Retards in the Government 356

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/8/ex-army-soldier-arrested-in-manila-for-robbery-holdup

Police arrested a retired member of the Philippine Army who allegedly robbed a convenience store in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Thursday, March 7. 

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Alberto Amador, 54, a resident of Tondo, Manila. 

The suspect was arrested inside his house at around 12:30 a.m. today, March 8, in a follow-up operation conducted by the Sta. Mesa Police Station (PS-8) personnel together with the members of MPD-Criminal Investigation Section (CIS) and Abad Santos Police Station (PS-7).

Based on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage on Thursday, the suspect, who was armed with a gun, entered the convenience store in Barangay 592, Sta. Mesa at around 2 a.m.

The suspect was seen showing his gun to the two store clerks while ordering them to open the store's cash box.

Police said the suspect took away around P11,000 cash from the store. 

Recovered from the suspects's possession were motorcycle, a black pistol, two magazines loaded with 15 pieces of live ammunition, 19 M-16 blank bullets, 70 live ammunition, nine different IDs, and a cammouflage set of keys. 

The arrested suspect is now detained at PS-8 and facing robbery charges.

A former solider has been arrested for robbing a store. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1915991/cop-shot-dead-days-after-wifes-death-in-masbate

A police officer was found dead Thursday in Uson town in Masbate province, three days after unidentified men shot his wife dead.

Police Brigadier General Andre Perez Dizon, Bicol regional police director, said in a report that Patrolman Samuel Baruelo Jr, 31, was found dead around 1:30 p.m. with a bullet wound on his head in Barangay Buenasuerte.

An initial investigation said the victim left the house where the wake of his wife was held to take a bath but failed to return after an hour.

His relatives looked for him and he was later found near a creek with blood on his body.

His wife, Cheryl, a 32-year-old college student, was shot dead at 5:55 p.m. on Monday, March 4, in Barangay Bagumbayan in Masbate City.

An initial report said that while walking from school on the way to their house, Cheryl was approached by two unidentified men and one of them shot her at close range in the head.

Police recovered an empty shell and one slug in the area.

The slain cop was assigned at the 1st Masbate Provincial Mobile Force Company.

They both lived in Barangay Bagumbayan with their three children.

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol Police spokesperson, said they were still identifying the motive behind the killings and if the two incidents were connected.

A cop has been found dead a few days after his wife was murdered. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/03/10/2339466/abra-village-chief-survives-ambush

A barangay captain in Tayum, Abra was unhurt in an ambush in Bangued yesterday.

Bong Cariño, 60, of Barangay Poblacion in Tayum was driving his car when his vehicle was shot in Barangay Bliss Angad. He sped off and hid at his house.

Initial investigation showed that a car behind Cariño’s vehicle, which was driven by Banjo Claveria, said to be a drug suspect, was the target of the gunmen.

Claveria was wounded and taken to the Seares Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Twenty-seven bullet shells for an M16 rifle were recovered at the scene.

A barangay captain has survived an attempted assassination. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/10/lady-village-councilor-shot-dead-in-lipa-city

A 51-year-old barangay councilor was shot dead on Saturday afternoon, March 9, in Barangay Pag-olingin West here.

Police identified the victim as Marilyn Escartin from San Juan, Batangas.

Investigation said the victim was walking when the suspect, alias Joey, a councilor of Barangay Pag-olingin West, approached and shot her.

She died on the spot and the suspect fled.

Lawmen are conducting follow-up investigation and combing surveillance footages in the area.

A village counilor has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/11/jail-guard-shot-dead-in-ilocos-sur

A jail guard was gunned down on his way to work to the Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail in Barangay Taleb here on Monday morning, March 11.

Police identified the victim as Jayson Barrientos Parchmento, 45, a former policeman and Prison Guard 3 of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail run by the Ilocos Sur provincial government.

Investigation disclosed that the victim was driving his car when unidentified gunmen shot him.

The suspects fled and the victim was rushed the victim to the hospital but he died on the way.

Eight empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol were recovered in the crime scene.

The victim from Makati City and presently residing in Barangay 7, Vigan City where he got married was a police officer assigned to the Police Regional Office 1 in San Fernando City, La Union but was dismissed from the service for being Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

A jail guard has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/03/11/2339764/multi-awarded-police-intelligence-agent-killed-general-santos-ambush

A police intelligence agent based in Carmen, Cotabato province, credited for his accomplishments in locating members of local terrorist groups wanted in courts for heinous crimes, died in an ambush in General Santos City at about dusk Sunday.

The slain Corporal Ricky Mendoza Gomez, who belonged to the Carmen municipal police in Cotabato, was in General Santos City for a training on advanced police intelligence networking proficiency, handled by instructors from the Police Regional Office 12.

An initial report on Monday from the office of PRO-12 director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg in Barangay Tambler in General Santos City stated that Gomez was riding a motorcycle when he was shot in the head and upper torso with 5.56 M16 assault rifles by still unidentified men as he traversed through a busy stretch of a highway in Barangay Sinawal, killing him on the spot.

Gomez served as a police intelligence operative in Pikit town, Cotabato prior to his assignment in Carmen, also in the same province. More than 60 people had been killed gun attacks in Pikit since 2021. Some perpetrators, positively identified by investigators and Gomez, are now subject of police manhunts. 

Local executives and police officers in the province told reporters that Gomez had remarkable accomplishments and even got citations for his roles in tracing whereabouts of wanted persons and members of the Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters implicated in deadly terror attacks and extortion.

Macaraeg said he has directed their intelligence units in Cotabato province and in General Santos City to cooperate with police investigators who are working to identify killers of Gomez for prosecution.

A PNP intelligence officer has been assassinated. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/11/mmda-sacks-personnel-over-alleged-involvement-with-colorum-syndicates-020

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday announced the removal of a number of personnel from their positions, citing allegations of providing protection to colorum syndicates.

"Recently, we discovered that colorum syndicates are trying to infiltrate the MMDA. We immediately identified that," acting MMDA Chairman Don Artes said in a press conference.

He said the personnel involved have been relieved and there is an ongoing investigation.

"Our personnel who have possible involvement have been relieved particularly those in our anti-colorum unit who are in the investigation, intelligence and investigation office. The investigation is ongoing, we have coordinated with the DILG for investigation on the criminal aspect," he said.

Several MMDA personnel have been relieved for protecting colorum syndicates.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/12/ombudsman-also-suspends-acting-nfa-chief-over-rice-deal-848

The Ombudsman suspended Piolito Santos, who was appointed acting NFA administrator last week, and Jonathan Yazon, acting department manager for operation and coordination of the NFA, the DA said in a statement on Monday.

Last week, the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of NFA administrator Roderico Bioco and more than 100 employees over the alleged disadvantageous sale of rice buffer stocks.

Due to the suspensions, DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. will retake the helm of the NFA.

Laurel also appointed Director IV Larry Lacson as officer-in-charge deputy administrator of the NFA to ensure the agency's continued operations, the DA said.

The Ombudsman has suspended two more NFA officials in connection with an investigation into the sale of rice buffer stocks. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1917361/abused-wife-blocks-promotion-of-army-official-at-ca

The promotion of an Army official met a setback at the Commission on Appointments (CA) as his wife showed up at the Senate on Tuesday to block it.

Tessa Luz Reyes-Sevilla recalled the allegedly harrowing events she went through at the hands of her husband Ranulfo Sevilla.

She said her husband does not deserve to be promoted. The military official was nominated for promotion to brigadier general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“No amount of sorry, no amount of money will make me back down. Nothing will make us back down. We deserve to be vindicated,” Tessa told reporters in a press conference on Tuesday before the CA confirmation hearing of her husband.

She added that she has been silent long enough and has endured for too long the alleged abuses of her husband.

(I can’t keep quiet anymore. We have endured for a long time. What’s painful is that we have been tolerating his lack of financial support and yet he still has the gall to womanize.)

Apart from committing adultery, Tessa said she and her children were physically and mentally abused by Sevilla.

(What hurts me is that the children see it. It may look innocent to have been pushed, accidentally pushed — but I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant, I was pushed. I thought I would miscarry mu child so I applied for a protection order.)

Tessa’s 12-year-old daughter, who accompanied her at the Senate, likewise testified that she and her siblings were subjected to Sevilla’s “abusive acts.”

In the end, Tessa asked the AFP to look into the growing incidents of housewives being abused by their partners who are military officials.

“The gentlemen of the AFP, I hope that you’re hearing this and this is the right time. I hope that it’s going to be a precedent and I hope that you look into the very sad plight of the wives, mothers, partners of your men in the AFP. It’s about time, Sirs,” she appealed.

The CA panel on national defense, meanwhile,  held an executive session to discuss Sevilla’s appointment.

The wife of a solider up for promotion to brigadier general has blocked his promotion after detailing his abuse. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/12/justice-sought-in-death-of-municipal-gov-t-worker

A job order employee of the municipal government of Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental was found dead in Sitio Balugo, Barangay Sangke on Monday morning, March 11.

The victim was identified as 43-year-old Darrel Cayao of Barangay Asia. 

Police Major Jaynick Bermudez, Hinoba-an police chief, said the victim was driving a motorcycle with a friend from Basay, Negros Oriental when they were waylaid by an unidentified person upon reaching Barangay Sangke.

Bermudez said the victim was hit in the head  and sustained a lone stab wound in the chest. The victim’s friend suffered minor injuries when they fell off the motorcycle.

The suspect fled.

Bermudez said the victim’s friend left the area due to fear. The victim was found injured on  the roadside and was taken to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

He said the suspect targeted the victim and might have waited for him to pass by the area. Bermudez said they have identified the suspect and investigation is ongoing. 

Police have yet to establish the motive but they are looking into personal as a possible motive in the incident.

Mayor Daph Anthony Reliquias, in a statement, mourned Cayao's death. "These acts should not be tolerated. This is an act of people who do not fear the Lord,” Reliquias said.

He symphatized with the Cayao family and assured them that the local government will support their quest for justice.

A government job order employee has been killed. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/13/jail-officer-shot-himself-after-shooting-2-women-to-death-in-valenzuela-city

A jail officer fatally shot two women before taking his own life using the same gun in Valenzuela City on Wednesday morning, March 13.  

The suspect was identified as Mhel Manibale, a member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). He died from a self-inflicted bullet wound. 

The victims, Lanie Bernardino, 55, and her daughter Mary Grace, 27, both succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head, police said.

Based on the police report, the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. inside the victims’ residence on Navarette St. in Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City.

Police said the suspect had a heated argument with the victims regarding his relationship with another daughter of Lanie.

Manibale attempted to enter the house, but the victims intervened, prompting him to shoot them with a pistol.

Upon seeing the two women lifeless, Manibale turned the gun on himself, resulting in his death.

Authorities recovered five spent bullet case of a 9mm pistol at the scene of the incident.

A BJMP employee killed two women and thne himself. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/900270/pnp-rias-files-admin-case-vs-3-cops-behind-jade-castro-arrest/story/

The Philippine National Police's Regional Internal Affairs Service (PNP-RIAS) has filed an administrative case against three policemen over the warrantless arrest of film director Jade Castro and three others for the alleged burning of a mini bus in Catanauan, Quezon.

This was confirmed by Police Regional Office 4A Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran to GMA News Online.

(Yes, there is. To know if there are lapses in the arrest.)

The announcement was initially made by Castro’s lawyer Mike Marpuri during a briefing on Tuesday.

“I got a phone call just this morning from PNP-RIAS… na they filed motu proprio administrative cases against the chief of police, the investigator, and the arresting officers,” Marpuri said.

Marpuri identified the officers as Police Captain Daniel Dela Cruz, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonjon Pordan, and Police Corporal Christian Abenilla. He said the preliminary hearing has been set for Friday.

3 PNP officers are facing administrative cases over the warrantless arrest of a filmmaker. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: VAT Exemption, Comeback Trail, and More!

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

TV ad revenue is declining post-pandemic. 

https://www.rappler.com/business/why-it-is-harder-tv-shows-make-money/

The closure of Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE)’s noon show Tahanang Pinakamasaya is another sign of a changing media landscape in the Philippines as enterprises that sell goods and services now pay less attention to television and more on online marketing.

That TVJ’s Eat Bulaga! has lasted 45 years is testament to its commercial success. That TAPE’s Tahanang Pinakamasaya lasted only nine months is proof of its commercial failure. 

At its peak, Eat Bulaga! with TVJ on GMA-7 was rating between 10% to 20%, and often filled the limit of 18 minutes of commercials per hour, former GMA consultant Jose Bartolome, now a senior lecturer at the UP College of Mass Communications, told Rappler. 

Before the pandemic, a high-rating, non-prime time show could sell 30-second ad spots from P80,000 to P100,000, but if the show didn’t rate well, it got fewer commercials and the ad rate went down to half, he said. Revenues from these ads went to pay the talents and produce and air the show.

Post-pandemic, TAPE’s Eat Bulaga!, TVJ’s E.A.T. on TV5, and It’s Showtimeon A2Z+Kapamilya Channel were in single digits, often unable to breach 5% in Nielsen television ratings as shown in a TV5 social media post above back in July 2023. 

On the other hand, Kantar Media’s audience measurement as shown below, in December 2018, prior to the pandemic, Eat Bulaga! on GMA-7 and It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2 were both above 10%. It’s Showtime’sratings fell steeply after ABS-CBN was ordered to close its TV and radio operations by the Duterte administration in May 2020. 

Bartolome said this is a clear sign that fewer Filipinos are tuning in to television than before the pandemic, especially after ABS-CBN lost its free TV and radio business. Kantar Media managing director Jay Bautista referred to this as the flattening of the TV curve. 

They noted that the cost of digital ads is much lower than TV spots. Before the pandemic, a 30-second ad in an ABS-CBN prime time show was around P300,000, while an ad in GMA Network was around P200,000. 

They said companies have found “influencer marketing” more “effective and efficient” since it’s cheaper than advertising on TV. On television, viewers often switch channels to avoid commercials, while ads on social media have permanence. It’s also easier to target niche markets online than on television. 

Among the Philippines’ top-tier influencers are beauty queens, actors and actresses. They’re paid big money to use their social media power to promote products and services. 

More Filipinos are going online rather than watching television.

Apogee Laboratories was established during the pandemic and continues to thrive.

https://business.inquirer.net/449007/resilience-and-innovation-apogee-laboratories-pandemic-era-rise

It’s no secret that industry-wise, the pandemic predominantly affected many sectors negatively. Yet, lockdowns somehow still brought growth to certain sectors, with many spending big in areas such as the beauty industry.

In an insightful conversation, Apogee Laboratories founder Carlo Rimando sheds light on the growth of his business during Covid and the role that logistics and partnerships played in his success.

Established amid the global crisis in 2020, Apogee Laboratories emerged as a manufacturer and a trusted partner for dermatologists. They navigated the initial hurdles of product development and distribution with a lean team of dedicated individuals, choosing to set up operations during the pandemic.

The pandemic posed unique challenges for the business. The shift from trading to manufacturing demanded a reevaluation of their business model, sourcing of materials, and acquisition of equipment, all while navigating the complications of regulatory compliance. During this time, building trust with their clients—dermatologists—was also of utmost importance, as this core audience was adjusting to new norms like teleconsultation, given the lockdown.

Rimando emphasizes the importance of his dedicated team, who he affectionately refers to as “angels.” He underscores the pivotal role of human resources in overcoming operational challenges, from product formulation to customer service.

Rimando also highlights LBC as a critical partner in their journey.

He discusses the importance of reliable logistics solutions for businesses navigating manufacturing and distribution challenges: “We have been exploring various logistics solutions and found LBC’s services to match our needs closely. Their SendTipid program, a prepaid logistics solution, offers us cost efficiency and the convenience we need for managing our shipping needs,” Rimando explains. This program, combined with LBC’s extensive reach across the Philippines and its presence in over 30 countries worldwide, provides Apogee Laboratories with the operational flexibility and scalability needed to expand distribution and explore export opportunities.

Choosing LBC’s services, especially their allowance for using company-branded boxes without the additional cost of crating, signifies a strategic partnership that enhances Apogee Laboratories’ ability to maintain product integrity and branding consistency across its distribution channels. “Other couriers wanted us to crate our boxes, which would incur extra costs. LBC allowed us to use their boxes, removing a significant logistical hurdle and enabling us to maintain our focus on product quality and customer satisfaction,” Rimando shares, highlighting the logistical support that aids in streamlining operations and building a solid distribution network.

The journey of Apogee Laboratories, from its pandemic-era inception to its status as a key player in the dermatological product space, underscores the value of strategic relationships between manufacturing enterprises and their logistics partners. It demonstrates how such collaborations can drive business growth and operational success, even in challenging circumstances.

This is actually an advertisement for LBC disguised as a news article but it is an interesting story about how one Filipino company weathered the pandemic and continues to grow.

During the pandemic AJ Lim gave up tennis to focus on his studies. Now he is staging a comeback.

https://www.philstar.com/about-us/sports/2024/03/07/2338611/netter-lim-comeback-trail

After getting derailed by the pandemic, former world juniors No. 12 AJ Lim is on the comeback trail.

The 24-year-old Lim, who once defeated former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in a doubles competition in the Orange Bowl, had to focus on his studies and give up playing during the pandemic.

Lim is now trying to pick up the pieces, with Cebuana Lhuillier providing support.

“I am so happy and I would like to thank Cebuana Lhuillier and Sir Jean Henri (Lhuillier) for coming to my aid and I promise to give my best to not waste this opportunity,” said Lim.

Before his sabbatical, Lim was considered as one of the country’s top young talents and future of Philippine tennis.

He had snared a singles bronze in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games the country hosted while being the current champion of the PCA Open, the toughest tournament in the nation.

No wonder, Lhuillier didn’t think twice in coming to Lim’s rescue.

“I always believe that our young talents have what it takes to become world-class players, given the right support and exposure. Cebuana Lhuillier and I will be here for him in his quest to climb the world rankings,” said Lhuillier.

Lim will be participating in three top local tournaments in the next few months and in two ITF tournaments in South Korea in June before plunging into action in six more international meets in the second half of the year.

Perhaps Lim is still the future of Philippine tennis. 

The FDA has removed the VAT exemption for several COVID-19 medicines.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/8/fda-removes-vat-exemption-for-covid-19-medicines-devices

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory on Friday, March 8, regarding the delisting of Covid-19 medicines and devices from the list of Value-Added Tax (VAT)-Exempt Health Products.

Among the delisted medicines are various treatments for Covid-19, including Acetated Ringer’s Solution, Arbidol Hydrochloride Tablets, Aspirin Capsules and Tablets, Atracurium Solutions for Injection, Azelastine Hydrochloride + Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Suspension, Balanced Multiple Replacement Solution + 5 percent Dextrose, Baricitinib Tablets, Beclometasone dipropionate + Formoterol fumarate dihydrate, Bivalirudin Lyophilized Powder for Injection (IV), Budesonide Metered Dose Inhaler, Casirivimab + Imdevimab, Cefotaxime (as sodium), ChAdOx1-S [recombinant] (Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) Solution for injection, Clonazepam tablet, Clopidogrel capsule and tablet, and among others. 

The FDA stated that this move comes following the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 11534, also known as the "Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act."  

Under RA No. 11534, the agency noted that certain health products, including drugs for various conditions and Covid-19 medicines and medical devices, were initially granted VAT exemption. 

However, under this law, the FDA is mandated to identify and transmit VAT-Exempt Health Products to other implementing agencies. 

Section 12 of RA No. 11534 stipulates that the VAT exemption for medical devices, drugs, and vaccines used for Covid-19 treatment shall be valid until Dec. 31, 2023. 

The FDA said that accordingly, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 7-2024, announcing that these products “will no longer be VAT-Exempt effective Jan. 1, 2024.” 

In line with this directive, the FDA has delisted several Covid-19 medicines from the VAT-Exempt Health Products list, as detailed in Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 7-2024. 

"The FDA Verification Portal will be updated accordingly to reflect these changes," it stated.

When was aspirin ever touted as a COVID-19 treatment? 

The Treasury says income from the Philippine Gaming Corporation is struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/11/treasury-s-pagcor-income-share-struggles-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels

The government's share of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) income remained below its pre-pandemic levels last year, data from the Bureau of the Treasury indicated.

According to the Treasury report, the national government received P33.85 billion from Pagcor's income from January to December 2023, which constituted the mandated 50 percent of the gaming regulator and operator's net revenue.

However, this amount was 4.5 percent lower than the P35.46 billion contribution in 2019, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Despite the shortfall, the total government share last year registered a substantial 36 percent increase compared to P24.86 billion in 2022.

In addition, the Treasury's share for the full year of 2023 more than doubled the target of P15.03 billion set by the Treasury.

In December alone, Pagcor remitted P3.27 billion to the government coffers, showing a notable 32 percent growth from P2.48 billion in the same month a year earlier. 

Under the law, Pagcor, the government's third largest revenue-generating agency, is compelled to allocate 50 percent of its net revenue to the national government.

In 2024, the Treasury is expecting an income share of P29.87 billion from Pagcor.

Earlier, Pagcor reported that the gross gaming revenues (GGR) from gambling operations in the country have exceeded their pre-pandemic levels in the first nine-months of the year.

However, the agency also reported that it generated P79.37 billion in revenues last year, a 35 percent increase compared to the P58.96 billion recorded in the previous year. 

Nevertheless, Pagcor's full-year tally still fell below the P81.97 billion income in 2019, which was before the Covid-19 health crisis.

That is kind of odd because last November Pagcor said gaming revenues were at pre-pandemic levels. 

PhilHealth has paid out over 16 billion pesos in COVID-19 related claims. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/13/2340166/payments-covid-19-related-claims-reach-p167-billion-philhealth

Total reimbursements for COVID-19-related claims last year reached over P16 billion, according to the state health insurer.

The claims amounting to P16.7 billion include payments for inpatient care, COVID-19 testing, services and supplies for testing provided by the laboratory, isolation measures, community isolation package and home isolation package, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said.

Inpatient care comprised the bulk of total payments, at 88 percent or P14.6 billion for 72,511 claims.

This included critical pneumonia, adult and pediatric (P5 billion); severe pneumonia, adult and pediatric (P4.5 billion); moderate pneumonia (P4 billion); mild pneumonia, elderly or with comorbidities (P685 million).

Also under inpatient care are the full financial risk protection for health workers (P336 million), intermediate package, severe and critical pneumonia (P2.8 million) and intermediate package, moderate pneumonia (P2.3 million).

For COVID-19 testing, PhilHealth reimbursed P1.97 billion representing 852,779 claims, which is 12 percent of the total amount.

Testing services and supplies provided by the laboratory reached P1.4 billion; test kits donated to the laboratoryn P405 million; test kits donated to the laboratory, cost of running the laboratory as well as RT-PCR machine for testing subsidized by the government, P61 million; services and supplies procured and provided by the testing laboratory, P98 million; PCR cartridges donated to the testing laboratory, P11.9 million; PCR cartridges donated to the testing laboratory, cost of running cartridge-based PCR test subsidized by the government, P7.3 million and facility-based COVID-19 rapid antigen test, P1.6 million.

PhilHealth reimbursed P86.6 million (4,208 claims) for isolation measures.

Under the community isolation package, PhilHealth reimbursed P81.68 million for 3,643 claims. Admissions referred to ICU from higher-level facilities for step-down care amounted to P2.17 million, with 97 claims.

For the COVID-19 home isolation package, PhilHealth reimbursed P2.76 million for 468 claims.

More than two weeks ago, PhilHealth announced plans this year to rationalize case rates for various conditions, including COVID-19 inpatient benefits.

That is a lot of money reimbursed for what is essentially the flu. 

Innocent Dog Stabbed to Death in Case of Mistaken Identity

The Philippines' stray dog problem is a litany of preventable tragedies and outrageous actions. Here is another story from the streets that can be told "Only in the Philippines."

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/12/korean-national-biten-by-stray-dog-arrested-for-killing-dog-in-manila

A Korean national who was bitten by a stray dog was arrested after he stabbed to death another dog in Malate, Manila, police said on Tuesday, March 12. 

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Jung Seong Ho, 42. He was arrested on Saturday, March 9. 

Prior to his arrest, the police said the Korean was bitten by a stray dog while walking around Remedios Street, Barangay 700 in Malate, at around 4:10 a.m. 

They said the suspect went inside a grill house in the area and asked for assistance in cleaning up the wound on his feet.

When he entered the grill house, he saw Ericka, a pet dog, sitting beside Angelo Bueno, the restaurant's waiter. 

Bueno and another waiter at the grill house immediately assisted the suspect and brought him inside the establishment's comfort room to wash his wound. 

However, after cleaning his wound, the police said the suspect took a knife from the kitchen and went outside where the other dogs started barking at him. 

Ericka, the pet dog, also went outside. When the suspect saw this, he cornered the dog and stabbed it four times with the kitchen knife, leading to the dog’s immediate death. 

After stabbing Ericka, police said the suspect also stabbed another stray dog before throwing the knife away and running back inside the restaurant's comfort room. 

A Korean who was walking around at 4 in the morning was bit on his foot by a stray dog. He ran into a grill house to ask for help cleaning his wound and saw another dog, Ericka, inside. He then took a knife from the kitchen and ran outside where the other stray dogs started barking at him. Ericka also ran outside prompting the Korean national to corner the dog and stab it four times.

But Ericka was not the dog which bit him. 

A statement from barangay personnel hints that if he had stabbed the dog who bit him there would have been no fault. 

Barangay personnel Anthony Rodejo said that the suspect stabbed the wrong dog.

“The Korean's fault is that he stabbed another dog, not the one that bit him,” he said. 

The suspect was arrested after personnel of the Remedios Police Community Precinct (PCP) passed by the area and responded to the incident. 

MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said the suspect possibly got irritated which drove him to stab the dogs in the area. 

Ibay said that the suspect was given anti-rabies medication before he was brought to the police station. 

He is now under the custody of the MPD and  is facing charges for violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and malicious mischief.

Maybe Anthony Rodejo misspoke when he said  in saying "the Korean's fault is that he stabbed another dog, not the one that bit him." Maybe what he really means is that his fault is he stabbed a dog. Or perhaps it is legal to kill a dog who bit you? 

Likewise MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay's comment is equally asinine. Of course Jung Seong Ho was irritated. A stray dog bit him! How many times in the past was he forced to stave off stray dogs? Stray dogs are all over the place and they are not all friendly. 

Once more this is another tragedy that is easily preventable if the local government had the will to do so. Simply round up the stray dogs. It's that easy.  

Insurgency: Stable Internal Peace And Security

 The AFP has finally declared Negros Occidental has achieved stable internal peace and security. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/03/06/2338459/stable-internal-peace-and-security-declared-negros-occidental

Negros Occidental is in a state of stable internal peace and security (SIPS).

The provincial joint peace and security coordinating council composed of the Army, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard made the recommendation for the SIPS declaration during a meeting held at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in this city yesterday.

“We have achieved a very important milestone in our quest for attaining peace in Negros Occidental,” Col. Victor Llapitan, deputy commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said.

Provinces declared in a state of SIPS are considered cleared and unaffected by communist insurgents and relatively peaceful, Maj. Mervin Rosal, 303rd IB civil-military operations chief, said.

Rosal said this means the local government unit and PNP acknowledge that only law enforcement operations are needed – an indication that the province is ”normalized.”

The joint declaration will be forwarded to the Negros Occidental Provincial Peace and Order Council and Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council for concurrence.

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Visayas Command chief, clarified that declaring a state of SIPS does not mean an area is insurgency-free since remnants of communist groups will be the subject of relentless and focused military operations.

Arevalo said the military is bent on preventing the resurgence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA) in communities cleared of communist insurgents.

That is not the same as declaring the region insurgency free. There are still 33 NPA fighters left which is an insignificant number being less than a squad. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/5/number-of-npa-fighters-drop-to-33-in-negros-occidental

The number of New People’s Army combatants, including the Regional Strike Force in Negros Occidental, has dropped to 33 from 258 in 2019, Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said.

Edralin said that the Central Negros 1, CN 2, and the Northern Negros Front (NNF) have been dismantled.

Thus, he said, the number of these guerilla fronts is now considered insignificant as they are only less than the size of squad.

Edralin said they are having difficulty in locating rebel remnants as their number decreases. 

But he said they are establishing links with their relatives and friends and collaborate with different government agencies, especially local chief executives, to convince them to surrender through local peace engagements.

“We would not want more rebels to die, since we always wanted to settle and to end the local communist armed conflict through peaceful means,” Edralin said.

Based on the joint community evaluation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, Edralin said that the three dismantled NPA guerilla fronts, including those of the RSF, have 49 firearms left.

This declaration means Negros Occidental is now open for business. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220228

The recommendation of government forces to declare a state of stable internal peace and security (SIPS) in Negros Occidental, after the dismantling of all communist guerrilla fronts in Negros Island, is seen to attract more investments to the province.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in an interview on Wednesday that he hopes “investors will feel more confident” coming here “knowing that there is peace and order” in Negros Occidental.  

“We’ve always wanted to reach that level that there is stable peace and order situation. I think this is also based on the fact that all the fronts of the CPP-NPA have been dismantled. At least, the government that they have set up here in the province has been dismantled,” he told reporters.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, said the joint recommendation through the JPSCC is “an important document that will jumpstart the declaration of SIPS in Negros Island."

“This marks a milestone in the quest for peace. As we aim to declare Negros in a state of SIPS, the support, collaboration, and commitment of government agencies and stakeholders reflect a significant initiative towards ensuring peace and stability,” he added.

Those are odd statements because there has been quite a lot of investment in Negros Occidental. In 2018 the local government laid bare a roadmap to attract investors.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1049298

The provincial government of Negros Occidental will create a market-driven investment roadmap to attract more investors.

This is the province’s next step after hosting the “Invest in Negros” business forum on Wednesday at the Dusit Thani Hotel Manila as a side event of the ongoing 33rd Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, which will run until October 30.

Joy Ogan, executive assistant to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., said they will use the inputs from the forum as the basis to come up with an investment roadmap that will include programs making the province more investment-ready.

“This will help us engage better with investors,” she added.

Ogan said through the business forum, the provincial government has also recognized the need for more collaboration with the private sector.

“The role of the government is more on regulatory and creating a positive environment for businesses to grow thus, we need to have more engagements and dialogues especially on the creation of local ordinances allowing investment to grow,” she said.

There is not a single word about the insurgency preventing investment in Negros Occidental. Could it be that the NPA which is relegated to the mountainous hinterlands did not pose a threat to investors in Negros Occidental? Could it be that this declaration is all about making the AFP look good? They are already planning on declaring Panay Island to have achieved stable internal peace and security. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220329

The Philippine Army hopes to declare a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) in Panay before this year ends by working on dismantling the two already-weakened guerrilla fronts on the island.

Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, chief of the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), said the Central Panay and Southern Panay Fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA) no longer have any hold on any of the barangays in these areas after losing their political-military structure in the villages.

“We already have zero-affected barangays. If we dismantled them by the third quarter, then we will facilitate the declaration of SIPS,” he said in an interview on Thursday.

Javines said the declaration of SIPS could boost investor confidence.

Aside from having a stable power supply, the business sector looks at security as a parameter when investing.

He said the Feb. 28 encounter with members of the Southern Panay Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay in San Joaquin town in Iloilo, was a big blow to the communist group.

The encounter left four members of the communist group dead while one was captured. The group also lost several firearms.

“They will have difficulty looking for a replacement if they lose their senior officials,” he said, adding that their operations resulted in the neutralization of their squad leader, finance, and medical officers.

He also credited the support of civilians for providing them with information.

“The popular support of our civilians is a very important indicator. If we can get information from them, it means they are no longer supporting the armed group,” he added.

It may be good for business but will that help alleviate the poverty in which so many Filipinos live? 

Former rebels are being given wider access to health care services. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/8/peace-at-last-ex-rebels-combatants-given-wider-access-to-medical-services-by-national-government

Former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels and decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will now be able to access vital health services in public hospitals through the newly established partnership between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Department of Health (DOH).

Peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Sec. Teodoro Herbosa signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) recently to include former communist rebels and decommissioned Moro combatants as beneficiaries of the "Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP)" project by the DOH.

Under the MAIFIP, the beneficiaries will be able to avail of health services in public hospitals throughout the country with financial and medical assistance provided by the national government.

In his remarks during the signing ceremony, Galvez underscored that "health and peace must go together."

“There are more or less 40,000 former rebels and CPP-NPA [members] who returned to the folds of the law. There are also 727 former NPA rejectionist groups in the areas of Aklan, Regions 6 and 7, and Davao who will be beneficiaries of this project," he explained.

Galvez noted that the provision of medical assistance is aside from the annual budget allocation of P58.8 million that has been allotted under OPAPRU’s budget to fund the PhilHealth premiums of former rebels and decommissioned combatants.

The implementation of conflict-sensitive health programs, such as the one to be carried out by OPAPRU and DOH through the MOA, will "allow both agencies to work together to provide recipients with much-needed health services," the peace adviser added.

It is also seen to strengthen the government’s peace-building efforts as it "sends a clear and strong signal that it is determined to improve the lives of the beneficiaries and support their journey towards their complete and meaningful transformation."

The provision of socioeconomic assistance and services are among the key components of the Transformation and Normalization Programs of the national government that seek to sustain and build on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process. 

The Transformation Program is a community-driven intervention that is being implemented in parallel with the Local Peace Engagement (LPE) initiative which aims to uplift the socioeconomic conditions of former rebels, their families, and communities.

On the other hand, the Normalization Program, which is under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is designed to help decommissioned MILF combatants to return to mainstream society as peaceful and productive citizens.

"Through this MOA, we can provide the medical and financial needs of former rebels. Pilipino rin sila (They are also Filipinos) and they are entitled to the assistance of the government, especially of the Department of Health para maramdaman nila ang kalinga ng gobyerno (so they can feel that the government takes care of them)," Herbosa said.

Meanwhile in Samar the Army is dialoguing with the families of the remaining rebels in order to convince them to surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220350

Military and local government officials in Samar will hold more peace forums and dialogue to convince the remaining members of the New People’s Army (NPA) through their families to return to the folds of the law and avail of the benefits offered by the government.

Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. General Noel Vestuir said Friday they are strengthening the Friends Rescued Engagement through their Families (FReE Families) project to completely wipe out insurgency in Samar province.

During the launch on March 5, the army and the local government gathered family members of active NPA members in upland Bacubac village in Basey, Samar, with 29 family members present. Their kin are among the 17 active rebels who are residents of Samar.

Vestuir said they would hold the same dialogue in other areas of Samar province next week.

“The familial influence held by the family and relatives of the remaining active NPA members under the NPA sub-regional committee plays an integral role in our aim to end the armed struggle in Samar through peaceful means,” Vestuir said.

The FReE Families program optimizes the local government’s efforts to link and convince the remaining NPA members through the active participation of the rebels’s families to work for the peaceful surrender of their loved ones and take advantage of the benefits through the Enhanced Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

E-CLIP is a government strategy to convince active rebels to return to the fold of the law by providing financial packages and assistance.

In a statement, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said she is optimistic that “the current efforts through the engaged families will work for the surrender of the remaining rebels who are still in the mountains.”

The governor said the identified families and relatives of NPA members are the principal actors for this program, with the end goal of having the NPA members, our target, leave the armed struggle and join them in living a peaceful life. 

Interesting that the AFP knows the exact identities of the remaining rebels yet they cannot put an end to the rebellion.  

Picture of the Week: This Gate is Closed

 This gate is closed for vehicles. 

But...is it?

Obviously not! There is no guard here. Cars and people can go as they please. No one cares about that sign.