Insurgency: Without Letup

Let's talk about ISIS because they still remain a threat in Mindanao. Abu Sayyaf was the group principally associated with ISIS but the AFP says they are on the way out. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1774248/abu-sayyafs-reign-of-terror-ends-in-sulu-after-major-blows

The “reign of terror” of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the province of Sulu has now ended following the several setbacks the group has experienced, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Wednesday.

The AFP spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, made this pronouncement in a statement as he recounted the surrender last Jan. 8 of ASG leaders  Amah Patit and 20 others who composed the core group of the group’s leader Radullan Sahiron.

Aguilar said Patit and other members “surrendered to the government on the instruction of Sahiron himself.”

“At that time, Sahiron was already old and reportedly sick,” Aguilar said.

Sahiron, however, has allegedly died, but Aguilar said the AFP would have to verify it.

“Since then, no word was heard from the wanted ASG leader except for unverified information from several sources that he is already dead,” Aguilar said.

“We need to get first-hand information first from those who are close to him. We don’t want to disturb the ‘dead’,” he added.

The AFP cannot verify the ASG leaders death! What do they even mean that they don't "want to disturb the dead?" Either he is dead or not and the AFP cannot even verify it!

The PNP has sent in reinforcements to prevent ISIS from attacking.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/30/2270197/cops-soldiers-sent-lanao-del-sur-town-after-dawlah-islamiya-threatens-attack

The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has deployed personnel to strategic spots in Marogong town in Lanao del Sur, which the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya has threatened to attack. 

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. told reporters Tuesday he is thankful to Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of PRO-BAR, for personally supervising Monday's positioning of more police officers in Marogong. Thousands of residents have evacuated to other towns, fearing an attack by members of the DI terrorist group.

In an interview on Radyo Bangsamoro, Marogong disaster risk officer Ronaldin Damiano said at least 3,550 residents have gone to safer areas outside town, with some seeking shelter as far away as Iligan and Cotabato cities. He said classes are suspended and only around half of establishments are open as the town worries about a repeat of the Marawi Siege of 2017.

The outlawed Dawlah Islamiya, in text messages and Facebook posts last week, threatened to enter the town proper of Marogong last week following the the arrest of its members in a series of police operations in Lanao del Sur.

More than 20 Dawlah Islamiya members also fell in anti-narcotics operations in the province in recent months, now detained and are being prosecuted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

Nobleza said Tuesday a platoon from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and personnel of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Mobile Company are now positioned around the town proper of Marogong as part of their preparations for any Dawlah Islamiya incursion.

He said a company-size contingent from the Army’s 32nd Infanty Battalion had also been deployed in different barangays in the municipality.

“Contrary to what these terrorists are spreading around via text messages and social media, the PRO-BAR and counterparts in the Philippine Army and the administration of Gov. Adiong are on top of the situation. We are in full control,” Nobleza said.

“Our Provincial Peace and Order Council, the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, the PRO-BAR and the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army are cooperating in addressing the Marogong security issue,” Adiong said.

Despite the fact that the MILF, MNLF, NPA, and ISIS remain active threats in Mindanao the DOT, DILG, and DND are partnering up to promote Mindanao as a safe tourist destination. 

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1778090/fwd-dot-signs-agreement-with-dilg-dnd-to-promote-mindanao-as-a-tourist-destination

The Department of Tourism (DOT) signed an agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to build up Mindanao as a peaceful tourist destination for both domestic and international travelers.

In a statement, the DOT said the memorandum of agreement was signed on May 31 in Zamboanga City to ensure peace, security, and order as the national government prioritizes tourism development programs in Mindanao.

During the ceremonial signing, each department committed to promoting tourism, preserving Mindanao’s diverse cultural heritage, and creating an inclusive environment to foster growth in the region further.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, during the ceremony, stressed the DOT’s commitment to creating equal tourism opportunities, further stressing how it is high time for Mindanao to showcase the world its beauty.

“It is time to put to the fore the ethereal Mindanao beauty that has sometimes been relegated to the backburner, to highlight to the world its spectacular views, its wonderful and amazing culture as well as the warmth and love of the people of Mindanao. Time has come to fully promote your sites, your heritage, your culture, your people, and to reintroduce this region to the world,” said Frasco.

“So, we signed this agreement today with high hopes and a firm resolve for us in the national government, to be able to deliver the necessary support from agencies of government to Mindanao so that you will receive the opportunities for tourism development that you deserve,” she added.

She also bared the DOT’s plans to invite foreign ambassadors to witness the beauty of Mindanao.

 Meanwhile, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stressed the DND’s commitment to assist DOT in boosting Mindanao as a tourist spot.

“As we all know, Mindanao has a long history of being associated with violence, danger, and chaos. Terrorism has sought its ugly head and armed conflicts, not to mention the prevalence of crime, had sullied this promising area’s reputation, but that is no longer the case,” said Galvez.

“Through the National Tourism Development Plan 2023 to 2028, and pursuant to the guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DOT is set to establish Philippine tourism anchored on Filipino  culture, heritage and identity, which aims to be sustainable, resilient and competitive in order to transform the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia,” he added.

Galvez is being disingenuous. Mindanao is not simply "associated with violence, danger, and chaos." It is violent, dangerous, and chaotic! In North Cotobato teachers now need military escorts. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202619

Following the recent killing of a teacher and wounding of another in Pikit, North Cotabato, the military has started providing security escorts to public school teachers in critical villages of the municipality.

Lt. Col. Rowel Gavilanes, the Army's 90th Infantry Battalion commander, said Wednesday that his unit also deployed motorcycle-riding soldiers "in full battle gear” to protect public school teachers as they travel to their respective schools and on the way home.

“The Department of Education has been alarmed by the attacks against teachers in Pikit, so we are here providing them security,” Gavilanes said in a radio interview.

Good luck convincing embassies to revoke their travel warnings to Mindanao and also in getting travel insurance companies cover travel to Mindanao. 

In the Visayas the war against the NPA continues without letup. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202223

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Andres Centino, instructed Army commanders in Negros Island on Thursday to intensify operations against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) "without letup."

This came as Centino lauded the Philippine Army in Negros Island for the series of encounters this past weekend that dealt a big blow to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

In his message, Centino told battalion commanders on the island to conduct "relentless combat operations" against the remaining NPA rebels in Negros.

“I am reminding our soldiers that we should have that sense of urgency now that the enemy has weakened. They are now lacking in resources, losing their mass base, and they no longer have their leaders,” he said.

Following a closed-door meeting with the Army commanders, Centino told reporters that he directed the troops to "end the insurgency in Negros at the soonest possible time."

“We don’t have to count the numbers, but what is important is that we have addressed the problem here in Negros, as we still have remaining insurgents that continue to fight the government,” Centino said

The insurgency continues to weaken in Negros and Samar. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202490

The New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) has suffered a big blow with the recent arrest of one of its leaders and the deaths of four fighters, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday.

Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the arrest of Rosita Solayao Taboy alias Laling, secretary of the NPA Regional Organization Department and member of the rebel’s executive committee in Eastern Visayas, is a victory to the government’s efforts to end the insurgency.

Taboy and her husband, alias Beto, were arrested by police and soldiers in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan last May 26. Beto was a demolition expert of the NPA’s national operations command.

The couple was also said to be responsible for numerous atrocities committed in the Eastern Visayas region, including the burning of the Smart Communication tower in Catbalogan City in 2000, the assassination of Cafgu Active Auxillary Danilo Nuguit in 2006, and the ambush of military personnel that resulted in the death of 10 soldiers and a 9-year-old civilian in 2010.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ligayo said the NPA’s downfall is now more evident as its top leaders are either captured, surrendered or killed.

“The arrest of the couple is another victory for the combined efforts of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines in pursuit of peace and security. This is a great development in attaining justice in honor of the victims of violence perpetrated by the communist terrorist group in Eastern Visayas,” Ligayo said.

The military has been monitoring the movement of two remaining guerilla fronts in Eastern Visayas, all operating in Northern Samar.

They are reportedly hiding in the upland villages of Catubig, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay towns.

Several upland communities in the province are considered the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to thick forests and poor road networks.

Is the AFP really going to let "thick forests and poor road networks" hamper them from defeating those two remaining fronts? 

Now to end with one of the most hilarious pieces of propaganda I have ever seen. See if you can spot it. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/27/nine-ex-npa-rebels-surrender-to-authorities-in-negros

The Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) announced on Saturday, May 27, that nine former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to troops of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Barangay Tambo, Ayungon, Negros Oriental on Thursday, May 25.

Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th IB commander, presented the returning rebels to Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd IBde commander, and Wendell John Vallejera, executive assistant of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday, May 26.

They were former members of Central Negros 2 Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (CN2-KR NCBS), according to the Army.

The Army said that the former rebels allegedly served as informants, relaying information about the presence and movements of government forces in their respective barangays, and providing logistical support to the NPA, aside from being involved in the armed movement.

The former NPA members also turned over some war materiel to the 94th IB, including an M4 rifle, three homemade shotguns, and one .38 caliber revolver.

Do you see it? It's the t-shirts! 94IB LOVES YOU. Sure they do. How much taxpayer money was wasted printing those t-shirts? 

Dog Owner Neglects 101 Dogs at Private Shelter

A dog's life is tough in the Philippines. Owners will let you run about all day which sometimes results in you getting struck by a vehicle. Sometimes a crazy owner will harm one of your brethren. In this case the crazy owner corralled 101 dogs at her house as a private shelter and instead of taking care of them she  abandoned them to die. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1776545/sick-abandoned-dogs-in-cebu-city-face-death

At least 77 abandoned dogs in this city may have to be euthanized due to their deteriorating health condition.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, the Cebu City veterinarian, said these dogs were among the 101 canines the Cebu City government rescued from an abandoned animal shelter in the mountain village of Adlaon two weeks ago after their owner left them sometime in February this year.

Of the 101 dogs, 16 had died while eight others were healthy and were qualified for adoption.

“I hope people will understand that we have to lessen the agony of these dogs. They came from a very stressful environment and now they are in this kind of situation that is very taxing,” Maribojoc told the Inquirer on Monday.

She said the rescued dogs were very weak and sickly since they had not eaten for probably a month.

“In fact, some of them killed other dogs just to survive,” Maribojoc said.

This is a very tragic situation right here. A single owner was running a private animal shelter with 101 dogs! How was this allowed to happen? How does one acquire 101 dogs? Clearly she had no money to feed them or to keep them healthy. And then she cruelly walks away leaving them to their fate.  

Based on the information they gathered, she said the rescued dogs were fed by the shelter’s caretaker for three months using personal money even without any salary.

However, she said the caretaker eventually left the dogs. Since they were already very weak and sick, the remaining dogs have to be euthanized.

Maribojoc, however, assured the public that the sick dogs will be euthanized in a rapid, painless and stress-free death.

Instead of exposing the animals to carbon monoxide, she said they would adopt a system where the dogs will simply be put to sleep.

Maribojoc said the city government had postponed the euthanasia of these dogs several times, hoping that some people would come over to adopt some of the dogs.

“I appeal to dog lovers who have enough space at home to visit the Cebu City dog pound to possibly adopt some of these dogs,” she said.

Maribojoc reminded those who wanted to rescue animals and put them at home to coordinate with the Cebu City government. Those who have more than 10 dogs must inform the city government and have their pets listed at the Bureau of Animal Industry, she added.

Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act states that if a dog is captured, the city pound has the authority to fine the owner or to euthanize the dog if they are not claimed within the holding period, which is usually within one day to a week from capture.

Surely the community knew of this private shelter with 101 dogs.  You can't hide that kind of smell or sound. 

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of humane treatment of all animals, said euthanizing unclaimed animals in a pound after the holding period remains legal in the country.

The group, on its website, however, stressed that the government must employ humane methods when catching and performing euthanasia on animals.

The most humane way to euthanize an animal, it said, is through barbiturates, a kind of depressant or sedative drug. Other methods, such as gassing or electrocution, are inhumane and illegal, PAWS said.

Gassing was formerly used to kill dogs by connecting the hose from a vehicle’s exhaust pipe and revving the engine continuously for 10 to 15 minutes, emitting poisonous fumes and sending the dogs to death.

“We have very little influence on what happens in city pounds, but PAWS will take action if there is evidence of inhumane methods or acts of animal cruelty taking place in an animal pound,” it said.

Running a hose from a car to a room filled with dogs seems rather cartoonish and ridiculous. Would they be using a government vehicle? A private vehicle? Maybe they will call a taxi? 

Of course breathing in toxic fumes and slowly drifting away is less violent than being shot in the head which is what happens sometimes in Philippine animal shelters. 

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3095186/animal-shelters-full-millions-stray-dogs-and-cats-roam-philippines-one

Vet and clinic founder Maricelle Licuanan, 41, says some strays in the Philippines were born on the streets, while others are abandoned family pets.

“Once these animals become an inconvenience to the owners, they are neglected or tossed onto the streets. Most of them are intact [unsterilised] so they mate with other strays and more unwanted animals are born. Sadly, it’s a never-ending cycle,” says Licuanan, whose clinic desexed more than 60,000 animals between March 2017 and July 18, 2020. 

Malou Perez, 30, is the founder of Pawssion Project, a Filipino dog rescue charity, and she believes letting animals die on the streets or shooting them dead in pounds is far more cruel than having them desexed in a painless operation.

“Based on the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines, it is legal for city pounds to euthanise unclaimed dogs by gunshot,” she says. “The government authorises this because using a firearm is cheaper than using other procedures. 

“When I went to the pound in 2018 to rescue dogs that were about to be executed, I saw how horrible the situation was,” she adds. “I was standing right next to a hole where the dogs were to be buried. It was very traumatising. I remember fiddling with my phone to distract myself from the dogs whimpering out of desperation and anguish. I had to go into the cells to calm them down. It was awful.”

Indeed death by gunshot is one of the few legal and acceptable means by which an animal is allowed to be euthanized in the Philippines.

https://paws.org.ph/downloads/AO%209%20and%20%20AO%2013%20Euthanasia%20of%20Animals.pdf

While only a licensed veterinarian is allowed to euthanize an animal when it comes to the gunshot method a person skilled in firearm usage must pull the trigger. 

6.3 Physical Methods

6.3. a Firearms (gunshot)

Firearms may likewise be used in euthanasia of specific animals. Shooting however, should only be performed by highly skilled personnel trained in the use of firearms such as those who are members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies. Only licensed and authorized firearms shall be used in the euthanasia of animals.

The following must be considered when firearms are used in euthanasia:

1. 6.3.a.a  Firearms shall be with no less than 22 caliber using non expansive bullets provided that the animal is pursued until death.

2. 6.3.a.b  The person using the firearm should aim or target the brain for the quick and immediate death of the animal. This should be done under the supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian.

"Provided that the animal is pursued until death?" One clean shot should be all that is needed. But dogs shouldn't be shot or mistreated. However this is the Philippines where life of any kind is cheap.

Retards in the Government 312

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202203

Around 430 barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs are now under monitoring by the Philippine National Police (PNP), its chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said on Thursday.

Acorda said some of these barangay officials are included in the PNP’s list of high-value individuals and street-level Individuals in the war against drugs.

“They are subject to intelligence operations. We are hoping that this will be reduced in the coming days. Hopefully, those involved would eventually stop. If not, they will be subject to police operations,” Acorda told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan in private sector workplaces in Quezon City.

Acorda said these barangay officials have varying involvement in illegal drugs where some are pushers, some are protectors and others are financiers.

“But based on our update, there are more or less 430 barangay officials (involved in the illegal drug trade), many of them are in Region VI (Western Visayas),” he added.

Acorda urged the public not to vote for candidates who are involved in illegal drugs.

“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to voters not to consider candidates, who have involvement in illegal drugs, to become our next set of barangay officials,” the country’s top cop stressed.

For his part, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. urged all candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to undergo a drug test amid police intelligence reports that there are around 430 barangay officials involved in the illegal drugs activities.

Abalos said illegal drugs remain one of the biggest problems in the country and barangay officials should take the lead not only in fighting them but also in leading by example by proving that they are clean.

“To all those who would run for the barangay elections, we are fighting a war that is a global problem. If you want to run and serve, then undergo a drug test and show to us that you are ready to serve. I am calling out to all candidates,” said Abalos.

430 barangay officials are known to be involved in drugs and are being monitored by the PNP.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/27/coa-flags-sorsogon-city-on-hiring-of-job-order-personnel-in-2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged Sorsogon City's hiring of 2,704 job order (JO) personnel who were paid P163.5 million in salaries in 2022 due to deficiencies in the hiring process.

In its annual audit report, COA said the most of the hired JO personnel were for the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) as street sweepers and garbage collectors.

It said the hired JO personnel also worked with the city’s Public Safety Office (PSO) as traffic enforcers and in the City Health Office (CHO) as midwives, nurses, and contact tracers.

At the same time, COA said that the city councilors each hired more than 10 JO personnel despite the existence of a permanent private secretary and a number of casual employees already assigned to them.

"Most of these JO personnel were assigned as barangay coordinators, data encoders, and public relations officers which were not related to the primary functions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) as provided in Section 458 of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and despite the presence of the BAPAS (Barangay Affairs and Public Assistance Division)," the audit report said.

"Several drivers were also hired even though only five vehicles were issued to three of the SP Members," it said.

While the City Human Resources Management Office (CHRMO) limited the hiring of JO personnel for councilors to just 15 each, the COA said its audit found that these were "not really necessary and could be dispensed with without loss or damage" to the city government.

The COA also noted instances where the same position title had different rates and job descriptions.

It blamed the city government’s missteps to the absence of a Human Resource Plan (HRP). While the CHRMO was able to craft one for permanent employees, the same cannot be said for JO personnel, it said. Even in prior years' audit observations, the COA had already recommended that the CHRMO formulate a plan.

"We reiterated our prior years’ recommendation and management agreed to require immediately the CHRMO to formulate a HRP and issue a uniform policy guideline on the hiring of JO personnel to determine properly the necessity of hiring JOs and to strengthen internal controls pertaining thereto," it added.

Sorsogon City has descrepanices in its job order program. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202325

Police arrested a 41-year-old fire volunteer after he yielded suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP23.4 million during a drug sting in Parañaque City at dawn Saturday.

Suspect Jonnie Romo was arrested during a buy-bust operation along Balimbing Street, Phase 3, Olivarez Compound, Barangay San Isidro, at 2:50 a.m., Southern Police District (SPD) Director, Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, said.

Romo yielded eight plastic sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu, two medium-sized plastic tea bags sealed with the label "Guar Yun Wang," one medium-sized transparent plastic sachet, a genuine PHP1,000 bill on top of 139 pieces of buy-bust money, blue-green eco bag, a brown envelope, and a weighing scale.

The seized illegal drugs have an estimated combined weight of 3,450 grams, with the standard drug price amounting to PHP23,460,000.

The confiscated illegal drug items have been turned over to the SPD Forensic Unit for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Kraft said drug charges would be filed against the suspect who is currently detained at the Parañaque City Police Station.

A volunteer fireman has been busted for drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202375

The Philippine National Police-Firearms Explosive Office (PNP FEO) has revoked all gun licenses and permits of a former mayor of Langiden town in Abra for misdeclaration and having different signatures affixed to all documents concerning his firearms.

The official was identified as Artemio Cirillo Donato Jr., a resident of Barangay Baac in Langiden, Abra.

Aside from his license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) and firearms registration (FR), the FEO also revoked Donato's permit to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR).

In a statement Monday, the FEO said the move is a result of the continuous evaluation and audit of uploaded documents for the application of LTOPF and FR where it appeared that Donato "misdeclared the true and correct qualifications, the type of license and other license/s he possesses."

"Likewise, Mr. Donato bears different signatures on his other documents such as the Firearm Registration Form for the transfer of firearm, Firearm Registration Form for a newly purchased firearm, and the Deed of Sale of Firearm uploaded. This only showed that the application forms and Deed of Sale are void, and there are misrepresentations, misdeclarations/falsity committed, thus he has not completed the standards and requisites for issuance and obtaining an LTOPF to allow him to acquire firearms and ammunition," the order read.

FEO records also showed that Donato has 15 assorted firearms registered in his name.

The FEO also directed the former mayor to surrender all registered firearms under his name to the Regional Security Unit Cordillera (RSCU COR).

"In this regard, you are directed to coordinate with RSCU COR or the nearest police station in your address to process the turnover and documentation of 15 firearms in your possession within 48 hours upon receipt of this notice," the PNP FEO said.

It added failure to comply would prompt the police force to take the "next necessary step for confiscation" of the firearms in Donato's possession.

The gun permit of a town mayor has been revoked because he falsified the documents. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/30/sandigan-convicts-ex-chairperson-of-oroquieta-city-water-district-of-malversation-charges

The Sandiganbayan has convicted Evelyn Catharine O. Silagon, chairperson of the board of directors (BOD) of the Oroquieta City Water District (OCWD), for converting to her personal use and benefit some P2.9 million of funds of the water firm.

Silagon was convicted of 34 counts of violation of Article 217 paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or malversation of public funds. For each count, she was sentenced to four months to three years imprisonment.

Silagon was also convicted of 24 counts of violation of Article 217 paragraph 2 of RPC and sentenced to two to eight years imprisonment for each count.

"In the service of her sentence, accused Silagon shall be entitled to the benefit of the three-fold rule as provided in Article 70 of the RPC, as amended," the anti-graft court said.

The three-fold rule states that the maximum duration of the sentence should not be more than three times the length of time corresponding the most severe of the penalties imposed upon an accused but in no case should exceed 40 years.

Silagon was also imposed perpetual disqualification from holding public office and was ordered to pay a fine P2,924,769.42, the amount of the funds malversed.

"She shall further pay the OCWD the same amount plus interest of six percent per annum, to be reckoned from the date of finality of this decision until full payment, by way of her civil liability," the court added.

The Sandiganbayan has convicted Evelyn Catharine O. Silagon, chairperson of the board of directors of the Oroquieta City Water District, for converting to her personal use and benefit some P2.9 million of funds of the water firm.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1776539/village-councilor-trying-to-pacify-quarelling-couple-shot-dead

A village councilor in this city who was trying to pacify a quarreling couple ended up dead after the husband, who was drunk, shot him with a pistol on Sunday night.

Lt. Col. Hamlet Lerios, Digos City police chief, identified the slain councilor as 47-year-old Rey Emecino Colita of Purok-6, Barangay San Roque, and the suspect as 35-year-old Jayradee Busadre Frande, a carpenter and resident of Relocation, Barangay Igpit.

Colita was in a disco celebrating the founding anniversary of the barangay when he was informed about the commotion involving a couple just a few meters away.

Colita, together with another village councilor, Ronelo Awe, went to the place where they tried to pacify the couple.

However, the drunken carpenter fired a pistol, hitting Colita in the back, causing his instantaneous death.

The heated argument stemmed from the refusal of Frande’s wife to go home with him as he was already reeking of alcohol.

Forensics personnel from the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office found a spent shell from a .45-caliber pistol.

Digos police have launched a pursuit operation to arrest Frande who fled after shooting the village councilor.

A village councilor was shot dead while trying to pacify a couple arguing. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/31/3-ex-cainta-rizal-officials-convicted-of-graft-violation-of-local-government-code

Three former officials of Cainta town in Rizal have been convicted of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Local Government Code in the irregular purchases of scanner and miscellaneous supplies in 2000.

Former municipal budget officer Privada B. Gonzales and officer-in-charge of the general services office Marciano A. Doroteo were found guilty of two counts of graft each and one count each of violation of Section 89 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code on prohibited business and pecuniary interest.

Also, former budget officer III Glady G. Formales was convicted of one count of graft and one count of violation of RA 7160.

On their conviction for graft, they were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years for each count, and six months to six years for violation of RA 7160.

They were also ordered to pay a fine of P5,000 each for their violation of RA 7160.

For their graft conviction, Gonzales and Doroteo were held ordered to jointly pay the government P502,700.

Three former government officials have been convicted of graft. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/05/31/2270391/2-pnp-officials-tagged-p67-billion-shabu-cover-up

Two lieutenant colonels have “a lot of explaining to do” after they were tagged by relieved Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo as among the main players in the alleged cover-up surrounding the seizure of 990 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Domingo identified Lt. Cols. Glenn Gonzales of the Quezon City Police District and Arnulfo Ibañez, then officer-in-charge of the PDEG Special Operations Unit-National Capital Region, in the attempted cover-up to exonerate former police officer Rodolfo Mayo over the raid on Mayo’s lending firm in Manila last year that resulted in the discovery of shabu valued at P6.7 billion.

“If you want to know who is behind the drug syndicate at the (PNP), you should look at the boss of Gonzales and Ibañez,” Domingo told former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa during the latter’s committee hearing yesterday on the drug pilferage.

He admitted lapses in the police operation against Mayo and his accomplice Ney Saligumba Atadero, notably the absence of a drug inventory upon their arrest due to a plan to use Mayo in a follow-up operation to find his source of drugs.

“I admit there are lapses in our entire operation, but such judgment calls and procedural lapses were done by me in good faith based on the reports of my men,” Domingo said.

He pointed to Ibañez as Mayo’s superior and the one who signed a spot report that included Mayo as an arresting officer in a separate drug bust so that the latter could lead operatives to another alleged drug warehouse.

But former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin later canceled the plan to use Mayo in the follow-up operation and ordered the filing of charges against him instead, Domingo said.

Azurin had Mayo secured instead “supposedly because Ibañez might clean up his mess and kill Mayo.”

As for Gonzales, he intervened in the operation despite being assigned to the Quezon City police and arrived at the crime scene supposedly to get a “reward” for his informant, who allegedly tipped off police, according to Domingo.

“Ibañez and Gonzales have a lot of explaining to do,” Dela Rosa later said of the two in a press briefing after the hearing. “Questions surrounding this shabu haul revolve around the two, aside from Mayo.”

Two Lieutenant Colonels have been implicated in the cover up of a large shabu haul. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/1/councilor-in-laguna-accused-of-rape-yields

A municipal councilor of Santa Cruz, Laguna accused of rape surrendered to the police here on Wednesday, May 31.

Police identified the suspect as Mark Anthony Joven, 41.

Joven was accompanied by his lawyer after an alleged warrant of arrest was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Santa Cruz, Laguna on May 10.

After verification with the e-warrant system, it was found out that the accused has two unserved warrants of arrest for the crime of rape with criminal case number SC-30954 dated May 10 and three counts of rape through sexual assault with criminal case numbers SC-30955, 30956, and 30957 dated May 10 issued by Judge Mary Grace S. Bonsol-Cabal, acting presiding judge of RTC Branch 27.

He was later taken into custody.

The court did not recommend bail in the first rape case. But in the second case, the court recommended a bail of P120,000 for each count.

Joven is detained at the custodial facility of the Pila Municipal Police Station.

A town councilor has been charged with rape. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Ineligible Beneficiaries, Dispensation Ends, and More!

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

Remember all the movies allocated to the indigent during the pandemic?  Some of the beneficiaries of that money were ineligible. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/871274/coa-p70m-in-covid-19-funds-went-to-ineligible-beneficiaries/story/

At least P70 million of the government’s COVID-19 response funds did not go to eligible beneficiaries, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

This is stated under COA’s Performance Audit Report on the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), a government program which provided financial support to affected workers during the pandemic.

State auditors said that the P70.26 million CAMP fund was given to 14,052 beneficiaries of which 6,214 were "ineligible" while the 7,838 were "probably ineligible beneficiaries" because they already received financial assistance from other financial support programs of the government such as the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program by Social Security System (SSS) and Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Social Amelioration Program and their monthly gross salary were above the P40,000 threshold.

“Based on the interview, DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) only relied on applicants’ self-declaration since there was no available and complete centralized database that would serve as a basis for determining whether an applicant already received financial assistance from other programs,” the COA said.

“In addition, only the DOLE, Department of Finance (DOF), and SSS were able to have a data sharing agreement on their beneficiaries,” the COA added.

State auditors cited that under the Implementing Guidelines of Bayanihan 2 Law, the subsidies or benefits received from existing financial assistance programs  will be taken into consideration in the computation of the subsidy or benefit to be received to prevent double dipping or unauthorized receipt of multiple subsidies.

In addition, the CAMP-Bayanihan 2 guidelines issued by the DOLE provided a list that enumerates the exclusions from qualifying for the program to prevent the distribution of financial assistance to ineligible beneficiaries described in the Bayanihan 2 law.

COA also noted that the comparison of CAMP-Bayanihan 2 (beneficiaries information including SAP self-declaration) and SBWS data revealed that  a total of 33 beneficiaries received financial assistance from three government programs, and that these 33 beneficiaries had received a total of P566,000 from CAMP-Bayanihan 2 and SBWS program.

COA also used the applicants’ self-declaration from CAMP-Bayanihan 2 data to identify whether the beneficiary received SAP.  COA, however, could not determine if these 33 also received SAP due to lack of documents.

In response to COA’s findings, the DOLE Regional Offices in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 5 explained that the identified differences were due to timing issue when the applications were processed wherein, the list of beneficiaries from other financial assistance programs were still not available.

DOLE offices in Regions 5 and 7, for their part, argued that in some cases, beneficiaries misinterpreted the options provided and mistakenly ticked the checked box.

DOLE Region 5 also said that upon validation of data, a Demand Letter will be issued for the return of the financial assistance.

COA also said that the comparison of CAMP Bayanihan 2 and SBWS data also showed that  6,181 received CAMP Bayanihan 2 financial assistance amounting to P104.61 million, and that 52 of the 6,181 beneficiaries received both CAMP-Bayanihan 2 and SBWS aid.

The 52 returned their subsidies/financial assistance to Social Security System ranging from P5,000-P17,117, totaling P472,153.

“In our analysis and the result of interview, we noted that approval of the ineligible beneficiaries (also recipients of SBWS Program) was due to : a) manual cross matching of FO evaluators on the list of SBWS beneficiaries; b) delayed provision of the list; c) lack of awareness of some DOLE regional and field office evaluators on the list of SBWS Program beneficiaries provided by SSS; and d) voluminous applications received and evaluated,” COA said.

In the same COA report, DOLE told state auditors that it will maximize efforts to generate a clean list of beneficiaries which have been cross-checked with recipients of other financial assistance programs to ensure the detection of multiple/duplicate applications before they will be processed for approval.

The DOLE says letters will be sent out demanding any ineligible payments returned. Surely they must know that money is all gone now? 

Daily COVID cases have once more breached the 2,000 threshold. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1775655/daily-covid-19-infections-back-to-2000-cases-anew

The COVID-19 caseload went back to the 2,000 level after five days, based on the COVID-19 Tracker of the Department of Health (DOH).

On Friday, the country logged 2,001 new infections, slightly up from the 1,854 cases recorded the previous day. Daily cases had hovered around the 1,000 level for five straight days since Sunday last week.

This pushed the active COVID-19 cases to 16,314 and the total case tally to 4,131,790.

No new deaths were reported last week. The country’s death toll has reached 66,466 since the pandemic began three years ago.

Seventeen more cases of Omicron XBB.1.16, the latest COVID-19 variant to enter the country, had been reported in the latest biosurveillance report for the period May 15 to May 19. This brought the total cases of the highly transmissible strain to 28.

The DOH reminded the public to continue to use layers of protection against COVID-19 based on one’s risk to the virus as it blamed increased mobility for the gradual rise in infections.

“It is also important to note that there are many factors that can be attributed to an increase in cases,” the DOH said in a statement.

“However, as we have lowered our restrictions, individuals are now more mobile to which we may attribute our case increase,” it added.

It's funny how the DOH continues to blame infections on "increased mobility." It's like they want the lockdowns back in place. This number sounds bad but taken as a whole infections are DOWN.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/29/doh-posts-11-667-new-covid-19-cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, May 29, said 11,667 new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the past week.

In its bulletin issued Monday, DOH said the average number of new Covid-19 cases in the past week is 1,667 — a figure that is six percent lower compared to the tally recorded from May 15 until May 21.

Of the new cases, 105 are severe and critical. Meanwhile, no deaths were recorded from May 15 to 28.

“We are reminding everyone not to be complacent about the threat of Covid-19. Rather, we must continue to properly comply with minimum public health standards under Alert Level 1,” said DOH.

Even Metro Manila has seen a drop in cases. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1776716/covid-19-positivity-rate-drops-further-in-metro-manila

Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased to 21 percent in the week ending May 28, 2023, down from 25 percent the previous week, Octa Research fellow Guido David said on Tuesday.

“The reproduction number decreased to 0.97 or less than 1 as of May 26,” he said on Twitter.

However, hospital occupancy went up slightly from 28 to 29 percent.

As infections decline in Metro Manila, spikes emerge in several Luzon provinces, with 10 out of 18 monitored areas continuing to surge, David said.

A significant increase occurred in Oriental Mindoro, where the positivity rate leaped from 33 percent to 55 percent between May 26 and May 27, 2023.

Major increases in percentages were observed in Bataan (21 to 38 percent), Tarlac (15 to 21 percent), and Cagayan (21 to 27 percent, while notable declines were seen in Isabela (67 to 46  percent), Laguna (35 to 29 percent), and Batangas (36 to 30 percent).

“Positivity rates decreased in Batangas, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, Rizal and Zambales. Positivity rates remained high in most of Luzon,” David observed.

There are increases and decreases around the nation but overall the DOH says the trend has been downward.  

The Bishop of Bulacan has ended the dispensation allowing Catholics to stay home for Holy Mass. Now they must attend Church once more. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/30/bulacan-bishop-invites-catholic-members-to-attend-holy-mass

Bulacan Bishop Dennis Villarojo will end the dispensation given to the Catholic faithful from attending Sunday masses starting June 11, 2023, and urged them to physically attend to their Sunday obligation in churches and parishes.

Villarojo said the obligation of Catholics to attend Mass, which was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic, will be reinstated and will take effect on June 11, the Solemnity of the Corpus Christi.

“At the conclusion of the pandemic that compelled limited opportunities to worship in person… we are hereby lifting the dispensation given to the faithful from personally participating in the Mass due to civil restrictions imposed on account of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Villarojo stated.

Exceptions in the form of particular dispensations are given to those who are sick, have fragile health, or are susceptible to contracting illnesses.

“Except for those (who are) sick and have serious reasons, all Catholics are expected to perform their obligations to physically attend Masses in churches,” the bishop said.

Villarojo also encouraged the parishes, chaplaincies, and Catholic schools to “employ all effective means necessary to catechize the faithful… on the importance of the Sunday obligation.”

“Let us ardently encourage the faithful to encounter God through the Church in her communal celebration of the Sacred Mysteries,” Villarojo added.

The diocese early this year ordered the parishes to limit the live streaming of Masses on Sundays to at least two, preferably one in the morning and one in the evening.

How different things could have been had the Church resisted the unlawful power of the State to prevent them from worshipping.