Retards in the Government 82

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1065308/palace-urges-coa-doj-to-sue-agencies-in-wasteful-projects

“It’s the duty of the COA to recommend the filing of charges, and then the Department of Justice (DOJ) will have to take over,” Panelo said.

The Palace should follow their own advice and recommend charges against those Duterte fires for alleged corruption.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/12/22/rodel-batocabe-death-ako-bicol.html

AKO Bicol Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe and his escort, Orlando Diaz, were shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Daraga, Albay at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, his fellow lawmakers confirmed. 

Batocabe, who is running for mayor of Daraga in the upcoming elections, was at a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities when he was shot by the suspect.

Another assassinated politician.  It just so happened the day of his assassination was also his wedding anniversary. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/679222/house-approves-bill-requiring-graduating-students-to-plant-legacy-trees/story/

Graduating students in elementary, high school, and college shall be covered by the bill...

How about pass a bill that each student has to collect 100 pounds of trash from Manila Bay before they can graduate? Or they have to round up 50 stray dogs? This bill is stupid and reminds me of the INC tree planting fiasco. You can't just plant a tree and walk away!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066085/albayalde-someday-the-bully-student-will-find-his-match

In an interview after a gift-giving event in Malate, Manila, Albayalde said: “Well I hope someday, that person, that bully makakatugma din ‘yan, makakatapat din ‘yan, ‘yong mga bully na ganyan.” 

According to the PNP chief — who was obviously infuriated with the viral video of a bullying incident showing a Taekwondo black-belter punching and kicking a fellow student — said that during their time, kids would settle things squarely “at the back of the gymnasium.”

He might as well wish death on the bully.  What a horrible thing to say. But that's the PNP.  A violent gang that really does settle things "at the back of the gymnasium."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1065672/daraga-police-chief-relieved-after-batocabes-killing

This is an idiotic response. Firing the Chief won't solve the crime.  Even if there were more police presence  that would not stop assassins who have been paid and are bent on killing their target.  Nice window dressing though.

https://usa.inquirer.net/17559/illinois-fil-am-ex-judge-gets-one-year-in-prison-for-mortgage-fraud

“I’m an embarrassment!”  cried Jessica Arong Obrien, who told U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin,“I will fall on my sword if I have to, but I need you to know the truth!” she continued through tears. The emotional scene led the judge to order a recess. 

The first Filipina judge in Illinois’ Cook County pleaded for 30 minutes for leniency in a federal courtroom Dec. 20, but she was sentenced to a year and one day in prison for her role in a $1.4-million mortgage fraud scheme that occurred years before she got elected judge. 

She and her former business partner scammed several lenders in the purchase of two Chicago South Side properties when she was a lawyer and real estate agent a decade ago in Lincolnwood, Illinois. She was then also working as a special assistant attorney general for the Illinois Department of Revenue. 

“Of course, I have remorse as to my stupidity,” O’Brien said in her vain attempt to receive probation. 

But Judge Durkin who remained undaunted said that the fraud scheme she orchestrated lasted nearly three years and wasn’t done as a result of an oversight. “This was a crime,” the judge added. 

The crowd that came for the sentencing was given a rundown of Jessica O’Brien’s version of living the American Dream—a Filipina from Cebu who came to the U.S. with almost nothing but, through perseverance and determination, found phenomenal success. 

“It is an inspirational story,” her lawyer, Steve Greenberg, said in arguing for probation. In asking for a two-year prison sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthey Madden stressed that O’Brien had refused to take any responsibility for her crime. 

“She used lies to buy and sell these properties,” Madden had told jurors in February. “She doesn’t seem to have acknowledged at all that her poor decisions are what led her here to this courtroom,” Madden said.

It's corrupt Philippine politics transferred to the US justice system only the US does not play the same game as the Philippines. This lady's crocodile tears and story of being a hardworking Pinay who came from nothing and is really an inspiration to us all despite wilfully defrauding people for three years did not sway the judge one bit and now she will be rotting in the clink for a whole year. In the Philippines she would still be an upstanding citizen and likely acquitted due to her great performance before the court.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1065681/cop-slain-outside-his-house-in-cebu-city

Police were looking into personal grudge as motive in the killing of PO2 Romeo Jumalon, 42, who suffered multiple bullet wounds on his body. 

Initial investigation showed that Jumalon was standing outside of his home in Barangay Pit-os around 4 a.m. when a vehicle approached him. 

A still unidentified gunman then shot Jumalon several times.

Another cop dead under mysterious circumstances by an unknown assassin.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/219464-joelito-talaid-killed-ambush-december-2018

A former mayor of Kadingilan town in Bukidnon was gunned down Saturday morning, December 22, as he was about to alight from his vehicle to buy fruits. 

Joelito Talaid, 43, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant at Lane 101, Zone 12, Barangay Carmen, here at around 9:45 am.

Another dead politician. Former politician. What difference does it make?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066120/palace-to-filipinos-set-aside-poisonous-murderous-politics

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066223/duterte-to-filipinos-learn-lesson-from-christs-birth

Duterte's Christmas message for 2018 is a mine of solid comedy gold!

http://northboundasia.com/2018/12/19/no-gun-muzzle-sealing-for-new-year-proves-cops-discipline-pnp/

There will be no muzzle taping of guns for this year’s holiday revelry to prove that police personnel are responsible enough, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said. 

“I think nag-start iyan (it started) last year, and last year we were able to prove (that) our PNP personnel are responsible enough. Wala akong alam na (I have not received any reports of) indiscriminate firing last year. So this year, sana (I hope we will have) zero incident of indiscriminate firing,” Albayalde told reporters in an interview on Monday. 

“We have to show to the public that we are a responsible, professional, dynamic police organization. Hindi na namin kailangan siguro na tinitape dahil una kapag yung mga tao (I don’t think there is a need to put tapes on it because when people), even or most especially foreigners, mga tourists na pumupunta rito medyo napapahiya tayo kapag nakakita sila ng (baril ng) pulis na merong masking tape sa dulo(It doesn’t look good especially for tourists who visit us if they see that the guns of our police officers have masking tapes on the muzzles),” he added.

The PNP is so corrupt and incompetent and a group of bunglers that until recently during the holidays their guns were taped to prevent indiscriminate firing. But now the PNP wants to prove its personnel are responsible enough and besides taped guns are bad for tourism. What an unbelievably dumb thing to do. What about crime? What about safety? Why would the PNP ever tape their guns? So are they up to the challenge? Are they responsible enough? 

No.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/12/25/cop-surrenders-after-injuring-7-in-shooting-spree/

Christmas Day may not be merry for a police officer who surrendered to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday, December 25, after he allegedly engaged in a shooting spree in Caloocan City and injured seven people — including a minor.

What kind of lead-in is that?  Christmas Day may not be so merry for a cop who went on a shooting spree??  How about Christmas Day may not be so merry for seven people who were shot by another bad egg scallywag PNP officer?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066116/police-visibility-could-have-prevented-batocabe-killing-pnp-chief

Attacks — like the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police aide, SPO1 Orlando Diaz – could have been prevented with higher police visibility, according to Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
That’s why he’s directing police officers to secure events involving politicians — with or without their request. 

“Of course ‘yong visibility natin napaka-importante. Kagaya noon, naiwasan sana natin ‘yon kung during the time na nandoon at marami talagang tao,” Albayalde said in a press briefing after a gift-giving program for children that he led at the Paraiso ng mga Bata in Malate, Manila. 

[Of course, our visibility is very imporant. Like in that case [Batocabe’s killing], we could have avoided that if the police had been there, especially since there many people present.]
“Ito ’yong mga sinasabi natin sa mga pulis: Even without the request, kung pupunta ’yung isang kandidato, isang incumbent [official] sa isang lugar at makita naman talaga na maraming tao, it is incumbent upon the policemen to secure the area, not the person, but all the people there,” he added. 

[That’s what I’m telling police officers: Even without the request, if a candidate or an incumbent official is going somewhere and there are many people there, it is incumbent upon the policemen to secure the area, not just the person, but all the people there.]

If they really believe this is true then they should make this policy and follow it and enforce it.

https://www.untvweb.com/news/batocabe-family-eyes-substitute-candidate-for-daraga-mayoralty-race/

The family of slain lawmaker Congressman Rodel Batocabe is planning to have a substitute candidate for him in the mayoralty race in the town of Daraga. 

According to Rep. Batocabe’s son Atty. Justin Batocabe, there is no final decision yet but he confirmed that someone from the Batocabes will definitely run in the 2019 midterm elections. 

The younger Batocabe said they are determined to continue the legacy of their father.

And so begins a political dynasty.  Shouldn't finding a replacement candidate be the job of the party he was representing?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066921/batocabe-widow-i-am-being-asked-to-run-in-my-husbands-place

“I have been told that I can. But my main focus right now is to bury him (Rodel) with dignity and honor in accordance with how he lived his life. And after this is justice. We will not allow that there would be no justice,” she said. 

Gertie is a graduate of Mass Communications from the University of the Philippines. 

“I will not be pushed if I run, it will be my own decision. It will be with a purpose, it will be because I can do it,” she added. 

Without naming anyone, she made remarks directed to the mastermind of her husband’s killing. 

“You are so desperate. Pinatay mo? Binili mo na lang sana. (You killed him? You should have just bought him) I know you’re evil. Anak ka ni Satanas, ewan ko kung sa’n ka galing (You are a spawn of Satan, I don’t know where you came from),” she said. 

“Mahal na mahal ng asawa ko itong Daraga. Maawa kayo. Pinatay niyo siya na parang karne lang ng…(My husband loves Daraga very much. Have mercy. You killed him like so much meat…),” she pleaded.

Well surprise, surprise. The party wants the wife to run just like Cory Aquino did after her husband was assassinated. Why would this lady tell her husband's killers, "You should have just bought him"? Is she admitting that her husband was corrupt and for sale?

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/12/26/p32m-reward-not-working-in-solving-batocabe-slay-pnp/

“We are all concerned to solve this case and as what I have said, if only we would have a lead because as of this time, accordingly, our investigators are having difficulty because no one wants to talk,” said Albayalde. 

“Apparently, parang yung kababayan natin ay natatakot na naman so we are wondering why. Sa sobrang dami nung tao na yun not even one is willing to talk at nandun din yung barangay chairman during that time. Apparently sinabi nya wala siyang alam,” he added. 

"Apparently, it seems our countrymen are afraid to turn around so we are wondering why. There are so many people who are not even willing to talk and the chairman of the barangay during that time. Apparently he said he did not know, "he added.

Gee I wonder why no one is cooperating? Maybe no one wants to be next to die!?

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/12/26/iloilo-congressman-apologizes-for-attacking-cop/

“First and foremost, I ask forgiveness from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as an institution and also to the officers and personnel of the PNP, whom I have great respect,” said Iloilo 1st District Rep. Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr. 

Based on a report from the Police Regional Office (PRO-6), Rep. Garin allegedly disarmed, handcuffed, kicked, spat, interrogated, and cussed on Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya Jr. of Guimbal PNP past 3:30 a.m. 

“I reiterate my apologies for my actions, which I take full responsibility,” said Rep. Garin as he read a prepared statement late Friday afternoon. 

Rep. Garin initially accompanied his father, Guimbal Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr., in questioning the police officer for allegedly coercing a victim to withdraw criminal complaint against a suspect for a physical attack at the plaza last December 22. 

Rep. Garin pointed out that his actions against Macaya were not directed to the PNP institution. 

“My actions were a mere display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel who committed great disservice to the people of Guimbal,” Rep. Garin said. 

According to Rep. Garin, Macaya betrayed public trust by working to settle a criminal complaint against a 30-year-old man known to be a habitual delinquent. 

Macaya allegedly made the victim of the December 22 attack sign a withdrawal statement. 

Meanwhile, PRO-6 is set to file charges against Rep. Garin and Mayor Garin for physical injuries, alarm and scandal, grave coercion, and direct assault against persons in authority. 

“I am taking this incident as an affront to me. I will not let this pass without taking actions against them,” said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PRO-6 director.

How was this PNP officer able to be disarmed? In some places (the USA for instance) if you try to disarm a cop you will end up dead! How weak is this officer that he as not only disarm but also handcuffed!? No doubt this Congressman thinks an apology will get him off the hook but The Chief Superintendent says he will be filing charges against this Congressman.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066950/garins-also-beat-up-former-cops-civilians-pnp-official

Prior to beating up a policeman, Guimbal town Mayor Oscar Garin and his son Iloilo 1st District Rep. Richard Garin have also allegedly mauled other police officers and civilians, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of the Western Visayas Police, said on Thursday. 

Bulalacao said retired police officers in the town are now speaking up about the alleged physical abuse they experienced under the Garins. 

“Retired [police officers] na ‘yung mga nagsasalita ngayon. May mga kwento sila na sad experiences sa mga Garin,” Bulalacao told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview. 

(Those speaking now are retired [police officers]. They have stories of sad experiences with the Garins.) 

“[They say] they have been very arrogant. They have the tendency to do physical harm and then bibigyan nila ng pera para hindi magreklamo (they will give the victims money in exchange for not filing cases),” he added. 

According to Bulalacao, the alleged physical abuses suffered by the other victims were similar to what PO3 Federico Macaya Jr. had experienced, such as being slapped and punched by the Garins.

Not only have the Garin's been beating up cops and civilians but they have also been paying off cops to not bring cases and apparently these cops have taken the money! These corrupt cops deserve what they get. How disgraceful must these cops be to have been beaten up by the Mayor and his son for years and not speak up. No dignity whatsoever. It's like the PNP are either a bunch of evil criminals involved in extortion, murder, and kidnapping or they are a bunch of wimpy nincompoops who let people bully them around. There is no middle ground!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/679433/dnd-chief-lorenzana-eyes-miss-universe-catriona-gray-as-army-reservist/story/

The military would love to enlist Filipina Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as reservist, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. 

“I'll talk to her kung gusto niyang mag-reservist. Dapat [sa] Army siya ah, haha,” Lorenzana told reporters at his yearender press conference.

Why? Do they think she is military material? Do they think she can cut it in the bush fighting commies and Muslims? This is dumb.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/172192/dotr-vows-strict-naia-security-after-us-travel-advisory

“This is to assure the traveling public that the Philippine government, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) are giving utmost priority and attention to the implementation of strict security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” the DOTr said in a statement issued on Wednesday. 

The DOTr issued the statement after a viral Facebook post showed a sign, allegedly posted by the Department of Homeland Security at a US airport, saying that NAIA “did not maintain and carry out effective aviation security measures.” 

“Earlier this year, the US Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration conducted an assessment and gave recommendations regarding airport security enhancement and improvements,” the DOTr said. 

The DOTr also noted that among TSA’s recommendations were “the installation of new equipment such as X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors and alarm systems.” 

The DOTr said the procurement of the items was already under process, but it would undertake manufacturing and delivery and must follow government rules and regulations.

Here is the warning that is being posted in American airports:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/a9k18r/my_friend_found_this_at_an_airport_in_the_us/

Funny that the security is so bad at NAIA that the US DHS and TSA had to coordinate with officials to advise them about upgrading their systems! The Philippine ambassador to the USA wrote in a column:

DHS has determined that the security measures implemented at NAIA are not adequate as dictated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and will continue to closely monitor the security situation at the airport as well as coordinate with MIAA and OTS regarding next steps to include development and implementation of corrective actions, and scheduling of additional security assessments. 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin and I met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo following the Philippine Embassy in Washington’s official launch of a cloud-based electronic queue management system called QLess. During our meeting, we discussed the notice from the DHS and assured Secretary Pompeo that we are working round the clock to address the issues that have been raised, among them the need to install standalone audible alarm systems in emergency doors, calibrating walk-through metal detectors and the purchase of equipment that include X-ray machines and explosive detection systems.

Of course, the procurement process which is already ongoing takes time, but Secretary Dominguez told me that an emergency budget will be set aside to buy more sophisticated equipment which NAIA needs in upgrading their services. We certainly welcome and look at this DHS notice as a way of improving security at NAIA. But then again, we really need a new airport since a lot of the problems can be traced to the fact that NAIA is already an old airport, and considering the fact that it is now handling 42 million passengers. 

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/12/23/1879206/better-safe-sorry

No matter what you think about the illusion of security or security theatre at the airport this situation is pretty hilarious and just further proof of Pinoy incompetence. NAIA is not even up to international standards! Heck even security at the malls is awful.  They don't really frisk for anything or use that mirror to look under your car. Security is awful everywhere in this country.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066565/drunk-mmda-enforcer-punches-mpd-cop-gets-shot

Based on an initial investigation of the Manila Police District (MPD), SPO1 Michael Pastor, a resident of Tagaytay Street in Caloocan City, was on his way to the MPD headquarters aboard a motorcycle when another rider suddenly crossed and nearly hit him. 

Reports said Pastor decided to let the situation go and continue on his ride along Biak na Bato Street upon realizing that the rider, later identified as Abrahan Nuqui, an MMDA enforcer and resident of Barangay 249 Tondo Manila, was drunk.

Nuqui was so drunk that authorities could not conduct an intoxication test on him.

This cop knew the rider on a motorcycle was drunk and decided to just let it go! Apparently drunk driving is fine in the Philippines. Oh wait...it's not!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066681/duterte-to-police-military-kill-those-defying-checkpoints

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police and the military to intensify checkpoints after the killing of his ally, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe. 

Duterte ordered law enforcers to kill those who would refuse to submit themselves to inspection at checkpoints. 

“If you carry a gun and you passed by a checkpoint and you refuse to stop because you are with the governor or mayor, my order to the police and to the military, son of a bitch, kill them. Let’s try,” the President told reporters in an ambush interview in Daraga, Albay on Wednesday night after he visited the wake of Batocabe. 

“Even if you’re a governor or a mayor, if there is a check point, those who refused to stop and fight with you, my order is shoot them. Wala na tayong arte human rights, human rights [Let’s not talk about human rights],” he added. “I am placing the entire Armed Forces assigned here and the police to maintain law and order.”

Duterte has a real knack for saying the most inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times. Who goes to a funeral and says, "Son of a bitch, kill them"? He could have issued this directive from the Palace but no he has to foul up the man's funeral and make this even about himself and how tough he is on crime. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1066683/unfinished-convention-center-costs-p585m

Its construction began in 2008, a year after the provincial government bought the 1.3-hectare land, according to Bernard Vicente, president of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Associations and Cooperatives (Naftac). 

Since then, work had not resumed after the government spent tens of millions of pesos from the provincial government’s share of tobacco excise taxes, Vicente said. 

The tax share represented income from the province’s tobacco farmers. 

Vicente said the provincial government might have already spent P585 million for the project, which, he noted, was not even 10-percent complete. 

The provincial government bought the 1.3-ha lot for P60 million in 2007, Vicente said. 

In subsequent years, at least P365 million was appropriated to build 88 foundation posts.
When Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson assumed office in 2013, about P100 million was spent on the building’s elevated floor, Vicente said. “They kept allocating funds for the project. If the 5-story building is worth P475 million as proposed, we should now need only P10 million to complete it,” Vicente said. 

What shocked him and other tobacco farmers was when they heard the governor’s father, former Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, said in a recent radio interview that the project would be discontinued because there were no available funds. 

“So where did the tobacco farmers’ P465 million go?” Vicente asked. 

“We waited for 11 years for its completion, and now he is saying that it will not be continued anymore? Isn’t that alarming?” he said.

Where did the money go? And how did this project even get off the ground? I guarantee it was promoted as being good for tourism. Just more corruption in the Philippines.

https://business.inquirer.net/262787/build-build-build-widened-budget-deficit-by-96-to-p477-2b-at-end-november

Lots of spending on Build x 3 but what is there to show for it?  How many projects have started and how many have finished? From last I read not many have even gotten off the ground yet. Let's hope that by the end of Duterte's term many of these projects will be started if not finished.