Friday, December 4, 2020

Retards in the Government 183

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


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123167

Police officers who fail to comply with the required body mass index (BMI) would face sanctions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday. 

Their BMI would be monitored every month, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said.

"Kung sino man po ang hindi nakaka-comply sa ganitong panuntunan, meron pong epekto ito sa kanilang schooling, promotion, and even placement sa iba't ibang mga units, assignments (Those who fail to comply with the policy would see the effects on their schooling, promotion, and even placement in different units or assignments}," Usana said in a Laging Handa briefing.

He noted that there is a standing policy on the physical fitness of police officers, saying they should be fit to fulfill their duties.

"We do not want our police officers to be affected or afflicted with diseases as a result of non-compliance with exercise requirements," Usana said.

Too many fatties on the force!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1365720/cop-gets-a-year-suspension-for-hitting-tricycle-driver-with-gun

A police officer in Quezon City was suspended for a year after he was found guilty of oppression and grave abuse of authority after he allegedly hit a tricycle driver using his firearm.

The Quezon City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) said in its seven-page decision that Police Officer 2 or Police Corporal Rick Tanguilan “inflicted bodily harm upon the person of the Complainant by hitting the latter’s head with the butt of a gun. And he was able to do this because Respondent gravely abused his authority as police officer.”

The case stemmed from tricycle driver Jerry Jermina’s complaint that accused Tanguilan hit him several times using the butt of his firearm in January 2017.

PLEB, an office that acts on complaints against errant policemen, is handling about 40 cases awaiting resolution as of July 2020.

Why not kick this guy off the force completely?  

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/11/29/2060164/p1-million-shabu-seized-army-headquarters

More than P130,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu have been confiscated from the Philippine Army’s headquarters in Taguig, according to a report released by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday.

Arnold Penkian, a 45-year-old tailor living at the Army camp, was arrested in a sting at the Artillery Training Unit (ATU) office on Nov. 25, NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Jenny Tecson said.

The sting was staged after an informant from the Army reported Penkian’s alleged drug deals.

Penkian’s house was allegedly used as a venue for drug sessions and for other pushers and users to conduct transactions, police said.

How was this man able to operate a drug den while living on an Army base?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/353110/cebu-city-barangay-councilor-shot-dead

An unidentified gunman shot dead a 61-year-old Cebu City barangay councilor this noon of November 30, 2020 in an alley along Sitio Adelfa, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City. 

Engineer Ponciano Villamil, Barangay Kinasang-an councilor, was passing along an alley near his home on his way to the barangay hall at noon today when the gunman, who waited for him in the alley, shot him with a handgun twice in the back. 


The emergency rescue team, who responded to the shooting alarm, declared Villamil “dead on the spot.”

Barangay Captain Susan Enriquez, told reporters that they only knew that there were some complaints against Villamil about land matters.

Another barangay captain assassinated. This time it appears to be over land matters.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123454

More than 300 cases have been filed against local officials over alleged anomalies in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP).

In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte late Monday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said 27 alleged SAP-related anomalies were re-filed before the Office of the Ombudsman while 270 were filed with the Prosecutors’ Office, with 30 cases now reaching the trial courts.

Año’s report was based on the SAP-related criminal complaints the DILG has probed which involved 782 complainants and 1,278 suspects.

Año gave these updates on the 367 cases investigated by the DILG.

307 LGUs have raps field against them over SAP irregularities and only 30 have reached the trial stage so far.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1367613/cop-gunned-down-in-cebu

A policeman was gunned down by still unidentified assailants in Barangay Dumlog, Toledo City, west Cebu at past 9 a.m. on Thursday. 

Staff Sgt. Gerfil Geolina, 44, was driving his motorcycle when two men on board another motorcycle drove by and shot him.

Geolina, who was assigned in Asturias town in Cebu, suffered multiple gunshot wounds on the body.

Another cop assassinated by unknown motorcycle gunmen.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Coronavirus Lockdown: 1.75% Mortality Rate, PNP to Tightly Watch Churches, etc, and More!

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


Bloomberg has released a list of countries and ranked them on how they have handled the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines is near the bottom of the list.


https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/765634/philippines-46th-out-of-53-counties-in-covid-resilience-bloomberg/story/

The Philippines scored 46th out of 53 countries when it came to handling the COVID-19 crisis with the least amount of economic and social disruption, a Bloomberg study showed.

In its "COVID resilience ranking," the US news site measured the 53 largest economies on how they did along 10 key metrics, including increase in cases, mortality rate, healthcare system capacity, lockdown impact, community mobility, GDP growth forecast, and agreements on vaccine supply.

Each component gets a score from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best.

The Philippines' score of 48.9 places it below 45 countries and above only seven: Iran, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Peru, Argentina and Mexico.

It also fared the worst among the Southeast Asian nations on the list, behind Vietnam (10), Singapore (11), Thailand (15), Indonesia (19), and Malaysia (29).

The Philippines scored especially poorly when it came to community mobility—the "movement of people to offices and retail spaces compared to a pre-pandemic baseline in the past month"—with a -39.4% score. Only two countries had a lower score.

Bloomberg said it used datasets and indexes from organizations around the world to create its list. It stressed that the ranking is not a "final verdict"—that countries' rankings may go up or down as they shift strategies. 

The government has repudiated this analysis of their efforts to fight COVID-19.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123058

The Philippines is doing “very well” in terms of controlling the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with a low mortality rate, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after a Bloomberg study showed that the Philippines ranked 46th out of 53 countries when it came to handling the Covid-19 health crisis.

Pinaninindigan po natin (We maintain) that we have managed Covid-19 very well in this country,” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Roque said he has yet to see the study himself but disagreed that the Philippines was among the countries with the worst ranking.

“Hindi ko pa po nakikita yung pag-aaral na ‘yan. Hayaan niyo po titingnan ko yung pag-aaral na ‘yan pero tingin ko parang hindi poaccurate ‘yan sa actual na nangyari (I haven’t seen the study yet. Allow me to check it, but I think it’s not accurate to the actual situation on the ground),” he said.

Even if the Philippines entered the list of 20 countries with the most number of Covid-19 cases, Roque said it fared well than other countries that made the top of the list.

He also noted that the country remains to have a low mortality rate at 1.75 percent,

“Nakikita niyo naman po bagamat number 22 na tayo sa buong mundo, hindi naman po tayo nasa absolute top in terms of numbers. Maliit po ang ating mortality rate at maliit din po yung nagkakasakit ng malala at kritikal (You see, even if we are number 22 in the world, we’re not on the absolute top in terms of numbers. We have a low mortality rate and only a few severe and critical cases),” he added.

A 1.75% mortality rate? That's not because of government efforts.  That is because the virus has a more than 90% survival rate. It's a matter of fact that the Philippines continues to have the longest lockdown in the world along with rotating lockdowns as the virus waxes and wanes. The economy has also been hit hard with thousands of jobs lost because of the stringent lockdowns.


Education in the Philippines has really taken a hit since the pandemic began.  Now the UP has adopted a no-fail policy.


https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/26/2059601/adopt-no-fail-policy-covid-19-typhoons-hamper-learning

The University of the Philippines System will be not be issuing failing marks this semester, the student representative to its policy-making Board of Regents said Thursday.

"UP to implement a no fail policy this semester where a grade of '4' [conditional] or '5' [fail] shall not be given," the Office of the Student Regent announced on Twitter, adding that the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs would release guidelines soon.

The scheme was based on a proposal to postpone the grades of those who could not submit class requirements—for example, for lack of access to the internet or even a computer—"since there is no sufficient basis for assessing students, they will be given a 'deferred grade.'"

"None of the students will fail the course provided they meet the requirements," an advisory panel formed by the office of the university president said in its policy proposal.

Everybody passes even if they should fail.


The vaccine is coming and along with it propaganda to convince the public of its effectivity.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123040

“There must be information drives. The people must be made aware of the usefulness of getting themselves immunized, including as part of the information is the need to understand that it is not 100 percent protection against SARS-COV 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 or the strain of the virus causing Covid-19),” Loreche told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a virtual interview.

Loreche said the people must also be made aware that those who will get the vaccine “might have mild side effects like fever and body pains or malaise”.

She said the program will also succeed if the government would allow a panel of experts to check on the vaccines.

She added that transparency in reporting especially on the choices of the vaccines to be used will give confidence to the people that it is safe to be immunized against Covid-19.

The government needs to “train more people who will be doing the actual vaccination itself” and the logistics must be planned and well-coordinated to include the timing of the giving of the vaccines to the people.

If the vaccine is not 100% effective protection against COVID-19 then what is the point of getting it?


The DOH is expecting an uptick in COVID-19 cases this Christmas season which is why the PNP  have got their eyes set on you.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123174

"We really are expecting that there is a rise in public convergence especially during the Misa de Gallo (or Simbang Gabi). But the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines must be complied with. There is a need for us to communicate time and again with our people for them to avoid crowded areas (like) churches, malls, and some tiangges (mini markets)," Usana said in a Laging Handa press briefing.

He added that police officers would have to be more visible in requiring people to observe minimum health protocols.

Usana said the management of the churches should also ensure that health standards are being followed during their activities this Christmas season.

Imagine having cops patrolling churches to make sure they comply with orders.  Does that sound like tyranny or freedom to you?


The Philippines has already given the green light to purchase AstraZeneca's vaccine.


https://globalnation.inquirer.net/192399/ph-buying-astrazeneca-shots-private-sector-picking-up-tab

The Philippine government will sign on Friday an agreement with the private sector and British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for the purchase of 2 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief Carlito Galvez Jr. announced the deal on Thursday and said the private sector would shoulder the cost of the vaccines.

“This coming Friday, we will sign the tripartite agreement where we will buy 2 million doses of the vaccine from the United Kingdom’s AstraZeneca. Joining us will be the private sector who donated these,” Galvez said in a press briefing.

The vaccine is expected to become available either in May, June or July next year, so the immunization drive is likely to start late in the second quarter of 2021, he said.

But it seems there might be a problem with this vaccine.


https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/business/coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-oxford.html

But since unveiling the preliminary results, AstraZeneca has acknowledged a key mistake in the vaccine dosage received by some study participants, adding to questions about whether the vaccine’s apparently spectacular efficacy will hold up under additional testing.

Scientists and industry experts said the error and a series of other irregularities and omissions in the way AstraZeneca initially disclosed the data have eroded their confidence in the reliability of the results.

Officials in the United States have noted that the results were not clear. It was the head of the flagship federal vaccine initiative — not the company — who first disclosed that the vaccine’s most promising results did not reflect data from older people.

The upshot, the experts said, is that the odds of regulators in the United States and elsewhere quickly authorizing the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine are declining, an unexpected setback in the global campaign to corral the devastating pandemic.

“I think that they have really damaged confidence in their whole development program,” said Geoffrey Porges, an analyst for the investment bank SVB Leerink.

AstraZenica's vaccine might not be as effective as they say due to errors and irregularities during trials. The company will be conducting new global trials for their vaccine.

The pandemic has renewed calls for federalism.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123315

“All these crises brought about by this pandemic, by these typhoons, they all sharpen the need for a federal government,” he said in a webinar organized by the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance on Saturday.

He pointed out that despite the signing of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Bayanihan 1), many low-income families failed to receive subsidies under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) on time.

“Nakita natin na kahit na anong gawing response ng national government, masisipag naman yung mga opisyales natin, pero hindi natin magawa. ‘Yun lang distribution ng tulong doon sa mahihirap under yung Bayanihan law hindi nagawa 'yun (We saw that no amount of response carried out by the national government, even if our officials are hardworking, they can’t do it. Just the distribution of aid for the poor under the Bayanihan Law, they can’t accomplish),” he said.

Puno, however, clarified there was no specific national or local official to blame in delays in the distribution of cash assistance.

We're not blaming a specific person but it's the unitary government. And then you know, they suffer from a lot of red tapesAng daming regulasyon diyan. Pag nag-violate ka ng regulasyon dadalhin ka sa Ombudsman kaya kawawa rin sila (There are too many regulations. If you violate regulations, they’ll take you to the Ombudsman),” he added.

Puno said changing the form of government from the current unitary to a “bayanihan”-type federal will break the over-concentration of power in the national government.

Actually there are plenty of specific people to blame for people not receiving their SAP funds as many LGU officials have been charged over irregularities in the distribution of those funds. The problem, as ever, is corrupt officials and not the type of government. Splintering the nation into several regions will only serve to increase corruption as each region will become the bailiwick of which ever demagogues seize power.

Harry Roque visited Cebu province to promote tourism. A large crowd turned out to hear him speak and social distancing protocols were ignored.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1365990/no-distancing-as-harry-visits-island-to-promote-tourism

The Cebu provincial government has begun a tourism program called “Suroy-suroy” (strolling around) to help revive the local economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Roque acknowledged that physical distancing was not observed during the event.

But he said this rule need not be followed if people wore masks and were assembled in an open-air venue.

“Anong isusuot? Masks. Anong dapat gawin? Hugas. At pangatlo, ang hindi natin nasusunod ngayon, iwas, di ba?” Roque reminded the crowd.

(What should we wear? Masks. What should we do? Wash hands. And third, what we’re not observing right now, avoid [crowded places], right?)

He added: “Pero huwag n’yo lang tatanggalin ang mga masks niyo. OK na yan dahil open air naman tayo.” (Just don’t remove your masks. That’s OK because we’re in an open-air venue.)

Roque said, “Cebuanos are showing that COVID-19 is not a hindrance in reviving livelihood and tourism.”

Mayor Salvador dela Fuente of Madridejos said he had advised the public to observe physical distancing, but authorities lost control of the crowd because of their “eagerness and enthusiasm.”

“Madridejos is located on an island. People here wanted to personally see the secretary (Roque) and the governor so they were already out of control,” he said.

In a statement on Saturday night, Roque said “I was totally taken aback by the huge crowd that came when I went to Cebu yesterday, Nov. 27, to grace the official opening of Bantayan Island Airport.”

He added that “as a precautionary measure, I observed physical distancing and reminded those who were present to observe the minimum health standards. Also, I did not shake hands and I wore a face mask.”

He also said “local officials … did not expect the huge turnout of people as well. Be that as it may, they advised the public to wear face masks and there was general compliance, as seen in the pictures that came out.”

The rules don't apply when government officials are involved. 


Parents are being warned to keep their children inside this holiday seas as they may become super spreaders.


https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/30/ph-not-out-of-the-woods-yet-children-should-not-be-allowed-outside-as-they-can-be-super-spreaders-expert/

“I’m worried about the kids being allowed to go out and they say that the holiday season is about kids and children but I think if they will be allowed to roam around and visit malls, they will be the ones that will carry the virus at home,” Dr. Tony Leachon told ANC in an interview Monday. 

“They will be the super spreaders and that will affect their parents and grandparents as well so this is dangerous,” he added. 

Leachon said the current 15-65 age bracket for stay-at-home restrictions should be maintained during the holiday season.

This is simply more fear mongering as research shows children are not likely to be spreaders, let alone super spreaders, of the virus.


https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/7/618

At the current time, children do not appear to be super spreaders


That is only one of many studies which  contradicts the endless fear mongering from a government that claims it is listening to science as it responds to the pandemic. Sadly the fear mongering will continue.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1366583/ano-reminds-public-christmas-family-reunions-are-considered-mass-gathering

In a televised briefing, Año reminded the public that mass gatherings are prohibited as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.


(Just celebrate Christmas with the immediate family and minimum health standard should be implemented.) 

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Año explained why family reunions are considered mass gathering. 

“Yes, that’s right. Family reunions are mass gatherings of different families within a clan. Immediate family gathering is allowed,” Año told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked if such events are also covered by the ban on mass gatherings. 

“A family reunion is an occasion of a large gathering when many members of extended families congregate to eat, socialize, and commemorate,” he added.

It's highly doubtful the PNP will be arresting families over the holidays but one can never tell.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Picture of the Week: Cutting the Grass With Hedge Clippers

Doesn't anyone in the Philippines have a lawnmower?  I've seen people cutting the grass with weed eaters. I've seen people cutting grass with fire.  Now here is a picture of a man cutting grass with hedge clippers.



What can you say? This is the Philippines!

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Insurgency: Army Seizes Terrorist Camp

In the final Operation Pacific Eagle report the US DOD indicated that the Philippines is incapable of handling the war against terrorism on their own. This week the US has come forward with a lot of much needed assistance to the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122982

US Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett on Wednesday met with Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Cardozo Luna and senior Philippine military officials to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast military partnership with the Philippines, the oldest US treaty ally in Asia.

From joint counterterrorism efforts to humanitarian support, the US and Philippines have a long history of working together to protect global security through regional stability,” Barrett said. “The US Air and Space Forces look forward to building on our strong relationship with the Philippine military through greater interoperability and training opportunities with the Philippine Air Force, as well as exploring where our nations can cooperate in the space domain.”

Lets take a look at this recent declaration of partnership and in particular the weapons systems sent to the Philippines.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/26/2059525/us-delivers-unmanned-aerial-system-philippine-navy

The United States turned over yesterday a P710-million ($14.79 million) ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System or UAS to the Philippine Navy to augment the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s maritime domain awareness and border security capabilities. 

The ScanEagle UAS will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the AFP 71st Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron (71 MUARS) of the Philippine Fleet’s Naval Air Wing, which will operate the aircraft out of Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, San Antonio, Zambales. The 71 MUARS is the AFP’s leading unit for unmanned maritime ISR operations.

Since 2015, the US has delivered more than P33 billion ($650 million) worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-by-side with Filipino allies.

Apparently these drones will do reconnaissance over the SCS and keep the PHL informed about what is happening with China's island building. The Trump administration has also delivered precision-guided missile systems to help defeat the insurgency,

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/23/2058914/trumps-promise-us-turns-over-weapons-philippines

"We hope these precision-guided missiles and munitions will help the AFP protect Philippine lives in Mindanao and end the needless suffering imposed by ISIS-East Asia," O'Brien said, following his meeting with Locsin.

O'Brien added that the transfer of weapons underscores Washington's "enduring commitment" to its "critical alliance" with Manila, its longtime ally and former colony.

Upon receiving the weapons on behalf of the Philippine government, Locsin said the armed forces are looking forward to training on their use.

"These smart bombs will boost the capability of our armed forces in neutralizing identified or specific threats to national security, particularly in counterterrorism operations," Locsin said.

Noting that the US has been at the forefront of the fight against ISIS, O'Brien said Trump stands with Duterte as the Americans combat ISIS in Southeast Asia.

Precision-guided missiles to fight ISIS who hides out in thick jungles?  And they do not know how to use them?  Are they kidding? 

The reality on the ground we have been told is that ISIS-East Asia is on the wan as members die and surrender. But even if that is not the case in what scenario would these missiles be used?  It's jungle warfare and happens encounter by encounter. The AFP is not strafing ASG camps. Not to mention that the greater threat is not ISIS but the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122745

The Philippine Army confirmed that a farmer’s group in Carigara, Leyte has been the source of new recruits of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province.

In a report released on Tuesday, the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade said members of Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka (PKM) Balangay in Carigara has been recruited as cannon fodders, treated by armed rebels as expendable in the face of enemy fire.

“It was the prospect of financial assistance that enticed many local farmers including some barangay (village) officials to join Municipal Upland Farmers Association of Carigara (MUFAC), which now appeared as front for the underground PKM,” the army said in a statement.

MUFAC was renamed to appease a German church-based humanitarian agency, which have been providing funds in Leyte communities after super typhoon Yolanda’s devastations, according to the military.

There is a lot of info here and it remains rather unclear. What "German church-based humanitarian agency" has been providing funds since the Yolanda typhoon has been appeased by this farmer's group changing its name? We are not told. Probably Caritas Germany.

The priest said that the Church’s post-“Yolanda” response was implemented directly by Caritas Philippines, and bilaterally by Caritas Internationalis member organizations -- Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Switzerland, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Belgium, Caritas Germany, Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, Caritas Austria, and Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054836

What did this humanitarian group know and when did they know it? What other subversive groups are they wittingly or unwittingly supporting? Was MUFAC the original name of the farmer's group? If these farmers are being recruited as "canon fodder" then it would seem they are not very dangerous but just expendable nobodies. Of course not all NPA are like that. Some do pose a serious threat.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122836
An armed encounter erupted Tuesday morning and is still ongoing between members of the New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the mountainous area in this town.
 
In an interview, Brig. General Audrey Pasia, Commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, said they received a report from indigenous people of an alleged camp of the rebel group at Barangay Lawang Langka in this town.
 
“Soldiers requested for artillery fire support after finding themselves outnumbered against an estimated 40 heavily armed communist terrorists hiding in the mountains of Barangay Lawang Langka. Additional forces were flown in by helicopters to provide close air support and reinforce the engaged troops,” he said. 
“The soldiers’ ability to decisively engage the enemies of the state despite the ongoing humanitarian missions brought about by the series of typhoons is a testament to our collective commitment and high state of readiness to serve our people and secure this part of our land,” Major General Alfredo Rosario, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, said in a statement issued Tuesday.
 
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP’s Nolcom chief, said he hopes the encounter will lead the few remaining NPA terrorists to choose peace over conflict, avail of government grants, and lead normal lives together with their families.
 
“The fact that we are now receiving real-time information is a loud and clear warning to the few remaining NPAs in this part of the country to put down their arms and return to the folds of law while they still can because our soldiers can, and will, hunt them down even up to the most isolated corner and crevices of Northern and Central Luzon,” he said.

Avail of government grants? That's a heck of a way to describe the bribery the government is offering to any surrendering terrorist irrespective of their background.

Now despite the story above that they were outnumbered against 40 heavily armed NPA fighters and had to call for reinforcements the AFP maintains that Panganisan is insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122994

The province of Pangasinan is still considered insurgency-free despite the sighting of members of the New People’s Army (NPA) that led to the ongoing pursuit operation in the mountainous terrain of this town, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday.

In an interview, Maj. Mico Magisa, public information officer of the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), said the encounter happening in the province does not necessarily mean that its insurgency-free status no longer prevails.

Para sa perspective po namin, an encounter doesn’t mean na ang lugar ay hindi na insurgency free. Mas masasabi nga po natin na insurgency-free ang isang lugar kapag nagkaroon ng encounter lalo na kapag ang encounter na ito ay batay sainformation na binigay ng mga community (On our perspective, an encounter doesn’t mean that the area is no longer insurgency-free. We could, even more, say that it is insurgency-free if there is an encounter especially if this encounter was aided with the information given by the community,” he said, adding that an area is considered insurgency-free once the rebels lost their support in the area.

Magisa said public support is crucial to the movement of rebels in the area.

“The encounter on Tuesday is a testament that the people wanted the rebels out,” he said.

"An area is considered insurgency-free once the rebels lost their support in the area." How ridiculous is that? Now the AFP has two varying definitions of what insurgency-free means. 11 years ago insurgency free meant no reports of fighters in the area.

“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province. 
Insignificant level. Wala na rito ang mga armed groups,” Luga said during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held at the Capitol Social Hall.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/09/martial-law-insurgent-free.html 

Does the AFP realize that for an area to declare the NPA persona non grata presupposes that there are NPA fighter in the area? A lack of support for the rebels means they are still around or else there would be no reason to issue statements of non-support.

Is the AFP stupid? Have they learned nothing after all this time!? No wonder it has been a 50 year war!!  It's just another in a series of premature declarations of victory. Here is another premature declaration of victory from this past week.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123173

Military and police officials said Friday the conviction of ranking Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) officials Benito and Wilma Tiamzon on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention is a victory for the victims of the communist-terrorist group. 

In a statement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the court decision is a victory for the many victims of the atrocities of the NPA, particularly the orders to conduct murder, arson, extortion, ambushes, bombing, and other activities they orchestrated.

"They were convicted 'beyond reasonable doubt' by the Regional Trial Court 216 of Quezon City for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention," he said.

"They have violated the provisions of their temporary liberty (as consultants) when they refused to surrender after the peace negotiations failed. But the AFP will continue to hunt them down," Arevalo said. 

"They can run. But just as justice has caught up on them with this conviction (kidnapping with serious illegal detention), we will nab them soon. By then, they will be back in jail to pay for the crimes they committed against our people through the many atrocities perpetrated by the NPA which acts they planned and orchestrated," he said.

"It is also another success story on the efficiency of our prosecutors and investigators who secured the validity of evidence presented during the trial. The court also helped make the justice system work with its verdict. Of course, it is also a manifestation of the sins committed by communist terrorists against our people," Usana said in a statement.

Here are some more details from Philstar:

The case stemmed from the kidnapping of Army Lts. Clarito Santos, Oscar Singson, Rommel Salamanca, and Abraham Claro Casis of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and of Sgt. John Jacob of the Philippine Narcotics Command in Quezon province on June 1, 1988.

Based on the Information or charge sheet filed on June 26, 1990, those kidnapped were kept under restraint for 75 days in Mauban, Quezon.

The Tiamzon couple were freed in 2016 after the Manila court allowed them to post bail to participate in peace talks between communist rebels and the government but President Rodrigo Duterte scrapped formal and back-channel negotiations in 2017.

The court in 2018 ordered the re-arrest of the Tiamzons and their co-accused Adelberto Silva following the termination of peace talks.

The Tiamzons have failed to appear since the Manila court ordered their re-arrest and their right to present evidence in the kidnapping case has since been waived. The case was submitted for resolution based only on prosecution evidence.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/27/2059848/court-convicts-tiamzon-couple-1988-quezon-kidnapping

This couple was convicted of a kidnapping which occurred in 1988. 28 years later the case had still not been resolved and they were set free in 2016 by Duterte to participate in peace talks which ultimately broke down. They have been on the run ever since and were convicted in absentia. The conviction is also not for "the orders to conduct murder, arson, extortion, ambushes, bombing, and other activities they orchestrated" but only for kidnapping and they have yet to be brought into custody. How is this a win for anyone? It's more of a display of the Philippines' slow and broken justice system.