Retards in the Government 470

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2229188/56-lto-personnel-charged-in-internal-cleansing

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Thursday that 56 of its officials and employees are currently facing administrative charges following a widespread “internal cleansing operation” within the agency.

Among the administrative cases filed against the 56 personnel include grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, extortion and falsification of official documents, among others, the LTO said in a statement.

The cases were filed after the agency conducted a widespread “cleansing operation” which resulted in several employees being placed under preventive suspension and eventually removed from their position, it added.

Some, on the other, have been endorsed to disciplinary bodies such as the Central Office Disciplinary Board, Regional Administrative Action Board and the Department of Transportation.

Among those facing administrative cases are a presidential appointee and 34 permanent employees. They were assigned to different LTO offices, including the central office in Quezon City, National Capital Region (NCR), Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region and Caraga.

The LTO said that 16 job order personnel were also removed from service, while two local government unit auxiliary enforcers and a security guard had their deputation authority revoked.

Two more employees, one from the LTO office in NCR and another from Soccsksargen, received a “stern warning” for their “administrative lapses,” it added.

The LTO, meanwhile, said that it will continue to investigate erring employees as it called on the public to report cases of extortion, fixer transactions or other violations.

The Land Transportation Office said that 56 of its officials and employees are currently facing administrative charges following a widespread “internal cleansing operation” within the agency.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2229338/pnp-axes-7-cops-in-missing-pogo-raid-cash-probe

The Philippine National Police (PNP) dismissed from the service seven officers linked to the missing money worth several millions seized from a raided alleged Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo).

The dismissal was stipulated in Special Order No. NHQ-SO-DS-2026-4478 and General Order No. NHQ-GO-DS-2026-2576. Both were effective May 12 and dated May 13.

The general order dismissed a police lieutenant colonel, while the special order dismissed a police executive master sergeant, a senior master sergeant and four patrolmen.

In October 2024, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided an alleged Pogo in Bagac, Bataan and confiscated P141.13 million in cash as evidence.

The implicated police lieutenant colonel took custody of the cash evidence in June 2025.

However, when he was reassigned in August 2025, the police lieutenant colonel allegedly did not turn over the cash evidence to the CIDG.

He only turned over the boxes to the CIDG in October 2025.

It was only when the boxes were unsealed by a court order in November 2025 that the police discovered P13.451 million of the money had been supposedly replaced with fake bills.

The missing money was then traced by investigators to the six other implicated police officers.

The PNP has yet to detail whether the missing money had been returned. 

The Philippine National Police dismissed from the service seven officers linked to the missing money worth several millions seized from a raided alleged Philippine offshore gaming operator.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/15/isabela-city-govt-employee-shot-dead

An employee of the Isabela City government was shot dead while her husband was wounded by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Isabela City, Basilan on Thursday, May 14.

Police identified the victim as Karen Resurreccion, 48.

Investigation said Karen and husband Nelson were on their way home onboard a motorcycle when the suspects shot them in a remote area of Barangay Lanote. 

The suspects escaped and the victims were taken to a hospital where Karen was declared dead from bullet wounds. Nelson was transferred to a private hospital here.

Recovered in the area was 9mm slug.

The Isabela city government mourned the death of Karen, Administrative Assistant IV of the City Accounting Office.

Karen, who worked for the city government for 19 years, will be remembered for her kindness, dedication, and sincere commitment to her work and the people she served, it said in a statement.

“The city government calls on concerned authorities to ensure the swift resolution of her tragic passing and to bring justice not only in this case, but also in all other acts of violence happening in Isabela City. May truth and accountability prevail for the safety and peace of the community.”

Karen was the second family member killed in a gun attack within one week.

On Sunday, May 10, 60-year-old Gilberto Toledo was gunned down by unidentified suspects while driving a motorcycle in Barangay Lanote, Isabela City.

The victims’ appealed for justice and police are conducting follow-up and manhunt operations.

An employee of the Isabela City government was shot dead while her husband was wounded by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Isabela City, Basilan on Thursday, May 14.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1275191

Anti-narcotic authorities arrested a police officer from Basilan province and seized illegal drugs worth PHP13.6 million on Saturday.

The arrested police was identified as alias “Abdul,” 45, a police staff sergeant and a resident of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Zamboanga City Office (PDEA-ZCO) said Abdul was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 5:45 p.m. in Sitio Bagong Dalan, Barangay Sta. Maria, this city.

“The suspect was arrested after he transacted illegal drugs with an undercover PDEA agent. Seized from the suspect were two vacuum-sealed bags containing suspected shabu weighing 2,000 grams,” the PDEA-ZCO report read.

The standard value of the confiscated suspected shabu is PHP13.6 million.

Also seized from the suspect were a Glock 17 pistol with 42 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a police identification card and 16 bundles of boodle money.

The suspect has been detained and will face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The anti-drug operation was launched by PDEA operatives from Isabela City, Basilan with the support of different police units.

Saturday’s drug haul is the second-largest seizure of illegal drugs authorities have made in this city this week.

On May 13, police authorities arrested three suspects and seized some PHP34 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Zone 4 here. 

Another cop has been busted for drugs.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1275280

Two enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) were suspended after they were seen refueling an impounded Mitsubishi Adventure MPV in photos that went viral on social media.

In a statement on Monday, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the two enforcers were inside an undisclosed impound lot of the LTO when the incident happened.

“There is no space at the LTO for any irregularities, abuse, or the use of government resources for personal reasons,” Lacanilao said.

The LTO has issued a show cause order to both enforcers asking them to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) at the LTO Central Office.

Both enforcers are part of the LTO Law Enforcement Service.

“We ordered immediate action to ensure that all allegations are investigated fairly and in accordance with the law,” he said.

While the photos of the two enforcers did not immediately indicate what they were doing, he said siphoning gasoline or any actions that indicate the use of government resources for personal reasons could be considered a violation of Republic Act 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”

In addition, both enforcers will be investigated for possible administrative violations under Civil Service rules.

He called on LTO personnel to have integrity, discipline, and responsibility and reiterated his ongoing crackdown against corruption in the agency.

He also called on the public to continue reporting any suspicious incidents, especially of government corruption, to the LTO.

Two enforcers of the Land Transportation Office were suspended after they were seen refueling an impounded Mitsubishi Adventure MPV in photos that went viral on social media.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2231354/2-dpwh-execs-in-cordillera-sacked-over-cyclist-death-in-benguet-accident

Two officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera region were relieved from their posts by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon following the death of a 13-year-old cyclist in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Relieved were Benguet First District Engineering Office District Engineer Isagani Cayme and Maintenance Section Engineer III Marjory Banao.

Their removal came after the cyclist fell into a ravine along the collapsed and unrepaired portion of the Lamut-Beckel section of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road in Barangay Beckel, La Trinidad, last week.

The road section had collapsed in November 2025 during Typhoon Uwan but had yet to be fully repaired.

Following the incident, relatives of the victim, residents, and motorists raised concerns over the condition of the road and called for accountability, describing the tragedy as preventable.

In a social media post, the DPWH said the officials were removed due to the lack of adequate road safety signages and traffic control devices, including concrete barriers, along the damaged portion of the road where the victim fell.

Dizon also warned DPWH contractors that failure to comply with strict safety requirements during construction could result in contract termination, blacklisting, and possible criminal charges.

Two officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera region were relieved from their posts by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon following the death of a 13-year-old cyclist in La Trinidad, Benguet.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2231849/police-sergeant-held-for-alleged-lascivious-acts-vs-minor-in-malabon

A police sergeant was arrested for an alleged lascivious act against a 14-year-old girl in Malabon City, the police said on Wednesday.

The alleged incident took place along Salmon Street in Barangay Longos on Tuesday night, according to Malabon police chief Col. Allan Umipig in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“The police officer was drunk and touched the young girl’s private parts from behind,” Umipig said, speaking in Filipino.

He explained that, after the incident, the victim had returned home and reported it to her brother.

The victim and her brother then went back to the police officer’s home to confront him.

“Because of that, the suspect got angry and said some bad words at the victim’s brother. They noticed the suspect was grabbing something from his sling bag. So, they were terrified and ran home,” Umipig detailed.

“The suspect followed them home and even got inside. But the victim kicked the door to push the suspect out,” he added.

He identified the implicated police officer as a police senior master sergeant assigned to the Manila Police District Anti-Cybercrime Unit.

Umipig did not immediately explain why the victim was near the police officer’s home but noted that their houses were far apart.

The Malabon police chief noted that they confiscated a blue sling bag containing a 9mm pistol with two magazines each loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition from the suspect.

The suspect was taken into the Malabon police’s custody, awaiting charges for acts of lasciviousness, grave threats, alarms and scandal, and violation of domicile.

He also awaits charges for violating Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; and RA No. 10591 or the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, Umipig added.

A police sergeant was arrested for an alleged lascivious act against a 14-year-old girl in Malabon City.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2231850/police-corporal-held-for-punching-partners-alleged-lover-in-mandaluyong

A police corporal was taken into custody for allegedly punching his partner’s alleged lover in Mandaluyong City, the police said on Wednesday.

The implicated cop surrendered to his station commander and was brought to the city police after crossing paths with his foe along Correctional Road in Barangay Addition Hills on Tuesday night, Mandaluyong police chief Col. Reynan Patam said in a briefing in Camp Crame.

“The suspect saw the victim there and yelled, ‘So, you’re here!’ He punched him. The victim ran toward his house, but the suspect followed him. When the suspect caught up with the victim, he punched him again. But, they were stopped,” Patam explained, speaking in Filipino.

“The suspect left, but he returned later on and went to the victim’s house. But, when the victim didn’t go out, the suspect left again,” the Mandaluyong police chief noted.

“The victim allegedly had relations with the police officer’s partner,” he added.

He also noted that the two parties purportedly had a similar confrontation in 2023.

Patam only identified the suspect as a police corporal assigned to the Quezon City Police District Station 15 Tactical Motorcycle Riding Unit; and the victim by his alias, “Mark.”

The Mandaluyong police chief made no mention as to the implicated police corporal’s current disposition, but he noted that the latter was awaiting cases for physical injury and grave threat.

A police corporal was taken into custody for allegedly punching his partner’s alleged lover.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Philippine Eagle, Ebolavirus, and More!

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

The tourism industry is still recovering form the pandemic. To that end the DOT recently sent a large contingent to attract more Chinese tourists. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274906

The Philippines has sent its largest tourism business mission to China since pandemic as it doubles down on efforts to attract more Chinese travelers into the country.

The Philippine Tourism Industry Business Mission 2026, led by the Department of Tourism (DOT), brought together 35 Philippine travel-related companies and around 280 Chinese travel agencies.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday said the delegation will be holding business-to-business meetings with Chinese stakeholders in Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.

At the mission’s stop in Beijing on May 12, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz said the event’s strong turnout sends a signal that “despite the challenges and uncertainties of recent years, there remains tremendous interest, confidence, and goodwill between the Philippine and Chinese tourism industries.”

“We are already seeing encouraging momentum. Chinese tourist arrivals to the Philippines have been rising significantly, helped in part by the Philippines’ visa-free policy for Chinese tourists introduced last January,” he said, adding that the Philippines is well-positioned to meet the changing preferences of the Chinese market.

Beyond leisure, the envoy said tourism could serve as bridge to build goodwill and familiarity between Filipino and Chinese people.

“The more our peoples see each other’s sights and sounds, the more they meet each other face-to-face, the more opportunities we create for understanding. And mutual understanding matters especially in times of uncertainty,” he said.

DOT Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala-Batin, who is part of the mission, confirmed that this is the DOT's largest tourism business mission to China in terms of the participating stakeholders and coverage since the pandemic broke out in 2019.

Beijing-based Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes, who also spoke at the meeting, told Chinese travel firms that the Philippines is ready to welcome more Chinese visitors.

The business mission featured presentations on the Philippines’ diverse tourism offerings, including Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, and Manila, as well as tourism products such as diving; culture and heritage; English language learning; Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE); sun-and-sea tourism; nature-based travel; and cruise tourism.

Business matching sessions and networking activities also provided a platform for Philippine and Chinese stakeholders to discuss cooperation opportunities, market strategies, service improvements, and tourism product development.

New direct routes between China and the Philippines were launched this year, including Chongqing-Manila and Quanzhou-Cebu, with more additional and charter flights in the pipeline, according to the envoy.

Latest DOT data show that arrivals from China reached 150,708 in January to April 2026 from 93,186 recorded in the same period last year.

China currently ranks as the Philippines’ fourth largest source of foreign visitors.

Surely there are other reasons than lack of knowledge about Boracay, et al which are preventing more Chinese tourists to visit. Reasons which are out of the DOT's control. 

During the pandemic Mom's began side hustles which eventually turned into full-time income streams. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/16/from-side-hustle-to-lifeline-how-moms-are-rewriting-the-family-economy

This month, modern Filipino moms are proving that motherhood and entrepreneurship can thrive hand in hand. Across the country, more mothers are stepping beyond traditional roles and embracing life as “mompreneurs,” building businesses from home, pursuing their passions, and reshaping the future of their families through digital innovation.

Through communities like PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), the modern “side hustle” has evolved into something far more powerful: a tech-enabled lifeline helping families navigate an increasingly unpredictable world.

For many mompreneurs, the journey began with either necessity or a spark of inspiration, a homemade chili garlic recipe, curated thrift finds, bespoke footwear, or personalized digital art. Some were driven by the economic uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after losing jobs or sources of income. What started as small ventures eventually became sustainable businesses that now support entire households and communities.

“I had just resigned from my corporate job, and I had an 8-month-old baby to take care of. It was challenging at first because running a business means thinking about marketing strategies, finances, and product development 24/7. That’s on top of my responsibilities as a mom. It was daunting at first, but I was able to press on,” says Ayn Stephanie Buyco Angeles, founder of Marikina-based bespoke footwear brand Hers by Godfather.

“My husband and I got laid off in Dubai, so we decided to return to the Philippines to start anew. When I started Momsatwork, all I could think of was that I had to succeed for my family. I wanted other moms who had the same struggles as me to find a support system through MomsatWork. I wanted to make an empowering and educational platform that will provide opportunities for moms like me,” echoes May Martin-Pimentel, founder of consultation firm Momsatwork.

Faced with changing realities, mothers like Angeles and Pimentel chose to adapt, rebuild, and take charge of their futures. With the support of their loved ones and the sisterhood they found through PLDT Home’s MMPH community, they learned how to scale their businesses and to transform homegrown ideas into thriving enterprises.

Apparently this is an advertisement disguised as a news article but it remains true. 

Ebola is making a comeback in Africa. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/manila/doh-on-alert-vs-bundibugyo-ebolavirus

THE Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, May 18, 2026, that it is currently on alert over the threat of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus after a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement, the DOH said it is prepared to face the threat of the virus and is already in close coordination with the WHO.

"The DOH is always ready and on alert. We have been notified through the International Health Regulations (IHR) channels, and are in active coordination with the WHO," said the DOH.

Nevertheless, the health department said there is nothing to worry about the Bundibugyo ebolavirus since the threat is in countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

"The PHEIC declaration is most important for countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where the event is occurring," said the DOH.

"The WHO advice is clear for countries like the Philippines, where there is no Bundibugyo and that does not share a land border with countries that have Bundibugyo," it added.

For countries like the Philippines, the department said the WHO is merely calling for adequate information dissemination regarding the virus.

"The general public should be provided with accurate and reliable information on the Bundibugyo outbreak and ongoing measures to reduce risk," said the DOH.

Over the weekend, the WHO declared a PHEIC over the Bundibugyo ebolavirus spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

However, the WHO said the PHEIC does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. 

Will that be the next pandemic?

The Philippine Eagle is facing threats to its population. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/114133/ph-eagle-faces-genetic-threat-amid-declining-population/story/

The Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird and one of the world’s rarest raptors, faces not only diminishing population but also genetic threat that could endanger its survival.

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Philippine Genome Center, and University of the Philippines (UP), the species has extremely low genetic variation, based on analysis of 35 eagles.

Because their population is dropping, they have no other available mates. As a result, eagles are forced to mate with their own relatives within the forest, which is called inbreeding.

Authorities said inbreeding produces chicks that are weaker and more prone to illness, so they have a lower chance of survival.

They also reproduce slowly as they lay only one egg every two years, making it like a race against their own species’ survival.

"One reason why the Philippine Eagle is genetically or less healthy is that there is not much exchange or gene flow in the subpopulation so what is happening is that many Philippine eagles are being shot that have thrived and migrated or gone to other mountains and this is usually immature and young eagles meaning we are losing our young eagles that supposedly would have carried the genetic diversity of their bloodline," PEF Director for Operations, Dr. Jayson Ibañez, said.At present, only around 392 pairs or 784 mature eagles remain in the wild.

Authorities said humans remain the primary cause of their continued decline as juvenile or young eagles are often trapped or become victims of illegal hunting.

“We have scientific evidence na super taas ng juvenile and sub-adult mortality rate. During the pandemic alone, we rescued a total 20 Philippine Eagles from 2019-2022 that’s the highest rescue rate ever these eagles were shot, were trapped some of them fell to the sea, 18 out of 20 eagles were immature,” Ibañez added.

But during the pandmiec more eagles were rescued than at any other time!

The Politically Motivated Assault by Jewish Tourists in Siargao

I saw this news story and it didn't make a lot of sense to me because it was quite vague. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/15/israel-embassy-holds-dialogue-with-siargao-business-owners-over-tourist-behavior-concerns

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines held an online dialogue with more than 70 business owners in Siargao to strengthen communication and address concerns involving tourist behavior on the island.

The virtual meeting via Zoom on May 14 followed the recent visit of Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh and Consul Moti Cohen to Siargao, during which they met with local government officials and community representatives.

During the discussion, business owners and stakeholders raised concerns and questions regarding tourism and visitor conduct.

Kursh and Consul Cohen addressed the issues and reiterated that all foreign visitors are expected to respect Philippine laws, local culture, and community values.

The embassy reaffirmed that “all visitors are expected to respect Philippine laws, local culture, and community values,” while emphasizing that the majority of Israeli visitors deeply appreciate Siargao, its people, and Filipino hospitality.

Meanwhile, the embassy encouraged members of the community to properly report incidents or concerns to local authorities to ensure that appropriate action can be taken when necessary.

The Embassy also encouraged “concerns or incidents to be properly reported to local authorities” and reiterated its commitment to promoting greater awareness among future Israeli travelers about Philippine culture, customs, and responsible tourism.

The dialogue was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open communication between the Israeli community and local stakeholders in Siargao, one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations. 

Obviously something happened concerning Israeli tourists in Siargao. But what? What could make Israeli tourists get out of line? Well, here it is. 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/323404/siargao-attack-sparks-call-to-shield-locals-from-unruly-tourists

A lawmaker on Sunday urged local governments to protect their communities from rowdy tourists following an attack in Siargao earlier this week, while appealing to visitors to respect the places they visit.

“Local governments must actively protect the welfare and way of life, especially of indigenous communities in the face of tourist abuse,” Solid North Rep. Ching Bernos said in a statement.

Bernos issued the statement days after two tourists allegedly assaulted the owners of an establishment on the world‑famous Siargao Island that, according to reports, had displayed a Palestinian flag.

“We must ensure that the welfare of our communities is always upheld and the rights and practices of the locals are respected,” the lawmaker said.

She urged local government units (LGU) to put in place plans that balance tourism with the need to preserve heritage sites and maintain peace and order.

“It is crucial that we have a plan for advancing responsible tourism,” said Bernos. “We have to keep in mind the absorptive capacity of our localities, and set aside resources for police, health workers, and other concerns.”

She also called on authorities to investigate the alleged assault in Siargao and to look into other incidents involving tourists. 

“I appeal to our visitors — please respect our way of life and act with kindness towards our people,” Bernos said.

Jewish tourists saw a Palestinian flag in an establishment, lost their minds, and assaulted the owners. The outrage here on misbheaving tourists in general is a bit misplaced. You cannot account for crazy people. No rules will ever deter crazy people from acting crazy. And it is beyond doubt that these Jews are crazy for reacting the way the did. Here is a fuller account of what happened. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/05/15/2528098/tourists-assault-siargao-shop

The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday defended business owners on Siargao Island in General Luna, Surigao del Norte following an attack on one of the shops by two tourists over the weekend.

Reports said that two Israeli nationals assaulted owners of a business establishment after seeing a pro-Palestinian flag hanging outside the shop on Sunday.

The foreigners allegedly threw rocks at the shop and destroyed a closed-circuit television camera installed in the area.

“We stand in defense of Siargao’s tourism, but more than that, we stand in defense of Filipino dignity and welfare,” the DOT said in a statement.

The municipal government of General Luna has condemned the incident and assured residents and visitors that an investigation is ongoing.

Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh earlier urged the government to enforce Philippine laws on misbehaving Israeli tourists in the country.

The tourism department said the action of some people should not reflect on all Israeli visitors.

While all tourists are welcome in the Philippines, they must also respect the country’s people, culture and laws, the DOT said.

This is not about respecting "our way of life and act with kindness towards our people." What does the Palestinian flag have to do with the Filipino way of life? Nothing. So why frame it that way? This attack has everything to do with easily offended Jews. The fact is the Philippines has recognized Palestine as an independent state since 1989 and for the Jews that will not stand. This was a politically motivated attack and not simply tourists behaving badly. 

Insurgency: 625 NPA Rebels Supporters Neutralized

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines 625 rebels and their supporters have been neutralized since the beginning of the year. That is great. But will they break the numbers down to tell us how many actual rebels have been neutralized?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274893

Government forces have “neutralized” 625 members and supporters of the communist New People's Army (NPA) from Jan. 1 to May 7 this year, according to the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the figure includes rebels who surrendered, were arrested, or were killed in military operations.

“From this number, 548 surrendered, 28 were apprehended, 49 were killed in military operations,” Padilla said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

The military also reported that 414 assorted firearms and 105 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered by NPA members and their supporters during the period.

In addition, government troops captured 25 NPA encampments nationwide.

“The data show consistent operational gains, but aside from the numbers, what is important is the gradual return of communities into normalcy and development,” Padilla said.

She added that the figures indicate that more communist insurgents are opting to surrender rather than engage government forces in armed encounters.

Padilla also said the trend reflects how many remaining NPA members are now choosing peace over conflict.

For the whole of 2025, the AFP said 2,018 NPA members and supporters were neutralized nationwide.

Of the total, 1,798 surrendered, 93 were arrested, and 127 were killed in various military operations.

“A total of 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered (during this period),” the AFP said.

The military also reported the capture of 149 NPA encampments from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 last year.

No. Of course not. Don't forget that last count of remaining NPA rebels was 780.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264624

From tens of thousands during their heyday, the number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels all over the country has dwindled to less than 1,000, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Thursday, citing a "recent report."

"A recent report that we have received [indicates that] there are only 780 NPAs all over the country," NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a media briefing marking the 7th founding anniversary of the task force.

"That's relatively small because at their peak [in the 1980s], they numbered to about 25,000," he added.

Torres did not identify the source of the report nor give additional details regarding its contents. But according to him, these NPA remnants are holed up in the mountains, with some curious about the various programs the government is offering to former rebels.

"That's why we need the support of the media, for us to tell the public in general so that it (programs) would reach 'yung mga kapatid natin na nasa bundok pa (our countrymen who are still in the mountains)," Torres said.

Do you see how saying 625 have been neutralized without breaking the numbers down seems awesome? The casual reader might be tempted to think the NPA is basically dead. But they aren't and the AFP continues to refuse to break down the numbers of actual NPA rebels and supporters who have been neutralized. 

Recently a high-ranking NPA rebel has been killed in a clash with the Philippine Army.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274768

A high-ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader was killed in an encounter on Monday morning in Sitio Casting, Barangay Bayan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.

The Army's 401st Infantry Brigade (401Bde) identified the slain NPA leader as Edilberto Daval, alias Bong, also known in the underground movement as Alias Waco and Alias Bill.

Daval served as second deputy secretary of the executive committee of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and as commanding officer of the NEMRC's Regional Operations Command (ROC).

Government troops from the 75th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Special Forces Battalion captured one of Daval's companions, identified as Jaymark Bada Lamela (aliases Miggy and Migz), a security member of ROC, NEMRC. The troops also recovered one Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle and one R4 rifle at the encounter site.

"This development marks the continuing collapse of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leadership and operational capability of NEMRC," Col. Glenn Joy Aynera, acting commander of 401Bde, said.

Aynera said the neutralization of key NPA personalities will disrupt their remaining network and reflects the effectiveness of sustained military operations with strong community support.

"We continue to call on the remaining CTG members to abandon the armed struggle and return peacefully to the folds of the law while they still have the chance. The government is ready to assist them through various reintegration programs so they can rebuild their lives and reunite with their families," he said. 

This death is being cheered on by the local community.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274831

Indigenous people (IP) leaders in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur praised the Philippine Army for the neutralization of communist New People’s Army (NPA) leader Edilberto Daval, alias Waco.

Daval, identified as the second deputy secretary of the executive committee of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and commanding officer of its Regional Operations Command (ROC), was killed in a clash with government forces in Barangay Bayan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on Monday.

The IP leaders described Daval as “a notorious butcher of IP leaders and members,” citing his years of leading harassment, intimidation, and extortion in indigenous communities.

“Daval led the ambush-slaying of Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on Oct. 4, 2020,” Datu Rico Maca, the IPMR of San Miguel, said in an interview on Tuesday.

Maca said Bucales was a staunch defender of the ancestral lands and communities of the Manobo tribe against NPA intimidation and extortion.

“Daval also ordered the killing of Datu Rexan Brital, one of our leaders in Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, in 2018,” he added.

As head of the ROC, Daval further directed harassment and extortion against IP communities across Surigao del Sur.

“This is justice for the IP in our province, and we are thankful to the Philippine Army for their recent accomplishment,” Maca said.

Another IP leader, Datu Samuel Behing, the IPMR of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur also welcomed the report of Daval’s death.

“The towns of Sibagat and San Miguel, though in separate provinces, are close neighbors, especially our IP communities in far-flung barangays,” Behing said.

He noted that for years, NPA rebels caused destruction, created problems, and blocked government programs intended to benefit isolated IP communities.

“We welcome these developments, especially the success of the Army’s continuing operations, which have led to the neutralization of NPA leaders and members,” Behing said.

He also recalled that NPA rebels killed his father, Datu Boy Behing, then president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Sibagat, in 2009.

“We look forward to the implementation of more development programs and projects in our IP communities as insurgency slows down with the surrender of rebels and the neutralization of their leaders,” he said.

That is a great comfort for them. 

A fact-finding mission has revealed that six civilians were killed in the Toboso clash which resulted in the deaths of 19 people. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2229687/6-civilians-among-19-killed-in-negros-clash-says-fact-finding-team

Six of the 19 people killed in the April 19 encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, were civilian peasant advocates and organizers, contradicting the military’s claim that all those killed were combatants, members of a National Fact-Finding and Solidarity Mission (NFSM) said Friday.

At a press briefing here, Karapatan deputy secretary general Sol Taule identified the six, based on witness testimonies, as RJ Ledesma, Alyssa Alano, Errol Wendel, Maureen Santuyo, Lyle Prijoles, and Kai Sorem.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has maintained that the 19 were killed in a legitimate encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Taule said more than 100 human rights advocates, Makabayan lawmakers, church workers, and activists joined the fact-finding and solidarity mission conducted on May 14 in Sitio Sinugmawan and Sitio Plaringding in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso.

The mission found a “high probability” that the crime scene had been tampered with and that evidence may have been planted, Taule said.

She added that photos showed some of the victims lying on their backs, while forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun reportedly found gunshot wounds on the backs and sides of several victims.

“There was clearly mishandling of the bodies, including the switching of Errol Wendel’s body with another person,” Taule said.

The mission also accused the military of terrorizing farming communities in Negros Occidental following the April 19 incident.

Citing documented eyewitness accounts, Taule said soldiers allegedly occupied civilian homes as military encampments, harassed and intimidated residents under counterinsurgency operations, restricted farming activities, fired indiscriminately near homes, carried out illegal detention, and used a farmer as a human shield.

Taule also claimed members of the fact-finding mission experienced harassment during the investigation.

Delegates reported being followed by a motorcycle rider who allegedly photographed the convoy’s vehicles. During a courtesy call at the Barangay Salamanca hall, around five unidentified individuals were also seen openly taking photos of the delegates, raising concerns over surveillance and intimidation, she said.

Taule further said that Sadie Stone, an American pastor and member of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, had been denied entry into the country after allegedly being blacklisted for participating in “political activities” in 2016.

Stone was supposed to join the mission.

“The mission strongly condemns these deplorable acts, alongside the military’s continued denial of massacring noncombatants,” Taule said.

The group called for accountability from the AFP, an end to militarization in Negros, and justice for the victims of what it referred to as the “Negros 19 massacre.”

Kristina Conti of the National Union of People’s Lawyers said the mission found possible violations of Philippine law and International Humanitarian Law.

“One of these is the killing of civilians. Some of the victims allegedly died not from gunshot wounds alone but from excessive bleeding,” she said.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who joined the mission, said they are calling for justice, an independent investigation, the resumption of peace talks with the NPA, and greater attention to the root causes of the armed conflict.

It seems like the AFP has been less than honest about what happened during the clash. 

More Impeachment Circus Antics: Senator Bato Escapes!

Just when you think things couldn't get any crazier the universe goes and proves you wrong and delivers the most epic of soap operas. As documented previously, Senator Bato crawled out of his hidey hole to assist in the coup against Senate President Totto only to be greeted by his nemesis Trillanes with an arrest warrant from the ICC which led to him running from the NBI and seeking protection inside the Senate building. 

From his secure place in the Senate, Bato sought sympathy for his plight from his PMA class alumni by breaking into song.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2228447/this-troubled-pmaer-breaks-into-song-for-alumni-sympathy

A day after pleading with the commander in chief, the embattled ex-police general appealed for “peaceful support” also from the police and military—by breaking into song.

Make that his alma mater song from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa particularly called on his “mistah” or fellow PMA alumni to oppose government attempts to arrest him and fly him to the Netherlands to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

“My appeal to my comrades in the PMA: Remember our song—the PMA hymn,” he told reporters in a hallway interview on Wednesday, the third day of his stay at the Senate premises where he has sought refuge to avoid being served the ICC warrant.

He then started to sing the hymn “PMA, Oh Hail Thee”: “When bells for us are rung and our last taps is sung, let generations see our country free….”

After a few more lines, he explained: “I am appealing for a peaceful support so that our government would see that if they are not listening to my plea—that I am a Filipino asking for support from you, that you should not betray me to foreigners. That is my appeal to my comrades, soldiers, police officers who are placed in the same boat.”

“Show them our sentiment that they don’t want foreigners to interfere with us. We are Filipinos. If they want to hang me, they want me to be crucified, here in our Philippine courts, not in the hands of foreigners,” he added.

On Tuesday, Dela Rosa also made a direct appeal to President Marcos not to hand him over to the ICC, noting they had held no personal grudges toward each other despite being on opposing political sides.

A member of PMA Class of 1986, Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police from in 2016-2018, becoming the top drug war enforcer of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa was on his third day holed up at the Senate building after the chamber’s leadership stopped government agents from serving an ICC arrest warrant over his role in Duterte’s bloody drug war.

Outside the Senate on Wednesday, about 500 riot police faced off with some 250 protesters demanding the arrest and handover to the ICC of a person they described as the “architect” of Duterte’s drug war.

The crackdown left thousands dead, human rights monitors say, many of them drug users and low-level narcotics peddlers.

Duterte was arrested in March last year, flown to the Netherlands on the same day, and is detained in the Hague where he awaits trial.

The senator had not been seen publicly since November before emerging on Monday to take part in an unexpected vote that helped Duterte loyalists capture control of the Senate.

What kinfd of support was he expecting from his classmen? A military coup? The only way the ICC warrant would not be recognized is if the government collapsed completely. Is that really what he wanted? At the very least he did want a vigil outside the Senate building. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/727662/bato-dela-rosa-says-he-will-be-arrested-calls-for-vigil-outside-senate

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa claimed in a live video on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, that operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were set to arrest him after the Senate session.

In the video, dela Rosa called on his supporters to go to the Senate and hold a vigil outside the building.

“Meron na pong mga operatiba ng NBI at ng CIDG na pupunta dito para ako’y arestuhin,” dela Rosa said.

(NBI and CIDG operatives are coming here to arrest me.)

Dela Rosa appealed for the public to help him, saying he did not want another Filipino to be brought to The Hague, following former president Rodrigo Duterte.

(Let us not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague, after President [Rodrigo] Duterte.)

Call for vigil

Dela Rosa urged supporters to gather in front of the Senate to stop what he described as a plan to arrest him and bring him to The Hague.

(I call on you: I hope you come here. Help us. Let us have a vigil in front of the Senate.)

(That is not acceptable for us Filipinos.)

The senator made the appeal after he was seen exiting the session hall when the plenary resumed on Wednesday, May 13.

He later boarded the elevator with his legal counsel and refused to take questions from the media.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief, has been linked to the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

How would a vigil prevent Bato's arrest? 

Here's where the drama happens. Moments after Bato posted that video there was a shooting inside the Senate building. The details remain unclear but it seems armed men tried to enter the building and the Sergeant-At-Arms fired a warning shot. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/987557/men-entry-senate-shooting-dilg-chief/story/

Armed men allegedly tried to enter the Senate building through its second floor, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday after a two-hour tense situation at the upper chamber.

In an interview with reporters, Remulla said personnel from the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA) fired a warning shot at the armed men.

“At approximately, 7:46 (p.m.), armed men tried to enter through the second floor but were stopped by the OSAA. They had firearms with them, but the OSAA fired a warning shot,” he said.

“They retreated at the back and then started firing indiscriminately into the air. Now, we do not have a definite count of how many people tried to enter the building,” Remulla added. 

The Interior Secretary said they are still investigating the identities of those who fired the shots.

“We still have to determine through CCTV footage kung ilan talaga sila (as to how many there really are),” he said.

Gunshots rang out at the Senate amid an ongoing lockdown at the upper chamber, where Dela Rosa is under protective custody.

The tension at the Senate developed after the Supreme Court (SC) did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Dela Rosa, who is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Remulla said they are still determining the persons behind the incident.

“We are in the process of determining who is behind this,” he said.

“We have instructed the GSIS, the Senate building, the Senate staff to secure all the CCTVs. Our mission here, the President sent me here, number one is to secure the senators. There’s no politics at this time,” Remulla added. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised its status to full alert amid the tensions at the Senate premises on Wednesday evening.

On the other hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said military personnel seen inside the Senate building are Marine Security & Escort Group (MSEG) personnel.

Who were these armed men? Why were they trying to enter the building? The NBI has said there was no order to arrest Bato so they likely were not government officials. 

It was pure chaos at the Senate which provided the perfect cover for now wanted-for-crimes-against-humanity Senator Bato to crawl back into his hole. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2229192/at-large-again-bato-dela-rosa-sneaks-out-of-senate

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa made a predawn escape on Thursday from the Senate, where he was given safe refuge after agents from the National Bureau of Investigation failed to arrest him earlier in the week on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

The senator slipped out around 2:30 a.m., hours after gunshots erupted inside the Senate building, throwing staff and journalists into panic as personnel from the chamber’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (Osaa) exchanged fire with a group of unidentified armed men.

Dela Rosa left “together with” Sen. Robinhood Padilla, one of his staunchest allies, according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, quoting a report by Osaa. Cayetano said the report did not say whether the two senators rode in the same vehicle.

There were no gunshot injuries from the shooting that lasted around three minutes along a corridor on the second floor of the Senate building, Cayetano said, angrily denouncing the “attack against the Senate.”

Last Monday, senators decided to take Dela Rosa under their “protective custody” after he broke free from NBI agents trying to arrest him. He dashed several floors up the Senate building and into his office. Later at the Session Hall, he denounced the NBI action.

Cayetano said Dela Rosa was free to leave the Senate as there was no local case against him and no local court had issued an arrest warrant for him.

“In that sense, it’s like he left protective custody voluntarily,” the Senate leader said. Cayetano, a lawyer, added that in a “legal technical sense,” Dela Rosa did not escape.

He said that the senator’s wife, Nancy, sent him a long text message to explain that her husband left the Senate for its own safety and to spare it from his personal troubles.

“It is for this reason I am sure that Ronald decided to ‘escape,’” she said in a text message to Cayetano, which he read to reporters.

“He told me that the longer he stays inside the Senate, more people would be affected,” she said. “No matter how safe he must have felt inside the Senate, everyone’s safety was still more important to him.”

According to Nancy, when she left the Senate at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, her husband told her he would “stay put” there because it was safer for him.

Israelito Torreon, Dela Rosa’s legal counsel, met with reporters close to midnight after things had settled down and showed pictures of him with the senator, which he said were taken before speaking with them.

Torreon posted another picture of himself and the senator on his social media account at 1:11 a.m. on Thursday, dismissing rumors of Dela Rosa’s escape.

By Thursday morning, various sources, including one senator, cited a Senate secretariat report that said Dela Rosa left the premises around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Cayetano, who said he left the Senate before midnight on Wednesday, told reporters that he learned that Dela Rosa had slipped out around noon on Thursday.

That's right. Bato escaped! Apparently he and Senator Robin Padilla ran off together. And maybe that was the point of all the chaos. Maybe it was all staged. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/senate-chaos-staged-that-s-the-sentiment-of-our-nbi-agents-matibag-says-1447

Following chaos due to gunfire inside the Senate on Wednesday night, the internet is rife with speculations that the disturbance was orchestrated to let International Criminal Court suspect Sen. Ronald dela Rosa leave the chamber's premises. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro brought this up at a news conference in Malacañang on Thursday with top law enforcement officials, who sought to clarify details of the shocking scenes in the chamber where gunshots had been heard on live television.

Castro asked Melvin Matibag, director of the National Bureau of Investigation, if there were views that the commotion may have been "staged" to let Dela Rosa slip out of the Senate.

"I'll be very honest, that's the sentiment of our NBI agents," replied Matibag, who stressed that an investigation is still underway to determine the truth behind the mayhem.

Agents of the NBI arrived Wednesday at the Government Service Insurance System building in Pasay City — the Senate leases part of the compound — after GSIS president Wick Veloso asked the investigating agency to secure their premises, said Matibag.

He stressed that the NBI was not inside the Senate when the chaos erupted.

Castro claimed that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, a former police general, was the first to fire a warning shot when an NBI agent confirmed their presence in the GSIS wing.

She also stressed that there was "no assault" on the Senate by NBI agents and that there was no operation to arrest Dela Rosa, whose legal team did not secure an immediate restraining order from the Supreme Court to prevent his arrest.

"Ang bagong Pilipino ay para sa katotohanan at hindi para sa pagko-cover up," Castro said as the press conference concluded.

(A renewed Filipino is for the truth and not for creating a coverup.)

No one was injured in the five-hour incident that catapulted the Philippines into the international spotlight.

The NBI personnel were not only securing the GSIS building amid the tension but were also determining the location of Dela Rosa, who had not been seen in public for six months, Matibag noted.

He added that the alleged gunman arrested following the incident was not their personnel but rather a "volunteer."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denied that the government had a hand in the chaos that gripped the Senate on Wednesday night, when Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano also claimed that the institution was "under attack."

Cayetano on Thursday denied talk that only Senate security opened fire on Wednesday night, calling it "fake news."

He stressed that shots came from both sides. 

"I mean, you have the videos, guys."

He said there have been "conspiracy theories from both sides" since Wednesday night.

He added he has talked to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and "informed him of the inconsistencies" in the NBI's statements.

He said he agrees with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla's suggestion for an independent joint investigation into the incident.

"Bakit joint? Kasi jurisdiction 'to ng [Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms] at ng Senate," Cayetano, who is in his first week as Senate president, said.

(Why a joint investigation? Because this is the jurisdiction of OSAA and the Senate)

He added that he knew as early as last night of talk that the incident was staged, adding "the accusations are all over."

An unnamed senator earlier in the day told the media that Dela Rosa had already left the Senate premises before dawn on Thursday, and Matibag and Philippine National Police chief Jose Nartatez Jr. could not immediately confirm the development in the briefing.

But Matibag, also a lawyer, pointed out that since Dela Rosa has been in the protective custody of the Senate, the chamber has the "responsibility" to surrender the senator when his presence is requested.

The NBI suspended operations to arrest Dela Rosa after the Senate placed him in protective custody and out of respect for the senator's petition before the Supreme Court, he said.

Dela Rosa disappeared last November following reports of an ICC warrant against him.

He emerged at the Senate on Monday shortly before his allies installed Cayetano as the new Senate leader and ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment by the House.

NBI officials had tried to arrest Dela Rosa as soon as he arrived in the Senate's parking area Monday, but the former police chief outran the agents and sought refuge in the plenary hall, where his allies pushed to keep him under the Senate's protection.

On Wednesday, chaos ensued inside the Senate building in Pasay City as gunshots were fired after Dela Rosa announced on social media that he would soon be arrested.

Dela Rosa is among the named co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte's crimes against humanity case before the ICC.

Dela Rosa served as the chief implementor of the former administration's bloody anti-drug campaign that saw thousands of suspected drug users and dealers killed in police operations. 

Of course, maybe it wasn't staged. Many questions remain as to what exactly happened and why it happened. There will be an investigation and hopefully it will uncover the truth. As of now the impeachment court is scheduled to convene on May 18th. What happens between then and now and during the trial remains to be seen but we can certainly expect more circus antics.