Coronavirus Lockdown: Data Discrepancy, Caroling Ban, and More!

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

ABS-CBN may have lost the right to broadcast TV shows to the nation but they have not lost their sense of style.

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/fashion-and-beauty/2020/11/05/2054776/abs-cbn-launches-face-mask-collection

Embattled media network ABS-CBN recently launched its new collection of face masks inspired by its shows.

In a statement sent to Philstar.com today, the network announced its new venture: neoprene face masks customized with vibrant and colorful designs that match the happy vibe of the three well-loved ABS-CBN programs.

Avid "Momshies," "Madlang People," and "ASAP-Kapamilyas" can show their love for Kapamilya shows and their loved ones with the official face masks of “Magandang Buhay,” “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP Natin ‘To.” 

The masks are made of washable and stretchable fabric with a pocket inside for inserts. 

They won't protect you from COVID-19 but they will make you look stylish.

Christmas parties have been cancelled this year and now it looks like caroling may get the axe too.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/762883/iatf-urged-to-ban-street-caroling-amid-covid-19-pandemic/story/

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba is urging the national government to ban street caroling during the Christmas season this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on Balitanghali on Thursday, Mamba believes banning street caroling would prevent the further spread of the virus, which has so far affected 388,137 people with 7,367 deaths.

“Because most of our carolers are here, they're not even from our place. "When they go from one house to another, we are afraid there because it might cause the upsurge of COVID cases," Mamba said.

He said the local government could issue an ordinance regarding the matter, but it would be more effective if it would come from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the government's policy-making body in the COVID -19 response.

“At least they know that there is a medical and scientific basis of what we are trying to ask because it is difficult. It’s a… tradition that is done every year, ”Mamba said.

National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said he supports the idea and would recommend it in the next IATF meeting.

What exactly is the medical and scientific basis for banning caroling? What if they are wearing masks while caroling? How do they know it will spread COVID-19 further?  They don't!  Either way DILG Secretary Año recommends caroling be done online.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/763507/ano-suggests-online-caroling-during-holidays-amid-covid-19-threat/story/

"If there would be carolings, these can be done online. Online caroling is okay but personal and face-to-face is not because we have yet to flatten the) curve (of coronavirus disease 2019,” Año said in a radio interview.

Not everything can be done online. What will carolers do? Interrupt your Skype or Zoom session? Ridiculous!

Why should anyone trust the DOH when they get their information wrong?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/762807/iloilo-mayor-quizzes-doh-on-covid-19-data-discrepancy/story/

Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday has sought clarification on the data released by the Department of Health (DOH) on the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city.

In a Facebook post, Treñas said that it was “unfair to the city” for DOH to report that Iloilo had 41 new COVID-19 cases and that it was the 5th city with the highest case count on Wednesday when it only registered two cases.

“Today we have only registered 2 cases so far while yesterday we had 9 cases. The DOH website however reports that we have 41 cases today, and the city with the 5th highest cases in the country,” Treñas said.

“I need guidance, what is happening to the data reporting of DOH. I am making this official complaint for DOH to clarify this data and where the numbers came from,” he added.

Iloilo only register 2 cases but the DOH says there was 41 and that the city has the 5th highest number of cases in the country. How did they mess up so bad?

Foreigners are allowed to enter the Philippines if they have a Filipino spouse but they must have a visa to enter. Brandishing a marriage certificate is not enough.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/04/2054563/airlines-told-do-not-board-travelers-philippines-without-visa

Tan said most of the foreign nationals who were turned away are those who have Filipino spouses and children but do not have any visa. She explained: “What they have in their possession are usually their marriage certificates and the birth certificates of their children.”

The bureau said that the IATF partially lifted restrictions for foreign nationals who are working as executives in multinational companies with visas granted by either the Department of Justice or under special economic zones.

Filipinos, their spouse and minor children, foreign children with special needs of Filipinos, foreign parent of minor Filipinos, and foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs were allowed to enter the country.

But Tan stressed that those allowed to enter the country must still first secure an entry visa from Philippine embassies or consulates prior to arrival. This covers those who are eligible to enter the country as tourists.

This also includes accredited foreign government and international organization officials and their dependents, foreign airline crewmembers, foreign seafarers with 9(c) visas, and foreigners with long-term visas.

Tan said that arriving passengers will still have to undergo regular immigration inspection and present necessary documents. They will also be required to have a pre-booked quarantine facility before they arrive, she added.

Not only must visitor s have the proper visas but they must also have a pre-books quarantine facility. What is that? A hotel room? So you have to book a room and quarantine for 14 days to get into the country? That is very expensive.

The government has been banking on a vaccine to end the pandemic and has been excited about the prospect of vaccine trials in the country. However there is a problem.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/763023/doh-exec-avigan-clinical-trial-hit-a-snag-over-lack-of-qualified-covid-19-patients/story/

The clinical trial of the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan in the Philippines has hit a snag due to absence of qualified COVID-19 patients classified as mild cases, the Department of Health said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said only four of the 100 required COVID-19 classified as mild cases for the Avigan trial as of November 5.

“This is a tablet, to be given orally and we do it in hospital settings. This is only for mild cases, but we know that so far, there are not too many mild cases admitted in our hospitals, ”Vergeire said in an online briefing.

“And because our cases continue to drop, we no longer see patients like this [mild case] in our hospitals. That is why our clinical trial team for Avigan is having a challenge, ”she added.

Under government protocol, mild cases of COVID-19 will be treated under temporary treatment and monitoring facilities supervised by the national and local governments also as not to overwhelm the hospitals and other health care facilities needed to treating severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

Cases continue to drop and so there are not many with mild cases of COVID-19. Ironic that the Philippines reducing their number of cases means they have a lesser chance of participating in vaccine trials which they are banking on to be successful thus putting an end to the pandemic.

Dogs can sniff out cancer so why not COVID-19?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1357541/local-k-9-team-joins-tests-if-dogs-can-sniff-out-coronavirus

A K-9 team in the country is currently undergoing an accuracy test to determine their reliability in sniffing out the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the severe respiratory disease.

According to Ryia Tabares of Universal K9 Services Philippines, the “coronavirus sniffing dogs”—if proven to be up to the task—can reduce the need for repetitive testing especially in hospitals, malls and other areas where the transmission rate is high.

“It was borne out of a desire to help the country as well, and we hope the government can find use for this,” Tabares told the Inquirer.

She said her company started training dogs to sniff out the virus following similar projects initiated in other countries, such as Germany, Finland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

In a study released in July by the medical journal BMC Infectious Diseases, researchers found that trained dogs can distinguish who among individuals have tested positive or negative for the coronavirus.

The study said that “during the presentation of 1,012 randomized samples, the dogs achieved an overall average detection rate of 94 percent, with 157 correct indications of positive, 792 correct rejections of negative, 33 incorrect indications of negative or incorrect rejections of 30 positive sample presentations.”

This led researchers to conclude that volatile organic compounds produced during respiratory infections “can cause specific scent imprints, which can be detected by trained dogs with a high rate of precision.”

Sounds promising but how practical is it? Testing would still need to be carried out. It seems like the dogs would work well in larger cities.

Karaoke has been banned during the day so homeschoolers can study but the DOH is recommending against karaoke altogether.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/07/2055267/doh-warns-against-karaoke-use-singing-may-spread-covid-19

Karaoke machines might have to take a rest this year as the Department of Health warned against their use as singing may increase the chances of spreading the new coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

Citing a study, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday during the Laging Handa briefing that singing produces the highest viral load compared to other activities such as talking and breathing.

As such, she said, the DOH cannot recommend the karaoke sessions, unless it is among family members who do not go out of the house.

“But for mass use or for parties with friends, maybe we need to avoid these for now,” Vergeire said in Filipino.

A study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden showed that singing, particularly loud and consonant-rich singing, spreads a lot of aerosol particles and droplets — the primary sources of coronavirus infections — in the air.

With bars closed karaoke has basically been banned since March.

The PNP has been telling us all that crimes have been down since the pandemic began. However online investment scams have increased.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121016

The Securities and Exchange Commission-Davao Extension Office (SEC-DEO) has raised concerns over the continuing presence of investment scams that are looking for new ways to lure people on quick-rich schemes, especially amid the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the economy.

In a statement Friday, SEC-DEO office pointed out that investment scams have been "doubly challenging" as the perpetrators use the Internet in recruiting unwitting individuals--many of them poor people who have borrowed money in an attempt to earn big profits in very short periods of time.

SEC-DEO also found out that aside from using the traditional Ponzi and pyramiding schemes, some unscrupulous entities and individuals have also propagated new illegal investment schemes such as cryptocurrencies and the so-called foreign exchange trading.

If people are out of work and have less money then how do they have enough money to invest in scams?

Picture of the Week: Uneven Bottles

I have seen this same situation too many times. 

Why does SM allow this to happen? You cannot get a discount either. I have tried to no avail. It's bad customer service and it's bad everything else. Why sell this when part of the product is missing? Just more stupidness in the Philippines where customer service is sorely lacking.

Insurgency: CPP Gets a Cut

Lot's of interesting things have been happening in the Philippines' war against the insurgency and the quest for peace in Mindanao. Here is something interesting:

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/762029/westmincom-chief-vinluan-says-abu-sayyaf-leader-indama-already-dead/story/

Furuji Indama, the Abu Sayyaf group leader operating in Basilan, is already dead, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said Friday.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Vinluan said the family of Indama already knew about his death.

"Of course we are monitoring his family ... his family already knows that he is really dead," Vinluan said.

"But he is really dead, of course he is 100% dead when his body is there ..." he added.

Vinluan said the military continues to look for Indama's body.

If they are looking for his body and he allegedly died in September 2020 then they won't find it as the Islamic custom is to bury it within 24 hours. Don't forget the AFP thought Hapilon was dead or wounded a few months before the Marawi siege when they bombed Butig. They were very wrong about that.

We all know that the Philippines relies heavily on the US military for weapons, equipment, and training in the fight against terrorism. But did you know that the EU is also involved in the peace process in Mindanao?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120755

The European Union (EU) reaffirmed its commitment to support the Philippines' peace process as it welcomed the designation of Heino Marius as the new chair of the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT).

“The European Union is pleased to note that the Peace Implementing Panels of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have designated Heino Marius as Chair of the Third Party Monitoring Team," Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation in Manila said in a statement on November 3.

Since 2008, the EU has been one of the biggest supporters of the Mindanao Peace Process through a comprehensive approach.

The EU supported political settlement by providing a Humanitarian and Human Rights Law Expert to the International Monitoring Team.

The EU is currently finding ways to further help vulnerable groups through its programs in Mindanao.

Under the program Peace and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PD BARMM), around PHP1.4 billion have been allocated to improve the social cohesion and resiliency of communities in the region, as well as to address the health, social and economic impact of Covid-19 in the region.

The aid also seeks to consolidate the hard-won peace in Bangsamoro by supporting the new administration, the parliament, the judicial system, and civil society through the transition.

Rise Mindanao, a PHP2-billion EU initiative, meanwhile, focuses on the immediate priority of food security by supporting agro-cooperatives and strengthening the service delivery of local authorities.

In the last five years, the EU Delegation in Manila said it has provided a total of PHP1.4 billion in humanitarian aid operations as life-saving assistance to people affected by armed conflict or natural disasters.

The EU has spent billions and has been involved in the peace process in Mindanao since 2008.  Really puts Duterte's whole FU, EU tirade into perspective. He cannot possibly be ignorant of their efforts with the peace process in his hometown province of Mindanao.

The Senate is conducting a red-tagging investigation instigated by NTF-ECLAC Chairman Gen. Parlade's comments in the past few weeks. When will they be investigating the Marawi siege? My guess is "Never!" There are some interesting revelations coming out of this event, even more so if they are true.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1356154/cpp-gets-a-cut-from-infra-projects-claims-alleged-former-rebel-celiz

The Communist Party of the Philippines has been receiving cuts from the contractors of infrastructure projects, Jeffrey Celiz, who claims to be a former communist rebel, said on Tuesday in a Senate red-tagging investigation.

“If there is one single biggest mafia-style, highly organized, most prolific extortion machinery to come before the face of the earth, it’s the CPP-NPA-NDF,” Celiz said, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front.

“The government has not been able to stop that,” he added.

The CPP, he said, was able to get information about projects — their locations, costs, and project managers — from the Department of Public Works and Highways itself.

Celiz also claimed that the CPP could “make” the two largest telecommunication companies in the country pay them a combined P200 million “every year.”

He did not elaborate.

“Is that not a threat?” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who led the hearing as chair of the Senate defense panel, said Celiz’s claims — both on the telcos and the infrastructure projects —  were an “open secret.”

According to Lacson, the NPA takes a 2-percent cut on infrastructure projects.

“Nothing moves, especially in their areas of influence, without the 2 percent from the contractor,” he said.

“That’s in addition to the percentage of some congressmen,” Lacson added.

The communist groups, Celiz said, were able to “circumvent’ the Anti-Money Laundering Council by establishing a “network of conduit NGOs.”

These NGOs, he said, “channel funds” amounting to P300 million to P400 million from “partners” in European countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands.

Lacson instructed Celiz to submit to the Senate committee lists of NGOs supposedly acting as conduits for the CPP.

The implications of this testimony, if true, are very troubling. It would mean that the DPWH is actively working with the CPP-NPA alerting them to various projects from which they can then extort money. It would also mean that PLDT and Globe are also helping the NPA by giving them billions each year.

According to Senator Lacson everyone knows these accusations are an "open secret." That raises so many questions and places everyone in the DPWH under suspicion. Oddly enough neither the DPWH, Globe, nor PLDT has denied these allegations. 

Earlier in the year Globe denied allegations they have been paying NPA taxes which had previously been made by Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao in 2018 and 2020. Tiglao claimed that the proof was found on flash drives recovered from the house of an NPA leader who was killed in March.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/10/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/communists-get-p1-9b-from-telcos-other-firms/730659/

THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has extracted P1.9 billion from private companies, the bulk of it from the country’s telecommunication (telco) firms, which explains to a large extent the survival of this armed insurgency. 

The data was retrieved from memory flash drives found in the quarters of party Chairman Julius Giron — known in inner party circles as Ka Nars — who was killed last March 13 in a Baguio suburb, allegedly by a military intelligence unit supported by local police. 

According to the data, “telecom” gave P1.4 billion to the CPP out of the P1.9 billion total from companies described as from the transport, manufacturing, tobacco and power industries, as well as from candidates for elective posts (“one-time deals”). 

The huge funds the CPP has raised, ironically, have become a source of strife within the party, a military intelligence document claimed:

“In 2014, prior to their arrest, then-Chairman Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma Austria [who is the party’s chief financial officer] were being questioned by the Central Committee for the millions of undisbursed funds collected by the party from the donations under the guise of disaster response and humanitarian assistance for the victims of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013. The couple has not justified the distribution and whereabouts of the said millions of funds causing unrest and distrust among the central leadership of the party and its rank and file.”

If the AFP is aware that Globe and PLDT are paying big bucks to the NPA and they have absolute proof in the form of whatever is on those drives then why haven't they been charged with a crime? It is funny that Tiglao mentions the Central Committee being upset about millions in undisbursed funds collected under the guise of aid for victims of typhoon Yolanda because Duterte gave them P125 million after typhoon Pablo hit in December 2012.

December last year, Duterte drew flak when his pronouncement during a visit at the Communist Party of the Philippines quoted him as saying that he pays revolutionary tax. A youtube video later circulated accusing him of giving P125 million as annual revolutionary taxes.

He clarified that he attended the CPP anniversary at a Typhoon Pablo-affected area where he gave some amount for the typhoon victims; the funds were sourced out from private donors. He said he merely kidded that the funds were the taxes that he would pay to NPAs, but because there was no barangay captain around to receive the donation, he coursed it through local NPA leaders.

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/new-peoples-army/npa-taxation-a-reality-just-pay-them-says-duterte/

The fact that Duterte has been close to the NPA for his whole career and his open support for them is public knowledge yet he has faced no sanctions from the DOJ should sober anyone. It means that if the allegations against Globe, PLDT, and the DPWH are true and they are collaborating with the NPA then we should expect nothing to happen. 

The so-called Senate Red-Tagging hearings are a joke. The AFP insists that the CPP has legal fronts operating in the country and the Makabayan Bloc is a part of those fronts. Their main source is Joma Sison who said in a 1988 speech:

That is the most progressive productive and political force in the Philippines. It is true that a minority class, especially only the party which represents it, cannot win there at the Philippine revolution all by itself. Any rate even while there are the forces around revolution there are the legal democratic forces in the Philippines the biggest of this is Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or BAYAN. It has a membership of more than 2 million members and more than 1,000 member organizations. 

Its biggest component organizations are Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), which is the labor center; Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP); GABRIELA, the women’s alliance; League of Filipino Students (LFS); Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Kadamay and so on.

https://youtu.be/DG3oAxPAuRc

Joma Sison claims this tape has been spliced and that it's all a lie.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/762669/joma-sison-denies-linking-orgs-as-legal-fronts-of-cpp-says-military-spliced-his-video/story/

"I spoke in Belgium, in Brussels in 1988 and the Philippine military was able to get hold of the video. They spliced the video to make it appear that I said that the legal democratic organizations are fronts in the sense that they are façades. I never used that kind of language," Sison told ANC.

"As a matter of fact, I differentiated the legal forces of the national democratic movement from the armed revolutionary movement. It's stupid of the military to splice this. I used to call them military morons but I call them idiots," Sison added.

The military has since denied the red-tagging accusations against them, insisting that it was Sison who had named these alleged legal fronts.

To claim the military has spliced this footage seems rather superfluous and silly as the footage was uploaded to Youtube 13 years ago on a channel that has only two videos and less than 20,000 views. The name of the channel is Drysison which could be an allusion to Luis Sison. Watching the video it's hard to determine if there is a splice or not because it is low quality VHS with bad tracking. Perhaps Joma Sison will provide the public with the full interview and transcript.

Here is where the joke part of these hearings come in. Despite the AFP claiming that Joma Sison has red-tagged the Makabayn Bloc they admit that nothing illegal is being done.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/05/2054777/makabayan-bloc-not-doing-anything-illegal-congress-esperon-admits

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon conceded Thursday that the leftist Makabayan bloc is not doing anything illegal in Congress, but maintained his allegation that they are controlled by the underground communist movement.

“They are not doing anything illegal in Congress,” Hermogenes told CNN Philippines’ “The Source.” “But there are underground organizations that they — whether wittingly or unwittingly — support that are connected with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army and the underground National Democratic Front.”

They are not doing anything illegal but they are supporting terrorist organizations but we can't prove it!  Very compelling. Not really. If the AFP has all the evidence then why not use it? Why not lodge the appropriate charges? 

Aside from the Sison interview the other proof offered that the Makabayan Bloc operates as a front for the CPP is the membership list of the International League of People's Struggles.

https://ilps.info/en/organizations/

While Joma Sison did found this organization in 2001 to follow the logic of the AFP one would have to believe that every single organization on the list is fronting for the CPP.  That would include groups from the USA, New Zealand, and elsewhere. Is the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites really a front for the CPP? What's really interesting about this list is how many branches of these Philippine groups there are in each nation. Particularly Gabriela. Why are they there? That is something for the AFP to investigate.

After 50 years of rebellion one would think the AFP would be rather strict and decisive in targeting those who assist the CPP-NPA. Sadly this is not the case as one of the CPP-NPA's biggest supporters is the President and he has never faced any consequences for his support while being Mayor of Davao.

Even More Coronavirus Signs and Situations

Surely some revelation is at hand; surely a new normal is at hand. A new normal! Hardly are those words out when a vast image out of Clown World troubles my sight. 

Like this:

As part of our continued efforts to keep you and our store personnel safe, this in store EXPRESS HOTLINE is temporarily unavailable.

In the meantime, you may SCAN  the QR code  below for general inquires and after sale concerns.

Wow, thanks Globe! Now instead of being able to contact a customer representative while in the store and get specific information about my account and answers to my questions I can scan a code and get general pat answers which don't answer my concerns. At least I won't get the COVID-19 by talking to someone on a phone which could very easily be sanitized just like the door which is wiped down every time someone enters or exits.

One of the biggest single changes about the new normal is in regards to eating out. It is now highly discouraged to eat at a restaurant. If you do want to sit down for a coffee you better be quick about it. Thankfully for your convenience Starbucks will supply a baggie for your mask.

To ensure safety, we will be happy to provide you with a bag to store your face mask while you eat.

I guess they don't want you placing your filthy face mask on the table. I just stuff it in my bag when I take it off. Thankfully they don't require a face shield inside their store. Where would the customers put it?

Filipino traditions are being undermined at the barrel of a gun.

This a cemetery which the PNP are zealously keeping vigil in order to prevent any who would venture in to keep vigil for their dead for Undas by and all in the name of the safety. There is a huge sign out front which says so:

An order for temporary closure of public nd private cemeteries/memorial parks/columbaria and the like from October 29 to November 4, 2020 in compliace with the national IATF resolution No. 72 dated September 17, 2020 to enhance public health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safety, safety, safety, it's all about safety even if it is inconvenient and undermines your culture. 

You know the COVID-19 pandemic has a slogan right? We Heal As One. Like all slogans it looks great on a t-shirt.

Only P250 and you can walk around showing your support for washing hands and wearing face masks.

The pandemic has been devastating for the economy. People have lost jobs and businesses have shut down. Like this one:

This used to be a bookstore. Now it is a monument to the economic shutdown. Thankfully they have another branch in town at the mall.

People are understandably upset after 8 months of lockdowns and quarantines and all the rest. 

The anger is misplaced. It is not COVID-19 which is the problem. It is the response of the government which is the problem. Their response guarantees we will be seeing more clownish coronavirus signs and situations.

Retards in the Government 179

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

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761963/nbi-urges-graft-raps-vs-customs-chief-guerrero-2-others/story/

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended filing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over alleged violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the NBI said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Ramil Ramiro and acting officer of the Account Management Office James Joven conspired with six private importers for the accreditation of the latter.

The NBI said among the ghost importers the BOC accredited were Gypson International Trading, Blessive Scott International Corporation, Crown Majesty Classic Corporation, Parasol 8 Corporation, Liuzhiga International Trading and Dragonluck Enterprises Co.

The NBI said they visited the address of the importers but they were non-existent.

The NBI also contacted one of the owners listed but the latter admitted he was paid to pretend to be the owner.

The NBI said Guerrero needs to be charged as he took upon himself the responsibility of approving the application for accreditation of the importers.

The NBI added that the grant of Certification of Accreditation by Guerrero has given the named importers “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference despite their failure to comply with the minimum standards set forth by Customs regulations."

The NBI said the six ghost importers were able to ship in the country about P500 million worth of items.

The NBI has reccomeneded charges be field against BOC Chief Guerrero and two others on account of conspiring with importers to bring in P500 million worth of goods.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/762030/coa-flags-deped-over-p1-9-b-unliquidated-cash-advance/story/

The Department of Education has accumulated P1.9 billion worth of unliquidated cash advance as of December 31, 2019, the Commission on Audit said.

In its annual audit report on DepEd, COA said that the P1.9 billion worth of unliquidated cash advance was incurred by DepEd central office and 11 DepEd Regional Offices.

Region 5 had the highest amount of unliquidated cash advance at P445.5 million, followed by Region 6 with P411 million.

“The unliquidated cash advances included unsettled accountabilities due from retired/resigned/transferred/deceased former personnel of Regional Offices 2, 5 and 8 in their respective amounts of P1,378,160.91, P1,389,821.48 and P244,269.20. The same observation was noted in Regional Offices 7 (SDO Cadiz City) and 3 (SDO Nueva Ecija), however, the amount pertaining to the deficiency was not mentioned. The liquidation settlement of the said accounts is doubtful,” COA said.

“Aging of unliquidated advances in the total amount of P1,158,332,034.73 in DepEd Central Office and in nine Regional Offices revealed that P907,857,319.39 were granted during the year while the amount of P250,474,715.34 pertained to cash advances granted in previous years which have been due for over one year to more than ten years,” COA added.

The significant amount of unliquidated cash advances, COA noted, is a result of deficiencies on the granting, liquidation and monitoring of cash advances contrary to existing COA rules and regulations and DepEd guidelines relative thereto.

Financial irregularities within the DepEd.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354251/jail-officer-who-led-a-small-drug-ring-killed-in-laguna-drug-sting

A jail officer, alleged to be the leader of the Villegas Drug Group, was killed in a shootout with police operatives in Calamba, Laguna on Thursday morning, police said Friday.

In a report, police identified the suspect as Jail Officer 3 Joseph Rey Villegas, 49, an active personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in San Pablo City. Police said the suspect’s drug group operates in Calamba City and other villages in Tanauan City.

Police said the drug operation inside the jail facility was managed by his wife Joy Villegas, who was arrested for drug charges in 2018. Villegas’ wife was later ordered released by the Regional Trial Court Calamba City Branch due to “technicalities in a court proceeding,” police said.

A BJMP official who was the leader of a drug group run by his wife inside the jail has been killed in a shoot out during a buy bust operation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120115

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) nabbed a militiaman for possession of PHP680,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust in Midsayap, North Cotabato Thursday morning.

PDEA-12 spokesperson Kath Abad identified the suspect as Randy Arida Manto, 42, a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team in Tumbras village of the municipality.

A barangay watchman nabbed with a lot of drugs.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/30/2053358/wife-says-dpwh-chief-not-yet-hook

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar is not yet off the hook in the investigation on the alleged corrupt practices in his department even if he was repeatedly defended by President Duterte.

Villar’s wife, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Emmeline Aglipay, said in a television interview that her husband would be among the government officials to be investigated for alleged corrupt practices in the DPWH “if evidence warrants.”

She stressed that she would not join the task force “given that there is a conflict of interests,” but said that she would only act as a spokesperson for the DOJ until the task force designates its own spokesperson.

“But as to the investigation to be conducted on the DPWH, I will not take part,” she said.

Of course there is a conflict of interest and it's this way across the board in Philippine politics where everyone is related in one capacity or another.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120234

Police arrested on Friday a government employee and a colleague who are both listed as high-value individuals (HVI) in a predawn anti-drug operation in this southern port city, an official said.

Capt. Albin Cabayacruz, chief of the Zamboanga City Police Office’s (ZCPO) Station 7, identified the arrested suspects as Engr. Benigno Segovia Jr., 30, an employee of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and his friend, Emanuel Shun.

Segovia and Shun served as "resellers" of a businessman from Jolo, Sulu, who was arrested in possession of some PHP2.3 million worth of marijuana at a dormitory on October 17 here, police said.

A government employee and his friend, both high value targets, were arrested in a drug bust.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354592/raps-filed-vs-12-philhealth-hospital-officials-as-nbi-probes-covid-claims

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed graft complaints against eight officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and four officers of a private hospital in Cebu City for approving an allegedly fraudulent claim for a non-COVID-19 patient.

Rennan Augustus Oliva, acting NBI director for Central Visayas (NBI-7), told the Inquirer on Friday that many other PhilHealth benefit claims for COVID-19 cases in the region were also being investigated.

“The investigation is based on the President’s order to the DOJ (Department of Justice) to create a task force to investigate PhilHealth irregularities and anomalies,” Oliva said.

They were charged with violating Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds covered by the Revised Penal Code, violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and gross and grave misconduct.

According to Oliva, NBI investigators obtained documents showing false and fraudulent claims that were approved by the PhilHealth officials in the case of a patient who died of a non-COVID-19 related pneumonia on May 16.

The patient had three negative swab tests for the new coronavirus, which causes the severe respiratory disease.

On July 19, the hospital claimed P333,519 from PhilHealth for treating the patient under the COVID-19 severe pneumonia package, but did not include results of the swab tests.

Non-COVID-19 pneumonia should only be paid P32,000 under PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-09, the NBI said.

8 PhilHealth officials plus 4 others charged with fraudulent claims regarding a patient who they claimed died of COVID-19 but did not.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1354884/coa-hits-depeds-subpar-performance

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, public school teachers and students have already been coping with the lack of textbooks and instructional materials, computers and other required equipment, particularly for science and mathematics.

Worse, the Department of Education (DepEd), state auditors said, could not even keep up with the processes involved in filling the shortage although billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money had been allocated for the purpose.

In textbooks alone, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2019 audit report that the DepEd failed to spend P1.03 billion meant for the textbooks and instructional materials program.

The DepEd Computerization Program also lacked luster with the DepEd accomplishing only 59.43 percent of its target after the COA noted that only 8,523 out of 14,342 targeted schools were provided with information and communication technology (ICT) packages from 2015 to 2019.

The COA says he DepEd has not adequately used its budget to meet all its goals of providing textbooks and other instructional materials.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355444/knee-jerk-reaction-rolly-revives-issue-on-need-for-new-department-of-disaster-response

The destruction brought about by Super Typhoon Rolly in the country has revived the issue of whether there is a need for a department focused on the government’s disaster response. 

While some senators renewed their calls for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience, some of their colleagues stressed it would “bloat” the bureaucracy further. 

In separate statements on Monday, Senators Grace Poe and Christopher “Bong” Go said the creation of a“dedicated agency that will focus on disaster resilience and management” should be prioritized. 

“We also call on Congress anew to pass the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Assistance and Management that we have earlier proposed,” Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said. 

“Every calamity coming our way reminds us of the missed opportunity to be better prepared and give a more adequate response to the people and local governments. Let’s make this a priority,” she added. 

Senate Minority Franklin Drilon as well Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon, however, are wary of the creation of a new department. 

“I do not see the need for a full department only for disaster resilience. I believe that an overall plan on the number of departments should be in place, instead of a ‘knee-jerk’ push for a creation of certain departments,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters. 

He underscored that instead of a new department, the coordination and planning between and among agencies involved in government’s disaster response should be strengthened. 

This coordination, Drilon said, includes the timely access to disaster funds by local government units, which are at the forefront of disaster management. 

“The challenge remains on the planning and better coordination,” he added. 

Lacson also raised concerns over the creation of a new department. 

“It is relatively easy to pass a law creating new departments. But would it be feasible, and will there be proper funding for it?” Lacson said in a separate statement. 

He said that according to the Department of Budget and Management, at least P1.5 billion is needed to set up the department.

This amount Lacson said does not yet include additional salaries, capital outlay like office facilities, furniture, vehicles, and maintenance and other operating expenses, among others.

The solution to the Philippines' total lack of preparedness to handle natural disasters is not a new department but coordination among the department already tasked with handling such disasters. It would also help if those agencies were properly funded and those funds used the way intended.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/762421/10-local-chief-executives-ordered-to-explain-absence-amid-rolly-s-onslaught/story/

Ten local chief executives have been ordered by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to explain their absence amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

In a televised briefing from Malacañang on Monday, Año said only ten out of 1,047 local chief executives in areas hard hit by Rolly were unaccounted for.

Perhaps they were resting on the sabbath like Duterte.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355457/even-god-said-rest-on-the-7th-day-sotto-gordon-defend-duterte-after-flak-over-absence-in-rolly-briefing

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Richard Gordon on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter received flak for his absence during the government’s first briefing on its response to Typhoon Rolly.

While it would have been “desirable” for the President to be present in the said briefing, Gordon said it is not “necessary” since the Chief Executive can still monitor the situation.

“Even God said you rest on the seventh day, right?” Gordon told reporters in an online interview on Monday when sought for a comment.

According to Gordon, the President’s lack of physical presence during this time should not be seen as him not doing any work.

“He is compromised. I don’t know what his illness is but I’ve been around to see that maybe he has a slight disability that is not life threatening but could be threatened if he is exposed to somebody with COVID, ”the senator surmised.

"It does not mean he is not working… Of course, we want to see the President working but if he's protecting himself, I respect that," he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said the President can monitor the situation even if he is in Davao City. 

“He is in the Philippines, ‘di ba? The web is very active, ‘di ba? What can he not do in Davao? If he was in the press briefing and talks for a couple of hours, magko-complain din ‘di ba?” Sotto said in a message to reporters.

“He can oversee it from wherever he is if he wants to. Internet! What can he do in Albay that he cannot do in Davao? The reason there are cabinet members and local [government] officials is to be the [representatives] of government and the President,” he added.

Funny how they cover for him by saying he can monitor the situation anywhere because of the internet. Funny also that Senator Gordon affirms that Duterte is sick despite the Palace saying the contrary.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355875/village-chief-gunned-down-in-abra

Unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning gunned down a village chief in Bangued, Abra, police said.

Investigators said Jason Bergonia Garcia, 34, a resident of Barangay Lingtan, was driving a truck when he was attacked by the gunmen around 6 a.m.

Garcia suffered bullet wounds on his head that caused his instant death.

Another village chief gunned down by assassins.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/03/20/pdea-agent-timbog-sa-buy-bust-operation-sa-rizal

A person identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) was arrested for selling drugs at a buy-bust in Antipolo, Rizal Sunday afternoon. 

According to the PNP Region IV-A report, typhoon Rolly hit Southern Luzon during the operation against 45-year-old Florence Dolatre Jr. members of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, PDEA 4-A and local police. 

He was caught with about 2 kilos of dried marijuana wrapped in packaging tape and valued at P240,000. 

A PDEA agent caught selling marijuana in a buy-bust operation.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/02/hired-gun-kills-abra-teacher-while-having-haircut/

A teacher was shot to death by an unidentified gunman while having a haircut at a barbershop in Bangued, Abra on All Saints’ Day. 

Rodelio Claor Bueno, 41, of San Gregorio, La Paz, Abra, was having his haircut when the gunman emerged from behind and shot him at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday inside the Santo Nino Barbershop on Capitulation Street, Zone 2, Bangued town, Police Major Carol Lacuata, regional information officer of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, said.

DepEd employee, a teacher, assassinated while getting a haircut.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/04/20/coa-asks-ncip-to-justify-extravagant-activities-in-2019

The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to justify its expenses amounting to P4.815 million in 2019 which state auditors said were mostly spent in activities conducted in high-end hotels and restaurants. 

In the 2019 audit on the NCIP, state auditors noted that P3,835,897.50 were spent in 2018, and P979,695.93 in 2019 for meals and accommodations for various programs and activities of the agency in Region 10.

“It was observed that the said activities were mostly conducted at high-end hotels and restaurants where the food and accommodation was relatively high compared to other alternative venues,” the COA said. 

The COA report said the NCIP did not adopt austerity measures contrary to the provisions of Administrative Order No. 6 of President Rodrigo Duterte, ensuring that no irregular, unnecessary, extravagant, excessive and unconscionable expenses shall be incurred by government. 

The state auditors emphasized Section 33 of COA Circular No. 2012-003, which provides guidelines for the prevention of similar unnecessary and extravagant expenditures in government. 

The COA also noted illegal disbursements of the NCIP in Region 11 amounting to P286,759, which includes those for meals for a retirement ceremony for 2 employees. It said the funds were spent not for their intended purposes. 

The NCIP management told the auditors that justifications for the deficiencies will be submitted by focal persons of the agency. 

The NCIP, mandated to protect the country's indigenous peoples, also failed to utilize a total allocation of P9.648 million, which COA attributed to poor planning of its programs and activities. 

The COA report noted that the NCIP did not have ample time to implement projects which include research activities for the profiling, formulation and recognition of ancestral domains. 

But the NCIP management told the audit team that the unused funds were for the payment of accountabilities for the previous years, and they were not able to spend the whole amount because of incomplete documentation and late submission of vouchers.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples is not spending its money on its mandated purpose but is instead wasting their funds on high end hotels and other things. They also are not properly implementing projects allegedly due to not having enough time. But they have time to hang out in fancy hotels.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/05/2054782/86-immigration-personnel-tagged-nbis-2nd-pastillas-scheme-complaint

The National Bureau of Investigation filed on Thursday the second batch of graft complaints against officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration over the “pastillas” scheme.

ABS-CBN reported that 86 employees and senior officials of the Immigration are facing raps before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The filing of the NBI’s second batch of complaints coincided with the announcement of BI that it will be implementing a one-strike policy with its erring officials. This means that personnel subject of complaints and investigations shall be relieved immediately.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval told reporters that they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint by the NBI but “if there are names included there that haven’t been relieved yet, then we will immediately implement their relief.”

86 more BI officials charged by the NBI in the pastillas scheme.