Retards in the Government 214

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145657

Police have launched an in-depth investigation into the Thursday killing of a retired Army officer-turned real estate developer.

Col. Gilberto Tuzon, city police director, said investigators are looking into possible angles behind the murder of retired Army Col. Elicardo Cabangal, 70, the owner of the homegrown Dragon De Oro Real Estate Development.

He said Cabangal was inside their house at 13 Sebastian St., Paradise Subdivision in Barangay City Heights when he was shot at close range by unidentified suspects around 12:09 p.m.

He said the suspects reportedly fled from the scene towards an undetermined direction onboard a silver-gray Toyota Avanza.

Cabangal sustained two gunshot wounds to his back and was declared dead on arrival in a nearby hospital, he said.

Responding scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered at the site two spent shells from an M16 Armalite rifle.

Retired Army Colonel assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/07/02/2109605/coa-flags-mmda-over-p3-billion-traffic-flood-control-projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for failure to complete P3.164 billion worth of infrastructure projects, which aimed to address flooding and traffic congestion in the metropolis.

In its audit report on the MMDA, the COA noted that out of 94 programmed flood control projects of the agency for 2020 with a total funding of P1.072 billion, only 27 projects amounting to P237.033 million were completed while 67 projects worth P835.244 million remain unfinished.

The COA’s breakdown showed that of the unfinished flood control projects, nine have not started as of Dec. 31, 2020 while 33 are ongoing and 25 are waiting for Special Allotment Release Order from the Department of Budget and Management.

The audit team’s review of the MMDA’s procurement showed gaps in the period of action on flood control projects, particularly on the issuance of notice of award, conduct of bid evaluation and pre-procurement conference to the issuance of notice to proceed.

The COA said 41 additional flood control projects amounting to P444.213 million remain unfinished.

The COA is calling out the MMDA for unfinished projects totaling P835.244 million. Lots of irregularities it seems.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1455636/traffic-enforcer-charged-over-death-of-bulacan-vendor

A barangay traffic enforcer was charged with homicide after a barbecue vendor died of heart attack while being arrested over an alleged road safety violation here late last week.

Col. Ismael Conde Gauna, Sta. Maria police chief, said Mario Domingo, a traffic enforcer in Barangay Caypombo, was already detained at the municipal jail. He was charged with homicide before the Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.

Domingo reportedly accosted Angelito Alcantara, 47, who was driving a motorcycle with his wife on July 1. The couple came from the town’s public market and were heading home to Barangay Pulong Buhangin when Domingo flagged them down.

The suspect then threatened to impound Alcantara’s motorcycle after he failed to show a driver’s license and the motorcycle’s registration.

Alcantara agreed to have his motorcyclist impounded but Domingo then demanded for the motorcycle key, which the latter refused to give. It was at this point that Domingo handcuffed him.

Angeline, the victim’s wife, pleaded to Domingo to stop the arrest as she worried that her husband could collapse due to a heart condition. But Domingo reportedly went on to restrain the victim.

A traffic enforcer has been charged with homicide after a guy he arrested died of a heart attack. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/386408/ccpo-exec-cebu-city-cop-fails-surprise-drug-test-on-1st-half-of-year

A Cebu City policeman has been found positive of using illegal drugs after he underwent a surprise drug test by the City Intelligence Unit in the first half of the year. 

The policeman had been under “administrative holding” in the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), which meant that the policeman had been restricted from holding any position in all police stations in Cebu City, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations. 

Parilla also said that they were still processing the administrative case against the policeman and this would require time. 

He said this as they conducted another surprise drug test today, July 5, among 24 CCPO personnel from different police stations in the city. 

He also said that three of the 24 policemen were not able to take the test and they would be asked to explain why they did not show up for the test. 

(We conducted a surprise drug test today, we supposedly have 24 personnel from different police stations. Out of 24, 21 were present. We will check on the reason, one said that he is under sick call, meaning he is sick; for the other one, we still need to find out his reason; the other one is already transferred in Region 8.)

Cop did not pass his drug test and other cops failed to even show up for theirs.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1455678/pacc-on-pacquiaos-govt-corruption-claims-incorrect-and-unfounded

In a televised briefing Monday, PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said it was the government’s efforts to combat corruption that “doubled,” suggesting the senator failed to establish the basis for alleging that irregularities multiplied under Duterte’s watch. 

(Definitely that is incorrect and unfounded, based on nothing. How does he justify it becoming double? He needs a source. Corruption-fighting efforts doubled under this administration.) 

(Exactly what are these issues? Since senator Manny didn’t give details, we need a specific document. No details were given; we will rely on the documents he will give the commission.) 

Belgica said that the PACC has organized anti-corruption committees in all levels of government, including the barangays, to assist with the campaign against corruption. 

(All these bodies will be there and were put into place against corruption. I am not denying that corruption exists. There is corruption, widespread corruption, which is why PACC was created by the President with a task force against it and an Ombudsman to deal with it.) 

The chairman also said that the senator’s claim is raw since he has made a conclusion before he has conducted an investigation. 

(To conclude, I don’t think it’s time for a conclusive statement about corruption.)

PACC Commissioner Belgica says Pacquiao's allegations of corruption in the government is wrong but still admits that there is corruption in the government and then concludes by saying it's not time for a "conclusive statement about corruption." There is s much double-talk here it is unbelievable. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/05/2110336/briones-wants-apology-world-bank-over-unflattering-schools-report

Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday sought a public apology from the World Bank, saying the Philippines was "insulted" and "shamed" by a report on Filipino students not meeting learning standards. 

According to the World Bank, more than 80% of students in the Philippines do not meet the standards expected for their grade level.  It also described a crisis in Philippine education "which started pre-COVID but will have been made worse" by the pandemic.  

It also said said students' poor performance was deeply rooted in limited proficiency in languages. It added that there is an "unacceptably poor school climate, with high levels of bullying." 

The findings were based on three global assessments from 2018 to 2019, which all showed the Philippines performing poorly. 

Briones said the World Bank based their report on old data, such as from the Programme for International Student Assessment that showed in 2019 that Filipinos ranked poorly in reading, mathematics and science.  

"The country was insulted [and] shamed," she said at a Palace briefing. "We expect and look forward to a public apology." 

The education chief said the World Bank has been a partner of the Philippines since the 1980s through millions of dollars in loan. Borrowed funds, she said, have stood at $300 million over the past four decades. 

Negotiations are also underway for another $110 million to enhance Filipino teachers' capacity, and $100 million more for DepEd's Alternative Learning System.

DepEd Secretray Briones gets angry at the World Bank for releasing a report detailing the poor nature of the Philippine school system. Instead of owning up to these failures she demands an apology from the World Bank for shaming the nation. Is it any wonder the Philippines remains a laggard? Another $210 million won't fix things.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1146075

A private armed group (PAG), led by a former town vice mayor, surrendered to officials of this regional police headquarters on Monday afternoon.

Brig. Gen. Eden T. Ugale, Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) director, identified the surrenderers as ex-Shariff Aguak vice mayor Datu Akmad Ampatuan, and his three followers identified as Abby Aguak, Pendatun U. Ampatuan, and Gani Macmod, all residents of Shariff Aguak town.

The surrenderers also yielded three M16 rifles and an M14 rifle.

The former vice mayor resigned from his post last year due to health reasons. His son, Amir Akmad S. Aguak, replaced him as vice mayor being the town’s top councilor.

Datu Akmad’s other son, Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan, accompanied him during the surrender rites.

“I am just overjoyed that my father has disbanded the group and surrendered to the authorities,” the mayor said in a phone interview Tuesday

A former vice mayor was the leader of a private armed group.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1457290/chief-of-village-watchmen-shot-dead-in-batangas

A leader of village watchmen (barangay tanod) in Tanauan City, Batangas province, was shot dead Wednesday, July 7.

The Tanauan City police reported that Gregorio Atienza, 57, chief of the watchmen in Barangay Altura South, was driving a tricycle when stopped by two males armed with caliber .45 handguns.

Sensing a threat to his life, Atienza ran away but was chased and repeatedly shot by the still-unidentified killers.

The victim died on the spot.

The assailants escaped aboard a white scooter.

Village watchman assassinated by unknown men. Investigators are eyeing "personal grudge" as the motive.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/794545/2-ex-cops-tagged-in-death-of-fabel-pineda-arrested-in-ilocos-sur-pnp-imeg/story/

Two former police officers suspected of killing 15-year-old Fabel Pineda in 2020 were arrested in Ilocos Sur, the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) said Thursday. 

Based on a report from the IMEG, dismissed Police Staff Sergeants Randy Ramos, 37, and Marawi Torda, 34, were nabbed in Barangay Bannuar, San Juan, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday. 

Both Ramos and Torda are facing cases for murder with no bail and acts of lasciviousness with recommended bail of P200,000. Ramos is also facing a separate case of rape, no bail was recommended. 

Charges against the two were filed in July last year.

Two cops charged last year with the murder of a 15 year old girl are only now being arrested. Why were they not arrested last year as soon as the charges were filed?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1457346/palace-dutertes-meeting-with-pdp-laban-prps-presscon-newsworthy

Malacañang on Thursday defended as “newsworthy” events the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party as well as the press conference of the People’s Reform Party on its endorsement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s possible presidential bid in the 2022 polls. 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said coverage of the two events was justified. This includes the airing of the two-hour meeting and the press briefing on state-run PTV-4, with the airtime being paid by taxpayers. 

(As I know it, whenever it’s newsworthy, it’s covered. Because if they don’t air it, they will get scooped. PTV is still a news agency.) 

The two-hour meeting of PDP-Laban, which was aired on Wednesday afternoon, was held seemingly to convince the President to run for vice president in the 2022 elections. 

During the course of the meeting, party members took turns in praising the President, who currently chairs the PDP-Laban party. Party members told Duterte that he needs to gun for the second-highest post in the country for “continuity.” 

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate described the airing of the PDP-Laban meeting, which used “government time and resources” as “an unabashed display of impunity” especially since it is “clearly partisan political activity.” 

In response, Roque said Duterte simply cannot separate his “political personality” from his functions. 

“The President has always been chairman of PDP-Laban and there’s simply no way to separate the political personality of the president from his functions,” the Duterte mouthpiece said. 

“Because halal nga siya ng taumbayan, his position is principally political,” he added.

The Palace is defending the airing of a two hour PDP-Laban  meeting on government owned TV by saying it was news worthy. However no other networks aired the entire two hours. If it was about covering the news there would be no need to air the entire meeting. Will other political parties have their entire meetings broadcast on government TV because they are news worthy? Like not!

Coronavirus Lockdown: Fake Vaccination Cards, Vax For Sale, and More!

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

Despite the continuing lockdowns and threats from the president to arrest those who do not get vaccinated it would appear that the Philippines is practically in the clear when it comes to the virus.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/01/2109487/philippines-now-low-risk-area-covid-19-doh

The Philippines is now a “low-risk” area after the growth rate of the virus and the average daily attack rate declined, the Department of Health said Thursday.

Dr. Alethea De Guzman, the officer in charge of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, said the country recorded a -9% growth rate in cases over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the average daily attack rate (ADAR) was at 5.42, lower than the 5.96 reported three to four weeks ago. ADAR is the number of cases in an area over a two-week period, divided by the population there.

“The risk classification nationally is already at low risk,” De Guzman said.

But instead of ending all the nonsense the government will likely say this is a reason to continue it. 

The Bayanihan 2 funds have now lapsed leaving many programs unfunded.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1453777/bayanihan-2-lapses-leaving-many-covid-programs-unfunded

The Bayanihan 2 law lapsed on Wednesday with P18.4 billion in allocations remaining unspent, leaving a number of critical pandemic response programs unfunded, including P6.6 billion for laboratory testing service and hiring of health workers, P4.6 billion for digital learning resources and student subsidies, and P4.6 billion for service contracts for public transport workers.

“These unobligated funds will revert to the treasury and will be unavailable for spending,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said in a Viber message to the Inquirer.

Also among those affected were public hospital employees under the umbrella group Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), who were dismayed that the government acted too slow, resulting in a failure to release their P3,000 monthly COVID-19 hazard pay on time.

Without a new law those funds are gone forever. So much for the lack of corruption and the dedication of the government to fight the virus. The official government response is that red tape is to blame.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1454392/p-169-b-covid-funds-unspent-due-to-red-tape

Bureaucratic red tape—those unnecessary paperwork, documents and procedures that take time—has prevented the government from spending billions of pesos to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of June 25, some P168.7 billion in approved COVID-related funds have remained unused by various state agencies, according to documents released on Thursday by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

This was despite the existence of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta), created through Republic Act No. 11032, commonly referred to as the ease of doing business law, to bring about a more efficient and transparent delivery of government services. One weakness with Arta is that government agencies can simply take note of the agency’s findings and recommendations. It is all up to the government departments to comply or not.

The Department of Health (DOH), the lead agency in the fight against COVID-19, accounted for the bulk of the unspent funds.

Of the P157.4 billion in allotment releases to the DOH across the Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws plus the 2021 budget, only P51.4 billion had been spent so far, DBM documents showed.

Interesting that the DOH accounts for the bulk of unspent funds because DOH Secretary Duque swears his department is not corrupt. That is despite having admitted it is corrupt! There is also a whole organization set up to cut through that red tape but it seems its existence did not make a difference in this case.

Remember last week when the tired nurse forgot to push down the plunger and give an actual vaccination and it was caught on tape? That was not the first time! DOH Secretary Duque also has some advice for people.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/793802/ask-vaccinators-to-show-syringe-after-covid-19-jab-duque-tells-public/story/

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday encouraged the public to ask COVID-19 vaccinators to show them the syringe after inoculation to ensure that they were vaccinated properly. 

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Duque said the public can take pictures of their syringe after vaccination as a “simple” and “practical” solution to concerns over improper inoculation. 

At least three videos have shown that some vaccinators fail to push the plunger after injecting the needle into vaccine recipients, leaving the substance inside the syringe. 

(Sometimes people are scared to look when they’re getting vaccinated, but they can tell the vaccinator, “When it’s over, can you show me the syringe so I can take a picture?”) 

(Let’s include that in the system. That’s not hard to do and you’ll also have evidence to show when someone asks you, “Have you been vaccinated?”)

Recall that Duque attributed one of these mishaps to the nurse being tired as they are working around the clock. Just goes to show that overworked nurses is a bad thing. Nurses are also underpaid which could explain why one nurse was caught selling vaccines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145826

A nurse of the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Tondo, Manila will face charges, along with two others, after they were caught selling coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators workers in Quezon City on Wednesday.

The city government of Manila, however, clarified that the vaccines did not come from its stockpile.

“Vaccines that are allegedly being sold are not sourced from the supply of the Manila Health Department. These Covid-19 vaccines are highly regulated and highly controlled by the LGU (local government unit),” Manila Public Information Officer Jules Leonen said in a statement issued on Friday.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has ordered GABMMC Director Dr. Teodoro Martin to immediately conduct administrative proceedings and file appropriate charges against Alexis Francisco de Guzman, who holds a Nurse III position.

The National Bureau of Investigation also arrested Kour Singh and Calvin Roca with 300 doses of Sinovac jabs placed in an icebox.

De Guzman was never a part of a vaccination team, has never been involved in the handling of Covid-19 jabs, and has never transacted with the hospital’s Pharmacy Section regarding the transport or custody of vaccines, according to Martin.

If these vaccines did not come from the city's stockpile then where did they come from? It cannot possibly be easy to obtain 300 doses of Sinovac.

The vaccinated are being given cards to verify their status and the PNP says they are on the look out for fakes.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/06/2110472/cops-lookout-fake-vaccination-cards

Police have been ordered to be alert against the possible use of fake vaccination cards now that the government has eased rules in allowing interzonal travel for fully vaccinated people, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who earlier headed the government’s implementation of travel requirements nationwide as chief of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said police were bracing for fake vaccine cards, noting how people had been able to fake RT-PCR tests in the past.

“If the results of RT-PCR tests can be faked, it’s not completely impossible for illicit people to also use fake vaccination documents. We won’t let this happen,” Eleazar said, referring to the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test to determine if a person has the coronavirus.

“I am directing all police offices and units to be vigilant against those travelers who might use fake documents to prove that they are fully vaccinated,” Eleazar said, reminding travelers to continue observing minimum public health standards.

This comes after the IATF released their protocols for fully vaccinated individuals.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/07/04/2110134/covid-19-vaccine-cards-count-alternative-testing-requirement-travel

For interzonal travel, the inter-agency task force said a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card or a certificate of quarantine completion would count as alternatives to a testing requirement which local governments can require.

"This interzonal travel shall likewise apply to fully vaccinated senior citizens," the IATF said. "Also, the traveler needs to undergo health and exposure screening upon arrival in the local government of destination."

Interzonal travel is moving through areas under different quarantine status.

The Duterte administration on Sunday said it has finalized protocols for Filipinos who are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

From figures by end of June, that would mean the newly approved policy would apply to 7.53 million individuals who have since completed their two doses.

However not everyone is on board with this protocol as of yet.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/794202/league-of-provinces-wary-of-removing-covid-19-test-as-travel-requirement/story/

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Tuesday expressed hesitance in allowing the entry of fully vaccinated travelers to different places even without a negative COVID-19 test result.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr., LPP president, pointed out that getting vaccinated does not guarantee a 100% protection from the disease.

(The local chief executives especially in the LPP are hesitant. There is a big hesitance if the requirement of RT-PCR or antigen test prior to arrival will be removed.)

A recent resolution by the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allows full vaccination as an alternative to testing.

under IATF-EID Resolution No. 124-5, fully vaccinated people will only need to present their vaccination card for interzonal travel as well as for intrazonal movement.

Velasco said conducting only health and exposure screening on fully vaccinated travelers may lapse in identifying an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient.

He suggested to the IATF to let the local government units have the discretion whether they will require COVID-19 tests.

(We are requesting the IATF to give the LGU an option if they would require the submission of a certificate of RT-PCR test or antigen test for arrival.)

What are they hesitant of? This is practically an admission that the vaccine does not work. 

Despite all the effort to vaccinate the population and lock it down, or perhaps because of it, could be that COVID-19 will become a seasonal virus like the flu or cold.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1456342/coping-with-covid-a-virus-thats-likely-to-stay

As COVID-19 cases reach more than 100 million worldwide with nearly 4 million deaths, countries have been struggling to vaccinate their population hoping to stop SARS Cov2, the virus that causes the disease, and its variants from further wreaking havoc. 

But what if the collective effort to vaccinate and implement preventive measures were not enough to make the virus disappear? 

Recent research and studies suggested that SARS Cov2, once thought to linger for only weeks or months at the pandemic’s onset, may be with us for good. 

The possibility is not remote for the SARS Cov2 to become a “forever virus”, according to experts, and this could rearrange the way the Philippines and other countries respond. 

At one of his recent public addresses with his Cabinet, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cited Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III about the possibility that SARS Cov2 could become “endemic,” or of regular occurrence. 

It was not clear where Duterte’s theory, supposedly coming from Dominguez, came from but experts studying the virus have suggested that it was not impossible. 

“Rather than die out, the virus will likely ping-pong back and forth across the globe for years to come,” said American epidemiologist Larry Brilliant in the report. Many other health experts shared Brilliant’s view. 

As early as May 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) emergencies director Dr. Mike Ryan had already warned that the virus might never disappear. 

“It is important to put this on the table: this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away,” Ryan said at an online press conference that time. 

While the probability of SARS Cov2 COV-2 becoming endemic sounds terrifying, Nature clarified that the failure to get rid of the virus does not necessarily mean more deaths, severe cases and longer social isolation. 

“The future will depend heavily on the type of immunity people acquire through infection or vaccination and how the virus evolves,” wrote Nicky Phillips, Asia-Pacific bureau chief for Nature News.

“Influenza and the four human coronaviruses that cause common colds are also endemic,” Phillips said.

Evolutionary biologist Jesse Bloom said that the current coronavirus might, later on, turn into a flu virus.

“I do think SARS Cov2 will become a less serious problem and something like flu,” he told Nature News. 

If SARS Cov2 becomes endemic, the Philippines’ pandemic response was likely to continue but focusing on strategies on how people could live with the virus.

God forbid that the current situation continues anywhere past June 2022. The nation would be totally ruined. And all because of a virus with an already 97% survival rate.

Picture of the Week: Welding

It's always shocking to see construction workers in the Philippines not observing basic safety protocols like wearing closed toed shoes instead of slippers while on the job site. The most head scratching violators has to be welders who do not use welding helmets. Instead they wear sunglasses or nothing at all. Here is a welder I recently saw doing something rather stupid and unsafe.

He is not using a helmet or sunglasses to protect his eyes. Instead, he is holding up what looks like a broken phone screen to look through. How is it that these guys can afford the machine but not the proper equipment like a helmet so the machine can be safely operated?

Insurgency: NPA Supply of Food Diminishes

The barangay development program has been touted as the only way to stop the communist rebellion. But, as I have been saying, that development should always be ongoing. I think this article from PNA illustrates my point.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145709

The Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), the province’s power provider, launched on Thursday afternoon the lighting of 143 households in two remote sub-villages here – both former encounter zones between government forces and communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas.

Jay Gonzaga, executive assistant of Mayor Florenito Gonzaga, and Jupiter Rubino, the municipal administrator and concurrent member of the Cotelco’s board of directors, led the separate onsite ceremonial switch-on before the recipients of the energization program in the adjoining areas.

“This is the promising mission of the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP), which is to bring electricity to the countryside to increase progress and attain sustainable development,” Rubino said.

According to Rubino, the Ubo Manuvu settlers have long been waiting to experience the benefit of electrification that could help their livelihood and respond to their students’ needs at home.

The villages were once a haven of insurgents due to their terrain and distance from the town proper.

“Now we can really see the benefits of electricity and it’s worth it after the long wait,” Danny Enoc, the leader of Sitio Natuyukan, said in Manobo language.

Rubino said the SEP would energize soon three other sub-villages here targeting 114 households in Sitio Bantaan, Bagumbayan; Sitio Tribal, Barangay Imamaling; and Sitio Malinao II in Barangay Magcaalam.

The SEP, a nationally-funded program under the National Electrification Administration, pursues rural electrification for countryside development.

The Cotelco has a total of 37 sitios (sub-villages) in the province to be energized under the program this year.

There is absolutely no excuse for this. Not even the presence of the NPA is much of an excuse because so many villages across the nation remain without electricity despite the mandate from the government to rectify that situation. The money has been allocated but there have been no results.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/10/3/sitios-with-no-electricity-17-000.html

A lawmaker is pushing to increase the National Electrification Administration’s budget to be able to provide access to electricity for more than 17,000 sitios across the country.

During the plenary deliberation on the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Energy on Friday, APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc said there are 17,379 un-energized sitios across the country, 6,637 of which are in Mindanao.

Dagooc said that for 2021, budget allocated for sitio electrification program of the NEA is at ₱1.8 billion, which can only provide access to power to 1,085 sitios. This is from an original proposal of ₱7.5 billion for next year, he said.

The lawmaker also noted that total electrification is not just about lighting homes, but also about sustainable rural development.

“If we are not going to do anything about this, would you agree that the budget of ₱1.8 billion…There is a danger that the remaining sitios will not be energized?,” Dagooc asked.

Zamboanga Rep. Manuel Dalipe, the sponsor of DOE’s budget, agreed and said they are open for any proposal pushing to increase budget for the program.

The government targets to achieve total electrification before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in 2022. In a budget briefing last month, NEA said they need ₱15 billion to achieve the target of the program.

This program is all on the shoulders of the NEA. Maybe they don't have enough funds to achieve the target but there is nothing said about the NPA. So, why is the Cotobato Electric Company crowing about linking up two little villages to the grid? This should be a regular occurrence until the whole country is hooked up. The presence of the NPA should have no bearing on the "sustainable rural development" of the nation. If they are a problem then the military can guard the ongoing projects.

This week the AFP declared that hatred is the primary weapon of the CPP-NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145418

"Ang pangunahing pamamaraan ng pagsusulong ng kanilang gustong pagbabago ay (their primary tool in pushing for the change they want is) hatred. The propagation of hatred against the government, against the status quo, against the present system of government)," de Leon said.

He said claims that poverty is the primary reason that some sectors join the communist terrorist movement are not true.

"Kung makikita natin, sinasabi noong araw na (In the past,  poverty is being drummed up as) the root cause. I beg to disagree. Poverty is not the root cause. Poverty is just among the issues being exploited to generate public hatred so that revolution will start," he added.

The CPP-NPA, he said, is using every opportunity brought by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic to generate and stir hatred against the government for even the slightest error in its response.

"(So whatever program the government has for the people, they will look for faults, even the slightest ones, and magnify it. Their intent is to generate hatred against our government)," he added.

He's not exactly wrong here. The CPP does not care for the current status quo. They hate it. But it's not a blind hatred sans ideology as the one officer declares.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145360

The New People’s Army (NPA) is simply a bunch of terrorists without ideologies, contrary to the rebels’ claim.

Brig. Gen. George Banzon, commander of the Philippine Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade, said the NPA’s recent attacks in Surigao del Sur proved anew the senseless existence of the communist terrorist group (CTG).

He was referring to the June 19 attack in a prawn pond in Malimono town, causing about PHP8.5 million in losses, and the torching of construction equipment and killing of the site’s caretaker in Lanuza on June 24.

Both businesses refused to give in to the NPA’s extortion demands.

“Sa ngayon, talagang (Now, this truly) this represents the true color of the New People’s Army as a terrorist. Iyung (Their) acts engaged nila lately simply manifested that they are indeed terrorists,” Banzon said during the “Tagged! Debunking Lies By Telling The Truth” virtual press conference led by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday.

Lt. Jonard Requina of the Malimono Police Station said the attacks and harassment were done after failed extortion tries.

The picture these men are trying to paint of the CPP-NPA is that of unprincipled criminals. Nihilists in fact. While it may be true that not everyone in the NPA is spouting a strictly Marxist line it would be untrue to apply that image to the entire CPP. They do hate the current system and they want to replace it with the one envisaged in their CASER agreement which is fundamental to any peace talks. This week the CPP even released a statement on the centennial of the Chinese Communist Party.

https://cpp.ph/statements/on-the-centennial-of-the-once-great-communist-party-of-china

The Filipino working class joins the Chinese proletariat and people in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the once great and correct Communist Party of China (CPC) by reaffirming our adherence to Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and the necessity of waging socialist revolution to end all forms of exploitation and oppression, and rejecting modern revisionism and the restoration of capitalism in China.

The CPC has abandoned the international proletarian cause. Instead, it is now engaged in export of capital, international usury and debt traps for underdeveloped countries and expansion of international spheres of investment and influence, overseas deployment of military forces and armed aggression beyond its territory. It uses finance capital to influence and direct the economic policy and control resources of smaller countries. It has trampled on Philippine sovereignty by constructing artificial islands in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the country to erect military facilities and claim marine and mineral resources.

That article is a scathing condemnation of China as having abandoned communism and replacing it with something altogether different. It's indicative that the CPP is not at all unprincipled but that they do have an ideology. This is simply more propaganda from the AFP. Or perhaps the AFP does not understand their enemy.

Food is always a great tool to control people. What better way to fight the NPA than to take their food?

https://www.kalinawnews.com/npa-supply-of-food-diminishes-as-troops-recover-food-cache/

Troops of 25th Infantry Battalion, Intel Operatives of this unit and higher headquarters discovered ten (10) containers of thirty (30) Liters Plastic Gallons of Rice at Brgy. Mt. Diwata, Monkayo, Davao de Oro on 30 June 2021. The recovery of Food Cache was through the revelation of a Former Rebel who was a former member of the North Front, SRC 1 of SMRC who operates in some portion of the municipality. This food cache was buried by the members of North Front, SRC 1, SMRC led by alyas Jake, the Front Secretary sometime in the year 2018.

This recovery of the front’s supply of food will cause the weakening of their members as they suffer hunger and sickness that will eventually stop them from spreading their wrong and nonsense ideologies and prevent them from affecting the communities through their lies and deceit. Also through the help of the people in the area, this cache was recovered successfully and clearly manifests that the communities also cooperated in preventing the CPP-NPA-NDF from entering their area again as they denounce NPA’s presence in their barangay and declaring them as Persona Non-Grata. It can be recalled that in March 2018, almost 2,000 Former NPA Mass Supporters, Milisyang Bayan, and Regular NPA members in the whole municipality of Monkayo, Davao de Oro voluntarily surrendered to this unit after realizing the futility of their cause in the organization.

The food was buried in 2018 so if these people were not starved out by now then this cache probably won't matter much in that regard. However, there are other reports that the NPA is being starved out because of a lack of food due to decreased community support.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145901

The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) has warned its personnel to be on alert in the wake of a new threat by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.

The warning came after PRO-13 received information from individuals on the NPA plan to attack police personnel even in their residences.

In a statement Saturday, PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. told the police personnel to take precautionary measures and intensify intelligence gathering to monitor the movements of the NPA insurgents in their respective areas of responsibility.

“The NPA movement is now affected by the series of surrenders of their members and supporters. They attacked and destroyed equipment and businesses due to their failure to extract money extortions,” Caramat said.

He added that the recent attacks made by the NPA were to show the public that they are still intact and powerful.

“These are all for the shows because, in reality, the NPA rebels are now slowing down due to the withdrawal of support of their mass organizations,” Caramat said.

The remaining guerrillas are also experiencing hardships and hunger due to the difficulties they encounter in securing food and other needs due to the pandemic, he added.

“With the grueling situation they face, our informants said that the NPA rebels are now eyeing soft targets to inflict damages in urban centers through their special units. The insurgents are also planning to sabotage and attack vital infrastructure and installations in the region,” he said.

He added that as a countermeasure, the different police stations and units in Caraga are ordered to intensify their coordination with the other security sectors, particularly with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Others have also declared that recent attacks by the NPA were just for show but what does that even mean? That they should not be taken seriously? Here the police chief is saying that the NPA is really weak and that all the attacks are all for show and yet warning that the NPA is planning to attack PNP officers at their homes and to sabotage infrastructure. He can't have it both ways. 

It appears that terrorists in the North are also on the verge of collapse.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/communist-terrorists-in-the-north-on-the-verge-of-total-collapse/

Northern Luzon Command Chief, Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr. on Friday revealed that the communist terrorist groups in Northern and Central Luzon are on the verge of total collapse as the intensified security operations continue to gain grounds in the region.

The statement was made following the influx of surrenders from the ranks of the communist rebels and withdrawal of support by party members of the communist terrorist affiliated mass organizations all over Northern and Central Luzon. 

As per the record of NOLCOM for the 2nd quarter, 205 communist rebels surrendered along with 109 firearms, 143 of which are regular NPA members while 62 are members of the Milisyang Bayan. The most recent of which is the surrender of five (5) regular members of the communist rebels and one Milisyang Bayan on June 30, 2021, at Barangay Balagan, San Mariano, Isabela. They yielded five firearms, 100 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and 12 improvised explosive devices. 

Lieutenant General Burgos in his statement emphasized that they are at the “forefront in the campaign to end the local communist armed conflict in Northern and Central Luzon”, he cited that, “around 2 to 3 communist rebels surrendered to the government troops every day with a firearm being surrendered every day. This is a clear indication that it is just a matter of time that these communist terrorist groups will be defeated.”

If every single NPA member surrendered tomorrow thus ending the communist insurgency that would not mean they were defeated. It's pretty sad that it appears this is how the AFP is seeking to end the insurgency, by having everyone surrender and partake of the E-CLIP program. That is the official stance of the Commander-in-Chief, President Duterte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145035

Surrender, give up your weapons, and the government will support you.

President Rodrigo Duterte made the offer anew to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, assuring them of free housing, financial and food assistance, in a speech delivered during the launch and oath-taking ceremony of officers of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy support groups and force multipliers at the Philippine National Police Multipurpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday.

Duterte said insurgents who want to reintegrate into mainstream society will undergo skills training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“Ang deal ko sa (My deal to) surrenderers, if you surrender, I will automatically give you a place to stay. Then, I will send you to Tesda under Secretary (Isidro) Lapeña. You learn the basic of whatever educational study that you can master. For the time being, I will pay you and I will support you with a food sustenance,” he said.

Duterte said members of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing, NPA, must also “drop [their] arms.”

He stressed that “surrender without arms is not good to [him].”

“Because nothing changes the equation up in the mountains,” Duterte said. “If the firearms are still there and they come down to surrender, minus the arms, then nothing has changed in the equation, in the totality.”

Duterte said the CPP’s politburo or the policymakers are earning billions of pesos at the expense of poor NPA bandits.

He said NPA guerillas must be enlightened by the “sad story of the CPP”.

“The politburo’s families and members, children are all abroad, enjoying the fat of the land from the Communist Party of the Philippines. ‘Yung mga anak nila (Their children) are studying in Europe, London. Some of them [are] traveling,” he said.

Duterte also cited intelligence reports that “a group” of politburo’s children went to Turkey upon the invitation of the government.

“And yet, their [NPA] soldiers down on the ground are dying sometimes without eating a day or two days,” he said. “Iyan ang hindi alam ng pobreng kawal ng sundalo (That’s what their poor bandits do not know). And this must be brought to life para malaman nila ang totoo (for them to know the truth).”

How exactly are the CPP's policymakers earning billions? The AFP has said time and again that the CPP-NPA has lost popular support. So, where is the money coming from? And who exactly did Turkey invite to visit? One has to wonder what the point of that statement is when attack helicopters purchased from Turkey will be arriving in the Philippines later this year. These are tantalizing questions that deserve concrete answers. But we likely will never receive those answers.

The Deleterious Effects of Celebrating the Lie of June 12th as Independence Day

June 12th has come and gone and with it the celebration of fake Philippine Independence Day. I have written about this before and so have others but perhaps one might come away thinking, so what? Who cares if the day is celebrated on June 12th or July 4th or perhaps both? Well, this article from June 12th, 2021 shows that celebrating a historical lie leads to a wrong understanding of history.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1143419

Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Friday called on Filipinos to remember all the heroes who put their lives on the line for the country's independence from colonizers.

"(We remember this day not only because we attain our freedom from the invaders but for the reason for this victory --- our heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the love of country. Their heroism and bravery in fighting in various forms be it in principle, wisdom, words and works, are the reasons why the Filipinos are enjoying their freedom)," Sobejana said in his message, ahead of the commemoration of the country's 123rd Independence Day on Saturday.

Sobejana also assured the public that this freedom will be further strengthened by the efforts of the nation's soldiers and defenders.

"(This is why I am asking all members of the Armed Forces to continue with their efforts to safeguard the nation's freedom which have been fought for our ancestors so that the independence being enjoyed by today's generation which will be experienced by the next generation. Things may change and the nation may experience a lot of adversity in the coming days, but we remain committed to fighting for a free, peaceful, and progressive Philippines)," he added.

All of that nonsense is an outright lie and the only reason AFP Chief-of-Staff Sobejana is repeating it is because, like all Filipinos, he has been exposed to the lie of June 12th being Independence Day year after year since 1962.

The fact is the Philippines did not attain its freedom because of military victories by the forces of Aguinaldo and his men. The First Republic was never recognized by any foreign government and eventually succumbed to American forces. It was not until 1946 that the Philippines attained independence and that was due to a plebiscite on the issue in 1934. 

In 1962, because the American Senate denied a payment of $70 million to the Philippines, President Macapagal threw a fit and changed the date of independence from July 4th to June 12th. This change was made permanent in 1964. Ever since then the Philippines has celebrated June 12th as Independence Day. But note what Macapagal had to say about the First Republic.

It is noteworthy that no one among the half-dozen great heroes of our history, Rizal, Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, Lapu-Lapu, Abad Santos and Quezon, has played a role in the Republic that we administer today. This fact emphasizes the responsibility which devolves upon us to whom they bequeathed the fruits of their heroic labors to fashion this Republic as an instrument for the welfare and happiness of our people.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-12th-as-independence-day-is-lie.html

If "no one among the half-dozen great heroes of our history" had anything to do with the current Republic then who did? The people did. It was Manuel Quezon and others who lobbied the American government for independence. It was decided that Filipinos should vote on the matter. If they voted "yes" then the Americans would transition authority to Filipinos over a span of ten years. That is the essence of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934.

Sec. 4 ...If a majority of the votes cast shall be for the constitution, such vote shall be deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence, and the Governor-General shall, within thirty days after receipt of the certification from the Philippine Legislature, issue a proclamation for the election of officers of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands provided for in the constitution.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-brief-and-true-history-of-philippines.html 

Philippine independence remains a manifestation of the will of the people. To celebrate June 12th as Independence Day is to forget that fact and to bury it in history. And that plebiscite is very important because it is not the first time that the will of the people in regards to who would rule them was held. The first such plebiscite was held in 1599 when the inhabitants of these islands voluntarily voted to be submitted to the rule of Spain. To call the Spaniards "invaders" is completely wrong. 

It can be said with historical accuracy that Spain's legitimate sovereignty over the Philippines began with a popular referendum in 1599 and ended with a popular revolution in 1898. 

Philip II and the "Philippine Referendum" of 1599

Here is just one voice from those who voluntarily submitted to the Spanish crown.

“We answer that we wish the king of España to be our king and sovereign, for he has sent Castilians to us, who are freeing us from the tyranny and domination of our chiefs, as well as fathers who aid us against the same Castilians and protect us from them”

Philippine Islands, vol 23, pg. 253

This man says the king of Spain freed them "from the tyranny and domination of our chiefs!" So much for being unwanted invaders. Before the arrival of the Spanish these islands were not even united. Each island was its own dominion.

Later on there was the Spanish Constitution of 1812 which was ratified in Spain with Filipino delegates in attendance. 

In fact, the constitutional process experienced in Cádiz, and the later ratification of the Constitution of 1812, meant for the Philippines and other parts of the empire the birth of the public sphere in the Hispanic world. It ushered in the transformation of the overseas territories into provinces with parliamentary representation, and the theoretical right to participate in political life with civil and political equality of Spaniards in both hemispheres. All of these ideals were greatly desired and the urge to truly put them into practice would continue to drive the political demands of the Philippines throughout the nineteenth century.

Thus, in the first decades of the nineteenth century, following the participation of Reyes in the Cortes de Cádiz, in the Philippines a process was commenced that would take shape over the course of the entire century and prove vitally important in the forging of an independent Philippine nation. As Nick Joaquin (2005) has argued, these initial political struggles undertaken at the beginning of the nineteenth century can be considered important antecedents to the Propaganda Movement founded by José Rizal and those other notable ilustrados who inspired the Revolution of 1896.

https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/165907/3/philippines_cortes_cadiz.pdf

This constitution leads directly to the revolution of 1896 as well as the plebiscite of 1934 and the current Philippine Republic which was born on July 4th, 1946. Contrary to what the AFP is saying the Philippines has a proud historical tradition of Filipinos expressing their political will by voting rather than by through force of arms. Celebrating Independence Day on June 12th obscures all of those events and keeps the people ignorant of their history.