Insurgency: Gains From Being Declared Insurgency Free

Five more towns have been declared insurgency free by the AFP. The first one is Tanay in Rizal. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1778335/military-declares-tanay-in-rizal-as-npa-free-area

Tanay town in Rizal has been declared free from the presence of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), the Philippine Army said on Thursday.

The 2nd Infantry Division made the declaration in a ceremony in Tanay Municipal Hall on Monday, led by division commander Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong along with other local government officials.

The ceremony also witnessed the redeclaration of the NPA and its political wing Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front as persona non-grata in the said town.

“The declaration of Tanay as ‘insurgency-free’ is a testament to our unwavering dedication and collective efforts,” Capulong said in a statement.

“This achievement represents a significant stride towards a peaceful and prosperous future not only for Tanay but the entire Rizal province,” he added.

Established on March 29, 1969, the NPA has currently around 2,112 forces with 1,800 weapons in its arsenal, according to latest military estimates.

If the NPA is currently estimated to have 2,112 members that mean in a whole year's time there has been no dent made in their organization.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1623551/afp-npa-down-to-2000-fighters-guerrilla-fronts-slashed-by-74-percent

The number of fighters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is now down to 2,000 with active NPA guerilla fronts down to just 23 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar made the revelation during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday.

“Now as to the armed components, they [have been] reduced to less than 2,000,” he added, while pointing out that some 25,000 supporters of the Reds have also surrendered to authorities.

How is it that a year ago the NPA had less than 2,000 members and now they have 2,112 members? This exact number has been floating around since December, 2022.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/27/2233464/only-2112-npa-fighters-left-afp

The military, releasing figures yesterday, said the NPA has been reduced to 2,112 members with 1,876 firearms, from 89 to 22 guerrilla fronts with 17 already classified as weakened.

The crazy thing is that no one in the media questions these numbers. Either the AFP is not making any gains, or the AFP does not know how many NPA are left and they are juist guessing, or the NPA are much stronger than the AFP is letting on. \

The second town to be declared insurgency free is also in Rizal.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/10/teresa-rizal-declared-insurgency-free-by-police-military-1

The police and military forces have declared the town of Teresa in Rizal insurgency-free.

On Friday, June 9, officials of the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO), the Philippine Army’s Second Infantry Division, provincial and municipal government units signed a pact attesting that insurgency is no longer a threat in Teresa, Rizal.

Police Col. Dominic Baccay, PPO director, said the Declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) for Teresa was supported by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the stakeholders.

The MOU was inked by the municipal government officials, the provincial government, the police and the military to ensure that the town will remain free from terrorist threats or activities.

The declaration of the SIPS, which also calls for the tagging of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front  as "persona-non-grata" in Teresa, was the second in the province since May, after the Philippine Army declared Tanay as an insurgency-free municipality.

The other three towns declared insurgency free are in Quezon. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/06/09/2272550/3-more-quezon-towns-cleared-communist-rebels

Three more towns in Quezon province have been declared free of communist rebels.

Candelaria, Calauag and Tiaong were declared cleared of communist insurgents in the past two days.

Thirty-six towns and two cities in Quezon had earlier been declared insurgency-free.

Quezon police director Col. Ledon Monte and Col. Joel Jonson, 85th Infantry Division commander, said police, military and local government officials signed memoranda of understanding on stable internal peace and security in the areas.

Authorities said the areas had been freed of the presence of New People’s Army rebels after local government units and the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict managed internal security operations.

The government of Tiazon says they are now looking forward to economic development. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/8/quezon-town-looks-forward-to-gains-from-being-declared-insurgency-free

This town was officially declared insurgency-free by the Philippine National Police on Wednesday, June 7.

Town officials called this a new chapter in its long history of being Ground Zero to clashes between the military and communist rebels.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed certifying the declaration in ceremonies held at the Villa Escudero Plantation.

Signatories said that the level of NPA activities here is very manageable and that internal security operations in this town has been handed over to the MTF-ELCAC to enable the local government to have a shared responsibility in managing peace and order.

In a speech, Mea said his town will finally have a shot at progress even if it still lacks industrial sites to attract investors.

"A few years ago, the town of Tiaong was not even worth mentioning, believed to be infested with insurgents, which perhaps contributed to its slow development," said Mea.

He recalled that his first order of business after being elected mayor in the 2022 elections was to usher in economic development.

The mayor said he has been enticing entrepreneurs from Metro Manila to invest in his town and its people.

"The level of NPA activities here is very manageable??" That means Tiazon is NOT insurgency free! Who are they trying to fool? Investors? 

Clashes are still ongoing between the NPA and the AFP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203158

At least three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were wounded in a clash with military troops at the boundary of Barangays Cotmo and Aldezar in Sipocot town, Camarines Sur on Wednesday, the Philippine Army (PA) said.

Maj. Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, identified the wounded rebels as Nickson Calinog alias Tom, squad leader of Platoon1, Komite Larangan Guirilla2 (KLG2) Sub-Regional Committee1 (SRC1), Nelson Marinay alias Nongnong and Arlene Marinay, all members of the same platoon.

He said all three wounded rebels are now in the custody of the military and will undergo custodial debriefing.

"They were left by their comrades after they fled in different directions. The three wounded rebels received medical treatment. They will undergo custodial debriefing for information that will help to encourage their other members to surrender," Roldan said.

The firefight that lasted 15 minutes ensued when the troops responded to the information from concerned citizens regarding the presence of several armed men.

Government troops recovered from the clash site two M16 rifles, two .45 caliber pistols and several propaganda materials.

"The encounter site is currently being searched by troops and subsequent operations are still going on," he said.

Civilians are also in harms way of the NPA's land mines. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/5/military-identifies-2-civilians-killed-by-npa-detonated-landmine

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) 8th Infantry Division (8ID) identified on Monday, June 5, the two civilian workers who died when suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine in Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Killed were Roel Lebico and Jerson Cabe, both residents of Barangay Quirino, Las Navas, and were hired as construction workers in an ongoing farm-to-market road project in the town.

A report from the 8ID showed that an anti-personnel mine planted by suspected NPA rebels suddenly went off in Brgy. Magsaysay last June 3.

The victims, according to the military, were passing by in the area and hit by shrapnel. They also sustained gunshot wounds, the report added.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Z.  Ligayo, 8ID commander, condemned the attack allegedly perpetrated by members of the NPA's Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) as it "cost the lives of innocent civilians."

"The EVRPC blatantly disregards the human rights which is evident on their continuous use of banned weapons. The use of indiscriminate weapons increases the chance of jeopardizing the lives of innocent non-combatants," Ligayo said, noting that anti-personnel mine is prohibited for use during armed hostilities under the 1997 Ottawa Convention.

"Let us call on the CTGs [communist terrorist group] to stop their violent activities and discuss things in a peaceful manner," he added.

"Discuss things in a peaceful manner?" But the DND has rejected peace talks. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1781063/fwd-gibo-not-keen-on-peace-talks-with-cpp-ndfp-join-politics-apply-as-legitimate-political-party

Newly-appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. is not keen on resuming peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and instead urged them to return to the fold and engage in legitimate discussions — by becoming a full-time political party.

In a press briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications Office on Thursday, Teodoro said that it had been his long-time position to oppose peace talks, noting that the current setup allows communist rebels to rejoin society and give up their arms.

Teodoro said this after several groups urged him to resume peace talks with NDFP so that the decades-long civil war waged by the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), could come to a close.

(My personal position is no, this has been my position for a long time, and I think that is the position of the security cluster as of this time.  Because first and foremost, the government has been open with past members of the CPP-NPA-NDFP returning to the fold, the OPAPP route is available to help them and rehabilitate.)

(I think peace talks — for me, in the version of our democratic process — we can talk about these issues in the proper forum, which is Congress, where they would join legitimate political processes.)

He, however, clarified that front organizations are still illegal.

(The CPP is not banned, Republic Act No. 1700 has been repealed long ago.  But indirect and direct support to the armed struggle that’s the problem.  So to me there is no such thing as — it’s an oxymoron, a legal front: there is no legal front.  Fronts are illegal.)

If CPP intends to become a legitimate political party, Teodoro said the group should vow to refrain from resorting to subversive activities.

“I mean, ideologically to me, it’s a farce, so what we intend to do is to convince those that are still continuing — whatever business they are continuing which is against the law — to come back and join the fold of law and join hands for national development,” he said.

“And as a political party they can register as a legitimate political party just as long as there is evidence that there is a total disavowal of resort to subversive means in order to gain political power.  All of these theories, Marxism, et cetera, these are political theories and the end is to gain political power,” he added.

There is only ONE Communist Party of the Philippines, not many. So for him to say the CPP is not banned but front groups are is totally disingenuous since the CPP is intricately tied to the NPA. There is no discussing things peacefully with them. There is surrender or death. 

Sleeping Dog Run Over by Armored Vehicle

A dog sleeping in the street was run over by an armored vehicle and the animal rescue organization Purpaws decided to write about it from the perspective of the dog. Let's take a look. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722083/pet-rescue-organization-says-armored-car-hit-killed-sleeping-dog-in-gensan

An organization rescuing distressed pets and animals said that an armored car is now being tracked down for running over a sleeping dog in front of a house in General Santos City and speeding away as if nothing happened.

In a post from People United to Rescue Pets that are Abused, Wasted, and Sick (Purpaws) on Thursday, it was stated that Doggo, a dog that people from Barangay Lagao were familiar with as it usually hangs out at a local fast food chain, died after being run over by an armored car with body number 3285.

The dog hangs out at a local fast food chain? What is he the Fonz?  Hanging out? More like begging for scraps! It's not The Max and he ain't Zack Morris. He is Doggo which is a generic name you give a dog you don't care about. 

Purpaws said the dog was lying in front of its owner’s house when the incident happened.  The owner ran after the armored car, but the driver involved did not mind, instead managed to escape.

Great googly moogly!  The dog was LYING IN FRONT OF ITS OWNER'S HOUSE rather than  inside the house or the gate at least? Why did his owner allow the dog to sleep in the street?

“I was just lying on the ground having my nap at around 9:00 am in front of our humble store when an armored car number 3285 colored beige casually ran over me […] If I was a person lying on that same spot where I was, do you think the driver of the armored car with body number 3285 kill me? Just because I was a dog, the driver mercilessly killed me,” Purpaws, speaking on behalf of Doggo, said.

Maybe if you were a person lying in the middle of the street then yeah perhaps the armored vehicle would have run over you. How the heck was this dog lying in front of his owner's store and still got run over UNLESS the store is right on the road? That is another huge danger in the Philippines. Many stores and houses are right on the road and as a result have been plowed into and destroyed by wayward vehicles. 

“My owner saw what happened and he ran after the armored car but they did not even apologize. Then I was put in a sack and someone saw the opportunity to get my body and turn me into a meal. Someone from PURPAWS saw this and she didn’t waste time to check what happened to me. When she saw my lifeless body she immediately took me from the person who wanted me for a meal and warned him,” the group added.

Like Superman appearing at the slightest hint of trouble someone from PURPAWS saw the whole thing and prevented a would-be gourmand from feasting on this fine specimen of dog.  Think of the scene! The dog gets hit and the owner runs after the vehicle. The dog is then stuffed into a sack and some passerby attempts to steal the bag so he can cook up a tasty meal but he is stopped by a representative pf PURPAWS who just happened to be in the vicinity. 

According to the group, Doggo was bought to a nearby veterinary clinic for autopsy, where the veterinarian said the cause of death is blunt force trauma.

Oh really? The dog died from blunt force trauma?? NO KIDDING!!! Did they have to cut the dog open and give a proper autopsy to render that verdict?  

“After my necropsy I was brought to a tranquil place where I was given a decent burial.   My owner was assisted by the organization to file a blotter report to the Traffic Enforcement Unit. TEU forwarded the complaint to the Land Transportation Office for the record,” Purpaws said.

“The organization is now hunting the armored car with body number 3285 in beige color.  Will you help them? So that I get justice for my death…I was only taking my morning nap, why? What have I done to you people?” it added.

Hit-and-run incidents involving pet animals like dogs are not rare in the country: just this December 2022, singer and former youth commissioner Ice Seguerra was devastated after learning that his pet was killed in a hit-and-run incident.

Yeah no kidding hit-and-run incidents involving dogs are not rare in the Philippines! Neither are dog bites or death from rabid dog bites. That is because the Philippines has a massive stray dog problem. Now, this dog was not a stray and that presents us with a whole other problem which is that too many owners let their dogs out to roam the streets all day and night. It's not enough that they open the gate so they can go do their business but they are hanging out at their favorite restaurants and then being forced to sleep outside IN THE STREET. Sometimes the dog is never allowed in but lives its life in the street as if it were a stray. 

It's not surprising this dog got killed and it would not be surprising if the driver did not see a sleeping dog curled up in the street. The bottom line is dog owners are as much to blame as drivers when it comes to  their dogs being killed by vehicles. 

Retards in the Government 313

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1778247/ex-councilor-of-zamboanga-del-sur-town-survives-gun-attack

A former town legislator and vice mayoral candidate in the 2022 elections of Tabina town in Zamboanga del Sur survived a gun attack on Wednesday night.

Major Shellamie Chang, regional police information officer, said Rally Caguia Eslit, 48, of Manicaan village in Tabina town, was with his family heading home aboard an Isuzu Dmax pickup vehicle, when two unidentified men aboard a KLX 150-cc motorcycle approached and fired at the driver’s seat.

Eslit, who was driving the vehicle, was hit on the back of his neck.

The incident happened at Dao-an village in San Miguel town.

After the incident, the gunmen fled towards the Betinan village of San Miguel town, police said.

Eslit was rushed to the San Miguel rural health center and later transferred to a private hospital in Pagadian City for further medication.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene a fired cartridge case of caliber .45 pistol.

A former town councillor has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1777116/2-village-councilor-killed-in-maguindanao-sultan-kudarat

Two village councilors were killed in separate gun attacks Sunday and Monday in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province, and Paglat, Maguindanao del Sur.

Maj. Davis Dulawan, police chief of President Quirino, identified one slain councilor as Mahadi Khalipapa of Barangay Malingon, who was with his wife when attacked.

He said Khalipapa and his wife were on a motorbike driven by Khalipapa when ambushed by unidentified gunmen on May 29.

The village official died on the spot and his wife was slightly injured and was taken to a local hospital.

In an interview, Dulawan appealed to the town residents to help the police identify the culprits.

In Paglat, Maguindanao del Sur, the other fatality was a former village councilor in Barangay Damalusay, Nassr Mangetog, 54, of Barangay Damalusya in Paglat town.

He was attacked on Monday afternoon, according to town police chief Lt. Amer Hussein Disomangcop.

“He was tilling his farm lot and took a short breather when an unidentified man arrived and shot him without provocation,” Disomangcop said.

Police could not determine as of this writing the motive of the attacks and whether these were related to the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this year.

One village councillor and one former village councilor have been assassinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202837

A police station commander in Angeles City in Pampanga and six other policemen were nabbed for alleged unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention of 13 civilians.

 

Agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-scalawag unit arrested station commander Maj. Marvin Aquino, M/Sgt. Romulo Meligrito, S/Sgts. Nikko Dave Marquez and Mark Steven Sison, and Corporals Richard Gozum, Diosdado Villamor Jr. and Jaypee Mangilit on Friday, according to a statement released by Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), over the weekend.

 

De Leon said the planned operation also resulted in the arrest of a civilian asset identified as Esmael Arviola for illegal possession of a .38-caliber revolver with four live ammunitions.

 

The operation stemmed from the complaint of the daughter of recently arrested drug offender, who claimed the suspects asked for PHP30,000 in exchange for the lesser offense of illegal gambling instead of violations under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

 

The alleged offender was arrested in Angeles City on May 28 by Police Station 2 agents.

 

“During the conduct of inspection at the PUPC (person under police custody) detention cell, it was found out that 13 persons were arbitrarily detained without any single complaint filed against them up to the time of operation,” de Leon said.

 

“Further, no entry at the official police blotter and in the CIRAS (crime information reporting and analysis system) of the station in relation to the arrest and other circumstances causing the (continuous) detention of the victims.”

 

In another statement, Police Regional Office-3 (Central Luzon) director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. reaffirmed their “continuous commitment in support of the Internal Cleansing Program to cleanse the ranks and identify rogue PNP members whether they are active, retired, or dismissed from the service.”

 

He said the arrested cops were immediately relieved from their posts.

Seven cops have been arrested for extortion and illegal detention. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/5/bilibid-s-ambulance-driver-caught-in-attempt-to-smuggle-dried-tobacco-leaves-bu-cor

An ambulance driver of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City attempted to smuggle a contraband into the detention facility last Saturday, June 3, but he was caught and is now under investigation.

In a statement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) identified the suspected violator of the bureau’s standard operating procedures as Corrections Officer 1 Marvin Ceballos.

BuCor’s Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director Angelina L. Bautista said that Ceballos was caught trying to bring inside the NBP dried tobacco leaves after he ferried a person deprived of liberty (PDL) for an emergency referral.

Bautista said that as a standard operating procedure, “all personnel and vehicles coming inside the NBP searched for prohibited items.”

Like illegal drugs, cellular telephones, wines, liquors, cigarettes, and other items particularly deadly weapons, tobacco leaves are prohibited inside NBP and six other detention facilities managed and supervised by BuCor nationwide.

BuCor Director General Gregoio Pio P. Catapang Jr. reiterated his directive to watch over the bureau’s personnel not just the PDLs.

“’This is the reason why our program Reform BuCor also includes the reform of our personnel along with the reforms of the PDLs,” he said

An ambulance driver for New Bilibid Prison has been caught smuggling in contraband. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202883

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former cashier to up to seven years in prison for malversation involving more than PHP250,000 in public funds.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division affirmed the 2022 decision of the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 6 convicting Nila Cariño, the former cashier of state-owned Human Settlements Development Corp. (HSDC) - Maharlika Livelihood Complex.

Cariño was likewise fined PHP295,764 representing the amount malversed.

She was charged in 2018 following findings by the Commission on Audit - Cordillera Administrative Region that she incurred cash shortage in public funds representing collections entrusted to her and which she failed to turn over or deposit from Oct. 13, 2017 to July 24, 2018.

She was subsequently dismissed while the case was pending.

Cariño appealed her conviction with legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office, claiming the prosecution failed to establish that the missing amount of money was in her possession since no cash count was conducted.

She said the alleged missing or unaccounted for money has been turned over to her successor.

However, the Sandiganbayan ruled that the absence of any explanation from Cariño evidently showed that she cannot account for the cash shortage.

“There is prima facie evidence that she misappropriated the missing funds," the anti-graft court said in its June 5 decision that was made public Monday.

A former cashier has been convicted for malversation of funds. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/6/graft-charges-filed-vs-dpwh-officials-contractor-execs-over-alleged-sinking-sub-standard-iloilo-flyover

For the first time, legal action has been taken against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the contractor of the unused P680-million flyover, one of the last pet projects of former senator Franklin Drilon in Iloilo.

Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava filed criminal complaints against four officials of the Western Visayas regional office of DPWH for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Named respondents were Regional Director Nerie Bueno, former regional director Tiburcio Canlas, Assistant Regional Director Jose Al Fruto, and Construction Division Chief Ormel Santos.

Also included in the charges sheet are International Builders Corp. (IBC) owner Allen Son Tan, the company’s President Helen Edith Lee Tan, and John Does.

“The DPWH officials will also be facing administrative complaints for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct,” Nava told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.

To recall, the flyover that straddles between Iloilo City and neighboring Pavia town has been closed since September 18, 2022. The flyover partially opened last June 30, 2022 and was fully opened by September 5. It was closed less than two weeks after its structural integrity was questioned as it began sinking.

Last month, an independent firm hired by DPWH claimed that P250 million in funding is needed to repair the defective and unsafe flyover.

Nava said he decided to take legal action and hinted that the flyover problem would not be addressed allegedly because of politics.

“We all know they are political allies,” Nava told Manila Bulletin.

Nava was referring to the linkage of contractor IBC as Congressman James ‘Jojo’ Ang Jr. of Uswag Party-list is the nephew of the contractor.

Uswag is a regional party-list that is the brainchild of Iloilo City Jerry Treñas.

Officials of the DPWH are being charged with graft over the sinking flyover in Iloilo.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1779916/top-da-exec-faces-graft-raps-over-sugar-fiasco

Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is facing graft charges in the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged role in the sugar import controversy in February wherein he supposedly favored sugar traders to allegedly smuggle 250,000 metric tons of sugar into the country.

In a 16-page complaint filed on Monday, the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines-Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Council (Nacusip-ARB) and the Alternatiba ng Masa party list asked the Ombudsman to indict Panganiban for usurping authority and for violating Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which lists unscrupulous practices of public officers.

“Sugar farmers and workers in the sugar industry have been gravely affected by the sudden influx of imported sugar in the market,” said Nacusip-ARB council director Roland dela Cruz. “This is aggravated by the fact that what entered our country is smuggled sugar, seemingly facilitated by none other than a senior official of the Department of Agriculture.”

“We cannot let this pass,” he added.

The case stems from a shipment of refined sugar that entered the country on Feb. 9 that was flagged by the Bureau of Customs for lacking permits.

It was later revealed that the shipment, consigned to All Asian Countertrade Inc., was part of a 440,000 MT importation under Sugar Order No. 6, also signed by Panganiban reportedly under the directive of President Marcos, who sits as concurrent agriculture secretary, in an effort to bring down sugar prices.

What was irregular, however, was that the shipment arrived well before SO No. 6 became effective on Feb. 22, the complainants said.

Panganiban later admitted that he had instructed “three capable and accredited companies to proceed with the importation of sugar” as early as January when Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued a memorandum allowing the sugar importation.

In filing the case, the groups argued that an SO was a “necessary prerequisite to importation, otherwise, it is considered a smuggled agricultural product,” also pointing out that only the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has the sole power to issue an import order for the commodity.

By directing three importers as early as January to import sugar without an SO, they said Panganiban had “undermined and usurped” the function of the SRA board.

Moreover, they said Panganiban “has no power under the law to unilaterally choose and direct only three traders to proceed with the importation.”

The groups also questioned Panganiban’s handpicking of three traders—All Asian Countertrade Inc., S&D Sucden Philippines and Edison Lee Marketing Corp.—out of more than 100 available traders.

“What Panganiban did when he directed these companies prior to SO No. 6 shows his evident bad faith, gross inexcusable negligence, and manifest partiality,” the groups noted.

“By allowing such a huge bulk of sugar to be imported during this time lowered the price of sugarcane being sold by our sugar planters,” the groups said, and that “the effects of these events to our constituents, the sugar workers and planters, cannot be understated.”

Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban of the Department of Agriculture is facing graft charges in the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged role in the sugar import controversy in February wherein he supposedly favored sugar traders to allegedly smuggle 250,000 metric tons of sugar into the country.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1780277/pampanga-rtc-finds-cop-nbi-errand-boy-guilty-of-jee-ick-joo-murder

A regional trial court in Pampanga on Tuesday found guilty a policeman and an errand boy at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo.

However, the Angeles City Regional Trial Court acquitted the alleged mastermind, Superintendent Rafael Dumlao, due to the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Dumlao was granted temporary liberty in 2019.

Meanwhile, meted with imprisonment of up to 40 years by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court are Police Chief Master Sergeant (previously SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel and NBI errand boy Jerry Omlang.

The two were also convicted for the abduction of Marissa Marquicho, Jee’s helper, and carjacking Jee’s vehicle. They will both be getting another 22 to 25 years imprisonment.

A PNP officer and NBI errand boy have been found guilty in the death of a Korean national. The mastermind was acquitted. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/06/07/2272082/ex-surigao-governor-charged-graft-plunder

Plunder, malversation and graft charges were filed yesterday against former Surigao del Norte governor Francisco Matugas for alleged fund misuse, which he reportedly committed before he stepped down from office last year.

The charges were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Oscar Pospia Jr., chief of staff in the office of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers.

Pospia asked the ombudsman to investigate possible violations of various laws including Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In the complaint, Pospia alleged that Matugas committed at least 120 counts of graft when he donated dozens of motor vehicles and computer laptops right after he lost in the May 2022 elections.

Matugas also allegedly donated several properties of the province to local government units headed by his relatives or political allies.

Pospia, who is also chief of the provincial environment and natural resources office, alleged that Matugas did not observe legal procedures when he donated immovable and movable properties of the provincial government with an estimated value of P270 million.

The properties would have been sufficient to meet the needs of the provincial government in discharging its mandates, the complaint read.

In a separate statement, Pospia said he filed multiple charges including plunder against the former governor over the alleged unlawful use of the rehabilitation and provincial disaster management funds amounting to P60 million.

The funds were intended for victims of Super Typhoon Odette that struck the province in December 2021. 

A former governor of Surigao del Nrte has been charged with graft.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Deactivate Emergency Operations Center, Reimposes Face Mask Indoors, and More!

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

Cebu City has finally deactivated its Emergency Operations Center for COVID-19. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/507631/cebu-city-deactivates-eoc-for-covid-19

The Cebu City government deactivated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Cebu City Councilor and former Cebu City EOC deputy chief implementer Joel Garganera told reporters that starting Thursday, the city’s COVID-19 case management and other COVID-19-related concerns will be transferred to the Cebu City Health Department (CHD) headed by Dr. Daisy Villa.

“As to its deactivation, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the end of the pandemic and cases are at [a] manageable level. CHD also assumed the responsibility under their community surveillance,” Garganera said.

“It will now be up to the Mayor to reactivate it again if the need arises,” he added.

Their reasoning is that the WHO has declared the end of the pandemic. If only the DOH would listen but they are on record saying the WHO's proclamation does not mean the pandemic is over. 

The pandemic is over but one town in La Union is reimposing face masks indoors. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202667

The municipality of Agoo has required anew the wearing of face mask in public and private indoor places in the town to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In an Executive Order (EO) No. 28 obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Thursday, Agoo Mayor Frank Sibuma said proactive measures must be implemented to ensure the protection of the community against Covid-19.

This after the Municipal Health Office recorded an upsurge in the town’s active cases in the past weeks with 17 cases as of May 30. The order took effect on Wednesday, May 31.

“This order shall apply to all residents, non-residents, who will enter Agoo, traders, business establishments, religious congregations, and government and non-government offices located within the municipality,” he said.

The EO stated that the general public is required to use face mask when entering public and private indoor places within the jurisdiction of Agoo such as hospitals, health clinics, schools or educational institutions, government, and private offices, places of worship, business establishments, restaurant bars, enclosed stores, shopping malls, beauty and grooming parlors, gymnasiums, and other buildings with enclosed walls that are considered indoors.

It added that inside houses and residential dwellings, the wearing of a face mask is at the discretion of the family head or subdivision supervisor for rented or exclusive dwelling areas.

Sibuma said the wearing of face mask is also required within the premises of Agoo Hypermarket and public transportation plying within the town.

“The concerned heads of offices and business managers shall provide alcohol or sanitizer stations at the entrance of their respective offices or establishments for customers and clients,” he said.

The organizers of indoor events such as sports activities, graduation ceremonies, birthdays, weddings, and baptisms, among others are also required to ask the attendees to wear facemasks and to provide sanitizer or alcohol stations.

Regular sanitation of indoor buildings is also enjoined, he added.

Why are they doing this? The pandemic is OVER!

Bivalent vaccines have finally arrived in the Philippines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1779306/over-390000-doses-of-donated-bivalent-jabs-from-lithuania-arrive-in-ph-says-doh

Over 390,000 bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses from the Lithuanian government arrived in the country on Saturday night, according to the Department of Health (DOH). 

In a Facebook post, the DOH said it received the bivalent vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. 

“It is with great pleasure that we have received such generous donations from the Lithuanian government and our sincerest gratitude to our partner agencies for being one with the DOH in seeing that within our reach is a bountiful future, one that is most achievable starting with ensuring that we have sufficient protection against the COVID-19 virus,” DOH officer-in-charge  Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said. 

“To every eligible Juan and Juana, we urge everyone to get the opportunity to gain longer and stronger protection by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Together, let us move towards a healthier Pilipinas,” she added. 

The DOH earlier said  healthcare workers, senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities will be prioritized.

Vaccines were wasted in the past. How will these vaccines be used effectively? Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante has an answer. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/872041/solante-suggests-targeting-vulnerable-recipients-of-bivalent-covid-19-jabs-to-avoid-wastage/story/

Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante on Monday said the government should soon consider targeting the vulnerable population to be prioritized in receiving COVID-19 bivalent vaccines to avoid wastage.

The health professional made the remark when asked what could be done to ensure that these vaccines targeted against the Omicron variant and the original COVID-19 strain will not be spoiled, just like what happened to the 50 million doses that expired in March.

(It's important at this point in time to see and test if our acceptance of vaccines is still good, especially for this COVID-19. If, for example, the vaccination rate is low, we need to recalibrate. Most likely, we just have to target the vulnerable population moving forward.)

(With regards to prioritization, if the bivalent vaccines are not much accepted by the healthcare workers or the elderly, then we must quickly move up to the immunocompromised and those with comorbidities so that they would not go to waste.)

The first batch of bivalent jabs arrived in the Philippines on Saturday. These were more than 390,000 doses donated by Lithuania.

Currently, only adults belonging to A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens) categories are allowed to receive the Pfizer bivalent vaccine as third booster dose. They need to wait at least four months after receiving their second booster shot before they take the next one.

Inoculation for other population groups, meanwhile, will be opened in succeeding phases, subject to the availability of stocks and possible technical changes, according to the Department of Health.

Of course since the vaccine is not mandatory it really depends on if those who qualify for it will be willing to take it.

Nationwide, the daily average of new COVID-19 cases is down by 22%.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202896

The country’s daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 22 percent from May 29 to June 4, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.

In its latest case bulletin, the agency recorded 1,301 daily infections, a 366-case decrease from the 1,667 recorded between May 22 to 28.

A total of 9,107 new cases were recorded in the recent week.

The tally of severe and critical infections increased to 559 from the previous week’s 554.

Ten deaths were verified during the past week with three of them occurred from May 22 to June 4.

Don't forget this is the nationwide average. Even if some areas are up the average is down. 

Marcos has finally appointed a Health Secretary.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/06/23/dr-ted-herbosa-takes-oath-as-doh-secretary

Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa took his oath Tuesday as secretary of the Department of Health.

He was sworn into office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañan Palace.

"The DOH family welcomes this development, as this is crucial in the Department's operations. With this transition, the DOH ensures that the healthcare services will remain unhampered," the agency said in a statement.

Herbosa served as a DOH undersecretary from 2010 to 2015 and was the regional director of the department's National Capital Region office. He was also a special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic.

Well good for him. Hopefully he is not so cowardly.

Two Boys Electrocuted by Hot Wires On the Same Day in Different Provinces

In the Philippines death by electrocution is quite common. Lineman get jolted on the job, families get zapped in their houses, and in one case a foreigner out for a walk on the beach took a wrong step onto a hot wire, or maybe not. 

Last week the decrepit Philippine power grid claimed the life of two boys on the same day. In the first case a boy was out bathing in the rain when a live wire fell from an electric post and onto the ground.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1778657/boy-dies-due-to-electrocution-in-samar

A 13-year-old boy died due to electrocution on Wednesday while bathing in the rain in Barangay Cagmanipis Norte, Tinambacan District, Calbayog City, Samar.

Eugine Gotido was enjoying the rain around 2:30 p.m. when a live wire from an electric post fell on the ground, according to his grandfather.

The boy, he said, did not notice the live wire which resulted in his electrocution and death.

The Samar Provincial Police Office received the report at 6:52 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.

In the second case a boy was on his way to school when he accidentally touched a live wire obstructing his way. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1778728/another-boy-dies-after-touching-live-wire-in-leyte

 A 6-year-old boy died from electrocution while on his way to school in Leyte town, Leyte on Thursday, June 1.

Reports from the local police showed that Edson Bismonte accidentally touched a live wire that was blocking his way about 7 a.m. in Sitio Camansilis, Barangay Palid I, Leyte.

The boy was with his sister, Eliza, 10, when the incident happened.

Eliza tried to help her younger brother by pulling his backpack but was thrown away due to the electric shock.

She asked for assistance from the nearby residents who helped rush the victim to the rural health unit but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The management of the Leyeco V Electric Cooperative (Leyeco V), who owns the live wire that electrocuted the victim, has yet to issue a statement on the incident.

What could Leyeco V Electric Cooperative possibly say aside from offering blood money? They won't be held to account for that loose wire.

While fat cats and the National Grid Cooperation of the Philippines rake in huge dividends of money projects remain unfinished and wires across the nation pose a threat to everyone.  

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/870979/ngcp-grilled-after-records-show-up-to-99-of-annual-net-profits-go-to-dividends/story/

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday faced another round of grilling from the Senate energy committee after records showed that 75% to 99% of its annual profits went to dividends.

At the continuation of the investigation into NGCP’s operation, Senator Raffy Tulfo, panel chairman, asked the NGCP to disclose its income and dividends for years 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019 as he mentioned reports that the state grid corporation only allocates a minuscule amount of its revenues for redevelopment or reinvestments.

Tulfo took a swipe at  NGCP as he noted that in 2019 alone 75% of its income went to dividends; in 2017, 99% of its income went to the profit sharing; and in 2014, the amount of dividends is higher than the net income.

“Only in the Philippines na for profit ang transmission. It should not be for profit. Maliwanag pa sa sikat na araw nag-tumitib-tiba ‘yung mga may ari nito,” Tulfo said.

The entire grid needs an overhaul to make it safer. Don't expect that anytime soon or ever.