It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/852665/barangay-kagawad-shot-dead-in-front-of-barangay-hall-in-cavite/story/ |
A barangay kagawad was shot dead in front of barangay hall in Bacoor, Cavite, according to Nimfa Ravelo's Super Radyo dzBB report on Friday.
Angel Ventura Tamayo, barangay kagawad of Barangay Sineguelasan, was shot dead in front of barangay hall at 5 p.m, based on the report received by P/Col. Christopher Olazo, provincial director of PNP Cavite.
The victim was talking to barangay secretary John Paul Grande when two unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot him.
He was immediately taken to Binakayan Hospital. However, he was declared dead on arrival.
Authorities are still conducting the investigation.
A barangay kagawad has been assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/852827/raps-filed-vs-cop-over-fatal-accidental-firing-in-laguna-pnp/story/ |
A complaint has been filed against the policeman who accidentally fired his gun that killed one of his colleagues in Laguna, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
“We have already filed a case and gave police assistance,” PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia said at a press briefing.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told GMA News Online that the complaint filed against suspect Police Corporal George Mervin Cañete Duran is for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
Duran is also facing an administrative case, she said.
“Reckless imprudence resulting in homicide is the case filed against the police who accidentally shot his fellow SWAT member. He will also face an administrative case,” Fajardo said in a text message.
Duran said on November 23, they were cleaning their service firearms for an inspection when another person approached him and said they exchanged guns.
Upon the return of his gun, he examined it. However, when he was about to remove the load from the chamber, the gun accidentally went off and hit Police Corporal Fhrank Aldene Yasay Dela Cruz in the right chest.
Dela Cruz was immediately brought to the hospital, but the attending physician declared him dead on arrival.
A SWAT officer has been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for accidentally shooting his colleague.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/26/tanauan-city-probation-office-employee-with-8-kids-shot-dead/ |
A 42-year-old messenger of the probation office in Tanauan City, this province, was gunned down on Friday night, Nov. 25, outside his house in Purok 4, Barangay San Vicente, here.
Police said the victim, Arnel Montalban, also a volunteer probation assistant of the office, was having a drinking spree for a baptismal on Saturday, Nov. 26, when an unidentified man appeared.
The gunman fired at the victim at close range and fled onboard a motorcycle.
Police said Montalban died on the spot.
Witnesses said the suspect was wearing a white T-shirt, black jacket, and black pants, and was about 5’8’’ to 5’11.’’
Police said the victim left behind eight children.
An investigation is under way to determine if the shooting is work-related and the identity of the gunman.
City probation office employee was assassinated by an unknown man for unknown reasons.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189627 |
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday has summoned four of its enforcers for alleged extortion caught in a video that went viral on social media.
In a statement, the LTO said the four enforcers were from the Field Enforcement Division and were recorded trying to allegedly extort PHP8,000 from a motorist flagged down at an LTO checkpoint in Bocaue town in Bulacan province going towards the Philippine Arena area.
"LTO Chief Jose Arturo 'Jay Art' Tugade already ordered that the four enforcers be relieved from their duties pending investigation," it said.
The enforcers have been summoned to appear Monday at the office of the Law Enforcement Services at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City for further investigation.
Four LTO enforcers have been charged with extortion.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/11/29/2227220/eastern-samar-town-execs-conviction-graft-affirmed |
The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of four officials of Guiuan, Eastern Samar in connection with the anomalous procurement of a P1.99-milion fire truck.
In a resolution dated Oct. 14, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said the respondents failed to raise any meritorious argument in their appeals, which seek to reverse their conviction for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The respondents were identified as Guiuan budget officer Esperanza Cotin, planning development officer Ma. Nenita Ecleo, administrative officer Felipe Padual and market supervisor Danilo Colandog.
The court said the respondents, who were members of the bids and awards committee, committed negligence when they resorted to negotiated procurement instead of conducting a public bidding.
The Sixth Division earlier sentenced the respondents to six to eight years in prison and disqualified them from holding public office.
The conviction of four government officials over the anomalous procurement of a firetruck has been upheld by the Sandiganbayan.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1699285/coast-guard-personnel-accidentally-shot-dead-by-colleague-in-sorsogon |
A Philippine Coast Guard member died Monday after a colleague accidentally shot him in Matnog town in Sorsogon.
Police Major Voltaire Jun Pedido, Matnog police chief, reported on Tuesday, Nov. 29, that the victim was Seaman 1 Joshua Solano, 24, of Camalig town in Albay.
Initial investigation said Seaman 2 John Klent Lumabe, 29, accidentally discharged his 9mm pistol and hit Solano around 4:45 p.m. while at the Coast Guard queuing area in Barangay Manjumlad.
Solano died while being taken to a hospital.
Lumabe is now in the custody of Matnog police for proper disposition.
A member of the Philippine Coast Guard has been charged with accidentally shooting and killing a colleague.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189726 |
Alfonso Cusi, former head of the Department of Energy (DOE), has been indicted for cyber libel filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian over comments posted on the agency’s Facebook account, which the court said caused “dishonor, discredit, and damage” to the lawmaker’s name and reputation.
A news release from Gatchalian’s office on Tuesday said the Office of the City Prosecutor of Valenzuela issued a resolution on November 14 that found Cusi in violation of Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and filed an information for cyber libel before the city’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 75 on Nov. 18, 2022.
The RTC issued an e-warrant of arrest against Cusi on November 21 while the former Cabinet official personally posted a PHP10,000 bail four days later.
Gatchalian said Cusi should have sued him before the Senate Ethics Committee or the Ombudsman if he had the evidence to prove that he had lent a hand to certain business interests.
Cusi argued that his post was neither defamatory nor malicious as he merely criticized the Senate probe.
However, the prosecutor’s office ruled otherwise, saying Cusi “acted maliciously” and his “defamatory statements were anchored on false allegations.”
In suing Cusi for cyber libel in July, Gatchalian said he casts malice on his reputation and integrity, including the Senate Committee on Energy, which the latter chaired in the 18th Congress.
The former DOE Secretary is being sued for libel by Senator Gatchalian over a Facebook post.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/30/22/coa-disallows-coffee-chocolates-purchased-by-national-tobacco-administration |
The Commission on Audit disallowed the purchase of coffee vendo machines as well as coffee and chocolate made by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) for the supposed welfare of its employees in 2013.
In the decision of the COA proper dated January 24, 2022 but was released recently, the notice of disallowance issued by its Corporate Government Sector-Cluster 5 on November 9, 2016 on the purchase of the items was deemed final and executory.
The NTA spent a total amount of P350,000 which covered 14 coffee vendo machines, 200 kilograms of coffee, and 90 kilograms of chocolate.
It was stressed in the decision that the items purchased by the NTA for health program activities for its employees were improper.
"It only covers physical and mental fitness program that seeks to attain long-term health through exercises and related physical fitness activities. Coffee vendo machines are not activities," the COA proper said in the decision signed by then chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland Pondoc.
The commission also noted the late filing of the petition for review by the NTA, having exhausted the reglementary period of 6 months or 180 days to file an appeal.
The petition for review was filed by NTA officials Edgardo Zaragoza, Cristina Lopez, Ma. Theresa Laudencia and Milagros Tiu.
"Liberality in the application of rules of procedure cannot be applied if it will result in the wanton disregard of the rules or cause needless delay in the administration of justice," the commission proper said.
- The COA has disallowed purchases made by the NTA for its employees namely coffee, chocolate, and tobacco.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189680 |
After complying with the order to pay PHP5.96 million in restitution to the government, the Sandiganbayan slapped a fine of PHP16,000 on former Iloilo (2nd District) representative Judy Syjuco as part of a plea bargain agreement.
The deal reduced the 78-year-old Syjuco’s case to the lesser charges of fraud and failure of an accountable officer to render accounts from the original graft and malversation.
The Sandiganbayan ruling published online Tuesday imposed the fine after Syjuco asked to be allowed to plead guilty in October to the lesser charges which stemmed from the procurement of 1,582 units of mobile phones in 2005, allegedly sans public bidding.
A former representative has her malversation case ended by paying a fine and having the charges reduced. The case stems from procuring mobile phones without public bidding.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189857 |
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its earlier decision against a Maguindanao town mayor and other former town officials found guilty of graft in connection with a 2011 municipal water project.
In its 25-page resolution dated Nov. 29 and written by Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Mañalac, the anti-graft court said the motions for reconsideration filed by Northern Kabuntulan, Maguindanao municipal mayor Datu Umbra B. Dilangalen and his co-accused, former municipal accountant Rahima A. Ali and former municipal treasurer Kabiba A. Mael, were "denied for lack of merit.”
It also upheld its earlier decision to sentence the accused to up to seven years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of their retirement or gratuity.
In its Sept. 9, 2022 decision, the anti-graft court found the accused guilty of giving unwarranted benefits to a private firm, FFJJ Construction, in a contract for the town’s Small Water Impounding Project worth PHP5 million.
Full payment was given to FFJJ on December 2011, even though the project was completed only in March 2012.
"Undeniably, in causing the full payment of the contract price under the circumstances... the accused public officers gave the FFJJ Construction unwarranted benefit and advantage. As already explained, such action lacked adequate or official support and was unjustified, unauthorized or without justification or adequate reason, placing the contractor in a more favorable or improved position or condition and benefiting from such payment by having already the full amount available to it for use, as it, in fact, did use the same, even prior to the commencement of the project, without the need to use its own funds and without the risk of any loss," the court said.
Prosecutors have questioned why the accused authorized full contract price payment of the project even before the construction started, as under government procurement rules, in no time should full payment be made prior to the completion of a project.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a former mayor on graft charges because he paid a construction firm before the project even started.
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