Insurgency: Red-Tagging is a Sacred Duty

This week the Army's Eastern Mindanao Command says the oldest NPA guerrilla front in Mindanao has finally been dismantled. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176506

The military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) announced Monday the collapse of the New People’s Army (NPA) Guerrilla Front 2 (GF2), the oldest communist rebel unit operating in Mindanao.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, the Eastmincom commander, said the collapse stems from the surrender of the unit's top leaders to the Army's 10th Infantry Division's (10ID) in the hinterlands of Maragusan, Davao de Oro, on June 10.

In a statement Monday, Eastmincom said GF 2 was one of the oldest guerilla fronts in the country along with GF3, which was earlier declared “dismantled” in April. Both guerilla fronts operated in the Davao Region.

Almerol identified two of the GF2 surrenderers only as “Dandan,” front secretary under the NPA's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), and her party husband known as Jeg or JR, the unit's commanding officer.

The other surrenderers were described as a squad leader and a squad supply officer of a subunit under the SMRC.

Almerol said the surrenders decided to return to the law as “there was no more place for them to move due to the 10ID’s intense counter-insurgency campaign.”

The rebels also claimed they were abandoned by their top-ranking leader Eric Jun Casilao, SMRC's secretary.

Last month, the Army reported that Casilao abandoned his comrades and fled with the party's money worth PHP6 million.

“It leaves us confronting one remaining NPA unit under the SMRC. Rest assured that we will hunt its leaders to end their atrocities, once and for all,” Almerol said.

This development has lead the AFP to declare Davao Norte insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176593

The Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) has declared the province of Davao Del Norte as “insurgency-free.”

In a statement on Monday evening, 10ID said the declaration came after the “successful dismantling” of all communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts (GFs) in Davao del Norte through the government's multipronged counter-insurgency campaign.

At least five NPA guerrilla units operated in the province in 2016—all under the NPA's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), 10ID said,

The number went down to two in 2020, culminating with the collapse of SMRC's GF3—described as one of the oldest guerrilla fronts in the country—early this year, 10ID said.

Major Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10ID commander, said the campaign against communist insurgency in Davao del Norte was “not an easy journey.”

Mempin said the dismantling of the NPA units “significantly diminish” the rebels' to “smallest size, including its strength, firearms, and their ability to recruit, train, organize, or recover their mass bases or areas.”

How is Davao Norte insurgency free when there is still one front left? It's because the definition of insurgency free which is as follows:

“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province. 

“Insignificant level. Wala na rito ang mga armed groups,” Luga said during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held at the Capitol Social Hall.

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

However it appears at least 4 NPA fronts remain in Mindanao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176917

The formation of Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) has reduced New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts in Northern Mindanao from 12 to three, a top military official here said.

Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division commander, attributed the success of the government's anti-insurgency body to President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order (EO) 70, which institutionalize the “whole of nation approach” to end the decades-old Maoist insurgency in the countryside.

“The primary aim (of ELCAC) is to stop the violence; the real intention is to settle the armed conflict through peaceful means,” he said during a press forum Thursday.

That's three fronts in Northern Mindanao and one in Southern Mindanao for a grand total of four fronts in Mindanao as a whole.

While the NPA might be on the decline in Davao elsewhere they are allegedly stirring up trouble elsewhere.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176689

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were pinpointed as the masterminds behind the chaos that ensued at the disputed land in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac on June 9.

This was revealed on Tuesday by former members of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) during a special virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Christopher Garcia, formerly known as "Ka Warly", who is now a board member of Sambayanang Gitnang Luzon, said the CTGs have initiated the "Bungkalan" mobilization campaign in Hacienda Tinang wherein communist rebels will move into disputed agricultural lands in the country, including Hacienda Luisita.

"(It is a way to broaden mass-based and return to the place they used to control before. We know that because we experienced it)," Garcia said, referring to the CTG's efforts to take back their former lair from government forces.

He added that the Tinang incident is just a starting point of the CTG’s focused efforts to sow chaos for the incoming administration.

"Ayaw nilang maupo si BBM (They don’t want President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos Jr. to lead)," said Ka Pong Sibayan, another former CTG member.

They know this for sure because it is something they experienced? It appears they have no direct knowledge of what happened in Tinang. While these people are claiming conspiracy by the CPP the arrested farmers gave a completely different story.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1931964/pampanga/local-news/chr-investigates-arrest-of-90-farmers-in-tinang

Local police claimed that the apprehended farmers used a rotovator and destroyed the sugarcane plantation owned by other farmers belonging to Agriculture Cooperative, according to the CHR.

The commission added that when responding police officers from Police Regional Office III tried to pacify them, the police said the farmers allegedly became unruly and tried to obstruct the law enforcers from performing their official duties.

However, seven of the farmers arrested asserted that they are legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the land, with a Certificate of Land Ownership Award title issued in 1995 for the 200-hectare disputed land and are just waiting for their official installation as the decision was never enforced, the CHR stated.

"With the disputed nature of the said land, we urge the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to look into the matter to finally ascertain how to move forward given the pending land conflict," CHR executive director Jacqueline de Guia said.

It would seem there are real issues at stake here that transcend the CPP-NPA. The DAR and DENR both claim they are investing the claims made by all parties to owning the land. 

These same two people also say the NPA is planing to "muddy" the inauguration of Bongbong Marcos.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176830

Former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) said the communist terrorist group (CTG) is planning to muddle the oath-taking ceremony of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on June 30.

During the Tagged media briefing by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Monday, former rebels Orlando “Ka Warly” Baluyot, now chairman of Tinang Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Ka Pong Sibayan, a farmer from Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac said the CTGs have started organizing farmers in their province.

They said aside from Hacienda Tinang, officials and members of CPP-NPA-NDF legal front organizations have also been meeting with farmers from nearby Hacienda Murcia and Barangay Central inside Hacienda Luisita.

“(That is what we see that they will do on June 30, before President Bongbong Marcos assumes the post),” Baluyot said.

He said farmers from these areas are now organized by the front groups.

“(There are meetings in Hacienda Murcia, also in Tarlac City, which is very near Hacienda Tinang),” he added.

Baluyot said these farmers are also having problems with their land and have been allegedly receiving eviction threats.

He added some members of left-leaning organizations are often seen coming to those areas as they want the people to fight the government.

“(They really do not want Bongbong Marcos to sit. We can attest that they are having activities with the other group in Barangay Murcia and Barangay Central. In Barangay Central, some people tell us that there are members of Anakpawis there. In Barangay Murcia, it is Atty. Jobert Pahilga, their lawyer there, because from I know, Anakpawis plans to seize the lands bought by the malls there),” Sibayan said.

He said aside from the areas in Tarlac that they have named, different front organizations are also busy mobilizing groups from various towns even using youth members in their propaganda.

Sibayan said these youth groups, who are “not aware they are only being used”, are actually victims.

With this, he called on the parents to strictly monitor their children.

“(I pity these young people thus their parents should watch over them because these groups are putting them in danger. These youth should pity their parents. If they want to help, they should cooperate with the government to stop all these violence. But from what they are doing, it’s the other way around, they want to govern),” Sibayan said.

Funny that there is no specific information given by these two former NPA fighters. How would they even know about these plans when they are no longer members of the NPA? It beggars belief. Also note that they claim youth groups will be used by the CPP unawares. Which groups would that be? It appears that far from being inutile the insurgency is still very much a threat.

Officials for the incoming Marcos administration are saying that red-tagging must be stopped. That has not set well with red-tagging queen Lorraine Badoy who claims red-tagging is "a sacred duty."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176822

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) "creates clarity with the truth" even as legal communist fronts continue to create "confusion with their lies", NTF ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Marie Badoy said.

Badoy, reiterating that the term "red-tagging" does not exist, said on Friday members and allies of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) are using it as a "tool to silence" anti-insurgency advocates to speak up about their deceitful operations.

"Where they are loud and bold about their toxic lies, we are louder and bolder about the truth," she said. "It is precisely because of this deceit and the ignorance of our countrymen that they have committed the most heinous of crimes against our people and our beloved Philippines."

Badoy is reacting to a statement by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who recently urged certain individuals associated with the NTF-ELCAC to refrain from “red-tagging" without "solid proof of evidence."

"The NTF ELCAC agrees with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra when he says that we should not identify people as members of the CPP NPA NDF if we do not have solid proof that they are," Badoy said.

"This, in fact has been our guiding light at the NTF ELCAC: to gird our countrymen with accurate and clear information about the numerous fronts of this terrorist organization and the various modus operandi they employ to hurt and destroy our country for the past 53 years," she added.

The NTF-ELCAC, she said, is doing its best to stop the massive recruitment of youth and vulnerable groups to the communist armed movement.

“We, however, do not agree with Secretary Guevarra when he says that the NTF ELCAC endangers our people when we do our sacred duty of identifying members of the CPP-NPA-NDF. What has grievously endangered our people is all those decades government reneged on its sacred duty, looked the other way and refused to identify members of the CPP NPA NDF–even if they already knew who these terrorists were,” Badoy said, calling it "unfortunate" that Guevarra seemed "ignorant" of the Supreme Court ruling in the Zarate vs. Aquino case that there is no danger to life, liberty and security when one is identified as a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Since Lorraine does not agree with her superiors hopefully her days are numbered. The NTF-ELCAC does not need someone as reckless as her at its helm.

Hit and Run Case Exposes the Inefficiency of the Philippine Justice System

The Philippine justice system is incredibly broken. What better way to illustrate this fact than the recent story about an SUV driver who ran over a security guard.  Let's take a look at the headlines in chronological order which tell the whole story.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1607238/security-guard-intentionally-run-over-by-suv-in-mandaluyong

A security guard sustained multiple injuries after a sport utility vehicle (SUV) he was trying to stop at an intersection in Mandaluyong City rammed him on Sunday.

Christian Joseph Floralde, in a viral dashcam footage posted on Facebook, was shown enforcing the traffic flow near a mall at the intersection of Julio Vargas Avenue and St. Francis Street in Mandaluyong when he tried to stop a white SUV.

The driver suddenly ran over him and fled the area, leaving Floralde down on all fours.

The 31-year-old victim, who sustained an abrasion on the head and had difficulty in breathing, is currently in the intensive care unit of the VRP Medical Center.

The Mandaluyong City Police Station and the Land Transportation Office(LTO) have identified the driver, who was not named due to data privacy.

In a show-cause order, Renante Melitante, officer in charge of the LTO’s intelligence and investigation division, summoned the identified owner of the vehicle on Tuesday for “intentionally” hitting the traffic enforcer, which resulted in physical injuries.

The driver was also directed to submit a written comment or explanation on why he should not be charged for reckless driving and duty of driver in case of accident under Republic Act No. 4136.

Because of the gravity of the incident, the LTO said the drivers’ license was also preventively suspended for 90 days and his motor vehicle record will be placed “under alarm” to prevent any transaction while the investigation is in progress.

Right way in the first report of this story we can see the problems. The LTO had identified the driver but instead of issuing a warrant of arrest the LTO asked the driver "to submit a written comment or explanation on why he should not be charged for reckless driving." Incredible!  They have this man on camera running over a security guard and instead of apprehending him he is asked to write an essay on why he should not be charged.

Later that same day the PNP said the driver MAY face frustrated murder charges.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/07/2186705/driver-hit-and-run-guard-slapped-frustrated-murder-mandaluyong-pnp

The driver behind the wheel of an SUV filmed running over a security guard twice may face frustrated murder and abandonment of one's own victim raps for his actions, the Philippine National Police in Mandaluyong City disclosed Tuesday. 

Police Col. Gauvin Mel Unos, chief of Mandaluyong City police confirmed the development, per a report by CNN Philippines, adding that initial investigation showed reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries as an initial charge.

According to Unos, the guard in question survived the incident in the viral video that has since gone viral on social media. He is also still the nominal complainant duly represented by his brother.

Here is another problem. The complainant should not be the victim. It should be the State. The State, the DOJ, the local District Attorney, should be the one to file charges against the driver. Instead of that the Philippines leaves it up to private prosecution which many people cannot afford and thus criminals go free. 

The SUV driver remained at large for 10 days. During that time the PNP exhausted all their resources to bring this man to justice.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176513

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. on Monday dared the driver of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) implicated in the hit-and-run of a security guard in Mandaluyong City to surrender to authorities.

"I challenge you, Mr. San Vicente. You do not want to surrender, right? It only means one thing, perhaps you are an addict. Why don’t you want to surrender? Because no person in his right senses will do that. You hit a person, and instead of stopping, you ran over the person," Danao said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

He said criminal charges were filed against the owner of the SUV, registered under the name of Jose Antonio San Vicente.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo earlier said complaints of frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s own victim in violation of Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code were filed by the Mandaluyong police against the owner of the vehicle before the city prosecutor’s office.

“Remember, the PNP already filed the case against you and you take note that we are just waiting for the warrant (of arrest) to come out. I am giving you a fair warning,” Danao said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. says charges had been filed against the driver yet no warrant had been issued. Instead of sending his men to apprehend him he dared the man to surrender and accused him of being a drug addict. But it gets even better.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1611076/pnp-to-suv-owner-in-mandaluyong-hit-and-run-show-proof-you-werent-driving

he Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday admitted having “no proof” that Jose Antonio Sanvicente, owner of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) that ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong, was driving the car during the incident.

However, the hit-and-run suspect has to show proof that he wasn’t the one driving the car that ran over Christian Joseph Floralde, who was directing traffic at the intersection of Julia Vargas Avenue and St. Francis Street last June 5.

“We have no proof that Mr. Sanvicente was the one driving the car, but we also have this registered owner rule,” PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Rundown.

Fajardo was referring to a legal principle of holding accountable the “registered owner of a vehicle whose operation causes injury to another.”

She said that while there is a presumption that Sanvicente was driving the SUV during the incident, it may be disproved “if the registered owner can present evidence that the vehicle involved in the case has been transferred to another person or there is someone driving other than him.”

Complaints of frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s victim have been filed against Sanvicente, and is currently under preliminary investigation.

The Land Transportation Office has also revoked his license after he failed to show up for two hearings that summoned him to explain the hit-and-run incident to the agency.

He was also “perpetually disqualified” from getting another driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday placed Sanvicente under the government’s Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order, which enjoins the Bureau of Immigration to monitor and inform authorities should the subject attempt to leave the country.

The order, however, does not legally bar him from departing the Philippines, according to the DOJ.

Now the PNP says they don't have any proof that the man they filed charges against was actually driving! The LTO shows they don't care about due process because not only have they revoked the man's license but they have barred him from ever getting a driver's license in the future. The DOJ put an immigration look out for the man but that order is toothless because it did "not legally bar him from departing the Philippines." What a circus!

Finally after 10 days the man surrendered. But instead of parading the man in handcuffs and exhibiting to the nation his mugshot the PNP had a press conference.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1611505/hit-and-run-driver-apologizes-as-pnp-gives-him-media-time

A 34-year-old man who was seen on a viral video driving a car and running over a security guard manning traffic close to a mall in Mandaluyong City finally presented himself on Wednesday to the police, who had been searching for him for the past 10 days after the hit-and-run.

Jose Antonio Sanvicente, accompanied by his parents and a lawyer, showed up at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, and apologized to security guard Christian Joseph Floralde.

Sanvicente was not locked up by the police and walked free from the police camp after a half an hour press conference with PNP officer in charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.

“My apologies for what happened. My apologies to Mr. Floralde and his family,” Sanvicente said, speaking through his face mask.

It was his lawyer, Danilo Macalino, however, who did most of the talking. Macalino explained that whatever statements made by Sanvicente during the press conference might prejudice the cases against him in connection with the June 5 incident.

On the part of the PNP, Danao said they considered the case “solved.” After his angry tirades against Sanvicente for hiding after the incident and suspecting him of being a drug addict without basis, Danao declined making further comments.

“So, we are now leaving to the prosecutor’s office and to the courts, to answer the matters at hand,” a calmer and composed Danao told reporters.

“We do not want to further comment because it might prejudice the results of the matter at hand,” he said.

Danao said that the police could no longer detain Sanvicente because the time for that had already lapsed.

The police charged Sanvicente with frustrated murder and abandonment of his victim.

The period during which an arrested suspect can be detained before he is booked for inquest for frustrated murder is 36 hours after the alleged crime.

What kind of twisted nonsense is this. If I had to guess I would say Sanvicente lawyered up immediately and was told to lie low until the time allowed to detain him without a warrant had passed. Then upon the advice of his lawyer he surrendered and let the lawyer do most of the talking. He also apologized and admitted he ran over the security guard!! He admitted to the crime and the PNP let him go! It is incredible that this man was charged with frustrated murder and was allowed to go free. Has the PNP not had enough time to get a warrant?? 

Having a press conference was certainly the least helpful thing the PNP could have done in this situation. In fact the PNP admitted they gave the man too much media time which favored him.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1611804/pnp-official-admits-mandaluyong-hit-and-run-suspect-got-more-media-mileage-after-presser

“I am with you on that,” Police Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon said in an interview on Teleradyo when asked about the observation of social media users that the PNP’s press conference appeared to have favored the suspect more than the victim.

De Leon claimed that was not the intention of the press conference, as the PNP merely wanted to present the suspect to the media.

Really?  They only wanted to present the suspect to the media? Then what is this:

https://twitter.com/iamsallyboi/status/1537352796009156608

Now the perpetrator is playing victim!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1611360/mom-worries-for-sons-future-following-viral-video-of-hit-and-run-incident

The mother of the sports utility vehicle driver who ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City is fearing for her son’s future, as the now-viral incident may have a negative impact on his life.

In a briefing in Camp Crame after the Toyota RAV4 owner Jose Antonio Sanvicente surrendered on Wednesday, his mother was asked about how the family felt after the incident was caught on a dashboard camera and went viral on social media.

In response, Sanvicente’s mother said they lost sleep and appetite over the issue, claiming that it was blown out of proportion as it was only a mere road accident.

"Of course, we can't sleep, we can't eat, of course our son is involved, then he went viral, right? My child’s life will be ruined, is that what you want for your child for any parent? ” she asked.

“My son is kind, what, he works, he’s a very responsible man. And I think this, it's really an accident, it just got bigger and bigger. And I feel so sad because what will happen to my son’s future, right? ” she added.

According to Sanvicente’s mother, her son is a good person who apparently rattled when he “accidentally” bumped the security guard.

"My son is fine, who wants to run like that, of course he's already rattle," she said.

Boo-hoo.  You can watch Sanvicente run over the security guard here:

 

This situation is being portrayed as a rich vs poor divide. 

https://twitter.com/markrossimo/status/1537245524440469505

I think the problem runs much deeper. The man is obviously guilty. He was caught on camera and he admitted to the deed. However that was still not enough cause to arrest him on the spot when he surrendered. There is in fact no legal grounds to arrest him.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/835085/no-legal-grounds-to-take-driver-in-mandaluyong-hit-and-run-incident-into-custody-pnp-spox/story/

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday maintained that there is no legal basis for them to take into custody the driver of the SUV involved in last week's hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City due to lack of a warrant of arrest.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo explained that it is beyond the control of the PNP should there be an out-of-court settlement between both parties.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday maintained that there is no legal basis for them to take into custody the driver of the SUV involved in last week's hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City due to lack of a warrant of arrest.

(To inform the public, the PNP has no legal grounds to take into custody the suspect considering that no warrant of arrest has been issued against him. He is also no longer subject to warrantless arrest because there’s already a considerable lapse of time from the time the incident happened.)

Despite the lack of a warrant of arrest, Fajardo stressed that Atty. Danilo Macalino already committed that suspect Jose Antonio Sanvicente will face the charges and answer the accusations against him during a hearing on Friday, June 17.

The law needs to be changed. Ten days is not "a considerable lapse of time." The 36 hour timeframe to arrest someone without a warrant should be amended especially in a case like this where the evidence is overwhelming. There was plenty of probable cause to arrest the man without needing a warrant. But on the other hand the PNP should have been able to secure a warrant within 10 days. 

It should not matter if the perpetrator and victim come to a settlement. The State should step in and prosecute regardless. That is their job. Here is another recent hit and run case that ended in a death and yet the State is hesitating to prosecute.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/18/senior-citizen-killed-in-hit-and-run-involving-lawyer-in-bacolod/

A senior citizen was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a lawyer on La Salle Ave. in Barangay Villamonte here Thursday, June 16. 

Gohee said the driver of the sedan, believed to be a lawyer, based on the information from one of the rescuers, reportedly left the scene when the victim was brought to an ambulance.

On Saturday, June 18, Gohee said that a representative of the sedan driver informed the police that they are willing to meet the victim’s family on Monday, June 20, to discuss the incident.

Gohee said that police are letting the victim’s family decide if they want to pursue a case or have a settlement.

This is reprehensible and inexcusable. The cops know who the perpetrator is yet instead of arresting him and filing homicide charges they are waiting to see if the victim's family will settle. It's totally wrong. The State needs to prosecute this man. 

If the law was changed it falls on the PNP and the DOJ to act accordingly. In this case they did not even attempt to catch Sanvicente and when he finally appeared they treated him like he was on the Oprah Winfrey Show rather than as a criminal. Of course everyone gets the presumption of innocence but that presumption should not preclude the arrest of someone when probable cause is very high. The bottom line here is that this whole debacle shows just how broken the Philippine justice system is. 

Retards in the Government 263

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

  

 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/gunman-kills-losing-mayoral-bet-basilan-june-9-2022/

A still unidentified gunman shot in Lamitan City a man who ran for mayor in a Basilan town on Thursday afternoon, June 9.

Police identified the victim as Ujud Ujuran, who lost in the mayoral race in the town of Akbar in last month’s elections.

The gun attack was the first documented post-election shooting in Lamitan City.

Ujuran was rushed to the hospital but died while being treated in the emergency room.

A losing mayoral candidate was assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176323

Outgoing Surigao del Sur Vice Gov. Librado Navarro and four others were arrested Thursday for investment scam charges, a police official said.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr, the Police Regional Office-Caraga Region director, said the four arrested were Letecia Navarro, 55, of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur; Estev Cirene Macheca, 33, of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Suad Asad Fayyad, 24, and Lafi Asad Fayyad, 25, both of Malate, Manila.

The suspects were arrested in an operation by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office in Barangay Poblacion of Lianga town.

Navarro, 64, together with Letecia and Macheca are respondents to an arrest warrant dated June 7, 2022, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Lianga town for charges of syndicated estafa.

The vice governor, along with the Fayyads, also has standing arrest warrants for two counts of charges for violation of Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulations Code.

The Surigao del Sur Vice Governor along with 4 others was arrested and charged with estafa over an investment scam.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1609024/election-officer-slain-another-hurt-in-zamboanga-del-norte-ambush

An election officer was killed, while another critically injured Thursday in a gun attack in Piñan town, Zamboanga del Norte.

Maricel Adriatico Peralta, 45, election officer of Mutia town, died immediately, said Police Captain Pocholo Rolando Guerrero, town cop chief.

Maritess Inding, 52, assistant election officer in Mutia, was being treated in a hospital, Guerrero added.

Guerrero said police investigation showed that Peralta was driving her car and traveling with Inding when motorcycle-riding armed men shot them at 8:42 p.m. as they reached Lapu-Lapu bridge in Piñan.

Dr. Ricardo Awit of the Piñan Municipal Health Office pronounced Peralta dead.

Guerrero said a pursuit operation was ongoing against the suspects.

An election officer was gunned down by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176388

The Sandiganbayan has found a former Bataan mayor and a businessman guilty of malversation and sentenced them to up to 18 years imprisonment.

The court's Third Division convicted former Mariveles, Bataan mayor Angel Peliglorio Jr. for malversation in connection with irregularities in the construction of the Mariveles Public Market in 2007.

Likewise convicted was Cedric Lee, president and chief executive officer of Izumo Contractors, Inc., which received advanced mobilization funds for the project which never commenced.

"(T)he totality of the facts arising from the evidence undoubtedly shows conspiracy between accused Lee and accused Peliglorio Jr.,” read the 54-page decision promulgated June 3.

The court sentenced both to imprisonment of 12 to 18 years and a fine of PHP23.47 million in fine "equal to the funds malversed".

The amount represents 15 percent of the construction budget amounting to PHP110 million for the building, construction and site development of the market.

The court noted that no documents were presented to prove that Izumo is entitled to a lump sum advance payment.

A former mayor has been convicted of malversation of funds over a construction project.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/10/2187475/doj-fires-18-immigration-personnel-over-pastillas-scheme

The Department of Justice dismissed 18 Bureau of Immigration officers and employees over their involvement in the so-called “pastillas” bribery scheme where foreigners were allegedly whisked past airport counters in exchange for money.

The DOJ announced Friday that it found the following immigration officers and employees administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“They facilitated or allowed the facilitation of the arrival and/or departure of Chinese nationals, without undergoing appropriate immigration formalities, for a consideration,” the DOJ said in a statement.

The firing of the Immigration officers and employees came after the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against 43 Immigration personnel also over their alleged involvement in the pastillas scheme which the Senate investigated on suspicions that it had been used for sex trafficking and for letting Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations workers into the country.

18 BI employees charged with graft over a bribery scheme have been dismissed.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/10/2187278/pcgg-flagged-over-unrecorded-ill-gotten-wealth-recoveries

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) over 122 art pieces and P54.61 million in surrendered or recovered stocks which remain unrecorded in its books.

In its 2021 PCGG Annual Audit released recently, the COA noted “laxity in the monitoring and recovery efforts” in connection with the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and their alleged cronies.

For instance, 772,594,488 shares of stocks worth P54.614 million, which were surrendered by the defendants or were recovered by the government, remain unrecorded in the PCGG’s books as of Dec. 31, 2021.

The COA said that while the PCGG reasoned out that a majority of the shares of stocks were already inactive, the entire amount should have still been inventoried in its books.

“The non-recording of the surrendered/recovered shares is tantamount to voluntarily giving away possession and control of what is due to the government and without due regard to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations,” the COA report said.

It pointed out that instead of outright non-recognition of the surrendered and recovered stocks, the PCGG could have requested the inactive ones to be dropped off from its books but only after submitting the “appropriate documents to support its derecognition, pursuant to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.”

In the same audit report, the COA also called out the PCGG over 122 pieces of artwork which are not entered in its books as of end-2021.

“One hundred twenty-two pieces of surrendered artworks such as paintings, statues, jars, framed wood carvings, wood carvings, tapestries, lithographs, framed cross-stitch artwork, wine goblet, upright piano, decanter, collage, brass item, abstract, news clipping, framed news print, drawings, plaque, and brass sculpture found at PCGG station remained unrecorded in the books of PCGG, thereby understating agency’s Abandoned/ Surrendered Property/Assets account by its total fair market value which are yet to be determined,” the COA said.

The COA recommended that the PCGG direct its Asset Management Department to “verify the accuracy of the inventory report, cause the appraisal of properties and coordinate with the Chief Accountant for proper accounting/recording in the books.”

Meanwhile, the COA said the PCGG’s laxity in transferring titles over several surrendered or recovered shares of stocks to the government led to the non-collection of dividends since 2005.

The PCGG has been flagged for mismanagement of recovered Marcos assets.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/12/2187745/barangay-councilor-husband-nabbed-over-fake-papers

A barangay councilor and her husband, who are wanted for falsification of public documents and perjury, were arrested in Quezon City on Friday.

Glady Perez, 46, and her husband, Henry Perez, 49, were apprehended at their residence in Barangay E. Rodriguez at around 1:30 p.m., according to Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina.

Medina said police apprehended the couple based on a warrant of arrest issued by Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 132 Jude Peter Filip Abelita.

A barangay coucniolr and her husband have been arrested for perjury and falsification of public documents. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/12/omb-orders-dismissal-of-45-immigration-officials-employees-in-pastillas-scheme/

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered the dismissal from government service of 45 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over their alleged involvement in the “Pastillas” extortion scheme.

In a 143-page decision dated last March 21, the OMB found them “administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

“In case the penalty of Dismissal from Service can no longer be served due to respondent’s separation from public office, a fine equivalent to one (1) year salary shall be imposed. Nevertheless, all accessory penalties of Dismissal from Service shall apply,” the OMB said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), in resolving the administrative case filed before it, issued a resolution last Friday, June 10, that also ordered the dismissal of Robles, Comia, Magbuhos Jr., Albao, Binsol, Borja, Calaca, Lopez, Estacio, Naniong, Garcia, Villanueva, Guevarra, So, Orozco, Ortanez, Deudor and Fidel S. Mendoza.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Neal Vincent M. Bainto earlier said the 18 BI officials and employees were found “liable for Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, in relation to the so called ‘Pastillas Scheme.’’’

Bainto said those dismissed “facilitated or allowed the facilitation of the arrival and/or departure of Chinese nationals, without undergoing appropriate immigration formalities, for a consideration.”

In addition to the 18 officials dismissed by the DOJ the OMB has ordered the dismissal of 27 more.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176511

A former local government employee in Maguindanao and his companion, both former drug personalities who surrendered to authorities in 2019, were arrested during a drug sting, an official said Monday.

Director Rogelito Daculla of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) identified the suspects as Tapia Malingco, 41; and Jhon Jickery Malingco Ayunan, 29; both of Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

Daculla said the two were arrested after they sold shabu to a PDEA agent disguised as a buyer at 5 p.m. Sunday in  Barangay Poblacion, Pagalungan.

“Tapia, a former LGU employee, and Ayunan, both voluntarily surrendered to authorities due to their involvement in illegal drugs some two years ago,” Daculla said.

Seized from them were PHP102,000 worth of shabu, the buy-bust money, identification cards, two mobile phones, a Tomahawk shotgun, a magazine assembly, three pieces of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition, and a wallet.

A former government employee has been arrested on drug and weapons charges.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/14/2188214/coa-flags-pia-p2063-million-discrepancy

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) over a P206.304-million discrepancy on the value of its property plant and equipment (PPE) from what was declared in its books as compared to the physical inventory.

In its 2021 annual audit report, the COA noted that based on PIA’s books of accounts of General Ledger as of Dec. 31, 2021, its PPE has a total value of P420.128 million.

However, the COA noted on the report on the Physical Count of PPE (RPCPPE) as of last Dec. 31, there was a balance of only P237.102 million, hence a discrepancy of P206.304 million from its books.

The audit body said this could mean that some PPE were missing or unaccounted for or that they were erroneously evaluated or classified.

The largest discrepancy was in office equipment, which was valued at P119.768 million but the physical count valuation only yielded P15.388 million, a difference of P104.380 million. Meanwhile, the value of “Other Machineries and Equipment” was declared in the books to be at P26.020 million but the physical count report only amounted to P2.852 million, a discrepancy of P23.168 million.

The COA said the discrepancy between the PIA’s books and physical inventory report has been a recurring adverse observation since 2017 but the agency did little to address the issue.

The COA has flagged the PIA for financial discrepancies which have been occurring since 2017.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1610869/cop-shot-dead-in-iligan-city

A police investigator of Iligan City Police Station 4 (ICPS 4) based in Barangay Tambacan here was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon.

Police Major Zandrex Panolong, spokesperson of the Iligan City Police Office, said Police Senior Master Sergeant Ruel C. Vacal 42, ICPS 4 chief investigator, was traveling home past 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Santa Elena aboard his motorcycle when two motorcycle-riding gunmen flagged him down in Purok Violeta Orellana in Barangay Tubod.

One of the men then shot Vacal in his abdomen thrice before fleeing.

Vacal was rushed to nearby Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Panolong said they are still investigating the possible motive of the attack.

A police officer was assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176640

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has found a former Pampanga mayor liable for the delay in the construction of the town slaughterhouse that started during his term and was sentenced up to eight years in prison.

A 34-page decision dated June 8 said former Guagua mayor Ricardo Rivera is guilty of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The PHP28.5-million project started on April 21, 2009 was supposed to be completed within 240 days.

In 2013 when the project remained unfinished, a complaint was filed by a losing candidate, citing a 2011 Commission on Audit report that said the municipality lost PHP801,901 annually in amortization due to the project’s non-operational status.

Rivera claimed that road closures due to repairs, excavation, dredging of rivers, and inclement weather were responsible for the delay.

The project eventually went into full operation in August 2019, or 10 years after the start of construction.

The court found Rivera liable for “failing to take appropriate action to ensure the completion of the construction” and “to institute proper legal action “against the contractor, NC’s General Contractor, through termination of contract or enforcing payment of liquidated damages for failure to complete and deliver the project on time. 

An ex-mayor has been convicted for the delay of the construction of a slaughterhouse and faces up to 8 years in prison. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/15/2188571/coa-calls-out-youth-commissions-illegal-use-sk-funds-anti-communism-campaign

State auditors flagged the National Youth Commission’s “illegal” use of funds meant for the mandatory and continuing training of Sangguniang Kabataan officers for the government’s controversial anti-communist campaign.

In its annual audit report on the youth body, the Commission on Audit said the NYC was wrong to use the training funds for the anti-communist campaign as the SK law provides that “in no case shall said amount be used for any other purpose.”

The COA specifically called out the the group's spending of P651,999.73 for the payment of salaries of three contractual workers assigned to perform tasks relating to the anti-communist campaign.

“As there were no funds issued for implementing [anti-communist] activities, it would appear that the agency is defrauding the government by using funds for a different purpose other than that which intended,” state auditors said.

They continued: “Therefore, the above salary payments … are considered irregular/illegal expenditures.”
The NYC justified its spending for anti-communist activities by saying that orientations are included in SK trainings.

“As a member agency to the ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict), it is NYC’s commitment to encourage the youth to be conscious of the deceptive recruitment of the communist front organizations which target participants are the SK,” it said.

The COA, however, was not satisfied. In response to the NYC, state auditors said the contractual workers only performed facilitative or administrative tasks “which do not amount to provision of SK training.”

“We maintain our stand that the [SK training fund] was not used for its intended purpose.”

The COA has called out the SK youth commission for using funds illegally. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176805

Members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led a joint team here in arresting an alleged fake dentist following a tip from the Philippine Dentists' Association (PDA) in Negros Oriental.

A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) said the suspect, Marwa Biston Salic, alias “Precious”, 23, was arrested Wednesday night at a pension house in Barangay Looc.

The woman is said to be a former kagawad (village councilor) of Barangay Ilian, Bacolod-Kawali in Lanao Del Sur.

The local CIDG and the local police, accompanied by representatives of the Philippine Dental Association-Negros Oriental, swooped down on the suspect in an entrapment while she was engaging in the illegal practice of dentistry.

Police said Salic was operating without authority from the law, without a certificate of registration and professional identification card, as well as a special permit issued by the proper authority which constitutes a violation of Republic Act 9484 or An Act to Regulate the Practice of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Technology in the Philippines.

A former village councilor has been arrested for illegally practicing dentistry.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/sandiganbayan-affirms-conviction-of-5-caloocan-city-barangay-officials/

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision that convicted five Caloocan City barangay officials of falsification of public document.

It denied the appeal for reconsideration filed by Barangay Chairman Wilfredo M. Camus, Barangay Councilmen Benito A. Ching, Claro Melarpis Ponce, and Zacarias M. Ferrer, and Barangay Secretary Ramon E. Acuna of Barangay 48, Zone 4, District II.

They had been sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of six months and one day as minimum to eight years as maximum with the accessory penalty of P2,000.

The affirmed decision of the Sandiganbayan was the dismissal of the barangay officials’ appeal which challenged their conviction by the Caloocan City regional trial court (RTC).

The criminal charges against them stemmed from the falsification of Resolution No. 001, Series of 2013, which stated that the Sangguniang Barangay held a session on Dec. 1, 2013 and all of its members unanimously approved the appointment of Acuna as barangay secretary. However, no session actually took place.

In their motion to reconsider the decision, the barangay officials told the anti-graft court that they “became victims of dirty politics.”

They said they were reportedly “made to believe that the signing of the resolution would be valid due to the fact that the [same] was needed in order for [accused-appellants] not to be charged with dereliction of their duties.”

They also said they were convinced that the issue had been consulted with the Department of Interior and Local Government, which then advised them that it was “within the discretion of the barangay captain.”

They appealed for leniency as they pointed out that they are all senior citizens and their removal from officer after less than one year of service was more than enough punishment for their negligence.

But the Sandiganbayan said: “While the Court commiserates with the accused-appellants who are ‘senior citizens in the twilight of their lives’ and have been removed from their respective positions after less than a year in service, it cannot reverse its findings on this score alone. Nowhere in our laws and jurisprudence can one find authority for acquitting a person on the sole basis of age.”

The conviction of five barangay officials for falsifying a document has been upheld and their pleas of leniency due to their age has been denied.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/dismissed-police-sarge-tagged-in-pasay-killing-in-2008-arrested-in-rizal/

Operatives of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-IMEG) arrested on Wednesday, June 15, a former police sergeant who was tagged in various criminal activities, including a homicide case in 2008, during a follow-up operation in Taytay, Rizal. 

PNP-IMEG Director Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion said an additional case will be slapped against former Police Staff Sgt. Luis Jomok III after he tried to bribe the arresting officers P2 million in exchange for his release.

Jomok was demoted three times before for his involvement in various illegal activities. He was later dismissed from the service.

Nacion was tagged as the gunman in the killing of a certain Billy Lozada in Pasay City in August 2008. An arrest warrant was issued against him in September last year. 

“Despite the fact that nine months have passed, the suspect continues to enjoy his freedom and indulged in the unlawful sale of nearly expired food,” said Nacion.

Nacion said they first obtained information about the whereabouts of Jomok in June 3 wherein he was spotted in Barangay Dolores in Taytay town. It was there where he was arrested on Wednesday.

A cop who was demoted three times for his involvement in various illegal activities before he was finally dismissed has been arrested for a homicide committed back in 2008.