Coronavirus Lockdown: Truth and Revelation, Nearly Expired COVID-19 Test Kits, and More!

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

The fallout from the secret Pentagon pay-op to convince Filipinos not to take the Chinese vaccine. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines is welcoming a Senate probe into the matter. 

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202406/1314860.shtml

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said on Wednesday that they welcomed and took notice of the hearing held in the Philippine Senate committee on foreign relations on Tuesday regarding the US military's smear campaign against Chinese vaccines in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that this matter is related to the lives and health of the Filipino people, and the Filipino people and the international community have the right to know the truth. 

The Philippines is currently requesting further clarification from the Pentagon regarding a covert US propaganda campaign that sought to sow doubt among Filipinos about Chinese vaccines during the pandemic. 

In an exclusive response to the Global Times, Yuan Youwei, a Sinovac spokesperson, said that stigmatizing vaccines can lead to extremely serious consequences like causing mistrust between science and public health, among others. 

Yuan told the Global Times that the company was aware of the report and appreciated the fact that Reuters revealed the US military scheme to the public. 

"Throughout history, there have also been people who have wrongly attacked vaccines, which have caused huge disasters. Stigmatizing vaccines can lead to a series of extremely serious consequences, such as lowering vaccination rates, disease outbreaks and epidemics, social panic and unrest, and crises of trust in science and public health," Yuan said.

Interesting they are urging "truth and revelation" seeing as the Chinese government continues to lie about the origin of COVID-19. 

During a House about the COA's findings concerning PS-DBM's COVID purchases it was found that they bought nearly expired COVID-19 test kits and other commodities. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/25/common-sense-garin-slams-duque-for-delivery-of-nearly-expired-covid-19-test-kits

House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin lambasted former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Francisco Duque III for overseeing the procurement of nearly expired test kits during the Covid-19 pandemic, as revealed by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Citing the COA findings, Garin said the DOH—through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM)---allowed the delivery of near-expiry commodities, including Covid-19 test kits.

“We were surprised by the findings of COA and this should be acted upon because DOH never allows delivery of near expiring commodities because it will go down to the barangays,” she said during an oversight hearing with the DOH on Tuesday, June 25.

Accordingly, these near-expiry test kits were found to be more expensive compared to those found in other countries with the same brand and specifications.

“Why is it so expensive in the Philippines? You don’t use the pandemic as a reason to do corruption. And you don’t use the pandemic as a reason to abuse the government, borrow money, and let the Filipino people pay,” Garin stressed.

Garin, a former DOH secretary, pointed out that the agency would never allow the delivery of near-expiring commodities out of common sense.

“If the items to be delivered are expiring, how can people use them?” she asked.

In response, Duque said the DOH’s policy was clear in not allowing the delivery of near-expiry supplies. However, these test kits were only allowed to be delivered given the “extraordinary circumstances” during the pandemic.

(If I recall, there were some new test kits, their expiration was six months. But because the pandemic is evolving, so are the test kits. They can't tell if these test kits can be used for one year or one and a half years because they are new. There are no studies yet, no historical data to show that test kits’ shelf life can actually be extended.)

“But if we talk about the regular supplies, we're really strict, two years or three years until it expires before we do the necessary steps,” he added.

When asked if the DOH filed a complaint against the supplier of these near-expiring test kits, Duque said he could not recall. However, he noted that the health agency may have filed a notice or warning.

Meanwhile, Garin said the delivery schedule of the test kits was not followed, thus adding to the concern that the supplier can't meet the production requirement for the kits.

Duque defended himself by saying the DOH policy on delivering nearly expired items was not clear and it was done during extraordinary circumstances. That is the same excuse the government gave for destroying the economy during the pandemic, it was an extraordinary circumstance.  

The COA has disallowed the financial and health assistance given to employees by Film Development Council of the Philippines during the pandemic. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/27/coa-affirms-p876-896-disallowance-on-financial-health-assistance-given-to-fdcp-employees-during-covid-19-pandemic

The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed the notice of disallowance for P876,896.87 given by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to its employees for financial and health assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the ruling, the COA denied the appeal filed by Mary Liza Diño, former FDCP chairperson.

State auditors had disallowed the P5,000 one-time cash assistance given to contract of service or job order personnel amounting to P400,000. The COA said in its post audit that the disbursements were considered as irregular and cited its Circular No. 2012-003 dated Oct. 29, 2012.

On the other hand, the P476,896.87 spent as payments to two private medical companies was also disallowed as COA Resolution No. 2005-001 provides that "the procurement of private health insurance by any government agency or instrumentality is an irregular expenditure and constitutes unnecessary use of public funds."

In her appeal, Diño argued that monetary and other forms of incentives were allowed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 18, series of 2020. She claimed that the circular stated that the approval of the head of agency is sufficient for the issuance of support mechanisms for employees.

She also argued that the circular was intended for "all workers" to be entitled to the support mechanisms, and that the health care assistance given to FDCP workers was "necessary" in light of the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COA, however, denied Diño's arguments.

It said: "Notably, the grant of financial and health care assistance is not clothed with authority considering that it lacked review by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the eventual approval of the President. With no such approval or authority, the extension of the assistance was without legal basis."

"Thus, the disallowances are warranted due to the violations made by FDCP when it granted additional benefits and used allotments intended for other purposes without the authority or approval from the DBM and the President," it said.

The COA also said: "The Audit Team Leader and the Supervising Auditor are instructed to verify whether the regular employees of the FDCP likewise received the cash assistance similar with that granted to the Contract of Service/Job Order personnel... and whether the same was improperly charged against other allotments, and to issue a Supplemental ND, if warranted."

The approving and certifying officials for the amounts of P400,000 and P476,896.87 have been held "solidarily liable" by the COA for the total disallowance. They are Diño, Officer-in-Charge Executive Director III Ria Anne S. Rubia, Budget Officer Jose Carlos D. Pasion, Chief Administrative Officer Ermelita Alquiza, Project Development Officer V Don Gervin T. Arawan, General Services Messenger Juanito A. Acuña, and Project Development Officer II Irish Joy F. Delfin.

It was not known immediately what legal recourse was resorted to by those affected by the COA ruling.

Extraordinary circumstances? The COA does not care. 

After four years Philippine Airlines has restored service between Clark and Basco. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1957308/pal-resumes-clark-basco-flights

Philippine Airlines (PAL) relaunched on Tuesday its flights from Clark International Airport (CRK) here to the Batanes capital of Basco, years after air service to the northernmost province was halted due to the pandemic.

PAL’s Clark-Basco flights are scheduled every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday via PR 2688, leaving CRK at 11 a.m. and arriving in Basco at 12:35 p.m. PAL’s PR 2689 serves the Basco-Clark service on the same days, leaving Basco at 1 p.m. and reaching CRK at 2:35 p.m.

Rabbi Vincent Ang, PAL Express president, said in a statement that the Clark-Basco service was a “most sought-after domestic route, which allows Basco residents to access opportunities for leisure travel and discover other beautiful attractions across the country.”

“This returning service also allows Central Luzon residents, business and leisure travelers to fly to picturesque Basco,” he said.

Ang said Central Luzon, through CRK, is a “strategic gateway” to northern, central and southern Philippines.

No word on why it took so long to restore this particular route. 

Some health workers have still not received their emergency allowances despite the DOH releasing the money. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1228158

The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) has already released over PHP5.98 billion of health emergency allowance (HEA) to health workers who served at the height of the pandemic.

WVCHD Administrative Officer V and human resources in-charge Genevieve Cadornigara said during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” briefing on Tuesday that the amount is around 99.96 percent of the allocation for the region.

The HEA covers services rendered from July 2021 to July 2023, or 25 months.

“The health emergency allowance is based on the risk classification of health workers. They may be low risk, moderate risk or high risk. The identification of the risk classification of each health care worker is dependent on their facilities for both public and private facilities,” she said.

She said there are still facilities that are yet to receive their allowance since the regional office is still waiting for the fund release from the central office.

“As of this moment, there are 19 health facilities where we have released a complete 25-month HEA,” Cadornigara said.

WVCHD regional director Adriano Suba-an said the HEA cannot be regarded as a measure of the “hardships and challenges faced by our modern-day heroes.”

“We owe an endless gratitude to them,” he said.

Suba-an assured that once the funds are available, the regional office will immediately release the HEA of the remaining health workers.

That is one step closer to the Department of Budget and Management's goal of paying all HEA arrears by the end of 2025. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/907440/health-workers-emergency-allowance-paid-dbm/story/

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is targeting to settle all the unpaid arrears for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) by the end of next year.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman committed, during Monday's public hearing and inquiry of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, that arrears of the HEA are fulfilled by the end of 2025.

“The health workers are our priority. The HEA is in the SONA (State of the Nation Address) of our President. Whenever we see each other, he reminds us about it. My promise is, by 2025, it will be fully paid,” Pangandaman said.

To date, the Budget Department said it has disbursed a total of P91.283 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) for the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) covering all healthcare workers’ benefits from 2021 to 2023. 

PHEBA covers Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, as well as additional benefits like meals, accommodation, and transportation allowances for healthcare workers.

Of the amount, P73.261 billion has been allocated for HEA.

During the Senate hearing, Pangandaman bared the DBM’s strategy to settle the remaining P27.7 billion arrears for the HEA.

She said the first step involves utilizing a P2.3-billion unprogrammed appropriations (UA) fund contingent upon the collection of excess revenue.

“We are just awaiting certification from the Bureau of Treasury on excess revenue,” said Pangandaman.

Last year, the DBM said an additional P7 billion, taken from the UA, was released for HEA.

The Budget Department will also look into the internal budget of DOH and identify possible realignment for the program.

Moreover, Pangandaman committed that the necessary resources to address the deficiencies in HEA would be prioritized in the drafting of the 2025 National Budget.

Better late than never.

However, DOH Secretary Herbosa says the reaming P27 billion in health allowances will be paid this year. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1957514/p27-billion-covid-19-health-allowances-to-be-given-this-year-says-herbosa

The remaining P27 billion unpaid COVID-19 health emergency allowances (HEAs) for eligible medical frontliners will be released by this year.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa made the announcement on Wednesday at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Pre-Sona special program.

He cited what the Department of Budget and Management said during the 17th Cabinet Meeting in Malacañang last Tuesday.

According to Herbosa, Budget Sec. Amenah Pangandaman relayed that the funds for the remaining emergency allowances will no longer be included in the proposed budget for 2025.

This means DBM is confident it can release the fund this year.

(Secretary Pangandaman said, ‘the budget for allowance is no longer there.’ I asked, ‘Why is it not there?’ ‘It looks like we can give it this year.’)

(This year, yes. It seems that the national government will be able to provide the remaining 27 billion that we have not yet allocated so that everything can already be paid.)

(So, that’s the good news here.)

It will only be good news once the payment is made and health workers have the money. 

Presidential Remarks on Philippine Independence From 1946 - 2024

On May 2nd, 1962 President Diosdado Macapagal, after not receiving a $73 million payment from the US government, issued a proclamation changing the date of Philippine Independence from July 4th to June 12th. While seemingly a patriotic move this change has gradually erased Philippine history so that everyone now thinks the Philippines has been an independent sovereign nation for 126 years. What I'd like to do in this article is trace this slow change through Presidential speeches commemorating Independence Day. 

First is President Roxas:

One year ago today we achieved our national independence and established the Republic of the Philippines. On this same spot, hallowed by the blood of Rizal and consecrated to his memory, the American flag was lowered and our flag, that glorious flag of our forefathers, was raised upon yonder masthead to wave thenceforth alone and unshadowed over all this land we love. (Applause)

It is well that on each anniversary of that historic event we recall the significance of that symbolic ceremony, to remind us of the magnanimity of America and to awaken in our hearts a renewed devotion to freedom, a fresh determination to defend it with our lives.

We won our independence through the processes of democracy, by the will of a free people. We will scan the pages of history in vain for another such example. In the past no star ever fell from an imperial diadem except through force and at the cost of torrents of human blood. It is to the undying credit of Americans and Filipinos that by trusting each other and having faith in one another, they cleared the way for the fullest cooperation in the consummation of the historic act we now commemorate—a priceless flowering of Christian civilization.

We Filipinos can feel proud that we were actors in that historic drama that ushered in this new age. We are grateful to America for having kept faith with us and for pointing the way for other nations to follow in the trusteeship of the peoples under their flags.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1947/07/04/address-of-president-roxas-on-the-first-anniversary-of-the-philippine-independence/

President Quirino:

Two nations celebrate today their anniversary of freedom. With the United States of America, this celebration is one of the many she has observed annually in her long and successful life as a republic. With our Republic, it is only the second in its young but promising life. To the Philippines, Fourth of July signifies both freedom to the Filipinos and gratitude to America. To America, aside from being also the historic clay of her freedom, it is now properly a continuous source of justifiable pride for the liberty she made possible for us to enjoy. To both countries it should likewise signify from now on the periodic reaffirmation of faith, friendship, and confidence in one another, based on their solemn covenants and mutual commitments.

To be sure, the Filipino people celebrate this memorable day with perhaps greater rejoicing. I shall tell you why. The recentness of our birth as a republic makes our part in this observance like that of proud parents watching fondly their child grow up. You—I—every Filipino, dead or alive, are the proud parents. Dig deep into the past or scour the present and you will find that our libertarian achievements have no parallel in the history of the world. Every man, woman and child in this vast congregation, specially those who suffered in the recent war, know how we won our independence. Our emergence as a nation has been a most painful process. We can truthfully say that this Republic is the child of storm and stress—of fire and famine. Strange as it may seem, although we are only two years old today, we have shown clear signs of amazing strength and vitality, both physical and spiritual, which surely will endure the hardest test.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1948/07/04/address-of-president-quirino-on-independence-day-july-4-1948/

President Magsaysay:

TEN years ago today, by the grace of God, we realized a dream for which Filipinos had fought and died for hundred of years. On that day was born the Republic of the Philippines, a sovereign nation of free and independent Filipinos. The road we traveled to reach that goal was long and hard. On that road our fathers and their fathers before them fought and died. During the past half century the end of that hard road came in sight. The marks of our struggle changed from blood and steel to persuasion and principle. Our final victory was won with reason rather than violence.

At the turn of the century, we shook off the grip of one foreign country only to come under the sovereignty of another. Fortunately, the new sovereign was a nation which held and still holds the freedom and dignity of man among its most cherished traditions. Within the framework of this tradition we developed our case for self-determination and independence. Our case prospered. And on July 4, 1946, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and warm friendship, the stars and stripes of America were lowered; and the flag of our Republic proclaimed to the world that we stood at last as a free and sovereign people in the community of nations.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/07/04/speech-of-president-magsaysay-on-independence-day/

President Garcia:

THE vast throng which we Filipinos comprise in this park is but the nucleus of an entire nation 27 million strong in joyous observance throughout the country of the Great Day of Independence.

Fourteen years ago today, from the holocaust of war our freedom rose like the Phoenix from the ashes—and with it sovereign statehood. This Republic of the Philippines is the capstone achievement of four centuries of libertarian heroic struggle.

Today we begin our fifteenth year of independence. July 4, 1946, indeed was a day to become unforgotten ever. Here at the Luneta hundreds of thousands of us watched with throbbing hearts the ceremony marking the birth of the Republic. This edifice of stone from, which I speak was not here then; nor the imposing skyline of modern buildings that we now see around us. But at the time of the proclamation of independence, it did not matter that the ceremonial grandstand was a makeshift affair, that all around were the debris of war, that the whole country was prostrate and bleeding.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1960/07/04/speech-of-president-garcia-on-the-observance-of-the-14th-anniversary-of-the-independence-day-july-4-1960/

Indeed July 4th, 1946 is a day that no Filipino should ever forget. But, because President Diosdado Macapagal changed the date of independence from July 4th to June 12th, that date has been long forgotten and most Filipinos operate under the delusion that the Philippines has been an independent sovereign nation since 1898. 

Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, and Garcia all recognize the fact the Philippines became independent on July 4th, 1946.  None of them mention the declaration of 1898. Three of them mention the fact that Philippine independence is unique in the history of the world because it came by the will of the people rather than by a violent uprising and war. Today no one mentions that history when commemorating independence day. 

Even though President Macapagal changed the date of independence from July 4th to June 12th he still recognized that the Philippines became independent on July 4th. 

President Macapagal. 

THREE years ago today, we commenced the celebration of our day of freedom on the 12th day of June. We made the change not out of a diminution of esteem for America but out of a sense of fidelity to the verities of history. We have since commemorated the 4th of July as American-Philippine Friendship Day, also out of a sense of reality and truth. For it is a reality and a truth, indeed, one of the marvels in the annals of colonialism that after the ties of sovereignty were torn asunder between the United States and the Philippines on July 4, 1946, following forty-eight years of colonial association, instead of the relations between the two countries since then suffering a loosening, the bonds of friendship and partnership between the United States and the Philippines in defense of their security and in support of common ideals have become firmer and stronger with the passing of time.

Finally succumbing to the power of superior arms and brought under the rule of the Spanish crown, the people revolted intermittently and incessantly during the whole period of the one hundred and seventy-seven years of Spanish rule until finally a nationwide revolution led by General Emilio Aguinaldo and the founder of the secret revolutionary society, the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio, under the inspiration of the Filipino hero and martyr, Dr. Jose Rizal, exploded and succeeded, resulting in the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June the 12, 1898, by General Aguinaldo and in the establishment of the Philippine Republic under a Constitution adopted in Malolos, Bulacan, with Aguinaldo as President of the Republic.

At about this time, war broke out between the United States and Spain. Defeated in the war, Spain ceded in the Treaty of Peace to the United States the Philippines over which it had lost physical control. Again, the Filipino people resisted the implantation of American rule but were subdued by superior arms with the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, in 1901. Despite the magnanimity of American rule, the Filipino people continued the struggle for freedom for forty-eight years on the battlefield of peace under a new triumvirate of great Filipino political leaders, Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, and Manuel Roxas, until on July 4, 1946, the United States proclaimed, restored, and recognized the independence of the Filipino people as a free and sovereign nation.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1964/06/12/address-of-president-macapagal-on-independence-day-june-12-1964/

President Ferdinand Marcos:

And we of all peoples are perhaps most aware of the costs and the perils of freedom because we know and we remember that our very First Republic that was born in Kawit, Cavite 86 years ago died soon after its founding, the victim of yet another colonial power.

We know and we remember how long it took and what sacrifices were required before we could recover our National Independence on July 4, 1946.

And we know and we remember the labors that we had to bear decade after decade thereafter, in order to preserve our right to be an independent nation and to make authentic and life-giving this blessing for our people.

To celebrate therefore, Independence Day in our country is not simply to mark by ceremony and ritual the history beginnings of our Republic; it is as ever a moment to renew those purposes upon which our nation stands and to review the difficult stages of our evolution into the nation we are today.

We are a nation today of 52 million people that is fully 26 times larger than the nation that came to birth 86 years ago.

In both the growth in size and in the time that has elapsed are vividly marked every trial that we have lived through, and every lesson that we have learned about the challenges that a free and independent nation must face.

As we learned long ago that National Independence is not won after one demonstration of the valor of our arms, so have we also known that the achievement of authentic national freedom involves many forms of struggle and effort. And it is thus the task of every generation of our people to show by deed how it can preserve, protect and promote that freedom,

In many ways the last decade and a half has been such a critical time for our country. For this has been a period when, by choice, we faced up to the many constraints on National Independence since 1946; and this has been a time too when we have had to confront grave challenges to the very life of our republic. 

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1984/06/12/address-of-president-marcos-on-independence-day-2/

President Marcos made these comments in 1984, 22 years after Macapagal changed the date of independence. This is the last time any Philippine President will mention July 4th, 1946 in their Independence Day remarks.

President Cory Aquino:

We first took the road to nationhood and democracy 90 years ago. It did not take long for us to lose our way. Those who tried to pick up the trail of true nationhood again, found only martyrdom.

There is no easy road to nationhood and enduring democracy. And the road signs have been erased or confused by those who do not want us to complete the journey.

Today, we recall those who sacrificed to help us find our way and rededicate ourselves to continue their search and undertake their sacrifices. We cherish their memory and acknowledge with gratitude the sacrifices they made on the altar of country and democracy.

This year, we begin the decade of nationalism, in hopes that we may celebrate June 12, 1998, the Centennial of Independence, as a nation fully free at last. Free from the threat of renewed tyranny, free from poverty, disease, ignorance, homelessness, and conflict.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1988/06/12/speech-of-president-corazon-aquino-on-independence-day/

President Fidel Ramos:

To whoever may ask what exactly it is we celebrate today, we have this to say:

We Filipinos are rejoicing in our coming of age—in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago.

Today we mark a hundred years of learning what it takes to rise from a diverse mix of language-groups, islands and regions into a self-conscious unity—into what Rizal called “one Filipino nation”—ang sambayanang Pilipino.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1998/06/12/speech-of-president-ramos-during-the-centennial-of-the-proclamation-of-philippine-independence-june-12-1998/

This quote is interesting because just two years prior in 1996 President Ramos declared July 4th to  be a special day for the commemoration of 50 years of independence. 

WHEREAS, July 4, 1996 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-American Friendship Day which ushered the beginning of Philippine political independence from the American colonial rule;

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1996/06/17/proclamation-no-811-s-1996-2/

Yet, despite this admission, Ramos continued to spout the lie that the Philippines gained its liberty in 1898.

President Joseph Estrada:

One hundred years after Kawit, fifty years after independence, twelve years after Edsa, and seven years after the rejection of foreign bases, it is now the turn of the masses to experience liberation.

We stand in the shadow of those who fought to make us free—free from foreign domination, free from domestic tyranny, free from superpower dictation, free from economic backwardness. We acknowledge a debt of gratitude to Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel Quezon, Ramon Magsaysay, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, and the magnificent twelve of the 1991 senate who voted for Filipino sovereignty and honor.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1998/06/30/inaugural-address-of-president-estrada-official-english-translation-june-30-1998/

This speech is from his inaugural address. There are no Independence Day speeches recorded in the Official Gazette. 

President Arroyo:

Today we remember once again those historic events of a hundred and eleven years ago when a band of patriots announced to the whole world the birth of a new and sovereign nation, one with full rights to dream its own dreams, choose its own leaders, and work towards its own goals and aspirations.

Our freedom, paid for by the blood of heroes, has been challenged several times since. But our people rose to the occasion at every turn, defending their liberty with everything they had, prepared to render the ultimate sacrifice if asked to do so.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/06/12/speech-of-president-arroyo-at-the-independence-day-reception/

President Benigno Aquino:

It has been one hundred and sixteen years since our national anthem was formally played and our national flag was unfurled in Kawit, Cavite, as symbols of a free and unified Philippines. On that day as well, the Philippines declared its independence: a country unshackled from foreign chains, composed of citizens who had control of their own destinies.

This is what we commemorate today. For us, the 12th of June is a culmination of all the sacrifices, the battles, and the triumphs our ancestors underwent to achieve independence from Spain. We are all aware: The goals of our heroes were not fulfilled overnight. It was the result of facing and overcoming multiple setbacks and challenges, and of the cooperation of several people united by one purpose: to live dignified lives, free from oppression. There was the Propaganda Movement, which planted the seeds of change in the minds of Filipinos; the Katipunan, which grew to become a refuge to many of our heroes; the many encounters between Filipino guerrillas and Spanish forces; the publication of two novels by Gat Jose Rizal, and his martyrdom in Bagumbayan on the 30th of December 1896.

In the course of history, we continue to defend and uphold the dreams of our forefathers: After the fall of the First Republic founded in Malolos, we fought off those who invaded our lands. We rose up from the ravages of war. 

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/06/12/english-speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-116th-anniversary-of-the-proclamation-of-philippine-independence/

President Duterte:

I join all Filipinos in celebrating the 122nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

One hundred and twenty-two years ago, our forefathers proudly proclaimed the birth of the Filipino nation. Today we honor them for their bravery, heroism and sacrifice as well as we thank them for the gifts of democracy and freedom.

https://pco.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200912-MESSAGE-OF-PRESIDENT-RODRIGO-ROA-DUTERTE-FOR-THE-2020-INDEPENDENCE-DAY-CELEBRATION.docx.pdf

President Marcos Jr.:

One hundred and twenty-five years since the Declaration of Independence in Cavite, it is appropriate to pause, to reflect on how far we have come from that profound transformative event in our history.

The heroes of our liberation would be proud to know that we have thrown off the “ominous yoke of domination”; never again to be subservient to any external force that directs or determines our destiny.

We have stayed the course and adhered to their ideals for our free and independent country: popular, representative, and responsible.

We have evolved into a healthy and vibrant Republic, with a stable government, supported by growing institutions and mechanisms, all of whose mandate and authority ultimately emanate from and are owed to the Filipino people. Then as now, it remains an unassailable, self- evident principle that sovereignty resides in our people.

Our independence was not the end, but merely the principal means to achieve full development of the Filipino. Our success and the pursuit of happiness are not just the ultimate goals of our independence; these are to be seen as the expanded notions of human freedom.

We subscribe to this; for after all, it is the “blessings of independence and democracy” that we have avowed to secure for ourselves and for our posterity.

A hundred twenty-five years on, we will view our Nation’s “development as freedom”, with more focus and determination.

We owe this to our national heroes, who had won for us this freedom that we now enjoy. We owe this to the next generations of Filipinos to whom we swear to bequeath a stronger and genuinely free Republic.

https://pbbm.com.ph/speeches/speech-by-president-ferdinand-r-marcos-jr-at-the-125th-anniversary-of-philippine-independence-and-nationhood-kalayaan-kinabukasan-kasaysayan/

Beginning with President Cory Aquino every single President makes the claim that the Philippines became sovereign on June 12th, 1898 and ignores the actual date of independence, July 4th. It is not clear why this is the case. One could recognize the significance of both dates but, except for Ramos, that is not what any of these Presidents do.

President Arroyo, the daughter of President Macapagal, offered some insight into her thought process when she praised her father for moving the date of independence.

https://politiko.com.ph/2019/06/12/proud-daughter-arroyo-hails-father-dadong-macapagal-for-moving-independence-day-to-june-12/headlines/

In her speech during the 121st Independence Day celebration at the historic Barasoain Church in, Malolos City, Bulacan, Arroyo said she was proud about the achievement of her father for standing ground and believing that it was wrong to commemorate the country's freedom and sovereignty on the same date with the former colonial masters—the Americans.

"It is a great honor for my family that the one who set Independence Day on the right date of June twelfth was none other than my father, President Diosdado Macapagal," said Arroyo.

On May 12, 1962, Macapagal, barely five months into his presidency, issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28. moving the Philippine Independence Day celebration from July 4 to June 12, nearly two decades after the United States formally set the country free from its colonial rule.

Arroyo explained that her father strongly believed that July 4 was not the right day for Filipinos to celebrate their independence since it somehow connoted dependence on the United States.

"He (Macapagal) is still a congressman, he already thought that it is not right to commemorate our liberation on the fourth of July, the old date of celebration... every time we hold our Independence Day on the fourth of July, we join the country that used to be conquer us. And it seems that we are still tied to America and continue to rely on his help and defense," Mrs. Arroyo stressed.

Mrs. Arroyo said her father stood ground during his time and initiated the first step to further enhance nationalism among Filipinos.

"It is appropriate to move Independence Day to the twelfth of June — the date when General Emilio Aguinaldo announced in Kawit, Kabite, in 1898, that we are a free country, with our own stand, goals, and rights like others another free country," said Arroyo.

According to Arroyo it is not right to celebrate independence on July 4th because the United States celebrates its independence on the same date. To continue celebrating Philippine independence on July 4th "seems that we are still tied to America and continue to rely on his help and defense." 

This is as stupid as if one shared a birthday with a friend and decided to celebrate the day of his conception instead just so he could have his very own special day. It is a straight out denial of history due to an ill-conceived notion of pride. 

Arroyo is wrong because the Philippines continues to depend on the USA for "help and defense." The USA gives the Philippines millions of dollars in aid every single year for projects of every kind. The US military trains with the AFP. The USA and the Philippines have also signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in which the USA will come to the aid of the Philippines if they are attacked. 

It would be interesting to hear what Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, and Garcia have to say about this issue but they are all dead. President Garcia is the only one who survived after Macapgal changed the date of independence but his thoughts on the issue are either not recorded or are not readily available. 

Insurgency: NTF-ELCAC Seeks P10 Million For Each Barangay

The AFP says 21 towns in the Eastern Visayas have been declared rebel free. These towns are concentrated on Samar island. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227692

A total of 21 towns in Eastern Visayas have been declared completely free from threats from the New People’s Army (NPA) and have attained Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status, the Philippine Army reported on Wednesday. 

The municipalities conferred the SIPS status from January to June this year included Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Sta. Margarita, and Sto. Niño in Samar province; Allen, San Jose, Rosario, Capul, and Biri in Northern Samar; Bontoc and Macrohon in Southern Leyte; Palompon, Isabel, Matag-ob, Merida, and Hilongos in Leyte; and Giporlos, Mercedes, San Julian, and Taft in Eastern Samar. 

The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said in a statement Wednesday that these municipalities earned SIPS status due to the successful conduct of local peace engagement down to the community level and the effective multi-sectoral commitment to peace and security. 

Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade, said that a municipality is recognized with SIPS status only when no single resident is a member of the communist terrorist group. 

"Municipalities and provinces free from insurgency are declared to have stable internal peace and security. Hopefully, the entire province of Eastern Samar will achieve this status when all its municipalities are declared insurgency-free," Lelina said. 

In the SIPS declaration in Leyte province on Monday, 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir emphasized that the declaration of SIPS status represents a victory of freedom from the deceptive ideas of the New People's Army (NPA). 

“The SIPS declaration is a testament to collective efforts and commitment to peace, unity, and progress of stakeholders. It highlights the importance of embracing peace and working together to achieve reconciliation and sustained development,” Vestuir said. 

Alongside every SIPS declaration is the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the municipal task force to end local communist armed conflict and other peace partners. 

This MOU aims to strengthen the support of local governments in maintaining peace and order, conducting activities to enhance law enforcement operations, and preventing the resurgence of the NPA. 

Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, reiterated his call to the people of Eastern Visayas that maintaining a stable peace and security environment cannot be achieved without community support. 

"We aim to eradicate the decades-long insurgency problem in the region completely. Therefore, I urge the remaining NPA members to surrender to the government and take advantage of its programs to start a new life. The government is very willing to help you all," Ligayo added. 

The military said several areas in the region have long been peaceful; hence, the declaration of the SIPS condition is just a formal and official manifestation of the commitment of local leaders and people to sustain the peace and never allow any threat groups to gain a foothold in their communities. 

While the areas which have been declared insrugency-free are in Samar and Eastern Samar, Northern Samar remains an insurgency hot bed. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227542

A member of the New People's Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with government forces on the outskirts of Hitapi-an village in Catubig, Northern Samar, late Sunday.

The slain rebel,  one of the five rebels engaged in a 15-minute firefight, was left by his comrades while fleeing from soldiers, the Philippine Army said in its report sent to the media on Monday.

The rebels belonged to the NPA's sub-regional guerilla unit of the front committee-15 operating in the province.

The unit is known for its involvement in intimidating, making grave threats, and extorting from the local populace and small businesses in Northern Samar communities.

This group was also responsible for the June 1, 2024 incident in Manering village, also in Catubig, where they tried to harass the Army's mobile community support and sustainment team, said Lt. Col. Richard Villaflor, Philippine Army's 20th Infantry Battalion commander.

He said soldiers seized two M16 rifles and an R4 rifle after the clash.

The clash occurred just days after the military deployed a team in the area, responding to reports from villagers regarding extortion of essential supplies from residents and farmers.

The military has coordinated with the barangay task force to end the local communist armed conflict and the municipality of Catubig to identify the dead rebels and facilitate a decent burial.

"In light of yet another unfortunate incident where another NPA member has lost his life, we extend a heartfelt plea to all remaining members of the communist terrorist group to surrender peacefully and return to your families. The government awaits you with open arms, ready to support your fresh start through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program," Villaflor said in a statement.

 In 2023 the governor of Northern Samar claimed guerrilla front committee 15 had been dismantled. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/4/last-2-active-guerrilla-fronts-in-northern-samar-dismantled

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan announced the dismantling of the last two active guerilla fronts in the province.

“The CTG Front Committees 1 and 15 are now down to 36 remaining personalities and 64 firearms. This is a testament to the Nortehanons’ determination in achieving peace,” Ongchuan said as he reported the gains made by the province during the Joint Regional Task Force (JRTF) ELCAC-8 held here recently.

However even in this announcement it is evident that Committee 15 had not been dismantled as there were still active members. 

In January 2024 the AFP also announced that Committee 15 had been dismantled. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/18/troops-dismantle-2-more-npa-units-in-eastern-visayas

In January, the Joint Task Force Storm formally declared the four remaining Guerilla Fronts (GF) in Eastern Visayas as dismantled.

They are the Front Committee 2, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium; Front Committee 1, SRC Emporium; Front Committee 15, SRC Arctic, and Front Committee 3, SRC Arctic.

The Army attributed the dismantling of the four GFs and the two NPA units to the implementation of programs and projects under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Why announce the dismantling of guerrilla fronts when there are still active NPA rebels? Why announce regions as rebel-free when they are not rebel-free? Money.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1955360/ntf-elcac-seeks-p10-million-for-each-barangay-in-its-program

The anticommunist task force called for the increase of up to P10 million the allocation for every village under its Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

“Hopefully, for every village, our proposal is P10 million,” said Rene Valera, project management office assistant director from the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Office of Project Development Services.

DILG is part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

Valera said they already complied with the Department of Budget and Management’s deadline for the National Expenditure Program for 2025.

Under the proposed 2025 SBDP budget, the NTF-Elcac has listed 870 barangays for P10 million each worth of farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, health stations, rural electrification, and other relevant non-infra projects.

To date, the government has already released a total of P28.39 billion for its SBDP.

For 2021, each village under SBDP received P20 million.

It was slashed to P4 million in 2022 and was even reduced to P2.5 million for each village in 2023 and 2024.

Villages declared rebel-free are entered into the Baragay Development Program and given millions of pesos. These declarations are very lucrative. 43 villages on Negros Island have been declared insurgency-free and are seeking development funds. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227929

The Negros Occidental Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) is pushing for development funds for the additional insurgency-cleared villages in 18 local government units (LGUs) in the province next year.

As of Friday, 43 more barangays are considered free from the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), whose five guerrilla fronts in Negros Island have already been dismantled since last year.

Under the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), each village is proposed to receive PHP10 million for infrastructure projects for inclusion in the 2025 National Expenditure Program, which shall serve as the basis of the General Appropriations Act.

“The consolidated priority projects proposed by the 43 beneficiary barangays were submitted to the DILG Region 6, which they have endorsed to the National Secretariat of the National TF-ELCAC,” the DILG-Negros Occidental said in a report during the PTF-ELCAC first semester meeting on Thursday.

There are 66 total proposed projects, including 41 farm-to-market roads, 18 electrification projects, four health centers, and three school buildings.

The SBDP is a hallmark program of NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities.

Amazing that the Philippines needs so much development. This should be a regular process and not part of an anti-insurgency campaign. 

More NPA leaders have been killed in battle. First 3 leaders in Nueva Ecija. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/28/3-npa-leaders-among-10-fatalities-in-nueva-ecija-gun-battle

Three New People’s Army leaders were among the 10 fatalities in an encounter with soldiers in Barangay Malbang, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, June 26.

Three more NPA casualties, all females, and four firearms were recovered by soldiers from the 84th Infantry Battalion during a clearing operation at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 27.

A total of 15 firearms, subversive documents, and personal belongings were found in the encounter site. 

Casualties were from the Komiteng Rehiyong Gitnang Luzon (KRGL). Seven of them have been identified.

Major Dondon D. Canilang, 703rd Infantry Brigade civil-military operations chief, identified the three NPA leaders as Hilario Guiuo, alias Berting acting Secretary, KRGL, and commander, Regional Operational Command; Harold Sarenas Meñosa, alias Luzon, commander, platoon Silangan Gitnang Luzon, and Pepito Trinidad Bautista, alias Dylan, team leader, Squad Tersera, platoon Silangan Gitnang Luzon. 

The four other slain NPA rebels were Reynan Mendoza, alias Mel; Archie Anceta, alias Joel; Andrie dela Cruz, alias Lay, Rowen, and Lunti, political instructor, platoon Silangan Gitnang Luzon, and Azase Galang, alias Cha.

Canilang said they are in the process of identifying the three remaining casualties – three females who were found a few meters away from their exit route. Soldiers believe they were abandoned by their comrades when they withdrew.

 Brig. Gen. Jorwin Joseph D. Pasamonte, 703rd Infantry Brigade chief, commended the 84th IB for their achievement and  their commitment to preserve the peace and security in the area.

Another high-ranking NPA leader decided to surrender. 

https://www.pia.gov.ph/armys-kalasag-battalion-facilitates-surrender-of-high-ranking-ctg-member/

The 4th Mechanized Infantry “Kalasag” Battalion of the Philippine Army facilitated the surrender of alias Rex, a high-ranking member of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).

Rex is the former Vice Commanding Officer of the Main Area Platoon, Guerrilla Front (GF) 8, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and Sec Sangay sa Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Peacock, GF 88, North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee based in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

The 42nd Mechanized Infantry Company of the Kalasag Battalion, led by 1st Lieutenant Raymund Macandili, under the leadership of their Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Mark Malinit, facilitated the surrender as a result of their intensified intelligence and psychological operations.

Reports have revealed that the former rebel decided to surrender due to the hardships and pressure caused by intensified, focused military operations. These operations neutralized their movements, leading to fears of potential encounters with government forces. Additionally, they lacked resources and financial support from their organizations.

The 42nd Mechanized Infantry Company then coordinated with Tagoloan’s local government unit and the Municipal Police Station (MPS) in the area to surrender and turn over loose firearms to military forces.

Now he will have to apply not only for amnesty but for all the benefits the government is offering to former rebels. What he will not have to do is face any penalty for his crimes against the nation.