Monday, September 30, 2024

Hi, My Name is...52

Here is a collection of weird or random deaths and crimes. We all expect to die but no one expects to die this way.

Hi, my name is being withheld even though I am a 42-year-old man and not a child. I was out drinking with my friends at a resort. I had so much to drink I had to relieve myself. As I let go against I fence I reached out my hand to stabilize myself. All of a sudden I got the shock of my life as I touched a live electrical wire.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/3/laborer-electrocuted-while-urinating-in-cadiz-city

A 42-year-old laborer was electrocuted while urinating in Barangay Cabahug, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Sunday afternoon, September 1.

The fatality, whose name was withheld, was a resident of Barangay Alijis here.

Investigation said the victim, who was having a drinking spree with friends, accidentally touched a live wire connected to a fence while urinating on the wall of a resort.

He was taken to the Cadiz District Hospital where he was declared dead.

Hi, my name is Susana Antolin Abarra. Just after Mass ended at 5 a.m. and we were all walking out of the Church a 5-year-old boy dashed out into the highway. I ran after him and pushed him out of the way of an oncoming multicab. The vehicle struck me head on. I died 14 hours later. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/2/septuagenarian-dies-hours-after-rescuing-child-running-down-highway-in-ilocos-sur

A 70-year-old woman died hours after rescuing a five-year-old boy from being rammed by a multicab in Barangay Poblacion Norte, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur on Sunday, September 1.

Police identified the victim as Susana Antolin Abarra.

Investigation said Abarra had just finished attending Mass at 5 a.m. when the boy who also attended the Mass suddenly ran towards the national highway. 

The victim ran and pushed the boy and was hit by the approaching multicab driven by a 19-year-man from Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

Abarra was taken to a hospital in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur where she died at around 7 p.m. due to serious injuries.

The boy and the driver of the multicab were unharmed.

The driver faces appropriate charges.

Netizens paid tribute to Abarra for her sacrifice.

Hi, my name is John Kenneth Figueroa. I had been having trouble from a store owner whenever I park my van next to his store. The arguments got so bad I was even confronted at my own house. My van was damaged and m motorcycle was even spit upon. This time one of the store owner's buddies confronted me after I parked and we got into a fight. He then pulled a gun and shot me four times, once in the head and thrice in the back. 


https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/918285/man-shot-dead-in-antipolo-after-parking-near-a-store/story/

A 26-year-old van driver was shot dead in Antipolo, Rizal allegedly over an argument about a parking space.

In EJ Gomez’s “24 Oras" report Monday, a CCTV camera recorded the victim parking his van beside a store.

According to witnesses, this prompted an angry response from the store's owner.

(They always have an argument whenever the victim parks there. But this time, witnesses said he did not stop there to park.)

(The store owner tried to choke the victim.)

However, the store's owner denied quarreling with the van driver. Rather it was his buddy, "Toto," who got into a fight with the victim.

(I did not choke him. I tried to push him back into his vehicle so they wouldn’t fight. But I wasn’t able to stop them.)

The CCTV camera recorded the victim and Toto trading blows. Moments later, Toto allegedly fired a gun.

The van driver was shot four times - thrice in the head and once in the back. He died on the spot.

Toto then drove away in a car.

Meanwhile, police arrested the store owner.

However, the victim’s mother believed that the suspects had planned to kill her son.

(They damaged his vehicle and spat on his motorcycle. And he had been threatened in front of his house.)

(They waited for him to alight from the vehicle. When he got out, there was one person here, another there. They planned it. There was no opportunity for him to run away.)

Hi, my name is unknown. I was so tired I decided to drag a piece of foam into the middle of the street and fall asleep. Of course I was run over immediately and died. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/16/man-sleeps-in-the-middle-of-the-street-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-car-in-pasig-city

An unidentified man who placed his improvised bed in the middle of the street and slept on it died after he was hit by a car along Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City on Friday morning, August 16.

The incident occurred at around 5 a.m. eastbound of Ortigas Avenue at the corner of Lanuza Avenue.

Authorities said the victim allegedly carried a piece of foam in the middle of the road and slept on it.

The man was run over and dragged by an oncoming vehicle, killing him instantly. 

Authorities are still investigating the identity of the motorist.

The incident caused heavy traffic along the eastbound lane of Ortigas Avenue.

Hi, my name is Zoila. They say I am an unemployed housewife but being a housewife is a job all its own. I was washing my clothes out on the terrace when a motorcycle pulled up. The driver approached me and shot me dead as I was in the middle of my washing. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/1/housewife-shot-dead-in-laguna

A 57-year-old housewife was gunned down while washing clothes in her house in Barangay Del Remedio, this city, on Saturday afternoon, August 31.

Police identified the victim as Zoila, unemployed.

Investigation said the victim was washing clothes on the terrace when a man onboard a motorcycle arrived. 

He approached the victim and shot her at close range.

The suspect, who was wearing black helmet, maong pants, and black jacket, fled and Zoila was taken by her relatives to a hospital where she declared.

Police recovered four fired cartridge cases of unknown caliber at the crime scene.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

Hi, my name is Mary Ann Tampos. On the morning of August 14th I went into labor and gave birth on the sidewalk. The baby was premature and dead on arrival. An ambulance was called but I refused to go with them. They made me sign a waiver to that effect. I told them I did not have any money to pay for a stay in the hospital. The doctor told me I would not have to pay for my bills but I still refused to go. I later died on the same sidewalk from massive blood loss. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/14/pregnant-scavenger-dies-after-giving-birth-to-premature-baby-on-cebu-city-sidewalk

A pregnant scavenger died after giving birth to a premature baby on a sidewalk here on Wednesday morning, August 14.

Mary Ann Tampos, 35, died hours after giving birth to a baby girl on General Maxilom Ave.

Witnesses said it was around 6 a.m. when Tampos, a resident of Barangay Tisa here, went into labor.

A group of pedestrians that included a nurse and a traffic enforcer assisted her.

As Tampos attempted several pushes, witnesses noticed that the baby had already turned red. Tampos successfully gave birth but the baby girl was already dead when she came out.

An ambulance arrived later on.

Medical workers, including a doctor, tried to bring the Tampos to the hospital but she resisted.

The medical team repeatedly convinced Tampos to go with them but to no avail. There were instances when the medical team tried to force the woman to board the ambulance but she would resist.

They decided to let Tampos sign a waiver as proof that she refused to be brought to the hospital.

Tampos died on the same spot where she had given birth at around 9 a.m. Massive blood loss was suspected to be the cause of the woman’s death.

A friend said that Tampos refused to be brought to the hospital as she did not have money to pay for her medical bills.

The doctor told Tampos that she did not have to pay for her hospital bills but she still refused, the friend said.

Hi, my name is Gelo. I met this fine girl online and invited her to go on a road trip using my motorcycle. When I picked her up I asked her if she wanted to drive and told her to put all her belongings in the utility box. Later on I offered to switch places with her. When she got off the bike I sped off with all her belongings. However, she reported me right away and the cops were able to catch me. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/13/from-roadtrip-to-badtrip-man-arrested-for-stealing-valuables-of-woman-he-met-online

A supposedly enjoyable road trip between new acquaintances turned into misfortune when the man, whom the victim only met online, stole her belongings in Tanay, Rizal, the Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) said Monday, August 12. 

The police identified the 21-year-old suspect as "Gelo” who was arrested in a dragnet operation on Friday, August 9. 

According to the female victim, Gelo invited her on a road trip to Marilaque Highway in Tanay using his motorcycle. 

Upon picking up the victim in Quezon City, the suspect asked her if she wanted to drive the motorcycle. He then instructed her to place her belongings inside the motorcycle's utility box compartment. 

While cruising along Marilaque Highway, the victim said Gelo offered to switch places with her to drive the motorcycle. 

Upon disembarking from the motorcycle, the suspect immediately fled from the scene abandoning the victim and taking with him her belongings. 

The victim immediately reported the incident to the Tanay Municipal Police Station, prompting them to conduct a dragnet operation which led to the suspect's arrest. 

Gelo is now detained at the Tanay Custodial Facility and is facing charges of theft as well as disobedience and resistance to an agent of a person in authority after attempting to escape and resisting the officers during the operation. 

The Rizal PPO reminded the public to be cautious of such schemes.

Hi, my name is Jefferson Bagsic. I am a pedicab driver in Manila. Romeo Pasigna is a fellow driver with whom I have a grudge against because he is always getting more passengers. One afternoon I saw him sitting in front of a store. Seeing my chance I walked towards him and stabbed him in the back, killing him.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/3/clash-over-passengers-leads-to-killing-of-pedicab-driver-in-manila

A pedicab driver was stabbed and killed by his fellow driver after a quarrel ensued between them over a passenger, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Saturday, August 3.

The MPD identified the suspect as Jefferson Bagsic, 41, a resident of Barangay 38, Tondo, Manila.

Based on the police report, the victim identified as Romeo Pasigna was sitting in front of a store on Kagitingan Street corner Lakandula Street in Tondo around 12:50 p.m. on July 31 when the suspect walked towards him and stabbed him in his back.

The suspect immediately fled after committing the crime.

Pasigna was declared dead at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

Personnel of the MPD Moriones Station conducted a follow-up operation and saw Bagsic standing on the sidewalk of Delpan Street. 

Bagsic surrendered to the authorities and revealed that he had a long-time grudge against the victim, particularly in getting passengers. 

Police recovered a revolver with two live ammunition from the suspect.

Bagsic was brought to the MPD Moriones Tondo Police Station and was charged with frustrated murder and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

Hi, my name is Francisco Sampan. My neighbor makes a living by brewing and selling coconut wine also known as tuba. We were having a drinking session when I said his coconut wine tasted bad. He got really mad and said I should stop buying from him. We got into a fistfight and I knocked him to the ground. But when I turned my back he pulled a scythe from his waistband and slit my throat. Thankfully I survived.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/592479/man-slits-neighbors-throat-over-tuba-criticism-in-carmen

Due to a negative comment about the taste of coconut wine, locally known as “tuba,” a man slit his neighbor’s throat in Purok Lumboy, Barangay Cantucong, Carmen town, on Tuesday afternoon, August 27, 2024, at around 3 p.m.

The victim, identified as Francisco Sampan, 60, was rushed to the hospital, where he is now recuperating.

The suspect was identified as Carlito Aresco, 56, whose livelihood is producing and selling coconut wine. Both Sampan and Aresco are residents of the said barangay.

Police Captain Jessie Tañola, chief of the Carmen Police Station, said that the victim and the suspect were having a drinking session when the victim told the suspect that his coconut wine did not taste good, which made the suspect angry.

“Katong biktima nakabuhi og istorya nga way lami ang tuba, unya murag natandog ang garbo sa suspect,” Tañola said.

The suspect responded that if the victim did not like the taste of his coconut wine, he should stop buying from him. Their heated argument escalated into a fistfight, during which the suspect was defeated and knocked to the ground.

When the victim turned his back, the suspect suddenly stood, grabbed his scythe from his waist, and slit the victim’s throat from behind.

“Mao to nilakaw ang biktima unya nagkuha ug sanggot ang suspect dayon abis sa liog sa biktima,” Tañola added.

The victim was rushed to the nearest hospital for treaatment. Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested and will face charges of frustrated homicide.

Hi, my name is being withheld but I am an ex-convict. I had a crush on this girl but I went to prison for assaulting a barangay tanod so I was never able to express my feelings. In fact we never talked at all.  When I got out I saw she was pregnant and I lost my mind. So, I beat the heck out of her. I rained punched on her head and other parts of her body because I was so angry. Of course I am back in jail.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/587638/cebu-city-ex-con-angry-at-seeing-his-crush-pregnant-punches-her

An ex-convict or a former convict was arrested after he attacked a woman, whom he allegedly had a crush on in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City on July 30. This was after he found out that she was pregnant.

Authorities, who investigated the incident, said the suspect, who was released from prison last January after serving time for assaulting a barangay tanod, got angry when he saw and learned that the woman whom he had a crush on was heavy with child.

“The victim was hit in the head and different parts of the body,” said an initial investigation report on the attack.

According to the victim, the suspect did not woo her and they were not in a relationship.

She was even surprised why the suspect suddenly attacked her.

It was found out that the suspect allegedly had a crush on the victim before he served time on prison.

He was allegedly planning to woo the victim when he would be released from jail.

But according to the victim, the suspect did not woo her.

On July 30, at past 8 p.m., when the suspect saw the victim and found out that she was pregnant, he suddenly lost it and attacked her.

He allegedly rained punches on the woman, who suffered bruises from the attack.

After the attack, the victim reported this to the police, who then arrested the suspect.

The suspect was detained at the Mambaling Police Station detention cell as a physical injury complaint was being readied against him.

Hi, my name is being withheld because I am a minor. I am only 16 but I have a 23-year old boyfriend and my parents did not like him. So naturally I planned to kill them. My boyfriend tried to dissuade me to no avail. A voice whispered me to do it. How could I refuse? Of course I stabbed them both. Now they want me to undergo psychiatric evaluation. 


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1976280/minor-stabs-parents-for-opposing-relations-with-older-guy

Police here are recommending that a 16-year-old woman undergo a thorough psychiatric exam after she stabbed and wounded her own parents who strongly opposed her having a relationship with a 23-year-old guy.

The incident happened in Purok 5 Bliss in Barangay Buru-un here on Friday evening.

Police Major Zandrex Panolong, spokesperson Iligan City Police Office, said that the suspect turned off the lights in her parents room and stabbed her father first then her mother.

In the commotion, the suspect also wounded her hands.

The victims were rushed to a local hospital where they are being closely monitored.

Panolong said that an initial investigation revealed that the suspect bared plans to kill her parents to her boyfriend who, in turn, talked her against doing it.

Panolong added that the suspect told investigators that “a voice seemed to whisper to her to pursue her plans.”

Hi, our names are being withheld because we are minors. It was so hot out that we had to rest under a tree. But there was a problem. The tree was not in a good condition. It was weakened because it was so old.  In fact it fell on us! Several of us were able to get away but it killed 2 boys while others were injured. 


What was supposed to be a time to rest for 6 children under the shade of two buli or buri trees from the beating heat of the afternoon sun turned tragic when the one of the trees fell on the children crushing 2 of them to death.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Vincent Alqueza, investigator of the Pinamungajan Police Station said that the freak accident happened at past 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, in Sitio Luy-a, Barangay Lamac of this southwestern Cebu town.

Alqueza told CDN Digital in a phone interview on January 25 that the two children, 2 boys, whose ages were 15 years old and 12 years old, were crushed by the tree trunk that fell on them and died on the spot.

A 13-year-old girl was injured in the back when she was hit by a part of the trunk of the tree when it fell.

The other 3 children, whose ages are 14 years old, managed to run before the tree fell.

Initial investigation showed, that the five children had just finished cleaning a “baul” or a cultivated dry field and were rested under two buli trees that shaded them from the heat of the afternoon sun at past 2 p.m. that day.

When the 5 children decided to rest under the 2 buli trees, their 15-year-old cousin was already there also taking shelter from the beating heat of the afternoon sun.

Unfortunately, while they were resting there, a trunk of one of the buli trees which was weakened due its old age suddenly gave way, causing the trunk and the upper part of the tree to fall on the  6 children.

Three of them noticed the falling tree trunk on time and managed to run away from where they were resting and avoided being hit by the tree.

Their 13-year-old female cousin noticed the tree falling too late, and she was hit in the back, but she managed to escape from being crushed by the tree.

Alqueza said that the 13-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

(We have one injured, the girl, she is at the hospital. She was the one whom we asked (and got details about the accident) but she still (at that time on Thursday) that her cousins died in the accident.)

Unfortunately, for the 15-year-old boy and the 12-year-old boy, who failed to move out of the way of the falling tree trunk, which landed on both of them, crushing them, causing them to be dead on the spot.

The children were all from the area or from Sitio Luy-a, Barangay Lamac, Pinamungajan town.

Pinamungajan is a second class municipality located 70 kilometers in southwestern Cebu.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

The God Culture: Davao Conferences 2024

In June and September 2024 Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture hosted two conferences in Davao. The theme of the September conference was Restore the Philippines while the theme of the June conference was The Philippines in the Bible Before Magellan. 


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1002107015258816&set=pb.100063785813165.-2207520000&type=3

The Big Conference Is Back!!! The God Culture will return to the U.S.E.P. Sports Dome in Davao City for a crowd of more than 5,000 in a deeper 2-day conference this time. This is an experience every viewer should experience if they can. There will be a live feed we will announce close to the event. Registration details to follow in the next post. This event is open for viewers and readers as well but will fill up quickly so don't miss your chance to participate if you can. We hope to see you there. Registration Link to follow. Yah Bless.


https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=982000760602775&id=100063785813165

We are getting ready for the 3-Day Conference starting tonight in Davao. Here is the updated venue info and for those wishing to join the live broadcast, here is the link to register:

PRIVATE ZOOM LINK FOR THE GOD CULTURE CONFERENCE:
Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jun 27, 2024
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZMkdeusqTMpG9EtcX5WuncYkzY2p...
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Yah Bless.

For the September conference, as far as I am aware, there was no live feed link. The June conference required one to sign up with zoom and at least one person encountered problems. 



We are now in the year 2024. Facebook has been hosting livestreams since 2015, nearly a whole decade. Everybody in the Philippines uses Facebook. What is so difficult about hosting a Facebook livestream? Everybody does it. Why couldn't the organizations Tim partnered with do it? If not a livestream why not post the video after the fact?

As of today there has been a grand total of about 3 minutes of footage released from these conferences.  Why not release the entire conference? Is it not important? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lke3lX96Nek

Wow!!! Every Filipino Should Know This! 

Really? If this information is so important that every Filipino should know it why keep it hidden? Why not release the tapes?

Apparently they were hacked!


@ruthgroot1650 Brother Timothy and sister Anna how can I viewed your conference shall I send my e-mail?Yah bless to everyone...

@TheGodCulture Hacking made this difficult so we do not have the full conference to share this time. Yah Bless. 
Sorry but I'm not buying it. There are video clips and pictures of the conference on the Facebook page of Christ the Healer International Missions Movement who hosted this conference. How could it have been hacked when it wasn't even live? Was the June conference also hacked? What about the conferences in 2023? Were they hacked as well? It's nonsense. 

Tim wants people to buy his books and watch his videos. Take a look at the following exchange in the comments of this video.


@MrFunNightcore Which verse in Ezekiel and Isaiah is that nation mentioned?

@TheGodCulture You are far behind. Watch Solomon's Gold Series. You can also attend a conference and read our books. You many not want to advertise your ignorance publicly however. Yah Bless.

This commenter asks which verses in Ezekiel and Isaiah mention the Philippines. Several other commenters give the answer, which is wrong of course because the Philippines is not mentioned in the Bible. But at least they offered a real answer. Tim, instead of answering the guy says he is far behind, needs to watch his videos, read his books, or attend a conference, and calls him ignorant. 

What kind of teacher does that? 

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has managed to pass himself off as a latter day prophet to the Philippines and has travelled the nation preaching his nonsense to very eager and gullible crowds. He knows he has an audience and he knows they want to hear what he has to say. Yet he continually castigates them and refuses to broadcast his conferences so every Filipino can learn what he thinks they need to know. Why? Perhaps something else is happening behind the scenes. 

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Living in a War Zone is Preferable to Living in the Philippines

The war in Israel which began last October 7th has now expanded to Lebanon. OFWs in the country are being urged to avail of the government's repatriation plan but many are refusing to return. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/27/they-rather-die-in-war-than-in-hunger-ph-gov-t-faces-difficulty-convincing-filipinos-in-lebanon-to-go-home

The Philippine government is having difficulty convincing ​Filipinos in Lebanon to be repatriated ​despite start of Tel Aviv's continued bombard​ment on the country, stoking fear of a regional tension.

​It was not only with Palestine-based Hamas that Israel is in conflict.

​Currently, the Jewish state ​is fighting two more rebel groups: the Yemen-based Houthis and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, who are​ both sympathizers of the Palestinian people.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut have already advised the 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon to avail of the repatriation being offered by the government; but only a handful wants to leave the country.

"They will only decide to leave when the situation is so bad, when the war is at their doorsteps, saka lang magpapa-repatriate (they will only ask for repatriation)," Philippine Ambassador in Lebanon Raymond Balatbat said in a press briefing.

From a thousand who initially applied for repatriation, only half want to push through after the remaining withdrew their application.

"The mentality is they (would) rather take their chances here than go home," Balatbat said.

According to him, most of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are refusing to go home are "the old timers," who have been through various wars.

They are saying that "they've seen it all and they survived. There's also an "element of loyalty to their employers," added Balatbat.

"They would always tell me that their employers are there for them. So they do not have any fear," Balatbat said.

For Filipinos abroad, they think that "it's better to die in war than to die in hunger in the Philippines," added DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.

What more is there to say? These words speak for themselves. The Philippines is so awful these people would rather live in a war zone than return. It's doubtful the government will do a bit of self-reflection about the matter but that's life. That's life in the Philippines. 

Friday, September 27, 2024

Retards in the Government 384

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/19/cop-wife-pcg-member-yield-2-kilos-of-shabu

Two kilos of suspected shabu valued at P13.6 million were recovered from a policeman and his wife and a member of the Philippine Coast Guard during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Boalan, Zamboanga City on Wednesday, September 18.

The suspects were identified as Seaman First Class Mohammad Abbas, 30, assigned to the Isabela City Coast Guard Station, and Police Staff Sgt. Siddih Alliudin Jr., 44, assigned to the Police Regional Office-9, and his wife Mardie.

Police considered Siddih and Abbas as high-value targets in the illegal drugs trade.

Also seized from the suspects were marked money and a vehicle.

The contraband was brought to the Regional Forensic Unit for examination while the suspects were taken to the Zamboanga City Police Office.

A cop and a member of the PCG have been busted for drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233771

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Tobias Fornier Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III for abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official effective immediately for six months.

The office of Tajanlangit received the suspension order signed by Office of the Ombudsman officer-in-charge Jose Balmeo Jr. dated Sept. 11, 2024, on Thursday.

“Pursuant to Section 24 of Republic Act 6770, in relation to Section 9, Rule III of the Administrative Order Number 17, he (Tajanlangit) is preventively suspended without pay until the administrative adjudication of the case is terminated,” Balmeo stated in his order.

Tajanlangit, in a media interview, said his lawyer is now preparing an appeal.

“I voluntarily step down following the suspension order, but my lawyer is now studying my appeal or legal remedy,” he said on Thursday.

The suspension stemmed from the complaint filed by Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fornier for abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official, grave misconduct, and violation of Republic Act 6713 for the physical injuries allegedly inflicted by the mayor.

Tajanlangit reportedly punched the vice-mayor in his face following a dispute on the distribution of family food packs to their El Niño-affected residents last April 29.

Fornier will be temporarily sitting as mayor of Tobias Fornier until Tajanlangit’s suspension order is lifted. 

The mayor of Antique has been suspended for abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official effective immediately for six months.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233876

An incumbent village chief was gunned down Friday night by a still unidentified gunman in Barangay 5 San Silvestre, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, a report reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Ilocos Norte said on Friday.

Jojo Bagay, married and a first-term chief of the village, was shot at about 6 p.m. while he was seated in the garage of his residence, according to witnesses.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

Police investigators are still determining the identity of the attacker and the possible motive of the killing.

A village chief has been assassinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233821

The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal filed by a barangay treasurer and affirmed the Baguio regional trial court (RTC) in finding him guilty of four counts of malversation of public funds in connection to the cash prizes of a 2011 Sangguinan Kabataaan (SK) sportsfest.

In a 27-page decision written by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno dated September 17, the anti-graft court’s third division found Barangay Camp 7 treasurer Rommel Beltran guilty and affirmed a prison term of up to 10 years.

“He shall also suffer the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office,” the court said.

The amounts involved PHP11,300 representing the cash prizes for the winners in basketball, chess and billiards.

The supposed recipients of the cash prizes denied having received the same, as well as signing their names in the payroll used to make it appear that the sums had been correctly released.

The Court turned down Beltran’s claim that no malice or fraud can be imputed since there is no evidence that he put the public funds in his custody to his personal use.

The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal filed by a barangay treasurer and affirmed the Baguio regional trial court in finding him guilty of four counts of malversation of public funds in connection to the cash prizes of a 2011 Sangguinan Kabataaan sportsfest.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/19/sandigan-affirms-conviction-of-nur-misuari-in-p77-2-m-graft-cases

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in two graft charges over the ghost purchase of  information technology (IT) educational materials worth P77.26 million when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2001.

The anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Misuari, former Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM director Leovigilda P. Cinches, accountant Alladin D. Usi, supply officer Sittie Aisa P. Usman, Commission on Audit-ARMM resident auditor Nader M. Macagaan, chief accountant Pangalian M. Maniri, and private individual Cristeta D. Ramirez of CPR Publishing.

In the anti-graft court's decision promulgated last May 24, Misuari and his co-accused were sentenced to six to eight years imprisonment for each graft conviction with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. 

However, the decision acquitted them of two malversation through falsification of public documents charges due to the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

They appealed their conviction by filing separate motions for reconsideration as they argued that the court's finding on the alleged "ghost" deliveries have not been established. Misuari even said in his motion that the non-delivery of items was based merely on "conjectures, speculations, and surmises."

Misuari also said that the photocopies presented by the prosecution during trials were of "dubious authenticity," and he claimed that his signature had been forged.

However, the Sandiganbayan denied their motions. "Contrary to the position taken by the herein accused, we reiterate that the prosecution was able to establish all these elements with moral certainty," it said. 

"Prescinding from all the above-mentioned circumstances, we maintain that the prosecution has sufficiently established that the scheme designed and executed by the herein accused gave unwarranted benefits, advantage, and preference to accused Cristeta D. Ramirez, and caused undue injury to the government," it added.

The 24-page resolution was signed by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justices Bernelito R. Fernandez and Ronald B. Moreno.

The criminal charges stemmed from the payments made to MBJ Learning Tools on Dec. 21, 2000 of P31 million and CPR Publishing on July 24, 2001 of P46.261 million for the supply of IT packages for public elementary and high schools in the province.

However, state prosecutors said that the IT packages were never delivered and the officials were accused of falsifying documents to make it appear otherwise.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in two graft charges over the ghost purchase of  information technology educational materials worth P77.26 million when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2001.

An incumbent village chief and his son were killed by gunmen riding in tandem in Barangay Lapting, San Juan, Ilocos Sur Monday night.

Police identified the victims as Bello Joseph Padua Valorozo, 52, and his son, Jomar, 24, both residents of Barangay Caronoan, San Juan town.

The San Juan Municipal Police Station reported that at around 7:10 p.m. on Monday, the victims were on board a Mitsubishi MV 100 van on their way home from a cockpit arena when they were shot by the still unidentified gunmen.

The older Valorozo was rushed to the Suero General Hospital in Cabugao, where he was declared dead on arrival.

His son was rushed to the Pira Hospital in Cabugao but was transferred to Northside Doctors Hospital in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, but died while undergoing treatment from multiple gunshot wounds.

A dragnet operation was conducted immediately after the incident and the police are still determining the motive of the crime.

A village chief and his son have been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/24/boxing-judge-files-plunder-graft-cases-vs-mandaue-city-solon-husband

An international boxing judge and radio personality on Tuesday, September 24, filed a string of criminal complaints, including plunder and graft, against a congresswoman and her husband in Mandaue City.

Edward Ligas asked the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas to investigate Mandaue City Rep. Emmarie Dolores “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon and her husband, Barangay Opao Captain Nixon “Jojo” Dizon for plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft  and Corrupt Practices Act, falsification of public documents, and falsification of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

“This is a classic case of graft and corruption, a crime of plunder. I am filing this as a taxpayer,” said Ligas.

Ligas accused the Dizon couple of illegally acquiring a 2,500-square meter lot that was part of the 186-hectare reclamation contract between the city government of Mandaue and a private developer.

He said the property in question was acquired for only P2 million after they were issued a deed of absolute sale on December 16, 1992, which was way below its actual valuation of P50 million.

Ligas said the property is currently worth P70 million, computed at P28,100 per square meter.

“Their actions constitute a violation of the plunder law, as they have unlawfully amassed wealth to the prejudice of the government, specifically the City of Mandaue, and its people,” Ligas said.

Ligas added that on May 28, 1992, the Mandaue Regional Trial Court Branch 28 named the city government as the owner of the reclamation project that was conveyed and assigned to the Mandaue Realty and Resources Corp. through a memorandum of agreement.

The Original Certificate of Title for 186 hectares of reclaimed lot was issued on March 1, 1993 to Mandaue City. But on January 15, 2003, Marreco became the owner of the lot that was sold to the Dizons.

The Dizons then registered lot 1-K-3-F-2 under their names which led to the issuance of TCT 55310.

The transfer of title was done after the Dizon couple presented to the Register of Deeds two documents – a deed of absolute sale dated December 16, 1992 and a confirmation dated December 19, 1996 as proof that the property was already sold to them, Ligas said.

But Ligas questioned why a 2002 subdivision survey and a TCT issued in 2003 were annotated in a 1996 document.

Ligas added that when the property was registered under their names, Ouano-Dizon was already working as a private secretary for her father, the late Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano.

She continued to serve as his private secretary until June 30, 2007.

Ligas alleged that the 1996 confirmation was falsified to make it appear that the transaction took place before she joined government service.

“Simply put, graft and corrupt practices include bribery, extortion, and nepotism, which are characterized by putting self-vested interests above the mandate of serving for public welfare, accompanied by secrecy and deception without regard of dire effect to the public,” Ligas said.

He also accused Ouano-Dizon of violating Sections 4(a) and 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for taking advantage of her relationship with then mayor Pedong Ouano, who was her grandfather and direct supervisor, when she acquired the government-owned lot.

Ligas also accused the couple of violating Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code by conniving to produce falsified documents to support their acquisition of a portion of the reclamation area.

“The respondents acted in concert and connivance with each other, in the commission of the crimes with clear criminal intent to conceal, falsify, and gain from the acts,” Ligas said.

Ligas alleged that Ouano-Dizon violated the SALN law for her failure to submit a true and detailed sworn statement of her assets and liabilities, source of income, personal expenses, and taxes paid in the preceding years.

“They connived to amass wealth with intent to defraud the city government of Mandaue that’s why we filed a plunder case,” Ligas said.

In a statement, the congresswoman insisted that the acquisition of the property was above-board, saying she was still a private citizen when the purchase was made.

“Krimen ba diay ang usa ka private citizen mopalit og yuta from a private developer? (Is it a crime for a private citizen to buy land from a private developer?),” Ouano-Dizon said.

Ouano-Dizon said she is ready to address the allegations raised once she receives a copy of the complaints.

As to the SALN Law that she allegedly violated, Ouano said it was the same issue that was raised in the past and was already dismissed.

Ouano-Dizon described the complaints as “harassment suits” as the election season is just around the corner. 

Graft charges have been filed against a member of the house of Representatives and her husband over a land purchase 30 years ago. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234159

A dismissed employee of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) with mental issues faces possible criminal charges after being apprehended at the Department of Justice compound with an unlicensed firearm, Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said Wednesday.

The man was apprehended along with another individual late Tuesday by police officers from the Manila Police District Station 5.

In an interview with reporters, Remulla said the suspect, who apparently knows a lot of persons in the DOJ, was also discovered to be a scammer.

"The person is obviously a mental case. He has mental issues. He knows a lot of persons here and he knows the system. He has been dismissed from the service before so he really has a problem. He carries a gun but has no license," he said.

"Yes, scammer, it's discovered as a scammer. But let's look where the case brings us. Because right now, he is only facing illegal possession charges," he added.

Officials did not release the name of the worker pending a final disposition by authorities, but officials confirmed he had been dismissed since March for loss of trust and confidence after working at the agency for seven months.

A dismissed BI employee has been busted for illegal gun possession. 

The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of three counts of nepotism against suspended Mayor Michael Rama.

The anti-graft body found probable cause to indict Rama for three counts of nepotism or violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from a complaint that Rama allegedly hired his wife's two brothers as casual employees at the Cebu City Hall.

“Since the Certificates of Live Birth of Elmer and Gomer (Mandanat) show that they are siblings and younger brother of Marilou (Rama’s wife), it is therefore established that their appointments by respondents are prohibited nepotistic appointments,” the Ombudsman said in its 15-page resolution.

The Ombudsman said the suspended mayor’s explanation that he was “surreptitiously made to sign the plantilla of casual appointments for Elmer and Gomer” is “unsubstantiated.”

“As discussed above, the plantilla of casual appointments indicating on their faces the full names of Elmer and Gomer, their position titles, and periods of employment, among others, obviously show that Elmer and Gomer's appointments were nepotistic,” the Ombudsman resolution further read.

Jonel Saceda, who adopts a name “Inday Josa Chiongbian Osmeña” on Facebook, filed the complaint against the suspended mayor over the alleged nepotism, grave misconduct, and graft and corruption before the Ombudsman in Quezon City on January 24, 2023.

Rama, along with seven other city officials, including his city administrator and city assessor, is still serving a six-month preventive suspension until Oct. 9 over the alleged non-payment of salaries of several city hall employees.

Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is facing there counts of nepotism. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1987038/groups-mourn-killing-of-antimining-local-exec-pal-in-surigao

Environmental groups have condemned the killing of a staunch antimining advocate and his companion in Surigao del Sur on Sunday.

Alberto Cuartero, village chair of Barangay Puyat in Carmen town, and Ronde Asis were shot dead by still unidentified assailants in the nearby municipality of Madrid.

The Madrid police called on people who may have witnessed the shooting in Barangay Linibunan to help investigators identify and track down the perpetrators.

Cuartero, who was in his late 40s, was one of the local voices protesting the wanton destruction of Carmen’s natural environment by mining operations.

Since Monday, the Philippine flag had been at half-staff at the Carmen local government center as a sign of mourning for Cuartero’s death.

“The local government unit of Carmen strongly condemns and deeply mourns the unjust death of Hon. Alberto O. Cuartero, Barangay Captain of Puyat,” the municipal government said in a statement.

“As government officials, serving the people is our top priority. However, it saddens us to realize that there are individuals who seek to hinder the plans aimed at the welfare and development of our community,” it added.

A barangay captain who is also an anti-mining advocate has been assassinated.