It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/12/abra-town-vice-mayor-hurt-in-shooting |
The vice mayor of Pidigan, this province, was shot and wounded inside a hardware store in Barangay Pamutic, Pidigan, on Thursday morning, September 12.
Police said the victim, Noel Bisares, 56, was sitting inside the family-owned establishment at 8:30 a.m. when gunmen onboard a motorcycle arrived.
The back rider approached the victim and fired at the victim who was wounded in the right arm and shoulder.
The gunman who was wearing an orange cap and his companion fled and Bisares was taken to a hospital in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.
Pidigan is near the provincial capital Bangued and about 50 kilometers west of Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur, and 400 kilometers from Manila.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation and pursuing the suspects.
A vice mayor has survived an assassination attempt.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/13/cop-3-cohorts-fall-in-buy-bust-p13-m-shabu-seized |
A policeman and three companions yielded two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13 million in a buy-bust operation in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday, September 12.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region chief Gil Cesario Castro identified the suspects as Police Staff Sgt. Radja Ismula, 49, assigned to the Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office, and Andam M. Alidjam, 65; Midarmi S. Alidjam, 44, and, Rahsi Jallaw, 54.
The suspects were arrested after they sold at least two kilos of shabu to a PDEA undercover agent in Barangay San Raymundo.
Castro said the suspects who belong to a local drug group that transported the contraband from Tawi-Tawi to Jolo which serves as a drop-off point in their operations.
He said the suspects had been placed under surveillance following their involvement in illegal drug trafficking activities.
The PDEA official said they remain steadfast in their campaign against illegal drugs amid the involvement of public officials and members of law enforcement.
A cop and three others have been arrested for drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/13/lapu-lapu-city-cop-chief-axed-over-pogo-hub |
Several high-ranking police officers were relieved in the aftermath of the discovery of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub inside a hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.
The latest to be relieved was Col. Ali Baron, who was axed from his post just five months after he was named as the chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO).
Lt. Col. Conrado Manatad will serve as LLCPO officer-in-charge following the relief of Baron, said Police Lt. Col. Christian Torres, information officer of LLCPO.
Also relieved from their posts were Col. Marlon Santos, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas, and Col. Gervacio Balmaceda, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7).
The other day, two other police officers were also relieved -- Major Dindo Alaras, head of the LLCPO Intelligence Unit and Station 4 chief Major Judith Besas.
The order to relieve them came from the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.
They were relieved while an investigation to determine if they could be held liable for the clandestine operation of the POGO hub.
“That was the reason why there were (relief) orders but the orders came from the national headquarters. We will always abide by the wisdom of our leaders in the PNP,” Pelare said.
The raid was conducted on August 31 by the National Bureau of Investigation, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the Bureau of Immigration.
A group of foreigners that included Chinese, Indonesians, and Burmese were apprehended during the raid.
The Lapu-Lapu Police Chief has been relieved following a POGO raid.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/595105/talisay-shooting-gunman-shoots-wounds-candulawan-chief-tanod |
The chief tanod of Barangay Candulawan in Talisay City was wounded after he was shot in the head while he was standing outside the barangay hall on Thursday evening, September 12, 2024, at around 9:04 p.m.
The victim was identified as Fidel Torion Sr., 42 years old, a Purok Nangka, Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City resident.
Meanwhile, the suspect was identified as Jeron Monterde alias “Tiyan,” of legal age, a resident of Sitio Iba, Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City.
Based on the investigation of Talisay Police Station, before the incident, the victim was standing outside the barangay hall at Purok Boongon of the barangay.
Moments later, the suspect suddenly arrived riding a motorcycle, drew an unknown caliber firearm and fired at him several times.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound on his head.
Torion was brought to Cebu South Medical Center, where he was recuperating.
On August 10, 2024, the suspect also shot the victim with the bullet just grazing the victim’s chest.
Based on the previous investigation, the suspect allegedly wanted to take revenge on the tanod for the death of his brother, who was allegedly killed by one of the tanods of the barangay.
The chief tanod of Barangay Candulawan in Talisay City was wounded by being shot in the head by the same man who shot him in the chest last month.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/14/coa-flags-cagayan-town-on-undeposited-p2-1-m-funds |
The failure of the municipality of Calayan in Cagayan to deposit P2.142 million in its local treasury as of Dec. 31, 2023 deprived the local government unit of the immediate use of funds for its priority programs and projects.
Worse, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2023 annual report that "the funds may have been lost or misappropriated."
The report stated that cash should have been deposited to the town's depository bank and the fact that the funds ramained undeposited violated Sections 2, 69 and 105 of the Presidential Decree No. 1445, the Government Auditing Code.
The COA said that Calayan was able to remit and deposit P800,005.16 to its authorized government depository bank. This brought down the balance of P2,942,122.77 in 2022 to P2,142,117.61 in 2023.
The P2.142 million consisted of General Fund (P798,490.43), Special Education Fund (P1,340,606.38), and Trust Fund (P3,020.80) which represented unremitted and undeposited collections of various accountable officers from previous years, it said.
It also said that the town's treasurer has committed since 2020 to submit the list of accountable officers with unremitted collections. However, the municipal treasurer has not submitted the said list to the COA.
"It was found that there were no demand letters issued to the concerned accountable officers for the immediate remittance/deposit of their collections," the COA said.
"The said collections, which remained undeposited for several years, raise doubt on the existence, reliability and accuracy of the recorded balance of the Cash-Local Treasury account. This also indicates that funds may have been lost or misappropriated," it pointed out.
State auditors warned that accountable officers may be held criminally liable for malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.
The COA then asked the Calayan town officials to take immediate action and issue demand letters to the concerned accountable officers for the immediate remittance/deposit of the P2.142 million to the authorized government depository bank of the LGU."Exhaust all possible legal remedies to collect from the concerned accountable officers the total amount reported under Cash in Local Treasury account," it stressed.
The COA has flagged the municipality of Calayan in Cagayan for failing to deposit P2.142 million in its local treasury.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/09/14/2385150/teacher-stabbed-dead-inside-own-home |
A 46-year-old teacher was stabbed to death inside his home in Barangay Mandog in Maasin, Iloilo late Thursday.
Victim Ian Clementir, a teacher of Dagami national high school, was playing with his four children when suspect Jhed Domingo barged into their house and attacked him.
His children were able to run to their bedroom while his wife, who was preparing food, ran outside to seek help.
S/Sgt. Faith Jan Leysa, Maasin police investigator, said Clementir took all seven stabs to prevent Domingo from attacking his children. Domingo was later arrested by responding village watchmen.
“It appeared that it was a random attack. The suspect doesn’t personally know the victim,” Leysa said.
Domingo is detained at the police station pending the filing of charges.
A teacher has been killed in a random attack.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/14/municipal-councilor-in-cagayan-arrested-for-drug-case |
Authorities arrested a municipal councilor here for a drug case on Saturday, September 14.
The Police Regional Office 2 identified the suspect as Emerito Gasmen.
Gasmen, considered a high-value target, was wanted for violating Sections 5 (sale) and 11 (possession) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He was apprehended on a warrant dated July 12, 2010 issued by Judge Severino B. de Castro of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 82.
The court recommended no bail for the suspect
Gasmen is under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 2 for documentation prior to turnover to the court.
A municipal councilor has been busted for drugs.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/16/police-official-wife-shot-dead-in-muntinlupa |
An official of the Muntinlupa Police and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified suspect inside their home on Sept. 16.
In a report, the Southern Police District (SPD) identified the victims as Capt. Aminoden Mangonday, 40, and his wife, Mary Grace, 40.
Their 12-year-old daughter, Shasmeen Ameena, was wounded in the attack.
The shooting happened at about 1:10 a.m. while the victims were in their house at Tierra Villas in L&B Compound, Ilaya Street in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa.
According to the police, an unidentified armed man entered the house and shot them. The couple died instantly while the daughter was wounded and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The suspect was described as having long hair, 5'9" in height, and was wearing a black jacket and black pants.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon condemned the shooting.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the brazen attack on the family of PCPT Aminoden Mangonday which has resulted in the death of the police officer and his wife and the wounding of his daughter. This act of violence against a law enforcement officer and his family should be investigated thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned to find the perpetrators and the mastermind and prosecute them. The people of Muntinlupa mourn for this loss of a fellow public servant and his wife,” said Biazon.
An official of the Muntinlupa Police and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified suspect inside their home.
A policeman is undergoing investigation after a fugitive he arrested in Quezon City reportedly escaped after tricking him into buying a sanitary napkin.
The police officer, a 36-year-old corporal, was relieved from his post at the Batasan police station 6.
He is facing a complaint for evasion through negligence under the Revised Penal Code.
The policeman was relieved from his post after a woman identified as Mary Roy Parenas, who is wanted for qualified theft, managed to escape while in his custody on Saturday.
An investigation showed that at around 3:50 a.m., the lawman and other police personnel served a warrant for Parenas’ arrest, issued by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 227.
The policeman and his colleagues brought Parenas to the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital in Barangay Batasan after she complained of stomach pain and difficulty in breathing.
While in the hospital, probers said Parenas asked the policeman if he could buy napkin pads for her menstruation. The officer agreed.
When he returned from a retail store, the policeman was surprised to find out that Parenas was no longer in the hospital.
The policeman surrendered to his supervisors and is now under investigation.
A policeman is undergoing investigation after a fugitive he arrested in Quezon City reportedly escaped after tricking him into buying a sanitary napkin.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984531/maguindanao-del-sur-town-councilor-slain-in-gun-attack |
Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Tuesday afternoon a municipal councilor of Buluan town, Maguindanao del Sur.
Colonel Ruel Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, identified the victim as Mohamamd Usman Alamada, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his body.
Captain Cemafranco Cemacio, Buluan police chief, said Alamada and his companion were standing in front of a roadside restaurant at the national highway fronting Buluan District Hospital when attacked by still unidentified assailants, who fled on board a motorbike.
“We strongly condemn the shooting of Councilor Alamada,” Sermese said in a statement on Wednesday.
Initial police reports said the shooting occurred at past 3 p.m. at the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.
The Maguindanao del Sur police office has created “Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Alamada” with Cemacio as commander to locate, identify the perpetrators, and file the appropriate case in court.
“I would like to assure the public that justice will be served and the perpetrators will be put behind bars,” Sermese said as he appealed to the public to provide information that could help in the early resolution of the case.Sermese begged off providing the motive of the attack and the identities of the attackers.Buluan Mayor Babydats Mangudadatu condemned the killing of Alamada, whom he said “always worked for the betterment of Buluan.”
He said the local government was working with the police for the speedy resolution of the case.
“To the perpetrators, know this: The arm of the law is long, and the gavel that shall strike you for this crime will be heavy,” Mangudadatu said.
Another town couniclor has been assassinated.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984542/ex-dbm-exec-tagged-in-pharmally-mess-arrested-in-davao-city |
Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, was arrested in Davao City on Wednesday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Lao, 47, was nabbed in his residence in Davao City, through a warrant of arrest of Sandiganbayan dated Sept. 12.
Lao and 12 others were found liable for graft in the biggest corruption scandal during the pandemic, and their criminal prosecution was recommended for allegedly conspiring to award P4 billion in contracts for COVID-19 test kits to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.
A former DBM executive convicted of graft has been arrested.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984575/teduray-leader-slain-in-maguindanao-del-sur |
A Teduray leader, who is also a village councilman in Barangay Bongo, South Upi in Maguindanao del Sur was killed on Tuesday night.
Leticio Datuwata, the supreme tribal chieftain of Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG), identified the victim as Elvin Moires.
“He is on his way back home after attending a tribal wedding ceremony when shot by unidentified men,” Datuwata told the Inquirer.
A report said he suffered several gunshot wounds.
Moires was rushed to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctors.
For Datuwata, Moires is known for being a vocal “lumad” leader, especially on the rights of indigenous people in South Upi.
A tribal leader who is also a village councilman has been assassinated.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/920950/ex-cop-driver-wanted-in-catherine-camilon-case-arrested-in-batangas/story/ |
Authorities arrested former Police Major Allan de Castro and his driver in connection with the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon in Balayan, Batangas, it was reported Wednesday.
According to Police Regional Office 4A, De Castro was apprehended at around 7:47 p.m.on Saturday, September 14 in Barangay Caloocan.
During the same operation, authorities also arrested De Castro’s driver-bodyguard, Jeffrey Magpantay almost an hour later.
The two men are facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of the beauty queen, who went missing in 2023.
Charges against both suspects were initially dropped on May 15 due to a lack of evidence, however both suspects now face the same charges with no recommended bail filed by the Batangas Regional Trial Court.
In hearings on Camilon’s disappearance early this year, de Castro was cited in contempt for allegedly not telling the truth and was kept in Senate detention.
He was released two days later by Senator Bato dela Rosa on "humanitarian" grounds.
De Castro was alleged to be in a relationship with the former beauty queen before her reported disappearance, while Magpantay served as his driver-bodyguard.
The ex-cop was reportedly supposed to meet Camilon on the day of her disappearance, which he denied.
Camilon was last seen passing some towns on Batangas with a companion via CCTV footage on October 12.
Witnesses later claimed that they saw a bloodied Camilon being transferred to a different vehicle on the same day, while Magpantay was in the area.
Testing of an abandoned vehicle located in the area by the police later revealed hair and blood that matched the DNA profile of Camilon's parents.
(The hair strands and blood recovered from the SUV matched the DNA profile of Camilo’s parents.)
(Our witnesses did not lie. There's corroborative evidence that the woman they saw was Miss Camilon.)
An ex-cop wanted in the disappearance of a beauty queen has been arrested.
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