Retards in the Government 388

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

A village chairman has been arrested for illegal firearm possession. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His wife, Bai Norhaya, was unhurt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Homosexual Conversation Delays Flight

There is a lot of talk about homosexuals in the Philippines. So many stories about people getting offended for being misgendered. Stories about the fight for homosexual marriage. But this story is different. In the Philippines, as elsewhere, homosexuals have their own lingo. To those on the outside this lingo can cause not merely confusion but have serious consequences. 

Recently two homosexuals on a plane were discussing condoms. A stewardess overheard them and misunderstood their slang leading to a flight delay of two hours. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1994805/lgbt-watusi-talk-delays-flight-from-bacolod-airport

A Bacolod-Manila flight was delayed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport for almost two hours because of a misinterpretation of an LGBT conversation inside an aircraft on Saturday morning, Oct. 19.

In a report on Sunday, Oct. 20, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said the incident involved two male passengers inside Cebu Pacific Flight 5J486 at 11:10 a.m.

During a conversation between the two, one said “Oi, naubos na ba ‘yong watusi mo? (Hey, did you run out of watusi),” a reference to a condom in the LGBTQ community language.

The term “watusi” is also locally known as a firecracker.

A cabin crew member, who was nearby fixing overhead luggage, overheard the conversation.

Concerned about the potential reference to a firecracker, she approached the passenger to clarify the meaning of “watusi.”

The passenger explained to the cabin crew member that he was referring to a condom and apologized if his words were inappropriate within the aircraft.

The cabin crew member immediately reported the matter to the pilot-in-command who then informed the Cebu Pacific management.

As a precaution, the airline decided to deplane all passengers and cargo for a K9 bomb-sniffing inspection and security paneling.

At 11:20 a.m., Robert Rodillas, team leader of the K9 unit at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, arrived at the scene.

The team conducted a thorough inspection of all luggage, hand-carry items, and the aircraft cabin.

By 1 p.m., the Cebu Pacific Flight 5J486 was cleared and departed for Manila without further incident.

At 1:21 p.m. the Cebu Pacific Bacolod staff members rebooked the two males involved on Flight 5J488, the CAAP report said.

Despite having cleared up the matter the stewardess reported the conversation to the captain who notified management. All passengers were then deplaned and a K9 unit was brought into throughly check all luggage, hand-carry items, and the entire cabin. 

All because gay slang for condom is the same as the word for firecracker. 

I guess you can't be too careful. Reading the news it's clear there are an awful lot of people making bomb jokes. 

Insurgency: Deradicalization Program

Two more towns in Southern Leyte have been declared rebel-free. There was a big ceremony with the releasing of white doves to mark the occasion. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235487

Two more towns in Southern Leyte have been formally declared as completely free from the threats of the New People's Army (NPA), the Philippine Army said on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the declaration led by the town mayors of San Ricardo and Pintuyan marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability.

“With no sightings of armed rebels for several years now, these towns have achieved insurgency-free status and officially, stable internal peace and security conditions (SIPSC),” Vestuir said in a phone interview.

A town earns SIPSC status if there has been no NPA activity in the area for several years, and no resident is identified as an active armed rebel, according to Vestuir.

Ceremonies were held on Oct. 11 to highlight the declarations, which included the signing of memoranda of agreements and pledges of commitment, along with the simultaneous release of white doves, symbolizing peace and new beginnings.

This declaration comes after several years of no sightings of armed rebels. It's a good thing the Army takes its time to verify such things but it is still no guarantee there are zero rebels in the area. The Army has previously admitted that to be the case. 

The Army has been conducting their deradicalization program to help former rebels start new lives. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235592

At least 50 former New People's Army (NPA) rebels benefited from a three-day deradicalization program conducted recently by the 903rd Infantry Brigade (903rd IB) of the Philippine Army in Daraga, Albay. 

In an interview on Tuesday, Capt. Richelle Arambuyong, 903rd IB Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer, said the deradicalization program is part of the government's efforts to reintegrate individuals previously engaged in armed conflict into the mainstream society.

"The FRs (former rebels) were from Sorsogon and Albay. The activity was conducted to correct the ideologies and doctrines instilled in them," she said. 

Arambuyong said the FRs were taught sustainable livelihood opportunities, housing, amnesty programs, and the role of education in preventing future radicalization.

"The initiative provided support and rehabilitation, focusing on skills development, psychological counseling, and community engagement to help former rebels transition into peaceful civilian life," she added. 

Arambuyong said after the activity, the FRs returned to their community with livelihood aid and skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and jobs given by the local government unit (LGU) of Sorsogon under the 7K program.

The "7K" is a flagship program of the provincial government that prioritizes Kalikasan (environment) Kalinisan (cleanliness), Kagandahan (tourism and aesthetic), Kadunungan (education), Kalusugan (health), Kabuhayan (economy) and Katrankiluhan (peace and order).

"They (FRs) were also profiled by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for livelihood starter kits. They also filled out for the National Housing Authority provision. Some food packs were also provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)," Arambuyong said. 

She said the activity was made possible by the 31st Infantry Battalion and its partner agencies including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Sorsogon, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the National Amnesty Commission, among others. 

In a statement, 903rd Commander Brig. Gen. Jose Ricky Laniog emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies, communities, and non-governmental organizations in ensuring the program's success.

"The activity was conducted to correct the ideologies and doctrines instilled in them." That sounds exactly like brainwashing. What ideologies and doctrines are the Army instilling in the minds of these people?

The NTF-ELCAC says they have completely only 74% of their projects for 2023. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235722

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) announced that around 74 percent of its Barangay Development Program (BDP) projects scheduled for 2023 have been completed.

This includes 100 new classrooms to enhance the educational opportunities for children in these underserved communities, the anti-insurgency body said in a statement late Wednesday.

In addition to school buildings, the BDP has also completed 511 farm-to-market roads, 99 water and sanitation systems, 91 health stations, and 127 rural electrification projects.

National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año commended the concerted efforts of the BDP, highlighting its role in bringing meaningful change to conflict-affected areas and bridging the gap between these communities and stable governance.

"The significant strides made by implementing the BDP through electrification, infrastructure, health services, and livelihood programs ensure that essential services reach our most vulnerable communities," he stated.

Año, who is also NTF-ELCAC vice chair, said the transformation of these areas is a crucial step toward achieving long-lasting peace and development as they are being exploited by communist insurgents as a source of recruits against the government.

The NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson also emphasized the effectiveness of the whole-of-nation approach, highlighting the crucial role of all agencies and stakeholders in fostering lasting peace and creating meaningful opportunities for communities affected by decades of conflict.

The BDP, a flagship initiative of the NTF-ELCAC, aims to improve the quality of life in communities affected by local communist armed conflict by delivering essential services and socio-economic development projects.

This approach is designed to reduce local support for insurgents and foster stability in these areas. Since its inception in 2021, the BDP has implemented socio-economic projects in over 4,000 barangays, encompassing housing, agricultural infrastructure, training and livelihood programs, and assistance to indigent families.

As of Oct. 9 this year, the BDP continues to make progress with 23 projects in the pre-procurement phase, involving detailed engineering design and program of works preparation.

Meanwhile, 31 projects are currently in the procurement and bidding phase and 269 projects are actively being implemented.

For fiscal year 2024, the BDP has allocated PHP2.5 million to each of the 864 participating barangays, with a total of 885 projects planned.

As of this time, nine projects have been completed, including two farm-to-market roads, one health station, and six rural electrification projects.

Meanwhile, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. underscored the BDP's crucial role in countering the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front's long-standing strategy of exploiting vulnerable communities in conflict zones.

"The BDP has bridged development gaps in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), which have historically been exploited by communist violent extremism," he said, highlighting the program's impact in disrupting the cycle of conflict.

Just think how developed the Philippines could be if national development had been a goal of the government. So many politicians speak of the Philippines being like Singapore and middle income but when millions are without toilets and electricity that will never happen. It's a shame that good governance is being used as a counterinsurgency program instead of being the norm. 

The NTF-ELCAC recently sat down for a roundtable discussion with Ateneo de Davao University concerning red-tagging. NTF-ELCAC executive director and Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. says they are merely truth telling.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235756

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) maintained that it is not in the business of red-tagging and is engaged in informing and protecting vulnerable sectors like the youth against recruitment attempts by the communist insurgents.

“We are not red-tagging; we are truth-telling,” NTF-ELCAC executive director and Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Thursday.

He emphasized that NTF-ELCAC’s mission is to safeguard the public, particularly the youth, from deceptive recruitment practices by front organizations linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Torres reiterated the same in a roundtable discussion organized by Ateneo de Davao University on Oct. 11.

The NTF-ELCAC executive director, along with other officials of the body and former rebels, addressed the red-tagging allegations head-on.

"It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our youth from organizations that, while claiming to champion democracy, are actively working to further the violent agenda of these terrorist groups," Torres stressed.

The discussion also touched on accusations that NTF-ELCAC is demonizing groups like Anakbayan and other youth organizations.

“We respect legitimate activism as a crucial part of our democracy. However, there is a line between advocacy and recruitment into terrorism. NTF-ELCAC is dedicated to exposing those organizations that serve the interests of the CPP-NPA-NDF, to protect our youth from being misled," he pointed out.

Further allegations claim that red-tagging by NTF-ELCAC has led to harassment, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations which Torres categorically denied, reaffirming that the task force’s operations are conducted within the framework of the law.

“Our mission is to promote peace and development, and we do not condone any form of violence or harassment. Any suggestion otherwise is a baseless attempt to discredit the government's legitimate efforts to combat terrorism," he further stressed.

Torres also emphasized the NTF-ELCAC's commitment to transparency and public safety.

“The government offers peaceful avenues for addressing grievances, including economic programs and local peace initiatives. It is the terrorist organizations that manipulate the idealism of the youth and lure them into violence,” he explained.

Torres also highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to provide better opportunities for the youth through education, livelihood programs, and reforms aimed at uplifting communities.

The NTF-ELCAC says they are truth telling about certain front groups who recruit into the CPP-NPA. This claim belies the AFP's claim that the CPP-NPA is unable to recruit due to a lack of leadership. The front groups are also not named. 

Red-tagging is a real practice that has endangered the lives of those tagged by authorities. The latest strange case is that of Marcylyn Pilala and Alaiza Lemita who have been accused of supporting the NPA by giving them groceries and cooking them food. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1993346/red-tagged-for-giving-npas-groceries-adobo

In what human rights defenders describe as an “absurdity” in the antiterror law, two women from Mountain Province are facing complaints for terrorism financing after they allegedly sold grocery items and provided meals of rice and adobo to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Marcylyn Pilala, an Igorot and “sari-sari” store owner, along with Alaiza Lemita, the sister of a slain activist, asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday to toss out the complaints.

Filing separate counteraffidavits, Pilala and Lemita denied any involvement in the decades-old communist insurgency.

Lemita said the complaint filed against her by Police Staff Sgt. Reyanante Malvar of the Batangas police was the “third attempt” to harass her for what she supposedly did more than seven years ago.

“These accusations have been dismissed and are being resurrected without new or credible evidence,” she said.

The complaint against Lemita was based on the sworn statement of Ronie Gutierrez, a former rebel who claimed that about two weeks after an armed encounter in Batangas on March 10, 2017, Lemita tried to deliver food to his NPA unit using “an ambulance.”

This first attempt failed because of a police checkpoint, he said. But the following day, the woman succeeded in bringing rice and adobo, which she concealed in sacks, to the rebels at Barangay Banilad, Nasugbu town.

“Once again, I strongly deny these accusations not only for being false but also for representing a continued effort to harass me using fabricated criminal complaints. The lack of credible witnesses, together with the state’s repeated attempts to prosecute me, shows that this complaint is baseless and should be dismissed,” Lemita said.

At the time of the alleged food delivery, Lemita was a third-year student at Batangas State University, according to her counteraffidavit which also had copies of her school records, grades and ID as attachments.

“In addition to its legal infirmities, the complaint should be dismissed for being factually baseless. The allegation that I provided cooked rice, adobo, and cash to the NPA on March 10, 2017, is entirely false,” she said.

Meanwhile, the complaint against Pilala was based on the affidavits of alleged rebel returnees Victor Baltazar and Karen Baltazar, who claimed that in March 2020, Pilala received a sum of P100,000 and used it to buy provisions for the NPA.

Karen, along with her husband and comrades, said they would often pick up grocery items, such as canned goods, rice, medicines, bath soap and personal hygiene kits from Pilala’s sari-sari store at Barangay Gueday, Besao, in Mountain Province.

“I vehemently deny the above accusations. Contrary to the complainants and their witnesses’ false claims, I am a civilian; I am not, and never have been, a member of the underground communist movement,” Pilala said.

“I am being charged with a crime I did not commit. I have lived a simple life and have never been charged or accused of any crime until this instant case against me was filed,” she added.

Pilala explained that from March 2 to June 14 that year, she was working as a substitute teacher at Pangweo Elementary School in Besao.

“I did not receive any PHP100,000 in March 2020,” she said, attaching a copy of her bank statement to her counteraffidavit.

Pilala said she could not have possibly supplied or sold provisions to the NPA since she started managing her mother’s store only in October 2021, long after the Baltazar couple had surrendered.

“I have maintained employment at various schools and establishments, which render the allegations of the spouses Baltazar impossible,” she said.

For Beverly Longid, national convener of Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, the complaints against the two women showed that even simple acts like selling or providing food can be twisted as basis for criminal accusations under the antiterror law.

“It’s a clear example of how these laws are weaponized to intimidate and harass those who stand up for their rights,” Longid said.

The complaints also relied solely on the claims made by purported rebel returnees, “individuals who are often paid or coerced by state agencies, including the police and military, to fabricate evidence against rights defenders and civilians,” she said.

The cases against these ladies were tossed out only to be refiled. They claim the charges are baseless. So, why has the government resurrected these charges? These two ladies are not the first to be red-tagged and they won't be the last. 

American Kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte

An American man living in Zamboanga del Norte was recently kidnapped by an unknown group of armed men posing as police officers. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/18/2393511/american-national-kidnapped-zamboanga-del-norte

Authorities are in hot pursuit of kidnappers who abducted an American national in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, police said on Friday, October 18.

In the "Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon" public briefing, P/Lt. Col. Helen Galvez of the Regional Public Information Office, Police Regional Office IX, said they are still tracking down the 26-year-old American national, who was kidnapped from their home on Thursday night.

The victim, Elliot Onil Eastman, who is married to a local, had been staying in the country for five months. According to a statement from local police, assailants broke into the home of the spouse’s parents and abducted Eastman.

The victim initially resisted and was shot by the assailants, who then took the American onto a boat and escaped via the sea.

“Our hot pursuit operations are ongoing, focusing on the last known route of the boat carrying the victim. We are also coordinating with our counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist in the possible rescue of the abducted victim,” Galvez said.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) ordered all of its units in Basilan and Sulu to guard against the possible entry of the kidnappers and their American captive.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of PRO-BAR, told reporters on Friday afternoon that they have received reports indicating that Eastman was taken away from Sitio Tungawan in Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, by his abductors using a watercraft that sailed towards Sulu.

"We have alerted our units in Basilan and Sulu about that, and our personnel are guarding the beachfronts there very tightly," Macapaz said.

The assailants have not yet made any ransom demands, Galvez said.

“This is an isolated case in the area of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, and it does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region,” she said.

Despite this, Galvez mentioned that Region IX is on heightened alert.

The kidnappers were seen speeding away towards Sulu which means they are likely remnants of Abu Sayyaf. Note that P/Lt. Col. Helen Galvez says this is an isolated case that "does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region."

What a joke. 

While this may be the first kidnapping case in a number of years it is surely indicative of the volatile nature of the region. Take from Elliot Onil Eastman himself. He has posted several videos admitting he is the only foreigner living in one of the most dangerous areas in the Philippines. 

https://www.youtube.com/@ElliotBeastman

Hello everyone I’m Elliot Eastman, I am 26 years old and I came to the Philippines about a year and half ago where I met the love of my life deep in the mountains of the red zone of the Philippines. Zamboanga del Norte is a recently developed area of the Philippines that was once only accessible by boat. I will be showing you my day to day life as the first and only foreigner to have ever lived here in sibuco for a long period of time. I am from the USA! 💪 

You can send me a donation at PayPal of Venmo where I receive 100% of donations or on YouTube super chats and Buy Me A Coffee where I will receive 66%. Thank you so much

Living in the Philippines most dangerous area as an American.

53:10 No, no tourists ever come here. I've never seen one except maybe from Arabia or Saudi Arabia or something. Yeah. No one has ever visited this area. I'm like the first one who ever, well, I think there's been people who have visited but they only stay like a day. They only stay for a quick minute to visit and then they move on. But me, I've been living here for months this trip and in the past I've lived here six total. I've probably lived here like a whole year in total in my life. I've never seen any other Foreigner here cuz it's dangerous. It's a dangerous area.

1:03:45 if I have my license here I can drive but my license just expired from the US uh I don't know if my license was good from the US I could probably be still driving but it just barely expired so kind of sucks can't really drive right now I'm finished yes my business business um yeah expired in the US it expired in the US so I think if it was still good I could probably drive here but it's already expired so yeah I need that for if I was going to go back to the states to do that I'd have to get my life I'd have to renew renew my license maybe I'm going to go to the stat soon yeah yeah it's very possible maybe yeah but not only just for that just to like I don't even know there's a lot of reasons why I could go I would want to go back there's a lot of reasons to stay here but there's also a lot of reasons to go back so it's ah I don't know TR try to think about for Christmas maybe yeah oh my go cute the beach yep certainly I'll miss the beach but yeah I don't know obviously this place isn't the most safe place for like somebody like me

I opened a store in the most dangerous part of the Philippines for foreigners to live

18:17 Yeah, it's kind of scary like sometimes at night times, but you know yeah is what it is. Some people, like, you hear, like, all they're planning to come kidnap me or what not. Like people sometimes maybe are trying to make a plan to kidnap me or whatever trying to get me for ransom or whatever trying to make some money out of me or whatever. But I don't know. It is what it is. Right now I feel pretty safe. But you never really know. This is going to like a scary little bit. 

That last video was posted on August 28th, 2024. A mere month and a half before he was ultimately shot and kidnapped. An event he said he had heard people discussing. 

And the PNP call this an isolated incident which "does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region." How ridiculous. 

This is, of course, a developing story so there will be more to come as events unfold.