Corovonavirus Lockdown: Continuous Monitoring, Cases Plateauing in All Areas, and More!

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

A new sub-variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the Philippines but don't worry because the DOH is on top of the situation. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/08/doh-assures-continuous-monitoring-of-covid-19-variants/

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that it is constantly monitoring the emergence of new Covid-19 variants in light of the detection of omicron subvariants XBB.1.5 and CH.1.1.

In a statement, the DOH said it is in constant coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) to determine the abilities of the current coronavirus variants circulating globally.

“The DOH is continuously monitoring these variants and coordinating with WHO for more guidance,” the health agency said.

The DOH also lauded the initiatives of both the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for the detection of new variants.

It also assured “continuous surveillance at borders and communities and genome sequencing of Covid-19 variants.”

Meanwhile, the country’s hospital utilization rate remains at manageable levels, the DOH said.

“Even with these detections of these variants and subvariants, the important indicator is that our hospitals remain to have manageable number of Covid-19 admissions and severe/critical cases are manageable,” it said.

It's not as if the new variants have caused more deaths but it's good to keep us afraid. Why else would they tell us what the new dominant variant might be?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194827

The XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron, which is a mutation of the BA.2, could be a dominant variant in the country, a health official said Thursday.  

“I think it will be especially now that during the first month of January, the WHO [World Health Organization] reports that the top three fast rising variants or subvariant of Omicron one of that is XBB.1.5,” said infectious disease expert, Dr. Rontgene Solante, in a televised public briefing.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported the first case of XBB.1.5 and three cases of CH.1.1 which were part of the 1,078 samples sequenced by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center on Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

The DOH is yet to disclose any definite information if the cases are local transmission or from an exposure abroad.

However, the XBB.1.5 is less likely to cause “a significant spike of the increase in cases”, Solante said.

“We need to monitor this subvariant of the Omicron because of those, it may cause severe cases, but we don’t know yet, that would be possible, but it is important that we monitor the cases that we will be having,” Solante said.

So this variant is "less likely" to cause an increase in cases which is good news but it could cause severe cases which is bad news. If the past is any measure it won't cause any more deaths than usual. 

School sports are making a comeback now that the pandemic is over. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194619

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday the Palarong Pambansa would resume this year after an almost three-year halt due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

In a statement, the DepEd said the Division Schools of Marikina would host the sports competition. 

“The Department of Education announced the conduct of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa from July 29 to Aug. 5, 2023 in Marikina City, nearly three years since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic forced its cancellation,” it said. 

Meanwhile, the DepEd began the division meets on Monday, which will run until Friday. 

This will be followed by the regional meets on April 24 to 28, under DepEd Memorandum 5, series of 2023. 

The department said Filipino student-athletes abroad may also join the nationwide event. 

“Aside from student-athletes from the 17 DepEd regional athletic associations, Filipino athletes enrolled in recognized schools overseas will also be allowed to compete in individual sports under the banner of Philippine Schools Overseas,” it added. 

And so are cruise ships. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1728090/ppa-says-cruise-ships-now-back-in-ph-after-3-year-hiatus

Cruise ships made their grand return to Philippine shores after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

On Thursday, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced cruise ships returned to boost the tourism industry again, reviving its operations to reach various regions of the nation.

“It is about time that we live with the new normal and the PPA is proud to welcome again these international luxury ships to our shores as we bounce back from the effects of the pandemic,” PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said in a statement.

Among the provinces that will be visited by cruise ships from Feb. 9 to 14 are:

• Ilocos Sur
• Palawan
• Bohol

In 2019, the Ports of Salomague, Palawan, and Tagbilaran could accommodate 48,100 tourists.

But in 2020 and 2021, cruise ships canceled their voyages due to the COVID-19 threat to the tourists and locals.

That's good for tourism cruise ships have more important worries than COVID-19 such as norovirus outbreaks. 

The vaccine program is going strong amongst children. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194899

The Agusan del Sur town of Loreto has obtained a 102.82 percent vaccination rate for coronavirus disease 2019 among children aged 5 to 11-years-old.

The achievement is the first so far in the Caraga Region based on data from the regional Department of Health (DOH) office as of Feb. 4.

“The DOH-13, working with the different LGUs, will continue to conduct information and dissemination activities to motivate and encourage parents to have their children vaccinated for protection against Covid-19,” DOH-13 said in a statement Friday.

As of Feb. 4, at least 5,290 children aged 5 to 11 are fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 in Loreto, equivalent to 102.82 percent of its goal of 5,145 children in this age group.

Four other local government units (LGUs) in the region also achieved over 90 percent vaccination rate among the 5 to 11-year-old children.

How many of these children will still be alive in ten years and how many more will have developed severe heart problems? We shall have to wait and see. 

The nation has seen a slight uptick in cases and even registered a few new deaths. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195124

The country’s daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases increased by 9 percent from Feb. 6 to 12, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.

In the latest DOH case bulletin, daily infections increased to 157 in the recent week from 145 infections from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5.

The DOH also reported 1,101 new cases and 98 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, six occurred from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12.

To date, the country has logged over 4.07 million coronavirus cases and more than 65,949 fatalities.

During the same week, no cases were added to the tally of severe and critical infections, which also went up to 426 from the previous week’s 388.

Without knowing the status of the individuals who died, such as age and whether or not they had comorbidities, that information is useless. 

Across the nation COVID cases are plateauing.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/860742/doh-covid-19-cases-plateauing-in-all-areas/story/

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said COVID-19 cases in all areas of the country have recently started plateauing.

At a press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire presented the COVID-19 cases monitored in the National Capital Region, the rest of Luzon, in Mindanao, and the Visayas.

She added that while the decline in ICU admissions had slowed down, admissions of severe and critical cases continued to trend downwards.

However, Vergeire cautioned that there were still risks from COVID-19 due to mutations, new subvariants in other countries, open borders, and ongoing transmissions.

“We cannot say na wala tayong risk sa ngayon dahil (that there is no longer a risk because) the risk of the virus is still here,” she said.

Furthermore, Vergeire could not say if the Philippines could be placed under the lowest level of restriction - an Alert Level 0 -adding that authorities may discuss possible ways to “move forward” with safety precautions still in place.

What exactly is the risk? It's not death. So what is it? 

People who lost their jobs during the pandemic and were forced to move back to the provinces are being helped out by the government.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195045

Breadwinners of families who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic have benefited from the PHP16.9 million worth of poverty alleviation projects implemented in Bohol’s coastal town of Lila, a social welfare official said Monday.

Shalaine Marie Lucero, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Central Visayas, said Lila’s municipal government received a community grant of PHP7.6 million from the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) funding.

KKB is a modality of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program which aims to help the poor localities improve their livelihood as well as address the lack of access to basic social services.

Lucero said the amount helped family beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2P) organized by the government to assist people who wanted to go back home to their home provinces at the height of the global public health crisis.

A total of 653 households benefited from the program. They were from the villages of Calvario (184); Bonkokan Ilaya (140); Macalingan (122); Lomanoy (111)and Candulang (96).

“The program provides holistic interventions to families affected by the pandemic. Municipalities that availed of these funds must have at least 25 families working in the highly urbanized cities who lost their jobs from pandemics and opted to return to their respective provinces for good,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

Through the fund, Lila put a health station in the village of Macalingan and concreted four farm-to-market roads totaling 0.655 kilometers in Barangays Bonkokan Ilaya, Candulang, Lomanoy, and Calvario.

Apart from the PHP7.6 million development grant, Lucero said the town also received a 14-unit isolation facility worth PHP9.3 million through the additional financing (AF) modality of the program to support and augment its resources for health as the 5th-class agricultural municipality is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.

One of the beneficiaries, Marla Flor Biangcong, cited the project for helping her and other workers displaced by lockdowns and border restrictions.

“As a beneficiary of the Balik Probinsiya Program, I am thankful because not only did I receive assistance for my family but my return to my hometown contributed to projects for the community,” Biangcong said, referring to the small-scale infrastructure project where she played an important role as a volunteer.

This sounds like the public works administration implemented during the Great Depression in the USA,

The God Culture: Kalinga Hebrew Youth Ministry Conference

Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture, recently gave another secret conference talk in conjunction with Baguio's Sabbath Believer's Congregation. It was not strictly secret but he sure did not bother to advertise it which means he did not want his audience to know he was going to be giving a lecture.  

https://www.facebook.com/sabbathbc.congregation/videos/848713996196488

Tim only has a few basic messages: faith in Christ is not enough the Law is what redeems us, the Philippines is Ophir and every other mysterious Bible locale including Sheba and Tarshish, and the restoration of true Philippine history combined with the restoration of the Law which was abolished once Christ came and fulfilled it will lead to the Philippines rising against the New World Order and condemning it. This same message was repeated at this conference. 

2:13:51  Because Jesus, Yahusha, said Himself that the Philippines will rise in the last days and stand against the New World Order, the one world government. The Philippines! Can you imagine that? Start. Because it's coming soon. His prophecies never return unto him void. 

That lie is based on Luke 11:31 which reads:

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” 

Tim's false interpretation of this verse is that because Cebu is the Biblical land of Sheba from whence the Queen of the South came to visit Solomon therefore this is a prophecy about the Philippines. It's total nonsense but his audience eats it up. Practically everything Tim says is a continual praising of the Philippines and Filipinos as the most favored land and people on the face of the earth. 

3:03:52 Now, this place Ophir, that's just the Bible name for the land of gold and it is the ancient name of the Philippines. Specifically Luzon. You're from Kalinga. No. You're from Ophir! Your from the land of gold. The greatest land in all of history literally in every way. 

4:51:16 These are things that scholars should have figured out a long time ago and they're not. And they only reason they're not is because they live in a box and in their box Filipinos don't exist. In their box you are noting. In His you have no box and you are the most important people of the end times.

But of course you won't learn this stuff in high school or college. 

4:56:27 You didn't learn this in high school did you? You didn't learn this in college did you? Why not?

Well thank goodness Timothy Jay Schwab, aka The God Culture, is here.

2:30:58 But we're working on a textbook. A real textbook. A four year course that will teach, especially Filipinos but people all over the world, the foundation of the Bible which includes the Philippines. Because it includes the Garden of Eden which is here. You don't get a more significant land than that of the Garden of Eden, the very land of creation itself. So, we're working on that project right now and we hope to get that out in time. 

A real textbook? One can only wonder if it will include the noted contributions of the supposed God Culture Team or if it will only bear Tim's name as the author. Will we ever see evidence The God Culture is anything but a one man show? Just imagine what nonsense will be in that textbook. It will be nothing but lies. Lying comes so easy to Tim. In this first lecture he expounds on his lie about Pigafetta seeing elephants in the Philippines. Now Pigafetta saw elephants on three islands in the Philippines. 

4:13:19 Even Pigafetta in his journal when Magellan came in 1521 tells you he saw elephants in at least three different islands.

That statement is such an incredible lie. Pigafetta saw elephants on Borneo. He did not see them in the Philippines. 

There are two more sessions for the afternoon but I don't really care enough to listen to them. It will undoubtedly be the same old nonsense which, contrary to Tim's claims, I have shown to be false time and time again.

2:39:08 We don't have a single person who can go toe-to-toe with these facts and prove to us the Philippines is not Ophir nor can they prove that it's anywhere else. That's a problem because if you want to say "oh well that can't be the Philippines" ok what is it? Come on. Where is it? You don't know? Then you can't say "nu-uh." You can just say "duh, I don't know." 

One does not have to give proof for an alternate location of Ophir in order to show that Tim's entire system is 100% wrong. He misuses sources, does not understand them, and quite often gives bogus interpretations like the City of Manila being mentioned on a map from 1492. His standard of proof is quite low and includes Greek mythology to prove that Filipinos circumnavigated Africa to trade with Greece and vice versa. I have gone toe-to-toe with his "facts" in depth. It is Tim who cannot go toe-to-toe with the  actual facts I bring up. Nor can his audience who, judging by the comments they leave on my YouTube page, are some of the most ignorant people on the face of the earth. 

One last thing to mention here and that is Tim does not appear in any of these videos except for when he briefly walks into frame. 

The whole time the camera is focused on this tarp which means anyone watching the live stream would not have been able to see Tim's presentation. Why is that? Why does Tim not want to appear on camera anymore? Whatever the reason it's a genuine disservice for those watching from home because they do not get to see Tim's entire media presentation. 

Insurgency: COVID-19 Slows Down NPA Recruitment

Last week I noted that the AFP is stepping up operations against the NPA in Central Visayas. This week the AFP confirmed that fact by declaring they will bring an end to the insurgency in Negros Oriental by the end of the first quarter of 2023. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194647

The Philippine Army targets to end the communist insurgency in Negros Oriental as early as the first quarter of this year with sustained operations.

Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that continuous combat and non-combat operations in the province and in Negros Occidental will reduce the fighting capabilities of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Actually, our objective at the brigade is to completely flush out the ranks of the NPA or reduce it to the lowest, insignificant level, or in a state where they can no longer fight the government forces,” Peña said in mixed English and Filipino.

“That is why we have intensified our combat operations to track these NPA rebels down and ensure that they can no longer regain their strongholds and build up their mass base,” he added.

Peña said the recent encounters between the NPA and government forces on Negros Island are the result of the civilian populace’s cooperation with their anti-insurgency efforts.

Peña said Executive Order (EO) No. 70 of former president Rodrigo Duterte is now seeing gains in this Central Visayas province, the only one among four provinces in Region 7 (Central Visayas) that is still dealing with insurgency.

“We intend to make Negros Oriental insurgency-free, just like Bohol, and we need the cooperation of government agencies, local government units, local chief executives, and various stakeholders for us to achieve this goal,” he added.

Insurgency free like Bohol? Last December the AFP engaged with the NPA in Bohol.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709981/npa-rebels-military-troops-clash-in-bohol

A gunfight ensued between suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troopers in Bohol province in San Isidro town on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Soldiers clashed with at least 10 “remnants” of NPA’s Bohol Party Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, according to a report from the 47th “Katapatan” Infantry Battalion (IB).

San Isidro, 32 km from the capital city of Tagbilaran, has at least 9,000 residents.

In a statement, the 47th IB said residents of Sitio Bajong, Barangay Baunos, San Isidro informed soldiers about the presence of communist rebels who were allegedly extorting money from them.

The troops responded, resulting in an encounter at around10 a.m. The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes.

No fatalities were reported.

Recovered in the encounter site were different ammunition, tents, food packs, personal belongings, and subversive documents.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to put an end to the local communist armed conflict and stop their recovery efforts in Bohol Island, the residents’ willingness to assist the soldiers by providing noteworthy information on the whereabouts and activities of these NPA terrorists is extremely helpful,” said Lt. Col. Allyson Depayso, the commanding officer of the 47th IB.

Depayso assured the people that the Army in Bohol will continue to battle the NPAs to uphold a just and lasting peace on the island.

Bohol is not insurgency free meaning there are no insurgents. The standard for declaring an area insurgency free seems to fluctuate from their being no reported sightings of NPA to no terrorist activities. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1726925/2-quezon-island-towns-now-insurgency-free-says-police

Two island towns in Quezon province have been declared free from the clutches of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, the provincial police reported in a press release issued Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Colonel Ledon Monte, Quezon police chief, said representatives from the police, military and the local government of the island town of Quezon led by Mayor Juan Escalona signed on Feb. 7 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that declared the municipality “insurgency-free.”

On Feb. 6, government representatives and Perez town Mayor Charizze Marie Escalona also signed an MOU that declared the locality NPA-free.

Monte said the declaration meant that local government projects and programs “have reached the phase ready for investment and development having zero incidents of terroristic activities (by the NPA).”

“It meets the set of parameters to be declared as an insurgency-free municipality,” Monte explained.

In January, Gumaca was also declared free from the influence of the Maoist guerrillas.

On Dec. 13 last year, Macalelon town in the Bondoc Peninsula became the first NPA-free locality in the province. The Bondoc Peninsula is a known former NPA bailiwick in the Southern Tagalog region.

“We are now witnessing history. Four municipalities in the province were declared insurgency-free,” Monte said.

Yeah sure.  They are "witnessing history" as these places are "insurgency-free." But it really boils down to what that actually means. If my doctor tells me I am cancer free I expect there to be NO cancer whatsoever in my body but insurgency-free areas in the Philippines are not always 100% insurgency free. 

Unsurprisingly many of the recruits to the NPA are stupid. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194716

The three Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) fighters slain during a clash in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental province on Feb. 5 were deceived to join the armed struggle which they eventually abandoned in their deaths, a Philippine Army official said on Wednesday.

"They were deceptively recruited for the ideology they did not even understand. It paints the true color of the CPP-NPA as an inhumane and heartless terrorist group," Col. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) based in Murcia town just east of this city, said in a statement.

Killed on the second day of the weekend clashes with troops of 94th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Oringao were Jomarie "Junjun/Mark" Callet, 42, of Barangay Tanlad, Tayasan, Negros Oriental; Joemarie Calumba, 40, of Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City; and Diomedes Lasida, 47, of Barangay Pinggot, Ilog, both in Negros Occidental.

Callet and Lasida were the squad and vice squad leaders, respectively of Sentro De Grabedad Platoon of the NPA's Central Negros 2-Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, while Calumba was a squad member.

Just take a look at that propaganda. The AFP engages the NPA and kills three of them and then declares they were deceptilvhy recruited and did not even understand the ideology of the CPP-NPA! How could they even know such a thing? That bit about them abandoning the armed struggle in their deaths is hilarious but it is 100% propaganda because the never abandoned the cause but actually died for it.

The AFP claims COVID-19 slowed down NPA recruitment but now with movement protocols lifted recruitment could increase.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194856

The Philippine Army on Thursday said recruitment by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) could intensify now that movement restrictions due to the health pandemic have eased up.

Philippine Army Visayas commander, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, said they are now assessing and analyzing the effects of the pandemic in terms of the conduct of recruitment.

"We feel that Covid-19 also was able to slow down their recruitment," he said.

Arevalo said roughly the strength of the CPP-NPA in Panay island is between 200 to 250.

Apart from the pandemic, Arevalo also credited the efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in the drop of the CPP-NPA recruitment.

With the slowdown in recruitment, the PA Visayas commander ordered his men to fast-track the neutralization of the armed component of the communist movement.

"Let us not wait for our enemy to die of old age, let us not wait for them to just fade away. We really have to exert pressure on our operations and be able to convince them to go back to the folds of the law if not be captured," he said.

Visayas-wide there are nine guerrilla fronts; four are within the area of responsibility of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), where the 301st Brigade belongs, and five are in the 8th Division in Samar and Leyte provinces, Arevalo added. 

The four guerrilla fronts under the 3ID have been weakened and longer capable of launching camp and detachments attacks. With a strength between 200 to 250, they are into target liquidation and assassination such as in some parts of Negros island, he said.

First of all this is based on a "feeling" which means this is not a fact. The AFP does not know if COVID-19 movement restrictions impeded recruitment or that it will now increase. The movement restrictions have been lifted for over a year and the AFP has never stopped warning about recruitment efforts. Secondly id the NPA is "weakened and longer capable of launching camp and detachments attacks" how will they possibly be able to maintain let alone step up recruitment efforts? 

It also appears the AFP does not know where all MILF camps are located as one detachment accidentally stumbled upon one. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194805

Thirty-nine members of the Army Special Forces (SF) who accidentally entered a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) acknowledge camp in Lanao del Sur province recently were not disarmed, a ceasefire panel member clarified Thursday.

“It appeared the soldiers were unaware they were within the MILF camp in Maguing. The MILF politely requested them to lay down their guns assuring them they will not be harmed and the soldiers agreed,” said Butch Malang, chair of the MILF coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH).

On Tuesday, the SF unit unintentionally found its way into the MILF camp in Barangay Dilimbayan in Maguing town, Lanao del Sur. Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces 103rd base command allowed them to stay in the camp overnight.

“The MILF referred the matter to the government-MILF ceasefire panel and the issue was settled following a dialogue,” Malang said referring to the incident.

Malang said the SF unit was allowed to leave the MILF camp Wednesday afternoon “with the government forces shaking hands with MILF fighters like brothers.”

An Army official said the SFs are part of Army units hunting down terrorist groups and remnants of Dawlah Islamiya in Lanao del Sur.

“It has no intention of attacking the MILF location,” said an Army official who requested anonymity, pending the filing of an official CCCH report.

Under the GPH-MILF ceasefire agreement, the movement of government forces near MILF identified camps should be coordinated with the ceasefire committee to prevent unnecessary armed confrontation.

Observers said with cooler heads prevailing, a bloody skirmish was avoided and prevented like the 2015 misencounter in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province that left at least 60 people dead, including policemen, MILF members, and civilians.

So, the AFP is supposed to coordinate troop movement near MILF camps but apparently they did not the location of this particular MILF camp. When confronted by the MILF they were "politely requested to lay down their guns" and the soldiers agreed. This is totally outrageous. How did was the AFP unaware of the location of this particular camp when they are supposed to know the locations of ALL MILF camps? 

The fact that they laid down their weapons when "politely requested" to do so shows they were not in charge. The MILF was in charge. The MILF is a terrorist group which is supposed to be in the process of disarming. But it seems they are not. It seems they still have a standing army of their own. That's because the struggle is not over. 

Remember the leader of the MILF Ebrahim Murad  is on record saying decommissioning does not mean surrender.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1162067/milfs-murad-decommissioning-is-not-surrender

“We have not given up on our struggle.” 

“We are not surrendering. Decommissioning is not tantamount to surrendering,” said Ebrahim, who is also Chief Minister of the interim Bangsamoro government. 

“I would like to emphasize that the decommissioning doesn’t mean we have given up on what we used to fight for,” Ebrahim emphasized.

What the MILF used to fight for, the reason the group broke away from the MNLF, is the formation of an independent Muslim Mindanao. Will they continue to pursue this goal? According to Murad the answer is yes.

Valentine's Day 2023 in the Philippines

Valentine's Day 2023 is finally upon us. Let's take a look at three ways the Philippines will be observing and celebrating Valentine' day three years after the pandemic. 

First up is Cebu City.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1953008/cebu/local-news/police-to-meet-hotel-staff-as-valentines-day-nears

POLICE officers and hotel staff in Cebu City will gather on the eve of Valentine’s Day to discuss their security preparations for the day of love.

Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, deputy city director for operation of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the conference is held annually to warn the police and security and hotel and motel managers to be on alert for customers who will bring minors into their establishments.

According to Rafter, those who will be caught may face charges of child abuse.

The police official said they will also deploy their men in public plazas, churches and shopping centers where people gather with their loved ones.

“We will be deploying maybe more than the usual nato nga police presence, tungod kay daghan man ang manggawas siguro (maybe because many will go out) we will be starting it on the weekend,” Rafter said.

Starting Saturday, February 11, Cebu City policemen will patrol the public spaces because it is possible that some couples would opt to go on a date before Valentine's Day.

The CCPO urged all lovers celebrating the day of love to be on the lookout for individuals who might rob them of valuables like cash and cellphones.

It added it is better for couples to avoid hiding in the dark, which the criminals use as a trap, or staying late at night.

The Cebu City Police Office is going to be talking to hotel staff to warn them to be on the lookout for customers who will bring minors into their establishments for a little Valentine's Day fun. This conference is an annual event which means minors being brought to hotels is a perennial problem in Cebu City. Will other cities be having the same kind of conferences? Truly child sexual abuse online and offline is a problem in the Philippines. 

The Cebu City Police will also be patrolling public spaces to make sure no couples go into the dark to couple. Otherwise they might be robbed. 

Mandaue City

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/488410/mandaue-city-legal-employees-told-to-wear-color-coded-outfits-on-valentines-day

Employees of the Mandaue City Legal Office are requested to wear color-coded outfits on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

The memorandum released by the office on its Facebook Page also indicated the colors that would reflect the relationship status of the employees as follows:

Red – In a relationship or in love; Black – Bitter or mourning; Brown – Friendzoned; Pink – Waiting for someone; Blue – Brokenhearted; Violet – It’s Complicated; White – Single and I like it; Yellow – Searching for a partner; Green – Moving on; Gray – No Boyfriend/girlfriend since birth; Orange – The One That Got Away (“TOTGA”); and Office Uniform – Kill Joy.

“To bring lingaw lang sad sa rather mundane life sa opisina, nindot sad og reception ang mga kauban nato no, nalingaw sila unsay sul-ubon sa Valentines day,” said City Legal Officer John Eddu Ibañez.

John Rusty Takeuchi said that he would be wearing red on Valentine’s Day signifying how he is proudly in love.

“Happy man kaayo ko sa akoang family and sa akoa wife,” said Takeuchi.

He said that the order would allow them to express their feelings for their loved ones on this special day and the occasion would also be felt in their office with all the colors they will be wearing.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Department of General Services in Mandaue City has started putting up heart-shaped steel bars at the Heritage Plaza for the International Day of Love.

Ibañez said that they have already talked with the City Treasurer’s Office to conduct gimmicks for residents who would visit city hall that day.

Gimmicks indeed. Imagine if the government put as much effort into serving the people as they are in celebrating Valentine's Day. No doubt similar gimmicks will be occurring across the nation. Of course no one is required to participate but if you do wear the standard uniform you will be branded a Kill Joy which is jsut a way to shame you into participating. 

Muntinlupa

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727775/muntinlupa-to-host-dog-adoption-painting-event-for-valentines-day

It’s the season of love and who are better to celebrate it with but those who, time and time again, have proven their unconditional love for us… dogs.

The local government of Muntinlupa announced on Thursday that its Office of the City Veterinarian (OCV) is hosting a Dog Adoption and Painting event in celebration of Valentine’s Day this Saturday, Feb. 11.

According to the city’s public information office, up to 18 dogs and puppies are looking for new owners, all of which have been cared for and treated by the OCV.

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon for his part said that it made sense that dogs are ideal “dates” on Valentine’s Day as they are “very loyal and are willing to make you very happy.”

“They are very unselfish and they look out for the benefit of their owners. So I encourage everyone to adopt, don’t shop, as these dogs need a home and family to be a part of,” Biazon added.

He then urged the public, especially potential fur parents to opt for adopting dogs in need, instead of buying from unregistered breeders which pose risks not just to the owners but to the pets themselves.

The Dog Adoption and Painting event will be held at the Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The OCV will also conduct vaccination and microchipping of pets during the whole-day activity.

Meanwhile, donations for extra dog supplies and needs, as well as to support volunteers are now being accepted.

A dog adoption event in celebration of Valentine's Day is a great way to help these dogs find new homes. The Philippines has a huge stray dog problem and adoption is a sensible way to help ease that problem.

So, there you go. Three very different ways the Philippines will be celebrating Valentine's Day this year. Of course there will be other celebrations. Most likely there will be cops handing out chocolate and roses to random women as that is something they seem to do each year. 

Retards in the Government 296

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

  

 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/03/cop-nabbed-for-killing-colleague-in-davao-city/

The anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested a police officer in Davao City for allegedly killing a colleague having an affair with his wife.

In a report on Friday, Feb. 3, Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said the suspect, Corporal Derick Tanduyan, 31, assigned to the Police Regional Office 11 (Davao), was arrested inside their headquarters in Camp Sgt. Quintin M. Merecido in Buhangin District at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Tanduyan is wanted for murder by the Digos City Regional Trial Court Branch 18 with no bail recommended.

Based on initial investigation, Tanduyan shot dead Patrolman Harris Jhune Adayo on May 31, 2022.

It added that Adayo was known to have had a relationship with the suspect’s wife.

Pending investigation, Tanduyan was placed under the custody of the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) 11.

Tanduyan denied killing Adayo. The suspect said he would have escaped from the custody of the RPHAS if he was guilty.

The suspect will be taken to the Magsaysay Municipal Police Station in Davao del Sur for documentation and processing.

A cop has been arrested for killing his colleague who was having an affair with his wife. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859548/bi-warden-facility-head-personnel-relieved-from-post-after-6-phones-found-in-japanese-detainee/story/

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has relieved from posts the head and other personnel of its warden facility after six cell phones were retrieved from a Japanese detainee suspected of being a mastermind of illegal activities in Japan, the agency’s spokesperson said Friday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the responsibility lies with the head of the warden facility.

(If it’s this massive then definitely there must be something going on. So we replaced the head and all the people inside the facility with new employees.)

The BI has relieved several jail personnel over illegal cell phones. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724898/ex-cop-companion-slain-in-naga-city-drug-bust

A former police officer and a drug suspect were killed during a buy-bust operation on Thursday in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Albert Gumba, a former police officer and his cohort, Rey Delmiguez of Bula town sold at 11:15 p.m. two sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) in Barangay San Isidro, according to Senior Master Sergeant Tobias Bongon, Naga City police spokesperson, in a report.

Bongon said both suspects drew their .45 firearms and fired at the undercover agent during the operation.

The undercover agent dodged the gunshots prompting his backup to return fire resulting in the death of the suspects, Bongon added.

An investigation said Gumba was assigned to the Lupi town police station but went AWOL (absent without leave) in 2016. He was a high-value drug suspect.

An ex-cop who was a high value target was gunned down during a raid. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/859806/bucor-files-plunder-raps-vs-bantag/story/

The Bureau of Corrections has filed multiple complaints, including plunder and malversation of public funds, against suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag.

Complainant BuCor acting chief Gregorio Catapang lodged the multiple complaints before the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice on Monday.

Aside from plunder and malversation of public funds through falsification of official documents, Bantag was also slapped with graft and corruption and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

It was stated in the six-page complaint that while Bantag was with the BuCor as director general, a P1 billion project for the construction of three prison facilities at Davao Prison and Penal Farm (Lot 1), Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Lot 2) and Leyte Regional Prison (Lot 3) with an estimated cost of P300 million, each were bidded out in a public bidding on September 17, 2020.

"Respondent Bantag in conspiracy with, and with indispensable complicity of, the other herein respondents, has purposely and systematically orchestrated the diversion/misappropriation and/or consenting or permitting other persons, to take public funds, of the Bureau of Corrections," the complaint stated.

It added that Bantag's alleged sinister plan to "divert" or "misappropriate" public funds started when he had created a separate BuCor's Bidding and Award Committee (BAC) for the aforementioned three infrastructure projects.

Other respondents of the complaint include Correction Technical Superintendent Arnold Jacinto Guzman, Correction Inspector Ric Rocacurba, Correction Inspector Solomon Areniego, Correction Technical Officer 1 Jor-el De Jesus, Correction Technical Officer 2 Angelo Castillo, and Correction Technical Officer Alexis Catindig.

Charges of plunder and graft have finally been filed against suspended BuCor Chief Bantag and several other officials. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/487847/graft-falsification-charges-visayas-ombudsman-pursues-criminal-probe-on-caindec-dr-onez

After finding “enough basis to proceed with the criminal investigation,” the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has ordered Victor Caindec, director of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7), and Dr. Emmarielle Aniga Oñez to answer the falsification and graft charges that were filed against them for the alleged issuance of “fake” student driver’s permits in Bohol province.

In an order dated Jan. 19, 2023, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante Vargas directed Caindec and co-accused, Dr. Oñez, a medical doctor, to file their respective counter-affidavits and other controverting evidence.

The order that was signed by Euphemia Bacalso, Director or Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Prosecution Bureau-A of the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas, is giving Caindec and Oñez 10 days from the receipt of the order to submit their counter affidavits.

The Visayas Ombudsman’s order stemmed from the complaint that Dumaluan filed against Caindec and Oñez last Sept. 14, 2022.

Dumaluan accused Caindec and Oñez of allegedly conniving in the issuance of “falsified” medical certificates that were issued even in the absence of physical examinations of the applicants.

Graft and falsification charges are going to be pursued against a a doctor and the director of LTO-7 for handing out fake student permits.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1726373/qcpd-arrests-mastermind-gunman-behind-shooting-of-ombudsman-employee

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested the suspected gunman and the mastermind behind the shooting of an employee of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).

Based on a QCPD police report obtained from the National Capital Region Police Office, the gunman, identified as Marlon Nery, was arrested at his residence along Susano Road in Barangay San Agustin, Novaliches Quezon City at around 9:20 a.m on Monday.

The alleged mastermind, identified as Dexter Cruz, was then arrested the same day at 7:50 p.m.

Cruz, said the QCPD, is also an employee of the OMB.

The mastermind behind the attempted murder of an ombudsman employee is an ombudsman employee.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194334

Mayor Irene Montilla of Isabela, Negros Occidental said on Friday she is awaiting the results of the investigation on the town's acting treasurer who lost millions of local government funds to an alleged robbery.

"We are still waiting for the full investigation of the Philippine National Police and the province. We don't know yet what really happened and what are the findings," she told reporters.

Montilla said she has requested the Department of Finance's Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) the termination of the services of Nenette Escarda, 60, due to loss of trust and confidence.

"They found a replacement and we are waiting for the arrival of the one who will replace her," the mayor said.

The BLGF has direct supervision over the treasury offices of the local government units.

Montilla said that based on the audit, the losses were about PHP2.6 million in cash and PHP3.8 million in checks.

These were allegedly stolen in the residence of Escarda at Las Palmas Subdivision, Barangay Taculing in this city on Jan. 21, based on her statement before the Bacolod City Police Office Station 6.

The mayor said that Escarda is neither allowed nor has been given the authority to bring home any municipal property or deposit the town's money to the bank as she issued an order last November, assigning somebody else to do the task because of Escarda's "constant absences".

Montilla said the lost funds included collections from business taxes, real property taxes and community tax certificates, among others.

A town treasurer is being investigated for losing millions in fund which she took to her home despite not being allowed to do so. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/08/sandigan-convicts-ex-cebu-town-treasurer/

Former municipal treasurer Esperato A. Del Socorro of Ronda town in Cebu has been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and malversation of public funds involving P2.06 million in 2009.

Del Socorro was sentenced to jail terms ranging from six to 10 years each for graft and malversation. He was perpetually disqualified to hold public office and ordered to refund P2.06 million to the Bureau of Treasury.

The criminal charges against former Ronda mayor Esteban R. Sia had been dismissed on account of his death.

In 2009, Sia and Del Socorro were accused of “conniving and confederating together, and mutually helping each other with deliberate intent” in their refusal to liquidate or return P2,063,422.72 in public funds.

The prosecution said that Sia received the amount as cash advances which were not allowed under Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 97-002.

Del Socorro feigned ignorance of Sia’s unliquidated cash advances, and told the Sandiganbayan during the trial that keeping tabs on them was not part of his job description.

But the court disagreed. “The malefactors’ overt acts were actionable because it showed gross negligence amounting to bad faith,” it said.

Del Socorro also defended himself by presenting letters from Sia that showed how the latter “threatened” him.

The court ruled: “After having marshaled the facts and circumstances, this Court has reached a moral certainty as to the accused’s guilt. Correlatively, the constitutional presumption of innocence has been overthrown by the strength of the prosecution’s evidence proving the crimes, as well as the conspiracy attendant thereto, beyond reasonable doubt.”

A former town treasurer has been convicted of graft and malversation of funds.