Martial Law: A New Era

For all the importance of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and what it is supposed to mean, an end to all war in Mindanao, and for all the necessity of making sure everyone in that region is fully aware of the BOL and supports it and for all of Duterte's insistence on the importance of having this law, it is singularly ridiculous that instead of having a press conference with the leaders of MILF and the ARMM present where he would sign the bill into law in front of the whole nation Duterte signed the bill into law apparently in the secret confines of his office declining to tell anyone except in an offhand remark in a speech he gave shortly after clandestinely singing the bill. Pressed by reporters for comment not even President Spokesman Roque could affirm or deny Duterte's remarks. But of course he later did verify it and thus the world was informed by text message that the Bangsomoro Organic Law, so essential to the future of Mindanao, is now the law of the land.

Perhaps if asked why Duterte did not have a press conference and make an event out of signing this very important bill into law we would be told that it is evidence of his simplicity and humility. He is a humble man of the people who disdains ostentation. That would be to miss the point completely. It's not as if he would be announcing the birth of a new child with his mistress, Honeylet. The BOL is supposed to usher in the birth of a new era of peace and prosperity for the whole country and for it to work everyone must be on board and fully aware of this law.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1015924/ceremonial-signing-of-bangsamoro-law-set-on-august-6

Duterte has already signed the legislation, but a ceremony would still be held at the Palace with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Murad Ebrahim and vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

Better late than never. For the Muslims of Mindanao to see their leaders with Duterte as he signs the BOL into law would lend a real credibility to the law. As it is not everyone is on board with the BOL.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012821/biff-warns-of-more-attacks-as-it-rejects-bangsamoro-organic-law

Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesman, said the bill, which would create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), would not solve the decades-old problem but will only create more problems. 

“It will not bring peace,” Mama said. “Look, until now fighting there is fighting on the ground. The law will only benefit the leaders and not the people on the ground.”

One would hate to side with terrorists on any issue but it cannot be denied that Mama is right. The BOL will only benefit the MILF leadership as they will receive a much larger block grant than they currently receive, 60-80 billion pesos, and they will be the men governing the region as mandated the law. With corruption rampant in the ARMM its a no-brainer the BOL will be much of the same. The MILF is also asking the international community to set up a trust fund to help decommission the MILF terrorist forces. It's all about money and power.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1014150/news-milf-bangsamoro-organic-law-al-haj-murad-ebrahim

Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said six of the largest guerrilla camps in the south were already being converted into “productive civilian communities” to help the insurgents return to normal life. 

Clad in a business suit, Murad appealed to the international community to contribute to a trust fund to be used to finance the insurgents’ transition from decades of waging one of Asia’s longest rebellions. 

“We will decommission our forces, the entire forces,” Murad said at a news conference in Manila. He said his guerrilla group has told the government how many fighters it has, although he declined to immediately cite the number of weapons that “will be put beyond use.”

What country in their right mind would contribute to a trust fund to be used to help decommission a terrorist army? Will MILF deposit their weapons in a huge open area and publicly bulldoze them in a show of peaceful sincerity? Not a chance. With the threats from BIFF and Abu Sayyaf such an act would be madness. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/661643/house-ratifies-bangsamoro-law-a-day-after-sona-gloria-takeover/story/

• former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters will be free to join the police force;

This provision is also madness. Or maybe it's genius. What if MILF leadership directed all their men to join the PNP so that they could have complete control of the police? 

Too much is riding on the passage of this law. The politicians are banking on this law being the catalyst for peace. 

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1042986

Even outsiders are banking on the BOL to bring peace to the region.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/168695/un-welcomes-landmark-signing-bol-un-bangsamoro-bol-mindanao-duterte

“The Secretary-General welcomes the signing into law of the Organic Law for Bangsamoro in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on 26 July, a landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in southern Philippines,” the UN said in a statement.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1015043/eu-expresses-support-for-bangsamoro-organic-law

“The passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law by the Congress of the Philippines and its subsequent signing by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte represents an opportunity for the Filipino people to embrace peace and stability after decades of strife,” Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.

The Filipino people? This lady must not be aware that the BOL affects the Moro people who most definitely would reject being called Filipinos. In fact this new law is actually the culmination of the government's negations with MILF and with MILF only!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1015346/milf-to-reach-out-to-other-moro-fronts-to-support-bol

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said among the groups they planned to reach out included the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which was founded by Nur Misuari, and the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which continues to wage war against the government. 

“Even the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), we will reach out to them,” Jaafar said Saturday in radio interview. 

The new law says 50 percent of the government officials in the new political entity under the BOL had to come from the MILF.

50% is only the bare minimum mandated in the new law but the real numbers will likely be higher. MILF has finally got a piece of the pie and all the other groups are left out in the cold to feed only on crumbs. Why shouldn't BIFF, MNLF, and Abu Sayyaf be given their own sweetheart deals? 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/milf-philippine-islamic-state-militants-mindanao-bol-asg-10566454

“If the Bangsamoro government is formed, it will be more difficult for pro-IS groups to carry out their violent activities because MILF will utilise their existing armed forces to go after them,” said Prof Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research. 

MILF has publicly declared its opposition to IS, and last year started working with the Philippine military to fight pro-IS groups in Mindanao. 

Prof Banlaoi however cautioned that threats to peace will remain after the MILF ends their struggle against the Philippine government. 

"There are several threats: The BIFF in central Mindanao; the Abu Dar Group, composed of remnants of the pro-IS Maute group, in Lanao provinces; and the ASG in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces," he said.  

Most of the pro-IS groups are former members of MILF, the largest armed group in Mindanao with about 30,000 fighters. 

"The real question is whether the MILF can stem defections from its ranks which have been taking place in the past three years," said Prof Abuza. 

MILF’s chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim expressed confidence that foreign fighters, including Malaysians and Indonesians, could soon be forced out of their sanctuaries when BOL comes into force, reported BenarNews. 

Murad believes the BOL will bring splinter groups back into the political fold, making it harder for foreign extremists to form alliances with them. 

“All these splinter groups are a result of the frustration with the peace process. The moment the small groups no longer accept the foreign elements, they can no longer come to the Philippines,” Murad was quoted as saying. 

According to Prof Abuza, MILF chairman Murad is correct "to a degree". 

He said: “There is a push-pull factor. On the one hand, the IS central command has been encouraging Southeast Asian supporters to travel to Mindanao to fight. 

“But if there are no longer groups who are willing to host them, it will be harder for them to really establish themselves there." 

Prof Rommel cautioned that the BOL will not automatically stop the influx of foreign fighters. 

"The BOL can even attract some foreign fighters to come to the southern Philippines to oppose what they perceive as 'co-opting with the infidels'," said Prof Banlaoi. 

MILF’s biggest challenge now is to transition from a guerrilla army to a functioning government, said Prof Abuza. 

“That is hard to do, and few rebel groups do it effectively or seamlessly," he said.  

"The key is that resources have to quickly flow to them so they can pay people and assure their loyalty to the new autonomous government."

Probably this is the most level headed article about the passage of the BOL. Can peace and stability come? Maybe. But it will be difficult.  Threats will still remain. But how will MILF use their existing forces to go after pro-ISIS groups when they say they will decommission their entire forces? The line about MILF transitioning from being a guerrilla army to a functioning government is spot on. MILF is a terrorist group through and through. They can don business suits and sit in the halls of government all they wish but at the end of the day they are terrorists plain and simple.

The BOL has been passed into law and there is nothing that can be done about it barring a Supreme Court decision overturning it or the people rejecting it in the planned plebiscite.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/07/27/MILF-consultative-assemble-preparation-Bangsamoro-Organic-Law.html

Jaafar said the referendum is expected to be held in November, and its results will be known within the same month or in December.  

[Translation: At the end of the day, the decision of the majority will prevail because that is the rule in a democratic country. Having said that, I hope those who plan to petition to the Supreme Court will not push through with it. Let's help each other instead.]

Jaafar should welcome a Supreme Court challenge as either the law is unconstitutional and should therefore be nixed or it is constitutional and a positive ruling would permanently strengthen the law and silence its critics. 

In the meantime it's business as usual in terrorist occupied Mindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1015017/suspected-maute-group-member-slain-in-lanao-del-sur-raid

http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/07/27/overrun-29ib-seizes-npa-camp/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1014362/afp-to-step-up-attacks-vs-biff-bangsamoro-bol-lorenzana-freedom-fighters-al-haj-murad

Look at all that peace!

The Pinoy Ex-pat Political Debate Club

Benedict Ignacio is the webmaster and mastermind behind Get Real Philippines. Though his website has been called a source of fake news the articles on his website are all opinion and not news. From the title it should be clear that his website is devoted to the Philippines. Filipino culture and politics are skewered and scoffed at and as a result his website is either reviled and hated or loved and admired.

There is really one and only one problem with his website and that is Benedict Ignacio is an expatriate living in Australia who left the Philippines long ago in 2001 and does not regret a thing.

Here he is doing an interview on a news show.

And here he is proudly declaring that he does not regret abandoning the Philippines.

http://jimparedes.com/archives/120/comment-page-1#comment-1026

Of course from reading his website one would think otherwise. It would seem that he cares so much about the Philippines that he is willing to stir up trouble if only to get his kababayans to change their stupid ways. But if he loves the Philippines to the extent that his entire life on the internet is devoted to the Philippines then why does he not live here? Why has he stayed away for 17 years now?

The answer is simple.

The webmaster of GetRealPhilippines, Benedict Ignacio, and his wife Imelda Calaraval-Ignacio, are hypocrites on an grand scale.  Take the following for example.

You see how much they both deride Atty. Florin Hilbay for blocking them by calling him "a failure and not a real man" and "a pussy" and not a great leader?

I guess that means Imelda thinks her husband is "a failure and not a real man" and that he would not make a great leader because he has blocked me.

And what of Imelda? She must think of herself as a close-minded failure with no capacity to listen since she has also blocked me.

If Hilbay won't make a great leader because he blocks people then what will become of these two?  What is the deal with these people anyway? Why are they writing about the Philippines all the time if they, as Filipinos, refuse to live in the Philippines? Go and read their Twitter feeds and you will never see a single post about Australian politics or culture (at least I have not seen one). Why not? It is hypocritical to write about your homeland as if you love it and want to see it succeed but which you intentionally abandoned and where you refuse to live. Neither of these two are in the same situation as Alexander Solzhenitsyn. They aren't in exile. Why not move on and build a life in Australia and never look back?

These two are de facto or wannabe leaders of the Pinoy Ex-pat Political Debate Club.

What is that? I just made it up! It doesn't really exist but it describes a phenomenon I have noticed across social media. Filipino ex-pats, not just OFWs but people who have left the Philippines with seemingly no intention to return and have been gone for years, are very active on Twitter and Facebook defending the current administration, Duterte, and embedding themselves in a political situation of which they know nothing about except through the mainstream media, which they disdain, because they don't live here anymore. I am sure there are other Pinoy ex-pats on the opposite end of the spectrum as well. Loida Lewis comes to mind. But I don't interact with those people and am more familiar with this crowd.

Probably the most well-known and influential voice in this crowd is Sass Rogando.

Of course fame and influence are all relative but this man, yes Sass is a man, has a large following on Facebook and here he is with the two most influential bloggers in the whole nation, RJ Nieto and Mocha Uson. This picture was taken in the Philippines in November 2017. The occasion for his return? To file a defamation lawsuit against Jover Laurio the creator of Pinoy Ako Blog. Here they are eating a meal during this same timeframe.

Bloggers who eat together, conspire together.

Sass has lived since approximately 2010 in the Netherlands. Just like Communist leader Joma Sison.

He fashions himself a geopolitical analyst and he regularly posts articles about how EDCA is bad for the Philippines and Cory Aquino had help from the CIA and the Americans are bad all around etc. etc. His academic credentials are impeccable compared to either Mocha or RJ Nieto. He is also a Duterte stalwart and loves him so. But he refuses to live in the country. Can you blame him? The Western comforts of the Netherlands are nothing compared to the discomforts of the Philippines. 

SASS ROGANDO SASOT: Just like any Filipino in the diaspora, I left the country in search of better opportunities. As a transgender woman, part of that search is finding a country where my being a woman is to a large extent validated. I’m not sure how many of my followers relate to me as a transgender woman, but I’m sure a substantial number relate to me as a Filipino in search of a country conducive to the flourishing of our being.

https://forthemotherland.net/2018/03/24/interviews-patrick-symmes-v-sass/

Ah, the Filipino diaspora! So why look back? Why leave home if you love it so much? But I do not want this post to be just about these clowns, Sass and the Ignacios. The phenomenon of politically active Filipinos living outside of the Philippines transcends them.

The Filipino diaspora is very extensive because of OFWs and others who leave because of permanent jobs or marriage or school. It seems these people simply cannot forget about the country they left. It must be a love-hate thing. Like an abusive relationship one cannot leave. They love their country but hate its dysfunction. Maybe they even love its dysfunction! Outside of the Philippines there are a myriad of political groups catering to OFWs and expatriates.

Here are two groups from New York.

https://www.facebook.com/Tapang-at-Malasakit-New-York-114573666040593/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/DDSNewYorkOfficial/

Our advocacy is to promote public understanding and build support for Pres. Duterte's vision by disseminating honest & reliable info on current issues

That is a pretty general mission statement from DDS New York. But why do they exist? Duterte is president of the Philippines not president of the USA. Are these people all going to return to the Philippines and stay politically active? Government officials, such as Dureza, have also visited these groups. Can you imagine if an undersecretary in the US State Dept. held palaver with the many American expatriates in the Philippines? It would be silly and might provoke an outrage but Filipino government officials visit with the diaspora fairly often. Duterte recently did so in Hong Kong and South Korea. Back in the 80's Aquino even visited with ex-pats in Los Angeles and gave a memorable speech.

Macau:

https://www.facebook.com/TapangAtMalasakitMacauChapter/

Australia:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigongDuterteSupportersAustraliaUnit/about/

The official Facebook group of Digong Duterte Supporters in Australia, a recognized coordination unit of the DDS Global Network.

The DDS Global Network? Sounds horrifying. I bet they are all sharing the same propaganda like this:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1508946492482998&set=gm.645637122300262&type=3&theater

Incidentally this fake Hontiveros quote comes very close to things Duterte has said.

“The only people I do not deal with are the criminals and the drug dealers because unlike the revolutionaries who are motivated by their principles and ideology, they are consumed by greed and the desire to gain while causing other people pain. I detest them,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/727436/duterte-admits-coddling-reds-calls-palparan-a-bigot

Kaya sabi ko I am not including Abu Sayaff dito sa criminality, you’ve never heard me say “mga kriminal.” It is – it is a different set up there because these are the guys who were driven to desperation.

http://pcoo.gov.ph/july-08-2016-president-rodrigo-roa-dutertes-speech-during-the-mindanao-hariraya-eidl-fitr-2016/

But DDS will never tell you Duterte said that!

From my experience DDS and their allies are all too prone to spreading these simple memes or image macros which promote erroneous "facts." Some of them are a little more analytical like RJ Nieto or Sass or GRP but mostly it's memes. If you try to engage them with facts they repeat the same hashtag or slogan in capital letters or point out how many followers you have and tell you to get lost you stupid, evil Yellowtard. Discussion, rational discussion, is impossible and any interaction inevitably degenerates into the internet equivalent of flinging poo.

And there is a global network of these people!

https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/120572-overseas-filipino-workers-support-rodrigo-duterte

As of writing, around 600,000 OFWs have joined 162 “chapters” worldwide all dedicated to Duterte’s campaign and election day mobilization, according to Arnel Corpuz, an OFW assigned to coordinate such efforts by Duterte’s campaign team.  

Corpuz said some of these groups began in 2014 when Duterte’s presidential bid was just a rumor. From being groups just sounding the call for his candidacy, they are quickly shaping up to be vital organs of Duterte’s campaign machinery. 

Corpuz insists the groups are independent, with no ties to any political party. 

According to Corpuz, the OFW chapters have been given these marching orders: ensure that OFWs and their families will cast their votes for Duterte come election day, and that these votes are protected and counted.  

The OFWs are also encouraged to “produce 5 more votes from their families back in the Philippines,” he told Rappler.

“We are the breadwinner of our respective families and we will be using it to influence our loved ones to vote for Duterte.”

That sounds curiously akin to vote buying.

The OFW Global Movement for Empowerment is one of those organisations which formed in 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/OFWGlobalMovementForEmpowerment/about/

Reading through their page and looking at their photos it's quite apparent that this is just another run of the mill DDS organisation. They have chapters across the world who regularly meet for hanging out and they seem to be geared towards uniting OFWs worldwide into close knit community. But the glue holding them together is obviously Duterte. Does anyone think this group really knows what federalism is and all that it implies? They support federalism because Duterte supports federalism. What will become of this organisation in 2022? Was this the only OFW organisation prior to the 2016 election? Are there any nonpolitical OFW organisations?

The DDS global community is very active.  Here is just a sample of their activity in the past two years.

http://usa.inquirer.net/2005/duterte-supporters-sf-bay-area-hold-prayer-meeting

There are children at this rally which leads me to believe that not everyone here is an OFW. Some of these people are definitely expatriates.

Protesting the "black propaganda" of the New York Times against Duterte.

Here they are rallying in front of the ICC.

Here they are rallying in London.

Posting more of these would be redundant. 

As I wrote above the glue binding these groups together is not the Philippines but Duterte. It is a love for that man which has brought them all together. 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/global-filipino/03/26/16/duterte-supporters-in-us-say-only-he-can-do-it

So what happens when Duterte leaves office? Will they rally around the next candidate as they have done with Duterte? I don't think so. It's the cult of personality and Duterte has it. Like Mussolini and Kennedy. Despite his many faults he remains popular. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads — They all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude. 

It will be interesting to see what happens to these groups and their ideology once Duterte is gone.

Stupid Tweets

I tend to get into a lot of dumb conversations on Twitter. That's the nature of the beast I guess. Twitter is no place for intelligent discussion. Especially with the DDS crowd. 

Often I go to a thread with a huge number of replies and post this:

The Duterte administration knew about the Marawi plot in advance and did nothing to stop it. They lied about so-called intelligence failures.  Investigate Marawi now!  https://youtu.be/Tv6mI4GoiBo https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/05/intelligence-failures-and-prior.html

Because I want the most amount of people to see that video or read the transcript and demand and investigation in to the largest terror attack in SEA in 15 years.  To be very clear the impetus for an investigation is not that video, it is the fact of the event that warrants an investigation. For the life of me I cannot understand why there has not been one. It should be routine. Just like in the USA where the Senate formed the 9/11 Commission to investigate the 9/11 attacks.

Sometimes I get really dumb responses to this message. The following tweet is an example. 

The stupidity in this comment is beyond belief. So this guy thinks me, a nobody with no power or authority, should do an investigation into the Marawi attack. Like I should subpoena all the officials involved and get a testimony from all of them to figure out just what happened? What a moron!

Only an individual void of any critical thinking skills would say something so stupid. But as I said this is the tip of the iceberg.  For this guy and for others it is simply a well known fact that Maute group were funded by narcopoliticians and Aquino is to blame too.

This guy doesn't get it. And he's not alone. People just do not care about this issue of investigating the Marawi attack. Not even the politicians. Let me break it down one more time again.

The Duterte administration has been lying in saying that there were intelligence failures in the lead up to the Marawi siege. DND Sec Lorenzana defines intelligence failures as failure to adequately interpret the intelligence.  The evidence shows they DID interpret it correctly and are thus lying. Take note:

1. Calida's report to the SC detailed in April 18 and May 18 2017 reports were received about a specific attack in Marawi.

2. Pres Spokseman Abello admits there were CABINET LEVEL MEETINGS about the impending Marawi attack before it happened.

3. Lorenzana claims they had an inside man in Matue and knew everything.

As I said none of that is the basis for the investigation. The fact of the event is the basis of the investigation. But nonetheless theses are facts that demand answering! Who knew what, when did they know it, what did they do about it, how can this be prevented from happening again?

But hey according to this guy we don't need to investigate the largest terror attack in SEA in 15 years because we already know Aquino and drugs are to blame. And how does he know this? From the Marawi investigation report? But there hasn't been one! 

The stupidity and lack of caring about something so crucial to national security is overpowering. 

Retards In The Government 60

The numbers this week: 2 murdered government officials, 6 COA reports of financial mismanagement and ambiguities, and 1 corrupt politician recycled as the Speaker of the House.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/19/18/foreign-firms-eyed-amid-shortage-of-contractors-for-infra-projects

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that at present, the government can only tap local contractors, and this has led to delays in some projects. 

(That's why there are delays because there are no more local contractors who can participate in the Build, Build, Build projects.) 

Gatchalian proposed to lift the equity restriction on building contractors to allow foreign construction firms to participate in the Duterte administration’s "Build, Build, Build" program. 

“If we, let’s say amend the law and we allow foreign contractors to participate this year, that is possible na makahabol tayo (we can catch up) for 2022,” he added. 

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar had earlier admitted that there were issues with local contractors. 

(Other contractors, they can't finish the projects anymore because they lack the equipment, sometimes the capital. There are also delays because of right-of-way issues.)

What was supposed to be a major works project involving Filipino companies and workers is quickly dissolving into a mire where once again foreign help is needed. Did the administration count these costs beforehand?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012257/traffic-enforcer-in-laguna-killed-over-row-on-traffic-violation

No wonder the traffic laws aren't enforced!

http://business.inquirer.net/254268/dof-eyes-charges-vs-employees-garments-firms-involved-p11-b-tax-scam

The Department of Finance wanted to recover P11.24-billion worth of tax credit certificates (TCCs) issued to unqualified—and some even non-existent—garments and textile manufacturers from 2008 to 2014. 

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told a press conference on Friday that based on a Commission on Audit (COA) Special Audits Office (SAO) report issued on July 6, 3,288 questionable TCCs amounting were issued to 33 garments companies during the seven-year period, even as these firms were not registered with the Board of Investments (BOI), hence not entitled to fiscal and other perks given away to investors such as tax credits. 

“Expect [the DOF] to pursue the appropriate charges against the public officers and private persons who manipulated and unjustly benefited from the tax credit process with the OSS,” Dominguez said.

Looks like it was in an inside job wth DOF employees manipulating the system.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/20/nbi-files-raps-vs-malay-mayor-several-others-for-boracay-mess/

The NBI’s Environmental Crime Division filed violations of the Revised Forestry Code, Philippine Fisheries Code, and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Cawaling, former Malay Mayor John Yap, Malay municipal engineer and building official Elizer Casidsid, Kalibo, Aklan Municipal Assessor Erlinda Casimero, and Aklan Provincial Assessor Kokoy Soguilon.

They say Boracay is clean up and will be open in October but I say it won't be long before they will have to close it again for the same reasons.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/20/1835217/coa-urges-charges-vs-pcoo-execs-over-asean-expenses

The Commission on Audit has recommended the filing of charges against officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office over allegedly anomalous disbursements for the country's hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2017. 

In its annual audit report for calendar year 2017, the COA found that out of the P219.24 million ASEAN fund, 17.7 percent or P38.8 million was found questionable. 

It was found that the rental or lease of IT equipment for P4.04 million was more expensive than the selling price by P946,872.

Maybe Adanar will resign or be fired by Duterte. Whiff of corruption?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/20/1835231/robredo-ready-duterte-insults-sona

Vice President Leni Robredo said that she would still attend President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address on Monday despite advice not to for fear that the chief executive would "insult" her during the occasion. 

Robredo said that it was her obligation as the country's second highest official to attend the annual address even at risk of being openly lambasted by the president. 

"Yes, I will attend even if some would like me not to. Some fear that I might get insulted, humiliated," the vice president said in an interview with reporters in Naga City on Friday. 

Duterte and Robredo belong to opposing political factions in the Philippines due to a feature of the current 1987 Constitution which allows the president and the vice president to come from different parties.

Who is advising the Vice President to not attend the SONA? Why would the President insult the Vice President during his most important speech of the year? Why are these two opposing each other to the extent that they are both alienated rom the other? Because they are form differing political parties? Is there no reaching across the table? Is there no trying to work in unity for the good of the people? Just goes to show how divided and messed up the government really is.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/18/zubiri-warns-lgus-may-go-bankrupt-in-plea-to-have-18-federal-regions/

“I am a federalist but with all due respect to the ConCom members, I am not in favor of a regional federal setup. It fragments the whole country into 18 federal states, but then (how about) the question of income?” Zubiri said in a press briefing Wednesday. 

“If they make it four federal states — Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Bangsamoro — papayag ako (I will agree with it),” he said.

Does he not understand what federalism is?

Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government (the central or 'federal' government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial or other sub-unit governments) in a single political system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalism

What is the difference between 4 and 18 regions when the result is still fragmentation? His over all point is that the Philippines is too poor to support a federal system and that is great. It's always great when politicians say things that reveal a little about the true state of this nation. The Philippines is just too poor.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/661367/2-cops-killed-in-palawan-ambush-police/story/

How is this a "people's initiative" if it originates with politicians?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/23/1836072/alvarez-time-dismantle-1987-constitution

At the opening of the third regular session of the the 17th Congress, Alvarez listed the achievements of both houses of Congress. He then said that a bigger task lies ahead: “dismantling” the Constitution for “robbing” the rest of the Philippines of its “chance to fully realize its potential for growth and development.”

A real altruist.  He just wants to make sure the rest of the Philippines to realise its potential.  Too bad he is gone now. The House will no longer continue under his leadership. Could it be because of his statements about cancelling elections?

https://www.rappler.com/nation/207944-alvarez-ousted-gloria-arroyo-new-speaker-house-of-representatives

Sources told Rappler no less than presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had convinced lawmakers to remove Alvarez. 

Duterte-Carpio had launched a series of tirades against Alvarez in February after the former speaker supposedly told the media she and her father were feuding and that she formed her regional political party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, without his blessing.

Funny if true but true or not the removal of Alvarez has upset some quarters since Arroyo is a thoroughly corrupt politician. Being firmly in Duterte's camp likely means the House will continue with his agenda.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1013658/arroyo-vows-to-carry-out-dutertes-legislative-agenda

Of course she will.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012207/pnp-cases-against-policemen-in-antidrug-missions-double

For Chief Insp. Eleuterio Logronio III, head of the Intelligence Investigation Prosecution Division of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Calabarzon police, handling cases against fellow police officers, some of them his former classmates and friends, is a daunting task. 

“Many times, I, even our personnel, experienced bullying here,” he said. 

When President Duterte launched his war on drugs after taking office in 2016, the number of cases against policemen rose. 

About 85 percent of the cases involved policemen who killed drug suspects in buy busts, tampering with or planting evidence, or policemen testing positive for drug use. 

“Police became more active in the campaign [against drugs and that’s] probably why they also became more prone to cases,” said Supt. Judy Lopez, a lawyer and chief of the Calabarzon police legal service. 

As a policy, once a drug suspect is killed, a case of grave misconduct amounting to homicide is automatically filed against the policeman, Logronio said. 

To his dismay, Logronio said, most of the IAS’ recommendations were overturned at the legal services. In 2017, the IAS recommended 40 policemen—the highest ranking one was a chief inspector—dismissed but only three were booted out. 

He insisted that orders to overturn the rulings did not come from his superiors. “If [they did], I’d file my resignation or retire right away,” he said.

Where to start with this mess? Police becoming active in the war on drugs made them "more prone to cases"? Are criminal cases like a virus? Like walking in the rain makes you more prone to catching a cold? The PNP aren't "more prone to cases" they are taking on more cases and instead of having a bit of integrity they plant evidence and kill suspects. And why is a case of homicide automatically field against a cop who shoots a suspect? Automatically?? Where is due process? Logronio is a fool if he does think orders to overturn the rulings come from above. Duterte has said multiple times to the PNP, "Don't worry I got your back." The information in this article is certainly merely the tip of the iceberg.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/21/1835524/coa-reprimands-manila-govt-p422-m-unreleased-tax-shares-barangays

The Commission on Audit has called out the Manila City government over the unreleased real property tax (RPT) shares of its 896 barangays amounting P421.847 million, which was due to them in 2017. 

Furthermore, the audit team also noted that 27 of the barangays included in the city government's RPT shares distribution list appeared to be “non-existent”. 

The COA pointed out that based on the “Liga Ng Mga Barangay Fact Book, Copyright 2012” the city of Manila only has 896 barangays, and yet, the in its distribution list, it identified 923 barangays as recipients of the tax shares, hence “appearing that there were 27 non-existent barangays of the City.” 

The COA said the unreleased shares due to these 27 “non-existent barangays” amount to P108.733 million.

The level of graft here is amazing. There must be a whole cadre of folks in on the scheme.  One or two people can't get away with giving millions to 27 non-existent barangays. 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1013437/duterte-delivers-48-minute-expletive-free-sona-speech

In the Philippines when the President does not curse like a drunken sailor during a public speech it's news.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012610/coa-dzmm-reporter-got-p1m-paid-coverage-from-childrens-council

In its 2017 audit report, COA accused the CWC of giving cash advances amounting to P1,050,000 to an unnamed reporter of the radio station to cover activities of the council’s National Children Month. 

No contract was given and the service procurement did not go through public bidding as the law requires, the COA said in its report. 

Among the services allegedly provided include arranging radio and television guestings of CWC’s executives, distributing promotional materials, and inviting other media to the council’s activities.

In what way would the Children's Welfare Council benefit? More donations? But it's a government organisation. In the Philippines journalists are either bribed or murdered.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1013603/ex-maguindanao-governor-faces-charges-over-p500-m-project-graft-case-malversation-case

The impending charges arose from the alleged failure of provincial officials to submit supporting documents for the use of the funds despite repeated demands by the Department of Agrarian Reform. 

Citing the Commission on Audit’s findings, the Ombudsman found that the roads were “in bad condition and far shorter than the reported lengths,” and the declared accomplishments “were no longer visible.”

Philippine officials would rather pocket the money for building roads rather than actually building roads. And they wonder why the country remains poor!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012211/pagcor-denies-coa-finding-on-ring-giveaway

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has contradicted the Commission on Audit (COA) finding that it spent P13.02 million on gold rings for its longtime employees in 2017—and singled out television network ABS-CBN for “contributing to the destabilization effort of those groups opposing the government.” 

In a statement, Pagcor claimed on Thursday that the news report based on the COA’s 2017 annual audit report had “no basis.”

It said the awarding of 18-karat gold memento rings to employees who had completed 20 years of service was stopped by Pagcor chair and CEO Andrea Domingo in 2016, despite the COA unearthing such expenses in 2017. 

State auditors had questioned the generous benefits and allowances given to Pagcor personnel totaling P334.8 million for exceeding the rates provided for by the 2017 General Appropriations Act and COA regulations. 

Loyalty awards were found to be double the rates set by COA rules, while Pagcor’s higher-ranked officials were found to have received representation and transportation allowances that outranked even the department secretaries.

Not only is the COA report fake news but ABS-CBN is helping to destabilise the country by reporting on this fake news!

http://business.inquirer.net/254461/coa-tells-land-bank-stop-outsourcing-atm-cash-loading

Following complaints that its automated teller machines (ATMs) were always out of cash, the Commission on Audit (COA) has called on Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) not to outsource cash loading tasks to a third party anymore. 

Auditors pointed out that the budget for outsourcing services could have been used to buy armored cars to deliver the cash. 

It noted that in the National Capital Region’s 268 ATM units, downtimes lasted from 1.35 hours to as long as 15 days.

That's a whole lot of downtime. Would it be much better if the did not outsource? ATMs in the Philippines are often "Offline."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/661638/senate-oks-on-third-reading-bill-on-free-wifi-clean-crs-in-transport-terminals/story/

Senate Bill No. 1749, under Committee Report 286, seeks to mandate owners, operators, or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and Roll On-Roll Off terminals to provide passengers with clean, sanitary facilities for free.

Sad that the Senate had to waste time with this legislation. Sanitary bathrooms should be a no-brianer but in the Philippines they are non-existent. How detailed is this bill though? Will it mandate toilet paper? Soap? Running water? A flushing toilet? And, as is the problem with all Philippine laws, who will enforce it?

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/661779/more-than-160-containers-illegally-released-at-mindanao-container-terminal-boc/story/

Lapeña believed that "unscrupulous players" in the port have cohorts inside the Customs agency.

Wow ya think so really?  It's always an inside job.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/18/coa-flags-dfas-unremitted-aid-for-ofws-donations-for-typhoon-victims

In its 2017 audit report on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the COA said a total of P9.776 million was received by foreign service posts around the world representing end-of-service benefits for deceased OFWs from their employers. 

The total amount also included benefits for 2015 and prior years amounting to P5.988 million, which also remain unremitted by the embassies in Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Amman, Bangkok, Cairo, Doha, Islamabad, Manama, Riyadh and the consulate general in New York. 

“The amounts were receipted by the concerned collecting officers for remittance to the HO (Home Office) through the OUMWA (Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs) which is responsible for the payment to the legal heirs of the deceased OFWs,” the COA said.  

The report also said donations received by foreign service posts for typhoon victims and financial support for OFWs amounting to P947,049 were not remitted to Manila. 

Donations for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009 are still with the consulate general in San Francisco and embassies in Berlin, Brussels, London, New Delhi, Beijing, Port Moresby and Tokyo. 

Meanwhile, government auditors also questioned unliquidated cash advances of officers and employees of the DFA amounting to P107.364 million.  

“Most of the unliquidated cash advances were granted way back 1970s-1990s and majority of the officers and employees are no longer in the service, with some known to have passed away,” the COA said. 

Donations for victims of typhoons from 2009 and 2013 still remain in the various embassies! Amazing. Simply amazing.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/24/1836380/new-govt-boo-boo-foi-published-di-ko-alam-website-directory

An online website of the government found itself in another publication gaffe after an online user noticed the phrase “di ko alam” written on the Freedom of Information website’s directory. 

In his Twitter account, user peepaubau posted screenshots of the FOI’s agency directory which listed some of the fax numbers as “di ko alam” or I don’t know and “di ko pa din alam” or I still don’t know.

Pretty pathetic. This is worse than the spelling errors by the PCOO.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1753740/Cebu/Local-News/Village-councilor-gunned-down-in-Cebu

Art Stephen was onboard a white Ford Everest and was on his way to school around 8 a.m. Friday, when he was shot. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduating student at the Cebu Institute of Technology-University. 

Bas is the son of former barangay Lagtang captain Mark Ferdinand “Dindin” Bas who was arrested last April 15, 2018 after yielding a gun, grenade and ammunition during a search inside his house. He was later released on bail. 

He resigned from his position following allegations of involvement in illegal drugs.

This newly elected official is the son of an ex-offical involved with drugs. Is the motive drug related?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1014535/arroyo-survives-multimillion-peso-scandals

This article is a list of corruption scandals new Speaker of the House Arroyo has survived over the years.  Thirteen to be exact. She is truly the Teflon Don of the Philippines.

https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2018/07/25/1836556/solon-misis-inginuso-sa-p68m-dole-bribery

THE names of OFW Party List representative, Aniceto ‘John’ Bertiz and his wife, Aimee, have come out in the affidavit executed by an owner of a recruitment agency who claimed she forked out P6.8 million to resigned Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) undersecretary Dominador Say, in exchange for the lifting of a closure order against her company. 

The scandal has been forwarded by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to the Office of Ombudsman last July 20 for preliminary investigation based on the affidavit executed by ‘Azizzah Salim,’ owner of ‘Azizzah International Manpower Services,’ a land-based recruitment agency that deploys Filipino workers abroad.

You can read an English transition of this article here: http://www.journal.com.ph/news/nation/solon-wife-tagged. It's rather self-explanatory. Business owner pays a bribe and does not get what she wants so now she is ACCUSING THEM of corruption!! It works both ways honey.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1754758/Manila/Local-News/NCRPO-relieves-cop-in-viral-slapping-video

Southern Police District (SPD) director Tomas Apolinario said based on initial investigation, Costo was directing traffic at Roxas Boulevard corner Redemptorist Street in Baclaran on Wednesday afternoon when he cautioned the bus driver against blocking traffic flow. 

He then asked Mametis for his driver's license. Mametis, however, refused to give his license and even cursed and tried to bribe Costo. 

Costo then boarded the bus and slapped Mametis twice.

Will the driver be charged with attempted bribery?

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1754754/Bacolod/Local-News/Bacolod-City-Council-adjourns-session-only-5-councilors-present

Councilor Elmer Sy filed a sick leave while Councilor Noli Villarosa was on a vacation leave. 

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Dindo Ramos, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero and Bartolome Orola were on an official trip to Long Beach, California since last week. 

Only eight councilors are left, but Tan was appointed by Familiaran as the acting vice mayor and acting presiding officer. 

Tan reiterated that only five councilors were present so there was no quorum. 

He said this is the first time there was no quorum at the City Council. 

He added they were not informed of the travel of his colleagues to Long Beach. 

In his letter to Familiaran, Peter Ramirez, president of Long Beach Bacolod Association, invited the city officials to attend their events to promote the cultural and educational ties between the two cities.

How did this guy not know that his colleagues took a trip to Long Beach if he was appointed as acting Vice Mayor by the Vice Mayor himself?  Makes no sense. Having a sister city relationship is not odd but why did it require the mayor plus 7 city council members to go to Long Beach to promote Bacolod City? They will also be overseeing a Masskarra Festival in long Beach. Just what the LBC needs!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/26/1836990/dfa-eyes-process-30000-passports-day-year-end

Only 30,000? They should be able to do this anyway just because it is their job. How can it be 2018 and the Philippines passport application system is still not streamlined so that you simply fill out a form, mail it in, and receive your document within a month?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/26/1837002/ex-tpb-chief-montano-spent-p227m-14-trips-abroad-coa-finds

The Commission on Audit, in its latest report, said Montano was abroad 14 times in 2017—91 days of 365 days—and spent P2.277 million when he traveled to Asia, Europe, Australia and North America. 

“Travel abroad for more than 90 days and more than 12 times in a year of an officer or employee is deemed excessive and may have adverse repercussions on the management of the affairs of the government corporation,” COA said.

The Department of Tourism should be eliminated. The government does not need to be in the business of tourism. Let private companies do it. If they won't eliminate it they should at least neuter it, rewrite the rules of the DOT.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1014670/ex-aurora-vice-mayor-nabbed-for-extortion

A former Aurora vice mayor, with alleged ties with the New People’s Army, was arrested in Tarlac City on Wednesdayafternoon for allegedly attempting to extort P1.5 million from his nephew. 

Businessman Albert Acosta complained that Agustin, his uncle, sent him an extortion letter and a series of text messages directing him to pay a revolutionary tax.

Not just extortion! NPA revolutionary taxes too.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/661476/lorenzana-calls-phl-victory-vs-china-in-tribunal-empty/story/

When the ruling came down Lorenzana was pleased and said he hoped China would abide by it. Now after two years it's an empty victory. It would not be an empty victory if it had been enforced but Duterte has routinely ignored it.

Story of the week?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012353/brother-media-men-doubtful-of-shabu-found-in-slain-albay-radiomans-car

The police found a blue Avon sling bag with seven sachets of shabu and a lighter, said Jose Llana, Joey’s brother. 

“It was planted. He doesn’t use sling bag,” Jose said. 

Jose also said he believed that the drugs were only planted to distract investigators and the public. 

“To divert the issue, they planted drugs,” Jose said.

“He was a livewire, talkative, somehow, he had reckless statements, but on top of it, he was still a legitimate media practitioner,” Barcelon said. 

Llana was known as a “hard-hitting” broadcaster, who tackled local and national officials implementing projects tainted with corruption and corrupt media practitioners and police. 

Barcelon also said that he doubted that the shabu found in Llana’s car was his. “I never saw a visible clue that he was into drugs,” he said.

A hard-hitting journalist who exposed corruption was brutally gunned down in front of house. The PNP found drugs in the car. Maybe it was a drug related crime? But his brother says, "No." If his brother was not into drugs why would the PNP find not just shabu but a lighter too? Curiously they did not find a pipe.

It turns out though that his brother was correct. There were no drugs in the car.  It was tawas!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1012848/pnp-tawas-not-shabu-found-in-slain-broadcasters-car

The substance found in a sling bag inside the car of slain radio broadcaster Joey Llana was alum, locally known as “tawas,” according to Senior Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Bicol Police Regional Office. 

Investigators are still determining, however, whether the sling bag where the eight plastic sachets containing the tawas belonged to the victim or if somebody might have left it in the victims’ vehicle.

The first article says seven sachets and this one says eight.  Which one is it!?  Given that this journalist went after corruption and given that men came to his house asking if he lived there just days before he was killed and given that the PNP do in fact plant evidence (scroll back up to the 12th article in this post for that) and given that his brother said he does not use a sling bag, I think it is likely that these fake drugs were planted and that a politician likely paid PNP officers to kill this man.

The give away to the whole thing is that they did not find a pipe! Just a lighter and some sachets. You need a pipe to smoke drugs. Why would he have sachets of alum and a lighter? Why? Someone forgot to place the pipe in the bag!

This is of course just my opinion and we will have to see how it all plays out but we know how the justice system works in the Philippines.