Insurgency: Tracker Dogs Awarded

The latest heroes in the fight against the insurgency have been recognized.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/16/2296695/two-tracker-dogs-awarded-fight-vs-insurgency

The military has conferred achievement medals on two canines who have been helping soldiers in the continuing fight against insurgency in the Visayas.

Philippine Army tracker dogs Mugi and Puti were honored for playing a major role during the conduct of a pursuit operation that led to the discovery of the body of a New People’s Army (NPA) member at Sitio Taleo, Barangay Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Aug. 26.

The two dogs also helped recover an M653 rifle, four anti-personnel mines and subversive documents.

No less than Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the military’s Visayas Command (VISCOM), conferred the Military Working Dog Achievement Medals on the two canines during his recent visit to the headquarters of the 302nd Infantry Brigade in Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City in Negros Oriental.

“Mugie and Puti are not just dogs, they are soldiers. Like any other soldier, they too deserve to be recognized for their significant contributions,” he said.

“They manifest a high sense of loyalty and dedication to duty. When needed, they too would be willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country and people,” Arevalo added as he addressed the members of 302nd Infantry Brigade during the Talk to Troops.

They are very good boys.

Throughout this series about the insurgency I have written at length about the AFP's many declarations of victory over the NPA. I have shown how often times these declarations are often premature and contradictory. Now we see this same modus again but this time in Sulu as the AFP declares the province to be Abu Sayyaf free. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1829559/govt-body-declares-sulu-abu-sayyaf-free

The Sulu Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) led by Gov. Abdusakur Tan, with top military and police officials among its members, has declared the province free from the influence of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which officials said could open a new chapter for peace and development in the area.

Tan made the announcement during the third quarter PPOC meeting in Patikul town on Wednesday, as he released the declaration signed by him, the province’s 19 town mayors, the commander of the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Division, and the Joint Task Force Sulu, and the Sulu provincial police director.

But the declaration was mum about how many Abu Sayyaf members might still be in the province and how state forces were able to wipe out the terror group, which had used Sulu as its base for decades.

Instead, the provincial government said the declaration hoped to turn the image of the people of Sulu as peace-loving individuals and the image of the province from the perceived “terrorist’s haven” to a prime tourist and economic zone.

According to Tan, the terror group, “after decades of existence… has been defeated, thanks to the collaborative peace and development efforts exerted by the people of Sulu.”

He added: “Now, it’s time for us to seize the opportunities that lie ahead and harness the true potential of our province.”

The PPOC, in its resolution, stressed that the declaration of Sulu as Abu Sayyaf-free “marks a crucial step towards fostering a safe environment for the people of Sulu while allowing them to pursue their motivations without fear or intimidation.”

As a show of solidarity, the 19 towns of Sulu also passed their respective resolutions declaring their communities free from the ASG’s influence.

Security threats posed by the ASG have deterred tourists from exploring Sulu’s pristine landscape, rich culture and unique heritage for years.

Tan stressed the need for improved roads, transportation networks and tourist facilities to entice tourists to come.

“We have enormous untapped potential for tourism here in Sulu. Our stunning beaches, diverse marine life and vibrant cultural heritage are assets waiting to be discovered by the world,” he said.

Tan said the provincial government would soon “invest in infrastructure, ensuring that visitors have access to safe and comfortable accommodations, efficient transportation and captivating attractions.”

But the key to all these is to create an environment that is not only welcoming but also safe for tourists, he added.

Great. Sulu is not safe for tourists. Will tourists actually be flocking to Sulu Island now that it has been declared Abu Sayyaf-free? 

It turns out that Sulu was declared Abu Sayyaf free a month ago.

https://web.archive.org/web/20230802113610/https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/08/02/regions/sulu-is-abu-sayyaf-free-military/1903555

SULU, once considered the most dangerous province in the country, is now clear from the influence of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the most violent of the Islamic separatist groups operating in southern Philippines, the miitary said on Wednesday. 

BGen. Taharudin P. Ampatuan, assistant division commander of the 11th Infantry "Alakdan" Division, issued the statement following the declaration that four remaining villages in the province were free from the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist on July 27. 

The four villages were Barangay Kagay, Barangay Sawaki, Barangay Tumantangis and Bud Taran all in Indanan. 

Cpt. Omar Pamen, Civil-Military Officer of 1103rd Infantry "Kalis" Brigade who presented the result of the Community Support Program- Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CSP-PCVE), said these villages were declared clear from ASG influence after a series of evaluations and validation.

The military said the surrender of the 21 followers of Radullan Sahiron in June signaled the fall of the terror group.  

The military is still trying to confirm reports that Sahiron had died of a lingering illness. 

Seven other Abu Sayyaf bandits, including suicide bomber Mudzrimar Mundi Sawadjaan, are in the military's order of battle. 

The Philippine Army said it can only declare total victory against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu once it has neutralized Mundi Sawadjaan, who was last monitored in Basilan after escaping from Sulu.

So, it's not that Sulu is Abu Sayyaf-free as much as it is ASG fled Sulu for Basilan. That is only shifting the problem. And who is to say they won't return?

5 ASG members in Basilan surrendered.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/10/5-asg-rebels-yield-in-basilan

Five Abu Sayyaf Group members surrendered to Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, at the 101st Infantry Brigade headquarters in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, Basilan on Wednesday afternoon, September 6.

Two of the surrenderers, alias “Idol” and “Piping,” were part of the Bayali Splinters and had warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The three other surrenderers were identified as Hussin, a supporter of slain ASG leader Furuji Indama, and alias “Rajim” and alias “Man.”

“The surrenders were made possible through the collaborative efforts of the intelligence units, 18th Infantry Battalion, Joint Peace and Security Team, and the local government units of Albarka and Sumisip,” Luzon said.

The surrenderers handed over two 5.56mm M16 rifles, one 40mm grenade launcher, one M1 Garand rifle, and one Colt AR-15.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command commander Major Gen. Steve Crespillo commended JTF Basilan for this accomplishment.

“Rest assured that we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with our partners and stakeholders to sustain peace in Basilan and its neighboring provinces,” Crespillo said.

The police say the MILF and ASG were behind an ambush in Basilan. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/08/24/regions/police-say-milf-asg-behind-basilan-ambush/1906695

Police in the Muslim autonomous region have linked both the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a deadly attack against a convoy of security forces escorting a town vice mayor in the southern province of Basilan.

The revelation came out days after the MILF surrendered, on August 17, two of its fighters who were involved in the August 12 ambush of Vice Mayor Ahmadin Barahim in Unkaya Pukan town's Ulitan village. Barahim was unhurt in the attack, but two security personnel were killed and seven other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

"The victims from 64th Infantry Battalion and Joint Peace Security Team Sumisip, who are on board an AFP KM (military truck) and white Toyota Hilux vehicle (pickup truck), were ambushed by the identified seven MILF-BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) and ASG members using assorted high-powered firearms," the regional police, under BGen. Allan Nobleza, said.

The MILF and ASG working together? Seeing as ASG is a spin off from the MILF it's not so odd. But the MILF clashing with DI does seem rather odd since ASG is called with DI which is ISIS.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209680

A fierce firefight erupted between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya (DI) in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur province on Monday, leaving two DI terrorists dead.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said the clashes between MILF commander Saga Malandag of 118th base command, and the DI Group under commander Abdulnasser Guianid occurred in the outskirts of Barangay Mother Tuayan.

“The fighting erupted at about 5 a.m. in the mountains of Datu Hoffer and lasted for about an hour,” Pangcog said in a radio interview Tuesday, adding that it took several hours for government forces to reach the clash site.

“When our troops arrived at the clash site in the afternoon, they found two dead bodies of DI armed men,” he said.

Pangcog said a long-standing “rido” (family feud) between Guianid and Malandag triggered the skirmishes.

It turns out it was just a family feud.

Despite the AFP claiming a strategic victory against the NPA they continue to clash. 

https://www.panaynews.net/army-reds-clash-anew-in-leon/

Philippine Army troops exchanged fire with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Camandag, Leon, Iloilo yesterday.

Personnel of the 61st Infant Battalion (61IB) were having an offensive operation and checked the information sent to them by concerned citizens, according to Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade.

Samson said the exchange of fire erupted at 12:12 p.m. in a mountainous area near Antique province where the NPA’s Southern Front Committee under Rebecca Alfaro was operating.

Government troops recovered 12 backpacks with personal belongings at the encounter site.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1831823/alleged-npa-killed-in-surigao-del-sur-clash

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops on Monday in Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Army said on Thursday.

The Philippine Army said at least 20 suspected NPA rebels figured in a 10-minute firefight with elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Lumbayagan, Brgy Maticdum in Tandag City on September 11.

“Residents of Sitio Lumbayagan were very wary of the presence of the aforementioned armed group in their area prior to the incident, so they promptly informed the authorities,” the Army said in a statement.

“The troops then responded right away and launched a clearing operation,” the Army added.

 Government forces recovered one M-16 rifle from the suspected rebels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209867

A member of the New People's Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with soldiers on the outskirts of Catubig, Northern Samar, Thursday.

The unidentified armed rebel belonged to a band of 10 insurgents that engaged in a 10-minute gun battle with members of the Philippine Army's 20th Infantry Battalion in upland Anongo village in Catubig town.

Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, Army's 20th IB commander, said soldiers were deployed to carry out the mobile community support and sustainment program operations in the village when they encountered remnants of the Front Committee-15, sub-regional committee, Eastern Visayas regional party committee.

"They were known for their involvement in intimidating, making grave threats, and extorting from the local populace and small businesses in Northern Samar communities," Buban said in a statement.

After the brief clash, the rebels retreated, leaving behind their slain comrade and war materiels, including four backpacks, two hammocks, one 30-round magazine assembly, an M203 empty shell, ammunition, slippers, a cauldron, a water container, a pair of rainboots, and subversive documents.

As can be seen the NPA remains as active as ever.

On Panay and Negros Islands the AFP is looking for seven top NPA leaders before the elections.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209900

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) targets to arrest seven top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay and Negros islands before the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls to ensure peace during the voting exercise.

In an interview on Thursday, Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, chief of the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), said while on the loose, the rebel leaders will be a threat to the election because they can still provide direction to their group,

“If we capture them, there could be a leadership breakdown. If there is no leader, their people could not move due to lack of direction,” said.

He added they are trying to dismantle all remaining guerrilla fronts by Sept. 30, but President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given them until the end of this year to end insurgency so they can already focus on territorial defense.

“We are given the timeline to end the local armed conflict. Their capture would help end the insurgency problem in Panay and Negros,” Javines said.

The Army official also asked for the public's help with any information leading to the arrest of the seven CPP-NPA leaders whose heads carry a total bounty of PHP11.25 million.

Javines said the top leaders are not hiding, but with the armed group in the mountains.

“With the bounty, maybe they would be willing to provide us information leading to their arrest,” he added.

Instead of offering a bounty why doesn't the AFP simply go into the mountains and blast them out? Are they too scared?

Alfred McCoy on How the Philippines Really Lost the West Philippine Sea

China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea is totally ridiculous. If the Philippines were united then perhaps something could be done about it. But as it is the situation has become a blame game with some pundits like Rigoberto Tiglao claiming that President Benigno Aquino III basically gave it away when he withdrew the Philippine Navy. Of course China was also supposed to withdraw but he will never mention that.

But let's get to the root of the matter. How is it China has been able to build military bases within Philippine sovereign territory and how is it that China has been able to run off Philippine fishermen and strut all over the WPS like it owns the place? It all goes back to the expulsion of the US military in 1991. 

Historian and Southeastern Asian expert Alfred McCoy writes the following in his book To Govern the Globe.

 

“As the US became the world’s sole superpower after the Cold War, Brzezinski, a specialist in Eurasia’s elusive geopolitics, warned that Washington should take care to avoid three conditions that could erode its global power—first, the loss of its strategic “perch on the Western periphery” in Europe; next, the rise of “an assertive single entity” in the “middle space” of Eurasia; and finally, “the expulsion of America from its offshore bases” in Asia.

The weakening of those “offshore bases” had already started in 1991 when the Philippines, unwilling to accept Washington’s ambiguous commitment to its defense, refused to extend the lease on the Seventh Fleet’s bastion at Subic Bay. As US Navy tugs towed Subic’s floating dry docks homeward to Pearl Harbor, the Philippines gained full responsibility for its own defense, which it largely failed to fund. As a result, during a raging typhoon three years later, China occupied some shoals in the Spratly Islands—the first step in what would be a stealthy bid for control over the South China Sea and its later challenge to US power in the Pacific. Instead of air and navy patrols, the Philippine military grounded a rusting US-surplus ship on nearby Ayungin Shoal in 1998 to serve as a base for a squad of barefoot soldiers, who were forced to fish for their rations. Meanwhile, in those years the US Navy underwent a 40 percent reduction in its pool of surface warships and attack submarines, further weakening the US position on the Pacific littoral.

Excerpt From: McCoy, Alfred W. “To Govern the Globe," pg. 604-605 ebook version

Why is it so hard for the pundits to get the root of the matter? Because it reveals that the Philippines is totally incompetent and does not have the resources to defend itself. This matter continues to this day with EDCA and detractors saying it is a bad idea. Even Duterte thinks it's a bad idea despite the fact that he signed on to it. 

One sentiment floating around is that the USA wants war with China and the Philippines will simply be a pawn.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/with-new-edca-sites-ph-to-become-us-pawn-in-war-strategy-vs-china/

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino people in condemning the Marcos regime for colluding with the United States in its plan to construct four more military bases in the country as part of its war preparations against China.

By agreeing to let the US military construct more bases and facilities in these sites, the Marcos regime is allowing the United States to use the Philippines as a pawn in its war strategy against China. The Indo-Pacific Security Strategy of the US government aims to encircle China to stifle the growth of its economic and military power.

Marcos is fooling Filipinos when he claimed yesterday that these US military bases and facilities will be “used for humanitarian and relief operations.” The so-called disaster response program of the US military is, in fact, a big screen to obscure the aggressive push of the US to extend and project its military power. To see through the lies of the claim that these facilities will bring jobs to communities, one need only to look at how US military bases in any part of the world have promoted prostitution and other anti-social activities.

In all likelihood, the US will construct facilities to launch long-range missiles in one or more of these EDCA locations. Since 2021, the US Indo-Pacific Command has been planning to construct a network of ground-based missile launching systems along what it calls the “First Island Chain” which includes Japan, Korea, the Philippines and other islands closest to China.

The war theater preparations of the US are centered on stoking Taiwan “independence” in order to provoke China to “own the starting gun” and thus justify its plans to “come to Taiwan’s defense.” In such an event, the Lal-lo international airport will likely serve as a launching pad and rear service area for US jet fighters that will be used by the US in its war against China.

Yeah. So, the USA wants to stoke Taiwan independence so China invades and they come to Taiwan's aid and....then what? Invade China while using the Philippines as a launching pad? Why? It's dumb even if true.

But we don't need conspiracy theories. 

The fact is once the USA was summarily booted from Subic Bay China bided its time and then took over the WPS at the first opportunity. Western historians can acknowledge this fact why can't Philippine politicians also acknowledge it? 

Retards in the Government 327

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/8/coa-flags-doh-over-p1-93-b-doubtful-payments-for-goods-projects-services-in-2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Health (DOH) over the P1.93 billion procurement of goods, infrastructure projects, and consultancy services that "deprived the government of the most advantageous prices and resulted in doubtful payment transactions and significant delays in project completion."

In its 2022 audit report, COA said that the DOH failed to properly comply with Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR), which resulted in "doubtful" payments of P1,932,520,634.94.

It said there were disadvantageous provisions of Covid-19 vaccine supply agreement that placed the government in a vulnerable position, and there was no other choice but to accept since there was a high demand for vaccines and very limited supply.

Citing an example, COA said the supply agreement for the procurement of five million treatments of Sputnik V, Gamaleya Covid-19 vaccines for the National Capital Region (NCR) limited the liability of the vaccine supplier should there be delays in delivery.

It said there were also "confidentiality and non-disclosure" provisions in the vaccines contract as well as in the purchase and supply of one million doses of Sinovac vaccine which "disregarded the basic precept of transparency in government transactions."

"In light of the fact that there was a global shortage of vaccines at the time and supplies were limited, the government was put in a position where it had to accept the terms and conditions of the manufacturers on confidentiality in order to launch a Covid-19 Vaccination Program immediately," COA said.

It found several procedural deficiencies, such as an awarding of a contract to an ineligible bidder in the NCR. The failure of the contractor to provide competent and experienced materials engineer as one of the key personnel for construction and failure to submit original bid security cast doubt on the P208,279,888.87 payment made, it also said.

At the same time, COA said there were also several instances when the DOH resorted to inappropriate modes of procurement. It said in Region I, the DOH made purchases through reimbursement and spent P1,009,583.33. In Regions II, III, and XI, the DOH made procurements using petty cash funds worth P15,793,183.39, P577,308.20, and P31,369, respectively, it said.

COA pointed out delays in the procurement processes. It said that in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), there was a delay in the execution of contracts ranging from two to 119 days from receipt of Notice of Award (NOA) for the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center (BGHMC), which cost P498,766,713.74. The same was true in Region VI for the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH) worth P7,852,664.33, it said.

"These deficiencies may be attributed to the voluminous number of bidding activities being conducted by the DOH, lack of judicious and meticulous procurement planning, failure to conduct early procurement activities, and lack of relevant trainings of personnel assigned in procurement activities, among others," COA said.

"In sum, the noted deficiencies were not only contrary to the pertinent provisions of R.A.  No. 9184 and its RIRR but also deprived the government of the most advantageous prices, resulted in doubtful payment transactions, and had caused significant delays in the project implementation, delivery and distribution of the necessary goods and services to the public," it stressed. 

The COA has flagged the DOH over doubtful payments for goods and services which were inappropriately procured. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209537

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) finding a police official guilty of malversation involving more than PHP7 million in Philippine National Police (PNP) funds, in 1992.

The anti-graft court, in a 31-page decision promulgated Sept. 5 and written by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo, affirmed the ruling of the QC RTC Branch 88 finding former Police Senior Insp. Mercita Eya guilty of malversation.

The lower court had sentenced Eya in two counts of malversation to a total of up to 29 years in prison and to pay fines.

Eya was relieved from her post as collecting officer and fund custodian of the 14th PNP Finance Center Unit in 1995, after an audit discovered missing funds that were part of amounts earmarked for the PNP Scholarship Fund and the PNP Trust Receipts.

The missing amounts were divided into two sums of PHP4.918 million and PHP2.341 million.

"A judicious review of the records of these cases and after a careful evaluation of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and accused-appellant during the trial of these cases as well as the arguments raised in this appeal, the Court finds no reason to disturb the findings of RTC Branch 88 as contained in its questioned joint decision," the tribunal said.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a police officer for graft. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1830355/pnp-900-erring-cops-sacked-from-january-2022-to-august-2023

The Philippine National Police (PNP) removed 935 straying officers from January 2022 to August 2023 as the institution continues to cleanse its ranks.

The PNP reported Tuesday that during the period, it had resolved 4,082 cases involving members who committed wrongdoings, resulting in the dismissal of 935, suspension of 1,850, and demotion of 242 officers.

It added that the resolution of cases also resulted in reprimands (680), forfeiture of salaries (159), restrictions (110), and withholding of privileges (106).

“The PNP is strengthening its Internal Disciplinary Mechanism and intensifies efforts in reiterating the Doctrine of Command Responsibility and Police Operational Procedures to every member on the ground,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a statement.

“We are bringing across our message to the people that the PNP leadership strongly condemns any wrongdoing of its few misguided members,” he added.

935 PNP officers have been removed from the service between January 2022 and August 2023. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/11/corruption-in-ph-can-t-get-solved-in-our-lifetime-ombudsman

A dejected Ombudsman Samuel Martires told congressmen Monday, Sept. 11 that he believed corruption in the Philippines won't get solved within "our lifetime".

Martires, during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the Office of the Ombudsman's 2024 budget, discussed the extent of corruption in the country.

"What's happening now is, we've lost our respect for God, we've lost our respect for ourselves. So, not during our lifetime, we'll be able to solve corruption," he said.

Martires, who heads the body that serves as the investigator of cases of graft and corruption in government, described incidents of corruption in the country as "endemic".

"Now, corruption in the Philippines is becoming like fashion; it becomes a fad," Martires said.

"Because money becomes power; and if you have power, eh talagang...sikat ka.Tumataas po ang incidence mg corruption sa bawat ahensya ng gobyerno. At magugulat po kayo," he told the appropriations panel.

(If you have money, then you're really popular. Corruption incidence is going up in all agencies of government. And you'll be surprised.)

(There are departments in government that you don't realize is corrupt, but is actually more corrupt than other agencies that are corrupt.)

The Ombudsman says corruption is endemic and will not be defeated in our lifetime. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209764

A candidate for the village council of Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur, was killed in an ambush Tuesday afternoon in President Quirino town of this province.

In a report Wednesday, Maj. Davis Dulawan, President Quirino town police chief, said pursuit operations are ongoing against two gunmen on a motorbike who carried out the attack.

The victim, identified as Tayan Mamalinta, 50, was driving his motorbike along the national highway of the town when ambushed by riding-in tandem gunmen around 3 p.m.

The attackers, who remain unidentified, sped off in the interiors of the town following the incident.

Police investigators are also trying to determine if the attack was triggered by a personal grudge or related to next month’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Mamalinta, head of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is seeking a seat in the village council of Barangay Pandag Poblacion, Pandag town, Maguindanao del Sur.

A candidate for village council has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1830646/former-tuguegarao-police-station-chief-nabbed-for-slander

A retired police officer was arrested during a police operation in Tuguegarao last September 8 for slander, according to the Integrity Monitoring Group (IMEG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a report, the IMEG said that its operatives collared 49-year-old Major Arthur Sto. Tomas, formerly assigned to Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group team leader, in a manhunt operation along Maggay Street, Cataggaman, Nuevo.

Police said the operation stemmed from the warrant of arrest issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Second Capital Judicial Region, Branch 1 Presiding Judge Hon. Racquel C. Reyes-Aglaua against Sto. Tomas for the crime of slander.

The suspect committed the offense when he was the chief of the investigation section of Tuguegarao City Police Station in 2017. A client lodged a complaint against Sto. Tomas in the same year after he uttered unpleasant remarks and words against the former.

IMEG said the suspect is now under the Tuguegarao City Police Station’s custody for documentation.

It added that the operation is part of the police force’s campaign against wanted active and former officers or officials.

An ex-cop has been nabbed for slander. 

https://palawan-news.com/nea-dismisses-paleco-board-director-suspends-another-following-audit-of-past-irregularities/

The National Electrification Administration has removed one member from the current board of directors of Palawan Electric Cooperative and imposed a 90-day suspension on another following an audit on the cooperative that covered its actions from as early as 2004 to mid-2017, including irregularities in the procurement of wood utility poles and entering into contracts for sitio and barangay electrification.

Palawan News sources said the administration committee of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), based on a decision released almost seven years later, has removed Moises Arzaga Jr. from his role as the District II board of directors (BOD), while Maylene Ballares, the BOD for District I, has been suspended for a three-month period.

According to the source, every board of directors who served from 2004 to 2017, during the time of Jo Tan Paredes as chairman and Ponciano Payuyo as Paleco general manager, were discovered to have committed infractions. However, Arzaga and Ballares are the only ones who remain in their positions, having won in recent district elections.

"They are the only ones with a penalty now because they are still serving, but the others already have a record, they already have a decision. Others cannot be dismissed because they are no longer there. But if they are still there, they will be dismissed," the source claimed.

"This is the questionable purchase of the wood pole. He is a millionaire and the bidding is questionable," added the source.

Arzaga and Ballares, the source further claimed, are among those being investigated in the ongoing inquiry regarding discrepancies uncovered during the second audit, which covers the timeframe from June 2017 to April 2022.

Additionally, approximately 20 Paleco employees have been issued summonses by the NEA to provide explanations concerning issues connected to this matter.

"This ongoing investigation in the second audit is about many things. All transactions of the coop are audited—bidding, hiring, everything that is done. Institutional like the Commission on Audit,” explained the source.

The NEA ruling regarding Arzaga and Ballares for the period spanning from 2004 to the middle of 2017 is described as "immediately executory subject to appeal."

The NEA has dismissed a board director of PALECO and suspended another for irregularities in the procurement process.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Sex Tourism Resurgence, Teenage Pregnancy, and More!

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

It has now come to the public's attention that the top executives of PhilHealth TRIPLED their salaries during the pandemic. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1827456/pargas-palace-approved-philhealth-top-execs-tripling-of-pay-during-pandemic

Top executives of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) tripled their salaries in accordance with an executive order (EO) issued by Malacañang in 2021.

Philhealth spokesperson Israel Francis Pargas said on Wednesday.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing for the budget of the Department of Health, Pargas made the clarification after Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Ray Reyes asked about the Commission on Audit (COA) report stating the salary increase.

According to COA’s annual report released last month, PhilHealth’s key management personnel received P71.45 million in 2022, around triple compared to just P26.2 million in 2021.

“What is the basis of the increase of your salary? You tripled it, eh,” Reyes questioned Philhealth officials.

Pargas answered on behalf of the officials of the government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

“Our salary was increased based on an executive order,” Pargas said.

He was referring to EO Number 150 Series of 2021 issued during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The EO approved the Compensation and Position Classification System framework developed by Governance Commission for GOCCs or GCG.

Pargas said Philhealth applied to the GCG, which approved the certification process, tripling the officials’ salaries.

“We were granted the salary increase as certified by the GCG coming from the EO,” he said.

Reyes was surprised upon learning that Philhealth had applied for the tripling of salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You guys had the guts to actually, during the middle of a pandemic, to triple your salaries?” the lawmaker was perplexed.

Pargas tried to justify the request by citing that the EO that allowed the pay hike came from Palace and not from Philhealth.

“I would like to check that the EO is not coming from Philhealth, but was coming from Malacañang as part of standardizing the salaries of all GOCCs,” he said.

“So it’s not only for Philhealth, but for all GOCCs which underwent the same process,” he added.

This came straight from Duterte and might make sense but Duterte would have to be asked to justify it. As it is PhilHealth was not the only GOCC which had their salaries increased.

Marcs has hailed the World Bank for helping the Philippines recover from the pandemic. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/881530/marcos-hails-world-bank-for-its-desirable-shift-to-help-ph-economy-after-pandemic/story/

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has lauded the World Bank for what he described as a "desirable shift" in its programs to address emerging challenges in the Philippines after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos had a bilateral engagement with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga on Thursday at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"I have to commend the World Bank because now I’m looking at the list of the programs and projects in the pipeline. And there you can see the very desirable shift from what we were doing before to what we are doing now, post-pandemic," Marcos told Banga.

Marcos expressed hope for the success of the programs that aim to boost the resiliency and sustainability of the financial sector following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos said the Philippines has been a recipient of various grants from the World Bank for many decades. He said this includes the recently-granted Philippine Second Financial Sector Reform Development Policy financing that amounts to $600 million.

The said loan seeks to make the agriculture and fisheries sectors more competitive, sustainable, and technology-based.

According to the Department of Finance, the project covers 82 provinces across all the regions of the country, with a focus on areas where about half of the Philippines’ 109.03-million agriculture and fisheries population reside.

Even so the Philippines will be return excess loans to the World Bank. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/881725/philippines-to-return-excess-320m-pandemic-loan-to-world-bank-diokno/story/

The Philippines is set to return to the World Bank about $320 million in excess loans for the country's COVID-19 pandemic response, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

"About $320 million, the excess in the pandemic," Diokno told reporters during his weekly chat with the Finance press corps.

"The advice of the World Bank is to return it, then come up with a new program," the Finance chief said.

The previous administration embarked on an aggressive borrowing spree to boost the state's war chest to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ramped-up borrowing spree bloated the country's debt-to-gross domestic ratio—the size of the state's debt relative to the size of the economy—to 63.5%, the highest in 17 years and well over the internationally recommended threshold of 60% .

Diokno said the "excess" loans were supposed to be used to procure vaccines.

"Buy a vaccine. [But] many people donated vaccines to us," he said.

The Finance chief said his department has already written to the World Bank about the government's intent to return the excess loans.

"We've written already. Soon, within the month," Diokno said.

Well, that sounds good and hopefully it has some effect on the economy. 

Most Filipino CEOs say they have recovered from the pandemic. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/12/2295651/83-percent-ceos-say-firms-have-recovered-pandemic

A majority of chief executive officers (CEOs) expect their companies’ revenues to be higher than pre-pandemic levels, a survey of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and PwC Philippines showed.

Results of the MAP-PwC 2023 CEO Survey showed that 83 percent of CEOs reported that their companies have recovered from the impact of COVID-19.

The survey also found that 62 percent of CEOs are expecting their revenues to be higher than pre-pandemic levels this year.

Twenty-five percent of the CEO respondents said they expect their revenues to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic level, while 36 percent expect theirs to be slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

In addition, 17 percent of CEOs said they expect their revenues to be back to pre-pandemic levels this year.

On the other hand, 15 percent of CEOs are projecting revenues to be slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels, while seven percent are expecting revenues to be significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Findings of the survey also showed that infrastructure development, domestic consumption and the business process outsourcing (BPO) and services sector would be the key drivers of the economy in the next 12 months, according to CEOs.

Similarly, 54 percent of the CEOs believe that global economic growth will improve in the next 12 months.

Despite the optimism of CEOs, the report noted that businesses face threats from inflation, macroeconomic instability, cyber risks and supply chain constraints.

“To address these challenges, CEOs are reducing operating costs, diversifying product/service offerings, investing in upskilling their workforce and deploying technology in their operations,” MAP-PwC said.

MAP president Benedicta Du-Baladad noted that Philippine business leaders have achieved stability and growth.

“Philippine business leaders have faced serious threats, but they have risen to the occasion and found new opportunities for growth through creativity and innovation. The pandemic has forced them to adapt to the changing business landscape and they have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before,” Du-Baladad said.

Although the CEOs believe that the government’s performance in infrastructure development, forging stronger relationships with other nations and promoting foreign investments has been satisfactory so far, they also note that there is still room for improvement.

The CEOs suggest that the government prioritize improving the ease of doing business in the Philippines and enhancing technology and infrastructure across the country to further boost collaborations with other countries.

“The government’s support is crucial in ensuring that businesses continue to thrive amid the challenges. We need to work together towards a more favorable business environment that fosters innovation and growth,” Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines chairman and senior partner Roderick Danao said.

The MAP-PwC survey gathered insights from 157 business leaders from various industries.

Well, good for the rich. What about the poor? It seems teen pregnancy is up!

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/09/10/when-children-bear-children-teenage-pregnancy-in-phl-seen-rising-post-pandemic-signaling-new-trend-for-younger-childbearing/

Early childbearing is seen to become more prevalent anew in the Philippines, as it breeds an alarming new trend post-pandemic, when restrictive health protocols on social or physical distancing is no longer in effect, following the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine government’s declaration of the end of Covid-19 being a health emergency here and abroad.

“Teenage pregnancy is a health and social economic issue in the Philippines and around the world, not only because pregnancy rates among teenagers remain significantly high, but also and most importantly, because of its implication on the growth, development and well-being of both a pregnant teenage mom and her child during the pregnancy and after childbirth,” said Vanessa G. Retuerma, director of Strategy Management, Impact and Learning Department of World Vision, during the Policy Forum on Teenage Pregnancy in Eastern Visayas held by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and World Vision on September 6 in Tacloban City, Leyte.

According to Retuerma, the lifecycle of a child’s development lasts until the teenage years—a very crucial stage where children’s bodies grow and develop physically, discover their interests and talents, begin to dream and aspire, and learn how to navigate life through their education, experiences and relationship.

“So there are many factors that we need to consider for us to ensure that all children meet their needs to help them grow healthy, well nourished, be educated, be protected and, most importantly, be empowered,” she said.

Based on the 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the adolescent birth rate seems to have been declining from 56 in 2020 to 25 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. This trend follows even in regional levels like for Eastern Visayas, wherein it’s also the case for 245 respondents of the same age group of the female populace in the region, dropping to 4.7 percent last year from 6.9 percent recorded in 2017.

“Such statistics had quite gone down a little bit as we take into consideration the existence of the pandemic [during the time] that actually limited the interaction of our adolescents aged 15 to 19 with their respective peers. But based on the study, it is expected to rise again starting 2022 when the pandemic slackened and seems that we’re now in to face-to-face,” Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 8 Director Elnora R. Pulma told reporters in a briefing during the forum.

That's a little counterintuitive. One would think pregnancies would go up during the pandemic. 

Now that tourism is coming back the BI is looking out for sex tourists. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209687

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday assured stricter watch of the country's borders to prevent the entry of foreign offenders amid the threat of sex tourism resurgence. 

 

“We warn these predators not to attempt to enter the country, as we have close coordination with different governments, who provide us information about sex offenders that might attempt to enter the Philippines,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement. 

 

The statement was issued following reports of entry attempts of five registered sex offenders (RSO) in various ports within a week since Aug. 30. 

 

RSO refers to an individual convicted of sexual crimes under their country's record. 

 

Tansingco said the threat of sex tourism resurgence may have stemmed from the reopening of the country's economy. 

 

“With the return of tourism also comes the return of aliens who will try to abuse our hospitality,” he said. 

While I can't comment from experience but I am well aware Filipinas are very accommodating. If you know what I mean. 

The DOH has released the results of a survey taken eight months ago. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/12/doh-unveils-2023-covid-19-mobile-phone-survey-results-public-compliance-with-open-space-regulations

These findings, said the DOH, underscore the importance of adherence to minimum public health standards in open spaces and transportation, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the Philippines.

A significant 83.4 percent of Filipinos who visited enclosed public places found them to be well-ventilated aligning with public health guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

This is based on the 2023 Covid-19 mobile phone survey conducted by the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Epidemiology Bureau.

This comprehensive survey, conducted in February 2023, gathered data from 2,326 individuals aged 18 and above through SMS and mobile web platforms. The findings of the survey were posted on the DOH Facebook page on Sept. 11.

The DOH emphasized that the insights derived from the 2023 Philippines Covid-19 mobile phone survey have the potential to significantly enhance the available data for shaping the government's response to the ongoing pandemic.

The survey covered various aspects of Covid-19, including behavior, exposure, knowledge, perceptions, care management, and treatment, which can inform policies and resource allocation related to the Covid-19 response.

The policy implications stemming from the results are expected to play a pivotal role in guiding the government's pandemic response efforts.

These findings, said the DOH, will be instrumental in shaping future strategies and initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DOH underscored that the survey results will provide valuable guidance for the department as it continues to refine and strengthen its Covid-19 response efforts.

Why did it take them so long to collate this data?

The God Culture: Message To Congress

In late August 2023 Timothy Jay Schwab, also known as The God Culture, gave a talk in Davao at a conference hosted by Bishop Rod Cubos. Tim has posted a few selections from that lecture online and that is what I wish to discuss. 

Is Philippines Ophir? Recent News. Live in Davao. Message to Congress.

A message to Congress? But Tim is on record saying that The God Culture is apolitical. 

Ancient Prophecy Philippines: MARCOS Prophesied! The Life of Lam-Ang. Solomon's Gold Series 15B

3:40 Before we start The God Culture does not support political parties and that's not what this video is about. We don't endorse anyone, neither candidate nor nobody. We said nothing of this election that just took place. Not a word. 

Ok, that only says that Tim does not support any political parties which is fine since it would be illegal for him to do so as a foreigner. But that does not mean he is apolitical. His entire message that the Philippines will rise in the last days to condemn the New World Order is drenched in politics. Let us not forget that he claims The Ophir Institute, which he founded is a think tank. 

https://www.ophirinstitute.com/bio

The Ophir Institute is a think tank in the Philippines that has focused on the mystery of the pre-colonial history of our country.

And what is the definition of a think tank?

A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government or are associated with particular political parties or businesses. Think-tank funding often includes a combination of millionaire donations and individual contributions, with many also accepting government grants.

Think tanks publish articles, studies or even draft legislation on particular matters of policy or society. This information is then readily used by governments, businesses, media organizations, social movements or other interest groups as part of their goals. Think tanks range from those associated with highly academic or scholarly activities to those that are overtly ideological and pushing for particular policy, with widely differing quality of research among them. Later generations of think tanks have tended to be more ideologically-oriented.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_tank

It is not clear if Tim has written any policy papers to be submitted to Congress but he has declared he is ready to appear before Congress to "restore these facts."

45:17 We will restore these facts. If we have to go to Congress ourselves we will restore these facts.

In fact the ground work is being laid as Tim claims his fraudulent book and videos are being taught in at least one COLLEGE classroom in the Philippines. 

1:01:35 Of course we we understand there's a lot of professors out there whose jobs are at stake if they took a stand for this. But do you know there are some that are teaching this in classrooms? I won't expose them but there's one who asked us for Solomon's Treasure and we sent them copies for their classrooms. There's another one that's using the videos and they're actually showing Solomon's Gold Series in the college classroom.

Imagine this morons book being taught in a college classroom. It is unfathomable. 

But Timothy Jay Schwab does have a message for Congress. Here it is:

What an Amazing Typo! It Should be Rappler not Rapper.

1:02:46 I want to do a little something if you don't mind. I'd like to give Congress an answer today. Will you do that? Will you rise to your feet with me? Will everyone stand to your feet ?And I want to do a little exercise, just a little exercise and I'm going to make sure this makes it to Congress, all right? This is our response to the Philippines as Ophir. We're going to say bring back Ophir. Amen? Let's do this. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir.

How can Tim guarantee this response will make it back to Congress? Obviously he has connections. 

This video is so ridiculous and is full of the same nonsense Tim has taught for the past six years to Filipinos and then some. I am not going to rehash his erroneous worldview. Do see my God Culture archive for all that matter. 

What is to be noted here is that Tim is not a backwoods hick who caught Youtube fame on a lark. He is being supported by a lot of wealthy backers. Don't forget Timothy Jay Schwab once had a ritual dinner with the Lakanate of Tondo where he was given a secret name. 

This particular conference was put on by Bishops Rod and Ruth Cubos in Davao City. What are they Bishops of you might ask? Their own kingdom. They are not real Bishops but Tim loves them so much. What a hypocrite to spit on the Church and endorse these fake Bishops. 

Now, this video is basically a response to Congressman Dan Fernandez's privilege speech where he claimed the Philippines is Ophir and should be renamed as such. In this video Tim complains about people and groups such as Rappler dismissing the Philippines being Ophir without even reading his book. As if his book is the end all be all case for the Philippines being Ophir. Since it is a poorly written, poorly researched, and poorly argued book Timothy Jay Schwab should hope it never goes mainstream and he never appears before Congress to deliver his false message.