Retards in the Government 431

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/15/6-policemen-charged-for-planting-evidence-nbi

Six policemen have been criminally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for planting evidence against a man they arrested in Nueva Vizcaya in May 2024. 

In a statement, the NBI identified those charged as PMaj. Santy C. Ventura, PMsg. Odra Noel Efalla, PCpl. Jeff Lloyd N. Apangchan, PCpl. Randy T. Agdeppa, Pat. John Michael C. Tanguilan, and Frederick Mariano. 

Aside from planting of evidence, they were also charged before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Nueva Vizcaya with abuse of authority and obstruction of justice under the Revised Penal Code, it said. 

The NBI said the charges arose from the acquittal of Freddie Mallari, the man the six policemen arrested. 

It said the evidence gathered by its Bayombong District Office (NBI-BAYDO) and the findings of the regional trial court (RTC) showed that “the firearms seized during the service of a search warrant on May 25, 2024, were fabricated.” 

It also said the decision handed down by the trial court “not only cleared Mallari of all charges but also condemned the officers’ conduct as a clear violation of his constitutional rights.”

Six policemen have been criminally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for planting evidence against a man they arrested in Nueva Vizcaya in May 2024.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2096816/ombudsman-suspends-nueva-ecija-gov-for-one-year-without-pay

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a one-year suspension without pay for Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

The suspension stems from the alleged illegal issuance of 205 quarrying permits in the province without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a 29-page decision, the Ombudsman said it found “substantial evidence” indicating that Umali is “guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and simple misconduct.” This led to his suspension for one year under Section 25(2) of Republic Act (RA) 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, and Section 10(b), Rule III of Administrative Order No. 7, as amended, of the Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft body dismissed complaints against his wife, former Nueva Ecija Gov. Czarina Umali; former Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Wilfredo Pangilinan; and former regional directors Danilo Uykieng, Lope Cariño Jr., Samuel Paragas, and Alilo Ensomo Jr. of the DENR Region 3 – Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The consolidated decision arose from separate complaints filed against Umali, his wife, and the former DENR officials.

In March 2024, Roberto Duldulao filed complaints of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against Umali, his wife, and Pangilinan.

In connection with this complaint, the Ombudsman cited findings from the House committee on good government and public accountability on November 27, 2018.

The committee revealed that the Umalis, during their respective terms as Nueva Ecija governor, “granted around 205 commercial sand and gravel permits (CSGPs) to unqualified permittees without an ECC from the DENR–Environmental Management Bureau.”

The CSGPs issued from January 2014 to June 2016 were approved by the male Umali, while his wife approved quarry permits from July 2016 to September 2018. Instead of requiring an ECC, the two allegedly only asked unqualified permittees to obtain a local environmental clearance certificate (LECC).

According to the anti-graft body, granting CSGPs without the proper requirements violates RA 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, its implementing rules and regulations (IRRs), and Presidential Decree 1856.

The Ombudsman said Pangilinan conspired with the Umalis by recommending the approval of quarry permits based on submitted LECCs.

Findings from the Field Investigation Office of the Ombudsman revealed that MGB Region 3 Directors Uykieng, Cariño, Paragas, and Ensomo “failed to perform their functions of constituting the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board to review and evaluate the quarry permits.

“They did nothing to stop the illegal issuance of permits by the provincial government of Nueva Ecija, led by spouses Umali and Pangilinan, without complying with the provisions of RA 7942 and its revised IRRs,” the decision reads./mcm

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a one-year suspension without pay for Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/16/qc-cops-arrest-city-hall-employee-for-extortion-attempt

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested a city hall employee for allegedly extorting P847,982 from a business owner in exchange for renewing a permit.

Police identified the suspect only as Maria, 41, a resident of Barangay Batasan Hills. 

The suspect was caught in an entrapment operation by the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) on Wednesday, August 13, at a fast-food chain along Matalino Street in Barangay Central.

Authorities said the incident began on Monday, August 11, when the victim received a text message from the suspect, who threatened to shut down her business over an expired Certificate of Exemption to Operate.

The suspect allegedly demanded P847,982 to “renew” the business permit.

The victim immediately sought police help, prompting operatives to stage the entrapment.

Authorities recovered a cellphone, brown envelope, P849,000 worth of fake money. 

Police said the suspect will be charged with robbery-extortion and attempted estafa.

QCPD Chief Col. Randy Glenn Silvio urged residents to immediately report similar incidents.

“We thank the victim for reporting the case right away, which allowed us to stop this illegal activity. Extortion carries a heavy penalty, and we encourage the public to report any threats or suspicious acts to the nearest police station or through the emergency hotlines 911 and 122,” Silvio said.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested a city hall employee for allegedly extorting P847,982 from a business owner in exchange for renewing a permit.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/17/ca-affirms-conviction-of-4-makati-city-policemen-for-kidnapping

The Court of Appeals (CA) has stood pat on its decision that affirmed the conviction by the trial court of four Makati City policemen for kidnapping filed against them in 2017.

In a resolution written by Associate Justice Eleuterio L. Bathan, the CA denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Police Officer 2 Harley Garcera, PO2 Clarence Maynes, PO1 Tim Santos, and PO1 Jeffrey Cañete.

The CA said that the convicted police officers failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of its decision issued last February 14.

It ruled: “The arguments presented in the motion were already considered, discussed, and passed upon in the assailed decision. No new matters were raised by the accused-appellants that would warrant modifying, much less reversing, our earlier findings.” 

Affirmed by the CA was the decision handed down by the Pasay City regional trial court (RTC) which sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, a jail term ranging from 20 to 40 years.

Also affirmed was the payment of the P100,000 ransom that the policemen extorted from their victim on top of the P300,000 in civil indemnity and damages. 

The case stemmed from the kidnapping charges filed on June 22, 2017 by a motorcycle shop owner who accused the four policemen of illegally arresting him and forcibly taking him with them. 

The shop owner testified that while they were inside a vehicle, the policemen demanded P400,000 for his release. To come up with the demanded amount, the shop owner said he would sell his belongings or pawn his vehicle.

The complainant was able to raise only P100,000 and promised the policemen he would give the balance the following day.

He said his telephone number was taken by the policemen who threatened him that if he would not come up with the amount, they would kill his family members.

The four policemen were arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the Philippine National Police-Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) where the shop owner reported the incident. 

In affirming its February 14 decision, the CA said: “The prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt the conspiracy between the appellants. The RPC (Revised Penal Code) provides that a conspiracy exists when two or more persons come to an agreement concerning the commission of a felony and decide to commit it.”

The Court of Appeals has stood pat on its decision that affirmed the conviction by the trial court of four Makati City policemen for kidnapping filed against them in 2017.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/652022/ombudsman-slaps-ex-cebu-governor-gwen-garcia-with-fines

The Ombudsman told former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to pay up to approximately P1.2 million in fines after they found her guilty of administrative charges. 

The state’s anti-graft body found Garcia guilty for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and simple misconduct over the desilting project her administration undertook in Mananga River.

The punishment was supposed to be a 1-year suspension without pay but considering Garcia is no longer a public official, the Ombudsman ordered to pay the fine equivalent to six months of her basic salary as governor.

Provincial governors earn between P203,200 and P226,000 in a month, based on the current compensation scheme from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). 

The decision stems from a case filed by Moises Deiparine which also became the basis for Garcia’s six-month suspension last April — just few weeks shy of the May 12 polls. 

Deiparine accused the former governor of grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713). 

His complaint revolves around the special permit Garcia issued to Shalom Construction Inc. in May 2024 to desilt the upstream portions of the Mananga River as part of the province’s measures to address drought and shortage of water that year. 

However, Deiparine reported that her administration failed to secure the mandatory clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), such as the environmental compliance certificate.

In a 37-page ruling, the Ombudsman stated that Garcia did not commit grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, and gross negligence, leading to their dismissal. 

While they pointed out that Garcia’s intentions were well-meant, she still needs to uphold and comply with prevailing environmental laws. 

“Following a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence at hand, it can be reasonably inferred that the respondent’s intentions in desilting the Mananga River were well-meaning. She had sought to address the urgent water crisis brought about by the El Niño phenomenon,” portions of the document read.

“However, our environmental laws, particularly those relating to the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) and the requirement to obtain an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate), are in place to ensure that solutions to present problems do not create greater environmental harm in the future,” it added. 

Reporters have already reached out to Garcia for her comments as of this posting.

But it can be recalled that the former governor has defended her decision to issue the special permit in question was driven solely by the urgent need to address the critical water shortage that had severely affected the entire franchise area of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District, which includes Cebu City and seven other local governments.

She said all decisions were undertaken in close collaboration with the affected local governments as well as with the government agencies tasked to regulate environmental matters, namely the DENR, the Environmental Management Bureau and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

The Ombudsman told former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to pay up to approximately P1.2 million in fines after they found her guilty of administrative charges. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2097109/6-caap-personnel-dismissed-for-drug-use

Six personnel from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) who tested positive for illegal drugs have been dismissed from service, the agency announced on Monday.

In a statement, Caap reported that out of 1,703 employees tested, one tested positive at General Santos International Airport, three at Butuan Airport, one at Ozamiz Airport, and one at Bacolod-Silay Airport.

Caap provided no further details about the six personnel.

According to the agency, the drug testing is part of Caap’s efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace, in line with the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulation on Psychoactive Testing and Reporting and the Civil Service Commission’s requirement for mandatory drug testing of both new and existing government employees.

Caap also assured travelers that flights within Philippine airspace are manned by “a capable, drug-free workforce committed to the highest standards of aviation safety.”

“The safety and efficiency of aviation operations greatly depend on the physical and mental well-being of all aviation personnel,” said Dr. Rolly Bayaban, chief flight surgeon of Caap’s Office of the Flight Surgeon and Aviation Medicine.

Six personnel from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) who tested positive for illegal drugs have been dismissed from service.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2097290/3-cops-face-raps-for-filing-unrelated-charges-after-altar-servers-death

Three police officers faced complaints before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for allegedly filing unrelated charges against a father whose son died after contracting leptospirosis while searching for him.

Jayson dela Rosa, the father of 20-year-old altar server Dion Angelo dela Rosa, also known as Gelo, was accompanied by his lawyer, Arnold Valenzuela, and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David during the filing of complaints.

The officers were not named during a press conference on Monday.

According to reports, Gelo, a third-year human resource services student at Malabon City College, contracted leptospirosis after wading through waist-deep floodwaters to search for his father, who went missing on July 22.

His father was initially arrested at a convenience store for alleged theft but was charged three days later, on July 25, with violating Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1602, the law on illegal gambling.

According to his lawyer, Arnold Valenzuela, the convenience store chose not to press charges against Jayson. Nevertheless, he was reportedly held at Caloocan Substation 2 for several days before authorities charged him with a lesser offense.

“He was still arrested by the police and was told to be grateful because 7-Eleven would no longer pursue the case against him, but he was still taken to the station and detained at Substation 2,” Valenzuela said in Filipino after filing the complaints.

“And when he was at Substation 2, he was told that since he was lucky 7-Eleven did not press charges for the alleged theft, they would instead charge him with a lesser offense (PD 1602) as a sort of ‘favor,’ even though it wasn’t true,” he added.

“Supposedly, there’s no complaint; the police should let him go because there is no complaint. But for reasons only known to the police officers, they opted to invent a case, to make up a case that is not true,” Valenzuela added.

In addition to the administrative complaints, Jayson’s camp decided to file criminal complaints against the police officers.

Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said that possible grave misconduct charges could be filed against the officers involved, based on Jayson’s testimony and CCTV footage from the convenience store.

He also revealed that the commission is investigating the alleged involvement of two to three additional police officers who may have assisted in filing the illegal gambling complaint against Jayson.

Three police officers faced complaints before the National Police Commission for allegedly filing unrelated charges against a father whose son died after contracting leptospirosis while searching for him.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/19/2466507/ex-trc-exec-gets-27-years-graft

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced businessman Dennis Cunanan, a former deputy director-general of the defunct state firm Technology Resource Center (TRC), to up to 27 years in prison for involvement in the misuse of P22.5 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of former senator Gregorio Honasan in 2007 and 2008.

In a 97-page decision promulgated on Aug. 15, the anti-graft court’s Third Division found Cunanan guilty of one count each of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Convicted with Cunanan for the same offenses were private respondents Petronila Balmaceda and Leoncio Balisi of the non-government organization Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI).

For the graft offense, Cunanan, Balmaceda and Balisi were sentenced to six years and one month up to 10 years of imprisonment. The court also ordered the perpetual disqualification of Cunanan from holding public office and the forfeiture of all his retirement and gratuity benefits.

For the malversation offense, Cunanan, Balmaceda and Balisi were sentenced to 12 years to up to 17 years and four months imprisonment. They were also ordered to jointly pay a fine of P20 million. The court said this was on top of another P20 million that they must pay as civil liability.

Meanwhile, former TRC group manager Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana was found guilty, together with Balmaceda and Balisi, of separate set of violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 and malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the RPC.

For the graft offense, they were sentenced to six years and one month to up to 10 years imprisonment, with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office. 

For malversation, Lacsamana, Balmaceda and Balisi were sentenced to 10 years to up to 14 years and eight months of imprisonment. They were also ordered to jointly pay P2.5 million as civil liability.

The cases, meanwhile, against former TRC director general Antonio Ortiz were ordered temporarily archived as he remains at large, without prejudice to the case’s revival upon his arrest or voluntary surrender.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019, the cases stemmed from the TRC’s release in two instances of the amount of P20 million and P2.5 million to PFI, drawn from the PDAF of then senator Honasan in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The ombudsman said the funds were released to PFI for supposed implementation of Honasan’s livelihood and financial projects for the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and police officers in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan.

The ombudsman said its investigation revealed that the projects were never implemented, and that the PFI submitted spurious documents such as a list of beneficiaries and project implementation reports to support its supposed liquidation of the funds.

Honasan, however, was not included in the cases as the ombudsman earlier ruled that there was no probable cause to establish his participation in the anomalies.

In convicting Cunanan, Lacsamana and the two officials of PFI, the Third Division said the prosecution was able to sufficiently establish their conspiracy to defraud the government.

The court said sufficient testimonial and documentary evidence were also presented showing that the projects were never implemented.

“Additionally, of note is the observation of the COA (Commission on Audit) that the attendance sheets of the purported participants from the various cities and municipalities of the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan do not show that they actually received any financial assistance or even indicate their specific addresses,” the Third Division said.

“Likewise, the physical existence of PFI is questionable. As per the SAO (Special Audit Observation) Audit Report No. 2012-03 dated Aug. 14, 2013, the two addresses declared by PFI is a dilapidated apartment previously occupied by its NGO president and a residential unit whose occupant was unaware of the existence of the PFI,” it added. “Without any evidence in refutation, these liquidation reports were indeed falsified.” 

Cunanan’s name recently reappeared in the headlines as co-accused of dismissed mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac in charges of qualified human trafficking filed by the Department of Justice.

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced businessman Dennis Cunanan, a former deputy director-general of the defunct state firm Technology Resource Center, to up to 27 years in prison for involvement in the misuse of P22.5 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel of former senator Gregorio Honasan in 2007 and 2008.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/08/18/2466203/marikina-engineer-2-others-suspended

Marikina engineer Kennedy Sueno and two other city officials have been suspended for six months for dealing with fixers in the issuance of building permits.

In a 20-page resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman found Sueno, engineer Mark de Joya and administrative aide Abigail Joy Santiago guilty of conduct unbecoming of a public officer.

Bribery charges were filed in May last year by Brian and Agnes Torre following their application for building and occupancy permits in August 2021.

The couple complained about “numerous obstacles” during the application process. They ended up paying P430,000 to personnel of the city engineering office.

In June 2024, Sueno, De Joya, Santiago and four others were suspended for six months “to preserve the documents and other possible evidence, which may be in their custody.”

The ombudsman said the suspects conducted informal meetings at the Marikina City engineering department and interacted with fixers.

Charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were dismissed for lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the charges filed against enforcement section chief Romeo Gutierrez Jr., building inspector Marlito Poquiz, assistant city engineer and permits division chief Josephine Gutierrez Evangelista, electrical inspector Alex Copreros as well as electrician foreman Manuel Santos were dismissed for lack of sufficient basis.

Marikina engineer Kennedy Sueno and two other city officials have been suspended for six months for dealing with fixers in the issuance of building permits.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/19/ex-soldier-yields-p27-m-shabu

Authorities seized four kilos of suspected shabu valued at P27 million from an ex-soldier during a buy-bust operation here on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

The suspect was identified as Sahdan Badiri Ibrahim, 52, from Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and a high-value drug suspect.

Authorities apprehended the suspect after he sold shabu to a poseur-buyer in Barangay Canelar at around 9 a.m.

Recovered from him were four one-kilo plastic packs of shabu, three of which had a QR code, worth P27 million.

Ibrahim faces charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A former soldier has been busted for drugs. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Misinformation On TikTok, Aging Faster, and More!

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

The Philippines is still struggling to breach the gaps in education caused by the pandemic. 

https://pia.gov.ph/struggling-grade-3-readers-drop-by-96-after-literacy-programs-deped/

The number of struggling third-grade readers nationwide plummeted from more than 51,000 to fewer than 2,000 following intensive literacy programs, the Department of Education announced earlier this week.

In an event last Tuesday, the agency attributed the dramatic 96% decrease to two key initiatives: the Learning Recovery Program and the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program, implemented to address learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So-called “low-emerging readers” — students who struggle with basic reading skills like letter recognition, sound blending and word decoding — dropped from 51,537 to 1,871 students across all regions, according to DepEd data.

Education officials described the improvement as a significant milestone for the country’s education system, particularly for early learners who faced severe disruptions during pandemic school closures.

The Learning Recovery Program focuses on accelerating student progress by strengthening literacy and numeracy skills through evidence-based interventions and improved teaching quality. The initiative targets learning gaps created by extended periods of remote or limited classroom instruction.

The Bawat Bata Makababasa Program, which translates to “Every Child Can Read,” specifically targets literacy improvement among struggling learners in grades 1-3. 

The program aims to ensure all students achieve grade-level reading proficiency through targeted interventions.

Low-emerging readers typically demonstrate significant difficulties with fundamental reading competencies and require intensive remediation to match their peers’ progress, DepEd explained.

The pandemic severely disrupted traditional classroom learning in the Philippines, with schools closed for extended periods and many students lacking access to reliable internet or devices for remote learning.

Education officials emphasized the need to maintain transparency and continued monitoring to preserve and build upon these literacy gains in coming years.

The reading improvement data covers students nationwide, though DepEd did not immediately provide regional breakdowns of the progress. 

There has been a 96% drop in this program which is great but don't let that overshadow the rest of the work needed to be done.

The Philippine government borrowed a lot of money during the pandemic and is looking to borrow more money to fight future pandemics. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/14/philippines-seeks-world-bank-loan-to-better-fight-epidemics-and-pandemics

Another loan from the World Bank is forthcoming for the Philippines, this time to finance the country’s fight against epidemics by strengthening both human and animal health systems to improve pandemic preparedness.

According to a Aug. 12 concept environmental and social review summary disclosed by the Washington-based multilateral lender on Aug. 13, the Philippines is seeking an investment project financing (IPF) for the so-called Pandemic Fund-Resilient Philippines.

According to this World Bank document seen by Manila Bulletin, the upcoming loan is aimed at “[improving] the country’s capacity to detect, report, and respond to existing and emerging pathogens with epidemic potential among humans, animals, and wildlife.”

The World Bank’s board is expected to approve this loan on Nov. 28, 2025.

The project will be implemented by the departments of Agriculture (DA) and of Health (DOH), as well as the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

The World Bank document did not disclose yet the specific amount of financing sought by the Philippine government, only indicating a total project cost of $18.85 million, or over ₱1 billion.

This project has three components: the first component focuses on strengthening human health systems through expanded disease surveillance, upgraded reporting and lab systems, and workforce capacity building for pandemic preparedness.

The second component enhances animal health by improving surveillance, information systems, and lab capacity; the third component supports overall project management and monitoring and evaluation.

The first component will enhance national human health surveillance by expanding the One Health pilot to two epidemic-prone provinces, digitizing disease tracking, improving laboratory systems, and building workforce capacity, including the establishment of a One Health Genomics Consortium and piloting rapid diagnostics in underserved areas, the World Bank said.

The second component will address animal health by upgrading surveillance systems and diagnostic laboratories in two hotspot provinces for African swine fever (ASF) and highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Specifically, “this component will finance upgrading of BAI’s animal disease diagnostic reference laboratory (ADDRL) located in Manila and two regional animal disease diagnostic laboratories (RADDLs),” with the aim of “[providing] timely and reliable diagnostic testing, addressing both food safety and animal disease risks, while supporting broader agricultural objectives,” the World Bank said.

As Manila Bulletin reported earlier, the Philippines plans to borrow a total of $7.85 billion from the World Bank in the next two years under their new six-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) or lending program supportive of the country’s climb to upper-middle-income country (UMIC) status.

The World Bank Group (WBG) had programmed to extend to the Philippines up to $23 billion in loans and other financing from mid-2025 to mid-2031, covering the lender’s fiscal years (FYs) 2026 to 2031.

With all the recent furor over botched flood control projects why would the people trust the government to use the money for these pandemic prevention programs properly?

The Philippine workforce is "aging faster than expected" due to low fertility rates which were only exacerbated by the pandemic. 

https://business.inquirer.net/542096/young-ph-workforce-seen-aging-faster-than-expected

The Philippines will remain a relatively young nation over the next three decades, but its population is set to age faster than expected as declining fertility—influenced by rising living costs and more women entering the workforce—weighs on family formation.

This points to “emerging chinks” in the country’s population armor, UK-based Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note to clients, adding that the gains from the so-called demographic dividend “won’t be as big as previously thought.”

Pantheon, citing United Nations projections, said the Philippines’ working-age population was now expected to peak in 2053—24 years earlier than a prior estimate of 2077. The shift comes as the fertility rate slips below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, dropping to 1.9 in 2022 from 2.7 in 2017, a decline that may have been accelerated by the pandemic.

Miguel Chanco, chief emerging Asia economist at Pantheon, said the drop reflects both “positive long-term changes” and “negative economic reasons.”

The former includes higher female labor-force participation and wider access to contraception and family planning, albeit from a low base. The latter, he said, stem from rising living costs since 2022 and the pandemic’s heavy hit to household balance sheets, which many families are still struggling to recover from.

“What I found the most interesting about the Philippines’ recent demographic trends is the rapid drop in fertility rates over the past ten years or so, aligning the country more with the rates of its peers,” Chanco said in an interview.

“For a start, a few members of the Asean four—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam—are greying more rapidly than previously expected,” he added.

A declining fertility rate could complicate the Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which counts on the country’s legion of young workers to help boost growth prospects for the next several decades.

Despite the trend, Chanco said the Philippines isn’t at risk of aging too quickly. A bigger challenge, he noted, is still overpopulation, which is straining public resources and fueling fierce competition for scarce quality jobs.

That, in turn, is driving an acute “brain drain” of skilled Filipino workers that could undermine human capital, innovation and long-term growth.

“There’s a reason why the country remains a huge exporter of manpower, for instance,” Chanco said. “There simply isn’t enough quality jobs domestically, so brain drain remains a big issue.” 

And yet in the same article the Philippines is said to be more at risk of overpopulation. Which is it?

Three Filipino doctors are using TikTok to push back against medical misinformation. They each got their start during the pandemic. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/8/17/filipino-doctors-push-back-against-medical-misinformation-on-tiktok-1021

At first glance, TikTok may seem an unlikely space for serious health conversations. But scroll past dance trends and lip syncs, and you'll find a growing number of Filipino doctors building digital clinics through bite-sized videos.

Among them are Lyien Ho, Drew Valdez and Dex Mallari, three physicians from different specialties, backgrounds, and regions, but who share a common calling: making health information more accurate, accessible, and less intimidating for Filipinos online.

Though none of them planned to become full-fledged content creators, all three were pushed by the same moment: the pandemic. Suddenly, clinics were less accessible, patients were left to Google their symptoms, and misinformation spread faster than most diseases.

“There was a need,” said Ho, a primary care doctor who now specializes in lifestyle medicine. 

“I felt that responsibility to bridge that gap.” Valdez, a urologist trained in both surgery and media (he took up broadcasting in college), found the pandemic a perfect storm to begin posting. 

“We had more time, and more people needed accurate information,” he said. Mallari, an OB-GYN from Pampanga, was inspired after seeing other professionals use TikTok to creatively bust myths. “Hindi lang siya sayaw at lip sync. Nakita ko na puwede din pala siya maging educational,” he recalled.

Their videos don’t just educate — they translate. For these doctors, the challenge isn’t just knowing the science, but making it stick.

All three doctors say they create content as if speaking directly to their patients. “If you can’t explain something to a 10-year-old,” Valdez said, “then you probably don’t understand it well enough yourself.” 

For Mallari, that also means being sensitive to what his audience may be too embarrassed to ask. “Nakakahiya minsan para sa iba ‘yung tanong. Pero ‘yun ‘yung mga pinaka-nakakatulong na sagutin,” he explained.

Whether it's about menstruation myths, the dangers of excessive vitamin C, or spotting the signs of diabetes, these doctors choose relevance over reach. “Fun never has to compromise facts,” Ho said. 

And while each has their own style, Ho uses real-life hooks, Valdez speaks plainly to the camera, and Mallari zeroes in on misunderstood issues. Their goal is the same: to raise health literacy while respecting people’s lived realities.

Their collective concern? Medical misinformation.

From “natural cures” for kidney stones to feminine washes that promise false results, all three doctors have seen how quickly bad advice circulates and how dangerous it can be. 

“There are creators out there using their platforms to sell products by sounding scientific,” Ho said. “But emotional appeal doesn’t make something true.”

Valdez, whose videos have been stolen and used by AI scam pages to promote unverified products, warns of a growing crisis: “There are entities online who claim to be doctors or act like doctors and give advice sa general public without the benefit of performing proper history and physical examination, then plugging in their products. So that's really bad. 

“[‘Yun ‘yung pinakapotentially] dangerous, especially those quack doctors saying they can cure cancer. So, imagine the delay na pwedeng mangyari kapag they believe that the one product can cure their cancer. So, hindi sila na-a-address agad. Hindi sila na-b-bypass agad, hindi sila na-operahan agad, hindi sila na-ki-chemo agad.”

Their solution? Stick to evidence. All three fact-check religiously before posting. Mallari even writes scripts for most of his videos, checking everything against textbooks and published journals. “We owe it to the viewers,” he said. “They trust us, so we need to be sure what we say is right.”

But credibility isn’t always enough. Being a doctor online means walking a tightrope between being serious and being shareable.

Mallari said being relatable often means answering what may seem like “sobrang simple” questions, whether one can bathe during menstruation, for instance. “Kaya for me, being engaging din is being able to answer even the simplest type of questions,” he said, noting that many of his viewers are too shy to ask these things in person, but deeply want to know.

Their content also chips away at bigger social taboos.

As an OB-GYN, Mallari often receives skepticism simply for being a man discussing women’s health. But he sees this as part of the education process. “I may not experience what they are actually physically experiencing,” he said. “But I know why they are experiencing it. I know what to do or I know how it happens. I know how to manage it.”

Dr. Ho also uses accessible language and creative hooks to break stigma. “Fun never has to compromise facts,” she said. “You can be fun and engaging, but at the same time, giving medical health information to people.” For her, even something as simple as “I-check mo ang kuko mo” can be a way in—drawing someone into a deeper discussion about preventive care.

In a landscape where anyone can claim expertise, their medical degrees—and caution—help set them apart.

All three are clear about the limits of social media advice. “You can’t give out advice,” said Valdez. “What I try to avoid… I don’t answer it without the benefit of proper history and physical examination because it might be harmful.” Instead, they urge viewers to consult professionals in person.

Ultimately, that’s their shared hope: that Filipinos feel more empowered to ask questions, verify what they see online, and seek real medical care when they need it.

“I just want to be known as a credible source,” Valdez said. “Anything urology, gusto kong maging at the top of their heads… credible source, ako.” 

Mallari echoes this in OB-GYN: “Kahit I don't experience these physical symptoms, at least I know why they're happening—and I can explain it to you.”

There is certainly a lot of medical misinformation amongst people these days. Maybe these three will sort it out. 

Nearly Half Of The Vehicles In The Philippines Are Not Roadworthy

I have written on this blog about the widespread problem of faulty breaks. Now, a new study focused only on Bohol has verified everything I have written. Vehicles in the Philippines do not undergo regular safety checks which means the roads are unsafe. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/652027/nearly-half-of-inspected-bohol-vehicles-have-brake-issues-vicoap

The Vehicle Inspection Centers Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) is raising the alarm over the condition of many Bohol vehicles.

From January to July 2025, Bohol’s accredited Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) inspected a total of 30,829 Bohol vehicles. Of these, 13,845 — or 45% — were found to have faulty brakes, a defect that could cause serious accidents if left unchecked.

“This is a major road safety concern,” said John Alison Uy, VICOAP Board Secretary. “Brake inspections are not yet mandatory in the Philippines. Many vehicle owners may be unknowingly driving with serious brake defects, putting themselves, their passengers, and pedestrians at risk.”

Uy explained that PMVICs are equipped with modern brake-testing facilities and other specialized tools to detect safety issues early including checks on lights, suspension, and emissions, going well beyond the standard emissions-only testing offered elsewhere.

PMVICs in the Philippines use roller brake testers, to accurately measure a vehicle’s braking efficiency. In this process, each wheel is positioned on two counter-rotating rollers that simulate key aspects of road braking conditions under controlled, load-simulated environments. The system measures braking force, detects imbalances between wheels, and flags symptoms of potential defects such as worn pads, leaking brake cylinders, or malfunctioning brake systems.

Unlike visual checks or manual estimates, the roller brake test is computerized, automated, and standardized, ensuring consistent results and minimizing human error. This technology is recognized by international vehicle safety regulators, reinforcing the reliability and legitimacy of PMVIC brake inspections in the Philippines.

“In support of the LTO’s road safety mandate, we are ready to serve the anticipated surge in inspection demand. Our goal is to help motorists meet requirements ahead of the stricter rules and ensure their vehicles are genuinely safe,” Uy added.

VICOAP’s PMVICs are working closely with the LTO in Bohol to handle the expected surge in inspection demand following the reprieve period. Motorists are urged to take advantage of this window to have their vehicles inspected early, both to avoid penalties and to ensure their vehicles are genuinely safe for public roads.

“An inspection isn’t just about keeping up with regulations, it’s about saving lives,” Uy said.

“Every defect we find is one less potential crash on our roads.”

All one has to do is extrapolate the data and the number of vehicles with faulty brakes becomes unfathomable. 

It is simply unimaginable that "Brake inspections are not yet mandatory in the Philippines." That should be something which is routine. Yet, in this study 45% of all inspected vehicles have faulty brakes. There is more data which could be expanded which would include the kinds of vehicles and whether or not the operators have the proper authorization to be on the road. 

When the PNP-HPG sets up a roadblock to check licenses and registration there are long lines of tricycles and motorcycles on either side waiting for them to leave indicating that they are not roadworthy. It is disgusting to read this kind of information but at the same time it only justifies the existence of this blog. 

Insurgency: AFP Close To Ending Insurgency

In Lanao del Sur the PNP engaged in a clash with six members of the Maute Group. All six were subjects of arrest warrants. Three of them were killed while three of them were arrested. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/955425/3-suspected-di-maute-members-killed-3-arrested-in-lumbayanague-lanao-del-sur/story/

The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested three fugitives reported to be members of Dawlah Islamiyah Maute Group (DI-MG), while three others were killed during an operation in Barangay Lamin in Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur over the weekend.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the male fugitives—known as Abu Zacaria, Al Wala, and Asnawi—were arrested on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in an operation that resulted in an armed encounter, where three other wanted persons were killed: males Anwar Rahman and Abdullah, and a female, Nahara. They were rushed to the Tamparan Hospital, but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The PNP said all six were subjects of arrest warrants for murder and homicide issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 8 in Marawi, Lanao Del Sur on October 17, 2023. They were said to be members of the DI-MG, and are listed on the AFP Periodic Status Report for 2023.

The PNP said operating discovered and seized the an M4A1 Colt caliber 5.56mm rifle, a caliber 45 pistol, a hand grenade, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a homemade M79 grenade launcher, 13 pieces of IED blasting caps, two black ISIS flags, one M16 A1 rifle, assorted assorted magazines, rounds of assorted live ammunition, and fired cartridge cases.

Amerol Usman, alleged leader of the DI Maute Group - ISIS, and other subjects of the arrest warrant, evaded arrest during the firefight.

Philippine Army troop Corporal Johnson Francisco Zorca sustained a gunshot wound in the left knee during the encounter. He was initially rushed to the Tamparan Hospital, and transferred to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi where he is now in stable condition.

In a twist it turns out the three Maute members who were arrested were minors. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2094075/among-suspected-daulah-islamiya-maute-fighters-arrested-were-3-minors

The three suspected Daulah Islamiya-Maute Group fighters arrested in Lumbayanague town in Lanao del Sur over the weekend are minors, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the three minors are under the custody of the Philippine Army and will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“In this operation, we have captured minors. Some fighters used by the Maute were also killed in the encounter—a woman died, and a man also died. Some also escaped, and these are the identified,” Torre disclosed in a press briefing on Monday.

“We have three people arrested and in Army custody; we are turning them over to the DSWD for proper intervention,” he added.

Confiscated from the suspects were high-powered firearms such as M14 and M16 rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, and a .45-caliber pistol, as well as hand grenades, RPG blasting caps, and other war materials.

The PNO said recruiting child fighters has always been part of the Maute Group’s strategy, since law enforcers are more cautious when they see children during such encounters.

Based on the police report, three other suspected Daulah Islamiya-Maute Group fighters were killed after they fired upon army troops and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel serving a warrant in Lumbayanague town last Saturday.

Authorities said that although the brief firefight occurred in a populated area, no civilian casualties were reported.

Since the PNP had an arrest warrant they cannot possibly have been ignorant that the three they arrested are minors. It also turns out that the leader of the group and several others escaped during the raid. The PNP is now coordinating with the AFP to prevent any retaliatory attack. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256269

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre on Monday said they are now coordinating with the military in preparing to thwart any attempt for a retaliatory attack by the Dawlah Islamiya Maute Group (DI-MG).

This, after three DI-MG members were killed and three “minor” combatants were captured following a clash with government troops in Lanao del Sur on Aug. 9.

“We want to assure our kababayan (countrymen) that we are in control of the situation,” Torre said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

Torre said the three minors are now under the custody of the Philippine Army and will soon be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Ever since, recruiting child fighters has become the Maute's modus operandi because when it comes to fighting in the field, our personnel naturally have a different view when they encounter children, so this is a despicable act by the Maute,” he said.

“That is why part of our preemptive measures is to debunk their propaganda in the recruitment. This is a whole-of-government approach.”

Torre said government troops are hunting down all the DI-MG remnants, and the Lanao del Sur operation proved that the government is bent on crushing the terrorists.

He said the DI-MG in Mindanao is composed of locals, “but if we ever monitor the presence of foreign fighters, we will certainly prioritize them.”

A member of the Army’s 5th Infantry Battalion was wounded during the firefight with DI-MG.

The soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, an M4 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, a rocket-propelled grenade, hand grenades, blasting caps, ammunition, and two flags of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

These minors are being called "child fighters" but their ages have not been disclosed.  That means they could be anywhere between 17 and 1. It only serves to make the public hate the Maute Group even more because they have recruited child fighters even if that "child" is 17 years old. It's great propaganda though. 

During the 20205 State of the Nation Address President Marcos declared there are no more guerrilla groups left in the country. Members of these non-existent groups continue to clash with the NPA and kill soldiers. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2095030/3-soldiers-killed-in-clash-with-npa-in-oriental-mindoro

Three Philippine Army personnel, including an officer with a rank of captain, were killed in an encounter with  New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Baco, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday.

Initial police reports said that the encounter occurred in Sitio (sub-village) Lantuyan, Barangay (village) Dulangan 2 at around  6:00 a.m. after members of the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army went to the area acting on reports of communist rebels’ presence in the area.

The fatalities were identified by the police as Captain Marky John O. Alberto, Corporal Charlie P. Legaspi and Private Julian R. Oracion of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.  

The firefight lasted for more than an hour before the NPA rebels retreated, leaving behind personal paraphernalia and documents, the military said in a separate initial report.

Military operations continued to track the NPA members, the police said.

This attack prompted Sara Duterte to pipe up to condemn the attack and claim her father "succeeded agains the insurgency."

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/13/3-soldiers-slain-in-mindoro-clash-shows-insurgency-remains-a-threatvp-sara

Vice President Sara Duterte warned Filipinos against the threats of insurgency and urged them to strengthen their communities’ response against it after three soldiers of the Philippine Army were killed in a recent clash with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Baco, Oriental Mindoro.

In a statement, the Vice President issued a stern warning against the rebirth of insurgency in the country, which she claimed is now imbedded in government and academic institutions.

“The deaths of our soldiers in the hands of the terrorist NPA is a reminder of the dangers of insurgency,” she said on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Captain Marky John Alberto, Corporal Charlie Legaspi, and Private Julian Oracion of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment were killed on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in an encounter with NPA rebels after they went to Barangay Lantuyang to act on reports of communist rebels’ presence in the area.

“The administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte succeeded against insurgency but we know that the poison of the terrorist group has reached government institutions and schools from where they get their new recruits,” Duterte added.

By condemning the NPA and calling it a plague to society, the Vice President also asked all Filipinos who dream of living righteously and peacefully to do the same.

“Let us not let the sacrifices of our soldiers go to waste. Let us strengthen our communities against insurgency and terrorism,” she said. 

“Let us always remember that our freedom relies on peace and order. And true progress of our country will be born from this,” Duterte added.

however, the insurgency has not been reborn. It has simply not gone away nor did the her Father's administration "succeed against the insurgency." The AFP continues to fight the NPA. AFP Chief Brawner visited the troops in Mindoro after the attack and promised them the insurgency is close to ending. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256635

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said the military is close to its goal of ending the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.

During his visit to the 203rd Infantry Brigade in Oriental Mindoro Thursday, Brawner honored the courage and resolve of troops involved in recent encounters with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the province.

"We can win this fight,” Brawner told the troops, according to an AFP statement late Thursday.

He noted that an agreement is set to be signed soon that will end the insurgency.

"A framework agreement will be signed soon where it is stipulated that the NPA will cease with their armed rebellion -- what we are wishing for for peace," he said.

Brawner also touted the military's recent gains against the NPA, such as the Aug. 8 surrender of 189 rebels and turnover of 72 firearms and explosives in Quezon and Bukidnon; turnover of 49 loose firearms in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte; and the July 27 neutralization of seven NPA members and the seizure of several weapons in Uson, Masbate.

If there are no more guerrilla groups and no more leaders as Marcos and the AFP claim, then who will be signing such an agreement?  This agreement has seemingly come out of nowhere at just the right time. 

Meanwhile, in Samar local executives of NPA hotbeds have renounced the rebels. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256334

Local officials in the town of San Jose de Buan, historically known as a hotbed of communist rebel activity in Samar, have signed a document renouncing support for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

According to the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion (IB), the signing of the affidavit of commitment during the 2025 Local Peace Engagement forum on Monday is a powerful display of unity and commitment to lasting peace.

“This forum is not just an event; it’s a movement. San Jose de Buan stands firm in its mission to build resilient, insurgency-free communities through dialogue, trust, and genuine collaboration,” the army unit said in a statement on Tuesday.

Local officials from the town’s 14 villages and five sitios (sub-villages), youth council members, and village watchmen joined the forum to push the government’s peace agenda and strengthen the whole-of-nation approach against local communist armed conflict.

“My appeal to the remaining NPA members is to surrender for them to avail [of] amnesty. There’s no future if you continue to embrace the communist ideology. The local government is ready to help you,” San Jose de Buan Vice Mayor Joaquin Elizalde said in a video message shared by the 87th IB.

San Jose de Buan, a fourth-class municipality with a population of nearly 8,000, is one of the NPA’s strongholds in Samar Island, considering its strategic location within the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern, and Samar provinces.

The most recent clash in the town was on June 9, when government forces seized five firearms from NPA rebels in Can-aponte village.

Although the town has historically been considered an NPA hotbed, recent developments indicate a shift toward peace and reintegration efforts.

Among the government initiatives that encourage rebels to abandon the armed struggle are the local integration program and housing project for surrenderers.

San Jose de Buan is called an NPA stronghold and hotbed but the AFP does not offer a number on how many rebels remain. With the last clash being June 9th, and with the AFP's insistence there is no leadership it can't be many.