The PNP Declares Recent Attacks on Local Officials Are Not Alarming

Recently there have been a spate of assassinations and assassination attempts against current and former local government officials. These have each been catalogued on my Retards in the Government series. In fact there is hardly a week that goes by when at least one current or former local official is not either assassinated or wounded in an assassination attempt. Of this current crop of killings the PNP says it's nothing to be alarmed about. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1735645/pnp-chief-recent-gun-attacks-on-local-govt-officials-not-yet-alarming

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday that the gun attacks on local government officials recently are “not yet alarming.”

However, PNP investigators are still attempting to determine the purpose of the separate shooting incidents, he noted, paying particular attention to the varying situations and potential motives for the fatal and near-fatal events, which took place two to three days apart in Lanao del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, and Pasay City in Metro Manila.

Azurin said that the gun attacks on the provincial officials are “isolated” cases but still need a thorough investigation by the police.

"I would say that it’s not yet alarming because we’re still determining – the situations and the reasons are different why these people were killed. As I said, it’s either political, personal, business rivalry, or other reasons these killings are happening."

“Incidentally siguro (maybe), it just so happened na (that) they are in public service,” he also said

It might "just so happen" that these men are in public service?" How did this guy become PNP Chief? Contrary to his laid back approach House Speaker Romualdez has called an emergency meeting to discuss these killings. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1735642/romualdez-calls-for-emergency-meeting-with-dilg-pnp-amid-spate-of-violence

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has called for an emergency meeting with officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid the recent spate of violence reported across the country.

Romualdez, in a statement on Sunday, said that the reports of high-profile crimes are alarming, leading him to seek a meeting with the two agencies to know what their actions and responses are.

The meeting is expected to be held on Monday.

“It’s alarming because it seems that almost every week there are news reports about high-profile killings,” Romualdez said.

“We want to know from the PNP and the DILG what steps are being taken to stop these kinds of heinous crimes,” he added.

According to Romualdez, several of the high-profile incidents appeared to be linked to politics because most of the recent victims are politicians or are involved with public service.

This guy is at least closer to the truth about the situation. Every week, as I document in this blog and on Youtube there are high-profile killings of or attempts to kill local government officials. It is nothing new and has been going on since forever in this nation. So, when the PNP says there is no link between these killings you have to ask yourself how can they be so stupid?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/27/23/pnp-no-link-among-recent-attacks-against-local-officials

The recent attacks against some local officials, which left several people dead, are likely not related, the Philippine National Police said Monday.

"As of now, we have not established or seen any link with respect to the three cases," PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told ANC's "Rundown".

"Nonetheless, we are beefing (up) our security, particularly the personnel security detail of not only our elected officials but also appointed officials, because of these recent attacks."

The link between these three cases and with all the other assassinations and attempted assassinations of local officials is that they are either current or former politicians. POLITICS is the link!

Are the PNP and everyone else so unaware assassination is a political tool in the Philippines? It is so common that no one bats an eye unless a whole lot of assassinations happen in a short amount of time. When they are spread out as they usually are it is easy to overlook them. 

This fact, assassination being a political tool, is not being taken into account by the DILG. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/28/23/more-cops-tougher-laws-dilg-seeks-to-stop-slay-tries-vs-politicos

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking a bigger budget for more police recruits and tougher laws on vehicle purchases to stop high profile slay attempts on politicians.

Speaking with TeleRadyo, Abalos said the PNP is now revising its threat assessments for local officials nationwide.

(They are revising their threat assessment on politicians who are facing threats so they can help preempt these.)

(The good old police work and intelligence work are complete here.)

The official also said they have reshuffled some cops to places where their tactical skills are more needed.

Abalos said the DILG is seeking a bigger budget for more police recruits.

(Every year, there are 10,000 new police recruits. For the last 2 years, probably because of the pandemic, there have only been 1,000 recruits. Speaker Romualdez said he'll speak with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman about restoring the budget.)

Abalos also asked the congressmen to look into tightening laws governing car purchases.

(If you look at the cars that were used recently, some of them are unregistered or have changed ownership so may times. Speaker promised that they can come up with a law...requiring owners to register their vehicles immediately after purchase.)

The official also said they will intensify their campaign against loose firearms.

While tightening the laws and employing more cops is a good thing it's not going to stop political assassinations. What needs to change is the us versus them mentality of Filipino politics. It boils down to clan feuds and dynastic politics. Even Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was convicted of assassinating his father's political rival. His conviction was overturned by Supreme Court Justice Jose P. Laurel, a family friend, who convinced his fellow judges to toss out his conviction because of the promise he showed. 

https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineSTAR/photos/a.773360509484299/773360669484283/?type=3

Dynastic politics, political rivalries, and corrupt government officials. Those are three reasons among many why assassination will remain a political tool despite whatever laws are passed or how many cops are on the streets. 

The most recent high profile assassination is of the governor of Negros Occidental who was killed inside his home by a group of former soldiers. The reaction has been nothing short of hypocritical. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196657

Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday suggested that Negros Oriental be placed under a state of emergency for justice to be swiftly served following the brutal slaying of Governor Roel Degamo and eight others.

Marcos, who had worked with Degamo in the Governors’ League when she was still the governor of Ilocos Norte, also said Negros Oriental should be locked down so those who were behind the killing could not leave the province.

"I am calling for the declaration of state of emergency in the entire province of Negros Oriental as soon as possible. This needs to stop and not only the hitmen or the murderers but also the mastermind, their paymasters, and whoever conspired to make this happen should be apprehended," Marcos said during an interview after she visited the wake of Degamo in Dumaguete City.

She expressed hope that the arrested suspects will cooperate and could lead to the identification of other individuals responsible for Saturday morning’s gun attack.

"Let us leave no stone unturned and no culprits unpunished. This cannot go unpunished and the perpetrators of this heinous crime, barbaric as it is and cowardly, should be punished as soon as possible," she said.

Meanwhile, other senators also condemned the killings and asked authorities to swiftly solve the case.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed alarm over the surge of assassinations of local chief executives in the past weeks.

Zubiri was referring to the attack against Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, the recent ambush on Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal, and the killing of Vice Mayor Rommel Almeda in Cagayan.

"For this ambush to happen while Gov. Degamo was in the middle of attending to 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program] beneficiaries is absolutely appalling. It is sick and heartless, and the suspects should rot in jail. Heads must roll, and the PNP [Philippine National Police] must crack down on this case immediately," Zubiri said in a statement.

"Every single incident like this ambush puts a dent in our people’s trust in the government. It is a failure of intelligence, a failure of police visibility, a failure of our peace and security efforts," he added.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the PNP must put an end to the killings and not wait for a similar incident to happen again.

"These killings must end now. These acts of violence and lawlessness are a clear display of arrogance against our government. We should never be accustomed to these senseless killings. We call on the PNP to act swiftly and put these criminals behind bars," Villanueva said in a separate statement.

Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. said such incidents are not merely acts against the persons who were targeted, but also an attack against the people who elected them and against democracy itself.

"They must put to stop lip service and instead make sure they put an end to this kind of lawlessness. Parang pinaglalaruan na lang sila ng mga kriminal kasi sa loob pa mismo ng kanyang tahanan (They are being fooled by these criminals because [it actually happened] inside his home]," Revilla said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said any form of violence and intimidation have no place in a civilized and democratic society like the Philippines.

"I call on authorities to bring the assailants before the court of law, and ensure that justice is served as soon as possible," Gatchalian said.

Citing the shooting incidents as "gangland-style" executed in broad daylight, Senator Grace Poe said it etched fears in Filipinos about how easily lives can be taken even of people who are in power.

"We call on the police and other law enforcement agencies to wield their authority against these criminals who undermine the peace and order in our country," Poe said in a separate statement.

"Authorities must act quickly before the next target falls, and to assure our people that the open season for killings will not come upon us."

Senator Lito Lapid said the killing showed neglect not only of life but also of democracy and the law.

"We strongly condemn this crime and I am with everyone calling for justice for their loved ones and the people of Negros Oriental," Lapid said.

Why do these people not speak out every single time a barangay chairman or village councilor is assassinated? Surely they are not so obtuse as to be unaware that assassination is a political tool in the Philippines. But these assassinations are not going to stop. They know it and we all know it. 

Retards in the Government 299

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

  

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195938

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former barangay chairperson from a town in Leyte province to up to 8 years imprisonment for his part in the illegal demolition of houses in an ejectment case.

In its 33-page decision dated Feb. 17, the anti-graft court affirmed the decision of a Tacloban City regional trial court (RTC Br. 34) finding former Barangay MH Del Pilar chair Jovito Tupaz of Dulag town guilty of violating RA 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” and sentenced him to the prison term and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Aside from time behind bars, Tupaz was likewise ordered to pay the complainant, Lutgarda T. Arceo, PHP100,000 in damages.

A co-accused, former barangay secretary Alexander R. Cagara, died in 2021 during the pendency of the case.

The complainant claimed that in 1999, as the demolition was being undertaken by a team personally supervised by Tupaz and Cagara, she reminded that 1/3 of the portion of the lot belonged to her, having purchased the same from its owners under a deed of sale two years earlier. She even reminded Tupaz that the latter was a signatory in the document.

Tupaz however turned a deaf ear and insisted that the demolition was covered by a court order. The demolition was completed by noon along with three other houses.

“A public officer who seriously breaches his or her duty in a blatant and extremely careless manner with conscious indifference to consequences insofar as other persons may be affected is guilty of gross inexcusable negligence under RA 3019 regardless of whether such breach of duty was done with malicious intent,” the Sandiganbayan said in its decision.

“(A) public officer’s failure to appreciate the extent of his or her basic power is gross negligence amounting to gross bad faith and manifest partiality,” the tribunal said.

A village councilor has been sentenced to 8 years for illegal demolition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195898

Anti-narcotics agents have arrested an employee of the Surigao del Norte provincial hospital during a buy-bust operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Caraga Region (PDEA-13) reported on Thursday.

PDEA-13 identified the captured suspect during Tuesday's operation as Garry Asumen, 42, of Barangay Bad-as in Placer town, Surigao del Norte.

“The arrested suspect is classified as a high-value target,” PDEA-13 said in its report, adding that the suspect yielded a plastic sachet containing a gram of shabu with a street value of PHP10,000.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022 was filed against the suspect.

A government employee who is a high-value target has been arrested on drug charges.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195950

A provincial government employee, who was previously assigned as acting municipal treasurer of Isabela town in Negros Occidental province has been preventively suspended for 60 days after being charged with administrative offenses over the alleged loss of PHP6.4 million in local funds last month.

Nenette Escarda, a Cashier I at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, received Thursday the copies of the memorandum order and the formal charge signed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Feb. 22.

After completing the preliminary investigation on Wednesday, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said his office submitted the report to the governor, who immediately approved the findings and issued the formal charge to Escarda.

In Administrative Case No. 23-002, Escarda has been charged with grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds.

“Considering that she is under the provincial government, she is under our jurisdiction, we will handle the administrative case but we will coordinate closely with the Municipality of Isabela,” Nellas told reporters.

Lacson directed Escarda to “answer the charge in writing, under oath, with the option to submit additional evidence or that of her witnesses within three days from receipt thereof”, adding that “failure to file an answer within the above-stated period shall be considered a waiver to submit the same and the case shall be decided based on available records”.

The formal charge stated that sometime in January, Escarda, “in the performance and taking advantage of her official and administrative functions, with grave abuse of confidence, and without authority from the municipal mayor (Irene Montilla) or the national government, took and removed municipal funds amounting to approximately PHP2.6 million in cash and PHP3.8 million in checks from its usual place of safekeeping at the Municipal Treasurer's Office in Isabela and brought the said funds to her home in Bacolod City”.

It added that the respondent “consented or permitted, through abandonment or negligence’ to the taking and loss of the abovementioned municipal funds while it was in her unauthorized possession to the damage and prejudice of the Municipality of Isabela, the national government, and public interest”.

The governor ordered the 60-day prevention suspension of the respondent after the issuance of the formal charge against her.

A town treasurer who took money home with her and then lost it has been formally suspended.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1734478/maguindanao-town-mayor-hurt-in-ambush-try-in-pasay-city

The mayor of Datu Montawal in Maguindanao has escaped death in a gun attack along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

The ambush attempt happened on Wednesday evening (February 22), but the Southern Police District (SPD) released a report on the incident on Friday, citing information from the Pasay City Police.

In the report, police said Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal sustained a gunshot wound on his hip and left arm following the assault.

Based on the account of witness Ronald Caumbo, Datu Montawal town planning officer and companion of the mayor during the attack, they were heading toward Gil Puyat Avenue on board a van when two unidentified armed men came closer to their vehicle. It was not clear if the suspects were on foot or were riding a motorcycle.

“One of the suspects pulled out a gun and fired toward their vehicle. After the incident, the suspects fled away going to Buendia, Pasay City, while the victim was rushed to Ospital ng Maynila and later transferred to Asian Hospital, Muntinlupa City,” the SPD said in the report.

Authorities also said the investigation is still ongoing, including a review of the footage captured through a closed circuit television installed in the vicinity of the crime scene.

This is the latest case in a string of recent attempts on the lives of local officials over the past few days.

A mayor has been wounded in an assassination attempt. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195991

A police officer and two others were arrested during an anti-drug operation here Thursday evening.

Agent Jocelyn Mary, spokesperson of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), said Pat. Jassim Aking and his two colleagues were nabbed in a buy-bust operation along San Isidro Street, Barangay Rosary Heights 10.

An undercover agent managed to buy PHP340,000 worth of suspected shabu from the suspects inside a suspected drug den, Mary said.

She identified the two other arrested suspects as Sindatu Macmud and Fatima Usman.

"We recovered 11 sachets containing about PHP400,000 worth of shabu,” Mary said, adding that a subsequent search also resulted in the recovery of mobile phones that the suspects used in the drug transaction, including a multicab vehicle.

“We have been following him (Aking) for the past few months; he was placed under surveillance for so long,” Mary said of the arrested police officer.

Charges are being prepared against the suspects, who are now detained at the PDEA-ARMM detention facility in this city.

A cop has been arrested on drug charges. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/27/village-chair-gunned-down-in-front-of-wife-in-batangas/

A barangay captain was gunned down on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, in Barangay San Carlos here.

Police identified the victim as Vivencio Palo, chairman of Barangay San Carlos.

Palo was unloading merchandise for his store at about 5:20 a.m. when an unidentified man appeared and shot him in the presence of his wife.

The suspect fled onboard a car while the victim was taken to a hospital here where he died.

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing and the identity of the suspect.

A barnagay captain was assassinated in front of his wife. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/27/ex-basilan-mayors-executive-assistant-gunned-down-in-zamboanga-city/

An assistant of a known politician in Basilan was shot dead here on Saturday, Feb. 25, in what was suspected as an act of ‘rido’ or clan feud.

Paruk Taguri Majirul, an assistant of former Basilan mayor Cherry Akbar, was driving his pick-up vehicle with six passengers on board when he was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen upon reaching a flea market in the Canelar Moret area.

Taguri was said to have continued driving but his vehicle hit a store.

The suspects fled towards the direction of Barangay San Jose.

Majirul was rushed to a local hospital where he expired. His passengers were unharmed.

Police are still investigating the incident.

A former mayor's executive assistant has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/27/2248044/dotr-suspends-naia-security-staff-alleged-have-stolen-thai-tourist

The Department of Transportation – Office for Transportation Security said Monday that it has relieved and suspended personnel involved in a viral video which supposedly showed them stealing from a Thai tourist who was passing through security screening.

The OTS said its investigators are now preparing to file criminal complaints against the security personnel and will seek the cooperation of the foreign national.

"These illegal acts will not be tolerated and we will apply the full force of the law to penalize the perpetrators," it said in a statement.

It added the OTS personnel "shall not only be dismissed from the service but shall also be put behind bars for their criminal acts that tarnish the reputation and integrity not only of OTS but the entire country in general."

Thai national Piyawat Gunlayaprasit posted last Wednesday a video that has since made rounds on social media which appeared to show security personnel taking cash from the wallet of another Thai tourist, Kitja Thabthim, before it went through an x-ray machine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"I saw the Philippine officer doing it secretly and took a photo. It turns out that she put the money that she had stolen from a Thai brother to put it in the pocket of a short-haired officer," Gunlayaprasit said in a Facebook post.

He said when they complained about the missing money, the officer told them to contact the central office as there were no CCTV cameras in that area.

In another clip also posted on social media, a female security officer is seen apparently returning a total of 20,000 yen or around P8,000.

Senate public services chairperson Grace Poe told reporters that she is "enraged and ashamed" over the incident, which she said could adversely affect the country’s tourism campaign.

Poe also shared that one of her staffers also had the same experience at NAIA where they lost an Apple Watch after passing security.

"They should not just be suspended because their jobs are very sensitive. And it would not set a good precedent if they are only suspended and they get to return to work," she said in a media briefing in Filipino.

But she quipped that security personnel at NAIA might be stealing from passengers because they are not paid enough.

"There is no excuse in committing illegal acts even if you’re needy," Poe said. "But the reality is if you are sorely lacking because you are not paid right, it is much more enticing to do this nonsense."

Airport staff caught on camera stealing have been suspended. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196225

The Sandiganbayan has upheld a jail sentence of up to 14 years on the former cashier of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) - Valenzuela City District Office for malversation involving PHP3.07 million in collections more than a decade ago.

The anti-graft court's Third Division affirmed the decision of the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Branch 75 and dismissed the appeal filed by Marites Lopez.

"The court finds that the prosecution was able to establish all the elements of the crime of malversation of public funds, through the documentary and testimonial evidence on record. The appellant's conviction for the said crime must therefore be sustained," read the 19-page resolution dated Feb. 27 and published online Tuesday.

As acting cashier from December 2008 to January 2011, Lopez’s duties included receiving payments for license fees and depositing the collections to the Land Bank of the Philippines daily.

LTO audit analyst, Lorna De Leon, discovered that Lopez incurred a shortage of PHP3,077,392.03 from December 2008 to December 2010.

Lopez did not comply with demand letters to produce the missing amount.

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction and jail term of a local LTO official.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196245

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arraignment of an official of the PITC Pharma Inc. (now the Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. or PPPI) implicated in an anomalous government supply contract for medicines in 2007.

The graft court's Third Division turned down the motions of Jesus Biscocho Cantos, then the PITC vice president for logistics and supply chain of PITC, for lack of merit and set his arraignment on March 10.

"Cantos' motion is highly improper considering that this Court has already found probable cause in this case when it issued the warrant of arrest against him on Nov. 17, 2022. In fact, accused Cantos has already posted bail for his provisional liberty on Dec. 19, 2022," the tribunal said in its Feb. 27 decision made public Tuesday.

Cantos, chief operating officer Teddie Rivera, vice president for finance Jacqueline Mendoza, and managers Elvira Aspa and Krisanto Nicolas were charged for allegedly violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Prosecutors claimed Cantos gave unwarranted benefits and advantage to Biolink Pharma, Medgen Laboratories and Alphamed Pharma Corp., which provided branded medicines through direct contracting in violation of the procurement law.

The acquired medicines, the prosecutors said, were more expensive by about PHP19.69 million compared to the generic counterparts, causing undue damage to the government.

A former official for the Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. has been arraigned on graft charges for anomalous purchases. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1737368/cop-falls-in-drug-buy-bust-in-cavite

Police arrested a fellow cop in a drug buy-bust operation Wednesday in Imus City, Cavite.

The Police Region 4A, reported Thursday that anti-illegal drugs operatives collared Patrolman Albert Lorenz Reyes, 34, at 9:50 p.m. after he sold shabu worth P40,000 to an undercover cop in Barangay Malagasang 1-F.

The suspect, formerly assigned to the Cavite police drug enforcement unit before being suspended due to an unspecified offense, was found in possession of 20 grams of shabu.

The confiscated meth was worth P136,000.

The police also confiscated a .45 pistol loaded with four bullets from the suspect. The report did not specify if the firearm has valid government documents.

The suspect was detained and is facing criminal charges.

Another cop has been busted for drugs.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196383

The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former cashier of the National Food Authority (NFA) for malversation and sentenced her up to 17 years in prison in connection with the loss of PHP10.105 million stolen in 2008.

The anti-graft court's first division, in its 19-page decision dated March 1 and written by Associate Justice Efren N. Dela Cruz, sentenced Maria Theresa G. Gutierrez, a former cashier of the National Food Authority North District Office (NFA-NDO) in Valenzuela City.

In the weekend of May 30, 2008, a break-in robbery in the said office resulted in the loss of PHP10.105 million in cash representing collections from the sale of NFA rice, licensing fees, and other payables related to NFA transactions.

The cash was left inside a wooden cabinet instead of the office vault, which only contained part of the collections amounting to PHP790,772 and still had space for more cash. The robbers who were not caught did not touch the vault.

The tribunal citing the Supreme Court ruling in precedent cases said a government cashier "who is found negligent in keeping the funds in his or her custody cannot be relieved from his or her accountability for amounts lost through robbery" and held that "she was liable for the funds lost on the occasion of the robbery."

Aside from the prison term, the court also ordered the accused to pay PHP10.1 million representing the amount lost.

A former cashier for the NFA has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for not properly storing money which was eventually stolen due to her negligence. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Decoupling, Lowest Childbirths, and More!

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

Despite anticipating a baby boom because everyone was forced to stay inside for several months North Mindanao has seen a decrease in births. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195844

Live births in Northern Mindanao or Region 10 have dropped during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) bared Wednesday.

During a media forum here, PopCom-10 Assistant Director Richmond Charles Gajudo said the figures in 2020 and 2021 are the lowest in the past three decades based on the consolidated data from the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA).

The PSA data indicated that from 2020 and 2021, the average birth rate was 82,000; while between 2010 and 2019, birth rates were around 84,000 to 93,000 in the region.

"During the (height of) the pandemic, couples must have realized that it would be hard to have a newborn child," Gajudo said.

He also said that during the peak of the pandemic, hospitals and other healthcare facilities were full of Covid-19 patients, which posed a challenge for those giving birth.

Gajudo also credited the decreased childbirths to PopCom's fourth quarter activities to intensified outreach programs in the communities nationwide, where there was a high acceptance rate of implant contraceptives.

This is very counterintuitive seeing as even the population commission was expecting a baby boom. 

The DOH admits the Philippines remains at low-risk for COVID-19.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/22/doh-ph-still-in-low-risk-status-for-covid-19/

The Philippines remains under low-risk classification for Covid-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

In a brief statement, the DOH reported that only 832 cases of Covid-19 were recorded from Feb. 16 to 22.

“In terms of our case metrics, we remain at low risk case classification with an average daily attack rate of 0.12 cases per 100,000 population,” the DOH said.

However, the DOH noted a slight increase in the positivity rate. To note, positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who were tested for Covid-19.

“National positivity rate saw an increase of 1.8 percent from 1.6 percent from the previous week, while for NCR (National Capital Region), positivity rates declined to 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent,” it said.

The healthcare utilization rate is also at low-risk classification, the DOH said.

In the Eastern Visayas there are only 5 active cases at the moment!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1736457/active-covid-19-cases-in-eastern-visayas-down-to-5-doh

Eastern Visayas has only five remaining cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, Feb. 27, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Two of the active cases are in Tacloban City and one each in Barugo, Leyte; Marabut, Samar, and Biliran.

Since the pandemic broke out, the DOH has recorded 64,720 COVID-19 cases in the region.

Jelyn Lopez Malibago, DOH regional information officer, said there are no severe or critical cases due to the virus.

And yet they still treat the virus as if it is something deadly we all need to avoid as if it is ravaging the nation. 

Ash Wednesday celebrations are now back to normal. 

https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/manila-churches-resume-marking-foreheads-with-ashes/

FOR the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country, churches within the Archdiocese of Manila will go back to placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as Catholics observe Ash Wednesday today.

Circular No. 2023-17 issued by the Archdiocese of Manila stated ashes will no longer be sprinkled on the crown as practiced during the Ash Wednesday observances in the past years during the height of the pandemic.

“We will revert to the imposition of ashes on the forehead of the faithful,” said Manila Vice Chancellor Fr. Carmelo Arada.

For the first time since the pandemic? But last year they were putting ashes on the forehead too.

The Philippines is now a member of the world's largest trade pact. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual says this will speed up recovery from the pandemic. 

https://business.inquirer.net/388157/rcep-to-speed-up-ph-recovery-from-covid-19-pandemic-dti

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will hasten the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Friday.

RCEP is the largest trade pact across the globe as its members include Association of Southeast Asian Nation states, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

“Surely mapapabilis (it will hasten the recovery) because the way to recover is to stimulate investment in our country, so new businesses can be established and new businesses will create jobs that were lost during the pandemic,” Pascual said in a press conference.

“Also, [it will] strengthen…create a possibility of strengthening our MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) to act as suppliers to bigger businesses that we established,” he added.

Following the Senate approval of the country’s entry into the RCEP, Pascual said necessary paperwork will have to be done within 30 days. Then, the certificate of ratification will be lodged. After 60 days, the Philippines’ membership in the RCEP will be in effect.

“From then, it’s already open… good news for investors, for our companies … they can take advantage of the provisions of RCEP,” Pascual said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the RCEP is seen to generate 1.4 million jobs by 2031.

Despite this, at least 100 organizations protested the RCEP’s ratification, claiming it will put the welfare of farmers and fishers, among others, at stake.

The greater effects of this trade pact will not be felt for years which makes Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual's comments about speeding up recovery from the pandemic speculation. 

The Philippines is recovering just fine without this trade pact. 

https://business.inquirer.net/388424/pandemic-spawns-small-businesses-that-are-here-to-stay

“I did not plan to put up a business during the pandemic because from my point of view, it was really very risky,” recalls Donatella Chua, a foodie whose brand and moniker as the “The Croissant Lady” came full circle during the pandemic.

She plans to open up her brand for franchising in the future.

This story of “The Croissant Lady” is among the multitude of people whose businesses were able to take form and take off during one of the most tumultuous times in history.

According to a research done by the Philippine unit of Canada-based insurance giant Manulife Financial Corp., about four in 10 Filipinos established new businesses at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

The study, titled “Filipino entrepreneurship and the bayanihan spirit: The resurgence of micro and small businesses in the Philippines,” surveyed 500 people nationwide aged 18 to 55 in May of 2022. It offers insights into the inspiring world of how micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have flourished during the pandemic.

According to Manulife Philippines, 41 percent of respondents started businesses during the pandemic, with up to 50 percent of them saying they are very likely to continue their operations in the new normal.

For 43 percent of those people, the main reason for starting a business is to earn income; 34 percent, to maintain financial stability, and 8 percent, to provide convenience and accessibility to people.

The same study also looked at the kind of businesses started during the pandemic. Some 41 percent, or the biggest bulk, went into food processing, while 30 percent started retail businesses and 24 percent went into the delivery of essential goods and services.

The Manulife research also found that Filipino consumers have patronized these businesses, with 65 percent of respondents saying they have availed of products and services from these MSMEs. Bayanihan or community spirit is cited as a strong motivator.

Of this number, 51 percent say that they are very likely to continue their patronage.

In hard times people find creative ways to survive.  

COVID rates have increased slightly in Mindanao. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1735612/covid-19-positivity-rates-shoot-up-in-south-cotabato-misamis-oriental-monitor

COVID-19 positivity rates soared in South Cotabato and Misamis Oriental from February 18-25, according to Octa Research Group, while it had a “negligible decrease” in Metro Manila during the same period.

Guido David, a fellow of the independent pandemic monitor, said in a tweet on Monday that the coronavirus positivity rate in South Cotabato and Misamis Oriental significantly increased from 2.8 to 13 percent and 4.3 to 6.5 percent, respectively, and that Metro Manila’s went down from  1.7 to 1.6 percent.

He further noted that COVID-19 positivity rates likewise rose in the following provinces :

• Batangas – 0.7 to 1.5 percent
• Bulacan – 0.7 to 1.3 percent
• Cavite – 1.4 to 2.1 percent
• Davao del Sur – 3.9 to 4.2 percent
• Iloilo – 1 to 1.1 percent
• Pampanga – 0.7 to 1.5 percent
• Pangasinan – 0.9 to 1.1 percent

He also said the coronavirus positivity rates dropped in Cebu and Negros Occidental from 1.4 to 0.8 percent and 1.8 to 0.8 percent, respectively.

As for Laguna province, Guido said the COVID-19 positivity rate still stood at 1.1 percent.

But they also dropped in Cebu and Negros Occidental. 

Another festival is back on this time proving Baguio is resilient. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196065

After a three-year hiatus, the revival of the Panagbenga Festival this year is proving this city's resilience from any calamity, the same reason why it was conceptualized nearly 30 years ago.

"After the killer earthquake in 1990, we thought of a festival that the people of Baguio can participate in and they can own which also aims to bring in tourists for the economy to move again," said Mauricio Domogan, Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. lifetime chairperson, on the sidelines of the street dancing parade on Saturday.

The first festival in 1996 was a one-day event. It was later extended to one week, further expanded to two weeks, then a month.

Domogan said the staging of the festival this year is as important as the first, considering their similar objectives -- to make the city rise again and uplift the lives of those affected by the crisis, this time the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domogan, who was mayor at the time the flower festival was born, said “the discussion was what to do to make the city recover, for the city to be visited by the tourists again, an activity that will bring the residents to contribute their time and talent for something that will benefit the whole city".

He admitted, however, that the number of visitors who joined the street dancing on Saturday did not breach the pre-pandemic level.

“Our having the festival this year shows our resiliency in any calamity. That despite the challenges, we stand up to show that we will be okay,” Domogan said.

The festival partially resumed last year sans crowd-drawing activities like the flower-themed floats due to health protocols, luring 45,000 visitors on its final weekend.

Baguio is so resilient they are leading the Philippines in tourism recovery. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196101

With over 50,000 visitors who flocked Baguio City to witness the return of the Panagbenga Festival, the Department of Tourism (DOT) teems with the hope that the City of Pines will lead the country towards post-pandemic recovery.

In a speech at the Burnham Park Grandstand after the grand float parade on Sunday, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said that after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, indeed, Baguio is back.

“Panagbenga must continue to remain as a celebration of the season of blooming, a celebration of our rebirth from the pandemic period,” Frasco said.

“This festival inspires us that despite the dark times await a beautiful and colorful reckoning,” she added.

Frasco said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. himself envisions the tourism transformation of the Philippines.

Therefore, she said people can expect a whole-of-government approach in the development of tourism, not only in Baguio but in the rest of the regions well.

“Baguio City has become a model city in the nation's pandemic response and especially post-pandemic, showing how innovation, as well as close community development and cooperation, can truly make for a sustainable smart city. Congratulations,” Frasco said.

Festivals are returning all over the Philippines so how does this make Baguio any different?

The DOH is discussing removing COVID restrictions from alert levels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196284

Member agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) have already convened and discussed the possible “decoupling” or separation of Covid-19 restrictions from the existing alert level system.

In a media forum on Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency was represented by Assistant Secretary Beverly Ho at the meeting where survey questions for local government units were raised.

Vergeire disclosed two of the questions included the reporting frequency of the alert level system and the implementation of the minimum public health standards.

“Frequency of reporting of alert level system, it’s every 15 days currently, they were asked if they agree with once a month [reporting],” she said.

“If they agree that the minimum public health standards and restrictions should be within the authority of the local governments and no longer that of the national government,” she added.

Last year, the DOH said it would recommend the decoupling of restrictions from the alert levels to make them work like storm signals used by the weather bureau.

“There’s already a recommendation within the IATF but we cannot say yet because we need it sent again for ad referendum if all members would agree) and we would be informing all of you after that,” Vergeire said.

She emphasized that the IATF is already in the direction where it would like to "use the alert level system not as a prescribing tool for restrictions but a risk communication tool for local governments and the public to know what must be done in every risk level”.

Why is there still talk of restrictions of any kind whatsoever? The pandemic is over. Just do away with the alert system and restrictions altogether.