Retards in the Government 225

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

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/400948/manila-cop-toys-with-service-gun-accidentally-shoots-dead-delivery-rider

A policeman who was said to have been toying with his service firearm accidentally shot dead a delivery rider in Tondo, Manila Thursday evening. 

A report from the Raxabago Police Station of the Manila Police District identified the suspect as Cpl. Oliver Ferrer, assigned at Police Station 1 in Tondo, while the victim was identified as Jayson Capistrano. 

According to the report, the suspect went together with Cpl. Jerome Mingote to Barangay 183 to visit the barangay chairman on Thursday evening before the incident happened. 

“While PCpl Ferrer together with their other friend (were) waiting thereat and having conversation with the victim, PCpl Ferrer jokingly drew his firearm as stated by witness (PCpl Mingote) and, allegedly, it accidentally went off, hitting the victim,” the report read.

Another idiotic PNP officer kills someone because he treated his deadly weapon as a toy.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1489373/pnp-albay-cop-tagged-in-indecent-mall-act-to-face-probe

The police officer who reportedly performed an indecent act in front of a saleslady in Legazpi City, Albay, will be investigated and subjected to a psychological fitness check, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assured the public on Friday.

Eleazar said he has directed the regional director of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) to probe the incident, after information about a police officer’s alleged  act inside a mall reached his office.

(I have learned of the incident involving a police officer in a mall in Legazpi City, wherein the entire police organization got dragged.)

(Whether a police officer or a civilian, no one in his right mind will do such things, hence I have ordered the Bicol regional police to investigate the incident and carry out appropriate actions, including necessary medical intervention for the police officer to address whatever it is he is going through.)

An unnamed cop committed an unnamed indecent act in public. Seems like he flashed his junk to a saleslady.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/09/19/2128103/camsur-judge-charged-rape-dismissed

Judge Jaime Contreras of the Naga Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25 in Camarines Sur, who was charged with rape, attempted rape, acts of lasciviousness as well as child abuse, exploitation and discrimination, has been dismissed for grave misconduct.

The Supreme Court (SC) said an administrative complaint was filed against Contreras before the Office of the Court of Administrator in 2014.

The SC said a warrant had since been issued, but Contreras evaded arrest, making him a “fugitive judge.”

“The court held that a judge who deliberately and continuously fails and refuses to comply with lawful orders or resolutions is guilty of grave misconduct. By becoming a fugitive from justice and evading arrest, Judge Contreras committed grave misconduct,” the SC said.

Based on the complaint, Contreras allegedly first molested his victim in 1994. The victim said the abuse became more frequent until 2004.

The high court said the judge was also guilty of dishonesty for failing to disclose in his personal data sheet that he was found to have committed simple misconduct by the Office of the Ombudsman when he applied as judge in 2016.

A judge has been accused of raping someone, a child it seems, for a decade. He is now dismissed and on the run from the law.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1489897/cop-nabbed-for-p300000-extortion-try-in-isabela

A police master sergeant was arrested in an entrapment operation after he allegedly tried to extort P300,000 from an arrested drug personality’s kin in exchange for “case-fixing” on Sunday in this city, police said. 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Andree Michelle Camhol-Abella, Cagayan Valley police information officer, said Police Master Sergeant Sherwin Gamit, 38, assigned at the warrant section of the Cauayan City police, was arrested for robbery-extortion and for illegal possession of firearms in front of the Our Lady of Pilar Catholic Church in Rizal Avenue, District 1 village at 10:52 a.m. 

The Philippine National Police-Regional Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Team (RIMET), Isabela police intelligence unit, and the Cauayan police caught Gamit while receiving the P300,000 marked money from the female relative of a drug suspect. 

RIMET agents found out that Gamit allegedly tried to extort P300,000 in exchange for fixing the case of a suspect who was earlier arrested for alleged drug dealing. 

After the woman handed the cash to Gamit, police officers who were “discreetly positioned overlooking the transaction” immediately rushed up and arrested him.

Another cop arrested for extortion.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1154068

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former town treasurer to up to seven years in prison for malversation of public funds amounting to nearly half a million pesos.

In a 26-page decision dated Sept. 8, 2021 written by Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and recently released online, the anti-graft court's Fifth Division found Reynalda Mariscal, former municipal treasurer of Calabanga, Camarines Sur, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of malversation and sentenced her from six to seven years.

She must also pay a fine of PHP401,334.86, the amount she was found liable for, and indemnify the government with the same amount, with an annual interest of six percent from the date of the decision and until it is fully paid.

“In malversation of public funds, previous demand is not necessary. Demand merely raises a prima facie presumption that missing funds have been put to personal use,” the court stated.

In 2001, a confidential office order was issued, directing state auditors to conduct a cash and account examination on Mariscal covering the period June 14, 2001 to Nov. 7, 2001.

At the end of the examination, a letter of demand was sent to Mariscal, informing of her total accountability amounting to PHP966,743.53.

Mariscal presented cash and items amounting to PHP565,408.67 or a shortage of PHP401,334.86.

She claimed in her affidavit that the shortage was given to certain municipal employees as cash advances.

The court, however, noted that Mariscal “has not shown any proof that the funds were actually extended to the municipal employees as cash advances”.

A former treasurer's sentence of 7 years of prison time for malversation of funds back in 2001 has been upheld.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/401752/cebu-city-administrator-faces-complaint-for-overpriced-renting-of-vans-jeepneys

Cebu City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr., is once again in the hot seat due to another procurement issue raised by residents here. 

The two private complainants, Nicaster Elim Lumacad and Andrew Jacalan Lumapguid, filed a case of grave misconduct against Casas before the Office of the Ombudsman due to the city government’s renting of 373 vans and jeepneys amounting to P48,902,000. 

The complainants claimed that the city government released P48.902 million from March 26, 2020, to September 3, 2020, to various renting establishments. 

The city paid these establishments P5,500 per day, which the complainants said was twice the rate the Lapu-Lapu Government has paid for the same procurements, which is only at P2,166.67 per day. 

Furthermore, the complainants said that during the time period when these vans were rented, there were already 71 buses deployed by other agencies for the free rides. 

They lamented that the city government could release such huge funds for rented vans but could not release the salaries of health workers on time.

City of Cebu accused of paying too much to rent vans.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Avoid 3Cs, Outbreak Inside Convent, and More!

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

Lockdowns are here to stay but this time they will be "granular" rather than city-wide.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1488284/here-we-go-again-new-lockdown-system-same-covid-surge

After over a week of delay, the Philippine government finally decided to implement a shift in community quarantine status for Metro Manila to a new system, which was supposedly simpler, starting on Sept. 16.

Metro Manila has been placed on Alert Level 4 until Sept. 30 as part of the pilot run of the new system of lockdown, which officials called granular because it would not cover entire cities or entire regions.

In a radio interview on Sunday (Sept. 12), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the pilot run for a localized lockdown system will not come with warnings.

“The smaller the granular lockdown imposed, the better for our countrymen. If possible, only one, two, or four houses [will be] covered. If there’s community transmission, only a street,” he said.

“But it will not come with a warning. You’ll find out only once imposed. The only one to know will be the city health office, which has the data,” said Malaya, adding that warnings could “defeat the purpose” of the government plan.

But Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday (Sept. 14) said there have been revisions in the new lockdown system.

Año said the local government or local officials have the authority to declare a localized lockdown. “So actually it’s up to them whether they will give a warning or not,” he said in Filipino in an interview with GMA’s Unang Hirit radio program.

Diño also urged the public to report violators.

“It is your obligation to report to the barangay so they can get the names and file cases [against the offenders],” he said speaking in Filipino.

“We are protecting lives here. [Violating quarantine rules] is worse than stealing something from someone because you are robbing peoples’ lives,” he added.

"You are robbing peoples' lives." The virus has an over 90% survival rate. If you get it you are not going to die. Locking people down all of a sudden without warning is going to totally disrupt those peoples' lives and cause much more chaos. It certainly won't save lives.

Surely everyone has heard of the Three R's, Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. They form the core of all education. Now comes the three C's to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153648

The Quezon City government on Wednesday reminded its residents and establishments to avoid the "three Cs" to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“All establishments must, to the greatest extent feasible, implement minimum health standards to avoid or mitigate the following “3 Cs”: Confined spaces with poor ventilation; crowded places with no physical distancing; and close-contact settings with face to face interaction,” according to the Sept. 14 memorandum released by Mayor Joy Belmonte and to take effect on Thursday.

The memorandum contains the guidelines to be observed during Alert Level 4 status until Sept. 30 and in the Special Concern Lockdown Areas in the city.

The city government may order, at any time, the closure of an establishment, even if they are listed under those that are allowed to operate if they violate the three Cs, Belmonte stressed.

She said establishments that are confined and enclosed must either ensure sufficient ventilation through open windows or maintain efficient air conditioning systems following applicable building and health standards.

To avoid being crowded, the city government said establishments should enforce the observance of two meters distance among all persons, or at least with a one-meter distance as the absolute minimum, when completely unavoidable.

Moreover, establishments are encouraged to implement a contactless transaction whenever feasible, by using online facilities, touchscreens, or placing cash in baskets instead of transferring payment, and documents among others through hand-to-hand.

It certainly is a Catchy Campaign but it probably won't save lives since the virus has an over 90% survival rate anyway. Speaking of catchy the writer of the song Pusong Bato died after he was turned away from 32 hospitals.

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2021/09/15/2127384/pusong-bato-hitmaker-dies-after-reportedly-rejected-32-hospitals

The singer-composer of the Original Pilipino Music hit song “Pusong Bato” died due to respiratory complications. 

Renee "Alon" dela Rosa died earlier today at the Novaliches District Hospital. He was 61. 

His wife Raquel Hernandez told ABS-CBN in an interview that they are still awaiting for the results of his COVID-19 test. She also said that her husband was rushed to at least 30 hospitals, but they were turned away because of overcapacity. 

Hospitals in the country are so full they can't accept any more patients it seems. They even have some patients waiting in tents. It's a real mess and just goes to show how ill-equipped and inept the healthcare system is in this country.

Last week there was a COVID-19 outbreak in an orphanage. This week there was an outbreak in a convent.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153675

The Quezon City government is looking into the possible cause of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak in a convent in the city after 114 persons have been infected.

A total of 64 nuns and 50 of their staff of lay partners, health aides, caregivers, a nurse, and drivers of the congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) located in Cubao yielded positive swab test results.

Quezon City's Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) said Wednesday that 22 of those infected are asymptomatic, 86 experiencing mild symptoms, four are moderate, and two are severe and currently in the intensive care unit.

No one among the nuns have been vaccinated against Covid-19 after they canceled their vaccination schedule, the CESU said. The staff, however, have been fully vaccinated.

Interesting that 54 people got infected despite being vaccinated. It's as if the vaccine doesn't actually vaccinate you.

Also last week a school teacher told how he pasted the faces of his students on their chairs so he could interact with them despite all classes being online. This week another teacher says he has done the same thing but not with pictures of her students.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153807

A senior high school teacher of Ciriaco L. Icamina Sr., National High School (CLISNHS) in Barangay Bulabud, Malinao, Aklan has used two anime characters to connect with her students.

Instead of the original photos of her 25 learners, Jocelyn P. Villanueva placed the popular anime images on the assigned seats for her learners' modules.

“I am thinking that our high school students are fond of games and animations so I tried to keep up with them since I am also a mother and at the same time their teacher-adviser,” said Villanueva, adviser of Grade 11-Section Lotus, said in an interview on Friday.

“I think they understood that I just used animation as an art inside the classroom. Although we cannot have a face- to- face conversation to explain it, but I think it has good effects because they got inspired to see their name in that animation,” she said.

However, she admitted that she was unfamiliar with the characters she used, not even their names.

Villanueva said she was told by a student that the characters she used were fan art anime characters.

She said she just found the drawings of female and male anime characters cute when she did her research.

It would have been a lot more awesome if this teacher had used actual anime characters, say Gohan for the boys and Bulma for the girls, instead of two random pictures she found on the internet.

People tired of all the lockdown nonsense held a rally this week. The PNP patted themselves on the back for "exercising tolerance."

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/803840/cops-exercised-tolerance-at-manila-anti-vax-rally-mpd5-oic/story/

Police personnel acted with maximum tolerance on protesters at the anti-COVID vaccine rally held at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Saturday.

Manila Police District Station 5 (MPD 5) acting chief Police Lt.Col. Elmer Oceo told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday that the protest rally peacefully ended, and that his personnel reminded the militants to wear their mask always while staging their protest.

(Protesters had a candle-lighting event. We observed that when they speak at the rally they take off their face mask. To avoid creating tension, we just reminded them to wear the mask all the time during the gathering.)

An earlier report on dzBB said that members of militant group Gising Maharlika staged a protest rally on Saturday evening calling the government to end some of its mandated protocols against the spread of the coronavirus.

The group particularly called on the government to end its mask mandate, and the vaccination program against COVID-19.

According to the report, the militants also called on the Department of Health (DOH) to stop lying about the deaths that the anti-COVID vaccines have caused.

For his part PNP Chief Eleazar had a warning for these protestors.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153967

Freedom of expression and public health should be tightly balanced in this time of the pandemic, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday said as he warned some anti-vaccine individuals for defying the quarantine protocols by holding protest actions.

This, after members of the group Gising Maharlika recently held a protest action with most of them not wearing face masks at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to oppose the vaccination program of the national government.

Eleazar said he respects the belief of some Filipinos who still say there is no Covid-19 “(but you should learn to respect the belief of majority of Filipinos, including those who have family members who died and become infected especially our healthcare workers on the frontline of this battle).”

“Holding protest actions to insist on what you believe in does not make it right. It is but plain and simple acts of defiance and irresponsibility because you are putting our personnel and other civilian population at risk of being infected,” he said.

He said the PNP will strictly monitor if there will be protest actions by anti-vaxxers that would violate the minimum public health standard.

“(The police have shown maximum tolerance and respect for your beliefs when you staged a protest action without wearing protection. I warn you that you may not be tolerated if you repeat the insult to the beliefs of majority of our countrymen and your insult to public health policies),” Eleazar said.

What does it matter what someone believes? I thought we were al trusting the science. The science says that COVID-19 has an over 90% survival rate, that neither face masks not face shields prevent transmission, and that the vaccine does not actually vaccinate anyone as you can still get the virus after getting the shot. Those are facts and no amount of crippling lockdowns or senseless government polices will change that.

Where I live the city has been placing large red tarps that read "Quarantine" on the houses of those infected with COVID-19. Elsewhere the authorities are using yellow caution tape to alert the neighbors of the presence of the virus.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/21/21/yellow-tagging-covid-homes-not-against-the-law-dilg

"Yellow-tagging" houses with COVID-19 cases in Pateros does not violate the law because it is voluntary, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.

Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño made the statement amid concerns that placing yellow ribbons outside the homes of COVID patients in Pateros violates RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

Section 9 of the said law prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining to a patient’s medical condition or treatment.

“So that's the Mayor's answer, this is voluntary, so if, for example, what is really voluntary, I don't think it will be violated, because if, for example, you say 'Mayor', don't put it there, anyway. We are locked down, we are already on the lookout, so that was the Mayor's immediate answer there, ”Diño said in an ANC Rundown interview.

"So what the Mayor's opinion is, that's also my opinion," he said.

Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce said Monday that he ordered the tagging policy last week to ensure the monitoring of residents infected with coronavirus.

"You will be placed if you are willing. If you are not willing, we have no problem," he said.

They say its voluntary but some have not seen it that way which is why this issue has made it to the news.

Houses with infected people get tagged and now some lawmakers are looking to have vaccinated people tagged by forcing them to wear a lanyard with their vaccination card.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/22/21/official-eyes-rule-to-wear-vaccine-cards-on-lanyards

An official on Wednesday suggested requiring the public to carry their COVID-19 vaccination cards on lanyards whenever going outside their homes, as the Philippines continued to fight an uptick in coronavirus cases. 

Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño noted restrictions in Metro Manila that limit indoor restaurant dining to small groups of fully vaccinated individuals. 

(I will request the inter-agency task force to order these to all barangays in what I hope will be a sacrifice from all vaccinated Filipinos: If you are already vaccinated, once you go out your home, wear your vaccination card.)

He then showed his own vaccination card hanging from his neck on a lanyard. 

(How will you know someone is not vaccinated if they are not wearing their vaccination card? When you go outside the house, you will no longer be bothered by policemen or barangay officials who may ask you, 'Where is your vaccination card?' because it's already hanging on your chest.) 

It's amazing how totalitarianism is so easily justified by these morons. But they aren't morons. It's all part of the plan which is happening world wide.

Idiotic Responses From Those in Authority

Just as criminals are, by nature, a superstitious and cowardly lot so are politicians, by nature, a reactionary and moronic lot. This is true worldwide but no more so than in the Philippines. Let's take a look at some  idiotic responses from those in authority.

Recently, a senior citizen was hit and killed by a dump truck as he attempted to cross the street. The driver says he did not see the old man. The response from those in authority?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/401122/talisay-residents-told-always-be-careful-when-crossing-roads

Always be very careful when crossing the road and always use the designated pedestrian lane.

This was the reminder of Jonathan Tumulak, chief of the City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA), to pedestrians to prevent a repeat of the accident that happened early on Saturday morning, September 18, wherein a senior citizen was run over by a passing dump truck.

Exuperio Catubay, 67, was believed to have just come from buying medicines when he tried to cross the street and was hit and run over by the dump truck.

(If you stop in the middle of the road, make sure that you are seen by the drivers [of approaching vehicles] and always make a gesture to signal them that you are about to cross the road to prevent accidents.)

Tumulak is also asking motorists to always practice road courtesy and  to be mindful of the allowed speed limit.

He said that the national highway in Talisay City, especially at the vicinity of  Barangay Tabunok is always a busy area.

People would often cross the street to go to the nearby market or do some errands, he said.

And since the area is often crowded, passing motorists should always travel at a reduced speed.

Jonathan Tumulak, chief of the City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA) knows that the area the old man was hit is very busy and that people often cross the street. And his solution is for motorists to slow down and for pedestrians to "make a gesture to signal" that they are about to cross the street!

What the heck is a pedestrian lane? Is that like a bike lane which is in the street!? Is Talisay City really forcing people to walk in the street? How about the city build proper sidewalks, crosswalks, and install any necessary traffic lights? How about some real world solutions from the chief of traffic operations instead of idiotic advice like "make a gesture to signal" that you are about to cross the street so motorists see you? What a buffoon.

Traffic is bad throughout the Philippines. Anyone paying attention knows why. Bad drivers, no traffic lights, bad roads, and pedestrians and other obstacles in the street are just a few of the problems. This of course leads to accidents. However, In Cebu City road accidents are "an endless phenomena."

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/399696/road-accidents-an-endless-phenomena-in-cebu-city

Road accidents have become a part of the lifestyle of city residents, said Director Victor Caindec of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7). 

Caindec said the roads in Cebu City were somewhat a mess. 

“Why it happens it can be argued in so many ways. If you look at mobility it is simple to analyze, you have big trucks alongside motorcycles, alongside bicycles, alongside pedestrians moving along a certain speed,” said Caindec. 

The phenomenon of road accidents are caused by the underlying fact that mobility in Cebu City is a challenging aspect of urban development, something that the government has yet to crack. 

While the city continues to struggle with improving the road network, Cuenco can only encourage the drivers to be vigilant on the road and be more careful. 

(Our system now is very subject to abuse. I agree that there should have been planning now in our road system so we will know where particular vehicles are prohibited.)

Road accidents are not a phenomenon. 

a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.

Google/Oxford

While practically everything is a phenomenon we aren't talking philosophical phenomenology here. The situation is practical. We know why accidents happen and the authorities have even offered up solutions. But Director Victor Caindec of the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) calls road accidents "part of the lifestyle of city residents." Reminds me of when Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Mayor of London, called Islamic terrorism "part and parcel" of living in a big city.

Another cop played with his toy like a gun and ended up killing his friend. How did PNP Chief Eleazar respond?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/19/21/pnp-chief-orders-gun-safety-training-after-cop-shot-friend-dead

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday he has ordered the regular conduct of gun safety training after a policeman accidentally shot dead his friend in Manila. 

The incident is the latest in a series of shootings by policemen. Last year, a policeman shot point blank a woman and her son after an altercation in Paniqui town, Tarlac. In June this year, a policeman shot dead an old woman in Quezon City. 

(I've given a directive to review, check, and ensure the regular conduct of gun safety training for our policemen so they can again be careful in carrying firearms.)

A cop shoots his friend dead and PNP Chief Eleazar says he wants to "ensure the regular conduct of gun safety training for our policemen so they can again be careful in carrying firearms." The implication here is that this is not already happening. If PNP officers are not undergoing regular firearm safety training that is a huge problem. It seems doubtful that is the case. But then again there is that drug war movie, On the President's Orders, where the cops are shown to have not very good firearm skills.  

The brief clip is from 3:23-6:40. The cops are told to fire one round and then holster. They fire 5 rounds instead!

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia issued an order that all workers must wear personal air purifiers. She was quickly lambasted for this decree because of the expense it will add to the poor and because even the DOH issued a statement saying such devices are inutile and possibly dangerous. Her response to those critics?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/400635/gwen-challenges-critics-of-air-purifiers-if-you-have-other-ideas-run-for-governor

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia challenged critics of her recent mandate for workers in air-conditioned environments to wear personal air-purifiers to run as governor. 

“I will just continue with what I believe is right for the province. If you have other ideas, run for governor,” said the governor in an interview after the Caravan of Provincial Government services in the town of Moalboal on Thursday, September 16, 2021. 

“Maybe the people might choose you, and then at that time, if you are governor… then implement your own policies,” she added. 

As an elected official who was “chosen by the millions of Cebuanos,” Garcia said she will take responsibility for her decisions. 

“I am the one who has the mandate. You may have your ideas but you were not elected. You were not chosen by the people. This is my responsibility. Kamo nga mo insister sa inyong mga idea, maayo mo kay inyong responsibilidad inyo ra’ng kaugalingon tingali inyong pamilya. Ako, milyon ka milyon nga mga Cebuanos. So, I have the mandate, and I’ll take responsibility for my decisions,” the governor said.

Garcia explained that wearing personal air-purifiers will serve as an “added protection,” apart from wearing face mask, from the COVID-19.

“They should wear a mask, but as an added protection, basta aircon, kay kapila na bitaw na. You know, we’ve heard so much of this virus, it stays [in places where there’s no] proper ventilation, the air droplets that can stay for hours,” she said.

This dumb lady cannot even defend her actions. She gives no data showing that these devices are effective. That's because such data does not exist. 

https://www.ptvnews.ph/doh-wearable-air-purifiers-ineffective-vs-covid-19/

Vergeire also said these purifiers could even cause more harm to people as they might lead to complacency or a sense of false security.

Instead of offering any rational defense of her decree Gwen goes full Cartman and says, "I'm the governor and I'll do what I want."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpF9O0R873I

All these people are ridiculous. Is there anyone in authority that has any real solutions to the problems plaguing the Philippines?

Insurgency: Get Vaxxed

Of all the tactics to fight the insurgency I would never have thought that a Fahrenheit 451 type of censorship would have ever crossed the government's mind. But apparently it has as one university has purged all its materials related to the insurgency. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1487962/books-documents-on-govt-ndfp-talks-purged-from-library

Books and documents on the peace negotiations between the government of the Philippines (GRP) and the communist National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have been removed from the library of a state university in the north.

Evangeline Cabello, chief librarian of the Kalinga State University (KSU) Bulanao Campus in Tabuk City, told the Inquirer on Tuesday that she pulled out the books on the NDFP after a group of policemen and soldiers came and inspected the library on Sept. 1.

“They removed the NDFP pamphlets [from the shelves] and took these with them,” Cabello told Inquirer Northern Luzon in a phone interview.

She said she decided to remove the books to “protect [the students] from being recruited to join communist groups.”

The books are being kept by the university “somewhere else,” she said.

Among others, copies of the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) have been removed, as well as:

• The Declaration of Understanding

• The NDFP Declaration and Program of Action for the Rights, Protection, and Welfare of Children

• The GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations Major Arguments and Joint Statements for Sept. 1, 1980-June 2018

• The GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations Major Written Agreements and Outstanding Issues

• NDF Adherence to International Humanitarian Law: Letters to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Secretary General

• NDFP Adherence to International Humanitarian Law: On Prisoners of War

• Two articles on the People’s Struggles for Just Peace

• The NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee Perspectives on Social and Economic Reforms.

The regional task force to end local community armed conflict in the Cordillera has lauded the removal of the books and documents from the KSU library as part of its so-called “whole-of-nation” approach to the insurgency.

Cabello said she was of two minds about her action.

“I acted on my own … but with personal reservations because I think some of those books should not have been removed from the library,” she said.

The KSU president, Dr. Eduardo Bagtang, confirmed that pulling the books off the library’s shelves was Cabello’s sole decision.

He added, however, that he would review the chief librarian’s move.

For some reason the AFP and PNP decided to inspect the library of this university. They then removed NDFP pamphlets and took them with them. In response the librarian, with some reservations, decided to remove certain books to protect students from being recruited into the CPP. The RTF ELCAC lauded the removal of the documents calling it part of the whole-of-nation approach to end the insurgency. None of that makes sense.

Why was the PNP and AFP inspecting the contents of this university library? How exactly will removing materials related to the peace talks prevent students from being recruited into the CPP? Have they inspected or will they be inspecting other libraries for CPP materials? The whole thing stinks of absurdity and totalitarianism. I thought it was professors and certain groups who snookered students into joining the CPP. Now its reading that will make one a dyed-in-the-wool Red.

Adding further to the absurdity of the situation the government admits that the lack of face-to-face classes has actually deprived the CPP-NPA of the chance to entice students to join them.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153509

Ruthless members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) conduct recruitment within their families, luring even children as their membership continues to decrease.

The health crisis has suspended face-to-face classes since last year, thus depriving the CPP-NPA of the chance to entice students to leave schools and join them.

The insurgents have since turned to relatives and indigenous peoples communities, not sparing even minors, according to Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

“(What happens is they persuade their younger relatives, even children, to be NPA members. That’s what we learned recently from those who have surrendered to us),” Brawner bared during the “Tagged” virtual media briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday.

But Brawner said the CPP-NPA has lost the trust and support of the masses.

“(They also do not have the support of the people anymore, even from their mass bases, so the only ones left supporting them are their relatives),” he said.

If communism is a family affair then so is the Abu Sayyaf.

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2021/09/sayyaf-pa-son-yield-in-sulu.html

A father and his son who are both Abu Sayyaf terrorists have surrendered to the military on Wednesday in Sulu and security officials were quick to say that the duo would be reintegrated into the society as part of the government’s peace efforts in the southern province.

The terrorists, Haliluddin Isniruddin, 65; and Bennajar Isniruddin, 39, also yielded a grenade launcher and a rifle following their surrender to the 2^ndSpecial Forces Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Benito Ramos, Jr. in Talipao town.

Ramos also presented the terrorists to Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11^th Infantry Division, who praised the soldiers for their feat. Gonzales welcomed the surrender of the two men and thanked all those who worked in convincing the duo to return to the fold of the law.

The military did not say when the duo joined the terrorist group or if they had killed soldiers and civilians in the past.

Gonzales lauded the efforts of the local governments for their unwavering support in ending violence and promoting peace and development in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

“We have this (Abu Sayyaf Returnee Reintegration) program with local government units that give a lot of opportunities for you to start anew. With our sustained efforts, the downfall of the ASG is inevitable. We will continue our concerted efforts to achieve our short and long-term goals.”

A father-son duo surrendered but the military won't say when they joined or if they had killed soldiers and civilians. But isn't that important? Why would the government want to enroll murderers in a program that will lavish them with all kinds of benefits? 

One new benefit the government is offering to NPA surrenderees is COVID-19 vaccination.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153329

A military official on Sunday has offered coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination to Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) rebels returning to the government fold, after swab tests on some captured and a slain NPA rebel yielded positive results. 

Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., commander of Army’s 4thInfantry Division, said three of the 10 CPP-NPA terrorists, including one minor, captured in the Sept. 8 clash in the San Fernando, Bukidnon were Covid positive. 

Another NPA rebel who was killed in an encounter in Talakag, Bukidnon on Sept. 9 also turned out positive of Covid-19. 

In the Valencia City clash on Sept. 10, three of the four captured rebels, including two minors, yielded positive results on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or swab tests. 

“Many in the NPA ranks possibly have Covid-19 as evidenced by the positive test results of the captured and dead CNTs (communist New People’s Army terrorists). Nais ko pong ipaalam sa kanila na wala pong pinipili ang COVID-19, sundalo, kapulisan, mga kawani, simpleng mamamayan at maging mga myembro ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay tinatablan din ng nakakamatay na Covid-19 (Covid-19 infection chooses no one). We are willing to provide Covid-19 vaccines to the CTG [communist terrorist group] if they will decide to abandon the armed struggle and cooperate with us,” Brawner Jr. said. 

Rebel-fatalities were immediately buried upon learning that some of them have tested positive on the Covid-19 test. 

Brawner Jr. appealed to the CPP-NPA leadership to abandon the armed conflict adding that the country is currently confronting an unseen enemy that is even more serious, deadly, and exempts no one.

The vaccines are not even available to the general public yet and the government wants to jab enemies of the state? That really shows who the government cares for. They get free money, housing, jobs, and medicine. 

How is COVID-19, which has an over 90% recovery rate, more serious and deadly than the CPP-NPA? It's not. That line is just more government propaganda to support the unsupportable lockdowns. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153718

More than 100 members of a progressive group organized by the New People’s Army (NPA) have formally abandoned the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) through a ceremony in Naval, Biliran on Wednesday.

After their disaffiliation from the People Surge Alliance, residents from seven towns in the province joined the Biliran Integrated Peace and Development Workers Federation (BIPDWF) to help sustain peace efforts in the province.

Many former members of the progressive group are from the towns of Culaba, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Biliran, Naval, Almeria, and Kawayan.

“If we have been fighting the spread coronavirus, we have to stop also this ‘insurgency virus’ that has plagued the country in the past 53 years. There has been no armed encounter in Biliran, but the NPA used different tactics to deceive the people here,” Oliveros said.

The CPP-NPA is nothing like COVID-19. But the fight against both is rather similar. Both are marked by incompetence, idiocy, and corruption. God forbid the fight against COVID-19 should last for 53 years.