It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/23/2051735/pacc-exec-congressmen-involved-dpwh-graft |
Some lawmakers are conspiring with public works personnel and project contractors to commit corruption, an official of President Duterte’s anti-corruption body said yesterday.
Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said some lawmakers wield influence over the implementation of local projects and the movement of district engineers.
“DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) district engineers are bullied by congressmen. They are involved in those projects,” Belgica told Radyo 5.
“That’s the conspiracy there – Congress, DPWH, contractors, district engineers. District engineers are small employees. If you dismiss them, fire them or move them to another post, they can’t do anything. Powerful people like a congressman really can assert influence so they can be moved to another assignment,” he said.
Belgica did not identify the lawmakers supposedly benefiting from the anomalies in public works projects. He cited the need to centralize operations in state agencies to enhance the monitoring against irregularities.
“You know there are 250 districts, so each one talks to a congressman. It’s not centralized, so there are problems in monitoring,” Belgica said.
PACC Commissioner Grego Belgica alleges that there is a conspiracy occurring in the DPWH and congressmen are involved. But he declines to name anyone. In an unexpected twist Belgica issuing sued for allegedly whitewashing a corruption investigation.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/23/2051697/belgica-sued-alleged-whitewash-duty-free-probe |
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica is facing administrative and criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly whitewashing an investigation on officials of Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) supposedly involved in allowing private firms to smuggle imported goods.
In their 16-page complaint filed yesterday, nine employees of DFPC urged the ombudsman to investigate Belgica for violation of several provisions of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The complainants said Belgica must also be investigated for administrative offenses of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the service and gross inexcusable negligence.
“Malinaw na pinalitan na ni Comm. Greco Belgica ang kanyang report and recommendation at pinalabnaw ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggal sa mga pangalan ng mga taong involved sa mga anomalya sa Duty Free (It is clear that Comm. Greco Belgica changed his original report and recommendation and watered it down by removing the names of officials involved in the Duty Free anomaly),” the complaint written in Filipino read.
“It’s clear that the report and recommendation Comm. Greco Belgica submitted to Malacañang was a cover-up,” the complaint stated.
“Comm. Greco Belgica neglected our original complaint, his supposed anti-corruption stance is a fraud,” the complainants said.
Ironic that the anti-corruption commissioner is being accused of corruption.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761057/bi-security-guard-is-p14-m-man-on-p10k-a-month-says-nbi/story/ |
An Immigration security guard supposedly involved in the controversial pastillas scheme was found to have total assets amounting to P14 million despite only having a monthly salary of P10,000.
According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Action unit found that the guard declared that his total assets reached P14,120,000 in his statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth in 2018.
He also declared that he bought a house worth P4.5 million and that he possesesed jewelries, and two cars, including an SUV. The guard also traveled abroad eight times per year to countries such as Japan, United States, and Europe.
Meanwhile, an Immigration officer declared P227,000 networth in 2015.
His networth jumped to P1.4 million in 2016 until it climbed to more than P5 million in 2018, during the peak of the pastillas scheme.
The pastillas scheme continues to unfold. Turns out even a security guard was in on it as he amassed a small fortune in a short time.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351812/cop-ex-soldier-killed-in-bloody-arrest-in-cotabato-town |
A police officer and former soldier were killed in a mission to arrest the ex-military man for murder which turned bloody in a turn of events fit for the movies in the town of Arakan, Cotabato province on Thursday (Oct. 22).
Col. Henry Villar, Cotabato police chief, said Senior MSgt Rafel Manuel, of the Arakan police office, was part of a police team sent to the village of Liberted in the town to arrest Arnold Maligatong, 40, a former Army soldier who had found work as a security guard.
Maligatong is wanted for a case of murder.
Villar said that as the arresting team informed Maligatong about the arrest warrant against him, he resisted and fought the policemen.
Ex-solider is killed when he murders a cop who was trying to arrest him on murder charges.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119541 |
The Sandiganbayan has convicted three former officials of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) of graft charges involving a PHP1.5-million sponsorship grant to a local chess club 10 years ago.
In a 31-page decision released on Friday, Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac sentenced former LWUA chairperson and incumbent Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Emmanuel Malicdem, and Wilfredo Feleo to up to eight years in jail for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
"Each is hereby sentenced to suffer imprisonment for six years and one month as minimum to eight years as maximum, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office," the court said.
Pichay, who was simultaneously National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president at the time, had been charged for his actions when he was acting LWUA Board of Trustees chairman and when Malicdem and Feleo were LWUA acting administrator and acting deputy administrator, respectively.
Officials found guilty and facing prison time for illegal releasing funds from the LWUA to sponsor a chess club ten years ago.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351878/coa-dpwh-lost-p1-3b-to-contractors |
Amid allegations that lawmakers connived with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in projects with irregularities, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in a report that the agency lost some P1.331 billion in government funds because it failed to recover advance payments for completed, rescinded or terminated projects.
The COA said the DPWH failed to recover from contractors advance payments and penalties that amounted to P1,330,740,655.06 for 551 infrastructure projects in 2019 that were already completed, rescinded or terminated.
The COA audit showed that 530 were completed projects with advance payments worth P1.15 billion, while 21 were rescinded or terminated projects with advance payments worth P177.26 million.
More financial shenanigans from the DPWH.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119549 |
A former municipal mayor in Cebu was meted a fine for failing to liquidate PHP2.597 million in public funds for his official travels, intelligence fund, and other activities from 2007 to 2010.
In a ruling dated Oct. 23, Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega of the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division ordered former Ronda, Cebu mayor Esteban Sia to pay a fine of PHP6,000 after the court noted "his willingness to pay the amount of unliquidated cash advances".
"In sum, the accused cannot admit nor deny that he was able to render a liquidation of cash advances in issue. The overwhelming documentary exhibits of the prosecution lead this Court to accept that, indeed, the accused failed to comply with his obligation as mandated by laws," the court said.
A former mayor neglected to liquidate millions in public funds during his tenure.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/347286/3-cebu-city-hall-workers-face-sanctions-on-failure-to-pass-drug-test |
Three employees of the Cebu City government are now facing sanctions after they failed to pass the mandatory drug test.
Ramil Ayuman, officer-in-charge of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), confirmed that all three came from their department.
The City’s Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), in an earlier message, said one of them works for the city’s Quick Response Team (QRT) while the two others were from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team.
Since all workers who failed to pass the drug test happened to be employed through job order (JO) arrangement, Ayuman said they were advised not to return to work.
(Most of them are job order employees and as ordered by Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella to achieve a drug-free workplace, the three who failed the drug test are advised not to return to work.)
Three city employees failed their drug tests. But they are only job order employees and not full time workers so it seems they will face no sanctions from the city.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119538 |
A government employee and three others were arrested in an anti-drug operation in Isabela City, Basilan province, a police official said Friday.Lt. Col. Homer Dumalag, Isabela City Police chief, identified the arrested government employee as Zoilo Cual Obinar, 40, who works for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-BARMM) and is listed as a high-value target.Dumalag said the other three were Yasher Manatad Antham, 35; Alex Soledad Gayacao, 38; and Rafael Bernabe Gayacao, 31.The four were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, following days of surveillance on their activities.Dumalag said the suspects yielded some PHP6,800 worth of illegal drugs packed in seven heat-sealed plastic sachets and PHP300 in marked money.
DENR employee arrested on drug charges.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/26/20/ph-envoy-to-brazil-recalled-after-caught-on-video-maltreating-filipino-helper |
The Philippines recalled its ambassador to Brazil who was caught on video maltreating her household service worker, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Monday.
"The Philippine ambassador to Brazil has been recalled effective immediately to explain the maltreatment of her service staff," Locsin wrote on Twitter.
Brazilian news channel GloboNews on Sunday released a report showing Philippine ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro assaulting her helper multiple times inside the diplomatic residence.
The report said the victim is a 51-year-old Filipina. The incidents were captured by a security camera and documented by employees who declined to be identified. The report said the victim “was physically assaulted many times, many days.”
In one of the videos, Mauro was seen slapping the victim, but stopped when another employee was getting into the house.
The ambassador was also seen pulling the helper’s ear in another video, and hitting the helper with an umbrella in a separate incident.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is expected to issue a statement on the matter soon.
A village chief and four others in the municipality of Tabogon in northern Cebu were arrested on Tuesday morning, October 27, 2020.
This after a warrants of arrest were served against them for violation of Republic Act (R.A.) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to Police Staff Sergeant John Paul Armero of Tabogon police, the warrants stemmed from complaints due to the alleged irregularities in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) during the quarantine period.
Arrested officials are Managase Barangay Captain Santiago Sollano, Barangay Councilor Ruthlene Ybañez, Chief Tanod Nolito Ybañez, and Barangay Health Workers Noemi Bontia and Jessa Ursal.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/346798/barangay-officials-workers-of-cebu-town-detained |
Police Capatain Romeo Caacoy Jr., commander of the Barili Police Station, said that Barangay Capatain Aurelio Mabano together with councilors Mercy Camonas, Romulo Omalay, Baleriano Mabano, Roy Tangarorang, Loreto Ejambre, Arthur Aranda, and Carlo Emnacen, all voluntarily surrendered after Barili policemen served the warrant and are now detained at the Barili Police Station.
The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former municipal mayor in Leyte of graft charges for using municipal funds in renting an office space at a hotel owned by his brother in 2005.
Associate Justice Karl Miranda of the anti-graft court's Sixth Division, in a decision promulgated on Oct. 23 and released Monday, sentenced former Sta. Fe, Leyte mayor Melchor Quemado Sr. up to eight years imprisonment after finding him guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The court said it "is convinced that Quemado acted with evident bad faith and manifest partiality" in the rental of office space at Hayward Travelodge without public bidding.
15 years ago a mayor rented office space in his brother's hotel. Now he is facing up to eight years in prison.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1352947/duterte-orders-government-wide-probe-of-corruption |
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend its probe on corruption beyond the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) mess, to cover the entire government bureaucracy.
“I hope all government workers, officials are listening. This is a memorandum from me, the President, to Sec. Menardo Guevarra, Department of Justice. Ang subject is [to] investigate allegations of corruption in the entire government. Lahat,” Duterte said in a taped speech aired Tuesday.
“The DOJ shall have the authority to decide which allegation to investigate taking into consideration the gravity thereof and their impact on the delivery of government service,” he added.
The President also authorized the DOJ to create as many panels that it deems necessary and invite or direct other government agencies to be part of such panels.
“This directive shall remain in effect until June 30 of 2022, pag-alis ko, unless sooner lifted or revoked,” Duterte said.
The entire government? Does that mean LGUs too?
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1353315/5-doh-officials-suspended-over-late-release-of-frontliners-benefits |
Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued on Tuesday a preventive suspension order on five officials of the Department of Health (DOH) for their alleged shortcomings that resulted in the late release of COVID-19 frontliners’ benefits.
According to Martires, they were suspended to prevent them from influencing of interfering in the probe on the issue — especially since they had been charged with gross neglect of duty and insufficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties.
Suspended for six months without pay on mere allegations They can still influence and interfere with the probe even if they are suspended.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1353303/ombudsman-suspends-44-bi-execs-over-pastillas-scheme |
The Office of the Ombudsman has placed 45 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials on preventive suspension in connection with the so-called “Pastillas scheme,” which has rocked the agency.
According to an order signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated Monday but was released on Tuesday, the suspension would last for six months and would be without pay.
45 BI executives preventively suspended for six months over their alleged involvement in the pastilles scheme.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761783/ombudsman-orders-suspension-of-8-philhealth-execs-over-p2-7-b-irm/story/ |
Ombudsman Samuel Martires has ordered the suspension of eight Philippine Insurance Corporation executives over the alleged anomalous release of P2.7 billion worth of PhilHealth funds under the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism policy.
Martires’ suspension order stemmed from the grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with the release the PhilHealth funds.
Those ordered suspended include PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Arnel de Jesus, PhilHealth COO for Fund Management Sector Renato Limsiaco, PhilHealth Senior Vice President Dr. Israel Paragas of Health Finance Policy Sector and five others.
Eight PhilHealth executives suspended over alleged financial irregularities.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1353875/how-to-stop-strong-waves-from-washing-out-manila-bay-white-sand-dpwh-eyes-building-a-breakwater |
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is planning to construct a breakwater to protect the crushed dolomite used as artificial white sand from being washed away by strong waves at the Manila Bay.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Jonas Leones said Thursday that they have been informed that the DPWH will build a breakwater in addition to geotubes, or the huge, durable plastic filled with sand that was already placed in the perimeter of the shore to ensure that the crushed dolomite will remain intact despite the current.
“In addition to the geotubes we placed, the DPWH as we have been informed, to ensure that the beach will be there and it will not be destroyed by the strong current, they plan to put a breakwater in that area, siguro malayo lang sa beach,” Leones told ABS-CBN News Channel.
What a wasteful project. The DENR ready assured the public that the dolomite would not wash away but now they want to build a breakwater so that the sand won't wash away! My money is on this fake sand washing away at some point.
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