Retards in the Government 275

 It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182696

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced two former officials of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (PADC) in connection with the loss of an aircraft part which was later sold by a private firm back to the government in 2008 .

 

In a 70-page decision dated Aug. 26 and written by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo, the anti-graft court found former PADC president and managing director Danilo Crisologo and senior vice president for marketing Roberto Manlavi guilty of malversation and graft sentencing them to up to 12 years imprisonment.

 

The court also ordered Crisologo and Manlavi to pay PHP111,754 representing the value of the aircraft part.

 

The third accused, PADC consultant storekeeper Louise Cabahug, remains at large.

 

A private individual, Generoso Quialatan, president of Wingtip Parts Corp. (WPC), died while the case was pending before the court.

 

Cabahug was in charge of the PADC storeroom where the part called aircraft fuel pressure indicator (AFPI) was stored and which was taken out and later sold by WPC to the Philippine Navy.

Two PADC officials have been convicted of malversation in regards to an aircraft part that was stolen and eventually resold to the government. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/02/sandigan-affirms-conviction-of-ex-cashierof-alcala-water-district-in-pangasinan/

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that convicted the former cashier of the Alcala Water District (AWD) in Pangasinan, imposed a stiffer fine, and ordered the payment of civil liability for malversation of public funds.

Affirmed was the conviction of Darwin C. Viloria whose motion for reconsideration was denied by the anti-graft court’s sixth division in a resolution written by Division Chairperson Sarah Jane T. Fernandez with the concurrence of Associate Justices Karl B. Miranda and Kevin Narce B. Vivero.

The regional trial court (RTC) found Viloria guilty of malversation when he converted to his personal use P163,436.53 in AWD funds from 2000 to 2006. He was sentenced to a jail term ranging from four to seven years and was ordered to a pay a fine of P55,886.10.

Viloria appealed the RTC’s decision with the Sandiganbayan. He claimed the RTC “gravely erred” in finding him guilty despite lack of proper formal demand and prima facie evidence of missing funds.

The Sandiganbayan turned down his appeal. “The Court finds no reversible error in the RTC’s Decision dated Aug. 10, 2018. However, the fine imposed by the RTC must be modified, and accused-appellant’s civil liability must be determined,” the court ruled.

As cashier, the anti-graft court said Viloria had custody and control of the said funds from 2000 to 2006. He “put the subject funds to his personal use because he failed to provide a justifiable explanation for the missing funds,” the court said.

The total malversed amount was P221,935.98, but P66,696.85 was already restituted by other AWD employees. Viloria wrote a promissory note saying he will pay back the remaining P155,239.13, so the court said that is the amount he should pay the AWD as his civil liability.

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of the former cashier for the  Alcala Water District (AWD) in Pangasinan for malversation of public funds and even increased the penalty due. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/03/pnp-starts-retraining-of-police-investigators-to-improve-25-conviction-rate-in-criminal-cases/

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will subject all its investigators into retraining in a bid to improve its crime solution efficiency. 

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said a total of 4,326 police investigators have already graduated from recapitulation program for case handling last year.

Currently, he said the retraining of some 16,000 investigators and evidence custodians is underway. 

“We recognize the challenges in the investigation of criminal cases but we will continue seeking ways to enhance the competency of police personnel in probing crimes and safeguarding evidence,” said Azurin.

“This retraining program is a reinforcement to better capacitate our personnel and to boost their morale despite the extensive requirements in filing cases in the judiciary,” he added.

Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla and Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos have been meeting to improve both the investigative and operational capabilities of the PNP.

In a press briefing in July, Remulla disclosed that the conviction rate of criminal cases in the country is below 25 percent and that already include successful plea bargaining agreements.

“This means we are not really getting a passing rate. this is not a standard that we can live with. We have to change this drastically. So we are really looking at how we can improve the justice system so that we can minimize criminality,” said Remulla.

The PNP is retraining all its investigators because of the abysmal conviction rate due to mishandling of evidence and incompetence among other reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182868

A Quezon City Police Distict (QCPD) officer involved in an alarm and scandal incident in Marikina City surrendered on Saturday night.

Cpl. Felipe Pauig of the District Tactical Motorized Unit voluntarily gave up his service firearm at Camp Karingal and is now under restrictive custody, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, QCPD Director, told reporters on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Pauig was tagged in an indiscriminate firing incident in Barangay Tumana, where he resides, on Thursday night.

Investigation showed that after a drinking binge at about 10:30 p.m., Pauig and his friends, Jail Officer 1 Dolfino Gatan of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and security guard Jestony Pauig, took turns firing Gatan's gun along Kangkong Street.

Nobody was reported hurt in the firing that was caught by security cameras.

The Marikina Police Station likewise filed a case for violation of Article 155 (Alarm and Scandals) of the Revised Penal Code while the QCPD has initiated a pre-charge evaluation to determine Pauig’s administrative liability.

A cop has been arrested for indiscriminate firing after going on a drinking binge with friends who work fo the BJMP.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/04/village-dad-tending-store-in-quezon-gunned-down/

A 55-year-old barangay councilor was shot dead while manning his store on Saturday, Sept. 3, in Barangay Ajos in this town.

Police identified the victim as Ramil Advincula, councilor of Barangay Ajos.

Investigation said Advincula was inside his store at 6:50 p.m. when an unidentified man appeared and pretended to buy bottled water and soft drinks.

The suspect drew a gun and shot the victim thrice, killing him on the spot. The gunman fled onboard a motorcycle towards Mulanay, this province.

Advincula’s daughter reported the incident to the police. Local police have conducted a dragnet operation and follow-up investigation to determine the killer’s motive and identity.

A barangay councilor has been assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1658542/ex-army-soldier-busted-in-camsur-drug-sting

Anti-narcotics operatives arrested an ex-Army soldier and his cohort who allegedly yielded more than P3 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) during a buy-bust operation in Calabanga, Camarines Sur on Sunday (Sept. 4) night.

Col. Roderico Roy, chief of the Camarines Sur police, said in a report that Alvin Bonifacio, 33, and Jomel Abeca, 23, sold a sachet of shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Sta. Cruz Ratay at 11:50 p.m.

Bonifacio was a former member of the Philippine Army and was identified as a high-value target for illegal drugs.

During the body search, authorities recovered three knot-tied plastic bags of shabu weighing 500 grams worth an estimated P3.4 million, and another two sachets of shabu.

A former solider has been arrested on drug charges.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1659634/2-ex-nabcor-execs-in-pork-scam-get-up-to-40-years

The Sandiganbayan has convicted two former officials of the now abolished National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) and a private individual for two counts of malversation and two counts of graft involving congressional pork barrel in 2008.

They were sentenced to 24 to 40 years of imprisonment. The congressman earlier implicated in the cases, and whose role was cited in the decision, died in 2018. In an 86-page decision dated Sept. 2, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division said former Nabcor human resources manager Encarnita-Cristina Munsod, former Nabcor general services head Romulo Relevo and private respondent Margie Tajon-Luz, then president of the GabayMasa Development Foundation Inc., were guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Aside from the prison sentence, the antigraft court ordered Munsod, Relevo and Luz to reimburse a total of P4.85 million, at 6 percent annual interest.

They were found guilty of conspiring in the embezzlement of funds from the discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the late Rep. Teodulo Coquilla of the lone district of Eastern Samar.

Munsod, Relevo and Luz were also banned for life from holding any public office and all their retirement benefits were forfeited.

The antigraft court said the prosecution was able to prove that Munsod, Relevo and Luz had conspired with Coquilla in committing graft and malversation of public funds.

Two Nabcor officials have been convicted of embezzling PDAF money.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1183108

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested a retired police officer implicated in a "ghost pension scam" in Rizal province.

In a statement Wednesday, PNP deputy chief for administration, Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, identified the suspect as retired Senior Police Officer 4 Romeo Arela, 65, who was arrested by members of the PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Service (PRBS) in coordination with the personnel of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in his residence in Barangay San Jose in Antipolo City on Monday afternoon.

Malayo said the suspect has a standing warrant of arrest dated Nov. 12, 2018, issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 95 for malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

"Retired SPO4 Arela was criminally and administratively charged for defrauding the government of millions of pesos through the 'ghost pension scam' in the PNP,” Malayo said.

Malayo said a fact-finding investigation also recommended the filing of another 11 counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against the retired police officer before a Quezon City court.

The scam involves fake names being entered into the PNP's pension database and is allegedly perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals and groups.

The late former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo earlier said the police force has lost over PHP1 billion to ghost pensioners in a span of five years from 2006 to 2011.

In 2020, the PNP under then chief Archie Gamboa ordered a crackdown on over 1,000 unqualified pensioners who are "fraudulently stealing" from its pension fund.

A retired police officer has been arrested for his involvement in a ghost pension scam which has defrauded the PNP of billions of pesos.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/844029/doj-murder-raps-filed-vs-30-cops-in-bloody-sunday-killings/story/

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said murder complaints have been filed against 30 police officers and personnel allegedly linked to the March 2021 "Bloody Sunday" incident.

The incident refers to the police operation to serve search warrants in Batangas that led to the deaths of several activists.

“For those involved in Bloody Sunday, as per the EO 35 team, there were murder cases filed with the Office of the Prosecutor against 30 PNP officers and personnel,” said Justice Undersecretary Brigido Dulay told the House appropriations committee during a budget hearing.

Dulay was responding to ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro's inquiry regarding updates on the investigation into the Bloody Sunday incident.

Murder raps have been field against 30 cops who participated in the Bloody Sunday raids which killed several activists. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1660547/2-army-personnel-held-in-davao-city-for-firearms-violations

Law enforcers in this city have arrested two Army personnel for alleged firearms law violations.

Members of the Task Force Davao and the Toril Police Station manning the Sirawan checkpoint in the city’s boundary with Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, arrested on Wednesday Private First Class Mohammad Kitig, 26.

He was assigned to the Civil Military Operations Unit of the 6th Infantry Division based in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao.

Found in Kitig, who was driving a vehicle on his way to the city, were six high-powered rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, assorted ammunition, and personal belongings.

A police report said the soldier brought the firearms “without carrying legal documents.”

Kidtig was brought to the police station as a criminal complaint for violating the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act was still being prepared against him.

On Tuesday, Captain Ahmad Matawag, 36, of the 10th Infantry Division based in Mawab town, Davao de Oro, was arrested for selling an M16 assault rifle to a government agent posing as a gun buyer.

The agent turned out to be a part of a team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Army Intelligence Unit going after loose firearms.

Two soldiers have been arrested on firearms violations.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/08/22/5-teachers-face-formal-charges-over-alleged-sexual-harassment

The Department of Education has filed administrative charges against 5 of the 7 high school teachers accused of sexual harassment in Bacoor, Cavite, its spokesperson said Thursday.

DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said the teachers were charged with grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of the agency's child protection policy.

The department is unable to issue charges against the 2 remaining teachers due to lack of evidence, Poa said. He reiterated his appeal for students to come forward if they experienced sexual harassment or abuse in their schools.

"We are encouraging victims of alleged sexual harassment to come out so they can give their affidavit, statement or evidence so we can file formal charges, not just against the 7 teachers but also against others who supposedly commit sexual harassments," he said in a press briefing.

Due to the charges, the teachers were placed under a 90-day preventive suspension, said Poa.

The accused teachers will be asked "to choose between a proceeding by position paper only or by trial," he explained.

5 teachers have been charged with sexual harassment.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/06/400-central-luzon-cops-dismissed-from-service-since-2016/

About 400 police personnel in Central Luzon have been dismissed from service since 2016 in line with the Philippine National Police’s intensified internal cleansing program.

Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) Acting Regional Director Brigadier General Cesar Pasiwen said that the latest data show a total of 937 cops were involved in cases ranging from grave neglect of duty, mostly absence without leave (AWOL), grave misconduct, serious irregularities while some members of the police force were meted with disciplinary sanctions for administrative offenses and involvement in irregularities.

Of the 937 cops involved in various cases, 400 were dismissed from service while the others involved in less serious offenses were meted with penalties.

Around 56 were demoted, 376 were suspended, two faced forfeiture of salary, 23 were reprimanded, 208 were restricted while privileges were withheld for 286 personnel.

400 out of 937 cops from central Luzon have been dismissed since 2016 for various offenses. The rest were given various penalties.