Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Top 10 Lies About the Philippines

I admit this is not an original post and was inspired by this video which is pretty stupid. It's got to be one of the most insulting top 10 videos about the Philippines I have seen. Take numbers 9 and 8 respectively, The Philippines is one land mass and They don't speak English. Does anyone really believe Filipinos do not speak English or that the Philippines is not an island nation? My goodness! There are in fact many lies and misconceptions about the Philippines and Filipinos and that video does not even begin to scratch the surface. Let me offer an alternative list of the top 10 lies about the Philippines.


Lie #10 The Philippines Smells Good

One might think that living on a tropical island is paradise and that there will always be a lovely sea breeze but unless you are in Boracay that is not the case. Elsewhere the air constantly stinks. The scent is a mixture of rotting trash, burning trash, and vehicle pollution. Mostly the air is breathable. Mostly.



I had to close my window while typing this because someone started using a smoky open pit to cook their breakfast. 

Lie #9 Filipinos Love Peace and Quiet

Wow. This one is just a huge NO-NO!  Filipinos love to party. They will in fact party until 5am and even longer using HUGE speakers to pump out that BOOM-BOOM-BOOM to the surrounding countryside. If you are unlucky enough to live near a Church then count out sleeping in on Sundays or any day for that matter as the bells will start clanging around 5am. Time to wake up and pray to the Virgin that they shut off all that noise, noise, noise!



Lie #8 Filipinos are Helpful

This might be a matter of perspective but when I am shopping I sure do not want a store clerk following me around like I am a thief. If I need your help I will ask for it. Leave me alone and let me shop!


Lie #7 Filipinos are Stupid

Now this is a nasty stereotype we have all heard before. It probably stems from the fact that the average Filipino IQ is 81.64. 

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-iq-by-country

It also probably comes from the fact that Filipinos continue to elect leaders who don't care about them at all and brazenly deny their family's destructive role between 1965 and 1986.


Lie #6 Filipinos Eat Cats

This is simply not true. Many Filipinos actually hate cats. In fact, I found my favorite cat tied up in a bag and tossed onto the side of the road. As I was running past on my morning route I heard her cries and saved her. I named her Baggie and she is only one of many kittens I have rescued from the garbage. 




Lie #5 The Philippines is the Most Beautiful Place in the World

This is not even close. Harpers Bazaar recently disclosed the top 50 most beautiful places in the world and the Philippines did not make the cut. 

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/travel-dining/g7171/most-beautiful-places-in-the-world/

Lie #4 Filipinos Live in Shanties or Huts

Nope. Not true. Not this time. It's false. While the poorest of the poor do live like animals in dangerous warrens of shanties and some used to live in the garbage heaps known as Smokey Mountain the fact is many Filipinos live in large houses made out of concrete and bricks. Just check out the barbed wire topped fence surrounding this house. In the rest of the world a man's house is his castle but in the Philippines a man's house is his own prison. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-typical-filipino-house.html

Lie #3 The Weather is always Nice in the Philippines

Are you kidding? Massive typhoons wreck this nation every year. The monsoon season always brings floods. It's a good thing Filipinos are smart enough to build cities and homes that mitigate these annual disasters or there would be a lot of destruction.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1641841/cebu-city-hit-by-worst-flood-since-typhoon-odette

Lie #2 The Philippines is Safe

Define safe. Simply because you can go to the mall or Jollibee with no hassle does not mean this nation is safe. Filipinos are regularly gunned down or stabbed or hacked to death because the perpetrator was drunk or getting revenge or just wanted to rob him. The PNP are known to actually extort their fellow countrymen, beat to death their own comrades, and kidnap and murder foreigners. The Philippines is not safe at all especially if you are politician. Every single politician in this nation has a target on his back and he knows it.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1641155/21-policemen-face-criminal-administrative-charges-over-death-of-fellow-cop-in-masbate

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/457347/scholar-16-robbed-killed-in-cebu-city-on-his-fathers-birthday

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177521

Lie #1 The Philippines Exists

This is definitely the biggest lie of them all. Does the Philippines exist? Well, yes it is a political designation on the map and it has a seat in the UN. But the fact is the Philippines is the figment of the world's collective imagination. It is 7,000 unique islands and hundreds of distinct people groups forcibly united by first the Spanish and second the Americans. To this day the Muslims in Mindanao do not want to be Filipinos. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/996061/house-oks-bbl-bill-but-senate-introduces-contentious-changes
Drilon successfully moved for the inclusion of a provision reiterating “that the Bangsamoro people are citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.” Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the bill sponsor, said this was opposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

The fact is the Philippines is a collection of various people groups who, against their will, have been forged into one political entity but otherwise maintain their distinct cultures be it Visayan, Cebuano, Illocano, Tagalog, or Igorot. The Philippines only exists as a political fiction. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Insurgency: Stand With VP Sara vs. Insurgency

Recently a record breaking 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters surrendered to the government. If estimates are to be believed that is practically half of their current membership.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180210

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Saturday welcomed some 100 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrenderers in Sulu.

The surrender of the 100 ASG members was facilitated by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) headed by Maj. Gen. Patrick Villacorte.

Villacorte presented the 100 ASG surrenderers to Abalos in a ceremony at Sumadja Hall, Capitol Site, Patikul, Sulu.

Abalos was happy to note that the 100 ASG members decided to surrender to live peaceful lives noting the hardships they experienced in the mountains and continuously being pursued by government troops.

“From the bottom of our hearts, welcome to the government and we’ll make sure that our children will have a better and brighter tomorrow,” Abalos said during the ceremony.

This is indeed a victory and could signal the end of the ASG. The PNP, AFP, and even the NTF-ELCAC are to be thanked for this happening. The DILG expects even more surrenders to occur.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180698

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed hope that more members of the New People's Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will leave the armed struggle and lead new lives as peace-loving and productive citizens.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made the remark as he reported the recent surrender of 100 ASG members and supporters in Sulu and 50 former NPA and Militia ng Bayan members.

“(It seems this will continue). I have been receiving a lot of invitations. This week, (I will go to another place again and there will be another batch of surrenderers and I hope this will continue so that we can attain genuine peace),” Abalos said in a Palace press briefing.

He added that this development will pave the way for real progress and development in the province of Sulu, which is a known stronghold of the ASG.

"(Sulu is very beautiful). They got one of the country’s pristine beaches. (The land is fertile), ready for agriculture. So, (it seems this is being prepared) economic progress," he added.

Asked on the exact number of ASG fighters in Sulu, Abalos said he cannot give a figure but the group's force is now limited to a "very small number".

Abalos also called on the remaining NPA and ASG members to return to the fold of the law.

This did not occur overnight or even within the past month. This is a long time coming. However one Tweeter had a different take on the matter.

https://twitter.com/AlfredoGenom/status/1553644476035665922

100 Abu Sayyaf members recently surrendered under the "Balik Loob" program of Sulu Province. A victory in our anti-terror campaign, and a testament to PBBM's commitment to end insurgency in the country. #BBMFirst100Days 

The fact is Bongo Marcos has nothing to do with this victory. It just happened to happen at the beginning of his term. This serves to underscore the fact that at the beginning of each presidency the clock to stop the insurgency restarts. The clock has a six year time limit.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/07/09/news/national/marcos-govt-seeks-end-to-insurgency/1850288

DEPUTY National Security Adviser Rommel Banlaoi said they are targeting to end the decades-old insurgency before the end of the six-year term of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Banlaoi, a respected political scientist and security expert, said they will assist the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) in hitting the target via a whole-of-nation approach.

"We hope hindi na ito aabutin ng six years (We hope this will not reach six years)," Banlaoi said.

He said that the sooner the insurgency ends, the "better and faster we can focus on the economic development of every part or village of the country."

Banlaoi said there are just some 2,000 communist rebels in the country, and they are hoping that they would simply surrender to the government than risk their lives over senseless encounters.

There are only 2,000 NPA left? Let's keep that number in the back of our heads and see where we are in six years time. This number does not include the "300,000 to 400,000 who are allies of different CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations" which the NICA claims has infiltrated the government. If all the NPA are wiped out and the other groups remain will the government call it a victory? Every administration has made this promise and the only thing to do is wait and see. 

That same Tweeter who thanked Marcos for the surrender of 100 ASG also made the surprising claim that Sara Duterte has shown more resolve in fighting the CPP-NPA-NDF than anyone else in the past 53 years.

https://twitter.com/AlfredoGenom/status/1553590948831309824
In just one month, VP Sara Duterte has already shown more resolve and passion in fighting the terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF than what her predecessors did in years.

What a way to negate the efforts of so many including soldiers who gave their lives fighting against the insurgents. This claim stems from the recent word war between Sara and the Makabayan bloc. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/31/vp-sara-makabayan-bloc-trade-barbs-over-sona-garb/

An irked Vice President Sara Duterte did not mince words when she slammed former Bayan Muna Rep. Eufamia Cullamat over her remarks about her traditional Bagobo Tagabawa dress attire during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), alleging the Makabayan bloc of Congress, of which she is a member, to have ties with communist rebels.

The Makabayan bloc, for its part, called out Duterte’s “red-tagging and terror-tagging,” liking her to former president Rodrigo Duterte who “has dodged pressing concerns of the Filipino people.”

In a statement, the Vice President hit the Makabayan bloc for “desperately spinning things around as they scramble to make sense in a world that has already rendered them inconsequential.”

“Makabayan Bloc, with member partylist groups suffering the tragedy of losing during in the election last May — and this is something that speaks volumes of their relevance today and could, even more, speak volumes of their contribution to nation building, or the apparent lack of it — now attempts to make the Filipino public believe that their intentions are noble when they curiously started this tit-for-tat with a criticism of that Bagobo Tagabawa dress I wore to the SONA,” she said. 

“But make no mistake. Makabayan Bloc cannot be trusted. And no self-respecting Filipino should fall for its drama,” Duterte added. 

This came after Cullamat criticized Duterte for wearing the traditional garb of the Lumad when she red-tagged the students and teachers of Lumad schools. 

But Duterte hit back by saying that the Lumad schools were shut down in 2019 because the Department of Education (DepEd) found that the schools failed to fill in the education gap for learners “except maybe for subjects dedicated to the indoctrination of the children by the volunteer teachers whose real assignments were to groom the children and prepare them to join the armed terrorism of the NPA.”

But the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network condemned the closure of the schools and rejected the validity of the DepEd findings since the investigation was only based on the “false narratives” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its paramilitary troops. 

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc condemned Duterte’s statement against Cullamat, saying that the Vice President should apologize to the Lumad community and Cullamat “for enabling the massacre and corporate plunder of Lumad communities and for ordering closure of 11 Salugpongan schools in Davao City.”

“We cannot let VP Duterte’s dangerous and callous tirades against Cullamat pass, nor condone her unconscionable demand for Cullamat to apologize to her fellow IPs and her daughter who was slain by the military,” the statement read. 

What a lot of needless drama all sparked because Sara, who is a half-Jew and in no way an IP, cosplayed as an indigenous person at Marcos' SONA. She says she did this to bring attention to the plight of the IPs who are being victimized by the CPP but it's rather obvious she did it to steal the spotlight. Not only did this incident spark a war of words between Duterte and the Makabayan Bloc but even the NTF-ELCAC stepped in to comment. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180384

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) vowed to stand united with Vice President Sara Duterte in fighting communist terrorist groups and their allied front organizations.

Flosemer Chris Gonzales, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Legal Affairs, said Duterte immortalized their core message and advocacy when she said communist groups must be exposed.

“We find courage in your words, Madame Vice President. These are words that we know you will translate into action. Trust that we will be one with you in transforming your words into reality for the Filipino people,” Gonzales said in a statement Monday night.

In a previous statement, Duterte condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) for deceiving the youth into joining the armed struggle and waging a war they will never win because it is a war against their fellow Filipinos.

Gonzales said Duterte strengthened NTF-ELCAC’s resolve to work for a just and lasting peace.

He said the NTF-ELCAC would systematically tear down the layers of lies and deception that the CPP-NPA-NDF has built around their so-called front organizations, responsible for the recruitment and meaningless deaths of a number of young people in the guise of a revolution.

“The CPP-NPA-NDF’s lost and dying cause has totally lost all sense and meaning and has been reduced to a mere criminal and terrorist rabble that resorts to lawless violence and desperate acts of extortion that aggravate the sad plight of our masses in the few remaining conflict-stricken areas in the country,” Gonzales said.

Where exactly is the courage in her words? Lorraine Badoy has being saying the same kind of things for years. There is literally nothing new here and Sara was rightly called out for cosplaying as an Indigenous Person and overshadowing Marcos. But it's not only the NTF-ELCAC who is holding up VP Duterte as someone who must be followed in the fight against the CPP-NPA-NDF.

https://twitter.com/GiboTeodoroJr/status/1554648506853658624

Even the military is kissing up to her. Hasn't the AFP been "exposing their real agenda" for years now? Doesn't that mean Sara should be following them? She is a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to fighting the insurgency. 

If you want to celebrate women fighting the insurgency then there are better candidates besides Sara Duterte and Lorraine Badoy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180526
Task Group Bangis (TGB), the newly formed peacekeeping unit of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), has fielded female soldiers in the forefront of their peace missions in Central Mindanao.

Lt. Col. Michael Angelo Candole, the TGB commander, said the female soldiers will regularly accompany the Army in their humanitarian endeavors in the far-flung areas.

“These female soldiers are to provide support to the local government and other agencies, not limited to our outreach programs and medical missions,” Candole said in a statement Wednesday.

A platoon of women TGB soldiers participated Tuesday in a medical and outreach program conducted in Barangay Kablacan in Maasim, Sarangani province.

They participated in the medical consultation, operation “tuli” (circumcision), delivery of medicines and vitamins, hygiene awareness for teenagers, kids’ recreational activities, feeding program, operation “gupit” (haircut), minor operations, and relief goods distribution.

At least 100 beneficiaries, mostly indigents, benefited from the program carried out by joint Army, police, and local government unit (LGU) personnel.

“Deploying our female troops in these efforts is not only the right thing to do but also a smart move to win the hearts and minds of our local people, especially those at the grassroots level,” said Lt. Colonel Anhouvic Atilano, the Army's 38th Infantry Battalion commander who organized the outreach.

But because these women are working hard behind the scenes they will not get the credit they deserve. 

United States troops continue to train the AFP in counterinsurgency techniques. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180617

Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, led the donning of the rank on the newly-promoted commander of the American troops based here.

In a statement Thursday, Westmincom said the rank insignia was pinned on Lt. Col. Paul Bailey of the United States Marine Corp, the head of the US Special Operations Task Force 511.2 (SOTF-511.2) based in Camp Navarro.

The donning of the rank was held closed-door Wednesday inside the camp, which is the Westmincom headquarters, with selected Philippine and US military officials in attendance.

Rosario also awarded the Military Civic Action Medal to Bailey and the SOTF 511.2 members for meritorious achievement during their almost eight months of deployment as Westmincom-Foreign Liaison Elements.

Other awardees were Majors James Salka and Daniel Grant, Captains Michael Nerdahl and Edward Robinson, and 1st Sgt. Robert Turek, all of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The U.S. Armed Forces had been providing training and technical assistance to Filipino troops in combating terrorism in Mindanao.

In his message, Rosario thanked the SOTF 511.2 for the knowledge and expertise they shared that supported Westmincom's mission.

Meanwhile, Bailey thanked Westmincom for providing them with a haven during their deployment.

He assured that their successors will sustain the strong interoperability of the US and Philippine troops. 

That the US offers real assistance to the AFP is a story that remains in the background with not many reporting on it. That's all good and well as surely the US Marines do not want attention drawn to themselves. Better to let Boxing Sara steal the scene by cosplaying as not only an Indigenous Person but as the most resolved against the insurgency in the past 53 years. 

Monday, August 8, 2022

Davao City Refuses to Enforce Health Ordinances

A recent diarrhea outbreak occurred in Davao killing six people and causing others to be hospitalized. The outbreak was traced to mishandling of food. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180656

The culprit of the diarrhea outbreak in Toril district here was due to food contamination, the City Health Office (CHO) said Friday.

“I announce that the diarrhea outbreak was due to a foodborne microorganism, with Vibrio cholera as the pathogen of concern. The most likely vehicle of transmission is contaminated food,” CHO acting chief Dr. Ashley Lopez said.

At least six infected persons died from the virus outbreak in Toril that began on July 15.

Lopez said a male patient was the latest fatality of the outbreak who died on July 24.

Rectal swabs done on the affected cases showed that 60 percent turned out positive in the bacteriological culture testing, he added.

Based on the CHO investigation, he said diarrhea patient cases have gone down to 217 cases as others that were previously recorded were not related to the outbreak.

Of the figure, 163 or 75 percent of the admitted cases have recovered.

“There are now only 11 individuals remaining, or 5 percent of the total affected cases in the hospitals being treated. Twenty-six cases were treated in the outpatient department of hospitals, while 11 other cases are still for verification,” he said.

Of all those infected, 41 percent had episodes of eating and drinking at food stalls in Rasay Street in Toril, while 21 percent of the cases ate and drank at the district’s public market.

The remaining 38 percent are from multiple sources but are statistically insignificant to be considered as exposure for cases.

“Based on investigations, food may have been contaminated during preparation and handling by infected handlers. It was also found that proper storage, delayed serving, and unsanitary environment may have contributed to the food contamination because of exposure to elements,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Toril Police Station Police chief Maj. Carol Jabagat said the city will not file any charges against the street vendors.  

However, a policy will be released that will serve as the guidelines for the food establishments, she said.

Six people are dead and hundreds of others have been incapacitated due to the mishandling of food and the PNP says the city will not filing charges against any of the vendors. However, Mayor Duterte is singing a different tune.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180629

Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte vowed to hold accountable the culprits behind the diarrhea outbreak in Toril District here that killed six people, saying the city may pursue charges.

“People have lost their lives just because of mishandling of food. I hope that you have put yourselves in the situation of the victims,” Duterte told reporters Thursday.

However, the mayor said he was disappointed by reports that families of the victims are not keen on pressing charges against the culprits.

“I told them if they decide to press charges, I will accompany them. However, the family said they would rather not,” he said.

“That is what I want,” he added when asked whether the city government will file charges instead.

Following the outbreak, Duterte said the local government will enforce additional policies for street food vendors before they are allowed to operate.

“I have already tasked the barangays and CHO to coordinate. Having a health card is only one of the requirements, there will be more. We cannot allow this to happen again. It is unacceptable,” he said.

Based on investigations, food may have been contaminated during preparation and handling.

It was also found that proper storage, delayed serving, and an unsanitary environment may have contributed to the food contamination because of exposure to elements.

By all means the city should charge these vendors for violating existing health ordinances. That Duterte asked the victims if they wanted to press charges is beside the point. It does not matter what the victims want. These vendors did not follow existing ordinances and six people are dead as a result. Did the Mayor ask the deceased victims if they wanted to press charges? What good is having laws if the city will not punish those who violate them? Once again this situation shows how ultimately the Philippines is a lawless nation. 

Friday, August 5, 2022

Retards in the Government 270

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

  


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180113

The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of a father and son, who were both former mayors of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and two others for their participation in the alleged malversation of PHP81 million in public funds representing the share of the town from the excise tax on locally manufactured cigarettes.

Edgardo Zaragoza and his son, Zuriel; municipal accountant Melody Cadacio; and education research assistant Mario Cabinte have been charged with malversation and graft under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The court set the bail at PHP210,000 each.

Narvacan Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson sued them for misappropriating the funds for farmer-beneficiaries, obtained from the excise tax of the Farmers Association of Narvacan.

The respondents forged records to pad the number of farmer-beneficiaries of the excise tax, according to Singson’s complaint.

“The people of Narvacan suffered due to the abuses committed by local officials,” Singson said.

The Zaragozas and the other accused are questioning the sufficiency of the accusation largely based on the testimony of another co-accused turned witness, Constante Cabitac, the farmers’ association president who claimed he was made to encash checks more than 10 times, including one worth PHP35 million, in exchange for grocery allowance.

Two former mayors of the same town who happened to be father and son have been charged with graft for malversation of funds over excise tax on local manufactured cigarettes.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1636915/police-probes-death-of-masbate-cop-due-to-alleged-hazing

A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was created to investigate the death of the 32-year-old policeman assigned in Masbate province, an alleged victim of hazing by his own senior officers.

In a belated report issued on Thursday, July 28, police said Patrolman Jaypee Ramores, assigned at the 503rd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion Bicol, was taken to Ticao District Hospital in San Jacinto town at around 1 p.m. on July 26.

Report said Ramores died while being treated at around 9:30 p.m. on the same day.

Photos posted by a concerned citizen on Facebook showed that Ramores had cigarette burns, severe bruises at the back of his body and his legs, and other signs of torture.

Before the incident, initial investigation revealed that on July 22, the victim was also brought to the hospital after he collapsed while performing a road run around the town. He was discharged from the hospital at around 5 p.m. on the same day.

Police Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of Bicol police, said the SITG Ramores led by Police Colonel Rodolfo Castil, deputy regional director for operations, would be conducting a detailed and thorough investigation of the incident.

Calubaquib said the National Bureau of Investigation conducted an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the police officer.

A statement released by the Bicol police said that their agency would be stringent in dealing with the case.

“By the time it has been proven that there were irregularities and loopholes that happened, this unit ensures that those who are culpable of the incident shall be dealt with accordingly. We do not tolerate any misdeeds or physical abuse in our ranks,” Bicol police said.

It seems a PNP officer died at the hands of his fellow officers during a hazing ritual and they covered it up.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1637483/4-tourist-cops-found-positive-for-illegal-drug-use-in-angeles-city

Four of the 75 members of the city tourism auxiliary force have tested positive for illegal drug use, authorities said.

In a statement on Thursday, July 28, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said the four civilian law enforcers will undergo rehabilitation.

Lazatin said he has already directed the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council to endorse the four city government employees to the drug rehabilitation center in Magalang, Pampanga.

On July 25, the 75 members of the city’s tourism auxiliary force were subjected to a surprise drug test.

Lazatin said he wanted to ensure that there were no drug users among the city’s government employees.

“In my second term, we will ensure that City Hall will be drug-free,” he said.

Members of the auxiliary unit assist police officers in maintaining peace and order in tourist areas of this city, particularly in places frequented by foreigners.

Four tourist cops tested positive for drug usage. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/840073/sandiganbayan-junks-former-iloilo-rep-tupas-bid-to-dismiss-graft-malversation-raps/story/

The Sandiganbayan has junked due to lack of merit the bid of former Iloilo lawmaker  Niel Tupas, Jr. to dismiss the graft and malversation charges against him involving the transfer of his discretionary fund to a nongovernment organization (NGO) in 2008.

This developed after the anti-graft court, in a Resolution dated July 26, denied Tupas' demurrer to evidence, a pleading seeking the dismissal of the case due to weak prosecution evidence and without the defense presenting its own.

"We are not persuaded. Passing through the assertions of the prosecution in their Comment/Opposition [on Tupas' demurrer to evidence] and the evidence presented, it is ostensible that they were able to build up the case against the accused," the anti-graft court said.

Tupas, the Sandiganbayan said, was a member of the House of Representatives at the time material to the case and may have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence considering his admission in his counter-affidavit containing his statement recommending  NGO Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. or KKAMFI as project partner of then state-run National Agribusiness Corporation or NABCOR.

"It is quite definite that the public fund supposedly earmarked for the project is now unaccountable," the Sandiganbayan added. 

The anti-graft court also cited prosecution's argument that being a member of the House of Representatives entitled to discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to subsidize his projects, Tupas should have effective control over the fund which was considered personal.

"In short, the motion of accused Tupas is not adequate to rebut the presumption of malversation enshrined in Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code. At this point, the Court has sufficient reason to believe that the prosecution is on the right track in establishing and substantiating the material allegations in the foregoing information unless derailed by competent evidence by the accused," it added.

Proceeding with the trial of Tupas, the Sandigabayan said, is in the interest of fair play that would allow the accused to present evidence  to defend himself.

The Sandiganbayan has refused to junk the case of a former member of the House of Representatives graft case.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180481

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad ordered an immediate investigation into a rape case involving a Pasig City police officer.

In a statement on Wednesday, Natividad assured that the suspect, 41-year-old Cpl. Mario Maramag, would be punished accordingly if found guilty of the accusation.

Citing reports reaching his office, Natividad said the 29-year-old victim went to the Pasig City Police Station (CPS) and filed a complaint against Maramag.

The incident happened at a motel in Barangay Bagong Ilog in Pasig on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon, Maramag surrendered to Lt. Jazon Lovendino, officer in charge of the Pasig CPS Sub Station 2.

He is currently under detention at the Pasig CPS pending investigation while the victim was brought to the PNP Forensic Unit in Camp Crame, Quezon City for a medico-legal examination.

A PNP officer has been arrested on suspicion of rape. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1638962/ched-flagged-for-failed-it-development-plan-for-sucs

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) failed to implement the Smart Campus Development Program due to the six months it spent vetting and approving proposals, the Commission on Audit(COA) said in a 2021 report.

Aside from the lengthy time the agency took evaluating proposals, the state auditors said the P1.958 billion transferred to 89 state universities and colleges (SUCs) for the program was not returned to the national treasury after the validity of the Bayanihan 2 law ended on June 30, 2021.

This ended up “depriving the SUCs [of] the development/upgrading of their information and communications technology (ICT) equipment and capabilities toward a smart campus.”

The Commission on Higher Education has been flagged for failing to implement IT projects.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/840210/sandiganbayan-denies-immigration-officials-motion-to-quash-pastillas-scam-graft-raps/story/

The Sandiganbayan junked the motion of three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers to quash the graft charges filed against them in connection with the "Pastillas scam the bribery scheme that allegedly allowed the illegal entry of Chinese citizens into the country, due to lack of merit.

In a July 27 Resolution, the anti-graft court dismissed the motion to quash filed by Aurelio Lucero III, George Bituin, and Salahudin Hadjinoor, all ranked Immigration Officer 3.

Government prosecutors charged the BI officers and 39 others with graft, alleging that these BI employees conspired with each other and Liya Wu of Empire International Travel and Tours, to "willfully, unlawfully... give unwarranted benefits, preference or advantage to foreign passengers, particularly Chinese nationals" by supposedly collecting a P10,000 fee per passenger for a total amount of P1.43 million.

The Sandiganbayan cited the Supreme Court decision in the People v. Dapitan case which provides that Republic Act 8249, which established the anti-graft court, says the Sandiganbayan exercises jurisdiction over all officials occupying positions in the government, whether in a permanent, acting, or interim capacity.

"We deny the motion to quash for lack of merit. [The] accused do not dispute that a Deputy Commissioner [like their co-accused Marc Mariñas] falls under Salary Grade 27. The fact that Mariñas' appointment did not become permanent is of no moment," the Sandiganabayan said.

"The Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over the offense and the accused. There is no doubt that Mariñas' designation as officer-in-charge is either in an acting, or interim capacity. Precisely, within the jurisdiction of this Court," the Sandiganbayan added.

The Sandiganbayan then said that Mariñas, being under Salary Grade 27 during his tenure, is sufficient for the court to exercise its jurisdiction.

Likewise, the anti-graft court cited that the graft raps filed by government prosecutors were sufficient in form and substance.

The Sandiganbayan has junked a motion to quash an immigration officials' request to dismiss his case in the pastille scheme for lack of merit. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/08/01/2199359/coa-flags-deped-over-p45-billion-distance-learning-fund-deficiencies

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Education (DepEd) over “deficiencies” in the utilization of funds amounting P4.527 billion intended for the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), also referred to as distance learning program, for school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

In its 2021 annual audit report on the DepEd, the COA noted that of the P16.405-billion fund allocated by Congress to the DepEd under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan I) and RA 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (Bayanihan 2) for the implementation of the BE-LCP, a total of P12.07 has already been downloaded to the DepEd Central Office, regional offices (ROs) and schools division offices as of Dec. 31 last year.

The audit, however, said a review of the implementation of the BE-LCP revealed several deficiencies covering funds worth P4.527 billion, among them “lapses in budget utilization” by the ROs of the National Capital Region (NCR) and Regions 3, 7, 8 and 13 totaling P506.315 million; “non-/incomplete submission of the required documents regarding BE-LCP” fund utilization worth P205.8 million by ROs 5, 6 and 8; and “non-/delayed submission of perfected contracts and Purchase Orders” worth P390.761 million by ROs NCR, 1, 3, 9 and 13.

Also flagged was P1.752-billion worth of BE-LCP-related procurements by ROs NCR, 1, 3, 4-A, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 13 for “non-compliance” with the implementing rules and regulations or IRR of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, and other issuances on government procurement.

Meanwhile, P917.876-million worth of disbursements and procurements still by the ROs NCR, ROs 1, 3, 4-A, 9 and 13 as well as 4-B were flagged for “inadequate supporting documents and other deficiencies.”

The ROs NCR 1, 3, 5 and 13 were likewise called out for non-preparation of the prescribed forms or improper recording of inventory items, though the value of the items was not indicated in the audit report.

Lastly, the COA flagged the “flawed/incomplete/delayed procurement, reproduction and delivery of self-learning modules (SLMs) worth P753.88 million by the ROs NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 1, 3, 4-B, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13.

“Considering the urgency and importance of the printed materials, the incomplete/non-availability of modules on the period in which it is supposed to be used deprived the learners of better learning opportunity and hampers the continuity of the learning process of students during this time of pandemic contrary to the program’s objective,” the COA said.

The CO was likewise called out for the purchase, through the Department of Budget and Management - Procurement Service (DBM-PS), of 39,583 laptops for public school teachers amounting P2.4 billion.

The purchased items were “pricey” for an entry-level type of laptop, thus, resulting in “significant decrease in the number of units provided to intended users,” according to the COA.

“Apparently, the supposed number of laptops to be procured of 68,500 units was significantly reduced to 39,583 units which was mainly due to the huge increase of estimated cost from P35,046.50 (per unit), based on the DepEd’s submitted and approved Agency Procurement Request, to P58,300 (per unit) anchored on the DBM-PS’ recommendation, which was duly accepted by the DepEd,” the audit body said.

Lastly, RO 5 was called out for various deficiencies in the utilization of P41.91 million of its COVID funds, such as the non-delivery of its procured health and safety supplies, failure to impose liquidated damages against erring suppliers and lack of distribution lists of its COVID-19-related procurements.

“The inability to deliver the aforesaid Health and Safety Supplies on time also deprived the beneficiaries to timely enjoy the benefits extended by the Program,” the COA said.