Comedienne Pokwang Admits She Harbored an Illegal Alien.

The Pokwang saga continues to play out in the press much to the dismay of anyone who dare reads the details of this ridiculous narrative. Last time Pokwang posted pictures of herself and her children at her lawyers office as she filed a case against her ex, Lee O'Brian. This time Pokwang has done something far more ridiculous. She has implicated herself as having harbored an illegal alien. 

https://entertainment.inquirer.net/504223/pokwang-files-deportation-visa-cancellation-vs-ex-lee-obrian-para-sa-karapatan-ko-at-ng-anak-ko

Months after tapping a high-profile law firm, Pokwang is determined to take her domestic woes with ex-partner Lee O’Brian to court as she filed a deportation complaint and cancellation of visa against the latter.

Photos of Pokwang and public interest lawyer Ralph Calinisan at what seemed to be a Bureau of Immigration office made rounds on social media, where she spoke about defending her rights as a mother and woman.

The actress-comedienne’s camp also claimed that O’Brian was using a tourist visa even though he’s been staying in the country for the past eight years.

(We have to teach those who violate the law a lesson, especially when it comes to people who abuse women and mothers. He did so much to me mentally. I couldn’t even sleep because of the pain. He didn’t fulfill his obligation as a father. It’s really painful for my daughter.)

Pokwang also shared a photo of her court documents that will be filed against her estranged partner on her Instagram account on Tuesday, June 13.

“For my rights and for my daughter’s, for my fellow women and my country."

While Pokwang’s fans flocked to the comments of her post to show their support, she didn’t hesitate to affirm her recent move against O’Brian, as seen in a response to one @dmnqbron who accused her of involving the country in her romantic woes.

“Sa mga dedma sa batas yun ang ibig [kong] sabihin dito mga walang pake na dayuhan!” she wrote. (My post is meant for those who ignore the law, especially to foreigners.)

Pokwang has filed a deportation case against her ex because he has been staying in the country illegally for the past number of years. As an American he can renew his tourist visa for up to three years but he has been here for eight without, it seems, having done a visa run. He has also been working which is not allowed for tourists.

https://www.onenews.ph/articles/pokwang-seeks-ex-partner-lee-o-brian-s-deportation

Entertainment journalist MJ Marfori of TV5 reported that based on the petition of Pokwang’s camp, O’Brian was using a tourist visa “while working in the country for the past eight years.” It was further revealed on “Celebrity Top 10” on One News that O’Brian would only renew his tourist visa to continue seeking employment locally.

To further her case, Pokwang supposedly enumerated the showbiz projects O’Brian participated in. On Celebrity Top 10, Marfori said “some of these” were already certified by O’Brian’s employers.

In an earlier interview by Marfori, Pokwang described the filing as a thorn that was finally removed. She added if O’Brian was being a father to Malia, she could have “tolerated” him doing well in the country.

If Lee O'Brian had been a father to Malia then she could have tolerated him breaking the country's immigration laws!

That means Pokwang knowingly and willingly enabled this man to break the law for a number of years. And the only reason she is doing anything about it now is because she has "no feelings" for him anymore. 

https://entertainment.inquirer.net/504617/pokwang-asserts-she-doesnt-have-feelings-for-ex-lee-obrian-anymore-iba-yung-may-feelings-sa-galit-no

Pokwang didn’t hesitate to disprove claims she still has lingering feelings for her estranged partner Lee O’Brian, saying she feels nothing but anger toward him.

The actress-comedienne made the clarification after Jegs Chinel, also known as Tita Jegs, asked if she still loves her ex-partner, as seen in the official YouTube channel of Ogie Diaz’s Showbiz Update last Tuesday, June 13. The ambush interview happened shortly after Pokwang issued a deportation complaint and visa cancellation against O’Brian.

(No. Having feelings is different from being angry. I told you, I don’t care if you have 10 girlfriends every day. Just do your obligation as a father. Did you do it? That’s the question.)

Pokwang also pointed out that she chose to file a complaint for O’Brian’s deportation because he “violated” the law, at the same time noting his alleged lack of responsibility as the father to their daughter Malia.

"We have to do it, it’s about time. It’s not because I’m mad at him. He violated the law. Because us Filipinos have to go through tough rules when we go to other countries. We go through a lot of hardships. But it’s unfair that someone like him doesn’t go through the same thing. There would be no problem if only he is a responsible father. But he isn’t acting like one. Aside from not fulfilling his responsibilities as a dad, he can’t even follow our laws."

(I am in my own country. Why should I be the one to adjust—which is wrong. I’m doing this for my daughter, our daughter, my peace of mind and for women. I hope the public will one day understand why I’m determined to do this.)

Pokwang, along with public interest lawyer Ralph Calinisan, filed a deportation complaint and visa cancellation against her former partner at the Bureau of Immigration office last June 13.

In an interview with entertainment reporters, Pokwang claimed that O’Brian is using a tourist visa even though he’s been in the country for the past eight years.

Pokwang is not at all interested in the fact that he broke immigration law. That is just a way she can get back at him, plain and simple. 

The facts are quite evident here. For several years Pokwang has been knowingly and willingly harboring an illegal alien. Will she ever be held to account for her wanton violation of Philippine immigration laws?  And what about those who hired him despite only having a tourist visa? I wouldn't count on it. 

Insurgency: End of NPA Central Negros Fronts By Yearend

The Army is confident that the NPA in Central Negros will be defeated by year's end.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203561

The military sees the dismantling of the Central Negros (CN) fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA) by the end of the year, a top Philippine Army official here said on Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) based in Murcia town, Negros Occidental province, said the CN1, whose fighters were encountered by troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Moises Padilla town on Tuesday, now only has nine members.

“We are very optimistic that with the cooperation and assistance of the people and national and local governments, not exceeding the end of the year, we will be declaring CN1 and CN2 as cleared,” he said on the sidelines of the Regional Peace and Order Council-Western Visayas meeting here.

Edralin said the leaders of both Central Negros fronts are “still on the run”, but the death of Rogelio Posadas, secretary of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, had left a vacuum.

“That’s why nagkakagulo sila (they are at a loss) because they don’t have a leader to direct them. Their days are numbered that’s why we are asking them to surrender,” he added.

Posadas was killed during a clash with troops of the 94th IB at the boundary of Binalbagan and Isabela towns on April 20.

The AFP is also vowing to defeat the two reamaing active fronts in Samar by the end of this year. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203400

The Catbalogan, Samar-based 8th Infantry Division (8ID) and local front-liners of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will be able to eliminate the two remaining New People's Army (NPA) fronts in its area of operation within this year.

“I am confident that we will finally end this armed conflict by the third quarter of this year, or safe to say by the end of the year,” 8th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo said during the NTF-ELCAC's weekly forum dubbed “Tagged Reloaded: Debunking The Lies By Telling the Truth” on Monday.

Ligayo said this is possible as the 8th Infantry Division and local units of the NTF-ELCAC are closely working to eliminate the two remaining NPA fronts.

The 8ID operates in Samar and other parts of the Eastern Visayas.

By the end of third quarter, he said one of the active fronts will be downgraded to a “weakened” status.

“Pa-konti na ng pa-konti (They are dwindling),” Ligayo said, defining the remaining two NPA fronts, whom he added has no village to turn to, and choose to go deep into the mountain to escape annihilation from intensified focused military operations.

See how he goes from being confident of defating the NPA by the third quarter and then says "by the end of the year?" And what will that even look like?  A total defeat or just less influence?

A whole brigade has been transferred to Samar to make sure this defeat happens.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203415

The Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade (802nd IBde) has been transferred from Leyte province to Eastern Samar to help suppress the insurgency in Samar Island.

The brigade, which was based in Camp Downes in Ormoc City for more than two decades, was officially transferred to Borongan City in Eastern Samar to help meet the target of ending insurgency in Samar provinces within the year.

“We are here to help the campaign of ending the local communist armed conflict in Samar Island,” said Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, the 802nd IBde commander, in a phone interview on Tuesday.

With the addition of the 802nd IBde in Eastern Samar, all three brigades under the 8th Infantry Division are now operating in Samar Island.

Hopefully they actually defeat them.

Quezon province has been declared insurgency free.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1788252/quezon-province-declared-free-of-npa-influence

Once a stronghold of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Southern Tagalog, Quezon province was declared free from the influence of communist insurgents in a ceremony held on Monday.

Local government, police, and military officials said the province had attained “Stable Internal Peace and Security” or a SIPS status, which means the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the NPA no longer posed a threat to local peace and order.

Later in an online interview, Monte clarified that the NPA may still have “possible remnants” in Quezon “but they are no longer capable of initiating terrorist acts [and] they have no more supporters.”

Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan said the next challenge for the local officials would be to preserve the peace and make the residents “feel [this] milestone” through poverty alleviation programs.

The current NPA spokesperson, however, had dismissed the SIPS declarations in a statement issued last month.

According to Ka Cleo del Mundo of the Apolonio Mendoza Command, a unit said to be still operating in Quezon, ending the insurgency would require a peace agreement between the government and CPP-NPA-NDFP.

Oh, excuse me free of insurgency influence. There are still NPA lurking about!

The NPA has been losing its foothold in Caraga and the Army says that is in large part due to the public. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203731

The recent success of the Philippine Army in the Caraga Region in its offensive against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) happened with the full support of the mass base in the area.

This was emphasized by Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, the commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in a statement issued on Saturday.

On Friday, three NPA rebels were killed in a strike operation conducted by the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) in the vicinity of Mt. Apo-Apo, Sitio Dugyaman, Barangay Anticala, Butuan City.

A total of 15 high-powered firearms, ammunition, a laptop, cellphones, backpacks, and subversive documents were also recovered by the 29IB troopers after the clash.

The recovered firearms consisted of five AK47 rifles, four AR18 rifles, three M4 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, and one M16 rifle.

Acting on the tip of a civilian who saw about 30 suspected NPA rebels massing up in the area of Mt. Apo-Apo, the 29IB immediately conducted a strike operation that resulted in the armed confrontation.

The rebels were the combined elements of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Guerilla Front 21, and Platoon Dao, Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad Westland, both under the Sub-Regional Committee Westland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA.

“I commend the cooperation of civilians and the swift action of the troops, which resulted in the successful operation,” Almerol said.

He also expressed optimism that the recent defeat of the NPA rebels would further demoralize the group’s forces in Caraga.

"The series of defeats of the communist terrorist group in Eastern Mindanao, especially in the Caraga Region, proved that the support from their top-to-bottom leadership, including their former mass bases, is already absent,” Almerol said.

The only option for the remaining NPA rebels in the area, he added, is to surrender to escape from the consequences of their anti-people behavior at the hands of the government troops.

The AFP is fond of saying the NPA is being demoralized but they remain as active as ever across the nation. 

The battle against the Muslim insurgency is plodding along just fine.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203570

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the death of the Daesh emir in Southeast Asia, Abu Zacharia, and another cohort during two operations in Marawi City has further weakened the capability of the terrorist group to wreak havoc in the country.

"The death of Faharudin Hadji Benito Satar, a.k.a. Abu Zacharia, the so-called emir of Daesh in Southeast Asia, and Joharie Sandab, a.k.a. Morsid, DI (Daulah Islamiya)-Philippines sub-leader for finance and logistics, in armed skirmishes today (Wednesday) in Barangay Bangon, Marawi City has further weakened the capability of the local terrorist group to mount hostile and destructive acts," AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement Wednesday night.

Zacharia is known as the emir of DI-Philippines. Both men are facing various criminal cases in courts of law.

"The trust and support of our people, which resulted (in) successful joint law enforcement operations, motivates us to be relentless and aggressive in our counter-terrorism efforts to establish secure and peaceful communities," Aguilar said.

Again the AFP says the deaths of these two leaders has weakened the Daulah Islamiya but they have said that before. No doubt new leaders will rise in their places and the fight will continue to the bitter end. 

Philippine Media Landscape Remains Largely Grim

A new report from Reuters assesses the state of Philippine media as being grim. Journalists are regularly threatened and murdered, are red-tagged (branded as communist terrorists), police have shown up at the homes of journalists, and libel cases are routinely lodged against journalists.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1788245/state-of-ph-media-still-largely-grim-reuters-study

Red-tagging, killings, and the use of “lawfare” against journalists have not abated in the Philippines even with the change in the country’s leadership, according to the 2023 report by the Reuters Institute released on Wednesday.

The 160-page digital news report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism includes a country page focusing on the Philippine media situation, authored by veteran journalist and University of the Philippines professor Yvonne Chua.

The country’s media landscape remained “largely grim” despite the change of administration from Rodrigo Duterte to President Marcos, Chua wrote.

“Attacks on journalists, which escalated during the six-year presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, have not let up since Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” her report noted.

According to Chua, dozens of violations of press freedom have been recorded under the Marcos administration, with 75 cases monitored between June 2022 and April 2023.

She said these included the killing of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October last year, a crime widely condemned by local and international media organizations as well as foreign dignitaries.

Also cited in the report were the “surprise visits” by policemen in plain clothes to the homes of some reporters, as exposed by TV reporter JP Soriano, raising fears among Filipino journalists that they were under government surveillance.

The “systematic Red-tagging” of journalists also persisted, according to the report, targeting both those in mainstream and alternative media organizations, such as ABS-CBN, GMA Network, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Bulatlat and community paper Northern Dispatch.

Red-tagging in the Philippine context refers to the marking of a person or group as a supporter or sympathizer of the communist insurgency, often with no proof, exposing them to prosecution or physical harm. A number of red-tagged activists have been killed.

Members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) are among those who have faced red-tagging, which the Reuters report said was led by the “far-right” broadcast network Sonshine Media Network International owned by televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, a staunch supporter of Duterte and Marcos.

The use of “lawfare” or legal action against Filipino reporters, has also increased, Chua reported, prompting NUJP to team up with lawyers in launching “Project Lawfare” to defend journalists from lawsuits.

That is a brief summary of the report which can be read here:

https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023/philippines

Over all it sounds like business as usual in the Philippines. Let's read on for the government's response. 

Reached for comment, the executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), Paul Gutierrez, called the Reuters report “false.”

“Let us not glorify the statements of foreign orgs [sic] who, in their arrogance, always believe they know better than us,” said Gutierrez, a former president of the National Press Club.

Did this man even read the report? It seems not. What exactly about this summary of the state of media in the Philippines is false? He does not say. It is also not the statement of a foreign organization. It was actually written by a professor at the University of the Philippines.

“Is there really such description [of red-tagging] in our laws and jurisprudence? None. [It] is a term concocted by front orgs of the [Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines-New People’s Army] to protect their front orgs from exposure,” he said.

Look at how this man's ignorance shines through even further. Or perhaps it is malevolence. This report mentions the red tagging of INDIVIDUALS and this man is talking about the CPP-NDFP-NPA protecting front organizations! He either does not understand the issue or he is willingly being obtuse. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/5/HRW-on-SMNI-red-tagging.html

During their show "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" that aired on Wednesday, SMNI anchors Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz claimed that the NUJP (National Union of Journalists of the Philippines) is a "communist-led" organization.

They also tagged NUJP Chairperson and Philstar.com news section head Jonathan de Santos as part of communist organizations during his younger years.

In the show, Badoy and Celis repeatedly accused De Santos and other journalists affiliated with NUJP such as Nestor Burgos Jr. as being members of communist front organizations.

Founded in 1986 by Filipino journalists, the NUJP is most certainly not a communist front. Why does Gutierrez ignore the actions of Badoy and her comrades?

Now let's hear what he has to say about the routine murder of journalists. 

While “media killing is truly reprehensible and must be condemned,” he said, “our judicial system is working, even in the Percy Lapid case. The suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been identified, charged in court, and remain the subject of ongoing manhunt.”

“While media repression and killings remain a problem, the important thing is (that) government is continuously addressing these issues as evidenced (by Mr. Marcos’) decision to continue with PTFoMS. Let us give credit where credit is due,” Gutierrez said.

Again this man simply does not understand the issue. It does not matter if the judicial system is working and that the suspects have been identified. What matters is that Percy Lapid was threatened and then slain. The fact that someone thought they had the right to kill him for thing he said THAT is the issue. No journalist should be killed for the things he says or writes yet this happens too often in the Philippines. He is not alone.

This kind of assessment from both outsiders and insiders about the state of Philippine media is nothing new. As long as people like the executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security  Paul Gutierrez ignorantly wave their hand and say "false!" the state of Philippine media will stay this way. What's needed is a change in the way Filipinos think. But concepts like freedom of speech, REAL freedom of speech in the vein of Voltaire, will likely never penetrate the souls much less the minds of Filipinos. 

It's much easier to murder your opponent or sue him for libel than to respect his liberty to say things you don't like. 

Retards in the Government 314

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203171

The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal filed by the former chief of the Register of Deeds in the province of Bukidnon, and affirmed the ruling of the Bukidnon regional trial court (RTC) finding him guilty of graft and sentencing him to up to 10 years imprisonment.

In a decision dated June 6, the anti-graft court's Sixth Division denied the appeal filed by Atty. Manuel C. Felicia, and affirmed the 2020 ruling of the Bukidnon RTC finding him guilty of violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In affirming the conviction, the Sandiganbayan said that following Felicia's acts, "the registration process was railroaded, so to speak" and the integrity of the system "was subverted in a high-handed manner by the very official who swore to preserve it."

The tribunal said Felicia "arbitrarily bypassed statutory safeguards, and leapfrogged tax collection to make for the illicit conveyance.”

In 2008, the Office of the Ombudsman consolidated complaints against Felicia filed by the local Bureau of Internal Revenue regional director and private individuals following anomalies in the issuance of transfer certificate of titles from deceased registered owners.

In 2020, Felicia was arrested in an entrapment operation led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) following a complaint by Policarpio Catalan claiming that Felicia asked for cash for the immediate approval and release of a certificate of land title.

The conviction of the former head of the Register of Deeds in Bukidnon for graft has been upheld. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/872445/coa-flags-amlc-s-overspending-on-meals-accommodations/story/

The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for spending over P7.2 million for the conduct of its training, workshops and planning activities in hotels or resorts.

The COA, in its annual audit report for 2022, said such spending exceeds daily travel expense rates provided under Executive Order 77 by P4.57 million, which resulted in additional expenses by the AMLC.

COA said the actual daily expenses per participant for meals ranged from P1,600.00 to P3,250.00, while those for hotel accommodation ranged from P1,211.54 to P3,075.00.

The allowed expenses for these under order, however, only ranged from P450 to P660 for meals and P750 to P1,100 for lodging, depending on the location of the seminar.

The COA said the meals and accommodation in excess of the allowable rates under EO No. 77 for the  conduct of 12 training/workshop/planning activities did not exhibit the economical use of government resources.

“We recommended that Management direct the Deputy Directors to ensure that expenses on training, seminars and planning activities are in accordance with the rates prescribed under EO No. 77 as applicable for prudence and economy in operations,” COA said.

“We also recommend that Management prioritize the lease of publicly-owned real property or venue,” it added.

The COA has accused the ALMC of misusing funds.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/06/11/2273065/cop-held-sexual-harassment

A policeman was apprehended in Quezon City on Thursday after he was accused by a colleague, who is a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, of sexual harassment.

Executive M/Sgt. Harry Budomo, who is assigned at a police station in Quezon City, is the subject of a complaint from his co-worker, a 36-year-old corporal.

According to investigators, Budomo and the corporal had just completed their annual physical fitness test at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig and were on their way back to their office when Budomo asked about the corporal’s sexual relationship with her girlfriend, a question that she ignored.

The two boarded Budomo’s vehicle for their trip back to the station.

The corporal told investigators that Budomo brought her to the Madonna Lodge in Bagong Barrio West, Caloocan City and invited her to check into a room.

The corporal said when she called her cousin for help, Budomo drove the vehicle back to the station.

She jumped out of the vehicle at a traffic light along Quirino Highway and sought assistance from police officers, who arrested Budomo.

He faces a complaint of unjust vexation.

A cop has been accused of sexual harassment.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/11/barangay-treasurer-nabbed-for-shabu-in-apayao

A barangay treasurer was arrested after he yielded shabu more than P3,600 during a search warrant operation in his house in Barangay Paddaoan here on Friday, June 9.

Police identified the suspect as Johny Lanna, 38, categorized as a high-value individual.

The Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Apayao Provincial Police Office implemented the search warrant issued by Judge Victor Cumigad of Branch 26, Regional Trial Court, Luna, Apayao.

Recovered from the suspect were one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected  shabu weighing 0.29 grams worth P1,972 and one heat-sealed  containing suspected  shabu weighing 0.26 grams valued at P1,768.

A barangay treasurer has been busted for drugs.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203407

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. on Tuesday said the agency has removed 26 and suspended two employees since last year.

In a statement, the BIR said the reasons for the dismissal of erring employees vary from grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, frequent unauthorized absences, falsification of official documents, gross neglect of duty, insubordination and absence without official leave.

"As we transform the BIR into an institution of integrity and excellence, we have removed 26 and suspended two erring employees. Keep in mind that you have no business working for the BIR if you fail to meet our standards for integrity and professionalism," Lumagui said.

The BIR has sacked 26 officials over various offenses.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203471

Criminal cases have been filed against 50 police officers before the Office of the Ombudsman for their involvement in the alleged cover-up in the PHP6.7-billion drug bust in October last year, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Tuesday.

The number includes 12 police commissioned officers (PCO) and 38 police non-commissioned officers (PNCO).

“Aside from the criminal charges filed against these police officers, the Napolcom is conducting administrative proceedings. The Napolcom has completed its pre-charge investigation against the 48 PNP officers and members that appeared in the video and expects to issue its resolution after about 15 days," Abalos said in a press briefing at DILG main office in Quezon City.

The DILG chief clarified that these criminal cases were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman and the administrative case proceedings are now ongoing.

50 cops have been criminally charged in connection with a drug bust.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/14/7-ex-pnr-officials-convicted-of-graft-charges-in-p47-m-wood-purchases

The Sandiganbayan has convicted seven former officials of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) of two graft charges in the purchases of more than P47 million worth of wood in 2013.

Convicted were former division manager Abdul Aziz M. Pangandaman, former department managers Estelito A. Nierva and Ruben Arsenue Besmonte, lawyer Neofito C. Perilla, assistant department manager Gracia D. Dantes, and principal engineers Cesar Lasquite Bocanog and Mario "Marlo" Dator Arias.

They were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years for each count of graft and perpetually disqualified to hold public office.

The first graft charge involved the purchase of 9,090 Larch wood bridge ties, 428 pieces Larch wood joint ties, and 25 sets Larch wood switch ties worth P37,747,832.60 from Nikka Trading even if the bidding documents required Yakal wood.

In the second charge, while the documents required Yakal wood, the accused allowed the delivery of 1,040 Larch wood bridge ties, 514 pieces of Larch wood joint ties, and 16 sets of Larch wood switch ties for P9,387,148.23.

In its decision, the anti-graft court said the seven accused acted with gross inexcusable negligence when they allowed the delivery of Larch wood and not Yakal wood despite the specification of Yakal during the award and post-qualification proceedings.

"There was certainly a substantial variance between the terms and conditions under which the bids were invited, conducted, and contracted, with the goods delivered after the award," the court said.

"There was a duty to act, to verify, and to ascertain that the goods subject of the procurement was Yakal. Had Larch wood been intended at the outset, this should have been accurately reflected, at least as compliant, in the technical specification aspect of the evaluation and awarding process," it added.

Seven PNR officials have been convicted of graft.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/09/23/coa-pet-in-unnecessary-indebtedness-of-p5-m-to-marcos-p8-m-to-robredo

The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to notify President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw their unused amount of P13.317 million intended for the 2016 vice presidential electoral protest expenditures.

In the 2022 audit report on the PET, state auditors noted that Robredo has an unutilized cash deposit of P8.164 million while Marcos Jr. has a balance of P5.152 million.

The cash deposits were intended to cover expenses such as the delivery of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia to the tribunal and their return after the case is terminated.

“The inability of management to return the unutilized excess cash deposits of protesting parties is not in conformity with Rule 33 of the 2010 Rules of PET, and place PET in unnecessary indebtedness from a private individual and the President of the Philippine Government,” the state auditors said.

The PET owes money to Robredo and Marcos over the 2016 poll protest. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/15/retired-paf-officer-dies-in-accidental-shooting-in-batangas

A retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) officer died after he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his handgun on Wednesday afternoon, June 14, in Barangay Naturuan here.

Victim was identified as Florencio Nitro, 67, a retired second lieutenant.

Investigation said Nitro was cleaning his licensed Armscor caliber .45 pistol in his house when it accidentally went off.

The victim sustained a bullet wound in the chest and died on the spot.

Investigators recovered the gun, an empty magazine, a deformed slug, a fired cartridge of caliber.45, lubricant spray, and a piece of rug from the scene.

A retired PAF officer has accidentally killed himself while cleaning his gun.

Coronavirus Lockdown: COVID Exit Plan, Relaxed Mask Mandate, and More!

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

President Marcos has directed new DOH Secretary Teddy Hrerbosa to craft a COVID exit plan. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/08/23/marcos-to-doh-chief-craft-covid-exit-plan-focus-on-tb

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has instructed new Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to form a COVID-19 exit plan as well as focus on tuberculosis and HIV cases, the health chief said Thursday. 

Herbosa, a former Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said this was among the marching orders of the Philippine leader when he appointed him as health chief. 

"Sinabi niya 'yung COVID, kailangan ng exit plan para makalabas na tayo sa COVID at matuloy-tuloy ang mga kinakailangang mga bakuna, tinatawag nating bivalent vaccines," Herbosa said in a televised briefing. 

The country's COVID-19 task force earlier last year said the pandemic exit plan must include strict implementation of health protocols. Government may require the public to show their vaccine booster cards in establishments. 

Stakeholders, meanwhile, have urged government to improve the country's health care system. 

Any exit plan requiring the public to show vaccine booster cards is going to fail. The government is having a hard enough time as it is to get people to take boosters and those who are not vaccinated aim to remain that way. 

But those facts are not getting in the way of the nation's vaccine program. Last week the Philippines received its first shipment of bivalent vaccines. That was not enough. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/8/not-enough-doh-to-acquire-more-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, on Thursday, June 8, admitted that the country's first batch of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines is insufficient, stressing the need to acquire more.

The Department of Health (DOH) on June 3 confirmed the arrival of over 390,000 doses of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines in the Philippines which were donated by the Lithuanian government.

While this development is significant in the country’s battle against the virus and its subvariants, newly appointed health chief Herbosa said the current number of bivalent jabs in the Philippines is far from enough.

“May programa tayo ngayon to acquire as many bivalent vaccines. May 390,000 na dumating na at I think starting today ay idini-distribute na — pinaka marami sa NCR (We now have a program to acquire as many bivalent vaccines. 390,000 have arrived and I think starting today these are being distributed — most in NCR),” Herbosa told reporters on Thursday.

“390,000 doses are not enough. We need to get more but of course it is difficult. There are technical difficulties acquiring these bivalent vaccines but we are trying to get them and I will push for getting more of these, especially for the vulnerable sector like healthcare workers because the old vaccines are now waning so they need to be given bivalent jabs. We will try to acquire more. I promise that,” Herbosa added in a mix of English and Filipino.

The country has yet to begin inoculating bivalent jabs for priority groups. Earlier, DOH said it will be administered as a third booster shot for individuals aged 18 years old and above belonging to A1 population or healthcare workers and A2 or senior citizens at least four to six months after their second booster jab.

It really depends if anyone wants to take these vaccines. Either way the bivalent vaccines expire in November which means they need to be administered immediately. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/872818/herbosa-administration-of-bivalent-vaccines-must-be-done-immediately/story/

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday said bivalent COVID-19 vaccines should be administered immediately as these donated vaccines will expire in November.

Herbosa said it is now up to the local government units as the vaccines have been already distributed.

(Its shelf life is only six months. So if you buy that out of the shelf, like this one, this donation, they end in November 23, that's the expiry date. So, I need to start vaccinating people immediately.)

(That should push through with the LGUs. Once it's there, they can already do that in the center. So, I will check after this meeting, that’s a very important question. I will check if the distribution has been done.)

I predict a good many of these vaccines will expire and the busybodies in the Senate will call for an investigation. 

One town is aiming for zero COVID-19 cases.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/10/paranaque-mayor-olivarez-aims-for-single-digit-zero-covid-19-cases

Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez urged residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19 at their barangay health centers in order for the city to attain zero or only single digit numbers of Covid cases.

The mayor said this as the city government resumed Covid-19 vaccinations in all of the 16 barangays after it was temporarily stopped during the whole month of May due to the launch of the "Chikiting Ligtas" vaccination campaign against polio, rubella, and measles.

Olivarez said the vaccination against Covid-19 is open to all barangays for children aged five years old and above for their first and second dose; first booster shot for 12 years old and above; second booster shot for 18 years old and above.

He told residents to always check the announcements on the vaccination schedules at their barangays and or other vaccination sites.

The mayor also reminded residents who will be receiving vaccines to always follow the minimum public health protocols to avoid the spread of the disease.

Vaccines do not stop the spread of the virus.  Is this guy even paying attention? But that is not stopping anyone from promoting them as the end-all-be-all.  

Vaccines might become commercially available soon. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/06/10/2272806/covid-19-vaccines-may-be-commercially-out-month

COVID-19 vaccines could soon become commercially available in the country as the release of the certificate of product registration (CPR) is anticipated later this month.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the Vaccine Experts Panel, revealed this during an interview on “The Chiefs” broadcast on Cignal TV’s One News channel Thursday night.

“I’ve heard it will be coming out soon, any time this June or early July. Hopefully, we will already have that (CPR),” Solante said.

He further explained that pharmaceutical companies had submitted applications for the CPR as early as last December or January. Considering the typical timeline for FDA approval, which is around six months for regular CPR, Solante believes the approval should have already been granted.

A CPR is a license granted by the FDA for the manufacture, distribution and sale of a medical device.

All COVID-19 vaccines and medicines in the government’s inventory are currently distributed and administered under an emergency use authorization or EUA.

“The requirement for CPR compared to a requirement for EUA is totally different,” explained Solante. “Much is being asked when you apply for CPR because it means you are selling it, it is for commercial use already.”

Is anyone going to pay for this useless nonsense?

The new DOH Secretary has been asked to expedite COVID-19 benefits for health workers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203173

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go on Thursday called on newly-appointed Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to find ways for the immediate release of payments for the Covid-19 benefits of health workers.

Go made the call during an ambush interview after joining the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija province.

“If the government already has the funds, I am calling on the DBM, the DOH, to speed up and give what is due for our health workers," he said.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said he has been urging for government to give health workers their due even during the time of DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire

This call has been ongoing for years! THe new DOH secretary claims 90% of these benefits have already been paid. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/13/23/doh-chief-vows-health-workers-will-get-due-benefits

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Tuesday assured healthcare workers they will get their unpaid benefits, after a lawmaker urged him to settle the over P12 billion in allowances owed to them by the government. 

Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte earlier urged Herbosa to release the P12.57 billion balance out of the P19.96 billion worth of COVID-19 benefits and allowances for health care and non-healthcare workers. 

But during a briefing in Malacañang, Herbosa, citing internal reports, said "most of the benefits" had already been released especially in the government. 

"Those who did not receive had technical issues with the hospital administration are directors of them and I was told it was mostly private hospitals," said Herbosa. 

"So sa government, naibigay lahat yan... Kasi the private hospitals don't have the same processes we do in government. Lahat ng papel yung gagawa ka, alam ng government director hospitals na mako-Commission on Audit sila every centavo niyan," he added. 

"Yung documentation doon... is a problem, kawawa yung nurse. To me, kawawa ang nurse. I cannot change the process." 

The health chief said he personally saw that "90 percent" of the benefits were already distributed. 

If 90% of all benefits have been distributed then what's the problem?

Baguio is calling for a relaxed face mask mandate.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/06/11/2273053/relaxed-mask-mandate-baguio-eyed

The wearing of face masks indoors and in crowded places in this city may no longer be mandatory.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong has said he is ready to relax the face mask requirement if the downtrend in COVID cases continues in the next two weeks.

Magalong said various indicators point to a decline in COVID cases in the past days.

“If we continue to maintain this trend... I will declare wearing of masks optional,” he said.

On May 17, Magalong issued an executive order reimposing the wearing of face masks indoors and in crowded areas after the city health office reported an uptrend in COVID cases.

He said the mask mandate applies even to non-residents amid an influx of tourists.

The mandatory use of face masks was implemented at the Baguio City hall, churches, other indoor locations and other places of convergence.

Magalong said contact tracing is being implemented again in the city to trace and treat those found positive for the virus.

He served as contract tracing czar at the height of the COVID pandemic.

Who are these people kidding?  There is no national mask mandate in the Philippines!  If you are wearing one then take it off!

Nationwide COVID cases are down.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1786825/fwd-ncrs-covid-19-positivity-rate-decreases-further-to-11-4-octa

The weekly COVID-19 positivity rate nationwide and in Metro Manila have decreased, according to OCTA Research fellow Guido David.

The nationwide positivity rate dropped from 14.8 (as of June 10) percent to 13.2 percent (June 11) while the Metro Manila positivity rate dipped from  14.6 percent (June 8) to 11.6 percent (June 10).

This has been the over all trend for a while now.