Insurgency: 2,000 Rebels Neutralized

How many NPA rebels are left in the mountains and jungles holding out against all hope? It is a perennial question. The last official count in mid-August 2024 was between 1,200 and 2,000. Now the AFP is reporting they have neutralized over 2,000 NPA rebels between January and October of 2024. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1998840/over-2000-npa-rebels-neutralized-from-jan-to-oct-2024-afp

More than 2,000 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have been “neutralized” based on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) data from January to October this year.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla reported that a total of  2,218 members of the NPA, which the military labels as a communist terrorist group, were neutralized from January 1 to October 24.

“A total of 2,218 Communist terrorist group members and supporters were neutralized, broken down to 1,952 surrendered, 134 apprehended, and 132 killed,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Among the items confiscated or surrendered by the NPA members were 1,084 firearms and 342 anti-personnel mines.

During the same period, Padilla said that 261 local terrorist group members were also neutralized. Of this figure, 197 surrendered, 12 were apprehended, and 52 were killed.

In August this year, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the NPA force continues to dwindle, adding that its weakened guerrilla fronts decreased from seven to five.

Earlier, Padilla explained that units considered weakened can no longer implement programs like recruiting members or generating resources to support their armed struggle.

That number is ludicrous and grossly inflated. How many of the 2,218 were actual NPA rebels? In July of 2023 the AFP estimated there were approximately 1,800 rebels left. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1799676/fwd-afp-npa-has-around-1800-members-left

From around 2,000 members reported in 2022, the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is now down to around 1,800 fighters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said on Monday.

“The CPP-NPA is down to 1,800 plus members,” Aguilar said in an online press conference. CPP stands for the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Aguilar, however, declined to divulge the primary locations of the insurgents.

“Let the military worry about the breakdown. These are tactical information we cannot divulge,” he said.

Aguilar added around 400 NPA rebels have pending cases.

“As we look at the data right now, with 1,800 plus remaining, around 400 plus of them … are facing cases,” Aguilar said

If 2,218 NPA rebels were neutralized that would mean in 2023 there were around 4,000 remaining. Clearly the AFP is once again misinforming the public on the number of remaining NPA rebels. That is nothing new and has been covered in this seres of articles many times. 

Last week the acting chairman of the CPP was arrested. The CPP claims the arrest was illegal because he is a peace consultant. They demanded his release. NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya laughed in response. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/26/funny-preposterous-says-nsc-of-cpp-claim-its-chairman-is-immune-from-arrest

The National Security Council (NSC) dismissed the claim of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that its acting chairman, Wigberto Villarico, shall be immune from arrest since he is supposedly a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“We find as funny and preposterous the claim of the CPP – NPA (New People’s Army) – NDF that CPP Chairman Baylon Villarico is a ‘peace consultant’ and is therefore immune from arrest under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG) signed way back during the Fidel Ramos administration,” said NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya in a statement Saturday, Oct. 26.

Villarico, 68, was arrested in Fairview, Quezon City on Oct. 24 on the strength of a warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping with murder. Villarico was tagged as one of the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of two individuals back in 2007 in Brgy. Cagsiay, Mauban, Quezon Province.

According to the NSC, Villarico replaced the late Benito Tiamzon as the leader of the CPP when the latter died in a military encounter in Samar on Aug. 22, 2022.

The CPP condemned “in the strongest terms” the arrest of Villarico as it insisted that he is a peace consultant of the NDF and, therefore, protected by the JASIG, an agreement between the Philippine government (GRP) and the NDF signed on Feb. 24, 1995 which provides safety and immunity guarantees that protect the rights of negotiators, consultants, staffers, security and other personnel who participate in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. 

“Being a peace consultant of the NDFP, Villarico is protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). He holds documents identifying him as such. Under the JASIG, the Philippine government agreed not to subject consultants, personnel, and staff members of the NDFP to surveillance and arrest,” CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said.

But the previous Duterte administration terminated the JASIG in February 2017 when the peace talks by the government with the CPP collapsed.

“So what immunity under the JASIG are they talking about?” Malaya asked.

According to Malaya, the Joint Oslo Communique signed by the Marcos Jr. administration and the NDF in November 2023 to resolve the roots of the armed conflict and end the armed struggle being waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF “did not resurrect the JASIG.” 

“The JASIG is as good as dead,” he noted.

The NSC spokesman reiterated that Villarico was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Mauban, Quezon for his crimes.

He accused Villarico of being responsible for numerous atrocities including “against government forces, killing and liquidation of individuals, terrorist attacks on innocent communities, sabotaging government projects, and various extortion and money-making activities in Southern Luzon.”

Villarico also allegedly led violent purges within the CPP-NPA Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee in the 1980s “where many were executed by his own hands.”

“The CPP-NPA-NDF wants him to get away with murder because he’s a peace advocate? Not so fast. It is time for him to face the court of law and to account for his crimes to the Filipino people,” Malaya said.

Meanwhile, the CPP demanded that Villarico’s rights shall be respected, that he be immediately released, and al “trumped up” charges against him be immediately withdrawn. 

They also asked that Villarico shall be be accorded his right to his own lawyer, and to a doctor of his choice as he is purportedly suffering from various ailments including spondylitis, hypertension, heart arythmia, asthma, and prostate enlargement among others.

Upon realizing their mistake the CPP demanded that Villario at least get his medicine. 

During a relief mission for tropical storm Kristine the AFP was involved in an armed encounter with the NPA. One solider was wounded. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1998024/soldier-in-relief-mission-wounded-in-clash-with-npa-in-albay

A soldier belonging to the Philippine Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB) was wounded in an encounter with a group of communist rebels in Barangay (village) Matanglad, Pio Duran town, Albay province on Sunday, October 27.

Major Frank Roldan, chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the troops were transporting relief goods for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in Barangay Matangland when they encountered approximately 11 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, resulting in a 15-minute exchange of fire.

“One soldier was hit by shrapnel, causing a wound on his knee. He is now stable and recovering,” Roldan said.

The troops recovered from the clash site an improvised explosive device, a detonating switch and cord, one bandolier, a cellular phone, three hammocks, and four backpacks, he added.

When asked if there were any casualties on the enemy side, Roldan said, “Still undetermined; they withdrew toward the northwest.”

Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Bicol police director, condemned the atrocities committed by the rebels as law enforcers were out helping those displaced by the storm that has devastated most of the Bicol Region.

“We are calling on citizens to report the presence of these communist terrorist groups and to help stop the offensive actions against the military, who are conducting humanitarian activities for TS Kristine victims,” he said in a separate phone interview on Sunday.

In another clash with the Philippine Army on All Saint's Day an NPA rebel was killed. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/1/npa-killed-in-all-saints-day-clash

A New People’s Army rebel was killed in an encounter with the Army 12th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Hilwan, Barangay Manica, Libacao town, Aklan province on Oct. 31.

Troops were in the area conducting foot patrol in response to information from residents that communist fighters are conducting extortion activities when they figured in the gunbattlle.

A 10-minute firefight erupted and recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, three magazines, a bandolier,  backpack, and personal belongings.

Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, lauded troops for standing their accomplishment.

“This encounter highlighted the strengthened cooperation between the Army and Aklanons, working together to sustain the environment of Aklan as a peaceful and communist-free province,” said Sison in a statement on All Saints’ Day.

The NPA was in the area conducting extortion activities and was able to fight the AFP. But the AFP has been saying the NPA is leaderless and unable to carry out such actions. Seems they are wrong. 

Meanwhile 7 NPA rebels in Caraga surrendered to the PNP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236909

Seven New People’s Army (NPA) members surrendered to the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) on Oct. 30 following negotiations led by police units across the region, the office reported Friday.

Among those who surrendered was a 27-year-old rebel, identified only as Alias Dems, a member of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Sikop of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Dems surrendered to the Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Office (ADNPPO), turning over a .22-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, 20 rounds of ammunition, and an improvised explosive device (IED).

Also surrendered on Oct. 30 were Alias Junior, 23, from the disbanded Guerrilla Front 4-A’s SYP Kingdom, and Alias Nelo, 30, of SYP 21C under the NCMRC, who yielded to the ADNPPO. "Nelo" turned in a .38-caliber revolver with four rounds of ammunition.

Negotiations facilitated by PRO-13 Intelligence and Butuan City Police also persuaded Alias Boy, 39, a former Squad Uno member of dismantled Guerrilla Front 4-A, and Alias Da, 38, of the Milisya ng Bayan (MB) under SYP 21C, to leave the NPA on Oct. 30.

Additionally, two rebels identified as Alias Badi, 33, an MB member under Guerrilla Front 14 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and Alias Jord, 30, of Guerrilla Front 20 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, surrendered to police in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur on Oct. 31. Both turned over two .38 revolvers, four rounds of ammunition, a rifle grenade, and an IED.

The surrendered individuals will undergo profiling and debriefing as part of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which assists former rebels in reintegrating into society.

“May these achievements serve as a wake-up call to those still bound by Communist Terrorist Group ideologies. PRO-13 stands ready to guide those willing to embrace peace,” said PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro.

The PNP received the NPA rebels' weapons and the rebels will now receive thousands of pesos worth of aid. Not a bad trade.

Getting Bumped and Using Bad English in the Philippines

A great source of pride in the Philippines is that Filipinos are proficient in English. They are so proficient that not only do foreigners travel to the Philippines to learn English but American companies are hiring Filipinos to tend virtual fast food kiosks in New York City.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/567764/filipino-virtual-cashiers-taking-orders-at-new-york-restaurants

Your next order of fried chicken at a New York City restaurant may come with a “hello” from the Philippines.

Virtual assistants based in the Philippines have become a sought-after option for companies who want to do more with less.

 Some restaurants in New York City are now exploring this option to keep up with the rising costs of labor, rent and other overhead expenses.

As minimum wages soar – $16 in New York City and now $20 for fast food workers in California – restaurant owners are feeling the pinch.

Beamed on flat-screen monitors at self-service kiosks, virtual hosts from the Philippines are now taking orders at restaurants, including Yaso Kitchen, Sansan Chicken in Long Island and East Village. They welcome customers with flashing smiles — a hospitality trait Filipinos are renowned for.

The company pays Filipino virtual assistants $3 per hour — way less compared to US wages but considered a competitive rate in the Philippines.

Aiming to incorporate fair wages into fiscal accountability, Chi Zhang told Fortune, “We pay 150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines.”

Like all virtual assistants from the Philippines, recognized as one of the largest English-speaking nations, Amber and other Filipinos working for Happy Cashiers speak perfect English.

Every thing about this article is quite awful. Not only are Filipinos taking jobs from Americans because of inflated minimum wage laws but the owner of the company is proud that he pays Filipinos a measly $3 per hour which is "150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines." $3 is P175 which is practically nothing. 

The article also notes the Philippine is "one of the largest English-speaking nations" and Filipinos "speak perfect English." While it may be true that many Filipinos have perfect inflection and diction the use of English in the Philippines can be quite odd. 

Take the word bump.

a light blow or a jolting collision

A typical use of the word bump would be, "I fell and bumped my head." It may have been startling and jolting but it's a very slight thing. Bump is typically used for collisions that are slight. The word collision is used for violent interactions like a car crash. 

In the Philippines that is not the case as the following news articles show. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1923033/pedestrian-dead-2-hurt-after-truck-bumps-them-in-cavite

A female pedestrian died and two others were injured Monday after a speeding truck hit them in Carmona City in Cavite province.

The Region 4A police reported that an Isuzu Rebuilt aluminum van driven by one “Fernando” accidentally bumped Jemerine Bombani, 29; Sheryl Cantuba, 45; and Burlet Sevilla, 48, while the three were crossing the pedestrian lane around 7:30 p.m. along Governor’s Drive.

The three pedestrians suffered grave injuries and were rushed to the hospital but Bombhani died on the way.

“Due to his uncalculated speed the truck driver did not notice the three victims” who were about to cross the pedestrian lane, the police said.

The headline says a truck bumped three pedestrians while the article notes the truck was speeding. A speeding truck does not bump anything. It collides with the object and tears right through it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961436/2-riders-dead-after-motorcycle-bumps-parked-tractor-in-quezon

Two motorcycle riders died early Tuesday, July 16, after their vehicle bumped into a parked tractor in Candelaria town in Quezon province, police said.

The motorcycle, ridden by a still unidentified driver and backrider factory worker Emerson Alviso, 21, was traveling along the Maharlika Highway around 2:15 a.m. when their vehicle slammed into a parked tractor head on the side of the road in Barangay Masin Norte, a spot report from the Quezon police said.

Both riders suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot.

Again, another news item with the headline saying motorcycles bumped a parked tractor while the article says they "slammed into a parked tractor." Slamming is not bumping. Slamming is a lot more violent.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1940783/5-tuk-tuk-passengers-dead-4-others-hurt-in-3-vehicle-mishap-in-quezon

Five passengers of a “tuk-tuk,” a three-wheeled motorcycle, died, and four others were injured early Wednesday, May 15, in an accident involving two other vehicles at the Maharlika Highway in Lopez town in Quezon province.

The Quezon police said in a report that the tuk-tuk being driven by Julius Brin, 32, was traveling at 2:10 a.m. to Albay province when it was bumped from behind by a truck driven by Ernesto Alberto, 51, in a section of the highway in Barangay Canda Ilaya.

Upon impact, the tuk-tuk suddenly burst into flames and bumped the rear section of a passenger bus driven by Amor Pedragosa, 47, running ahead.

The bus also caught fire, but its passengers were all unharmed.

After the collision, the wayward truck fell and rested on its right part on the side of the road. The driver was not hurt.

The report said four of the tuk-tuk passengers – Cheska Jucares, 28; Riza Brin, 25; and two boys, Jasper and Jarid died on the spot from severe burns on their bodies. Jaymar Lunas expired while being treated at the hospital in the town center.

This article says a tun-tuk was "bumped from behind by a truck," burst into flames upon impact, and then bumped into a passenger bus which also caught fire. That is not a bump. A mere bump would not cause a vehicle to burst into flames. After using those inaccurate words the article then describes the accident as a collision. Why not use that word all along? 

The headline calls this collision relating in 5 deaths a mishap. What is a mishap?

an unlucky accident

Certainly it was an accident and everyone hurt and dead was unlucky but it was obviously much more than that. It was no mere mishap but a result of bad driving likely including speeding and tailgating.

There is nothing grammatically wrong with these articles. The issue is the author's use of understatement. Bump is never a word that should be used in to describe a horrific and violent traffic collision which results in death. In the Philippines words are used to cover up events. One instance being the word "salvage" to describe a murder victim. Speaking English well is not just a matter of pronunciation. It is also a matter of understanding nuance and using words correctly. 

Residential Fires October, 2024

This is a reported list of residential fires in the Philippines for October, 2024. The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/599886/early-morning-fire-in-mambaling-leaves-over-100-displaced-causes-p1-5m-in-losses

The residents of Sitio Camanse San Roque, Brgy. Mambaling in Cebu City were woken up by a fire on early Saturday morning, October 12.

It took firefighters around two hours to put the fire out while the residents immediately evacuated from the area.

A report from the Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO) revealed that the blaze started at around 3:38 a.m. 

Fire officials raised it to the second alarm at 4:03 a.m., a few minutes after they arrived in the affected area.

The fire was put under control at 4:54 a.m. and was officially declared out at 5:17 a.m.

According to authorities, one person identified as 40-year-old Arnel Ernani suffered burn wounds on his back and arm due to the incident. 

Moreover, a total of 15 establishments were affected by the fire that started in the house owned by a certain Lourdes Stella. 

Among those affected, 12 houses were completely burned while 3 were partially damaged. The cost of the damages was estimated to be at P1,500,000.

The fire victims have now been transferred to an evacuation area.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/13/fire-hits-houses-in-sampaloc-manila-2

A fire hit a residential area along Loyola Street in Sampaloc, Manila, on Sunday afternoon, October 13.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started around 5:24 p.m. 

It was declared second alarm at 5:31 p.m. 

Several fire trucks have arrived at the scene to contain the fire.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/15/fire-hits-residential-area-in-sta-ana-manila

More or less 300 families or 900 individuals were affected by the fire that broke out in a residential area in Barangay 775, Sta. Ana, Manila, on Tuesday morning, October 15.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), there were two firemen and one resident who sustained minor burns due to structural collapse.

In the initial report, the fire started around 6:12 a.m. 

It escalated to the second alarm at 6:15 a.m. and was immediately raised to the third alarm at 6:28 a.m.

Firefighters raised it to the fourth alarm at 6:48 a.m. because they were experiencing water shortage.

The Onyx Street was temporarily closed to motorists to give way for the arrival of the fire trucks. 

The fire was declared under control at 8:46 a.m. and was finally extinguished at 12:09 p.m.

Based on the initial investigation, an unattended candle caused the fire. 

BFP said more or less 100 houses were burned by the fire, while the estimated cost of damage is at P3-million.

Authorities continue to remind the residents to be cautious of the possible causes of fire.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/15/2-injured-7-houses-razed-in-laguna-fire

Two individuals were injured and seven houses were razed in a fire in Barangay Caingin here on Monday morning, October 14.

The Bureau of Fire Protection here said that two houses were totally damaged and five were partially burned. Two garages for tricycles were also damaged.

The fire started at around 9:50 a.m. in one of the houses and reached the first alarm. 

Fire out was declared at 11 a.m.

The names of the injured were undisclosed and the BFP is investigating the cause of the fire and determining  damage to property.

https://palawan-news.com/residential-fire-in-el-nido-no-injuries-reported/

A residential fire broke out at Sitio Nasigdan, Barangay Villa Libertad, El Nido, on the morning of October 16.

The El Nido Fire Statio Office said the fire, reported at 8:30 a.m., involved a single and two-family dwelling owned by Denmark Perez.

Firefighters arrived at the scene just three minutes later, at 8:33 a.m. They managed to bring the fire under control by 8:45 a.m. and declared it fully extinguished at 9:10 a.m.

No fatalities or injuries were reported, and only one family was affected.

The cause of the fire and the estimated damages are still under investigation.

The fire was classified as a first alarm incident.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/104631/2-boys-die-in-baguio-house-fire/story/

Two boys, six and seven years old, died after they were trapped when a fire hit their home in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City.

The children were with their two other siblings when the house caught fire afternoon on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Their siblings managed to escape. One jumped out the window while the other were rescued by their neighbors.

The blaze spread quickly because the house was made of light materials, making the fire difficult to control.

According to the Baguio City Fire Station, the fire was not reported immediately because residents in the area attempted to put it out themselves first.

“Late na nai-report kasi nag-fire suppression muna sila. Then nailabas daw nila ‘yung dalawang casualty natin... pagkatapos nun, naalala nila kaming tawagan,” arson investigator SFO3 Benjie Cuyan said.

Based on investigation, the fire started when one of the boys, the older sibling, played with matches.

The children’s father, Reymundo Catablanca, was at work when he learned about the fire.

“Nagsindi siya ng posporo ‘yung anak ko... Naiwan ‘yung posporo,” he said.

Catablanca has called for help from those who may wish to assist the family.

“Kung sinong magagandang puso diyan na gustong tumulong. ‘Yun lang ang ating panawagan,” he said.

Authorities remind parents to avoid leaving children unattended.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/602612/midnight-fire-in-densely-populated-basak-san-nicolas-leaves-810-homeless

A massive fire broke out in a densely populated area in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City, on Sunday, October 27, destroying over 100 houses and causing over P3 million worth of property damage.

The fire caused extensive damage to residential properties, displacing at least 810 individuals, according to the Cebu City Fire Office.

At 12:18 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire alarm raised in Sitio Isla Alegre, Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

Due to the density of houses and the presence of light materials, the fire quickly spread, prompting fire investigators to raise it to the first alarm by 12:26 a.m.

It escalated to the second alarm by 12:40 a.m. However, an hour later, the flames had yet to be controlled, forcing firefighters to raise the alarm to the third level by 1:41 a.m.

Over 40 fire trucks responded to the scene to help extinguish the blaze.

Roughly two hours after the fire alarm was raised, firefighters finally had the flames under control at 2:06 a.m.

By 3:25 a.m., approximately four hours later, they declared the fire out, meaning it had been fully extinguished.

Despite the scale of the fire, fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Fire investigators estimated the damage at P3 million, with the fire affecting an area of at least 2,000 square meters.

A total of 130 houses were damaged, with 125 completely burned and five partially damaged. The fire also displaced 270 families, totaling 810 individuals.

Based on initial investigations, the fire originated in the house owned by Erlinda Suerte. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/27/2395510/80-families-left-homeless-quezon-city-paraaquefires/amp/

Around 80 families have been left homeless after residential areas in Parañaque and Quezon City were hit by fires, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said yesterday.

The BFP National Capital Region field office said a fire broke out at around 2:34 p.m. last Friday afternoon in a slum community in Barangay Marcelo Green in Parañaque and reached the third alarm.

Firefighters on board 17 fire trucks doused the fire by 5:39 p.m. after destroying several shanties and displacing at least 70 families.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, around 10 families were left homeless after a fire that broke out at around 1:57 a.m. engulfed and destroyed a two-story residential building in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City yesterday.

The fire reached the second alarm before it was controlled by firefighters at around 2:25 p.m.

There were no casualties in the two fire incidents.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/27/fire-razes-house-in-muntinlupa-subdivision

A fire razed a house in a subdivision in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa on Oct. 26. 

According to the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the fire occurred at 5:52 p.m. at a two-storey house at Block 51 in Soldiers’ Hills Village. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 5:52 p.m. before the blaze was put under control at 6:08 p.m. and put out at 6:14 p.m.

No one was injured in the fire, which damaged about P200,000 worth of properties. The fire affected a family of four. 

The fire station said the blaze started from the ceiling of the living room but the cause is under investigation. 

A total of 16 fire trucks, including six from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and five ambulances responded to the incident.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/603153/fire-in-quiot-cebu-city-razes-8-houses-displaces-45-individuals

An unattended lighted mosquito coil may have caused the late morning fire this morning, October 29, that destroyed 8 houses, damaged 4 others and displaced 45 individuals in Germilina San Carlos Heights, Brgy. Quiot in Cebu City.

“Katol gyod to gibiyaan nila,” claimed a certain Marcelo, who was interviewed by CDN Digital at the fire scene.

(It was probably a lighted mosquito coil that they left unattended.)

Marcelo owned one of the houses that was razed by the fire. His house was beside the house where the blaze started.

One of the fire victims said that they heard explosions when the fire started.

(We heard explosions. They thought that someone was shot. Then my child said that ma, there’s a fire. We run to the mountans (pointing to the other side of the hill away from the fire). We did not care about the things we left behind in our house.)

At the fire scene — a residential area situated at a side of the hill in San Carlos Heights — one can see the burned wreck of a parked car that was left behind by the owner when the fire hit.

As for the claims about an unattended mosquito coil started the fire, investigators have yet to verify these claims as they were still investigating the cause of the blaze.

FO2 Marie Grace Ambayan, fire investigator of the Cebu City Fire Office, said in her report that the estimated loss of property was estimated at P675,000.

“Some 12 houses were affected, 8 of these houses destroyed while 4 others were damaged,” said  FO2 Ambayan in her report of the fire.

The fire was reported at 10 a.m. today, October 29, was raised to the first alarm at 10:03 a.m.— which meant that more firetrucks were needed, aside from the responding firefighters in the area.

It took firefighters 35 minutes to put the fire under control or at 10:38 a.m. and it was declared fire out at 10:44 a.m.

According to Cebu City Councilor Francis Esparis, who was in the fire scene at past 10 a.m. today, that the personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS)  would start identifying and verifying the victims of the fire.

Esparis told CDN Digital in an interview at the fire scene that food packs for the fire victims would be provided also later by the DSWS personnel.

As for the fire victims, Esparis said that they would probably be given temporary shelter in any of the evacuation centers in the barangay such as the area in a nearby grotto near the fire scene, the barangay hall or a school there.

He also said that the fire victims could be taken to any of the evacuation centers in the barangay such as the barangay’s gym or the schools there.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/30/14-houses-lost-in-tacloban-city-fire

Fourteen houses were razed by a fire that broke out in Barangay 62-B, Sagkahan here early Wednesday morning, Oct. 30.

The fire was reported at 1:29 a.m. and was put out by firefighters at 2:15 a.m.

No injuries or casualties were reported by the Tacloban City Fire Station.

Meanwhile, another fire broke out in Barangay 109-A, Phase 4 Extension here at 1:57 a.m.

The fire that hit a house was declared out at 2:42 a.m. The house was also damaged by a fire in the past.

No injuries or casualties were also reported.

The Fire Investigation Unit is currently investigating the cause of the two fires.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/28/fire-hits-houses-inside-parola-compound-in-tondo

A fire hit houses inside Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila, on Monday afternoon, October 28. 

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at 3:41 p.m. and was immediately raised to second alarm at 3:46 p.m.

It escalated to third alarm at 4:02 a.m.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2000175/3-dead-in-rizal-town-fire-2

Three persons died in a fire on Thursday that gutted their house in Teresa, Rizal, police said.

The Region 4A police reported that those who died were Narciso Santos, Amber Santos, and Skyler Bolante, all residents of Block 20 Lot 11 Carissa Homes East 2 in Barangay San Gabriel.

Police said the blaze of still unknown origin struck the victims’ residence at 11:53 a.m. and was extinguished at 12:32 p.m.

Firefighters discovered their bodies during the clearing operation.

The report did not provide details on the family relationship between the victims except that they were all living together in the burned house.

An investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and the resulting property damage. 

That is 14 reported incidents for October. Remember, these are only the major fires reported in the national media. Residential fires are up all across the nation and they do not all make the news. This is the tip of the iceberg concerning the real situation in the Philippines. 

Retards in the Government 389

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/25/village-chair-driver-shot-dead-in-leyte

A barangay chairman and a motorcycle-for-hire driver were shot dead in Barangay Bagabao, Leyte, Leyte on Thursday, Oct. 24. 

Police identified the victims as Barangay Mataloto, Leyte, Leyte chairwoman Mary Ann Bacunawa, and Mar, motorcycle-for-hire driver.  

Investigation said the victims were on their way to Barangay Mataloto from Barangay Bagabao when a man, 5’3” tall, slim, wearing a black shirt and pants and bonnet with long hair, appeared and shot them. 

Bacunawa died on the spot due to bullet wounds in the head.  

Mar sustained bullet wounds and was taken to a hospital by a concerned citizen where he was declared dead. 

The suspect fled towards the direction of Barangay Bagabao and Barangay Libertad, Kananga, Leyte.  

The Leyte, Leyte Municipal Police Station (MPS) is conducting follow-up investigation and pursuing the suspect. Nearby police units have established checkpoints to apprehend the suspect.  

The Leyte Police Provincial Office deployed additional lawmen to secure the area.

A barangay chairwoman and her dirver have been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1997699/village-chief-association-head-shot-dead-in-ilocos-norte

The president of the Association of Barangay Captains of San Nicolas town was gunned down early Saturday by still unidentified attackers in Barangay 22 San Guillermo, a report reaching the Ilocos Norte police said.

According to witnesses, Mark Adrian Barba, 39, village chief of Barangay 6 San Juan Bautista, was on board a gray Toyota Innova, with plate no. NDA 8116, along with two other individuals, when they were ambushed at about 3 a.m. along the national highway while on their way home from a nearby cockpit arena.

The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital but Barba was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

Meanwhile, his companions, who were wounded in the attack, remain in critical condition.

Responding police recovered multiple empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle from the ambush site.

Police investigators are still determining the identity of the attackers and the possible motive of the killing.

The president of the Association of Barangay Captains of San Nicolas town was assassinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236024

Authorities are pursuing a village chief and his companions involved in a shooting incident that left one person dead and another wounded early Sunday.

Lt. Juaren Caang, spokesperson of the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office, identified the prime suspect as Evan Roy Macantan, village chair of Bagontapay. One of his companions, Jomer Nietes, 35, was arrested and was confined at a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound.

Caang said the shooting occurred after Macantan organized a live band concert, which he halted following a disturbance by an unidentified man.

Macantan and his group confronted two civilians—later identified as Army intelligence operatives—who arrived at the venue and were suspected to be linked to the troublemaker, the police official said.

Macantan’s group allegedly chased and opened fire on the two, resulting in the death of bystander Romnic Villarom Reyes, 28, and the wounding of Rosinda Jordan Macailing, 35, both residents of Bagontapay. Nietes was also injured during the shooting, while Macantan and other suspects fled.

Police recovered seven .45-caliber shells, four 9mm cartridges, and three dud bullets at the scene.

Authorities are preparing charges against Macantan, Nietes, and other suspects still at large.

A barnagay captain is wanted for shooting a man dead and wounding another. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/28/boy-15-dies-after-being-punched-by-sk-chairman-and-companion-in-manila

A 15-year-old boy died after he was punched by two men including a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman in Sta. Ana, Manila, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Monday, October 28.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the Barangay SK chairman as Mark Jhorell Dela Cruz, 18, and his cohort Irineo Cardanio, 23.  

According to a police report, the victim was with his friends along F. Manalo Street in Barangay 894 Punta, Sta. Ana Manila at around 9:10 p.m. on October 25. 

Witnesses said the suspects arrived at the area and confronted the victim. 

They told the police that the suspects allegedly punched the victim. The victim then fell to the ground unconscious. 

He was brought by an SK councilor to Sta. Ana Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. 

The suspects are now under police custody for further investigation.

A 15-year-old boy died after being punched by a barangay chairman. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1998869/pnp-recommends-dismissal-of-11-cops-for-alleged-moonlighting-cover-up

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday recommended the dismissal of 11 officers for allegedly covering up the illegal activities of two moonlighting Special Action Force (SAF) personnel.

According to the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS), evidence showed a conspiracy among the 11 officers to make it appear that SAF commandos Corporal George Rojo Mabuti and Patrolman Roger Ramos Valdez were rendering official duties at the 52nd and 55th Special Action Companies Zamboanga, respectively.

Mabuti and Valdez, however, were allegedly serving as security escorts for a Chinese national said to be linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator and were apprehended in a village in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City following a fistfight last May.

The PNP IAS on Tuesday said it found the 11 officers guilty of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Of the 11 recommended for dismissal, six were police commissioned officers, including a lieutenant colonel; and five were police non-commissioned officers.

Meanwhile, the two SAF personnel were guilty of moonlighting, grave irregularities in performing their duties, and engaging in protective services to private persons without approval from the Police Security and Protection Group, the PNP IAS said.

“This resolution serves as a stern reminder that no police officer is above the law. The public has the right to expect the highest level of integrity from those sworn to serve and protect the public,” IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay said in a statement.

“Any deviation from this duty will be met with the appropriate disciplinary sanctions,” he added.

Last July, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil warned that moonlighting officers would be caught and dismissed from the service.

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday recommended the dismissal of 11 officers for allegedly covering up the illegal activities of two moonlighting Special Action Force personnel.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/31/2396584/cop-probed-sexual-harassment

A police colonel is being investigated for alleged sexual harassment in Lal-lo, Cagayan.

The incident involving the 52-year-old colonel and a 26-year-old policewoman reportedly occurred at the municipal police station in Barangay Centro on Monday.

Initial investigation showed the complainant went to the official’s office to inform him that he had to attend an online meeting.

The official reportedly asked the policewoman to set up his computer laptop for the online meeting.

The complainant said the official grabbed and hugged her as she was setting up the computer.

She said she screamed and pushed the official away, but he continued with his advances and tried to kiss her in the lips.

The kiss landed in the forehead, the complainant said.

The official may be charged with acts of lasciviousness, probers said.                                                                         

A police colonel is being investigated for alleged sexual harassment in Lal-lo, Cagayan.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/29/2395977/roque-faces-human-trafficking-charge-over-pogo-links

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is facing a complaint for qualified human trafficking before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over his alleged links to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) as welll as the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday filed a supplemental complaint, which included Roque in the human trafficking case earlier lodged against Lucky South 99 authorized representative Cassandra Li Ong and 53 others.

The PAOCC and CIDG alleged that Roque “participated in the furtherance of the illegal activities” of the POGO firm by representing Lucky South 99 when it applied for a gaming license with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in 2023.

Citing the judicial affidavit of Pagcor assistant vice president Jessa Mariz Fernandez, Roque allegedly made several follow-ups on the status of the online gambling permit of Lucky South 99.

The PAOCC and CIDG rejected Roque’s statement that he only lawyered for Whirlwind Corp., which leased a property to Lucky South 99.

The agencies said Roque’s involvement with Lucky South 99 is “further bolstered” by the fact that his executive assistant Alberto Rodulfo dela Serna, who has a joint bank account with the former presidential spokesman, lived inside the POGO compound for almost nine months for free.

Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete said this is an opportunity for Roque to clear his name by submitting his counter-affidavit.

In a statement, Roque described the complaint as “nothing but a trumped-up charge,” adding that the evidence against him was “manufactured.”

Roque has denied involvement in the illegal activities of Lucky South 99.

He said he would face “the lies” peddled against him and “vowed to hold those responsible for this miscarriage of justice in due course.”

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is facing a complaint for qualified human trafficking before the Department of Justice over his alleged links to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga.