Monday, February 5, 2024

Residential Fires January, 2024

The Bureau of Fire Protection says residential fires were up 20.7% in 2023. These fires are always very destructive, immolating whole neighborhoods and displacing hundreds of familes and thousands of people with a single spark. The BFP also says residential areas are not covered by the fire code which means no one is inspecting those areas to prevent these devestaing fires.

Therefore I have decided to document these fires monthly as reported in the news. Hopefully we can see some patterns and gain a greater understanding of this preventable problem. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/11/1-hurt-300-residents-displaced-in-pandacan-fire

A 19-year-old boy was injured while 360 families or 1,118 individuals were rendered homeless by a fire that gutted at least 240 houses on Dapo Street, Pandacan, Manila on Thursday morning, Jan. 11.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the victim as Prince Adrian Cayago, who sustained a laceration on top of his head.

He was rushed to Ospital ng Maynila by the emergency team of Manila Fire District (MFD) and is currently under observation.

The BFP said the fire was raised to the first alarm at 5:57 a.m. and to the second alarm at 5:59 a.m.

It escalated to the third alarm at 6:49 a.m. and to the fourth alarm at 6:57 a.m.

Firefighters declared the blaze under control at 8:01 a.m.

It was extinguished at 8:26 a.m.

Based on the initial investigation, the fire started on the second floor of a two-story house owned by Fernando "Boyet" Melgar.

The BFP said three barangays were affected by the fire. They were barangays 849, 850, 852.

It said 53 displaced families or 160 individuals were residing in Barangay 849, while 279 families or 874 individuals were in Barangay 850, and 28 families or 84 individuals in Barangay 852.

According to arson investigators, the residential blocks had adjacent houses made of light materials.

They said 80 of the 240 affected structures were fully gutted.

Around P2.6 million worth of property was damaged.

Firefighters said they had difficulty entering the area as the pathway leading to the burning houses was littered with debris.

Several cables were also scattered in the area after the electric poles caught fire.

They said that they also encountered problems with the water supply.

The affected families called on the Manila local government to help them recover and start anew as all of their properties were damaged.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Department of Social Welfare arrived at the scene and started distributing hot meals to the fire victims.

Financial assistance from the city government will also be provided once the enlisting and verification process is finished, said the Manila Public Information Office.

The first fire of the year is quite stereotypical of all that will follow. The houses are all made of light, flammable materials, the walkways are narrow and blocked with debris, and in this case the responding firemen encountered problem with the water supply. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/17/50-families-affected-by-fire-in-alabang

A fire hit a residential area in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa Wednesday night, Jan. 17, affecting about 50 families. 

In a report by the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the fire started at 7B Ilaya Street in Alabang at about 7:03 p.m. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 7:10 p.m. followed by a second alarm at 7:25 p.m. 

Investigators estimated that the fire caused damage amounting to P280,000. It affected 50 families or about 200 individuals. 

Firefighters put the blaze under control at 8:47 p.m. before it was put out at 9:33 p.m. The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation. 

A total of 28 firetrucks and five ambulances responded to the incident.

According to Mayor Ruffy Biazon said he ordered the Muntinlupa Social Services Department (SSD) to prepare food assistance for the fire victims. 

Together with officials of Barangay Alabang, the city government has designated the Alabang Elementary School as evacuation center. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/17/article-1734

A total of 11 families or 46 individuals lost their homes in a fire that broke out in a residential area in Barangay Medicion II-B in Imus City on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The blaze was reported at 2:40 p.m., Imus City Fire Station (FS) told the Manila Bulletin.

The fire was declared under control at 2:48 and was put out at 3:00 p.m.

Authorities have estimated the damage caused by the blaze at P175,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, meanwhile, said affected families are temporarily seeking shelter at Medicion II-B Barangay Hall.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1891142/16-families-left-homeless-after-fire-in-zamboanga-del-sur-town

Sixteen families were left homeless as 11 houses were hit by fire around 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Tawagan Norte village, Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Tawagan Norte village chief Raul Rivera said that prior to the fire, the community experienced brownout.

“When the electricity was back, a wire sparked which they said was the cause of the fire,” Rivera said, citing the account of residents.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Marvin Julius Pagaduan confirmed that the fire was due to faulty electrical wiring.

Labangan Mayor Eduardo Relacion immediately distributed initial assistance of P10,000 per household, packed meals, rice, and potable water.

Rivera said he had also asked for additional assistance to the affected families from the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government.

Brownouts are a frequent nusiance in the Philippines. In this case after a brownout when the power was turend back on a wire sparked due to the surge of electircity. The two causes here are the faulty wiring and the brownout. Faulty wiring is a problem seen all throughout the Philippines with its leaning electric poles, dangling wires, frayed wires, and wires held together with tape rather than being properly capped. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/24/family-of-5-killed-in-albay-fire

A family of five were killed in a fire that destroyed their house in Barangay Kilicao, Daraga, Albay, on Tuesday night, January 23.

Police Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 spokesperson, identified the victims as Moncris, 35, his live-in partner, Rosalie, 35, and their three minor children.

Arson investigators said the victims were trapped and failed to get out of their house built of light materials.

Moncris was jobless and Rosalie was a laundrywoman.

Arson probers have yet to determine the cause of the fire and damage to property.

Remains of the victims were taken to a funeral parlor in Daraga for proper disposition.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1894790/4-dead-1-hurt-in-lucena-city-fire

Four people died in a fire early Friday that gutted at least 15 houses in a residential area in this city, police said.

In a spot report, Lucena City police identified the fatalities as Lolit Lubiano, 72; Juanito, Hernando, 65; Jay Mark Hernando, 18; and Mark Rainiel Hernando, 8.

Corporal Angel Micco Cabangon, the case investigator, did not provide details on the family relationship between the Hernandos except that they were all living together in one of the burned houses.

Another victim identified as Margarita Punzalan, suffered a second-degree burn and was rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.

The blaze broke out at 3:45 a.m. in a residential area in Barangay 1 and was put out at 6:26 a.m.

Firemen were still conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Mayor Mark Alcala and his father, Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala, immediately went to the area and met with the victims.

The local officials vowed to provide assistance to the victims.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553592/8-fires-in-one-day-3-injured-including-firefighter

Firefighters here responded to a total of eight fires on Sunday, January 28, that injured three people and gobbled up around P2.2 million in properties.

Of the eight fires that occurred last Sunday, three of these involved residential areas. The rest were rubbish or grass fires, the Cebu City Fire Office reported.

The first fire happened close to 6 a.m., along Cabajar Street in Brgy. Guadalupe, and burned down seven structures.

The flames, according to initial findings from fire investigators, originated from the house of a certain Maria Socorro Piloto.

At least 40 individuals were affected, and damage was pegged at P854,000.

Roughly three hours later, firefighters rushed to Lower Torre in Brgy. Inayawan to respond to another fire alarm, also involving residential buildings.

There, the flames, which started from the house belonging to Arcebio Beral, gutted a total of three structures, with properties worth P500,000 turned to ashes.

But just an hour after the fire in Brgy. Inayawan occurred, firefighters went to Brgy. Bacayan where another fire broke out.

The fire in Brgy. Bacayan, a mountain barangay in Cebu City’s northern district, razed six houses and damaged six more.

Three individuals, including a fire officer, also got injured during Sunday’s fire.

Fire Officer 1 Dave Arellano suffered first degree burns on his right hand while trying to douse the flames.

Two minors, ages 13 and 14 years old, also sustained burn wounds on their arms, legs and shoulders.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Emerson Arceo said the fire that hit Brgy. Bacayan started from the house of spouses Benjamin and Verlena Codeniera.

Investigations continue for all three fires as of this writing. 

That is nine significant residential fires in January reported by the media. Cebu had three fires in one day!

Friday, February 2, 2024

Retards in the Government 350

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217689

Three workers in the plate-making plant of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have been arrested for organized theft of license plates, with another suspect still at large.

In a press conference at the LTO headquarters in Quezon City on Friday, LTO–Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) Chief Renante Melitante said the arrests were made in an operation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) after a report of suspicious activity at the plant in December.

“We immediately informed [LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II] about what is happening and he gave us a directive to hold an intelligence build-up,” Melitante said

By the first week of January, he said a witness, who is also a worker at the plant, surfaced and expressed willingness to give a testimony, in addition to the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the suspects.

Based on the directive of Mendoza, we sent a letter to the PNP and to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) itself for the coordination of the operation,” he said.

The license plates stolen by the suspects were “made-to-order” and had no presence in the LTO system or corresponding documents, while having the same security and authentication features as legitimate plates, making their use ideal for criminals.

After manufacturing these illegal plates, he said the suspects will hide them within the plant, while the mastermind is responsible for bringing them out of the plant.

“Their leader, he was seen on CCTV how it’s done, he’ll hide it in his back then he’ll place them at the box of his motorcycle. And after duty, he’ll bring them home,” Tan said.

The arrests were made on Thursday by members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Special Project Group of the DILG, after one of the suspects was spotted taking out some of the stolen license plates.

The three arrested suspects were not identified but were on “job order” status in addition to the alleged mastermind who is still at large.

The mastermind began working at the LTO in 2018, while the arrested suspects have been working at the LTO since 2019 and 2020.

These stolen plates, he said, can be used by criminals in the "doble plaka (double plate)" and "labas casa (outside the dealership)" schemes.

“They can easily change the record or identity of the car so it will be harder for law enforcement to chase these criminals,” he said.

The "doble plaka" scheme involves changing the license plate of a vehicle while the "labas casa" scheme is a scam that targets public school teachers by enticing them to apply for a pre-arranged car loan and will then steal the car once the loan is approved.

Melitante assured that the illegal activities inside the LTO’s plate-making plant will be rooted out.

Meanwhile, QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the suspects had been threatening their fellow LTO personnel within the plate-making plant.

He said the suspects are temporarily under the custody of QCPD and will face charges of qualified theft and robbery. 

Three LTO workers have been arrested for stealing "made-to-order" license plates to be used in crimes. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553245/lapu-lapu-2-members-of-citys-clearing-team-fail-drug-test

Two individuals were found positive of using illegal drugs during the drug test initiated by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP) on Wednesday afternoon, January 24, 2024.

Twenty six personnel from the City’s Clearing Team underwent the drug test, after Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan called a meeting.

Chan earlier issued a marching order to CLOSAP to conduct a surprise drug tests to all City Hall workers to ensure that their employees were clear from using illegal drugs.

“Mayor Chan want to ensure that all city hall employees are clear from illegal drugs since they carry the name of the city government,” Garry Lao said, executive director of CLOSAP.

Lao said more employees will undergo mandatory and surprise random drug tests throughout the year.

On Monday, January 22, 115 job order employees from the city hall and traffic enforcers from the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) underwent random testing.

Of the 115 tested, three CTMS personnel were allegedly found positive for using methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu.

Two members of the Lapu-Lapu City cleaning team have tested positive for drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217694

An argument over an absence without leave (AWOL) case resulted in the death of two soldiers in Labrador, Pangasinan on Friday.

Initial report from the Labrador Police Station stated that Technical Sgt. Marianito Bolante, 47, was shot dead by M/Sgt. Henry Malong Quiajado at the latter’s residence in Barangay Uyong.

Quiajado later killed himself during a standoff with responding cops. 

Quiajado also fired at five other collegues who were with Bolante, who died on the spot, while the others were unhurt.

They are members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment-Philippine Army based in Camp Tecson, Barangay Tartaro, San Miguel, Bulacan.

In a phone interview, M/Sgt. Glenn Ancheta, investigator of the Labrador Police, said the police tried for about three hours to convince Quiajado to surrender after he locked himself in his house.

Recovered from the crime scene were one Glock 17 Gen4 9mm, 12 pieces of live ammunition owned by the suspect, 11 fired cartridge cases of caliber 9mm, and one fired cartridge case for 5.56mm.

It was not clear yet what the argument about the AWOL case was all about.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/27/graft-charges-filed-vs-ex-nueva-ecija-town-mayor-on-irregular-purchase-of-land-for-p20-m

Former mayor Allan Xystus A. Gamilla of Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija has been charged before the Sandiganbayan with two counts of graft in the alleged irregular purchase of a lot in 2020 for the municipality’s cold storage facility.

Gamilla was charged with violations of Section 3(e) and (g) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the anti-graft court’ fifth division.

From June 8, 2020 to Dec. 2, 2021, Gamilla reportedly entered into a contract with Jocelyn R. Ceña for the purchase of a 20,199-square- meter lot at P950 per square meters, but they just agreed on the total amount of P20,000,000.

Government prosecutors said that Gamilla entered into the contract without prior authority from the Sangguniang Bayan of Bongabon. Also, they said that at the time the contract was signed, the Philippine Rural Development iBuild Program placed the prevailing market value at P72.31 per square meters, but Gamilla bought the property at P950 per square meters.

They also said that Gamilla entered into a Conditional Deed of Sale with Ceña on behalf of the municipality on May 10, 2021 under the condition that the buyer shall pay a full amount of P4,717,200. The buyer shall also pay P15,282,800 to be paid within five years in equal payments of P3,056,560 annually.

Thus, the prosecutors said Bongabon town paid P4,717,200, which caused undue injury to the municipality in the amount of P4,355,700, representing the difference between the market value and the purchase price.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Yasmin Soraya A. Masukat recommended Gamilla’s bail at P40,000 each for the two graft charges.

A former mayor has been charged with graft. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553366/adultery-brgy-kagawad-mistress-caught-inside-motel-in-mandaue

A possible case of adultery awaits a barangay kagawad and his mistress who were caught inside a motel in Mandaue City, on Friday evening, January 26, 2024.

The suspects were identified as Carl Nelson Arnoco, 41 years old, a resident of Tawason, Mandaue City, and Gilda Cadungog Labares, 60 years old, a resident of Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City.

Arnoco was said to be a barangay kagawad of Brgy. Luz in Cebu City.

Based on the investigation of Mandaue City Police Station 4, the wife of Arnoco personally went  to their station to ask for assistance, after she saw her husband entering a motel on Friday night.

The police immediately responded and found the suspects inside a room in a motel.

The two were arrested and were appraised about their constitutional rights and detained for proper disposition. 

They will most likely be charged with adultery, authorities say.

A barangay councilor has been caught in the act of adultery. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/29/graft-case-filed-vs-2-ex-urdaneta-city-university-officials

Two former officials of the Urdaneta City University (UCU) in Pangasinan have been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for reportedly offering in 2013 extension classes without approval from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Charged were former UCU president Elizabeth A. Montero and associate professor II Helen F. Dupale, also the then officer-in-charge of the university’s Graduate School in Olongapo City.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Juzzelyx B. Sulit alleged that two former university officials violated the requirements in implementing extension class under Section 24 of CHED Memorandum Order No. 40, series of 2008, in relation to Section 65 of the 2008 Manual of Regulations of Private Higher Education (MORPHE) and Section 5.2.5 of CHED MO No. 27 and CHED MO No. 30, both series of 2009.

The indictment alleged that they offered an extension graduate education program in Olangapo City to students on July 24, 2013 and conducted extension classes in the said graduate school extension even without approval of CHED.

Graft cases have been filed against two former UCU officials. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553306/employee-who-drove-away-street-kids-using-broom-transferred

The Lapu-Lapu employee who drove away street kids sleeping on the welcome signage of the Mactan Economic Zone 1 was transferred to a different department.

The video of the incident went viral online and gained mixed reactions from netizens. In the video, the employee was seen approaching the kids with a broom hitting the carton they were sleeping on to rouse them from sleep.

Lapu-Lapu City Administrator Atty. Danilo Almendras on Friday, Jan. 26, said that the employee was transferred on Thursday after he got the memorandum.

Almendras said that he was transferred to the City Traffic Management System from the Nerve Center of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. 

The city administrator said that the employee was called and asked about his side and how he treated the street kids before he was transferred.

Almendras said that according to the employee, he drove his wife to Mepza. He was not on duty at that time because his schedule was from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. but just decided to wear his uniform.

He said that according to his employees, the street kids have been sleeping around that area, asking people for money and throwing their trash everywhere. The City Social Welfare and Development Office also conducted a rescue operation but said they keep coming back.

Despite this, Almendras said that the employee could have just ask them to leave properly.

Mayor Junard Ahong Chan was also not happy with how the street kids were approached. Chan said that he could just ask them politely, rescue them, and bring them to the barangay. 

In this way, the barangay can call their parents and guardians, talk to them to guide their children. Or if they were abandoned, a case of abandonment will be filed against their parents.

A Lapu-Lapu City employee who drove away street kids using a broom has been transferred to another department.

https://tonite-abante-com-ph.translate.goog/2024/01/29/kagawad-binulagta-sa-karinderya/?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

A barangay councilor was killed when he was shot at close range by one of the two suspects who pretended to eat at his cafeteria in San Ildelfonso, Bulacan last Saturday.

Acknowledged by P/Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr., regional director of Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), the victim Joel Alvaro, 49-years-old, resident and member of Brgy. Lean on the said town.

The report did not mention whether the victim was shot in the head or body by one of the two suspects, both wearing black jackets and hats. The victim was tending to his cafeteria when the suspects arrived and pretended to be customers.

When he got the timing, the gunman pulled out the cal.40 gun and shot the victim.

The police are investigating the motive for the murder to identify the mastermind behind the crime.

A barnagay councilor has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/01/29/2329396/defunct-armm-ex-directorate-staff-dies-cotabato-ambush

A former senior official of a disaster and calamity response outfit of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was killed in an ambush at a busy thoroughfare in Cotabato City on Sunday night.

Engineer Ramil Masukat succumbed to multiple bullet wounds at a hospital where he was brought by emergency responders for treatment

Masukat survived an ambush unscathed on Nov. 27, 2022 at the border of Shariff Aguak and Mamasapano towns in Maguindanao del Sur but his driver then, Alex Manuel, was not as lucky. He died from gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Col. Querubin Lugue Manalang Jr., Cotabato City police director, told reporters on Monday morning that Masukat and his driver were attacked at Rabago Street in Barangay Rosary Heights Mother at about 7 p.m. Sunday by gunmen who immediately escaped using a getaway motorcycle.

Masukat was a former directorate staff of the erstwhile ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team, or HEART, renamed Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after BARMM’s creation via a plebiscite in January 2019.

The badly wounded Masukat and his companion managed to drive away from the spot where they were attacked and as their vehicle zigzagged through the street, hit several vehicles along the route and stopped at a fuel refilling station close to the Cotabato Police Precinct 2.

The gun attack that resulted in the death of Masukat, who belonged to a large Moro clan in Maguindanao del Sur, was preceded by the January 23 equally brazen murder by two men of a staff of the 80-member BARMM parliament, the 50-year-old Sulaiman Kusain Macabangon, near a mall not too distant from the capitol here of the Bangsamoro region.

A former senior member of the ARMM has been assassinated on the second try. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/31/sandigan-affirms-graft-malversation-convictions-of-ex-tlrc-official

The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis L. Cunanan to reconsider his convictions for graft and malversation of public funds.

For graft, Cunanan was sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years. He was meted out a jail term ranging from 12 to 18 years for malversation and was ordered to indemnity the government of P9.6 million.

Cunanan was one of five individuals found guilty for the misuse of the P9.6 milion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the late Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Herminio G. Teves in 2007.

In his motion for reconsideration, Cunanan argued that the crimes of graft and malversation were not proven beyond reasonable doubt. He said that his act of affixing his signature on the disbursement voucher does not consummate the crime charged, since there are other steps that must be taken before the release of the PDAF-drawn funds.

He further argued that he was not part of any conspiracy, and there is no showing that he is a public officer as defined under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

In denying his motion, the Sandiganbayan said: "The aforementioned grounds relied upon by accused Cunanan are not novel. The lengthy discussions on the said motions are essentially the same points raised during the trial which have been thoroughly and assiduously passed upon by the Court in the assailed decision.”

"Taken in such light, accused Cunanan is still liable under an allegation and finding of conspiracy even if we assume that his functions as Deputy Director General of TRC did not relate to custody or control over the subject funds," the anti-graft court said.

The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal of an ex-TLRC official convicted of graft. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/31/ombudsman-suspends-mayor-in-capiz-for-misconduct
The Ombudsman suspended Mayor Receliste Escolin of President Roxas town, Capiz province, for three months without pay due to misconduct.

Associate Ombudsman Arita Lapitan has issued an order to  Gov. Fredenil Castro to implement Escolin’s suspension.

The order was issued last December but was only made public this week.

Escolin  was suspended following a case filed by former Vice Mayor Alfonso Golero.

Golero accused Escolin last year of grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

Escolin allegedly left the province in 2017 without any permission from then Gov. Antonio del Rosario.

Castro has yet to implement the order as his office reportedly has not received a formal copy of the directive.

Escolin has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman in Quezon City.

The Ombudsman has suspended the Mayor of President Roxas due to misconduct. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/31/sandigan-affirms-conviction-for-malversation-of-public-funds-of-laguna-town-assistant-treasurer

The assistant municipal treasurer of Pagsanjan town in Laguna failed anew in his attempt to convince the Sandiganbayan to reverse his conviction for malversation of public funds amounting to P483,529.31.

Denied was the motion for reconsideration filed by Elizalde G. Gabaleño who had been convicted by the Laguna regional trial court (RTC) and sentenced to a jail term of four to 11 years, including a fine equivalent to amount he misappropriated.

On Nov. 23, 2023, the Sandiganbayan affirmed the RTC’s decision. Gabaleño filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied.

He claimed that all the elements of malversation were not present in his case.  He pointed out that the audit reports made by Commission on Audit (COA) auditors are "doubtful," since they merely alleged in their testimonies that they used all available financial records even without stating what particular documents were used during examination.

However, the Sandiganbayan denied his motion. “All things considered, there being no new or additional arguments or compelling reason raised by accused-appellant Gabaleño to warrant a reconsideration of the assailed decision of the court denying his appeal from the judgment of conviction rendered by the trial court against him, the denial of his motion for reconsideration for lack of merit is in order," the anti-graft court ruled.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a Laguna town assistant treasurer for malversation of funds. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/553995/argao-shooting-murder-raps-filed-vs-retired-military-officer

Argao police have filed murder charge against a retired Army officer who turned himself in hours after he allegedly shot his neighbor in Barangay Gutlang on Sunday afternoon, January 28. 

The suspect was identified as Eugenio Ramos, 58, a retired Philippine Army officer and a resident of the same barangay.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Bienvenido Amil, investigator at the Argao Municipal Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that they filed the murder charge against Ramos at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday morning, January 31.

Ramos allegedly shot his neighbor, Honorato Geverola, 66, which lead to the latter’s untimely demise. 

According to Amil, Geverola was standing by the side of the road when Ramos, who was armed with a .45 caliber pistol, approached the latter at around 1 p.m. on Sunday. 

Ramos allegedly shot Geverola once on his back before he fled.

Geverola was already dead when Argao police arrived at the crime scene, Amil said.

He added that a few hours later, Ramos appeared at the Argao Municipal Police Station to surrender. He also turned over the firearm that he used in killing Ramos.

Upon verification, Amil said they learned that the gun was registered under Ramos’ name.

The hand gun was immediately subjected to ballistics examination, he added.

During his surrender, Amil said that Ramos admitted to killing Geverola.  Their investigation showed that Ramos had an earlier argument with Geverola but he would no longer say what caused the argument.

Amil said they now consider personal grudge as the motive behind the deadly shooting.

The retired army officer is currently detained at the custodial facility of the Argao Municipal Police Station.

A retired Army officer has been arrested for shooting dead his neighbor. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/31/chief-tanod-nabbed-for-loose-guns

A 69-year-old chief tanod was arrested after police found unlicensed firearms in his home in Barangay Maslog, Danao City, northern Cebu.

Allan Rom, the chief tanod of the barangay, was found keeping unlicensed firearms in his home that was raided by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Mandaue City Field Unit shortly before 6 a.m. on Wednesday, January 31.

The raid was based on a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Josefa Pinza-Ramos of the Regional Trial Court Branch 90 in Danao.

Recovered from Rom’s house were a .45 caliber pistol, an Aresca Japanese rifle, and ammunition.

Police Capt. Nigel Sanoy said that prior to the raid, they received reports that the tanod brandished firearms several times that caused fear in the neighborhood.

The raid was part of CIDG’s “Oplan: Paglalansag Omega'' which runs after individuals possessing unlicensed firearms.

A barangay tanod chief has been arrested for possession of loose firearms. 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Coronavirus Lockdown: Philippine Quill Awards, Traslacion Not a Super Spreader Event, and More!

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

 Tourism is rebounding but Chinese tourists to the Philippines have remained low. 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/225743/chinese-tourists-visiting-ph-decline-after-pandemic-envoy

There is a sharp decline in Chinese tourists in the country compared to the period prior to the pandemic, according to Beijing’s envoy to Manila.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian made the observation during the inauguration of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Makati City on Thursday.

Huang said that almost 1.8 million Chinese tourists visited the country in 2019. However,  he noted that in 2023, the tourist arrival from China only reached over two hundred thousand.

“We are pleased to see that people-to-people exchanges have rapidly recovered following the pandemic. But there is still room for improvement compared to pre-pandemic levels,” Huang said of Chinese tourist arrival in his opening speech.

On the other hand, Huang noted that there is a growing demand for Chinese visas, which prompted the embassy to create the visa application center.

“The enthusiasm of Filipinos to visit China and the demand for Chinese visa have been growing fast over the years,” he said.

On the other hand many Filipinos have been visiting China since the pandemic has ended.  

Just before the pandemic began ABS-CBN's broadcasting license was revoked. Despite that hardship they have won three big awards one for an internal safety communication campaign regarding COVID-19.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/24/24/abs-cbn-scores-3-big-wins-at-the-20th-philippine-quill-awards

ABS-CBN clinched three Awards of Excellence at the 20th Philippine Quill Awards, which honored the company’s creative breakthrough in staging an online fundraiser for super typhoon Odette survivors and compelling internal safety communication campaigns during the pandemic.

The Philippine Quill Awards, given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, recognize excellence in strategic communication and outstanding communication skills in the country.

ABS-CBN’s “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan,” a 100-day donation challenge that leveraged on the power of its digital platforms and influential celebrities to help raise funds to provide relief to 100,000 families devastated by super typhoon Odette during the COVID-19 pandemic, was honored with an Award of Excellence.

The ”Tulong” project, which deviated from the conventional fund-drive, was marked by virtual fundraisers for 100 consecutive nights featuring popular and influential ABS-CBN stars in online concerts, interactive shows, virtual run, benefit sale, among others, on YouTube, Facebook, iWantTFC, Kumu, and Sky Cable.

The multifaceted and multi-platform fundraisers resonated with different audiences and ultimately provided aid to over 200,000 families in areas affected by the calamity. Through ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., families were given home repair kits and food supplies, while others received livestock and livelihood items to help them rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, two employee campaigns also took home Philippine Quill awards because of its use of compelling language and appealing imagery to emphasize to workers the importance of workplace health and safety procedures. 

ABS-CBN’s “Act as If You Have the Virus” internal campaign, which aimed to help mitigate COVID-19 cases within the organization using striking visuals and impactful messaging, won an Award of Excellence. This completes a three-peat recognition in IABC's international, regional, and local awards programs. Previously, it won a Gold Quill Award from IABC in New York and a Silver Quill Award from IABC Asia Pacific. 

Not even Duterte can keep them down. 

Traslacion has come and gone and with it the hysteria about spreading COVID-19.


https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/01/28/2329134/traslacion-not-covid-19-supers-preader-event

The traslacion or the annual procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, which drew millions of devotees, did not cause a massive COVID transmission, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said on Friday.

“Two weeks ago, one of our fears during the Nazareno 2024 was that it could become a super spreader event because of COVID,” she said during a live broadcast on the Facebook page of the city’s public information office.

“Good news is based on our data, COVID cases in our city did not increase, and in fact reduced,” she added.

On Friday, the city government recorded two new COVID cases, bringing the total of active cases in the city to 32.

There were also 125,349 recoveries and 2,105 deaths related to COVID in Manila so far.

Lacuna-Pangan also expressed her condolences to a Manila resident who, despite having completed COVID vaccination, succumbed to “many comorbidities.”

A total of 6,113,598 devotees attended the traslacion, which was restored after three years of restrictions on mass gatherings due to the pandemic, according to the Quiapo Church.

Over 3.2 million devotees joined the procession, while over 1.9 million more heard hourly masses at the Quiapo Church and 939,000 trooped to the Quirino Grandstand for the “pahalik” or the veneration of the image.

The city government repeatedly reminded devotees to keep wearing their face masks. However, most of them joined the religious activity without face masks.

The government warned people to wear masks, most did not, and there was no increase in cases! Looks like masks are wholly ineffectual at this point if they ever were. 

The DOH's COVID-19 trackers is not available on their website but they say that's not a problem. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/30/doh-covid-19-tracker-unavailability-not-a-setback-disease-management-being-prioritized

In the light of concerns about the Covid-19 tracker “not being available” on the Department of Health (DOH's) website, the Department said on Tuesday, Jan. 30, that the tracker serves as just one method for information dissemination. 

It emphasized that, while the tracker is an important tool, monitoring, prevention, and control of all diseases mandated by the department, including Covid-19, remain a top priority.

In its latest data, the DOH on Jan. 30 confirmed 2,148 new Covid-19 infections across the country between Jan. 16 and 22.

The average number of new cases reported each day for the previous week was 306, which was 35 percent lower than the average number of cases reported each day from Jan. 9 to 15.

Of the newly reported cases, the DOH disclosed that as of Jan. 21, 47 infections were classified as "severe" or "critical.”

It underscored the importance of continued vigilance despite the overall positive trend.

Meanwhile, in terms of fatalities, the agency confirmed 23 new deaths, maintaining the country's fatality rate at less than one percent.

The latest data from the DOH highlighted a consistently low percentage of severe and critical cases among hospital admissions, with the current count standing at 255 cases.

The percentage of occupied Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for Covid-19 patients remained relatively low, reaching a high of 15.5 percent, with an average of 201 cases recorded as of Jan. 21.

Likewise, for Covid-19 cases, the maximum occupancy rate for non-ICU beds was 16.2 percent during the same monitoring period.

They are still keeping track even if their tracker is unavailable.

Philippine companies are eager to have everyone back in the office. 

https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/01/30/2329445/philippine-firms-want-workers-return-office

The Philippines has the second highest number of employers in Asia-Pacific requiring a full return to the office in the pandemic aftermath, according to tech giant Cisco.

In a survey, Cisco found that nearly half of Philippine companies are requiring employees to return to work in person post-pandemic for productivity purposes.

In Asia-Pacific, India recorded the highest number of employers mandating a full return to the office at 49 percent, followed by the Philippines (46 percent), Australia and South Korea (28 percent), and Hong Kong and Thailand (19 percent).

Taiwan stood out as the most progressive in terms of working arrangement, with only 13 percent of Taiwanese companies requiring a full return to the office.

Cisco said 65 percent of companies in the region believe that working in the office increases productivity. Apart from this, employers think that a return to the workplace allows workers to improve team communication and respond to leadership pressure.

Cisco, however, said there is a growing case of hybrid mode of work in the region as the new generation of talents are pushing for this kind of arrangement.

In the Philippines, Cisco reported that more than a third of employers expect the average Filipino to be a hybrid worker within two years.

Cisco said Filipinos like the idea of a hybrid arrangement because it supports their well-being, allows them to save more and raises their productivity.

However, Cisco said much work needs to be done to expedite the transition to hybrid work. The survey found that only half of Filipino employees believe that their office is prepared to adopt this kind of setup for good.

In the office, employees are clamoring for a reorganization of their workspaces, complaining that current designs fail to meet the needs of post-pandemic work. They cited the urgency of upgrading digital tools, given that most tasks, such as meeting with clients, are being done online nowadays.

At home, workers are requesting employers to enhance their productivity tools like collaboration software and internet subscription.

For the survey, Cisco gathered the insights of 7,550 workers and 1,650 employers in Asia and the Pacific, zeroing in on the risks and opportunities of hybrid work in Australia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

But the workspace is changing and a hybrid arrangement appears to be the way of the future. In fact the demand for work-from-home jobs is outpacing the supply. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217899

Filipino jobseekers still prefer the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement despite many companies returning to normal operations after the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) lockdown.

“Work from home” is the top most searched keyword on Jobstreet by SEEK platform in the Philippines, according to managing director Dannah Majarocon on Tuesday.

"Work from home has definitely grown over the past couple of years spearheaded during the pandemic. And now that we've been transitioning out of the pandemic, the demand on the candidate side on work from home or hybrid work continues to grow... On the hirer side, hybrid work, remote work are still things that they are continuing to consider," she said during a media event at the Jobstreet by SEEK headquarters in Taguig City.

She said that with the demand for hybrid work scheme, some companies are looking to institutionalizing flexible work arrangement.

To attract jobseekers to work onsite, companies also compensate WFH arrangement with other benefits such as mental health wellness and opportunities, allowing them to support non-traditional needs that candidates asked for the past years, she added.

SEEK Asia chief operating officer Lewis Ng said many companies across Asia are still understanding and refining their approach to flexible working.

But compared to the Philippines, keyword search for “work from home” across the region is declining.

"We see a lot less explicit work from home arrangements in the job description but what do we see more of is hybrid working. And that just goes to show that companies and hirers are really trying to figure out what is the best for the employees, because many employees definitely have a preference for work from home," Ng added.

Of course with a slow internet and intermittent brownouts WFH might not be all that reliable in the Philippines.