Retards in the Government 209

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1438141/albay-village-chief-shot-hurt-in-gun-attack

The chairperson of a remote village of Camalig town in Albay province was wounded in a gun attack Friday morning, a police report said. 

Salvador Nuarin, the village chief of Taladong, survived the attack but suffered gunshot wounds on his body, according to Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Bicol police, in a report. 

The report said Nuarin was shot and wounded by armed men at his village around 7 a.m., but he managed to call the town police station for help.

Village chief survives an assassination attempt.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1141790

Members of the anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested a retired cop for alleged extortion in an entrapment operation in Laguna. 

Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) director, Brig. Gen. Thomas Frias, identified the suspect as Mariano Garcia, formerly assigned at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A, who was caught in the act of receiving money worth PHP5,000 from the complainant in a gasoline station in Barangay Calo in Bae, Laguna on Thursday afternoon. 

“We have arrested a retired PNP member accused of extortion affecting the public perception. This is in line with the guidance of our Chief PNP (General Guillermo Eleazar) in adherence to Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP) not only by the “Cleanliness in the Offices” but also by the “Cleanliness of our Ranks” Frias said in a statement on Friday. 

He said the operation stemmed from the report of the complainant that the suspect is extorting money from cargo trucks coming from Batangas and Quezon province passing by Laguna. 

The complainant also reported the illegal activity since it is disturbing the legal operation of the trucking business. Accordingly, the suspect is demanding weekly “payola” from the complainant. 

Frias bared that the suspect initially demanded PHP40,000 each from the operator on a weekly basis for them to able to pass freely through checkpoints in Laguna.

A retired cop has been busted for extortion.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/379781/asturias-raid-two-brgy-dads-2-brothers-nabbed-with-8-unlicensed-guns

Two barangay councilors are among four men caught with 8 unlicensed firearms in Barangay Tag-amakan, Asturias town in northwestern Cebu during a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) operation in the area on May 25 and 26.

Barangay Cabagdalan councilors Jonathan Alfeche, 42; and Peejay Tautjo, 37; and brothers Elorde, 56; and Ismael Jayme, 47; were arrested after they were caught with the illegal firearms, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Hector Amancia, chief of the Cebu Provincial Field Unit of CIDG-7.

Amancia said the CIDG-7 operatives were there to serve a search warrant against Elorde Jayme.

He said that they secured the search warrant after they received complaints about Elorde’s alleged indiscriminate firing in the area.

Seized from the Elorde were a .45 caliber pistol, a KG9 submachine pistol, a 357 Magnum (Taurus) revolver, a silencer, and magazines and ammunition.

Barangay councilors Alfeche and Tautjo were each caught with a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition while taken from Ismael were a .45 caliber pistol and a KG9 submachine pistol.

Two barangay councilors arrested for unlicensed firearms.

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=tl&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.abs-cbn.com%2Fnews%2F05%2F30%2F21%2Fbarangay-chairman-nahulihan-ng-di-lisensiyadong-baril

A barangay chairman in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo was arrested after being found with an unlicensed firearm on Saturday, according to authorities. 

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Iloilo (CIDG) filed a search warrant against the said chairman in Barangay Cruz after receiving a report that he always carried a gun. 

During a search of the home, the chairman was found with a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition.

A barangay chairman caught with an unlicensed pistol.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1141970

A police officer in Lanao Del Norte fell in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Del Carmen, Iligan City on Saturday night.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar identified the arrested officer as Pat. Saidamin Bonsalagan Bagul (alias Borge), assigned at the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO).

According to a news release, the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group led the operation in coordination with the Lanao Del Norte PPO, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Special Intelligence Unit, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the military, and National Bureau of Investigation.

Also seized were four pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing approximately 20 grams, buy-bust money, mobile phone, rifle with five magazines loaded with live ammunition, pistol with one magazine loaded with ammunition, and a car.

PNP officer busted for selling drugs.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/379959/policeman-dies-in-second-ambush-girlfriend-injured-in-barili-attack

Police Master Sergeant Raymund Zozobrado has already cheated death in April 2018 when he survived an attempt on his life. 

But the 40-year-old active police officer was not as lucky on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021, after he failed to dodge the bullets being rained on him by unidentified assailants on board a van in Barangay Dakit, Barili town, southwestern Cebu. 

Police Major Romeo Caacoy Jr, Barili Police Station chief said Zozobrado was an active police officer assigned in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental who was a resident of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. 

Caacoy added that the victim was declared dead on the spot by Dr. Michelle Ann Dagoy, municipal doctor of Barili town. 

The victim was with his ‘girlfriend’ Vanessa Tura, 30, a resident of Barangay Upper Mohon, Talisay City who also sustained gunshot wounds and is now being treated at the Barili District Hospital. 

Zozobrado and Tura were reportedly on board the former’s motorcycle when they were ambushed. 

Caacoy said that as of now, they are considering all possible angles including Zozobrado’s work as a police officer and personal matters. They are also not discounting the love triangle as a possible motive behind this ambush although both are reportedly single.

A cop dies after being ambushed for the second time in 3 years. But the cops think it might be a love triangle. Why? You can read the news report from 2018 concerning the first assassination attempt and see that this was certainly not the result of a love triangle.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1439053/qc-cop-shoots-self-after-drinking-spree-with-2-other-policemen-1-civilian

A police officer assigned at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) was said to have shot himself in the chest after a drinking spree with three other cops on Sunday.

In a statement, QCPD director Brigadier General Antonio Yarra identified the policeman as PCpl Higinio Wayan, 31, who was assigned at the Kamuning Police Station.

It wasn’t clear if this was a case of accidental shooting due to Wayan’s inebriation, or if he really had intention to shoot himself.

Initial investigations showed that Wayan was with fellow police officers identified as PCpl Harold Mendoza, PCpl Sherwin Rebot and a civilian, identified as Lorenzo Lapay, who owned the room where the drinking spree took place in Barangay Commonwealth.

Based on police report, Lapay and Wayan were talking at around 3:50 AM Sunday, while their companions Rebot went to the restroom to relieve himself. Mendoza, meanwhile, said that he was sleeping after having too much to drink.

Lapay told investigators that while he and Wayan were talking, the latter suddenly took Rebot’s service firearm, a caliber .40 glock, which he left on the top of the table and pointed at his chest, saying: “Gusto mo iputok ko pa ito sa sarili ko? (Do you want me to shoot myself?).”

Wayan then pulled the trigger, leading to his instantaneous death.

Were these cops off duty? Why do so many cops die in shooting incidents while drinking? This is not the first time and will certainly not be the last time this happens. But it tuns out this initial story is all a lie.  Here is the real story:

https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/01/cop-vs-cop-police-shoots-dead-fellow-cop-after-losing-in-arm-wrestling-in-quezon-city/

The police officer who was initially reported to have shot himself dead in Quezon City turned out to have been killed by a fellow police after losing in an arm wrestling during their drinking session. 

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) bared Tuesday after a follow-up investigation that Cpl. Higino Wayan was shot by Cpl. Sherwin Rebot after Lorenzo Lapay, a civilian driver who witnessed the incident, retracted his earlier narrative that Wayan killed himself. 

But when members of the investigating team conducted a deeper investigation, they found out that Wayan and Rebot “had an arm wrestling” and Wayan “overpowered Rebot during the arm wrestling which prompted” the suspect to get his service firearm and shoot the victim, it added.

The QCPD said both Rebot and Lapay were tagged in the killing of Wayan. Another police officer, Cpl. Harold Mendoza, who was resting at the time of the incident, was also implicated in the crime. 

“Both police officers will face administrative and criminal charges while the civilian driver will face criminal charges,” the QCPD said. 

Rebot will be charged with murder and violation of illegal possesion of firearms and ammunition as he was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm. 

Mendoza and Lapay, meanwhile, will face murder by conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges.

What a stupid reason to kill somebody!!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142139

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday announced the arrest of an ambulance driver of the Health Service in Caloocan City for allegedly offering to facilitate the application of an aspiring policeman in exchange for PHP100,000.

Eleazar said the suspect identified as S/Sgt. Joel Bunagan, 37, was arrested in an entrapment operation by members of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in Barangay 175, Camarin, Caloocan City on Monday.

The suspect yielded PHP1,000 marked money, a mobile phone, and a motorcycle.

Eleazar ordered the conduct of summary dismissal proceedings against Bunagan, who was already arrested last year for a similar offense.

The suspect was first arrested on April 8 last year in an entrapment operation by operatives of the IMEG and the Intelligence Group (IG) which stemmed from a complaint of another police applicant.

According to a report from the IMEG and IG, Bunagan promised applicants with health issues that they will "pass the medical examinations smoothly" in exchange for a fee ranging from PHP100,000 to PHP150,000.

PNP officer arrested for extorting police applicants. He was arrested on the same charges last year but not dismissed from the service.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/789668/drunk-cop-allegedly-shoots-dead-52-year-old-woman-in-qc/story/

A 52-year-old woman was shown in a video shot dead by a drunk police officer in Barangay Greater Fairview, Quezon City on Monday night.

The victim was identified as Lilibeth Valdez, according to a report by James Agustin on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

According to the victim's daughter, her mother was at the store when the police officer who was allegedly intoxicated approached her, pulled her hair and shot the victim in the neck.

The victim's son and the same police officer were engaged in a fistfight last May 1 and after the incident the same cop issued a threat.

A cop makes good on a past threat by Brantley murdering the mother of a man he got into a fight with.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/789713/ex-congressman-andaya-survives-slay-try-in-camsur/story/

Unidentified suspects on Tuesday shot at former Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya Jr. while he was driving his vehicle in Pili town, but the erstwhile lawmaker was unhurt.

A statement from Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) said the suspects were on board a motorcycle. Two fired cartridges of calibre .45 were recovered from the area.

Police said the incident took place along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Palestina around 5:45 a.m.

PRO5 chief Police Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo ordered an investigation into the incident. A special provincial investigation team was created to speed up the identification of the perpetrators.

A former Representative survives as assassination attempt by unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle. Andaya believes this was politically motivated as his security detail was withdrawn without notice just prior to the assassination attempt.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142166

An incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson in Barangay Carmen East in this town has been arrested for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

 

In an interview on Tuesday, Rosales Police chief, Maj. Fernando Fernandez Jr., identified the 21-year-old suspect as Prince Cyrus Concepcion.

 

He said Concepcion was arrested on Monday by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued on May 27 this year for the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.

 

“The illegal sale of dangerous drugs has no recommended bail while the illegal possession of dangerous drugs has PHP200,000 recommended bail,” he said.

 

Fernandez said the suspect was arrested a few months ago by the regional drug enforcement group but the fiscal dismissed the charges filed against him. 

 

However, it was appealed to the provincial prosecutor and was granted hence the warrant of arrest, he added.

Another elected official busted for drugs.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142450

A barangay councilor was shot dead by motorcycle-riding suspects inside his home in Dauin, Negros Oriental Thursday morning.

The incident occurred just days after President Rodrigo Duterte told the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a joint national and regional peace and order council meeting here to solve the series of killings in Negros Oriental.

A police report identified the victim as Agustin Rusil Aragones of Barangay Maayongtubig.

Initial police investigation showed two unidentified male suspects riding in tandem on a motorcycle arrived at Aragones’ house around 10:40 a.m., entered through the open gate and shot him at close range while he was watering his plants in the yard.

The victim was rushed to a private hospital in this capital city while the suspects fled southward to nearby Zamboanguita town.

He expired at around 11:22 a.m., the Dauin police said.

The motive for the shooting is not yet known while hot pursuit operations are ongoing.

Last month, the village chief of Barangay Bagacay in Dauin was also shot dead by suspects who were arrested several hours later, although the motive for the killing was also not known.

For the second time in two months an LGU official has been sot in the village or Dauin, Negros Occidental, by unknown men for unknown reasons. Who is next?

Coronavirus Lockdown: Transmitting the Virus is a Crime, Free Cow, and More!

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

Bribing people to take the vaccine has reached new levels of weirdness as one Mayor vows to raffle off cows for those who take the jab.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/27/21/cow-raffle-covid-19-vaccine-san-luis-pampanga

The local government of San Luis town in Pampanga will be raffling off cows to residents who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a move to boost their vaccination program. 

Mayor Jayson Sagum said the raffle will begin in July once vaccine supply picks up.  

(Every end of the month we will raffle off one cow for residents who have been vaccinated.) 

The raffle, he said, will last for 12 months or until June 2022. Residents who had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the raffle. 

(Don’t be scared, have yourself vaccinated and get the chance to win a cow.) 

That is certainly more of an incentive than a free donut. A cow could be someone's livelihood. One local government is offering free sacks of rice as an incentive while another is offering free houses. The Senate thinks these raffles and incentives to entice people to take the vaccine are a good thing.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/789279/senators-okay-with-incentives-raffle-for-those-vaccinated-vs-covid-19/story/

Senators on Friday said they are open to the idea of raffles and incentives for those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 as this will encourage more Filipinos to get immunized. 

This after Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar announced an incentive program to her constituents where individuals who already got at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine could win a brand new house and lot as well as groceries and motorcycles. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson said any legal and creative means could be used to encourage more Filipinos to take part in the national immunization program against COVID-19. 

“By all means possible, yes. A chance at winning the lottery and other forms of incentives, and for that matter - any legal means to attract more Filipinos to get themselves vaccinated are good moves by the government, both national and local, and even the private sector to attain herd immunity at the soonest possible time not only for our people's healthy well-being but to make our economy vibrant again and get back our normal lives again,” Lacson said in a text message to reporters.

One thing the government will absolutely not do is tell the public the truth about the vaccines which is that they do not prevent infection. They do not immunize you from catching the virus.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1438186/mindoro-town-mayor-tests-covid-19-positive-after-1st-jab

A mayor of a town in Oriental Mindoro tested positive for COVID-19 days after he got his first dose of a vaccine.

Naujan Mayor Mark Marcos, in a social media post Friday, said he first had an antigen test Tuesday, May 25, and when he tested positive for the virus, he underwent a Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test on the same day.

The result came out Thursday, May 27, confirming his infection.

“But only my office (at the municipal hall) is on lockdown,” he said in a phone interview Friday morning.

He decided to have a swab test even after he was vaccinated against COVID-19 on May 18 because of a persistent nose congestion. “Before vaccination, my body was in good condition,” he said.

Funny that the brand of vaccine the mayor was given is not mentioned.

Face masks are stupid. They make it hard to breathe and hard to understand people and, according to the New England Journal of Medicine, they function more as a talisman than offering any real protection from the virus. But even worse are face shields which are required inside government buildings and on public transportation. One doctor says it's time for them to go.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1437374/time-to-drop-those-face-shields

The government must now rethink the policy requiring people to wear face shields when leaving their homes, since there is no systematic study proving it has significantly reduced COVID-19 transmission, according to some doctors. 

“What do all countries that have controlled COVID have in common? They never required face shields,” Dr. Gideon Lasco, a medical anthropologist, said in a recent post on social media. 

“It’s time to end the Philippines’ baseless, inconvenient, and environmentally harmful face shield mandate, especially in outdoor spaces where there’s zero evidence of its benefit,” said Lasco, who also writes a column in the Inquirer. 

But according to Dr. Edsel Salvana, a government technical adviser and infectious diseases expert, Filipino doctors have calculated that wearing both mask and shield, plus social distancing, is 90-percent effective in preventing COVID-19 transmission. 

“Unfortunately, [there is] still only about 30 percent compliance [with the requirement to put on] face shields,” Salvana said on Wednesday. 

Salvana disagreed with Lasco and Co, saying that in countries where people never used face shields—like the United States, France, United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal — COVID-19 deaths “are 10 times (that in Philippines) per million population.” 

To say that only the Philippines required face shields and other countries did not was “a nonsensical argument,” Salvana said. 

Peru has also made face shields mandatory in indoor public places. 

In the US, studies conducted at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, showed that the use of both plastic face shields and surgical masks provided the best protection against infection, but that combining the two made little difference over the use of masks alone.

It's interesting that Dr. Salvana would appeal to Peru cornering face shields. Recently Peru has mandated people wear two masks in potentially crowded areas. Is double masking in the future for the Philippines? 

One research at the OCTA is imploring the government to relax health protocols for those who have been vaccinated. However, the government is not inclined to relax health protocols at all in the near future. In fact, Duterte has declared transmitting the virus is illegal and that he will find a way to arrest you for doing so.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1437406/duterte-wants-mass-gatherers-to-be-jailed

“Most of you are committing a crime because you know that after gathering, after swimming together, a lot of you will get positive for COVID-19,” he said.

“It seems you’re ignoring the government’s plea and it’s criminal for you to get COVID-19 and pass it on to another innocent person. It is really a crime,” he continued, speaking partly in Filipino. “I will look for a suitable law because you are now forcing my hand to get into this thing and control it.”

If he has to "look for a suitable law" then obviously there is no law against transmitting the virus. And how would they prove that anyway? It's more ridiculous bluster from Duterte.

Actor Robin Padilla posted a video of himself administering a COVID swab. DOH Secretary Duque says such a test is not acceptable as it could produce false results.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1437592/no-to-self-swabbing-says-duque-after-actors-viral-clip

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said performing self-swabbing for COVID-19 is not advisable since it may render the results questionable. 

He made the remark after actor Robin Padilla shared a video of him conducting a COVID-19 swab test by himself.

Duque said there are protocols and standards that are being followed in conducting swab tests.

(You can’t do it on yourself because the results will be questionable.) 

In his post, Padilla said he was forced to conduct the swab test on himself due to the alleged unavailability of a healthcare worker.

Why would one even consider administering this test on themselves?

The USA is donating Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines next month according to the Philippines' ambassador to the USA. He also says the US and the PHL are seeking to partner in making vaccines locally.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/789354/philippines-us-seek-partnership-in-vaccine-manufacturing-distribution/story/

The Philippines and the United States are seeking possible cooperation in manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the country in a bid to speed up local access to the crucial jabs against the deadly viral infection, Manila's envoy to Washington said.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, in a statement Saturday, said the COVID-19 pandemic and the limited global supply of vaccines "have magnified the importance of building domestic capacity that would ensure some degree of vaccine self-reliance critical to prepare countries to deal with future pandemics.”

Under the proposal discussed in a forum between Philippine and US officials last week, both sides would seek "suitable investment partners" to set up manufacturing hubs in the country.

During the discussion, the Philippines highlighted vaccine development and manufacturing roadmap and international cooperation on technology transfer, capacity-building, and financing. 

The Philippines, with a sluggish vaccination program amid global shortage of the crucial shots, has one of the highest COVID-19 infections in the region. 

DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara said that in the medium term, the DOST Pharma Center will be reinstituted as “a way to bridge the gap between the academe and the industry for pharma development."

It also intends to establish a Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines through a law, Guevara said.

Setting up the infrastructure to manufacture vaccines will certainly not happen overnight. Until the Philippines can be independent in that regard they will have to buy from or accept gifts from others. Novavax has expressed interest setting up a factory in the Philippines but of course that will be long time from now if it happens.

The DOH says the top reason for vaccine hesitancy in the Philippines is fear of side effects. Tell that to all the Filipinos illegally overstaying in Hong Kong just so they can get vaccinated.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/789426/more-than-1-000-filipinos-illegally-staying-in-hong-kong-to-be-vaccinated-vs-covid-19/story/

More than 1,000 Filipinos overstaying or illegally staying in Hong Kong will be included in the COVID-19 vaccination scheduled in July, according to a report on News TV Live on Saturday. 

They will be among the thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees to be vaccinated, the Hong Kong government said. 

Demand for Sinovac and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines was not that high among residents, prompting the government to offer the jabs to illegal immigrants and refugees. 

Some of the vaccine doses are set to expire in August. 

Data from the Hong Kong government showed that at least 1,000 Filipinos are overstaying or staying illegally there.

This is actually a very bad article because it does not say definitively that any of those 1,000 people will be getting vaccinated. Right now it's just a potential scenario.

"You are either on the bus or off the bus," says Ken Kesey. The vaccination bus is the bus you want to board to get the vaccine if you live in Taguig.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1076376

Taguig City has officially launched its Vaccination Bus, a new and innovative way of vaccinating more people against COVID-19.

According to the Taguig Registry for Access and Citizen Engagement (TRACE), the Vaccination Bus is now making its stop around the city to serve as a pop-up vaccination center and get more people to receive their vaccination.

The vaccination bus also aims to target Taguigeños in hard-to-reach areas, vulnerable communities, and those who are unable to personally come to Taguig vaccination hubs, it added.

It cannot be said that the government is not reaching out to the people the best way it can to take the vaccine. Yet vaccine hesitancy allegedly continues to be an issue. Of course those in charge appear to be doing everything they can to erode confidence in the vaccine's efficacy. Now the people are being told to not get an anti-body test after being vaccinated.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/06/02/2102597/experts-advise-against-antibody-testing-after-vaccination

Getting antibody tests after getting a COVID-19 vaccine is not advisable, medical experts said, as they typically do not paint a full picture of immunity against the coronavirus and may even cause unnecessary worry over the effectiveness of the shot.

“The immune system is amazingly sophisticated. So one measurement cannot totally measure the entire immune response of your immune system to the COVID virus,” de Vera said during the briefing to lawmakers.

She said that there are still no studies which suggest how many antibodies a person needs to be considered to be protected against COVID-19.

She added that while they will also use antibody tests in their study to check if people involved have developed an immune response, they will also be looking at the cellular response and will monitor study participants to check if they develop COVID-19.

I do not know why anyone would take such a test but the reasons given not to do so tell the public that the vaccine is simply not effective as immunity is not guaranteed. But one does not need a test to know that. There have been several reported cases of people getting vaccinated and still getting infected. Those who are hesitant about the vaccine are hesitant for good reason.

Picture of the Week: On the Take

Imagine a police department so corrupt they have to launch a PR campaign to convince the people that they are not corrupt.

Well, that's the Philippine National Police for ya. But despite all their PR drives the public knows the truth. There are too many bad cops. It's not a problem of a few bad eggs or a few bad apples. No. The problem is a system where corruption is allowed to happen. Sure, they arrest the extortioners and drug users in their ranks. But why are there so many? Why would they do those things unless they thought no one would care and they would never be punished for it?

Tarps like this only serve to reinforce and confirm the fact that the PNP is a very corrupt organization.

Insurgency: NPA Terrorists Registered With the SEC

The fourth anniversary of the Marawi siege was last week on May 23rd. For some the day was a reminder that the government has failed in its promises to rebuild the city.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/05/23/2100287/most-promises-remain-unfulfilled-govt-pressed-marawi-rebuilding-4-years-siege

A network of groups from Mindanao has pressed the government to fast-track the rebuilding of Marawi City, as it said many who were displaced by the Maute siege four years ago have yet to return home despite promises.  

The battle between state forces and the Islamic State-inspired group stretched for four months in 2017. In its wake were 370,000 forced out of their homes, and a cost of damage at P11.5 billion.  

In a joint statement, members of the Marawi Advocacy Accompaniment urged the Duterte administration to prioritize the return of internally displaced persons to their communities and compensate victims. 

"Four years after the siege, most of the promises...remain unfulfilled," MAA said in a May 22 statement. "President Rodrigo Duterte's promise saying that Marawi will rise as a prosperous city again remains invisible and cannot be felt on the ground." 

While buildings, roads and utilities have risen in the war-torn city, many residents have yet to secure building permits while others simply had no money, PCIJ also noted.  

Despite this, officials remain confident that work will be completed by December 2021, a date that Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario told senators in September last year.

While buildings are being rebuilt the real problem is that many Maranaos are still living in temporary shelters or with relatives.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/21/buildings-rise-4-years-after-marawi-siege-but-few-residents-are-allowed-to-go-back

Barangay Tolali has seen the most number of residents go back to their homes so far. It’s also the quickest to see some normalcy return. At least 113 families had moved back, according to data provided by the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Field Office to the PCIJ. 

Rauf, an official of the barangay (village) and an influential radio broadcaster, said the actual numbers of returnees were higher. He boasted of helping about 200 families return to their homes in Tolali.  

The villages of Moncado Kadilingan and Tolali are located at Sectors 1 to 3 in the government master plan to rehabilitate Marawi. They’re at the northern edges of the former battle area – the staging area of the military push against the militants during the 2017 siege. 

It was also the starting point of the city’s rehabilitation. Residents here were among the first to secure permits to build or repair their homes and, once construction was finished, permits to occupy their homes.

The rest of the residents who lived closer to the banks of Lake Lanao (Sectors 4-9), where the final and fiercest battles took place, have yet to be allowed to begin construction on their properties.
City life used to revolve in these areas, where markets, mosques, schools, commercial centers, and slaughterhouses were located. Many if not most of these structures were flattened. Those that didn’t turn into rubble during the siege were later demolished because of structural damage.
Life for the returnees is not easy without a functioning city center, but Rauf said they have been able to manage. “We’re doing okay here. It’s not so bad,” he said.  

Buildings have since risen and roads have been paved inside the former battle area. Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said work was 60% to 65% done as of May 22, 2021.  

Not all rehabilitation projects have started construction work, however. Several projects were still undergoing the procurement process, including a sewage treatment plant, bulk water supply, hospital, port facilities, the Maritime Group Building, and the Halal Slaughterhouse, among others. 

There have been claims of residents finding out after the siege that their lots were mortgaged by family members without their permission, for example. There are also different clans laying claims to overlapping lots.

Clearly there are major issues to be resolved in Marawi. Those who want to rebuild cannot because their papers are not in order. Some do not even own the land and the land has since been mortgaged out by relatives who do own it. Some projects such as the hospital and sewage treatment plant are still undergoing the procurement process. Yet the government is sure that the rehabilitation will be fully completed by December 2021. Or at least by the end of Duterte's term.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/24/21/duterte-marawi-seige-4th-anniversary

Malacañang on Monday expressed confidence that the war-torn southern city of Marawi would be "completely rebuilt" before President Rodrigo Duterte bows out of office next year. 

"We have a year, roughly a year bago po matapos ang termino ng Presidente. And I think the target can be met that Marawi will be completely rebuilt at the end of the term of the President," he said in a press briefing. 

(The President promised that Marawi would rise again within his term. We have roughly a year before the President's term ends.)

The President also promised he would jet ski to the sparkly islands and plant the Philippine flag but recently said anyone who actually believed him is stupid. Who can believe Duterte?

A few weeks ago the Anti-Terrorism Council designated practically all the top leadership of the CPP-NPA as terrorists.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/5/13/Anti-Terrorism-Council-terrorist-list.html

The Anti-Terrorism Council has formally tagged as "terrorists" 29 individuals, including the founder and alleged leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The resolution was signed by Executive Secretary ATC Chairperson Salvador Medialdea and ATC Vice Chairperson Hermogenes Esperon on April 20 and published in a newspaper on Thursday.

The executive council has designated CPP founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison and his wife Julieta Sison as terrorists. It also included National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Tiamzon, Rafael Baylosis, Vicente Ladlad, and 13 other alleged members of CPP's central committee.

It said the 19 personalities violated Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

"Based on verified and validated information, the ATC found probable cause, as defined in the Anti-Terrorism Act, warranting the designation of the following central committee members of the CPP... for planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring, and inciting the commission of terrorism and recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization or a group organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism" the resolution said.

ATC said the assets of listed individuals shall be subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council, which can freeze their accounts without delay.

Joma, of course, brushed off this designation saying he is not scared of being put on such a list. But there is something odd about Joma and all the rest being designated terrorists and facing having their bank accounts frozen while actual NPA fighters and supporters who surrender are not designated terrorists and are actually given money from the government. Take these NPA fighters for instance.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1141985

One soldier was wounded after a 10-minute firefight between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) rebels Sunday morning in Barangay Badas, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Based on the report of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID), the Alpha Company of the 66th Infantry Battalion (66IB) was on board a military truck from Barangay Taguibo and headed to Banaybanay town when about 10 NPA Guerrilla Front 18 rebels ambushed them near Punta Tagawisan.

Lamosao said the 66IB immediately deployed more troops to hunt down the communist terrorist group.

Now, barring that the AFP does not catch up with these terrorists and obliterate them, they could surrender, avail of the E-CLIP program, and never face any sanctions for this act of terrorism. There is even one Rebel Returnee association which is registered with the SEC.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1141434

The Kalinga Rebel Returnees Association (KRRA), which was recently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), sees the government standing side by side with them for a much better life in this province.

Marcelino Ibaña, chairman of the KRRA, said Monday they are confident that after years of seeking help, their situation will be better compared in the past under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and thru the whole of nation approach that is embodied in Executive Order (EO) 70 that aims to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

KRRA has about 1,500 members.

He said their group was able to get recognition and was registered as an organization in government offices like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as well as the provincial government, giving them a legal personality eligible to receive government aid.

“The government cannot give to an organization which has incomplete documents. The governor of Kalinga and the Sanggunian (Panlalawigan) saw the papers of KRRA and they approved us,” he said. 

“With the help of the province, we have our papers now. We understand now how the government works and with our papers, we can already access assistance for our members who are former rebels, who returned to the fold of the law for a peaceful life,” Ibaña said in the Ilocano dialect.

Ibaña said their members have already received various trainings from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

They have also approached the Department of Agriculture (DA) for livelihood assistance in the form of farm equipment, among others.

Ibaña said DA-Cordillera regional director Cameron Odsey has committed to help them but said it will not be fully given yet considering the limited resources which have to be spread out to all other requests.

“We requested for livelihood, cows, carabaos, tractor for the field to help our members who have nothing after coming from the mountains,” Ibaña said.

He said they informally created their group in 2014 but did not receive government aid. It was only in 2021 when they received their SEC document after its filing in 2019.

That is a pretty crazy story. Rebels, terrorists actually, put down their arms and form a group which is registered with the SEC so they can avail of all kinds of government freebies. From shooting at the AFP to taking government largesse and without a single consequence for any of the 1,500 members. Out of those 1,500 how many AFP and PNP personnel did they kill collectively?

But there is more irony ahead. Hold on to your butts!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1140800

The New People’s Army (NPA), and officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), collectively referred to as a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) may be compelled to indemnify victims of their human rights abuses and atrocities in the number of billions, a spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said on Wednesday.

Undersecretary Severo Catura, Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS), said under existing local and international laws, particularly the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), parties that are found guilty of such abuses and atrocities committed in a situation of internal armed conflict may be compelled by the courts to indemnify their victims.

Catura said it is high time that the CTGs be held accountable for their “spate of willful killings, their destruction of government and private property, their use of children as combatants, their internal purges, and their wanton disregard for human rights”.

“Already, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has submitted a list of CPP-NPA atrocities and the same shall be judiciously acted upon,” Catura said. "And we shall likewise refer the matter to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that has ably guided our Armed Forces in the strict observance of IHL in their line of duty.”

You can't talk about holding the CPP-NPA accountable for their crimes and then give away millions in cash, housing, and job training to those who surrender and treat them like nothing ever happened. That is madness, and yet that is exactly what is happening here.

The DND and AFP and all those in charge think the new anti-terrorism law will put an end to the insurgency. But right now this law is being challenged in the Supreme Court and it would appear that the SC has serious reservations about it.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1438431/sc-asks-govt-to-answer-terror-law-questions

Is rebellion now considered a terror act? Does adhering to communism and fundamentalist Islamism make one a terrorist? How does a person who has been declared terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) contest the designation if it was done without due process?

These are just some of the questions that the Supreme Court had ordered the government to answer as it moved to conclude its scrutiny of Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

In a notice to the parties, the high tribunal directed the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the 37 groups challenging the anti-terror law to sum up their respective positions by submitting their final memoranda within a non-extendible period of 30 days.

“Are all advocacies related to communism and fundamentalist Islamism considered by [Esperon] and ATC to be forms of terrorism?” read one of the justices’ questions.

“Is mere belief in the merits of a communist socioeconomic system or in fundamentalist interpretations of Islam considered a terrorist act?” they asked.

They were also interested if Esperon would have the similar opinion on individuals “whose beliefs in capitalism or in Christianity may not be considered moderate.”

“How can the state assure that it will not come after dissidents or adherents of minority religious beliefs when membership by itself is a ground for prosecution under the [law]?” they added.

The 15-member tribunal asked the OSG to expound on the present state of terrorism in the country, the definition of terrorism under the new law, the role of the military in its implementation, and the authority of ATC in classifying groups and individuals as terrorists.

The OSG earlier admitted that the terror law did not specifically define actions that could be deemed as terrorist acts—a legal loophole—which the petitioners claimed would only lead to human rights abuses.

The high court likewise directed Esperon to back up his statement that the Philippines ranked 10th in the Global Terrorism Index and to explain if such classification “singled out” the effectiveness of an anti-terror law.

Moreover, it instructed the OSG to cite specific incidents that necessitated the repeal of the Human Security Act, which the magistrates described as “solely punitive.”

This line of questioning appears to show that the SC is not inclined to accept the anti-terror law as being constitutional. For one thing the OSG admitted that the law does not define terrorism! That is a pretty big admission from the government and opens the door to all manner of abuse. It's also interesting that the OSG has been asked to "cite specific incidents that necessitated the repeal of the Human Security Act." That is rather important as those advocating for the anti-terror law all claimed the HSA was broken and needed updating. Hopefully they wrap it up soon and the nation can get a verdict one way or the other.