It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
 |
| https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/03/6-caloocan-anti-drug-cops-face-dismissal-for-assaulting-sidewalk-vendor-robbing-his-ayuda/ |
Six members of the Caloocan City Police’s anti-illegal drugs unit were recommended to be dismissed from service by the Philippine National Police – Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) for allegedly assaulting a sidewalk vendor and robbing his “ayuda” worth P14,000 in March.
In a report Friday, June 3, PNP-IAS chief Alfegar Triambulo said he recommended the dismissal of Corporals Noel Espejo Sison, 33; Rommel Toribio, 29; Ryan Sammy Gomez Mateo, 32; Jake Barcenilla Rosima, 35; Mark Christian Abarca Cabanilla, 31; and Daryl Calija Sablay, 29, who are all members of the Caloocan City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).
The suspects were found guilty of administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, according to Triambulo. They were also facing a criminal charge for robbery which was filed by the victim, Eddie Yuson, 39.
According to the PNP-IAS’ investigation, Yuson, 39, was walking along Barangay 117, Caloocan City on March 27 to buy food for his family after obtaining cash assistance from the government when he was approached by the suspects.
Yuson was then frisked by the suspects before being allegedly assaulted and robbed of his cash as they boarded a white pick-up truck to escape.
Yuson is a widow and a single parent to four children.
Six policemen who robbed a vendor back in March are facing dismissal.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175848 |
The Sandiganbayan convicted a former provincial governor of graft over the anomalous purchase of fertilizers worth PHP4.9 million in 2004.
In its decision dated June 3, the anti-graft court's Second Division sentenced former Quirino Gov. Pedro Bacani to up to eight years in prison for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Two private individuals, Edilberto and Kevin Apostol, both officials of fertilizer supplier Akame Marketing International, who were implicated in the transactions, remain at large.
The case stemmed from the purchase of two batches of fertilizers totaling more than 2,000 kilos in 2004 from Akame for implementation of the province's Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program.
The Ombudsman found, however, that the transaction did not undergo public bidding.
The absence of a competitive public bidding resulted "in giving unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference" to the supplier, the court said.
A former governor was been convicted of graft over an anomalous fertilizer purchase.
 |
| https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/06/05/latest-stories/ombudsman-suspends-arta-officials/1846244 |
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered the suspension of Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Jeremiah Belgica and four other officials for alleged irregular practices.
Aside from Belgica, also suspended for six months by Ombudsman Samuel Martires were ARTA Deputy Director General Eduardo Bringas, Division Chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, Director Jedreck Ng and Director Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.
The order was issued on May 24, 2022.
Charges of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were filed against Belgica and his subordinates. The case stemmed from the complaint of Dito Telecommunity, Inc. over the grant of frequencies to Now Telecom Company.
Now Telecom purchased bidding documents for the selection of a third major player based on the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission in September 2018. Now did not participate in the selection process but in 2020, it filed a complaint against NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordova before the ARTA, seeking the automatic approval of its requests for frequency assignment that had already been assigned to Dito. ARTA issued an order for the assignment of contingent frequencies for Now Telecom, a move questioned by Dito and the NTC.
The Ombudsman, in its order said that the guilt of the respondents "is strong" and the charges against them "may warrant removal from office."
"The six months preventive suspension is necessary for the Ombudsman to secure the documents and to prevent possible harassment of witnesses and considering further that the continued stay of the five ARTA directors in office may prejudice the case filed against them," the OMB said.
Officials from the Anti-Red tape Authority are facing charges of grave misconduct and irregular practices and are facing dimissal.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176042 |
A village councilor, husband of their incumbent barangay chair, was gunned down by riding in tandem suspects in front of the barangay hall in Magsaysay Sur here at around 7:50 p.m. Monday.
A police report on Tuesday identified the victim as Ronald Castillo, 51, husband of Jacqueline Castillo, chairperson of the village.
Witnesses said the victim, himself a former village chief, was talking to a local peacekeeper by the roadside when the suspects arrived and shot him repeatedly using a short firearm.
The suspects were described only as both wearing white t-shirts.
The victim was rushed to nearby Wesleyan Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival by an attending physician.
"The suspects immediately fled on board a motorcycle, heading towards the north," the police reported.
Probers, however, have yet to establish the motive behind the killing.
A village councilor has been assassinated for unknown reasons.
 |
| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/07/2186698/ombudsman-indicts-43-immigration-personnel-over-pastillas-bribery |
The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted dozens of Bureau of Immigration officials and staff over the "pastillas" bribery scheme, where foreigners were allegedly whisked past airport counters in exchange for money.
The scam was the subject of hearings at the Senate, which looked into whether it had been used for sex trafficking and for letting Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations workers into the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte summoned the immigration officials to Malacañang for a dressing down and incorrectly claimed at his last State of the Nation Address in July 2021 that they had already been fired.
The Ombudsman said that the bribery scheme "allowed the entry of foreign passengers into the country without going through regular and stringent profiling or screening processes in violation of existing immigration rules and procedures, to the prejudice of the government and public interest."
Bail for the 43 immigration officials and staff indicted has been recommended to be set at P90,000 each.
The Ombudsman said that the "pastillas" scam involved collecting P10,000 from 143 foreign passengers, particularly from Chinese nationals, to be let through the immigration checks at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The money was said to have been wrapped in paper, like the "pastillas" sweets.
Foreigners were referred to the immigration officers by "bosses or Chinese suppliers" who got the names from travel agencies, the Ombudsman also said.
The operations of the "pastillas" scheme, including client lists, were discussed in Viber groups that were also run by immigration personnel.
The scam was done with the help of Chinese interpeters, who received a share of the grease money, and of Empire International Travel and Tours, which provided the client list to the immigration officers and staff.
43 immigration officials have been indicted over the pastilles scheme which allowed foreign nationals to enter the Philippines illegally.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175986 |
The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction by the Sandiganbayan of a former vice mayor in Iloilo province for graft and falsification in connection with a spurious council resolution passed in 1996 to authorize quarrying.
The SC’s Second Division dismissed the appeal filed by ex-Maasin vice mayor Arnaldo Partisala who was charged in 1999 for making it appear that a municipal resolution was passed to authorize private individual Helen Lee Tan’s firm to engage in massive quarrying in the guise of rechanneling the Tigum River.
Also sued were former mayor Rene Mondejar; Sangguniang Bayan secretary Francisco Tolentino; and Sanggunian members Ildefonso Espejo, Margarita Gumapas, Manuel Piolo, Roberto Velasco.
Residents of Barangay Mabini-Rizal sued them over the destruction of the river due to quarrying activities in Barangay Naslo.
In 1997, the provincial government said Maasin violated ordinances by quarrying without the necessary permit from the governor.
Tan was acquitted in 2016 for the failure of the prosecution to prove conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt.
Partisala was meted out a sentence of up to eight years imprisonment and a fine of PHP5,000.
He previously failed to appear during arraignment and was later apprehended, allowing the Sandiganbayan to resume the trial.
The other co-accused were sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to up to 10 years in prison.
In upholding Partisala's conviction on June 2, the high court “considers as conclusive the factual findings of the Sandiganbayan as it had the better opportunity to examine and evaluate the evidence presented before it”.
An ex-vice mayor's conviction for graft has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
 |
| https://entertainment.inquirer.net/452055/angelika-dela-cruz-laments-ph-politics-after-receiving-4-bullets-for-death-threat/amp |
Angelika Dela Cruz, barangay captain of Longos, Malabon, expressed her dismay over Philippine politics after she received a death threat that came with four gun bullets.
The actress-politician showed a photo of the torn letter warning her through her Facebook page yesterday, June 7.
(Philippine politics is really messy. This letter along with the bullets was sent to our barangay XO, which says that four people will be next and that an unknown individual is roaming around our house. Whoever you are, this is too much.)
It is not immediately known if Dela Cruz will take actions over the death threat as she did not give further details on her post. She then received messages of support from netizens who are hoping for her safety, via the comments section.
A barangay captain has been receiving death threats.
 |
| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/445813/2-pajo-barangay-employees-test-positive-for-drugs |
Two barangay employees of Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, tested positive for illegal drugs in a random drug test that was held on Monday, June 6, 2022.
This was confirmed by Garry Lao, head of the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP).
Lao said that around 120 employees in Barangay Pajo have submitted themselves to the drug test, including Pajo Barangay Captain Lyndel Bullos.
“Unfortunately there are two full employees in the barangay who were found out to be positive of shabu. I have already informed the captain of the result of the drug test, ”Lao said.
Lao, however, said that he would leave it to the barangay captain what sanction to impose on the erring employees.
Two barangay employees test positive for drugs.
 |
| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/09/22/sandiganbayan-finds-pichay-guilty-of-graft-for-p780-m-bank-deal |
Surigao del Sur Rep. and former Local Water Utilities Administration chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. was found guilty of 3 counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan 4th Division for the misuse of P780 million funds of the utilities agency in 2009.In the decision of the anti-graft court promulgated on June 7, 2022, Pichay and former acting deputy administrator of investments and financial services Wilfredo Feleo, Jr. who was likewise convicted by the anti-graft court, were sentenced to 6 to 10 years imprisonment for each of the 3 counts of graft, as well as perpetual disqualification from public office.In the informations filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan, Pichay and other LWUA officials gave undue advantage to Express Savings Bank Inc., an insolvent bank owned by The Wellex Group and Forum Pacific.A total of P700 million LWUA funds were deposited to ESBI in 2 tranches under Pichay’s chairmaship.Some 445,377 shares of stocks in ESBI amounting to P80 million were also purchased by LWUA, resulting in its control of at least 60 percent of the voting stock.All transactions were without the necessary approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of Finance.In its ruling, the court noted that LWUA was already getting “gentle reminders” from the BSP and the DOF to secure proper approval from the Monetary Board.
A current representative and former head of the LWUA has been convicted of graft and faces 6 to 10 years in prison.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1606712/ca-affirms-palparans-conviction-modifies-penaltys-interests |
The Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan, who was convicted in 2018 for the kidnapping of two disappeared University of the Philippines (UP) students, and modified the interest of the penalty.
“IN VIEW WHEREOF, the Joint Decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 15, Malolos City in Criminal Cases Nos. 3905-M-2011 and 3906-M-2011 are hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION as to penalty and interest only: Accused-appellants are sentenced to the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole. The damages imposed are subject to six percent (6%) interest per annum from the date of finality of this Decision until full payment of the same,” the decision read.
Aside from Palparan, the accused-appellants are Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio.
In Criminal Case Nos. 3905-M-2011 and 3906-M-2011, the three accused-appellants and Major Sergeant Rizal Hilario were charged for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, respectively.
The decision cited Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) which states that penalty of reclusion perpetua to death if the kidnapping or detention lasted for more than three days and when the victims are females.
It also noted that applying Article 63 of the RPC, the penalty imposed should be death as allegations of taking advantage of nighttime and use of a motor vehicle were proven during trial.
“However, with the prohibition on the imposition of the death penalty, the penalty must be reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole,” the decision said.
Army Major General Jovito Palparan's conviction for kidnapping two UP students has been upheld by the Court of Appeals.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1605840/jun-lozada-surrenders-to-nbi-after-sc-affirms-conviction-in-pfc-land-deal |
Whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, according to bureau spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin.
“Yes, we confirm that Jun Lozada is in the custody of the NBI. Still checking on other details,” Lavin told the Inquirer in a Viber message.
Lozada, along with his brother Orlando, turned himself in to the NBI after the Sandiganbayan reportedly issued an arrest warrant against them in connection with the Supreme Court decision affirming their conviction for a land deal involving the state-owned Philippine Forest Corp. (PFC).
In a ruling dated July 28, 2021, but made public only recently on its website, the Supreme Court denied the Lozada brothers’ petition for review of the Sandiganbayan decision finding them guilty of graft and sentencing them to 6-10 years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
A family member of Lozada, who requested anonymity, also confirmed that Lozada and his brother are now at the NBI office along Taft in Manila.
The relative, who claimed they learned of Lozada surrendering to the NBI only in the news, was also asking for prayers for the kin’s safety.
Last week, Lozada, an IT expert and former president and CEO of the PFC, said he has no regrets for “siding with the truth” even as the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction.
“My enemies made good with their threats that they will make me regret telling the truth,” Lozada said in a statement addressed to his family and friends and informing them “with sadness” that the high court had denied his appeal.
“Yes, they succeeded in sending me to prison. But they will not succeed in making me regret my decision to side with the truth and the people. Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang ginawa kong pagpanig sa katotohanan [I will not regret my decision to side with the truth],” he said.
He asked his family and friends to “accompany me with your prayers,” and thanked them for their support.
It was Lozada who blew the whistle on the supposed cost-padding and bribery involved in the NBN-ZTE deal, which was to have resulted in a telecommunications network linking government offices nationwide.
His testimony at a Senate inquiry in 2008, in which he tagged then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband as the “masterminds behind the NBN-ZTE crime,” led to the cancellation of the deal.He also testified that then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. stood to gain a huge commission from the deal.
Four years after his testimony, the Sandiganbayan filed graft charges against Lozada and his brother.
A whistle blower has been convicted of graft over a deal he made while president and CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation. He claims he is innocent and that his conviction was payback for testifying against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
