Retards in the Government 487

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/10/ex-traffic-enforcer-held-for-extortion-in-paranaque

A former traffic enforcer was arrested after allegedly posing as an active traffic officer and demanding money from a company in exchange for preventing the apprehension of its trucks in Parañaque City.

The suspect, alias Alex, 42, unemployed and a resident of Taguig City, was arrested on Sept. 9 at Pacific Concrete Products Inc. along East Service Road in Barangay San Martin de Porres.

Police said the suspect first went to the company on Sept. 1 and introduced himself as a traffic enforcer from Taguig City.

He allegedly demanded money from a transport supervisor, claiming that the payment would spare the company’s trucks from being apprehended for traffic violations.

The suspect reportedly returned to the company a few days later and again demanded money, prompting the complainant to seek police assistance.

Personnel of the Parañaque City Police Station responded and confronted the suspect regarding the complaint.

Police said the suspect resisted arrest and attempted to flee toward his motorcycle despite repeated orders from the responding officers.

A brief struggle ensued, during which the suspect and the officers fell into a muddy area. The police eventually subdued and arrested him.

Authorities later verified that the suspect had previously been employed as a traffic enforcer but had already been separated from the office and was no longer affiliated with it.

The suspect was brought to the police custodial facility for detention and was charged with violations for attempted robbery-extortion, usurpation of authority, and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.

A former traffic enforcer was arrested after allegedly posing as an active traffic officer and demanding money from a company in exchange for preventing the apprehension of its trucks in Parañaque City.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2302788/3-ex-soldiers-in-degamo-slay-case-convicted-for-gun-bomb-possession

Three former Army soldiers have been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in connection with the assassination of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023.

In a decision handed down on Aug. 18 and made public only recently, the Manila Regional Trial Court’s Branch 40 convicted Joric Labrador for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and coaccused Joven Javier and Benjie Rodriguez for one count each of unlawful possession of explosives.

Labrador was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, while Javier and Rodriguez were handed down a prison term of reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years.

The three convicts, along with expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., are facing separate charges for multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges before the Manila court for the killing of Degamo.

The court, meanwhile, ordered the custodians of the .45 cal. pistol, two magazines, 14 rounds of live ammunition and two hand grenades seized from the three men to turn these over to the Philippine National Police.

Labrador, Javier and Rodriguez were already discharged from the Army for going on unauthorized leave before they were charged in court three years ago over the killing of Degamo.

Labrador was a member of the Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division while Javier was with the Light Reaction Battalion. Rodriguez, on the other hand, was assigned to the 35th Infantry Battalion of the 11th Infantry Division.

According to the Department of Justice, which transferred the case to the City of Manila, the court also upheld the validity of the accused’s warrantless arrests, noting that the seized pieces of evidence were properly identified and handled, as testified to by the police and other witnesses.

“Impunity should never triumph over justice. We shall hold accountable anyone who transgresses the rule of law,” Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said in a statement announcing the Manila court’s ruling.

Degamo and nine others, including his driver and bodyguard, were killed by armed men on March 4, 2023, during the distribution of aid at his house in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Three former Army soldiers have been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in connection with the assassination of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2306156/bucor-orders-charges-vs-ciw-officials-over-trust-fund-irregularities

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) ordered the filing of charges against two officials and five other personnel at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) over more than P6 million in missing funds and administrative irregularities.

In a statement on Wednesday, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. approved the recommendation to initiate administrative proceedings against former superintendents Daisy Sevilla-Castillote and Marjorie Ann Sanidad.

The former superintendents were allegedly involved in handling funds entrusted to them by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Castillote will face administrative proceedings for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct for her tenure as CIW superintendent, according to a Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation (DII) report dated Aug. 30.

“According to the investigation, she failed to exercise the required diligence in supervising, monitoring, reconciling, and maintaining institutional control over the PDL Trust Fund,” the BuCor said.

Sanidad, who served as acting CIW superintendent before Castillote’s appointment, was also cited for authorizing a P300,000 fund advance to cover a reported remittance intended for PDLs that had not been properly transmitted.

“The transaction was likewise deemed inconsistent with existing policies governing the use and disposition of PDL Trust Fund resources,” the BuCor said.

Catapang also filed charges against correction officer Bianca Flor Ramos after the DII found discrepancies of over P5 million during her term as the CIW trust fund officer.

Meanwhile, the final audit report of BuCor’s parallel investigation conducted on Aug. 25 reflected an unaccounted amount of P6.4 million.

This figure does not include the more than P1.2 million accounted amount yet to be collected or listed as receivables.

Last month, Ramos promised to cooperate with the bureau’s investigation into the missing funds after suddenly reappearing following her absence without official leave on July 29.

CIW’s incoming trust fund officer Maryrose Abucay was also cited for deficiencies in the turnover of duties.

These included the lack of formal turnover documents and independent witnesses during the turnover of cash and other accountabilities, as well as inadequate documentation and verification of funds.

Catapang also ordered charges against three other trust fund personnel—Madel Figuerres, Gloria Lakisa, and Charlot Jennifer Carreon—over discrepancies found in their performance.

Their lapses included the recording, documentation, monitoring, reconciliation, maintenance, and verification of trust fund transactions and related records.

BuCor said the “personnel’s collective shortcomings contributed to weaknesses in the accuracy, reliability, and accountability of PDL Trust Fund documentation.”

The Bureau of Corrections ordered the filing of charges against two officials and five other personnel at the Correctional Institution for Women over more than P6 million in missing funds and administrative irregularities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283876

Eight individuals including Bayan Muna chairperson Teddy Casiño will face raps in connection with a lightning rally that happened in a premier hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Thursday, the Southern Police District (SPD) said Friday.

In a press briefing held at SPD headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, SPD chief Brig. Gen. Rodel Pastor said: "Cases shall be filed against Teddy Casiño, the rally organizers and the ones arrested who were part of the demonstrations. Yung mga naaresto, undergoing sila ng (Those arrested are now undergoing) inquest proceedings sa Taguig."

"Direct Assault, physical Injuries, Batas Pambansa 880 under illegal assembly and other possible cases shall be filed against Casiño and others," he added.

Pastor also said they coordinated with the hotel management for security and safety deployment of police personnel as well as civil-disturbance management teams.

Based on the SPD report, the demonstration began at around 9:09 a.m. Thursday involving members of various sectoral groups.

Some protesters entered the hotel premises by allegedly presenting themselves as customers and initially appeared orderly, with no placards or immediate indication of disruptive conduct.

Police personnel were already deployed in the vicinity as part of the security coverage for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)-Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum being held in the hotel.

When a commotion developed and the activity began affecting traffic and normal operations in the area, responding officers immediately intervened to prevent further escalation and repeatedly directed the protesters to maintain order and peacefully disperse.

Despite repeated police instructions, some protesters allegedly resisted and physically assaulted responding personnel. Several police officers sustained bruises, scratches and other injuries, with some left bloodied during the confrontation.

Despite being subjected to physical resistance, police personnel continued to exercise restraint in managing the situation.

The SPD emphasizes that police intervention was necessary to restore order, protect the public and prevent further escalation. 

The SPD, which has territorial jurisdiction over the area, said 16 police officers and five activists were injured as lawmen and hotel security personnel moved to pacify the protesters, who at one point managed to briefly enter the hotel where the forum was being held.

In a separate press briefing held in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said based on the report of the National Capital Region Police Office, their injuries included bruises, blunt wounds and lacerations.

"All affected personnel are currently receiving medical attention and treatment from the District Medical and Dental Unit (DMDU), NCRPO," he added.

The PNP spokesperson also said that it's up to the hotel management to file charges against the individuals or groups involved in the said demonstration which caused alarm and scandal.

For his part, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the police response was focused on keeping the situation under control and protecting the safety of everyone at the event.

“The PNP exercised maximum tolerance during the incident. Our officers acted to maintain order and protect the safety of all participants at the forum,” he said in a statement.

Eight individuals including Bayan Muna chairperson Teddy Casiño will face raps in connection with a lightning rally that happened in a premier hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.