Retards in the Government 456

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268413

The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 238-10 with nine abstentions to adopt the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges imposing another 60-day suspension without pay on Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga for repeated and escalating misconduct.

The panel cited findings that Barzaga committed fresh violations of House rules in defiance of a stern warning issued by the chamber.

Committee chair 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos said the panel found substantial evidence that Barzaga violated Section 141, Rule 20 of the Rules of the House by continuing to post malicious and defamatory content on social media from Dec. 1, 2025 to Jan. 30, 2026.

The new suspension stemmed from a privileged speech and complaint filed by Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano, who alleged that Barzaga openly defied House authority by repeating and intensifying, the same disorderly conduct for which he had already been sanctioned.

Valeriano cited Barzaga’s social media posts accusing fellow lawmakers of receiving bribes from tycoon Enrique Razon in exchange for political support, allegations the committee found to be “reckless, defamatory and unsupported.”

The complaint also pointed to posts vilifying the late Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop.

Abalos said the committee considered the attacks on a deceased colleague especially reprehensible and incompatible with the dignity and restraint expected of a member of Congress.

“This constitutes a deliberate and reasoned defiance of the authority of the House and its disciplinary process,” Abalos said in sponsoring the report.

Barzaga was earlier suspended for 60 days after the House adopted Committee Report No. 28 on Dec. 1, 2025, which found him liable for disorderly behavior, including posting incendiary content and retaining publicly viewable inappropriate and indecent material in violation of Section 141A, Rule 20 of the House Rules and Republic Act No. 6713.

That report carried a clear warning that any repetition of similar misconduct would merit more severe sanctions.

Despite the warning, the committee found that Barzaga continued and escalated the same conduct during the suspension period, using social media accounts identifying him as a sitting congressman.

The House plenary directed the committee to assess Barzaga’s conduct during the suspension, after which the panel treated the new acts as a continuation of prior misconduct, not a separate case.

Abalos said Barzaga ignored formal notices to appear before the committee and publicly declared that he would not attend the ethics hearing, leading the panel to declare him in default.

“The Committee will not tolerate conduct that brings itself and the entire House into disgrace and contempt,” Abalos said.

The new suspension carries a stern warning that any further repetition of similar misconduct could warrant harsher sanctions, including expulsion from office, under House rules.

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has been suspended anew  for repeated and escalating misconduct.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/694270/cop-police-asset-journalist-among-11-charged-in-septic-tank-killing

A policeman, a police asset, and a journalist were among the 11 suspects charged in the gruesome killing of a police officer whose body was discovered inside a septic tank in Malolos City more than a week ago.

Police Brig. General Ponce Rogelio Penones, Jr., regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3, said among those charged at the City Prosecutors’ Office were Police Corporal Vivencio Abalos of the Malolos city police station; Julian Salamat, alias Mon, a police informer and alleged gunman; Orland Mauricio, alias “Orly,” correspondent of a national newspaper and publisher of Bulacan paper; and Mauricio’s son Oliver Paul Mauricio alias “Sampol,” owner of the nipa hut, which was just about five meters across the septic tank where the body was dumped.

Also charged were a certain Nick James Comboy, alias NJ; Arvin Santiago, alias RV; alias Egoy/Echo; alias Jon-jon; alias Marvin and two other still unidentified suspects.

The filing of charges on Saturday, January 31, came after the arrest of Abalos, Oliver Paul, Comboy and Santiago in the morning, following the discovery and retrieval of the nearly decomposing body of Police Staff Sgt. Renato Casauay Jr., six days after he was reported missing.

The elder Mauricio, a correspondent of a national broadsheet and publisher of a provincial newspaper in Bulacan, said was preparing his counter affidavit denying any knowledge of or participation in the crime. He told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Wednesday that contrary to police’ claims, he did not own the property where Casauay was shot dead and thrown into the septic tank.

Casauay, a resident of Barangay Sta. Barbara, city of Baliuag working for the Drug Enforcement Group Special Operation Unit of PRO 3, left his house in Baliuag on board his motorcycle on Jan. 24 and went to Green St. in Felicissima village in Barangay Mojon, city of Malolos.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage recovered by the police and shown to the media on Tuesday showed Casauay arriving at a tricycle terminal in a vacant lot near where the nipa hut of the young Mauricio stood. Casauay was walking towards the nipa hut when he was suddenly shot six times.

One of the suspects seen and heard in the video ordered someone to immediately dispose of the body to prevent the blood from spreading. “Go, go, go, go quickly as the blood will spill.”

Maurcio said the police had linked him to the crime due to his alleged ownership of the lot where his son’s nipa hut stood.

“I am not the owner of that property where my son built a nipa hut and where the septic tank is located. It is a vacant lot used as a tricycle terminal,” he said, adding that a certification from the city assessors’ office would attest to what he was saying.

The body of Casauay was recovered inside the septic tank around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, six days after he was reported missing and a day after a witness reported to the police that Salamat, the alleged gunman, had come to him and confessed to the killing.

Casauay’s body was covered with cement and garbage when it was found inside the septic tank, the police report said.

Col. Rommel Geneblazo, Malolos city police chief, told the Inquirer on Wednesday the young Mauricio’s nipa hut was just around five meters away from the spot where Casauay was shot.

Casauay’s family reported him missing after he failed to return home on January 25.

The older Mauricio had sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for his protection. He also denied his son’s participation in the killing.

A policeman is among the 11 suspects charged in the gruesome killing of a police officer whose body was discovered inside a septic tank in Malolos City more than a week ago.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2178127/albuera-mayor-kerwin-espinosa-surrenders-to-cebu-city-court

Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa had surrendered to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 in Cebu City on Thursday following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.

In a video message to his supporters, Espinosa said he went to the court at around 10 a.m. to surrender, asking for prayers for his safety.

“I would like to inform you that a warrant of arrest was issued against me at about 10 a.m., and I am now on my way to the authorities to surrender. I will not wait for the warrant to be served on me. I am just asking for you to pray for my safety, that nothing untoward will happen to me. Thank you, Albueranons, hope to see you soon,” he said.

A close aide of Espinosa said the mayor was not fully aware of the specific charges that led to the issuance of the warrant.

According to a copy of the warrant provided by the aide, Judge Merlo Pasco Bagano of RTC-Branch 14 issued the arrest order on Wednesday, February 4. 

The court denied bail for Espinosa and his co-accused, Ronald Danieles Bulak, Eddie Mar Demingoy Mitra, and Marcelo Adorco.

“The background of the case is not yet clear to us because the mayor doesn’t know about this,” the aide said in Filipino.

Espinosa had earlier indicated his willingness to face any complaint but maintained uncertainty about the charges. 

In an online interview on February 2, he claimed the charges are part of schemes by his political opponents.

“This is another tactic of our political opponents to discredit my mayorship, similar to what they did to former Mayor Onick,” referring to his father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., who was killed inside the Baybay City sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016, in an operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Authorities alleged that Espinosa Sr. attempted to shoot at them while a warrant was being served.

The Espinosa family has been repeatedly linked to illegal drug activities by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Amid this controversial history, the younger Espinosa won the 2025 mayoral election in Albuera, with his sister, Marielle, serving as his running mate.

Last April, Espinosa also survived an alleged ambush attempt while attending a gathering at a gym in Barangay Tinag-an, which he blamed on political rivals.

Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa had surrendered to the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Cebu City on Thursday following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2179029/retired-army-colonel-slain-in-cotabato-town-ambush

Matalam Mayor Oscar Valdevieso has condemned the ambush of retired Colonel Leonardo Songcayo on Friday and offered P500,000 in cash reward for any information that would help the police identify, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators.

Unidentified men armed with assault rifles ambushed Songcayo, 60, in Barangay Kidama here at past noon on Friday.

Lt. Colonel Arniel Melocotones, Matalam municipal police chief, said Songcaya, a rssident of the village, was driving his Nissan Navara pick-up truck when gunmen, armed with M16 rifles and caliber .45 pistol, opened fire on him.

The suspects quickly fled on motorbike.

Police found empty shells for M16 rifle and caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Songcaya is currently the president of Cotabato Provincial Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) and president of Kidama Communal Irrigators’ Association (KCIA).

Police investigation is continuing.

Retired Colonel Leonardo Songcayo was assassinated by unknown gunmen. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268639

More than 70 police officers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were relieved from their posts following an alleged hazing incident in Basilan.

The officers belonged to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 14-B under the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), according to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño.

"All members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14-B were removed and replaced with members of 14-A. So, all of them, 70 plus, were administratively relieved," Tuaño said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Twelve non-commissioned officers, among those relieved from their posts, were positively identified by complainants, he added.

The relieved police personnel were placed under the PRO-BAR holding and accounting section in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, pending investigation for possible violation of the Anti-Hazing Act (RA 11053).

"The PNP has zero tolerance for hazing in training and welcome rites," Tuaño said.

The complaint was initially filed by one recruit, followed by statements from 18 classmates and later 110 others. All victims are undergoing medical evaluation as investigators determine if more officers were involved.

Tuaño said the recruits suffered physical injuries, including hematoma, punches, slaps, and other forms of assault.

The alleged hazing occurred last week at the RMFB headquarters in Barangay Ubit, Lamitan City, Basilan.

An initial police report said recruits were forced to duck-walk, lie and roll on the ground, and were beaten with wooden sticks and arnis.

The National Police Commission, meanwhile, is conducting a parallel investigation, citing its mandate to uphold human rights and the lawful treatment of police personnel.

Meanwhile, PRO-BAR chief Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman visited the recruits in Lamitan City and assured them of a thorough investigation.

More than 70 police officers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were relieved from their posts following an alleged hazing incident in Basilan.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/695710/__trashed-31

A senior citizen died after a patrol car hit the motorela or tricycle that she rode on the National Highway of Barangay Tangohay, Dimiao, Bohol, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.

A certain Maximino Yecyec, 55 years old, a resident of Barangay Taongon, Cabatuan, Dimiao town drove the motorela.

The motorela had three passengers, namely: Marcela Mamuag, 80 years old; Mary Ann Namuag, 45 years old; and Crispa Joy Cabanas, 40 years old. All of them were residents of Barangay Tangohay, Dimiao town.

Meanwhile, the Jagna Municipal Police Station had stewardship of the patrol car, which Police Senior Master Sgt. Neil Bernil drove.

Based on the information from the Dimiao Municipal Police Station, authorities received a call regarding the incident, and immediately went to the scene.

In the initial investigation, they found out that the motorela was traveling to Valencia while the patrol car was traveling to Jagna from the Regional Trial Court Branch 50 in Loay, Bohol.

Upon reaching the place, the motorela made a stop, and one of the passengers stepped out of the vehicle. However, the patrol car suddenly hit the motorela, which resulted in damage to both vehicles.

The driver and the two passengers, Mary Ann and Crispa Joy, were brought to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment.

However, the 80-year-old Marcela died on the spot.

Currently, Bernil remains in the custody of Dimiao Police Station for possible filing of charges against him.

A senior citizen died after a PNP patrol car hit a motorela.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/08/bfp-personnel-tagged-in-alleged-recruitment-extortion-scam-arrested-in-pangasinan

A fire officer allegedly involved in the illegal recruitment scam was nabbed following the complaint of a female applicant during an entrapment operation in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

The 35-year old suspect, who holds the position of Fire Officer 3 (FO3) and is currently assigned at the Candon City Fire Station , was collared by the police and BFP operatives during the February 6 sting operation at a local establishment in Barangay Rizal.

In a formal complaint, the 28-year old victim claimed that the fire officer supposedly received a total of P90,000 for her with the promise of a guaranteed slot in the BFP Region 1 Office.

Despite fulfilling all requirements, the victim was never enlisted with the suspect agreeing to return a portion of the money amounting to P30,000, “which led to the coordinated intervention by police and BFP intelligence units.’’

Following the operation, authorities recovered 30 pieces of P1,000 bills from the suspect, which served as vital evidence for the illegal recruitment process.

BFP Chief Jesus Fernandez. called on the public to come forward and report similar illegal recruitment schemes to help weed out the scalawags in the bureau, as he emphasized that applicants are not required to pay to gain entry in the BFP as recruitment is strictly based on merit and fitness.

A fire officer allegedly involved in the illegal recruitment scam was nabbed following the complaint of a female applicant during an entrapment operation in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2180597/10-rizal-cops-sacked-held-over-faking-drug-charge-extorting-student

Ten Angono, Rizal police officers were relieved from their posts and placed under restrictive custody for allegedly arresting a criminology student on a falsified drug charge and demanding P100,000 for his release, the Police Regional Office Calabarzon (PRO 4A) said on Wednesday.

“The Police Regional Office Calabarzon will conduct its own parallel internal investigation to determine the accountability of those involved and to ensure that due process is strictly observed,” PRO 4A said in a statement.

“As an immediate administrative measure, the subject personnel were administratively relieved, disarmed of their issued firearms, and placed under restrictive custody of the Administrative Holding Section of the Rizal Police Provincial Office, pending the outcome of the investigation,” it added.

The 10 cops are facing an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer before the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which was lodged on Tuesday by the victim, Nestor Makabenta Jr.

Napolcom Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan previously identified the officers as a police captain, a police chief master sergeant, two master sergeants, five staff sergeants, and a police corporal, all with the municipal police’s anti-drug unit.

The PRO 4A affirmed its support and pledged cooperation for Napolcom’s investigation.

“We reiterate that PRO Calabarzon stands for integrity, professionalism, and respect for human rights,” PRO 4A said.

“Any personnel found to have violated the law and PNP rules will be dealt with accordingly. There will be no whitewash, and no one is above the law,” it added.

After lodging his complaint, Makabenta told reporters that the officers arrested him in Angono on Nov. 10, 2025 and pressured him into saying he was buying drugs from two suspects nabbed in the same area during a buy-bust operation an hour prior.

Makabenta said the officers demanded that he pay P100,000 to be released, but he pleaded with them to allow him to only pay P50,000, citing expenses for his pregnant partner.

His sister sent the P50,000 to one of the officers through an electronic wallet, yet Makabenta was kept in detention until the Angono prosecutor’s office junked the case against him last Jan. 27.

Calinisan earlier said he was considering recommending criminal cases against the officers as well for planting of evidence, robbery, extortion, and illegal arrest. 

Ten Angono, Rizal police officers were relieved from their posts and placed under restrictive custody for allegedly arresting a criminology student on a falsified drug charge and demanding P100,000 for his release.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/10/soldier-fatally-shot-inside-camp

A soldier was gunned down by a colleague inside the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) in Jamindan town, Capiz province.

The victim was a 26-year-old private first class (PFC) and a native of Libungan town, Cotabato province.

According to the Jamindan Municipal Police Station (MPS), the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9.

Police Capt. Jaypee Silvestre, Jamindan MPS officer-in-charge, said the victim and the suspect, a 31-year-old private from Lambunao town, Iloilo province, were drinking with collagues and the victim even helped the suspect walk back to his barracks as he was allegedly drunk and could no longer walk straight.

Other soldiers were roused from their sleep when they heard a gunshot and saw the wuounded  victim who was taken to the hospital inside the camp where he was declared dead from a bullet wound in the head.

Police have yet to determine the motive.

Silvestre said that other soldiers told police there was no bad blood between them.

The suspect is in the custody of the Jamindan MPS and will be charged with murder.

A soldier was gunned down by a colleague inside the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) in Jamindan town, Capiz province.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Bring Back Debt to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Don't be Afraid, and More!

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

A hydropower project delayed by the pandemic is now back on the table. 

https://business.inquirer.net/572798/p64-b-hydropower-project-to-rise-in-benguet

Filipino-Korean firm Coheco Badeo Corp. is still pursuing its plan to build a P64.3-billion pumped-storage hydropower project in Benguet — a project that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the company has requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for public scoping for its 500-megawatt Kibungan Badeo pumped-storage hydroelectric power project.

Based on the document submitted to the agency, Coheo Badeo said the proposed facility—which secured a service contract in 2016—would be located in Barangay Badeo, beside the Amburayan River in Kibungan.

It would feature upper and lower dams, an underground powerhouse, an underground pressure shaft and a penstock.

Once up and running, the firm said the project would provide additional electricity to the Luzon grid.

With a storage facility, electricity can be stored and only released to the grid when the demand surges.

“Coheco Badeo Corp. supports the government’s thrust for clean energy and promotion of renewable energy and is aggressively developing a portfolio of hydroelectric power plants,” it said.

“The pumped storage project will provide not only electricity but also a source of water that may be accessed during heavily lean months due to climate change,” the group added.

The company hopes to complete the project by 2031.

The proposed facility was also one of the winners in the government’s green energy auction program (GEAP) round three.

GEAP is an initiative meant to encourage more investments in the renewable energy space by providing fixed rates to emerging clean power sources.

The current administration is targeting to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 from the current 22 percent. 

This project was contracted back in 2016. Why the decades long delay? What was happening before the pandemic and why wasn't it fast tracked once the pandemic officially ended four years ago?

During the pandemic there was a sharp decline in travel tax revenue. Now the House says it is imperative to review how these funds are being used. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2179022/house-to-look-into-how-travel-tax-funds-are-spent-lawmaker

The House of Representatives is set to review how travel tax collections averaging about P4 billion to P5 billion annually have been spent, amid questions on whether the funds reached areas most in need of tourism development.

House tourism committee vice chair and Palawan Rep. Gil Acosta said lawmakers should examine both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic use of the revenues to determine whether these were properly allocated and resulted in tangible improvements for the tourism industry.

During a press conference, Acosta said the travel tax proceeds are allocated among the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Commission on Higher Education, and the cultural sector.

He noted a sharp decline in collections from 2020 to 2023 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, making it more important to reassess how funds were used in earlier years and what impact they had on tourism development.

“These are issues that Congress needs to look into closely,” Acosta said.

While acknowledging efforts by the Department of Tourism, Acosta said government-built tourism facilities remain limited in provinces heavily promoted as major destinations.

In Palawan, which is often cited as one of the country’s premier island destinations, Acosta said there are only two government-built tourism comfort room facilities—one in the north and one in the south of the province.

This gap between Palawan’s global reputation and the actual state of its infrastructure, he said, underscored the need to revisit how travel tax revenues are allocated.

Acosta said the tourism committee plans to take up these concerns as part of broader discussions on whether the decades-old travel tax should be reformed or scrapped.

Several measures are pending before the committee, including House Bill No. 7443 filed by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, which seeks to abolish the travel tax imposed under Presidential Decree No. 1183 and related provisions of the Tourism Act of 2009.

Under the bill, the travel tax—currently set at P2,700 for first-class passengers and P1,620 for economy travelers—would be repealed.

Acosta said the levy has become one of the factors driving up the cost of travel in the Philippines, putting the country at a disadvantage compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

“Among Asean countries, we’re basically the only one left with an outgoing travel tax,” he said. “It adds to the cost. It may not be the main reason tourism numbers are low, but it is definitely one of the causes.”

The Palawan lawmaker said the policy, introduced in 1977, no longer reflects present-day realities, particularly as travel has become more accessible and, in many cases, work-related rather than a luxury.

He also said high travel costs affect domestic tourism, with airfare abroad sometimes cheaper than flights to local destinations. 

All that money and not enough proper infrastructure to accommodate tourists. The pandemic exposed weaknesses because revenue dried up and forced a closer look at past spending. Could it be another flood scandal all over again?

A Bacolod chef has urged others to follow their dreams.

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/02/06/dont-be-afraid-young-bacolod-chef-urges-fellow-dreamers

Every start of the year, people revisit and redraft their new year’s resolutions, eager to fulfill what they have always dreamt of with a renewed optimism to start anew.

Every year, CJ Jimenez is among those who have kept putting off what’s in their bucket lists — because, as he admitted, he was scared. 

Born and raised in Bacolod, CJ took up Hospitality Management (HM) at University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.

“While HM is into hotels, I’m more inclined towards cooking, culinary,” he shared in an exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE.

“As a hobby, I pursued culinary, just cooking at home, cooking for the family.”

Like many home cooks, CJ’s dream was to open his own restaurant. But because he was scared to start — probably of risks, among other things — he was unable to open his own business until November 2019 — just before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’ve been cooking non-professionally since high school… It just kind of blossomed into a business,” he recalled.

Inspired by the Philippines’ colonizers, Spanish, Americans and Japanese, CJ founded the food kiosk brand Vaca Japonesa, Spanish words that literally mean “Japanese Beef.” The Spanish influence is mirrored by chorizos and tapas in the menu; the Japanese comes in the form of Yakiniku; while the American inspiration shines through the steaks and burgers.

Using Wagyu beef from Mindanao, CJ gives traditional Negrense dishes like Kansi and chorizo a premium restaurant flair.

“Because I’ve been afraid that’s why it took a while for me to put up this business. But if I were braver back then, maybe I already have a restaurant, maybe a franchise or a large conglomerate of restaurants,” he fretted.

It’s never too late though for CJ — because his business now has two branches in Bacolod, and from his hometown, his recipes have traveled far and wide and were recently even featured in his very own booth at the recent Negros Fair in SM Aura, Taguig City.

Imagine opening your dream restaurant and then four months later the economy is shut down. He seems to be doing better now though. 

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies said restoring the Philippines’ debt to pre-pandemic levels through continued fiscal consolidation should remain a key policy priority for the government to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability and economic stability.

https://malaya.com.ph/business/think-tank-pids-urges-ph-govt-bring-debt-back-to-pre-pandemic-levels/

A state-funded think tank said restoring the Philippines’ debt to pre-pandemic levels through continued fiscal consolidation should remain a key policy priority for the government to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability and economic stability.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) made the recommendation in a study, citing the need for a credible medium- to long-term plan to anchor market confidence.

Backing its premise, the paper provided historical data showing the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio climbed to 60.5 percent in 2021 from 39.6 percent in 2019 as the government ramped up spending to cushion the economy from the COVID-19 shock. The surge in borrowing also pushed the budget deficit to 7.5 percent of GDP in 2020 from 3.4 percent in 2019, it said.

By the end of 2022, the debt ratio had risen further to 60.9 percent, slightly breaching the government’s indicative 60 percent ceiling, it said.

As of end-2025, debt-to-GDP stood at 63.2 percent, while the deficit-to-GDP ratio was 5.4 percent in the third quarter of 2025, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

PIDS economists Margarita Debuque-Gonzales, Charlotte Justine Diokno-Sicat, John Paul Corpus, Robert Hector Palomar, Mark Gerald Ruiz, and Ramona Malira Milar—the study’s authors—stressed, however, that the current debt episode differs materially from the crises of the 1980s.

They noted that today’s liabilities were not triggered by excessive foreign borrowing combined with sharp interest-rate shocks, which previously caused debt servicing costs to spiral.

Instead, the share of foreign-currency debt has been steadily declining, while the government has shifted toward domestic borrowing, longer maturities, and more balanced issuance.

These changes, they said, have reduced structural risks in the public debt portfolio.

The authors also pointed out that pandemic-era debt did not stem from so-called “hidden deficits” tied to failing state-owned firms, unlike in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when losses from public enterprises were eventually absorbed by the national government.

They cited inherited obligations from the Marcos era, including liabilities linked to the former Central Bank, as well as restructuring at institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National Bank, and the National Power Corporation.

Improved finances at government corporations and financial institutions, supported in part by privatization, have since helped ease debt-related vulnerabilities, they added.

While the country’s current debt profile is “less worrisome” than in past crises, the authors cautioned against rushing to restore pre-COVID debt ratios.

They argued that aggressive fiscal tightening could undermine recovery efforts, particularly as the government continues to address pandemic scarring and support economic normalization.

“Given the need to spend to prevent possible scarring from the pandemic and provide the economy with time and room to recover from the pandemic crisis, it may not be feasible to return immediately to pre-COVID-19 debt ratios,” they said.

Instead, they called for a credible medium- to long-term fiscal consolidation framework to guide expectations and reinforce confidence.

“This underscores the need for a sound medium- to long-term fiscal consolidation plan to anchor sentiments,” they added.

However, there is no rush due to the need "to prevent possible scarring from the pandemic and provide the economy with time and room to recover from the pandemic crisis." Essentially it means the negative economic effects of the lockdowns will continue into the foreseeable future. 

Filipinos Shilled Online For Jeffery Epstein

The revelations from the Epstein files continue to pile up. In a previous article it was noted that Epstein employed Filipino helpers and servants who could be material witnesses to the crimes of the elite. Now we learn that a team of Filipinos in the Philippines, employed by Ghislaine Maxwell's sisters husband, was manipulating Google to cover-up for Epstein. 

 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/02/09/2506707/how-philippines-based-ops-tried-bury-jeffrey-epsteins-bad-press

Long before his 2019 arrest, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was already working to erase his criminal past from the internet.

By 2010, Jeffrey Epstein was already a convicted sex offender and on probation after a year in jail. Still very wealthy and socially connected, he was desperate to have his public reputation swept clean.

Unfortunately for him, Google was beginning to show results while users typed on its search box. Auto-suggestions would yield "jail" and "pedophile" tied to the American financier's name. References to his crimes, guilty plea and jailtime dominated search results.

Among the 20,000 pages of "Epstein Files" recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice were email exchanges that follow how Epstein turned to Al Seckel, the husband of hte sister of his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, to lead the damage-control campaign.

Seckel, a self-styled "optical illusions" collector, proposed a blunt strategy: overwhelm negative search results with a flood of positive—and in some cases misleading—content until critical links slid out of view.

"I wish I could use all my creativity and powers to make it all go away instantaneously, but I can't," Seckel wrote in an email to Epstein in October 2010. "However, it is not a hopeless case, based on our analysis of it."

The approach relied on a simple premise of what is now considered old-school search engine optimization, or SEO: bury the bad links and boost the good.

"The greater the number of links, then the higher the ranking," Seckel explained.

He then appealed to Epstein's background as a math teacher in the 1970s, long before he was a multimilionaire. "Jeffrey, it's all mathematics, that's all it is, and all it ever will be." 

The emails indicated that Seckel hired a team based in the Philippines to fashion a moat of links around websites and pages they created on Epstein and others who share his name. His supposed involvement in sports, science and philanthropy would be a highlight on these new sites.

"Our group in the Philippines is building links and links to our sites, pseudo sites, and the other Jeffrey Epsteins of the world," Seckel wrote. 

He argued that once automated web crawlers revisited search results, Epstein’s critics would instead see favorable or unrelated content created by his team.

"Then the old sites will just get moved out of the way. Poof. We just need more links than [sic] them," Seckel said.

The operation was not a one-off magic trick of the "illusions" enthusiast. It followed a playbook common to PR firms at the time, offering "reputation management" services designed to game search algorithms. A 2012 Wall Street Journal report detailed how such firms buried negative coverage for companies and individuals while amplifying positive narratives.

While it sounded simple enough, Seckel kept fixing for Epstein what proved to be a neverending campaign. 

"We are quite exhausted because this job is so incredibly massive and intensive, and we are under a lot of pressure to give you the results you would want," he wrote in another October 2010 email to Epstein.

A key focus of the effort was Wikipedia. Seckel forwarded an email from a "team leader" describing how extensive the efforts are for Epstein in the country.

"Philippines are [sic] continuing to do a lot of backend work, with additional work as soon as they receive the articles and photos from Jeff," they wrote. 

Repeated attempts to remove or soften referencs to Epstein's criminal records were reversed by other users monitoring the page.

"He has over twenty people with google alerts on him, who go and undo our edits every time we remove material," the team leader wrote, adding that "more extreme measures" might be needed.

The team also Seckel for more funding for the job.

"Once additional money comes in I can continue to start pimping the 'other' Jeffrey Epsteins that already exist on the web, trying to jump them up in rankings," they said. "You've already seen the kind of work effort I will bring to this project, so I'm counting on you to make this happen and provide me the material and funding that I need."

It took Seckel and the team two months to scrub Wikipedia and search results of what they called "toxic" terms.

"We have stopped the hacking on your wiki site, and that was a major effort. Your wiki entry now is pretty tame, and bad stuff has been muted, bowlerized, and pused to the bottom," Seckel wrote. "This was a big success."

The service commanded a retainer of $10,000 to $20,000 a month, or roughly P450,000 to P900,000. Epstein objected to the escalating costs.

"I was never told... that there was a 10k fee per month„ you inittaly [sic] said the project would take 20.. then another 10. then another 10," Epstein wrote in one exchange, complaining about the incremental charges.

To this, Seckel shot a sharp response.

"We were trying to fix up your mess. I didn't create it. Just thought it would be something to help. This was NEVER about trying to pull money out of you, and fact, we have don't everything possible to keep the costs down considerably," he wrote on Dec. 16, 2010.

While his reputation still suffered in public, Epstein was not exiled from his private, elite networks. The cleaned up search results, at least for a time, kept invitations coming.

Documents showed the convicted sex offender still had a full social calendar in the years after 2010, speaking and meeting with director Woody Allen, famed professor Noam Chomsky, and British billionaires Richard Branson and Bill Gates, among others.

He went on to acquire a second private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2018 and entertained charity calls, including a fundraiser for typhoon-hit Tacloban in 2014.

Explosive accusations by former victim Virginia Giuffre surfaced in 2015, helping Epstein's cases return to the spotlight.

It was also the year Seckel reportedly died, with accounts saying his body was found at the "bottom of a cliff" near his home in France.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges accusing him of trafficking and abusing underage girls, some as young as 14, across multiple locations in the United States and abroad.

He died in custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial.

The name and location of this operation has not been revealed. Is it still active today working on other outsourced internet shenanigans? 

What's more important about this article than Epstein's Philippines connection is what this means for local elections. There has been plenty written about bots manipulating both the 2016 and 2022 elections. Troll farms abound in the Philippines with the sole purpose of manipulating truth. 

As social media giants like Facebook and Twitter play cat-and-mouse with coordinated keyboard warriors who spread disinformation, prop up political clients or smear their opponents, historical whitewashing is finding new homes. Pro-Marcos propaganda is now proliferating on platforms like TikTok and YouTube that appeal primarily to Gen Z, ushering in a new era of fun, hip, glossily edited content that is harder to regulate online.

In the global war on the truth, the Philippines is especially vulnerable. About 99 percent of its population is online, and over half find it difficult to spot fake news. President Rodrigo Duterte rose to power in 2016 aided by a keyboard army and online hate campaigns, forever changing the online landscape.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/12/philippines-marcos-memory-election/

And it's not just the Philippines. 

Across the Philippines, it’s a virtual free-for-all. Trolls for companies. Trolls for celebrities. Trolls for liberal opposition politicians and the government. Trolls trolling trolls.

The world of Internet trolls — the gaslighting, the fabrications, the nastiness — is now a fact of life in the Web ecosystem nearly everywhere.

But something new is happening here: Experienced public relations experts in the Philippines are harnessing the raw energy of young and aggressive social media shape-shifters.

They are dramatically altering the political landscape in the Philippines with almost complete impunity — shielded by politicians who are so deep into this practice that they will not legislate against it, and using the cover of established PR firms that quietly offer these services. 

It is also showing signs of going global — with the Philippines as a hub — as the United States and countries across the world move into another election cycle in the troll age.

“This is what disinformation will look like in the U.S. in 2020,” said Camille François, chief innovation officer at the New York-based social network analysis company Graphika. 

Political manipulation, she said, does not need to come from an ill-intentioned enemy state. It can originate with those who have cut their teeth in the competitive worlds of advertising, media and marketing. Social media companies, she added, were caught off guard before — notably in the U.S. presidential election in 2016 — and could be yet again with this new iteration. 

“The Philippines shows us trends that are headed this way,” said François, who led a report commissioned by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence investigating Russian trolls in the United States. “And, it is 2019, the market is global — so they will find jobs outside of their own nation.” 

These ambitious operators now want to turn their country into the go-to place to influence corporate and political campaigns worldwide — using the same young, educated, English-speaking workforce that made the Philippines a global call center and content moderation hub.

The Washington Post interviewed over half a dozen paid trolls, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity and illegality of their work. They offered a glimpse into how Philippine trolls are shaping politics in their country and possibly showing signs of things to come elsewhere.

For the Senate candidate, for example, the hired trolls worked round-the-clock to flood platforms such as Twitter and Facebook with seemingly organic messages of support. Fans leaped to his defense, debated his critics and sang praises of his leadership style ahead of crucial midterm elections that were held in May. 

Except it is all an illusion, manufactured by hundreds of fake accounts all meticulously tracked on a spreadsheet. 

“This one, she is a fan of K-pop,” said one female worker, pointing to an open Twitter page showing the fake profile of a young, pink-cheeked woman. Buried among her fan posts for bands such as BTS are messages in support of the Senate candidate. The more likes and retweets, the better she’s doing.

The candidate was not elected, but he came close. 

Several paid troll farm operations and one self-described influencer say they have been approached and contracted by international clients, including from Britain, to do political work. Others are planning to expand overseas, hoping to start regionally. 

“It has all become an enterprise,” said Yvonne Chua, a journalism professor at the University of the Philippines who has extensively researched misinformation on the Internet. 

“It has come to a point where you can rely on the Philippines for all sorts of things: trolls, click farms, whatever you want.” 

https://archive.is/gqMsS

The Philippines offers two things that are in great demand: 1. Many Filipinos are proficient in English and 2. Filipinos will work for peanuts. Thats why call centers are outsourced here and why NYC has virtual cashiers based in Manila. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/567764/filipino-virtual-cashiers-taking-orders-at-new-york-restaurants

Your next order of fried chicken at a New York City restaurant may come with a “hello” from the Philippines.

Virtual assistants based in the Philippines have become a sought-after option for companies who want to do more with less.

 Some restaurants in New York City are now exploring this option to keep up with the rising costs of labor, rent and other overhead expenses.

As minimum wages soar – $16 in New York City and now $20 for fast food workers in California – restaurant owners are feeling the pinch.

Beamed on flat-screen monitors at self-service kiosks, virtual hosts from the Philippines are now taking orders at restaurants, including Yaso Kitchen, Sansan Chicken in Long Island and East Village. They welcome customers with flashing smiles — a hospitality trait Filipinos are renowned for.

The company pays Filipino virtual assistants $3 per hour — way less compared to US wages but considered a competitive rate in the Philippines.

Aiming to incorporate fair wages into fiscal accountability, Chi Zhang told Fortune, “We pay 150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines.”

Like all virtual assistants from the Philippines, recognized as one of the largest English-speaking nations, Amber and other Filipinos working for Happy Cashiers speak perfect English.

Absolutely none of this should come as a surprise unless you are a normie who believes everything they see on the internet and are not a veteran of the Great Meme War of 2016 as well as the skirmishes which continue to this day. 

What is important to note here is the Philippines' central role in manipulating online perception around the globe. It's in the same category as the Philippines being the number one hub of OCSAM. As small as it is this archipelago nation plays a pivotal role in global politics and crime. 

Insurgency: Army Intensifies Hunt

The Army is aiming to declare Iloilo province insurgency-free by the end of the first quarter of 2026. But that doesn't mean the way it sounds. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/03/army-eyes-insurgency-free-status-for-iloilo

The 301st Infantry Brigade is aiming to free Iloilo province from the threat of insurgency.

Brig. Gen. Nhel Richard Patricio recently disclosed that the 301st IB has set a target of status reclassification by the first quarter of this year.

Iloilo is now qualified for Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) – an area that no longer is a stronghold of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People's Army (NPA).

There are still small encounters but Patricio said these are remnants of disbanded major NPA groups.

The SIPS classification must be endorsed by the Iloilo Provincial Peace and Order Council headed by Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.

Patricio said the SIPS classification will spur growth and development threatened by the CPP-NPA.

Capiz is the remaining province threatened by the CPP-NPA In Panay Island.

The province of Antique was placed under SIPS status last year while Aklan attained this in the 2010s.

See, the NPA still remains and engages in small encounters with the AFP. However they are apparently so insignificant that the AFP will be making this declaration in order to "spur growth and development threatened by the CPP-NPA." Remember, insurgency-free does not mean insurgent-free. 

In January 2026 47 Reds and other terrorists were neutralized by government forces. Let's see how they break that number down. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268334

Around 47 communist insurgents and local terrorist group members were neutralized by military units nationwide from Jan. 1 to 29, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday.

"Neutralized" is a military term that refers to the surrender, capture or killing of enemy troops.

This can be broken into 42 for the New People's Army (NPA) insurgents and supporters and five for local terrorist groups, the military added.

The 42 NPA members and supporters neutralized were broken down as follows: 35 surrendered, four arrested, and three killed in various military operations.

"A total of 51 firearms, and 18 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered, and five encampments seized," the AFP said.

Meanwhile, for the local terrorist groups, a total of five members and supporters of these groups surrendered, while six firearms were seized in the same period.

Last year, the military said that its units have neutralized 2,018 NPA and its supporters from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.  

Of the 2,018 communist insurgents and followers neutralized, 1,798 have surrendered with 93 arrested, and 127 killed in various military operations nationwide.

"A total of 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered (during this period)," the AFP said.

It also added that a total of 149 NPA encampments were captured in the same period. 

While they break down the numbers between NPA and non NPA terrorists they make no difference between NPA and NPA supporters. That is bad. Notice the claim that 2,018 NPA members and supporters were neutralized last year. But how many were actual NPA fighters? The last official count was 780 left but we shall more than like see that number inflated to a few thousand being neutralized this year with no difference made between supporters and fighters. 

The AFP has said the NPA is leaderless but leaders continue to pop up. One was recently slain in a clash with the Army. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2176036/top-npa-leader-in-negros-slain-in-clashes-with-ph-army

The alleged highest-ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros was among two rebels killed in encounters with government troops in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, the Philippine Army said on Sunday, Feb. 1.

Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, identified the fatality as Reynaldo Erecre, alias “Amik,” the alleged secretary of the CPP-NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon–Negros. 

Erecre was killed around 4 p.m. on Jan. 30, Friday, during an encounter with soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Bi-ao.

“That’s a major blow to the rebel movement,” Dumosmog said.

Erecre’s sister was set to claim his remains on Sunday afternoon, pending verification of her identity, he added.

Authorities were also coordinating with Roy Erecre, Reynaldo’s brother, for confirmation. 

Roy Erecre, a former National Democratic Front consultant, surrendered to Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado in November 2025, Dumosmog said.

Earlier on Jan. 30 at 2:50 a.m., another alleged NPA member, Regie Pacheco, alias “Dante,” was killed in a separate encounter in Barangay Bi-ao. He was identified as a finance and logistics officer and a member of the Regional Strike Force of the NPA’s Central Negros 2.

According to a 94th Infantry Battalion report, the encounter thwarted an alleged attempt by the armed group to sabotage government infrastructure projects in the area.

The group reportedly planned to burn heavy equipment being used for ongoing development work, but troops acted on timely information provided by residents.

In another incident, two more alleged NPA members were killed in an encounter with soldiers of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, at 7:11 a.m. on Jan. 31. The fatalities remained unidentified as of Feb. 1, Dumosmog said.

The Army said the 47th IB launched focused military operations after receiving reports from residents of Barangays Sandayao and Binobohan about the presence of armed rebels. 

The operation resulted in an encounter, the deaths of the two suspects, and the recovery of an M-16 rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, a hand grenade, ammunition, and assorted subversive documents.

Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, urged remaining members of the communist armed movement to abandon the armed struggle and avail themselves of the government’s reintegration programs.

“Through these initiatives, you can avoid misfortune and death, reconcile with your families, and experience full healing within the community that has always cared for you,” Samson said.

Of course it's another major blow. These deaths are always touted to be such. Also note that the NPA presence in Negros Occidental is quite low but they still pose a major threat as they "planned to burn heavy equipment being used for ongoing development work." They were only thwarted due to good citizens reporting the matter. 

The death of this leader has emboldened the Army to sustain focused operations in the region.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268211

The Philippine Army on Monday vowed to sustain focused operations after foiling the attempt of New People's Army (NPA) remnants to sow violence and neutralizing a rebel leader in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental last week.

Reynaldo "Amik" Erecre, secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon (KR)-Negros, died in a clash with troops of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) in Sitio Apitong, Barangay Biao, in the afternoon of Jan. 30.

Earlier in the day, his comrade Regie "Dante" Pacheco was also killed in a gunfight in Sitio Hacienda Dama.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, lauded the 94IB for the successful operation, noting the crucial role of community cooperation.

"We will continue focused operations strengthened by civilian support to preserve peace and progress for every Negrense," he added.

Military reports showed remnants of the NPA Central Negros 2 and Regional Strike Force had planned to burn the heavy equipment used for ongoing infrastructure projects in Barangay Biao.

"Timely information from residents enabled swift action to prevent sabotage of government projects," Dumosmog said.

Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, commanding officer of 94IB, said the death of Erecre creates a "leadership vacuum" for the NPA in Negros Island.

"Considering that he is the regional secretary of KR-Negros, the loss will affect the leadership. It will have an effect on their plans to commit atrocities," he added.

Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, reiterated his call for peace, healing and reconciliation.

“We call on the remnants of the communist-terrorist group to abandon their terroristic way of life and return to the fold of the law," he said.

Samson said those who will leave the armed struggle can avail of the government’s reintegration programs, such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and the grant of amnesty.

It's very doubtful there is now a leadership vacuum.  Someone always steps up to fill the void. We have seen that time and time again. The NPA is a stubborn lot and will continue to operate as they have despite the triumphalism of the AFP.

The Army is intensifying its hunt versus fleeing rebels in a Samar clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268329

The Philippine Army has intensified pursuit operations against remnants of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in San Jorge, Samar, following a recent armed encounter.

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said on Wednesday that the pursuit operations aim to immediately locate the NPA rebels and deny them the opportunity to regroup or establish new positions.

Additional security measures have also been implemented to ensure the safety of nearby communities.

“Clearing operations and information gathering are being conducted in coordination with local authorities as part of efforts to sustain peace and security in the area,” the 8ID stated.

On Tuesday, troops of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion (3IB) launched search operations against the rebels after an encounter in the upland village of Cagtoto-og in San Jorge town.

The patrolling 3IB troopers were responding to bursts of gunfire they heard in the village before the clash.

The soldiers immediately moved toward the area, resulting in an encounter with five NPA members. The rebel group later fled, leaving behind a firearm, several explosives, and subversive documents.

There were no casualties on the government side, the military said.

San Jorge town is located 138 km north of Tacloban and has some upland villages known as NPA hotspots due to frequent clashes and lair discoveries.

Samar remains on the of the last strongholds of the NPA as they are difficult to root out of the mountains.