Friday, April 27, 2018

Retards in the Government Part 46

Part 46 of Retards in the Government features graft, extortion, murder, gun crimes, smuggling, and plain silliness from both known and obscure Philippine politicians across the nation.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1508535/Cagayan-De-Oro/Local-News/Cops-mum-on-drug-listcontaining-names-ofvillage-SK-officials
Gonda said only President Rodrigo Duterte can reveal the names and said the police could not divulge the names on the list as doing so may violate human rights.
Doesn't that mean that if Duterte releases this list that will also be a violation of human rights??

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1508550/Cagayan-De-Oro/Local-News/DOH-No-shortage-ofanti-rabies-vaccine-in-Northern-Mindanao
The City Health Office (CHO) said the trend of dog bites cases in Cagayan de Oro is increasing. 
In 2015, the CHO recorded a total of 10,000 dog bites, 2016 with 11,000 bites cases, year 2017 with 12,800 cases, and for the first quarter of this year, 3,800 cases of dog bites are recorded so far.
That's a lot of dog bites!!!  If the government enforced animal control rules and if the people controlled their dogs then this situation would be non-existent. 3,800 dog bites this year so far??  That is ridiculous!
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/650566/roque-duterte-has-found-evidence-linking-resigned-dole-exec-to-graft/story/
"To be candid, if Usec. Say did not resign he would have been fired [due to corruption the President knows about]," the Palace official said at a news conference.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/650748/resigned-dole-exec-denies-committing-graft/story/
In the phone interview, Say denied committing any wrongdoing. "I did not betray his (Duterte's) trust," he said, adding the accusation against him by a "whistleblower" is purely hearsay. 
Say said he may be a "collateral damage" in a demolition job against Bello. "[Baka] si Secretary ang tina-target nito, collateral damage lang ako, opinion ko lang 'yan," he said.
If DOLE Under Secretary Say is really guilty of graft then Duterte would bring charges against him and not simply fire him. But this has not been Duterte's modus operandi when dealing with allegedly corrupt officials. To date he has merely fired officials accused of corruption rather than bringing criminal charges against them and holding them accountable for their alleged crimes.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/04/20/sotto-pushes-creation-of-presidential-office-on-drugs-and-crimes/
Sotto has filed Senate Resolution 702, to urge President Duterte to create the “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” which, he said, shall focus on the prosecution of suspects in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes. 
The Senate Majority Floor Leader made the appeal as he raised alarm over the huge number of drug cases dismissed by courts. Citing records, he said more than 70 percent of drug cases in the Philippines are being dismissed. 
“Despite the strong cases filed, cases are eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between the law enforcers and prosecutors especially in the case buildup stage,” Sotto lamented. 
Sotto said the proposed Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes, which will be created through an Executive Order, would combine the mandates of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs. 
It shall formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers, he added.
Just what the Philippines needs, more bureaucracy. I don't know what records he is citing but perhaps it's this:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/02/24/1293925/90-cases-dismissed-due-police-negligence
In a report obtained by The STAR, the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said data from the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court (OCASC) showed that 90 percent of criminal cases have either been dismissed or resulted in the acquittal of the accused for various reasons. 
Quoting OCASC, the PNP-DIDM reported 70 percent were drug-related cases. 
The most prevalent reason were the lapses and/or negligence committed by police personnel, said the report prepared by the PNP DIDM headed by Chief Superintendent Francisco Don Montenegro. 
In a memorandum, PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said that the dismissal of cases was recorded despite numerous seminars and training conducted by the DIDM to enhance investigative and operational capabilities of police investigators and other PNP operatives.
Unless Sotto is relying on these old statistics from 2014 this information has not changed one bit in four years! "Despite numerous seminars and training" the PNP is still bungling cases to this very day. How does Sotto expect a brand new bureaucracy to improve the situation? I would say just do more training but such a route seems to lead to nowhere.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984064/gsis-orders-sofitel-to-vacate-due-to-unpaid-rent
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ordered the Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc., the company that owns Sofitel Manila, to vacate the place where the Sofitel hotel in Pasay City stands due to unpaid P80 million in rent. 
In a notice to vacate, GSIS General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas said that Philippine Plaza Holdings has not paid its rentals since June 2006.  GSIS owns Lot 19 and Lot 41, where the hotel is located.
Is it really believable that the owner of a 5-star upscale hotel in Manila has not paid rent for 12 years!!  No. It is completely unbelievable. Even more so unbelievable because the owners of the land this hotel sits on is the GSIS. Would the government really allow rent to go unpaid for 12 years? Maybe someone in the GSIS was pocketing the rental fee? Everything about this stinks and there will surely be more information forthcoming. What's worse is that all the DDS'ers will come out of the woodwork and say, "This happened on the evil Diliwan's watch but now Papa Duterte is making sure everyone pays their rent!" As if this is about politics. I personally know a lady who has not paid rent in years but still she is squatting on the property operating a restaurant and the owner allows this to happen! Not paying rents and fees and dues is a Filipino thing. You wouldn't understand.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984166/misamis-oriental-village-councilor-nabbed-for-shabu
The village councilor, who was being detained here as charges were being prepared against him, became the fifth barangay official arrested in Misamis Oriental’s second district over drug charges this year.
Another local village official arrested on drug charges.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/21/1807934/ex-envoy-un-gets-27-years-graft
Baja was accused of pocketing insurance payments amounting to $17,524 for a damaged government-owned apartment in New York City in 2006. He said he would appeal his conviction. 
The court gave weight to the testimony of mission finance officer Tomas Valerio Jr. who said that he advised Baja to deposit the checks to the mission’s official Philippine National Bank (PNB) bank account. 
Baja reportedly refused and instead opened a separate account at the PNB under the name “Philippine Mission to the UN-Renovation of Townhouse.” 
“Accused Baja disregarded protocol and insisted on opening a separate PNB account...Consequently, the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) had no information about the insurance proceeds because the funds were purposely isolated and separated from the (mission’s) official bank accounts,” the court said. 
The court noted Baja also “kept mum about the withdrawal of the insurance proceeds and the subsequent closure of the (separate) PNB account.” 
“Under the circumstances, the Court is convinced that the feigned transparency of accused Baja betrays his active concealment of the use and disposal of the insurance proceeds he received on behalf of the (mission),” the decision read.
Seems like a really dumb scam which would have been found out sooner or later. And indeed it was found out!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984149/bukidnon-village-chief-2-sons-held-for-guns
Arrested for illegal possession of weapons. Or possession of illegal weapons. The article is not clear.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/04/21/1807887/mmda-files-raps-vs-manila-village-chief
In a three-page complaint filed with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), MMDA acting general manager Jojo Garcia alleged that Barangay 659, Zone 71 chairperson Ligaya Santos did not comply with her obligation to maintain cleanliness and order in her barangay after the MMDA’s clearing operations team removed traffic obstructions on Oct. 25, 2017. 
He said when the MMDA inspected the barangay in December 2017, the team found the obstructions were either still there or returned after being removed. 
That's one way to clean up the country. At least it's not graft and plunder.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984108/albayalde-pnp-needs-more-time-rodys-nod-to-give-drug-war-records-to-sc
The high court on April 3 gave the PNP 15 days to comply with a December order to submit records related to the bloody drug war, which Solicitor General Jose Calida attempted to block on grounds of national security, arguing it could endanger police, informants and witnesses. 
“As of this time, there is a motion being prepared,” Albayalde told a news conference. 
He said the police would take orders from Mr. Duterte before releasing any information about the drug war. 
“Maybe, even without the Supreme Court order, he may order us to give the records,” he added. 
Albayalde’s predecessor, Ronald dela Rosa, on Wednesday said the 15-day deadline was not feasible because the paperwork was “voluminous.”
The PNP sure do not want to release these records. If warrants were filed that paperwork would be on file with courts. If paperwork was done properly following each operation and death it would all be in place. It would only be a matter of gathering it all together. Gathering these records should not be a problem at all. But the worst thing is that the new PNP chief is refusing to comply with a lawful order from the Supreme Court unless President Duterte gives him permission. That is a violation of the principle of the separation of powers.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/04/21/1807882/pnp-recruits-undergo-special-action-force-training
“This will be rigorous. They will be under the basic internal security operations course for the next six months,” Albayalde said in a news briefing in Camp Crame. 
In the current setup, recruits undergo basic physical and educational training at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) for six months before they are transferred to the PNP for immersion in field work. 
Albayalde said this practice has to change as there have been cases where recruits were exposed to corruption by field training officers who ordered them to collect protection money from ambulant vendors and owners of illegal establishments.
Why don't they simply address the problem of the field training officers? How is making all recruits undergo special forces training going to stop corruption? Will they also be receiving the salary of an SAF officer? 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984091/ex-colonel-2-others-convicted-in-vice-mayors-killing
The Isabela Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday sentenced a retired Army colonel, a former corporal and their civilian accomplice to 40 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Jones Vice Mayor Florante Raspado. 
Former Col. Reynaldo Jacinto Tapia, Army Cpl. Michael Deocariza and Victor Fontilara were found guilty of killing Raspado inside the Jones town hall on June 19, 2015. 
The court decision came after Jones was listed as an election hotspot due to its history of violence in the last four polls.
No mention of motive but what does that matter? Political violence is very common in the Philippines.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/650823/ltfrb-s-director-in-bicol-cries-foul-over-sacking/story/
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has sacked its regional director in Bicol over allegations of corruption. 
A report on Balitanghali said sacked was Jun Abrazaldo, LTFRB's regional director in Bicol. 
The report said that according to Abrazaldo, his dismissal was a form of harassment because it did not go through due process. 
Abrazaldo said that he was not even notified about the dismissal proceedings against him. 
He denied that he was involved in any anomaly. 
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra, meanwhile, insisted that his order to dismiss Abrazaldo has basis. 
Delgra added that President Rodrigo Duterte himself ordered Abrazaldo's dismissal.
Allegations of corruption. Allegations. Just a whiff? If this man really is corrupt he should be charged and brought before the proper authorities. But that is not going to happen. Duterte ordered him out therefore he is out!

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/04/21/1808104/another-dead-solon-charged-ombudsman
In separate case information sheets filed on April 13 before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the ombudsman charged the late former Ilocos Norte First District representative Roque Ablan Jr. with four counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 
Ablan passed away on March 26 of this year. He was 85. 
It was not the first time that the ombudsman charged a dead public official. In October last year, it filed graft charges against Maguindanao Second District representative Simeon Datumanong, who passed away in February of that year, in connection with the alleged misuse of P3.686-million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel in 2012 to 2013. 
The ombudsman, in August last year, also filed a graft case against Mountain Province representative Maximo Dalog who died on June 3. 
In a statement issued after the story of its filing of a case against Dalog came out in newspapers, the ombudsman defended that “it is not expected to know or take notice of the death of an accused without a proper manifestation from his counsel”. 
“Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales stressed that the death of a party to a case is not among the matters that her office is mandated to take notice of,” the ombudsman said. 
The ombudsman, however, admitted that the case filed against a deceased accused is facing “inevitable dismissal.”
I suppose the ombudsman can't be blamed for not knowing when a party to a case has died but then why is this not the first time?  Why does this keep happening? Why all this wasted time and paperwork? The lawyers should inform the Ombudsman immediately upon the death of their client. Perhaps fix a penalty for not informing in a timely manner?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984250/barangay-chief-shot-dead-in-compostela-valley
Unidentified gunmen shot dead the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley on Saturday, authorities said. 
The governor said the slain village chief was seeking reelection and was the lone candidate for the post in his barangay.
The lone candidate? Interesting. Unexplained political violence.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/22/18/aviation-inspector-sacked-over-alleged-extortion
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has fired an aviation inspector accused of involvement in extortion activities.  
The sacked Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officer allegedly demanded money from a religious group in exchange for airworthiness certification, the transportation department said in a statement released Sunday.  
The group initially complied with the demand, but reported the officer when he asked for more money, the department said.  
The CAAP later found out that it was not the first time that the inspector allegedly dabbled with extortion, it added.  
The inspector, who is a former Air Force colonel, will face possible criminal charges for violating the Corrupt Practices Act.
This group should have declined and immediately reported him. But they only reported him after he asked for more money!  See the problem is not just corrupt officials but those who tolerate them. This man should not face possible charges.  He should have the book thrown at him!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984429/4-killed-in-poll-related-violence-in-basilan
Election time means open season on incumbent and would-be politicians.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984470/pnp-to-embark-on-drastic-but-necessary-internal-cleansing-albayalde
This time we’ll breathe discipline 24/7 as we will more firmly implement reforms in all levels in the PNP,” Albayalde said in his first flag-raising ceremony speech at Camp Crame in Quezon City. 
“Basta’t may disiplina kayo magkakaroon kayo ng tunay (na) respeto sa sarili at magiging maayos ang inyong serbisyo,” he added. 
(As long as you have discipline, you will have true respect for yourselves and your service to the public will get better.) 
Albayalde admitted that there are “few misguided souls” in the police ranks “who continue to live on the dark side and refuse to toe the line.” 
There are only a handful of them in our ranks but they can cause more trouble to the organization if we do not take action and allow these people to insist in their own wicked ways,” he said. 
“Because discipline shall be the hallmark of my administration, we will all address this concern with utmost urgency and forcefully if necessary,” he added.
Sure. Ok. Mhmm. I'm not holding my breath!

http://cnnphilippines.com/incoming/2018/04/24/Baybayin-bill-netizens-Twitter.html
The Committee on Basic Education and Culture's approval of House Bill  (HB) 1022, or the "National Writing System Act", which seeks to declare Baybayin as the country's national writing system, elicited negative responses from netizens on Twitter.   
Baybayin is an ancient pre-Spanish script of the Philippines.   
HB 1022, authored by 2nd District Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, seeks to require all local government units to inscribe Baybayin script and their translations on labels of locally produced, processed food, and on the signage of public facilities, street names, public buildings, and public service establishments such as hospitals and government halls.  
Publishers will also be required to include Baybayin translations for the names of their newspapers and magazines, while government agencies will be tasked to distribute Baybayin reading materials to all educational institutions, and government and private agencies and offices.  
The bill was supported by the Department of Education, advocacy group Baybayin, Buhayin, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, who is tasked to preserve Baybayin as a national cultural treasure.
Do I need to explain why this bill is a waste of time?  This is a purely symbolic bill with no chance of becoming a law. Now the public is thinking about Baybayin. Mission accomplished.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984965/obstruction-of-justice-rap-filed-vs-duque-over-dengvaxia-mess
A complaint for obstruction of justice has been filed against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for allegedly preventing further investigation on the deaths of children inoculated with the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine. 
“He (Duque) is clearly averting autopsies that may otherwise be conducted by other government or private persons and entities, including and especially that of PAO which has been publicly known as conducting autopsies pursuant to DOJ Department Order No. 792,” the complainant further alleged. 
The complaint added that there was also AO 2018-0011 or the Interim Guidelines on the Release of Documents Related to Dengue Immunization” heavily restricting the release of official documents including clinical or medical records even to relatives of the victims. 
“There is no doubt that Sec. Duque is effectively and willfully suppressing, and concealing the records of the victims and the cadavers of the deceased victims – a matter that is subject to criminal investigations by several government agencies including PAO,” read the 19-page complaint. 
The complainant also accused Duque of conflict of interest. 
“To be precise, Sec. Duque served as chairman of the search committee to evaluate nominations for appointment of undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and board members of specialty hospitals and attached agencies in the DOH that Dr. Garin created during her term as DOJ secretary,” they pointed out.
More raps in the dengevaxia scandal. Will Aquino be next?  It's shaping up to be an interesting scandal which is only happening in the Philippines and nowhere else this vaccine is being used!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984723/too-much-snacking-in-youth-agency
In its annual report evaluating the youth agency’s financial performance in 2017, COA auditors flagged the NYC’s “unnecessary expenses,” including almost P300,000 in meals and snacks during 126 meetings, of which 112 were not official. 
“We reviewed the petty cash vouchers and found out that of the total sample of 126 meetings and related activities held during the year, the total cost of P296,968.30 was used for the payment of meals and snacks served, 112 of which with a total cost of P268,068.55 were considered not official,” the COA said.
P300,000 for snacks at 126 meetings? Thats almost P2400 per meeting actually. Is that excessive? COA says it is. "Unnecessary expenditures." I say start them out young. From excessive snacking to plundering billions. These youths will be professionals in no time at all.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/24/18/ex-village-chief-surrenders-after-evading-arrest-firefight
The "happy ending" to a story posted above about Bukidnon. They caught the one who got away.
Former agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala and 23 others are facing graft charges over the illegal importation of garlic into the country.
Graft charges over the illegal importation of garlic! The illegal importation of garlic. Illegal importation. Of garlic.

You know what would be great? Reviving a government program that turned into a scam where billions were lost and the small time farmers and fisherman who were supposed to be the beneficiaries were left behind. This time around the program will be scam proof. Honest!
http://www.manilatimes.net/former-sss-official-sacked-for-corruption-back-in-govt-as-tourism-exec/394825/
In a message to reporters, Palace spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said the appointment of La Vina was a prerogative of the President.
This is how Duterte is fulfilling his promise to fight corruption. 
The CITF said that the policemen would collect P300 to P500 from each bus or van driver in exchange for allowing them to pick-up passengers at the illegal terminal along M. Dela Cruz Street.
He said that instead of apprehending violating drivers, the policemen collected money from them through a collector. 
Malayo said that the policemen’s immediate supervisor would be relieved from his position.
PNP officers extorting drivers. At least it's not kidnapping and murder!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/985397/300000-politicians-have-jumped-ship-to-pdp-laban-says-pimentel
The increase in number was swift,” he said. “We are doing double screenings because we don’t want anyone involved in illegal drugs to join our party.” 
“We’re anticipating the possibility of narcopoliticians joining PDP-Laban just so they could say that they belong to the President’s party,” he added. 
Pimentel hoped that the party could keep its numbers even after the President had stepped down. 
Failure to do so, he said, would mean the party’s failure to educate its members about personality politics. 
“We will have to accept our responsibility that we failed to educate them,” he said. 
It remains to be seen whether the numbers will stay or not but it is doubtful they will because Philippine politics is personality politics. There not much party loyalty here either. 300,000 politicians jumping ship is proof of that.


Now for the biggest Philippine political scandal of the week: The rescue of abused OFWs in Kuwait. What started this row was the posting of a video showing OFWs being rescued by Philippine diplomats.
https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/news-videos/2018/04/19/1807468/watch-philippine-embassy-personnel-rescue-distressed-ofws-kuwait
Rescue operations require police assistance but Office of Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Raul Dado said that, in some cases, rescue teams had to do it on their own, especially in cases on sexual and physical abuse.
Rescue operations require police assistance. That is a very important to know because these rescue operations were done without the assistance of the local police. The operation was therefore illegal to start with and supposed to be covert. Why it was filmed and then uploaded to the internet remain unanswered questions. This video of OFWs being rescued went viral after being posted by RJ Nieto on his blog which led to the Kuwaiti government to take notice and summon the ambassador who then brazenly lied about the whole thing.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/165934/ph-envoy-kuwait-rescue-ofws-always-coordinated-local-cops#ixzz5DTmlFraa
In a statement, which was recorded live by PTV, the Philippine government TV station, he said: “In this connection I would like to clarify a statement attributed to me that ‘we do not need the help of Kuwaiti authorities, particularly the police, in extending assistance to our nationals.’ The embassy always coordinates with the Ministry of the Interior and the police when responding to requests for assistance from our nationals. This is standard procedure. And we will continue to do so.”
Understandably the Kuwaiti government was upset at such a diplomatic scofflaw, declaring that its sovereignty had been violated. The Philippine government was immediately apologetic.


The Philippines apologized yesterday to Kuwait for the rescue of distressed Filipino workers after the Gulf state protested the mission, which it viewed as a violation of diplomatic norms and an infringement on Kuwait’s sovereignty.
But an apology was not enough.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/25/1809509/kuwait-expels-philippine-ambassador-amid-dispute
Kuwait also recalled its own ambassador from Manila over the row, according to a bulletin on the state-run KUNA news agency.
What will happen next?  Will diplomatic relations between Kuwait and the Philippines end? Will all OFWs be expelled? Will Duterte curse the Kuwaitis while declaring that he does not care if he will die and burn in hell as long as all OFWs are safe? Will the situation escalate beyond all control?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/26/1809690/ofw-party-list-rep-seeks-escalation-diplomatic-row-kuwait
Tune in next week for the exciting continuation!

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Post Office Foolishness

Today, April 25th, 2018, something so unbelievably stupid happened at the Post Office.


A friend had been expecting a package from overseas. Following the tracking number online revealed that the package was in town and delivery had been attempted several times. She called the Post Office to confirm this and was told to just wait and it would eventually be delivered. The delivery did not happen. So she decided to go to the Post Office to pick it up. Having no photo ID she got the idea to use her marriage certificate to prove her identity.

Since I have been a frequent customer at the Post Office she invited me to come with her and help navigate the process. When we arrived at 10 am all the windows were open except the one we needed. The clerk was nowhere to be found and we were told he was probably on break somewhere. After waiting five more minutes we left to run a few errands and returned an hour later.

This time he was in his office. My friend told the clerk her name and showed him the packages tracking number. He pulled out his ledger, found her name, found the package, and said she must pay a fee at another window before she could be given the package.

The fee is only P112 and I have paid it for almost every package I have ever had sent. I have no idea what the fee is for. I have never asked but everyone pays it. It's not a customs fee. The clerk at the payment desk asked my friend for an ID and she admitted she had none but did bring her marriage certificate. He said that was ok and he processed the payment without even looking at the certificate. Receipt in hand she went to retrieve her package. 

But now there was a problem. This first clerk said she could not be given the package without showing an ID. I protested that she had already paid but he was insistent. No ID, no package. She explained that she had no picture ID but had a marriage certificate and hoped that this would suffice for an ID. He looked the certificate over and said she would need to bring back a photocopy of the marriage certificate and then the package could be released.

I scoffed at this and said no way. There was no way she would be bringing back a photocopy of such a sensitive and personal document. My friend just wanted her package and no hassle so we walked out. But instead of going to a copy shop I led her to the supervisor's office. I told her to explain everything that just happened to the supervisor. She did. The supervisor took a look at the marriage certificate, made a few phone calls, and then all three of us walked back to the office where the package was waiting. 

My friend then attempted to prove that this package was hers by showing text messages between herself and the sender which included a photograph of the package as well as the tracking number and a picture of the contents. She was willing for them to open it to verify the reality with the picture. The supervisor and the clerk poured over the package tracking number and the marriage certificate once more and came to a conclusion.  Bring back a photocopy of the marriage certificate and the package would be released. We also had the option to wait for the deliveryman to come back from his route and he could verify her identity. Also we could just leave and wait for delivery later that day or the next.

Comparing the package with the text message

Pouring over the marriage certificate
None of those options were worth considering. Who in their right mind would give strangers a photocopy of their marriage certificate? A document with very personal and sensitive information. If it fell into the wrong hands, and anyone who is not a party to the marriage is the wrong hands, who knows what mischief might follow. Why were they asking for it anyway? How will having a photocopy authenticate my friend's identity more than the original? Waiting for the package to be delivered was nonsensical because we were already there, had paid the fee, and my friend had shown abundant proof that the package was hers.

No one was budging. The package was placed back on the shelf and my friend said let's go home. I said not without a refund. So I took the receipt back to the clerk who took the payment and said I needed a refund because they would not release the package. This clerk took the receipt and walked back to the office where the package was. He said, "I know these guys" and like magic the whole situation changed.

The clerk who would not give us the package said, "Well why didn't you say so in the first place? It would have been so much easier for them."

The clerk who said he knew us, and being a regular customer he does know me by sight, signed the ledger as a guarantor right next to where my friend signed for the package. Package in hand we walked out the door. And we did not have to hand over a photocopy of her marriage certificate. Why they would ask for that I have no idea!  They certainly would not ask for a photocopy of her ID if she had shown one.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

House and Lot For Sale

Looking for a new house?

Look no further!







It may look like an abandoned house the owner declined to maintain which has resulted in busted windows and weeds as taller than a man which are surely hiding snakes and rodents and spiders and lizards and cat turds from curious cats who slipped through the bars to chase the mice and stopped to take a look at the place but looks can be deceiving. Rest assure this house is in a very nice and secure neighbourhood.  There is a guard 24 hours a day and all the other houses are well kept.

You will of course have to do some trimming. Pull some weeds, put in some glass windows. But it's not much work and when you finally move in, you won't regret it. In fact you will thank the owner of this lot for not keeping it up because it will give you some work to do.

What are you waiting for? Call now!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Martial Law: IS Threat Remains High

Usually for each week's martial law update I attempt to put together a narrative out of all the stories coming out of Mindanao. But since the end of the Marawi Siege there has been no strong narrative. Now almost a year since the imposition of martial law the Philippines is back to the beginning. Back to the war of attrition which has been happening for decades. A firefight here, as skirmish there, a raid over yonder way, a few terrorists surrendering, etc, etc. So for this week, and perhaps from here on out, I will do these updates like a newsreel from the 40s with each event being self-contained. Of course none of these events are really self-contained as they are each tiny bits of the over all war against terrorism.


Terrorist threat from ISIS remains high in the Philippines.
http://business.inquirer.net/249061/threat-remains-high-ph-study
The terrorism threat is seen to be “more severe” in the Philippines where overall country score remained “high” this 2018, a year after it was raised from “medium”. This comes after Islamist extremists seized control of Marawi for five months in 2017, promoting the government to declare martial law.  
The Marawi attack indicated that IS-linked factions were regrouping in southern Philippines and there was jihadist capability to mount attacks from there across Southeast Asia, the report said.
DND Sec Lorenzana has admitted not "appreciating" foreign intelligence reports in the lead up to the siege. Will he ignore this report too?

Peace talks with the commies. The President's daughter says, "No, Dad!"

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/14/1805766/sara-duterte-dad-no-peace-talks-reds
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday appealed to her father the President to reconsider his decision to resume talks with communist rebels. 
“Mr. President, the country will move forward if the government is able to eliminate the rebels and end this senseless rebellion. Just like a battered lover, there is a time to finally say no to pain and suffering. No to peace talks,” Carpio said in a statement yesterday. 
“I believe the insurgency problem can only be ended peacefully if the NDF (National Democratic Front) and the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, are sincere, honest and committed to working toward the direction of peace and reciprocate the gesture offered by the government,” she added.  
Duterte-Carpio pointed out that so far, there are no indications the communists are willing to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.  
She said history showed the communists are not to be trusted as they have consistently shown their deep-seated proclivity to sow hate, violence and extremism, destruction, and senseless killings. 
Duterte-Carpio said the CPP-NPA-NDF are groups motivated by the desire to overthrow the government and rule the nation.  
“For them, peace is not an option. And that’s because they are terrorists,” she said.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/15/1806051/sara-duterte-sabotaging-peace-talks-anakbayan
“Obviously, the Davao City mayor is toeing the line of the military and the Duterte government’s security council and defense department. They are in a chorus to sabotage the potential resumption of peace talks,” Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1504862/Davao/Local-News/Peace-talks-on
"The President said that we have to start resuming negotiations within 60 days, not finish an agreement, because that will take a long time," he said. 
Dureza said that they are "back on track" but there were a lot of confidential things that happened that he does not want to disclose publicly yet. 
He said these negotiations will be a "quiet one" having learned from their past experience. 
Dureza said there will be no public announcements of outcomes unless some very important agreements have been arrived at because this is their last chance. 
"As we speak, efforts are ongoing, now but we would like keep everything from the public until outcomes already are done. 'Di ba dati peace negotiations, before we take off and travel, we announce that 'we are going there to meet with them' and then eventually people would just be frustrated and come back home," he said.
Showing a bit of common sense, Sara Duterte has urged her father, President Duterte, to not resume peace talks with the communistsAfter all they are not for peace. They are for war and "are not to be trusted as they have consistently shown their deep-seated proclivity to sow hate, violence and extremism, destruction, and senseless killings."

In response to this sensible analysis Rep. Ariel Casilao has accused her of conniving with the AFP to sabotage the resumption of peace talks. Nothing like a little over the top drama to get your name in the papers and that is what Rep. Casilao is doing: drama. Sara Duterte has merely voiced her opinion. The peace talks are going full speed ahead. Too bad we won't know for sure though because this time the peace talks will be top secret unless an outcome is reached.

The rebuilding of Marawi is about to get underway very soon. It won't be cheap.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/06/1803467/official-marawi-rehab-cost-least-p72-billion
Del Rosario said that between P17 to 20 billion of the amount would be devoted to the rehabilitation of Marawi’s most devastated villages. 
The remaining P55 billion will be spent on villages outside of the most devastated zone in the Islamic City, Del Rosario said. 
“It has a total budgetary requirement of 55 billion pesos, plus more or less 17 to 20 billion for the most affected areas,” Del Rosario said in a press briefing in the palace. 
Del Rosario said that the P17 billion allotted for the rehabilitation of Marawi’s most devastated areas could increase to P20 billion depending on the Bangon Marawi Consortium, a group of Chinese and Filipino companies which will build the town’s critical infrastructure. 
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto meanwhile urged the government to recognize Maranao culture and resilience as the strongest building blocks in Marawi’s reconstruction. 
He added that the government should treat local residents as active partners and not merely as passive receivers of rebuilding plans. 
“While we welcome help from all countries, at the end of the day it should be a Made by Maranao enterprise and not a Made in China nor a Made in the USA project,” he said.
Sen. Ralph Recto need not worry about the rebuilding of Marawi being a "Made in the USA project." The Chinese have that all covered.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984247/chinese-builders-plot-marawi-rehabilitation
The specialists, the third foreign group to visit Marawi, took pictures of the buildings destroyed in the fighting, measured roads and exchanged notes while soldiers stood guard. 
“This is a lot of work and there is a specific target of completion but we are ready to help the Philippine government,” said a senior Chinese engineer assigned to design roads and bridges who declined to be identified. “This is a big challenge but we can do it.” 
The Chinese team of engineers is part of the Bagong Marawi Consortium earlier identified by Eduardo del Rosario, TFBM chair, as the private sector entity that submitted an unsolicited master plan for the development and rehabilitation of Marawi. 
The development contract has not been awarded to the consortium but it has been allowed to survey and inspect the area most affected by the war. The consortium is led by a Filipino management company but is composed of five Chinese companies, including China State Engineering Corp. Ltd. 
We are estimating 15 million tons of debris and our requirement to the potential developer is to complete that task in six months,” Millar said. 
Millar said President Duterte had given TFBM a specific deadline to complete the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Marawi. 
Del Rosario said they had 33 months to finish the work from the date of the groundbreaking. 
President Duterte wants that when the Maranao return, they would be still returning to Marawi, but better, a better place to live in,” he said. 
We want to make sure the Maranao are not outsiders in the plan. This is their city and they have a say on the master plan for Marawi,” said Harry Cuevas, consortium manager. 
The consortium proposed to undertake the rehabilitation and development of the war-torn city at a cost of P17.1 billion, but Del Rosario said this cost could still go up, depending on the final plans. 
The President does not want photo ops. He wants groundbreaking, all the equipment in place and work to start immediately,” Millar said.
I can't find information about who the previous two foreign groups to visit Marawi are but I am suspecting they are also Chinese since a consortium of Chinese and Filipino contractors will be doing the rebuilding. The article is misleading when it says "the development contract has not been awarded to the consortium." What they really mean is none of the firms in the consortium which has been chosen to do the rebuilding have been awarded a contract yet. 
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/02/18/china-ph-consortium-chosen-to-rebuild-war-torn-marawi
Here is a list of companies that compose the Bangon Marawi Consortium provided by Del Rosario:
Chinese firms
China State Construction Engineering Corp., Ltd.
Anhui Huali Construction Group Co. Ltd. 
China Geo Engineering Corp.
TBEA Co., Ltd.
Shandong Jinyuan Homes Industry Development Co. Ltd. 

Local firms

Future Homes Philippines Inc.
A Brown Company, Inc.
H.S. Pow Construction and Development
SDW Realty & Development, Inc.
Needless to say the Maranos are not happy with this situation. They want to rebuild their city their way.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982545/maranao-group-decries-plan-to-demolish-all-structures
Atar said his group was offended by Del Rosario’s recommendation to flatten all structures, which would include the Grand Mosque, inside 24 Marawi villages where the fighting between IS and government forces was heaviest. 
Atar said the Maranao people were hurt when Del Rosario said they should already move their belongings out of the area to give way to the plan to flatten it. 
Del Rosario, however, said the group’s criticism was “not the general sentiment.” 
RMSM, he said, does not represent “even 1 percent of the total populace 
The CBCP said Dela Peña agreed to suggestions to demolish the cathedral and the bishop’s residence “because they’re no longer structurally sound.” 
Demolishing the church structures would start in June and could take up to 10 months, the CBCP said.
Two things. First of all if it will take 10 months to demolish just the Marawi Cathedral then how will  any developer be able to remove 15 million tons of debris from the entire city in only 6 months!?

Second of all if every structure in Marawi is flattened, including the Grand Mosque, will the new structures which rise in their place really be Marawi? This is an age old problem known as "The Ship of Theseus."
The ship of Theseus, also known as Theseus's paradox, is a thought experiment that raises the question of whether an object that has had all of its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus
The Maranos say no. Duterte says yes. The debate will continue to the end of time.

Martial law is slowly rolling the curtain back on just how violent the Moro people are.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982542/martial-law-disrupts-moro-love-affair-with-guns
The love affair with guns by residents and officials of 10 towns in the province could be nearing its end as dozens of firearms, all unlicensed, had been turned over to an Army team that would pry the weapons forcibly out of their owners’ hands if these had not been surrendered. 
The impact of martial law was being felt among townsfolk and community leaders who had treated guns as family heirloom, status symbol and security shield. 
Among those who gave up their guns was the family of Rakeem (not his real name) who owned at least 20 firearms, some of them high-powered. 
Like many Moro families, Rakeem’s kept guns because of a rido, or clan war, with another family.
Maj. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, commander of the Army’s Sixth ID, said since January the military had already collected 338 loose firearms in Maguindanao alone. 
The figure was not even significant, he said, because the estimated number of unlicensed guns in the province was at least 25,000.
What more proof does one need that the ARMM is a region full of violence? Old habits die hard and when and if martial law is ever lifted these people will go right back to their clan wars. 

The ARMM has no problem embracing violence or terrorists. In fact ARMM officials are welcoming Abu Sayyaf surrenderees with open arms.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982398/armm-governor-backs-dutertes-offer-to-abu-sayyaf
Of course the ARMM backs this plan. The leadership is basically MILF and MNLF. Abu Sayyaf are their ideological brothers.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/04/21/1808095/armm-helps-former-rebels-return-normal-life
More than a hundred of the former Abu Sayyaf militants not wanted for any criminal offense appeared at the headquarters of the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Barangay Cabunbata in Isabela City in Basilan on April 17 to grace the joint launching by the ARMM government of the Program Against Violent Extremism, or PAVE. 
The PAVE is supported by Galvez and Uy and the provincial government of Basilan and all of its constituent-municipal local government units in the province. 
Hataman said Saturday he is optimistic Galvez can help the ARMM get the support of the Department of Justice in working out the speedy litigation of pending cases against Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf militants for them to have a chance to start life anew as peaceful Filipino citizens. 
“In PAVE, we don’t give special treatment to Abu Sayyaf members who are being prosecuted for criminal offenses. It is always emphasized to those whose surrender are being secured by local officials and community elders that if there are cases against them, only the court has authority to either convict them, or exonerate them. They should have their day in court,” Hataman said. 
One of those present in the April 17 launching of the PAVE was an 11-year-old child, Tariq, who worked as courier of improvised explosive devices the Abu Sayyaf detonated in selected targets. 
Officials gifted him with a new bicycle to hasten his rehabilitation, now being facilitated by experts from the ARMM’s social welfare department. 
Tariq said he is apprehensive of possible retaliations by families that suffered from Abu Sayyaf atrocities. 
“I want to live a normal life now,” he said in Yakan dialect.
That child will never live a normal life. Not in the ARMM. Not as a former member of Abu Sayyaf. He will always have a target on his back.  So will all these men who surrender. Ostensibly this PAVE program is to help Abu Sayyaf surrenderees who have no criminal record against them.  But isn't belonging to a terrorist organisation which seeks the overthrow of the government a crime in itself???
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/18/18/139-abu-bandits-surrender-to-get-livelihood-aid
Some 139 Abu Sayyaf bandits have returned to the fold of the law and will receive livelihood assistance from the government. 
Under the Program Against Violence and Extremism (PAVE), the former bandits will get various assistance. 
PAVE, initiated by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is part of the government's efforts to reintegrate militants to mainstream society. 
Part of the program is to provide sustainable livelihood to them through skills training courses offered by the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority. 
Omar Khayam Dalagan, executive director of TESDA-ARMM, said they allocated P20,000 for each surrenderer that would include allowances and tool kits. 
He said this is to ensure the surrenderer would attend to their training. 
During Tuesday's launching of the program, former militant Ruben Cuevas asked for forgiveness for what he had done. 
He was part of the Abu Sayyaf Group for 15 years under the leadership of Nurhassan Jamiri.
139 Abu Sayyaf surrenders times 20,000 pesos equals 2,780,000 pesos! What a waste of money. Poor Ruben Cuevas. A militant for 15 years because.....well ask him. But now he wants forgiveness!  Forgiveness?? Ok forgive him just before he is executed for sedition and rebellion and maybe even kidnapping and murder! Pretty simple. With child soldiers it's definitely not so simple.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/984260/former-abu-sayyaf-sniper-aims-to-regain-lost-childhood
Ten-year-old “Tony” has recently gone back to school, in a madrassa where he can continue learning Arabic—and be a child again. 
Only four years ago, Tony did not even have the opportunity to play, let alone attend classes. 
Instead, he lugged around an M4 assault rifle and was attacking and evading government troops as a member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. 
The boy proved to be no ordinary fighter and was deemed one of the sharpest among the 30 young combatants under the command of Motong Indama, a  younger cousin of Abu Sayyaf leader Furudji Indama. 
“The training took about a year,” recalled Tony.  “I was taught how to handle a gun. The [Abu Sayyaf members] were so happy with me that they called me the Tipo-Tipo sniper,” he added. 
Tipo-Tipo was the Basilan town that his group had tried to overrun in 2016, setting off clashes with government soldiers that dragged on for three months. 
Though Tony had suffered his first combat wounds in a skirmish even before those encounters, he emerged more gung-ho and unafraid of death. 
When Motong surrendered in July 2016, Tony was one of the 11 among his men who followed. The boy now lives with his uncles under the close supervision of Sumisip town officials. 
When word got around that Motong was turning himself in, one of Tony’s siblings who had dragged him into the group thought that his kid brother had had enough. 
“Now I just want to study in the Islamic school,” the boy said. 
Tony was one of the 179 Abu Sayyaf surrenderers from Basilan and Sulu whom the regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) hopes to assist in their return to normal life through an initiative called Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE). 
The governor assured critics that the selected PAVE beneficiaries were “those without [criminal] cases.”
This story is incredible. And I mean that literally. Its simply not credible. A 6 year old boy recruited as a sniper and lugging around an M4 which is about as big as him? How did he manage to carry the weight of the fully loaded rifle and the weight of the ammo strapped around his chest and waist or in his backpack? The sharpest shooter in the bunch? How did this frail little boy even manage the kickback from the weapon? And then he was wounded and facing death he emerged stronger than ever. It's like a movie script and perhaps it is. It gets your heart in your throat and catches all your sympathies so that you start to think the PAVE program might be a good thing after all because "think of the children!" At any rate "Tony" will now happily continue his studies at the madrassa. You know, the Islamic school where jihadi values are instilled in young students. 

Study hard young man!

Monday, April 23, 2018

Motorcycle Madness 3

Motorcycle madness in the Philippines. Little children holding on for dear life. Riders with no helmets. Transporting heavy objects in your lap. Common sights on the highways and byways of the Philippines. 

Something I will never understand is wearing your helmet on your wrist instead of on your head.



Not only is this young child illegally riding but he is also holding a huge box in his lap. 


This is not a very safe way to transport a table saw or whatever contraption that is in his lap.




Human Centipede on a motorcycle.



The driver of this motorcycle is carrying a cock sack and a little girl is squished in between her parents.