Coronavirus Lockdown: Alert Level 0, Full Blown Audit, and More!

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

Despite wanting Marcos to renew the state of emergency so they can procure vaccines the DOH is now eyeing a COVID-19 alert level 0.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/15/2245071/doh-eyes-covid-19-alert-level-o

As things start getting back to normal, the Department of Health (DOH) has entertained the possibility of adopting an Alert Level 0 in the country’s existing alert level system for its COVID-19 response.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are looking at reviving talks on imposing an Alert Level 0 with the continued improvement of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

“We are recognizing the fact that we can reach that point that there is no alert level and everything is at that normal stage,” Vergeire said yesterday at a press conference.

It was in March 2022 when the DOH thought of introducing Alert Level 0 as a way to further deescalate from Alert Level 1. The DOH, however, decided to just maintain Alert Level 1 until the end of the Duterte administration.

Based on the latest COVID-19 trend, the DOH noted that all areas have started to show plateauing of cases in recent days, while severe/critical hospital admissions are still on downward trend for several weeks.

“Once we are no longer seeing risks or threats, of course, our alert would be at the lower most level,” said Vergeire.

She noted though, that having an Alert Level 0 should not mean that there is no more need for any health protocols or safeguards because the transmission of COVID-19 and its variants and subvariants remains possible.

Alert level 0? What's the point if there is no threat? Why have an alert level when there is nothing for which to be alert?

 Pasay City has received an award for ensuring road user safety during the pandemic. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1730189/pasay-city-gets-award-for-ensuring-road-user-safety-during-pandemic

The Pasay City government received an award for guaranteeing “road user” safety during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.

The local government on Wednesday announced that Pasay City bagged the Magiting na Lingkod Award from the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT).

“We should keep moving forward and towards our everyday goals. All of us made a big part of something larger than ourselves. We did not let the global pandemic stop us,” Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said in her message relayed by her chief of staff Peter Eric Pardo.

“Through your dedication, perseverance, strong presence, and resilience, this recognition showed our unity and kind-hearted citizens of our beloved city,” she added.

Pardo received the award, on behalf of the mayor, at the MAAX Auditorium in the SM Mall of Asia Complex on Monday, February 13. Charlie Apolinario Del Rosario, IACT chief, presented the award.

The IACT acknowledged the city’s performance and invaluable contribution amid the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring the safety and security of Filipino road users.

Rubiano shared her recognition with her constituents and Pasay City officials – from the barangay level to the highest in command.

It is not clear exactly how Pasay City ensured road user safety during the pandemic but it might have to do with everyone being required to stay at home plus the many road blocks. But if that is the case then the entire nation should receive such an award. 

The DOH is talking about alert level 0 but Senator Bong Go says we must be alert against the variant known as "Kraken."

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/17/bong-go-urges-pinoys-to-be-vigilant-vs-covid-19-variant-kraken/

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has renewed his call for fellow Filipinos to be vigilant and to strictly adhere to the government’s minimum health protocols following the discovery of a new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, also known as “Kraken,” in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH), last week, said it is now keeping an eye on the said “Kraken” subvariant, after it detected two new cases of Omicron in the Philippines, raising the tally to three.

Go, head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated the importance of being vigilant and being inoculated against Covid-19.

“Right now, it has been reported that the so-called Kraken is a new variant, it has been reported through WHO that a new variant of COVID-19 has been discovered, this is XBB.1.5 (and it) is the most transmissible so far. But it doesn’t cause severe illness so far,” Go said.

“For me, I urge you to get vaccinated because vaccination is the only solution so that we can return to normal life and you are more protected when vaccinated,” he said.

“And if you are already qualified for the booster, get a booster because that is our protection. Let’s fight the vaccine against COVID-19. So whether this variant is transmissible, it is important that we are vaccinated, we are better protected,” he stressed.

The Philippines and South Korea are the only countries in Asia so far that has officially announced domestic cases of “Kraken.”

Who knew "Release the Kraken!" was a real thing? The pandemic has sure changed the world. But there is nothing to worry about with this variant or any of the other new variants.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/17/2245485/xbf-subvariant-unlikely-cause-covid-19-surge

The new Omicron subvariant XBF is not expected to cause a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

“Hopefully, there will be no increase in our (COVID-19) cases especially because of the country’s high vaccine coverage now. We will be monitoring this... It looks like we are protected against severe diseases because of our vaccines,” Salvaña said.

The expert still advised the public to continuously comply with the minimum health protocols like wearing masks to avoid the virus. 

He also encouraged the public to update their respective vaccination status by getting booster doses.

“If we want additional protection, continue to wear masks and get the bivalent vaccines, once it becomes available, especially for the most vulnerable population,” Salvaña added.

The health expert likewise stressed the importance of using all the layers of protection available to avoid a surge in COVID cases. 

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) reported the country’s first case of Omicron subvariant XBF.

Is it unlikely to cause a surge because people have been vaccinated or because it is not highly transmissible? Either way there is no hint that if there is a surge deaths will increase. 

The University of the Philippines has resumed the oblation run after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic. 

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1731559/up-oblation-run-resumes-after-a-3-year-hiatus

After a three-year halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oblation Run returned to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on Friday with the theme “Sama-sama tayong babaon muli,” which derives from a wordplay on President Marcos’ slogan “Babangon Muli,” demanding accountability from the government. Around 15 members of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity (APO) ran naked around the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Hall with masks concealing their identities while carrying protest placards.

“It seems like the new regime of Bongbong Marcos Jr. is a sequel to the Marcos Sr. regime: the inflation of basic needs, weakening of peso versus dollar and the rising foreign debts,” the fraternity said in a statement.

A group of fraternity brothers running around campus naked carrying protest placards is not going to help the economy but it's a sign of a return to normality I guess. 

An accouting of just how much the government spent on COVID-19 vaccines has yet to manifest.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195603

Senator Francis Escudero on Monday called for a full blown audit of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine expenditures saying the public has the right to know all pandemic-era vaccine purchases.

Escudero noted that the total amount spent could not be determined as he also doubts if the so-called “non-disclosure agreement” (NDA) that the government had signed with vaccine manufacturers prior to the sale could be used as an excuse to hide procurement details.

“The NDA goes against Section 6 (the transparency clause) of Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which requires the publication of the approved budget of contract and the amount of contract awarded on vaccine purchases,” he said.

"Millions of vaccine shots have unfortunately expired. But what does not go stale is the responsibility to disclose the details of the billions spent for them," Escudero said. "The vaccines do not carry an immunity from accountability."

He describe the NDA as a “new breed of an excuse” to evade accountability "and it should be stopped."

As such, the Bicolano senator urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to subpoena documents and the Department of Health (DOH) and other agencies served to comply.

It was reported that out of the 245 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines that the government had bought or received for free, some 44 million had expired by end of 2022.

“Until now, there are no price list of Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer and other vaccines. And yet, we fine small grocery stores for not complying with the price tag law. Stores who don’t have price tags of sardines, were fined, but in the case of vaccines, no actions taken," Escudero said.

Given how corrupt the Philippine government is the amount spent will likley not be shocking. 

COVID cases are down.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195663

The country’s daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 19 percent from Feb. 13 to 19, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.

In the latest DOH case bulletin, daily infections decreased to 128 in the recent week from 157 infections from Feb. 6 to 12.

The DOH also reported 895 new cases and 74 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, four occurred from Feb. 6 to 19.

To date, the country has logged over 4.07 million coronavirus cases and more than 66,021 fatalities.

In the past three years only 4 million people out of a population of 110 million have been infected and pnly 66,000 people have died. Those numbers are abysmally low for a virus that they want us to fear,

The God Culture: More Lies About Elephants in the Philippines

At a recent conference The God Culture, Timothy Jay Schwab, spouted off more incredible lies about the existence of elephants in the Philippines. 

https://www.facebook.com/sabbathbc.congregation/videos/848713996196488

4:12:19 Are there elephants in the Philippines? Did you see any elephants on your way here today? Were there any elephants out there dancing with their tribes this morning? Naw, no elephants in the Philippines. Not today, not today. But in Solomon's time absolutely 100%. Now, do you know why we know that? Because of Kalinga. Because you have archeology that proves ancient elephant bones have been found and they pre-date history. You had elephants in this nation all along. They went extinct, again, the fault of the Spanish because they were in charge in the 16th century, 17th century sometime around then. But even then Father Alcino drew pictures of elephants that he saw in that time.    

Even Pigafetta in his journal when Magellan came in 1521 tells you he saw elephants in at least three different islands. They were here. Now, academia will then come along and tell you guys when you go to school  you guys when you go to school, "Well that's because the Sultanate of Sulu, uh, brought 600 elephants to the Philippines." Ok, that's a true statement and a complete absolute lie all at once and this is the trick.

Yes, he brought them to one island the island of Jolo and that's it. Those 600 elephants were there and we can track them. Those elephants then were taken to Sabah, to the kingdom of Sabah. Now, some may have stayed on Jolo but still, why are we finding them in Kalinga?   And the ones in Kalinga are older than the 1300's when the Sultanate of Sulu lifted.

There are three lies in this excerpt from Tim's presentation. Let's take them one-by-one.

1. In King Solomon's time there were Elephants in the Philippines

The whole point of even mentioning elephants being in the Philippines is because the Bible tells us King Solomon's fleet brought back ivory from Tarshish and Tim believes the Philippines is Tarshish as well as Ophir.  In fact he says quite clearly that is Ophir and Tarshish are the same area.

4:20:17 Ophir, Tarshish, Sheba are the same area

Luzon is Ophir and Mindanao is Tarshish.

Where is Tarshish? Mindanao, Philippines. This is the Philippines.

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 91

That means what Tim has to prove is not the mere existence of elephants in the Philippines during the time of King Solomon. He has to prove there was a bustling trade in Philippine ivory. This he does not do. He is very quick to show his audience samples of Filipino gold work but not once has he shown any Filipino ivory work which dates to the time of Solomon or earlier. Instead his proof that Solomon's navy sailed all the way to the Philippines for ivory are the bones of prehistoric elephants. 

4:28:26 Ok, uh elephants. By the way not just Kalinga but also Apyao, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Panay, Palawan. You got some found in Cebu, actually buffalo but same thing they have ivory in their horns and uh also in Mindoro. And then you have Davao, and, uh, Jolo, which they should be found in Jolo, that's the history, that's ok. But even Stegodon the giant dinosaur elephant has been found in the Philippines. Both in Manila at Fort Bonifacio as well as down in Davao. So, ivory in the Philippines? Absolutely. Pre-historic times. 100% 

Pre-historic times? You gotta be kidding me! Tim is using the bones of pre-historic elephants, elephant dinosaurs even, as proof that King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines regularly to trade for ivory. But all those animals were dead long before they arrived! Suffice to say ancient, pre-historic fossils are no proof that there were elephants in the Philippines during the time of Solomon or that his navy sailed to the Philippines for ivory. 

2. Jesuit Father Alcina Drew Pictures of Elephants in the Philippines

In his book Solomon's Treasure Tim mentions Father Alcina on page 100.

Elephants were still roaming the Philippines in the 17th century according to Jesuit Ignacio Francisco Alcino in his multivolume “Historia de las islas e indios de Bisayas” (1668) in which their “ivory was used for bracelets, ear pendants, daggers and sword hilts, and even jewelry boxes” at that time.

Solomon's Treasure, pg 100

Elephants were still roaming the Philippines in the 17th century? That is actually what Tim's source says though his source is not Alcina's book but an OPINION column by Philippine historian Ambeth Ocampo.

It seems that elephants roamed the Philippines not just in prehistoric times but as late as the 17th century, as described by the Jesuit Ignacio Francisco Alcina in his multivolume “Historia de las islas e indios de Bisayas” (1668) as a “torre de carne” (tower of flesh) that some Christian saints referred to as “Goliath” because of the size. 

Alcina noted that the Visayan word for elephant was “gadya,” and that the ivory (“garing” in Tagalog, hence one of the attributes of the Virgin Mary, “Tower of Ivory,” is “Torre ng Garing”) was used for bracelets, ear pendants, daggers and sword hilts, and even jewelry boxes.

According to Alcina, elephants were not to be found in the Visayas but in Jolo.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/75278/a-jesuit-elephant-in-17th-century-manila

Can it really be said elephants were roaming the Philippines when they were not to be found in the Visayas? Ocampo is most certainly using hyperbole to describe Alcina's description of elephants and even adds the qualifier "it seems" while Tim gives the impression the Philippines was full of elephants in the 1600's. In fact he accuses the Spanish of causing Philippine elephants to go extinct! Where is the proof of that? He has none of course!

Ocampo also mentions nothing about Alcina making any drawing of elephants. So where does Tim get this idea that Alcina drew pictures of elephants? He does not cite from Alcina and wrongly calls him Alcino. Is that the work of a man doing in-depth research? Is that the work of a TEAM doing in-depth research? Surely if there was actually a The God Culture team one of the members would have been tasked with finding Alcino's book which is available in a 3 volume hardcopy set from UST. Well it didn't happen because there is no The God Culture team. It's Timothy Jay Schwab all by himself. What a joke that Tim's "monumental case for the Philippines no one can disprove" is an OPINION column and not the actual primary source. 

Alcina's History of the Bisayas is not fully available online and I do not have access to a hardcopy but it appears he did draw a picture of an elephant.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/elmer_ng_pateros/2240871483/in/photostream/

However seeing as not only did Tim not include this picture in his book or his presentation but also Alcina's History of the Bisayas does not prove King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines to trade for ivory all of this is impertinent. The lie here is that the testimony of Alcina means anything for Tim's "monumental case for the Philippines no one can disprove" when it absolutely does not. 

3. Pigafetta Saw Elephants on Three Islands in the Philippines

The third and most stupid lie here is Tim's claim that Antonio Pigafetta saw elephants on three islands.  In his book Tim tells us only that Pigafetta saw elephants in the Philippines. 

Even history agrees as in 1521, Pigafetta witnessed elephants as he mentioned them multiple times especially in Palawan.

“When we arrived at the city (Palawan), we were obliged to wait about two hours in the prahu, until there came thither two elephants covered with silk...” –Pigafetta, 1521

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 102

But now he tells us he saw them on THREE islands. See how the lie has now been embellished?

The fact is he did not see any elephants in the Philippines whatsoever. Pigafetta does not mention seeing elephants until after leaving Palawan and going South West to Borneo. Tim falsely inserts Palawan as the name of the city which completely contradicts Pigafetta. 

Section 110: Going from Palaoan towards the South-west, after a run of ten leagues, we reached another island.

Section 111: When we arrived at the city, we were obliged to wait about two hours in the prahu, until there came thither two elephants covered with silk, and twelve men, each of whom carried a porcelain vase covered with silk, for conveying and wrapping up our presents. We mounted the elephants, and those twelve men preceded us, carrying the vases with our presents

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_First_Voyage_Round_the_World/Pigafetta%27s_Account_of_Magellan%27s_Voyage

It's simply a straight up lie to say that Pigafetta saw elephants in the Philippines when he very clearly did not. But even if he did see elephants that does not prove that King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines to trade for ivory or that Filipinos circumnavigated Africa for 1,000 years to trade with Greeks and Israelites as Tim claims. 

These false claims about elephants in the Philippines form a core part of Tim's argument for the Philippines being Tarshish and Ophir. He calls this part of his "resource test" and he acts like he is the only one who has ever made this test. Samuel Purchas, a historian Tim absolutely despises and slanders, did this same test and came out with India as the winner. Even Tim claims India has all the resources of Ophir. But Ophir is not Tarshish and the ivory came from Tarshish. It is very clear from the Bible that Tarshish and Ophir are not the same region or place and that Tarshish is to the west of Israel somewhere within the Mediterranean basin. 

Despite wherever Tarshish was located the fact remains The God Culture, Timothy Jay Schwab, continues to lie about elephants in the Philippines. 

Insurgency: NPA's Terrorist Tag Justified

After President Marcos inked a deal with the USA to allow more EDCA sites there was been outrage from several quarters. His sister, Senator Imee Marcos, brought up her father's old self-reliant program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195080

Senator Imee Marcos suggested on Monday to revive the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Program initiated in 1974 by her father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Senator Marcos made the statement after a consultation over the weekend with the Western Mindanao Command about the idea of reviving the SRDP which she said enabled the country’s self-reliance in national defense.

This, after the announcement of the Department of National Defense and the United States' Department of Defense of establishing four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites and another agreement for stronger defense cooperation with Japan.

“Scale down our dependence on foreign goodwill in the sticky web of geopolitics,” Marcos said in her statement.

“Thailand now customizes rifles that are slimmer and lighter for its soldiers, while Vietnam can now manufacture anti-surface warfare missiles. How far have we gone?” she added.

During its time, Marcos recalled the country's SRDP was already producing M-16 rifles under license, steel helmets, hand grenades and other ammunition, handheld radios, and Jiffy jeeps.

"It also created jobs and minimized foreign spending. There’s no question about Filipino capability, but we must revive the SRDP now,” the senator said.

This proposal sounds patriotic and obvious but just goes to show how bereft of sense and naive Imee Marcos really is. Like it or not the Philippines is a firm part of the world order so there is no getting out of "the sticky web of geopolitics." That means military alliances with neighboring nations are necessary especially when China has been courting war for the past decade. 

Let's face it, the Philippine military is not the best it can be. After all there is a 53 year communist insurgency taking place.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195167

The 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) of the Philippine Army is keeping a close watch on at least four towns in Negros Oriental that are still affected by communist insurgency with relentless operations underway, a military official said on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commanding officer of the 94IB, told the Philippine News Agency that the four municipalities are Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy and Manjuyod.

“Bindoy and Manjuyod have the strongest supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) that is why we have to sustain our operations there without let-up,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.

Almonte said some of their activities include visiting former rebels and former supporters to ensure that they will not be influenced and recruited back into the underground movement.

The Army commander also noted that one of the three rebels who died in the Feb. 4 and 5 encounters with NPAs in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental province was from Barangay Tanglad, Tayasan town.

Barangay Tanglad is known to have some residents still active in the NPA, he noted.

He said this is an indication that there are still members of the NPA’s guerrilla front operating in central Negros that come from the Oriental side of the island.

Three barangays in Ayungon, one in Bindoy, and one in Manjuyod are listed as priority areas under the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) under the government’s whole-of-nation approach.

Meanwhile, Almonte said NPA forces in his area of jurisdiction are “dwindling”, meaning, “their strength is negligible and their firepower suffered successive setbacks” following encounters with government troops since last year.

If the NPA are dwindling in Negros they are still active elsewhere. In Capiz City the army foiled an extortion attempt. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195509

The timely information provided by concerned citizens from the municipality of Dumalag in Capiz has prevented the alleged extortion activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the mountainous barangay of Duran on Friday.

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army’s Visayas Command, said the vigilance exercised by residents in providing information was very helpful in their anti-insurgency efforts.

“Their fervent desire for a CPP-NPA-free community drives us to employ legitimate military force against these communist-terrorists to stop them from threatening our people's safety and well-being," he said in a statement released by the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The Division Public Affairs Office, in the same statement, showed the 12th Infantry Battalion has received information about the presence of the armed group in the area prompting them to conduct a security patrol together with the Philippine National Police.

“Upon reaching the area, the troops encountered more or less five fully-armed members of the CPP-NPA terrorist believed to be members of Central Front,” it said.

A five-minute firefight ensued before the rebels fled toward the southeast. No one was hurt in the brief gun battle among the government troopers but bloodstains were found along the NPAs' withdrawal route.

A homemade 12-gauge shotgun, one .45-caliber pistol, two anti-personnel mines with detonator switches, one hand grenade, five magazines for M16 rifle, two magazines for .45 caliber, assorted live ammunition, personal belongings, assorted medicine and subversive documents were recovered in the encounter site after the estimated five-minute exchange of fire.

In Albay reports of NPA extortion activities lead to a 30 minute firefight and a soldier dead from a land mine. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195349

A soldier died while three others were wounded on Wednesday when the New People's Army (NPA) detonated anti-personnel mines in Barangay Ramay in Oas, Albay.

Capt. Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief, said the incident occurred around 9 a.m. after the 49th Infantry Battalion received a report regarding an extortion activity.

"The report said the terrorist group was conducting extortion in a construction project. Upon reaching the area, there was a blast of anti-personnel mine (APM) from the communist terrorist group (CTG) that caused the immediate demise of 2Lt. Nico Malcampo and injured three other soldiers," Roldan said in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

He said after the explosion, a 30-minute firefight ensued between the government troops and the rebels, resulting in the killing of a CTG member and the recovery of three high-powered firearms.

"As to the three injured soldiers, one of them is in stable condition while the two soldiers need to go for medical operations," Roldan added.

The AFP says the NPA's continued use of landmines justifies them being tagged as terrorists. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195443

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the New People's Army’s (NPA) continued use of anti-personnel mines (APMs), which recently killed a young soldier and wounded three others in Albay, justifies their tagging as a terrorist organization.

"The CTG’s (communist terrorist group) persistent use of APM that is banned under the International Humanitarian Law cements their status as a terrorist organization," AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement late Thursday.

The NPA’s continued use of APMs poses a huge security threat to everyone as it could cause crippling injuries or even death, Aguilar said.

"The CTG use of APM poses a threat to the limbs and lives of people. With this incident, the AFP, in partnership with other government agencies through the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict), will not stop until we have eliminated this threat," he added.

Eliminating the threat of the NPA includes arresting them. 62 were arrested during the past 3 months  in Caraga. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195140

Sixty-two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and 1,118 wanted persons—206 of whom are classified as most wanted—were arrested during intensified police operations from Nov. 2, 2022 to Feb. 13 this year.

Data provided by the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) on Tuesday indicated that aside from the arrest of 62 NPA insurgents, 148 other guerrillas also surrendered to the different police field units in the region.

“The period also marked the first 100 days in the office of PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II who assumed his post last Nov. 2,” said Maj. Jennifer Ometer,“ PRO-13 information office chief, in an interview.

In the same period, 319 firearms were also surrendered to the police while 34 others were confiscated in the intensified campaign against loose firearms.

Fighting the insurgency also means providing basic government services in insurgency affected areas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195493

The Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC) will resume holding the "Dagyawan Sa Barangay: Talakayan sa Mamamayan" and Caravan on Basic Services (Serbisyo Caravan) in seven villages in Negros Oriental tagged as still affected by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Farah Diba Gentuya said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency that the Dagyawan/Serbisyo Caravan will bring together all government agencies in a whole-of-nation approach to listen to and address the needs of these barangays.

“This is part of government’s efforts to sustain programs and projects to alleviate the plight of villagers who are still confronted with the communist insurgency problem and this year, we will be going to the barangays instead of the usual town hall meetings,” Gentuya said.

The Philippine Army has cleared these new barangays for inclusion in the RCSP, one of the government’s mechanisms in the national TF-ELCAC program implementation in conflict-affected areas.

Negros Oriental now has a total of 46 barangays listed under the ELCAC program.

If providing basic government services will end the insurgency then it's a safe bet to assume that if those services had been provided before the insurgency began then it could have been prevented. 

This is Why the PNP will NEVER win the War on Corrupt Cops

The PNP will never win the war on corrupt cops. The problem is manifold and does not rest on the shoulders of corrupt cops alone. How would they be able to operate without the PNP being as it is? Here are two stories that exemplify this fact. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193512

A former regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) accused of being involved in illegal drugs surrendered on Wednesday to the Philippine National Police regional office here.

Tagged as a high-value target, Erwin Ogario, former PDEA-National Capital Region (NCR) head, showed up at the office of PNP regional director Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil after receiving death threats.

“He showed up since he has been getting death threats. We just found out that he has a warrant of arrest issued by a court in Quezon City. His voluntary surrender manifests his trust and confidence in our system and leadership,” Marbil told reporters.

Marbil handcuffed Ogario after the reading of his warrant of arrest. After booking procedures, he will be turned over to the Quezon City court.

Ogario is facing charges over the importation of dangerous drugs violating Section 4, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Judge Elvira Panganiban of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 227 issued an arrest warrant against Ogario on Jan. 3, 2019.

Marbil said Ogario recently stayed with his family in Eastern Samar province.

Marbil had a meeting with Ogario between 2014 and 2015 when the latter was the PDEA Region 13 director and the former was the Agusan del Norte police provincial director.

Ogario was the PDEA regional director of NCR when he was dismissed from service in 2017 as part of the agency’s internal cleansing efforts.

He was held liable for obstruction of justice for facilitating the release of an arrested drug importer after claiming a parcel containing 1,358 ecstasy tablets at a post office in Pasay on June 29, 2015, without filing any criminal charge against the suspect.

In 2021, former President Rodrigo Duterte tagged Ogario as one of the PDEA officials who accepted bribes from arrested drug personalities to facilitate their release from detention and the dismissal of cases filed against them. 

Erwin Ogario, former PDEA-National Capital Region (NCR) head, is undoubtedly a bad dude. He has been involved in the drug trade. In 2021 he was tagged by Duterte. In 2019 an arrest warrant was set against him by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 227.

Yet we are to believe the PNP just now found out about this warrant of arrest when the man surrendered? And where has he been all this time? Living safe and sound with his family in Eastern Samar! The only reason he surrendered is because he, allegedly, received death threats. But by whom? Normal citizens? Or perhaps cops in the know whom he worked with in the illegal drug trade? Either way this story is not believable. It is not believable that the PNP did not know he had a warrant of arrest until he showed up UNLESS the court system is that incompetent or someone hid the information. 

This second story is directly related to the recent call for top PNP brass to submit courtesy resignations. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193551

The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has recommended the dismissal from the service of a police sergeant who was arrested in an operation that yielded PHP6.7 billion worth of shabu in Manila in October last year.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they have submitted to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management on Jan. 9 the recommendation to dismiss Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit in the National Capital Region.

"It is now upon the discretion of the Chief PNP (Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.), whether he will uphold or reverse the decision. We respect that," he said in a phone interview with reporters.

Triambulo said Mayo's benefits would be forfeited, his eligibility will be revoked and he will be perpetually disqualified from holding any other government posts once he is dismissed from the service.

Azurin, meanwhile, said he has yet to read the copy of the IAS' recommendation.

"For as long as they (IAS) have the recommendation, the result of the investigation is already for my approval. We will still have to check if the recommended punishment is appropriate for the supposed offense he (May) had committed," Azurin said on the sidelines of the National Day of Remembrance for the 44 PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos at Camp Crame.

Reacting to the report that Mayo did not submit a counter-affidavit during the IAS probe, Azurin said it was tantamount to waiving all his rights in the investigation.

"So we cannot fault whatever the recommendation of the IAS because they are investigating an administrative case. I think it is Sgt. Mayo's fault that he did not submit any counter-affidavit," he said.

He said the investigation as to who ordered the return of Mayo to PDEG is ongoing.

Mayo was arrested on Oct. 8 a few hours after the discovery of 990 kilos of shabu inside a lending company in Quiapo, Manila which he allegedly owns.

Mayo’s arrest prompted an investigation which, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said, revealed that some high-ranking police officials were involved in the illegal drugs trade.

This prompted Abalos to call on police colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignations.

So, this cop was arrested on October 8th "after the discovery of 990 kilos of shabu inside a lending company in Quiapo, Manila which he allegedly owns" and yet somebody allowed him to return to the PDEG. Meanwhile his arrest is what prompted DILG Secretary Abalos to demand, no mistake it was a demand, all the PNP top brass to submit their courtesy resignations. 

EXECPT no less than President Marcos said this was his plan all along since the campaign!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1713392/weeding-out-ninja-cops-part-of-new-drug-war-approach

Marcos was first asked if he had greenlighted the appeal of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for all police colonels and generals to tender their courtesy resignation in a bid to purge the Philippine National Police (PNP) of any link to the illegal drug syndicates.

“We have been planning this for a while. Let me be very clear. Remember, during the campaign, when I was being asked about what I will do for the drug war or the drug problem. This is it. We approach it in an entirely different way,” he told reporters.

Marcos said this was part of their efforts to cleanse the police ranks and ensure that the officers who remain in service are not involved with criminal drug syndicates.

"We know that the drugs will not be a problem if syndicates are not allied with some people in the police force. That’s why we must thoroughly look into who is good and involved. Who are really involved? And who will no longer be allowed to return to the service because of their association with drug lords?" he added.

Marcos reiterated that a committee will be formed to review the records of the police officers, and those cleared will be “slowly reinstated.”

“And maybe, we’ll have to decide: What do we do with those implicated to be involved in the drug trade? So we’ll see first. Maybe we’ll file cases against those with severe cases. We’re not yet there,” he added.

Marcos underscored the need to mount sufficient evidence against drug-involved PNP officers before filing a case before the court.

"Speculations and gossip about who is involved here and who is involved there, we’ve gone through that. It didn’t work, so we need to make sure that if we’re going to be filing cases, we’ll win them and really put those proven to be involved in the drug trade behind bars."

While an investigation is underway into whether police personnel have ties with illegal drug syndicates, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and PNP director General Abalos have said that all PNP colonels and generals are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities as usual.

Why will the PNP never end the war on corrupt cops? Because the system is set up to protect them. Remember the cop who pulled his gun on some students and the parents wanted to press charges? Remember the PNP told them he was a good man and they should drop the charges in the spirit of Christmas? They did that because the PNP does not take corruption seriously enough. 

Retards in the Government 297

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

  

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1728498/another-cop-2-others-fall-in-calamba-city-drug-bust

Another policeman was collared early Saturday, Feb. 11, along with his two associates in a drug buy-bust operation in Calamba City, Laguna.

Police arrested at 12:37 a.m. Staff Sergeant Benhur Verdera, chief warrant officer at Liliw town police station; Kevin John Ballos; and Alejandro Mane, after they sold shabu worth P1,000 to a poseur buyer in Barangay 1.

Authorities confiscated from the suspects three plastic sachets of shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P40,800. Also seized were Verdera’s police identification card and loaded service firearm.

The police classified Verdera as a “high-value individual” in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, while Balllos and Mane were identified drug pushers in the city.

The suspects were detained and are facing a complaint for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

Another cop has been busted for drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194975

A village official was killed while two others, including his wife, were injured in an attack in an upland village here, the police reported on Saturday.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, identified the fatality as Barangay Tolosa Councilor Mark Ryan Rodriguez, 29.

Tolosa’s wife, Anni, 32, and their driver, Jomel Mendoza, were hurt.

Lorenzo said the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. Friday in the village located 23 kilometers east of the city hall.

Police investigation showed Rodriguez and his family were having dinner outside their house when two unidentified gunmen on separate motorcycles repeatedly shot the victims and sped off.

Rodriguez was pronounced dead at around 10:07 p.m.

Another village councilor has been assassinated. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194985

A soldier ran amok and shot four of his fellow soldiers dead inside the 4th Infantry Division headquarters in Barangay Patag here early Saturday.

Police identified the fatalities as Private Joseph Tamayo, Patrolman First Class Prince Kevin Balaba, Sgt. Rogelio Rojo, Cpl. Bernardo Rodrigo, as well as the suspected shooter, Private Johmar Villabito.

Another soldier identified as Staff Sgt. Braulio Macalos Jr. was also wounded in the shooting but is now out of danger.

Initial reports said Villabito “shot the victims without any apparent and justifiable reason using an M16”. The incident happened at around 1:10 a.m. when the victims were asleep inside their barracks at the Service Support Battalion (SSBN) unit.

A certain Pvt. Mark Anthony Aguined and Pfc Joseph Estrada engaged the suspect and shot him dead, said Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., 4ID spokesperson.

Garello said the suspect initially attacked his roommate and went to five other rooms and started shooting.

The 4ID is still currently gathering other information from the witnesses to establish the motive of the shooting.

A solider ran amok and killed several of his colleagues. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1729100/town-councilor-in-nueva-ecija-found-dead-inside-car

A member of the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) in Sto. Domingo town was found dead early Sunday, Feb. 12, inside her vehicle in Barangay Maturanoc in this town, police said.

The police identified the victim as Councilor Angelique Alexis “Angge” Paulino, 33, a resident of Sto. Domingo’s Barangay Sto. Rosario.

Paulino was Sto. Domingo’s number one councilor and chaired the committees on ways and means and the market.

Initial investigations showed that the victim suffered multiple bullet wounds. She was heading to a high school reunion at the time of her death.

Paulino was a language and literature graduate of the University of the Philippines-Baguio.

Policemen were running after the culprit, who was reportedly “close” to the victim, sources said. 

A town councilor has been assassinated. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195117

A municipal election officer in Maguindanao del Sur died in an ambush Monday in Lambayong town, Sultan Kudarat province, police said.

Capt. Jetro Doligas, Lambayong municipal police chief, said Haviv Macabangen Maindan, municipal election officer of Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao del Sur province, was driving his vehicle when ambushed in Barangay Pingguiaman, Lambayong, by motorcycle-riding gunmen at around 2 p.m.

“He was going home on board his silver gray Toyota Fortuner (LFX-553) going to Lambayong from his office in Sultan sa Barongis when fired upon,” Doligas said in a radio interview, adding that the victim died on the spot.

He said the victim’s vehicle then swerved towards a swampy section of the roadside just beside an irrigation canal following the ambush.

Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Allandatu Angas said he was saddened by the death of the election official, whom he described as a dedicated servant.

Doligas said the investigation is still ongoing.

A municipal election officer has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1729725/cop-nabbed-over-killing-of-town-councilor-in-nueva-ecija

A policeman in La Union province was arrested after he was tagged in the killing of a councilor of Sto. Domingo town in this province, authorities said Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Patrolman Saddam Pascual, 32, was arrested around 1 a.m. on Monday in Barangay Sicsican, Talavera town, also in Nueva Ecija, according to Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas, Guimba police chief.

Pascual was arrested during a hot pursuit operation following the killing of Councilor Angelique Alexis Paulino, 33, a resident of Barangay Sto. Rosario in Sto. Domingo.

While there was no security camera on the crime scene, Macabitas said footage from other security cameras near the place and up to Rosales town in Pangasinan province, corroborated the testimonies of eyewitnesses that the suspect was spotted in the vicinity of the victim’s residence prior to the incident.

Paulino was shot dead while driving her gray sedan on Sunday, investigators said. Her bullet-riddled body was found inside the car that was recovered in Barangay Maturanoc here.

According to the authorities, the suspect was on board a red hatchback car at the time of the killing.

“May mga testigo na bago mangyari ang pamamaril. Nakita mismo yung suspek doon sa vicinity ng bahay ng biktima inside his private car [There are witnesses prior to the shooting. The suspect inside a car was seen in the vicinity of the victim’s house],” Macabitas told the Inquirer.

“Nakita naman namin sa mga CCTV after the incident, nakita namin po yung sasakyan na ginamit mismong yung sasakyan ng suspect [We saw the incident in the CCTV, we saw the suspect’s car],” he added.

An investigation revealed that Pascual and Paulino had been in a relationship for more than five years.

At one point, the suspect allegedly turned jealous, which led to the couple’s split, an initial investigation showed.

Macabitas said they recovered the murder weapon, a .9-mm service pistol.

Apart from the criminal case filed by the local police here, the La Union provincial police office will also file administrative cases against Pascual, Macabitas said. 

A cop has been arrested for killing a town councilor with whom he used to be in a relationship.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/15/three-philippine-police-officers-surrender-over-killing-of-spanish-man/

Three Philippine police officers wanted for the alleged murder of a Spanish businessman in 2020 have turned themselves in to the authorities, the justice ministry said Wednesday. 

Diego Lafuente was shot dead during a police drug operation in General Luna municipality on the southern island of Siargao, a popular surfing and holiday destination.

He was among the many thousands of people killed during the drug war launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte and continued by his successor Ferdinand Marcos. 

Most victims were poor, Filipino men, according to rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating the brutal crackdown for possible crimes against humanity.

Arrest warrants had been issued for the three officers, but they were “nowhere to be found”, the justice ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The officers handed themselves in to authorities on February 9.

State prosecutors had filed charges of murder and planting of evidence against them last March after a review of the case cast doubt on their version of events.

The officers claimed they shot Lafuente in self-defence after he fired a gun at them during a buy-bust operation. 

They were initially given a 60-day suspension from duty over the killing, according to the justice department’s review panel.

Three cops charged with killing a Spanish businessman have turned themselves in.