Insurgency: Huge Blow to the NPA in Negros

In these waning days of the world's longest running insurgency, 53 years and counting, the news from the front is always the same. The AFP attacks a few NPA fighters, claims they are weakening, and lauds the surrender of other NPA fighters and supporters claiming that this shows the insurgency is a lost cause. But then they warn about the strength of the NPA recruitment effort. It's no different this week.

Throughout the Visayas the NPA continues to suffer deafest at the hands of the AFP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189690

The death of the top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas during a clash in Las Navas, Northern Samar will cause a leadership vacuum among armed rebels in the region, an official of the Philippine Army said on Tuesday.

Philippine Army 20th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Joemar Buban said the communist group in the region is now demoralized by the death of Helenita Pardales alias Ka Elai, the top leader of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

Pardales is one of the six slain rebels when government forces launched an attack in remote Imelda village in Las Navas town on Nov. 23, destroying a major lair of NPA with 30 huts and a big cottage for meetings.

“This is a big blow to their organization since there is a leadership vacuum. The remaining guerrilla fronts operating in Northern Samar will have no guidance. We all know that they don’t have a succession of command,” Buban told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview.

The recovery of 18 high-powered firearms will likewise weaken the NPA organization in the region and Northern Samar province.

“Abandoning their firearms means they are demoralized and not capable of fighting the government,” Buban added."

"A big blow to their organization" and "leadership vacuum" are buzz phrases we have heard before every time the AFP kills a leader. Of course that vacuum is always refilled and the fight continues has it has for 5 decades. Of course NPA fighters abandoning firearms and running off to regroup elsewhere means they are demoralized. Right? Those men will either surrender or die in some future firefight. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/477583/npa-rebels-in-visayas-continue-to-weaken-says-army-official

NPA rebels in the Visayas continue to weaken in the face of unrelenting operations by government troops in the region.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, the acting commander of the Visayas Command (VisCom), confirmed this and appealed to the remaining rebels to surrender. 

“The CPP – NPA terrorists in the Visayas continue to weaken with these series of setbacks. We will sustain our campaign until such time that this menace is totally eradicated. Thus, we appeal to the few remaining members of the CPP – NPA terrorists. Lay down your arms and return to the folds of the law before the long arms of justice will catch up with you,” Arevalo stated. 

Arevalo stated this after the encounter in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental on Monday, November 28. 

Accordingly, members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion encountered alleged members of the Komiteng Rehiyon, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor.

The 40-minute firefight resulted in the death of two alleged terrorists and the recovery of six firearms and alleged subversive documents.

In the Western Visayas the AFP has been lauded for crushing the NPA in Iloilo. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189553

National Security Adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos lauded the Philippine Army troops for their triumph against the communist New People's Army (NPA) in a clash in Igbaras, Iloilo on Saturday.

The Philippine Army said an NPA member was killed and three high-powered firearms were recovered while no casualty was reported on their side.

Carlos, who is also vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said their victory was a “milestone” in ongoing efforts to dismantle guerrilla fronts in the country.

"I am very grateful to the soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion for this victory. This is a significant milestone in our mission of totally eliminating the communist influence in Visayas," Carlos said in a press statement on Sunday.

"Our government policy and the President's guidance in our fight against insurgency are clear,” she added.

She also urged NPA members to surrender to avoid bloodshed.

“Our call for peace continues for the remaining members who want to return to the government fold,” she said.

Note that National Securoty Adviser Clarita Carlos does not thank the AFP for "crushing" the NPA in Iloilo. That word is used only in the headline and the PNA is 100% government propaganda.  In reality she is only congratulating them on a single victory.

The progress being made by the AFP in the Visayas is part of the promise made by the new Viscom Chief to weaken the insurgency in the Visayas. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1694199/new-afp-viscom-chief-vows-to-weaken-insurgency-in-visayas

The new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command (Viscom) on Monday revealed he wants to focus on fighting insurgency in Eastern Visayas and weaken the “enemies” in the region.

“We want to look at the situation in the 8th Infantry Division. We’ll see if we can help out,” said Major General Benedict Arevalo, the newly installed Viscom commander.

Aside from fighting the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Arevalo said the Viscom will also intensify its readiness to become the first responders in disaster and calamities in Eastern, Western, and Central Visayas.

He said that the location of the Visayas is prone to disasters and Viscom needs to be ready for eventualities.

Arevalo, who was previously in charge in the fight against CPP/NPA in Western and Central Visayas, said the “enemy’s” forces are already weakened and the AFP is on the upper hand.

At least he did not say something so brazen has he will defeat the NPA before his term is up. And look! The AFP was already weakened when he arrived on the scene. It's a win-win situation for Major General Benedict Arevalo.

Let's finish up by taking a look at the death of one more rebel leader which is being touted as a "huge blow" to the NPA in Negros.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189868

The death of New People's Army (NPA) leader Ericson Acosta in a clash with government troops in Kabankalan City on Wednesday is another "huge blow" to the communist-terrorists in Negros Island, an official of the Philippine Army said on Thursday.

"It will create a leadership vacuum," said Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commander of 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB), whose unit conducted the operation together with the 47IB.

Acosta, 50, is the NPA's first deputy secretary for Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) and head of the Political Unified Committee in the Visayas, according to the 94IB.

He is the husband of the late Kerima Tariman, then a top NPA leader in northern Negros, killed in an encounter with troops of 79th IB in Silay City in August 2021.

Acosta's companion, who also died in the encounter, has been identified as Joseph Jimenez, 52, staff of KR-NCBS Regional Organizing Division.

Also known as "Raffy" and "Fredo", Acosta led the attacks against the government troops in Himamaylan City on Oct. 8 and in Sipalay City on Nov. 24, where four soldiers died, the 94IB report said.

Along with Jimenez, he was also involved in extortion activities in Kabankalan City and had been targeting a sugar refinery in the area to give in to their demands, it added.

In a statement on Thursday, the 3rd Infantry Division dismissed the claim of the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, that Acosta was their consultant for farmers in southern Negros.

"It's a propaganda ploy to fuel their deceptive narrative. It's nothing but a hollow, empty, and over abused propaganda line of the CPP-NPA-NDF," it added.

The Philippine Army also maintained that the clash in Negros Occidental that resulted in the death of Acosta and Jimenez was a legitimate encounter.

"Based from the reports received from our ground forces, it was a legitimate encounter and pursuit operations that led to the death of the two CNTs (Communists New People's Army Terrorists)," Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Thursday.

He also added that government troops will always abide by the rules of law and respect human rights and international humanitarian law during incidents of armed conflict.

That is the AFP's story. Ericson Acosta was an NPA leader who led attacks on government troops and engaged in extortion activities. He was killed in a legitimate encounter and any talk that he was a consultant for farmers is propaganda.

Of course that version of events is disputed by the NUPL and Karapatan. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1700345/karapatan-to-chr-probe-deaths-of-ndf-consultant-peasant-organizer

A human rights advocacy group on Thursday called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the deaths of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Ericson Acosta and peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez in Negros Occidental.

“Human rights alliance Karapatan today called on the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an independent investigation into the reported summary execution of peasant advocate Ericson Acosta, a writer and consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and his companion, peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas,” said Karapatan.

According to Karapatan, Acosta and Jimenez were captured in Negros Occidental by personnel of the 94th and 47th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army on Wednesday but were reported as killed in an encounter.

Karapatan said that Acosta was in Kabankalan City to consult with farmers and peasants about their working conditions and military operations in the area.

The NUPL claims the same thing. Acosta and Jimenez were in custody when they were killed.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/01/nupl-condemns-summary-executionof-ndf-consultant-in-negros-occidental/

In a statement, NUPL said “the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) publicly claimed that the two (NDF consultant Ericson Acosta and his companion who was not identified) were killed during an armed encounter” with Philippine Army soldiers in Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi in Kabankalan town.

“However, sources dispute this claim and no such encounter occurred, and that the two were captured alive and were already in custody when summarily executed by their captors,” the NUPL claimed.

It said that Acosta had been “NUPL’s client when he was wrongfully arrested and detained based on trumped up charges sometime in February 2011 at San Jorge, Samar at Calbayog City Sub-Provincial Jail.”

“He stayed in detention for almost two years, and was eventually released upon the dismissal of the cases against him,” it said.

“After his release, we learned that Ericson continued to be involved in advocacies for the advancement of peasant rights,” it added.

NUPL said Acosta was “a poet, writer, and peasant and peace advocate.”

Who these sources are the NUPL does not say. What we can know for sure is that Acosta was on the AFP's watch list. He certainly had a target on his back. But why would the AFP execute him when they are pleading with all remaining NPA members to surrender? The killing of one deceived Filipino makes the AFP sad. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189641

The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army was saddened over the death of a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) who, he said, was deceived to take part in the useless armed struggle.

“As much as possible, we want to make them realize that joining armed struggle is not the answer to attain peace, and we don’t want another victim and lives to be wasted. We are so much concerned for their families suffering their loss,” said Maj. Gen. Benedict M. Arevalo in a press statement on Monday.

Arevalo also reiterated his call for the remaining NPA rebels to lay down their arms, avoid the same fate as their comrade and avail of the government’s programs intended for them.

It would not make any sense for the Army to capture Acosta and then execute him. Murdering him would serve no purpose. But there likely won't be any investigation into his death.

Book Review: Conspiracies and Controversies: Philippines' Favorite Conspiracy Theories and Most Controversial Filipinos of the 20th Century

Conspiracies and Controversies: Philippines' Favorite Conspiracy Theories and Most Controversial Filipinos of the 20th Century is a book chock full of so much conspiratorial terminology and references that the casual reader might get lost in the verbiage. The prose can also be a bit rambling as the author rehashes obscure stories from arcane magazines which could very well be mere opinion. And how can one tell the difference between fact and fancy when access to those magazines is not so easy being that most of them are from the 80's, a time when digitization was not a common  practice?

https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracies-Controversies-Dr-Erick-Juan/dp/1536898392

Nevertheless many of the author's sources are available online and not so out of reach to the reader with a black belt in Google-fu. Erick San Juan is also the author of Marcos Legacy Revisited: Raiders of the Lost Gold. Let us not forget the editor of that book wrote:

How much of Erick's book is based on fact, and how much on conjecture, is difficult to say. What is easy to conclude is that if there is one single person who has looked at the gold from a wide range of angles and has accumulated wheel-barrow loads of documentation, that person is Erick.

p. xi

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2022/02/book-review-marcos-legacy-revisited.html 

Alas, this volume gives the reader no such warning to heed but such caution is necessary.  

The entire book can be summed up on pages 100-101.

After all has been said and done, our political and military leaders will come to the inevitable conclusion which many around the world before them have to realized, that "It is not ultimately ‘humanity’, but a frighteningly small conclave of political figures — some more or less ‘democratically elected’, some not — who wield the authority of life and death over the entire planet. Some of them are intelligent and responsible, but some are unimaginative, insensitive, even positively stupid. Some are manifestly incompetent. Some are arguably insane, to one or another degree. Yet it is they who, with a signature appended to a document, or even with a single spoken word, can send individuals into battle, can determine people’s nationalities, can dictate the circumstances in which one lives, can pronounce where one can go or cannot go, what one can do or cannot do. It is they who, for example, by drawing a line on a paper map, can conjure a ‘frontier’ into being, a barrier as restrictive and insurmountable as any physical wall...And it is they, not ‘humanity’, who, if there is indeed to be an apocalypse, will bring it about."

Frightening, isn't it. But look what they have done to our country and the rest of the world since the turbulent 1960s. We are headed toward a one-way Socialist "new world order." Only then will our distinguished RAM officers and their men fully realized that, just like the 1896 Revolution, the 1986 EDSA Revolt was not a spontaneous people power uprising, but a well-planned, foreign-hatched conspiracy which used Filipino stoolpigeons.

pgs. 100-101

Yes, indeed, the post-Vatican II Liberation-Theology-promoting-Catholic Church, Jewish Bankers, the Committee of 300, the World Council of Churches, the CIA, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group, the Illuminati, the IMF, George Soros, and every other nefarious conspiratorial group is seeking to bring the Philippines under the boot heel of the New World Order. That quote above, by the way, is from The Messianic Legacy - Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh & Henry Lincoln which is the sequel to their debunked and discredited book Holy Blood, Holy Grail. 

Here are two among many documents Erick San Juan cites to prove this conspiracy.

https://larouchepub.com/eiw/public/1985/eirv12n44-19851108/eirv12n44-19851108_040-the_philippines_scenarios_and_op.pdf

https://larouchepub.com/eiw/public/1986/eirv13n29-19860725/eirv13n29-19860725_037-the_cv_starr_foundation_dope_inc.pdf

Of course "The Jew" is behind all of the aforenamed groups.

Rapacity is a passion which has become the Jew's second nature and to which he instinctively lends obedience. The lust of gain is so strongly entrenched in his organism that it overrides every other feeling, every other passion. He knows no respect. If you sneer at him, he rages like a tiger. His only life in aim is gain. Hence, everything which does not have this object in view deserves no attention from him.

The Jew's unlimited rapacity puts him in an everlasting antagonism to the rest of mankind. This is why he wages war against all other men. This rage lead the Jew to believe that men exist only to cheat and devour one another. The maxim, "Dalawang klase lang ang tao sa mundo...isang manloloko at isang naloloko," which has become a favorite saying among Filipinos is of Jewish descent. In this rivalry between men, it is the Jew;s option that the most cunning and rapacious must, in the end, devour the others. For them, this is the supreme law of the jungle, which is now being widely used by the Neo-Malthusian globalists and free traders.

pg. 9

That saying Erick quotes translates as, "There are only two kinds of people in this world, the deceiver and the deceived." To this effect even Misuari has been deceived by the Jews and their front organizations.

Misuari's political moves - his use of propaganda- only show who his real employers are: the globalists, free traders and narcotic legalizers whose objective is to destroy nation-states.

pg. 10

Of course the Muslim Independence Movement was not about Independence. It's all about the Jews destabilizing the Philippines. 

Here in the Philippines, the same "balkanization" process in unfolding before our eyes. It's the Christians and Moslems slaughtering each other, while their Jewish masters laugh.

pg. 6

Funny how Erick San Juan paints the globalists as being very bad for the Philippines and yet claims in the preface that he is not fighting them.

To prove that history does not just happen is my primary reason for writing this book. How can it be when conspiracy is one of its active ingredients?

I am not fighting the globalists nor any other organization. I just want the Filipinos to know what's really going onto that our leaders and compatriots would know what to do.

pg. vi

If his purpose is not to fight the globalists then why even bother? Perhaps he is a globalist? Perhaps he is engaging in what is known as "revelation of the method?"  What are Filipinos to do? They don't run the government. They elect people to run the government and then those people do whatever they fancy. And make no mistake that the Philippines is firmly entrenched in the World Order even in the New World Order. One wonders what Erick would think about the Duterte administration kowtowing to the WHO as regards the pandemic or even The Hague ruling on the WPS. Most importantly what would he think about a President who was married to a Jew and whose half-Jewish daughter is currently the Vice President and poised to become the next President. 

The second part of this book is about several controversial figures. These figures include Cory Aquino, Cardinal Sin, Imelda Marcos, Potenciano Illusario (the director of Maharlika who cast Dovie Beams), Ninoy Aquino, Ramos, and Erap. 

The chapters on the Aquinos are the longest at 27 pages for Cory and 45 pages for Ninoy. Both are accused of heinous activities and conspiracies against the Philippines and Filipinos. Concerning Ninoy Erick San Juan writes:

Is it possible therefore to say that it was indeed Masonic teaching which molded Ninoy Aquino to what he was highly suspected of: a cold-blooded, ambitious politician who had no scruples about eliminating his rivals? History tells us to conclude affirmatively.

pg. 137

Erick San Juan then proceeds to give a litany of facts from a variety of sources to back up this claim. Many of these sources are not available online and would require lots of legwork at a university library to verify.  The book "This is Ninoy" is one of his sources but it is only available on library shelves far out of my domain.

https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/This_is_Ninoy.html?id=nM1wAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y

Of Cardinal Sin, who was instrumental in the 1986 EDSA People Power Erick writes:

But what about Sin and Bacani? Are they not to be blamed for the spiritual death of millions of Filipino Catholics whom they have "judaized?"

pg. 105

Why Erick employs the term "judaized" I have no idea because his truck is with post-Vactican II Liberation Theology of which he treats extensively throughout the book. There is nothing Jewish about Vatican II.

There is nothing critical written about Imelda. Erick relates two stories concerning her that are brushed off as being, "Ha, ha! That' so Imeldific!" The first one is about the time she was contemplating jumping bail and returning to the Philippines disguised as a nun and then hiding out at the INC's compound. The second is the well-known snub of the Beatles. As regards the latter he writes:

The thing is, during those days, one must never f__k around with the likes of Imelda Marcos, if knowingly, he does not have the backing of the Royal British Army.

pg. 123

How charming. The thing is this book is about the "Most Controversial Filipinos of the 20th Century" and Erick San Juan only gives Imelda Marcos a scant 7 pages! That is scandalous and shows where his biases lie. In fact there is no chapter devoted to Ferdinand Marcos who is by far the "Most Controversial Filipino of the 20th Century." Instead Marcos, Erap, and Ramos are depicted as victims of the globalists. 

The bottom line is this book falls in the genre of speculative conspiracy and Erick San Juan fails to give any concrete proof for many of his claims. That makes many of its conclusions questionable.  The Muslim Independence Movement was orchestrated by the Jews to destabilize the Philippines?? How ridiculous especially given the long history of the Moros vs the Spanish.  It's not as if the Philippines has ever been stable anyway. 

There are a lot of facts and data stuffed on every single page but as even Erick San Juan writes concerning Alfred McCoy and which is just as applicable to this book:

"He writes very well. He's an extremely seductive analyst because he can marshal data to support his claims," Robles insists.

Don't they all do? I mean the paid hacks.

The great American industrialist Henry Ford said: "history is bunk." Napoleon Bonaparte called it "a collection of lies statesmen hav agreed upon." For countless generations already, history is what happens in history books.

So far, a Catholic scholar was able to capture history's most fitting definition when he said, "Education rests on texts revised with every shift in public policy."

pg. 196

Perhaps if Erick San Juan wrote this book today he would no doubt add Ella Cruz's unwise dictum, "History is like tsismis."

Picture of the Week: Research Flat Earth

Enough said!

Research flat earth and go vegan! 

Retards in the Government 286

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

  

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/852665/barangay-kagawad-shot-dead-in-front-of-barangay-hall-in-cavite/story/

A barangay kagawad was shot dead in front of barangay hall in Bacoor, Cavite, according to Nimfa Ravelo's Super Radyo dzBB report on Friday.

Angel Ventura Tamayo, barangay kagawad of Barangay Sineguelasan, was shot dead in front of barangay hall at 5 p.m, based on the report received by P/Col. Christopher Olazo, provincial director of PNP Cavite.

The victim was talking to barangay secretary John Paul Grande when two unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot him.

He was immediately taken to Binakayan Hospital. However, he was declared dead on arrival.

Authorities are still conducting the investigation.

A barangay kagawad has been assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/852827/raps-filed-vs-cop-over-fatal-accidental-firing-in-laguna-pnp/story/

A complaint has been filed against the policeman who accidentally fired his gun that killed one of his colleagues in Laguna, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

“We have already filed a case and gave police assistance,” PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia said at a press briefing.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told GMA News Online that the complaint filed against suspect Police Corporal George Mervin Cañete Duran is for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Duran is also facing an administrative case, she said.

“Reckless imprudence resulting in homicide is the case filed against the police who accidentally shot his fellow SWAT member. He will also face an administrative case,” Fajardo said in a text message.

Duran said on November 23, they were cleaning their service firearms for an inspection when another person approached him and said they exchanged guns.

Upon the return of his gun, he examined it. However, when he was about to remove the load from the chamber, the gun accidentally went off and hit Police Corporal Fhrank Aldene Yasay Dela Cruz in the right chest.

Dela Cruz was immediately brought to the hospital, but the attending physician declared him dead on arrival.

A SWAT officer has been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for accidentally shooting his colleague.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/26/tanauan-city-probation-office-employee-with-8-kids-shot-dead/

A 42-year-old messenger of the probation office in Tanauan City, this province, was gunned down on Friday night, Nov. 25, outside his house in Purok 4, Barangay San Vicente, here.

Police said the victim, Arnel Montalban, also a volunteer probation assistant of the office, was having a drinking spree for a baptismal on Saturday, Nov. 26, when an unidentified man appeared.

The gunman fired at the victim at close range and fled onboard a motorcycle.

Police said Montalban died on the spot.

Witnesses said the suspect was wearing a white T-shirt, black jacket, and black pants, and was about 5’8’’ to 5’11.’’

Police said the victim left behind eight children.

An investigation is under way to determine if the shooting is work-related and the identity of the gunman.

City probation office employee was assassinated by an unknown man for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189627

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday has summoned four of its enforcers for alleged extortion caught in a video that went viral on social media.

In a statement, the LTO said the four enforcers were from the Field Enforcement Division and were recorded trying to allegedly extort PHP8,000 from a motorist flagged down at an LTO checkpoint in Bocaue town in Bulacan province going towards the Philippine Arena area.

"LTO Chief Jose Arturo 'Jay Art' Tugade already ordered that the four enforcers be relieved from their duties pending investigation," it said.

The enforcers have been summoned to appear Monday at the office of the Law Enforcement Services at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City for further investigation.

Four LTO enforcers have been charged with extortion.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/11/29/2227220/eastern-samar-town-execs-conviction-graft-affirmed

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of four officials of Guiuan, Eastern Samar in connection with the anomalous procurement of a P1.99-milion fire truck.

In a resolution dated Oct. 14, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said the respondents failed to raise any meritorious argument in their appeals, which seek to reverse their conviction for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The respondents were identified as Guiuan budget officer Esperanza Cotin, planning development officer Ma. Nenita Ecleo, administrative officer Felipe Padual and market supervisor Danilo Colandog.

The court said the respondents, who were members of the bids and awards committee, committed negligence when they resorted to negotiated procurement instead of conducting a public bidding.

The Sixth Division earlier sentenced the respondents to six to eight years in prison and disqualified them from holding public office.

The conviction of four government officials over the anomalous procurement of a firetruck has been upheld by the Sandiganbayan. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1699285/coast-guard-personnel-accidentally-shot-dead-by-colleague-in-sorsogon

A Philippine Coast Guard member died Monday after a colleague accidentally shot him in Matnog town in Sorsogon.

Police Major Voltaire Jun Pedido, Matnog police chief, reported on Tuesday, Nov. 29, that the victim was Seaman 1 Joshua Solano, 24, of Camalig town in Albay.

Initial investigation said Seaman 2 John Klent Lumabe, 29, accidentally discharged his 9mm pistol and hit Solano around 4:45 p.m. while at the Coast Guard queuing area in Barangay Manjumlad.

Solano died while being taken to a hospital.

Lumabe is now in the custody of Matnog police for proper disposition.

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard has been charged with accidentally shooting and killing a colleague. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189726

Alfonso Cusi, former head of the Department of Energy (DOE), has been indicted for cyber libel filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian over comments posted on the agency’s Facebook account, which the court said caused “dishonor, discredit, and damage” to the lawmaker’s name and reputation.

A news release from Gatchalian’s office on Tuesday said the Office of the City Prosecutor of Valenzuela issued a resolution on November 14 that found Cusi in violation of Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and filed an information for cyber libel before the city’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 75 on Nov. 18, 2022.

The RTC issued an e-warrant of arrest against Cusi on November 21 while the former Cabinet official personally posted a PHP10,000 bail four days later.

Gatchalian said Cusi should have sued him before the Senate Ethics Committee or the Ombudsman if he had the evidence to prove that he had lent a hand to certain business interests.

Cusi argued that his post was neither defamatory nor malicious as he merely criticized the Senate probe.

However, the prosecutor’s office ruled otherwise, saying Cusi “acted maliciously” and his “defamatory statements were anchored on false allegations.”

In suing Cusi for cyber libel in July, Gatchalian said he casts malice on his reputation and integrity, including the Senate Committee on Energy, which the latter chaired in the 18th Congress.

The former DOE Secretary is being sued for libel by Senator Gatchalian over a Facebook post. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/30/22/coa-disallows-coffee-chocolates-purchased-by-national-tobacco-administration

The Commission on Audit disallowed the purchase of coffee vendo machines as well as coffee and chocolate made by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) for the supposed welfare of its employees in 2013.

In the decision of the COA proper dated January 24, 2022 but was released recently, the notice of disallowance issued by its Corporate Government Sector-Cluster 5 on November 9, 2016 on the purchase of the items was deemed final and executory.

The NTA spent a total amount of P350,000 which covered 14 coffee vendo machines, 200 kilograms of coffee, and 90 kilograms of chocolate.

It was stressed in the decision that the items purchased by the NTA for health program activities for its employees were improper.

"It only covers physical and mental fitness program that seeks to attain long-term health through exercises and related physical fitness activities. Coffee vendo machines are not activities," the COA proper said in the decision signed by then chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland Pondoc.

The commission also noted the late filing of the petition for review by the NTA, having exhausted the reglementary period of 6 months or 180 days to file an appeal.

The petition for review was filed by NTA officials Edgardo Zaragoza, Cristina Lopez, Ma. Theresa Laudencia and Milagros Tiu.

"Liberality in the application of rules of procedure cannot be applied if it will result in the wanton disregard of the rules or cause needless delay in the administration of justice," the commission proper said.

The COA has disallowed purchases made by the NTA for its employees namely coffee, chocolate, and tobacco.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189680

After complying with the order to pay PHP5.96 million in restitution to the government, the Sandiganbayan slapped a fine of PHP16,000 on former Iloilo (2nd District) representative Judy Syjuco as part of a plea bargain agreement.

The deal reduced the 78-year-old Syjuco’s case to the lesser charges of fraud and failure of an accountable officer to render accounts from the original graft and malversation.

The Sandiganbayan ruling published online Tuesday imposed the fine after Syjuco asked to be allowed to plead guilty in October to the lesser charges which stemmed from the procurement of 1,582 units of mobile phones in 2005, allegedly sans public bidding.

A former representative has her malversation case ended by paying a fine and having the charges reduced. The case stems from procuring mobile phones without public bidding.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189857

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its earlier decision against a Maguindanao town mayor and other former town officials found guilty of graft in connection with a 2011 municipal water project.

In its 25-page resolution dated Nov. 29 and written by Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Mañalac, the anti-graft court said the motions for reconsideration filed by Northern Kabuntulan, Maguindanao municipal mayor Datu Umbra B. Dilangalen and his co-accused, former municipal accountant Rahima A. Ali and former municipal treasurer Kabiba A. Mael, were "denied for lack of merit.”

It also upheld its earlier decision to sentence the accused to up to seven years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of their retirement or gratuity.

In its Sept. 9, 2022 decision, the anti-graft court found the accused guilty of giving unwarranted benefits to a private firm, FFJJ Construction, in a contract for the town’s Small Water Impounding Project worth PHP5 million.

Full payment was given to FFJJ on December 2011, even though the project was completed only in March 2012.

"Undeniably, in causing the full payment of the contract price under the circumstances... the accused public officers gave the FFJJ Construction unwarranted benefit and advantage. As already explained, such action lacked adequate or official support and was unjustified, unauthorized or without justification or adequate reason, placing the contractor in a more favorable or improved position or condition and benefiting from such payment by having already the full amount available to it for use, as it, in fact, did use the same, even prior to the commencement of the project, without the need to use its own funds and without the risk of any loss," the court said.

Prosecutors have questioned why the accused authorized full contract price payment of the project even before the construction started, as under government procurement rules, in no time should full payment be made prior to the completion of a project.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a former mayor on graft charges because he paid a construction firm before the project even started.  

Coronavirus Lockdown: Speical Audit on COVID-19 Vaccine Purchase, Tourist Arrivals Back, and More!

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

Tourism gains continue as the nation recovers from the pandemic. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189302

Tourist arrivals in this city are expected to return next year to the pre-pandemic level of around 800,000 visitors as monthly events are being planned as attractions.

“Our figures in 2019, which was more than 800,000 tourist arrivals, we will probably reach by 2023,” Maria Teresa Manalili, chief tourism operations officer, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

As of Wednesday, estimates showed Bacolod could hit more than 500,000 visitors by the end of the year, which is higher than the target of 400,000 visitors set by the Department of Tourism.

“We still have November and December, so we can really hit our target. How much more next year, we will have programs and activities per month,” Manalili said.

Data from the City Tourism Office showed that in 2019, the city had 803,911 visitors, but the figures dropped by -82.19 percent to only 143,114 in 2020, the year Covid-19 pandemic struck and put the global tourism industry to a halt.

In 2021, Bacolod had 147,582 visitors, which slightly increased by 3.12 percent from the 2020 figures.

During the 43rd Masskara Festival in October, at least 184,00 tourists attended the three-week festivity, which was held for the first time since 2019.

“Definitely, the city’s tourism industry has started to recover. If you ask the hotels and restaurants, they were able to recover during the Masskara Festival. It has brought a major impact to tourism as it opened the local economy,” she added. 

Dropping all vaccine requirements throughout the nation including mandatory testing for the unvaccinated in places like Boracay will greatly increase tourism arrivals. 

The government is still looking for a scapegoat to blame for all the wasted vaccines. Representative Garin says the DOH advisory board is to blame. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/852478/rep-garin-says-doh-advisory-council-also-to-blame-for-expired-covid-19-vaccine-doses/story/

The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), which advises the Department of Health (DOH) regarding COVID-19 vaccines, should share the blame for the 31 million vaccine doses that expired, Iloilo Representative Janet Garin said Thursday.

(It's a painful truth that every DOH decision must go through HTAC, and there are situations when such is appropriate. However, there are also situations wherein the recommendation has long been delayed that it won’t have weight anymore, just like what happened to COVID-19 vaccines.)

A former DOH secretary, Garin said HTAC’s mandate is to provide recommendations to the DOH in a swift manner -- something, she said, the council failed to do.

According to Garin, while other countries were already administering COVID-19 booster shots, HTAC has yet to decide on when to give booster shots and still waiting on the result of their clinical trials.

“It is really disheartening that such an amount of COVID-19 vaccines expired, although we saw it coming because as early as June and July last year, we were already saying that the first booster should already be administered,” Garin, also a medical doctor, pointed out.

“They still waited it out and only authorized it by December, when a lot of people were already infected and a lot of people already died. Also, they only allowed a second booster when the COVID-19 vaccines were already about to expire.”

Garin also called out HTAC for its supposed flexibility which affected the private sector purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines since they cannot administer the booster shot to their employees without clearance from the DOH, which in turn needs recommendations from HTAC.

“We have been doing things by the book too much, empowering HTAC so much that DOH decisions will have to depend on the council which does not have accountability. As a result, our resources were wasted,” Garin said.

As long as there is a state of emergency no one will know who is to blame because emergency powers give the government carte blanche to order whatever they need with no oversight. 

The OCTA says the NCR may see another wave of COVID infections. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/852453/ncr-may-see-another-covid-19-wave-with-rising-positivity-rate-octa/story/

Another wave of COVID-19 infections may start in the National Capital Region (NCR) with the observed "spike" in its positivity rate, independent monitoring group OCTA Research said Thursday.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David reported that NCR’s seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate jumped from 7.4% on November 15 to 9.2% on November 22.

"NCR weekly positivity rate spiked up from 7.4% to 9.2%. Unless these trends do not progress, we could be seeing the start of another wave of infections in the NCR (similar to what we saw in June)," David said on Twitter.

In a Dobol B TV interview, David said that the rising positivity rate in NCR may be an indication of a “surge or mini surge.”

(We cannot say now what the real reason is for the uptick because we have only observed it, and we will still see if it continues. But in other areas, it is not increasing. Although there are areas in which positivity rates have increased.)

But really who cares when the OCTA also says the death rate is down. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1697796/fwd-octa-average-of-daily-covid-19-deaths-in-ph-down-from-38-to-12

The seven-day average of daily coronavirus deaths in the Philippines stood at 12 as of November 21, down from its record from the previous month of 38, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research Group said. 

OCTA fellow Guido David on Friday pointed out the notable dip in daily COVID-19 deaths logged in the country. 

“Currently, the seven-day average of COVID deaths is 12 as of November 21, compared with 38 on October 21, 2022,” he said in a social media post. 

David also noted that among the 64,524 COVID-19 deaths reported in the country since the onset of the pandemic, 42,260 or 65.5 percent were logged in 2021, while only 13,105 or 20 percent have so far been recorded in 2022. 

64,524 is .05% of 110 million people! This is not and never was a pandemic. 

The pandemic has greatly stunted students reading abilities. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189522

The country is celebrating National Book Week from November 24 to 30 amid the struggle to arrest Filipino learners’ dwindling reading proficiency.

Even before the pandemic struck, international large-scale assessments showed that learners were already struggling to meet the minimum required proficiency in reading, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Committee on Basic Education.

He pressed the need for programs and interventions that would improve Filipino learners’ proficiency in reading.

“Reading is one of the youth’s foundationS that should be strengthened. More than ever, we should focus on that area as education suffered a lot since the pandemic broke out,” Gatchalian said in a news release on Saturday.

In the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines scored lowest in Reading out of 79 countries.

The PISA further showed that only one in five Filipino learners aged 15 achieved at least the minimum proficiency level in Overall Reading Literacy.

The 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics, on the other hand, said only 10 percent of the country’s Grade 5 learners achieved the minimum proficiency at the end of primary education.

The World Bank estimated that as of June, learning poverty in the Philippines is at 90.9 percent.

Learning poverty is defined as the percentage of 10-year-old children who cannot read or understand a simple story.

Gatchalian’s Senate Bill 150 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act seeks to institute a nationwide learning recovery program that will include well-systematized tutorial sessions and well-designed remediation plans.

The proposed ARAL Program will prioritize reading to develop the critical and analytical thinking skills of learners.

He also proposed to officially make every November National Reading Month under Senate Bill 475, to be celebrated with nationwide reading programs and activities and inculcate a culture of reading among basic education learners and their communities.

The pandemic restrictions imposed by the government were so bad that the government has to pass a law to get students back on track!

While everyone was forced inside sea life was able to regenerate.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/476838/pado-covid-19-restrictions-allowed-marine-resources-in-balicasag-island-to-regenerate

The pandemic may have affected the lives of many, but it also did some good as it allowed the marine ecosystem in the different dive sites in Panglao town in Bohol province to recover and regenerate.

Just recently, members of the Panglao Association of Dive Operators (PADO) said they again saw in Balicasag Island fish species and other marine resources that they had not seen in years.

“Even if we say that the pandemic has already impacted us so much, but however, it was also a major factor in the regeneration of, or as we call it in the diving industry, the comeback of the old species. Sightings of different species have already been observed and we can show photos of it,” said Joseph Jasper Arcay, adviser and co-founder of PADO.

The quick break from doing outdoor activities that was brought about by pandemic restrictions paired with the continuous imposition of dive regulations in their town did a lot of help for the recovery of their dive sites, Arcay added.

Perhaps these divers want the pandemic restrictions imposed once more in order to keep the wildlife alive. The PNP are blaming the abolition of pandemic restrictions for the rise on the crime.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1698678/pnp-reminds-public-this-christmas-season-if-we-can-move-freely-so-can-criminals

With the COVID-19 limits having been loosened, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a warning to the public to be vigilant throughout the holiday season.

During the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, PNP officer-in-charge and Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said that they expect the public to go all out in celebrating the holiday season, especially after COVID-19 restrictions from 2020 to 2021 prevented people from meeting their relatives.

However, along with those going out for celebrations, Sermonia said this would also be an opportune time for criminals to victimize people.

“In two days’ time, we will be entering the most-anticipated month of the year: December, the Yuletide month.  We feel the upcoming Christmas season with longer nights and shorter days […] We all miss this kind of celebration for two years because of the restrictions we imposed to protect our loved ones from COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“We are finally free from the fear of getting seriously affected by COVID-19, but I guess we could be better if the people can also feel free from fearing crime. We know that with us being free from the pandemic, criminal minds also celebrate because they are free to victimize people and attempt to keep up with the recovering economy,” he added.

According to Sermonia, this was why they were heeding the orders of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to set up crime prevention measures to allay the concerns of Filipinos.

The acting PNP chief, who filled in for Azurin, who is on a foreign mission, said it is better to prevent crimes than solve them.

It's not as if the PNP has a great track record in either preventing or solving crimes. Many times they are the culprits!

The COA has threatened the government with disallowing the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines if the DOH continues to keep documents related to the process confidential. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/29/2227287/govt-covid-19-vaccine-purchases-risk-coa-disallowance-if-doh-keeps-seal-docs

The Commission on Audit may issue a notice of disallowance on the government’s procurement of COVID-19 vaccines if the Department of Health would keep the documents related to this confidential, the state auditing body’s chairperson said Tuesday.

While the DOH has asked the COA for an audit of the vaccine procurements, it has also invoked non-disclosure agreements with vaccine manufacturers to keep documents related to their purchase out from the hands of state auditors, COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba said.

“The Department of Health po at the time, Secretary [Francisco] Duque [III], wrote to us stating that they will not be able to provide these documents because they have an NDA or non-disclosure agreement with the suppliers,” Cordoba said as he faced a Commission on Appointments panel.

Cordoba said their legal office told them that the COA is not bound by NDAs, so their resident auditor will send a demand letter to the DOH for the documents related to vaccine procurement.

If this is unheeded, Cordoba said the COA itself will write DOH a demand letter.

“If after this, we still get nothing, we have to issue a notice of suspension and go through the process of notice of disallowance. This will continue along with other legal processes, which may include the issuance of a subpoena,” he said.

Even the banks who lended money to the government to procure vaccines want an audit.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/852934/adb-wb-demand-special-audit-on-covid-19-vaccine-purchase-coa-chair-cordoba/story/

The World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are already demanding a special audit on the loans they have granted to the Philippine government for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, Commission on Audit chairman Gamaliel Cordoba disclosed Tuesday.

The COA chairman made the statement as he committed to ensure a complete audit of the public funds used for the vaccine procurements.

"Your honors, you have our commitment that this government expenditure will be audited especially now that our lenders, World Bank and ADB, seek an special audit," he said.

A special audit is definitely coming sooner rather than later. The only question is how much time it will take toe COA.

Despite fears of a new wave and the emergence of new variants the Philippines' healthcare utilization rate remains low.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/26/healthcare-utilization-remains-low-amid-detection-of-omicron-subvariant-bq-1-doh/

Following the detection of Omicron subvariant BQ.1, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the Philippines’ healthcare utilization rate remains at low-risk category. 

“The DOH assured that the country’s healthcare utilization rate remains at low risk.” the state health agency said in a statement on Saturday, Nov. 26. 

Hospitals in the country are also prepared in the event that another increase in Covid-19 cases occur, the DOH said. 

“Preparatory activities have already been initiated to ensure that triage systems are in place and step-down health facilities are available should an increase in healthcare utilization rates be observed,” it said. 

Moreover, the DOH said that all vaccines are effective in preventing death as well as severe and critical Covid-19,regardless of variant. 

“As of now, all our vaccines continue to be effective against severe cases caused by detected variants,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire. 

“This is why we continue to appeal to our kababayans to get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 on top of other layers of protection, to minimize transmission and in effect, the emergence of new variants,” she added. 

Vaccines work, death rates are low, and infection rates are also low and these people are still scare mongering about a possible resurgence of the virus. Even if that happened the death rate would still remain low. Remember the current death rate now is 64,524 which is .05% of 110 million people! There is nothing to worry about as long as one keeps himself healthy.