Insurgency: Bringers of Peace

There has been a huge shake up this week as Vice President Sara Duterte, who also serves as the Secretary of Education, was appointed co-Vice Chairman of the NTF-ELCAC.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/869643/vp-duterte-designated-co-vice-chair-of-ntf-elcac/story/

Vice President Sara Duterte has been named the co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), according to NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Wednesday.

“The NTF-ELCAC Execom has approved the designation of Vice President Sara Duterte as co-vice chairperson of the Task Force. Her unstinting commitment in the cause of NTF-ELCAC will undoubtedly be very valuable to the Task Force and we thank her for accepting the challenge,” Año said in a press conference.

As a task force under the Office of the President, the NTF-ELCAC is chaired by the Chief Executive.

Asked if Duterte's new position will strengthen the monitoring of alleged recruitment activities in schools—the Vice President is also Education Secretary—Año replied, “With the effort now of the DepEd Secretary, in fact we have seen that the schools used by the other side have been closed.”

He said that Duterte is “well-experienced” as a former local executive.

(Our vice president is very well-experienced, being the former mayor of Davao City, from which she can use her experiences to share, including the best practices that can be used by the various agencies involved in NTF-ELCAC.)

(With her as the co-vice chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, she will be a great help to supervise not only the 12 clusters but also the designated cabinet officers to supervise regional peace and development and peace development in the different regions.)

Año's claim that as DepEd Secretary Sara shut down schools used by the CPP is patently false. That happened during her tenure as Mayor of Davao and the shut down was initiated by the IP's and not Sara. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/01/ips-not-vp-sara-shut-down-tribal-schools-in-davao-tied-to-communists-ex-npa-leader/

The Indigenous Peoples (IP) themselves decided to put an end to tribal schools linked to communist rebels, not former Mayor now Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, a former New People’s Army (NPA) leader said Monday, August 1.

Arian Jane Ramos, former secretary of Guerrilla Front 55 of the New People's Army (NPA) based in Southern Mindanao, said this following brickbats hurled at the Vice President by certain quarters believed to be allied with communist rebels.

In particular, Ramos, known as “Ka Marikit” when she was with the NPA, was reacting to allegations that the closure of the Salugpongan schools in Davao and the rest of the region was the handiwork of Duterte.

“The IPs became decisive for the Salugpongan closure and other 'Lumad' schools because they knew the real goal of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA,” Ramos said.

She said the Salugpongan tribal schools were “supposed to shape the future of the children and the development of the tribe, ‘but they turned out the other way.’”

In October 2019, the Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11) ordered the closure of the controversial Salugpungan Ta'Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI), the school system that managed the Salugpongan schools, for lack of permits and alleged links with the NPA.

Jenelieto Atillo, DepEd-11 spokesperson, made it clear that the decision did not rest solely on STTICLCI's alleged links with the NPA but also based on the findings that showed various regulatory violations, deficiencies, and compliance issues on the part of the school management.

Arian Jane Ramos is a former NPA that even the NTF-ELCAC touts as an authority on what is happening within the CPP-NPA.  Here statement ought not to be dismissed. That means Sara's appointment to the as co-Vice Chair of the NTF-ELCAC is shrouded in lies. 

As DepEd Secretary of course Duterte thinks education is key to ending the insurgency. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/11/2265561/sara-duterte-confirms-new-ntf-elcac-post-says-education-needed-fight-deception

Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrently education chief, confirmed her new post at the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, saying in a message that education is “one of the greatest weapons” in the government’s fight against insurgency.

“They have infiltrated our institutions and sectors and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino People, particularly our youth. Education, therefore, is one of the greatest weapons we can use in suppressing the lies and deceptions of these terrorists and their allied organizations,” Duterte said. 

Nearly a year into her term as Department of Education secretary—a role that entails studying all aspects of the learning crisis during a “critical” recovery phase for millions of students—Duterte said the role has made her realize “how deeply ingrained the problem of insurgency in our country is.”

“(The) enemies are also using education as a machine to propagate their violent ideology and systematically recruit Filipino students. We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth,” Duterte added.

Taking her words at face value it would seem that the end of the insurgency is nowhere near in sight. Duterte is saying that the insurgency is deeply ingrained in the country through educational institutions. In particular she is referring to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) which has been tagged as a communist front. And don't forget the NICA says they know the names of all 300,000 to 400,000 communists who have infiltrated the government. Clearly the insurgency is not relegated to just the NPA.

Nevertheless Sara Duterte believes the insurgency will end by the time Marcos leaves office.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1768399/sara-duterte-wants-end-to-communist-insurgency-during-marcos-admin-exec

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is recently appointed as co-vice chair to the government’s anti-insurgency body, is intending to put an end to the decades-long rebellion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

This was revealed Friday by National Security Council (NSC) deputy director general Jonathan Malaya, saying it was declared by Duterte during a meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-Elcac) executive committee on May 10. Malaya attended the meeting.

(We think that VP Sara Duterte will be one of the best symbols of our call for peace in our country, so that, as she said, this protracted people’s war must already end during the Marcos administration.)

According to the NSC official, 75 percent of all NPA guerrilla fronts have been dismantled and that only 22 of the original 89 fronts remain.

Of the 22, he added, 20 are weakened while two NPA guerrilla fronts – both located in Samar – maintain a strong presence.

(Peace in the country is within our reach.)

How exactly is peace within reach when Sara admits that the insurgency is a deeply ingrained problem? This is double speak. What is the goal exactly? To defeat the NPA or to rid the Philippines of the Communist party entirely? Those goals are not the same and it is not illegal to be a communist. A recent executive order has recognized the right of association. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200938

The National Security Council (NSC) denied reports that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will be dismantled.

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, who is also the head of the agency's Strategic Communications Office, said there is no truth to rumors claiming that Executive Order (EO) 23 was issued to abolish or dismantle the anti-insurgency task force.

"Nowhere does it state in Executive Order No. 23 that the NTF ELCAC will be abolished or dismantled. The two Executive issuances relate to different topics. EO 23 relates to the protection of the freedom of association and the right to organize while EO 70, which created the NTF ELCAC, relates to the institutionalization of the whole of nation approach to attaining sustainable peace as well as the adoption of a national peace framework," he said in a statement released over the weekend.

Malaya said as NTF-ELCAC chair, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is firmly committed to the whole-of-nation approach to finally ending communist terrorism in the country.

The NSC is the vice chair of the anti-communist insurgency body.

He also added that the Chief Executive has already directed the NTF-ELCAC to intensify its efforts now that the government has attained strategic victory over the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

"Seventy-five percent of all NPA guerrilla fronts have been dismantled. Only 22 out of the original 89 fronts are still existing. Of the 22 left, 20 are weakened and the remaining 2 are the subject of focused military operations and development efforts by NTF-ELCAC agencies," Malaya added.

The scuttlebutt over EO 23 in certain quarters witnesses to the truth that the NTF-ELCAC is indeed engaged in red tagging and calling out people, notably human rights workers, over their associations. It's such a contrast for Malaya to say the government has achieved a strategic victory over the CPP-NPA-NDF while Sara Duterte says the insurgency is deeply ingrained. 

The NTF-ELCAC even admits they have been aggressive but are now switching to becoming "bringers of peace."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1767664/under-marcos-administration-ntf-elcac-switches-from-aggressive-strategy-to-become-bringers-of-peace

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) is shifting from its “aggressive” policy to become “bringers of peace,” officials of the anti-communist task force said on Wednesday.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said this was the orders relayed during the executive committee meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang.

“What is most significant from today’s meeting is the fact that we are shifting from the old to the new NTF-Elcac with the primary role of us being ‘bringers of peace,’” Año said in a Palace briefing.

“This is what the President desires for our people,” he added.

Back in March, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to focus on external threats as he deems that the communist insurgency in the country is ending.

Ernesto Torres Jr. the NTF-Elcac’s executive director, said the task force is changing its strategy as the communist insurgency continues to weaken.

“In the past, if you might have observed, that we are really that aggressive in going after different threats of society particularly the CPP-NPA  because we had 89 guerrilla fronts in start of 2019, so just imagine in just a little of four years, we are able to bring it down to 22,” Torres said.

Año has also noted that of the 22 guerrilla fronts left, 20 are weakened and the remaining two are the subject of focused military operations.

Were they not "bringers of peace" before? They are certainly bringers of cash as the NTF-ELCAC is essentially a bribery program to entice NPA fighters and supporters to surrender. Everyone gets cash, housing, job training, and many other amenities if they qualify.

The same rhetoric continues to swirl around the remnants of the insurgency.  They are leaderless and are getting worn down says the AFP. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201247

The few remaining members of the New People's Army (NPA) in the Visayas are now in disarray and getting tired of moving from one place to another as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) faces a leadership vacuum following the deaths of its founder Jose Maria Sison and key leaders.

“Due to the leadership vacuum that the CPP–NPA is suffering coupled with the active support of the community to the security efforts of the government forces, the few remaining members of the terrorist group remain in disarray and with no clear direction," Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said in a statement Thursday.

He said that the communist terrorists "are tired due to constant movement having no safe place to hide."

Arevalo also lauded government troops for dealing with the CPP-NPA in Northern Samar, resulting in another huge blow in just a span of 10 days, making their morale "very low as attested by the former rebels who recently returned to the folds of the law.”

Again this assessment does not square with Sara Duterte's assertion that the insurgency is deeply ingrained. Unless one is counting more than just the NPA.

47% of Filipinos Say it is Dangerous to Criticize the Government

One ought to not put a lot of stock in surveys. They are mostly popularity contests with a small sample size that can be twisted every which way. However one recent survey does give cause for concern.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/10/23/sws-47-pct-say-publishing-govt-criticism-dangerous

Almost half of Filipinos agreed that it was dangerous to publish anything critical of the government, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed. 

The SWS survey released Tuesday showed that 47 percent of Filipinos believed that it was dangerous to print or broadcast content critical of the administration, even if it was the truth. 

Some 27 percent of Filipinos were undecided, while 26 percent disagreed with the statement.

"The resulting net agreement score of +20, classified by SWS as moderate, is 4 points below the moderate +24 in December 2021," the SWS said. 

The highest number of respondents who said it was still dangerous to publish content critical of the administration came from Metro Manila, followed by the Visayas, Luzon, and Mindanao.

However, net agreement scores in Metro Manila and Visayas fell in the recent survey compared to the figures recorded in December 2021, during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In Metro Manila, the number of people who said it was dangerous to publish anti-administration content fell to +28 from +41 in December 2021, while the number in Visayas also decreased to +23 from +36.

The pollster said it aimed "to assess respondents' opinions on the state of press freedom in the country." It noted the World Press Freedom Day was observed on May 3. 

SWS conducted the survey from Dec. 10 to 14, 2022, using in-person interviews for 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The pollster also clarified that the survey was non-commissioned, and was only done on SWS' own initiative and released as a public service.

Now, this is not shocking at all. To an outsider yes it would be not only reprehensible but incomprehensible. In light of the EDSA protests in 1986 which ousted Ferdinand Marcos one has to wonder what happened. Let me offer a theory.

By 1986 Marcos had been in power for over 20 years. By that time his hand had become heavy and people were tired of it. They responded by forcing him and his family to leave the country. But over the years complacency set in. Those who replaced Marcos didn't fix the nation which culminated in the election of Duterte who ran as a strong man desirous to not just rid the Philippines of criminality but to kill all the criminals! 

Throughout his administration any and all critics were red-tagged and declared to be destabilizers of the nation. Even Vice President Leni Robredo did not escape this charge. Now the status quo has set in so much so that Bongbong Marcos, a lying convicted criminal who continues to defend his parents' crimes against the nation, was elected to high office. 

The good thing is that these respondents do not run the media. The bad thing is that many Filipinos with this same attitude have immigrated to the West which undermines the values of those nations who see it the duty of the people to criticize the government. The other bad thing is that the media in the Philippines is incredibly superficial and does not go far enough to condemn and criticize the government when it is warranted. 

Which media outlet has truly covered the Marawi siege and all the inconsistencies and so-called intelligent failures? None as far as I know. 

Which media outlet has constantly covered the regular assassination of politicians throughout the nation and demanded an end to it? None that I know of. Not unless it comes to a head like it did in February, 2023.

There are a lot of easy takeaways from this survey but I don't think they are necessarily true or helpful. Are Filipinos complacent and submissive? Yes. To a large degree yes they will endure the boot stamping the face by elected officials. Do not forget that officials are quick to file libel cases against their critics.  Who wants to deal with that? Truly criticizing the government is dangerous for anyone who would dare to do so. 

But there is something more at work here than mere bootlicking. I don't think you will ever find a Filipino who will say, "To Hell with the government."

But maybe you will!

Retards in the Government 309

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200802

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc affirmed the disqualification of Carmen Geraldine Rosal as a candidate for mayor of Legazpi City, Albay during the May 9, 2022 elections.

In a 17-page resolution promulgated on May 4, the seven-member en banc affirmed the ruling of its 2nd Division dated Oct. 4, 2022, disqualifying Rosal based on finding her liable for violating Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), which prohibits the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds 45 days before Election Day.

“Respondent is found to have given money to influence, induce, or corrupt the voters, as described in Section 68 (a) in relation to Section 261 (a) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code. Respondent is hereby disqualified from being a candidate for Mayor of Legazpi City, Albay for the 9 May 2022 National and Local Elections,” the poll body said.

The disqualification case was filed by Joseph San Juan Armogila against Rosal over her participation in the two-day Tricycle Driver's Cash Assistance Payout in the city on March 31, 2022.

According to Comelec, Rosal did not deny that she was among those present during the activity.

It noted that a Facebook post about the activity thanked Rosal and referred to her as "Mayor Gie Rosal," when she was not the incumbent mayor at the time, in an apparent reference to the position she was then running for.

The commission also found it sufficient to conclude that Rosal was among those who gave the cash assistance and that it was given "to influence or induce them to support her candidacy for Mayor."

“All things considered, this Commission (En Banc) is convinced that Respondent gave money in order to influence, induce, or corrupt the tricycle drivers concerned. Petitioner is found to have sufficiently proved his case by the requisite Substantial Evidence,” the Comelec added.

The Mayor of Legazpi City has been disqualified for vote buying during the 2023 election. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/6/sandigan-convicts-ex-albay-rep-lim-of-4-graft-4-malversation-charges

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Albay 3rd District Rep. Reno G. Lim and former Technology Resource Center (TRC) deputy director general Ma. Rosalinda M. Lacsamana of their four graft and four malversation charges involving the misuse of P27 million development assistance fund (PDAF) in 2007.

They were sentenced to six to 10 years for each of their graft convictions with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. They were also ordered to indemnify the National Treasury of P27 million, the amount wrongfully and illegally disbursed.

In their two malversation charges, Lim and Lacsamana were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (a maximum of 40 years imprisonment) and were ordered to pay a fine of P12 million, the amount malversed.

In their two other malversation charges, they were sentenced to 10 to 12 years imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P1.5 million.

The criminal charges arose from the release of Lim's PDAF for the purchase of 8,000 sets of livelihood instructional materials and technology kits.

The prosecution told the court that Lim specifically chose TRC as the implementing agency for his project, and he also chose the Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation, Inc. (KMFI) as its non-government organization partner.

The court was also told that the livelihood projects were never implemented as KMFI lacked the necessary track record to carry out the projects.

In his defense, Lim claimed that his only participation in the PDAF allocation was his request for its release from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). He added that his signatures were forged in the letters addressed to the TRC director general. 

But even after reviewing Lim's signatures and the ones he claimed were forgeries, the Sandiganbayan said there is no "glaring or stark variations in their general appearance."

"The acts of accused Lim in endorsing KMFI and disregarding its clear lack of capacity or qualification and accreditation requirements, entering into memoranda of agreements only to renege on his responsibilities and signing false Project Proposals and Accomplishment Forms indubitably prove manifest partiality and evident bad faith on his part," the court said.

It also said that Lacsamana "aided" Lim when she permitted the disbursement of the subject PDAF by signing two disbursement vouchers and causing the release of the checks in favor of KMFI.

A former Representative and Technology Resource Center deputy directive have been convicted of graft over misuse of PDAF money. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/23/cop-investigating-quezon-road-rage-incident-killed

A police officer in Candelaria, Quezon province was killed Saturday while investigating a road rage incident.

Candelaria police identified the victim as P/Cpl. Reniel Marin, who was shot dead while conducting a follow-up operation on a road altercation gone wrong.

Initial reports from the town's police said that 2 tricycle drivers were having a heated argument after colliding into each other along a narrow road in Barangay Bukal Sur Saturday morning.

Amid the quarrel, one of the tricycle drivers pulled out a gun and fired at the other twice.

The injured driver was rushed to a hospital while the other driver with the gun fled the scene.

 

Marin, along with his fellow police officers from the Candelaria PNP, sought the house of the gun-wielding tricycle driver for a follow-up operation.

The driver's wife was answering questions from the police when the injured driver's brother, identified an Army reservist, suddenly stormed the house and fired his gun.

Marin was fatally wounded after being shot in the chest, while the gun-wielding tricycle driver's 12-year-old daughter was also hurt in the second shooting.

Both victims were rushed to a hospital, but the police officer was declared dead at 6 p.m. Saturday. The daughter, meanwhile, was reportedly in stable condition.

 

Candelaria police noted that the Army reservist thought Marin and his fellow police officers were the ones who shot his brother and fired at them in retaliation.

A police officer was shot dead by an Army reservist who mistakenly thought the officer shot his brother. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/503166/ex-tanod-in-balamban-surrenders-after-accused-of-shooting-cops

A former barangay tanod, which means village peacekeeper in English, in Balamban town in Cebu surrendered to authorities on Monday, May 8, 2023, after being accused of shooting police officers.

The police identified the suspect as Antonio Rabago, a resident of Sitio Butong, Brgy. Buanoy in Balamban.

Last Sunday dawn, May 7, police in Balamban received reports from a concerned citizen that Rabago had allegedly been firing his gun indiscriminately in Sitio Butong in Brgy. Buanoy.

The Balamban Police Station deployed Police Senior Master Sergeant Godofredo Dumdum and Police Patrolman Chimo Paual to the village to check.

However, Rabago reportedly opened fire toward the incoming police officers. One of the bullets hit Dumdum, who is also Balamban Police Station’s chief intelligence officer.

The wounded police officer remains confined in the hospital as of Monday morning. Meanwhile, police immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation against Rabago.

The suspect later surrendered to Buanoy Barangay Captain Clyde Seblos on Monday dawn, May 8.

A former village watchman shot a cop. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/8/sandigan-convicts-ex-maguindanao-gov-sajid-ampatuan-ex-budget-officer-al-haj-of-graft-malversation-charges

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor and incumbent Shariff Saydona Mustapha town Vice Mayor Datu Sajid Islam U. Ampatuan of graft and malversation of public funds charges in the irregular purchases of P16.3 million worth of food supplies in 2009.

Also convicted was former provincial budget officer Datuali Kanakan Abpi Al Haj.

Both Ampatuan and Al Haj were sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for their graft conviction, and 10 to 18 years jail term for malversation. They were also ordered to pay a fine of P16,317,559, the total amount malversed.

The cases against their co-accused, former provincial accountant John Estelito G. Dollosa Jr. and former provincial treasurer Osmena M. Bandila have been ordered archived pending their arrest.

During trial, the prosecution successfully proved that Henry Merchandising was indeed "an unqualified bidder and supplier with a highly doubtful existence" as the company failed to submit documents showing its eligibility requirements, the court said.

Henry Merchandising likewise did not have an actual or physical store or warehouse where stocks of the items bought -- such as rice M-I, Maggi noodles, Young Town's sardine, brown sugar, and dried fish -- could be found, it said.

There were also mismatched dates in most of the documents, including the official receipts, purchase orders, and disbursement vouchers. These "omissions," said the court, could have easily been supplied if the transactions were legitimate.

A former governor of Maguindnao and a former budget officer have been convicted of graft and malversation of funds. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1766509/village-chief-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-del-sur

The village chief of Upper Liason, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur was shot dead by gunmen riding in tandem along the national highway in Purok 2 of the town’s Gabunon village at 8:35 a.m. on Monday, May 8.

Police Major Orlyn Leyte, the Tambulig police chief, identified the victim as Edgardo Estrebor Surigao, 57, the current barangay captain of Upper Liason, Tambulig town.

Police learned that the attackers were on board a black Honda XRM motorcycle and were both wearing black jackets, black helmets and blue jeans. The victim was shot while on his motorcycle.

Police were still trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.

A village chief has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/9/pnp-identifies-3-000-more-erring-cops-vows-case-build-up

Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), vowed on Tuesday, May 9, to pursue a case build-up against around 3,000 policemen with derogatory records.

Acorda said the erring cops have already been subjected to counter-intelligence when he was still the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence during the time of retired PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.

“We have been monitoring these personalities, these scalawags and my instruction is for our intelligence operatives to make that they would not be able to commit illegal activities againm” said Acorda. 

“We will be conducting continuous monitoring, we will pursue the case build-up against them,” he added.

Acorda said the wrongdoings they monitored to have been committed by the erring cops range from extortion to illegal drugs involvement,

He then urged the public to immediately report any policeman involved in illegal activities as he vowed that he would ensure that they would all be punished.

“Let us be brave enough and help us cleanse our ranks,” said Acorda.

Cases are being prepared against 3,000 cops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201044

Criminal charges were filed against four policemen from the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) for allegedly kidnapping and torturing two persons whom they accused of being involved in illegal drug activities.

The alleged abuse happened last March in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu.

The complainants had sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7).

After investigating the complaint, the NBI-7 filed charges against the PDEG personnel before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on Friday, May 5.

Charges filed were violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code or Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention with torture and grave misconduct or violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Named respondents were Police Staff Sgts. Rey David Aumentado, Rex Forrosuelo, Marjun Milar, and  Jemechiel Gemang and two other unidentified persons.

NBI-7 agent Greg Algoso Jr. said the alleged abuse happened when the four policemen and two unidentified persons apprehended Randolph Restauro, 30, a chef from Talisay City, and his live-in partner Gemalen Elorde, 26, around 1 a.m. on March 26.

The couple was aboard a motorcycle traversing a highway when two men aboard another motorcycle blocked their path.

A Toyota Innova also stopped in front of the couple’s motorcycle.

Two men alighted from the Innova and forced the couple to board the car.

The car then proceeded to Cebu City. The couple alleged that while they were heading to Cebu City, a man sitting on the front seat allegedly started hitting Restauro and forced him to surrender the illegal drugs that he was supposedly keeping.

The two were later blindfolded with masking tape.

Elorde told the NBI-7 that she was able to see the faces of the persons inside the vehicle as her blindfold was not that tight.

The couple said they were brought inside an office in Cebu City and were mauled while being forced to admit that they were keeping illegal drugs.

The couple told the NBI-7 when the persons that abducted them did not get any contraband from them, they were brought back to Minglanilla.

The NBI-7 said they were able to secure footage corroborating the couple’s accounts where and what time they were abducted.

The NBI-7 was also able to identify the four persons who abducted the couple during the course of the investigation.

The couple was only able to identify the four persons inside the Innova as the two men who blocked their paths wore helmets and rode a motorcycle on their way to Cebu City.

Four cops haeve been charged with kidnapping. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1767878/leyte-village-chief-slain-wife-injured-in-ambush

A village chief in Leyte town of Leyte province was killed, while his wife was wounded in an ambush Wednesday by unknown assailants in Kananga town, Leyte.

The fatality was identified as Raul Cosinillo, 56, and chairman of Barangay Mataloto, Leyte.

The initial police investigation showed that Cosinillo and his wife Mercedes were traveling on board a multicab on their way home to Mataloto from Ormoc City for his dialysis treatment.

When they reached Sitio Laray, Barangay Naghalin, two persons on board a motorcycle suddenly overtook Cosinillo’s multi-cab and fired several shots towards them.

Cosinillo, who was driving the multi-cab, suffered several gunshot wounds in his body.

His wife, who was sitting on the passenger’s seat, also suffered gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed by the responding personnel to Clinica Gatchalian in Ormoc City.

Mercedes, 56, was in stable condition on Wednesday evening.

Their 21-year-old old daughter Phanthea, who was seated at the back of the vehicle, was spared.

The police are conducting an investigation to identify the assailants and the motive behind the killing.

A village chief has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/11/bir-employee-wife-cousin-face-criminal-charges-for-tampering-with-machines-to-manipulate-suppress-sales

Three persons, including a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee and his wife, were charged criminally before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly tampering with sales machines to “manipulate and suppress the sales” involving P6.1 billion of several businesses.

Named respondents in the complaint were Chiradee N. Base, owner of Basebyte Software Management and Consultancy Service, her husband and BIR employee Aldwin G. Base, and their cousin Jelson B. Vargas.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. led the filing of the complaint on Thursday, May 11, before the DOJ.

The respondents were charged with violations of Section 264-B of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, on Possession, Sale or Offer to Sell, Installment, Transfer, Update, Upgrade, Keeping or Maintaining of Sales Suppression Devices.

In an interview, Lumagui said that he had already signed the dismissal of Base as BIR employee.

“What we filed is a case on manipulation of sales machine", Lumagui said.

"The amount they manipulated is P6.1 billion in sales loss of a business owner whom they provided services,” he said.

He said that Aldwin himself installed software in the machine used to manipulate the records of the sales of the business involved.

“So far we have seen four companies that were provided with the sales machines. We are now looking at other companies that were given these machines. From what we saw from the four is that P6.1 billion in earnings in lost sales that was cheated from the business owners,” Lumagui said.

He said the fraud was discovered following the audit conducted by the BIR on these businesses which showed discrepancies in the receipts and the drop in sales.

A BIR employee has been charged with tampering with machines. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201157

The former acting municipal treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental has been ordered dismissed from government service for the loss of about PHP6.62 million in cash and checks of the local government in January.

Nenette Escarda, assigned as Cashier I at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office here, was found liable for serious dishonesty, and guilty of both grave misconduct and malversation of public funds, based on the 10-page decision involving an administrative case approved by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on May 8.

Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla said Wednesday she considers the ruling a “fair decision,” adding that she has also discussed with Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. the filing of a criminal case against Escarda.

“We’re in talks. That’s actually his suggestion because that’s the only way she will be held liable and accountable for all the cash and checks that had gone missing while she was in possession of them,” she told Capitol reporters.

Montilla said until now, the municipal government has recovered only the majority of the checks, but none of the cash, and the unliquidated cash advances were still being investigated.

The decision drafted by Nellas, who sits as the hearing officer, cited the Commission on Audit (COA) report dated Jan. 31, 2023 on the irregularities in Escarda’s accountability, including PHP2.6 million in cash and approximately PHP3.8 million in checks, or a total amount of PHP6,629,146.18, which have remained undeposited, based on the cash book.

Cash advances amounting to PHP972,000 were also found to be unliquidated.

“Thereby, (Escarda) incurring an unaccounted balance or cash shortage of PHP7,601,146.18,” the COA report added.

Escarda had earlier claimed that the cash and checks, which she brought home, were stolen at her residence in this city.

For serious dishonesty, the decision stated that Escarda’s unauthorized removal of the municipal collections from their usual place of safekeeping and bringing these to her home “shows her intent to commit material gain.”

“The dishonest act caused serious damage and grave prejudice to the municipal government of Isabela,” it added.

In the offense of grave misconduct, the ruling pointed out that “(a) flagrant disregard of laws and rules is apparent on the part of the respondent,” who is “accountable for public funds received and/or entrusted to her by reason of her office.”

For malversation of public funds, Escarda’s justification that she was compelled to bring home the municipal fund since the officer tasked to deposit was in another assignment was not given due course.

“The respondent must be held liable for the loss of the municipal funds by appropriating for herself, or permitting another person, through either abandonment or negligence, to take the same,” the decision added.

Escarda’s dismissal from service includes the accessory penalties of, among others, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

The former acting municipal treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental has been ordered dismissed from government service for the loss of about PHP6.62 million in cash and checks of the local government in January.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201182

Authorities have arrested Zamboanga Peninsula’s eighth most-wanted illegal drug trader and a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) in separate anti-drug operations here.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, city police director, on Wednesday identified the suspect as Norman Sawadjaan, 35, and the BIN member as Momer Akari, 39.

Lorenzo said joint policemen and military intelligence operatives nabbed Sawadjaan in an anti-drug operation in Benz Drive, Barangay Arena Blanco at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Seized from Sawadjaan were two plastic sachets of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP136,000, and other pieces of evidence.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo said Akari was arrested in an anti-drug operation in a motel room in Barangay Canelar, which the suspect allegedly used to sell illegal drugs to his clients, at about 2:50 a.m. on Tuesday.

Confiscated from Akari were suspected shabu drugs worth PHP340,000 and other pieces of evidence.

BIN members, also known as the “eyes and ears” of the barangay, are used to gather information that affects the peace and order situation of their community.

A member of the Barangay Intelligence Network has been nabbed for drugs. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: No Need to Restore Restrictions, Reassess COVID-19 Policies, and More!

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

Moderna says they will be setting up a vaccine-making facility in the Philippines. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1960245/manila/local-news/moderna-to-set-up-vaccine-making-facility-in-philippines

MODERNA, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that pioneered the production of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines that are being used in the country, will set up a “Shared Service Facility for Pharmacovigilance” in the Philippines.

In a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Blair House in Washington DC, Moderna Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay and Senior Vice President and General Manager Patrick Bergstedt said the facility, which will be their third shared service facility across the world and first in Asia, will serve the entire Asia Pacific Region.

The project will also be the first investment by Moderna in the Philippines and its first in Asia.

Bergstedt said they have chosen the Philippines as the “perfect location” among many other countries that offered shared services, as they underscore the successful public-private partnership between the Philippine government and Moderna that they wanted to explore further.

“We are really excited to have selected the Philippines for the third one primarily because you know the capabilities exist. We have the talent that exists, and we know that the partnership will be one that can be beneficial for both Moderna and the Philippines,” Garay said.

The facility is expected to employ around 50 staff composed of health professionals with their shortlisted office location either in Makati or at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Marcos expressed gratitude to Moderna, saying it will give the country advantage in healthcare.

“The opportunity to build shared services in areas of interest, connecting with the scientific, academic opportunity with Moderna, the ministry of health is something that we’re very, very interested in. The most important part is that we sat down and drew the program, and say this is how we approach the problem ... Those are the kind of skills that we need. With your experience in other countries, there are many lessons that we could learn that can be applied in the Philippines,” he said.

It will be the first Moderna facility in Asia. Will it be built before the next "pandemic?"

COVID-19 cases are up and people are starting to lose their minds again. The DOH has ordered hospitals to reopen their COVID-19 wards. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1764541/doh-orders-hospitals-to-reopen-covid-19-wards

The Department of Health (DOH) has directed hospitals to reopen wards and add beds for COVID-19 patients to prepare the country’s healthcare sector in the event of a pandemic resurgence.

According to DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, hospitals were told to follow the “accordion principle” by expanding bed capacity for COVID-19 cases in response to the spike in infections over the past weeks, to prevent a strain on resources and facilities.

She, however, noted that such “reserve” beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients were just on standby, and “not all have been used.”

“Since we saw an increasing trend, we’ve mobilized our hospitals and announced an accordion principle, [wherein] they need to open wards previously reserved for COVID-19 and were later closed to make way for other [cases],” Vergeire told a press briefing.

The health official added that while COVID-19 hospitalizations remained manageable, some hospitals were experiencing “moderate to high” admission rates due to a lack of intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU beds.

The increase in admissions in these hospitals is connected to the “number of beds, and not the increase in [cases],” Vergeire clarified.

Bed occupancy rates nationwide remain low, with COVID-19 cases making up 15 percent of the allotted ICU beds and 18.1 percent in non-ICU beds, the DOH said.

The call to increase bed capacity came even as the DOH and pandemic advisers maintained they were not endorsing a return of compulsory masking to curb transmission of COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Vergeire said bringing back mask mandates was “unnecessary” and a “knee-jerk” reaction that could adversely impact the economy.

Funny that the DOH says no to face masks but is preparing hospitals for incoming patients. Are they really expecting a surge of hospitalizations? With a shortage of doctors and nurses hospitals are no place for any sick person. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/23/doh-admits-shortage-of-nurses-doctors

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire admitted Thursday that there is a shortage of nurses and physicians in the country.

"We have a total demand of 159,548 for physicians and the gap would be 114,000-plus. For nurses, we have a demand of 305,708 and we have a variance or a gap of 127,000." Vergeire told the House of Represenatives.

"So ang kailangan nating idagdag na nurses is 127,000. Pagdating sa doctors, ang kailangan nating dagdag is 114,000. Next question, annually ilan ng ating bagong doktor at bagong nurse?" Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo asked.

Vergeire said meeting the shortfall for nurses would take 12 years, and 23 years for doctors.

"Annually, we have a total of around, average 4,387 per year for physicians. For nurses, we produced around 10,645 (on) average per year," she said.

If they stopped sending nurses and doctors overseas there would be no shortage. 

Oddly enough the DOH says Filipinos need to learn to keep themselves safe against COVID-19. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/4/filipinos-must-learn-to-keep-themselves-safe-vs-covid-19-doh

The Department of Health (DOH) said the public must learn to  assess their own Covid-19 risk and make choices on how to better protect themselves against this viral disease.

The DOH said that the public needs to increase their risk tolerance against Covid-19.

“We need to increase our tolerance whenever there is a rise in cases. Because every time the cases increase, people panic and get afraid,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a recent press briefing.

“Like what we have said, we need to be vigilant, aware, we must know how to protect ourselves, and let's believe in the effectiveness and protection that the vaccine gives us,” she added.

Isn't this what has been happening all along for the past three years? 

Despite COVID-19 cases being up one Representative wants the e-Travel requirement scrapped. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/4/despite-covid-case-uptick-solon-wants-e-travel-requirement-ditched

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is calling on government to get rid of its tedious eTravel requirement for incoming international travellers despite the rise in local Covid-19 infections late last month.

Villafuerte's main reason for asking this is to entice more tourists and prospective investors to come to the Philippines.

But what about the rise in Covid-19 cases? The former deputy speaker noted that it hasn't been enough to make health authorities sound the alarm.

“Despite an uptick lately in cases of the new Covid-19 variant, health officials do not seem worried enough about a potentially alarming surge as to recommend the return of the masking mandate,” said Villafuerte, majority leader of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).

“Hence, I believe a logical step further for Malacañang’s policy of increasingly relaxing anti-Covid health protocols and reopening our economy to global business and travel is the ditching of the eTravel document as a border entry prerequisite for international travellers," he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that daily average coronavirus infections spiked by 42 percent to 637. It also said the number of cases totaled 4,456 over the April 24 to 30 period.

“If countries like the US (United States) and Canada, which had similarly experienced Covid outbreak surges like the Philippines in the past, and which both have a far greater volume of inbound travellers than us, can lift  their last remaining pandemic travel restrictions, why can’t we?” asked Villafuerte.

The Bicolano described the e-travel document as the last remaining vestige of the stringent health protocols that were enforced across the globe at the height of the pandemic.

"A lot more people can be enticed to go to the Philippines, whether for pleasure or business, if we were to get rid of the eTravel document that is so tedious and time-consuming for inbound passengers to accomplish prior to their actual arrival here," he said.

The eTravel earlier replaced the One Health Pass and e-Arrival Card as a travel requirement for incoming international passengers as part of the government’s health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“However, eTravel has not delivered smooth passage as promised, and incoming passengers now have to go through the same arduous task of filling up this supposedly better travel document as what had been experienced and griped about by air travellers with the ditched One Health Pass and e-Arrival Card,” Villafuerte said.

Under the eTravel setup, inbound travellers are to register on its official website https://etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours prior to their actual flights to the Philippines.

They are mandated to present proof of their valid eTravel registration—either through printed copies or screenshots on their smartphones—prior to flight boarding at airports.

Doubly so even now that the WHO has declared the pandemic to be over. 

With The Who declaring and end to the pandemic the DOH says they will be reassessing their COVID-19 policies. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1765561/doh-iatf-to-reassess-covid-19-policies-after-who-declaration

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will meet to discuss and reassess COVID-19 guidelines following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that the viral disease is no longer a global health emergency.

The health agency also said that it welcomed the decision from WHO, as it reflected the government’s efforts in its COVID-19 response.

“The DOH will convene the members of the [IATF-EID] to discuss and reassess policies and other guidelines affected by the declaration,” it said in a statement late Friday night.

According to the DOH, the following steps will be brought up for approval by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“The DOH guarantees the Filipino people that all factors in determining our next action in line with the WHO’s proclamation will be considered and discussed for the approval of the President,” said the DOH.

The DOH also said that the proclamation was an “acknowledgment of our effective and collaborative COVID-19 response and concerted efforts to fully recover and re-open our economy.”

Whatever they decide one expert says certain protocols must remain in place. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/23/some-covid-protocols-must-stay-after-global-health-emergency-lifting-expert

Some COVID-19 protocols must continue despite the lifting by the World Health Organization of its highest alert regarding the respiratory disease that has claimed nearly 7 million lives globally, an infectious disease expert said Saturday.

According to Dr. Rontgene Solante, chairman of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the San Lazaro Hospital, the lifting of the global health emergency declaration for COVID-19 does not mean the pandemic has ended.

“May mga protocols tayong kailangan pa rin nating panatilihin. I think kasama diyan yung how we will incorporate yung vaccination sa programa natin, na we need to continue to protect the population, especially yung population at high risk ang mortality, yung vulnerable population,” he told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.

“Importante pa rin 'yan dahil alam natin that the virus continues to mutate, and there are (members of the) population at high risk of getting the infection, that can also get the more severe infection,” he added.

Solante said surveillance of cases and monitoring of the capacity of medical facilities to handle coronavirus infections should also be sustained.

Senator Ejercito says he sees no reason wy COVID-19 restriction should be reimposed. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201000

The restoration of community quarantines and lockdowns are no longer necessary, according to a senator amid the spike in the number coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said most of these cases are mild and people are already aware of the basic health protocols.

"I don't think there is a need anymore for a declaration of public health emergency or the likes of [Enhance Community Quarantine] ECQ," Ejercito told reporters in a press briefing on Monday.

However, he clarified that the government still needs the budget allocation for Covid-19 response.

"But we cannot totally remove the budget for Covid-19 response. I think those who have not yet taken their vaccine or booster shots, they still need it. I think that will help us a lot as a protection against Covid-19 virus," Ejercito said.

So the pandemic is over and restrictions are not needed but money for the COVID-19 response is. That's what the pandemic was all about anyway!