Insurgency: Crush Remaining NPA

The AFP has released their numbers for the first quarter of 2023. These numbers include the neutralization of NPA, Abu Sayyaf, BIFF, and Daulah Islamiyah members. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199075

A total of 137 communist and local terrorist group members have been neutralized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during focused military operations conducted in various parts of the country from Jan. 1 to March 31 this year.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor, in a statement Sunday night, said 82 of the 137 terrorists neutralized are from the New People's Army (NPA).

"Against the communist terrorist groups (CTGs), the AFP neutralized 82 regular members. Of these, 17 were killed in combat operations, 20 were apprehended or captured, and 45 surrendered to government forces," he added.

Baclor said the AFP also captured 210 firearms during encounters with NPA forces and recovered another 109 through surrenders.

Around 87 anti-personnel mines (APMs) were also seized while 51 NPA "encampments" were discovered.

"Of the 22 remaining guerrilla fronts of the CTG, only three remain active, while 19 are considered weakened and nearing dismantling," Baclor said.

Meanwhile, the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group lost 30 of its members as 28 surrendered and two were captured.

Military troops also captured six firearms during encounters and gained 29 through surrenders, Baclor said.

"Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) continue to suffer losses as three members were killed in combat operations while 18 surrendered to government troops. The BIFF also lost 64 firearms and nine APMs," he added.

Also, three members of the terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah were killed due to focused military operations, while one surrendered.

The AFP also recovered one firearm while three APMs were seized.

"These significant tactical victories against the CTG and other local terrorist groups were made possible due to the dedication and commitment of AFP troops with the support of the LGUs (local government units) and other law-enforcement agencies," Baclor said.

In Tacloban City 54 NPA mass supporters surrendered. One of them is a 14 year old boy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199250

At least 55 staunch allies of the New People’s Army (NPA), including a teener and village officials, have surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas between April 3 to 11, an official said Wednesday.

In a press statement, 49 yielded to authorities during the Holy Week and six of them showed up to policemen on April 11. These NPA supporters belong to the NPA’s underground mass organizations (UGMO).

Most of the UGMO members are residents of the upland villages of Bagacay, Bangon and Osmeña in Palapag town in Northern Samar. Some are residents of Laurel Village in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar and Cal-igan Village in Catarman, Northern Samar.

Among the surrenderers are village officials and health workers. The youngest is 14-year-old and the eldest is 70-year-old.

They yielded to authorities after joint negotiations between the community, police and military forces in Samar provinces.

“Their surrender is a result of the joint negotiations between the community and the police and military forces in the Samar provinces. To put an end to this false propaganda once and for all, we will continue to urge other NPA members to turn themselves into the authorities and lay down their arms,” PNP Eastern Visayas regional director Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said.

The PNP is currently verifying court records if those who surrendered have standing warrants.

The NPA has established UGMOs to further assist the armed atrocities and other activities of the rebel group.

How exactly a 14 year old was supporting the NPA we are not told. Is he part of the CPP-NPA's shadow government?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199365

Ten members of the Sangay Partido Local (SLP) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) from the municipality of Hamtic have surrendered to the  Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO). 

APPO Information Officer Major Adolfo Pagharion said the group consisting of five councilors, two village watchmen, and three farmers from Barangay Cantulan signed their individual manifesto withdrawing their support to the CPP-NPA on April 12, three days after they surrendered to the local police.

The manifesto signing was witnessed by APPO director Col. Alexander Mariano.

“The surrenderees belong to the ‘shadow government’ of the CPP-NPA and are tasked to inform whenever there is a military operation, gather the residents during their meetings, provide food and collect the revolutionary tax,” Pagharion said. 

Pagharion said Barangay Cantulan was infiltrated by the CPP-NPA in 2018.

“The Antique provincial government, during their surrender and withdrawal of support, initially provided them with a sack of rice and hygiene kits,” Pagharion said. 

The surrenderers are also expected to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The Visayas Command chief has renewd his call for the NPA to lay down thier arms. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199093

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Visayas Command (Viscom) chief, has reiterated his call on the remaining New People’s Army rebels to put down their arms while the government offers to provide them with opportunities to live as normal members of society.

“The door of genuine peace remains open for you. Grab the opportunity and take it while you still have the chance. Follow the lead of your former comrades, lay down your arms, return to the folds of the law, and live a peaceful life with your families,” Arevalo said in a statement issued on Monday.

Arevalo said the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing, NPA, is crumbling as they continue to lose its foothold in the Visayas.

The Viscom chief said the remaining communist fighters have only two options, either to stay on the course of their false armed struggle and fall to the long arms of justice, or return to the folds of the law and enjoy a peaceful and progressive life with their loved ones.

While the NPA is still active in the Visayas both the Army and the PNP have downplayed their ability to launch attacks. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199322

The Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas have belied reports circulating online about the planned attacks of the New People's Army.

The PA was referring to a statement circulating on social media these past days, informing the public that the police and the military in Samar Island are on full alert status for possible attacks.

The 8th Infantry Division of the PA immediately branded the statement as “black propaganda orchestrated by enemies of the state to attract support from sympathizers and instill fear in the populace.”

The message, which was shared multiple times, warns the public to avoid entering malls, churches, public markets, and other places of convergence.

“The Army enjoins the general public to refrain from sharing and posting such disinformation that would tend to exacerbate the situation as it causes panic and fear from among the people of Samar and other nearby areas,” the 8th Infantry Division said.

In a separate statement, the PNP regional office here asked the public not to entertain such disinformation and refrain from sharing it with others.

“With this, the whole force of Police Regional Office 8 assures the public that all police personnel are doing their best efforts in maintaining the peace and order in the whole of Eastern Visayas,” the PNP said.

Earlier, the regional task force to end local communist armed conflict said the NPA cannot launch attacks in town centers with their weakening forces in the region.

Of the four NPA guerrilla fronts that operated in Samar Island last year, one was dismantled early in 2023 and the other one has been weakened.

The AFP says another front in Samar has been dismantled and another has been weakened. The end is near for the NPA in Samar according to the AFP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199419

There are now only two active New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla fronts in Samar Island that the government forces will deal with following the dismantling of one front and weakening of another during the first quarter of 2023, the Philippine Army bared on Friday.

Army's 8th Infantry Division commander, Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, said the rebel’s Front Committee 2 that operated in the boundary of Samar and Northern Samar provinces was demolished with the capture and surrender of some of their combatants and recovery of several firearms.

The Front Committee 3 which operates near the boundaries of Northern and Eastern Samar provinces has also weakened following the series of operations conducted by government forces, said Ligayo.

The Army official said he was optimistic that the remaining two NPA guerilla fronts in Northern Samar will soon be demolished during the third quarter of the year.

“With the strength of 12 army battalions, including police forces, I am confident that we have optimized the employment of our capabilities to ensure that we win the fight against communist terrorists,” Ligayo said in a statement.

Col. Efren Morados, commander of the Army’s 803rd Infantry Brigade said although Front committees 1 and 15 are still active, they are not in control of any village in Northern Samar.

“They are still present in Northern Samar since the focus in the past was the Leyte and other Samar provinces. Since 2020, we have cleared all villages, cut their support from communities, and now we are on the stage of running after their armed fighters,” Morados said.

In 2020, there were 232 NPA-influenced villages out of 569 villages in Northern Samar province. 

The two remaining fronts are in the upland villages of Catubig, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Palapag, Mapanas, and Gamay.

“They are in the hinterland villages. Since there is no support from communities, they survive by harvesting coconut, upland rice, and other crops in the mountains,” Morados said.

Some upland communities in Northern Samar are considered the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to their thick forest and poor road networks.

The AFP has also vowed to crush the NPA in Surigao and Agusan before the year's end.  

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2023/04/12/army-officer-vows-to-crush-remaining-npa-units-in-h1/

THE 10TH Infantry Division vows to crush the remaining three guerilla fronts under its area of responsibility before the end of June this year. 

Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra said the target is attainable since the three guerrilla fronts are already severely weakened.

“We have just given additional area in order to help the 4ID concentrate on their enemy in the area of Surigao and Agusan,” he said.

The GF 14 operates in Agusan and Surigao, while the GF 57 holes out at the boundary of North Cotabato and Bukidnon. In response, the Army assigned the 4th ID to Bukidnon to further cripple the capability of the communist terrorists.

“The 4ID can concentrate on the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) in Northern Bukidnon in the Pantaron Range and Surigao area,” he said.

Moreover, they are currently monitoring three “suspicious” non-government organizations reportedly doing community immersion activities in the indigenous communities in the region.

He said these NGOs have entered the areas of Pantukan in Davao de Oro, Gov. Generoso and Lupon in Davao Oriental, and Talaingod in Davao del Norte. 

Meanwhile, the 1002nd Another sub-regional command (SRC) group is being confronted by the 1002nd Infantry Brigade in Malungon, Sarangani. 

“We have now a new campaign plan pledge, “Pagkakaisa,” considering the insurgency-free status of the region. We opted to choose additional areas of responsibility instead of pulling out units going to other areas,” the commander said.

It remains to be seen how these predictions will play out.  Going historically, they won't come to fruition. 

Filipino Man Wins Best Supporting Actress Award at MMFF

We truly live in special times. All over the world, especially in the West, men are transforming into women and taking over women's spaces in fashion, sports, and film. Now in the Philippines a man has invaded a woman's space by winning the best supporting actress award at the inaugural summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival. 

https://entertainment.inquirer.net/494579/kaladkaren-makes-history-as-first-transwoman-to-win-mmff-best-supporting-actress-award

Celebrity impersonator KaladKaren was named best supporting actress at the first-ever Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), making her the first transgender woman to be nominated and to win the acting honor.

KaladKaren, born Jervi Li, was not able to hold her tears back as she accepted the award for her performance in “Here Comes the Groom,” as seen in a clip from the Gabi ng Parangal which she shared on her Instagram page.

“Itong parangal na ito ay hindi lamang recognition ng aking trabaho kundi pati na rin po ng aking pagkatao,” she said during her speech. (This award is not just a recognition of my work but also of my identity.)

“When I entered show business, I never thought na makakakuha po ako ng award kasi (that I would receive an award because) as transgender woman, I thought I will never be enough,” she continued.

KaladKaren dedicated her win to her fellow transgender people, drag artists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community “whose lives and existence are being threatened in the world right now,” reminding them that they are “more than enough.”

She then thanked the Summer MMFF board of jurors, headed by actress Dolly de Leon as chairman, for the recognition which she said is a testament to the “diversity, inclusion and equity in Philippine cinema.” She also credited her co-stars and the production team in the film, as well as its director Chris Martinez for being a huge part of her win.

“Thank you rin po sa mga role models ko sa (to my role models in the) industry—ma’am Karen Davila, if not because of your support I don’t think KaladKaren would fly,” she stated. “And to meme Vice Ganda, thank you for opening so many doors for us so we can enter. You’re one of the reasons why I’m here tonight.”

(To the LGBTQIA+ kids, do not be afraid to be yourselves and to dream because one day, who knows, you would also be the one standing here. And I hope we also remember the message of our film: What’s important is not your appearance or your gender, but your heart and soul.)

He is not the first Filipino man to win a best actress award. That dishonor goes to Iyah Mina who won best actress in 2018. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2018/10/21/cinema-one-originals-festival-awards-night-iyah-mina-best-actress.html

So, what is this film about? 

“Here Comes The Groom” is a body-swapping story that features a gay beauty pageant, conservative Christians seeing the error of their ways, and multiple trans characters played by actual trans actors. In it, KaledKaren’s character is being taken care of by Mina’s character—now echoing real life. It makes the win even more significant as a queer win.

https://preen.ph/132864/kaladkaren-dedicates-acting-win-threatened-queer-lives

Ah yes. It's a preachy film about how Christianity is actually wrong. Or it's a preachy movie that to be a real Christian means one has to accept sodomy as normal, natural, and healthy despite it being none of those things. How about a movie where a "transperson" learns the error of his ways after having his weiner lopped off and inverted to form a fake vagina? And don't get me started on the horrors of "transmen" and how they hack off their breasts and use skin from the forearm to construct a monstrous "penis. 

And to think this kind of garbage is happening in the only Christian nation in Asia. I'm not sure the Philippines has ever truly been a Christian nation despite adopting the trappings of Roman Catholicism. But that is an article for another day. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About The Philippines: #4 Filipinos Circumnavigated Africa

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns the claim that ancient Filipinos and Greeks were engaged in trade by circumnavigating Africa. This lie is so outrageous that I should not have to even point out its falsehood yet Timothy Jay Schwab insists that it is true so here we are. 

The lie that ancient Filipinos and Greeks circumnavigated Africa is alluded to but not explicitly detailed on page 136 of Tim's book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure. 

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 136

Even after Solomon, King Jehoshaphat attempted to rebuild and re-establish this trade with Ophir yet the ships were destroyed by Yahuah (1Ki. 22:48). Understand that is very close to the era in which the Northern Kingdom was about to be taken captive into the very land Jonah was preaching repentance and salvation. Therefore, Ophir had to bring goods to Israel instead which we see in Jonah’s story. The ships of Tarshish were certainly trading in Israel again travelling the long way around Africa to the port at Joppa (Jn. 1:1-3) as did the Three Kings after Messiah’s birth in about 6 B.C. or so.

This lie relies on the falsehood that the Philippines is Tarshish. According to Tim because the port on the Red Sea at Ezion-geber was destroyed now the only route to the Philippines was necessarily around Africa. So when Jonah took ship for Tarshish he was really going to the Philippines by circumnavigating Africa. At no point in The Search for King Solomon's Treasure does Timothy attempt to prove that Filipinos and Greeks were circumnavigating Africa. It would not be until two years later in a series of six videos that he attempts to prove this ridiculous claim. 

Out of all these videos only the first two, really only the second, gives any "proof" that Filipinos and Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to engage in trade. Videos 3, 4, and 5 deal with maps and video 6 deals with mythology. According to Tim Jason and the Argonauts as well as Ulysses sailed to the Philippines!

1:01:30 "At the edge of Oceanus Where God like Jason went." So, Jason and the Argonauts is a story that goes geographically at some point as far as the Philippines which means they circumnavigated Africa because they left from Greece and they didn't fly helicopters. Yes, the Greeks knew where it was and they traveled circumnavigating Africa to get there from very ancient times. And what it was indeed. I mean they knew. The Greeks knew where it was and what it was. Jason went to the land of gold in the Philippines where the sun rises and Oceanus ends. Boom! This is clear.

It all fits. It all ties and they had to circumnavigate Africa all these many times, okay? These characters, especially in the Odyssey and The Iliad, they're going there for physically in their ships even Jason and the Argonauts went to the Philippines. That's what it says.

Greek Oceanus World River and Rivers From Eden lead to the Philippines? Solomon's Gold Series 16F

It should not be surprising that not even in videos 1 and 2 does Tim give any concrete proof that Filipinos and Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to engage in trade. He offers zero archeological evidence to back up his claims. In fact in the first video Tim says he does not even need to prove this claim because the Bible says it.

2:52 This first video well set foundations specifically regarding biblical accounts where the Bible says ancients circumnavigated, they sailed around Africa as fact. The Bible is fact you know. If you don't believe that, well, don't call yourself a Bible scholar, uh, you know or a believer of the Bible. And yes it most definitely does no doubt say that. Uh, that will be our foundation.

17:58 Does the Bible come out and say it? You know the Bible doesn't come out and say a lot of things but when you see the beginning of the narrative and the end of the narrative it's obvious what happened.

Did The Ancients Sail Around Africa? Bible Evidence. Solomon's Gold Series 16A

According to Tim the Bible IMPLIES that the circumnavigation of Africa happened because that was the only way to get to Tarshish. But that assumes that the Philippines is Tarshish. It is not but that is a lie for another time. 

32:11 So, here we have history, yes history, that in 800 BC the ships of Tarshish, the Greek ships yes from the Greek colony over in the Philippines, were able to show up in Joppa Israel on the Mediterranean. How about that? There was no Suez Canal yet and the Red Sea port was out of commission. They circumnavigated Africa it was the only option and it's documented right here in 800 BC.

Did The Ancients Sail Around Africa? Bible Evidence. Solomon's Gold Series 16A

Greek colonies in the Philippines?? Tim never mentions them again and never attempts to prove their existence. 

In video 2 we have the strongest historical proofs Tim can offer but they ultimately fail. At no point in this video does Tim offer any concrete tangible proof that Filipinos circumnavigated Africa. He cites Herodotus' story of Phoenicians circumnavigating Africa and says such a trip was possible. But that does not prove that Filipinos were circumnavigating Africa to trade with Greece and Israel for almost 1,000 years as he claims!

52:44 So Mela's talking about a route that the Greeks navigated. Yes, circumnavigating Africa for certain. That's what this is showing. This map documents that the Greeks circumnavigated Africa. Period. Even if you don't agree that those islands are the Philippines, which you really can't disagree with it, but even if you do you still have to conclude that the Greeks circumnavigated Africa. Done. I mean there wasn't even a canal built until 200 BC. Hello!? They were running this route from 800 to 150 BC. So duh. Now imagine that uh the 43 A.D mapping covers that whole era in fact. Now, that's evidence and it's indisputable evidence and again it proves that they circumnavigated Africa indeed successfully they brought back gold from Chryse. 

The 1st Century Mapping Mindset. Greece to Ophir, Philippines? Solomon's Gold Series 16C

What an incredible lie. Neither Mela's map nor any other ancient map shows Southern Africa or the Philippines which means the Greeks did not circumnavigate Africa. 

Surely the whole world would know about this route if it was being plied for so long. I mean who can keep a secret like that for hundreds of years? The fact that Herodotus expresses disbelief that the Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa and totally ignores that Greeks and Filipinos were circumnavigating Africa to trade ought to be enough to alert any student of history that this did not take place. But according to Timothy Jay Schwab the route was super top secret which is why no one knew about it.

29:45 The Greeks knew, uh, they knew how to sail to Chryse Ophir. They knew exactly where it was but why would the Greeks share their location for their land of gold so publicly while they're still going there? Hmm?? Think about that. The answer is easy. They wouldn't broadcast that. Oh, hello world here's where we go to get our gold. Oh, wait a minute you're all going there too? Oh I, I didn't mean for you to go I was just letting you know because I didn't think anybody would follow the route. Duh!

The 1st Century Mapping Mindset. Greece to Ophir, Philippines? Solomon's Gold Series 16C

Again, this is not proof. The reason no one knew about this route is not because it was top secret but because it was not being plied at all as all ancient maps show us NOTHING of Southern Africa or even the Philippines. Filipinos and Greeks were not circumnavigating Africa for 1,000 years to engage in trade. That is a ridiculous lie.

Retards in the Government 305

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

  

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1753574/4-muntinlupa-cops-in-hot-water-for-alleged-robbery-extortion

Four police personnel of Muntinlupa City Police Station are under investigation after allegedly robbing and extorting money from a couple in Barangay Putatan.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Southern Police District (SPD) identified suspects PSMS. Leoren Elomina Javier, 42; PCpl. Cris Callie Sulit Cruz, 34; PCpl. Jenniel Sumawang Calica, 33; and Pat. Jon Louie Esparagoza Peña, 29.

Based on SPD’s report, the suspects entered the victim’s home in Soldiers Hills Village, Barangay Putatan, past midnight on April 4, looking for her husband. The police officers then threatened to arrest the victim for violating the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 if her partner failed to appear before them.

While waiting for her husband, one of the suspects forced the victim to open her GCash account, after which they transferred P50,000 to one of their accounts. The SPD said they also took cash amounting to P380,000 inside a travel bag and P9,000 from the victim’s backpack.

It added that when the victim’s partner arrived, the suspects confronted him and asked the couple to withdraw more cash from their ATM account but failed to do so since machines were offline at that time. The police officers threatened to arrest the couple again and asked them to send another P50,000 to their GCash account.

Moreover, the suspects took another P8,000 inside the victim’s motorcycle compartment before leaving.

According to SPD, the police suspects are currently restricted from leaving the Makati City Police Station during the pendency of a robbery-extortion complaint against them.

Four cops have be accused of robbery and extortion.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1753864/village-official-nabbed-in-quezon-on-drug-charges

Police arrested a barangay kagawad (village councilor) in an anti-illegal operation on Good Friday in Mulanay town in Quezon province.

The Quezon police said in a report that anti-illegal drugs operatives, armed with a search warrant issued on April 4 by Judge Maria Chona Pulgar-Navarro of the Regional Trial Court in Gumaca town, swooped down around 3:30 p.m. on the house of Marvin Rejano, 43, a councilor in Barangay Butanyog.

Police arrested Rejano after they found a sachet of shabu (crystal meth) with a street value of P16,320 during the raid.

The police tagged the suspect as a “high-value” target in the government’s war against illegal drugs.

Rejano is under police custody and will face a complaint for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A village councilor has been busted on drug charges.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1754000/outrage-cry-for-justice-ring-as-davao-de-oro-college-exec-gunned-down-in-tagum-city

An official of a local government-run college in Davao de Oro province was shot dead by a lone gunman in this city on Black Saturday.

Colleagues and students of Mark Aldhrin Daquio were shocked and saddened following his murder in Barangay Magugpo South past 9 a.m.

Daquio was the guidance counselor of Kolehiyo Ng Pantukan (KNP), a tertiary institution run by the municipality of Pantukan in Davao de Oro province.

Lt. Col. Edgardo Bernardo, acting Tagum City police chief, told Inquirer by phone the incident happened as the victim was meeting with a lesbian woman who was selling a motorcycle unit to him outside an eatery along Mabini Street at around 9:30 a.m.

The police official said the victim was browsing the papers of the motor vehicle he was planning to buy when a man walked up to him, pulled a handgun and shot him twice on the head before speeding off on a motorcycle.

Daquio died at the scene.

An executive working for a government run college was gunned down by an unknown assassin. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1754074/pangasinan-towns-entire-fire-dept-axed

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Ilocos Region (Region 1) has relieved the station head and entire force of Pozorrubio town, Pangasinan’s fire department four days after a midnight fire gutted three houses and killed a family of five.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Amante Clemente Battalao took over the station from SFO4 Randy Fabro, the fire marshal, who was relieved of his duty on April 4.

Battalao, in a phone interview on Saturday, said he received the order for him to assume the position three days ago from the BFP regional headquarters.

He also said Fabro returned to the BFP regional headquarters while the investigation was ongoing.

He added that seven other firemen from different towns were relieved along with Fabro.

Guico cited reports that the firemen were having a drinking spree when the fire broke out.

He also said that the BFP responded late although the houses were located just a kilometer away from the fire station.

“Firetrucks from two neighbor towns were there first before them. Then the [Pozorrubio fire] truck allegedly had no water, and the firemen were not even wearing boots but slippers,” he said.

Guico said he has called up Pozorrubio town Mayor Kelvin Chan who informed him that the local government would also conduct its own investigation.

“The relatives of the fire victims are crying for justice,” he said.

A whole fire brigade has been relieved because of gross negligence. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/497829/2-village-execs-slain-in-separate-gun-attacks-in-maguindanao

A village councilman and his wife were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen on Sunday morning in this town, a day after a village chairperson of Sultan Kudarat province was slain in an ambush in Maguindanao del Sur.

Abdulmalik Uban, 50, village councilor of Barangay Polloc in this town, died instantly while his wife Salma Uban, 48, expired at the hospital after they were shot by two gunmen along Rizal Avenue, Parang public market in Barangay Poblacion 2, according to Major Christopher Cabugwang, Parang municipal police chief.

He said his office had organized a Special Investigation Task Force to conduct a thorough investigation and identify the suspects.

“We assure the victims’ families that justice will be done,” Cabugwang said in a statement.

He said Uban and his wife just arrived at the public market on board a red Toyota Vios when two men approached them and opened fire.  A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the shooting already spread on social media.

Uban won the elections as the village councilor with the second highest number of votes. He moved to the spot of the number one councilor after the latter took over as village chair, following the killing of Abubakar Abdul, the elected village chair, in January this year, also in Parang.

In Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, unidentified gunmen ambushed a village chairperson of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on Saturday, April 8, after he arrived in town to visit an ailing relative.

Danny Angkay, chairperson of Barangay Salaman, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat and companions were together in a minivan bound for Lebak when attacked by motorcycle riding gunmen along the Cotabato-Isulan national highway.

Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of police regional office in the Bangsamoro, said he had ordered the investigation of the twin incidents that happened during the holy week celebrations.

Two local officials in Mindanao have been assassinated in separate incidents.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/11/2257901/sixth-village-chief-slain-barangay-sk-elections-near

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are still six months away, yet several village leaders have already been killed in separate attacks around the country, mostly in Mindanao.

The latest fatality was Tonesa Sarudin, chief of Barangay Mindupok in Maitum town, Sarangani. She died from a gunshot to the head, police said.

Sarudin was the fourth barangay captain to be killed in Mindanao and the sixth in the country since January.

She died instantly after a lone assailant shot her within the premises of the barangay hall, according to Brig. Gen. Jamili Macaraeg, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) police director.

The assailant fled in a waiting motorcycle.

Another Barangay chief has been assassinated.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/10/abalos-asks-pnp-general-9-others-to-go-on-leave-over-massive-cover-up-in-p6-7-b-shabu-haul-in-manila

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos ordered at least 10 police officials, including an officer with a rank of one-star general to go on leave while the investigation on what he describes as a massive attempt to cover up the arrest of a cop who was tagged in the 990 kilos of shabu seized in Manila last year.

The police officials whom Abalos has asked to go on leave were seen in a video footage that was captured apparently before the supposed arrest of Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, Jr.

The highest ranking officer, Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, has already retired from the service in last month.

“All those in the video should take a leavce of absence pending the investigation of the task force which I created to look into this. If not, we will be constraint to issue appropriate orders for their preventive  suspension pending investigation,” said Abalos. 

Ten cops have been placed on leave pending an investigation into thier role of covering up the rest of a cop involved in drugs. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1755318/off-duty-cop-slain-in-cotabato-ambush

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed on Tuesday an off-duty police officer while he was driving along the national highway in Kabacan, Cotabato.

Colonel Harold Ramos, Cotabato provincial police director, identified the officer as Staff Sargeant Abejay Dandan, a member of the police’s provincial drug enforcement unit, who resides in Carmen, Cotabato.

Dandan, 35, was driving his black Toyota Innova when ambushed at 8:05 p.m. on April 11 in Barangay Katidtuan.

The suspects, who were on board an SUV and who used assault rifles in killing Dandan, immediately sped away after the attack.

Dandan’s son and a house help who were with him, were left unharmed.

Ramos said there was a similar attempt years back on the life of Dandan but he survived.

A cop who survived an assassination attempt years ago has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/04/12/2258372/cop-jailed-beating-poking-pistol-girlfriend

A police corporal landed in jail for badly mauling a girlfriend and aiming a pistol at her nape as she grimaced in pain that netizens caught on video that went viral on Facebook.

Cpl. Louie Jay Lumancas of the Magpet Municipal Police Station attacked her girlfriend, Shaira Basmayor Kahar, in Canapia Subdivision in Kidapawan City late Monday.

He was immediately arrested by responding personnel of the Kidapawan City Police Office who, along with other emergency responders, rushed the badly beaten woman to a hospital.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office 12, told reporters Wednesday he had ordered the filing of separate criminal and administrative cases against Lumancas.

Various cause-oriented blocs of women in central Mindanao had urged the police to immediately prosecute the suspect for violation of Republic Act 9262, also known as the state’s Violence Against Women and Children’s Act.

People privy to the incident told reporters the drunken Lumancas first confronted Kahar over her alleged dealings with a suitor before he started punching her in the face and different parts of her body.

Lumancas also repeatedly hit Kahar's face with his right knee before he grabbed her hair and aimed a pistol on her forehead.

A cop has been arrested for beating his girlfriend.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/12/ex-qc-mayor-bautista-then-city-administrator-cuna-charged-in-2-graft-cases-before-sandiganbayan

Former Quezon City mayor Herbert “Bistek” M. Bautista and then city administrator Aldrin C. Cuña have been charged with two counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan for alleged irregular implementation of projects amounting to P57.4 million when they were city officials.

The two cases were filed by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).

The first case, which was assigned to the anti-graft court’s third division, involved the P25.34 million paid to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia, Inc.

The criminal charge sheet stated that Bautista and Cuña made the full payment to Cygnet for the Supply and Installation of Solar Power System and Waterproofing Works for Civic Center Building.

Cygnet, however, was allegedly not entitled to the payment for its reported failure to secure the Net Metering System from the Manila Electric Company which was a requirement of the Supply and Delivery Agreement.

The second case went to the seventh division.  It involved the payment of P32.1 million to Geodata Solutions, Inc. for online occupational permitting and tracking system.

But the charge stated that there was no appropriate ordinance from the Sangguniang Panglungsod nor was there complete delivery of the products procured.

The OMB recommended bail of P90,000 for each of the two cases.

The former Mayor and City Administrator of Quezon City have been charged with two counts of graft in two separate cases for the irregular implemntation of projects. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/12/2258376/700-bilibid-guards-replaced-part-prison-reform

Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. has replaced the guards manning the New Bilibid Prison’s Maximum Security Compound after he received reports of misdeameanors while on duty.

State-run PTV4 also reported that Catapang, a former military general, also assigned Supt. Purification Hari as the NBP MaxSeCom chief, replacing CInsp. Lucio Guevarra, who was acting superintendent.

MaxSeCom houses inmates serving prison sentences of longer than 20 years.

In his speech during the ceremonies on Wednesday morning, Catapang said that the 700 prison guards who were replaced will undergo re-training and will be assigned to other prison and penal farms.

The training, which will be in a classroom setup, will also include a refresher on the rules and regulations of the bureau. It will be conducted by international prison reforms expert Prof. Raymund Narag of Southern Illinois University.

Catapang said he has not seen improvement in their handling of MaxSeCom. "I still receive information of misdemeanors," he also said, adding that some of them also do not go on duty but have someone sign their attendance.

Replacing them are 300 prison guards who will be provided with bodycams.

700 Bilibid guards have been reassigned and will undergo training because they are corrupt and commit misdemeanors while some do not go on duty but have someone sign for them. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/13/ex-iloilo-city-mayor-councilor-charged-with-graft-before-sandiganbayan

Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog and incumbent Councilor Plaridel C. Nava II have been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for creating a towing company that was granted a contract by the city government.

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) charged Mabilog and Nava with violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Bail of P90,000 was recommended for each of them.

Section 3(h) prohibits a government official from having financial or pecuniary interest "in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity."

In filing the criminal charge, OMB prosecutors said that Mabilog contributed P500,000 as initial capital for the formation of 3L Towing Services and issued business and mayor's permits even without the application of Leny B. Garcia, the alleged dummy owner of the firm.

Nava, on the other hand, was charged for scouting suppliers of wheel clamps from China.  He also allegedly prepared the documents for 3L Towing Services' registration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The OMB said that the firm was eventually awarded the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Iloilo City government to undertake clamping and towing of illegally parked vehicles within its territorial jurisdiction without competitive process.

Thus, the OMB accused Mabilog and Nava of "intervening in their official capacity" for 3L Towing Services to enter into a MOA with Iloilo City, "all to the detriment of public service."

The former Mayor of Iloilo City and a councilor have been charged with graft over hiring a towing company for the city that they created. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1755787/muntinlupa-court-orders-arrest-of-ex-bucor-chief-bantag-for-murder-of-bilibid-inmate

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy, Ricardo Zulueta, for the death of Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor or Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid.

Escorial was presented to the media on October 18, 2022, where he mentioned that the order to kill Lapid came from someone inside Bilibid.

Barely a week later, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Villamor has died.

An independent autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun based on evidence suggested that Villamor may have suffocated from a plastic bag over his head.

Bantag and Zulueta are both indicted for two counts of murder each–for the death of Villamor and Lapid.

The murder case in connection with the death of Lapid is pending before the Las Piñas Court.

The former BuCor Chief and his deputy have been charged with murder. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1755840/pdeg-head-domingo-relieved-from-post-after-alleged-cover-up-of-anti-drug-cops-arrest

Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, head of the Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), has been relieved of his post, according to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.

Fajardo, in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday, confirmed that Domingo was relieved as PDEG Director.  

“Yes po he was relieved as Director, PDEG,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo also said that Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio Olaguera, who used to head the PNP Legal Service, would replace Domingo.

Domingo was dragged into controversy after his name surfaced as one of the high-ranking police officials who allegedly tried to cover up the arrest of anti-narcotics operative Police M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo in October, 2022.   

Mayo was apprehended during an anti-drug raid in Tondo, Manila, where 990 kilograms of crystal meth or shabu, with a street value of P6.7 billion, were seized.

Last Monday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. shared closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of Domingo and other high-ranking police officials entering an establishment where Mayo and several bags and luggage were brought.

After a discussion between Domingo and the other high-ranking police officials, Col. Michael Angelo C. Salmingo and Col. Julian Olonan who were part of the group, joined Mayo in a vehicle.

Abalos then asked 10 police officials involved, including Domingo, to go on leave.  Domingo, for his part denied any cover-up, assuring the leadership that they would comply with the order.

The head of the PDEG has been relieved because of his alleged involvement in the cover-up of the arrest of an officer for drugs.