Insurgency: Light At The End of The Tunnel

 More year end assessments from the AFP about the current status and future of the conflict.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125403

In his speech at the AFP's 85th founding anniversary Monday night, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the military has "significantly degraded" the armed capabilities of the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing, the New People's Army, and other local terror groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya-affiliated groups.

"Their manpower, firepower and mass-based support are on the decline. They are experiencing leadership vacuum and their recruitment and extortion activities were neglected as well," Gapay said.

He said this could be seen as "light at the end of the tunnel" as he expressed confidence that internal armed conflicts would soon be put to rest before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte's term in 2022.

He also cited the acquisition of several modern military equipment as part of the modernization efforts this year.

"I am proud to report that with these equipment, we have once again established effective pressure on WPS (West Philippine Sea) in asserting our sovereignty," he added.

Extortion activités are neglected? Not in Mindanao it seems.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125414

In an interview Tuesday, Licudine cited the 402Bde data showing that from 2010 to date, the rebels had killed 166 government troopers and 113 civilians in Caraga Region.

“We capacitate these terrorists to kill more government troopers, workers, and innocent civilians by giving them funds through their extortion activities,” Licudine said.

The Army official’s call came after 16 business owners belonging to the Butuan City Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) and Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Association Incorporated (FCCCAI) pledged their commitment on Dec. 17 to stop paying the revolutionary taxes being demanded by the NPA.

In July this year, at least 25 contractors and construction firms in the region also pledged not to give in to the rebels' extortion activities.

Licudine said that based on the brigade's information, the NPA collects around PHP15,000 to PHP20,000 a month from different business establishments in this city alone.

“In our estimate, the NPA rebels collect around PHP9.3 million every year in Butuan City alone. This amount of money is a big contribution for the NPA to grow their strength and sustain their terroristic activities in the area,” Licudine said.

He said former NPA rebels have also provided vital information on the scope of the rebels' extortion activities.

One of the surrenderers, he said, was Lynlyn (name withheld for security reasons), who worked as a revolutionary tax collector for the NPA's Guerrilla Front 21.

Licudine said the surrender of Lynlyn sometime in June this year was a fatal blow to the extortion activities of the guerilla unit, led by its finance officer identified as Jelan Pinakilid.

The surrender of Lynlyn can't be that fatal of a blow if they are calling for the business sector to stop paying NPA extortion taxes. P9.3 million being collected every year in just one city is not small change. What did the AFP say last year? Extortion fuels the NPA.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/12/03/extortion-fuels-npa-says-afp/

Northern Samar province remains a favorite “milking cow” of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), which allegedly rakes in hundreds of millions of pesos through extortion, the Philippine Army disclosed yesterday. 

He said the NPA collects millions of pesos from contractors of infrastructure projects; a percentage of the IRA of barangays under its influence; fees from sand and gravel operations, as well as in land grabbing, which the rebel group calls “agrarian revolution.” 

“In Northern Samar, for example, that line from Palapag to Lapinig — that is 45.7 kilometers, and based on our computation, they (NPA) earned P160 million (from there),” Bitong told the media in a recent conference referring to a foreign-funded road project. 

According to Bitong, the NPA in Northern Samar is collecting huge amounts of money from the private contractors of government infrastructure projects. 

“Normally they would be asked 10 percent and the contractor would bargain and negotiate until it goes down to three percent, and would agree and settle for one percent,” Bitong said.

“But if you compute the billions of pesos of infrastructure projects in Leyte and Samar, this would amount to millions of pesos. So, that is the reason why they are here. We are actually very generous in giving them fuel for their revolution,” he added.

Hundreds of millions of pesos in extortion fees are collected by the NPA just in Northern Samar alone. Just two weeks ago DND Secretary Lorenzana said the NPA was raking in billions each year.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1371341/lorenzana-npa-rebels-amass-p-1b-yearly-from-extortion

Lorenzana told reporters in a message that the information was gathered by the intelligence community and that he saw a report in 2017 stating that the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) amassed P1 billion that year from harassment and extortion.

He pointed out that there was a concentration of NPA members in western Mindanao because of the large projects and companies there.

“Most of the mining, huge banana plantations are in western Mindanao. Add the telecommunications companies and the government projects being done by private contractors and the amount extorted is huge. That is the main source of their financing,” Lorenzana said.

It's surprising that Lorenzana is obliquely accusing the telecoms of playing NPA taxes when both Globe and PLDT have denied those reports. Does this mean he will be calling them to account?

This week the CPP celebrated their 52nd anniversary.  Gen' Gapay publicly thanked the coronavirus for putting a damper on the festivities.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/22/news/latest-stories/gapay-thanks-covid-for-putting-damper-on-cpp-anniversary/815734/

“THANKS” to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) won’t be able to celebrate its 52nd founding anniversary on December 26, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, Armed Forces chief, said on Tuesday.

“Dati kasi, ‘yung mga rally-rally nila, hindi na nila magawa ‘yan (They used to have these rallies before but which they can no longer do now), thanks to Covid,” the military chief told reporters at a virtual yearend press briefing.

Gapay also said that members of the CPP were “really dwindling”, which meant that they lacked members who could go out on the streets to commemorate the group’s anniversary, forcing them to go to social media instead.

“All of these activities are being monitored and usually, they celebrate their anniversary, every December 26, with a large meeting they call it plenum. I don’t think they would have one this year,” he said.

Gapay said the CPP plenum would normally be held in an undisclosed location but for this year, he confidently said there was no monitored activity and “we will not allow them to have one, really.”

Indeed while the CPP said they would hold small, clandestine activities to mark the occasion in Agusan Norte 32 NPA decided to surrender and the AFP killed 10 rebels in Sultan Kudarat.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376225/10-suspected-npa-rebels-killed-as-army-thwarts-holding-of-cpp-anniversary-rites-in-sultan-kudarat

At least 10 suspected communist rebels were killed when the military launched air and ground assaults in Palimbang town, Sultan Kudarat on Christmas Day in a bid to thwart the holding of rites to mark the 52nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said airstrikes and artillery offensives were first launched after about 200 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas were confirmed to be massing in the village of Namat Masla, near Mt. Lumuton, in Palimbang in preparation for Saturday’s CPP anniversary.

At least eight rebels were killed, seven of whom were identified by villagers as Abner Sanchez, Marco Santos, Efren Lantip, Samuel Orinday, Ruben Alferez, Marcial Tenor and Jaime Zapata, Uy added.

As ground troops scoured the area, they clashed with the rebels before overrunning a camp, also in the village of Namat Masla. The troops also found two dead bodies of suspected NPA guerrillas, raising the death toll to 10.

Air and ground assaults. They don't air assaults often so this is a rare treat for onlookers.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/769408/npa-squad-killed-in-sultan-kudarat-smart-bomb-strike-military/story/

A squad of communist New People’s Army (NPA) gunmen were killed on Friday, Christmas Day, after a base camp in Sultan Kudarat’s Daguma Mountain Range was hit by a GPS-guided smart bomb dropped by a Philippine Air Force FA-50 jet.

According to Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint-Task Force Central’s 6th Division, residents and local officials had informed the military of the NPA Far South Regional Committee's movements in the area ahead of the Communist Party of the Philippines' 52nd anniversary on December 26th.

Perhaps the Army and the Air Force can coordinate like this more often. It could scare them into surrendering which is what the AFP wants. They want to give every terrorist free money and housing and job training so they can get back into society.  Even Duterte wants them to surrender to avail of free housing and more.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125753

Sinasabi ko lang hinto na kayo. Mag-surrender na kayo kasi walang ginawa ‘yang mga lider ninyo (I’m just saying, surrender because your leaders are not doing anything anymore). It’s plain banditry,” he said.

Duterte said communist rebels are no different from the terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) that carries out terrorist attacks like kidnappings and bombings.

“Pareho talaga kayo ng Abu Sayyaf. No different. Ako pa sa inyo mag-merge na lang. Totoo iyan (You’re just like Abu Sayyaf. No different. If I were you, I would merge with them. That’s true)…You want money to come to your hands through or by virtue of the blood and tears of other Filipinos. Sinisira ninyo ang bayan (You’re destroying the nation),” he said.

Duterte said that while communist rebels extorted millions from big businesses and corporations, their leaders live lavish lifestyles and send their children to study overseas.

He vowed that the government would provide all kinds of assistance to those who surrender, including housing, livelihood, and education for their children

“Sumurender na kayo. Ako, ‘pag nag-surrender kayo, bahay. Mayroong mga condo na ginagawa ko sa probinsiya, ‘pag nag-surrenderkayo sabi ko na sa sundalo -- para kanila 'yon eh -- sabi ko, ‘Bata, pasensiya ka na, ibigay na lang natin dito para madali angpacification campaign (Just surrender. If you surrender, you’ll get a house. There are condos being built in the provinces, if you surrender, since those are for them, I’ll say, ‘Apologies, but I’ll give them to you to speed up the pacification campaign),” he said.

Duterte also reiterated his promise to include them in the government’s mass vaccination campaign once the vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available in the country.

“The vaccine is available to every Filipino citizen, including the Communist NPAs so that you can fight better and you are healthy because I know that you will die,” he said.

Every NPA fighter who surrenders will get al kinds of freebies from the government. It doesn't matter if you are a notorious kidnapper who kidnapped 21 tourists and 12 Filipino evangelists two decades ago.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125649

An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit involved in the Sipadan mass kidnapping 20 years ago has surrendered to government authorities in the province of Tawi-Tawi, military officials announced Friday.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the ASG surrenderer as Barri Lakibol, 44, who carries the aliases of Barley Badeng, Otoh Itom, and Robin.

Vinluan said Lakibol surrendered and turned over a US-made M-14 rifle with ammunition Wednesday at the headquarters of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12) led by Lt. Col. Henry Espinosa in Barangay Nalil, Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province.

Vinluan said Lakibol was recruited by the late Sulu-based ASG leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot in January 2000 and was involved in the Sipadan mass kidnapping in the same year.

The ASG bandits seized 21 people, mostly European tourists, from the dive resort island of Sipadan, Malaysia on April 23, 2000 and herded them to the province of Sulu.

The hostages were freed in batches after alleged payment of a huge amount of ransom.

Vinluan said Lakibol was also involved in the kidnapping of 12 Filipino evangelists led by Pastor Wilde Almeda, whose group went to the ASG lair for prayer healing and to comfort the hostages taken from Sipadan dive resort.

He said during the debriefing, Lakibol revealed that he left the ASG in 2006 due to the intensified offensives launched by the military, which resulted in the neutralization of prominent ASG personalities in the province of Sulu.

Col. Arturo Rojas, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, said Lakibol will be turned over to the municipal government of Bongao for his enrolment to the reintegration programs of the government.

Again we have another man who will never face justice for his crimes. There will be many more.

What's the best way to end the year? How about with the CPP-NPA finally being designated as a terrorist group.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/26/20/anti-terrorism-council-tags-cpp-npa-islamic-state-east-asia-maute-and-associated-groups-as-terrorists

The Anti-Terrorism Council has begun the controversial process of designating who may be considered by authorities as “terrorists” and “terrorist groups” under the new Anti-Terror law, which may have implications on freezing of assets.

This follows five months since the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed into law, despite heavy opposition from various groups over concerns it could lead to human rights violations.

In 2 separate resolutions approved on December 9, the ATC designated the following as “terrorist organizations, associations, and/or groups:”

• Communist Party of the Philippines
• New People’s Army / Bagong Hukbong Bayan
• Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in South-East Asia
• Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik
• Dawlatul Islamiyyah Waliyatul Mashriq
• IS East Asia Division
• Maute Group
• Islamic State East Asia
• Maute ISIS
• Grupong ISIS
• Grupo ISIS
• Khilafah Islamiyah
• KIM
• Ansharul Khilafah
• Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Bungos
• Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Abubakar
• Jama’atu al-Muhajirin wal Ansar fil Filibin
• Daulah Islamiyah
• other Daesh-affiliated groups in the Philippines

An interesting list to be sure.  Most interesting are three notable exemptions: the MNLF, MILF, and Abu Sayyaf.  Of course Abu Sayyaf was declared a terrorist group back in 2015 but the exclusion of MILF and MNLF is completely political in nature as the MILF now runs a huge portion of Mindanao and Duterte is anxious to give MNLF founder Nur Misuari the island of Sulu or some other territory in the name of peace. That does not mean the MILF and the MNLF are not terrorist groups.  

The next step is up to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1376432/govt-moves-to-plug-cpp-npa-fund-sources

Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay on Saturday said the ATC’s Dec. 9 resolution would allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze the bank deposits and other assets of the CPP and the NPA, which has been fighting one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies.

“The next step is for the AMLC to proceed with its powers under [the law] regarding the freezing of assets and run after the bank accounts [of the CPP-NPA],” Sugay told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

He was referring to Sections 35 and 36 of Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which authorized the AMLC to scrutinize the finances of organizations or groups of individuals that the ATC had labeled as terrorists.

Since it is improbable for the CPP-NPA to open accounts in their names, the government will have to target their alleged members or supporters to slow down if not entirely stop the flow of funds to the rebel movement.

We shall see how effective this designation is in eradicating this group in the next year. 

Not an Isolated Incident

The fallout from and the PNP's response to the shooting of a woman and her son by their neighbor who was an off-duty cop has been just what everyone has come to expect of that very corrupt organization. They say it's an isolated case and let's not focus on the bad apples because there are so many good cops. Pure deflection.

First the "isolated incident" canard.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/pnp-chief-says-cops-shooting-of-unarmed-neighbors-an-isolated-case

"The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement.

Of course then we all found out that this cop was a bad cop who had many cases filed against him. He should have been fired years ago. Two of those cases were even for homicide.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374548/policeman-linked-to-2-homicides-says-pnp-chief

He said that based on Nuezca’s records gathered by the Central Luzon police, the officer was investigated twice by the Internal Affairs Service for grave misconduct involving two homicides on May 9 and Dec. 29 last year.

“All of these were dismissed because of lack of evidence and witnesses to pursue the administrative cases. So, more or less, no criminal case was filed against him,” Sinas said.

He noted that Nuezca was also charged administratively for grave misconduct in 2013, less serious neglect of duty for failing to submit himself to drug testing in 2014, and serious neglect of duty for failing to appear as a prosecution witness in a drug case in 2016.

Sinas said the most Nuezca got was a 31-day suspension for avoiding the drug test because the other two less grave offenses were “dropped and closed.”

How convenient that there was warrant enough to investigate but then there was no evidence or witnesses to pursue the cases! Well there is the whole presumed innocent thing. But surely the PNP knew they had a problem cop on their hand when he refused to show up for a drug test, right?

The fact that he was able to operate with such impunity shows that the PNP is not as interested in cleaning its ranks as they claim. It also shows that, contrary to what Año says, the sin of this man IS the sin of PNP.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374265/ano-sin-of-cop-in-tarlac-shooting-not-the-sin-of-entire-pnp

“While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties everyday with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” Año said.

“The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response,” he added, referring to Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who is the suspect in the crime.

To Año this brazen and evil killing is just an "unfortunate incident." Shit happens right? That's what former PNP chief Bato said when a toddler was killed during a drug bust.

Maybe Año is a lapsed Catholic and does not understand that even though we did not commit Adam's personal sin we are still just as guilty as he because he is our representative. In the same way because the PNP did nothing to stop this man they are guilty of this crime which is a culmination of all his other misbehavior.

This ties nicely into the second deflection which is "not all cops."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374735/remember-cops-heroic-acts-too-pnp-says-amid-backlash-from-tarlac-shooting

But PNP spokesman Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the incident should not overshadow the PNP’s good deeds.

"We respect all accusations because of Nuezca but let's also look at the many good examples that our police have already shared," Usana said Tuesday in a televised Always Ready Public Briefing.

“It can no longer be counted. Maybe it will be fair and just to pay attention to the heroic acts of our police over this particular case of Nuezca, ”he added.

What a straw man! No one is saying the entire PNP head for head is corrupt. Sure there are good cops. Check out this "good cop" the PNP showed off as an example.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375705/good-cop-in-pnp-tale-hit-protesters-in-2016

What should have been a feel-good story to restore public trust on the police had backfired when the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) made the wrong choice of its poster boy for a model officer.

In a statement earlier this week, the NCRPO praised Police Staff Sgt. Franklin Kho, a decorated officer with the Manila Police District (MPD), for using a month’s worth of salary to help the “Hijos del Nazareno” — honor guards of the Black Nazarene image of the Quiapo Church during the annual January traslacion or procession.

“This is another proof that not all police officers stray from the path,” he said.

While some applauded his charitable deed, others questioned the choice of Kho as a model officer after he had bulldozed and ran over a crowd of protesters using a police van during a rally in front of the US Embassy on Oct. 19, 2016. Dozens were injured in the potentially fatal action by the officer.

It was not the first time that Kho used a police vehicle in responding to protesters. In December 2010, Kho used a police truck to crash into a barricade put up by “kuliglig” (motorized rickshaw) drivers on Padre Burgos Street near the Manila City Hall. The drivers were then protesting an order by then-Mayor Alfredo Lim banning three-wheeled vehicles from the capital’s main roads.

The PNP's model cop ran down protestors twice! But since that was in 2016 and 2010 I guess we should forget all about it.  Let bygones be bygones right?

One local PNP chief, former chief, thinks along the same lines as Año and Bato and is protective of PNP officers. The lesson learned is to respect cops, he says.

https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/155698/catanduanes-police-chief-respect-a734-20201221

“My Father is a Policeeee Mannnnn ha !!! I don’t care eh eh eh eh eh err !!! Putangina you want to finish you now ???? Bang Bang Bang Bang .. 

"Lesson learn even if we have white hair or we are gray, we can learn to respect our policemen. It is difficult to resist restraint and patience.

"RIP Mom and Sonny."

That is an actual Facebook post from a former police chief. Former because the mayor requested he be fired because of this post.

This refers to the current news about the killings of a mother and her son by a policeman in Tarlac province which have gone viral on the internet.

Accordingly we find it very disturbing that PNP Bato Municipal Station Chief-of-Police, Cptn. Ariel R Buraga has posted in his Facebook account that the slain mother was at fault because she did not give due respect to the policeman prompting him to shot her fatally.

Much as we respect his right to publicly pronounce his personal opinion regarding the killings, he should have exercised restraint and prudence in doing so considering that he is Chief-of-Police in this LGU, on the one hand, and that he should let the PNP's investigation into the matter run its natural course so that the truth about the tragedy would emerge, on the other hand.

In this regard, we will highly appreciate it if the PNP could assign another Chief-of-Police in this municipality to assuage the fears of the constituents of this LGU of a seemingly biased chief-of-police whose loyalty it seems, rests primarily with his fellow policemen than with the constituents in his area of responsibility.

Of course his loyalty rests with his fellow policeman. Where else would it lie? DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin even had a word to say about this man's Facebook post.

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1341184923097395200

"you piece of native shit and incontrovertible proof that Independence was premature."

Maybe reverting back to a colony of the USA would fix all the problems in the PNP and the entire government. Why not? The USA gives this nation billions in aid of all kinds every single year while their own citizens get nothing!

Worry not, there will be no changes in the PNP as result of this case.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/22/20/pnp-spox-says-tarlac-killings-wont-trigger-change-in-police-force-cites-earlier-reforms

The brutal killing of unarmed civilians by a police officer in Tarlac province will not spur any changes in the Philippine National Police (PNP) as earlier reforms have been implemented, its spokesman said Tuesday, saying the shooting incident was isolated and would not dampen the "best intentions" of the police force.

"I guess what [Police Master Senior Sgt. Jonel] Nuezca did is something that will not even trigger any change at all in the PNP because we have had many changes [that] had already been initiated," Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana told ANC amid calls for reform. 

"This particular case actually will not make the PNP as if we're totally wrong because as I was saying, this is an isolated case. The murder criminal action has already been filed. The [officer's] dismissal will be forthcoming. The PNP will have to move on from there." 

Usana maintained that Nuezca's action, which he described as abominable, does not represent the 221,000-strong police force. 

He said the PNP had already dismissed some 4,800 out of 16,800 police officers who were facing various administrative cases. 

"We have had these number of cases involving erring police officers... they are all dismissed from the service. If they stay longer in the service, the PNP itself may be at [the] wrong," Usana said. 

"But in this case, we will not waste any minute longer for them to stay in the service because they don't deserve to be a police officer at all."

In fact the Palace has told those calling for reform in the PNP to reform themselves!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/22/2065620/asked-about-changes-after-tarlac-killings-roque-says-opposition-should-change-instead

If any change is to come out of the killing of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac, the president's press secretary said Tuesday that he thinks it should be on the part of the opposition, whose criticism, he said, has become repetitive.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Roque leaned once again on the narrative that concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration.

"The only test for a police officer to use violence is if there is a threat to his life. It's the opposition who should probably recalibrate because they sound like broken records," the president's spokesman said. 

"Concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration."

It's funny that Harry Roque could ever utter such a sentiment because he was once a prominent a human rights attorney. The depths to which this man has fallen are unbelievable. He's gone all the way down the black pit towards the lowest circle of hell.

I've written about police reform before and the fact is the PNP has been, now is, and ever will be a corrupt organization. The reforms they enact have been useless to stomp out  corruption within the ranks.  But this is all par for the course. Let s not forget our friend Gaspar de San Augustin who wrote the following 300 years ago:

43. They act tyrannically one toward another. Consequently, the Indian who has some power from the Spaniard is insolent and intolerable among, them—so much so that, in the midst of their ingratitude, some of them recognize it, although very few of them. Yet it is a fact that, if the Spaniards had not come to these islands, the Indians would have been destroyed; for, like fish, the greater would have swallowed the lesser, in accordance with the tyranny which they exercised in their paganism.

http://www.philippinehistory.net/views/1720sanagustinb.htm

Sounds a lot like the PNP today, huh?  A little bit of power and they lord it over their fellowmen. Reform? Never gonna happen.

Retards in the Government 186

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1373252/bataan-town-hall-exec-gunned-down

The head of the management information system (MIS) of the municipal government was gunned down in front of his house on Thursday night, police said.

The death of Jonathan de la Cruz, 35, was later announced by Mariveles Mayor Jocelyn Castaneda on her Facebook page.

She appealed to residents to help in seeking justice for Dela Cruz, whom she described as “one of the trusted department heads.”

Another LGU official assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125014

A village chairman in North Cotabato is in critical condition after unidentified gunmen shot him along a busy street in Midsayap town on Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Col. John Calinga, Midsayap town police chief, in his report to Col. Henry Villar, provincial police director, identified the victim as Norodin Manalasal, chairperson of Barangay Malingao.

Manalasal was on board the village-detailed multi-cab vehicle traversing Quezon Boulevard in Barangay Poblacion 5 when one of two men riding tandem on a motorbike opened fire.

The official sustained four gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

“We have yet to establish the identities of the attackers and the motive behind the attack,” Calinga said.

Another attempted assassination on an LGU official. Maybe they will try again?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768354/cops-gimmicks-bringing-anxiety-to-the-public-must-be-stopped-sinas/story/

Gimmicks of police officers which could cause anxiety to the general public must be stopped, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said on Thursday.

In a television interview, Sinas was asked for his reaction about the prank supposedly made by the Cebu City Police where its men pretended to arrest civilians but in reality, will just give them Christmas gifts.

According to local reports, police would issue warrants of arrest to some civilians. Later on, they would be brought to the police vehicle only to find out that they will be given gifts. The said gimmick was dubbed as "arrestoguinaldo."

Sinas said the gimmick is not part of his directive to police officers.

"That is not in our regular directive. Maybe it is just an initiative of our lower units. I will look at what happened, maybe if it's good, then we could support it but if it already caused anxiety to the public and the countrymen "I will direct them to stop such practices," Sinas told CNN-Philippines.

PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana told GMA News Online that the prank was an imitation of what the local police see in foreign videos.

"The intention by a group of police officers is to make a 'target victim fall into their trap' and then make fun out of a post-staged act revelation," Usana said.

"To the person / s subject of that scenario, they may end up shocked or laughing as a result of such unexpected situation. We have seen this in some local reality programs naman po. Some have worked, some have not," he explained.

However, Usana admitted that in the ethical standards of the PNP, the gimmick is not good for the image of policemen.

"Our police must be good at dealing with the people ... It does not have to be mixed with any deception, whatever the motive," Usana said.

The PNP in Cebu were fake arresting some people so they could give them gifts!  They did this because they saw Youtube videos where foreign police did the same thing.  But the PNP is so corrupt that being charged falsely makes them look even more corrupt. It's not a gag in the Philippines. It's real life!  Even the CHR chimed in on the situation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1373409/mayoral-row-in-ecija-town-escalates

This town now has two mayors after former Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel was proclaimed winner in the 2019 mayoral race by a local court last week.

But Esquivel was forced to hold office on the ground floor of the municipal hall because incumbent Mayor Sylvia Austria continued to discharge her duties on the second floor.

Accompanied by a sheriff, Esquivel arrived at the town hall at 10 a.m. on Thursday to serve the court order issued on Dec. 7 by Judge Angelo Perez of Regional Trial Court Branch 87.

Perez also ordered Austria to vacate her post.

Austria is serving her second term as mayor after she was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections in the 2019 mayoral elections.

Esquivel protested the results.

Austria’s son, Councilor Sylvester Austria, said the family was surprised that a writ of execution dated Dec. 16 had been issued before the mayor officially received the court order.

In his order, Perez ruled that Austria’s proclamation as winner was null and void, after concluding that Esquivel garnered 18,737 votes to take the lead.

Austria’s total votes were not reflected in the order, a copy of which was posted on the hall’s bulletin board. But in her proclamation in May 2019, the municipal board of canvassers said Austria got 20,815 votes while Esquivel received 18,461 votes.

A losing candidate challenged the results of the 2019 mayoral race and it turns out he won. But the incumbent is refusing to move for now. It seems she has not received the proper notice.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768425/amid-rfid-mess-trb-chair-tugade-says-he-s-not-informed-of-most-issues-at-agency/story/

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the chairman of the Toll Regulatory Board, on Thursday admitted that there was a failure in the implementation of cashless transactions in the tollways in Luzon.

Tugade, the chairman of the TRB, indicated that he was particularly upset over RFID audit getting done only once in two years - something he said he discovered only recently.

"I saw it, it was just a straightforward conversation, I saw that there is a failure of implementation here in TRB so I said we need to address it," Tugade said during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing.

"My head heats up there. Why is the RFID audit once every two years? Shouldn't that be expedited?" he added.

"If we address the problem after two years, the chicken will be ripe, the problem has not been solved yet," Tugade said. 

After telling the committee of the TRB's failures amid the RFID, it was pointed out to Tugade that he was the chairman of its board.

Tugade said he had assigned an alternate to attend the board meetings. 

"Is it true that what is happening on the board reaches us? Sometimes yes, most do not," Tugade said.

The chairman of the board of the TRB says he has no idea what is going on in the agency and he as assigned an alternate to attend meetings. What an incompetent boob. No wonder the RFID rollout was such a fiasco.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374190/cop-shoots-to-death-a-mother-and-son-in-tarlac

A police officer assigned at the Parañaque City shot dead his two neighbors, a mother and her son, in Paniqui, Tarlac.

The Tarlac police, in its report, identified the suspect as Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, 46 years old and assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, and presently residing at Barangay Cabayaoasan in Paniqui.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect arrived in the house of victims Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, and after a brief confrontation, shot them point-blank using a 9 mm firearm at around 5:10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said the suspect fled the crime scene onboard a motorcycle after the incident. However, a CCTV video of the incident made the rounds of social media and has now become viral, showing the suspect’s face. Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to catch the fleeing suspect.

At around 6:19 p.m. on the same day, the chief of police of Rosales Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Pangasinan called the Paniqui Municipal Police Station informing that the suspect had surrendered at their station with his issued firearm that was used in the crime.

A cop uses his PNP issued firearm to kill his neighbors. PNP Chief says this is an isolated incident but this guy had other cases filed against him for homicide and grave misconduct. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/cop-behind-tarlac-double-murder-has-2-other-homicide-grave-misconduct-cases

"A case of grave misconduct carries a punishment of dismissal," said Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) before he was elected to the Senate. 

(His refusal to undergo drug test and leaving the premises without permission should have prodded the PNP or NAPOLCOM to watch or monitor his activities as he might be a drug user at least.) 

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas earlier condemned the incident and called it an "isolated case."

"The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement.

This shooting was not an isolated incident. It is the culmination of a pattern of bad behavior from a bad cop who should have been kicked off the force long ago.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768865/46-cops-tested-positive-for-drugs-from-jan-1-to-dec-18-sinas-says/story/

A total of 46 policemen have tested positive for using illegal drugs this year, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas revealed on Monday.

Sinas said the period covering the drug tests conducted was from January 1 to December 18, 2020.

He said that the police officers' cases are still with the PNP's Internal Affairs Service.

"As to the status of the case, tinanong na po namin ang IAS on the case dito, kung ilan na po 'yung na-recommend for dismissal at ilan na po 'yung ongoing po out of the 46..." Sinas said.

Sinas said 20 of these 46 cops were with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Cops testing positive for drug use.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125443

A total of 16,839 police personnel have been penalized over administrative and criminal offenses from July 2016 to December 16, 2020, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said these cops have been involved in various illegal activities.

Of the total figure, he said 8,349 were meted suspensions, 4,784 were summarily dismissed from service, while 1,803 were reprimanded.

He also said 890 were demoted in rank, 658 experienced forfeiture of salary, 226 cops were withheld of their privileges, while 129 faced restrictions.

This information comes out after an off-duty cop murdered his neighbors and I suppose we are supposed to read those numbers and think, "Wow the PNP is doing what it can to cleanse their ranks of bad cops." But the reality is 16,839 cops have been penalized over administrative and CRIMINAL offenses in four years. How is that acceptable? And many more cops are just waiting to be found out!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375538/84-erring-cops-dismissed-since-start-of-sinas-leadership-at-pnp

A total of 84 police officers have so far been dismissed from service in just over a month of Gen. Debold Sinas’ leadership as chief of the 200,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sinas himself bared this number on Thursday, saying the PNP has been doing measures to improve the organization, in response to the dare of former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for him to resign if he will not introduce reforms in the police force.

84 cops have been relived of duty in the last month alone! That is simply unacceptable. There should not be so many "erring" cops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125438

A member of Pontevedra Municipal Police in Negros Occidental was shot dead by one of the two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle at the southern town’s reclamation area on Tuesday morning.

The victim was identified as Staff Sgt. Ildefonso Casugod, 37, the station’s intelligence officer.

Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, town police officer-in-charge, said Casugod was hit on the head and declared dead at Bago City Hospital after the incident around 6 a.m., which happened in the presence of Mayor Jose Maria Alonzo.

He said the initial investigation will focus on work-related angle since Casugod might have stepped on someone’s toes while conducting intelligence operations.

“When you are assigned in intelligence, you are working (to arrest) the drug lords, the drug dealers. He also arrests the most wanted, wanted persons, and those involved in illegal gambling, and implements search warrants,” Lumandaz said in a radio interview.

Cop shot by unknown motocycle assassins. Could be related to his work in conducting intel-ops.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/21/2065453/missing-ex-court-appeals-justice-found-dead-tarlac

The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday confirmed that the body found in Capas, Tarlac more than a month ago, was those of missing Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro.

Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said this was based on DNA test results.

"He (Pizarro) was last seen at a casino in Clark last 23 October. His car, an early model Honda Accord, was later on discovered somewhere in San Simon, Pampanga," Sugay told reporters.

The retired justice last spoke to one of his sons on October 23 at around 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to Sugay.

Pizarro's remains were later on discovered in Capas on October 30.

NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor noted that the body, which was  found under a pile of leaves at a secluded quarry site in Barangay Lawy, Capas matched Pizarro's DNA by 99.99%.

According to the NBI, the Pizarro's right hand and left-hand fingers were cut off as if to remove the possibility of identifying him through fingerprints.

In April 2018, the Supreme Court fined Pizarro fined Pizzaro for P100,000 following an anonymous complaint that accused him of "being a gambling addict who would allegedly lose millions of pesos in the casinos daily." 

Court of Appeals justice found murdered with his fingers cut off. Sounds like it could be gambling related.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/12/22/2065478/manila-police-commander-sacked

Another police station commander in Manila was relieved from his post, Manila Police District (MPD) director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco announced yesterday. 

Francisco removed Lt. Col. Christopher Luyun as chief of the Sta. Ana police station for failure to supervise his personnel in reporting to work. 

Luyun will be investigated for neglect of duty after he failed to explain why fewer police officers were on duty during an inspection yesterday, Francisco said.

“Our assessment is that he is not on top of the situation,” he said. 

Luyun was the second police station commander sacked since Francisco took over as MPD chief on Dec. 1.

Last week, Malate police station commander Lt. Col. Robert Sales was relieved from his post for failure to deploy more personnel on beat patrol.

Within the space of two week two cops have been relieved of duty because their men were not showing up for duty.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374865/cop-shot-dead-as-he-was-jogging-in-negros-occidental-town

A policeman, who was jogging in a reclaimed lot in Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental, was gunned down by a still-unknown assailant in Barangay 1-Poblacion at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.  22.

Police Staff Sergeant Ildefonso Rivera Casugod, 37, suffered a bullet wound in the head.

He was rushed to the Bago City District Hospital, but did not make it alive, said Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, Pontevedra police chief.

Based on the investigation, Casugod was jogging at a reclamation area with Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso and two other companions when the gunman walked up to the victim from behind and shot him.

The assassin, who wore a face mask, hooded jacket, and black jogging pants, walked towards a waiting scooter and escaped.

The mayor said in an interview that he usually meets with fellow joggers at the reclamation area about four times a week and had just spoken to Casugod shortly before the incident happened.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson hoped the perpetrators would be arrested.

“Justice has to be given to the family of the slain policeman,” he said.

The assassination of Casugod came after S/Sgt. Bernie Sales, an intelligence officer of the Sagay City Police Station, was also shot dead in Cadiz City, on Nov. 26.

Cop assassinated while jogging by a man who simply walked up to him and shot!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375108/quezon-town-police-chief-relieved-over-alleged-social-gathering

The chief of police in Dolores Municipal Police in Quezon was sacked after he allegedly violated Philippine National Police’s (PNP) directive to prohibit mass gatherings amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) said Wednesday. 

In a report, QPPO said Police Captain Joseph Ian Java was administratively relieved from his post on Dec. 22, Tuesday for violation of PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas’ order on “prohibition of social gatherings, parties and other similar activities most particularly this Yuletide season and on IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] COVID-19 safety protocols.” 

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, QPPO chief Police Colonel Audie Madrideo said they received a complaint regarding a “small fellowship” at the Dolores police station.

 

“Not exactly a Christmas party but a small fellowship. May nagreklamo kaya nagkaroon ng investigation kaya nirelieve muna namin,” said Madrideo.

Chief of place let go for holding an illegal gathering. Probably just transferred elsewhere rather then actually relieved.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374840/5-iloilo-city-officials-pay-p500-fine-each-for-violating-physical-distancing-rule

Four Iloilo City officials, including Iloilo Rep. Julienne Baronda, have each paid P500 in fines for violating a city ordinance mandating physical distancing, as part of COVID-19 health protocols in the city.

The officials asked that they be issued citation tickets after drawing flak for a series of gatherings last week at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

They distributed financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the poor, which was channeled through the city social welfare and development office.

A photo of the officials standing alongside each other and posing for photographers drew criticism for violating physical distancing rules.

But no fines for Roque, Panelo, or Pacquiao who all publicly violated social distancing rules.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125519

Mayor Sara Duterte has issued a stern warning against City Hall employees who violate the prohibition on holding Christmas parties and the liquor ban, which are part of the city's measures to stem the rising cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“A stern warning and reminder to all offices not to conduct parties,” she said in a statement Tuesday evening after the apprehension of 14 employees of the Davao City Engineer’s Office who were caught drinking inside the Motor Pool compound in Barangay Maa that afternoon.

14 Davao City Hall employees caught having an illegal Christmas party.