Retards in the Government 274

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

  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182193

Five barangay officials were arrested in Zamboanga del Sur province for two counts of violation of the Omnibus Election Code, a police official said Thursday.

Col. John Francis Encinareal, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), said the suspects were arrested through a warrant, in Barangay Dulop, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur on Thursday morning.

Encinareal identified the arrested village officials as Ismael Españo, 71, the barangay chairperson of Dulop; barangay councilors Ronald Amamangpang, 40, Edgar Sarajena, 46, and Juliana Maputi, 41; and barangay treasurer Evelyn Amamangpang, 36.

He said the case against the village officials stems from their alleged involvement in vote-buying during the May 9, 2022 elections.

However, Encinareal did not say who the five arrested barangay officials have campaigned for and supported during the polls.

He said the court of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, which issued the arrest order dated August 19, has set the bail for each of the accused at PHP36,000 per count.

The suspects were taken to the CIDG-Zamboanga del Sur field office for documentation and proper disposition.

Five barangay officials have been arrested for vote buying/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1938969/bacolod/local-news/cops-eye-rebels-behind-slay-of-isabela-village-chief

CONTRARY to his earlier pronouncement, Isabela Municipal Police Station Chief Major Joseph Partiday said Thursday, August 25, 2022, that members of the communist terrorist group (CTG) could be behind the killing of a barangay captain in the town on Wednesday.

Barangay Cabcab Captain Danilo Dautil, 61, succumbed to gunshot wounds on his nape and right portion of his chest near his armpit at the Isabela District Hospital a few minutes after he was shot by unidentified suspects.

Investigation showed that Dautil was riding his motorcycle on his way home from the town proper when at least two suspects came out from the sugarcane plantation beside the road, blocked his way and shot him at close range.

Partidas said that they were earlier looking at two angles. The killing could be politically motivated or it could be robbery since his bag was missing from the crime scene, he said.

The police said that as they dig deeper into the case, it became clearer that it is possible that Dautil was killed because of his active involvement against insurgency in the barangay.

A barangay chief has been assassinated perhaps by the NPA but the cops don't really know.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/26/suspected-insurgents-slay-village-chair-in-front-of-family-in-negros/

Suspected insurgents gunned down a 54-year-old barangay chairman in front of his family in Calatrava, Negros Occidental Friday, Aug. 26.

The murder of Barangay Lalong Captain Benjamin Javoc was the second involving a barangay captain in just three days by heavily armed men in Negros Occidental.

Before dawn Wednesday, Aug. 24, Danilo Dautil, 62, barangay captain of Barangay Cabcab, Isabela, Negros Occidental, was shot dead while on his way home.

The municipality is about 100 kilometers south of Calatrava and is a two-hour drive.

Police considered Dautil and Javoc’s murders as insurgency-related.

Police Major Lumyaen Lidawan, Calatrava police chief, said at least 10 unidentified armed men arrived at Javoc’s house at around 4:30 a.m.

Lidawan said gunmen shot Javoc outside his house and this was witnessed by his wife and son.

The suspects proceeded to ransack the victim’s house and carted away his personal belongings and P20,000.

Lidawan said they are considering this killing as insurgency-related, since the barangay was reported to be infested with armed rebels.

Police could not yet elaborate, pending the investigation.

Another Barangay chief has been assassinated and the cops have blamed the NPA but they are not sure. It's a guess.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182365

Members of the anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested an active police officer while gambling inside a casino in Pasay City.

In a statement Sunday, Brig. Gen. Warren De Leon, chief of the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), identified the cop as Maj. Rolando Isidoro, 51, is presently assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of PNP Police Security Protection Group (PSPG).

The IMEG National Capital Region Field Unit operatives arrested Isidoro in a law enforcement operation at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday following a report from a concerned citizen that the police commissioned officer was frequently seen playing slot machines inside the casino.

The arrest was done in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) and the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the National Capital Regional Office, PNP-PSPG, and the Security Management Office of Resorts World Casino.

Isidoro will be facing charges for violation of Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to memorandum circular No. 6, series of 2016, and Republic Act 6713 aside from administrative charges.

A PNP officer has been arrested for gambling inside a casino.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1654827/bataan-towns-top-cop-dead-in-accidental-shooting

The chief of police in Pilar town in this province died after he reportedly shot himself by accident at dawn on Monday, authorities said.

In a report, Colonel Romell Velasco, Bataan police director, said Major Rizaldy Rubio died while being taken to Orani District Hospital after sustaining a bullet wound to his abdomen.

Velasco said Rubio’s wife, May, reported hearing a gunshot from her husband’s room at past 4 a.m.

Rubio was staying with his family in Orani during his death.

Velasco ordered a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances around the incident. 

Another PNP officer has accidentally killed himself. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/460874/couple-city-hall-jo-nabbed-with-p340k-shabu-in-cebu-city-buy-bust

A couple and a government employee were arrested with 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000 during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Missionaries, Barangay Suba in Cebu City shortly after midnight on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Leia Alcantara, spokesperson of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas, identified the arrested individuals as Roberto Yburan, 32, and his wife, Maide Riza, 30, and Melvin Christ Abesa, 35, who works as a Job Order employee at the Cebu City Hall.

The buy-bust operation was made at the couple’s residence.

Alcantara said Roberto and Maide are both jobless and have made illegal drug peddling allegedly their source of income.  Abesa, a neighbor, works as their runner or delivery man.

The three arrested individuals are now detained at the PDEA-7 detention facility in Sudlon, Lahug while PDEA-7 prepare for the filing of appropriate charges against them.

Three people including a job order government employee have been arrested on drug charges.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182467

Armed men killed in an ambush a town police chief in Maguindanao and a patrol car driver Tuesday morning as they were about to serve an arrest warrant on a wanted man.

Brig. Gen. John Gano Guyguyon, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), identified the slain police officer as Lt. Reynaldo Samson, police chief of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

The identity of the police car driver remains unknown as of posting.

The police officer and several of his men went to Barangay Kapinpilan, Ampatuan to serve a warrant of arrest against a wanted person at about 10 a.m. when they were waylaid along a dirt road.

It was not immediately clear what happened to the rest of the police team.

Witnesses said the gunmen also took the slain victims’ rifles and ammunition.

Guyguyon said a manhunt was immediately launched against the perpetrators after the incident.

Ampatuan town, the site of the infamous 2009 Maguindanao massacre located 70 km. south of this city, is known as one of the areas of operation of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

A police chief and his driver have been assassinated by armed men possibly the BIFF.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1655698/cops-nab-army-man-linked-to-killing-of-village-chief-in-leyte

A member of the Philippine Army, who was linked to the killing of a village chief in Javier town, Leyte last week, was arrested by policemen for illegal possession of firearms in Tacloban City on Monday (August 29).

Sergeant Alexandro Calda, 33, did not resist arrest.

Lt. Nicky Bermudo, chief of the Javier Police Station, said their operatives have been monitoring Calda who was a suspect in the slaying of Joel Riños, the chairman of Barangay Inayupan, in Javier town on August 22.

The police said the suspect was identified through the aid of the closed-circuit television (CCTV), the Barangay Intelligence Network, and a witness who happened to be in the vicinity where the victim was shot dead.

Bermudo said the suspect introduced himself as a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines when the operatives came.

The suspect voluntarily opened the u-box of his vehicle where a .45 caliber pistol was sighted in plain view.

When asked by policemen to show the permits of his firearm, the suspect failed to show one.

The suspect and the confiscated items were brought to Police Station 2 of the Tacloban City Police Office for proper disposition.

A solider has been arrested for murdering a barangay captain. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1656674/fwd-cop-arrested-for-wire-theft-in-quezon-city

A police officer and three other individuals were arrested in Quezon City for allegedly stealing copper cables.

The Eastern Police District (EPD) confirmed on Thursday that Patrolman Francis Baquiran and three others were nabbed in Barangay Cruz na Ligas on Tuesday morning.

“I will not condone nor disregard any personnel who were involved in illegal activities under my watch. We do not tolerate any misconduct and breach of discipline in the PNP organization,” EPD district director Col. Wilson Asueta said in a statement.

He assured the public that the EPD police officer, who is currently under the custody of the Quezon City Police District, will be relieved from his post if found guilty.

A PNP officer has been arrested for staling copper cables. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/843440/ex-pangasinan-mayor-found-guilty-of-falsification-of-document/story/

The Sandiganbayan has found a former mayor of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan guilty of falsification of public document for signing a marriage certificate that he did not solemnize.

In a 44-page decision promulgated on August 26, the anti-graft court said Artemio Que Chan violated Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code. He was sentenced to a minimum of two years and four months to a maximum of eight years and one day imprisonment.

The court said the accessory penalties of temporary absolute disqualification for public office and perpetual disqualification from right to suffrage were also imposed.

Chan was also directed to pay a fine of P5,000.

A former mayor has been found guilty of falsifying a marriage certificate that he did not solemnize.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/22/coa-urges-ps-dbm-to-return-dormant-p3-b-invested-in-high-yield-savings

The Commission on Audit (COA) has urged the management of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) to return to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) P3 billion in dormant funds previously invested in high yield savings.

In a letter to PS-DBM OIC Atty. Jasonmer Uayan dated June 29, the COA recommended that the management “instruct the Head, Treasury Division to remit immediately the balance of High Yield Savings account of P3.000 billion to the BTr.”

Based on records reviewed by the COA, PS-DBM invested in high yield savings account with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to earn at higher interest rates than in current or savings accounts.

These investments however were already terminated in 2020. The amounts were reverted to PS-DBM’s current account with the LBP and the funds with the DBP worth P3.001 billion were reflected as “cash in bank - time deposits, local currency” in its records.

The P3.001 billion deposit earned P1.363 million in interest income. The interest income was already returned to the Treasury bureau as of March 18, 2022.

But according to COA, not just the interest but the entire P3 billion should be reverted to the national treasury’s general fund.

The agency reminded PS-DBM not to go beyond its mandate and authority.

“It is not in PS’s mandate to make investments and it has no authority to invest in High Yield Savings account. The practice of investing cash in a High Yield Savings account, therefore, deviates from its mandate of procurement of CSEs (common-used supplies and equipment) which requires the utilization of funds,” it said.

The COA has told the PS-DBM to return money it has illegally invested. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: A Win for the Anti-Vaxxers, No More COVID-Related Ayuda, and More!

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

Face-to-face classes have resumed nationwide. The DOH says that means COVID-19 cases will rise exponentially.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/26/22/covid-cases-may-reach-9000-daily-as-schools-reopen-doh

Daily COVID-19 infections in the country may reach as high as 9,000 by the end of September amid the resumption of face-to-face classes, the Department of Health said Friday.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the figures are based on its latest projections as millions of students returned to schools Monday, Aug. 22.

'"We agree the probability is there. Based on our projections, which were already updated because of the opening of classes, maaaring tumaas hanggang 9,000 daily cases dito sa bansa pagdating ng end of September hanggang Oktubre," she said in a press briefing.

A group of private hospitals earlier warned COVID-19 infection may go up amid increased mobility of the population.

What do they want? Why do they keep reporting these projections? Do they want everyone to stay inside forever? That's not happening and even if you wore a face mask 24 hours day and were fully vaccinated that is not guarantee you won't get infected.

The Catholic Church says they have had trouble getting people back into the pews. However, Churches remain open as potential vaccination sites. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182315

An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Health Care (CBCP-ECHC) on Friday assured that churches remain available as venues for vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Fr. Dan Cancino, executive secretary of the commission, said churches and other places of worship are ready to help local government units in their inoculation drive.

"Our churches continue to participate in making Covid-19 vaccines accessible, especially in areas with low vaccination accomplishments. We will continue to open church spaces to allow our faithful to avail of Covid-19 vaccines," he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

He said that aside from making churches as vaccine venues, they will continue to help in informing the public on the benefits of being vaccinated.

"We are also putting premium on increasing vaccine confidence and lowering the hesitancy towards Covid-19 vaccines," Cancino added.

That's one way to get the people back in Chruch. 

Once again the public is being told that COVID-19 cases are decreasing. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1654415/average-covid-19-cases-in-ph-decrease-by-15-percent-says-octa-research

The weekly average of new COVID-19 cases in the country decreased by 15 percent while the nationwide positivity rate likewise declined, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said on Sunday.

“The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Philippines decreased to 2,959 or less than 3,000 per day as of August 27, 2022, a decrease of 15% from the previous week’s average of 3,487,” said David in a post on Twitter.

“If current trends in the growth rate hold, this projects to less than 1000 cases per day nationwide by mid September and less than 500 per day by end of September,” said David.

The OCTA says with current trends there will be less than 500 cases per day by the end of September while e the DOH says the resumption of classes will raise it to 9,000 cases per day. Who is right? 

Lockdowns are over for Davao City.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/29/no-more-lockdowns-in-davao-city-says-covid-task-force-spokesperson/

The city government will no longer resort to putting establishments under lockdown to control the transmission of infections in the event of another Covid-19 surge, an official of the Davao City Task Force on Covid-19 said.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, task force spokesperson, reiterated the importance of keeping the balance between safety and economy.

She added that the administration of former Mayor now Vice President Sara Duterte abandoned the implementation of a “zoning containment strategy” at offices and business establishments to help the local economy recover from the adverse impact of the pandemic.

Local health authorities believed Covid-19 cases could be managed even without resorting to hard measures to put the spread under control, she said.

“The reason behind this is that we are able to manage the cases even without the need for lockdowns because the establishments would suffer. Once placed under lockdown, operation will stop, and the company will suffer the losses. That’s what we want to prevent,” she said.

It's two years too late. The damage is done!

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is now allowing untaxed students and teachers to attend classes. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182440

Vaccination status against Covid-19 will no longer be made as a basis for students, teachers and non-teaching personnel attending in-person classes in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the Commission on Higher Education announced Monday.

In a virtual press conference, CHED chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said this significant change of policy was based on several considerations.

“We’re allowing vaccinated and unvaccinated students and faculty members, and employees to now go face-to-face classes, or to report back to work. That is the revised policy as of today,” he said.

Considerations include high vaccination coverage in HEIs, lowered risk classification in the country, and other parameters, which he said must be clearly “explained” by all HEIs.

“We are changing it because vaccination levels are already high in the higher education institutions, the percentage of at-risk individuals is significantly lower now, and therefore easier to control on the part of our HEIs, and just like in other countries… we have already learned about how other countries have been doing it and applying it, and of course the views of our health experts that those who are at risk do not tend to be the higher education age group,” he said.

Ong-Lim also underscored the need to be vaccinated, even though the new policy poses no requisition on vaccination status.

“The risk is actually higher for the unvaccinated than those who are vaccinated. So we want to remind everybody that vaccines provide the best protection or provide a good layer of protection together with everything else that we practice,” she said.

These people simply cannot stop themselves by warning that everyone must get vaccinated because they "provide the best protection." Surely they are not unaware that vaccinated individuals can get infected and even die? 

For DOH Secretary Janet Garin laments this as a win for the anti-vaxxers. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/30/ched-order-a-win-for-anti-vaxxers-garin/

Score one for the anti-vaxxers.

That’s how Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin described on Tuesday, Aug. 30 the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)’s announcement would no longer require students and personnel of higher education institutions (HEI) to be vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of the start of face-to-face classes.

“I think CHEd’s announcement is the success of anti-vaxxers,” Garin said during the Ugnayan news forum at the House of Representatives.

“The anti-vaccine group is a very strong lobby group that are also well-organized. (So they always oppose vaccinations because that’s there belief),” admitted Garin, who is a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary.

“(If you get affected by that, you”ll get intimidated because) you’ll be threatened with cases,  (then you’ll be conflicted between your) desire to protect our people versus protecting yourself,” she noted.

At any rate, Garin, who belongs to the House majority bloc in the 19th Congress, says the situation warrants for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to step in.

“(My view is), it’s now the President’s call. Because only the President can make sure that when people in government do their job, they will be protected.”

Garin wants the President to step in and make vaccines mandatory for all university students. Isn't that grand? 

In the new budget there is no more pandemic help for the poor. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1655055/no-more-covid-related-ayuda-in-2023-budget

The Marcos administration’s chief economic manager on Monday said there would be no more “ayuda” or doleouts related to the COVID-19 pandemic to be funded by the proposed P5.268-trillion 2023 national budget.

“As the economy recovers and full mobility is restored, there is little justification for more COVID-19-related [cash aid to the poor],” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a statement.

Last Friday, Diokno also told the House committee on appropriations’ deliberations on next year’s spending plan that pandemic-related “ayuda” would be “a waste of public funds” amid the economic rebound.

“The Philippine economy has recovered from the unprecedented pandemic. It is now back to where it was before the COVID-19 crisis, with the opening of the economy and increasing mobility,” Diokno said.

The Philippines’ gross domestic product, or the total output of goods and services produced locally, reverted to prepandemic levels in the first quarter of this year, following the worst postwar recession in 2020 to early 2021 at the height of the most stringent lockdowns.

“With the normalization, it is more appropriate to continue the existing social protection programs, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s welfare grants for poor families with children of school age, support for senior citizens, assistance to displaced workers, etc.,” Diokno said.

“The ‘ayudas’ associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, such as in Bayanihan 1 and 2, should cease as normalization is achieved and as we learn to live with the virus. These ‘ayudas’ were justified when there were lockdowns and restricted mobility of citizens,” the finance chief said, referring to the two laws which allowed the government to give away billions of pesos in cash aid to the most vulnerable households affected by the loss of jobs and livelihoods at the onset of the health and socioeconomic crises in 2020.

“But there are no more lockdowns — the president himself announced it in his State of the Nation Address. Citizens are now free to move around. Face-to-face schooling is back,” Diokno noted.

Diokno's statement is unbelievably out of touch with day-to-day realties of the common man. The government destroyed the economy and yet he says everything is back to normal. 

Cebu City has rescinded its face mask mandate.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/31/mayor-face-masks-no-longer-mandatory-in-cebu-city/

The wearing of face masks here is no longer mandatory.

Mayor Michael Rama on Wednesday, Aug. 31, signed an Executive Order (EO) “declaring the use of face mask within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Cebu as non-obligatory but a measure of individual self-preservation and protection.”

In his observation, Rama said wearing of face mask is no longer practiced in most areas.

“Let us not be naive. I was in (barangay) Pasil early in the morning, how many percent of people there who are wearing face mask?” Rama said in a press briefing.

Rama said it will be up to business establishments if they will continue to require the use of face masks within their premises.

He added wearing of face mask is also voluntary in schools, saying it will be the discretion of parents and teachers if they will ask their students to wear them.

Rama recalled he has been talking about “freedom” way back last February and it was about time to ease the policy on face mask.

“We are rising up and moving forward,” Rama said.

The only place where face mask is mandatory include hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities.

“Wearing of face mask is non-obligatory but as a measure of self-preservation,” Rama added.

It is interesting that instead of having the cops crackdown on face mask violators the mayor rescinded the law. If only altering the law was the easy on a regular basis!

Two street photographers in Davao continue to pursue their profession despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1939075/davao/local-news/davaos-litratista-continues-to-snap-shots-amid-pandemic

For two photographers or "litratista," who have been snapping photos of Dabawenyos and tourists since the 1960s and 1980s, new technology may have advanced how we capture special moments, but there are still those who relish the smiles of printed photos.

Edwin Ortaliz, 62 years old from St. John Bucana, Davao City, a street photographer since the 1980s, said photography changed his life from being a ‘tambay’ to capturing your smile.

“I used to be unemployed before I became a photographer). (When I started working, my salary would be spent on liquor,” Ortaliz said.

He said his older brother introduced him to the world of photography and is now taking care of his grandsons.

Ortaliz said that it’s not easy to make money as a photographer but it is also rewarding at the same time.

The people he takes photos of come from all walks of life. For example, one of his past clients were those working as a housekeeper every Sunday near the San Pedro Church and plaza.

He also takes photos at weddings and school activities.

But all of these activities came to a full stop when the pandemic struck in 2020. By that time, he was already feeling the effects of mobile phones to his livelihood.

With the pandemic, he sometimes went home without any earnings.

Also, he said, they are not allowed to get inside the school premises even in public schools.

"Even schools today they will not allow us, even the public schools, we can only stay outside the campus gate under heat of the sun and these graduation events are the only thing that help us earn every year,” Ortaliz said.

Ortaliz remains positive although life has been hard since the pandemic.

“Don’t lose hope as a photographer), (just keep going. It’s not always a storm for us, a blessing will surely come so keep thriving!” Ortaliz said.

Boilonor Calivoso Ugay, also known as “Boy Ugay”, 70 years old, is a litratista that you always see present at every graduation in Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and San Pedro College (SPC) as well as in the Magsaysay Park during his active days as a full-time photographer.

Because of the pandemic, Ugay said for the past two years, several celebrations that were booked for him to cover have been canceled. During these times, he only had three events.

But, with his perseverance, he was able to send his children to school and four of them graduated from College while the other one managed the store of his brother.

This is will to survive and continue doing what you love in the midst of trying times is more than just the Filipino spirit. It is the human spirit which drives us all!

Journalist Arrested for Cyber-libel While Jogging Showcases Bad Media and PNP Practices

Without a doubt Philippine media is a crazy world. Many times it is a violent world for journalists who stoke the ire of a local politician. President Duterte even condoned such violence saying it was deserved. Maybe one of the worst aspects of being a Philippine journalist is the libel law which makes such an offense not civil but criminal. That means jail time for those convicted of reporting something someone did not like. Let's take a look at one recent case and see how it was reported in the national media. 

First up is the PNA which is the government's propaganda outlet. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182384

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Sunday it has arrested a journalist who was issued six warrants during an operation in Pasay City.

PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Oswaldo Carbonell alias Waldy Carbonell, 79, who was also a political commentator, was nabbed after being served the warrant of arrest by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the parking lot of a mall around 9:30 a.m.

Citing a report, Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, CIDG director, said Carbonell was arrested on orders of Presiding Judge Bonhoefer Vergara Bernardez of the First Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

The newsman was issued six separate warrants of arrest for Violation of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) dated Oct. 21, 2021 with PHP72,000 bail recommended for each case.

Upon arrest, Carbonell was apprised of his constitutional rights and the nature of his offense and was immediately brought to the CIDG Northern District Field Unit office for documentation and booking procedure.

The CIDG will duly inform the court of the successful implementation of the warrant of arrest, Azurin said.

“The PNP through Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), as the prime mover in investigating cybercrimes, has been dealing with cases involving online fraud, human trafficking, theft, hacking, cyberstalking, and other unlawful acts. (Your police force will ensure that anyone who violates the law is held accountable and will face the appropriate penalty imposed by the court)," the PNP chief said in a statement.

Carbonell had previously said that the cyber libel complaints were filed against him by Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eduardo Guillen. No other details were available on the charges

In this version of the story Oswaldo Carbonell was arrested by the PNP for six cyber libel complaints which were filed by Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eduardo Guillen. No details on the nature of the charges are available. That is quite strange because in Philstar's version of this story we get a lot more details about the charges. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/08/29/2205839/journalist-arrested-cybercrime-cases-filed-ilocos-mayor

Oswaldo Carbonell, also a political commentator, was arrested by a team from the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at a mall in Pasay City.

He was arrested based on six separate arrest warrants in violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 issued by Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Regional Trial Court Branch15 under Presiding Judge Bonhoefer Vergara dated Oct. 21, 2021.

Bail is set at P72,000 per case.

Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eduardo Guillen filed the cases against the 79-year-old Carbonell after he reported the local official’s graft case on his YouTube page.

In a YouTube video last month, Carbonell said the mayor filed the charges because he did not get his side before publishing the videos.

“The mayor charged me for not getting his side on his graft case and accused me of not being fair,” he said in Filipino in a video uploaded in December.

“But I know my rights. It is his right to that I ask him, but it is also my right not to ask him because I know his case,” he added in the video.

In this article we are told that the libel charges filed against Oswaldo Carbonell are because of allegations he made that the mayor had a graft case and he did not get the mayor's side before publishing his vidoes.  What the exact nature of those graft charges against the former mayor might be is not clear and a Google search turns up nothing. 

Why wasn't the PNA able to report on this level of detail about the charges against Carbonell? But this is not all. We get more details about the arrest in the Daily Tribune.

https://tribune.net.ph/2022/08/29/journalist-nabbed-while-jogging/

Broadcaster Waldy Carbonnel was arrested Sunday morning while jogging along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to face six counts of cyber libel filed against him in Ilocos Norte.

Bail was set for the 79-year-old Carbonnel at P72,000 for each of the six counts of the complaint filed before Judge Bonhoeffer Bernardez of the Laoag City Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

The journalist was arrested by undercover personnel of the Caloocan City police criminal investigation and detection group at about 9:30 a.m. near a shopping mall.

On 30 October last year, Carbonnel said in a Youtube post that Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eduardo Guillen filed the cyber libel case against him.

In that posted video, Carbonnel accused the Piddig government official of involvement in graft and corruption, as well as some radio commentators of having been paid to malign him.

This version tells us everything we need to know. Carobnell was arrested while jogging, the charges have to do with him accusing the former mayor of graft, and these charges were filed last year by at least October 30th. Now, why couldn't the other news sites get all this information in one story? Why does the PNA give us the least information? That is the government's propaganda arm and should be the most informative and trustful but we see here that it is actually the least informative and least trustworthy. 

Aside from all that why did almost a whole year pass between filing charges and an arrest? Why did he PNP think it needful to arrest Carbonell while he was out for a jog? They could and should have arrested him at his residence which just so happens to be the radio station where he works. 

The radioman whose real name is Oswaldo Carbonell was ordered arrested by Judge Bonhoefer Bernardez of the Laoag City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Ilocos Norte on October 21, 2021.

The Ilocos Norte judge recommended a P72,000 bail for each case filed against Carbonell who stays at the DWBL station located at the Paragon Plaza building in EDSA corner Reliance Street in Mandaluyong City.

https://journalnews.com.ph/cidg-ncrfu-agents-nab-broadcaster-for-cyber-libel/

Look at that. In this final article we learn that the warrant was filed on October 21, 2021. So, why did the PNP wait almost a whole year before executing it and then execute in such a strange fashion with undercover cops while Carbonell was out for a jog! That would have been quite dangerous if Carbonell had decided to not cooperate. Why take that risk?

Everything about this incident is suspect. From the actions of the PNP to the media coverage it is all awful. Now, I know there are those out there who talk about media reform but they don't mean actual reform like getting the media to report all the facts. No, they mean the media must say nice things about the Marcos family and stop truthfully reporting on their crimes and lies. In fact, no negative news should be reported at all whatsoever because the Philippines is safe and crime free and a total paradise thanks to Duterte and Marcos. What a lot of balderdash that is!

Here is a case where the faults of the Philippine media are on full display, especially the government-run PNA. Will anyone speak out? Doubtful!

Insurgency: Crush Insurgency Within Bongbong Marcos' Term

There's a new AFP Chief in town. He's slinging the same old guns and promising the same old promises as his predecessors. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1650193/new-afp-chief-vows-to-crush-insurgency-within-bongbong-marcos-term

The new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines vowed to end the country’s insurgency problem within the six-year term of President Marcos Jr.

“Before the administration of President Marcos ends, I believe we can end the insurgency problem),” said Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro during his visit to Camp Lukban, the headquarters of the 8th Infantry Division based here on Saturday (August 20).

Bacarro admitted they made the same vow during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte but failed to accomplish it.

He, however, stressed that the campaign against insurgency during the Duterte administration has significantly reduced the “power factor” of the rebels across the region.

Bacarro said they managed to reduce the number of communist rebels and their number of firearms.

When he assumed his post early this month, Bacarro said his “marching order” to all the division commanders down the line is to quell the insurgency problem and to “sustain” all the gains they have accomplished for the past months.

At least he admits that they AFP failed to accomplish this same goal under the last administration. But that goes all the way back to at least 1986 when every subsequent administration gave the promise that the insurgency would end by the end of their term. As for reduction in rebels the latest province to be declared insurgency free is Davao Occidental.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181644

The Army's 10th Infantry Division (ID) has formally declared the Davao Occidental province as “insurgency-free" during a ceremony held in Malita town on Thursday.

Major Gen. Nolasco Mempin, the Army's 10ID commander, said the declaration was the result of aggressive military and police operations, leading into the collapse of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the province.

In particular, Mempin lauded the anti-insurgency campaign of the Army's 1002nd Infantry Brigade, the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) field units in the province.

He said NPA Guerilla Front (GF) Tala, which was once active in the peripheries of the province, is considered "cleared," based on the parameters set forth by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP.

Mempin said insurgency issues and concerns were resolved in identified conflict-affected areas and geographically- isolated and disadvantaged areas, resulting in the "demolition" of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the province.

Meanwhile, Mempin said they are also optimistic to declare the Davao Region insurgency-free on or before Sept. 30.

He said only one NPA unit remains active before Davao Region can be declared “insurgency-free”, the weakened NPA GF-18 operating in Davao Oriental province.

“The Eastern Mindanao Command gave us the timeline to declare the region as insurgency-free until September 30. We are trying our best that it will not reach that deadline for us to dismantle the remaining NPA unit,” Mempin said.

The AFP hopes to declare the whole of Davao insurgency free by September 30th by defeating the lone NPA unit remaining. But what about the ASG, Maute, and MNLF? What about ISIS? What about the Islamic insurgency? Won't they still be around? How could they declare Davao completely insurgency free if there are still Muslim insurgents around? They don't say. Probably best not to ask. 

The AFP is banking on the remaining insurgents surrendering. Surrenders continue to happen every single week but here is a notable instance.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182199

Twelve communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to police authorities during the implementation of the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operation (SACLEO) in the region on Thursday.

The NPA surrenderers are from the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat. They opted to yield because of physical exhaustion.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, the Soccsksargen police director, said 10 out of the 12 surrenderers were from South Cotabato, one from Sarangani, and one from Sultan Kudarat.

All the surrenderers brought along with them their firearms.

“It is the deception, futile armed struggle, and the realization that government has a clearer intention to address their issues that prompted the surrenderers to firmly resolve to be on the folds of government,” Macaraeg said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“I am overwhelmed that they have finally committed their allegiance to the government and lay down their arms,” he said of the surrenderers’ “right choice" of leaving the communist ideology, urging other rebels to follow suit.

If it looks like there are only eight people in that infographic it's because the other 4 are in the background and can hardly be seen. Who is making this awful propaganda? And why is the first guy in the yellow shirt not holding up a placard? The blurring of the faces won't prevent these men from being recognized by those who may know them intimately.

Despite Davao Occidental being declared insurgency free the AFP is beefing up the IP militia.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181886

Although Davao Occidental has been declared insurgency-free, the military has continued to capacitate the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the area to defend themselves against communist rebels attempting to encroach on their ancestral domains.

"It helped that we have trained some of the IPs to defend themselves, their lands, and the members of their tribes against attempts of the New People's Army (NPA) rebels to harass them,” 2nd Lt. Tiffany Joy Bago, the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB) civil-military officer, said in a press briefer Monday.

Bago said the 73IB has witnessed how the IP militia, also called Bagani, aided them in dismantling New People's Army (NPA) units in the province.

“They would volunteer to undergo training, and they became our eyes in the area making sure that their community is secure," she said.

In addition, Bago said the military has also been consistent in strengthening its presence and relations with the residents, who previously were forced to shelter and provide food for the NPA's dismantled guerrilla fronts in Davao Occidental.

What is this other than a tacit admission that the NPA has some strength left in it? 

Remember in 2018 when former DND Secretary Lorenzana admitted that the AFP stopped urban warfare training because they did not use it? Well now they are finally relearning that skill.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181932

Around 500 Filipino and Australian troops will be exchanging knowledge and skills on jungle and urban operations in a more than two-month long bilateral training maneuvers dubbed "Exercise Kasangga".

In a statement Tuesday, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the exercise formally started on yesterday and will end in October at Camp Pablo Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan.

"The PA, through the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR), and the Land Mobile Training Team of the Australian Army commenced Exercise Kasangga aimed at bolstering defense ties and strengthening interoperability between the two armies in urban and jungle operations," he added.

Trinidad said FSRR and the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment troops would share skills and knowledge on jungle operations.

"Meanwhile, Australian troops will assist FSRR troops in sharpening their urban operations capabilities," he added.

Around 400 FSRR troops will train side-by-side with nearly a hundred Australian troops in the ongoing bilateral exercise.

I am sure this is not the first time since 2018 the AFP has been relearning urban warfare training. Hopefully they keep it up even if they don't use the skill.

Perhaps the biggest development this week in the fight against the insurgency is the reported death of the Tiamazons who are the heads of the CPP. Reportedly they died in an explosion after an encounter with the AFP on the high seas. However, no bodies have been recovered yet.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/23/without-bodies-military-faces-dead-end-in-confirming-demise-of-tiamzon-couple/

The death of suspected communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon during an encounter with troops still could not be verified by the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) due to the absence of their remains, a ranking military official admitted Tuesday, August 23.

Elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Joint Task Force (JTF) Storm had to call off their search, rescue, and retrieval operations on an exploded motorbanca supposedly carrying “high-ranking VIPs” from the New People’s Army (NPA) in Catbalogan City, Samar due to bad weather, said Maj. Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of 8ID.

“(The troops were recalled and they could not get anything. The weather here is not good),” De Leon said.

De Leon admitted feeling pressure in confirming the death of Benito, the pinpointed chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), and his wife, Wilma, the alleged Secretary General of CPP-NPA, as this will surely have a big impact on the operations of country’s the primary communist forces.

However, the two-star general could only bank on the information provided by a tipster to the intelligence unit of the JTF Storm that the couple were indeed onboard the exploded motorbanca.

“(The information provided to me by the intelligence unit is that highly likely, there is a high-level of certainty the [couple] were onboard),” De Leon said.

But even the seasoned commander did not want to take risks in assuming the couple’s death based on mere assumptions, recognizing the possible repercussions that it may have on the military’s reputation if proven otherwise.

“(But I asked them if they can say 100 percent that the subjects were really there despite the absence of physical evidence? I understand that the public wants physical evidence, and they could not provide any),” De Leon said.

“(My only worry is that if I declare they have died, what if they presented a proof life later on? What if later on they say that General de Leon is lying or it’s just part of a propaganda and they have a proof of life? I’ll be damned),” he emphasized.

It's great the AFP is being cautious before making a statement. Perhaps they died perhaps they got away. The body parts recovered will have to be fully identified before anything can be known definitely. It should not be forgotten that Duterte released these two people in 2016 in a bid to restart the peace talks. 

Along with the potential demise of the Tiamzon couple a ranking CPP official has been arrested in Quezon City.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1653462/pnp-chief-azurin-says-ranking-cpp-officer-arrested-in-quezon-city

An alleged ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been arrested in Quezon City purportedly for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder.

According to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., Adora Faye De Vera has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by Judge Guilljie Delfin Lim of Iloilo City’s Regional Trial Court Branch 22.

Azurin said Thursday that de Vera was arrested in Teacher’s Village on Wednesday afternoon.

“De Vera is the subject of a Warrant of Arrest without bail, issued by the Court for the crime of Multiple Murder and Multiple Frustrated Murder with the Use of Explosives, particularly anti-personnel landmines that are outlawed by international conventions on warfare,” the PNP chief said in a press briefing in Pampanga.

“She is also accused in a separate criminal case for the crime of rebellion,” he added.

Citing police records, Azurin claimed de Vera is a staff officer of the General Command of the CPP, New People’s Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front, as well as the secretary of the Central Front of CPP-NPA Regional Committee-Panay.

In an unexpected twist de Vera is the sister of the current CHed Chairman Prospero de Vera. He has disavowed her activities and said he will let the law take its course. But how long until he is red-tagged by the authorities?