Magellan's landing in the Philippines.

Antonio Pigafetta claimed Samar Island is Cattigara. 

The Philippines is Antillia.

The City of Manila is mentioned on a 1492 map.

The Behaim map is Portuguese when it is really German. 

And the list goes on. 

Over the past few years I have meticulously dismantled and exposed the nonsense of Timothy Jay Schwab. He lies when he says no one has disproved him in seven years. I have done that a multitude of times and I will continue to do so. 

Conclusion

This is just a brief list of the many reasons the Philippines is not Ophir. I believe they are the strongest reasons. The oldest testimony as to where Ophir is locates it in India in the Golden Chersonesus. Ancient maps prove that no one knew anything past the Golden Chersonesus. The Bible never describes Ophir as islands in the east at the ends of the earth. Those facts cannot be overcome and with that Timothy Jay Schwab's case for the Philippines as Ophir is untenable ab initio.

Retards the Government 331

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

 

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1841944/barangay-councilor-gunned-down-in-cebu-town

A barangay councilor in Cansomoroy, Balamban town, west Cebu was gunned down by still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants on Thursday, October 6.

Anastacio Pacquiao, who is also running for village chief of Barangay Cansomoroy in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, was driving his motorcycle at past 5 p.m. when the perpetrators shot him in the head.

Balamban Police Chief Lt. Glenn Hife said the shooting incident happened in Barangay Prenza also in Balamban town, which is some 50 kilometers west of Cebu City.

The 60-year-old Pacquiao was rushed to the hospital but died on the way.

Hife said witnesses heard only one gunshot during the incident.

Investigators were able to secure closed-circuit television footage in the area that may help them identify the perpetrators.

The victim’s family told the police that the village councilor did not receive any threat to his life.

Police said they have yet to establish the motive behind the killing.

A barangay councilor has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/4/bske-bet-in-pangasinan-wounded-in-ambush

A barangay councilor running for chairman in the barangay elections on October 30 was wounded in an ambush in Barangay Gracia Village, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on Tuesday night, October 3.

Police identified the victim as Salvador Tan Garcia, 45, a resident of Barangay Asin East, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

Garcia was driving his black Nissan Terra on the way to his house in Barangay Gracia Village when he was shot several times by an unidentified gunman.

The victim sustained bullet wounds and brought himself to the Urdaneta District Hospital in Barangay Dilan-Paurido, Urdaneta City.

He was later transferred to the Sacred Heart Hospital, Barangay San Vicente, Urdaneta City.

Police have conducted checkpoint and dragnet operations against the suspect.

Pangasinan police chief Police Col. Jeff E. Fanged said that an in-depth investigation on the incident is ongoing.

A barangay councilor running for chairman has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1841945/village-treasurer-dies-in-leyte-town-gun-attack

A village treasurer in Leyte town was killed while his companion was wounded when unidentified gunmen fired at them in Barangay Cahigan in the municipality of Villaba on Thursday afternoon.

Mateo Rasonable, 41, treasurer of Barangay Mataloto in Leyte town, and his companion Gelyn Gulane, 86, were on board a motorcycle when the assailants attacked them, said Villaba Police Station Chief Major Edwin Tolibas.

Gulane managed to run despite having gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body.

A thorough investigation is being conducted by the Villaba police to identify the perpetrators and the motive behind the killing.

A village treasurer has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/6/sandigan-affirms-graft-conviction-of-incumbent-ex-officials-of-antique-town

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the graft conviction of incumbent and former officials of Patnongon town in Antique and a private individual in the irregular transfer of ownership of the municipality's P9.9 million rice mill in 2007 and 2008.

Denied were the motions for reconsideration filed by Patnongon Mayor Johnny Flores Bacongallo, Vice Mayor Thomas V. Bacaoco, Councilors Felix Gregorio G. Barrientos and Al Brian T. Crespo; and former mayor Henry A. Mondejar, former councilors Erika C. Orcasitas, Rene Philip G. Cayetano, and Teopisto C. Estaris, Jr.; and Greater Antique Development (GRAND) Cooperative Chairman Efren G. Escavilla.

The criminal charges filed against them stated that in January 2007 to 2008, they conspired with Escavilla and caused the transfer of ownership, operation and maintenance of the P9.9 million rice mill which was intended for the municipality of Patnongon and funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former lone district of Antique Rep. Exequiel B. Javier.

The transfer was reportedly made in favor solely of Grand Coop without any financial consideration, research, study or justification of the necessity of entering into such partnership, the charges also stated.

They were found guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, in a decision promulgated on April 14, 2023.  They were also banned perpetually from holding public office.

In denying their motions, the court said that "the evidence and the totality of the circumstances surrounding the transaction point to the existence of the concerted action of the accused-movants and Grand Coop. in causing undue injury to the government, and giving unwarranted benefits, advantage, and preference to Grand Coop."

"In sum, this Court, after revisiting the facts and circumstances surrounding this case and with a further meticulous scrutiny of the arguments and counter-arguments respectively raised by the accused-movants and the prosecution, this Court, as earlier revealed, finds no cogent reason to alter, amend, revised, or even reverse its decision promulgated on April 14, 2023," the resolution said.

The Sandigan has upheld the conviction of several current and former Antique executives for graft. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1841734/cop-responsible-for-halting-traffic-flow-along-commonwealth-for-vip-sacked-qcpd

The police officer responsible for halting traffic flow along Commonwealth corner Tandang Sora Avenue to allegedly let the convoy of Vice President Sara Duterte pass through has been relieved from his post, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). 

QCPD issued a statement and likewise apologized after the video of a police officer identified as a certain Sergeant Pantallano went viral on social media Thursday afternoon.  

“We would like to apologize for the inconvenience we have brought to the motoring public due to the stopping of the traffic flow along Commonwealth westbound,” the QCPD said in a statement.  

“That the said incident stemmed from a confusion and lapse in judgment of our policeman (Pantallano) manning the traffic during that time,” it added. 

According to QCPD, Pantallano “overreacted” and cleared the traffic “as a sign of courtesy and security” when he mistakenly heard the word “VP” and assumed that Vice President Sara Duterte would pass through the area. 

The vice president had been in Agusan del Norte since Wednesday. She attended the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 13 and the World Teachers’ Day Celebration on Thursday.

(I apologize for my mistake. Forgive me, I thought a VIP will pass through.)

“I have ordered the relief of my policeman and put him under investigation to determine administrative liability for his actions. We assure the public that this incident will not happen again,” Holy Spirit Police Station commander Lt. Col. May Genio said.

A cop who claimed VP Duterte wanted traffic stopped has been dismissed. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/06/23/4-ex-govt-execs-get-up-to-47-years-in-prison-for-pork-barrel-misuse

Four former executives of the defunct Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) will face up to 47 years in prison after the Sandiganbayan convicted them of graft and malversation in connection with the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of former lawmaker Marc Douglas Cagas IV.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division on Friday found former TLRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, former group manager and legislative liaison officer Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, former budget officer Consuelo Lilian Espiritu and former chief accountant Marivic Jover guilty of 2 counts of graft, malversation of public funds and malversation of public funds through falsification.

Each of them is also fined P5.4 million and all were ordered to jointly return to the government P5.4 million plus legal interests.

They were also perpetually disqualified from holding any public office and their retirement or gratuity benefits were forfeited.

The case involves a series of transactions in February 2008 whereim Cagas, then the House representative for the first district of Davao del Sur, endorsed to his chosen NGO, the Farmerbusiness Development Corporation (FDC), PDAF funds ranging from P600,000 to P6 million, supposedly for livelihood and development projects.

Cunanan, Lacsamana, Jover and Espiritu signed the disbursement vouchers.

In convicting the 4 execs of graft, the anti-graft court said the unilateral endorsement of funds to FDC violated procurement and appropriation laws and regulations because FDC was not among the listed implementing agencies of PDAF-funded livelihood projects and the endorsement did not go through bidding nor was it a negotiated procurement.

The transfer of funds also violated circulars of the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit, the court added. 

Four former government executives have been convicted of graft over misuse of PDAF money. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1842487/village-councilor-bet-in-samar-shot-dead

A candidate for barangay councilor was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants along the national highway in Barangay Casab-ahan, Gandara town, Samar on Friday, October 6.

Roldan Pesidas, 43, supervisor of Achiever Security Agency Philippines, was driving his motorcycle at around 3 p.m. when the perpetrators on board their motorcycle suddenly fired at him.

The victim suffered gunshot wounds in his body.

The suspects fled towards Catbalogan City, according to witnesses.

Police investigators said Pesidas was a candidate for councilor in Barangay Canhawan Gote, Catbalogan City, Samar.

The Gandara police are conducting an investigation to identify the suspects and the motive behind the killing.

A candidiate for village councilor has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/8/bske-bet-knifed-dead-in-laguna

A candidate for councilor or kagawad in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30 was stabbed to death in front of his house in Barangay San Felix in this town on Saturday, October 7.

Police identified the victim as Marvin Laluz, 29, a former barangay councilor from 2013 to 2018.

Investigation said Laluz was drunk and last seen with an unidentified man at about 12:01 a.m. in Purok 1 on his way home.

Laluz’s sister heard him seeking help but paid no attention, thinking that he was just drunk. Minutes later, the victim was found bloodied with multiple stab wounds in the body.

He was taken to the Bay Medical Center in Bay, Laguna where he was declared dead.

Police arrested “Jerry” in a follow-up operation at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Sitio Tanza, Barangay Tubuan, Pila, Laguna, for concealing and facilitating the escape of the suspect “Jerome.”

Jerry was earlier seen in Barangay Cagaras, Magdalena, Laguna  in a surveillance footage driving a scooter and Jerome as back rider on their way to the house of uncle “Jonathan” to seek refuge. Jonathan rejected Jerry’s request to stay and asked them to leave.

Jerome is at large and is the subject of a police manhunt. 

A candidate for barangay councilor who was also a former councilor was assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/9/cop-in-hot-water-for-planting-evidence-in-sari-sari-store

A police officer is in hot water for allegedly planting evidence in a “sari-sari” (community) store in Limasawa, Southern Leyte, recently.

A video, which has been making rounds online, showed Police Corporal Ruel Arot, assigned to the Limasawa Police Station, allegedly planting cigarettes in a store owned by one Raniel Salomon after his alleged informant was able to buy a pack from him.

He was also caught issuing a citation ticket and reading Salomon's rights which he refused to sign.

Arot and Police Lt. John Michael Crispino, Limawasa chief of police, have been relieved to give way to an investigation by the Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office.

Police Col. Hector Enage, Southern Leyte police director, said Arot will be assigned to the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU).

Enage added that an administrative or criminal case will be filed against Arot if evidence warrants.

A special team of investigators from the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit (PIDMU) has been tasked to supervise the investigation.

Police Major Marjorie Manuta, regional public information officer, said the Police Regional Office-8 has not yet released a statement on the September 30 incident since they are still awaiting updates from the SLPPO.

Arot defended himself in media interviews and social media posts. "I did not, I am not overacting (OA) to get a search warrant...When you see someone illegally selling cigarettes, you can apprehend him," Arot said in an interview.

He added that they have received reports that Salomon has been selling cigarettes.

A cop has been accused of planting evidence.   

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1843394/sc-upholds-conviction-of-former-bohol-town-mayor

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the conviction of former Corella town mayor in Bohol and now incumbent councilor Vito Beltran Rapal over his unliquidated cash advances and for pocketing money intended for tarsier preservation.

In a 15-page decision promulgated on Aug. 16, 2023 but uploaded on the Supreme Court website on Sept. 28, the high court’s first division reaffirmed the decision of Sandiganbayan’s 4th division that found Rapal guilty of four counts of graft, estafa and failure to render accounts.

Rapal was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison. He was also ordered perpetually disqualified from holding public office and to pay the Corella municipal government P1,088,252.20 and P92,239.70 which is equivalent to the amount involved in the cases.

The criminal cases arose from incidents which occurred during Rapal’s incumbency as mayor of Corella town.

Rapal used the proceeds of the municipality from its 40 percent revenue share in its joint undertaking with the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. (PTFI), for the operation of the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary from October 25, 2008 to June 15, 2009 amounting P92,239.70.

The court cited the testimonies of former mayor’s office secretary Celerina Varquez and municipal tourism officer Maria Asuncion Pandan that they received the Tarsier Funds from PTFI and gave the whole amount to Rapal, following the latter’s instructions instead of remitting the amount to the municipal treasurer’s office.

In his defense, Rapal denied having received the Tarsier Funds. He attacked the credibility of witnesses Varquez and Pandan, stressing that they had motive to ascribe blame on him in order to evade liability for the missing funds themselves.

Rapal was also found guilty of failing to account for P1,088,252.20 worth of cash advances from a budget intended for the town’s intelligence and confidential, travel and miscellaneous fund and other expenses.

The court agreed with the Sandiganbayan that the government suffered undue injury from Rapal’s failure to liquidate or settle the amount of P1,088,252.20 in public funds.

The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a former mayor for unliqiuidating cash advances. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/23/lto-summons-ex-employee-over-bulacan-road-rage-incident

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned its former employee caught on video supposedly "bullying" a delivery rider over a traffic incident in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

In a statement, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said a summon has been issued against Gregorio Glean for him to appear before the Central Office this week for investigation.

Glean was formerly a "job order" worker at the Driver’s Licensing and Renewal Office of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

"I expect him to honor the summon. Failure to do so means that he is waiving his right for all the measures that we would take against him not only as a driver’s license holder but also a former LTO personnel who is supposed to be a model of courtesy and discipline on the road,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza said he ordered the regional office where Glean was formerly employed to "make sure that Glean will no longer be hired by the LTO, especially that the LTO Chief found out that Glean was appealing to the LTO-Region 3 to go back to his old job."

The LTO said initial investigation indicated that Glean was supposedly armed.

A former LTO employee has been summoned over a road rage incident. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1843378/marcos-suspends-ltfrb-chair-guadiz-amid-alleged-corruption

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday suspended Teofilo Guadiz III from his post as Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair amid reports of alleged corruption.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced the suspension in a statement, stating that Marcos already instructed an investigation on the matter.

“The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter,” the PCO said.

“He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service,” it added.

The LTFRB Chairman has been received over alleged corruption.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/11/criminal-admin-charges-filed-vs-panabo-city-mayor-for-appointing-budget-officer-not-vice-mayor-as-city-s-officer-in-charge

Criminal and administrative complaints were filed on Wednesday, Oct. 11, before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Panabo City, Davao del Norte Mayor Jose E. Relampagos in the appointment of the city's budget officer as officer-in-charge when he travelled abroad from Sept. 21, to 23, 2023.

The complaints against Relampagos and City Budget Officer Joven M. Sepe were filed personally by Vice Mayor Gregorio U. Dujali at the OMB's offices in Quezon City for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and grave misconduct.

Neither Relampagos nor Sepe could be contracted for their comments as of posting.

The complaint stated that Relampagos issued last Sept. 19 Memorandum Order No. 674, series of 2023, addressed to Sepe who was assigned as the city's officer-in-charge from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23, 2023.

Dujali said in his complaints that he should have been assigned as officer-in-charge to assume the responsibilities and carry out the functions of the city mayor while Relampagos was away. 

"It is crucial to emphasize that the law does not bestow upon the mayor the unilateral authority to designate an alternative officer-in-charge in such situations," he said.

He also said that while  Relampagos was away, Sepe issued Memorandum No. 892, series of 2023, which suspended work in all local government unit (LGU) offices on Sept. 22 and approved a Purchase Order for P4,510.

He pointed out that the Sangguniang Panlungsod did not receive any documentation regarding Relampagos' leave of absence, which was supposed to have been approved by the provincial governor. 

At the same time, Dujali accused Relampagos of reporting back to work on Sept. 26, which he said was confirmed by the Office of the City Legal.

"Alarmingly, no written declaration from the respondent (Relampagos) confirming his return to office was provided, as mandated by Section 46(b) of the Local Government Code. This significant omission raises serious questions regarding the adherence to proper procedures and the timing of the respondent's resumption of duties, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of his actions," Dujali's complaint also stated.

Thus, Dujali said, Relampagos portrayed a "wanton, deliberate, and capricious disregard for the rule of law" because he did not follow "established legal procedures."

Since Relampagos only appointed Sepe as OIC from Sept. 21 to 23, Dujali said that there was a "leadership hiatus" from Sept. 24 to 25 because Relampagos returned to his office only on Sept. 26.

"This glaring incongruity between the designated period of absence and the actual return date had profound and far-reaching consequences," Dujali said.

Since Relampagos' apointment of Sepe lacked legal basis, the latter acted with manifest partiality when he acted "in favor of the mayor, even in the absence of proper authority."

"Respondent's willingness to carry out actions stemming from an invalid designation, despite the potential harm and confusion it could cause to the local government, certainly demonstrates evident bad faith on the part of the respondent," Dujali also said.

Criminal charges have been filed against a mayor for not appointing the vice mayor as city's officer in charge. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211611

Seven of the eight Cavite police officers who were caught on video while ransacking the house of a retired professor in an anti-drug operation have been dismissed from the service.

 

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said top cop Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has signed the dismissal order against Staff Sergeants Jesus Alday, Julius Barbon, and Emil Buna; Corporals Jenerald Cadiang and Lew Amando Antonio; and patrol officers Reymel Czar Reyes and Rene Mendoza.

 

“They will be slapped with six counts of grave misconduct, two counts of less grave misconduct, one count of grave irregularity in the performance of duty, grave dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer,” Fajardo said, adding that Acorda based his decision on the recommendation of the police force's Internal Affairs Service.

This stemmed from the Aug. 2 operation of the members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) unit, who were in civilian clothes when they forcibly entered the house of 67-year-old suspect Rebecca Caoile in Barangay Alapan 1-A, Imus City, Cavite.

In a viral video, Caoile was heard screaming for help during the incident. It also showed that other cops who remained outside of the suspect's residence were tinkering with a parked motorcycle and some police officers carrying some items from her house, including a tire and a motorcycle rim. 

The police officers also allegedly took cash, a laptop, and other items from Caoile's residence. Caoile was then arrested. 

They were relieved and taken into police custody after the incident pending criminal and administrative investigation. Charges of robbery were later filed against them.

Seven cops have been dismissed for robbing a house. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211639

A municipal mayor in Maguindanao del Sur province was arrested Wednesday night by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) after he was linked to the murder of a town councilor last April.

Mayor Solayman Sandigan of Datu Salibo town did not resist arrest when law enforcers presented him with the warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Cotabato City.

The CIDG, backed by Datu Piang municipal police office personnel and the military’s 601st Infantry Brigade, served the warrant at around 7 p.m. in his home in Datu Piang town.

Sandigan was linked to the April 17, 2023 murder of Datu Salibo Municipal Councilor Demsom Silongan.

Silongan, 50, had just alighted from his pickup truck that time to attend a session at the town’s Sangguniang Bayan building when shot dead by a gunman.

The councilor’s driver, John Madzig, was injured in the incident.

The arrested mayor denied the charges and insisted he was innocent of the crime.

Following his arrest, Sandigan was brought to the CIDG detention facility in this city.

The court recommended no bail for the mayor’s arrest. Four other individuals who were listed in the warrant of arrest with Sandigan have voluntarily surrendered, according to the CIDG-BARMM.

A mayor has been arrested for the murder of a town councilor. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211635

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said charges have been filed against six persons, including three officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in connection with the alleged manipulation of onion prices in the country.

In a press briefing, Remulla said charges of hoarding, falsification and profiteering were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative (Bonena) officials Israel Reguyal, Mary Ann dela Rosa and Victor dela Rosa Jimenez.

Meanwhile, the NBI has also filed charges of violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) officer in charge (OIC) Junibert de Sagun and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Gerald Panganiban.

The DA officials were also charged administratively for insufficiency and incompetence of official duties under the Revised Administrative Code.

“We expect warrants of arrest to be issued once the case we file the case before the courts. We have raised the standards of evaluating cases. Our standard now is, reasonable certainty of conviction. We may be a little slower but we are more sure of the cases,” he added.

The cases involved 8,000 bags of onion in December 2022 transacted with the Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) in Taguig City investigated by the NBI.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier ordered law enforcement agencies to go after speculators and hoarders of onions, after prices soared to nearly PHP800 per kilo even as farmgate prices were only below PHP20 at the time.

“We’re talking about years and years of records, congressional records, and the thousands of pages of transcript. so we have to dig through all of these. So far this is what we have obtained through our efforts but we are looking at filing charges against other past officials and present officials of the DA and other offices,” Remulla said.

Remulla had previously directed prosecutors to ensure a sufficient case buildup for a conviction before cases are filed.

Three DA officials are being charged with onion price manipulation.