This series began back in May but there hasn't been any follow up postings! Here is round two of Pinoys on ladders. The levels of danger vary from ladder to ladder.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Don't Play in the Road
This story is incredible. Just read it.
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| https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/07/dont-dry-palay-on-national-roads-dpwh-reminds-farmers/ |
“Drying of palay and other farm produce along national highways is totally banned in order to safeguard the motorists from any untoward incident,” the agency said.
The directive, according to the DPWH, is pursuant to DPWH Department Order No.41, series of 2013 and DPWH Department Order No. 52, series of 2003, and pursuant to provisions of Section 23 of Presidential Decree No. 17, stating that “It shall be unlawful for any person to usurp any portion of a right-of-way, to convert any part of any public highways, bridge, wharf or trail to his own private use or to obstruct in the same in any manner.”
Violation of the law is punishable by a fine of not more than P1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding to six months.
Based on the department order issued in February 2003, the private use of even the sidewalk, gutter and curb, or any other portions of the road covered by the right-of-way is prohibited.
Private-owned structures installed on the road right-of-way are also banned. This is usually the case on the national roads in the metropolis.
According to the same department order, all kinds of private temporary and permanent structures such as buildings, houses, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, posts, canopies, billboards, signages, advertisements, fences, walls, railings, basketball courts, and garbage receptacles.
Plants and plant boxes are also prohibited along the national roads. It is also not allowed to use any part of the national road as a storage area for construction materials. Using it as a parking lot and for repair shops are banned.
I don't live near any national highways. Just normal roads which are always busy and are always cluttered.
Cluttered with electrical poles and parked cars and food stalls and grills and repair shops and restaurants and basketball courts. Cluttered so much that traffic gets stuck and slowed down. Even houses and shanties are right on the edge of the road. There is literally no space between the road and many shanties. It is surprising that people don't regularly get mowed down or their shanties plowed into.
What little sidewalk there is is often cluttered as well with stalls and restaurants and repair shops and all kinds of junk that should not be there.
But no one gets fined. Some of the restaurants I see have been there for years and no one gives a hoot.
Just imagine having to warn the people and make a national law to not obstruct sidewalks or play in the road! Does that sound like a law for adults or for children?
Friday, November 9, 2018
Retards in the Government 75
It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1049562/duterte-mocks-filipinos-celebration-of-undas |
President Rodrigo Duterte made fun on Thursday of the Catholic celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the country.
“Happy All Saints’…Bakit naman…tarantado talaga itong mga Katoliko ang puta, bakit ba may All Souls’ Day at All Saints’ Day?” Duterte asked during a post-disaster command conference in Isabela.
(Happy All Saints’ Day. Why do we have to…these Catholics are fools, why do we have this All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day?)
“Hindi natin alam kung sino mga santo na ‘yun. Mga gago na iyon, mga lasenggo. Dito na lang kayo. I’ll give you a patron. Get hold of a picture of mine, iyan lagay niyo sa altar, Santo Rodrigo,” he said.
(We don’t even know who those saints are. Those are fools, drunkards. Just stay here with me. I’ll give you a patron. Get hold of a picture of mine. Put that in the altar, Santo Rodrigo.)Truly mocking or just having a bit of fun and joking? Can't really tell from the man who cursed the Christian God.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/11/02/1865113/tourists-defy-boracay-ban-parties-loud-music |
Barely a week since Boracay was reopened, some tourists and business establishments have defied regulations set by the Boracay Interagency Task Force to help protect and preserve the island.
Parties, including loud music, smoking and drinking in Boracay are back, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said, citing reports she received on Wednesday.
“Nakakalungkot lang talaga na may mangilan-ngilan na mga pasaway. It is hard... to believe that they do not know the guidelines because they were given an oath for a better Boracay upon entering the island,” Puyat told The STAR.
The oath states that a tourist promises to ensure the preservation and sustainable development of Boracay and observe environmental laws and regulations.
“We issue citation tickets for hard-headed tourists and business establishments, but we will be forced to close their business kung hindi sila makikinig sa amin,” Puyat said.
Photos of garbage left on the island shortly after its reopening have also been posted on social media.
As this developed, the Malay police is monitoring at least two gangs for alleged involvement in theft on the island.
Chief Inspector Ruel Firmo said initial investigation showed that the gang members are from Kalibo and Iloilo.
“Some of them entered Boracay even before its opening on Oct. 26,” Firmo said.
Looks like Boracay is back to normal. Why does the government appear so impotent? Enforce the regulations! Plain and simple. Six months of alleged rehabilitation will be all for nothing. If they are monitoring two theft gangs then that knows who and where they are. Go get them! This article ties into the following article:
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1049841/61-truckloads-of-trash-amassed-from-manila-cemeteries-since-october-30 |
Edison Nebrija, commander of the Task Force Special Operations of the MMDA, lamented the huge piles of trash gathered in the cemeteries, and called on the public to refrain from littering.
(Our plea is for the public to bring their trash with them to lessen the garbage in the cemetery. They should be responsible individuals in discarding their trash.)
They could ban food and plastics and flowers and candles and make everyone visit the cemetery empty handed or perhaps they could set up more trash bins this time of year knowing that littering will inevitably occur. Plenty of solutions but instead it's just hand wringing from officials whose pleas go unheeded. Why does the government act like it can do nothing both about the trash at the cemeteries and with the violation of regulations at Boracay?
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/01/1865042/duterte-transfers-8-agencies-dilg-dswd-dti |
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the transfer of eight agencies under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to three departments, two of which are headed by retired military officials.
Through Executive Order No. 67, Duterte transferred eight agencies to the Department of Trade and Industry Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Social Welfare and Development—the DILG and DSWD are currently headed by former military generals.
The reorganization of the agencies under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary comes as Rey Leonardo Guerrero, yet another former general, takes the helm of the Bureau of Customs.
The president has explained his preference for appointing former military officers to government posts, saying he prefers them because they follow orders and get things done.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1049673/palace-no-military-junta-in-govt |
The President’s move, said Panelo, was also “in line with the campaign promise of PRRD to make the bureaucracy more efficient and responsive to the needs of our people through rightsizing.”
“We find it unfortunate that a former member of the Duterte Cabinet and past National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor, Ms. Liza Maza, has a misplaced – if not distorted – view of the reorganization and composition of the Cabinet,” he said.
“Her conclusion, therefore, that placing former military men in executive offices automatically translates to a military junta-led government is completely erroneous,” he added.
Given that Duterte already admitted he is militarising the government, Panleo's assurances that this is not a de facto military junta ring hollow.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1049998/po1s-as-drug-war-pawns-reproved-relieved-recycled |
This culture of “recycling” scalawags not only retards public trust in the PNP but also undermines its integrity, warned Ronaldo Mendoza, dean of Ateneo School of Government.
A interesting article about the recycling of bad cops which actually justifies the title of this weekly series about government corruption.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050182/pnp-pay-raise-meant-to-curb-kotong-but |
“The salary raise, in principle, is a very good deterrent to extortion activities, but for others, maybe these are activities that have already become part of a culture,” said the NCRPO chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar. “That’s why we need to focus on internal cleansing.”
Extortion by members of the Metro police force has evolved into more wicked forms, such as “tokhang for ransom” and “palit-puri.”
The latter is exemplified in the case of PO1 Eduardo Valencia of the Manila Police District, who allegedly raped a 15-year-old daughter of drug suspects in exchange for her parents’ freedom.
Oops! Guess giving the PNP more money didn't work and only made them more "wicked"!
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050233/4-rtc-judges-penalized-over-impropriety-other-violations-at-pja-convention |
The high court underscored that stricter adherence to standards of conduct are expected from those who seek elective office in judges’ association “as they can best lead by example.”
The judges who were penalized were candidates during the convention and reportedly violated the Guidelines on Conduct of Election of Judges’ Associations.
In a 64-page decision issued on September 25, 2018, the high court admonished Manila RTC Branch 24 Judge Lyliha Aquino for failure “to maintain the appearance of propriety in booking room accommodations for judges for the 2013 PJA Convention and election when she was running for re-election as PJA Secretary-General.”
The SC also ordered Quezon City RTC Branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee to pay a fine of P21,000 for violation of Section 4(a) of the Guidelines on the Conduct of Elections of Judges Association for use and distribution of prohibited campaign materials such as desk calendars, posters and tarpaulins.
Biñan, Laguna RTC Branch 24 Judge Marino Rubia, on the other hand, was also ordered to pay a fine of P21,000 for violations of Section 4(a) of the guidelines for distributing campaign kits consisting of a bag, cap, t-shirt, and printing materials, all prohibited campaign items.
The fourth judge, Makati RTC Branch 132 Judge Rommel Baybay, was ordered to pay P30,000 as fine for violations of Sections 4(a) and 4(d) of the said guidelines.
The high court said Baybay violated Section 4(a) for giving away cellphones as raffle prizes during the campaign period. Such cellphones were deemed prohibited campaign materials under the guidelines.
Baybay was also found to have violated Section 4(d) of the guidelines for providing hotel room accommodations with 25 percent discount to select judges during the convention.
They violated campaign and election rules which govern election to office within a PRIVATE ASSOCIATION but at least they aren't actually extorting and raping people like PNP officers are doing.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050163/duterte-woe-no-maintenance-of-government-vehicles |
“I’m not [trying to offend] anyone, but in the government, if the carburetor conks out, they just let it be. The engine, no more,” he said.
“A lot of money has been wasted on that because of no maintenance,” he said. “Even in the police, there’s no maintenance appropriation.”
“The life span of equipment, heavy equipment, depends so much on the maintenance,” the President said.
If the government invested in heavy equipment for disaster response, these would be left to the military’s engineering brigades and the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said.
Maintenance is key to the life of any machine. If the government is not maintaining their vehicles that is a very bad thing.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/11/04/1865613/2-cops-held-threatening-teens |
Two police officers were apprehended after allegedly threatening three minors in Quezon City yesterday.
Police Officer 1 Mark Arce Callupaz, 31, and Police Officer 2 Emmanuel Castro, 32, were reportedly drunk when policemen accosted them in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon at around 2 a.m., according to an investigation report.
Castro, who is from the regional drug enforcement unit of the National Capital Region Police Office, visited the home of his friend Callupaz, who is assigned to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
The alleged victims, three boys aged between 14 and 16 years old, said they were walking along a street in a subdivision when they encountered the two police officers at around 12:10 a.m.
One of the victims claimed Castro grabbed him for an unknown reason, causing minor injuries. They said the police officers also pointed their handguns at them, prompting them to run away.
They informed their respective parents about the incident. The parents went to the QCPD Station 4 in Novaliches, which has jurisdiction over Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon.
Drunk on the job but at least they did not rape those boys.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050365/ex-cop-nephew-nabbed-for-selling-shabu-in-pateros |
PO1 Alexander Pili Ilagan, a former member of the Manila Police District, was dismissed from the service on May 26, 2016, for two counts of excessive absences that were tantamount to serious neglect of duty, said Southern Police District director, Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz.
According to Cruz, Ilagan cited “family problems” when he went AWOL or absent without leave for 24 days in February 2015, and for 30 days in March 2015.
Sounds like a troubled young officer. PO1 means he was just starting his career!
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| https://business.inquirer.net/260033/chinese-group-to-build-100m-resort-and-casino-project-in-cagayan |
The plan comes despite Malacanang’s ban on new casinos. However, Ceza’s enabling law, Republic Act 7922, allowed the state-owned firm to grant a license to a casino.
In August Duterte said no more casinos. Looks like his word has been broken.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050753/guerrero-warns-boc-personnel-dont-tarnish-my-name |
Vowing to use the “full extent” of his powers and authority, Guerrero said his “top priority” was to cleanse the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of corrupt officials and employees.
Everyone new guy who comes along says they will "drain the swap." It never happens.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050812/ninja-cop-killed-in-drug-buy-bust-in-dipolog-city |
A police officer was killed in a buy-bust operation by agents of the Counter-Intelligence Task Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-CITF) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday night.
Rapiz, who was a logistics officer of the Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office, was on the government’s list of “ninja cops” or policemen involved in recycling or reselling illegal drugs seized in police operations, according to police.
Police further said that Rapiz was active in the illegal drug trade during his stint as a police officer in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
He also allegedly served as the protector of Melvin Odicta, the alleged leader of the Odicta Drug Group in Iloilo City.
So the PNP knew all this and instead of bringing him in and getting more information from him they kill him. Hi-ya!
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1050460/albayalde-hits-palit-puri-claim-as-totally-unfair |
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde denied on Monday that the government’s drug war had emboldened lawmen to engage in the alleged “palit-puri” (sex in exchange for freedom) scheme, saying the claim is both “harsh” and “totally unfair.”
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) earlier claimed that women facing drug charges would agree to unwanted sexual advances by the police since “death is a possibility.”
“There are probably sexual advancements, pero sa sinasabi nilang rampant I think that’s too harsh to say,” Albayalde said in a press briefing. “If you say that, that’s totally unfair to the Philippine National Police.”
(There are probably sexual advancements, but in regards to what they claim that it is rampant, I think that’s too harsh to say. If you say that, that’s totally unfair to the Philippine National Police.)
The claim of the CATW-AP came after PO1 Eduardo Valencia was arrested for allegedly forcing a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him in exchange for the freedom of her parents accused of drug charges.
Albayalde said the case of Valencia was a “very isolated case.”
He added that he never received a similar report when he was still director of the National Capital Region Police Office.
He is equating "no report" to "no palit-puri" which is bad logic. People could be scared to come forward. Many are scared to come forward to accuse the PNP of wrong doing because nothing ever happens. He is also playing on an emotional rather than a factual key. "It's totally unfair." Who cares if it's unfair? It's either true or it is not.
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/673713/palace-admits-chinese-trader-michael-yang-a-consultant-for-duterte/story/ |
Weeks after President Rodrigo Duterte denied appointing Michael Yang as an adviser on economic affairs, his spokesman on Tuesday confirmed that the Chinese businessman had been engaged as a Palace consultant on economic matters.
"[He is] one of the consultants of the President. He consults him every now and then," Presidential spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary SalvadorPanelo said at a news conference.
"He rose from poor origins to being a wealthy man and he has a technical know-how to run a business and also because he is Chinese he knows a lot of people in the Chinese government and he knows the psychology of Chinese," he added.
"On that aspect, the President needs people like him," Panelo said.Wow Duterte lied. Go figure. Who knew?
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| https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/11/07/1866525/solon-pushes-creation-department-sports |
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051291/10-senators-push-for-creation-of-dept-of-culture |
I propose a creation of a Department of Departments which will oversee each department and the departments within those departments.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051342/pdea-boc-to-forge-pact-vs-smuggling-of-illegal-drugs |
Aquino said PDEA tapped BOC for the initiative to curtail drug trafficking into the country citing the agency’s vital role in preventing the entry of illegal drugs. The PDEA chief also noted BOC’s experience in identifying and tracking suspected shipments.
This should have been done a long time ago.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051389/ncrpo-charges-2-cops-with-rape-after-alleged-palit-puri-incident |
After raping Maria, Montalban allegedly passed her on to another officer, identified as PO1 Jayson Portuguez, 29, from Barangay Kaybiga in Caloocan City, who reportedly did not have intercourse with her but forced her to do sexual acts
Oh look it's another isolated incident of PNP officers raping a woman.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051352/sotto-ejks-exist-in-ph-but-not-sanctioned-by-govt |
Sotto laments that the image of the country’s war against drugs has been slanted before the international community to show that EJKs were being done by government authorities.
He added that the term EJK itself is “non-existent,” as there are no judicial killings or even a death penalty in the country.
This comedian just contradicted himself.
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http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/673862/converge-backs-out-of-third-telco-bid-says-no-level-playing-field/story/“It’s not a level playing field, because the existing players right now were not asked to do what we’re being asked to do,” Elviña said.
“Were they demanded to cover the whole country? They were not. Were they demanded to perform on minimum speed? They were not. Were they demanded to put up ‘X’ amount of money? They were not,” he added. Elviña questioned the participation of a state-owned company in the bidding. China Telecommunications Corp., which partnered with Udenna Corp., is state-owned. “One of the bidders, I won’t mention ... If one of the bidders won, it’s a state-owned company. Can they now go against the state if they do not fulfill the requirements?” Elviña noted.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/260173/duterte-pal-is-3rd-telco-player |
The group of businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp. and state-run China Telecom was named the provisional third telco in the country yesterday.
Three groups submitted offers by the 10:00 a.m. deadline. These were Udenna-China Telecom, LCS Group TierOne Consortium and Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T).
Within hours, LCS Group TierOne, whose backers included Ilocos politician Luis “Chavit” Singson, and PT&T, owned by the group of businessman Salvador Zamora II, were disqualified for lacking the required documents.
The sole qualified bidder, Udenna-China Telecom, was later named the provisional third telco by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Udenna is a holding company with interests in energy, logistics, property and education. China Telecom, China’s third largest telco, has about 250 million mobile subscribers and $50 billion in annual operating revenue.
The provisional winner will need to undergo a three-day verification process before being named the final new major player. The final winner will receive the necessary licenses from the NTC as well as a coveted set of 3G, 4G and potential 5G frequencies to launch its mobile services.
Eliseo Rio Jr., acting secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), defended the selection process on Wednesday against any insinuation that the results were predetermined.
“The process was more or less open, objective and transparent,” Rio said on speculation that Udenna and China Telecom were favored given Uy’s friendship with President Duterte, whose administration initiated warmer ties with China."More or less open, objective, and transparent. Sounds more on the less side! Why in the world would a foreign state owned business even be allowed to submit a bid!?
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051168/mmda-defends-stairway-to-heaven |
Better to climb a “stairway to heaven” than cross the “highway to hell,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Tuesday as it defended the P10-million steel footbridge being constructed on Edsa-Kamuning in Quezon City.
“Pedestrians are either too reckless or lazy to look for safe crossing lanes,” Pialago said. “That’s the best compromise we can come up with instead of allowing them to just cross Edsa. What matters to us is the safety of the public.”
Most netizens, however, begged to differ. After pictures of the footbridge went viral on social media, a lot of them called it an eyesore and safety hazard.
Most traditional footbridges have a flat, single level pathway. Some are made of concrete and have a roof to protect people from the elements.
Critics have also pointed out that the steel structure is completely exposed with no overhead protection.
Pialago explained that the MMDA wanted to prevent it from being used as a shelter by vagrants or as a hunting ground for muggers.
If the MMDA had its way, she said, the footbridge would have been made of concrete. But the agency’s lack of funds often mean making do with whatever resources it has.
“We can assure the public that the bridge is as safe as it can be,” she said. “But if they still think it’s too risky, then I suggest they walk another 500 m to the left to cross the Timog bridge, or the extra 500 m to the right to cross Quezon Avenue. That’s where they ought to be crossing in the first place.”
The last paragprah sums it up. This bridge is the result of bad government planning and lack of funds as well as stupidity on the part of the people who refuse to walk 500 m to a place they can cross safely.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1772965/Manila/Local-News/Have-complaints-Duterte-to-let-you-slap-corrupt-exec |
"If you have something against anybody in government, anybody at all, go to me, I will contact you and I will call the person you are complaining against and the three of us will talk," he said.
"And I assure you that if it is indeed something which amounts to corruption or graft, I’ll give you the privilege of slapping that person a dozen times in front of me," he added.
"That way, you placed him in humiliation and you maybe shed off his dignity," Duterte said.
"And those are the right remedies for an idiot who is not needed in the government. Humiliation and maybe a loss of face is more than just the money. It is the worst way of losing whatever is left of you in this planet," he added.Yes!
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Gary Alejano in Full Military Dress on Senate Campaign Banner
Is this even legal?
One look and my gut says no. It's not campaign season and yet here is a campaign banner for Gary Alejano in full military dress. I am not sure exactly the laws on wearing your military uniform while campaigning for high office. The laws are dense and I do not know exactly where to look. There are a few laws on the book about improper wearing of military uniforms and insignia but I don't know if they apply here.
What's more interesting to me is how mind-boggling ironic or hypocritical or I-don't-know-what it is to see admitted and convicted mutineer Gary Alejano proudly wearing his Marine uniform. True he was pardoned along with his co-mutineers but that only erases the legal consequences of his crime and not the fact of the crime itself.
Apparently Alejano, despite being dismissed from the military in 2008 "after a court martial found (him) guilty of violating the Articles of War" for his involvement in the Oakwood Mutiny, still proudly wears his uniform and no one has any issues with that.
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| http://metromanila.politics.com.ph/2017/08/31/gary-alejano-shows-batasan-military-uniform/ |
Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano went to celebrate Armed Forces Week with a privilege speech before the House of Representatives.
To show his solidarity with the troops, the ex-Marine even dressed up in his gala uniform as he made the speech.
The ex-Marine? That is an understatement. Unbelievably his current Twitter profile shows him "dressed up in his gala uniform."
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| https://twitter.com/garyalejano |
Gary Alejano took an oath when he enlisted and he broke that oath becoming a traitor to his nation when he conspired to commit mutiny against the government. He has long ago relinquished any right to honourably wear that uniform.
So why does he still wear it and in such a self-promoting fashion? Why doesn't anyone speak up?
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Congressman Greg Gasataya Awnings
Congressman Greg Gasataya really wants you to know he exists. He plasters his face everywhere. But what has he really done for the people? If these awnings are any indication Greg Gasataya has been a comforting force protecting his constituents from the harsh heat of the sun and torrential downpour of rains which are both symbolic of political chaos. Through it all he is there for his people. He covers them with his love and his big dumb face.
Or it's just typical trapo crapo.
Interestingly I saw one of these awnings being delivered.
Is it really safe to drive around like that? Why not just erect it on site? Thats Congressman Greg Gasataya for you. Always looking out for his constituents!
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