Here are two stories from the Philippine political landscape that don't fit anywhere but need to seen. These articles showcase the ridiculousness of the situation in the Philippines. While they aren't directly about corruption they do illustrate the effects of corruption.
Disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo is back in the Philippines after a brief respite in Indonesia. She is facing human trafficking charges related to POGOs. The charges are non-bailable so it appears her home for the foreseeable future will be an extremely cramped jail cell.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233927 |
Former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will be the 45thoccupant of a cramped detention cell at the Pasig City Jail female dormitory once she is transferred Monday.
In a radio interview Sunday, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said security has been beefed up as they prepare for the turnover from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The BJMP also formed a response team, composed of female jail officers, who will stick to Guo when she is transported to her court hearings.
Bustinera assured Guo will be safe at the BJMP-supervised Pasig City Jail.
"We had special arrangement for security. We provided additional personnel. We tightened our security because of her. The BJMP assures her safety and security," Bustinera said.
He said the female dormitory of the Pasig Jail currently houses 135 detainees, way above its ideal capacity of 36.
Guo’s cell, built to accommodate only nine detainees, has an industrial fan and comfort room and is well-maintained, according to Bustinera.
The BJMP also did a background check on Guo’s would-be cellmates.
"They are not violent PDL (persons deprived of liberty) or high risk," Bustinera said.
On Friday, the Pasig Regional Trial Court ordered the transfer of Guo from Crame custody after finding probable cause to hold her and her co-accused for trial of human trafficking, a non-bailable case.
Her counsels said they will file a petition to post bail before the arraignment on Sept. 27.
Alice Guo will be housed an a jail which is built for 36 yet houses 135 detainees. Her cell is built for 9 but she will be the 45th occupant! That is crazy. How are people supposed to sleep let alone even move around? Here is a diagram from the BJMP for a cell designed to hold 10 people.
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| https://www.scribd.com/document/437683030/Minimum-Standard-for-BJMP-Jails |
Can you find a way to fit 45 people in that cell?
The Mayor of Tobias Fornier has been suspended for six months without pay for punching Vice Mayor Jose Maria “Jojo” Fornier for handing out food packs without asking permission. If that's not bad enough someone torched his vehicles.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/22/suspended-antique-mayor-s-hummer-mustang-torched |
Three cars of suspended Tobias Fornier town, Antique province Mayor Ernesto “Toto” Tajanlangit III were set on fire before dawn on Sunday, September 22.
Tajanlangit posted a Facebook a live video of the incident that occurred at past 1 a.m. at the parking garage of his house.
The burned vehicles were a Hummer H2, a Ford Mustang, and a Suzuki Ertiga. The total value of these vehicles was not disclosed but a Hummer vehicle costs at least P2 million, a Mustang, P3.5 million, and Ertiga, P900,000 in the Philippines.
“These things of sentimental value may have been burned and lost, but it’s important we are safe,” said Tajanlangit in a statement. “Thank you, Lord, for protecting me and my family,” Tajanlangit added.
The Tobias Fornier Fire Station is investigating the incident.
The incident occurred days after Tajanlangit temporarily stepped down after the Office of the Ombudsman suspended him for grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and grave misconduct.
Tajanlangit was suspended for six months without pay for punching Vice Mayor Jose Maria “Jojo” Fornier on April 29 after he allegedly did not ask permission from his office to distribute food packs for El Niño victims. He allegedly waited for the Fornier in a police checkpoint.
Videos of the incident showed Tajanlangit blocking and going inside a truck containing the relief goods and punching Fornier.
Fornier is acting mayor of the town.
Who did it? Could it have been an ally of the Vice Mayor? It appears the Forniers have their own political dynasty with the town being named after former Congressman Tobias Abiera Fornier. His brother Jose was also a diplomat and a Congressman while his wife was Governor of Antique. It is not out of the realm of possibility that someone close to the Vice Mayor committed this deed.
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