Insurgency: CPP Acting Chair Nabbed

Once again a leader of the allegedly leaderless NPA has been captured. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/22/npa-leader-arrested-in-ilocos-norte

Troops from the 5th Infantry Division and police apprehended a high-ranking New People’s Army leader in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte on Monday, Oct. 21. 

Simon Fiaryao Naogsan Sr., alias Filiw and Wayat, also the spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the Ilocos-Cordillera region, was apprehended  an intelligence-driven operation. 

He was executive committee member, head of regional propaganda, and former secretary of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla-Marco under the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee and faces murder and attempted murder cases before the regional trial courts in Ifugao and Mountain Province. 

Major Gen. Gulliver L. Señires, commander of the Army 5th Infantry Division, commended operating units for their achievement. 

Señires said Naogsan’s arrest followed the recent capture of three senior members of the ICRC in Conner, Apayao province and proof of the continuous dismantling of the leadership structure of the NPA in Northern Luzon. 

“The success of this operation is a testament to our troops' dedication and the community's unwavering support,” Señires said.  

“The invaluable information provided by residents was crucial in tracking Naogsan and ensuring his arrest. This demonstrates the growing partnership between the military and the community and the diminishing support for the communist insurgents due to the improved services in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Conflict-Affected Areas (GIDCAs).” 

Señires attributed the dwindling influence of the NPA in Northern Luzon to the whole-of-nation approach under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).  

Police Col. Frederick E. Obar, Ilocos Norte police director, said they are investigating the presence of Naogsan in Ilocos Norte.

The NTF-ELCAC has called the capture of this NPA leader a "major victory."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236050

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Tuesday lauded government troops for the capture of a ranking Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) leader in northern Luzon.

The Army's 5th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte arrested Simon Fiaryao Naogsan Sr., also known as "Filiw" and "Wayat," on Oct. 21.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., said Naogsan's arrest was a "major victory" that marks a "decisive blow to the remaining communist terrorist elements" in the region.

Of course the fall of this leader is a "decisive blow" to the remaining insurgents in the area. The NPA in Luzon will be falling any day now. 

An even more significant leader was captured in Quezon City. The acting chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines was arrested by the PNP. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/25/cpp-acting-chair-nabbed-in-qc-police-say

Authorities have arrested the alleged acting chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) during a joint operation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Quezon City on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said that Wigberto Villarico alias “Baylon”, 68, was served with a warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping with murder in his house in Barangay Fairview.

Police Maj. Gen. Sidney S. Hernia, acting regional director of NCRPO, said that Villarico is among the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of two victims back in 2007 in Brgy. Cagsiay, Mauban, Quezon Province.

“The case was originally filed at Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Quezon but was transferred to Taguig City RTC Branch 266, which certified the validity of the issued warrant of arrest,” Hernia said.

The arresting team also apprehended a certain Maryjoy Lizada, 35, for obstruction of justice after she allegedly provided "false identification of the accused."

According to the NCRPO, Villarico has been using several aliases to evade arrest such as “Benjamin Mendoza”, “Alejandro Montalan”, “Lawrence”, “Joven”, “Valer”, “Mark”, “Cris”, “MJ15”, and “FR88”. 

The NCRPO said he was the secretary of the CPP-New People’s Army (NPA) Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) which operates in Calabarzon (Region 4A) and Mimaropa (Region 4B). It noted that he is also a member of the Political Bureau (Politburo) of the CPP.

In a separate statement, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año commended the PNP and AFP for the arrest of Villarico, whom he said replaced the late Benito Tiamzon as the acting chairman of the CPP that has been waging a communist insurgency against the government since the 1960s.

“This operation is a major step in our ongoing efforts to dismantle the leadership of the communist terrorist group and bring lasting peace to our country,” Año said.

Villarico, according to the NSA, assumed leadership of the CPP after the death of Benito Tiamzon during a military encounter in Samar on Aug. 22, 2022.

Villarico’s arrest is a “significant victory in neutralizing the CPP’s leadership structure” as he is the "last Communist leader at-large capable of commanding both the party and its armed wing, the New People’s Army", Año explained.

“The operation exemplifies the unwavering dedication of our security forces to pursue justice and uphold the rule of law. Villarico's capture closes the chapter on a terrorist fugitive responsible for numerous atrocities against the people, including leading violent purges within the CPP-NPA Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee in the 1980s, where many were executed by his own hands,” the NSA noted.

Surely now that the "last Communist leader at-large capable of commanding both the party and its armed wing, the New People’s Army" has been captured the NPA will finally be leaderless and the last remaining fighters will surrender. Right? Time will tell. 

Meanwhile clashes between the NPA and government forces continue. One rebel was killed in a recent clash.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1997007/npa-rebel-killed-in-agusan-del-sur-clash-2

A New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla was killed in a clash with soldiers in San Luis town, Agusan del Sur on Tuesday, October 22.

Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, public affairs chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said that troops of the 26th Infantry Battalion engaged some 50 rebels in an armed encounter in Sitio Tamyang, Barangay Binicalan of San Luis town.

The rebels, according to Garello, were identified with the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

Soldiers recovered from the still unidentified rebel a Bushmaster M4 rifle, along with assorted war materiel and personal belongings.

The seized firearm added to the haul of three high-powered weapons taken by soldiers from a hidden arms cache of NPA rebels in various areas of the Caraga region in the past few weeks.

One down, how many more to go?

The mastermind behind the MSU bombing in December 2023 has finally been caught. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/22/2394271/mastermind-msu-campus-bombing-nabbed

The alleged mastermind in an attack on a Catholic religious ceremony at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi, Lanao del Sur in December has been arrested.

Arsani Membisa, allegedly a member of the Dawlah Islamiya terror group, was arrested in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on Oct. 16, the Bangsamoro police reported on Sunday.

The attack, which occurred on Dec. 3, 2003, killed four people and wounded 43 others.

The victims were attending a mass at the Dimaporo Gymnasium located in the MSU campus when an improvised explosive device went off.

Police arested two suspects weeks after the explosion.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Jaime Macapaz, Bangsamoro police director, said residents tipped off authorities about Membisa’s presence in the area.

A joint team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and officers of the Lanao del Sur and Iligan City police arrested Membisa at his hideout in Barangay Maria Cristina.

The article says 2003 but it is actually 2023. He is "allegedly a member of the Dawlah Islamiya terror group" which means the DI is still a deadly and active force.

This week 5 DI members were killed while 2 were captured. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1996990/5-local-is-terrorists-killed-2-captured-in-arrest-ops-in-lanao-del-norte

Five members of Islamic State-linked Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) terrorist group were slain while two others were captured in a joint military and police operation on Tuesday in the interior village of Bangko in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte.

The operation was launched at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Anthon Abrina, commander of the Army 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, told the Inquirer.

The soldiers and personnel of the Police Regional Offices 9 and 10 were out to serve arrest warrants against Uya Dama Munagen, also known as Lagbas, and Musa Monagen Dama, both identified as members of DI, for murder, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention charges.

As the authorities approached the area, they were fired upon, triggering a fierce 30-minute exchange of gunfire, Abrina said.

Among those killed were Munagen and Dama, Abrina added. Of the two armed men captured, one sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Recovered from the scene were two pistols, three M16 assault rifles, three M1 Garand rifles, assorted rifle magazines, an undetermined volume of assorted ammunition, ammunition clips for M1 Garand, and two fragmentation grenades, Abrina said.

The swift actions and seamless coordination between the PNP and the Army were vital in addressing the threats posed by these individuals.” Viray said.

Also joining the operation were Army troops from the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 1st Light Reaction Company.

“The success of this joint operation highlights the crucial collaboration between the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Major General Gabriel C. Viray III, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

Again, how many more members of the Dawlah Islamiya terror group remain? Clearly they pose a threat. Perhaps they will set off another bomb in retaliation for these recent operations. No scenario should be left of the table. 

PNP Forbids Drinking on the Job

The PNP has now officially banned drinking while on duty. Who knew PNP officers were actually allowed, nay encouraged by the top brass, to drink on the job? 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1997769/consuming-intoxicating-drinks-at-pnps-workplaces-now-prohibited

Consuming any liquor or any intoxicating drinks  within the workplace of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is now prohibited, according to a memorandum issued on October 21 by the agency’s Chief of Directorial Staff.

“All offices/units are directed to strictly enforce the prohibition of drinking any kind of intoxicating liquor within the workplace (i.e offices, premises, or worksites, including training venues, places visited for field work assignment, and related situations),” the memorandum read.

Police officers were previously allowed “happy hour” and “beer busting” as a way to “unwind, foster camaraderie, and strengthen working relationships.”

However, the memorandum also said that the directive was instituted to prevent unfortunate instances such as endangering lives from these activities.

“[A]ll PNP personnel are reminded to always conduct and present themselves responsibly and professionally, in accordance with RA [Republic Act] No. 6713 and the PNP Ethical Doctrine,” the memorandum added.

RA No. 6713 provides the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

Further, the personnel who will violate the order and their Chief of Office/Unit Commander may be held liable.

Who was paying for the alcohol?  The taxpayer? Maybe it was donated by manufacturers. A few years back I posted a few pictures showing Tanduay's sponsorship of the PNP. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/09/pnp-sponsored-by-tanduay-rhum.html

I have seen liquor bottles on site at a PNP office once. But who knew happy hour and beer busting sessions were actually encouraged by leadership for officers to “unwind, foster camaraderie, and strengthen working relationships.” Aren't there better ways to do that without drinking on the job where guns are available? Apparently not.

It is rather shameful this practice has been encouraged for so many years. All that talk about cleaning up the ranks and the generals were letting their subordinates have a wild time in the office on the taxpayer's dime. Perhaps now the PNP will be a bastion of decency, incorruptibility, and sobriety. Doubt it. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #28: Sinbad the Sailor Sailed to the Philippines

Welcome back to 100 Lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Timothy Jay Schwab's claim that Sinbad the Sailor sailed to the Philippines.

In his video series Did the Ancient Greeks Sail Around Africa Tim relates the story of how Sinbad sailed to the Philippines and found sandalwood.

Did The Ancient Greeks Sail Around Africa? To Ophir, Philippines? Solomon's Gold Series 16B

43:58 But one last one and this is from Persia. It's not actually circumnavigating Africa but more the continuation of the journey to Ophir and Tarshish  This is the famous story of Sinbad the Sailor from Arabian Nights. He left Persia and set sail for the Indies. We all know where that is. That's Malaysia Indonesia and the Philippines. It includes the Philippines in their perspective and even if you go and look it up it will tell you today that the Philippines is part of the Indies, the East Indies, the islands in the East but this is really going to be a wow when you see it. Again, this is about 800 BC and he'll sail from the Persian Gulf, yes, not from even the Red Sea, and no he doesn't circumnavigate in Africa but he goes to this land and we'll see. They write, "We continued at sea for some time," they were lost in the Indies somewhere but where were they? Well, the answer becomes very obvious here. "Touched several islands and at last landed at that of Salabat where Sandalwood is obtained." 

Oh, wait a minute I think I just heard bell sound for our Filipino viewers? Yeah, you read that right, Salabat. That is a Tagalog word for their famous ginger tea Salabat. Wow! Now we know why most Filipinos drink it though not because it's good although it is. No, no, no. They drink it because it's widely believed to improve a person's singing voice. Ah, indeed. Just teasing but anyway. "And this is where Sandalwood is obtained." Oh that's also just so happens to be the Philippine national tree the narra which is red or yellow Sandalwood. Wow! Oh, Sinbad the famous sailor was in the Philippines, likely. Who would have known?

In this video segment Tim says it is "likely" that Sinbad the Sailor sailed to the Philippines but in a comment he claims it is definite history. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3jc4oLbXw&lc=UgxrEqBIZtP1KfJfQ5d4AaABAg.9xDfHSfLuP89xEpdZkWKz_

You make an unsupported assumption you cannot. The East Indies in name never required them to be vassal states of a nation of India. They were the islands East of it. History has no such requirement. Even the Persian sailor Sinbad in about 700 AD, records the Philippines as part of the East Indies as did many. Again, not as a vassal state of India.

Is Timothy Jay Schwab out of his mind? Does he not know that Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional character from the 1001 Arabian Nights? 

Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional mariner and the hero of a story-cycle. He is described as hailing from Baghdad during the early Abbasid Caliphate (8th and 9th centuries A.D.). In the course of seven voyages throughout the seas east of Africa and south of Asia, he has fantastic adventures in magical realms, encountering monsters and witnessing supernatural phenomena.

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

Sinbad does not exist! And yet Tim refers to his story for support that the Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to the Philippines for a thousand years from the time of King Solomon to the time of Jesus Christ. It's complete and utter nonsense. 

Not only is Sinbad the Sailor fictitious but Tim is lying about where Sinbad sailed. In the first part of the clip where Tim says Sinbad sailed to the Indies he is citing from Sinbad's first voyage. 

The part about landing on Salabat where sandalwood can be found is from Sinbad's third voyage. 

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081836466&seq=138&q1=Salabat

Why cobble these two very different voyages together? What is the point of lying about the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor? 

Tim makes a big to-do about the island of Salabat noting it is a Tagalog word for ginger tea and sandalwood is the national tree of the Philippines. But the story mentions an island named Salabat not a tea. In a different translation it is Salahat. Sandalwood is not exclusive to the Philippines but is also found in India and in other islands in Southeast Asia such as Sumba and Timor.

The sandalwood is indigenous to the tropical belt of peninsular India, the Malay Archipelago and northern Australia. The main distribution is in the drier tropical regions of India and the Indonesian islands of Timor and Sumba

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

In fact, one editor of this story notes that Salabat is possibly Timor.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t2988ds9j&seq=52&q1=salabat

But where exactly is Salabat or Salahat? Ultimately it is irrelevant because the entire story is fictitious. 

Now, lest Tim cavil and say that Sinbad the Sailor is based on a real person that does not matter. Tim did not cite that real person who's name is Soleiman Siraf. He even wrote a book about his travels titled "An Account of India and China."

https://archive.org/details/ancientaccountso00sira/page/n3/mode/2up

But Tim did not cite this book in this video nor does he mention it elsewhere. The fact is he claims the fictional Sinbad sailed to the Philippines as a matter of historical record. It's not true in the slightest. It is simply one more lie about the Philippines from Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 388

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235829

Police arrested the chairperson of a village in Maguindanao del Sur in his residence in Sultan Kudarat on Thursday afternoon for illegal possession of firearms.

The arrested official was identified as Norodin Utto Jr., 35, who resides in Barangay Poblacion, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat despite serving as the chair of Barangay Panadtabah in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur.

"Utto maintains a residence in Lambayong while holding office in Rajah Buayan," Capt. Jayson Cepeda, municipal police chief of Lambayong, said Friday.

Armed with a court-issued arrest warrant, police officers arrived at Utto’s Lambayong residence at about 3 p.m. and apprehended him for violating Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

“Utto did not resist the arrest,” Cepeda said, adding that the court granted Utto a bail of PHP10,000 for his temporary liberty, through his legal counsel. 

A village chairman has been arrested for illegal firearm possession. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/18/albay-governor-reveals-ombudsman-suspension

Gov. Edcel Greco "Grex" Lagman of this province announced on Friday, Oct. 18, that he has been issued a preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lagman did not detail the reason of the suspension in his official Facebook account.

He instead informed the department heads and offices that Vice Gov. Glenda Ong-Bongao will assume as acting governor at the soonest possible time.

“Good morning, dear department heads, assistant department heads, heads of offices: The event I was expecting has come to pass. I have received my preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman today. Therefore, VG Glenda has to assume as acting governor at the soonest possible time," Lagman said.

Lagman assured that work in the provincial government will not be affected by the suspension.

He  was suspended months after self-proclaimed "jueteng" (an illegal numbers game) bagman former barangay captain Alwin Nimo of Barangay Anislag, Daraga, Albay filed a graft case against him before the Ombudsman for allegedly receiving "payola" (grease money) when he was still the vice governor.

Nimo accused Lagman of receiving a total of P8 million in bribes from illegal gambling operators.

Lagman was elected vice governor in the May 2022 elections and became governor in December 2022 by succession when the Commission on Election (Comelec) disqualified Gov. Noel Rosal for election violations.

Albay Gov. Edcel Greco "Grex" Lagman has been issued a preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman.

https://www.inquirer.net/418176/maguindanao-del-sur-village-councilor-eyeing-town-council-seat-killed/

A village councilor in Barangay Poblacion who was eyeing a town council seat in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur was shot dead by unidentified gunmen along the national highway on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.

Toto Gogo Kensa, 45, was killed on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body, according to Capt. Alberto Pansoy, Datu Hofer municipal police chief.

Kensa filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for a seat at the municipal council under the Lakas-CMD party early this month.

Pansoy said Kensa was driving a motorbike with his wife on it from the town’s market around 6 p.m. on Saturday. They were heading home when two men riding on separate motorbikes opened fire, hitting Kensa, who fell from his motorbike.

His wife, Bai Norhaya, was unhurt.

“We are still unsure of the motive and the identities of the perpetrators but we continue to investigate,” Pansoy said.

Colonel Roel Serese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, has ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group to speed up the investigation.

A village councilor in Barangay Poblacion who was eyeing a town council seat in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur was assassinated.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/21/sandigan-convicts-ex-maguindanao-governor-sajid-ampatuan-of-graft-malversation-of-public-funds

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan of graft and malversation of public funds involving P393 million when he was governor in 2009.

In a decision handed down last Oct. 18, the anti-graft court’s third division sentenced Ampatuan to prison term ranging from eight years and one month to 12 years for graft.  He was also barred perpetually from holding public office.

For malversation of public funds, Ampatuan was meted out a jail term of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment ranging from 20 to 40 years) and ordered to pay a fine of P393 million and restitute the government of the same amount with six percent interest annually until fully paid.

Ampatuan’s co-accused, Danny Taki Calib – then provincial auditor – was acquitted of both charges. 

Ampatuan and his co-accused were  charged with graft for causing undue injury to the provincial government of Maguindanao in the release of P393 million funds for the supposed construction and/or rehabilitation of various farm-to-market roads.

The prosecution said the projects were unimplemented despite the release of the funds.

For malversation, they were accused of failure to account or return the P393 million funds despite demands. 

The dispositive portion of the decision written by Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez and concurred in by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno states: 

“Wherefore, premises considered, judgment is rendered in the following manner – for Criminal Case No. SB-20-CRM-0015, this Court finds accused Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended. 

“He is hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment ranging from eight (8) years and one (1) month, as minimum, to twelve (12) years, as maximum. He shall likewise be perpetuallydisqualified to hold any public office.

“For Criminal Case No. SB-20-CRM-0016, this Court finds accused Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and sentences him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay a fine equivalent to P393,OOO,OOO, representing the value of the amount malversed. 

“As restitution, accused Ampatuan is further ordered to pay the same amount of P393,OOO,OOO the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, through the Bureau of Treasury, with interest of six percent (6%) per annum from the finality of this Decision, until fully paid. He shall likewise be perpetually disqualified to hold any public office.

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan of graft and malversation of public funds involving P393 million when he was governor in 2009.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/21/coa-finds-irregularities-in-iloilo-municipal-water-district-management

The Commission on Audit found mismanagement in the water district of Dueñas town, Iloilo province. 

A report said the government-owned Dueñas Water District was found to have irregularity in its fiscal operations – zero enforcement of collecting overdue accounts that nearly amounted to P3 million in 2021 and 2022. 

There was also a decrease in income under General Manager Edgar Lamera from P3.15 million in 2021 to P3.08 million in 2022; decrease of P71,303 in income despite the increase in water concessionaires from 1,086 concessionaires in 2021 to 1,108 in 2022; decrease of P1.32 million in assets from P11.33 million in 2021 to P10.04 million in 2022, and increase in DWD liabilities by P1.96 million from P18.27 million to P20.23 million in 2022. 

The COA also found that DWD had unpaid penalties for a loan from the Local Water Utilities Administration that amounted to almost P300,000 in 2022. 

It said that DWD “practiced granting of cash advances without specific legal purpose, sufficient documentation, and proper accounting”  that resulted in “government funds have been exposed to risk of abuse or misuse.” 

The DWD has a disallowance of more than P162,000, the COA said. 

The report was sent to key national government agencies and key offices of the Marcos administration.

The Commission on Audit found mismanagement in the water district of Dueñas town, Iloilo province. 

https://www.inquirer.net/418349/comelec-stops-253-barangay-execs-from-taking-office-over-vote-buying/

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) prevented 253 barangay officials from assuming their posts despite winning due to vote-buying charges.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday that these village executives are among the approximately 1,000 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials charged for buying votes in the previous election.

The line of succession will be followed once village officials are stopped from assuming their positions.

“This is a lesson for all candidates: Don’t underestimate the commission because we could stop your proclamation,” Garcia said in a forum in Manila.

According to the Comelec chief, there was even a case where the entire roster of barangay officials who won the polls was not allowed to take office – that the town mayor had to appoint officers to take oversee the village.

Garcia, however, admitted that none of the approximately 1,000 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials charged for vote-buying have been convicted to date.

He noted that, in fact, none were convicted over vote-buying under his leadership at Comelec and even during the previous administrations.

“It’s very hard to convict over vote-buying because we need evidence that will establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” the Comelec head explained.

Garcia further lamented that most of the vote-buying evidence are weak and incomplete and that the majority of petitioners withdrew their cases.

He likewise noted that the Omnibus Election Code provides that vote-sellers are just as liable to criminal offense in vote-buying cases. But, Garcia pointed out, the poll body can exempt vote-sellers from charges.

“Even if we give them (vote-sellers) immunity, they still back out,” Garcia regretted.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) prevented 253 barangay officials from assuming their posts despite winning due to vote-buying charges.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Hunger Rises, Paddleboard Record, and More!

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

The Health Emergency Allowance is still being doled out. Personnel of San Juan Medical Center have been assured they will be paid.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/16/san-juan-medical-center-s-employees-to-receive-covid-19-health-emergency-allowance

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Wednesday, October 16, assured all personnel of the San Juan Medical Center (SJMC) who served during the Covid-19 pandemic that they will receive their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA). 

Zamora gave the assurance in a memorandum after he received multiple complaints from qualified employees who claimed that they were being removed from the list or were not receiving the full amount of the compensation they expected. 

"I have received a lot of concerns and complaints from qualified employees who claimed to have been dropped from the list or did not receive their expected amount of compensation," he said. 

"I am closely looking into this, and rest assured, I am working on all possible ways to ensure that qualified employees receive the HEA in the correct amount," Zamora added. 

The HEA was established under Republic Act No. 11712 in April 2022. It grants allowances to both health and non-health care workers, including contact tracers and staff at the isolation centers, vaccination sites, and other facilities. 

It added that the allowance is based on the number of days of work and the worker’s exposure level in low, medium, or high-risk areas. 

The mayor also advised employees to reach out to SJMC’s Personnel and Administrative Division for inquiries or clarifications by contacting Karen Hermosa at (02) 8725-3928 or 0939-2655040. 

He added that employees can also contact the mayor’s office through 137-135 loc. 111.

People are reported being removed from the list of recipients or not receiving the correct amount. That is not good at all. 

Families expereincing hunger have risen to the second highest since the pandemic. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/10/17/hunger-rises-in-september-second-highest-since-pandemic-1647

More Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the third quarter of 2024, a recent national survey by the Social Weather Stations showed.

In its national Social Weather Survey, conducted from September 14 to 23, the research firm found that 22.9 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger, or being hungry and not having anything to eat, at least once in the past three months.

The September 2024 hunger figure was 5.3 points above the 17.6 percent in June 2024 and is the highest since the record-high 30.7 percent in September 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The survey also showed the experience of hunger was highest in Mindanao at 30.7 percent of families, followed by 26 percent in Visayas. Hunger in Metro Manila was at 21.7 percent, and 18.1 percent in balance Luzon.

Compared to June 2024, the experience of hunger in Mindanao almost doubled from 15.7 percent to 30.7 percent. There was also a sharp increase in Visayas, from 13.7 percent in June 2024 to 26 percent in September.

According to SWS, the 22.9 percent hunger rate is the sum of the 16.8 percent who experienced "moderate hunger", and 6.1 percent who experienced "severe hunger".

Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger "only once" or "a few times" in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it "often" or "always" within the same time frame.

The September 2024 survey likewise found 59 percent of Filipino families rating themselves as "mahirap" or poor.

On self-rated food poverty, based on the type of food eaten by their families, 46 percent of Filipinos rated their families as food-poor in September 2024. 

The rate of total hunger, or the sum of moderate and severe hunger, also rose sharply among the self-rated poor from 21.3 percent in June 2024 to 29.3 percent in September 2024.

The Third Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide, with 600 from Balance Luzon, and 300 each from Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.

No word on what is driving these reported cases of hunger. 

Overseas Filipino nurses have received many commendations for their work during the pandemic. Here is another nurse who has made the shortlist for a global award. 

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/10/18/uae-based-filipino-nurse-is-on-final-shortlist-for-250000-prize-for-efforts-during-pandemic/

A Filipino who started a wellness programme in the UAE to bolster the resilience of the workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic has made the shortlist for a global award.

Nelson Bautista, 49, who works in Al Ain and led a team to establish the Your Health First scheme to support the well-being of frontline nurses in the UAE, is among nine others from more than 78,000 entries representing at least 200 countries to compete for the Aster Guardian Global Nursing Award.

A $250,000 (Dh981,500) prize is up for grabs for the winner who will be announced at a ceremony in India in December.

A father of a 16-year-old boy, Mr Bautista, who works as a clinical resource nurse at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, said a friend had asked him to apply for the award last year and he was thrilled to find out he is one step closer to the final ceremony.

“I was happy when I read the email that I was in the shortlist,” Mr Bautista told The National. "It is an honour. I’m proud because I’m representing UAE and also the Filipino community."

His nomination came after a long career as a nurse in the UAE. In 2019, he led a team for an initiative to support the well-being of nurses before Covid-19 unfolded. "We implemented the programmes in different hospitals and it is still running now. We wanted to make the nurses more resilient," Mr Bautista said.

It involved simple activities such as distributing healthy sandwiches and juice to the nurses because they could not leave the rooms in which they were working.

“I remember one nurse began crying because she was touched by this gesture," he said. "It was a difficult time for everybody and such small gestures raise their spirits."

He has been actively engaged in several campaigns aimed at elevating the standard of nursing education and refining methodology.

“I lead the digital transformation in nursing education,” he said. "We started digitising the nursing orientation project, to streamline and expedite the onboarding process for new nurses."

Graduating from a nursing college in his home country, Mr Bautista said his parents had initially not wanted him to become a nurse.

"My parents at first opposed the idea but nursing was something that appealed to me," he said. "I always wanted to help others and nursing is something I wanted to do."

He was a working student but was able to graduate and worked for two years in the Philippines before moving to Saudi Arabia where he worked for seven years.

"I moved to the UAE and worked as a bedside nurse in the hospital before becoming a nurse educator," he added. "It’s been 16 years with the same hospital.

He said it was important to have compassion and dedication to become a nurse. “The nursing profession is a highly stressful one. We have to be patient with others and understand their situation. Helping others is the core of being a nurse. You must have the spirit of services to others.”

Mr Bautista was granted the UAE’s golden visa for his efforts as a frontline worker during the Covid-19 crisis.

Why haven't any local nurses been the recipient of such praise? They are still fighting to get the money the government owes them. 

Small and medium businesses were absolutely wrecked by the pandemic while big box retailers raked in the dough in one of the largest wealth transfers in history.  Now those SMEs are learning how to adapt and thrive in the post-pandemic world. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/10/19/business/top-business/adapting-thriving-in-the-post-pandemic-world/1987419

THE Covid-19 pandemic drastically impacted businesses worldwide, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines bearing much of the economic burden. SMEs, which constitute over 99 percent of registered businesses in the country, faced immense challenges as the pandemic unfolded. Many had previously taken out loans to expand or maintain operations, but the economic downturn left them struggling to meet financial obligations.

For the leasing and finance industry, which plays a critical role in supporting SME growth, the pandemic was a turning point. As SMEs defaulted on loans and many stopped operations, leasing and finance companies faced a surge in non-performing loans (NPLs) and financial strain.

Before the pandemic, the Philippines experienced robust economic growth, with SMEs at the forefront of this expansion. Leasing and finance companies provided capital to help businesses invest in new technology, equipment and infrastructure. This enabled SMEs in sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and construction to grow, supported by flexible payment terms that spread out asset costs over time.

However, the optimistic outlook that fueled this growth was short-lived. The arrival of the pandemic in early 2020 drastically changed the economic landscape.

The government-imposed lockdowns to curb the virus had an immediate and devastating impact on SMEs. Many businesses were forced to close temporarily or faced a sharp decline in demand. Retailers, restaurants and service providers dependent on foot traffic were hit hardest, while supply chain disruptions compounded the challenges.

As revenues plummeted, SMEs with pre-pandemic loans struggled to make payments. With diminished cash flow, many were left with the difficult decision to either continue operations under immense financial pressure or close permanently.

Leasing and finance companies, which had long provided crucial financial support to SMEs, were caught flatfooted. A surge in NPLs left them exposed to significant financial risks, as their SME clients could no longer meet loan obligations. While SMEs benefitted from government programs like Bayanihan Acts 1 and 2, leasing and financing companies received no such assistance and had to navigate the crisis independently.

Many companies offered moratoriums, restructured loans and extended flexible payment terms to help SMEs survive, but this placed further strain on the leasing and finance industry.

Despite these efforts, many SMEs could not adapt quickly enough to the digital platforms that became essential during the pandemic. Businesses in retail, hospitality and travel were particularly affected, with numerous closures impacting the leasing and finance industry. As businesses shuttered, these companies faced a growing portfolio of non-performing assets, such as repossessed machinery and vehicles.

However, some SMEs demonstrated resilience by embracing digital transformation. E-commerce, food delivery and online services provided lifelines for those able to pivot quickly. This agility highlighted the importance of innovation during crises.

The pandemic underscored the importance of financial flexibility and the need for both SMEs and the leasing and financing industry to adapt. SMEs must build financial cushions and embrace digital tools, while leasing and financing companies need to refine their lending practices, focusing on resilient industries and offering tailored solutions and the need for a more conservative yet adaptive and flexible approach to lending.

The pandemic has been a defining moment for both SMEs and the leasing and financing industry. While the road to recovery will be long, the lessons learned during this period of crisis can help businesses and financial institutions alike build a more sustainable, resilient future. Those who adapt and innovate will not only survive but thrive in the post-pandemic world.

This is really a dumb article. Fact is the unnecessary ecumenic lockdowns wrecked small businesses and they are still recovering. Digital transformation isn't going to help pay those defaulted loans. 

People around the world adopted new hobbies during the pandemic. One Negros woman began paddleboarding. Now she has set a world record. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1995065/bacolod-woman-on-paddleboard-sets-record-crosses-iloilo-negros-waters

An Ilongga businesswoman has become the first person to cross the sea between the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental on paddleboard.

Lucy Lynette Ponce Uygongco, 54, covered a distance of 23.02 kilometers in 5 hours, 27 minutes and 6 seconds, paddling at 4.2 km per hour on Oct. 19.

Uygongco, also a social media influencer who goes by the meta profile name of “LpuKids Ibike” and “Ipaddle,” left the boulevard of Banate town in northern Iloilo at 3:23 a.m. and arrived at Pasil Sandbar in Barangay Latasan, EB Magalona town in Negros Occidental at 8:50 a.m.

“The water was most perfect and as flat as the Iloilo River,” said Uygongco, a native of Bacolod City whose family owns fast food franchises in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.

Having slept for only three hours prior to Saturday’s crossing out of excitement, Uygongco chose to cross on Oct. 19, four days before a typhoon was expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Oct. 23 to Oct. 29.

The Iloilo to Negros crossing happened after one and a half years when she reunited on Oct. 12 with her stand-up paddleboard (SUP) coach Gary Neil Benedicto.

Benedicto coached her on her Iloilo to Guimaras crossing on May 26, 2022 and on June 10, 2022, making her also the first woman to cross the two islands on a paddleboard.

Uygongco said she learned to do SUP when she had nothing to do during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021.

A new hobby was born when Uygongco spotted Benedicto on a paddle board while capturing photos at the Iloilo River Esplanade for her blog.

Initially seeking permission to feature him on her blog, Uygongco later asked Benedicto if he could teach her paddle boarding. The following day marked their first lesson together.

During that time, Uygongco would practice paddle boarding early in the morning from Monday to Saturday, using an 11-foot-2-inch SUP that was 30 inches wide and 4.5 inches thick. Each day, she would paddle approximately 10 km, spending around 2 hours and 18 minutes on the water.

Prior to her passion for SUP, Uygongco has been taking photos of the Iloilo River and its development as well as other locations of Iloilo City in general.

She would post these in her blog as a way of helping the city with its tourism promotions, with the city government sharing many of her posts on its Facebook page.

“The Iloilo government gave us residents access to open space and nature is within reach. Thus, I was able to develop this lifestyle—bike and paddle,” said Uygongo.

Her most popular posts are those of her paddling in Iloilo River, one of the most popular being the one on Jan. 27 this year during the Dinagyang celebrations.

The influencer was wearing a fancy Dinagyang headgear while paddling with her three dogs—Peanut, Butter and Sandwich—beside her on the paddle board, also wearing their own Dinagyang headdresses.

“Never doubt, always believe that you can and you will and believe in that even if you are 50 years old and beyond,” Uygongco said.

Surely she won't be the last person we read about who's skills learned during the pandemic have matured.