It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227777 |
Four members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in Pasig City were relieved from their posts amid an ongoing investigation into their presence at a private event of a networking company in the city.
In a phone interview Thursday, Eastern Police District (EPD) director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta clarified that the involved SWAT members are from Pasig City and not from Batangas province, contrary to earlier reports.
"They are currently assigned at the Pasig City Police Station while they are being investigated. It's part of the SOP so we can formalize a report on it," Asueta said.
An initial report showed the incident happened about 1 p.m. on June 22, when the SWAT team's patrol vehicle stopped in front of a bank along San Miguel Avenue in Barangay San Antonio.
A woman who was later identified as an employee of a nearby networking firm Prime Z approached one of the team's members, a certain "Police M/Sgt. Noche" who was then sitting at the back of the patrol vehicle, and asked him if they can take a picture with the SWAT team as they were holding an event for their opening.
The SWAT team accepted the request and went to the lobby of the firm's building where the picture-taking was held. They were then invited for snacks at the building's 24th floor but they refused, saying they needed to continue their mobile patrols.
The team provided a contact number to the company for police assistance purposes and left the place.
Asueta said the SWAT team was unaware that the photo was posted on social media using the company's Facebook account.
"There is nothing wrong with that. They were not aware that the picture was posted on the company's Facebook page and somebody commented. There was a misinterpretation," Asueta added.
Asueta, however, the city's chief of police was not relieved over the incident.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. earlier ordered an investigation into the incident after his office received pictures of the SWAT team at the company's event.
Four SWAT officers have been relieved pending an investigation into their presence at a company's private event.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/27/urdaneta-lgu-employee-shot-dead |
A local government unit employee was shot dead and his live-in partner was wounded during a robbery in Zone II, Barangay Dilan Paurido, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan on Wednesday morning, June 26.
Police Capt. Rey Floro Tuanquin, Urdaneta police chief investigator, identified the fatality as Bernardino E. Bernardo.
Police said Bernardo and his live-in partner Maria Christina Parayno, 58, also an employee of the Urdaneta City LGU, were onboard a motorcycle when they were flagged down by four men who alighted from a black Mitsubishi Montero.
The suspects declared a holdup and shot the victims. They fled toward Asingan, Pangasinan.
Bernardo was declared dead in the hospital from multiple bullet wounds. Parayno also sustained bullet wounds but is now in stable condition.
Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered from the crime scene five empty bullet shells.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.
An LGU employee has been shot dead in an alleged robbery.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/28/coa-affirms-disallowance-on-p14-8-m-spent-by-catanduanes-for-intelligence-confidential-activities |
The Commission on Audit (COA) has denied the appeal of Catanduanes Gov. Joseph C. Cua and several other provincial officials who contested the P14.8 million disallowance on cash advances (CAs) used for intelligence and confidential (IC) activities in 2012 and 2013.
On Jan. 30, 2015, the COA disallowed the use of the funds for IC activities because "there was no concrete basis for the computation of the amount rightfully allotted for IC expenses."
The disallowance was issued against Cua, Officer-in-Charge Provincial Budget Officer Nena V. Guerrerro, Provincial Budget Officer Lucito G. Pastor, Provincial Accountant Sonia P. Villaluna, and Provincial Treasurer Julieta M. Tasarra.
The COA said its state auditors found that the annual budget of Catanduanes for the years 2012 and 2013 did not clearly indicate the amount appropriated for the peace and order program (POP).
Cua was then required to comment on the use of P14.8 million and submit several lacking documents that would support its use.
In response, Cua explained that the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) formulates and implements annually an Integrated Area/Community Public Safety Plan, which was embodied in the annual budget of the province, in lieu of POP.
He said that there was a clear appropriation of POP in the annual budget because it is commonly funded out of the 20 percent Development Fund, Calamity Fund, and the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the different departments of the province.
However, the COA was not satisfied with Cua's explanation. It cited the letter of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dated Aug. 29, 2008, which said that local government units (LGUs) must allocate funds for peace and order if it is considered a priority program.
"If no funds are allocated for peace and order concerns, it is understood that there is no need to utilize funds for intelligence purposes," the COA said.
"To determine the amount to be utilized for intelligence and confidential purposes, it shall be based on 30 percent of the peace and order allocation, or three percent of the annual appropriations, whichever is lower," it also said.
"In this case, the Annual Budget of the Province for 2012 and 2013 did not indicate any amount appropriated for POP. Following the foregoing view of the DILG, it can be presumed that the province did not see the need for utilizing funds for intelligence purposes. Due to the absence of the allocation for POP, the 'lower' amount cannot be determined because there is no basis for comparison," the COA ruled.
The COA has denied the appeal of Catanduanes Gov. Joseph C. Cua and several other provincial officials who contested the P14.8 million disallowance on cash advances used for intelligence and confidential (IC) activities in 2012 and 2013 because "there was no concrete basis for the computation of the amount rightfully allotted for IC expenses."
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.
The Commission on Audit has affirmed the notice of disallowance for P876,896.87 given by the Film Development Council of the Philippines to its employees for financial and health assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An official of the Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) was arrested for allegedly extorting money from an applicant.The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested Fire Insp. Roy Mat Castro in an entrapment operation inside a restaurant here on Thursday, June 27.
Chief Supt. Roberto Genave, regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Central Visayas (BFP-7), confirmed that prior to the arrest, Castro was the chief of the Fire Safety Enforcement Section of the CCFS.
The entrapment operation stemmed from a complaint of a woman who applied to become Fire Safety Officer 1 before the BFP-7.
The woman, who was accompanied by an officer of the Coast Guard-Central Visayas, appeared before the NBI-7 office on Wednesday, June 26.
The complainant said it was her third time to apply for the position in BFP-7.
She alleged that Castro demanded P400,000 from her so that she will be included in the list of applicants who will take their oaths as fire safety officers.
After she passed the application process and was included in the final list for oathtaking, the applicant alleged that Castro pressured her to pay P400,000 as “pasalamat” (thank you) to higher ups.
Video provided by NBI-7 showed Castro caught on camera handing over a clutch bag to a woman who then placed a bundle of cash amounting to P200,000 inside.
The woman handed the bag back to Castro before the NBI-7 swooped in and arrested the suspect.
Genave described the actions of Castro as “grave violation of ethical standards and the integrity of public service.”
“The BFP-7 condemns any form of corruption and unethical behavior among its ranks,” Genave said in a statement.
Genave also ordered the immediate relief of Castro from his post at CCFS.
“We emphasize our commitment in combating corruption and promoting transparency in all our operations. Significantly, the arrest of Fire Insp. Roy Mat Castro is a clear manifestation of its (BFP) campaign against corruption as part of the internal cleansing of the BFP,” Genave added.
Genave said the BFP-7 will conduct its own investigation and assured that they will cooperate with the NBI-7 and other agencies “to ensure thorough investigation and swift resolution to this case.”
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/29/coa-chides-sulu-town-for-persistent-violations-of-audit-laws-regulations |
The Commission on Audit (COA) has chided the officials of Maimbung town in Sulu over the incomplete documentations of awarded contracts and payments for infrastructure projects as it lamented that the issues have been "a matter of great concern for several years already."
"Despite repeated demands and follow-ups, they still failed to properly and completely document awarded contracts and other procurement disbursements," COA said in its 2023 audit report on the municipality.
"Moreover, the required timeframe of submission was not also followed as required bid and technical documents including requirement for negotiated procurement were not completely rendered to our office," it said.
"Continued disregard of the laws and regulations would somehow affect the overall performance of the municipality as the lacking documents are vital and necessary to allow corresponding transactions in audit," it also said.
The COA warned that the transactions covered the projects "could mature into disallowance if not settled or sufficiently justified."
Given the voluminous and complex paperwork involved, COA's audit team said that the existing personnel in charge of the preparation of reports and documents are not enough to complete all the work within the required timeframe. Thus, it said, "submission is always late."
It also said that delayed or non-submission of required documents will also cause delays or non-inspection of completed projects. The delayed completion of infrastructure projects, they said, would deny the people of its intended benefits, it added.
In 2023, the COA said that Maimbung town implemented and awarded 14 contracts amounting to P41,419,178.14.
These included the restorative construction of Astanah Darul Jambangan (Phase 1) worth P12,402,893.40, the fencing and landscaping of a school zone worth P6 million, the fencing and landscaping at Maimbung Higad Elementary School worth P5 million, and the fencing and landscaping of a multi-purpose building worth P4 million, among other things.
However, the COA remarked that there were incomplete bid and technical documentation such as plans, pictures, certificate of completion and turnover, bid security, performance security, contract of agreement, official receipts, and progress billing.
It reiterated its recommendation for the municipality to exercise fiscal responsibility and be prudent in the utilization of government funds, specifically the Local Development Fund.
It also asked Maimbung to require concerned officials to immediately submit all the lacking documents and ensure that preparation is in accordance with laws and regulations to avoid disallowance of the subject transactions.
Maimbung officials had acknowledged the deficiencies and promised to submit all the lacking documents in order to avoid disallowance.
The Commission on Audit has chided the officials of Maimbung town in Sulu over the incomplete documentations of awarded contracts and payments for infrastructure projects as it lamented that the issues have been "a matter of great concern for several years already."
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/30/5-ex-dotc-officials-businessman-convicted-of-graft-charge-over-irregular-purchase-of-p5-9-m-worth-of-mobile-phones-in-2005 |
Six persons including five former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), now Departme of Transportation (DOTr), have been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan over the irregular purchase of cellular phones worth P5.9 million in 2005.
In a 173-page decision issued last June 7, the Sandiganbayan's Third Division found guilty of violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, former DOTC officials Venancio G. Santidad, Geronimo V. Quintos, Ildefonso T. Patdu Jr., Rebecca S. Cacatian, and Elmer A. Soneja, and Domingo Samuel Jonathan L. Ng, proprietor of the West Island Beverages Distributor.
They were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six years and one month as minimum to 10 years as maximum. They were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Former Iloilo 2nd District congresswoman Judy Jalbuena Syjuco, who was No. 1 in the list of those accused, entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to the crimes of frauds against the public treasury and failure to render accounts.
After depositing P5.9 million to the anti-graft court and with the concurrence of the prosecution, Syjuco's plea was granted. She was fined P16,000, her bail was ordered returned, and her hold departure order was lifted.
The court also issued an alias warrant of arrest against former DOTC assistant secretary Domingo A. Reyes who remained at large.
The case stemmed from DOTC’s 2005 award of the contract to West Island for the purchase 1,482 units of Nokia 1100 cellular phones worth P5,964,859.09 that were supposed to be distributed to Region VI. The funds came from the DOTC which released the money in two tranches.
In its decision written by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang, the Sandiganbayan said: “The Court finds accused BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) members Santidad, Quintos, Patdu, Cacatian and Soneja’s brazen disregard of the explicit provisions of the procurement law its implementing rules and regulations and obliviousness to patent irregularities surrounding the subject procurement resulted in the illegal award of the subject contract to accused Ng.”
It pointed out that RA 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, “requires that all procurements shall be done through competitive public bidding.”
“Here, it is undisputed that there was no competitive public bidding. The subject cellular phones were procured through the alternative method of procurement, that is through direct contracting,” it said.
However, it said, the “requirements/conditions for direct contracting set by the procurement law and its IRR (implementing rules and regulations) were not complied with."
All the accused were acquitted of the charge of malversation of public funds through falsification. It said "the fact of purchase and delivery of the subject items were sufficiently shown by the prosecution evidence.”
“Thus, the said circumstance effectively negates the prosecution’s theory that there was a ‘ghost’ purchase and delivery of the subject cellular phones,” the court said.
Six persons including five former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication, now Department of Transportation, have been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan over the irregular purchase of cellular phones worth P5.9 million in 2005.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/07/01/2366753/calamba-cop-chief-relieved-over-rising-crime-rate |
The chief of the Calamba police in this province has been relieved from her post due to rising crime incidents in her jurisdiction.Lt. Col. Milany Martirez was ordered to report to the Police Security and Protection Group at Camp Crame in Quezon City.Martirez’s deputy chief was designated as office-in-charge of the Calamba police.Reports said a series of shooting incidents have been recorded in Calamba, including that of a drug suspect, who had just been released from jail, and his two companions.Recently, eight intelligence officers of the Calamba police were charged in connection with kidnapping incidents that occurred in Barangay Parian and in Los Baños.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/911805/ex-cop-nabbed-with-nearly-p10m-illegal-drugs-in-cdo/story/ |
A former policeman who has been arrested thrice for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade fell into the hands of authorities again in Cagayan de Oro.
Seized from his possession were sachets of suspected shabu weighing more than one kilo and worth nearly P10 million.
His companion was also arrested.
Police revealed that the suspects’ modus was to leave the package containing illegal drugs on the road, take pictures of the package, and send the images to clients through a messenger application for the clients to pick the package up.
Authorities said the former policeman was dismissed from the service in 2017. He was arrested thrice for the same offense, and he was under probation with his last offense.
This was also the second time for his companion to get arrested.
The two are now detained and will face drug charges, again.
Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) Director, Brigadier General Ricardo Layug Jr., said the arrest of the two suspects underscores the continuous efforts of PRO-10 in the fight against illegal drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/1/ex-city-mayor-18-rural-bank-personnel-convicted-of-falsification-in-34-cases-involving-p2-6-b-dubious-loans |
Former Lapu-Lapu City mayor who was also former president of Mandaue City's Rural Bank of Subangdaku, Inc. (RBSI) Paz C. Radaza and 18 other former bank officers and personnel have been convicted of falsification of public and commercial documents in connection with P2.6 billion 'dubious' loans shelled out by the bank from 2004 to 2008.
In a press briefer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, July 1, said that Radaza and the 18 other accused were found guilty of 34 counts of falsification "for conspiring to defraud the bank billions of peso" in a decision handed down last June 7 by the Mandaue City's municipal trial court in cities (MTCC) Branch 2.
The DOJ said also convicted were former RBSI officers and employees Julius O. Eullaran, Rosana D. Ybanez, Jocelyn P. Oville, Jofelyn J. Vallejo, Eusobio L. Villaber Jr., Roel M. Wenceslao Jr., Patrick Doon T. Quitor, Vicente Capuyan Laurito, Raquel Milagros R. Paca, Agnes B. Idala, Rose Aileen B. Baldeo, Albert J. Hinos, Maribel P. Morano, Reinier Echavez, Honeylet C. Pacul, Phoebe V. Ygot, Resty Carre Elumbaring-Colot, and Reynaldo C. Tecson.
It said they were "sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of one (1) year and one (1) day of prison correccional as minimum, to three (3) years, six (6) months and twenty-one (21) days of prison correccional as maximum and to pay a fine in the amount of three thousand pesos (P3,000) with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency."
A copy of the decision was not immediately available. The DOJ did not state whether those convicted were imposed civil liability.
The DOJ said the case stemmed from a complaint filed before the department by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) which conducted an investigation after RBSI declared a bank holiday early in 2009.
“Account holders of the bank tried to withdraw their money after RBSI's declaration of bank holiday but were too late after the bank denied the same due to alleged lack of financial capability,” it said.
The DOJ said the MTCC ruled that “RBSI officers/personnel made it appear that certain individuals obtained loans from RBSI when in truth and in fact, they never did nor even participated in the preparation of the documents related thereto.”
“The court said the prosecution sufficiently established the participation and probable guilt of all the accused, falsifying several public and commercial documents,” it said apparently quoting from the court's decision.
“The court also ruled that the defense failed to persuade the court of their innocence by merely denying their involvement in the massive fraud without being backed by clear and substantial evidence,” it added.
The DOJ also said the court also pointed out in its decision “the chain of events surrounding the involvement of all the accused were all supported by tangible proof.”
“This conviction demonstrates our firm resolve to go after those who defy our laws to the prejudice of our financial institutions and the general public, as well,”said DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla in a statement.
Former Lapu-Lapu City mayor who was also former president of Mandaue City's Rural Bank of Subangdaku, Inc. Paz C. Radaza and 18 other former bank officers and personnel have been convicted of falsification of public and commercial documents in connection with P2.6 billion 'dubious' loans shelled out by the bank from 2004 to 2008.
An employee of the local government unit of Banate, Iloilo was arrested on Tuesday, July 2, in a buy-bust operation.The Banate Municipal Police Station-Drug Enforcement Unit nabbed the suspect, alias RB, 39, after he sold suspected shabu to an undercover policeman.
Seized from the suspect, classified as a high-value individual, was 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) lauded the Banate MPS for arresting drug suspects who are working in the government.
“We are committed to continuing our relentless efforts until all those involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province are arrested. We shall strictly enforce the law without fear or favor,” said IPPO director Police Col. Bayani Razalan.
Three people, including a policeman, suspected to be involved in illegal firearms sale were arrested by the police in an entrapment operation in Taguig on July 2.
The Southern Police District (SPD) Special Operations Unit conducted the operation on Acacia Street in Barangay Cembo.
The police identified the arrested suspects as alias Bobby Lewis, female, 28; alias John, 34; and alias Gary, police officer, 34.
According to the police, an informant reported the alleged illegal activities of alias Bobby Lewis and her cohorts in Makati and Taguig.
The operation led to the confiscation of an M16 rifle loaded with 30 pieces of live ammunition, Glock 17 Gen 4 pistol with an Armed Forces of the Philippines logo with 17 pieces of live ammunition, an Arms Moravia gun loaded with 10 pieces of live ammunition, a motorcycle without a plate number, three mobile phones of the arrested suspects, two P1,000 bills used as marked money, and a Philippine National Police (PNP) ID under the name of alias Gary.
Police operatives used body worn cameras and alternative recording devices during the operation.
Based on the verification by the police, Gary was previously arrested in 2021 for alarms and scandals.
The arrested suspects were brought to the District Special Operations Unit and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 ("Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
A cop has been arrested for selling illegal firearms.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1957714/17-ex-gocc-ngo-execs-found-guilty-in-pork-scam |
The Sandiganbayan has convicted for graft and malversation of public funds 15 former officials of now dissolved government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) that acted as implementing agencies, as well as two members of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) tapped as project partners, in bogus livelihood projects supposedly funded by the pork barrel of a former Misamis Occidental lawmaker, who remains in hiding.
Their varying prison sentences were for their “participation and conspiracy” in multiple counts of graft, malversation of public funds through falsification and malversation of public funds, particularly the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009 of then Misamis Occidental Rep. Marina Clarete, the ruling said.
They were also ordered to pay the government civil liability damages, on top of the amount of PDAF funds they funneled to NGOs, at an interest of 6 percent a year until the full amount is paid.
The decision, which was promulgated on June 28, was written by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, with the concurrence of Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Bernelito Fernandez.
The case was based on a complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on July 20, 2016, finding probable cause to indict the respondents for 18 counts of violations of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act; 11 counts of malversation through falsification, and seven counts of malversation, for the alleged diversion of PDAF funds to ghost government programs.
In finding them guilty of graft, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution was able to prove that a scheme was “designed and executed,” causing “undue injury” to the government when the accused made irregular disbursements totaling P51 million in multiple transactions.
The antigraft court also noted that the transfer of PDAF funds to KKAMFI, AFPI and Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc., the three NGOs endorsed by Clarete for her supposed livelihood projects, violated the Commission on Audit rules on accreditation and project proposal requirements, among others.
17 former government officials have been convicted of graft.
