It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics.
The fire victims of Barangay Mambaling will have to wait for the state of calamity to be declared in their barangay following the fire that razed 105 houses in Sitio Puntod displacing 156 families or 615 individuals since the dispute between their two barangay chiefs have not yet been resolved.
Gines Abellana, elected barangay chief, was suspended on January 9, 2019 by the Cebu City Council for abuse of authority following a complaint of four barangay councilors, who claimed that Abellana allegedly withheld their honoraria.
The next day, January 10, first councilor, Anna Marie Palomo, took over as acting barangay chief.
Abellana made an appeal to the Office of the President to lift his suspension order, which he said meant that his suspension was stalled because of this appeal and he remained to be the incumbent chief of Mambaling.
Both officials have been serving as chiefs in the last four months, but neither have been able to conduct official functions at the barangay council, with members divided between the chiefs, and they could not reach a proper quorum during sessions.
The state of calamity declaration will allow the barangay to tap on its calamity fund and provide for the needs of the fire victims.
Two people both claim to be barangay captain and because of this business as usual is not able to be conducted. This means declaring the barangay which was ravaged by fire to be in a state of calamity which would free up funds to provide for victims. As always the people are the losers.
A member of the Zamboanga City Police Anti-Drug Operatives (ZCPADO) was shot dead by men on a motorcycle in Barangay Tumaga in this city at around 6 p.m. today, June 1.
Maj. Arlan Delumpines, commander of the Zamboanga City Police Station 7, identified the victim as Cpl. Edgar Gaganting of Police Station 4.
Police have not established the motive for the killing as of this writing.
Gaganting was one of the members of the anti-drug unit here who arrested a son of a prominent retired police official last January.
Another cop assassinated by motorcycle gunmen with no known motive. Could it be revenge for arresting the son of a prominent person?
In a 2018 audit report, COA said a memorandum of agreement between the Ormoc City government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed in September 2017 was supposed to provide for 2,272 temporary shelters.
The agreement stated that the city government was to choose a safe site and construct the units, which were to be funded by the DSWD. The project was supposed to be completed 30 days after the release of funds in January 2018.
But state auditors said, "As of December 31, 2018, the amount was still intact."
"Because of the delay in the procurement from the time that the plan was conceptualized, prices of construction materials have naturally increased," COA said.
Auditors said the cost of each temporary shelter increased from P15,000 to P29,974.05.
Because of the delays, the National Housing Authority's permanent housing units are expected to be completed even before the temporary ones.
Delays, delays, delays. Always delays. From Yolanda to Marawi to this. No aspect of Philippine government is functional. Local, national...it's pure chaos and red tape and dysfunction.
In a 14-page motion for reconsideration, the NBI argued that the determination of sufficient evidence to convict Pat. Jose Lunar Mercado, Senior Master Sgt. Rodante Lalimarmo and Staff Sgt. Arthur Lucy should be done during a full-blown trial, not during the preliminary investigation.
“The investigating prosecutor does not determine the guilt or innocence of an accused. It merely requires that a probability exists that the crime has been committed,” it said.
Mercado, Lalimarmo and Lucy were charged with conspiring to kill in an ambush former Quezon City Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco on May 11, 2018.
In his resolution dismissing the NBI complaint, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong described the bureau’s crucial evidence and testimonies as “inadmissible, unbelievable, untrue and contradictory.”
Sounds like Peter Ong is playing judge and jury. Perhaps he is just protecting the cops?
Majority Leader Fredenil Castro welcomed the pronouncements of both the President and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, that neither would intervene in the battle for House leadership when the 18th Congress opens in July.
“This will also show who the real ones are supportive of the President — a fact that will not surface because of a desire to be anointed only to be known by acts of betrayal after the election,” the Capiz congressman-elect added.
He said Congress needed a Speaker who was truly supportive of the Duterte administration—not those who faked their allegiance in the hope of getting a presidential anointment.
This announcement is worthless considering the fact that many of the contenders have sought Duterte's blessing. Also the legislative branch should not be an arm of the executive branch and that appears to be is what is happening here.
“In all of the speakership fight which I have witnessed, it’s always the hand of Malacañang which is prominent in the selection of a leader of the House. I don’t think there has been any exemption to that,” Lagman, a senior lawmaker, said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
There are three contenders for the speakership post for the 18th Congress: Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and incoming Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. They met with President Rodrigo Duterte earlier during his recent official trip in Japan.
But if only these three will vie for the speakership post, then “most probably, affinity to Malacañang is a major standard” in choosing the next Speaker, said Lagman.
“And I hate to say, that would destroy the independence, integrity of the House,” he said.
Lagman should know as he has been in the House for a long time.
President Duterte’s adamant stand of neutrality in the speakership race will put Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the driver’s seat as far as the party-list bloc’s choice of the next House of Representatives leader is concerned.
“Again, if the principal who is our President will not give a decision, then probably the closest to the principal might. So we also deem to consult with her,” said Romero, referring to Mayor Duterte.
For her part, Garin said: “Mayor Sara Duterte? She’s vital in the equation (in Speakership race).”
The solon admitted that whatever the decision of their selection committee will be can be overruled the moment President Duterte decides to endorse a candidate to lead the 303-man chamber.
“Napakahirap naman to go against, iyan ang reality diyan (It will be difficult to go against, that is the reality about it). This is a numbers game. This is the House of Representatives. Kung ano ang piliin ng Presidente, tingin ko naman, ‘yan din ang mapipili ditto (I think whoever the President chooses will be the group’s choice). So, we will abide,” said Romero.
The young Duterte said she will be contented with the House choice so long as the next speaker will support the remaining legislative agenda of her father.
Thye will seek out Sara's advice despite her statement that she will remain neutral. Why is she vital anyway? Because she will be a likely Presidential candidate in 2020. Has the House always been the rubber stamp of the President? It seems that way according to Lagman's statement above. Looks like it will remain that way.
In his motion, Siao said he intends to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria from June 18 to July 9 with his family.
“Accused Cong. Siao has already made prior arrangements and commitments to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria to attend to business matters and for leisure with his family,” Siao said.
The man is accused of graft and he wants to go on a European business trip. Do his business contacts know he is charged with graft? Sadly he will probably be allowed to go even though he should not be.
An anti-corruption watchdog on Tuesday claimed Senator Loren Legarda violated the Constitution with the approval of the bill granting a 25-year franchise to Solar Para Sa Bayan (SPSB) Corporation, which is owned by her son, Leandro Leviste.
Citing the Constitution, Leon Peralta, founding chairman of the Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM), said that Legarda is not allowed to have a “direct or indirect interest in a franchise granted by the government.”
“The Constitution prohibits her from having direct or indirect interest in a franchise granted by the government. It is established that her being the mother of the franchisee’s owner gives her indirect interest in the franchise,” Peralta said in a statement.
This is a very open and shut case of corruption and it does not matter that she abstained from voting. The fact is as a government employee she should not have family members winning government contracts.
The Ombudsman previously found Binay “guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of age service.”
“Binay Jr., as the city mayor and despite glaring irregularities in the procurement of the construction services of Phase VI, still approved the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) resolution recommending Hilmarc as the bidder with LCRB (Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid), signed the Notice of Award, entered into a contract with Hilmarc on behalf of the city government of Makati, signed the Notice of Commence Work, noted the Certificate of Completion and Acceptance… for the construction of Phase VI of the MSHS building,” the CA ruling reads.
Why did the Comelec allow this man to run when he was already convicted? Imagine if he had won the election.
PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said this Tuesday, after Advincula reportedly claimed meeting with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a certain Father Robert, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, and former Education Secretary Armin Luistro in separate sessions at universities.
Advincula reportedly claimed that the meetings centered on how to publicize a story that the President’s allies and family were linked to illegal drugs, to unseat Duterte, and to ensure the defeat of administration-backed senatorial candidates in the recently concluded elections.
"Bikoy" keeps enlarging his story. Last time it was just the Liberal Party. Now he is adding the Catholic Church! Who will be added to the script next week?
“Sa 2 milyon (pesos) maliit pa nga ‘yun eh. I heard yesterday na magiging P7 million pa ‘yan pero dapat ‘wag nang ganun,” Gonzales said in an interview Tuesday, as he was asked if he believes former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s claim of vote-buying in the lower chamber for the speakership race.
These accusations are worthless without exposing names.
Police identified the victims as Nestor Callanga, former barangay kagawad of Pulong Sta. Cruz; Milencio Patapat, barangay tanod of Barangay Pulong Sta. Cruz in Laguna; and Carlos Manimtim, father-in-law of Callanga.
Police said the victims were about to enter their car when the suspect shot them several times at Dita Rotonda, Barangay Rotonda in Sta. Rosa at around 8 a.m.
The suspect then escaped using an unknown vehicle.
Another ex-village councillor assassinated.
In its annual report, the COA found that the CHR has continued to use vehicles that are “beyond economical repair.”
Over the past four years, the CHR has spent more than P4.6 million to maintain and repair 23 outmoded and fully depreciated motor vehicles in its inventory.
“Verification of the property and accounting records showed that the CHR had 23 motor vehicles that underwent frequent repairs, of which, seven used by the CHR Central Office and 16 by the CHR Regional Offices, acquired from 1988 to 2010,” the COA said.
The CHR’s oldest vehicle still in operation is a Pinoy II M-88 with license plate No.
SBY-266 and purchased in 1988. It is still being used by the CHR Region 13 office.
While it was originally purchased for P196,595, the audit body said costs to repair the vehicle had reached P250,866.
In a statement, the CHR said it was using dilapidated vehicles due to its low funding in recent years.
Sometimes it's just too hard to let go of a car you really love. Especially if you don't have the money to buy a new one.
Each PhilHealth member is entitled to 90 free dialysis sessions a year. But after Maria died in March 2016, PhilHealth continued paying for the rest of the dialysis treatments that were due her for the year at P2,600 each.
This is because WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Center Corp. (WellMed) on Quirino Highway in Barangay Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City, continued filing claims for the sessions on her behalf despite her death, according to Edwin Roberto, a former employee of the center.
And PhilHealth continued paying, apparently not checking if the claims were valid, Roberto told the Inquirer.
“It’s ghost dialysis,” he said of one of the schemes that WellMed had supposedly carried out to bilk the government.
Lawyer Harry Roque, whom Roberto and his fellow ex-employee Liezel Santos had approached for help, said he was interested in their case because he wanted irregularities in PhilHealth fixed soon, especially with the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
Universal Health Care is going to be a honeypot for a lot of greedy people. How much money will get stolen?
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