Retards in the Government 256

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

  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172641

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) second division has ordered the cancellation of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Avelino Amangyen, a mayoralty candidate in Paracelis, Mountain Province for the May 9 election for lying about a conviction in a criminal case.

A 13-page decision penned by Comelec division presiding commissioner Marlon Casquejo said “in view of the Respondent’s conviction by final judgment of an offense which carried with it the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification, Respondent is in effect ineligible to run for office pursuant to Section 12 of the OEC (Omnibus Election Code). Such ineligibility, which took effect as soon as the judgment against him attained finality contradicts material representations in his COC.”

The decision was signed by all three members of the division and promulgated on April 19. A copy of the document was sent to the local media on Thursday.

Amangyen was found guilty of the violation of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code in 2013. The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals and subsequently by the Supreme Court in 2018.

A candidate for mayor has been disqualified because he lied about having been convicted for a crime.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172785

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has summoned three officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to answer the petition filed against them for alleged violation of the Fair Election Act and the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

In a subpoena, the poll body through its Law Department ordered NTC chief of adjudication division Nilo Lozada, chief of radio spectrum planning division Roberto Tolentino, and head of regulation branch Imelda Walcien, to answer the case filed against them for alleged violation of Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act. No. 7166, in relation to Section 262 of the OEC.

"Under and by virtue of the authority and power vested in the Commission on Elections by Section 52 (d) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), you are hereby noticed that a complaint has been filed against you for alleged violation of Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act. No. 7166, in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code," the poll body said.

"Accordingly, and in compliance with Comelec Resolution No. 10673, you are hereby directed to submit the digital/scanned copy of your duly notarized Counter-Affidavit and other supporting documents or affidavits or witness/es if any in PDF on or before May 13, 2022 thru electronic email," it added.

The subpoena served was in relation to the complaint filed by Emerald Investments Inc., a shareholder of Now Telecom Company Inc. against the NTC officials for setting a hearing during the election period, which requested for the recall of all radio frequencies assigned to Now Telecom.

Several NTC officials have been accused of violating the Fair Election Act and the Omnibus Election Code.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/04/25/news/regions/bet-for-councilor-shot-dead-in-samar/1841158

The killing of a candidate for councilor of Lope de Vega in Northern Samar on Friday evening has been condemned by a top political candidate of Lope de Vega town.

Partido Federal ng Pilipinas vice mayoral candidate Isaias Tonog denounced the gunning down of his nephew, Domingo Alvarez, by unidentified armed men in Barangay Magsaysay, Calbayog City.

Tonog said he believes that the killing was politically motivated as Alvarez was a strong candidate for councilor.

A candidate for councilor has been assassinated.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/437444/lapu-lapu-mayor-facing-plunder-graft-complaints-at-ombudsman

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan will face again several complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas due to alleged overpriced transactions that the city has entered into.

This time, the mayor will face a complaint of plunder, malversation of public funds, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act due to several transactions on the purchases of rice, disinfectants, and solar lamp kits.

The total accumulated transactions have reached the amount of P608,115,

The Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City is facing plunder and graft charges over anomalous purchases.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172973

Authorities arrested 10 persons, including two police personnel, who were allegedly involved in a robbery and carnapping in Quezon City last April 21.

In his report on Tuesday, Col. Jess B. Mendez, acting director of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, said three of the suspects, including the two members of the Cabiao Police Station, were nabbed in Barangay San Juan North, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija on Monday.

Mendez said the seven other suspects were arrested in Barangay Marcos Village, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija last Sunday.

Two cops arrested for robbery and carnapping.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1173040

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Agusan del Sur town mayor and his brother for irregularities in the use of PHP1 million in public funds originally meant for the rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road.

 

In its 52-page decision dated April 22, the anti-graft court's Seventh Division sentenced former Trento, Agusan del Sur mayor Johnmark Billanes and his brother, Romeo, to up to eight years imprisonment for the graft charges.

 

The two were also banned from public office. 

 

Johnmark was also fined PHP500,000.

 

The Billanes were charged by the Ombudsman in 2016 for a transaction in 2012 where the mayor approved the purchase of the lot with an area of 7,775 square meters of his brother.

 

The lot was supposedly to be used for the construction of a rice processing complex, even when the said lot was then encumbered in a bank.

 

The transaction did not consider other lands offered for purchase. 

 

Johnmark approved the payment to Romeo of PHP1 million from the appropriation for the rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road without any corresponding ordinance realigning the fund.

A mayor and his brother have been convicted of  misappropriating funds to purchase a parcel of land.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1173011

Barely two weeks before the May 9 elections, three people were hurt when the group of Roger Fariñas, the former city mayor and brother of gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Fariñas, barged on Tuesday morning into a private property owned by Bryan Alcid, a candidate for Laoag councilor.

As shown in trending videos posted on Facebook, Alcid's wife Jojami was hit by Roger's son, Raffy. At a press conference later in the afternoon, the Alcid family said two more individuals were hurt during the commotion, including a guard on duty.

Jojami appeared during the press conference with a bandage on her left arm. "I was pushed, kicked and strangled from behind," she said.

Another son of Roger, Roger John, is running for reelection in the city council.

While still in a state of shock, the Alcid family bared during the press conference that they plan to file multiple charges against the Fariñas camp.

"I never thought that election could be as dangerous as this. It is an eye-opener for me. I fear for myself and my daughter. I don’t know what will happen but the election campaign must go on. We will continue to fight,” said Jojami, adding that she was both emotionally and physically hurt during the incident.

She added that the group of men who barged into their home grabbed some documents without their permission.

According to Lazo, the latest incident was a "desperate move for somebody who already foresees that they will lose in the election.”

Men affiliated with the former mayor of Laoag invaded the property of a man running for councilor and started a fight which led the the candidates wife getting hurt.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1588994/barangay-chief-in-abra-shot-dead

A barangay chief who had earlier been accused of being involved in vote-buying in Abra’s capital town of Bangued was shot dead in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 27.

Police identified the victim as Ronnie Bringas, 45, of Barangay Angad.

According to the initial investigation, the victim was at the village’s covered court to check the ongoing basketball tournament when he was shot by an unidentified male assailant using a still unknown firearm.

After the shooting, the suspect tried to escape on a motorcycle, which crashed on the roadside.

The gunman left his motorcycle and headed to nearby Barangay Lipcan.

Bystanders tried to get hold of the gunman but failed when he drew his firearm.

A barangay chief accused of vote buying has been assassinated.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1588414/doj-also-seeks-rearrest-of-ex-palawan-governor

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would show its impartiality in handling the petition of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought the rearrest of former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes for the murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega in 2011.

“The DOJ firmly believes in the fairness and evenhandedness of our highest court,” Guevarra told reporters. “I have no doubt that justice will prevail in the end,” he added.

Citing the sub judice rule, Guevarra declined to expound on the arguments raised by the DOJ in the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) two weeks ago.

In its petition, the OSG urged the high court to annul its March 23 order that stopped the implementation of the arrest order that the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court had issued against Reyes.

The DOJ and OSG are seeking the rearrest of a former Palawan Governor in connection with the murder of a broadcaster in 2011.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1173209

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has directed the implementation of the order to dismiss the six policemen in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental found guilty of the unlawful arrest and harassment of incumbent Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo during her term as vice mayor in 2017.

Dismissed were former police chief, Capt. Allan Reloj, Master Sgt. Ricardo Campos Dingcong Jr., Cpl. Nobel Perante, Cpl. Felix Corejado Pesales Jr., Pat. Michael Mondido, and Pat. Darryl Ducay Dormido.

Lt. Abegael Donasco, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said on Thursday the order is effective immediately and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also expected to issue a directive to implement it.

“The order will come from the regional office then it will be coursed through the provincial office down to the station,” she added.

Donasco said Reloj has already retired while the five non-commissioned officers are still on station duty in the province.

On Wednesday, the local media obtained a copy of the Napolcom Implementation Order 2022-03001 dated March 4, 2022 signed by lawyer Chito Bustonera, acting staff service chief of Legal Affairs Service, which has been addressed to Maj. Gen. Herminio Tadeo Jr., director of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, through Lt. Col. Donna Villareal, officer-in-charge of Discipline, Law and Order Division.

In a decision dated October 21, 2020, the Napolcom found the respondents culpable for grave misconduct and grave irregularities in the performance of duty and meted upon them the maximum penalty of dismissal from service.

In 2017 six cops illegally accosted and harassed the mayor of Moises Padilla. In 2020 they are found guilty. But only now are they being dismissed from the service.

Coronavirus Lockdown: No Scare Tactics, Bomb Threat, and More!

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

Do you know what gaslighting is? It is when someone does something and then denies they did it in a bid to manipulate. Here is a perfect example.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172549

The government and health authorities are not promoting scare tactics to further improve the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

In a virtual media forum, Galvez clarified that the government's massive vaccination campaign only aims to push a higher level of vigilance among the public.

“We are not yet over [with this pandemic]. We are not yet ensured that resurgence of cases will not happen again,” Galvez said, emphasizing that the virus still exists and vaccination is crucial in protecting one’s health.

“The major challenge now is how to change the mindset of the people that the virus still exists,” he said. “We could not afford to become vigilant and be complacent.”

Galvez says the government is not using scare tactics even as he admits they are trying to change the mindset of the people by fear mongering over another surge. 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/doh-warns-follow-health-standards-or-see-covid-19-surge-may-2022/

The Department of Health (DOH) warned on Thursday, April 14, that if Filipinos continued to stay complacent with quarantine rules, a COVID-19 surge of as high as 500,000 active cases in Metro Manila by mid-May could happen. 

“The country may have had a low number of cases from March to April but Filipinos have been doing MPHS (minimum public health standards) during the same period,” the DOH said in a statement citing its experts.

The DOH made the announcement as millions of Filipinos made their way to their home provinces and headed for vacations – a movement that could lead to increased transmission of the virus.

How is repeatedly insisting that cases could surge despite there being a steady decline not scare tactics? The government's entire response including deploying the military and imposing economically crippling and unnecessary lockdowns has been scare tactics from day one.

But see how they flip-flop?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172625

Quezon City remains at a “very low risk” classification as the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections continues to decline, the local government said on Thursday.

In a Facebook post, the most populous city in Metro Manila has 114 active Covid-19 cases or 0.04 percent of the city’s total infections recorded since the pandemic started in March 2020 as of 8 a.m. Thursday.

Data from the OCTA Research shows that Quezon City records only an average of 12 new cases per day.

The city’s positivity rate which indicates the spread of the disease as it shows the number of reinfections also went down to 1.6 percent from last week’s 1.7 percent.

The QC Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) said the city’s recovery rate is now at 99.30 percent after 259,932 individuals recovered from the dreaded disease.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said this positive development is a testament to the city government’s relentless campaign against Covid-19.

“(This is not the success of the city government only but of our residents who relentlessly unite with our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus),” Belmonte said.

How can any area be considered "very low risk" when there is a looming threat of a surge? Which one is it? Very low risk and a success at mitigating the spread of the virus or a very real and present danger of a surge? This is gaslighting and scare tactics pure and simple. 

How about using nationalism to entice people to get a booster shot?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1586515/filipinos-must-think-of-country-get-covid-19-booster-shots-concepcion

What should be the best encouragement for Filipinos to get their COVID-19 booster shots?

A sense of nationalism, Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said on Friday.

He pointed out that Filipinos are currently very lax against the fight against COVID-19 due to the low number of infections, which Concepcion said, they have mistaken as being in the “endemic state” already.

This is why the public is not so much amped up to get their booster shots, thinking they are safe from COVID-19 already.

“I think people are just so confident that we’re in the endemic state. True enough, we’re moving towards that but we’re still getting there. If people want to remove the mask and whenever I go out, people have put down their masks in parties, out there. That creates more risks,” he said in an interview on ABS CBN News Channel.

“But for us to be able to have that freedom, we have to take the booster shots. You know, when people are comfortable, they say ‘I’ll just take my booster when cases start going up,’ but not realizing that these vaccines are time-bound and the government has purchased it and it’s in the Philippines already,” Concepcion added.

Filipinos should have a sense of nationalism and think they are helping the country if they take their booster shots, Concepcion noted.

“People themselves have to think of their country. And the boosters will help their country. There has to be something in them, a sense of nationalism to really take this booster shot,” he said.

You really have to appreciate the logic here. "Filipinos are currently very lax against the fight against COVID-19 due to the low number of infections" therefore the people will be to blame if there is a surge which, from how much they talk about it, they seem to want. 

Everyone wears their mask when they are out. They have to. You cannot go shopping or enter a government building without wearing a mask. Two guys took exception to that rule.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/21/two-men-cited-for-not-wearing-face-masks-end-up-in-jail-after-making-a-bomb-threat-in-cavite/

A simple reminder to comply with minimum public health protocols took a chaotic turn in Barangay Real 1 here.

Bacoor City Police Station arrested Alvin Ramos and Jonald Aquino on Wednesday, April 21, when the two threw a fit after being accosted by barangay officials for not wearing face masks.

The suspects cursed the barangay officials and challenged them to a duel.

According to the police report, the suspects said, “Patayan na lang tayo (Let’s duel to death),” and “Gusto n’yo pasabugin ko barangay hall n’yo (If you want, I’ll blow up your barangay hall).”

“Parang binabalewala nila ‘yung mga barangay tanod eh. Na-handle naman nila, dinala sa station (They seemed to disregard the barangay officials. But the officials handled the situation well and brought the suspects to the station),” Patrolman Marco Romero C. Cupo told the Manila Bulletin.

Cupo says the suspects may have been intoxicated during the incident.

Both suspects are under police custody and are facing charges for the bomb threat as well as oral defamation, unjust vexation, challenging to a duel, and disobedience to a person in authority.

Unjust vexation is a funny charge. Every time I leave the house I am unjustly vexed by bad drivers among other things.

The government says they are not employing scare tactics but what do you call this?

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1927283/manila/local-news/octa-50000-to-100000-active-covid-19-cases-possible-soon

OCTA research fellow Dr. Guido David said the possible resurgence of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which may happen “soon,” may push the active cases in the country to 50,000 to 100,000.

David compared the Philippines’ Covid-19 situation to South Africa and India, which experienced a spike in cases in a span of one week due to the new sub-variants of the highly transmissible Omicron strain -- the BA.4, BA.5 and its sublineage, the BA.2.12.

(Why is this concerning? Because we are following the situation of a few countries like South Africa, India and Indonesia.)

(Because of the spike in cases in South Africa and India, I think it is very likely that we also see an increase in cases in the Philippines sometime in the near future. I cannot say when it will happen, whether in May or June, but we see the surge in South Africa and India and it will likely happen here in the Philippines.)

Octa’s projection is lower than the 500,000 active cases projected by the Department of Health earlier when the country experienced another surge.

The DOH earlier said it is continuously monitoring developments in the said sub-variants, noting that it should not be any cause of concern.

How is the situation of the Philippines like South Africa, India, and Indonesia?  Not to mention that the DOH has said the slight rise in cases is nothing to worry about because hospitalization rates have not increased.

“What would be most important, especially right now, would be if this increase in cases translates to increased admissions in hospitals,” Vergeire said in an online briefing on Friday.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1587076/doh-rise-in-covid-cases-not-cause-for-alarm

How is this not scare tactics?

A hospital in the NCR accidentally gave unqualified folks booster shots.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1588081/ncr-hospital-mistakenly-gave-2nd-booster-vax-to-unqualified-recipients

The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that a hospital in the National Capital Region (NCR) mistakenly provided second COVID-19 vaccine boosters to health workers and senior citizens who are not yet qualified to receive it.

According to a statement from the DOH on Tuesday, the hospital management told them that they unintentionally misinterpreted the guidelines for the second booster provisions, which are only for immunocompromised (ICP) health workers and seniors.

The DOH assured that they are checking on the issue, while stressing that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) only for ICP individuals under A1 and A2 categories.

“The Department of Health is looking into reports that a hospital in NCR has administered second boosters to frontline healthcare workers and senior citizens who are not immunocompromised (ICP),” DOH said.

“Hospital management has explained that they unintentionally misinterpreted guidelines. The FDA-approved amended EUA states that senior citizens, front-line healthcare workers, and ICPs may be administered with a 2nd booster. The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has completed recommendations for ICPs. HTAC is still reviewing evidence for senior citizens and HCWs,” it added.

The rollout of the second booster shots for the immunocompromised A1 and A2 — or health workers and senior citizens — started earlier.  The government targets to vaccinate around 7,000 to 13,000 of the 690,000 Filipinos deemed most vulnerable, as an added protection amid fears of a new surge by May.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III remains positive that high vaccination coverages and the booster shots would make COVID-19 a mere endemic in the near future.

Isn't the goal to have everyone get a booster shot? Sure they have guidelines but this should be seen as a positive. Besides, the Philippines has enough vaccines according to the NTF.

Jeepney Art: Kakarot Lines

I haven't posted any jeepney art in a long time because I lost all the pictures when my old hard drive crashed. I also stopped taking pictures because I did want to risk having duplicates and I hope one day to be able to recover the old pictures. But recently I saw some interesting jeepney art I know I had never seen.

It's a Dragonball Z joke in case you don't know. The operator of this jeepney named his company after Goku who is also known as Kakarot. I bet he's had over 9,000 passengers!

Insurgency: Army Educates Students

One of the tactics used by the AFP to fight the insurgency is education. Specifically going to college campuses and, not just removing subversive books, but educating college students on the dangers of being recruited by the communists.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172622

The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) has warned students anew against the deceptive recruitment of communist terrorist groups (CTGs).

In an interview on Thursday, Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto Jr., acting 91IB commanding officer, said the youth must take extra caution against the different strategies being used by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to lure them to join their organization.

Recto said the troops have been conducting lectures at different schools and universities in this province to boost the youth's awareness of the infiltration of the CTGs into their sector.

“We will continue to intensify the information drive and dialogues with the youth to make them aware of the implementation of the goals of the National Task Force-Provincial Task Force-Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-PTF-MTF ELCAC). Also, we encourage the remnants of the Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla Sierra Madre (KLG-SM) to lay down their arms and surrender to the government,” Recto said.

Meanwhile, Capt. Roberto G. Apelado, acting civil-military operation officer of the 91IB, said it is their mandate to protect the students against the deceptive scheme of the CTGs.

On Wednesday, Apelado led the conduct of lectures to some 350 Criminology students of the Wesleyan University-Philippines in Maria Aurora town, this province to avoid being recruited by the CTGs.

He said the 91IB wants to create awareness among the youth and their parents regarding the indoctrination by the CTGs that tend to draw teenagers and young adults into activism and radicalism.

“Communist agents were showing videos of human rights atrocities to students in order to incite them to rebel against the government, including lectures on the issues of poverty, tuition fee increases, and among others, to agitate students and even those youth living in depressed and isolated areas who are vulnerable to false ideologies due to their innocence,” Apelado said.

He said the youth must not be swayed by the propaganda of the terrorists who only tell bunches of lies and deceptions.

Communist agents, we are not told who, were showing videos of human rights atrocities and lecturing on poverty in order to students in order to agitate them. The goal is to get them to join activism and radicalism. Note that these videos of human rights atrocities are not said to be fake. But from the sound of it the AFP is downplaying the seriousness of what is in those videos as well as the seriousness of poverty in the Philippines. They certainly have nothing to say about the US State Department reporting on numerous abuses by PH security forces.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/15/dnd-reacts-afp-mum-on-us-report-citing-numerous-human-rights-abuses-by-ph-security-forces/

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana challenged the United States government on Good Friday, April 15, to provide the details of the reports of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by state security forces in the Philippines.

In its 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the US State Department confirmed that “there were credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.”

“We question the State Department’s report of abuses by security forces. But since the State Department seems so sure of its facts, we challenge it to provide us with details so our Commission on Human Rights (CHR), a constitutional and independent body, can verify them, and if proven accurate, the perpetrators will be punished,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

“Absent these data, the accusations are nothing but innuendos and witch hunt. At worst, the State has become a gullible victim of black propaganda,” he added.

The report said that among the significant human rights issues include credible reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings including extrajudicial killings “by and on behalf of the government and non-state actors.”

You know, if the US continues to accuse the Philippines of numerous human rights abuses and it's all a lie and a witch hunt meant to smear the nation then why does the Philippines remain a firm ally of the USA? It does not make much sense to allow one of your best friends to slander you ever year. The report is long and comprehensive. I will not cite it here. It is a laundry list of the same problems everyone knows including unsanitary prisons, a corrupt judicial system, and encroachment on free speech. It can be read here.

Who would not get upset and think something must be done when confronted with the long list of abuses by the AFP and PNP.  Here is such a list. It is a fact that activists are routinely targeted and snuffed out by the PNP and AFP. Just last week two soldiers were convicted of the murder of an activist in Negros Occidental.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1584536/bacolod-court-finds-2-army-personnel-guilty-for-death-of-bayan-muna-coordinator

A Bacolod Court has found two Army soldiers guilty of the murder of Benjamin Bayles, Bayan Muna coordinator and a member of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

In a decision made public Monday, the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 42 meted the penalty of up to 40 years imprisonment against Rafael Cordova a.k.a. Roger Bajon, and Reygine G. Laus a.k.a. Ronnie Caurino.

Bajon and Caurino were also ordered to pay the heirs of Bayles a total of P300,000 for civil, moral, and exemplary damages.

Bayles was shot to death on June 14, 2010, in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, by two men wearing helmets and sweatshirts on board a black motorcycle.

One of the witnesses, John Rey Mayongue, said they were on their way home when they noticed a motorcycle stopped by on the side of the road where they were supposed to pass. 

He positively identified Bajon as the first who shot Bayles.

His testimony was corroborated by another witness, a tricycle driver who was also in the area when the incident happened.

As it turned out, as early as April, there were soldiers inquiring about Bayles and the witness also identified both Bajon and Caurino.

Both the accused, who admitted being members of the Intelligence Division of the Philippine Army denied involvement in the killing.

In a not-so-stunning twist the original prosecutor on this cases, Benjamin Ramos, was red-tagged and assassinated in 2018 while having a smoke break.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/07/1866774/murdered-nupl-lawyer-was-red-tagged-earlier-2018

Lawyer Benjamin Ramos, who was killed in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental on Tuesday night had been red-tagged—labelled as a communist—earlier in the year, rights group Karapatan stressed Wednesday night.

In a statement, it said Ramos, secretary general of the National Union of People's Lawyers-Negros, was included "in what can only be described as a poster-hitlist" that was reportedly put up by police in Moises Padilla town, also in Negros Occidental.

According to a report on independent news site Bulatlat.com in April, the poster included the faces and names of supposed "CNN" — a government abbreviation for Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front — personalities.

The president's spokesman said, however, that "putting the blame of the slaying on the government by a group or by a member of Congress not only is reckless, (but) irresponsible and baseless as well."

Contrary to what the President's spokesman said not blaming the government, specifically the AFP or PNP, for this man's death is naive to the utmost extreme. How many times have we seen a list of alleged bad guys bandied about and then people on that list end up dead? Is that a coincidence?

https://www.bulatlat.com/2018/04/16/city-councilor-lawyer-activists-included-negros-town-polices-poster-reds/

A councilor of the northern Negros Occidental city of Escalante, a lawyer who has longed worked with peasant and human rights groups, and a number of current and former leaders of activist groups were among more than 60 supposed communist rebels whose faces were printed on a police poster.

The National Federation of Sugar Workers issued an alert with a copy of the poster it said was being pinned up by the police force of the central Negros town of Moises Padilla.

The alert was released Monday, the same day human rights groups reported the arrest in Tarlac of Australian nun Patricia Fox, NDS, a volunteer with the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, by Immigration officers.

At the top of the poster is the message, “CNN PERSONALITIES, if seen in the area, please text 09099191720.”

CNN is the acronym used by state security forces to refer to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Among the legal personalities whose faces are on the poster are Karapatan-Negros secretary general Clarizza Singson, Zara Alvarez of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program, UMA secretary general John Lozande,NFSW secretary general Christian Tuayon, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-Negros secretary general Benjamin Ramos, Escalante Councilor Bernardino Patigas, Julius Dagatan, Ronald Evidente, Ma Rina Amacio, Rogina Quilop, Lary Ocena and Anecita Rojo.

Out of the names listed here Zara Alvarez was assassinated, John Lozande was arrested but later had the warrant tossed for being faulty, Benjamin Ramos was assassinated, and Bernardino Patigas was assassinated while all the others have been harassed with death threats among others. 

In 2020 the LA Times even put out an article about the systematic killing of human rights activists. 

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-08-27/philippines-zara-alvarez-human-rights

By accusing human rights defenders of being communists, authorities are trying to equate advocacy work with terrorism — a process known as red-tagging that invites harassment and assassination. Calls for justice in the deaths of Ramos and other activists have gone nowhere.

“The key problem here is that state security forces do not make the distinction between loudmouthed activists in the streets and guerrilla fighters in the mountains,” said Carlos Conde, Philippines researcher for Human Rights Watch. “They know there’s a distinction, but they choose to blur it because they are convinced support for the [New People’s Army] comes from the cities and that people are being recruited and brainwashed by activists.

“These people targeted are not combatants,” Conde added. “They are not directly involved in the armed struggle in the countryside. Targeting them is a violation of human rights. They’re being pulled into this vortex of violence.”

Carlos Conde hits the nail right on the head. The PNP and AFP do not distinguish between "activists in the streets and guerrilla fighters in the mountains." The above cited education the AFP is giving to college students is proof positive. Caring about human rights violations and the poor is not only bad but it is coded language to signal that one is part of the communist movement to overthrow the government.

It's a lie. Just like the numbers given of those who have surrendered since 2016 are, maybe not a lie per se, but not exactly truthful either.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172443

Getting more communist rebels to surrender is among the greatest legacies under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Malacañang said Tuesday.

In a Palace press briefing, acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced that over 22,000 people linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have surrendered and abandoned the local armed struggle since 2016.

“Kasama sa Duterte legacy ang pagbalik loob ng mahigit22,000 rebel returnees (Getting 22,000 rebels to return to government fold is among Duterte’s legacies),” he said.

I have analyzed this overblown number before and it's still ridiculous. The fact is in January 2016 there were an estimated 3,900 NPA rebels left. So, who are these 22,000 rebels which have surrendered over the past 6 years? In November 21, 2021 the AFP estimated there were about 3,500 actual NPA fighters remaining.

The NPA strength reached more than 20,000 in the 1980s. While the number has dwindled over the years, various administrations failed to realize their pronounced goals of crushing the armed movement. The military currently estimates the number of armed communist rebels at 3,500.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/29/21/43-npa-guerrilla-fronts-remain-active-says-afp

The Asian Sentinel nicely sums up the purpose of the inflated surrender numbers: propaganda.

A steady stream of new recruits has also been key to the NPA sustaining its campaign. Despite the NTF-ELCAC reporting the surrender of 20,500 rebels since Duterte came to office in 2016 – a figure overstated for propaganda purposes, which likely includes mostly family members of NPA fighters and ‘supporters’ of the movement rather than armed rebels – the AFP acknowledges that the NPA still has 3,500 fighters across at least 43 rebel fronts, with around 1,000 fighters based in the rebel stronghold of eastern Mindanao.

These estimates are broadly in line with the NPA’s strength over recent decades, which since the early-2000s the military has reported annually to be around 3,000–4,000. After suffering losses, the NPA retains the ability to replenish its ranks from the impoverished rural areas in which it operates, which economically lag far behind Manila and main provincial cities.

https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/maoist-rebellion-outlast-duterte?s=r

While eastern Mindanao may remain a rebel strong hold Zamboanga del Norte has now been declared insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172653

Zamboanga del Norte is now insurgency-free after state forces successfully dismantled the last guerrilla front of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the area, officials said Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) of Zamboanga del Norte declared the province as such through a resolution approved Wednesday.

Nicolas said the last NPA guerrilla unit in the province, Guerrilla Front Big Beautiful Country, was officially dismantled on April 4.

“We have no more guerilla fronts or any entity in the province that is affecting our peace and security. The bulk of communist group forces had surrendered and are with us now,” Nicolas said.

On Wednesday, a peace rally participated by former rebels was held here in support of the 44th and 97th Infantry Battalions (IBs) under the 102nd Infantry Brigade.

Highlights of the activity were the mass parade, burning of NPA flags, sharing of testimonies by selected former rebels, and a pledge of allegiance to the flag and country.

Burning of NPA flags is how you know this activity was nothing but propaganda.

We also have another pronouncement this week that the war against the insurgency is on track to be finished real soon. By mid 2022 in fact.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1507944/afp-chief-says-military-on-target-to-crush-npa-by-mid-2022

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr. has said that the military is on track in its mission to crush the communist movement by the middle of next year, citing the significant gains of  the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Faustino, who is set to retire next month, visited  troops of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) here on Wednesday, and led the demilitarization of 316 firearms seized from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in various operations from February to December last year.

“Right now, we are on target,” Faustino said, referring to their self-imposed deadline of crushing the NPA by the time President Duterte bows out of office on June 30, 2022.

Faustino particularly pointed to the dwindling strength of the rebels in the eastern Mindanao region where he used to hold command as an Army official.

“Our enemies are getting weaker,” he said, adding that a similar trend is observed in other parts of the country that have the presence of NPA guerrillas.

It appears that Faustino is only talking about actual NPA guerrillas and not about the thousands of activists including the 300,000 to 400,000 the NICA claims have infiltrated the government. Even Duterte has not expressed confidence that the NPA will be crushed by July when he leaves office, calling the government's anti-insurgency efforts a work in progress. Even so, good luck.