Monday, March 27, 2023

Hi, my name is...34

So many people causing trouble in the Philippines. I guess this is basically a crime blotter but the crimes are extreme in one way or another. 

Hi, my name is Ariel Limas. On March 1st Sophia Bual, who is ten years old, was walking home from school. After looking around to make sure no one saw me, I quickly snatched her. Her grandfather initially thought his son, her father, was the perpetrator because of a scratch on his arm. But even so why would he think that? They must not have a good home life. Anyway remorse got the better of me and I confessed. Then I led the authorities to the place where I wrapped her in a bag and tossed her into a river. Her remains were hardly recognizable. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196635

The suspect behind the alleged rape-slay of a 10-year-old girl has surrendered to the police in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental after the victim's cadaver was found Saturday dawn.

In a statement, the Claveria Municipal Police Station identified the suspect as Ariel Limas, 28, married and a resident of Sitio Minantang, in the same town.

The police said he admitted to the alleged rape-slay of Sophia Bual, who went missing on March 1.

Initial police investigation showed that the victim was on her way home from school when the suspect snatched her.

The family of the victim sought help from the police and the community, including the local government.

The victim's grandfather, a retired policeman, initially thought that the suspect's father was a person of interest due to a scratch they found on him.

The suspect, however, eventually confessed to the crime and led authorities to the location of the victim.

At the location in Sitio Ban-Ban, Barangay Ane-I, investigators retrieved the cadaver of the victim, who was placed in a sack and submerged in a creek, using rocks to weigh the body down.

The Regional Forensic Unit 10 brought the cadaver to this city subject for autopsy.

Kenneth Bual, the victim's father, thanked the local government, the police, and the community for their help.

"I could hardly recognize my daughter (after the retrieval of her cadaver). I will leave it to God to deal with the one who did this. I hope you will regret what you did to my daughter," the victim's father said.

Hi, my name is Dagul. I asked my wife out for a date on Valentine's Day but instead she called the cops and had me arrested. She said I had threatened her and out children that I would dismember them. She also said she was tired of years of abuse. At the police station I got down on my knees to beg forgiveness but she ignored me. 


https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1953633/cebu/local-news/valentines-day-date-turns-into-a-nightmare-after-husband-lands-in-jail

A VALENTINE’S Day date turned into a nightmare when a 34-year-old man was arrested by police at his wife's request at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 14, in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

The suspect only identified as Dagul, a businessman, was not able to date his wife because he was imprisoned.

Major Kenneth Albotra, chief of Carbon Police Station, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu that the charges have already been filed against the suspect at the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) on Wednesday afternoon, February 15.

Corporal Sandra Villabas, who is assigned at the WCPD of Carbon Police Station, said that the suspect had frequently threatened to kill his wife and their children, especially when he was high on drugs.

On Monday, February 13, Dagul once more threatened his family.

(He would reportedly dismember his wife and kids, who were scared.)

It was learned that the wife has been suffering from abuse for several years.

The wife, who requested for anonymity, immediately called the police and requested for assistance out of concern that her husband would keep his word.

Dagul begged his wife for forgiveness while he was on his knees at the police station, but she ignored him.

Hi, my name is "Mia" and I am a 19 year old woman living in a shed. Why do I live in a shed? Because I have paranoid schizophrenia and this is the only way my parents could handle me. When I was 16 I started skipping school. Then I started self-harming and even hit my mom as she cooked. It's not so bad I guess. There is a small hole where my parents hand me food and even run a hose so I can bathe. They even cut my nails when I stuck my hands out. 

My parents really wanted to get me help but not even the DSWD would give them assistance. But the Baguio General Hospital found out about my case and they took me in and gave me the help I needed. Now I no longer live in a shed.  


https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/862032/why-is-a-19-year-old-woman-in-la-union-locked-up-in-a-small-hut-by-her-family/story/

A 19-year-old woman in La Union has been locked up in a small hut for over a year.

As seen in the latest episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," the hut has no door, is barely enough for one person, and only has small hole that allow "Mia" to put her hands out.

According to her mother, Delia, they used to live in Benguet. There, she noticed a change in her daughter's behavior when "Mia" turned 16. She was eventually diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia.

("She started skipping school. She couldn't sleep, she'd keep pacing around. She was no longer conscious of what she was doing. She started hurting herself. When I'd cook, she'd hit me as well.")

"Mia" would also grab a knife in the kitchen, her grandmother Rosing said. Fearing that they would get hurt, they had no choice but to bring "Mia" to Bargulin, La Union and lock her up.

Since then, Mia's aunt, Nora had been taking care of her.

("It pains me to see her in such a state, but we had no other choice.")

To provide for her needs, Mia's family would just hand things over through the small hole.

It is also through these holes that they cut Mia's nails and hand her a hose so she could bathe.

Delia said she and her husband Berting want to help their daughter get better. They have reached out to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but to no avail.

("I can't bear to see her suffer. I want her to get better because she has an entire future ahead of her. I want to be the one to care for her, but I can't.")

Upon learning about the condition of "Mia," the Baguio General Hospital volunteered to rescue and give her the medication and guidance she needs.

("She'll be given the necessary medication and therapy. She'll be admitted for two weeks, and if we see enough progress, she can be discharged. ")

Fortunately, "Mia" was calm enough to go with the rescuers. This also allowed her loved ones to see her again for the first time after one year and three months.

("I've waited for this moment for so long. I'm so happy that "Mia" is finally getting the medical treatment she needs. I hope she gets better. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.")

According to the National Center for Mental Health, based on the US data, about 1% of the general population has schizophrenia, and that is 1 out of 100.

NCMH reminded that those with mental conditions should get proper medical treatment despite their state.

("For her to get better, she needs to be checked on by a psychiatrist. A person locked up would feel isolated, neglected, and rejected. For a person's overall well-being, they need to have enough sun exposure. They need to be able to step out and interact with others."

The agency added that they are in the "process of developing more hospitals" in accordance with the Mental Health Act.

Hi, my name is Aldren Balibad. My uncle agreed I could illegally hook up my house to his electricity. However when I failed to pay he cut me off! That really angered me. In fact it added fuel to the fire which was already burning hotly. in retaliation I recruited two neighbors who also had beef with my uncle and we concocted a plan to snuff him out. 


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/491772/driven-by-anger-nephew-2-neighbors-plan-kill-habal-habal-driver-in-carmen-town-police

A nephew’s anger over his uncle for cutting electric power to his house may have been the trigger that led to the killing last March 2 of the uncle, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, in Barangay Ipil in Carmen town in northern Cebu.

Aldren Balibad, 23, then allegedly planned the killing with his two neighbors, Jemros Malbago, 22, and Mario Ramil Maningo, 51, who allegedly had also not been in good terms with Balibad’s uncle, Gilbert Basan.

Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of Carmen Police Station, said that their anger towards Basan blinded them of the fact that the victim had five children to take care of.

(They did not even consider that the victim has five children, his wife is abroad, and he was the one looking after the children. They were not able to think of that because of their anger towards the victim.)

Basan’s wife is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) based in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper. That is why Basan was the one who took care of their children.

Gingoyon said that when investigators started to gather information from the neighbors of the victim, Balibad was the first to be questioned.

He allegedly at first showed concern and regret for the tragic loss of his uncle.

But after the investigators gathered more information, they found out that Balibad and the victim were not in good terms and had previous arguments.

When the investigators went back to the nephew, Balibad, to ask him about this, Balibad,  eventually admitted that he, together with two others, was responsible for the crime.

They were arrested around 3 p.m. on Friday, March 3, in Barangay Ipil.

(We established the fact that the victim had argued with his nephew, Aldren. They had a falling out because Aldren connected with the electric power of his uncle’s house, and when Aldren failed to pay, the uncle cut the connection in the last week or third week of February.) 

Gingoyon said that this could have been the reason for Balibad to commit the crime against his uncle.

The police chief also said that Malbago was the one who allegedly held and stabbed the victim.

Maningo served as the lookout and the one who informed the two that Basan was coming in the area at that time.

Gingoyon said that Maningo and Basan had also allegedly had previous arguments with the victim. 

However, the police chief said he did not specifically know what caused these arguments.

He also said that the three men might have allegedly planned the killing a few days ago.

Police later recovered a 14-inch slaughter knife, which could be the murder weapon, and the blue sling bag of the victim containing P34,820, a brown wallet, eyeglasses, assorted IDs, assorted keys, and other documents.

The sling bag was recovered below a cliff while the knife was recovered 50 meters away from the bag.

The cliff where the sling bag and knife were found was about a kilometer away from the crime scene.

Malbago reportedly was the one who threw these items there after committing the crime.

Carmen police are set to file murder complaints against the three on Monday, March 6. The three suspects were detained at the Carmen Police Station pending the filing of charges.

Hi, my name is Gregorio Bores. In a tragic piece of irony I got run over by my own truck. What happened is I started the truck and it suddenly began to move. So, I freaked and I jumped out. It was slippery out there and of course I fell. The last thing I saw was a huge wheel just before it crushed my skull. Next time I would simply hit the breaks and put it in park. But there won't be a next time. 


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/492806/driver-killed-by-own-truck-in-cebu-city

A truck driver was killed when he was ran over by his own truck on Friday dawn, March 10, 2023, in Sitio Tagutongan, Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

Police Staff Sergeant Leigh Vincent Gonzalve, investigator of the accident in a report, identified the driver as Gregorio Bores, 56 years old, from Barangay San Roque, Cebu City. He was driving a truck carrying fish for transport.

According to Gonzalve, witnesses told him that the victim jumped from his truck when it suddenly moved after starting the engine.  He believes the gear was engaged in first gear when he turned on the ignition, which made the truck run upon starting. 

(I think he got rattled, so he jumped. Then he fell because it was slippery at that part of the road. Unfortunately, his head got ran over by the truck’s tire.) 

The wayward truck also hit a motorcycle, an e-bike, and a fence of a house.

Hi, my name is Remart Rebucas.  I was attending my Lola's birthday party when all of a sudden I was shot dead! What a birthday present for her. It's a birthday she will never forget. 

https://digicastnegros.com/victim-gunned-down-at-grandmas-party/

A man who was attending the birthday party of his grandmother at his residence in Balansag Bobong, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, November 5, was shot to death.

The fatality was identified as Remart Rebucas, 26.

Police said the suspect arrived at the birthday celebration of the victim’s grandmother when he shot Rebucas on the chest.

He died instantly.

The suspect identified by the police as 27-year-old Junjun Aligioho fled after the shooting, while the victim was brought to Alfredo MaraƱon District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hi, my name is Henry Paul Bombate. I am a fish vendor but just sixth months ago I was doing time in jail for drugs. One night I went out and I was ambushed. They took money out of Cash account and then they hogtied me, blindfolded me, and shot me to death. There have been other former drug offenders who have suffered the same fate. 

https://www.panaynews.net/fish-vendor-hogtied-blindfolded-shot-to-death/

A dead fish vendor was found hogtied and blindfolded in an empty lot at Simon Village, Purok Guanzon, Barangay Mansilingan around 7:20 a.m. yesterday.

The 22-year-old Henry Paul Bombate was a resident of Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago. He had four gunshot wounds to his head and three to his chest.

He was likely killed elsewhere, according to Police Station 7 commander, Police Major Elmer Bonilla, noting that no spent bullet shells were recovered in the area.

Bombate was arrested in 2019 for a drug-related charge and was freed just six months ago.

According to his family, Bombate left their house on Thursday and failed to return that night.

They also claimed that the victim’s GCash account made an unauthorized cash out of P3,900.

Investigation is ongoing.

The killing  of Bombate took place two days after two severed human hands were found in a plastic ice cream container in Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2 on Wednesday morning, Jan. 25.

Also with the plastic container was a piece of paper with a list of 22 names allegedly involved in illegal drugs and the words, “TANAN KAMU KUNG INDI KAMU MAG-UNTAT RAFFLE LANG NA…”

Bacolod City Police Station 2’s Police Captain Jonito Pastrana confirmed that some of the individuals listed were drug surrenderees, while others were no longer residing in the village.

Hi, my name is being withheld as I am a 13 year old girl and minor. That didn't stop an older man from shagging me and planting a baby in my belly. Now I have the distinction of being the youngest mom in Bontoc. My prize? More poverty and shame.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1728504/13-year-old-child-registered-as-a-mother-in-bontoc-2

A 13-year old was registered as the youngest mother in Bontoc, Mountain Province, according to its local government unit (LGU).

Prior to her, a 16-year old girl was the youngest pregnancy recorded.

“The youngest mother at the age of 13 years old has been registered in 2022,” wrote the Bontoc LGU on a Facebook post on Friday.

INQUIRER.net has reached out to the Bontoc LGU to determine if the child’s pregnancy was a result of sexual abuse. The LGU has yet to respond.

According to the Municipal Civil Registry Office of Bontoc, teenage mothers in their areas have increased in 2022 after recording 39 teen pregnancies out of 767 live births.

This is a 39.38 percent increase compared to the municipality’s recorded teenage pregnancies in 2021, which was at 28.

“Out of the 39 registered teenage mothers in 2022, 17 are natives of Bontoc and the remaining 22 are from other neighboring municipalities/provinces who gave birth and registered in the municipality,” said the Bontoc LGU.

Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr. called upon the public to help lessen the number of teenage pregnancies.

On Wednesday, Philippine senators were presented data from the  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which showed that 2,299 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021, an increase from the 2,113 teenage live births in 2021.

The PSA also said that six to seven percent of babies born from adolescents were from men 10 years or more older than them.

Hi, my name is unknown. I was found by passers-by with my head wrapped in duct tape and gunshot wounds to my head. My hands were also tied with wire. The police hope someone could identify me but with my face so messed up that might take some time. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/443806/dead-man-who-was-shot-in-the-head-and-whose-face-was-wrapped-in-duct-tape-found-in-consolacion

A dead man, whose face was wrapped in a duct tape and who was shot in the head, was found in a secluded area in Consolacion town in northern Cebu, early morning today, May 28.

Police Staff Sergeant Rechie Gilleran, investigator of the case of the Consolacion Police Station, said they were still trying to find out the victim’s identity and the perpetrators of the crime.

Gilleran said that they also had no leads yet on the motive of the killing.

He said he was also hoping that the family of the dead man could identify the victim through the photos they posted in their police station and in social media. 

“As of now wala pa jud tay identity sa victim ug sa suspect. Basin makita sa tagtungod ang iyang picture,” he told CDN Digital.

(As of now, we still don’t have the identity of the victim and the suspect. Perhaps, the victims relatives could identify him through the picture.)

Initial investigation showed that residents of Paseo Begonia, Purok 7, Barangay Sacsac, in Consolacion town heard gunshots at around 2:30 a.m. today, May 28. At 4:50 a.m., passersby found the body in the area, who then called the police.

Police said that the victim’s face was covered with duct tape and he had visible gunshot wounds at the forehead and at the back of his head.

The victim’s hands were also tied with a tie wire.

Two empty shells, a slug and T-shirt printed with the name of the fraternity were also found at the crime scene.

Hi, my name is Claire Daluping. My six month old daughter Kawhi and I both died after a retired Army officer rammed his car into our house. He was trying to pass another car which suddenly began to swerve into the left lane. But instead of hitting his brakes he stomped on the accelerator! My death is just another reason houses should not be built on the side of busy roads especially high ways. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1603889/mother-baby-dies-as-vehicle-rams-house-in-tabuk-city

A woman and her infant daughter died after a sports utility vehicle, driven by a retired Army officer, rammed their house in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Saturday, police said Sunday.

Claire Daluping, a 39-year-old housekeeper, died on the spot while her six-month-old daughter, Kawhi, died at the hospital, after the vehicle hit a wall of their house in Sitio (sub-village) Dananao in Barangay (village) Lacnog at 3 p.m., Police Major Gary Gayamos, Kalinga police spokesperson, said.

Wounded were Kristell Gasatan, 15, and Beverly Daluping, 14. Both were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Initial investigation showed that the driver, Edwin Ortiz, 65, a retired Army officer and a resident of Tabuk City, was on his way home to Isabela when he overtook another car, which suddenly swerved to the left lane. 

When he tried to stop his vehicle, he mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead, causing him to hit the house.

The mother and daughter were in front of the house when Ortiz’s vehicle came crashing to the wall.

The impact destroyed the house’s facade and the vehicle.

Ortiz was placed under police custody while and will face a formal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with double homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Retards in the Government 302

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

A former councilor of Ganassi town in Lanao del Sur has been named as the suspect behind the shooting on Wednesday in Marawi City where a government ambulance was used.

Major Alvison Mustapha, spokesperson of the Lanao del Sur provincial police identified the suspect as Ansary Marohombsar, who is reportedly working as a municipal employee.

“He is now the subject of our manhunt. For now the ambulance used in the crime has officially been turned over to our office,” Mustapha said.

He said their Investigation showed that Marohombsar had a grudge with the victim, Joseph Alindo Saragena, who was wounded in the hand during the attack. 

“We are pushing the case of frustrated murder and gun ban violation against the suspect,” he added.

The Philippine National Police has imposed a gun ban in the provinces of Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, and Special Geographic Areas (SGAs) in North Cotabato in the Bangsamoro region.

The measure was imposed in response to the ambush of the convoy of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. that  wounded the official and killed four of his security aides, the spate of killings in Pikit and SGAs in Cotabato province that victimized minors, and threats posed by ISIS-inspired groups.

SGAs refer to barangays in Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the autonomous region during the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Law in 2019.

Mustapha said the suspect sat in the front seat and told the still unidentified driver to lower his (driver’s) window before shooting the victim.

A former town councilor used an ambulance to shoot someone with whom he had a grudge.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197600

Operatives of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) anti-scalawag unit arrested a female officer in Makati City for extorting money from cops who are seeking transfer of assignments.

Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said Cpl. Michelle Ann Repolles was arrested during an entrapment operation at Makati Central Police Station headquarters on Thursday.

De Leon said the entrapment stemmed from a report submitted to the IMEG on March 13, stating that the female cop was collecting between PHP10,000 and PHP30,000 from police personnel who want to be transferred to other assignments of their choice.

Investigation showed Repolles claimed that she has connections with the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management for the immediate processing of their reassignment orders.

Recovered from the suspect was one mobile phone with a GCash virtual money wallet application that was used in the transfer of money.

The suspect is now under the custody of the IMEG headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City. 

A cop has been arrested for extorting cops seeking a transfer of assignment.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197659

Unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and seriously injured a former town councilor of Polomolok, South Cotabato, while he was on his way to the municipal hall Friday morning.

Former councilor Rhyolite Agregado Balili, now personal secretary of Polomolok Mayor Bernie Palencia, was shot at close range inside his vehicle near the town hall premises.

Balili sustained gunshot wounds in various parts of his body.

Lt. Col. Joseph Forro III, Polomolok police chief, said the victim was taken to a private hospital in nearby General Santos City.

“We are still digging deeper into the case and a manhunt had been launched,” he said in a radio interview.

Palencia has condemned the attack and directed the police to work with the military in tracking down the perpetrators and bring them behind bars.

A former town councilor has been wounded during an attempted assassination. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1744568/bi-officer-involved-in-lengthy-immigration-interview-of-traveler-relieved-from-post

The immigration officer, who reportedly subjected a Filipina traveler to an intense grilling that made her miss her flight, has been relieved from his post and reassigned to a back office.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval on Friday said the move was to give way to the agency’s ongoing investigation into the incident, which first drew the public’s attention through a now-viral TikTok video posted by lifestyle blogger Cham Tanteras.

Tanteras said that the officer had questioned her on seemingly irrelevant topics, like the status of her parents’ relationship and if she had her school yearbook with her.

“The immigration officer was relieved from his post from the frontline, and he was transferred to a back-end office already after the incident,” Sandoval told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

Should the officer be found negligent of his duty, Sandoval said he could be slapped with administrative sanctions based on civil service rules.

She further noted that it was no less than BI commissioner Norman Tansingco who directly called the officer to explain his side of the story.

“He said he did not require a yearbook from the passenger, but of course, the holding of the secondary inspection is really not the issue, in our opinion. It’s really the manner that it was conducted,” Sandoval said.

She noted that there could have been a lapse on the officer’s part in explaining to the traveler what was happening and why the questions were being asked during the interview.

“That’s why there was a big fuss about it. Maybe because it was not explained properly to the passenger the reasons why she was undergoing secondary inspection and the relevance of the questions that the immigration officer asked,” she explained.

An immigration officer has been relieved after conducting an interview which caused a traveler to miss her flight. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864281/ex-customs-collector-ex-pal-consultant-nabbed-in-extortion-try/story/

A former district collector of the Bureau of Customs and a former consultant of the Philippine Airlines were arrested for alleged extortion.

According to John Consulta's report on "Saksi", Atty. Juan Tan and Benjamin Sebastian were nabbed in an entrapment operation in Manila. Authorities recovered from them P11 million.

The complainant said the two asked for money in exchange for the hitch-free processing in customs of the entry of aviation fuel.

The suspects, who are facing a complaint of robbery extortion, denied the allegations against them.

In a statement, PAL said it was already coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation as regards a former consultant involved in an extortion attempt.

A former customs collector has been charged with extortion. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1745394/cop-allegedly-kills-wifes-lover-in-camarines-sur-town

A police officer reportedly shot and killed on Sunday, March 19, his wife’s alleged lover in Cabusao town in Camarines Sur province.

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson for the Bicol police, identified the victim as Arlando Sugay, 51, of Barangay Pandan.

In a report, Calubaquib said Staff Sergeant Baltazar Manacob, 43, shot Sugay when he saw him and his wife, Michelle, kissing and caressing each other inside a shanty in Barangay Camagong at 1:54 a.m.

Major Rosalinda Moises, chief of Cabusao police, said authorities arrested Manacob, who surrendered.

“When the responding police arrived at the area, he was still at the crime scene, and he voluntarily surrendered,” Moises said in a phone interview on Monday.

Manacob surrendered his service firearms, three magazines, and 35 rounds of live ammunition.

Moises said they were preparing murder charges against Manacob, who was assigned to the Ragay police station.

A cop has been charged with murdering his wife's lover. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/494187/sandiganbayan-upholds-conviction-of-ex-bukidnon-lawmaker

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of former Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pancrudo Jr. for graft and malversation for his alleged misuse of P7.9 million worth of pork barrel allocations.

At the same time, the antigraft court’s Fifth Division reversed its earlier conviction of former National Agribusiness Corp. officials Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez GuaƱizo, and Victor Roman Cacal and Pancrudo’s coaccused Espinosa for malversation.

In a 53-page resolution on March 15, the court maintained that state prosecutors were able to prove that the P7.954 million of Pancrudo’s P8.2 million worth of pork allocations were released and received by the nongovernmental organization Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (UPFI).

The questioned disbursement of millions of funds was meant for livelihood projects in Pancrudo’s district to aid farmers in the area. In its resolution, the court said the disbursement of the Priority Development Assistance Funds to the UPFI was “highly irregular, if not illegal.”

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a lawmaker for misusing PDAF allocations. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197675

One of the most wanted persons in the country and a female firefighter were arrested in separate manhunt operations in Sulu and this city, police officials said Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Neil AlinsaƱgan, Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) director, said Singbi Hassan, 45, was arrested by operatives of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and Sulu Police Provincial Office at the Hasiman wharf in Barangay Tanjung, Indanan, Sulu at about 6:15 p.m. Friday.

Hassan, with a PHP250,000 bounty, has two pending warrants of arrest for murder with no bail recommended issued by two courts in Zamboanga City, dated May 14, 2002 and Nov. 19, 2003.

Meanwhile, Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said Fire Officer 2 Asaha Mukatil Adin, 49, was arrested in Barangay Sta. Barbara here at about 1:06 a.m. Friday.

Lorenzo said Adin had a standing warrant of arrest since 2013 for human trafficking.

Both are detained at the ZCPO headquarters before they are turned over to the concerned courts.

A firefighter has been arrested for human trafficking on a warrant that is 10 years old. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/20/2252924/pnp-sitg-uncovers-attempt-pilfer-p2856-million-shabu

The Philippine National Police Special Investigation Task Group (PNP-SITG) 990 has uncovered the alleged attempt by three police officers to pilfer over 40 kilos of shabu valued at P285.6 million during an anti-narcotics operation in Manila in October last year.

This was announced by PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management chief Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz during a Senate inquiry on March 15.

Testifying during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Cruz said SITG 990 was formed upon the orders of PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to account for the missing 42 kilos of shabu.

The contraband was believed to be part of the 990 kilos of shabu seized from Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo during a sting on Jose Abad Santos street last year.

The drugs were found stashed in a luggage in a car abandoned in front of the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund building along Santolan Road near the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Cruz presented to the Senate panel closed-circuit television footage showing Senior M/Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora, M/Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata and M/Sgt. Jimenez loading the bags allegedly containing the drugs in a white sedan near the area where the sting took place.

Cruz said it was Rebosora who left the vehicle near the PNP headquarters.

When questioned by Dela Rosa and Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Rebosora and Catarata denied pilfering the drugs.

The PNP says they have uncovered a plot to steal confiscated drugs. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/864554/cop-arrested-in-p6-7-b-drug-bust-dismissed-from-service-pnp/story/

The policeman who was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation resulting in one of the biggest hauls in the country’s history has been dismissed from service, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. is no longer in the service, according to a tweet of Super Radyo dzBB reporter Mark Makalalad.

In October 2022, Mayo was arrested as authorities confiscated some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billionfollowing a series of anti-drug operations in Manila .

Mayo is an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, based on police records.

The PNP Drug Enforcement Group said the first operation was conducted along Jose Abad Santos Street in Barangay 252, Tondo, Manila, which led to the arrest of 50-year-old suspect Ney Saligumba Atadero.

During the interrogation, Atadero said the illegal drugs' storage was located inside the office of a lending firm in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Another operation was carried out to nab another individual named by the suspect. Mayo was arrested in Quiapo during the operation.

A cop arrested for drugs last year has finally been dismissed from the service. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197838

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Quezon 2nd District congressman Proceso Alcala of graft, malversation and falsification charges over alleged anomalies involving pork barrel funds amounting to PHP6 million.

The anti-graft court First Division, however, found Alcala civilly liable “for his negligence in the strict and improper implementation of the project funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).”

"He is ordered to pay the government the amount of PHP6.05million," read a portion of the 89-page decision dated March 20 and made public Tuesday.

Alcala was charged for endorsing the registration of a non-governmental organization (NGO), the Economic and Social Cooperation for Local Development Foundation Inc. (Ecosoc), as project partner in implementing a financial assistance /livelihood program for his constituents to be funded by his PDAF.

The amount was subsequently disbursed in three tranches in March and June 2007.

The prosecution said the NGO turned out to be fictitious as the intended beneficiaries did not receive the financial assistance.

In clearing Alcala of the three grave charges, the court said the endorsement of Ecosoc does not immediately make him criminally liable.

"(T)hat endorsement does not carry with it a peremptory directive to approve the same. As has been discussed, the discretion and decision to deny or grant Ecosoc's application for registration, including the processing of the same, as well as the release of the said funds in whole or in part, lies with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the implementing agency, and not Alcala," the court said.

A certain Roberto Solon, who represented himself as the executive director of Ecosoc, was a signatory in the memorandum of agreement which also included then-DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Alcala’s endorsement was issued without verifying the authenticity of the documents, like liquidation reports, hotel rates, photos and list of intended beneficiaries.

Investigators later found that none of the 50 named beneficiaries received the capital assistance of PHP120,000, four denied their signatures in disbursement vouchers, while others did not respond to the government audit team's confirmation letters.

A former Solon has been find civil liable for mishandling the distribution of PDAF money. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1746170/abra-village-chief-tagged-in-killing-of-teacher-surrenders

A barangay captain who was tagged in the murder of a high school teacher in Abra province surrendered to police on Monday, March 20.

According to the police in Abra’s Bucay town, the suspect, Mike Armando Wilson, 46, of Barangay Dumagas, turned himself in at 10 a.m.

Wilson and four other suspects were charged with murder over the death of Rudy Steward “Estee” Sayen, a teacher at Suyo National High School in Abra’s Pidigan town.

Police said the four other suspects were already nabbed during a hot pursuit operation in September last year.

Sayen, 38, a member of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community, was gunned down along the Abra-Ilocos Sur road in Pidigan’s Barangay Lipcan while on her way to school on September 28.

Police were eyeing a land dispute over small-scale mining claims and old grudges as the possible motives behind the killing.

A barangay captain has been charged with killing a teacher. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1746878/ombudsman-suspends-33-execs-in-pharmally-mess

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended its second most senior graft buster along with 32 former and present officials of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) for their involvement in the graft-tainted purchases of the government’s pandemic supplies in 2020 and 2021.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires meted out a six-month suspension order on Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong, who was then the PS-DBM’s procurement group director, and his fellow respondents following a complaint filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros and former Sen. Richard Gordon.

Gordon, then chair of the blue ribbon committee, spearheaded the Senate inquiry two years ago into the graft-tainted supply contracts awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a startup company with a paid-up capital of only P625,000 that bagged more than P11.5 billion worth of government healthcare supply contracts at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After a careful evaluation of the records, this office finds compelling reasons to place the respondents under preventive suspension pending investigation of the instant case,” said Martires in an order dated March 20, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer on Wednesday.

“The overwhelming documentary proof shows that respondents’ evidence of guilt is strong,” he said.

33 officials have been suspended over their involvement in graft-tainted purchases of the government’s pandemic supplies in 2020 and 2021.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1746271/ca-nullifies-bail-grant-for-ex-mayor-accused-of-murder-orders-rtc-to-resume-bail-proceedings

The Court of Appeals (CA) has nullified the order of Legazpi City Regional Trial Court to allow bail for former Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga in Albay, who is charged with the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

“We find that the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion by granting Baldo’s petition for bail without fully considering all of the prosecution’s evidence in the assailed orders. Therefore, the assailed orders are deemed null and void,” the CA’s 12th Division said in a ruling last March 1.

Baldo is charged with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder.

The CA ordered the regional trial court to resolve the petition for bail and take into consideration all the evidence presented during the bail hearing.

But the CA clarified said its order did not mean that the evidence against Baldo was strong or weak.

“In our view, the equitable course of action is to remand the incident to the trial court to make a new, immediate, and updated assessment of all evidence at hand and to issue the appropriate order containing a summary thereof with its resolution on Baldo’s entitlement to bail,” the appeals court said.

Baldo maintained that he had nothing to do with the death of Batocabe. He said he was only dragged into the matter by people who would want to taint his name.

A former mayor accused of murder has had his bail revoked.