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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1342891/3-employees-of-negros-occidental-office-axed-from-work-for-falsification-of-daily-time-records |
Three employees of the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office were terminated from work for falsification of official document and serious dishonesty.
Lawyers Ernie Magaspag and Roxenne Sumanting, and bookbinder Warlito Butalon, however, can challenge the decision before the Civil Service Commission.
Magaspag said he and Butalon are filing motions for reconsideration.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1342765/house-drama-slammed-a-waste-of-time |
In a television interview, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Jericho Nograles blasted the “absurd” proceedings in the House, which saw Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano offering to resign and his allies voting to reject his resignation.
“This was a waste of legislative time. We have so much to battle in the budget. We don’t have time in our hands and the Republic of the Philippines cannot wait,” Nograles said.
The deliberations on the 2021 budget were interrupted on Wednesday when Cayetano took the floor and delivered a 40-minute speech, narrating details of a meeting he and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco had with President Duterte in Malacañang on Tuesday night, then offered to resign.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117337 |
Four village chiefs here and one each in the towns of Sta. Barbara, San Jacinto, and Rosales are facing a six-month preventive suspension over alleged anomalies in the social amelioration program (SAP).
In an interview on Friday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Pangasinan provincial director Paul Lalata Jr. said most of the complaints against them were due to alleged grave misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of their service, abuse of authority, and oppression.
“These are in relation to the implementation, specifically in identifying the beneficiaries for the first tranche of SAP,” he said.
Lalata said the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of the officials from Oct. 1, 2020 to March 30, 2021, to give way to the investigation against them.
“This does not mean they are already guilty. The Ombudsman said that their stay in their post might prejudice the case against them as they have access to the evidence and they might influence the evidence and the witnesses,” he said.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/343533/retired-police-officer-killed-in-shootout-p1-4m-shabu-seized |
A retired police officer was killed in a shootout with law enforcers who visited his home in Sitio Hoyong-Hoyong, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Friday, October 2, 2020, to serve a search warrant.
In a report, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA – 7) said that Alexander Dalion, 58, was accused of being a drug peddler who had links with prominent drug personalities here.
PDEA-7 said that Dalion attempted to scare away law enforcers from the anti-narcotics agency, the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), who were headed for his home to serve the search warrant.
The PDEA-7 report said that the former policeman opened fire prompting law enforcers to fire back at him which resulted in his death.
Seized from the suspect’s residence were 22 pieces of sealed transparent plastic sachets believed to contain shabu with a total street value of approximately P1.4 million.
Dalion allegedly had connections with slain drug lord Jeffrey ‘Jaguar’ Diaz and had the capacity to dispose of around one kilogram of shabu per week.
PDEA-7 said they received information from concerned citizens in the area on the former police officer’s illegal activities. Informants also claimed that Dalion had murdered his sibling and that he would indiscriminately fire a gun scaring neighbors.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/343454/lto7-worker-allegedly-involved-in-talisay-shooting-incident |
A mediation hearing over a noise complaint ended into an alleged shooting incident on Friday, October 2, 2020, in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.
The Talisay City Police Station confirmed to reporters on Friday, October 2, that they received a shooting alarm involving Vince Santiago, 36, and a certain Bryan Montefalcon, 35.
Pelare said that the two men argued after the mediation hearing outside the barangay hall which allegedly ended in a shot fired.
In the initial investigation, Santiago, who is an employee of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7), and his neighbor, Montefalcon, attended the mediation hearing at the Tabunok Barangay Hall over a noise complaint filed by Santiago’s mother against Montefalcon.
Apparently, the mediation hearing did not go well because both men ended up arguing outside the barangay hall after the hearing.
Santiago claimed that he challenged Montefalcon to a fistfight but instead the latter allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Santiago.
Santiago claimed that the gun fired after they grappled for possession of the gun.
Montefalcon, for his part, denied Santiago’s claims and instead accused Santiago as the one who pointed a gun at him.
But responding policemen noted that there were no firearms recovered from the scene where the alleged disagreement happened.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117391 |
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday formally endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman the complaint against senior officials including the chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
In his letter to Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay said the complaint of the National Bureau of Investigation on irregularities in the state insurer involved the questionable grant of cash advances to health care institutions in the National Capital Region under its interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).
The said mechanism is provided for under PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0007 and allowed the release of funds during natural disasters and armed conflicts. Up to 33 percent or PHP5 billion of the PHP14.9 billion released through IRM has been liquidated.
Named in the complaint were former president and chief executive officer (PCEO) Ricardo Morales, executive vice president Arnel de Jesus, senior vice president Renato Limsiaco, senior vice president Israel Francis Pargas and vice presidents Gregorio Rulloda, Imelda Trinidad de Vera, Lolita Tuliao, Gemma Sibucao and Lailani Padua.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, in a message to newsmen, said the charges are for violation of Sections 3(e) and 3 (i) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices act, malversation of public funds or property, violation of Sections 251, 255, and 272 of the National Internal Revenue Code, and Section 4 of Republic Act 1051, which requires government agencies to deduct and withhold taxes in payments made to private institutions and individuals.
"More complaints will be filed in the next few days and weeks against erring PhilHealth personnel and their cohorts," Guevarra said.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1343617/binan-council-secretary-companion-shot-dead-in-ambush |
The secretary of the Biñan City Council in Laguna, Edward “Edu” Alonte Reyes, and his companion were gunned down in an ambush Sunday evening, according to the Laguna Police Provincial Office.
The attack took place at around 7:30 p.m. in Barangay San Antonio in Biñan.
Reyes, a cousin of Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte, was a member of the dominant political clan in the city.
Also killed was his companion, Don Deocaris, who was identified in a police report as a doctor.
Reyes and Deocaris were ambushed in a car by an undetermined number of assailants near a convenience store on Jubilation Road near the city government building.
They were rushed to the University of Perpetual Help Hospital in the city where they were declared dead on arrival.
On the same day in 2017, Reyes was wounded a similar ambush shortly after he left the government building.
Police are investigating the two separate shooting incidents on Sunday that led to death of a barangay official and the wounding of a volunteer fireman, an official said Monday.
Capt. Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, identified the fatality as Joseph Tejero, the barangay chairperson of Poblacion in Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte.
The wounded volunteer fireman is identified as Alfredo Gomez Jr., 40, of Midsalip Fire Station, Zamboanga del Sur.
Duco said Tejero was inside his residence when three unidentified gunmen, armed with .45-caliber pistols, appeared and repeatedly shot the barangay official around 2:43 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Poblacion, Baliguian.
Tejero, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, died instantly.
Duco said the suspects fled on board two motorcycles towards the town of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.
Gomez, on the other hand, was repeatedly shot by two men riding tandem in a motorcycle while the victim was about to park his motorcycle around 9 p.m. Sunday near a hospital in Barangay Bacahan in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur.
The Commission on Audit has told the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to "act as a role model" and register its 399 vehicles that failed to comply with inspection requirements in 2019.
Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code mandates that all vehicles must be registered, COA noted in its 2019 audit report on the MMDA.
The Transport Division (TD) of the MMDA disclosed to the audit team that only 132 vehicles, including motorcycles, service vehicles and trucks, had been registered in 2019 out of a total of 531 vehicles.
The head of the TD unit said that the non-registration of vehicles was due to several reasons, including defective lights, faulty electrical wirings, unsightly body, failed smoke emission, among others.
Plate numbers from previously purchased vehicles as well as necessary documents were also unavailable and some users were not prioritizing the registration of their vehicles as they were more focused on operations.
“As one of the Implementing Agencies for Traffic Enforcement, MMDA should act as a role model for the public and to follow strictly the rules and regulations prescribed by LTO (Land Transportation Office) for motor vehicle renewal/registration,” the audit team said.
The vehicles cited in the report included some that were "for repair" pending the delivery of parts, other were auctioned off but were not crossed off in records, and some are "in the process of disposal" and no longer needed to be registered, said MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/05/20/mmda-denies-commission-on-audit-report-on-unregistered-vehicles
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1342970/woman-identifies-severed-head-of-abducted-navy-reservist-in-manila |
A woman positively identified the severed head discovered a day ago in Manila as her cousin, a navy reservist, who was believed to be abducted in Navotas, police said Friday.
In a progress report from the Manila Police District Homicide Section, police said Marie Ann Esguerra received a call from her niece about the abduction of Oliver Ignacio last Thursday afternoon.
The 37-year-old Ignacio was last seen at an impounding area in Navotas City, Esguerra said.
Days after Ignacio’s abduction, Esguerra said she received a photo of the decapitated head via her social media account leading her to report the incident to Navotas police, who brought her to Funeraria Cruz where the severed head was placed.
The Department of Health (DOH) has accumulated P2.2 billion worth of expired, overstocked or nearly expired medicines as well as medical and dental supplies, a Commission on Audit (COA) report showed.
Of the P2.2 billion, P29 million were expired, P1.14 billion were overstocked and P1 billion were near expiry.
“The occurrence of these expired, overstocked and nearly expired inventory items is a manifestation of an excessive expenditure since items were procured more than what is needed. It is a result of poor inventory/supply management system covering procurement planning, monitoring, storage and acceptance/issuance/transfer/distribution of goods,” COA said.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1344013/cops-arrest-philhealth-spokesperson-over-cyber-libel-charges |
An official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was arrested on Monday night in Pasig City over a supposed cyber libel case filed against him.
Information from the Pasig City Police Station said that the arrest order against PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Balena was served by its warrant and subpoena section at his residence near Shaw Boulevard.
According to Pasig City Police, the warrant was released by Cebu Metropolitan Trial Court Presiding Judge Ramon Daomilas Jr. It is unclear, however, what specific incident this cyber libel charge stemmed from.
As of now, Balena remains under the Pasig City Police’s custody while awaiting orders from the court.A very vague report about which we will surely hear more of later.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1344589/brother-of-journey-frontman-arnel-pineda-nabbed-in-qc-drug-bust |
A younger brother of Journey frontman Arnel Pineda and a barangay tanod (watchman) were arrested for the alleged possession of over 20 grams of shabu (crystal meth) during a buy-bust in Quezon City on Tuesday night.
A report from Lt. Col. Bernouli Abalos, station commander of the Kamuning police in Quezon City identified the suspects as Rusmon Pineda, 51, and Rojimar Frilles, 30, a barangay tanod of Barangay Sacred Heart.
Abalos confirmed that Pineda is the brother of the Filipino singer-songwriter.
Police said Pineda and Frilles were nabbed after selling P23,000 worth of shabu to an undercover policeman who posed as the buyer during the bust along Scout Santiago corner Marathon Street, Barangay Obrero at 11 p.m.
Seized from the suspects were shabu with a street value of P136,000, two cellphones, the P23,000 marked buy-bust, and a black motorcycle.
The Sandiganbayan has fined a former executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for his alleged involvement in drafting an ill-advised car plan for employees.Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez of the anti-graft court's Sixth Division, in a decision dated Oct. 2 and released Tuesday, found Ronilo Beronio guilty of violation of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and was sentenced to pay a fine of PHP15,000.
Beronio had originally been charged along with former agriculture secretary Arthur Yap of conspiring to draft the PhilRice Car Plan amounting to PHP15.8 million that allowed beneficiary-employees to obtain personal loans from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for the purchase of their private cars.
The loans were secured by PhilRice funds through Hold Out Agreements (HOA) with the PNB. Under the agreement, PhilRice's deposit with the PNB will not be withdrawn until the car loans are paid in full.
The purchased cars were bought without the benefit of public bidding with beneficiary employees still entitled to transportation allowance despite the use of an official vehicle.
Beronio, along with his co-accused, were charged with graft under RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act but subsequently withdrew his "not guilty" plea and agreed to enter "guilty" plea, the lesser grave charge of violation of RA 6713.
Last year, the Supreme Court issued a resolution stopping the charges against Yap in the controversy after the latter sought an injunction.
Citing grave abuse of discretion, amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, Yap questioned before the SC the Sandiganbayan’s decision in pursuing the case against him.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of the Department of Health (DOH) over the rejection of P111.1 million in reimbursement claims filed by public hospitals at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
“Owing to the Hospitals’ inability to address the recurring challenges and non-compliance with applicable regulations, claims for reimbursement to the PHIC [PhilHealth] in the aggregate amount of ₱111.150 million were denied,” COA said in its report.
“This condition has resulted in the Hospitals’ loss of income which could have been used to augment their operating requirements,” it added.
A ruling by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has found three coast guard personnel and two others liable for failing to seize a cargo vessel suspected of smuggling more than 15,000 sacks of imported rice in Butuan City in 2002.
The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former official of a state university in Mindanao for malversation of public funds over the improper use of training expenses in 2010.
Ten years to get a verdict!
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1345132/woman-sex-trafficker-nabbed-in-aklan-police-eyes-involvement-of-a-mayor |
A woman allegedly involved in trafficking women from Metro Manila to become sex slaves in Aklan and other provinces finally fell into the police dragnet in Navotas City on Wednesday morning.
Lumactod also disclosed that police is investigating the possible involvement of a provincial mayor in Tandas’ human trafficking operations, and was in fact the “boss” in the nefarious activities.
“Mayroong isang boss na mayor pero hindi lang ididivulge ang pangalan kasi nag-co-conduct ng simultaneous operation sa Visayas para ma-rescue yung mga babae, at the same time mahuli ang mayor,” he said.
(There is a boss mayor but we can’t divulge his name as simultaneous operations are being conducted in Visayas to rescue the victims and at the same time arrest the mayor.)
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday described the suspension of House session until November 16 an “astute political move” as it prevents anyone from questioning the Speakership during the break.
“It’s not illegal. But I would think it’s a very astute political move. Because it avoided intramurals that could have possibly happened on October 14,” Roque, a lawyer and former lawmaker, said in an interview over CNN Philippines when asked about the legality of the session suspension.
“So, for what it’s worth, I think you need to have the experience of Speaker Alan Cayetano because he has dealt with the same rules, not only for three terms as congressman, this is already his fourth term as congressman, but also as a two termer senator,” he added.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/08/20/palace-pandemic-war-chest-delayed-as-house-feuds-for-top-post |
Proceedings for the country's 2021 pandemic budget have been "delayed" as members of the House of Representatives feud over its top post, Malacañang said Thursday, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte could call for a special session if needed.
The House approved Tuesday on second reading the P4.5-trillion 2021 national budget upon Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano's motion. His allies also moved to suspend session until Nov. 16, pre-empting the supposed takeover of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco by Oct. 14, per a term-sharing agreement.
The Senate can continue its own budget deliberations even during the Oct. 17 to Nov. 16 Congress break. However, the "gray area" is whether or not senators can hold a plenary on the budget without receipt of the House version approved on third and final reading, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Asked to clarify if the third House final reading would come around Nov. 16, Roque said yes. Pressed to say if the budget is delayed, he said, "Delayed po."
The current national budget expires on Dec. 31. If Congress fails to pass the 2021 spending budget before this, the government will have to operate under a reenacted budget that does not have allocations for the coronavirus pandemic.
The printing and transmission of the House’s version of the budget to the Senate alone could take a week, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Roque said he did not want to comment when he was asked if Cayetano was holding the budget hostage.
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