Insurgency: Davao Region Insurgency-Free

The entire Davao Region has now been officially declared insurgency-free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185966

Davao Region is now “insurgency-free” following the series of successful peace and order initiatives that dismantled the remnants of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the area.

During a meeting at the Naval Felix Apolinario Station here Wednesday, members of the Regional Peace and Order Council–Davao (RPOC-11) signed a resolution declaring the entire region as cleared of insurgents as of Sept. 19, 2022.

Davao region is the third region in the country declared as insurgency-free, following Regions 1 and 9.

The declaration came after the five-province Region 11 was declared to have been cleared out of NPA by their respective provincial and city peace and order councils this year.

In March this year, this city was declared insurgency-free, followed by Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte in June, Davao del Sur in July, Davao Occidental in August, and Davao Oriental in September.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Army’s 10th Infantry Division commander and concurrent RPOC vice chairperson, thanked the different agencies and other RPOC members who contributed to achieving an insurgency-free region.

“Where we are now and what we have achieved bespeak well of our excellent convergence and collaborative efforts," he said.

“We are so happy about this declaration. The development would now thrive without fear of intimidation, harassment, and sabotage from the NPA group,” Mempin said.

Mempin, however, said part of the declaration is a more challenging task, which is the "sustainment and prevention" of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA from recruiting and regrouping.

This comes less than month after Davao Or was declared insurgency free with only two remaining NPA fighters.

But if the NPA is 100% gone and the region is totally insurgent free then why are they worried about recruiting and regrouping in the area? Because according to another report there are still remnants in the area.

While there are still “remnants” of the rebel members, the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division said the rebel groups were reduced to their smallest size.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/13/22/afp-all-of-davao-region-now-free-of-npa-presence

That article is titled "All of Paavo Region Now Free of NPA Presence" which is a lie because there are still remnants. Again, we are told the NPA is weakened and irrelevant but then we are told the AFP is recruiting and attempting to regroup. They cannot be weak and strong at the same time.

A ranking NPA leader was killed in Negros Occidental which has prompted the AFP to declare the group is on the brink of downfall. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185934

The top Philippine Army official in Western Visayas said the death of Romeo Nanta, the regional head of the New People’s Army (NPA) armed unit, is a major setback to the communist-terrorist group’s operations in Negros Island.

“They are now on the brink of downfall following the surrender and death of their members and leaders in Negros,” Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Arevalo, who used to head the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Negros Occidental, added that there would be demoralization within the ranks and a domino effect on the leadership of the NPA under Nanta’s command.

“We will not stop hunting them to fulfill the Negrenses’ desire for a CPP-NPA-free community. Before it’s too late, they must lay down their firearms and surrender peacefully,” he added.

On Monday afternoon, 94th Infantry Battalion personnel recovered the body of Nanta, 65, the commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, in Sitio Medel of Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City following a series of encounters in the hinterland village that started on Oct. 6.

Using the alias “Juanito Magbanua,” he was also the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, which confirmed his death in a press statement on Tuesday.

Nanta was facing criminal cases, including murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and damage to properties, as he was linked to atrocities that claimed the lives of civilians, police, and soldiers as well as damaged installations in Negros.

He was arrested in 2011 and jumped bail to return to the rebel movement.

Nanta was arrested in 2011 for various crimes and yet allowed bail? Why would they have allowed bail for a known terrorist? One does not need that designation to keep the man imprisoned. Just look at his litany of alleged crimes. 

In Negros continued clashes between the NPA and AFP have displaced residents causing the local government to declare a state of emergency.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/12/state-of-calamity-declared-in-negros-city-amid-series-of-clashes-between-govt-troops-and-npa-rebels/

The local government of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental has declared a state of calamity, following series of armed encounters that affected thousands of residents in Barangay Carabalan.

The city council declared the entire city under a state of calamity during its special session on Monday, Oct. 10, upon the recommendation of Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

This allows the city to utilize the Quick Response Fund and enables the release of national calamity funds to agencies involved in relief operations.

Currently, the city has P13 million in quick response funds, a portion of which will be allocated for the man-made calamity such as the encounter between the government troops and the New People’s Army which is now on the sixth day.

Based on the data from the city government, more than 13,000 individuals or more than 10 percent of the city’s population of 110,000 have been affected by the conflict since Oct. 6.

Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said that one barangay is on lockdown due to the pursuit operations of the Army.

Gatuslao said the city has enough resources to provide for the affected residents.

However, the biggest problem they are facing right now is that there are some areas that they can’t enter just yet, upon the advice of the Army.

“It is really the logistics in getting our goods to the areas. We have no choice. We’re just waiting for evacuees to come,” Gatuslao said.

Of course they will be able to return home eventually. 

In N. Samar the clearing of 96 villages has crippled the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186036

The clearing of 96 villages from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA) this year has paralyzed the communist terrorist group in several communities in Northern Samar Province, an official said on Thursday.

The surrender of hundreds of staunch supporters in villages is a big loss to the NPA since they are the providers of food, funds, supplies, and valuable information to the rebels, said Philippine Army 20th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Joemar Buban in a phone interview.

As of this month, of the 97 NPA-infiltrated areas in the 2nd legislative district of Northern Samar identified in 2021, only one is still up for clearing, the Hinagonoyan village in Catubig town.

“Members of their organized group have stopped giving support to NPA. Our estimate is that the NPA can collect up to PHP11,000 monthly in each of the 97 villages or about PHP11 million in one year in 2nd district alone,” Buban told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The NPA used to extort money from residents, farm owners, and local businessmen to support their armed struggle and contribute funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Other sources were farmlands grabbed by NPA from landowners in Northern Samar and had been under the control of their mass organization.

“Member of this group are required to remit a big share of the farm produce to the NPA. From other landowners, they used to collect 20 percent of the farm income,” Buban said.

After an armed encounter on Oct. 10 in San Miguel village in Las Navas town, soldiers recovered several letters from a dead NPA member demanding money from local businesses.

While the AFP is elated at these developments the DOJ says they will also continue to fight the insurgents. This comes after one NPA fighter was convicted of terrorism. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186041

The government will continue to go after insurgents and those who aid them in efforts to overthrow the government, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday, as he announced the conviction of a key member of the New People’s Army (NPA) charged with rebellion.

“Rebellion and aiding it is a crime. Those who commit the same should suffer its consequences.” Remulla said in a statement as he commended state lawyers who successfully prosecuted the case against Dionisio Almonte before the Taguig regional trial court branch 266.

In its decision promulgated last September 16, the Taguig court sentenced Almonte alias Inol/Noli/Leo to suffer the indeterminate penalty of up to 17 years imprisonment for his part in attacks against members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon province in 2005 to 2006.

Almonte and his group were accused to be behind the bombing of a Globe cell site tower located at Barangay Piis, Lucban, Quezon; the killing of SPO3 Clarito Ilao and the wounding of five other police officers during an encounter; an ambush on members of the PA resulting in the death of Pfc. Eric Consulta, Pfc. Rey Surada, and Pfc. Ruel Abino and the wounding of eight other Army officers; an attack on PA officers resulting in injuries to four Army officers; an ambush on PA officers causing the wounding of two Army officers; and an attack on PA officers causing the death of Ssgt. Ernesto Baniel and the wounding of another PA officer.

The Court said, “the prosecution was able to prove the fact of public uprising and taking arms against the government as the prosecution’s witnesses categorically testified of their experience and encounters with the rebel group -- NPA.”

If only he had surrendered he could have availed of the many benefits. This week hundreds of ex-NPA members have received benefits.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186087

A total of 165 former rebels and farmers from insurgency-free villages in central Negros will soon undergo various skills training and receive other livelihood interventions from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

As of Thursday, arrangements for the community-based training programs were being finalized after these were launched in Isabela, Negros Occidental last week.

Carlito Quintano, acting provincial director of TESDA-Negros Occidental, said in a statement the training would be funded under the agency’s Special Training for Employment Program.

“They can avail of the free training cost and assessment,” he added.

Other benefits include an Internet allowance, one-year accident insurance, health/personal protective equipment allowance, starter toolkits, and a training support fund/allowance of PHP160 per day.

Are they really grouping in farmers with NPA rebels? 

The USA remains an integral part of the Philippines' war against the insurgency. This year there are 496 security engagements between the two nations. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185726

The Philippines and the United States will have 496 defense and security engagements in 2023 as the world's coronavirus situation continues to improve.

"For CY 2023 - 496 (274 MDB(Mutual Defense Board) and 222 SEB (Security Engagement Board)," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro said in a message to reporters Sunday.

This is bigger than this year's 461 defense and security engagements, which can be broken down into 214 MDB and 247 SEB.

Bacarro said the 461 engagements posted for 2022 is also significantly higher than the 353 in 2021 which can be broken down into 197 MBD and 156 SEB.

The AFP chief attributed the relatively low number of US military engagements in 2021 due to the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bacarro said around 15,000 US military personnel will be involved in the various MDB and SEB drills in 2023 which includes the annual "Balikatan" exercises.

The US has also granted $100 million in military financing. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-grants-philippines-100-million-foreign-military-financing-2022-10-14/

The United States has made available $100 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines, its ambassador in Manila said on Friday, part of efforts to boost the Southeast Asian country's defence capabilities and military modernisation.

The new military financing underscores improved defence ties between the treaty allies under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, shifted his country's foreign policy away from the United States to pursue warmer ties with China.

"The United States has now made available $100 million in foreign military financing in part for the Philippine military to use as it wishes," Ambassador MaryKay Carlson told a media briefing aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which was on a scheduled port call in Manila.

To use as it wishes! Hopefully it does not get pocketed. Either way never let Filipinos say Uncle Sam has never given them anything. 

Jeepney's Makeshift Gas Tank

I like to ride in the  front seat whenever I take the jeepney but on September 14th I was told I needed to sit in the back despite the front seat being empty. The problem? The driver had a makeshift gas tank sitting on the floor. 

How is that legal? I am pretty sure it's not legal. In fact I would bet more than half of the jeepeny's in town are not up to code. Too many bellow thick black clouds of exhaust and I have seen this same makeshift gas tank set up before.

Behind the driver's set was a huge jug of yellow liquid that looked like gasoline. He told me it was water. 

Maybe it is, maybe it's not. I sure would not want to get in a situation hoping that thing doesn't explode. On October 4th I encountered the same thing!

Just look at that bad boy!!! It certainly is bad. And illegal!  But most of all dangerous. Jeepney modernization my hurt some drivers but it is desperately needed. 

The God Culture: The Bizarre Cosmology of Timothy Jay Schwab

Having previously taken a look at the graceless, Christless, blasphemous, sacrilegious, and altogether heretical theology of Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture it is now time to examine his bizarre cosmology. In sum Tim teaches the earth is flat and motionless, the sun and moon are the same size, the heat of the sun determines the seasons, and there are no such things as planets. 

The goal here is to let Tim speak for himself with as little commentary as possible. Elsewhere I have written about this false cosmology showing exactly why it is false and contradicts proven, scientific reality. First up is the alleged cosmology of the ancient world. Tim is quite clear that he is following the ancient teachings.

50:55 And we follow their teachings, the ancient teachings on this channel. That's where we're taking you, back to the ancient teachings which have precedence and foundation as Bible canon and scripture. 

The Error of the Moon for Days, Weeks, Months and Years. Part 1. Answers In First Enoch Part 43

What is the teaching of Enoch and the rest of the ancient world? That the earth is flat. 

Pounders Live: The Location of the Rivers of Eden w/ guest "The God Culture)

48:38 The ancient mapping process required the North Pole to be in the center, in the navel, of the earth. Antarctica is a shelf that surrounds it and it is a flat round disc. That's the way they map it. Whether anybody believes in flat earth or not you can't dispute that.

That the earth is a flat round disk with Antarctica acting as a shelf to hold in the ocean is indeed what Tim firmly believes and teaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM7E0aWPk1A&lc=UgxUGb6ovXZZTxaixRp4AaABAg

Tradewind: If earth is flat..there should be barriers at d ends, so the water wouldnt spill

The God Culture: It's called Antarctica and the firmament. Yah Bless.

Now I will go through a few videos letting Tim speak for himself.

The modern scientific theory of the continents is pale tectonics. Tim calls this an occult religious belief.

6:19  For those espousing pangaea, or really Pan Gaia, an occult religious belief not science, the hydroplate theory which relies on the false science of moving plates floating on magma smashing to gather understand that at 1,000 miles per hour at the equator such chaotic motion would never lead to a separation of continents but the opposite.  It would lead to there only being one continent and it would be a mountain all the way into space likely.  Accusing Yahuah of creating such chaos is a lack of faith truly and certainly not a Biblical perspective.   

NOAH'S ARK FOUND in 2010 on Mount Ararat? Does The Bible Agree? Flood Series 5A

Before the flood there were no oceans for large whale and other sea creatures in which to swim but only large rivers. 

13:26 There was no ocean before the flood nor any terminology in Genesis that says otherwise. The word "seas" in the early Genesis creation account can just as easily be interpreted as large rivers, not oceans.  

NOAH'S ARK FOUND in 2010 on Mount Ararat? Does The Bible Agree? Flood Series 5A

The earth is stationary. The sun, moon, and stars move.

30:35 It is the sun, moon, and stars that move, not the earth. 

Testing The Sun's Courses of First Enoch. Modern Scientism Fails! Answers In First Enoch Part 41

The sun is also not 92 million miles away. That is fictional and has never been measured or observed by anyone ever.

14:40 If seasons are caused by the distance from the sun from over 90 million miles away, which is quite fictional, no one has ever observed such nor measured such, then there's a problem here. Don't believe me? Go ahead and try to measure the sun 90 million miles away. Oh, you can't do that. Wait a minute nobody in the science world can do that either. So nobody knows from that viewpoint.   

Testing The Sun's Courses of First Enoch. Modern Scientism Fails! Answers In First Enoch Part 41

The sun is only a few thousand miles away and it is the same size as the moon.

18:24 Not only is it not anywhere near 90 plus million miles away, it's very close. Within thousands of miles not millions. Not hundreds of thousands even. 

Testing The Sun's Courses of First Enoch. Modern Scientism Fails! Answers In First Enoch Part 41

1:00:05 But as regards size, they are both equal. Hoo hoo! What? Wait minute, the sun and the moon are the same size? Well that's not what they tell us in modern scientism, is it?

The Sun's Course Animation. Enoch's Scientific Observation. Answers In First Enoch Part 40

The sun is powered by the wind as it moves through portals or windows and the intensity of its heat is what causes the seasons because the earth does not tilt. 

15:58 The sun is powered by the wind.

The Sun's Course Animation. Enoch's Scientific Observation. Answers In First Enoch Part 40

26:15 The sun also is powered by these windows so it gets hotter and cooler in different seasons. We don't know the intensity at all times but generally, man this fits like a glove. 

Testing The Sun's Courses of First Enoch. Modern Scientism Fails! Answers In First Enoch Part 41

How are eclipses caused? By the moon getting in front of the sun and the sun getting in front of the moon. 

31:19 Once again the opportunity for eclipses arises as the moon turns back and recedes behind the sun. This would cause an eclipse uh in a certain area of the world at certain times, uh, of, you know, certain moments. Uh, both lunar and solar eclipses are explained by this dynamic as the moon could be in front at some times and the sun could be in front at some times, uh, from a certain perspective. Remember they are the same size according to Enoch we'll show you those scriptures in a second, well in a few minutes. Another time the sun in front of the moon. So, in both cases you got an eclipse. 

The Error of the Moon for Days, Weeks, Months and Years. Part 2. Answers In First Enoch Part 44

Let's take this to an end and look to the heavens. Does the sun sit in the center of the solar system? Are there such things as planets? No.

28:56 Yes, there are cults in Babylon and Greece that have their own little religion where the sun is their god in the center of the, uh, solar system with nine planets, including the earth, rotating around them even, you know, basically, rotating around their sun god. That's the origin of that doctrine. It is a doctrine it's not science, it's never been proven. Umm, no one has ever proved that Jupiter is actually a planet. Just because they show us a representation of an animation of what they think it might possibly look like if they could actually see it and they can't. That clearly then, um, eh, maybe. But no thank you they have no clue. 

Answers in First Enoch Part 7: Enoch's Middle of the Earth. Exiting Inner Earth

That's really enough. There is no need to continue. This is Timothy Jay Schwab's cosmology in a nutshell. The earth is flat, the sun and the moon are the same size and hover over the earth, there are no planets, and the seasons are caused by the heat of the sun as it moves in and out of portals.

It's madness and it all comes from the unscriptural Books of Enoch and Jubilees. Enoch never wrote that book nor did Moses write Jubilees. We can know this because their descriptions of the universe are false and contradicts Genesis 1 which says in no uncertain terms the sun AND the moon AND the stars regulate time not the sun alone.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Tim hates science so much that he cannot even trust his eyes which, if he were to look through a telescope, would see that Jupiter (along with Mars, Saturn, and Neptune) is indeed another world. You can see its huge red spot just like Samuel Henrich Schwabe did in 1813. You can track its movements across the sky. 

If you have come here looking for me to disprove Tim's statements you will be disappointed because that is not the point. I am not going to write a science text book here. Nevertheless here are several articles where I deal in depth with all the nonsense above.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-god-culture-noah-landed-on-mt.html 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-god-culture-earth-is-flat-but-we.html 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-god-culture-course-of-sun.html 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-god-culture-course-of-moon.html 

Read those articles. Read up on some science. The earth is not flat. The sun is millions of miles away. The seasons are caused by the earth's tilt. These are facts that have been proven and are not taken on faith but on actual measurements as well as photography. It is only nonsense like the cosmology of Enoch and Timothy Jay Schwab of the God Culture which must be taken on faith because there is no science to back it up.

Retards in the Government 279

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

  

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185638

A former vice mayor of Calbiga, Samar was gunned down by a soldier listed as AWOL (absence without leave) along a major highway in the province on Friday morning, the police reported.

Miguel Abaigar Jr., 54, a resident of Canticum village in Calbiga town, was biking in Timbangan village when Allan Malageuno, 43, a resident of Catbalogan City, shot him using a .45 caliber pistol.

The bullet hit Abaigar’s back killing him instantly, according to the police.

The suspect was identified with the help of witnesses.

After the shooting, the suspect on board a motorcycle drove to Catbalogan City but the Calbiga police has already alerted nearby police stations.

Hot pursuit operations led to the suspect's arrest in a checkpoint set up along the highway of Bato village in Paranas town less than an hour after the shooting,

Recovered from the suspect was a .45 caliber pistol loaded with one bullet and inserted magazine.

An AWOL solider assassinated a former vice mayor. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/10/08/2215136/pnps-no-4-man-faces-raps

The No. 4 man in the Philippine National Police (PNP) is facing complaints of grave abuse and unjust vexation.

The charges against Maj. Gen. Arthur Bisnar, chief of the directorial staff, were filed before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office by Maritess Cabillan, a non-uniformed personnel assigned with the PNP Directorate for Comptrolership.

A preliminary investigation on the complaints against Bisnar was held yesterday, according to a subpoena signed by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Victorino Badua Jr.

No other details were available on the circumstances that led Cabillan to file complaints against Bisnar.

A copy of the subpoena showed the incident between the two occurred when Bisnar was the director of the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD).

In April, Bisnar was accused of hurling profanities at officers of the  Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) field office has requested the PNP leadership to take appropriate action to address the incident involving Bisnar, then DHRDD director, and the CIDG officers.

According to a police report, an irate Bisnar parked his vehicle in the CIDG-NCR field unit compound and confronted the guard on duty, claiming the compound gate encroached on the pedestrian lane.

Bisnar then shouted at CIDG-NCR chief Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, who had just arrived in his own vehicle. Silvio explained the gate’s removal was scheduled within the week but Bisnar kept shouting.

Before leaving in his vehicle, Bisnar also berated a police officer assigned at the CIDG for wearing a bracelet.

Bisnar’s outburst was witnessed by other CIDG police officers and civilian personnel.       

The number 4 man in the PNP is facing complaints of grave abuse and unjust vexation for shouting at personnel from the CIDG. 

https://www.panaynews.net/jail-warden-3-others-face-raps-over-idj-rooftop-protest/

Four personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 6 assigned at the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Barangay Nanga, Pototan town were administratively charged over August’s protest staged by over a hundred persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

According to BJMP-6 spokesperson Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, included in the charges were warden Jail Chief Inspector Norberto Miciano Jr., the chief security officer and two other duty personnel.

Dogelio said the charges included gross neglect of duty for the chief security and two duty personnel, which led to their failure to monitor the activity of the inmates, and the failure to supervise and exercise command responsibility on the part of the jail warden.

“There is a prima facie evidence nga may neglect on their part,” said Dogelio.

To attract public attention to their plight, the PDLs climbed to the roof of the jail’s administrative building and staged a noise barrage.

Among their complaints were: their meals were not enough and poorly prepared; items being sold in the commissary were too expensive; and the warden needed to shape up.

Four BJMP personnel have been charged with gross neglect of duty for allowing inmates to protest. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/07/22/retired-zamboanga-judge-convicted-for-another-judges-murder

A Zamboanga del Norte court has convicted a retired judge of murder for ordering the 2019 killing of a fellow judge right within the court’s compound.

In a judgment dated September 16, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 28 sentenced retired Judge Oscar Tomarong to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison without eligibility for parole for the death of Judge Reymar Lacaya.

He was also ordered to pay the heirs of the late judge more than P9.5 million in civil indemnity and damages, including loss of earning capacity.

Tomarong was the former presiding judge of the same court that convicted him while Lacaya presided over Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Branch 11.

In March 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the 2 judges to swap places to make way for a judicial audit.

On May 9, 2019, two hired killers shot dead Lacaya as he was about to board his vehicle after a hearing.

The Zamboanga court found out that Tomarong, through two intermediaries, paid the two killers P200,000 to kill Lacaya.

A former judge has been convicted of murdering a colleague. 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/anti-drug-cop-arrested-over-drug-den-shabu-manila/

The Philippine National Police (PNP) seized a total of 990 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) worth P6.7 billion in Tondo, Manila, then they found the ID, belongings, and “incriminating documents” of an active member of the police force.

Worse, the cop was an intelligence officer of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) – the police unit especially tasked with leading the country’s anti-drug campaign.

The stunning operation showed how deep illegal drug groups may have penetrated even the national police’s most specialized units – posing a challenge to the new administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, which promised to continue and even improve the anti-drug campaign of his tough-talking predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, October 9, the PNP DEG’s own chief, Brigadier General Narciso Domingo narrated the shocking story which involved the cop under his own group, who was identified as Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

While searching the building, police found the belongings of a cop and “incriminating documents” that led them to suspect him as a co-conspirator in running the drug den.

“During our search, we found an ID of a policeman inside a drawer, then belongings of a policeman,” said PNP DEG chief Narciso Domingo in English. He added that Mayo had other IDs bearing different names.

The police then kicked off a manhunt, leading to the arrest of their colleague Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

The police are worried because Mayo could just be one of many cops involved in running the drug den, and he could just be a small fry among them.

“I would believe this is not just up to the level of Master Sergeant Mayo. We really have to have an intensive investigation,” said PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin.

During the press conference, a reporter pointed out that Mayo, being an intelligence officer of the DEG, held important information about the drug trade. 

In addition, being an intelligence officer gave Mayo the power to feed information to the PNP that affected its operations.

Azurin said Mayo will face administrative cases, which could lead to his dismissal from service as police prepared criminal complaints against him and other suspects.

An anti-drug cop has been arrested in connection with a warehouse holding a ton of shabu. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185845

Authorities here have arrested a retired soldier in an entrapment operation on arms smuggling in this southern port city, a top police official said Tuesday.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said suspect Carlito Tanguis, a 58-year-old retired Philippine Army personnel, was arrested around 11:00 p.m. Monday in Barangay Cabatangan here.

Lorenzo said the entrapment operation was launched after it was reported that Tanguis, a native of Barangay Banbanan, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, was involved in the sale of unlicensed firearms.

Seized from Tanguis were two .45-caliber pistols, and 10 PHP500 counterfeit bills as boodle money topped with one genuine PHP500 as marked money, among others.

The suspect is currently detained at the ZCPO’s Station 7 to face charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act”.

A retired solider has been arrested for smuggling arms. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1678858/school-principal-shot-dead-inside-home-in-albay-town

A public school principal was shot and killed early Wednesday by an unidentified gunman inside her house in Polangui town in Albay.

Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, identified the victim as Beverly Cabaltera, 53, principal of Pio Duran National High School and wife of Police Major Stephen Cabaltera, chief of Sta. Elena police in Camarines Norte.

Lieutenant Kharren Formales, Albay police spokesperson, reported that Cabaltera’s family members were awakened around 3 a.m. when they heard a gunshot and loud noise from her bedroom in their house at Napoville Subdivision in Barangay Napo.

Upon checking, they saw Cabaltera lying unconscious on the floor near the window with a bullet wound on her neck, the report said.

Cabaltera died while being taken to the Isip General Hospital in the town center.

A school principal has been assassinated by an unknown person for an unknown reason.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/13/nbi-files-charges-vs-11-dpwh-officials-in-central-visayas/

The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI 7) has filed charges against 11 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Central Visayas (DPWH 7) and two other individuals on allegations that they falsified some documents to make it appear that some infrastructure projects in Cebu have been completed on time.

The 13 respondents were accused of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code for falsification of documents and falsification by private individuals.

The NBI 7 on Tuesday, Oct. 11, filed the string of complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas after James Dellosa, former District Engineer of the DPWH 4th DEO, complained that his signatures in the disbursement vouchers for almost all of the infrastructure in the district were falsified.

The NBI 7 said that the signatures were allegedly falsified to make it appear that certain infrastructure projects were completed when they in fact remained incomplete.

Making the projects appear that they have been completed would allow the release of funds for the project and to save the contractor from paying penalties for the delayed or incomplete projects, the NBI 7 said.

The respondents denied the allegations against them when they were all subpoenaed and appeared before the NBI 7 regional headquarters with their legal counsels.

The NBI has filed charges against 11 DPWH workers for falsifying signatures on disbursement vouchers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186046

A Manila Police District (MPD) lieutenant will be facing criminal charges for shooting a traffic enforcer in Barangay Veterans Village in Quezon City.

In a statement, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced the arrest of Lt. Felixberto Rapana, a member of the MPD Anti-Carnapping Unit, who shot dead Edgar Follero, a member of Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (QC-DPOS), on Thursday morning.

Based on the report, Follero and witness Paul Timothy delos Reyes were on their way home from Pandacan, Manila aboard a motorcycle when it broke down along Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City.

Follero and Delos Reyes pushed the motorcycle until they reached Muñoz Market when the suspect suddenly appeared and shot the victim in the body.

Despite sustaining a gunshot wound, Follero managed to drive the motorcycle and sought the help of the duty police officers along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) corner Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City.

The police officers immediately responded which resulted in the arrest of Rapana and recovery of a 9mm Glock G17 GEN4, with serial no. PNP10253 loaded with 11 pieces of ammunition, one empty fired cartridge in its chamber, and one fired bullet.

The ambulance of Barangay Veterans rushed the victim to Quezon City General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival at 3:54 a.m.

A PNP officer has been arrested for shooting and killing a traffic enforcer. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1679558/police-officer-gunned-down-in-ilocos-norte-town

A police officer in Dingras town in Ilocos Norte province died after he was physically assaulted and shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant on Thursday, authorities said.

Police said they received a call at 2:40 a.m. from a resident in the area who asked for help and reported the incident.

The victim was identified as Police Staff Sergeant Jackson Raymundo, 36, a resident of Puttao village in nearby Solsona town. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Responding authorities found him dead inside a vehicle at an irrigation canal in Cali village.

A dragnet operation was immediately launched to capture the assailants.

The Ilocos Norte provincial police had formed a task force to determine the motive behind the killing and conduct an extensive investigation.

A police officer was murdered after being physically assaulted.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1679478/ex-cop-shot-dead-in-quezon-province 

A former policeman in Quezon province was shot and killed Thursday in Tayabas City.

The Quezon police reported that Kim Carlo Lavado, 36, was drinking at around 1:45 a.m. with his friends in Barangay San Isidro Zone 1 when an unidentified man with a .9-mm pistol repeatedly shot him in different parts of his body.

The assailant fled, leaving his target dead.

The police are now investigating the incident to identify the gunman and establish the motive behind the killing.

A cop has been assassinated by an unknown person. Another report says the dead cop was one of 11 officers charged in the death of a local politician. He was acquitted. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: VaxCertPH Software Expired, Still no Health Chief, and More!

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

One of the ongoing struggles about the COVID pandemic is funds. Specifically money to pay healthcare workers. Now the Department of Budget Management has released billions in funds. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185343

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday approved the release of around PHP11.5 billion for the distribution of One Covid-19 Allowance (OCA) or Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) claims to over 1.6 million qualified beneficiaries.

In a press statement, the DBM said the fund will go to the Department of Health (DOH), the agency in charge of giving the OCA or HEA to eligible public and private healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs.

"The Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) covers unfunded OCA/HEA claims of healthcare and non-healthcare workers for the period of January to June 2022," the agency said.

The DBM said the latest release of funds will cover the unfunded portion of some 2,613,331 approved OCA/HEA claims by the DOH, as of Sept. 5, 2022, with a total funding requirement of PHP18.7 billion.

The DBM noted that it released around PHP7.92 billion of the PHP18.7 billion on Feb. 14 this year to cover the payment of 995,671 OCA/HEA claims.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the approval of disbursement of PHP11.5 billion for HCWs' Covid-19 benefits demonstrates the current administration's commitment to give them the necessary support and assistance.

“Our healthcare workers deserve all the support and assistance from their government. They’ve been risking their lives to save and protect our people amidst this still prevailing pandemic. This is the least we can do for them,” Pangandaman said.

The provision of OCA is in pursuant to DOH's Special Provision No. 14 under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 General Appropriations Act, which stipulates that the amount of Covid-19 benefits shall vary according to risk exposure of the HCW and non-HCW in particular setting.

This is the least we can do for them? Are they kidding?  This is what they are SUPPOSED to do. This is not a charity. The DBM has even said they are looking for new sources of funding. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185475

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday promised to look for new funding sources for the disbursement of benefits and allowances of health workers involved in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response.

This was after Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman acknowledged the difficulty of approving the Department of Health's (DOH) future requests for additional funds for health care workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs' emergency allowances, considering that the government currently has a "small budget."

"We will try to allocate funding," Pangandaman said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel's Headstart, when asked if the government has enough funds to grant the DOH's possible requests to release additional budget for medical front-liners' benefits.

"As of now po, parang medyo negative na po tayo sa ating mga balanse (we somehow have a negative balance) but we will try. We will try to get from our unprogrammed appropriations. I think I will have to check with the DOF (Department of Finance) and our Treasury if there are additional revenues po from the national government," she added.

Could this have something to do with POGOs not paying taxes and now being outlawed?

It's now been 100 days into Bongbong's term as president and he still has yet to appoint a health secretary.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/07/2214981/marcos-1st-100-days-still-no-health-chief-eased-mask-rule

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was able to assemble the “best and brightest” people to serve his administration and put up a “functional” government during his first 100 days in office. But over three months into his term and amid an ongoing pandemic, the Department of Health is still without a secretary.

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, a career official and the face of the government’s COVID-19 response, was designated as the agency’s officer-in-charge.

Even without an appointed secretary, the DOH’s COVID-19 pandemic efforts and programs on disease prevention and control and health promotion continue.

That is pretty shameful and unjustifiable.

Not all Filipinos are hesitant to get vaccinated. Several municipalities have exceeded their vaccination goals.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185667

The municipality of Loreto in Agusan del Sur has surpassed its vaccination goal against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) while six others have administered at least the first dose to all target residents.

Data obtained from the Provincial Health Office of Agusan del Sur (PHO-ADS) on Saturday indicated that 33,405 Loreto residents are already fully vaccinated as of October 1.

The accomplishment rate is translated to 109.43 percent of the town's target population of 30,525, or 70 percent of its estimated 45,297 residents.

The province has a total target of 503,202 for vaccination, or 70 percent of its 746,771 residents.

To date, 448,163 are already fully vaccinated, representing 89.06 percent of the target population.

Meanwhile, 1,648 are not vaccinated yet with even a single dose.

The six municipalities that have achieved over 100-percent rate for the first dose are Bunawan, 106.84 percent; Prosperidad, 107.42 percent; San Francisco, 105.09 percent; San Luis, 106.03 percent; Sibagat, 102.64 percent; and Talacogon, 100.71 percent.

Go Negsyo founder Joey Concepcion says the nation must be ready for bivalent vaccines.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1677666/bivalent-covid-19-vaccine-will-reassure-investors-boost-ph-economy-concepcion

The Philippines must prepare for the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion as the Philippines tries to maintain economic activity amidst economic and political volatility around the world.

“Bivalent vaccines will help us we protect the vulnerable and those who are essential to keeping our economy going,” said Concepcion.

He reiterated that securing the vaccines early will be important if the country is to inspire confidence among investors that the country will not experience any more disruptions because of the virus.

Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines protect against both the original strain of the SARS-CoV2 virus and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. 

Previous vaccines also offer protection against the Omicron variants, but not as much as the bivalent vaccines.

 “The bivalent vaccines have a broader antibody production compared to current vaccines available. With a broader antibody, longer duration of protection is its advantage over current vaccines,” said infectious diseases expert and Vaccine Expert Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante.

He added that if the bivalent vaccines are made available, it might encourage people – especially those who have not received booster doses – to get their shots.

Concepcion said that the Philippines needs to prepare early to secure its supply of the vaccines. 

“A lot of countries have already placed their orders, and here in the Philippines, there is no FDA approval yet for these vaccines,” he said.

He explained that pharmaceutical companies who have bivalent vaccines will likely choose to be indemnified by the government. 

“This will need an Emergency Use Authorization, which is possible if the government extends the State of Public Health Emergency up to when the bivalent vaccines will be available to us,” he said.

The public health emergency will have to be extended in order to procure the vaccines. Isn't that great? No oversight whatsoever!

The COVID-19 One Health Pass was implemented to make traveling easier but some Senators are now calling for its abolishment. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185739

Senators Nancy Binay and Christopher Lawrence Go on Monday said they do not see the practicality of the One Health Pass (OHP) anymore amid mounting complaints from travelers over the inconvenience of the screening system.

For Binay, the OHP is becoming an inconvenience to many, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"(It's a big hassle to our OFWs and balikbayans because of additional screening even they are already quaratine-cleared and with complete vaccines and boosters). From the tourism lens, we might be turning away potential guests because of this added bureaucratic layer whose effectiveness isn't even guaranteed,” Binay said in a statement.

She also asked the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies to look into simplifying the processes like other countries as the tourism industry is starting to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Sometimes, it helps when we follow the) trends. Other countries, even our Asean neighbors, are already liberalizing and rationalizing their entry processes. If they come from cities that have a high vaccination rate, there is no reason why we must be stricter, especially against other countries that have better vaccination rates than us,” Binay said.

In a separate statement, Go said he agrees with the idea but emphasized that concerned agencies should still have control over the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

"(It is important that we will have) more tourists, investors (who will enter our country because we need this in our) economic recovery," Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, told the media during his visit in San Juan City.

The OHP is required for all arriving international travelers in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 135.

It aims to prevent and minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed individuals with any emerging infectious diseases.

Another software used by Filipinos to travel abroad and show proof of vaccination has been offline since September 30th. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/22/vaxcertph-software-expired-on-sept-30-dict-chief

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday said the software for the country's digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate VaxCertPH expired in September and that the agency was "fixing" budget issues to keep it running.  

"The software that we are using, contracted with the provider, third party provider, technically expired last Sept. 30," Uy told Palace reporters when asked about reports that some people had difficulty getting updated versions of their digital vaccination proof.

The renewal of the software contract is an "unprogrammed expense" on the part of the DICT because the VaxCertPH was already supposed to be turned over to the Department of Health, Uy said. 

However, he said the DOH only "recently" said its personnel were not yet ready to manage the system and asked the DICT to continue running it. 

(We asked them, 'OK we will continue running it but we need to renew the contract because it expired on Sept. 30.' And we asked the DOH, 'Do you have the budget so we could continue with the contract. They said they did not, so it was passed back to the DICT.)

"We are in the process of renewing that, and medyo humagilap ho kami ng pondo. It's an unprogrammed expense that DICT has to assume in order to keep that running. We're still in that stage kaya medyo may kaunting challenge d'yan but we're fixing that." 

(We scrambled a bit for funds... We're still in that stage so there is a bit of challenge there.)

The DICT developed VaxCertPH in coordination with the health department. VaxCertPH was also released as a mobile app. 

Filipinos traveling abroad rely on VaxCertPH, which is accepted internationally as a proof of vaccination. They may also request an International Certificate of Vaccination or “yellow card” from the Philippine Bureau of Quarantine, which charges processing fees. 

It's really bad they let it expire seeing how important the app is for international travelers. How many workers will now be unable to go abroad?

Senator Risa Hontiveros wants to grant benefits to quartile heroes. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185895

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday filed a measure aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of so-called quarantine heroes, now increasing in numbers and becoming regular fixtures in the service industry.

The senator has delivery riders and other freelancers in mind when she filed Senate Bill No. 1373 or the Protektadong Online Workers, Entrepreneurs, Riders at Raketera (POWERR) Act.

Describing them as quarantine heroes because they mushroomed during the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Hontiveros said the measure will mandate the state to craft standards for regulations in relation to the services of delivery riders and online freelancers.

The proposed legislation requires that workers of online platforms be paid at least the legally mandated minimum wage, whether it be on an hourly or per-task basis.

“POWERR Act aims to empower the delivery riders and freelancers. The passing of this bill will give them social protection with the help of other government agencies,” Hontiveros said in a news release.

Workers must be enrolled in government social protection programs such as Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Social Security System, and Home Mutual Development Fund, among others, according to the bill.

Female workers shall also be provided with maternity benefits upon childbirth.

"Because work conditions in the gig economy are often unstable, workers in this sector are more affected by economic shocks and the lack of clear rules. They need a steady income that they can lean on in case of ailment, pregnancy or retirement,” she said.

Once the bill is passed, online platform workers can organize, collectively bargain, and negotiate with their employers.

It seems Hontiveros wants food delivery drivers to be able to avail of minimum wage and government programs as well as the right to unionize. But will Grad, Food Panda, and other delivery companies go along with that?