It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761963/nbi-urges-graft-raps-vs-customs-chief-guerrero-2-others/story/ |
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended filing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over alleged violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act.
According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the NBI said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Ramil Ramiro and acting officer of the Account Management Office James Joven conspired with six private importers for the accreditation of the latter.
The NBI said among the ghost importers the BOC accredited were Gypson International Trading, Blessive Scott International Corporation, Crown Majesty Classic Corporation, Parasol 8 Corporation, Liuzhiga International Trading and Dragonluck Enterprises Co.
The NBI said they visited the address of the importers but they were non-existent.
The NBI also contacted one of the owners listed but the latter admitted he was paid to pretend to be the owner.
The NBI said Guerrero needs to be charged as he took upon himself the responsibility of approving the application for accreditation of the importers.
The NBI added that the grant of Certification of Accreditation by Guerrero has given the named importers “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference despite their failure to comply with the minimum standards set forth by Customs regulations."
The NBI said the six ghost importers were able to ship in the country about P500 million worth of items.
The NBI has reccomeneded charges be field against BOC Chief Guerrero and two others on account of conspiring with importers to bring in P500 million worth of goods.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/762030/coa-flags-deped-over-p1-9-b-unliquidated-cash-advance/story/ |
The Department of Education has accumulated P1.9 billion worth of unliquidated cash advance as of December 31, 2019, the Commission on Audit said.
In its annual audit report on DepEd, COA said that the P1.9 billion worth of unliquidated cash advance was incurred by DepEd central office and 11 DepEd Regional Offices.
Region 5 had the highest amount of unliquidated cash advance at P445.5 million, followed by Region 6 with P411 million.
“The unliquidated cash advances included unsettled accountabilities due from retired/resigned/transferred/deceased former personnel of Regional Offices 2, 5 and 8 in their respective amounts of P1,378,160.91, P1,389,821.48 and P244,269.20. The same observation was noted in Regional Offices 7 (SDO Cadiz City) and 3 (SDO Nueva Ecija), however, the amount pertaining to the deficiency was not mentioned. The liquidation settlement of the said accounts is doubtful,” COA said.
“Aging of unliquidated advances in the total amount of P1,158,332,034.73 in DepEd Central Office and in nine Regional Offices revealed that P907,857,319.39 were granted during the year while the amount of P250,474,715.34 pertained to cash advances granted in previous years which have been due for over one year to more than ten years,” COA added.
The significant amount of unliquidated cash advances, COA noted, is a result of deficiencies on the granting, liquidation and monitoring of cash advances contrary to existing COA rules and regulations and DepEd guidelines relative thereto.
Financial irregularities within the DepEd.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354251/jail-officer-who-led-a-small-drug-ring-killed-in-laguna-drug-sting |
A jail officer, alleged to be the leader of the Villegas Drug Group, was killed in a shootout with police operatives in Calamba, Laguna on Thursday morning, police said Friday.
In a report, police identified the suspect as Jail Officer 3 Joseph Rey Villegas, 49, an active personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in San Pablo City. Police said the suspect’s drug group operates in Calamba City and other villages in Tanauan City.
Police said the drug operation inside the jail facility was managed by his wife Joy Villegas, who was arrested for drug charges in 2018. Villegas’ wife was later ordered released by the Regional Trial Court Calamba City Branch due to “technicalities in a court proceeding,” police said.
A BJMP official who was the leader of a drug group run by his wife inside the jail has been killed in a shoot out during a buy bust operation.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120115 |
Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) nabbed a militiaman for possession of PHP680,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust in Midsayap, North Cotabato Thursday morning.PDEA-12 spokesperson Kath Abad identified the suspect as Randy Arida Manto, 42, a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team in Tumbras village of the municipality.
A barangay watchman nabbed with a lot of drugs.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/30/2053358/wife-says-dpwh-chief-not-yet-hook |
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar is not yet off the hook in the investigation on the alleged corrupt practices in his department even if he was repeatedly defended by President Duterte.
Villar’s wife, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Emmeline Aglipay, said in a television interview that her husband would be among the government officials to be investigated for alleged corrupt practices in the DPWH “if evidence warrants.”
She stressed that she would not join the task force “given that there is a conflict of interests,” but said that she would only act as a spokesperson for the DOJ until the task force designates its own spokesperson.
“But as to the investigation to be conducted on the DPWH, I will not take part,” she said.
Of course there is a conflict of interest and it's this way across the board in Philippine politics where everyone is related in one capacity or another.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120234 |
Police arrested on Friday a government employee and a colleague who are both listed as high-value individuals (HVI) in a predawn anti-drug operation in this southern port city, an official said.Capt. Albin Cabayacruz, chief of the Zamboanga City Police Office’s (ZCPO) Station 7, identified the arrested suspects as Engr. Benigno Segovia Jr., 30, an employee of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and his friend, Emanuel Shun.Segovia and Shun served as "resellers" of a businessman from Jolo, Sulu, who was arrested in possession of some PHP2.3 million worth of marijuana at a dormitory on October 17 here, police said.
A government employee and his friend, both high value targets, were arrested in a drug bust.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354592/raps-filed-vs-12-philhealth-hospital-officials-as-nbi-probes-covid-claims |
The National Bureau of Investigation has filed graft complaints against eight officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and four officers of a private hospital in Cebu City for approving an allegedly fraudulent claim for a non-COVID-19 patient.
Rennan Augustus Oliva, acting NBI director for Central Visayas (NBI-7), told the Inquirer on Friday that many other PhilHealth benefit claims for COVID-19 cases in the region were also being investigated.
“The investigation is based on the President’s order to the DOJ (Department of Justice) to create a task force to investigate PhilHealth irregularities and anomalies,” Oliva said.
They were charged with violating Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds covered by the Revised Penal Code, violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and gross and grave misconduct.
According to Oliva, NBI investigators obtained documents showing false and fraudulent claims that were approved by the PhilHealth officials in the case of a patient who died of a non-COVID-19 related pneumonia on May 16.
The patient had three negative swab tests for the new coronavirus, which causes the severe respiratory disease.
On July 19, the hospital claimed P333,519 from PhilHealth for treating the patient under the COVID-19 severe pneumonia package, but did not include results of the swab tests.
Non-COVID-19 pneumonia should only be paid P32,000 under PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-09, the NBI said.
8 PhilHealth officials plus 4 others charged with fraudulent claims regarding a patient who they claimed died of COVID-19 but did not.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354884/coa-hits-depeds-subpar-performance |
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, public school teachers and students have already been coping with the lack of textbooks and instructional materials, computers and other required equipment, particularly for science and mathematics.
Worse, the Department of Education (DepEd), state auditors said, could not even keep up with the processes involved in filling the shortage although billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money had been allocated for the purpose.
In textbooks alone, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2019 audit report that the DepEd failed to spend P1.03 billion meant for the textbooks and instructional materials program.
The DepEd Computerization Program also lacked luster with the DepEd accomplishing only 59.43 percent of its target after the COA noted that only 8,523 out of 14,342 targeted schools were provided with information and communication technology (ICT) packages from 2015 to 2019.
The COA says he DepEd has not adequately used its budget to meet all its goals of providing textbooks and other instructional materials.
The destruction brought about by Super Typhoon Rolly in the country has revived the issue of whether there is a need for a department focused on the government’s disaster response.
While some senators renewed their calls for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience, some of their colleagues stressed it would “bloat” the bureaucracy further.
In separate statements on Monday, Senators Grace Poe and Christopher “Bong” Go said the creation of a“dedicated agency that will focus on disaster resilience and management” should be prioritized.
“We also call on Congress anew to pass the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Assistance and Management that we have earlier proposed,” Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said.
“Every calamity coming our way reminds us of the missed opportunity to be better prepared and give a more adequate response to the people and local governments. Let’s make this a priority,” she added.
Senate Minority Franklin Drilon as well Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon, however, are wary of the creation of a new department.
“I do not see the need for a full department only for disaster resilience. I believe that an overall plan on the number of departments should be in place, instead of a ‘knee-jerk’ push for a creation of certain departments,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters.
He underscored that instead of a new department, the coordination and planning between and among agencies involved in government’s disaster response should be strengthened.
This coordination, Drilon said, includes the timely access to disaster funds by local government units, which are at the forefront of disaster management.
“The challenge remains on the planning and better coordination,” he added.
Lacson also raised concerns over the creation of a new department.
“It is relatively easy to pass a law creating new departments. But would it be feasible, and will there be proper funding for it?” Lacson said in a separate statement.
He said that according to the Department of Budget and Management, at least P1.5 billion is needed to set up the department.
This amount Lacson said does not yet include additional salaries, capital outlay like office facilities, furniture, vehicles, and maintenance and other operating expenses, among others.
Ten local chief executives have been ordered by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to explain their absence amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.
In a televised briefing from Malacañang on Monday, Año said only ten out of 1,047 local chief executives in areas hard hit by Rolly were unaccounted for.
Perhaps they were resting on the sabbath like Duterte.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355457/even-god-said-rest-on-the-7th-day-sotto-gordon-defend-duterte-after-flak-over-absence-in-rolly-briefing |
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Richard Gordon on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter received flak for his absence during the government’s first briefing on its response to Typhoon Rolly.
While it would have been “desirable” for the President to be present in the said briefing, Gordon said it is not “necessary” since the Chief Executive can still monitor the situation.
“Even God said you rest on the seventh day, right?” Gordon told reporters in an online interview on Monday when sought for a comment.
According to Gordon, the President’s lack of physical presence during this time should not be seen as him not doing any work.
“He is compromised. I don’t know what his illness is but I’ve been around to see that maybe he has a slight disability that is not life threatening but could be threatened if he is exposed to somebody with COVID, ”the senator surmised.
"It does not mean he is not working… Of course, we want to see the President working but if he's protecting himself, I respect that," he added.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said the President can monitor the situation even if he is in Davao City.
“He is in the Philippines, ‘di ba? The web is very active, ‘di ba? What can he not do in Davao? If he was in the press briefing and talks for a couple of hours, magko-complain din ‘di ba?” Sotto said in a message to reporters.
“He can oversee it from wherever he is if he wants to. Internet! What can he do in Albay that he cannot do in Davao? The reason there are cabinet members and local [government] officials is to be the [representatives] of government and the President,” he added.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355875/village-chief-gunned-down-in-abra |
Unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning gunned down a village chief in Bangued, Abra, police said.
Investigators said Jason Bergonia Garcia, 34, a resident of Barangay Lingtan, was driving a truck when he was attacked by the gunmen around 6 a.m.
Garcia suffered bullet wounds on his head that caused his instant death.
Another village chief gunned down by assassins.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/20/pdea-agent-timbog-sa-buy-bust-operation-sa-rizal |
A person identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) was arrested for selling drugs at a buy-bust in Antipolo, Rizal Sunday afternoon.
According to the PNP Region IV-A report, typhoon Rolly hit Southern Luzon during the operation against 45-year-old Florence Dolatre Jr. members of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, PDEA 4-A and local police.
He was caught with about 2 kilos of dried marijuana wrapped in packaging tape and valued at P240,000.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/02/hired-gun-kills-abra-teacher-while-having-haircut/ |
A teacher was shot to death by an unidentified gunman while having a haircut at a barbershop in Bangued, Abra on All Saints’ Day.
Rodelio Claor Bueno, 41, of San Gregorio, La Paz, Abra, was having his haircut when the gunman emerged from behind and shot him at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday inside the Santo Nino Barbershop on Capitulation Street, Zone 2, Bangued town, Police Major Carol Lacuata, regional information officer of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, said.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to justify its expenses amounting to P4.815 million in 2019 which state auditors said were mostly spent in activities conducted in high-end hotels and restaurants.
In the 2019 audit on the NCIP, state auditors noted that P3,835,897.50 were spent in 2018, and P979,695.93 in 2019 for meals and accommodations for various programs and activities of the agency in Region 10.
“It was observed that the said activities were mostly conducted at high-end hotels and restaurants where the food and accommodation was relatively high compared to other alternative venues,” the COA said.
The COA report said the NCIP did not adopt austerity measures contrary to the provisions of Administrative Order No. 6 of President Rodrigo Duterte, ensuring that no irregular, unnecessary, extravagant, excessive and unconscionable expenses shall be incurred by government.
The state auditors emphasized Section 33 of COA Circular No. 2012-003, which provides guidelines for the prevention of similar unnecessary and extravagant expenditures in government.
The COA also noted illegal disbursements of the NCIP in Region 11 amounting to P286,759, which includes those for meals for a retirement ceremony for 2 employees. It said the funds were spent not for their intended purposes.
The NCIP management told the auditors that justifications for the deficiencies will be submitted by focal persons of the agency.
The NCIP, mandated to protect the country's indigenous peoples, also failed to utilize a total allocation of P9.648 million, which COA attributed to poor planning of its programs and activities.
The COA report noted that the NCIP did not have ample time to implement projects which include research activities for the profiling, formulation and recognition of ancestral domains.
But the NCIP management told the audit team that the unused funds were for the payment of accountabilities for the previous years, and they were not able to spend the whole amount because of incomplete documentation and late submission of vouchers.
The National Bureau of Investigation filed on Thursday the second batch of graft complaints against officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration over the “pastillas” scheme.
ABS-CBN reported that 86 employees and senior officials of the Immigration are facing raps before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The filing of the NBI’s second batch of complaints coincided with the announcement of BI that it will be implementing a one-strike policy with its erring officials. This means that personnel subject of complaints and investigations shall be relieved immediately.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval told reporters that they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint by the NBI but “if there are names included there that haven’t been relieved yet, then we will immediately implement their relief.”
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