Friday, January 31, 2025

Retards in the Government 402

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

 

 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/01/24/2416441/coa-flags-p256-million-idle-rain-stations

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) over P256.07 million worth of hydrometeorological or hydromet stations set up nationwide which remain idle for over a year.

In its 2023 annual audit report on PAGASA, the COA said a validation by its audit team revealed that over a hundred hydromet stations installed in strategic places nationwide, with an estimated value of P256.074 million, were no longer operational or were “no longer sending rainfall/water level data” to the state weather forecasting bureau’s central server in Quezon City.

The audit body said the hydromet stations, if only continuously maintained and utilized, could have “marginally improved” the agency’s rainfall forecasting and warning system and information dissemination especially to flood-prone communities.

The COA said that of the 1,825 hydromet stations inspected by the audit team in September 2022, 13.48 percent or 246 stations were “not operational and cannot be rehabilitated anymore” while 10.08 percent or 184 stations “needed rehabilitation.”

The Commission on Audit has called out the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration over P256.07 million worth of hydrometeorological or hydromet stations set up nationwide which remain idle for over a year.

Murder charges were filed against a former Court of Appeals associate justice and five other persons for the killing of a barangay official in Leyte.

 Vicente “Ching” Veloso, a former magistrate and congressman of the third district of Leyte; Nicolas Banez, alias “Butoy,” William Louise Languido, Richan Dejon Pernis, Edwin Mulle, and Edwin Comendador were charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

The complaint was filed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Major Crimes Investigation Unit (CIDG-MCIU).  

The charges stemmed from the murder of Anthony Sevilla Nuñez, a councilor of Barangay Malawaan, Tabango, Leyte. Nuñez was shot inside a cockpit on Jan. 23, 2016. 

The CIDG-MCIU said that a case was filed in relation to the murder but it was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. 

The CIDG-MCIU disclosed that on Aug. 14, 2024, the CIDG director “issued verbal instructions” to investigate the killings in the third district of Leyte that led to the reopening and further investigation of Nuñez's murder. 

During the course of the investigation, Pernis surrendered to the CIDG-Regional Field Unit Eastern Visayas where he allegedly admitted his participation in the murder of Nunez. 

“His surrender was prompted by threats to his life from an individual named Ching Veloso. He voluntarily submitted himself into custody of CIDG RFU 8 for him to seek protection,” a portion of the documents submitted by CIDG-MCIU to the DOJ said. 

According to the CIDG-MCIU, Pernis is a New People’s Army rebel and is wanted for a murder case in Barangay Guinsiaman, San Miguel, Leyte. 

The CIDG-MCIU added in August 2015, Languido admitted his participation in the crime. Languido, also a former member of the NPA, is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Biliran. 

As the investigation continued, the CIDG-MCIU said a 45-year-old resident of Barangay Basud, San Isidro, Leyte came forward and testified that he positively identified the gunman in the killing of Nuñez. The witness identified the gunman as Banez. 

In his sworn statement, Pernis said Banez was his former platoon commander in the NPA since 2001. He said it was Banez who persuaded him to work in Veloso’s farm in Barangay Guinsiaman. 

While working as a security guard in the farm, Pernis said he came to know Languido and Comendador.  

The CIDG-MCIU said that Pernis claimed to have been paid an additional P5,000 for “violent tasks.” 

Pernis alleged that Veloso ordered Butoy to carry out a certain “job” which turned out to be the assassination of Nunez. 

In his own admission, the CIDG-MCIU said Languido recounted that their group gunned down Nuñez in a cockpit in Barangay Manlawan, Tabango at 4 p.m. 

Banez was the alleged gunman while Languido served as a lookout and the driver of the get-away vehicle. 

The CIDG-MCIU said that the killing of Nuñez was politically motivated as he was a known supporter of Veloso’s political rivals.

Murder charges were filed against a former Court of Appeals associate justice and five other persons for the killing of a barangay official in Leyte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1242628

An active and a deserting member of the Philippine Army were arrested here Friday following an entrapment operation for allegedly selling illegal firearms.

Lt. Juaren Caang, spokesperson of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office, identified the suspects as Pfc Jay Clinton Delgado Paguntalan, 30, an active member of the Army's 39th Infantry Battalion based in Makilala town, and Sarif Dasil Mungkas, 35, an Army deserter.

"We are still corroborating all information and evidence to determine if they belonged to a large syndicate," Caang said in a statement released Saturday.

According to him, the Military Intelligence Battalion led the operation and coordinated the local police for the entrapment that led to the arrest of the suspects along the national highway in Barangay Lika at about 3:30 p.m.

Authorities recovered three M16 rifles from the suspects, including the PHP200,000 in buy-bust money.

Police are preparing cases against the suspects for violating Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and the Commission on Elections gun ban under the Omnibus Election Code before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Kidapawan City.

The Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, in a statement, also lauded the arrest of the suspects.

An active and a deserting member of the Philippine Army were arrested here Friday following an entrapment operation for allegedly selling illegal firearms.

Seven agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are now the subject of follow-up operations after a Pasay City court ordered their arrest for a case of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention.

Those ordered arrested were Vidal Bacolod, Efren Esteban, Xeres Angelo Galutera, Renato Flores, Jan Alexis Mateo and Alex Ramos, all PDEA agents assigned Central Luzon.

In this regard, the PDEA appealed to the public to provide them through 0995-345-7070 or contact the nearest Philippine National Police (PNP) office if they have information that may lead to their apprehension.

When pressed if they are still with the agency, PDEA personnel Glenn Malapad confirmed that the seven are still in “active status for now’’ but the administrative case filed against them is ‘undergoing’ and is up for resolution.

But he said the seven agents were already barred from joining anti-illegal drugs operations.

“Hindi pwedeng AWOL (absence without leave), kasi needed 30 working days pa bago pa ma declare silang AWOL (They cannot be charged with AWOL since 30 working days are needed before they are declared AWOL),’’ Mapalad explained.

Seven agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are now the subject of follow-up operations after a Pasay City court ordered their arrest for a case of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention.

A total of 903 police officers were dismissed from service last year due to various offenses, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP’s 2024 data showed that 5,457 police officers were charged administratively.

Of this figure, 903 officers were dismissed, including five lieutenant colonels, six majors, 12 captains and five lieutenants.

903 cops were dismissed from the PNP in 2024 for various offenses. 

Close to 3,000 police officers were sanctioned in 2024 for various violations committed while on duty, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

Official data show 5,457 officers faced administrative charges and were involved in 3,751 cases.

Among them, 2,765 officers received penalties, while 2,691 were exonerated.

Records showed that among those penalized, 1,112 received suspensions including a colonel, 19 lieutenant colonels, 29 majors, 30 captains, and 22 lieutenants. 

Close to 3,000 police officers were sanctioned in 2024 for various violations committed while on duty, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

A reelectionist municipal councilor from Caoayan, Ilocos Sur was gunned down in Barangay Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on Saturday morning, Jan. 25. 

Police identified the victim as Anthony Verzola, a resident of Barangay Callaguip, Caoayan.

Investigation said Verzola was sitting in front of a restaurant at about 6 a.m. when unidentified persons riding a motorcycle appeared. One of them disembarked and shot the victim the head.

The suspects fled and the victim was taken by the police to a hospital in Vigan City where he was declared dead.

Police recovered an empty .45 caliber shell at the crime scene.

Lawmen are reviewing surveillance footages and conducting follow-up  investigation.
A reelectionist municipal councilor from Caoayan, Ilocos Sur was gunned down in Barangay Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on Saturday morning, Jan. 25. 

By pleading guilty to a lesser offense, the treasurer of Caraga town in Davao Oriental evaded a possible longer jail term in his graft case.

After his Sandiganbayan arraignment and before the prosecution could start presenting its evidence, treasurer Jaime D. Labasano filed a plea barganing agreement with the prosecution.

He changed his not guilty plea and, instead, pleaded guilty to a lesser of offense of violation of Section 6(b) in relation to Section 52(b) of Republic Act No. 8291, the law on social security and insurance benefits for government employees.

Section 6(b) of RA 8191 provides: "Whoever shall obtain or receive any money or check invoking any provision of this Act or any agreement thereunder, without being entitled thereto with the intent to defraud any members, any employer, the GSIS, or any third party, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five thousand pesos (P5,000) nor more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) or by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court."

The jail term for violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for which Labasano was charged, is a minimum of six years and a maximum of 15 years with permanent disqualification to hold public office.

Labasano was indicted for failing to turn over and remit the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) premiums and contributions of the officials and employees of the municipality amounting to P1,471,461.58.

The municipality and the GSIS then entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and the amount was reduced by 50 percent with an interest of P1,931,062.66. The municipality agreed to pay the interest charge amounting to P965,531.33 and both Labasano and his co-accused, former Caraga Mayor William Sobiaco Duma-an, agreed to pay the remaining interest.

Labasano entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution. Plea bargaining is “a process of negotiation between the prosecution and defense in a criminal case whereby the accused – in return for leniency or a lighter sentence – agrees to plead guilty to a lesser offense.”

Approving the plea bargaining, the Sandiganbayan found Labasano guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the lesser offense of Section 6(b) in relation to Section 52(b) of Republic Act No. 8291. He was ordered to pay a fine of P5,000.

The anti-graft court noted "the payment made by Labasano in the amount of P965,531.33, representing the subject interest, which is considered full settlement of accused's civil liability."

Associate Justice Gener M. Gito wrote the 12-page decision with the concurrence of Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespass and Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac.

By pleading guilty to a lesser offense, the treasurer of Caraga town in Davao Oriental evaded a possible longer jail term in his graft case.

Six police officers in Malabon have been relieved amid alleged lapses in serving a search warrant.

City police chief Col. Jay Baybayan said the officers were reassigned to the Malabon police headquarters pending a probe into the incident.

The subject of the search warrant identified only as “Tarajen” claimed that three plainclothes officers handcuffed him and failed to read his Miranda rights on Jan. 21.

Police searched his house and allegedly recovered a .38-caliber handgun.

Tarajen accused the police of planting evidence, saying they “immediately retrieved the gun from a box as if they already knew where it was hidden.”

He was released from detention after the prosecutor dismissed the charges.

A video of the alleged anomalous operation circulated online.

Six police officers in Malabon have been relieved amid alleged lapses in serving a search warrant.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over its 13 dormant bank accounts with over P6 million in deposits as it warned that failure to properly handle the accounts might lead to misappropriation or misuse of funds.

In its audit report, the COA said that the DPWH regional office in the National Capital Region has one bank account containing P2,267,996.24 which has remained idle and unused for more than 10 years. 

It said the Nueva Vizcaya 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) has one bank account that was created for cash deposits and payments by creditors with contracts from other government agencies. Its P104,374.14 in deposit has been dormant or inactive for more than nine years.

The Leyte 2nd DEO has four bank accounts that have been inactive for six to eight years already, while the Leyte 3rd DEO has three dormant bank accounts that have remained inactive since 2020. Biliran DEO has two bank accounts deemed inactive and for closure, it also said.

It added that the Isabela City DEO in Basilan has two bank accounts containing P3,644.277.15 that have remained dormant for more than 10 years.

The COA said that when state auditors inquired with the DPWH about these dormant bank accounts, the DPWH officials said the purpose for which the bank accounts were established have already been completed and are no longer applicable.

"Thus, the non-closure of unnecessary and dorman bank accounts not only raises the inaccuracy and unreliability of the reported balance of the cash accounts as [of] year end but also exposes the balances of these accounts to the risk of possible misappropriation/misuse," it said in its report.

The Commission on Audit has flagged the Department of Public Works and Highways over its 13 dormant bank accounts with over P6 million in deposits as it warned that failure to properly handle the accounts might lead to misappropriation or misuse of funds.

A 37-year-old former soldier was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Barangay Handumanan here on Wednesday, Jan. 22. 

The victim was identified as Arnold Caballes of Barangay Cabug here.

Police Capt. Glenn Montaño, head of Police Station 10, said the victim, who had been working as a security guard, was driving a motorcycle on his way home when the suspect appeared.

The suspect who was also driving a motorcycle chased the victim who lost his balance and crashed.

The victim pleaded to the suspect to spare his life but was shot. Caballes crawled to a grassy area to escape but the suspect followed and shot him again. The victim sustained bullet wounds and was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.

Montaño said the victim was recently involved in a misunderstanding during a personal transaction and figured in an argument with a man who was interested in his live-in partner. Police already have a person of interest.

A former solider has been assassinated. 

Two barangay security officers were killed and three colleagues were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Barangay Labu-Labu, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday night, Jan. 27.

Police identified the victims as a 17-year-old Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team member and Esmael Singh, 20, both residents of Barangay Labu-Labu Mother, Shariff Aguak. 

Wounded were Anwar Banalan, 20; Mohamad Husain, 30, and another 17-year-old male, all from Barangay Labu-Labu Mother.

Investigation said the victims were manning a BPAT checkpoint at 7 p.m. on the national highway when motorcycle-riding gunmen arrived and fired at them with an automatic rifle.

Police said this was the second gun attack on BPAT members in Shariff Aguak in less than a week. A BPAT member was killed and another was injured in the town’s public market on Jan. 22.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation and have identified several persons of interest in the incident.

Two barangay security officers were killed and three colleagues were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Barangay Labu-Labu, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday night, Jan. 27.

With the country entering a “postpandemic phase,” the Commission on Audit (COA) has warned that P152 million worth of ultra-low-temperature freezers procured by the government for its COVID-19 vaccination program were in danger of going to waste.

Based on the special audit it conducted from May 2023 to January 2024 on the national vaccination drive vs COVID-19, the COA noted that several ultra-low-temperature freezers remain “idle or unutilized” while these could be repurposed for keeping cancer medicines, clinical specimens, microorganisms, and other “sensitive” biological products for research.

“This nonrefocusing or nonrepurposing of these valuable assets, with an estimated total value of P152,118,000, hinders their potential to contribute to other critical healthcare needs,” read the COA audit findings released in December 2024.

“Failure to properly repurpose these freezers could also result in failing to maximize the government funds spent and the value of donations on the said equipment,” it noted, adding that the freezers could last up to 10 years.

Of the 243 freezers in “good condition” as of July 2024, 166 were purchased by the government. The rest came from donors.

The equipment was used to store specific COVID-19 vaccines, especially the Pfizer-BioNTech brand that needed to be kept and transported at temperatures ranging from minus 90 degrees Celsius to minus 60 C. The government bought these freezers to comply with the operational guidance for an ultra-cold-chain system set by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.

The same guidelines, however, urged countries to come up with a transition and maintenance plan on how the freezers could be used beyond the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The COA cited the disease prevention and control bureau of the Department of Health (DOH), which stated that the procured freezers were “versatile units [that] can serve as essential equipment for local health systems in clinical and research applications.”

Among the bureau’s suggestions were to transfer the equipment to government-run research facilities such as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, and national warehouses or regional hubs to “allow rapid deployment of ultra-low-temperature vaccines … in case of future needs.”

The COA recommended that the DOH collaborate with other hospitals and local government units to ensure that any efforts to repurpose the freezers were “aligned with the needs of the healthcare system.”

A separate COA audit report covering the year 2023 showed that more than P11 billion worth of drugs, medicine, and supplies, including 7 million vials of COVID-19 jabs, expired that same year.

The DOH responded by defending the procurement of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines that eventually went to waste, saying it was done to save lives during a global emergency.

“The COVID-19 vaccination exercise did not have the benefit of years of planning and preparation like other routine and established vaccination programs. It was an emergency, a matter of life and death,” it said in a statement.

Latest DOH data showed that more than 177 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including booster shots, have been administered nationwide since the government’s inoculation program was launched in 2021.

With the country entering a “postpandemic phase,” the Commission on Audit (COA) has warned that P152 million worth of ultra-low-temperature freezers procured by the government for its COVID-19 vaccination program were in danger of going to waste.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Coronavirus Lockdown: Horseracing's Comeback, Baguio Reactivates Health Team, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

Horseracing is finally making a comeback after struggling during the pandemic. 

https://business.inquirer.net/502634/mmtci-philracom-revs-up-horseracings-comeback

The horse racing industry in the Philippines is undergoing an exciting transformation, largely due to effective management from the Metro Manila Turf Club Inc. (MMTCI) and its partnership with the Philippine Racing Commission.

Recent statistics reveal a remarkable rise in daily betting sales, a sign of revitalization after years of struggle, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first eleven racing days this year, total gross sales skyrocketed to an impressive P319.8 million, averaging around P29 million per day. This starkly contrasts with the downward trend seen in previous years, especially when looking back at 2016 when three racetracks managed only P23.1 million across six racing days each week. By 2020, the industry’s decline reached a troubling low, but a strong recovery brought in P2.3 billion by 2022.

Despite the unfortunate closure of two racetracks — Santa Ana Saddle Club and San Lazaro Leisure Park — it would be shortsighted to view the industry as failing. Thanks to MMTCI’s innovation and commitment to improvement, the environment for success has never been better.

A significant reduction in documentary stamp tax from 20 percent to 10 percent has allowed the industry to reap unprecedented rewards, with average net prizes for top winners now reaching P182,630.75 — far exceeding the previous range of P40,000 to P45,000 just a few years ago. Notably, a recent first-place net prize of P204,750.15 exemplifies this remarkable advancement.

If current trends continue, MMTCI is on track to surpass the historic sales figures of P7 billion recorded in 2016 and 2017, achieved with three racetracks operating over 312 racing days. Projections suggest that in this year alone, MMTCI could hit a phenomenal P6.02 billion. And the earlier benchmark, MMTCI and a boost from the upcoming racetrack, Philippine Jockey Club, would both achieve an astounding potential sales of P9.07 billion for this year.

All that money means they are not horsing around!

Flexible workspaces are here to stay after the pandemic. 

https://www.rappler.com/business/flexible-working-spaces-stay-iwg-report-january-2025/

Flexible workspaces continue to rise in the Philippines despite high vacancy rates in office spaces, hybrid working solutions firm International Workplace Group (IWG) said on Wednesday, January 22.

Lars Wittig, IWG’s country manager in the Philippines, said in a press conference that the COVID-19 has only accelerated what was once a budding transition to flexible work.

IWG is the parent firm of Regus, one of the world’s largest co-working space operators. The Swiss company’s co-working space network currently includes about 4,000 locations across 120 countries.

The WeWork rival has been operating in the Philippines since 1999.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Wittig recalled how startups and multinational firms would once reach out to IWG in search of a flexible workspace while construction of their permanent offices in the Philippines were underway. As demand for hybrid work arrangements surge post-pandemic, Wittig said more companies are looking to reengineer their office space to accommodate employees’ needs.

“They have so many years of really good business the conventional way that they’ve accumulated the ability to make the investment. So now the investment is there, the need is there, the vacancy is there. Now, sooner, like immediately they need flexible workspaces,” he explained.

Wittig also noted a rise in demand for roll-in services, where IWG assists in the management of existing co-working spaces. These facilities then become a part of the group’s network.

A November 2024 report from commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield estimated that Metro Manila’s office vacancy rate hit 18% in the third quarter of last year, the highest estimate since 2004.

Despite record-high vacancy rates in office spaces, many Filipinos are returning to offices as companies embrace hybrid or flexible working setups. A study by PwC found that 52% of Filipinos are working under hybrid setups. For 73% of Filipino workers, the hybrid setup has changed their productivity for the better.

This shift presented what Wittig described as the golden era for flexible workspaces, as a 2024 Cisco report found 37% of Filipinos believe that current office spaces are not conducive to in-office productivity.

Globally, the flexible space market is projected to breach the $55-billion mark between 2025 and 2037.

Seems like old news being regurgitated once more. 

Sinulog is over and the DOH is asking everyone who attended to get a medical checkup.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1242358

The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas has urged the public to prioritize post-festival health following the Sinulog celebration, which concluded without major medical incidents.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH-7 regional director, advised the public to rest, stay hydrated, and watch for symptoms such as fever, cough, or fatigue. Those feeling unwell should seek medical attention promptly.

Bernadas credited the successful health and safety measures to the coordinated efforts of local government units (LGUs), hospitals, and volunteers in Metro Cebu.

He highlighted DOH-7’s collaboration with LGUs and emergency response teams, which deployed medical stations and quick-response units across the city to provide immediate assistance.

“The success of Sinulog showcases the strong partnership between government, healthcare providers, and the community. We remain committed to safeguarding public health,” Bernadas said.

As of Jan. 20, a total of 784 medical consultations were recorded, including minor injuries, dehydration, high blood pressure, and respiratory concerns. Thirty individuals were referred to hospitals for further treatment.

The DOH-7 lifted the Code White Alert, which was in place to ensure adequate medical resources during the festival, on Monday.

When have they ever issued such a call before? 

Baguio is reactivating thier health team because of monkeypox cases. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1242729

The city government has reactivated its health team after registering two confirmed mpox (formerly monkey pox) cases.

Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, city health officer, on Monday said the health team is also considering reusing the isolation facility utilized during the pandemic if there is a need to isolate patients who cannot stay in their own houses.

"The team is currently conducting information (and) education communication (IEC) campaign, contact tracing and other strategies for case management and transmission prevention,” she said in an interview.

Local authorities confirmed the city’s first laboratory-tested mpox case on Jan. 17 while the second one was announced on Jan. 25.

The City Health Services Office (CHSO) is now in close coordination with the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) for other preparedness and mitigation measures. 

Brillantes has also advised the public to avoid skin-to-skin contact like hugging, kissing, and sexual contact, among the modes of spread of mpox.

Among the common symptoms of mpox are skin rashes or muscle lesions that can last for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, lack of energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Brillantes also appealed to accommodation establishments to implement stricter sanitation procedures since the mpox virus can be transmitted through infected items such as bedding.

Food establishments, including food delivery services, are likewise reminded to strictly adhere to proper sanitation practices.

Brillantes also urged tourists and residents to wear masks, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when visiting crowded places and events.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda has revived the seven-year-old proposed “Sanitation Code”, approved for second reading, to tackle the challenges on public health.

Tabanda said certain provisions of the original proposal, particularly those addressing regulations for massage spas, fitness centers or gyms, accommodation establishments, public restrooms, and other spaces frequented by the public, will be updated to make them more responsive in addressing emerging and reemerging diseases such as mpox. 

They have even reopened the isolation facilites used during the pandemic. Are they expecting the situation to get worse? 

President Marcos has hailed the role of the Asian Development Bank in aiding in the Philippines' pandemic recovery. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1242426

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. praised the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its instrumental support in the Philippines' development, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Marcos made the remark as he met with outgoing ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa on Thursday in Malacañang.

The President expressed deep gratitude for the ADB’s contributions, particularly in aiding the country’s recovery during the health crisis.

"I have to always thank you for the involvement of ADB. The partnership of ADB and the Philippines has certainly grown to a great deal," said Marcos, acknowledging ADB’s sustained role in supporting various foreign-assisted projects in the country.

He also cited ADB’s financial and technical support which was crucial in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and accelerating the nation’s recovery efforts.

"Of particular note, it was the support of ADB during the pandemic. That was critical. That was absolutely critical for our recovery. Without your help, it would have been a much more difficult situation for us," Marcos said.

The Chief Executive also expressed his intent to further strengthen the partnership with the ADB.

“We fully intend to increase that engagement and continue to make them stronger. Again, thank you for all the help," he said.

In recognition of Asakawa’s leadership and the ADB’s significant role in Philippine development, Marcos conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross) Gold Distinction to the outgoing ADB head.

The award recognizes Asakawa’s exceptional efforts in fortifying relations between the Philippines and the ADB, particularly in key areas such as economic development, infrastructure investment, health, climate resilience, and human capital development.

He talks about growth when prices are up and the latest SWS survey says Filipinos are feeling poorer then ever. 

Almost all provinces in the Philippines have recovered from the pandemic according to the PSA. 

https://manilastandard.net/business/314550031/112-provinces-cities-surpass-pre-pandemic-economic-output.html

Almost all provinces and highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) in the Philippines already recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023 in terms of gross domestic product, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the results of the 2023 Provincial Product Accounts, all economies from Visayas and Mindanao already have GDP levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2023, while three economies in Luzon are still recovering.

“When combined, a total of 112 out of 115 economies in the Philippines already have GDP levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2023, an improvement from the 92 economies in 2022 and 28 economies in 2021,” the PSA said.

The results of the 2023 PPA also noted that five economies, including one from Luzon and four from Mindanao, have not experienced a decline in GDP even during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The PSA released for the first time the results of all the PPA of all regions in the Philippines, covering 82 provinces and 33 HUCs from Nov. 9 to Dec. 11, 2024. The PPA is a mechanism to compile the GDP) at the subregional level.

The special release highlights the economic performance of all provinces and HUCs in the Philippines by major island group.

The country’s GDP posted an annual growth of 5.5 percent in 2023, expanding its value to P21.05 trillion from 2022. Among the major island groups, Luzon accounted for more than two-thirds or 69.0 percent of the national GDP in 2023. Meanwhile, Mindanao and Visayas shared 17.1 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively.

All major island groups experienced growth in GDP in 2023, with Visayas registering the fastest annual growth rate of 7.1 percent. This was the third consecutive year that all major island groups posted growths since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the PPA said.

The PSA said it would institutionalize the PPA in all regions this year.

This is only in terms of gross domestic product. What about all the other terms?

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

The Philippines' Schizophrenic Attitude Towards The Death Penalty

The reinstatement of the death penalty comes up often in the Congress. This time it's not for high level drug offenders but for corrupt government officials. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/618845/death-by-firing-squad-for-corrupt-govt-officials-pushed

A bill pushing for the imposition of the death penalty by firing squad for government officials convicted of corruption and other grave cases was filed before the House of Representatives.

Under House Bill No. 11211, or the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act, filed by Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, conviction for the following cases will merit the death penalty:

  • graft and corruption as defined under Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
  • malversation of public funds as defined under the Revised Penal Code.
  • plunder as defined under R.A. No. 7080

According to Olaso, he came up with the idea as corruption remains “one of the gravest threats” to the Philippines’ growth.

“Despite the existence of numerous laws aimed at combating graft, malversation, and plunder, the persistence of these crimes suggests that current measures are insufficient to deter public officials from engaging in corrupt practices,” Olaso wrote in the bill’s explanatory note.

“This proposed bill seeks to impose the ultimate penalty of death by firing squad on public officials — from the President to the lowest barangay official — convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds, and plunder. The bill emphasizes accountability and deterrence, making it clear that public office is a public trust, and any violation of that trust must be met with the severest consequences,” he added.

Under the bill, all public officials — whether elected or appointed, and including members of the military and police forces — will be sentenced to death penalty if the Sandiganbayan convicts them.

To ensure due process, the death penalty would only be carried out if the following circumstances are met:

  • the Supreme Court affirms the conviction
  • the conviction has undergone the mandatory automatic review process as required by the Constitution and other applicable laws
  • the accused has exhausted all legal remedies available under Philippine law, including appeals and motions for reconsideration

“These safeguards aim to uphold the fundamental rights of the accused while ensuring that the imposition of the death penalty is applied only in cases where guilt is conclusively established,” the bill reads.

Olaso filed the bill last December 16, 2024, and was referred to the House committee on justice last December 18.

This is not the first time that a lawmaker pushed for the death penalty for government officials convicted of corruption-related cases.

Last October 2024, Cibac party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva said he would push for a law imposing the death penalty on corrupt government officials who stole over P100 million.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa also filed a bill reinstating the death penalty, but only for high-level drug trafficking, fearing that including corruption as among the crimes punishable by death would not get support.

Yeah. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. As if the death penalty will stop Filipinos from being corrupt. It's kind of second nature at this point. But there is something else. Last month the Philippines voted in favor of a global ban on the death penalty. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/20/ph-votes-in-favor-of-global-ban-on-death-penalty

The Philippines has voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution banning the death penalty across the world.

The Philippines was among the 130 countries that favored the global moratorium on death penalty; while 32 voted against.

Twenty-two countries abstained in the voting.

​The resolution expressed deep concern about the continued application of the death penalty and reaffirmed the sovereign right of all countries to develop their own legal systems, including determining appropriate legal penalties, in accordance with their international law obligations​.

​It also called upon all ​states to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty​, as well as recalled duty of ​states, regardless of their political, economic and​ cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundam​ental freedoms.

How is it the Philippines votes against the United Nations General Assembly for a global ban on the death penalty and a month later some schmuck Congressman introduces a bill to reinstate the death penalty?  It doesn't make any sense. 

As far as international law obligations go the Philippines has signed a treaty that prevents them from reinstating the death penalty. 

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty that commits states parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to lifefreedom of religionfreedom of speechfreedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial. It was adopted by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 1966 and entered into force 23 March 1976 after its thirty-fifth ratification or accession. As of June 2022, the Covenant has 173 parties and six more signatories without ratification, most notably the People's Republic of China and CubaNorth Korea is the only state that has tried to withdraw.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Civil_and_Political_Rights

The Philippines signed the treaty in 1966, it was ratified in 1986, and finally entered into force in 1987.


The Second Optional Protocol is an optional subsidiary agreement of the ICCPR.

The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, is a subsidiary agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. As of April 2022, the Optional Protocol has 90 state parties. The most recent country to ratify was Kazakhstan, on 24 March 2022.

The Optional Protocol commits its members to the abolition of the death penalty within their borders, though Article 2.1 allows parties to make a reservation allowing execution "in time of war pursuant to a conviction for a most serious crime of a military nature committed during wartime" (Brazil, Chile, El Salvador). Cyprus, Malta and Spain initially made such reservations, and subsequently withdrew them. Azerbaijan and Greece still retain this reservation on their implementation of the protocol, despite both having banned the death penalty in all circumstances. (Greece has also ratified Protocol no.13 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which abolishes capital punishment for all crimes).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Optional_Protocol_to_the_International_Covenant_on_Civil_and_Political_Rights

The Philippines signed this agreement in 2006 and it was ratified in 2007.

https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4

The thing about this agreement, which was optional, is that there is no mechanism for withdrawal. Article 6 of this treaty says the following: 

1. The provisions of the present Protocol shall apply as additional provisions to the Covenant.

2. Without prejudice to the possibility of a reservation under article 2 of the present Protocol, the right guaranteed in article 1, paragraph 1, of the present Protocol shall not be subject to any derogation under article 4 of the Covenant.

http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/b5ccprp2.htm

I have already written about this in-depth in a previous article

It simply does not make any sense that this Congressman is unaware the Philippines international obligations. Of course maybe it makes perfect sense seeing as there are so many morons in the Philippine government.