Retards in the Government 337

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212991

The chief of police of Pasay City and 26 other police officers have been relieved from their posts amid an investigation into a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in the city which was raided by authorities for human trafficking and other illegal activities last month.

Pasay City Police Director Colonel Froilan Uy, Substation Commander Capt. Criz Antonio Cataluña, and 25 police non-commissioned officers are facing an investigation for possible neglect of duty, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday.

Fajardo said Col. Mario Mayanes would replace Uy as Pasay chief of police while replacing Cataluña would be Maj. Christel Carlo Villanueva.

"If this POGO has existed for a long time and there are illegal activities, remember, the PNP has a one-strike policy. If something has been happening there within your knowledge and you did nothing, then you will be charged with neglect of duty,” Fajardo said.

The Chief of the Pasay City police and 26 other cops have been axed for neglecting POGO activites. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212966

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered the relief of a police officer in Las Piñas City from his post for alleged maltreatment of police trainees.

NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas, in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Friday, said Maj. Knowme Sia was relieved from his post as chief of the Administrative Resources Management Section (ARMS) of the Las Piñas City Police Station, for allegedly using excessive force in disciplining erring police trainees.

“He was already relieved and was reassigned to the Administrative Holding Section of the Las Piñas City Police Station. He is undergoing investigation and will be charged with administrative and criminal cases,” Salas said, adding that the suspect might face an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and a criminal case for physical injury.

In a police report, the complainants said Sia ordered them to report to the station's headquarters at exactly 8 a.m. on Oct. 29 for administrative announcements and accounting amid the full alert status for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

However, the police trainees failed to come on time and were then marked late. Sia then instructed them to proceed to the station's Community Affairs Office where they were sanctioned for their misdemeanor.

Sia allegedly hit the trainees with a wooden stick in different parts of their bodies, including their heads. 

A cop has been relieved for mistreating trainees. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212995

Four individuals, including a newly elected village councilman, are facing criminal charges for allegedly harassing voters during the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), a provincial police official said on Friday.

Major Nolan Tagsip, Cebu provincial police spokesperson, said three of the four armed men who reportedly harassed voters in Barangay Tapon, Dumanjug town on Monday, have been identified.

“Out of the four suspects, we were able to identify three. The complainants are hiring private lawyers to take care of their case against them,” Tagsip said.

They were seen on a video that circulated on Facebook during election day carrying short firearms.

One of the suspects reportedly won the recently concluded elections, he said.

The suspects are facing physical injury, grave threats, and illegal possession of loose firearms (Republic Act 10591) in relation to the Commission on Election-imposed gun ban.

The councilman will also face administrative charges, Tagsip added.

Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, Police Regional Office-7 spokesperson, said Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin directed the Dumanjug police to investigate the incident and file appropriate charges against the councilman and three others.

A village councilor and three others face charges over poll interference. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1855975/fwd-police-on-shot-newly-elected-village-councilor-in-pasay-city

A newly elected 58-year-old village councilor was shot dead inside a barangay hall in Pasay City on Monday, according to police.

In a report Tuesday, the Pasay City Police Station (CPS)  identified the victim as “Lina.” He was attacked by two suspects onboard a motorcycle in front of Barangay 37 hall on San Juan Street at 5:35 p.m.

Police said the CCTV footage showed that the pillion rider alighted the motorcycle and shot the victim twice inside the barangay hall.

The newly elected leader, who previously served as village treasurer, was rushed to the Adventist Medical Center but was pronounced dead at about 6:16 p.m., Pasay CPS said.

Meanwhile, the city’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit operatives patrolling the area apprehended the accomplice of the gunman after their motorcycle bumped a commuter waiting for a ride.

The accomplice was identified as 27-year-old “Vladimer,” while the other suspect who shot the victim eluded arrest.

Pasay CPS said its personnel already launched a manhunt operation to locate the whereabouts of the gunman.

A newly elected village councilor has been assassinated. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213116

 

A municipal councilor was wounded but survived an attempt to kill him in front of his residence in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Major Joanne Navarro, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-10 (Northern Mindanao), said Councilor Hermil Valledor, 45, is in stable condition after sustaining injuries when shot by a still-unidentified gunman.

"We urged our elected officials who are receiving threats on their lives to coordinate with our police force, we are always willing to cooperate," Navarro said in a radio interview on Monday.

In a report, Maj. Renz Marion Serrano, chief of the Villanueva police station, said Valledor sustained wounds on his right cheekbones after the attack in Barangay Lourdes Imelda Sunday evening.

Initial investigation showed that Valledor was onboard a waiting mini-truck and was about to head outside the gate of his house when the gunman opened fire.

"Due to panic and fear, both victim and witness did not notice any getaway vehicle of the suspect," Serrano said.

Recovered from the crime scene was a spent .45-caliber cartridge. The Villanueva police were still determining the identity of the attacker. 

A village councilor has survived an assassination attempt. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/7/2-ex-nabcor-officials-convicted-in-p4-8-m-illegally-disbursed-funds

Two former officials of the now defunct  National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan in three criminal cases involving the ghost procurement of P4.8 million worth of seedlings for the 1st district of Lanao del Norte in 2009.

Convicted of graft, malversation of public funds, and malversation through falsification of commercial documents were former NABCOR administrative and finance director Rhodora B. Mendoza and general services chief Romulo M. Relevo.

On graft charge, Mendoza and Relevo were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years with perpertual disqualification to hold public office.

The two former officials were sentenced to a jail term of 10 to 16 years for malversation of public funds, and from two to eight years imprisonment for malversation through falsification of commercial documents.

Certified Public Accountant Elizabeth D. Balbacal has been acquitted in the three cases for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

However, the anti-graft court ordered all of them -- Mendoza, Relevo and Balbacal -- to pay back the Bureau of Treasury more than P4.8 million representing the funds which were wrongfully and illegally disbursed.

Also charged in the three cases were former NABCOR president Alan A. Javellana and accountant Ma. Julie A. Villaralvo-Johnson, and Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation (KMBFI) finance officer Marilou L. Antonio.  Since they remained at-large, the cases against them have been archived.

They were accused of  giving unwarranted benefits to KMBFI and disbursed P4,850,000 of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of then congressman Vicente F. Belmonte Jr. for non-existent livelihood programs.

In acquitting Balbacal, the anti-graft court said that her signatures in the liquidation reports and auditors reports were not affixed by her, and there was insufficient proof that she participated in the preparation of the documents.

In convicting Mendoza and Relevo, the court said that their actions caused the disappearance of the funds.  

It said: "If a demand was made upon an accountable public official to produce the funds in his custody and he or she failed to do so, the presumption thereby arising would render unnecessary further proof of conversion. The disappearance of public funds in the hands of the accountable officer is prima facie evidence of its conversion."

2 ex-NABCOR officials have been convicted for illegally disbursing funds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1856279/new-village-councilman-slain-in-cotabato-gun-attack

Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Tuesday morning a newly proclaimed village councilman of Antipas town, Cotabato province.

He was the second recently elected village official in the province to be killed in a gun attack in seven days.

The Antipas municipal police station, in a report to Brigadier General Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 director, identified the victim as Edmar Perero, 34, of Barangay Dolores.

In a statement, the Antipas police condemned the shooting of Perero and called on anyone who has information to help them locate the perpetrators.

Perero was driving a tricycle heading toward Barangay Magsaysay from Dolores, traversing an isolated concrete road near a banana plantation when attacked by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

Initial police investigation showed that Perero ran away after getting hit in the body but fell on a drainage canal as the suspects fired more shots.

Police found empty shells for a .45 pistol and 9-mm pistol at the crime scene. The police said the motive of the attack was still unknown as of posting time.

Perero ranked second in the race for village council seats of Barangay Dolores during the Oct. 30 polls.

A newly elected village councilman has been assassinated. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/08/23/newly-elected-village-chairman-shot-dead-in-panabo-city

A newly elected village chief was shot dead by unknown assailants in Purok Mangga, Barangay Datu Abdul Dadia, Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities identified the victim as Engr. Paul Albert Saquian, the new barangay chairman of Barangay Datu Abdul Dadia, Panabo City.

 

Saquian was brought to a hospital after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds but was declared dead an hour after the incident.

 

Based on the initial investigation of Panabo City Police, the victim was driving his car and was heading to his residence.

 

He was fired upon by two unidentified men who were on a motorcycle. The assailants fled towards the city proper after the incident.

 

"Motive is yet to be determined. Hot pursuit operation is being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspect," Panabo City Police said in their initial report.

 

Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos condemned the killing of Saquian, who was a former barangay kagawad.

A newly elected village chief has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1857250/newly-elected-barangay-chair-gunned-down-in-pagadian-city

A newly elected barangay chairperson in Lapedian village in this city was gunned down about 6:30 Wednesday, outside his house.

Rofoldo Dacol, who had yet to take his oath of office as the new chairperson of Barangay Lapedian, was about to park the barangay-owned tricycle earlier used to transport a patient, when an unidentified gunman approached and shot him, Lieutenant Colonel Rex Perocho, chief of the Zamboanga del Sur Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said.

Lory Carillo, Dacol’s relative, said they were inside the house preparing dinner a few meters away, when they heard a gunshot and the victim’s cry for help.

They immediately rushed the bloodied Dacol to the infirmary hospital in Barangay Danlugan and later to the Aisah Hospital, but the attending physician declared him dead.

Dacol served as a barangay councilor when he decided to run and won the barangay chair’s seat  in the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

His son Fraynald, a newly elected SK kagawad, said his father had received death threats before the elections, but they dismissed the information.

Dacol’s wife, Ruth, at the time of the shooting, was already washing her husband’s supposed attire for his oath-taking Thursday afternoon at the Pagadian City Commercial Center.

City Mayor Samuel Co condemned the killing.

Co, who openly supported Dacol, said he was aware of the victim’s struggle as a challenger to the incumbent during the recently concluded barangay and SK elections.

He said the motive for the attack had yet to be determined but “with Dacol being known as a good man… we only see politics as the possible motive,” said Co.

Among the city’s 54 barangays, only Lapedian was considered an area of concern by the Commission on Elections in the last elections, with reports of harassments from the two opposing parties, prompting the city to request a security detachment in the area with the composite team from both military and the local police.

But a few days after the successful polls, the composite security teams were pulled out from the area to another assignment, 53rd Infantry Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Terence Ylanan said.

Another newly elected barangay chief has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1857017/mpd-on-recapturing-7-of-9-tondo-jail-escapees-relief-of-custodial-officers

Seven of the nine inmates who escaped from custodial facility of Manila Police District’s (MPD) Station 1 in Tondo, Manila on Wednesday morning have been recaptured, while several jail guards have been relieved from their posts, authorities said. 

Recaptured after  follow up operations were Arnold Olino, MJ Tauzon, Jericho Andal Antipuesto, Albert Calayas, Gian Carlo Rayala, Adriano Zilmar and John Joseph Laguna, according to MPD.

Two remaining inmates, Master Cedric Zodiacal and Jefferson Tumbaga, are still being tracked down as of posting time, the police said.

According to the National Capital Region Police Office, initial investigation showed that detainees escaped after dismantling the iron grill on the side of the detention facility.

The MPD did not reveal the identities of the police personnel but said a number of custodial officers have already been administratively relieved from their posts to give way to the ongoing investigation. 

In a separate interview with reporters, Manila Police District acting director Arnold Thomas Ibay said they are looking at the extent of “negligence” of some four police officers.

Four jail guards have been sacked over accusations go negligence after 9 inmates escaped. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/8/dof-probes-58-employees-for-misconduct

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno has ramped up the anti-graft efforts of the Department of Finance through the strengthened operations of the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS).

“Prudent fiscal management must be underpinned by transparency and accountability. As custodians of public resources, we cannot afford to leave any room for graft and corruption,” Diokno said.

The RIPS, established under Executive Order No. 259 in 2003, serves as the DOF's anti-corruption division, responsible for conducting lifestyle checks, probing graft allegations, and initiating legal actions, both criminal and administrative, against officials and staff of the DOF, its bureaus, and attached agencies.

From July 2022 to September 2023, RIPS has launched a total of 58 investigations targeting officials and employees suspected of misconduct within its jurisdiction. 

These involve 23 cases linked to the Bureau of Customs, 23 cases pertaining to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, six cases associated with the Bureau of Local Government Finance, one case involving the Insurance Commission, and one case concerning the Department of Finance.

There are also three cases related to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and one case involving the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

It has filed five cases with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) against employees of the BIR, BOC, and BLFG; filed 6 cases with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against employees of the BIR; and has received 8 favorable resolutions during the term of President Marcos.

Since 2022 the DOF has filed cases against 58 employees for misconduct. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/8/coa-recommends-sanctions-vs-dict-officials-for-delay-non-submission-of-financial-statements

The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended that sanctions, like suspension of salaries, be imposed on erring officials of the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) for delay or non-submission of financial statements for three consecutive years.

"The DICT did not submit the year-end financial statement for three consecutive years as well as the quarterly financial statement along with the supporting account schedules and sick leaves, which were due on Feb. 14 of each year and 10 days after the end of the quarter, respectively," the COA said in its management letter.

In failing to make timely submissions, the COA said that the DICT's assertions on the completeness and accuracy of its accounts and transactions as of Dec. 31, 2022 could not be established.

Other financial reports supporting the financial statement such as the Aging of Accounts, Schedule of Income Taxes Paid, Schedule of Fund Transfer, Statement of Management Responsibility, Statement of Comparison of Budget and Actual Accounts were not prepared and submitted to the COA, it said.

"It shall be noted that several follow-ups were made to the accounting division yet compliance therewith remained unheeded," COA lamented.

"Further, supporting schedules and subsidiary ledgers (SLs) of the account balances supporting the trial balances (TBs) were not completely submitted," it said.

It noted that the DICT's accounting department only updates the SLs after the completion of the TB. "Thus, the TB submitted without the schedules and SLs supporting the amounts reported therein does not support the DICT's assertions on the correctness and completeness of the account balances reported therein," it said.

It then recommended that the DICT management take appropriate action on the suspension of salary against those who were responsible for the delayed or non-submission of financial statements for the past three years, based on the provisions of Volume 1 of the Government Accounting Manual (GAM) for national government agencies and Presidential Decree No. 1445.

The COA has recommended sanctions be imposed upon DICT officials who did not file financial statements for there consecutive years. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213334

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday upheld its earlier ruling convicting former Sarangani governor Miguel Escobar and another former provincial official on graft and malversation of public funds charges, amounting to PHP450,000.

In a resolution dated Nov.9, the anti-graft court denied a motion for reconsideration filed by Escobar in connection with his conviction last August on the same charges arising from transactions in 2002 involving financial aid given to a fisherfolk group.

The tribunal also found guilty in its original ruling was then management analyst Alexis Jude Dela Cruz.

The accused were sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment and directed to reimburse the provincial government PHP450,000, and to pay a fine of PHP5,000 each.

"All told, accused Escobar and Dela Cruz failed to show any compelling reason why this Court should re-evaluate their arguments in their Motions and overturn its earlier pronouncement," Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero said in the ruling.

"Anent, accused Escobar's defense of good faith, we reiterate our ruling in the assailed Decision that he cannot simply invoke good faith to escape liability," the tribunal said.

Escobar claimed that he relied in good faith that the provincial administrator reviewed the letter request and supporting documents for the financial assistance to Malapatan Fishermen's Group.

However, the anti-graft court said there were deficiencies and irregularities in the documents that should have alerted the then-governor.

"Dela Cruz's claim that he did not receive any money or renumeration from the transaction and that shows his lack of motive to commit the crime is misplaced. Receipt of a sum of money or motive is not an essential element of the crime, thus, dispensable for conviction," the tribunal ruled.

The court said the accused made it appear that PHP450,000 in financial assistance was requested and given to the Malapatan Fishermen's Group, even as the prosecution showed that the group never received the financial assistance even after the check had been cashed.

The Sandiganbayan has upheld its conviction of a former governor for graft. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Short Selling, Shotgun Start, and More!

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

The DOH is being urged to procure the latest COVID vaccine. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/11/03/2308519/doh-urged-procure-monovalent-xbb-vaccine

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante is urging the government to procure the latest COVID-19 vaccine for the country’s vulnerable population.

“Though COVID is now an illness no longer different from the other diseases the Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring, it will still be good to have the monovalent XBB (vaccine) to protect the senior citizens and those with comorbidities,” Solante said in an interview.

The DOH earlier said there are no plans to procure a new batch of bivalent vaccines.

Solante said he supports Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s decision to stop purchasing bivalent vaccines.

“The current circulating COVID variants are the lineages of XBB and not the BA.4, BA.5 anymore… The bivalent vaccine will not produce antibodies specific against XBB, thus it can’t protect anyone exposed to XBB-related variants,” he noted.

The latest Biosurveillance Report of the DOH showed that from August 2023 onwards, XBB and its sublineages were the most detected variants, comprising 92.91 percent of samples sequenced with assigned lineages.

The government’s vaccination program should now focus on the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with comorbidities, Solante said.

“If we want to protect the vulnerable, we should get the monovalent XBB variant-specific vaccines instead,” he added, noting that the jabs should be made available for free.

So, now COVID is just another disease like so many others. When has that been any different? 

The Japanese Prime Minister visited Manila for bliateral talks. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/11/01/2308051/japanese-pm-manila-november-3-4

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will embark on a two-day official visit to the Philippines this week aimed at bolstering ties between the two countries, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Kishida will be in the country from Nov. 3 to 4, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The Japanese official will hold a bilateral meeting with President Marcos at Malacañang on Friday.

They are expected to discuss “areas of mutual concern,” including politics, security, economy, development cooperation and people-to-people ties.

The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues and reaffirm the “excellent relations” between the Philippines and Japan, which was elevated into a strategic partnership in 2011, the PCO said.

Marcos visited Tokyo in February, where he sealed $13 billion worth of agreements seen to yield thousands of jobs for Filipinos.

There are more than 300,000 Filipinos living and working in Japan, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Japanese firms are eyeing more investments in the Philippines due to the country’s continuing “stable” and “high-level” economic growth in recent years, according to the PCO.

Marcos met recently with leaders of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) at Malacañang.

This was the first economic mission dispatched by the JCCI since the pandemic, the PCO said.

But Marcos met earlier with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is the first mission they have dispatched since the pandemic. 

For Halloween one liberty group thought it would be fun to look back at six scary incidents created by the COVID lockdowns. The Philippines made it to number one on the list. 

https://www.learnliberty.org/blog/6-scary-incidents-created-by-covid-lockdowns/

This Halloween, let’s look back at some terrifying incidents from the recent past that should not be forgotten. For the best part of two years, beginning in March 2020, attempts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic involved governments around the world seizing new powers and further expanding the scope of the state. 

Lockdown restrictions saw widespread disruption to normal life for almost everyone. However, some authorities took their new powers and privileges to a level beyond what anyone sane would consider reasonable, leading to a range of truly terrifying incidents.

1. In the Philippines, a man was fatally shot over a curfew violation

In August 2021, a man was shot dead in the Philippines over a curfew violation. The victim, who was reportedly struggling with mental health problems, was confronted by a public safety officer, essentially a village watchman employed by the police. These watchmen were instructed to issue fines to anyone breaching the curfew.

After he was reprimanded, the victim allegedly made a threatening gesture with the wooden stick he was carrying and then walked away. At this point, the public safety officer loaded his gun, pursued the man, and fatally shot him. The incident was one of a number of fatal interactions between the authorities and members of the public in the Philippines during the pandemic.

That is something the public should never forget but which has already slipped most people's minds. 

PAGCOR says gaming revenues are back to pre-pandemic levels.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/11/06/2309219/philippine-gaming-revenues-backto-pre-pandemic-levels-pagcor

More than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdowns and quarantine restrictions that lasted more than a year, the country’s gaming industry has finally bounced back with gross gaming revenues back to the pre-pandemic levels, according to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco.

During the RGB Connect Gala Night at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Pampanga over the weekend, Tengco said that PAGCOR was bullish on this sustained growth in the immediate future.

He added that the lifting of travel and movement restrictions has fueled demand for dining, shopping and other outdoor activities that were not possible during the height of the pandemic.

The PAGCOR chief projected that the increased demand for leisure, travel and entertainment will sustain the growth trajectory of the Philippine gaming industry in the coming years.

“And so, one year into the term of President Marcos, our gross gaming revenues have returned to near the levels of 2019 which was the year PAGCOR achieved its all-time high for Philippine GGR levels,” he said.

“Today, we expect the 2023 GGR to match, if not surpass, our 2019 record. Not bad, considering that many of our traditional high rollers and junkets have not fully returned, but our domestic players and the influx of new tourists have filled the void,” he added.

Increased gambling is a sign that everything is back to normal. 

The SEC is now allowing short selling on the Philippine Stock Exchange. 

https://www.securitiesfinancetimes.com/securitieslendingnews/industryarticle.php

Short selling is permitted in the Philippines from today, with 52 stocks and one exchange-traded fund listed on the Philippines Stock Exchange now available for short sales.

This includes stocks included in the stock exchange’s PSE Index, along with select equities from the PSE MidCap and PSE Dividend Yield Indices. 

The terms for short selling activities on this list of stocks are detailed in the PSE’s Guidelines for Short Selling Transactions. 

In May, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the securities market regulator in the Philippines, approved use of offshore collateral in securities-based lending transactions.

Four months later, the Philippines Board of Internal Revenue approved the filing and registration of the Global Master Securities Lending Agreement (GMSLA) in September.

A set of rules and guidelines was initially approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in December 2019, but was subsequently sent back to the market for further consultation. It was then subject to further delays owing to the Covid pandemic. 

The initial proposal, advanced in 2019, extended short selling for PSE Index stocks, but the exchange has now widened the range of eligible shares as detailed above.

This would have been implemented back in 2020 if not for the pandemic. 

The Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational golf tournament is now back after a 3 year hiatus due to the pandemic. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/banner-field-in-mabuhay-miles-shotgun-start

A MERRY mix of players belonging to the fields of business here and abroad make up the full 300-strong field of the revival of the Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational golf tournament Monday at the world-class layout of The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite.

PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng will be among the prominent executives hitting the ceremonial drive before the 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at the Player and Palmer courses.

"It's our way of giving back to our most valued clients," said Ng, who has taken up the sport recently. "Golf is also a way for us to get in touch, spend time with them and for all of the players to have the chance to get to know each other."

Carrying the theme "Reviving Legends," the 18-hole tournament has, since its inception in 1992, been graced by the veritable bigwigs in business and several other fields, all of them members of the upper echelon of PAL's frequent flier program.

The event was forced into a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its return this year will be its 27th staging overall as the Philippines' top airline dangles attractive prizes while fostering friendly competition and camaraderie.

Another sign that things are back to normal.

The DOH has confirmed 169 new COVID cases and no new COVID related deaths. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/7/doh-confirms-169-new-covid-19-cases-on-nov-6

The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 169 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, Nov 6, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 4,120, 872.

The DOH Covid-19 tracker, however, said no additional Covid-19-related deaths, maintaining the fatality rate at 1.6 percent.

The country has 2,785 active Covid-19 cases as per DOH. 

The data also revealed a 98.3 percent recovery rate, with a total of 4,051,351 people having successfully battled the virus.

Regarding the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds allocated for Covid-19 patients, it noted that 197 beds, or 10.38 percent, of the 1,897 available ICU beds are presently occupied.

Non-ICU Covid-19 beds were also frequently utilized, with 2,826, or 16.15 percent, of the 17,503 available beds in use, while mechanical ventilators, numbering 2,014, had 122 currently in use by Covid-19 patients.

The DOH continues to caution the public against becoming complacent in the face of the Covid-19 threat.

The department also stressed the significance of following minimum health standards, such as wearing properly fitting face masks and staying in well-ventilated areas.

DOH advises that individuals exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms should be isolated promptly.

For added protection, DOH also reminded the public to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster as soon as possible.

But they still referent to COVID as a threat which means even though things seem back to normal they really are not.

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: #12 Lapulapu Rejected Colonialism

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Timothy Jay Schwab's assertion that LapuLapu killed Magellan as a defiant act rejecting colonialism.

This lie is a direct result of Tim's unfamiliarity with all of the primary sources regarding Magellan's voyage around the world except for Pigafetta's journal. 

https://youtu.be/130c3XUuPEs

Today is a very special day for the world. It marks the five hundredth anniversary of one of the greatest stories in the fight to stop foreign invaders from coming in and taking over our lands. Yes, the story of a man and his followers who indeed stopped the invasion, killing their leader Magellan. Then in a separate encounter killing his replacement and brother-in-law and other leaders and then they chased them out of the country with a fleet of ships. That’s what Pigafetta’s journal says, and we cover. This is an inspiration to the whole world who was being conquered by colonialism yet this man and his people put up a standard and stopped them the story of Lapu-Lapu five hundred years ago today. Wow.

Is any of that true? It's rather disgusting that Tim takes a perverse joy in the death of Magellan. What exactly does Pigafetta say? Well, you see that is the problem. Timothy relies ONLY on the account of Pigafetta. In the description of this video Tim writes:

Do you know the full story of Lapu Lapu? Have you read Antonio Pigafetta's Journal which is the only actual historic account? There are many narratives based on even rumor but the facts are clear. 

What narratives based on rumor is he talking about? In all of his videos and in his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure Tim never mentions these narratives. Well, the fact is there are other narratives about Magellan's voyage around the world and they are not based on rumor but on the sworn testimony of the surviving crew members. They add details Pigafetta omits such as about the mutiny. He also never tells us exactly why Lapulapu got angry with Magellan.

Fernando Bustamante, the ship's barber-surgeon gave this testimony when he arrived back in Spain:

12. He said: that they killed the said Magellan in a port that they say Matan, because those of the kingdom of Matan wanted to obey the king of Castile, and the said Ferdinand of Magellan said that they had to kiss the hand of the king of Zubú, and they did not they wanted to kiss the hand of the said king of Zubu; And about this the said Magellan went there, and they killed the said captain and seven other men, and wounded other people.

Navarette Colección pg. 294-295

Peter Martyr D' Anghera interviewed the crew on their return and wrote the following in book five of De Orbe Novo:

De Orbe Novo, Vol. 2, pg 158

Leaving the ships at Zubo, Magellan crossed to the island of Matam, visible on the horizon at a distance of only four leagues. He used the shallops and the native boats dug out of tree trunks. His intention was to persuade the ruler of Matam, through his interpreters, to make his submission to the great King of Spain, and to the chief of Zubo; and to pay tribute to the former. The king answered that he was willing to obey the King of Spain, but not the chieftain of Zubo. Thereupon Magellan ordered a fortress composed of about fifty houses, near the royal residence, to be sacked and burnt. He afterwards returned to Zubo, bringing his booty, some foodstuffs which were needed there, as well as several pieces of furniture; but the inhabitants of Zubo, who were hostile to the islanders of Matam, stole the greater part from him.

The king of Matan was Lapulpau and he was not the only king who said he would give obedience to the King of Spain but did not wish to bow the knee to Humabon the King of Cebu. Juan Sebastian Elcano testified that the King of Bohol was also willing to obey the King of Spain but not Humabon.

Said Magellan went from the island of Zubu to the island of Bohol, and to the island of Matan, and invited the batels to make war with all the people so that those of the other islands would obey the King of Zubu; and they said that they would obey the King our Lord, and they would give him parias; but that they were not to obey the King of Zubu, because they were as good as him; I know that they would give gold jewels for the King our Lord.

Navarette Colección pg. 288

The following comes from Dr. Danilo Gerona who wrote a book titled, "Ferdinand Magellan, The Armada de Maluco and the European Discovery of the Philippines." This history is based on years of research and reading primary source documents tucked away in Spain before they became available online. Here is what he writes concerning this testimony.

While Magellan seemed to have used Humabon as a political ally to establish his base in Cebu as a springboard for establishing Spanish hegemony, Humabon, on the other hand had also used Magellan to coerce others to submission to his authority. As Pigafetta recalled Humabon was said to have asked Magellan: “but that if the captain would send him the following night one boat full of men to give him assistance, he would fight and subdue his rival. On the receipt of this message, the captain decided to go himself with three boats.” 

https://sulugardenfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gerona-Battle-of-Mactan-for-Miagao-with-foreword-from-JRM-and-for-Web-FINAL.pdf

Do you see how this story is not so cut and dry? According to these three men the rest of the story is that Humabon, the King of Cebu, was using Magellan to manipulate others to be placed under his authority. He was playing political chess like those in power still do today. But Lapulapu wasn't having it. He was willing to give obedience to the Spanish Crown but not to Humabon who was his enemy. It's absolutely pathetic that this history is unknown to Timothy Jay Schwab because he relies solely on Pigafetta and calls all other eyewitness testimony rumor. It is also a testament to the fact that he is no real researcher and there is no God Culture Team.

Insurgency: Shun Destablization Plots

The elections are over and the AFP says there were no attacks by armed groups due to their presence across the nation at troubled hot spots. It was peaceful in general and "very peaceful" in the Visayas they claim. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/31/bske-in-visayas-generally-peaceful-viscom

All efforts paid off as the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the Visayas were generally peaceful, the commander of the Armed Forces-Visayas Command (Viscom) said.

“All the efforts, sacrifices, and time spent in planning and preparations have paid off. As far as the voting for the barangay and SK elections in the Visayas is concerned, it was very peaceful,” said Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo.

Arevalo attributed the peaceful conduct of the elections to the timely and synchronized deployment of security forces, especially in placed that were declared election watchlist areas.

Viscom started its deployment on October 18 following the arrival of four platoons or over 120 Armed Forces personnel from Eastern Visayas in Negros Oriental.

The Philippine National Police, through the Area Police Command (APC)-Visayas, and the Philippine Coast Guard also deployed their own personnel.

Arevalo also cited the collaborative efforts of the different BSKE partner-agencies, particularly the Commission on Elections, the Department of Education, the police, and the Coast Guard.

Apart from the deployment of security forces, the focused military operations in the outskirt communities in the Visayas have been intensified since March of this year.

This resulted to several government-initiated armed encounters against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army that caused heavy losses on the part of the rebels, preventing them from perpetrating atrocity that may hamper or disrupt the electoral process, Arevalo said.

“We will remain steadfast to our commitment of ensuring the safety and security of our people. We will never waver in our efforts and will remain motivated in performing our mandate for our country and our people,” Arevalo said.

While it is true the NPA was unable to disrupt the elections there was violence around the nation. In Samar, which is the Esatern Visayas, armed men attacked a polling place cuasing voting to be delayed. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/01/23/voting-delayed-in-samar-village-after-shooting-incidents

Two days after the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), Barangay Naguma in Calbayog City, Samar on Wednesday held its village and youth council polls after incidents of harassment. 

The Commission on Elections reported Tuesday that an insurgent group fired upon the contingent delivering election paraphernalia to Naguma and Dinawacan village, which halted the delivery and suspended voting on Monday. 

Dinawacan was able to conduct elections and proclaim winners on October 31, but Naguma was not. 

“At first light of October 31, team and escorts proceeded again (to Naguma), but midway, around 12:25 p.m., they were engaged in a firefight by a private armed group. Our EO and the EBs were caught in the middle of the firefight,” Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said. 

“They were kept safe and protected by their reinforced escorts from the Philippine Army, who were able to neutralize 5 members of the PAGs and recover a weapon,” he added. 

Due to the second incident, Naguma only held elections on Wednesday. It was the lone remaining village where voting was still ongoing on Nov. 1. 

That is a rather significant event but of course the AFP does not want to publicly mention it opting to tell us everything was "generally peaceful." It is quite disingenuous. 

https://opinion.inquirer.net/167819/irony-of-generally-peaceful-polls

The 49 election-related violence this year resulted in 15 people dead and 43 injured, with five deaths recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the PNP said. But the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported a higher number of fatalities—19—mostly in the BARMM and some areas in Luzon and the Visayas.

Nineteen deaths certainly do not speak of a peaceful and orderly election, especially since the recent polls were for barangays—the smallest government unit in our political system—and not for highly-coveted national posts.

How ironic, since barangay elections—prescribed in our laws as a nonpartisan exercise (in which politicians are asked not to meddle)—have become even more hotly-contested and violent than the local and national polls. What is it about these village posts—where elected village chiefs and councilors receive a measly monthly honorarium of P6,029 to P7,884 on average—that would induce candidates to go for each other’s throats? Is it the prospect of handling millions of pesos from the barangays’ share of the national tax allocation from their local government unit? Or the anticipated perks and power they stand to gain as ward leaders of local officials and politicians come election time?

The anecdotal evidence however shows how the ugly side of patronage politics has filtered down to the barangay level and turned elections in many parts of the country into a farce, not to mention a micro version of the “3Gs” of traditional politics: guns, goons, and gold.

Rather than being lulled into a false sense of contentment by declaring every election as “generally peaceful,” the Comelec, the PNP, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government should take a closer look at the violence, vote-buying, and other electoral fraud that continue to mar this exercise. This, despite the advances in technology and automated elections meant to hasten vote counting and prevent fraud occasioned by unnecessary delays in manual voting.

A good place to start is the apparent ineffectiveness of the election gun ban. By the PNP’s own record, at least 1,540 guns were confiscated and more than 2,000 individuals were arrested for violating the gun ban. The bigger problem then, and not just during elections, is the continuing inability of law enforcers to control loose or illegal firearms, usually at the hands of warlords and long-entrenched traditional politicians, and criminal syndicates.

The fact that there is violence at all during the elections and that a gun and liquor ban needs to be in place speaks volumes about how failed the Philippine political system really is. To call the election "generally peaceful" is to belie the real situation.

The winners of the election are now being recruited into the fight against the insurgency.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/1/afp-chief-hopes-bske-winners-will-be-partners-in-peace-security

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is hoping that winners of the just concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be its partners in maintaining peace and security in the communities.

AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the cooperation of the public with relevant government agencies led to the successful and generally peaceful village and youth polls last Oct. 30.

"No threat group was able to cause any disruption in the voting process and the several election-related incidents weren't able to prevent our citizens from exercising their right to vote for their preferred baranggay officials and youth leaders," Brawner said on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

The military chief said that BSKE winners have the responsibility to serve their constituents, and part of their duty is to ensure the people's safety.

He said the AFP will remain "vigilant and on alert" to prevent any threat groups from disrupting the peace in the communities.

"We will also sustain our gains in the internal security operations in order to achieve complete victory against the communist and local terrorist groups as we face the challenges in the conduct of territorial defense operations," Brawner said.

Meanwhile, the AFP chief also cited the cooperation between the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Department of Education (DepEd) which allowed them to "attain our goal of a secured, free, and orderly conduct of election."

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains resolute in its mission of protecting the Filipino people and securing the State from all kinds of threats, man-made or natural," Brawner concluded.

The NTF-ELCAC also wants newly elected local officials to help fight the insurgency by promoting peace and development. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212919

With the successful conclusion of this year's Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday urged all newly-elected officials to take a more active role in promoting unity, peace and development.

"Being the basic unit of the local government, the NTF-ELCAC acknowledges the significant role of barangay (village) officials in delivering basic services that are impactful to the lives of each of their constituents," it said in a Facebook post.

Also, the task force extended its congratulations to the newly-elected "Sangguniang Kabataan" officials and noted their important role in leading the Filipino youth.

"We also recognize the role of our SK officials to serve as exemplars for every Filipino youth, leading them towards a path of peace and nation-building illuminated by love for one’s country," the NTF-ELCAC said.

With the task force promoting unity, lasting peace and inclusive development through the Barangay Development Program (BDP), the NTF-ELCAC is also encouraging BSKE officials, particularly in areas affected by the New People's Army insurgents, to actively participate in identifying the root causes of socio-economic issues and finding solutions to these problems affecting the communities there.

"We have high hopes to the future contributions of our newly-elected leaders as part of our Regional Task Force ELCAC. We are all depending on you to perform the mandate of your respective offices and fulfill your sworn duty to our people from whom all government authority emanates," it added.

Two NPA leaders have been neutralized recently. One was killed.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/10/28/2307156/npa-leader-killed-misamis-clash

A New People’s Army leader was killed while an NPA amazon was arrested following an encounter with soldiers in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental on Thursday.

The fatality was identified as Michael Cabayag, alias Teddy, of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front Sendong.

Armida Nabicis, alias Yumi, was arrested.

The military said the clash occurred when soldiers belonging to the 101st Infantry Brigade were deployed to check the reported presence of armed men in Barangay Carmen.

Lt. Col. Jose Andre Monje, 101st Infantry Battalion commander, said an M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, two other rifles, magazines with bullets and five bandoliers were recovered at the scene.

“Our commitment goes beyond the battlefield. We will ensure that alias Teddy is properly turned over to his family, respecting the principles of compassion and humanity in this challenging situation,” Monje said.   

He said Nabicis would be turned over to authorities.

Newly installed First Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray II commended government troopers for displaying ”remarkable professionalism and courage” during their operations.

Viray had vowed a relentless campaign to end communist armed conflict in coordination with local government units and other stakeholders. 

The other was arrested. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/11/02/2308418/wanted-ranking-npa-leader-arrested-surigao-del-sur

The police on Wednesday nabbed a ranking leader of the New People’s Army in Surigao del Sur long wanted for high-profile criminal cases pending in different courts.

The 57-year-old Cristitoto Tejero, a senior commander in the NPA's self-styled and now moribund Guerilla Front 19-Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, is now locked in a police detention facility in Surigao del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, director of the Police Regional Office-13, told reporters on Thursday that Tejero was cornered by policemen in his hideout in Barangay Buhisan in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur with the help of vigilant informants, among them barangay leaders and municipal officials.

Tejero yielded peacefully when he was shown copies of warrants for his arrest. One of the warrants of arrest came from the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Tandag City, where he was charged with murder for allegedly having killed an unarmed, off-duty soldier in Barangay Bolhoon in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on March 14 last year.

Local executives in Surigao del Sur said Thursday that Tejero was also implicated in armed robbery, extortion and multiple murder in hinterland barangays in the province that were once NPA bastions, now “peace zones” totally free from communist terrorists, driven out in recent months via joint peacebuilding programs of the PRO-13, the local communities and indigenous tribespeople and the military's Eastern Mindanao Command.

Kraft said the RTC Branch 27 in Tandag City has not recommended any bail for Tejero's temporary release from government custody. 

He shall remain incarcerated until the court has fully litigated the criminal cases against him, according to Kraft.

Despite the hard work the AFP does at protecting the nation it seems there is discontent brewing. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1854724/afp-chief-brawner-to-soldiers-shun-destabilization-plots

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday cautioned soldiers against participating in any destabilization plot against the government.

In his message during the change of command ceremony at the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), Brawner said the AFP leadership is firm in its commitment to the chain of command and the duly constituted authorities of the country.

"Once we find out that any of the active personnel are involved (in destabilization), we will knock swiftly but judiciously," he vowed.

Brawner also appealed to destabilization plotters: "Please do not involve the active personnel of the AFP."

He revealed that there have been efforts to recruit from among the ranks of the AFP. "Many are encouraging our individual members," he said.

"We are hearing a lot today that can be said to be destabilization efforts, that our president should be replaced, that there should be a coup d'etat," Brawner told the soldiers.

"Sadly some of them are former officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I spoke to some of them; I said, you have the right to do that because we are in a democracy but please do not involve the active personnel of the AFP," Brawner said.

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Brawner clarified that the destabilization effort is not widespread.

"We don't hear of mass movements but there were (movements) on September 21; there are groups that say let's rally. We know what their purpose is. We are warning our soldiers not to join any of this movement (as) we want our country to move forward to progress,” Brawner said.

Brawner presided over the handover of Wesmincom from Major General Steve Crespillo to Lieutenant General William Gonzales, then AFP Inspector General. Crespillo, in turn, will be taking over Gonzales' previous post.

Brawner admits these pots are not widespread but one wonders if there even is any truth to these rumors. If he knows "some of them are former officers" of the AFP then surely he knows their names. Unsurprisingly it turns out this destabilization plot is bunk.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1854880/afp-spox-on-reported-destab-plot-vs-marcos-it-has-been-settled

The reported destabilization plot from a number of retired military officers against the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “has been settled”, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar.

“I think that has been settled,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters on Saturday.

“There is no credible threat to our security,” he also said.

Has any alleged destabilization plot since 2016 been credible? No.

Picture of the Week: Accident Pieta

I came across an accident a while back. I am not sure what happened but it appears a lady was hit by a motorcycle or maybe even a bicycle. As we approached I snapped as many photos as I could and this is one of them:

It's like a pieta. Very tragic. I do not know the sequel but this moment in time has been frozen forever.