Killing is Their Business....and Business is Good!

Three in a row. Two businessmen murdered and one businessman shot at in a failed assassination attempt over a period of three days as if it's no big deal here in paradise. No one bats an eye at all this turbulence and murder since it's an everyday occurrence.

First up is a businessman who was brazenly gunned down on the EDSA Highway in broad daylight on February 17th.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086757/3-people-injured-in-shooting-incident-on-edsa

A businessman and his driver were killed and a female passenger was injured in a shooting incident on the southbound lane of Edsa near Reliance Street in Mandaluyong City Sunday afternoon. 

Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle went close to the white Toyota HiAce Grandia van they were riding on and fired several shots at its right side windows, Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran Jr., chief of the Mandaluyong City Police Station, told INQUIRER.net. 

The incident happened at 3:23 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Two days later on February 19th another businessman was gunned down this time after leaving church.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/223895-businessman-alex-yao-wife-shot-outside-bacolod-church-february-2019

A businessman was killed while his wife was injured after they were shot by still unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle at the premises of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine (Redemptorist Church) here Tuesday night, February 19. 

Filipino-Chinese businessman Alex Yao, 54, and his wife Ma. Teresa were about to leave the church after attending a prayer meeting when they were gunned down by the suspects.

The third shooting happened less than twelve hours later.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/218099/businessman-survives-ambush-in-mandaue-city

Police identified the businessman as  John Denero. 

According to Senior Superintendent Julian Entoma, director of the Mandaue City Police Station (MCPO), the  businessman and his wife, who was with him, were unharmed as the bullets only hit Denero’s car. 

Entoma said the suspects, based on the accounts of witnesses, fled on board a motorcycle.

Aside from the same modus operandi, motorcycle assassins, there is not much to connect these murders. At least not from these media reports. Who knows what salacious, sordid, saucy details the investigations will dig up? It is unsettling to read about the assassination  of two businessmen and the attempted assassination of another in such quick succession. Usually there are a few weeks between killings.

November 28th, 2018

https://www.rappler.com/nation/217777-businessman-dominic-sytin-shot-dead-subic-bay-freeport-november-2018

The victim was identified as Dominic Sytin, president and founder of United Auctioneers, a company engaged in the importation of secondhand vehicles. 

Witnesses said Sytin was about to enter the Lighthouse Resort and Hotel with some companions when the suspects approached him and shot him in the head. 

Sytin was dead on the spot while a still unidentified person was wounded in the attack. 

The suspects got away using a motorcycle. Authorities are still investigating the motive for the killing.

September 12, 2018

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1764082

A 56-YEAR-OLD businessman in Mandaue City was killed by an unknown gunman in front of his establishment on Hernan Cortes St. yesterday morning. 

Johnson Chiaoco, 56, a Filipino-Chinese and a paint shop owner, succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head, said Chief Insp. Zosimo Jabas of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Station 4. 

MCPO Director Julian Entoma said they have difficulty identifying the culprit since he was wearing a full-face helmet. 

He believes the perpetrator was a professional hired killer.

August 24th, 2018

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/190918/cebu-bizwoman-shot-dead

A 71-year-old businesswoman has become the latest victim in the spate of killings in Cebu. 

Junko Hamada, the president of Beams Philippines Export Corporation in Talisay City, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle while she was driving her Montero sport utility vehicle along N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City at around 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

July 16th, 2018

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1041607

A businessman was shot dead Monday afternoon in Barangay Batinguel here by two unidentified suspects. 

Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, police chief of Dumaguete City, identified the victim as Arsenio Vios Macahis, 55 years old, and resident of Barangay Bagacay in this provincial capital.

June 26th, 2018

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1749822/Cebu/Local-News/Filipino-Chinese-trader-gunned-down-in-Cordova

Gary Ong Go, 57, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Police said three unidentified men shot him at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Sitio Agad-Agad, Barangay Poblacion, Cordova. 

The above is eight months worth of killings. It appears the killing of a businessman happens in conjunction with the phases of the moon. Between February 17th and February 20th the moon was full with the culmination of a super snow moon the night of February 19th and morning of February 20th. The murders of November 28th, June 26th, and August 24th also occurred during a full moon. Is there a lunar connection?

http://www.phmd.pl/api/files/view/1953.pdf

Homicides and aggravated assaults demonstrated statistically significant clustering around the full moon.

Could be. Or it could be that the killing of businessmen is nothing new in the Philippines, a land where people pay back personal grudges and disputes in lead. Step back a few years and see for yourself.

2017

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/19/17/korean-businessman-killed-inside-camp-crame-bato

2014

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611085/family-employees-shocked-by-businessman-killing

2003

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/2003/05/08/announcements/businessman-slain-in-manila-home/

Whatever the reason it is undeniable that the amount of assassinations and other crime committed by motorcyclists riding in tandem has skyrocketed over the last few years with no end in sight. Everyone is a target. As long as someone is willing to pay and someone is willing to take the job, killing is their business...and business is good!

Electrical Poles in the Middle of the Road

Ok so not in the middle of the road. I admit the title of this post is hyperbole but just take a look.

See the white line indicating the edge of the road? Now see how far to the left of that line this pole is? Basically it's the middle of the road.

Now this pole is not in the road at all. I know this because they drew the line around it to exclude it from being in the road!

Who zoned and planned this road? From electrical poles to shanties to trees there are serious right-of-way issues on just about every road in the Philippines. Be careful out there.

Martial Law: Unassailable

With the bombing in Jolo a few weeks ago the focus has been on Abu Sayyaf. It might appear that the NPA has faded away for the moment but they are still as active as ever burning construction equipment, engaging in firefights with the AFP, and even being nice enough to release hostages. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party and one would imagine that the members of the NPA and the CPP are all bona fide and verified communists but you would be wrong to make such a hasty generalisation.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/12/19/manila-court-only-2-persons-with-unassailable-links-to-cpp-npa-in-doj-terror-list

A Manila court has trimmed down to 2 the number of individuals with “unassailable links” to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in the government’s "terrorist list". 

In an 8-page resolution dated February 1, Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar of Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19, identified only CPP chairman Jose Maria Sison and Antonio Cabanatan, Secretary of the Mindanao Commission, as having “undisputed links” to the CPP-NPA.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) originally listed 649 names as members of the CPP-NPA, a move which caused an uproar because it was perceived to be a case of terror-tagging.

From 649 to now only 2 names. Out of the thousands of people fighting in the NPA as well as the members of the NDF they can only verify that 2 people have unassailable links to the Communist Party? That is absurd. Especially when the AFP is warning people against the recruitment tactics of these groups.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062087

Meanwhile, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said the entire nation, not only the military and government, must condemn the efforts of the communist rebels to infiltrate the youth and student sectors as part of their initiative to recruit more members for their cause. 

"We call that infiltration of the youth and student sector and exploiting their vulnerabilities. The case of the UPLB student is another proof of student sector exploitation of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front)," he said in a message to PNA.

How can the AFP call these groups communists but be unable to verify who their members are in a way that unassailably links them to the CPP? Are these surrenderees verified communists with unassailable links to the CPP?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/685165/295-cpp-npa-members-surrender-in-surigao-del-norte/story/

What about Joaquin Jacinto who is a spokesman for the NDF?

Six militiamen held captive by communist rebels since December last year were freed on Thursday in Barangay San Juan in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. 

Joaquin Jacinto, spokesperson of National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao, said the release was a “gesture of goodwill” despite the government’s failure to suspend military operations. 

The NDF added that the release of the hostages proves that it is still open to resuming peace talks with the government.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086282/npa-frees-6-hostages-in-agusan-del-sur

Can the DOJ say that this man is unassailably linked to the CPP and the NPA? After all he is speaking for the NPA which is the armed wing of the CPP! As for this releasing of prisoners being a gesture of goodwill, well Dutere is still open to peace talks.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083416/duterte-renews-call-to-reds-stop-extortion-taxation-and-we-will-resume-talks

Will he or will he not resume the peace talks? 

Despite saying a week ago that he would never talk to the communists, President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday again imposed a condition for the peace negotiations to resume. 

“Stop extorting money and your taxation,” Duterte said in a speech during the Peace and Order Summit for barangay officials in Legazpi City in Albay. 

“I will guarantee na ako na ang gagastos sa talks. You can come courtesy of the money of the Philippines,” he said. 

“You can come and be billeted in simple hotels because luxury is not for us. You can come in peace, di kayo huhulihin,” he added.

The Flip-Flopper in Chief. Let me remind everyone who is reading this:

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/new-peoples-army/npa-taxation-a-reality-just-pay-them-says-duterte/

Now that Joma Sison and Antonio Cabanatan have been identified as the only verified communists in the whole of the Philippines they have been summoned to court.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084964/manila-rtc-summons-doj-joma-sison

“The Court hereby resolves to admit petitioner’s ‘amended petition’ and direct petitioner to serve summons to respondent organizations, through Jose Maria Sison and Antonio Cabanatan. The addresses of Jose Maria Sison and Antonio Cabanatan being unknown, service of summons shall be made by publication,” read the order.

Let's recap. The DOJ's list of communists has been shrunk from 649 to 2 and of these 2 the DOJ doesn't even know their addresses so they will be summoning them to court through publication in a newspaper! You would think if these men can be unassailably linked to the CPP that there would be a whole profile on them with their addresses but that is not the case. Obviously Joma Sison will not be flying back here from the Netherlands where:

"As a recognized political refugee in the Netherlands, I am protected by the Refugee Convention and by Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits my deportation to the Philippines or even to a third country." 

“The legal protection that I enjoy is well tested and proven valid and effective by the legal and judicial processes that I have undergone to have my name removed from the EU list of terrorists."

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/19/joma-sison-says-summons-from-manila-malicious-futile

This whole thing is a farce. In 2017 Duterte was eager to have the US delist Sison as a terrorist and now he wants to brand him officially as a a terrorist!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/25/17/govt-to-ask-us-to-remove-joma-sison-from-terror-list

You can't win if you don't have a plan so the Philippines will continue to remain in the hole running in circles fighting commies they cant even verify as being commies. Sometimes the NPA even wins a battle.

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/4-soldiers-killed-after-npas-seized-firearms-raided-military-camp-in-bukidnon/

Four soldiers were killed after communist rebels in Bukidnon successfully took over a paramilitary camp of the Army’s 1st Special Forces Civilian Active Auxiliary Patrol Base located in Green Valley, Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City on Thursday, February 14.

Special forces huh? Sure.

The BOL has been ratified and people are jubilant about it.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085774/its-official-63-north-cotabato-villages-now-part-of-barmm

“Let us be remind that the success of every electoral exercise depends on the active participation of the people regardless which side they will vote for,” Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said before the proclamation was made. 

“As we proclaim the sovereign will of our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro Region, we not only mark the beginning of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but we also mark the beginning of a new era for our country,” he added.

A new era for the country indeed. What kind era it will be remains to be seen. Not everyone is eager to enter this new era.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084443/duterte-reiterates-plan-to-reach-out-to-misuari

President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his desire to reach out to  Moro leaders who campaigned against the new law that would give their former colleagues full expanded autonomy in Mindanao. 

At the distribution of certificates of land ownership for farmers here, President Rodrigo Duterte specifically mentioned Nur Misuari, the founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), who publicly opposed the Bangsamoro Organic Law. 

“If I can get Nur…If we will have a talk and I can win him, we will be peaceful,”  Duterte said. 

On January 21, the people ratified BOL, creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the final step in the 2014 peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

Misuari became the governor of a Muslim autonomous region after signing a peace deal with the government in 1996 but failed to lift the area out of poverty despite millions of dollars poured into the region.

It is not hard to predict the future of the BARMM.  All one has to do is look back at the ARMM which was born out of dialogues with the MNLF in a bid to resolve the Muslim secessionist problem. Misuari was installed as governor of the ARMM in 1996 and his tenure ended in violence and rebellion. The region remains impoverished despite lots of money being invested in the region. That's due to good old fashioned corruption and graft.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/967348/in-armm-money-for-poor-goes-to-execs-pockets

Surely things will be different in the BARMM.

https://mindanao.politics.com.ph/peace-exec-optimistic-milf-can-manage-bangsamoro-region/

“No one is 100 percent ready,” Tan said when asked how ready the MILF is to handle the affairs of government. 

“However, they are ready in terms of [having the] determination to achieve good governance. Iba ‘yong sincerity nila [MILF] to govern and avoid corruption,” he added.

That's right. The Islamic terrorists who will be governing the BARMM are determined and sincere which practically guarantees they will succeed in avoiding the kind of corruption which is so endemic to Philippine politics. Along with good governance and avoiding corruption comes the security threats the MILF will have to deal with. Their "former colleagues" the MNLF, Maute, Abu Sayyaf and the rest are still out to cause chaos and havoc.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/28/19/analyst-new-bangsamoro-govt-needs-to-quell-terror-groups-in-mindanao

What programs there are meant to prevent radicalisation is not said. But if you are an orphan whose parents were killed by the infidels and have nothing left to lose why wouldn't you go with an ISIS recruiter who is offering you large sums of cash?

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/16/isis-leader-recruiting-child-warriors-in-lanao-del-sur/

Abu Dar, the only remaining leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in central Mindanao, has been recruiting orphans of those who fought against the government during the Marawi City siege less than years ago. 

Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Brigade, said that based on their intelligence-gathering, Abu Dar has been leading the training of children as young as nine years old in a remote area in Lanao del Sur. 

“We were able to confirm this after we seized small black shirts when we overran their camp three weeks ago,” said Brawner. 

“He is targeting the orphans and relatives of those who died in the Marawi siege. Sometimes, he is offering money for them to join him,” said Brawner.

Now that the MILF has risen to the top of the food chain in Mindanao and given the ultimate prize, their very own Islamic State,  plenty of groups will be jealous and do everything they can to disrupt the "peace." Determination and sincerity won't be enough to stop those elements.

Jeepney Art 21

It's only a matter of time before the uniquely Filipino art of jeepney painting is gone forever.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/28/19/pinoy-jeepney-artists-stalked-by-extinction

"This is an act of treachery against fellow Filipinos," said de la Cruz. "This is a uniquely Filipino product. We were born with it." 

When he began 45 years ago, there were hundreds of artists giving the vehicles their famously boisterous paint jobs. Now there are estimated to be fewer than a dozen left.  

He has seen orders decline from a high of up to 80 a month in the 1980s to just one or two now. 

"It's one of the most genuine forms of modern folk art that we have," Bernie Sim, a Manila-based graphic designer and co-author of a 2014 book on jeepney art, told AFP. 

But the vehicles, which were first made from leftover US jeeps after World War II, have been on borrowed time for years. 

Jeepneys are highly polluting, and the Philippines is desperate to improve air quality in its traffic-clogged cities. Their drivers are also notorious for ignoring traffic rules, and the vehicles have few safety features.  

On top of that, Manila ushered in internet-based ride-sharing services in 2014, and three years later President Rodrigo Duterte said the jeepney must evolve or disappear. 

"They have all but stopped making jeepneys," said 52-year-old jeepney artist Vic Capuno, based in San Pablo town south of Manila. 

De la Cruz worked on nine in the last year. He's the only painter left at Manila's Sarao Motors, once the country's biggest producer. Two of his siblings were also jeepney artists, but they died from diseases he believes were caused by years inhaling fumes from the paint.  

Yet he is still passionate about the vehicle's importance in Philippine history.  

"When the jeepney disappears a piece of Filipino culture will also die," de la Cruz warned. 

He conceded he could have a decent life without the jeepneys, but was heartbroken by the government's decision.  

"I would like to appeal to the authorities not to outlaw it," de la Cruz said. "At times I cry quietly when I think about what is happening."

Outlawing jeepnies? Even if they do disappear we will always have these pictures to remind us of how we used to be.

Campaign Cemetery

It's election season and candidates are required to post campaign banners in Comelec designated zones. Like this public cemetery.

Pretty spooky! This must be a joke but who can tell? Perhaps if you hang up a poster in any of these three areas you will become cursed and visited by three motorcycle riding assassins?

Retards in the Government 89

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics. 

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/07/army-7th-id-gets-ready-for-2019-elections/

“Rest assured that the 7th ID will take its election role seriously and will do its best to make the election in its area of responsibility be peaceful and orderly,” Agustin said. 

“We are in close coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections in the performance of our role in the upcoming election,” he added. 

On December 28, 2018, President Duterte issued Memorandum Order (MO) 35 which deputizes the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through Comelec and other law enforcement agencies to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.

In a healthy society you would not need the military to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083222/tacloban-city-a-former-village-official-in-eastern-samar-was-arrested-for-illegal-possession-of-firearms-and-ammunition-on-thursday-morning

Seized from Pomasin were one grenade; one caliber .45 pistol; one magazine for caliber .45; 14 live ammunition for caliber .45; 12 pieces live ammunition for caliber .38; one ammunition for caliber .38; one live ammunition for caliber .40; 13 pieces live ammunition for caliber 5.56 M16 Rifle; four pieces assorted magazines; one silencer for Ingram sub-machine gun; four holster for caliber .45; two magazines pouches for caliber .45; and one piece holster for caliber 9mm. 

Also confiscated were three sachets of suspected shabu worth about P3,000 and one sachet of suspected marijuana.

A nice little weapon cache. Where do these guys get grenades from?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083229/iloilo-city-dad-files-complaint-vs-city-police-chief-16-cops

An Iloilo City councilor has filed an administrative complaint at the Ombudsman against the city police chief and 16 other police officers concerning the arrest of his security escorts. 

In an 11-page complaint filed on Wednesday at the Ombudsman Iloilo field office, Councilor Plaridel Nava II accused Senior Supt. Martin Defensor, Iloilo City police director, and the other respondents of committing grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service. 

Nava sought the respondents’ dismissal from public service, forfeiture of all their benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding government office. 

The complaint stemmed from the arrest on Jan. 7 of brothers Julius and Roy de Los Reyes who served as Nava’s security escorts. 

They were tagged in the Jan. 4 killing of Mercedes “Ging-Ging” Nava, a first cousin and vocal critic of the councilor. 

Mercedes earlier accused the councilor of being among those behind the alleged fake signature campaign against the Panay Electric Company. 

The councilor has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing of Mercedes.

This article's headline is confusing. It should read councillor and not dad. So this councillor's security escorts were arrested in connection with the murder of his cousin who was a vocal critic of the councillor and charged him with being behind a fake signature campaign. He denies he had any doing in the murder but that remains to be seen. In the meantime he has filed a frivolous lawsuit against 17 PNP officers for arresting his men.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083223/deadlock-ends-as-senate-house-panel-approves-p3-8-t-natl-budget-for-2019

“Basically, yes, the P160 million per House member plus the billion-peso insertions made by a number of their colleagues, and the P23-billion Department of Public Works and Highways insertions by a number of senators plus other insertions in different agencies have all been retained,” Lacson said in an earlier Inquirer report.

All this delay over allegations of pork and they keep the pork anyway!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/684336/more-violent-polls-comelec-alarmed-over-shootings-amid-gun-ban/story/

According to the election official, the current atmosphere calls for "stricter enforcement of the gun ban" and "better implementation of checkpoint operations." 

The gun ban for the May 2019 elections took effect last January 13. The PNP, as of Friday, has seized more than 8,000 firearms, over 7,000 of which are "deadly weapons." 

For his part, PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac insisted that the current strategy in conducting Comelec checkpoints remains effective in thwarting election-related violence.

If people are intent on killing they will do it gun ban or no. That is why assassinations continue to occur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1083949/joseph-estrada-hits-man-chinese-new-year-parade

A short clip which circulated on social media showed Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada hitting a man during a Chinese New Year parade in Binondo. 

During the said parade last Tuesday, Estrada gave away “ang-paus,” or red envelopes, which he said contained 20-peso and 50-peso bills. 

[While I was giving away the traditional angpao, a man clutched at my hand. He almost pulled me off the truck I was riding on and he bumped an old man standing near him and the old man almost fell.] 

[It’s true I let my fist fly because of the incident. If that rowdy man managed to make the older man all, I might have gone down and punched him again.] 

[This incident caused a sudden burst of anger because of someone who didn’t care about others. Nobody likes what happened and it was so sudden. That’s why I’m asking for forgiveness from the public.]

While handing out money Estrada was grabbed by a man and almost pulled off the truck so he gave the man a punch. Then Estrada, a man who plundered the coffers of the nation and was pardoned by GMA, a man who has proven he does not care about others, chides this man who grabbed him for not caring about others!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084041/politicians-exploit-party-list-system-to-build-dynasties

What was once meant to be a reform measure, the party-list system has “deteriorated” over the last two decades into a mechanism in which those who belong to political dynasties are able to perpetuate themselves in power. 

Of the 134 party-list groups vying in the May midterm polls, nearly half, or at least 62 of the groups, have ties with political dynasties, represent special business interests or are running with questionable advocacies, according to election watchdog group Kontra Daya. 

When Republic Act No. 7941, which established the party-list system, was enacted in 1995, it meant to provide the marginalized and underrepresented sectors a voice in Congress. 

Inspired by the European model, particularly that of Germany, the system seeks to expand proportional representation by including in policymaking groups that felt that their concerns were not being addressed by the government. 

One reason the party-list system has become what it is today is a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2013, which said that parties need not represent “any marginalized and underrepresented sector.” 

“To require all national and regional parties under the party-list system to represent the ‘marginalized and underrepresented’ is to deprive and exclude, by judicial fiat, ideology-based and cause-oriented parties from the party-list system,” the high court said.

Leave it to the Supreme Court to tear down the rule of law piece by piece by running over the spirit of the letter of the law.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084347/cop-shot-dead-in-north-cotabato-town

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a police officer along the national highway in Sitio Malabuaya, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato at around 8:15 p.m. Sunday. 

Police investigators said Lilangan was aboard his multicab and heading towards Kabacan town when he was chased and shot by two gunmen on board a single motorcycle.

Another cop, this one stationed in Davao, assassinated by unknown motorcycle assailants.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084766/manila-barangay-chairman-shot-dead

A barangay chairman was shot dead by two still unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tondo, Manila Tuesday afternoon. 

Marcelino Ortega, chairman of Barangay 199, Zone 18 was gunned down at the corner of Hermosa and Pilar streets at around 2:58 p.m., Police Officer 3 Jimmy Pelagio told INQUIRER.net.

These stories are all the same. Just change the name of the victim.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1787173

In a speech in Baluan, Maguindanao, Duterte said changing the country's name to "Maharlika", which means nobility, should be done in the near future.  

He said the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos did the "right" thing when he promoted the name "Maharlika". 

"Philippines. [It's named] Philippines because it was discovered by Magellan using the money from King Philip [II]. Kaya pag dating ng ulol, ginawang Philippines (That's why when the stupid explorer came, he named it the Philippines)," Duterte said. 

"Pero okay na 'yan. Balang araw palitan natin. Actually tama si Marcos, panahon ni Marcos, tama talaga si Marcos. Gusto niya palitan [ng] Maharlika, the Republic of Maharlika because Maharlika is a Malay word and it means serenity. Tama si Marcos nun," he added. 

(But that would be fine. In the future, let's change it. Actually, Marcos was right. He wanted to change [the Philippines's name] to Maharlika, the Republic of Maharlika because Maharlika is a Malay word and it means serenity. Marcos was right.)

It's always funny how former colonies malign their old European masters but when they finally toss off their "grievous yokes" they always go on a downward spiral of violence and tribalism. Like the whole of Africa for instance. Even the Philippines has never been able to ascend the heights of which it so loftily dreams. If there is anything the Philippines should not be named its "nobility" or "serenity." What's a good word that means polluted, corrupt, and violent?

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1787290/Manila/Local-News/701-hotspots-identified-for-2019-midterm-elections

"On election matters, as the campaign period gets underway for national elective positions in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections, the PNP is seriously considering some adjustments in our projected deployment of police units and personnel for election duties," PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said.  

"The move is prompted by latest validated information of election watchlist of areas that identified a total of 701 election hotspots that comprise 42.9 percentof the 1,634 cities and municipalities across the country," he added.

That is almost half the nation. "Serenity" indeed!

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1787305/Manila/Local-News/5-Pasay-cops-relieved-over-mishandling-of-students-molested-by-Chinese-national

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar ordered on Tuesday, February 12, the relief of five policemen over the alleged facilitation of settlement of a Chinese national who allegedly molested three female students in a theme park in Manila. 

Eleazar said based on initial reports, Zhang Yang, 19, was accosted by security personnel of the theme park after receiving a complaint from three students the Chinese national allegedly molested while inside the horror house. 

In a radio interview of the mother of one of the victims, she said they were dismayed of how the policemen handled the case. 

She said her daughter initially called and told them that policemen are encouraging them to not to call their parents and settle the issue by themselves as they are already on legal age. 

"Hindi namin na feel kasi that we were protected in that substation. Parang kami pa yung may kasalanan, parang nakaka-disappoint lang. Hindi tama yung ganung procedure," the mother said. 

(We did not feel that we were protected in that substation. It feels like we were at fault. It's so disappointing. Such procedure is wrong.) 

"Sa mga bata, para sa kanila, iniisip nila na OK na...magkano, tinanong sila. Sinabi daw na P300 to P500 na lang daw. Sabi ng arresting officer, 'Ay hindi...mga P20,000 lang yan, paano naman kami?' Yun ang sabi ng arresting officer," she added. 

Yang was charged with acts of lasciviousness.

Isn't settling a case the standard operating procedure in the Philippines? You can kill a guy and just pay his relatives to not file a case.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/223341-pork-barrel-scam-behind-them-jinggoy-estrada-bong-revilla-kick-off-senate-bids

Two senators charged with plunder or graft for allegedly misusing their pork barrel are seeking a return to the Senate, and are counting on the support of President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. 

Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr joined the younger Duterte on Tuesday, February 12, to kick off their senatorial campaign with Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the presidential daughter's regional party. 

They shared the stage with HNP's other senatorial bets: Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Go, Jiggy Manicad, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Zajid Mangudadatu.

Truly disgusting. Even if Revilla was acquitted and Estrada will be they still have the most pungent whiff of corruption about them and the fact that they are counting on the support of the President and his daughter is sickening. Anyone who supports these men are part of the problem.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1084581/hontiveros-hits-back-at-sara-im-not-the-one-with-my-head-in-my-ass

“And unfortunately for the good Mayor, the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showed that the majority of Filipinos oppose the lowering of the MACR. How’s that for a reality check? Pardon my French, but I’m not the one with my head in my ass,” he added.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085058/sara-lectures-hontiveros-on-attacks-validation-and-vindication

“Ai naku po, an attack is an attack. Don’t use attack, validation and vindication in one sentence,”  Duterte-Carpio wrote on her Instagram. 

She then applied the logic of Hontiveros on the senator’s attacks against President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“Otherwise, your attacks against the administration are validations to say that PRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) is correct and therefore vindicated,” she added. 

“And you still believe your head is in your shoulders? #dropmic na wall is a wall. At sa bawat banat mo ke PRD ay nasasabi ng lahat na tama si Presidente Duterte,” she added.

Meow! It's a catfight between the Mayor and the Senator. Does anyone care?

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/02/12/1893085/pacquiaos-plan-a-mayweather-may

Unless it’s the rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao will have to set aside his plans of returning to the ring in May. 

But there’s a lot going on for Pacquiao, the senator, who was tapped as PDP-Laban’s senatorial campaign manager for the mid-term elections on May 13. 

Pacquiao’s tenure does not end until 2022 but with his new role, he has his hands full. 

“It’s the elections,” said Gibbons. 

“He’s working on the campaign doing a lot of stuff for some people,” he added.

If Pacquiao returns to the ring in May he will have to start training in April which means he won't be able to perform his duties as campaign manager for PDP-Laban thus putting their election card in jeopardy. He should really retire from boxing if he wants to be a politician or quit politics if he wants to be a boxer.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/10/1892433/dar-creates-task-force-investigate-irregularities

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones has ordered the creation of a task force that would look into reported irregularities in one of the agency’s regional offices. 

Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption regional head Pyra Lucas, who accompanied the farmers, alleged that there have been anomalies in the regional office that have delayed the awarding of the farmers’ land titles for a number of years.

Corrupt agency to investigate itself. What could go wrong?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/19/fake-scheme-guarantees-poll-win-for-p50m-election-lawyer

An election lawyer on Wednesday warned candidates against falling for groups claiming they could rig the results of the May automated elections for a hefty fee. 

People purportedly working with the Commission on Elections’ information technology department have offered the service in exchange for P50 million to P60 million, said lawyer George Garcia, who cited complaints from several of his clients in the provinces. 

"Wag maniniwala. Imposible. Nobody can manipulate the result of the computerized election," he said in a media forum. 

Garcia said some of his clients for local posts had been told that these syndicates could fix the results in their favor "in 5 minutes." 

"That cannot happen. Definitely, that will never, never happen," he said.

The only reason a scam like this would exist is because there are willing customers. Also is this an admission that the election system is unhackable? Does this mean the VP recount which is now ongoing and all the accusations of vote fixing are without merit?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085561/rappler-ceo-arrested-no-bail-recommended

Maria Ressa, the CEO of online news site Rappler critical of the Duterte administration, was arrested after office hours on Wednesday in connection with a cyberlibel complaint filed against her by a businessman. 

The arrest warrant did not state recommended bail, according to Ressa’s lawyer, JJ Disini.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085575/mayor-linked-to-solons-slay-freed-on-bail

A mayor suspected of plotting the murder of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in December last year walked out of his detention cell on Wednesday after posting P3-million bail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. 

Aside from the gun charges, Baldo is facing cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated homicide.

The disparity between these two stories is striking. A woman accused of cyberlibel, a bailable offence, is not allowed to post bail while a man facing murder and weapons charges is out walking around after posting bail. That's the Philippine justice system!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/19/doj-indicts-ilocos-sur-mayor-for-serious-illegal-detention-grave-coercion

The Department of Justice has indicted an Ilocos Sur mayor over the closure of a resort which resulted in the detention of a resort operator, her 4-year-old son and several employees. 

The case stemmed from Mayor Cobangbang’s 2017 order to close government-owned Cabugao Beach Resort in Cabugao town, Ilocos Sur. 

Savellano-Ong operated the resort, taking over from her industrial partner, Antonio Valera, who had a contract of lease with the municipality for the use of the resort since 2005. 

But after Valera executed a quitclaim in 2016 thinking that Savellano-Ong will continue operating the resort, the municipality passed an ordinance authorizing the lease of the resort to another lessee.  

The municipal treasurer then refused to receive payment of rentals from Savellano-Ong.
Instead, Mayor Cobangbang asked her to leave the premises in June 2017, according to the findings of the DOJ. 

When Savellano-Ong refused, municipal employees in August 2017, without any court document, padlocked the resort leaving Savellano-Ong, her 4-year-old son and 7 employees trapped inside overnight.

Sounds like a lot of drama and misunderstanding over a business deal. At least it's not murder or plunder.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085597/watch-out-for-policemen-handing-out-roses-on-valentines-day

On Valentine’s Day, members of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) were ordered to stop commuters and motorists and give them roses. 

The PNP-HPG will deploy 30 of its men for this special activity along major thoroughfares, including Ortigas Ilalim Bus Stop, Megamall Bus Terminal and the entrance of La Salle Greenhills School. 

Along with the flowers, the lawmen will hand out flyers to educate the public about road safety. 

HPG Deputy for Administration Senior Superintendent Marvin Pepino said the activity was aimed at connecting the police with the community.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1085620/traffic-cops-surprise-motorists-with-flowers-love-notes-in-south-cotabato

Highway traffic enforcers stopped motorists along Alunan Avenue here with flowers and love notes as the country observed Valentine’s Day. 

“This is our way of showing love, reminding our commuters that we value life, their lives,” Chief Inspector Von Alejandrino, team leader of the South Cotabato Highway Patrol Group, told the Inquirer. 

Aside from flowers, members of the highway patrol also gave out safety tips to motorists. 

Motorists thought the highway patrol were just doing the routine check on their vehicle registration, drivers’ licenses, among others, and were surprised to get flowers and love notes, instead. 

Imagine being pulled over by the police and your heart is pounding because your registration is not valid and you don't have a driver's licence and instead of taking you in and impounding your car you get flowers and a love note! Ridiculous.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/217264/couple-living-on-the-streets-of-cebu-city-treated-to-surprise-date-by-the-police

After having been married for over 20 years now, the Perales couple, who live on the sidewalks of Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City, finally got out on a date on Thursday, February 14, 2019.  

And it was for free.  

The Perales couple were among the two homeless families who were treated to a surprise date organized by the Cebu City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) for Valentine’s Day.  

The two families were shocked when they were picked up by personnel from the CMFC only to find themselves serenaded by police officers with love songs. The police also gave them flowers, heart-shaped balloons, food, and wine. 

“Nakuyawan gyud mi kay police na nidampot namo. Karun, na shock mi unya nalipay sad mi,” said Rosalina Perales, whose husband and five children live on the streets.  

The Peraleses have 12 children but most of them have already left Cebu City and now have their own families.  

Rosalina watches over their remaining children while her husband, Sixto, works as an assistant for a tire repair shop in Barangay Labangon.  

“These people, they may have already forgotten that February 14 is Valentine’s Day and it’s something to celebrate. But more often than not, they can’t because of their situation,” said Barandog. 

“This is why we choose them so that they, too, can still feel the essence of Valentine’s Day,” he added.  

Aside from food, wine, and flowers, the Police Advisory Council also donated food packs, sacks of rice, and financial assistance to the families.

What a messed up story. These people have 12 children and the ones who have grown up cant afford to let them stay with them? They are just letting their parents and siblings live on the street? How horrible. That is much worse than the cops picking you up and then bursting into song and handing you a bottle of wine and saying, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/14/1893674/dilg-95-lgus-around-manila-bay-failed-comply-environmental-laws

Ninety-five local government units within the Manila Bay watershed failed to comply with environmental laws, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Thursday. 

The 95 make up the 53 percent of the 178 LGUs from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon within the Manila Bay watershed area.

53%!! 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/13/1893377/despite-evidence-imee-marcos-insists-she-graduated-princeton

An official of Princeton University itself earlier confirmed that Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos did not earn a degree but she insisted, once again, that she graduated from the Ivy League university. 

"Pumasok ako sa Princeton at pagkakaalam ko, nag-graduate ako (I went to Princeton and as far as I know, I graduated)," she told News5 chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes on "Aplikante sa Senado."

As far as she knows? That must not very far!

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/13/coa-advises-book-supplier-to-go-after-deped-officials/

Sue the officials not the government. 

This was the advice given by the Commission on Audit to a supplier of books and educational materials that demanded from the Department of Education the payment of P67,902,116.55 for supplementary educational materials delivered to DepEd Region VI – Western Visayas in 2005. 

In its ruling, the COA-Commission Proper (COA-CP) supported the petitioner’s argument that it be paid based on “quantum meruit” but granted payment of only P2,462,6127.50 of the amount sought to be paid. 

The COA body said petitioner Bookcraft Publishing Company Inc. should go after DepEd officials involved in the fiasco, instead of retrieving its losses from government. 

In a petition for money claim, Jovita D. Aquino, vice president of Bookcraft Publishing Company Inc., asked the COA Commission Proper to order DepEd to pay the supplementary educational material her firm allegedly delivered in 2005 to DepEd Region VI Divisions in Iloilo City, Passi City, Roxas City, Capiz, and Antique.

Fourteen years have passed and the will probably not see anymore money except what the COA has granted to them.