Thursday, February 25, 2021

Coronavirus Lockdown: OFW Gets Vaccine and Is Still Infected With the Virus, Tulfo Gets Smuggled Vaccine, and More!

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

The government is quickly compiling lists of who should be first to get the vaccine when it arrives. The AFP says they must be first in line.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131037

The country's military chief said he is giving way for other sectors, especially front-liners, to get inoculated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines first before he himself gets vaccinated.

"Well much as I wanted to get the vaccination first but (you) have to understand that there are other sectors that direly need more than me, so it is right that the 25 percent of our troops come first, then our front-liners," said Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana in an interview with One News' The Chiefs Wednesday night.

Sobejana was referring to the 25 percent of the AFP troops who will be vaccinated once the first doses of the vaccines arrive in the country.

These troops are tasked to conduct security operations to protect the areas for vaccinations.

Also included are those involved in the delivery and transportation of these vaccines to the cold storage and vaccinations areas and those assigned to medical support operations.

First the troops then the front liners. It seems this is because the troops will be tasked with protecting the vaccine. Whoever gets the vaccine first there will certainly be disagreements. Someone has to go first. It's certainly not going to be me or you.

One local Bishop says getting vaccinated is an act of charity.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130963

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete has called on the lay faithful to cooperate with the local government units (LGUs) and avail of the vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as an act of charity to one’s neighbor as the Christian world begins the season of Lent.

A concrete act of charity which could be asked of us in this critical time is to say ‘yes’ to the Covid-19 vaccination, not only for our protection but for the protection of our loved ones and our community,” he said in his homily during a concelebrated Ash Wednesday Holy Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria here.

A more concrete act of charity would be for governments and vaccine makers to be forthright about the dangers of the vaccine. It has been developed too quickly and people have died from taking it. The submissive response of the Roman church is very different from those in the Orthodox church.

The UK variant of the virus was found last month in a small mountain town but now 2 more variants have been found in Cebu.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/776505/2-coronavirus-mutations-of-concern-detected-in-cebu-doh-7/story/

The Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 on Thursday announced that the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) detected two coronavirus “mutations of concern” in samples from Cebu.

DOH 7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said 37 of 50 samples sequenced by the PGC showed the mutations E484K and N501Y in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

She added that 29 out of the 50 samples had a co-occurrence of the two mutations.

“These two mutations of concern are actually of global concern also. Hindi siya atin lang talaga. This is of global concern because, apparently, these are the mutations that are related to increased transmissibility,” she said in a briefing.

"Increased transmissibility." Hopefully it does not spread but we shall see.

The re-opening of cinemas has been put on hold but just in case it happens there are now new protocols in place.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/21/no-eating-no-calls-no-bathroom-breaks-in-case-cinemas-reopen-doh-official

Once cinemas in the country reopen in March a year after the country started implementing quarantine measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, moviegoers should follow health protocols and precautionary measures, a Department of Health official said Thursday. 

(Cinemas should not be filled to capacity. Eating should not be allowed. Calls should not be answered or phones should be turned off. And you should not use the restroom in the cinema as much as possible. With these, we can lower the risk.) 

All moviegoers should wear masks as well, he added.

Tayag gave the advice as the government allowed the re-opening of cinemas beginning March 1 amid concerns raised by mayors and experts.

These are things that should always happen in the movie theater! No cell calls, don't get up and move around for any reason, and no eating! I don't much care to eat popcorn and drink soda at the movies because I don't want to have to get up and go to the bathroom and miss the show.

Here's a story that's not very encouraging.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1397492/in-cebu-ofw-who-got-jab-is-positive-for-virus

A returning Filipino worker from the United Arab Emirates, who had already received shots of COVID-19 vaccine, tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival in Mandaue City, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas. 

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH regional spokesperson, said the male overseas Filipino worker (OFW) received two doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm on Dec. 12, 2020, and on Jan. 2. He arrived in Cebu province on Jan. 5 and completed the quarantine on Jan. 20.

This guy received the Chinese vaccine and still got the virus! That does not inspire any confidence in the vaccine Duterte prefers.

The Philippines was expecting to open up to MGCQ in March. Many think this is a good idea. The DILG says this will harmonize travel rules.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/776731/dilg-placing-entire-country-under-mgcq-will-harmonize-lgu-travel-rules/story/

Putting the entire country under the most relaxed COVID-19 quarantine status starting March would result in the needed harmonization of local government units' travel policies, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Saturday.


The people are confused about travel regulations because they vary from province to province. While some LGUs require a Travel Authority, some do not. Some LGUs require Anti-gen test, some do not. Some LGUs require PCR tests, some do not. Some even require 14-day quarantine regardless of PCR result. We need the regulations to be streamlined and placing the country under one classification would help in the on-going harmonization,” said Malaya.


“We need to take a hard look if the regulations we impose are consistent with scientific data on prevention of COVID-19 transmission,” he added.

Have they not been looking at their regulations to see if they were consistent with scientific data on preventing transmission of the virus? It's a weird statement to make. 

Some health experts are against the lifting of restrictions saying that a spike in cases could occur. The Palace says the Philippines is ready to deal with such a spike.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/21/philippines-ready-for-spike-in-covid-19-cases-under-looser-quarantine-says-duterte-spokesman

The Philippines is ready should coronavirus infections surge if President Rodrigo Duterte approves a call of his aides to ease quarantine levels across the country, MalacaƱang said on Monday.  

As Duterte studies a proposal for modified general community quarantine, the loosest of 4 lockdown levels, about 62 percent of hospital beds remain ready to take in patients with COVID-19, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.  

(It's true that cases may spike, but it is also true that we are ready.) 

He said not all cases of COVID-19 would cause severe symptoms.  

(We are weighing that against the number of those who are starving because many sectors of the economy remain closed.)  

Metro Manila, the Cordilleras and 6 other areas are under GCQ this February. Mayors of the capital region and the task force leading the country's COVID-19 response have agreed on easing quarantine curbs in March, Roque said last week. 

However, the OCTA Research Group warned that if Metro Manila is under MGCQ and hit by the same variant that affected Cebu City, it would take just 36 days for the region to return to its COVID-19 situation back in August, when an average of 2,400 cases were reported per day. 

However Duterte has given the proposal a thumbs down until vaccines arrive.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1398784/no-shift-to-mgcq-sans-covid-19-vaccine-rollout

President Rodrigo Duterte has thumbed down the proposed shift of the entire Philippines to the most lenient quarantine status while there is still no vaccine rollout, his long-time aide said Monday. 

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said “the Philippines would not be placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) unless there is a rollout of vaccines.” 

“The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of re-opening the economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods. However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety,” he added. 

The President also wants vaccination to start “the soonest possible” to allow the country to relax its community quarantine status. 

Duterte’s long-time aide and senator Christopher “Bong” Go likewise confirmed the President’s decision. 

“No vaccine roll out,  no MGCQ [modified general community quarantine] muna – prrd [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte],” Senator Christopher “Bong” Go told reporters in a message.

According to Go, Duterte said shifting to MGCQ is “not to the best interest of the country.”

The President said he “cannot in conscience allow these things to happen [MGCQ, face-to-face classes] and something might get wrong,” Go said.

Further, the senator said Duterte is “confident” that economic managers and Filipinos “will understand the situation.”

It's not in the best interests of the country to get things going again. A lot of others would disagree.

Some cities like Pasay and Tabuk are going under strict local lockdowns as cases rise.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131443

The Regional Task Force (RTF) Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and the local government of Tabuk City have placed two villages under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and ordered the testing anew of all residents after the aggressive community testing done in these areas showed a very high positivity rate.

Albert Mogol, RTF Covid-19 chairman and also head of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, on Monday said the local government has locked down Barangays Malinawa and Balawang upon the recommendation of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that is in charge of the ongoing testing in Kalinga.

Malinawa showed a 33 percent positivity rate while Balawang has 11 percent and both have low test turn-out in the mass testing that the National Task Force (NTF) Covid-19 has initiated.

Pina-lock down natin sila at pinapaulit ang testing para makuha natin ang totoong sitwasyon doon (we placed the villages under lockdown and we will conduct another testing so that we can see the actual situation there),” Mogol said.

“There might be other Covid-19 positive who were not yet tested,” he added.

It's not a rosy outlook for everyone. Especially not for seniors and health workers!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1398885/health-workers-seniors-cant-get-sinovac-shots

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday granted emergency use authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech, but did not recommend it for front-line health workers at high risk of exposure to the coronavirus and for elderly people due to its varying levels of efficacy.

The FDA decision put economic frontline workers and military personnel at the top of the government’s priority list for inoculation with the vaccine donated by China. Soldiers will get 100,000 doses of the 600,000-dose donation expected to arrive this week.

“According to our experts, [Sinovac’s] vaccine is not the best vaccine for them,” Domingo said in a news briefing, referring to the health workers. He said the data showed CoronaVac was only 50.4 percent effective in the high-risk group.

“Therefore, it is not recommended for use in this group,” Domingo said. “That’s better than nothing, but the recommendation of our experts is this is not the best vaccine for [health-care workers],” he added.

What a waste of money! Why spend for this worthless vaccines which won't protect those who need it most? Sinovac contradicted this advice and said the vaccine is ok even though it has a 50% efficacy rate.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/194027/sinovac-says-vaccine-may-be-used-on-health-workers-elderly-even-with-just-above-50-efficacy

Amid the advice of the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration, Sinovac Biotech on Wednesday still recommend that its vaccine be administered on the elderly and health workers exposed to the disease.

“I think generally, Sinovac would recommend, not only for the Philippines but also for other countries using our vaccines that the products should be used among the healthcare workers as well as the elderly,” Sinovac’s general manager Helen Yang said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

Without directly addressing the FDA’s concerns on administering the vaccine on the elderly and health workers, Yang said that despite the 50.4 percent efficacy rate from the clinical trials in Brazil, the Sinovac vaccine proved that it “can provide 100 percent efficacy on fatal cases and even for moderate cases that need medical assistance.”

“Regarding the Brazil trial, it is the most challenging environment. No one else could have ever conducted [a] trial among healthcare workers who are directly exposed to the Covid-19 virus, in the environment. And even with that challenging environment, our trial still suggests that the vaccine is effective, it’s above 50 percent,” Yang said.

Despite a 50.4% efficacy rate Sinvac declares that their vaccine can provide 100 percent efficacy in fatal and moderate cases! Who could believe such nonsense.

This whole vaccine procurement process has been a debacle. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/02/22/2079625/government-didnt-know-about-indemnity-requirement-vaccines-palace-official

Government was caught by surprise on the need for an indemnity agreement for COVAX facility's COVID-19 vaccines, a factor that delayed their delivery and effectively, the country's vaccination program, a senior administration official admitted Monday. 

An idemnity agreement would free drugmakers from liability in the event of unexpected adverse effects from the jabs as well as put up funds for it, having only been allowed for emergency use.

It would later turn out to be the crucial and final requirement for the vaccines' delivery on top of government already missing out its own indicative date by middle of the month.

"The negotiating team was following up and asking if this is really it and nothing more then suddenly there was the indemnification," he said. " My understanding was we did not know about that. Everything was supposedly in place."

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. told senators in January that an indemnification law is needed to gain access to the doses from COVAX.

A month later, Galvez would say that from their first negotiations with Pfizer, the developers did not ask for it.

But from the moment Galvez appeared at a Senate inquiry to now, no law providing for it has been passed. Only recently did President Rodrigo Duterte also certify as urgent measures for the indemnification, and an agreement was only sent to drugmakers by February 17.

In the same television interview, Nograles said there may have been limitations or "challenges in communication" as an indemnity deal was not mandatory for all countries.

"I wish they had told us that this was a requirement," he said.

"They should have said sooner that 'oh, we can't deliver it without that' or was it an afterthought na because other countries have their own indemnification laws, all countries must have it for this particular brand?"

It seems unlikely they were caught by surprise about the need for an indemnity clause. Elsewhere Galvez is reported to have said the following:

(The vaccine manufacturers are seeking an indemnity agreement because they are frightened of what happened with Dengvaxia where Sanofi was stopped.)

It just does not make sense that these companies would ask for an agreement out of the blue especially with what happened to Sanofi.

Now we end this weekly look at COVID-19 in the Philippines with another scandal that involves government employees taking illegally smuggled vaccines and not even feeling guilty. This admission comes from Ramon Tulfo in an opinion column he wrote for The Manila Times.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/20/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/vaccine-arrival-delayed-why/842922/

During my private meeting with the President in the presence of Senator Go, I handed him my phone and had him talk to the Sinopharm representative in the country. 

Digong repeated his request for samples of the vaccine for him and his family. 

After the meeting, Palace protocol officer Roberto Borje and MalacaƱang’s appointments secretary Lisette Marquez met with me in another room. 

Borje and Marques agreed to consult vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Eric Domingo on the proper way to obtain the vaccine. 

Again, I had Borje talk with the Sinopharm representative, John Boja. 

Borje expressed concern that the President might get a fake Sinopharm vaccine, and also over what the dilawan (the opposition) might say. 

The Sinopharm representative suggested that the vaccine could be coursed through the Philippine embassy in Beijing or the Chinese embassy in Manila. 

Boja, the Sinopharm representative, tried to get in touch with Galvez the following day, but the vaccine czar was unavailable. 

“Mon, the call with Galvez and FDA yesterday did not push through. I don’t know why. I messaged Galvez whatever arrangement they decided to let me know so we can ship Sinopharm vaccine. Joseph (surname withheld) has already made arrangements and is just waiting for shipping instructions,” Boja said in a text message. 

The importance of acquiring the vaccine for the masses cannot be overemphasized. 

People are dying left and right of the coronavirus. 

I now confess to the public: I had myself vaccinated — along with some government officials whose names I won’t mention here — with the Sinopharm vaccine last October. 

Some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were also injected with the same vaccine. 

Don’t ask me where I got the vaccine because I will never tell you. 

Why did I have myself inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine? 

That’s another confession: I have applied to be one of the distributors of the Sinopharm vaccine in the country, that’s why I risked my life to have myself inoculated ahead of the public. 

Three weeks after I got the vaccine, I told the President about its lack of troublesome side effects during my visit to him in December last year. 

Turning to Go, the President said, “Bong, magpa-injection na rin kaya ako (Bong, why don’t I have myself injected as well)? 

Apparently the President’s close aides dissuaded him from doing it, as it would have created repercussions. 

It turned out they were right, what with all the ruckus created in the media after it was reported that the PSG soldiers had gotten the vaccine.

His advisers apparently told Digong that the Sinopharm vaccine had not been approved by the FDA and he would be violating protocol if he had himself vaccinated with it.

Here's the breakdown. Tulfo, who is Duterte's envoy to China offered to hook up Duterte with illegally smuggled vaccines through the Chinese embassy. He only turned down the offer because his advisors thought of what the opposition might say and it could be fake. Three weeks after being injected with the illegally smuggled vaccine Ramon calls up Duterte in December and tells him its great. Duterte again considers injecting himself as well but his close aides dissuade him to not do it because there would be repercussions. 

That is pretty scandalous. Why did he make these admissions? Nobody compelled him to write this column and implicate Duterte in the procuring of illegal vaccines. Now Tulfo is being investigated.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/02/24/2080085/fda-doh-probe-mon-tulfos-use-smuggled-sinopharm-jabs

The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday they will investigate the inoculation of special envoy to China Mon Tulfo with smuggled COVID-19 jabs.

Tulfo first made the admission that he received smuggled Sinopharm shots last year in a column last Saturday, then in an interview with One News Tuesday. He said he wanted to test the vaccine on himself because he was applying to be a local Sinopharm distributor.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo said the unauthorized vaccination activity will be referred to the agency’s regulatory enforcement unit for investigation.

“We are investigating this because it is not good that we learn that there are individuals who get vaccinated without going through the right process,” Domingo said in a Laging Handa briefing Wednesday.

In a separate briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the ongoing probe into illegal vaccination activities will also include Tulfo.

Agencies launched probes into the Presidential Security Group’s use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines last year. Domingo said the FDA has yet to receive response from President Rodrigo Duterte’s security detail about their queries.

How did these agencies launch a thorough investigation but totally miss Tulfo's involvement? What kind of investigation did they even do? Surely more scandals will be revealed.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Stray Dog Causes Accident and Manny Pacquiao's Father Killed and Ate His Dog

Here's two crazy dog stories from the Philippines.

Stray dogs are a nuisance. I cannot go running without stray dogs trying to bite my heels! On time I saw a stay dog get run over by a tricycle and I cried out in anguish at that jerk but he kept going and the dog was apparently ok. Maybe he died. I don't know. But now we have a story that I have thought about many times and is likely not the first.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131035

Espina made the call after a female rider died in a road crash in Larrazabal village on Feb. 16. The police identified the victim as Genelyn Dedal, 41, a resident of P. I. Garcia village.

She was riding on a motorcycle driven by her husband when a dog dashed across in front of their motorcycle.

The dog hit the front wheel, causing the accident that sent Dedal skidding on the ground.

The victim died right after the incident while her husband suffered multiple injuries.

The dog, whose owner remained unidentified, was unharmed.

The dog is ok but the motorcycle driver is dead. Great. 

People need to lock their dogs up. Whether behind a fence or on a leash it does not matter. Just lock your dogs up. It's not hard.

The second dog story is from Manny Pacquiao.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/01/manny-pacquiaos-dad-ate-his-dog-and-boxing-has-never-been-the-same/

Enthralled by Bruce Lee movies, Pacquiao developed his punch by beating up on the banana tree in front of his home. But the energetic tyke was otherwise quiet and reserved. One of his only friends was a stray dog, which he adopted. 

One night, his father came home drunk, Pacquiao recalled years later. The two argued, and Pacquiao’s enraged father allegedly killed his dog. Even worse, Pacquiao then watched, powerless, as his dad ate his pet. 

“He killed my dog,” Pacquiao wrote in his autobiography. “He took the puppy I found and killed it. To a young boy, that was unforgivable — it was stealing something I loved, which is far more terrible than stealing money.” 

“Manny ran away from home after his father ate his dog,” Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said.

That is outrageous. Did it even happen? Manny's father denies the allegation

Note that Manny did not write that his father ate his dog but only that he killed him. It is Freddie Roach who adds the gory detail about Manny's dad eating the dog. You can't just kill an animal and eat it. You would have to prepare it by removing the skin and the internal organs. It's a lot of work. But why would Freddie Roach say that if Manny had not told him and why would Manny make up something so gruesome? 

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Insurgency: Duterte Grants Amnesty

I have discussed amnesty for the past two weeks and there is no stopping this train. Amnesty is what the government wants. More importantly it's what Duterte wants.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130859

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed four proclamations granting amnesty to members of the communist movement, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).

Duterte on Feb. 5 signed Proclamations 1090, 1091, 1092, and 1093 to grant amnesty to members of the said groups who have committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs.

Palace released the copy of the proclamations, which shall take effect upon concurrence by a majority of all the members of Congress, on Tuesday.

In his proclamations, Duterte said the government’s peace policy is to nurture a climate conducive for peace, as well as to implement programs for reconciliation and reintegration of rebels into mainstream society.

“There is a need for the government to act on former combatants request for the grant of amnesty so that they may live in peace in the pursuit of productive endeavors without prejudice to any legal arrangement that may result from a negotiated settlement which the government is pursuing with the various rebel and insurgent groups,” the proclamations read.

According to the presidential proclamations, the grant of amnesty in favor of the former rebels will “promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive, and enduring equanimity.

Granting amnesty is also in line with the government’s call for peace, unity, and reconciliation to bring closure to past enmity, rancor, and bitterness that has stymied lasting amity among Filipinos, the proclamations said.

The one thing amnesty will not do is grant justice to those who have been affected by these terrorists. Fore years the MILF has been a threat to the people of Mindanao. But now over 1,000 MILF terrorists have been granted amnesty.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/barmm-official-says-around-1000-milf-members-to-be-granted-amnesty

Some 1,000 members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front who committed crimes for their political beliefs will be granted amnesty by President Rodrigo Duterte, an official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said Friday. 

BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said this was part of the normalization track of the comprehensive agreement on the fledgling self-governing region with the rebel group. 

As a confidence-building measure, the amnesty proclamation encourages combatants to transition into civilian life, he said. 

"The other one is if they are to participate in political exercises such as the right to vote or being voted for in the event they want to participate in the political process, [criminal] cases would affect their chances of running for public office," Sinarimbo told ANC.

The amnesty erases criminal liability and restores political rights of an individual.

Among those set to benefit from the proclamation are members of MILF's central committee and senior commanders, Sinarimbo said. 

The MILF's central committee and senior commanders are set to benefit from this amnesty proclamation. That means, and it's not as if we did not know, the MILF at heart are criminals!  And now they are in charge of a huge chuck of Mindanao! Make no mistake here. Erasing someone's liability does not erase the commission of the crime. Criminals run the BARMM. That is a fact.

Duterte wants amnesty for terrorists and he also wants to do away wth the VFA unless the Americans pay $16 billion.

In exchange for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Philippines should get something like $16 billion that Pakistan had received in counterterrorism assistance from the United States from 2001 to 2017, MalacaƱang said on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines received only a total of $3.9 billion from the United States in the same period.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the US government must pay if it wanted to keep the VFA, an agreement signed in 1998 that allows American troops to come to the Philippines for joint military exercises with Filipino troops and humanitarian missions.

This is just ridiculous. For one thing the Philippines is not in the same situation as Pakistan. For another  thing the Philippines has received more money than any other country in SEA.

https://ph.usembassy.gov/acting-us-defense-secretary-turns-over-php1-4-billion-in-military-equipment-to-strengthen-security-cooperation/

The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.  Since 2015, the United States has delivered more than Php33 billion ($650 million) worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-by-side with our Filipino allies.

Unless the Palace wants to admit that the Philippines is a war zone like Pakistan it is time for them to cease with this crazy demand.

Meanwhile terrorists continue to be caught.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/363737/traffic-violation-leads-to-arrest-in-lapu-lapu-of-12-alleged-mnlf-recruits

A traffic violation led to the arrest in Punta EngaƱo, Lapu-Lapu City on Sunday, February 14, of 12 men, who claimed to be members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) .

The 12 men, who are not mostly from Lapu-Lapu City and were wearing military uniforms, would be charged for violation of article 117 or usurpation of authority, and article 179 or illegal use of uniform and insignia under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), said Police Lieutenant Colonel Resty Santos, deputy director for administration of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), in a press briefing on Monday, February 15. 

The 12 men were wearing military uniforms with patches of the MNLF logo on them. 

Investigation showed that it all started when two men, who were wearing military uniforms with MNLF logo patches, and riding on separate motorcycles were apprehended at a checkpoint in Punta EngaƱo in Lapu-Lapu City at past 2 p.m. of February 14. 

Both riders— Joseph Bregildo, 23, and April John dela Cerna, 21 — were brought to the Mactan Police Station for further questioning. 

Later, 10 other men in military uniform with MNLF patches also arrived at the Mactan Police Station and tried to intervene with the police investigation against Bregildo and Dela Cerna. 

They identified themselves as being connected to the Philippine Navy.

But since they could not present documents that they were connected with the military, Santos said that they were also arrested and detained.

No word on what these men were up to but it comes on the heel son reports last year that MNLF fighters has erected illegal training camps. Could something big be brewing? 

Surrenders continue to occur as well. This has resulted in 13 North Cotobabto villages to be declared insurgent free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131060

Thirteen remote villages in North Cotabato have been “cleared” of the presence and influence of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco said Thursday.

Catamco made the statement after meeting with officials of Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 (Soccsksargen) and the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) at the Provincial Capitol in Kidapawan City on Wednesday.

She said the cleared areas are covered by the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program, as validated by the Area Clearing and Validation Board (ACVD) composed of officials of the 10ID, PRO-12, and 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB).

The areas are Bituan, Banayal, Nabundasan, Tuburan, Magbok, and Daig in Tulunan town; and Sto. NiƱo, Santa Felomina, Luayon, Malasila, Cabilao, Malungon, and Malabuan in Makilala municipality.

Lt. Col Geoffrey Carandang, 39th IB commander and representative of the 10ID, said more government services are expected to come into the villages as part of the interventions.

Now that these villages are free of NPA influence they can expect more government services. Why not increase those services in the first place? It is the government's plan to allocate P20 million for barangays who clear out the NPA. This money is for development projects.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1398134/esperon-why-davao-got-bulk-of-anti-insurgency-fund

The bulk of the funds of the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) was allocated to the Davao region and Davao City, home of President Rodrigo Duterte, because of the military’s success in quelling the communist insurgency there, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

In a statement dated Feb. 21, Esperon, who sits as the vice chair of NTF-Elcac, said that a total of 215 barangays in the Davao region have been cleared of the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its guerrilla arm, the New People’s Army (NPA), from 2016 to 2019.

“The former NPA communities are now ripe for developmental projects through the Barangay Development Program (BDP),” said Esperon, who was Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff from 2006 to 2008.

The BDP is an incentive for barangays that have cleared their areas of communists. Under the program, each of the 822 barangays listed by the NTF-Elcac is set to receive P20 million.

This will be earmarked for socioeconomic development such as for farm-to-market roads (P12 million), livelihood (P1.5 million), irrigation (P1.5 million), health stations (P1.5 million) and school buildings (P3 million).

“The Davao region will be receiving projects and funding for school buildings, among other projects, in order to provide places of learning which will replace the closed NPA learning and recruitment institutions,” he noted.

No NPA means barangays can now get the services from the government they need and deserve. But just imagine if the Philippines had been constantly developing over the past 500 years and there were excellent roads connecting farms to markets, well funded health programs, and schools buildings for all. It would be a totally different country right now.

What's a surrendered NPA terrorist to do with his life? Why not become part of the CAFGU militia?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130923

Government troops are planning to tap former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have surrendered and availed of the reintegration program for the proposed new auxiliary force that would operate in parts of Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Lt. Col. Edgardo Vilchez, commanding officer of the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion, said Wednesday the discussions are underway with rebel returnees from this city and nearby Sarangani province for their enlistment as members of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

He said they are currently pushing for the establishment of a new Cafgu company for the area that will be composed of 85 to 100 members.

The official said they have submitted a request to their higher headquarters for the creation of the additional unit to help protect communities in the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum (Makima) in Sarangani and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat.

“We will prioritize our rebel returnees to compose this Cafgu company so we’re hoping that this request will be granted,” he said in a report.

Vilchez said the former NPA rebels would be a big help in terms of securing the area since they are already familiar with the terrain and conditions of local communities.

They could also assist in convincing the remaining active combatants of the communist terrorist group to also surrender and lead normal lives, he said.

Authorities earlier said the NPA units in the area, which is under the Front 73 of the Far South Mindanao Revolutionary Committee, have been significantly decimated in the last two years due to the series of mass surrenders by their cadres, supporters and militia members.

Citing accounts from former rebel returnees, Vilchez said the active regular combatants of the remaining NPA units operating in the Makima area and Palimbang have gone down to less than 40, with only 19 reportedly carrying firearms.

If they don't want to carry arms against their former comrades they can always get married like these happy communist couples.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/8-former-npa-couples-marry-in-zamboanga-del-norte/

Eight (8) Former NPA Rebel (FR) who surrendered to 97th Infantry “Kalasaglahi” Battalion officially tied the knot and exchanged their vows in a civil wedding ceremony held at Municipal Capitol of Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte last 18 February 2021.

The newly wed couples were former members of the dismantled Communist-New People’s Army- Terrorist Cells “HQ-KALAW” Regional Operations Command and Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU) both of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Last August 2020 the 97th Infantry Battalion was able to dismantle HQ KALAW the Regional Operations Command unit of the WMRPC.

The union of the former NPA rebels couples was sponsored by Local Government Unit (LGU) of Leon B. Postigo led by Hon. Aidaroz M. Hambali who also presided over the wedding ceremony while the food and drinks for the reception was sponsored by LGU Sindangan led by Hon. Rosendo Labadlabad. Wedding gifts were given to the couples by Provincial Government Unit of Zamboanga del Norte led by Gov. Roberto Y. Uy.

I guess the couples who fight against the government together stays together?