Coronavirus Lockdown: 4th State of Calamity, COVID Cases Drop, and More!

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

As pointed out in last week's COVID column the DOH Is being urged to make second boosters available in order to use up the vaccine supply to prevent wastage. They are not recommending second boosters to the general population but are encouraging health workers to get one. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/21/doh-encourages-health-workers-to-take-2nd-covid-19-booster/

The Department of Health (DOH) encouraged health workers to receive their second Covid-19 booster shot. 

“Among those healthcare workers na hindi pa ho nakakapag second booster shot, tayo po still encouraging them,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 20. 

“We cannot mandate for them to have the second booster and tell them you cannot work. We cannot do that as a precondition,” she added. 

Recently, the DOH said that 592,202 health workers in the country have yet to receive their second booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.

However, Vergeire said this number of health workers without a second booster is not yet a cause for concern as of this time. 

“As I’ve said the evidence really points that kapag naka first booster shot ka, it gives you more protection,” she said. 

“The protection is still there to guard you from having this severe and critical infection,” she added. 

At present, the second booster shot is only recommended for health workers, people aged 50 and above, and individuals 18 to 49 years old. 

If they can't mandate it and it's not a problem then who cares? Fully vaccinated persons can and do contract COVID. Some even die from it. 

Tourism continues to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1707460/baguio-city-surpasses-pre-pandemic-levels-of-tourist-arrivals

The number of tourist arrivals in Baguio City this year has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, an official said Wednesday.

Baguio tourism officer Alec Mapalo said tourist arrivals in the city have so far reached 1.7 million this year, and this does not yet include tourist arrivals in November and December.

This is already higher than the 1.5 million tourists recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.

(This just shows that we are surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and we see the desire of Filipinos to travel.)

However, even though tourist arrivals are skyrocketing, Mapalo said the city is still recovering its losses in two years of lockdowns and restrictions due to the pandemic.

He said tourism is one of the major industries in Baguio City, wherein it rakes in up to P7 billion in gross receipts per year.

(Let’s just imagine the amount we lost for two years. At this point, we are still in the recovery stage. We have not yet fully recovered the losses from the previous years.)

The Baguio official, however, expressed optimism that the city’s recovery rate can be expedited based on the current trends in tourist arrivals and traffic in its shopping centers.

(Many hotels and even malls have reported to us that they have already reached a record high, not only in arrivals of guests but also food traffic in shopping centers compared to 2019 before the pandemic.)

(We are confident that we can quicken our road to recovery.)

But of course even though the pandemic is over and even the president has rescinded the face mask mandate tourists are advised to wear face masks and observe other precautions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191307

With the increase in tourist arrivals as Christmas nears, Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday reminded anew residents and tourists that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains a threat so there is the need to continue observing the minimum public health standards.

 

“We still have the pandemic so we still have to be conscious of our protocols –wearing of masks, especially in congested areas, indoors and at the same time, we want you to enjoy,” Magalong said in a media interview. 

 

Baguio remains under a low-risk category of Covid-19 despite a spike in tourist arrivals.  

It seems as if they want tourists to jumpstart the economy but are so worried that everyone will die if too many tourists arrive. It's downright schizophrenic. 

Speaking of tourism one politician has a brilliant idea on how to revive the industry: increase the travel allowances of local executives. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708725/increasing-lgu-execs-travel-money-can-help-boost-tourism-salceda

Local government officials can indeed help boost local tourism — especially if they are given more travel money.

The idea came from Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who noted that the domestic travel allowances of local officials were last updated years ago and that the value of the peso had shrunk since then.

Giving them an increase now “will boost domestic tourism, which suffered scarring effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Salceda said in a statement on Saturday. “The increase in rates will help boost our meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions or MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) scene, which suffered structural losses due to the pandemic.”

The adjustments can be made in their daily travel allowance, representation, and transportation allowances (RATA) and per diem rates, he added.

Salceda, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, directed his appeal at the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“The increase should be sourced from LGU (local government unit) revenues so that it does not affect our limited national government fiscal space. But it should be done,” he stressed.

The nation has gotten along well enough without those MICE meetings for the past two years. Perhaps they are not necessary. And where would the increase in travel expense allotment come from except the taxpayer? 

China is experiencing a surge in COVID cases and now the strain causing the surge is in the Philippines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708433/omicron-strain-behind-china-surge-now-in-ph

A strain of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 which has been driving surges in China is now in the Philippines, according to the latest biosurveillance report of the Department of Health (DOH).

Citing that report, the DOH said on Friday that four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 were detected in the country, based on the genome sequencing conducted on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).

All four infected individuals are in Metro Manila, the department said in a statement. But it did not provide any further details.

Of the 133 samples sequenced by the PGC, 45 were found to carry XBC and 28 were found to have XBB — two Omicron recombinants, or recombined subvariants, detected in October.

The other samples yielded Omicron variants earlier found in the country, such as BA.2.3.20 and BA.5.

The DOH said: “Available evidence for BF.7 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.”

Yet the new subvariant still had the “potential to be more transmissible” than the others, the DOH said.

This strain is not more severe than the original Omicron strain but is only possibly "more transmissible." So, there is nothing to worry about. Right? Not according to one expert. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/26/22/presence-of-covid-bf7-subvariant-in-ph-should-spark-concern-expert

A public health expert on Monday expressed concern over the presence of omicron subvariant BF.7 in the country, which is reportedly fueling COVID-19 infections in China.

The Philippines has so far detected 4 cases of BF.7.

"Well, that is a concern considering that we are not having accurate information coming from China and China has a past history of not disclosing the number of cases, the number of deaths," Dr. Tony Leachon told ANC's "Headstart".

The former adviser of the Philippine government's coronavirus task force noted the delay of the World Health Organization's declaration of the Chinese outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020, which he said led to the global pandemic.

"We have around 2 million Chinese visitors every year and because of the lack of solid plans in terms of the procurement of the bivalent vaccines, which can address the old Wuhan strain and the new variants, this may be a concern," Leachon continued.

Despite the threat of BF.7, Leachon sees a silver lining for the Philippines.

More than 73 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, he said.

As of December 21, over 21 million have already received their additional jab, DOH figures show.

"The only problem that we see right now is the lack of a secretary of health that can really guide us on the strategic goal for [2023]," Leachon said.

"I think we'll be able to sail through this particular threat coming from the BF.7 and of course, the looming surge of cases in China," Leachon said.

Sounds like there is nothing to be concerned about at all except for the lack of a health secretary. 

The public has been constantly told to be careful during Christmas. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708619/malcanang-reminds-public-to-remain-vigilant-vs-covid-19-during-christmas-celebration

On the day before Christmas, Malacañang reminded the public to remain vigilant against COVID-19 during celebrations even with the eased restrictions on gatherings.

In its message, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) told the public to continue complying with health protocols in celebrating Christmas and New Year.

(On Christmas, we should remember our safety and the safety our family and friends in the continuing fight against COVID-19.)

(Even though the restrictions against gatherings have eased, complying with health protocols is still an important way to celebrate Christmas and New Year.)

The OPS reminded the public to continue wearing masks, maintain hand hygiene and practice social distancing.

The public is likewise encouraged to monitor and improve airflow in their houses so that the disease will not spread so easily.

(Make sure that everyone is vaccinated against COVID-19 for a safer gathering this Christmas.)

But statistics show there has been a decrease in cases. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709361/covid-cases-drop-in-week-of-christmas-amid-parties-events

COVID-19 cases dropped during Christmas week despite the return of in-person parties and gatherings after two years of the pandemic, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

From Dec. 19 to 25, laboratory tests confirmed an average of 813 COVID-19 cases daily, which was 25 percent lower than the 1,082 average cases detected daily during the previous week.

The DOH weekly bulletins reported an average of 1,000 to 1,100 daily detected cases in December.

In its latest bulletin, the DOH said out of 5,690 people who tested positive for the virus last week, three were in severe or critical condition.

Along with the drop in daily cases, the number of active cases or persons currently infected with the virus also went down to its lowest in nearly six months.

As of Dec. 26, there were 15,937 active cases compared to 17,593 a week ago.

Despite the drop in cases the DOLE is worried about infections in the workpalce after the holidays. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709698/dole-worries-about-covid-19-infections-in-offices-after-holidays

With the country’s economy moving closer to full recovery, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) biggest concern was keeping workplaces free of COVID-19 infections after the holidays, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Tuesday during a visit to Baguio City.Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, was optimistic that the cautiousness practiced by Filipinos toward COVID-19 would help prevent a surge in cases.

Laguesma said that while most industries were reaping high revenues from brisk Yuletide travel and commodity demand, business owners should continue protecting their workers by retaining practices like social distancing at workplaces and conducting periodic tests.

Labor figures have been good, according to him, with 47.11 million Filipinos currently employed as the government works to increase the manpower needed for newly pledged investments obtained by President Marcos during his recent trips to Europe, Singapore and the United States.

“So, we don’t want infections to disrupt business operations and derail progress already being made throughout the country,” Laguesma said after meeting with Baguio’s “Pony Boys,” who would benefit from the labor department’s livelihood and “employability training” program. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the 47.11 million employed Filipinos as of October represented “the highest rate recorded since January 2020,” approaching “prepandemic levels.”

The number was higher than October 2021’s 43.82 million and slightly lower than the 47.58 million employed in September this year.

To date, no workplace infections have been reported to the labor department despite a slight uptick of transmissions in Metro Manila, Laguesma said.

For Vergeire, “practices and behavior” that err on the “side of caution” would help Filipinos avert a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the country despite the entry of BF.7, an Omicron sublineage blamed for an ongoing surge in China.

“I can say it’s going to be different [for] us,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

"To date, no workplace infections have been reported to the labor department." That means this is all fear mongering in the name of erring on the side of caution by practicing worthless health measures that have not stopped and do not stop transmission of the virus. 

As of the publication of this article President Marcos has not extended the state of calamity. The DOH is advising him to do so .

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709686/doh-seeks-4th-state-of-calamity-extension

The Department of Health (DOH) has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to keep the country under a “state of calamity” in relation to the pandemic until the end of 2023, as the current status is set to elapse on Dec. 31.

If approved, it will be the fourth extension of the declaration first made by Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said her agency submitted to the Presidential Management Staff, during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, a memo making the recommendation.

“So we’re just waiting for the official response from the Office of the President in terms of this memo we have submitted to them,” she said in a press briefing.

Vergeire noted that the Senate, before Congress went on recess on Dec. 17, had not acted on House Bill No. 6522, which was transmitted to that chamber on Dec. 12.

The bill, a priority measure of the administration, proposes the creation of a new agency, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the oversight body on the coronavirus pandemic.

In an earlier briefing, Vergeire said “the [proposed] CDC law states the conditions needed for our COVID-19 response to continue.”

She explained on Tuesday that without that new law, the only basis for the government’s vaccination drive, the emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the disbursement of benefits to health workers would be the state of calamity.  

Only the state of calamity gives the government the authority to keep at its vaccination drive and for the FDA to issue emergency use authorization for the experimental vaccines. That means the whole COVID-19 respond is patently unlawful.

Hi, my name is...31

Jesus said suffer the little children to come unto me. But in the Philippines it's let the little children suffer. 

Hi, our names are being withheld. We are two young women aged 17 and 18 who were busted for running a cybersex den. We had 14 girls and one boy working for us all aged between 13 and 17. Our clients were foreigners who paid us 10,000 pesos for each session.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1661625/15-kids-saved-from-cybersex-den-run-by-2-teen-girls-pnp

Fifteen children were rescued from a cybersex trafficking operation allegedly being run by two young women—both in their teens themselves—at a resort in Manila on Thursday, police said.

Arrested were a 17-year-old girl, who was tagged by the police as the “mastermind,” and her alleged 18-year-old accomplice, during an entrapment operation at the private pool resort located in the city’s Sampaloc district, authorities said.

The raid was led by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo.

According to the NCRPO, the victims, all girls except one, and whose ages range from 13 to 17, were made to perform sex acts on a webcam in front of foreign clients for a P10,000 fee.

The suspects and the victims were brought to the Women and Children Protection Center at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, for documentation and proper disposition.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim. I was tutoring a young girl since she was 8 years old. For two years I molested her. Because the girl started acting unusually her parents installed cameras to see what was happening. That is how I got caught. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/442874/tutor-faces-statutory-rape-charges-in-cebu-city

A formal complaint of statutory rape will be filed on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, against a 41-year-old male tutor from Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City, who was arrested for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old female tutee.

The arrest of the suspect last Saturday, May 21, was made after the parents of the child sought the help of the police in catching the man who they accused of molesting their daughter.

The identities of the suspect and the victim are being withheld for the protection of the minor.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, information officer of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the parents told them that they caught the suspect molesting the child after they installed a camera in the room where the tutor holds his sessions with their daughter.

She said the parents installed cameras in the room after noticing the unusual behavior of their daughter lately. The tutor has been tutoring the minor since she was still 8 years old and so the parents fear that she was being molested since that time.

“In this kind of crime, we cannot expect the victim, at that instant, in most cases that we were able to experience, will be able to talk because probably of the trauma, of the threat, and other variables. In this particular case, the parents noticed the unusual behavior of their child and so they had suspicions,” Macatangay said.

Macatangay said they have yet to check with the concerned agency if the suspect is an active teacher or a licensed teacher. Once they find out his affiliation, they will also include possible administrative cases other than the criminal cases against the suspect.

With this, Macatangay appealed to the public to never leave their children unattended with a tutor,  or anyone, in a secluded or isolated area in their homes when being assisted with their academic needs.

“There are instances that parents are going to admit into their homes, tutors…As much as possible, the activities between the tutor or any adult and the child should be visible so that cases like this could be  avoided in the future,” Macatangay said.

“Her parents, although they are just at home, at some point, are also working. So we can’t blame them because they are also working to be able to provide for the family, ” she added.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect my children. That's very ironic seeing as I did not protect my children at all. Instead I pimped them out to foreigners online. I also pimped out young neighbors. I had been doing this since 2017 which is quite a long time. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/845743/4ps-parents-nabbed-for-forcing-children-into-cybersex-operations/story/

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division have rescued five minors believed to have been forced by their parents to engage in cybersex operations in Taguig City.

According to a report on "24 Oras", the victims' parents were arrested and some gadgets used for their operations, illegal drugs, and sex toys were also confiscated.

"Their own mother is pimping them and taking photos and videos and selling them online in exchange for money. She also pimps minor neighbors," said NBI Spokesperson Atty. Giselle Garcia-Dumlao.

The victims said their parents, who are said to be beneficiaries of the 4Ps aid program, had been conducting cybersex operations since 2017. The suspects then expressed their deep regret.

"He said that my son is getting married, he will come home here, it seems like we are doing well with the money he is sending. Sir, that's why he did it out of extreme urgency," one of the suspects explained.

Hi, our names are Dominic and Cesar. One morning my brother and I were having drinks when I started molesting my 16 year old daughter. Then I raped her. After I left the house my brother also raped her. He said she took off her clothes in front of him and he could not resist her.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1943917/cebu/local-news/father-uncle-nabbed-for-rape-of-girl-with-special-needs

A 50-YEAR-OLD fisherman and his younger brother were arrested by police on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2022, after they were caught in the act of raping the former’s 16-year-old daughter who has a mental disability.

The incident happened in Madridejos town, Bantayan Island in northern Cebu.

Senior Msgt. Julius Seares of the Madridejos Police Station told SunStar Cebu that he and his fellow police officers arrested Dominic, 50, and Cesar, 42, inside their house after they were caught in the act of raping Eva, 16, the former’s second youngest daughter.

SunStar has withheld the real names of the suspects in the incident in order to protect the victim’s identity.

Maria, one of Dominic and Cesar’s siblings, served as complainant against the suspects.

Seares said Dominic and Cesar were having drinks at their house on Tuesday morning, Oct. 18. It was around 11 a.m. when Dominic allegedly started molesting Eva.

After raping his daughter, Dominic left the house at 1 p.m. When Dominic left, Cesar then went to Eva’s room and raped her, Seares said.

After finding out about her niece’s situation, Maria immediately went to the police to complain against her brothers.

When police got there, they found a naked Cesar with Eva inside the house. Dominic was arrested later during a follow-up operation.

According to Seares, Cesar immediately admitted to the crime, saying that he couldn’t resist his niece.

“Nagtan-aw ko sa telebesyon. Unya kalit man si (Eva) naghubo sa akong atubangan. Lain man sab kaayo kon akong balibaran,” Cesar told police.

(I was watching television when she suddenly took off her clothes in front of me. How could I reject her?)

Dominic, however, denied the allegations, saying he was not at the house when his daughter was allegedly raped.

However, one of Eva’s siblings attested to police that she was able to witness her father and uncle taking turns in raping the victim.

Seares said they are not discounting the possibility that Eva may have been a “sex slave” to her father and uncle.

Hi, our names are being withheld to protect the victim who is our son. It's not as if he needs protecting because he is dead and we killed him. We beat him to death for not doing his school work and for not listening to us. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/833363/stepfather-mother-face-raps-for-death-of-8-year-old-son-in-pasig-police/story/

The stepfather and the mother of the eight-year-old boy who died in Pasig City are facing charges for the incident, according to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras”.

Based on initial reports, police said the boy's stepfather rushed him to the hospital on Friday afternoon after he was found unconscious at around 2:55 p.m. Both the child’s mother and stepfather admitted to hitting him with slippers as a way of disciplining him for failing to finish his school modules.

“He reportedly fails to comply with the modules. He had also repeatedly refused to listen to them, especially while doing his school work,” Police Lieutenant Joel Sison of Pasig City Police said.

The autopsy report, however, showed the victim died of blunt traumatic injury. This means a hard object was used to hit the child, Sison said.

“What we’re looking into is if the death is caused by trauma… it’s either a hard object was used to hit him. This is still under investigation,” he said.

The two suspects are now under police custody. The victim’s stepfather was charged with homicide while his mother, with parricide.

The boy's body will be claimed by his grandmother, the report said.

“We can discipline them but it should have limits. It’s not advisable to hurt kids to be disciplined,” Sison said.

Hi, my name is Jessie Bon Palomo. My wife is an OFW working in Saudi Arabia. He two daughters, aged 15 and 11, were staying with me. One early morning a neighbor heard them screaming but dismissed it. Then he got curious and walked over to the house where he discovered their raped and mutilated bodies. The police were quickly called and launched a hot pursuit operation to find me. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/12/man-arrested-for-raping-killing-minor-stepchilden-in-davao-del-sur/

Police have arrested the prime suspect in a double homicide and rape case involving two minors whose bodies were discovered inside their house in Purok Mangga, Sitio Landing, Barangay Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Friday, Nov. 11.

Sta. Cruz police commander Lt. Col. Kristopher Sabsal said the crime was discovered early Friday morning.

A neighbor heard the victims screaming for help at about 1 a.m. but he reportedly ignored it.

Out of curiosity, the neighbor went to the house where he thought the voices emanated.

When he entered the house, he discovered the bloodied bodies of the 15-year-old and 11-year-old victims.

The grim discovery was immediately reported to the police through its hotline who in turn rushed to the scene and conducted an investigation.

The police learned that the minors were living with their stepfather and the mother of the victims is working in Saudi Arabia.

Jessie Bon Palomo, the stepfather could no longer be reached, prompting the policemen to conduct a pursuit operation.

Upon learning that Palomo is a resident of Cotabato City, Sabsal alerted his counterparts in the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) region help them block the fleeing suspect.

Just a few hours after the discovery of the crime, the police arrested Palomo while in transit in Banisilan town in North Cotabato.

Palomo was arrested in possession of an improvised 12-gauge homemade shotgun and a sachet of suspected shabu.

Hi, my name is William. My wife and I had an argument over money. She got mad that I spend my money on drugs. Naturally I pulled out my shabu and forced her to sniff some. Then I took a hit. It was then that my one year old daughter began to cry because she was hungry. I couldn't stand it so I made her shut up by hitting her a few times. When I left the house my wife called the cops and I was arrested a few days later by citizens who knew me and what I had done. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/465927/man-who-mauled-his-hungry-toddler-for-crying-when-he-was-on-drugs-is-nabbed-in-carbon

A 44-year-old man, who allegedly mauled his hungry one-year-old daughter after he heard her cry for milk when he finished using “shabu,” was arrested at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City on Monday afternoon, Sept. 26, 2022.

Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Bejer of Carbon Police Station confirmed that the father, a certain William, was caught via citizen’s arrest at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City. 

This was three days since he left Compostela town in northern Cebu and after he allegedly mauled his one-year-old child. 

Bejer said that concerned citizens called their office after the concerned citizens arrested the suspect, given that they were familiar with his appearance. 

Based on the Compostela Police report, the suspect and his wife had an argument over money at around 11 p.m. on Sept. 23. The wife complained about the suspect allegedly spending their money on buying illegal drugs.

Later, the suspect allegedly forced his wife to sniff “shabu.” Then he also used the illegal drug, but when he finished sniffing shabu, their one-year-old daughter, who was hungry, cried for milk.

This made William angry. He then allegedly mauled his daughter where he allegedly hit her several times in the body.

When William left the house later, the wife hurriedly went to the Compostela Police Station and reported the alleged domestic abuse.

Hi, our names are Bobzeal Fulguirinas and Elmer Durango. We have both been arrested for raping 14-year old girls. Elmer is 39 and was the most wanted person in his city until he was arrested, As for me, Bobzeal, I am 19. The girl accusing me said I threatened her with a knife and brought her inside my house. But I say we both consented and even her cousin and a friend came over the house at the same time. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/462570/two-men-accused-of-raping-14-year-old-girls-nabbed

Two men, who were accused of allegedly raping 14-year-old girls, were arrested in separate operations in the cities of Cebu and Carcar on Sept. 5 and 6.

At 10 a.m. on Sept. 6, Elmer Durango, 30, was arrested after he was served a warrant of arrest by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Provincial Field Unit (CIDG PFU) in his rented house in a Cebu City barangay.

Judge Ester Veloso, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6 in Cebu City, issued the arrest warrant last September 5, 2022, against Durango for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in 2008.

No bail was recommended against the accused.

In its report, Police Major Nazarino Emia of CIDG PFU said that the Durango allegedly committed the crime inside his rented house in the barangay.

Emia also described Durango as the most wanted person in the provincial level.

Durango was detained at the at the CIDG-7 detention facility.

On Sept. 5, 2022, in Carcar City, police arrested a 19-year-old man in a barangay of this southern city in Cebu Province.

Bobzeal Fulguirinas was arrested after he was served a warrant of arrest for rape in his house that afternoon, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Ardioleto Cabagnot, Carcar City Police Station chief.

Cabagnot said that Fulguirinas was accused of allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl last February 2022.

(The victim bought medicine and when she passed by the accused’s house, the accused allegedly threatened her with a knife and she was brought inside the house. It was already dusk at that time.)

However, the accused belied the accusation against him, saying that he and the victim agreed to have sexual contact with each other. 

The accused further said that the victim together with her cousin and another companion went to his house at that time.

Hi, my name is Alfredo Daguhoy Monzon. I was the eight most wanted person in Agusan del Sur. In 2020 I raped a 10 year old girl. Then I went on hiding for the next two years. But eventually I was caught. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185051

A man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in 2020 who has been hiding for more than two years from the law was finally arrested Thursday in Veruela town, Agusan del Sur province.

 

In a press statement on Friday afternoon, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the director of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13), identified the suspect as Alfredo Daguhoy Monzon, 58.

The suspect, Caramat said, victimized a 10-year-old on May 10, 2020, in Barangay Sinobong, Veruela town.

The suspect has a standing arrest warrant for rape issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 55 in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

“Monzon is also considered as the No. 8 Most Wanted Person in Agusan del Sur,” Caramat said.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the victim. I was arrested for raping my daughter over the course of 12 years beginning when she was five. She never told anybody the whole time. But finally she told her grandmother and they went to the cops to file a case against me. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/04/man-arrested-for-raping-daughter-for-12-years-in-cagayan/

A 39-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 3, for allegedly raping his 17-year-old daughter for 12 years here.

The suspect was arrested after the victim, accompanied by her grandmother and relatives, filed a complaint before the police.

According to the victim, her father started raping her when she was about five.

The victim failed to reveal her ordeal due to threats made by her father.

Police arrested the suspect in their house.

Recovered from the suspect were a gun, two bullets, a hand grenade, and dried marijuana leaves.

Suspect faces rape and illegal possession charges.

Hi, my name is Danny Malaki. I was one of the top 5 most wanted people in Cordova. Back in June an 11 year old girl came in my store. I told her I would pay her if she took out the garbage. When she went to get the garbage I grabbed her, took her to my car, and raped her. But how can you blame me? It was she who seduced me after all.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/478679/store-owner-jailed-for-rape-of-11-year-old-girl

A 49-year-old man, who was listed as the Top 5 most wanted person in the municipal level, was arrested by the personnel of Cordova Police Station on Monday, December 5, at his residence in Barangay Ibabao, in the same town.

This was confirmed by Police Major Michael Gingoyon, chief of Cordova Police Station.

The accused, who was identified as Danny Malaki, was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Maria Dee Seares of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 7 in Mandaue City.

Malaki is facing a rape charge.

No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Police Corporal Shiela Bacus, chief of the Women’s Desk of the Cordova Police Station, said that the alleged rape happened in May this year.

She said that the 11-year-old victim bought something at the store owned by the accused.  The accused then ask the victim to throw their garbage in exchange for money.

(When the girl went to their garbage, he grabbed the girl and brought her to a parked vehicle where the abuse happened.)

Bacus said that after the alleged rape, the accused reportedly gave the victim P10 before she left.

The rape was only reported to the police in June.

Bacus said that Malaki was informed of the nature of his offense and was likewise apprised of his constitutional rights during his arrest.

The suspect, she said, admitted that he had sex with the child during the interrogation.  However, he alleged that he was seduced by the child. 

Malaki is now detained at the Cordova Police Station.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the victim. When my neighbor left her little girl alone in the house I took advantage of the situation. I brought her to a near by cornfield where I raped and then killed her. I used a 22 cm long Swiss knife to cut her neck.  

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/24/suspect-in-rape-slay-of-4-year-old-girl-in-pangasinan-arrested/

A suspect in rape-slay of a 4-year old in Brgy. Reynado was arrested, report said Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022.

The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office identified the suspect as Marcelino Jr Junio, 49, a resident of Brgy Hermosa, Bayambang.

Initial investigation disclosed that the suspect took advantage when the victim was left alone by her mother at their house on December 22, and brought her to the corn field.

Police said that the place of incident was more or less one hundred meters away from the victim’s house.

According to the investigation, the suspect raped the child, then inflicted wounds on her neck.

The victim was rushed to Bayambang District Hospital, Bayambang, Pangasinan but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The ensuing police follow up operation resulted in the arrest of the suspect and recovered from his possession a Swiss knife measuring 22 cms long with blood stain.

At the crime scene, authorities recovered red jogging pants, orange undergarment, and a pair of slippers that belonged to the victim.

Insurgency: Joma's Death 'End of an Era'

The death of Joma Sison of heart failure in The Netherlands is the single most important event regarding the insurgency to happen this year. Will his death mark the end of the insurgency once and for all? Let's take a look at what is being said about this momentous occasion. 

For former President Duterte Joma's death marks the end of an era. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191139

Former President Rodrigo Duterte said the passing of Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), marks the end of an era for communist insurgency.

“His death certainly marks the end of an era, and it is my hope that with it, the end of insurgencies in the Philippines and the revolutionary movement that he has founded as well,” Duterte said in a Facebook post on Monday.

On Dec. 17, the CPP announced that Sison, 83, died after a two-week confinement in a hospital in the Netherlands.

Duterte said Sison is known for his radical ideas that affected the course of the country’s history and birthed a movement New People’s Army (NPA), that carries on up to this day.

“While Mr. Sison and I have had many disagreements – especially in the ways in which he chose to pursue and effect change in the country – I would like to believe that, at the end of the day, we shared the same dream of creating a better future for every Filipino,” he said.

The former president also urged the Filipinos to carry on the work of building a more harmonious and united country for the present and future generations.

“My sincerest condolences to his family and I pray that the Lord Almighty grants him and our country peace,” Duterte said.

Don't forget that JOoma was Duterte's mentor and said in 2016 that he represented the best chance at peace between the governemt and the CPP-NPA.

The DND claims with Joma's death the greatest stumbling block to peace is gone. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706196/dnd-on-joma-sisons-death-greatest-stumbling-block-to-ph-peace-is-gone

The death of exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison marks the end of the “greatest stumbling block to peace” in the country, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Saturday.

“The greatest stumbling block of peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance,” the DND said.

The DND added that Sison’s death is symbolic of the “crumbling hierarchy” of the Philippine communist movement.

“The death of Jose Maria Sison is but a symbol of the crumbling hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF, which he founded to violently put himself in power,” the DND added in a statement, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) and its political arm the National Democratic Front (NDF).

The DND however lamented that with his death, Sison was not brought to justice and to answer for his alleged crimes.

“His death deprived the Filipino people of the opportunity to bring this fugitive to justice under our country’s laws,” they said.

The Office of the Presidential Advisor on Peace expressed the same sentiments as the DND hoping that Joma's death means the end of the insurgency. OPAPRU chief Carlito Galvez Jr. also agrees with Duterte that the death of Joma is the end of an era. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191002

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Sunday said it is hopeful that the death of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison will put an end to the local communist insurgency which has largely stalled development in the countryside.

"With the death of Mr. Sison, it is our hope that it will also put an end to the local communist armed conflict that claimed the lives of so many Filipinos and pushed back development in the countryside," OPAPRU chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement Sunday.

He also noted that the passing of Sison marks “the end of an era in the nation's history.”

"It was a period largely defined by armed hostilities, which to this day, is still being felt by Filipinos, especially those whose lives were affected by the communist movement," Galvez added.

The CPP says despite the death of Joma the revolution will continue.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706285/cpp-founders-death-not-the-end-of-rebellion

The death of Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is not the end of the revolutionary movement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said on Saturday in response to the military’s claim that the vacuum left by its late founder would deplete the half-century-old Maoist insurgency.

“Of course, the passing of Ka Joma is a great loss for the Party and revolutionary movement,” Marco Valbuena, the CPP chief information officer, said in a statement.“But like the children taught, guided and trained by their Great Father, the Philippine revolutionaries can stand on their own feet,” he said.

Valbuena was reacting to a post on Facebook by the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines stating that the CPP, its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and political arm, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), would be “greatly weakened resulting from the death of their founder.”

“Due to their leadership vacuum, a leadership crisis within the underground organization of the CPP will significantly affect the whole communist movement,” according to the post.

While there may be a leadership vacuum at the moment the PNP says they have eyes on 3 -5 people who could take Joma's place.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1707472/pnp-looking-into-3-to-5-names-that-may-replace-cpp-leader-sison

Will the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) find a new leader to replace Joma Sison?

The Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence has indicated the CPP is looking into three to five individuals that may replace deceased Sison as its new leader, an official said Wednesday.

PNP spokesman Police Col. Redrico Maranan said the agency is still studying the names and cannot yet divulge their personalities.

(If I am not mistaken, we are looking at three to five individuals, but I am not at liberty to tell you those names because we are still studying them.)

The AFP says there is no one worthy to succeed Sison. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/18/afp-no-one-else-fit-to-head-cpp/

For the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there is nobody close to Sison’s caliber that is qualified to lead the CPP.

“No one of his quality,” replied Col. Medel Aguilar, acting AFP spokesperson, when asked by the Manila Bulletin on Sunday, Dec. 18, if the military is monitoring Sison’s possible successor.

“If they want, I offer myself so the government can save all their recruits and move them away from harm,” he quipped.

When news of Sison’s death reached the military, Aguilar said that the CPP “needs to have a good teacher and guiding light who will lead its members away from violence and destruction.”

In the Philippine Army (PA), the monitoring of the line of succession in the CPP is ongoing but Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Army spokesperson, said it will be “very difficult” for the communist party to find a new leader.

“We are still monitoring the developments on the ground. The CPP has its organizational structure and process on how they fill in the vacuum in their leadership. It would be very difficult for the CPP to establish its new leader given the successive neutralization of their core leaders down to their armed components,” Trinidad said in a separate interview.

But outside the confines of Camp Aguinaldo, rumors were aplenty as to the next leader of the CPP.

Names were floated such as Julieta de Lima Sison, wife of Joma; Luis Jalandoni, once a chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during the peace talks; and even alleged communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, although the military earlier announced that there were indicators the couple died during an encounter with troops in Catbalogan City, Samar last August 22.

“Right now, we, at the AFP, do not see any problem that might arise after Joma died. In fact, their members and supporters are continuously declining and returning to the folds of the law. Even their combatants and members of their mass base and underground mass organizations are losing ground,” Aguilar said in a radio interview over dzBB.

Funny that the PNP and AFP do not seem to be on the same page on this issue. 

It is not clear yet where Joma's final resting place will be but one IP leader says burying him in the Philippines would be an insult.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191385

Burying the remains of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison in the country would be a "big insult" to the victims of New People's Army's (NPA) atrocities, a leader of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in Surigao del Sur province said.

This was according to Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel town, following proposal of Sison’s supporters to bring home his ashes in the country.

“I strongly disagree with their proposal to bring the remains of Sison into the country. It’s an insult to the families of the victims of New People’s Army (NPA) executions and killings,” Maca said in an interview Friday.

Marco Valbuena, CPP public information officer, said in a media interview on Dec. 17 that Sison’s remains or ashes should be returned to the country “in accordance to his wishes as a Filipino."

Sison had been on self-exile since 1987 in The Netherlands until his death last Dec. 16.

“I strongly disagree with their proposal to bring the remains of Sison in the country. It’s an insult to the families of the victims of NPA executions and killings,” Maca said in a phone interview on Friday.

As CPP-NPA leader, Maca said Sison was responsible for IP members who were "mercilessly executed by the NPA rebels in the past years."

Burying Joma Sison in the Philippines would certainly entail a lot of problems. Where would he be buried? How would the government prevent his grave from becoming a shrine? 

An odd take on the death of Sison came from Senator Jinggoy Estrada. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706881/with-joma-dead-govt-can-intensify-efforts-vs-communism-estrada

The death of Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), gives the government a chance to intensify its efforts to end the communist armed struggle, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said in a statement issued on Monday.

Estrada noted that Sison’s death would not be the end of the CPP and the New People’s Army, but it could still weaken them.

“The government must take this opportunity to intensify the collaboration of different agencies, stakeholders, local government units, and even the general public in crushing the communist idea that drives the armed struggle,” Estrada said.

“It is the responsibility of each of us to safeguard the future of future generations and ensure that we achieve the elusive lasting peace,” he added in Filipino.

Estrada also pointed out that “efforts to establish a communist state have been nil” as communist numbers continue to decline.

Is this guy even paying attention? The AFP has been very vocal that the NPA has dramatically weakened due to their intensified efforts which include the work of the NTF-ELCAC as well as LGUs. It's like he is just spouting off to say something, anything. 

Joma Sison is dead but the insurgency is far from over. Remember the Makabayan Bloc has been tagged as a communist front, the NICA says there are 300,000 to 400,000 known communists who have infiltrated the government, and the government is still very concerned about recruitment efforts by the CPP-NPA. The death of Joma Sison is certainly a milestone in the 54 year long insurgency but the fight is far from over if the statistics of the government are to be believed. 

PNP Wants Complaint Against Abusive Cop Dropped “In the Spirit of Christmas”

The PNP claims to be serious about going after rogue cops. But in the case of Police Corporal Marvin Castro in Manila the PNP seem to no care about his misbehavior. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/854980/manila-cop-in-hot-water-over-confrontation-with-ust-judo-juniors-team-members/story/

A policeman in Manila is in hot water for allegedly bringing out his service firearm during a confrontation with members of the UST Judo Juniors Team, according to Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

The report said six jubilant members of the team aged 12 to 17 years old were walking along a street in Sampaloc, Manila around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday following a victory in a competition when they were approached by the policeman for being noisy.

(We thought at first that he would just congratulate us, but he was aggressive.)

The policeman allegedly brought out a handcuff and invited the team to board a police mobile. When they students refused, the policeman allegedly brought out his service firearm.

(He held his gun. He said he did that because I was looking at his gun. That's unlikely.)

Another member of the team said they panicked because they did not know what to do.

(We really did not know what to do. Of course we are just kids. Who would want someone to bring out a gun in front of you.)

The students, who were still wearing their uniforms and medals, then contacted their coach.

The policeman, identified as Police Corporal Marvin Castro, apologized to the students and their parents and coaches when they faced each other at the barangay hall.

(They were not listening to me. I was asking them to stop but they would not stop.)

Castro said he felt threatened by the team.

When the parents brought the issue to the police station, a parent said they were urged to just drop the complaint in the spirit of Christmas.

(They asked us to drop the complaint in the spirit of Christmas. They asked us to just talk to Castro because they said he is a good cop. But what if something happened to our children? What about the psychological effect on them?)

The Manila Police District (MPD) is already looking into the incident.

According to MPD director Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Castro felt "imminent danger" in the presence of the students.

(We he confronted them, the students moved as if they were about to attack him, which prompted him to hold his gun, according to our station commander. He just made sure that he would be on self-defense. As long as he did not point the gun at somebody, then it shows that he had no intention of firing it.)

Castro has been barred from doing rounds in the area while the investigation is ongoing. He was also asked to surrender his service firearm.

Officer Castro confronted a group of students, threatened to arrest them, and even pulled out his service weapon. The parents of the students brought a complaint to the local police station but instead of reprimanding Officer Castro the parents were implored to drop the complaint "in the spirit of Christmas" because he is a good cop!

Does that sound like the PNP are serious about getting all the rotten eggs and rogue cops off the force? Maybe at heart Castro is a good cop. Maybe he just got flustered and misinterpreted the intent of the students who were celebrating a victory for their judo team. Or maybe this cops has a history of going off the rails and power tripping. Either way for the PNP to suggest these parents dismiss the complaint  against a misbehaving officer "in the spirit of Christmas" just shows they are not serious in getting rid of abusive rogue cops.