In this week's edition of Retards in the Government we finally get official recognition that the Philippines is a cesspool through and through as the DENR cracks down on tourist establishments throughout the country.
“To those who say that the President just does not want to be held liable, I say, ‘He’s not doing it for himself because we still have obligations during the time’ [the Philippines was a member of the ICC],” Cayetano said on Wednesday night.
He said it was really for the soldiers and police who had been opposed to ratifying the Rome Statute in the first place since it could be used to charge them with crimes against humanity in the ongoing conflict with communist and Moro rebels.
Cayetano said Mr. Duterte must have also considered the country’s internal conflict “like what happened in Marawi” when he ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC.
Cayetano is lying.
Given the baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks on my person as well as against my administration, engineered by the officials of the United Nations, as well as the attempt by the International Criminal Court special prosecutor to place my person within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, in violation of due process and the presumption of innocence expressly guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution and recognized no less by the Rome Statute, I therefore declare and forthwith give notice, as President of the Republic of the Philippines, that the Philippines is withdrawing its ratification of the Rome Statute effective immediately.
Go read the official statement. It is all about Duterte. There is nothing said about soldiers or policemen. Duterte withdrew from the ICC because of what he perceived as attacks against him. Not out of some principled desire for Philippine sovereignty.
Probers are looking at robbery as the motive for the killing, noting that Alicaway’s necklace and cell phone were missing. The councilor’s relatives said he has no enemies.
Chief Inspector Adrian Nalua, San Fernando police chief, said Alicaway was not included on the drug watchlist.
Alicaway is the second Cebu local government official killed in less than a month.
On Feb. 19, Ronda Vice Mayor and lawyer Jonnah John Ungab was killed in an ambush while attending the promulgation of the charges filed against his client, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
I am going to start including murdered politicians in this series. It happens way too often that some obscure councilman is gunned down by motorcycle riders and then no one is ever brought to account.
Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called the placement of Napoles under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program “an unbelievable crazy development.”
“Do some people in the DOJ really believe that Janet Lim-Napoles is qualified to be a state witness in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam which she herself invented, organized and perpetuated?” Pimentel said.
Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said the move showed how “skewed” the justice system in the country has become.
“The most guilty now becomes the state witness,” Alejano said.
Alejano also called on Aguirre to step down from his post, as his presence is an insult to the Filipinos.
“I call on Secretary Aguirre to resign and spare the whole DOJ from further destruction and embarrassment. His failure to perform his duties with utmost competence and fairness has been a huge disappointment,” he said.
You know the justice system is no good when Senators start calling out the DOJ's bad decisions and for the secretary to resign.
And you’re saying that the President was playing out a drama? I tell you, when the President found out about it, he punched the wall in Malacañang and his hand went swollen out of anger.
For those saying that our war on drugs is just a sham, I am mad at you. Comedy your face.
How about the 108 policemen killed? Many have already died. That bogus label is distasteful, we are dealing with lives. 4,000 people have died, but you still call it a comedy?
Funny if true. Show
us the swollen hand.
HAHA!
Police had launched a manhunt against a former mayor of Calanogas town, Lanao del Sur province for wounding a relative during a shooting on Thursday.
That's one way to end an argument.
The accuser, a 7 month pregnant lady, withdrew the charges but Bato says the matter is still being investigated. It will be a fruitless investigation if the accuser refuses to cooperate.
A DENR employee in the ARMM was getting high with his friend and got busted while his friend, who was the target of the sting operation, left him behind and got away.
Dela Rosa said the police and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should work as a team, especially on such a high-profile case.
(Why were we not advised that the case was weak? They should have warned us that it would be dismissed so that we could have strengthened it.)
(They might not be duty-bound to advise the CIDG, but they should at least listen to their conscience. They could have just sent a text message to CIDG director Roel Obusan to warn him that the case would be dismissed because it is weak.)
Earlier, Reyes said they were just being fair because advising the CIDG that the case was weak would mean they are biased.
Again Bato shows a complete ignorance of the law and a willingness to flout it. The PNP messed up on this case by not presenting all the evidence like Espinosa's Senate testimony.
“We received information from his constituents that he is in possession of various firearms and his civilian companions are often seen with high powered firearms. When we checked with the Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU), we found out that he is not authorized to possess firearms,” Neron said.
He will probably never be able to regain his political position now.
Another small town politician shot by riding-in-tandem-motorcycle-men.
Poe recently filed Senate Resolution No. 678 which asked the Senate committee on sports to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the efforts of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the entire sports community “to achieve the ultimate goal of winning the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics.”
Poe said this as she cited the Philippines has yet to receive a gold medal since it joined the annual sports event in 1924.
After participating in 20 editions of the Olympics, the Philippines has won only 10 medals — three silver and seven bronze — the latest being the silver medal of Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2016 Summer Games.
“We need to take a deeper look at how these agencies are implementing existing laws on sports development and see what it will take for the Philippines to bring home the gold this time,” Poe said.
“It’s time to up the ante on sports development, including training for international competitions, with the ultimate goal of winning the Olympic gold, which remains one of the unrealized dreams of our sports sector,” she added.
And still no call for an investigation into the Marawi attack!
Duterte claimed that the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, was sponsored by the European Union because the bloc is making up for its "past sins." He said the EU, which has expressed concerns over the deaths tied to his brutal war on illegal drugs, stole the oil of the Arabs and sowed division in the Middle East.
The EU, formed after World War II, has former colonial nations among its member states but not all member states had colonies in the Middle East or elsewhere.
According to a history of the treaty prepared by the Coalition of for the International Criminal Court, it was actually Trinidad and Tobago, "motivated in part by an effort to combat drug trafficking", that revived a post-war proposal for the establishment of an International Criminal Court.
"I will convince everybody now under the treaty, get out, bastos yan (that is disrespectful)!" the president said during the graduation of the Philippine Military Academy "Alab Tala" class of 2018 in Baguio City.
Not only does Duterte not know the history of the ICC by linking it to the EU but he actually thinks any of the 123 member nations will be convinced by him to withdraw.
The dismissal of drug charges against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug trader Kerwin Espinosa has been blown out of proportion, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday.
Aguirre lamented that some quarters are out to destroy him, seeing political agenda in the attacks.
Critics called out for Aguirre’s resignation over the preliminary dismissal of complaint by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against Lim, Espinosa and others.
Aguirre said he sees political agenda in the calls for his resignation due to the possibility of him and his son joining the midterm elections next year.
“I think there’s already politics involved here,” Aguirre stressed in a phone interview.
Aguirre also believed that the resolution of prosecutors dismissing the charges against Lim and Espinosa was leaked to the media by some people in the DOJ with ill motive.
He said the resolution was leaked because it was not final yet as DOJ rules provide for automatic review by his office on dismissed drug charges.
A hallmark of Philippine politics is blame shifting and the inability to own up to one's mistakes. It's never your fault because someone is obviously out to destroy you.
Not only is the Mayor of Cagayan de Oro being charged with even more graft but it seems he is also protecting what ever shenanigans might be occurring in the Cagayan de Oro City Water District.
This morning, the News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center (NIB) of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) sent a transcript of a supposed phone interview of DZRH with President Duterte to Malacañang reporters titled, “INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE BY DEO MACALMA/RICA HERRA/ISYU/DZRH.”
However, it was only confirmed at around 1 p.m. that the interview was with an impersonator of the President named Jun Alegre, a radio correspondent based in Bicol.
Beautiful! And this after PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar told the Senate that the government does not engage in fake news. Did the PCOO not coordinate with Malacañang to make sure this was actually Duterte giving an interview? Are they not aware of his official events? Do they not get a schedule?
Another cop busted with drugs.
According to the DENR, commercial establishments and residential areas in Bacuit Bay had been built over the three-meter easement zone, bringing them too close to the sea.
In places like Barangay Masagana and Barangay Buena Serte, sewage could be seen being discharged towards the sea.
To address the problem, the DENR has issued eviction notices against 32 commercial establishments in the area.
The agency ordered the establishments to "self-demolish" within 30 days.
"Nagkaroon ng notice na 32 sa mga establishment na kung saan sila po 'yung nag-encroach doon sa mga established easement and salvation na three meters na doon sa coastal areas," said Felizardo Cayatoc of DENR Penro, Palawan.
Resort owners meanwhile appealed for a delay and asked that the demolitions would be carried out after the summer season.
Another instance of local government not enforcing laws. How were these establishments built? Surely not in the dark of night. Too close to the sea and spewing sewage into the sea and these resort owners have the gall to ask to be allowed to operate all summer? They are probably used to paying bribes to get their way!
“If you see any armed men on motorcycles whom you think are not policemen, report them to the nearest police station so that the policemen can respond immediately,” Dela Rosa said, admitting that tandem-riding criminals remained a problem.
Grab drivers who volunteered to become road safety marshals were expected to police their own ranks and encourage their fellow drivers to practice road discipline.
Is the PNP so strapped for men that they are deputising Grab drivers? Does Bato think tandem motorcycle killers are going to be riding with their guns in their belt on full display like it's the wild west?
Gonzales said the task force reported that majority of the structures found within easement are concrete pathways, native cottages, residential cottages, concrete stairs, swimming pools, and seawalls owned by private business establishments.
If the government enforced the law these violations would not happen.
The police said Fernandez was arrested around 12:30 a.m. Sunday at Purok 3 in the village of Lumponid, Midsalip town. Fernandez has standing warrant of arrest for attempted murder with recommended bail of P120,000 issued by the court of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur dated March 2, 2018.
This village councillor was wanted for attempted murder.
At least 49 resorts and restaurants in the tourist island of Siargao were found operating without sewage treatment facilities and did not have environmental compliance certificates, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Tuesday.
They might as well shut down the whole country and close it off to all tourists. The funny part about all these revelations of code violations is all the business owners calling foul and pleading for leniency to operate during the summer tourist season because closing will be a hardship! Such is the end result in a culture of corruption.
Filipino politicians will use religion to defend anything. Even the tearing asunder of what God has joined together!
Ronald Holmes, president of polling body Pulse Asia, said only a small percentage of Filipinos are knowledgeable on the Constitution and changes on the charter appear to be absent from the public's major concerns.
"There is no clamor, the urgency of change in constitution is something were not getting in public opinion polls," Holmes said.
Filipinos do not care about federalism and yet the government has allotted 100 million to propagandise the public to accept federalism.
THE Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) required the Bacolod City Government to justify the method of killing impounded dogs, which is through the use of firearms.
City Veterinarian Ma. Agueda dela Torre said in January this year, they requested the deputation of police officers from BAI national office to euthanize the impounded dogs.
BAI recommended to the city to only use a tranquilizer or any medicine to terminate the dogs, but Dela Torre said using a firearm is cheaper than using the injectable procedure to euthanize the dogs.
She said killing a dog using a firearm is also legal, based on the Animal Welfare Act.
What is the protocol for executing a dog with a firearm? What kind of firearm is to be used? Shotgun? Pistol? How many shots? Which part of the body? Head? Heart? Where is the execution to take place? It may be a cheaper method but it's undoubtedly messier and more biologically hazardous.
Another local political killed by unidentified assailants.
Chief Inspector Simplicio Pasaol Jr., Guipos police chief, said Jerson Reyes, 33, also turned over an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, which he reportedly used in killing Mario Bustamante, a village councilor of Barangay Sikatuna in Guipos around 9 p.m.
Pasaol said Bustamante was passing by Reyes’ house in Barangay Sikatuna when shot. He died from multiple pellet wounds.
The motive, he said, was personal grudge but did not elaborate.
An improvised 12-gauge shot gun loaded with...birdshot?
Aguirre vs Hontiveros
A not-so-random encounter in Filipino Fantasy.
“Mr. Aguirre is a manufacturer and peddler of fake news. He is a cook of fake cases. And now, a reliable friend of criminal masterminds, extrajudicial killers and drug lords,” she said.
Casts Banish!!
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is poised to file a complaint of libel against Senator Risa Hontiveros for calling him a “manufacturer of fake news” and “cook of fake cases.”
“You could see libel cases filed against her,” Aguirre said in a text message.
Reflects spell! Counterattacks with Lawsuit Blade.
Aguirre on Tuesday declared that he would file a libel case against Hontiveros after the latter earlier called him a “peddler of fake news” and a “cook of fake cases.”
But Hontiveros asked: “Hindi ba totoo (Isn’t it true)?”
“Huwag pikon at balat-sibuyas si Mr. Aguirre kapag kinokompronta sila ng katotohanan. If Mr. Aguirre can’t take it, he shouldn’t dish it. At hindi ba totoo?” the senator asked.
(Don’t be too sensitive Mr. Aguirre when you are confronted with truth.)
Blocks with Truth Shield. Counterattacks with Truth Blade.
Aguirre runs away. Drops 5 million pesos. Hontiveros earns 200 exp points.
“These [Philippine patrol] planes, every time that they fly over these features of Chinese, they will challenge,” Lorenzana told “The Source,” a CNN Philippines program.
“They will say that you are entering Chinese airspace. Just exchange of words. Then we will say: ‘No, we are passing over Philippine airspace.’ It’s just a play of words every time we have patrols,” he said.
Teehee it's just a a play of words. It's like a lovers quarrel. You're in MY airspace. No YOU'RE in MY airspace. *Giggle-giggle*
The region, home to 15 million people, has only met 14 percent of its required number of sewerage treatment plants, which remove contaminants from the wastewater before it is dumped in rivers and bays, said Patrick Lester Ty, chief regulator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
(This is about 10 times worse that Boracay. Metro Manila's problem is not just waste water, but also solid waste. We inspected Manila Bay and Pasig River up to Laguna Bay yesterday -- they were polluted. Diapers, shoes and various trash were floating there.)
This is what inefficient government looks like. Maybe if Imelda Marcos had been building sewage plants instead of cultural centres the mess wouldn't be this bad.
(Look at how stupid the Canadians are, very stupid. They agreed to sell the helicopters. But when these were due to be delivered, they said, 'Ah but you cannot use these for military or punitive actions bu the police. This is only good for evacuation and humanitarian operations. You cannot use these against your own citizens.')
"My God, you Canadians how stupid can you get? Our citizens are joining the ISIS so we have every right to kill our citizens because we do not want to destroy the community with apathy," he added.
Duterte forgets that Canada did not cancel the deal, HE cancelled the deal setting back modernisation efforts by who knows who many years! So who's the stupid one now?
Based on the complaint, Singson allegedly requested payments for the claimants based on spurious documents submitted by the regional office of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
He also allegedly authorized the payment in favor of the claimants who turned out to be bogus.
When sought for comment, Singson, who is currently out of the country, said he would first have to get details of the complaint.
According to Aguirre, the modus operandi of the syndicate was to claim compensation for the road right of way intended for land owners affected by the construction of a highway in General Santos City.
During a Senate hearing, Singson denied involvement in the alleged scam which reportedly defrauded the government of P8.7 billion during previous administrations.
Defrauding the government is nice work if you can get it and you can get it if you try!
On Tuesday evening, the 292-member chamber approved House Bill No. 7376 repealing the law that allowed government to run after billions of pesos of alleged ill-gotten wealth during the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship.
The bill, principally sponsored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, will be put to a nominal vote when Congress resumes session on May 14.
Under the proposed law, the powers and mandate of the PCGG, as well as the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, shall be transferred to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), whose head, Jose Calida, campaigned for Marcos’ son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in the 2016 vice presidential election.
There is nothing fishy about this at all!
Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment and its Filipino partner, Leisure and Resorts World Corp, are building a $500 million integrated resort on a 23-hectare property.
Oh! I understand now. Duterte wasn't serious at all about fixing the mess in Boracay. It was all just sound and fury signifying nothing in an effort to scare and push out local businesses and make way for the Chinese. If there is one thing the small, delicate island of Boracay needs to fix its environmental crisis it's a huge casino owned by a Chinese company. Oh what's that you say? The application begun in 2014 and was approved since then? So what? If they are serious about fixing Boracay there should be a moratorium on any new projects. Even projects that have already been signed off but have not yet commenced. In fact there should not be any projects which will bring in thousands of more tourists and exacerbate the problem. Read this analysis for more about
China's involvement in Boracay.
The waters of Coron Bay, a major tourist destination in Palawan province, is literally teeming with feces, the human kind, according to results of tests made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a report on its test results, the DENR said the level of water pollution in the bay had exceeded the safe limit.
“Coron has no centralized sewage treatment facility,” said Natividad Bernardino, DENR director for the region of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).
“What makes the situation worse is there is no regular desludging of septic tanks,” Bernardino said. Desludging is emptying the septic tank.
Day by day it is becoming a matter of official government record that the Philippines is quite literally a shithole. Mabuhay!
Malacañang on Thursday said the Filipino-American philanthropist whom President Rodrigo Duterte earlier accused of conspiring with the International Criminal Court has the means to do so.
"The ICC accepts donations from private persons and organizations and I do know that particularly on the reparation fund... the ICC welcomes donations from everyone," Roque said.
Ridiculous conspiracy accusations based on alleged wiretapping of Loida Lewis' phone by an unnamed foreign country. If Duterte really was given a transcript proving these allegations he should release them. It would embarrass the ICC and justify his actions and charges. What has he got to lose?
The parent who allegedly threatened an Ateneo de Davao University professor over his child’s low grades is the Davao regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec-Davao), police records show.
“Hindi ‘nyo ba alam na pamilya kami ng mga lawyer at pamilya din kami ng mga killer (Don’t you know that we are a family of lawyers and we are also a family of killers)?” Tambuang was quoted as saying.
Filipino education and politics all in one shiny package.
"...principled desire for Philippine sovereignty?"
ReplyDeleteNow, where have we heard this excuse before in the Philippines? Oh yea, during the Subic Bay Base Lease negotiations, where the U.S. offered 864 million annually 'just for the rental of Subic Naval base', but the Philippine side demanded 1.2 billion annually, just for Subic...
The U.S. wisely told the Philippines to pound sand & left, all the while, these greedy negotiators on the Philippine side, seeing their hopes of getting a really big slice of the annual rental of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, claimed that 'They' had refused the deal, ALL in the name of their principled desire for Philippine sovereignty, which led to a vacuum in the SCS & the rest is history!