Retards in the Government 278

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

  

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1673098/village-chief-shoots-cousin-in-masbate-town

A farmer was wounded after a village chief shot him on Thursday in Cataingan town in Masbate.

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said Anacleto Temblor, 50, was walking on his way home around 6 p.m. when shot several times by his cousin, Leon Gimeno, 65, the chief of Barangay Tagboan.

Temblor managed to escape, but suffered bullet wounds to his left arm and right leg.

He was taken to the Cataingan District Hospital for treatment.

Investigators said Gimeno surrendered and confessed to the shooting.

Police recovered a .45-caliber pistol from Temblor and seven fired cartridge cases from the crime scene.

The Cataingan police placed Temblor in their custody.

A village councilor was arrested after shooting his cousin. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185022

Police and military authorities are investigating a fatal shooting by a cop of a soldier in Pikit town on Thursday night.

Maj Maxim Peralta, town police chief, said Friday Senior Sgt. Chris Paul Aninon Baldo shot dead Corporal Roy Degamo of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division following a mix-up.

“The policeman, Sgt. Baldo, assigned with the Midsayap police force, voluntarily surrendered to the Pikit police office with his firearm,” Peralta said.

An initial investigation showed that Baldo’s mother informed him that a suspicious man was seen sitting in front of the family-owned variety store in Barangay Poblacion, Pikit around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“The mother asked the man what he was doing there when the store was already closed,” Peralta said. “The mother was frightened when the man did not respond, but instead showed his pistol.”

The mother informed his son about the man.  

Baldo, after being informed by his mother about the suspicious-looking person, allegedly tried to talk to Degamo, 32, but the soldier pulled his gun, prompting the off-duty police officer to open fire.

Peralta said Baldo has been off-duty for days following a recent kidney transplant.

Witnesses believed Degamo was to be under the influence of liquor, the police official said. 

A cop shot a drunken solider after he pulled a gun.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185055

Police have launched a manhunt against unidentified gunmen who shot dead a former mayoral aspirant in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province, while emerging from a Friday prayer at a mosque.

Mayor Lester Sinsuat of Datu Odin Sinsuat ordered the local police to hunt down the suspects and bring justice to his fallen uncle, Datu Jamael Q. Sinsuat.

“I, my family together with all the constituents of Datu Odin Sinsuat town strongly condemn the brutal killing of my uncle,” the mayor said in a statement.

“This cruel and cowardly act should hold no place in our society and community,” he added.

Datu Jamael, former village chairperson of Barangay Dalican in the municipality, was shot by the attackers at around 12:30 p.m. outside the mosque in the village.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Datu Odin Sinsuat district hospital.

The victim was also the official mayoral candidate of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the municipality during the May polls this year, but lost to his nephew.

A former mayoral candidate has been assassinated.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1673635/ex-cop-nabbed-in-camarines-sur-drug-bust

A former police officer was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Bato, Camarines Sur on Friday.

Police Colonel Julius Caesar Domingo, Camarines Sur police chief, said in a report that Richelle Mata, 41, was arrested in Barangay (village) San Rafael at around 1:50 p.m. after she sold five grams of shabu (crystal meth) worth P15,000 to an undercover agent.

During the body search, authorities also recovered a coin purse containing sachets of shabu.

Domingo said they recovered a total of eight grams of shabu worth around P88,000 from the suspect who was included in the illegal drugs watch list.

Lieutenant Maria Alda Baldonado, deputy chief of the Bato police, said in a phone interview Saturday that Mata was dismissed from the service in 2021.

The PNP filed an administrative case against the suspect in 2019 after failing a random drug test.

Mata was recruited as a police officer in 2008 and previously assigned in Magarao.

A former cop has been arrested on drug charges. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/04/former-vice-mayor-wife-driver-killed-in-aurora-ambush/

A former vice-mayor, his wife and his driver were killed when they were ambushed by still unidentified assailants in Barangay Dibutunan at 5:10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3.

Town police chief Major Eduardo Mendoza, Jr. identified the victims as Engineer Narciso Amansec, 60, his wife Merlina Amansec, 61, and Leonard Talosa, 42, all of Barangay Ipil in this town.

Probers are still establishing the escape route of the suspects as the ambush took place in a secluded road section.

Investigation disclosed that the victims who were on board a color maroon pick-up truck were negotiating the Baler-Casiguran road heading toward the north direction when they were fired upon by their attackers at close range.

The fatalities were declared dead-on-the-spot by Dr. Arturo Parilla, town health officer of Dipaculao while the vehicle were riddled with bullets fired from still undetermined weapons by the gunmen The police provincial office has already ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group to track the suspects’ identities and their immediate arrest.

A former vice-mayor along with his wife and driver have been assassinated.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1674369/bribery-conflict-of-interest-in-fda-says-senator-tulfo-citing-sources

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday alleged that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is experiencing chronic bribery episodes and that an FDA officer appears to be in a conflict of interest.

During a hearing of the Senate finance committee on the 2023 budget of the Department of Health (DOH), Tulfo said his “sources” told him that bribes are involved in the registration of products. He also said that the buy-off ranges from P5 million to P10 million per product registration.

He likewise mentioned that former FDA director general Sherry Puno admitted to him that corruption exists in the registration of products and that there was an attempt to cleanse the agency.

(Puno admitted to me that there are incidents of bribery in the FDA, and the agency is already taking steps to address the problem. However, later on, she was sacked. Corruption persisted after she left; P5 million, occasionally P10 million, was demanded for the registration of each product.)

“‘(You should really investigate that),” he added.

Tulfo also told the FDA chief to investigate the alleged conflict of interest on the agency’s director for cosmetics and household urban hazardous substances regulation and research, Ana Trinidad Rivera.

The senator claimed Rivera has a sibling working for a big pharmaceutical firm in the country, suggesting that the director be relocated to another post.

(Did you know she has a sibling working in Zuellig? Of course, that’s a conflict of interest if true, but if you’ll tell me that it’s not true, you will be ashamed.)

(If there’s one, you should give her a new position, maybe in janitorial services maybe she fits there to clean up.)

Senator Raffy Tulfo claims bribery and conflict of interest plagues the FDA.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/467250/10-cebu-police-station-commanders-called-out-for-poor-performance

Ten police station commanders in Cebu province were called out due to their poor performance in the campaign against illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and other anti-criminality campaigns.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit, deputy provincial director for operations of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), divulged this during a media forum on Tuesday morning, October 4, 2022.

Sucalit said this comes after a conference with all the police station chiefs held on Monday, October 3.

Sucalit, however, did not disclose what police stations were called out but he assures the public these stations were already given a timeline to improve based on the matrix that CPPO is following. He begged off from digging into the specifics.

“We directed them kung ano yung mga plans programs activities, way forward to really improve their deficiencies It’s good to note that they have their respective programs, we will see,” Sucalit said.

If ever these station chiefs won’t be able to do better, they might risk being relieved from their respective posts, Sucalit said.

As the deputy director for operations of CPPO, Sucalit said that these 10 police stations were just called out for their performance in the operation, intelligence, investigation, and community relations efforts.

However, he added that aside from their operation aspect, it is also a must for these police stations to maintain cleanliness among their stations as part of the PNP’s internal cleansing policy.

“…For the police station should deliver quality service…may matrix tayo na minomonitor natin . All the COPs are accountable for the actions of their men. Maraming sanctions, if hindi competent yung COP, then we will replace them with officers na more eager to serve,”  he added.

10 Cebu police commanders have been called out for bad performances. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/467094/former-cebu-city-jo-employee-nabbed-for-duping-bizwoman-falsifying-papers-for-business-permit

A former Job Order employee of Cebu City government was arrested for allegedly giving fake documents for cash, which was needed to process the business permit of a businesswoman.

Elmer Moreno, the suspect, was arrested in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) on Sept. 29, 2022, along General Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City.

Moreno underwent an inquest proceeding today, Oct. 3, 2022.

The NBI-7 in a statement said that they conducted the entrapment operation after Maricel Golosino, a businesswoman, visited their office and filed a complaint about her being allegedly swindled by Moreno of P23,800 in exchange for the papers needed to process her business permit, which she later found out to be fake documents.

Golosino claimed that a neighbor had recommended Moreno to her to process her business permit at City Hall.

She said that her neighbor told her that Moreno, who was a former Cebu City JO employe, had connections inside City Hall so that she could just let him process her business permit for a fee.

Golosino said that she received several documents needed for the processing of her business permit and she had allegedly already paid P23,800 to Moreno.

But when Moreno asked that he be paid another P3,200 for another document for the business permit, Golosino got suspicious of Moreno and went to the NBI-7 for help.

It turned out that the documents given to Golosino were all fake.

So the NBI-7 agents planned an entrapment operation against Moreno with the help of Golosino to transact with the former for the P3,200 document.

On Sept. 29, after the money changed hands between Golosino and Moreno, the NBI-7 agents moved in and arrested the latter.

According to the NBI-7 agents, who conducted a background check on the suspect, that they found out that Moreno was a volunteer at the city hall from 2019 to 2020 and from May 2022 to June 2022, he had an appointment as a job order employee at the city’s Department of Agriculture office.

A former job order employee for Cebu City who claimed he had inside connections scammed a woman seeking a business permit. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/05/ex-leyte-town-mayor-convicted-of-graftfor-irregular-grant-of-cockfighting-permit/

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Mayor Charita Montaño Chan of Babatngon town in Leyte of graft for the irregular issuance of a permit for cockfighting operation in 2008.

Chan was sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of six to 10 years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding public office and loss of retirement or gratuity benefits under the law.

Her conviction for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, in relation to Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1802, the law that created the Gamefowl Commission, and Section 6(h) of Ordinance No. 191 of Babatngon town, Cockfighting Code of Babatngon, stemmed from the issuance of Mayor’s Permit No. 03-30-2009 to Nicomedes C. Alde on Aug. 28, 2008.

The prosecution said Chan no longer had authority from the Sangguniang Bayan of Babatngon to do so, since Resolution No. 2253-07, which authorized her to issue the permit, was repealed by the town’s legislative body on Sept. 3, 2008 via Resolution No. 2412-08.

It said the repeal was enacted because Alde failed to comply with the requirements provided for under Municipal Ordinance No. 191.

Since the permit was issued without the concurrent authority of the Sangguniang Bayan as required both under Presidential Decree No. 1802 and Ordinance No. 191, the prosecution said Chan had given unwarranted benefits and advantage or preference to Alde.

A former mayor has been convicted of graft because she granted an irregular cockfighting permit.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185364

The chief of the Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) has ordered the relief of two police officers effective Wednesday for their involvement in a recent robbery in General Santos City.

Chief Master Sgt. Renante Medina of the Foot Patrol and Bike Unit, and Master Sgt. Christopher Ararao, were both assigned to the Bunawan police station before their relief.

They are implicated in an Oct. 3 robbery in Brgy. San Jose, General Santos City.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. said he immediately ordered the relief of both cops, including their immediate supervisors and commanders.

Administrative cases against the duo have also been readied while they are on automatic leave of absence.

"We would not tolerate any personnel engaging in any acts of lawlessness or crimes. Hence, everyone could expect a fair and honest investigation," Silo said.

Medina and Ararao along with their civilian cohorts– Edwin Salvador, 40, and Winston Jay Ongco, 30– entered the house of businesswoman Jacky Faeldin on Monday night.

While leaving the victim's residence, personnel from the General Santos Police flagged down the vehicle of the perpetrators and recovered the PHP165,000 cash and other personal belongings of Faeldin from the group.

Two PNP officers have been sacked for robbery while their case is being readied. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/847045/awol-na-pulis-na-sangkot-sa-pagnanakaw-nadakip-sa-sabungan/story/

An AWOL policeman involved in a robbery case in Manila was arrested inside a cockpit.

In a report by John Consulta on GMA News "Unang Balita" this Wednesday, the suspect was identified as PO1 Edward Salamat Jr., who was cornered by Regional Special Operations Group personnel.

The suspect was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant for a robbery case in 2013.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wily Sy, chief of the Regional Special Operations Group-National Capital Region Police Office (RSOG-NCRPO), they monitored during their case build-up that the suspect goes to the cockpit every weekend.

The NCRPO added that Salamat was among the policemen summoned by former president Rodrigo Duterte for various types of violations.

Sy added that Salamat was still an active police officer and was still in uniform when he did the holdup of the victims, from which he got about P30,000.

The suspect, who has already been served with three arrest warrants, refused to give a statement

An AWOL cop has been arrested for robbery. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Be Doubly Careful, Cases May Be Double Than Reported, and More!

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

Let's start off with something good before we dive into the fear mongering. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1672265/workers-laid-off-during-pandemic-return-to-mactan-hotels-resorts

Resorts and hotels on the island of Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City have started to rehire workers who were laid off at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Alfred Reyes, president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI), said hotels and resorts are now upbeat on their journey to full recovery, two years since the pandemic battered the industry.

He said occupancy rates in about 20 major hotels and resorts on Mactan Island are between 30 percent and 40 percent.

“We all know that Mactan is very much dependent on its leisure market. We’re hoping things will be much better when our target markets (Japanese and Koreans) will return here at the end of the year,” he said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

HRRACI, the largest business organization in Cebu with about 100 members, attributed the improvement of hotel occupancy levels to the increase in domestic travelers and the ramping up of domestic flights nationwide.

“Our marketing strategies need to be very aggressive. As long as the borders are open, it would be much easier to do the campaign for our target markets,” said Reyes, general manager of Bai Hotel.

“If the borders are not open, nothing much will flourish. Once it’s open, we have to be very aggressive in our marketing campaign,” he added.

She, however, admitted that their guests consisted of mostly local tourists and that their occupancy rate was only between 20 percent and 30 percent.

“There are only a few foreigners, perhaps because of the hassle of coming here to the Philippines. Each airport has its own requirements and protocols,” Allego said.

Despite this, the resort decided to rehire its former employees, hoping that the number of tourists would increase by December due to the Christmas holidays, and January 2023 when Cebu brings back the Sinulog Festival.

Plantation Bay had 465 workers before the pandemic was declared in March 2020. Only 100 were retained since July 2020 while the rest found jobs in business process outsourcing companies or started their own businesses.

Allego said this year, the resort hired 77 new employees as visitors started to come back. Plantation Bay currently has 358 employees.

Industry players appealed to the government to “jumpstart” the tourism market, especially for foreign visitors.

Allego hoped that there would be a single travel policy in the country amid the easing of health and mobility restrictions during the pandemic.

Business continue to reopen and rehire as the pandemic recedes into the past.

But all is not well as the actual amount of COVID cases could be double than what is being reported.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/846400/current-covid-19-cases-may-be-double-than-reported-says-phapi-head/story/

The number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 may be twice more than what is reported, the head of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said Thursday.

PHAPI president Dr. Jose de Grano said this is because of the use of self-administered antigen test kits which could not be included in the official reports released by the Department of Health (DOH).

(The cases may be double the data we see now. For example, if there are 38,000 active cases, the real number is bigger. This is because there are people who are testing themselves using antigen and that is not being reported. Only those who go to accredited laboratories and hospitals are being reported.)

Due to this, De Grano advised the public to remain vigilant against the virus, and reiterated his call for them to continue wearing face masks even outdoors.

(Let’s think about our responsibility to protect not only ourselves, but also our families and friends so that we won’t infect them, and we also don’t get infected with COVID-19 again.)

This means people are at more risk than they imagine. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1672973/ncr-at-increased-covid-risk-again

Metro Manila has been classified as “moderate risk” for COVID-19 transmission amid an upswing in cases, but the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday maintained that the infection trends in the National Capital Region (NCR) are not solely caused by the optional masking policy in outdoor spaces.

Hospitalizations in six cities in the capital region have also been classified as moderate risk for reaching more than half of its capacity for COVID-19 cases.At a press briefing on Thursday, DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that Metro Manila is now at moderate risk after 13 out of the 17 areas in the capital region saw sustained increases in COVID-19 infections, with growth rates entering positive territory in the recent week.

The only areas that remained at low risk for COVID-19 transmission were Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan and Valenzuela, the health official said.

According to the latest COVID-19 situationer of the DOH, only Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal continued to show an upward trend in infections. Cases in the rest of the areas in the country remained on a plateau.

The optional masking policy should not be solely blamed for the uptick in cases as it was already “expected” because of other factors such as “increasing mobility and the opening of other sectors,” Vergeire said.

“We all need to change our mindset and remember… that the virus will continue to stay with us, and that we will need to live with the virus,” Vergeire pointed out.

The solutions is to wear face masks and get vaccinated. But it turns out people seem to not care about getting vaccinated.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942241/manila/local-news/special-vaccination-week-sees-less-than-6-achievement

FOUR days into the six-day special vaccination week, the Department of Health (DOH) has reached only close to six percent of its almost two million target coronavirus disease (Covid-19) booster shots.

In a press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the special vaccination week has so far reached 109,000 individuals out of the 1.9 million target for the campaign set to end Saturday, October 1.

The numbers, as of September 29, are equivalent to 5.7 percent of the target number for the DOH.

"All these efforts of the local government, throughout this week, have been intensive. Resources have been used. All sectors were mobilized. We have these different settings that we are implementing. But, up until now, the uptake is very slow," said Vergeire.

"Based on this booster accomplishment, really, the uptake is very slow," she furthered.

All that intense effort with practically no results. The vaccination program has lost all its steam.

The Christmas season is upon us. That means it is time for the annual tradition of warning the public about the dangers of Christmas parties.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/02/doh-reminds-public-to-stay-safe-during-christmas-gatherings-amid-covid-19-pandemic/

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public that the Covid-19 virus remains a threat during the Christmas season even if the country is slowly transitioning toward normalcy. 

“We just want to remind our citizens especially since Christmas is coming and usually we will be having parties, group activities, company outings because of the celebration of Christmas. I hope we always remember that the virus still remains,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a recent press briefing. 

“Many people are still getting sick. Many of us are still vulnerable, especially the elderly,” she added. 

Vergeire still emphasized the importance of following the minimum public health standards, especially for private establishments or companies that are planning to conduct Christmas gatherings in the coming months. 

“Let’s be doubly careful. Always assess if the situation is appropriate if you are planning to have these kinds of activities,” she said. 

“Always remember the safety protocols that we have in order to avoid further transmission [of the virus] this coming Christmas,” she added. 

Vergeire encouraged companies to require only fully vaccinated individuals if they are planning to hold Christmas gatherings. 

“Hopefully, our establishments and companies will implement that their employees must be vaccinated, especially if their activities will be held inside establishment,” said Vergeire. 

“If the venue is closed, crowded, and there is a risk for close interaction with people, masks should always be worn,” she added. 

The Department of Education has also warned that COVID-19 is in schools. What did they expect? In Central Visayas face masks are mandatory in classrooms. The bottom line is that the public needs to be doubly careful. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/03/2213833/doh-reminds-public-be-doubly-careful-vs-covid-19

“We should be doubly careful. We must always see if the situation is for us to have activities, and always remember the safety protocols,” she added.

Although the country is slowly easing restrictions and the situation is better than the past two Christmas holidays, Vergeire said the public must keep in mind that the virus is here to stay.

Not doubt "doubly careful" means be very afraid and get vaccinated and always wear a face mask. How does that pair with keeping in mind "the virus is here to stay." It's here, why fear, get over it!

Puerto Princesa: City of the Living God?

Did you know that Puerto Princesa is nicknamed City of the Living God? That sobriquet was bestowed upon the city in June of 2012. Now, for the second time, lawmakers are hoping to make March 30th an annual non-working holiday to celebrate that designation. 

https://palawan-news.com/bill-filed-to-set-march-30-as-city-of-the-living-god-observance-in-puerto-princesa/

The House of Representatives has received a new version of a bill that seeks to designate March 30 as an annual non-working holiday in honor of Puerto Princesa’s status as the “City of the Living God.”

Rep. Edward Hagedorn of the 3rd District of Palawan reintroduced House Bill No. 4885, which his late brother Douglas Hagedorn had sponsored in the 16th Congress, along with Rep. Eddie Villanueva of the Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list.

Hagedorn stated on Friday at the general membership meeting of the Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. that aside from his brother’s justification that the city is away from the earthquake fault line and the ring of fire, it is a diligent, God-fearing, and environmentally conscious land.

Forgetting to give it importance, he explained, could be the reason why the city has become a cyclone pathway, such as when Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc and damaged numerous properties.

"You know, we can be laughed at here, but I can't ignore it-I remember when we declared it as the city of the living God, we don't experience deluges," Rep. Hagedorn said.

"When that disappeared and was ignored, even typhoons that used to not pass through us, become more frequent. So I said, there is nothing wrong if we make it a city of the living God. There is a city of flowers, it's not bad," he said.

Puerto Princesa was named as “City of the Living God” via Executive Order No. 13 and by the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Resolution Nos. 770-2010 and 579-2012 dated June 4, 2012. They were in view of the fact that it is endowed with abundant resources and is home to one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

The bill stated in the explanatory note that if March 30 falls on a Saturday or Monday, the observance will be held on the Monday that follows.

Sadly enough the original executive order and resolutions from 2012 are not available online. However, the text of both bills from 2016 and 2019 fill us in on just what it means for Puerto Princesa to be designated City of the Living God. 

2016:

Of all places in the country, only Puerto Princesa City is away from the ring of fire and the fault line, thereby spared from the "Big One," which is feared to strike In the future. In recent events, we have read, heard and seen reports of continuing shaking in all parts of the world — varying from tolerable to catastrophic, with some claiming thousands of lives in seconds. 

The City is home of one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature of the World, the St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, more popularly known as the Underground River. The longest underghround river does not only boast of beautifully-shaped stalactites and stalagmites, including the famed Cathedral in the inside and the limestones that rose over the rainforest on the outside. The place is also the haven of various species endemic to Palawan. 

As the City of the Living God, the City will achieve its full potential, and not ony limit itself to being known as a city in a forest and sports tourism capital of the Philippines. 

God has done it in the past. When this place was upgraded to be a City and allowed the Spirit of God in the place of power, He has done more marvelous things. Definitely God can and will do more for people who honor His name. 

March 30 of every year would encourage residents to celebrate the milestones achieved by the City and to reflect on the duties called upon them as the people of the City of the Living God. 

https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/legisdocs/basic_16/HB06479.pdf

2022:

This Bill is a re-filed Bill from the 16th Congress, sponsored by Congressman Douglas S. Hagedorn, seeking to designate March 30 of every year as a special non-working holiday in the City of Puerto Princesa in observance of the Anniversary of its declaration as the "City dew Living God." 

Puerto Princesa City was declared by the City Government through Sangsummg Panglungsod Resolution Nos. 770.2010 raid 579-2012 dated June 4, 2012, and preceded by Executive Order No. 13, as the "City of the Living God." The declaration was in view of the fact that the City of Puerto Princesa is blessed with rich natural resources, opulent flora and fauna, and a home to one of the New Severs Wonders of Nature - the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Likewise, the city is surrounded with pristine white beaches and natural water falls which we cannot attribute to anybody but the Living God. Indeed, Puerto Princesa, with all its beauty and attributes, is the City of the Living God. More than any of that the  city is so safely situated in the island which is away from the ring of fire. Hence researchers believe that the city is one of the safest in the country, as it can be spared from the "Big One", which is feared to strike in the near future. 

Recently, deep-focus earthquakes with a magnitude ranging from 4 to 7 occur frequently jolting many parts of the country. Despite those thousands of earthquakes recorded, none was ever felt in the city. The presence of mangrove-rich areas and vast coral reefs likewise protects the city from the occurrence of tsunami. Thus, the City being sheltered from said natural calamities, it is but important for the people to remember. fool and celebrate God's fortification at least once every year. 

https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/legisdocs/basic_19/HB04885.pdf

Did you notice what both of these propositions have in common? They list the fact that Puerto Princesa has many beautiful natural resources and is protected since it is outside of the ring of fire. That means the "Big One" will not hit the island. It is also protected from tsunamis because of mangroves and coral reefs. Thus Puerto Princesa has God's favor because the island is protected from natural disasters. 

What about the rest of the Philippines with all of its many natural resources and devout people? Screw them, right? Only Puerto Princesa is the City of the Living God because every other island in the archipelago is in the midst of the ring of fire and prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. They are declaring that Puerto Princesa is in some way more loved than the rest of the Philippines. However during the most recent typhoon the Sierra Madre actually protected Luzon from what could have been an even more devastating storm.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1670951/netizens-hail-sierra-madre-for-taming-typhoon

Sierra Madre, the country’s longest mountain range located in the eastern corridor of Luzon island, became a trending topic on Twitter during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Karding” (international name: Noru) as netizens called attention to how it protected Metro Manila and several provinces from calamities.

Netizens reminded their followers of its important role as an effective barrier against storms coming from the Pacific Ocean before heading for Luzon. The topic had 78,500 tweets as of Monday morning.

The mountains reduced the strength of Karding and shielded millions of residents in the typhoon’s path from a far worse catastrophe.

“It was one of the factors that weakened the typhoon because a storm weakens after a land interaction. Sierra Madre is a rugged terrain so Karding naturally lost some strength,” weather specialist Vanessa Torres told the Inquirer.

“The government must work on measures to address climate change in the long-term such as building appropriate infrastructure and rehabilitation and conservation of natural barriers such as the Sierra Madre,” KPNE national coordinator Jon Bonifacio told the Inquirer.

“The Sierra Madre has once again shown just how crucial it is in protecting us against extreme weather events,” Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles said on Monday, as he renewed his push for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 1972, which would create a Sierra Madre Development Authority (SMDA).“Many are saying ‘we got lucky’ and [were] spared the worst of the disaster brought by Karding. But we cannot just rely on luck when it comes to our welfare. We must act and must act now,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Take that City of the Living God!

What a blasphemous joke. Who told the government of Puerto Princesa to bestow the nickname City of the Living God? Did God say he would put his name in Puerto Princesa? Have these lawmakers ever read the Bible?

God put his name in one city and that is Jerusalem. After the nation of Israel proved unfaithful he sent them into captivity and destroyed the city. Twice! Once in 587 BC and again in 70 AD. The City of the Living God is now his church and people and the Heavenly Jerusalem to come.

What about Job? He was a very righteous man and yet God put him through an awful test with many sufferings. Yet these lawmakers claim Puerto Princesa is the City of the Living God because the city is protected from earthquakes and tsunamis. As if tsunamis and earthquakes only happen to the wicked. Try reading the words of Jesus in Luke 13.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

This whole endeavor is ridiculous and is founded upon superstition.  Listen to what Rep. Hagedorn said:

"You know, we can be laughed at here, but I can't ignore it-I remember when we declared it as the city of the living God, we don't experience deluges," Rep. Hagedorn said.

"When that disappeared and was ignored, even typhoons that used to not pass through us, become more frequent. So I said, there is nothing wrong if we make it a city of the living God. There is a city of flowers, it's not bad," he said.

I'd like to see the statistics on that. Can he even provide them? Can he prove that there is flooding in Puerto Princesa BECAUSE the city has not been celebrating its status as City of the Living God? 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1530623/palawan-after-odette22-dead-and-counting

If the theological issues surrounding this self-designation as City of the Living God are not enough lawmakers, for the second time, want this status to be recognized by the national government in the form of an annual special non-working holiday. Sheer hubris! What that means is that in Puerto Princesa alone every March 30th will be a holiday for all government employees and likely bank employees who will receive their pay despite not working.

There are 96 local holidays in the Philippines! Some are working and some not. That is in addition to the 19 regular and special holidays recognized nationwide which include Christmas, New Years Day, and National Heroes Day. The Philippines is the ranked fourth globally in the number of holidays it has.

http://archive.nepalitimes.com/regular-columns/Economic-Class/regular-breaks,788

The bottom line is there are too many holidays in the Philippines and the designation of Puerto Princesa as City of the Living God is theologically troubling. To adapt St. Augustine:

Puerto Princesa, Augustine argues, is quintessentially a city of man. It is ephemeral, earthly, and – like all other cities – destined to eventually pass away. The City of God, on the other hand, is stable, eternal, and the source of ultimate consolation. It is the city under God’s command, and hence the city that will ultimately come to triumph.

https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/content/city-god/context

Go read St. Augustine's The City of God and then get back to me!

Insurgency: Strategic Victory and Looming Collapse of NPA

It's finally happened! The Philippines has defeated the NPA. The AFP has gotten the victory! Strategically that is.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184813

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday it has attained strategic victory over the threats posed by the communist movement and other local terrorist groups (LTGs) operating in the country.

Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. made this statement after the AFP reported more than 75 percent of the communist fronts in the country have been dismantled nationwide.

"Out of 89 in July 2016, there are only five active guerilla fronts remaining,” he said in a statement.

He added that the capabilities of the communist rebels and LTGs have been significantly diminished over the last few years.

"The concerted efforts of the security sector have drawn us even closer to the end of the armed conflict with the inevitable collapse of these armed groups,” the DND chief said.

As of Sept. 20 this year, a total of 2,890 conflict-affected barangays have been cleared, through the AFP’s Development Support and Security Plan "Kapayapaan" and the DND's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

From July 1, 2016 to Sept. 26, 2022, the AFP recorded a total of 10,608 regular NPA members neutralized, and more than 41,000 underground members, mass supporters, and sympathizers withdrew their support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

A total of 4,644 LTG members were also neutralized during the period.

Around 1,386 cities/municipalities and 31,254 barangays nationwide declared the CPP-NPA as persona non grata, indicating a widespread loss of support for the communist movement.

“This victory, of course, cannot be credited only to the DND and AFP. The gains we achieved were brought about by the harmonized endeavors of the national and local levels of government, as well as the active participation of relevant agencies and other stakeholders, through the whole-of-nation approach of the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict)," Faustino said.

This is NOT a victory. A victory is when the enemy is either obliterated or submits. Imagine the Allies claiming a strategic victory shortly after the Normandy invasion. That would have been ridiculous. We are being told that the NPA is still recruiting and still poses a threat. Vice President Sara Duterte has flexed her muscles to say that we must show them no mercy. And we are supposed to cheer for this strategic victory? Let's look at a few places where this strategic victory has been obtained. 

In Northern Samar the insurgency has ended for a few months now.  The PNP officers responsible have finally gotten their just rewards for all their efforts. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184615

The Philippine Army and the local government of Las Navas, Northern Samar have recognized the 35 elite police officers who helped end insurgency in the town’s rebel-infested villages for seven months.

Members of the 12th Special Action Battalion of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) based in Calbayog City, Samar were deployed in the town on Feb. 26, 2022 as retooled community support program (RCSP) operators.

“Through their relentless efforts, four villages were declared cleared, peaceful, and conflict-resilient communities by the area clearing evaluation team. With the presence of SAF members, these communities are now free from the influence of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) and ready for development,” said 2nd Lt. Joyce Ann Bayron, Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) in a phone interview.

These four villages are Bulao, Dolores, San Isidro, and Quirino all in Las Navas town.

“You left these villages peaceful. What you have done for the people of Las Navas will have a long and lasting effect to peace and security that will pave the way for the development in Northern Samar,” Buban said during the ceremony.

Seven months is a good long time. Hopefully the Barangay Development Program and the NTF-ELCAC have come through with funds to develop the area.

Elsewhere the communist insurgency continues to disintegrate as many comrades surrender.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184560

The recent mass surrender of 16 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-News People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros has dealt a big blow to the long-running insurgency on the island, a key Army official said Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, told the Philippine News Agency that the development is a positive outcome of sustained military efforts, particularly for Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental, as this would bring “peace and development”.

The former rebels (FRs) who surrendered during a ceremony last week attended by military, police and local civilian officials included key leaders and members of the Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) under the Leonardo Panaligan Command.

“I commend the Task Force ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) of Guihulngan City for their efforts to entice the remaining members of the CN1 in returning to the folds of the law,” Pasaporte said in mixed English and Filipino.

As to the impact on the underground movement, the Army commander said the rebel group is now “weakening” even though there are statements from their leaders that “they are projecting to be strong”.

Pasaporte said there will be another round of mass surrender soon in one of the towns in Negros Oriental covered by his brigade but he did not elaborate for security reasons.

Isn't it kind of odd that they know there will be another mass surrender very soon? Perhaps not because these people have to be in touch with the AFP but if the mass surrenders are fake as the CPP claims then it makes sense. Also how exactly is the NPA "projecting to be strong?" The AFP has said the NPA is actively recruiting which means they are not weak and just last week they were prevented from blowing up a dam. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184276

Three communist rebels were killed in an encounter with government troops that foiled their attempt to attack the Kaliwa Dam in Quezon province on Tuesday.

In a statement Wednesday night, Lt. Col. Nestor Estolas, public affairs office chief of the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), said the clash took place at Sitio Lagmak in Barangay Pagsangahan, San Francisco town.

He said the slain rebels are part of a larger group that planned to attack the facility.

"Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion and 22nd Division Reconnaissance Company were conducting combat operations at Sitio Lagmak in Barangay Pagsangahan after receiving information from concerned citizens about a planned terror attack at Kaliwa Dam. This led to the interception of 25 armed personalities believed to be members of KLG (Kilusang Larangan Guerilla) Narciso and EXECOM (Executive Committee) of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee's Sub-Regional Military Area 4A, which is led by its secretary Janice Javier alias Yayo," he added.

25 armed members of the NPA tried to attack a dam. That does not sound like they are projecting strength but that they are capable of carrying out attacks. They were only prevented from carrying out the attack because a concerned citizen snitched. 

The AFP claims the NPA is declining in most of Mindanao. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184750

The communist New People’s Army (NPA) in most parts of Mindanao is critically declining due to the deaths, arrests, and surrender of their top leaders, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, the Eastmincom chief, hailed Army troopers in the regions of Caraga, Davao, and Northern Mindanao for the series of neutralization of NPA leaders and the dismantling of an NPA guerrilla front this month.

“Forty-five NPA members, including high-value individuals, have surrendered, while others were arrested, captured, or killed this month alone by the units under the 10th Infantry Division (ID) and the 4ID,” Almerol said in a statement.

At least 40 high-powered firearms of various calibers and three anti-personnel mines were also recovered during the period, he said.

Of the three top NPA leaders killed during the period, two were in the Caraga, including Noel Alacre, the commanding officer of Platoon 2, Guerrilla Front (GF) 30, and Rolando Leyson Jr., the secretary of GF 16, both of the NPA's North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Almerol said the Eastmincom also approved the dismantling of GF18 after the government troops neutralized its remaining members and the recovery of war matériel during the series of armed confrontations this month in Lupon and Banaybanay in Davao Oriental province.

He noted that GF18 has weakened since Nov. 2021 with the surrender of its two top leaders.

“We are also eyeing the dismantling of other NPA units in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region following the series of neutralization of its top-ranking leaders and the capture of its remaining war matériel,” Almerol said.

He said Eastmincom has dismantled 28 out of 33 NPA guerrilla fronts since 2017.

There are only 5 NPA fronts left in Eastern Mindanao. Hopefully the AFP does not underestimate them as they are so wont to do. 

In Caraga the AFP says the collapse of the NPA is "looming."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184950

The Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) official foresees the imminent downfall of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Caraga Region with the increasing number of surrenderers in the area.

In a statement Thursday, Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag noted that 40 key NPA leaders and members in the region have so far been neutralized in the past two months.

Thirty-five assorted firearms were also recovered by the government troops during the period.

This month, Mamawag said the biggest number of surrenderers took place in Agusan del Sur wherein a dozen NPA rebels, including a top leader, yielded to the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Sept. 17 and 25.

The surrenderers were from the NPA Platoon Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

On Sept. 21, five members of the Sentro de Grabidad Southland of the NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee in Surigao del Sur also surrendered to the 75IB.

“These string of accomplishments manifests the looming end of the NPA,” Mamawag said, adding that the various units under the 4ID continue to deal with the remnants of the weakened guerrilla fronts.

He said the 4ID is on the "last stretch" of its campaign to end the local communist armed conflict within its area of responsibility, covering most parts of the Caraga and Northern Mindanao.

“At the rate we are going, it seems that our dream to have insurgency-free communities will not be far-fetched,” he said.

The last stretch to end the conflict with the NPA. Hopefully that dream will become a reality soon enough. 

Senator Bato dela Rosa thinks the insurgency will soon end.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184351

The Philippines will be a better place to live if the government's problem with local insurgency will continue to subside, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said on Thursday.

During the Sustainable Livelihood Program distribution at SB Park, Quezon City, he asked for the support of the people, saying eradicating local insurgency will entail an improvement in the lives of each Filipino.

"Let us guard our children especially those who are at schools because they have intensified their recruitment now in schools. Our children will be pitiful. They will be gone and we don't know where they went. Then suddenly, we'll discover that they were recruited," he told residents.

During the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, the former chief of the Philippine National Police said he saw a "glimmer of hope" when NTF-ELCAC was formed.

“We said when we were still lieutenants ‘What kind of war is this? We are being left alone by the government to fight against NPA. They’re sitting in their chair, inside their office, just cooling off in the office. We are there in the field, we are the ones who fight. We are the ones who hurt and struggle,” Dela Rosa said.

“Areas formerly known to be communist-infested are now thriving and enjoying their peaceful communities. With the accomplishments of the NTF-ELCAC, many problems in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas were resolved, which greatly helped in neutralizing the CPP-NPA,” he added.

This headline might be a bit deceiving. No where does Bato say he sees the insurgency ending soon. What he does say is that the NPA has ramped up recruitment in the schools.  Which schools? Which grades? Proof? He gives none and his statement runs counter to the efforts the AFP has made to end recruitment in schools and that the NPA is on the brink of collapse across the nation. One thing Bato is sure of is that peace talks won't solve the insurgency. 

If the rebels do attempt to regroup the AFP is ready to stop them.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185092

The Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) based here has made halting any attempt of the communist rebels to reorganize, as one of its long-term objectives.

In a statement Saturday, Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, commander of the 4ID, said this is part of the Army's "continuous and sustained efforts" to free communities, especially those in the hinterlands, from the violence perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA).

"We won’t stop at just toppling down the CTGs (communist terrorist groups), we must be able to ensure that after destroying them, we will not give them any chance to recover, rearm, and regroup. We will make sure that they will remain on the ground unable to do what they used to do – and that is to sow violence and terrorism in our area of responsibility," Mamawag said.

He, however, said despite their hardline stance, they would give a chance to combatants who want to surrender.

Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag is right. It's not enough to dismantle fronts. The CPP-NPA needs to be completely destroyed. That they are contemplating regrouping and restrengthening shows that there is still a spark of life in their ranks. 

Harry Roque's Dishonest Assessment of Marcos' NY Trip

Eternal chameleon Harry Roque has given a statement about the significance of President Marcos' recent trip the United Nation's General Assembly in New York. It is such a brazen piece of misinformation and deserves a going over. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184713

The recent New York trip of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signaled the improving relations between the Philippines and the United States while establishing Manila would stick to its independent foreign policy and a "friend to all" stance, international law expert and former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.

This little paragraph and the title of the article is why I referred to Harry Roque as a chameleon. While he was a Congressman he worked hard to get the Philippines into the ICC. Years later he cheered when Duterte unilaterally withdrew from the court. As a lawyer Roque fought for human rights but as Duterte's spokesman he defended the bloody drug war and excoriated anyone who brought up the question of EJK's. Roque is a man with absolutely no principles. He will be whoever you want him to be as long as he is paid. 

Duterte's independent foreign policy was to antagonize the USA while embracing China a move Roque staunchly defended. Now, he is lauding Marcos for "improving relations between the Philippines and the United States."  

Roque acknowledged that relations between the two had been "very strained" under the previous administration.

"The achievement is he went to the United States, accorded immunity from suit, which sends the message that America wants to continue our traditional friendship. And by going to the United States, President Marcos said we also want to be your friend but take note that we are friends to all," he said at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

Right here is probably the biggest deception coming out of Roque. Marcos was not granted immunity from arrest because the United States wants to be friends but out of consideration for his diplomatic status. 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/204431/bongbong-marcos-can-enter-us-due-to-immunity-envoy

“The fact is, when you’re a head of state, you have immunity in all circumstances and are welcome to the United States in your official role,” US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters in a roundtable discussion in Pasay City when asked on the matter.

“When someone is the head of state, they have [diplomatic] immunity and would be welcome to the United States,” Sherman added.

In 2012, a US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit handed down a contempt judgment against Marcos Jr., his mother Imelda, and the estate of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. for violating an injunction that barred them from dissipating assets of the estate.

In six years when Marcos is no longer President he will no longer be able to enter the USA without being arrested. It has nothing to do with friendship. Roque is such an incredible liar. 

Marcos attended the 77th United Nations General Assembly last week and held inaugural meetings with some leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

During the bilateral meeting, Marcos told Biden that the Philippines looked forward to a continuing partnership with Washington DC, especially on the maintenance of peace in the region, saying that the Southeast Asian nation continues to treat the US as a friend, ally, and partner.

Roque hailed as a good move Marcos' invitation for American businessmen to invest in the Philippines.

"We cannot measure the success of this initiative until the money comes. But what is important is the Philippines after six years have a President selling the Philippines to American venture capitalists. Did that happen during the time of President Duterte?' he said. "I think it's high time. [A]lthough China is on its way to becoming the economic superpower, in reality, it is still the US that is number one as of now."

Is that a dig on Duterte and his move to court Chinese investments? Roque is praising Marcos for courting American investors saying "it's high time." Does this lapdog even care or is he just licking his master's fingers? 

Aside from marking a mending in the two nations' relations, Roque said the US trip also served as Marcos' "debut in the international space".

"Everyone has to know that we have a new president. He has the same family name as the former president, but he is his own person. And to me, that is the important message: 'I am Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Republic of the Philippines. I am my own man,'" he said.

It also provided a platform for the new administration to reaffirm the importance it places on mitigation by recognizing climate change as the "greatest threat" affecting the world.

Here is the last piece of malarkey in this news article. Marcos is his own man. Absolutely, no, he is not. He has said many times that he takes inspiration from his father and he continues to defend the past crimes of his family. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1663643/bongbong-marcos-defends-fathers-martial-law-legacy

Wiping tears as he spoke, Marcos recalled visiting his father’s grave a day after winning the election and calling on him for help. “I will use everything I learned from you to continue your work,” Marcos recounted, telling his late father.

Bongbong Marcos is not his own man. He cannot be his own man. He is a Marcos. He is the scion of the family and as such he must continue to defend their crimes by denying they ever happened. His son Sandro and every one else who bears the name of Marcos or Romualdez will be forced to defend Ferdinand and Imelda's indefensible conjugal dictatorship or own up that they committed massive crimes against the Filipino people including plunder and murder. 

This is just brief look at what Harry Roque had to say about Marcos' UN trip. It's a lot of the same old disinformation, fake news, and nonsense. We have not seen the last of Roque. He will be around for a while and he will dance to the tune of whoever is playing the music.