Retards in the Government 342

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

 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/544152/former-barangay-councilor-nabbed-with-p136000-shabu-in-cebu-city

A former councilor of Barangay Sto. Niño in Cebu City will be spending some time in jail after authorities caught him with P136,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Quiot Pardo on Thursday morning, December 7, 2023.

The arrested person was identified as 47-year-old Brian Dwight Gaviola, who formerly worked as a barangay councilor and is now jobless.

The alleged suspect is a resident of Barangay Quiot Pardo, Cebu City.

The anti-illegal drugs operation was conducted at around 9:30 a.m. which lead to the arrest of the suspect.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) also described the arrested person as a drug personality listed in the PDEA-PNP regional target list.

Gaviola reportedly served as a councilor in Barangay Sto. Niño until October 2023 after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

According to Leia Alcantara, PDEA-7 spokesperson, they initially received reports about Gaviola’s involvement in illegal drugs activities while he was still in the position. 

Operatives then validated the information they received until they were able to gather enough evidence against Gaviola. Alacantara relayed that the case buildup took one month before the buy-bust was implemented.

She said that based on their observation, Gaviola could dispose around 30 grams of illegal drugs per week.

During the operation, personnel confiscated 5 packs of illegal drugs believed to be shabu weighing around 20 grams. The seized illegal drugs had a market value of P136,000.

They also confiscated one cellular phone, IDs, one motorcycle, and cash amounting to P3,000.

According to the agency, the pieces of drug evidence will be submitted to the laboratory for chemical analysis and proper disposition.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by joint forces of PDEA-7 and Labangon Police Station. 

As of this writing, Gaviola has been placed under custody pending the filing of appropriate charges against him. 

Charges of possession and selling of dangerous drugs will likely be filed against the former barangay councilor, stated PDEA-7. 

A former barnagay councilor has been arrested for selling drugs. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1872511/rejecting-claims-of-evidence-planting-chain-of-custody-violation-ex-ozamiz-city-vice-mayor-nova-parojinog-gets-life-for-drugs

Former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Quezon City Court despite her claim that the police planted evidence following her family’s inclusion in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco list.”

Parojinog was meted with a penalty of life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 after she was found guilty of illegal possession of 677.6796 grams of shabu.

“There is no doubt in the mind of the Court that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of illegal possession of 677.6796 grams of shabu,” the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 said.

Parojinog was arrested on July 30, 2017, in Barangay San Roque in Ozamiz City during a raid where her father, former mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., mother Susan, her brother and sister, and 12 others were killed.

Her defense centered on her claim that the government was “impelled by an evil motive” following her family’s inclusion in Duterte’s narco list. She said the policemen planted shabu inside her cabinet drawer to justify the case against her.

But the court said: “When the case is up for trial, the judicial head is empty as to facts involved, and it is incumbent upon the litigants to establish by evidence the facts upon which they rely.”

However, the court said the claim of planting evidence was bare and “unsupported by proof.”

A former Vice Mayor has been convicted on drug charges. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1872548/village-chief-in-pangasinan-town-slain

The village chief of Poblacion in this town was shot to death late Thursday, Dec. 7, by still-unidentified assailants, police said.

Investigators said Melinda Morillo, 60, was attacked at 6 p.m. as she was driving her sports utility vehicle while heading to her second house in Barangay Tebag.

Police said Morillo’s car was shot several times, causing her to suffer multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was taken to the Region I Medical Center Annex in Bonuan, Dagupan City, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Policemen were searching for possible witnesses and reviewing security camera footage to identify the suspects and their escape route.

Another village chief has been assassinated. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215078

The Sandiganbayan has convicted of graft charges former Lazi, Siquijor mayor Orville Fua and four others for their part in the purchase of PHP4.99 million worth of fertilizer in 2004.

The anti-graft court, in its 85-page decision dated Dec. 7, also found guilty town secretary Sue Agnes Castillon, municipal engineer Natalio Jumawan Jr, municipal treasurer Rose Marie Tomogsoc, and private individual Merlyn Lu, a representative of the firm Mangopina Trading, which figured in the transactions.

They were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to 10 years and barred perpetually from holding public office. 

They were charged for their part in entering into a contract for the town’s purchase of 2,096 bottles of MRG Liquid Fertilizer at PHP1,550 per bottle and 1,258 bags of Del Gro Super Foliar Fertilizers at PHP1,550 per bag for a total of PHP4.99 million after tax.

The transaction had been in violation of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. Other charges include the premature issuance of the purchase request, reference to brand names, lack of performance security bond, and lack of proof of the project’s implementation.

"In sum, the court holds that accused Castillon, Jumawan, Tomogsoc and Fua's blatant violations of the applicable procurement laws, rules, and regulations reveal their common criminal design to rig the purported public bidding in this case to unduly favor Mangopina,” the court said. 

A former mayor and four others have been found guilty of graft.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/8/sandigan-laments-kamag-anak-preference-in-gov-t-transaction-affirms-conviction-of-barangay-officials-on-graft-charge

In a decision written by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, chairperson of the court’s seventh division, the Sandiganbayan affirmed the judgment of conviction meted out by the regional trial court (RTC) on two barangay officials for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

The RTC found Barangay Captain Roy Hunnob of Dulao, Lagawe, Ifugao and Treasurer Salvador Galeon guilty of graft.  They were sentenced to six to nine years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Initially, the RTC ruling was elevated to the Court of Appeals (CA) which affirmed the conviction.  However, the Supreme Court (SC) – ruling that the CA has no jurisdiction on the appeal – vacated the CA’s decision and remanded the case to the Sandiganbayan.

The charge against Hunnob and Galeon arose from the payment in 2007 of P67,200 to Caroline B. Hunnob, sister of the barangay captain, for the “fictitious delivery” of a 25-horsepower speedboat.

In their appeal, the barangay captain and the treasurer told the anti-graft court that the RTC erred in its finding that they gave unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference to Caroline in the discharge of their functions.

They claimed that Hunnob's relationship to the speedboat supplier is not proof enough to hold them liable for graft because both of them acted in good faith.

In affirming the conviction, the anti-graft court said: "What happened in this case is the very evil the law sought to avoid. Despite a failed public bid, assuming one was indeed made in the first place, the fact that the contract was eventually awarded to the sister of the barangay captain, who had control over the procurement process as head of the procuring entity, spells nothing but suspicion of favoritism and anomalies in the execution of public contracts."

The court said that Caroline should have been automatically disqualified from the procurement process, and failing to disqualify her was a "blatant disregard of the law and legal processes."

A barangay captain and town treasurer have been found guilty of graft. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/9/leyte-village-dad-nabbed-in-buy-bust

A 51-year-old barangay councilor or “kagawad” was nabbed in a buy-bust operation in interior Barangay Quezon, MacArthur, Leyte, on Friday, December 8.

The suspect was identified as Joel Coderes, 51, a resident and official of Barangay Quezon.

Coderes was listed as a high-value individual in the illegal drugs trade by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-8 (Eastern Visayas) and the Philippine National Police.

He was apprehended by a joint PDEA-Leyte and MacArthur Municipal Police Station team after he sold P500 worth of suspected from a poseur-buyer.

Coderes yielded 4.02 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P27,700.

The suspect was previously arrested for the same offense and had been monitored for alleged illegal drug activities.

Coderes was taken to the MacArthur MPS and drug-related cases are being prepared against him.

A barnagay councilor has been arrested for drugs.  

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/9/drunk-disordely-cop-chief-in-misamis-oriental-sacked

The municipal police chief of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental was sacked from his post after he went viral on social media for brandishing his gun to a group of young individuals while allegedly drunk before dawn on Friday, December 8.

Viral videos posted by Facebook user Narabo Costo that had 3,000 shares showed a policeman allegedly under the influence of alcohol harassing a group of young individuals in the town plaza around 3 a.m.

Costo said in a post that the victims were just in the area to eat in a street food stall when the police officer shouted at them and drew his service firearm.

The uploader added that they went to the Tagoloan police station to report the incident but police personnel at that time did not listen to them and even asked him to delete the video as this could ruin their reputation.

In a statement released on Friday, the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office confirmed that Tagoloan Municipal Police Station chief Police Capt. Enrique Dungog was the police officer involved in the incident.

Misamis Oriental police chief Police Col. Cholijun Caduyac said they are currently conducting a thorough investigation on the incident and vowed that any misconduct committed by their policemen would be dealt with accordingly.

“MORPPO strongly condemns the wrongdoing of our men. We guarantee that there will be no whitewash in the investigation, and any infractions and misconduct perpetrated by our policemen will be dealt with accordingly and will never be tolerated,” Caduyac said.

Dungong and two other police personnel have been relieved from their positions and assignments to prevent them from influencing the investigation.

A local police chief has been relieved of his position after being caught on video being drunk and waving his gun around. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1875258/quezon-village-councilman-nabbed-for-illegal-firearms-bullets

Police arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 13, a barangay (village) councilor in San Antonio town in Quezon province for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The Quezon police reported Thursday, Dec. 14, that law enforcers swooped down on the suspect’s house, identified as alias “Jacinto,” 55, in Barangay Callejon on Wednesday morning.

The raiders, armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Agripino Bravo of the Regional Trial Court in this city, found one caliber .30 carbine with a magazine, 25 bullets; one caliber .38 pistol, two magazines, 24 bullets; one caliber .9mm pistol, two magazines, 19 bullets; and seven bullets for caliber .40 pistol, all undocumented.

The suspect is detained at the local police jail and faces charges of violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The confiscated firearms would be subjected to ballistic and cross-matching examinations to determine if they had been used in past crime incidents.

A village councilor has been arrested for illegal possession of firearms. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Allowances to be Fully Paid by 2026, Red Alert, and More!

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

Health workers have been clamoring for their backpay for years. Now the DOH says the money will be fully paid by 2026.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1871210/doh-covid-19-allowances-to-be-fully-paid-by-2026

It may take the Department of Health (DOH) three years, or until 2026, to pay in full its past-due obligations amounting to P62.9 billion to all eligible health-care workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday told lawmakers.

Asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros during his confirmation hearing in Congress about the projected timeline for the full release of the pending health emergency allowances (HEAs), Herbosa said it could take three years, “or shorter, hopefully.”

Last month, the DOH said the estimated arrears covered the period from July 1, 2021, to July 20 this year.

The allowances for eligible health workers are provided under Republic Act No. 11712, or the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, which was enacted on April 27, 2022.

Under the law, healthcare workers are entitled to HEAs for every month of service while the country is under a state of public health emergency. It sets an allowance of P3,000 for those deployed in low-risk areas, P6,000 for those in medium-risk areas and P9,000 for those in high-risk areas.

Since 2021, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it has released a total of P64.17 billion to cover the payment of some 4.36 million COVID-19 allowances and compensation claims of eligible health workers.

Herbosa maintained that the DOH had consistently sought funding from the budget department for the unpaid HEAs.

“Is it possible that the timetable will be shortened? Because you said at the latest, within three years. At the earliest, what can the department do?” Hontiveros asked Herbosa, who was confirmed at the hearing as the country’s health chief.

Citing the DBM, Herbosa responded that the unprogrammed funds could be released by the DBM as long as the country’s tax collection improves.

“The [DBM] said that the collection rate was low in 2021 and 2022, and that’s the reason they can’t disburse all the funds,” Herbosa noted. “But if our growth rate is high, I think there will be money to actually release it earlier.”

According to Herbosa, the remaining arrears for COVID-19 benefits from 2021 to 2023 covered about two million remaining health-care workers who have yet to receive their mandated HEAs in full.

About eight million eligible healthcare workers had already claimed their allowances, he said.

That is two years of back pay! It will be a miracle if it is paid at all. 

More tourists from Thailand are visiting the Philippines post-pandemic. 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/223943/more-thai-tourists-to-arrive-in-ph-after-love-the-ph-campaign

A Thai official said that more tourists will arrive in the Philippines, especially after the Department of Tourism’s “Love the Philippines” campaign.

“With the “LOVE the Philippines” campaign, we foresee that more Thai tourists, particularly those beach and diving lovers, will be traveling to the Philippines,” Thailand ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat said.

Traisorat made the statement on the National Day of the Kingdom of Thailand on December 5, which also coincides with the birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of Thailand, and the Thai Fathers’ Day.

The official also observed that the number of Filipino tourists and the number of Thai tourists visiting each other’s countries have been high in comparison to pre-pandemic years.

“The number of Filipino tourists travelling to “Amazing Thailand” has been consistently high while the number of Thai tourists coming to the Philippines has been doubled from the pre-COVID level,” Traisorat added.

But the number of Filipino tourists traveling to Thailand has remained steady.

The COVD-19 pandemic messed up everything. Here is another one of those things, programs for evaluation of effective governance. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215088

The House of Representatives is committed to pursuing program and project monitoring and evaluation as an aspect of governance, and to helping achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in reducing poverty, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said Thursday.

He made the assurance in a speech keynoting the 4th Asia-Pacific Evaluation Association (APEA) Conference Parliament Day in Congress.

“The House leadership is fully committed to the aspirations of the 4th APEA Conference to institutionalize evidence-based decision-making for national development and the SDGs,” Romualdez told the participants of the conference’s Parliament Day.

He pointed out that the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., for the first time includes the enactment of a National Evaluation Policy (NEP) as a priority.

“This policy is a testament to our commitment to improving governance quality and promoting efficiency in our bureaucratic processes,” he said.

He informed the conference that the House has proposed to include NEP as a “key legislative measure” to be prioritized by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“The enactment of this policy will strengthen our legal and institutional framework for conducting regular evaluations of government interventions, fostering a culture of evaluation in the public sector,” Romualdez said.

The strategy is in line with the country’s international commitments to the United Nations on strengthening national evaluation capacity, serving as a key strategy to achieve the SDGs, he added.

“Effective monitoring and evaluation are at the heart of good governance. They allow us to gauge the impact of our policies, learn from our successes and failures, and make informed decisions. In the Philippines, we are integrating monitoring and evaluation into our governance processes, ensuring that our interventions are not just well-intentioned but well-informed and effective,” he stressed.

On attaining the SDGs, Romualdez said the 2030 deadline is a challenge for parliamentarians to “act swiftly and strategically” despite the fiscal constraints shadowing many nations, including the Philippines.

He noted that the 2023 United Nations SDG Report paints a sobering picture of the global community grappling with poverty, hunger, and climate change.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic, in tandem with ongoing armed conflicts and climate crises, has not only stalled but in many cases reversed progress.

“As we witness learning losses, rising poverty, and growing inequality, it is a clarion call to reinvigorate our efforts,” he said.

Imagine that. The lockdowns stalled and reversed progress in evaluating government corruption! Who would have thought?

The pandemic screwed up education around the world including the Philippines. What will save the children? More money of course!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/08/2317274/gatchalian-calls-more-funds-education

If the government were as serious in dealing with the current education crisis as it was in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children would have been helped in improving their learning proficiencies, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday as he called for support in pouring financial resources into the education sector.

Speaking during the Department of Education’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) forum, the senator said there is a need for the government to bankroll the sector’s learning recovery efforts amid worsening literacy and numeracy rates among schoolchildren.

“We are facing an education crisis. When the pandemic hit, we poured funds so we could leave the situation as quickly as possible. If we don’t pour resources towards learning recovery, our rise from being inundated in this education crisis will be excruciatingly slow,” Gatchalian said in Filipino.

Aside from the dismal performance of the Philippines in the 2022 PISA, the assessment also highlighted the difference in investments poured by each country toward education.

There are schools with no or poor classrooms and they think funneling more money to the DepEd will solve the crisis. Hint: it won't!

There is a new documentary about how Fil-ams in Texas experienced the pandemic. 

https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/documentary-examines-the-pandemic-and-racial-reckoning-through-the-eyes-of-filipino-texans/

The COVID-19 lockdown era was, in some ways, defined by isolation but also by the power of community – particularly with the rise of racial justice protests after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd.

Austin-based filmmaker PJ Raval weaves in both themes as examines the most turbulent issues of the era through the self-documented stories of three young Filipinas in “Who We Become.”

Raval spoke with the Standard about why he made the film and what he hopes audiences will take away.

“Who We Become” is currently streaming on Netflix.

Texas Standard: I understand directing this film gave you some hope during a very trying time. Can you talk about that a bit? 

PJ Raval: I think we’re living in such turbulent, unprecedented times. There’s a lot of division and a lot of divisiveness. And I think that certainly is reflected also at home for some people.

And I think in this film, we see three individuals equally passionate about what they believe in and what they think. I’ve been calling it a little bit of a coming-of-age documentary because we really do witness them kind of coming into their own. And they’re not afraid to share this with their families, even though they know that their families may hold different opinions and different perspectives.

So, in a lot of ways, I’m hoping that it will inspire people to do the same.

For a lot of people, I think 2020 seems so long ago in some ways. But the film’s release still resonates. What were you trying to communicate here? 

Sadly, there has been a lot that’s changed and not changed, right? We’re coming up against an election soon. You know, there’s still the COVID, you know, the virus is still out there. And sadly, there will be a continuation of violence against communities of color despite the changing times.

And so these are things that even though the film is covering them starting in 2020, these things kind of remain. And I think by watching the film, I think what people will realize is what it takes to change these things truly are the community participating and binding together, right? And trying to figure out a way to have a sense of allyship and solidarity amongst each other and recognize that we’re all hopefully working towards the same good.

Sounds interesting. No doubt they experienced the pandemic differently than actual Filipinos. 

More fear mongering as the OCTA says COVID positivity rate could ballon to 15%.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/06/23/covid-positivity-rate-could-rise-to-15-percent-octa-research

OCTA Research confirmed Wednesday an increase in COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila, with positivity rate at 10 percent compared to 7 percent the previous week.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the positivity rate is similar to previous surges of COVID-19 infections "except Omicron when the surge was really high." 

"Nakakapagtaka pero hindi naman siguro nakakagulat," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview, noting the increase in flu-like illnesses in the country. 

He also pointed out that the increase in COVID-19 cases is despite the lack of COVID-19 testing centers. "'Yung COVID-19 cases natin most likely underreported...Most likely 10 times 'yung bilang," he said. 

He also warned the positivity rate could go as high as 15 percent in the coming months. "Hindi pa ito todo, tataas pa ito...Huwag naman sana siya umabot ng 20 percent," he said. 

Oh and it could go even as high as 20%!! What is 20% of the population? 22,000,000!!! Ridiculous. Right now there are way less infections than that. But of course they have to resort to the "underreported" which is pure speculation.

Quezon City is on red alert as COVID-19 cases rise.  The Christmas season is being blamed. Also chilly weather is being blamed. Chilly weather in the Philippines!!

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/12/10/2317773/quezon-city-red-alert-covid-19-cases-rise

The Quezon City government yesterday urged citizens to practice precautionary measures amid the rising number of COVID cases.

In an advisory, the local government said it has raised the “red status alert” in its COVID-19 early warning system.

This was after it reported an average of 27 new cases per day from Dec. 4 to 7, up 57.9 percent the previous week.

The average positivity rate based on tests conducted is at 14.55 percent, while the average daily attack rate is at .85 per 100,000 people.

While the actual number of cases remains low, the city said the red status was raised due to the growth rate of more than 50 percent and the average positivity rate of more than five percent.

In June 2022, the QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QCESU) devised an early warning system to monitor cases, analyze trends and recommend necessary measures to prevent an outbreak.

QCESU chief Dr. Rolando Cruz attributed the rise in cases to get-togethers and parties this Christmas season and the relaxed COVID restrictions such as wearing of masks.

“We have seen in the past years during the height of the pandemic that holiday seasons really attract more cases. Since the chilly weather can also affect the immunity of our people, we would like to remind our QCitizens to remain vigilant especially for COVID-like symptoms such as cough, colds and fever,” he said.

Mayor Joy Belmonte also urged residents to implement personal precautionary measures such as wearing of masks in public and staying indoors when experiencing symptoms.

“These are basic precautionary measures that we have been doing for the past years. It is important that we continue implementing this for our safety especially now that cases are rising,” she added.

As of Dec. 7, there are 186 active COVID-19 cases recorded in Quezon City.

186 cases as of December 7th and they are on Red alert! When will the madness end?

Probably not any time soon as COVID-19 cases are up 36% this week nationwide. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1874127/doh-says-1821-more-get-covid-19-from-dec-5-to-11

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it recorded 1,821 new COVID-19 infections from December 5 to 11, surpassing the number of cases reported in the preceding week.

The latest count of fresh infections, based on the newest weekly tally of DOH, would mean a daily average of 260 cases, which is 36 percent higher than the rate logged last week. November 28 to December 4 had a daily average of 191 cases, as 1,340 new infections were recorded during the period.

The DOH report indicated that 13 of the new coronavirus cases were tagged as critical or severe, as 228 critical or severe patients are currently admitted to hospitals.

COVID-19 deaths also increased by 13 more, according to the agency, with the total count reaching 66,779 since the coronavirus struck in 2020.

Thankfully the Philippine General Hospital has released COVID-19 safety guidelines. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/11/pgh-releases-covid-19-safety-guidelines-as-number-of-cases-rises

The Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) Hospital Infection Control Unit (HICU) released a comprehensive guide to address frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to managing Covid-19 cases during the holiday season.

PGH announced the “mandatory masking” protocols within the hospital premises in a Facebook post on Dec. 10, following a significant rise in Covid-19 cases during the previous week.

“The HICU will once again require all patients, relatives, staff, and trainees to wear at least a surgical mask at all times when inside any area of the hospital: both indoors and outdoors, inside offices, conference rooms, and clinical areas,” it said.

It emphasized the importance of “wearing masks” within the hospital and in external environments, particularly in situations with poor ventilation, crowded settings, or when individuals feel vulnerable, weak or remain unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

It also recommended that individuals near (within one meter) someone who later tested positive for Covid-19 (confirmed via RT-PCR or Antigen test) should consistently wear a surgical mask whenever possible.

Highlighting a proactive approach to managing mild to moderate Covid-19 cases, PGH suggested that elderly patients or those with comorbidities may reduce the risk of progressing to severe disease by taking antiviral agents within the first five days of symptom onset.

Meanwhile, it noted that the oral antiviral drug currently available in the Philippines is Molnupiravir, and individuals are encouraged to consult with their doctors or PGH if this treatment is deemed appropriate for their condition.

It also clarified that individuals exposed to a confirmed Covid-19 case could still participate in homecoming activities and other Christmas parties, provided they remain asymptomatic.

Exposed individuals are advised to continue their usual activities but must wear at least a surgical mask during such events.

There is nothing new in this guidelines. It basically comes down to wearing masks once more. 

Bureau of Immigration Employees Are Forbidden From Saying "Merry Christmas"

Bureau of Immigration employees, especially those at airports, have been forbidden to say Merry Christmas to new arrivals. The reason why is rather amazing. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/891012/bi-employees-reminded-of-ban-on-merry-istmas-greeting/story/

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday reminded its employees, especially those stationed at airports, that greeting travelers “Merry Christmas” was not allowed, 

“Ang standing policy is prohibited ang mag Merry Christmas, especially ang nasa airport na Immigration officers,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in an ambush interview.

Tansingco said this was because there was a connotation that when officers greet passengers with “Merry Christmas,” they are asking for gifts.

However, Tansingco said that this may not be avoided in certain circumstances, especially considering the culture of Filipinos. He said this would depend on the officer’s situation, intention, and way of speaking.

(If they greet you Merry Christmas, it’s not like you should just ignore them. Respond to them, "A Merry Christmas to you, too. Welcome to the Philippines.")

Tansingco said that outright soliciting for gifts when greeting was definitely prohibited.

(If that is what you will do, there’s no excuse for that because your intention when greeting is to get a gift. That’s not allowed. But if you are only responding, well, there’s nothing wrong with that.)

(Because that is the trait of Filipinos. We are hospitable people. We always tell other countries that Filipinos are very hospitable.) 

They are not to greet travelers with "Merry Christmas" "because there was a connotation that when officers greet passengers with “Merry Christmas,” they are asking for gifts." 

In what world does greeting someone with "Merry Christmas" connote a gift must be given? Only in the corrupt Philippines. Note that Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco goes on to remind BI officers that saying "Merry Christmas" when the intention "is to get a gift" is not allowed. But who would do that? 

This prohibition is a sad reflection on the state of the Bureau of Immigration which has been racked with scandals and corruption. How many BI officers have been fired for taking bribes to let people in? Remember the pastillas bribery scheme? 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/05/2278709/5-pastillas-scam-dismissed-bi

The pastillas scheme was exposed in 2020 after authorities discovered that immigration officers were receiving bribes amounting to P10,000 to allow foreigners, mostly Chinese, to enter the country without going through the proper immigration process at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It was called the pastillas bribery scheme because the bribe money was rolled in a white paper that resembled the local milk pastry called pastillas.

Also note that Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco goes on to say that Filipinos are very hospitable. If you have the right amount of money they are indeed very hospitable. Tansingco also says travelers should not expect officers to be overly friendly.

Nevertheless, the public should not expect immigration officers to be “overly friendly.”

Tansingco said there should be “some level of formality” on their part since they’re representing the country in the performance of their duties.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1873948/no-christmas-greetings-at-naia-it-depends

But since there is so much corruption in the Bureau of Immigration BI officers are told to not greet incoming travelers with "Merry Christmas" because there is a connotation that they are asking for gifts! Make no mistake this prohibition is not about decorum and formality but is all about the fact that the Bureau of Immigration is a bureaucracy full to the brim of corruption. 

Insurgency: MSU Bombing

Last week an IED exploded at Mindanao State University during Mass killing 4 and wounding 50. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1869861/bomb-blast-during-mass-kills-4-wounds-50-at-mindanao-state-university

Four persons died and  50 others were wounded after a bomb exploded inside the Dimaporo Gym of the Mindanao State University (MSU) while a Catholic Mass attended by students was held past 7 a.m. on Sunday, police reported.

Brig. Gen. Allan Cruz Nobleza, police regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said three persons were killed on the spot and another one died before reaching the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC), where rescuers rushed 43 people wounded from the explosion.

Aside from the 42 wounded people being treated at the APMC, another eight injured were treated at the MSU infirmary facility.

It was learned that the officiating priest, Fr. Benigno Flores Jr., had already started the Mass celebrating Advent when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded 15 minutes into the ceremony.

On Telegram the Islamic State issued a statement taking full responsibility for the attack. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1869962/is-claims-responsibility-for-deadly-bombing-at-mindanao-state-university

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Sunday that killed at least four people and injured 50 others.

The bomb exploded during a Catholic Mass inside the university gymnasium in Marawi, which Islamist militants besieged for five months in 2017.

The Islamic State group, which wields influence in the country’s south, said on Telegram its members had detonated the explosive.

While the AFP says they are confirming the role of IS in the bombing they say the attack could be in retaliation for recent operations against Dawlah Islamiya.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/12/04/2316401/21-dawlah-men-neutralized-marawi-city-campus-bombing

The deadly bombing of Christian worshipers in Marawi City on Sunday came after state forces had killed up to 21 religious extremists in separate operations in Mindanao since June, among them the “emir” of the Dawlah Islamiya, wanted for 36 high-profile criminal cases in different courts.

Officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the region’s police director, Brig. Allan Nobleza and the commander of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, separately told reporters that the MSU gymnasium bombing seemed connected to the government having neutralized at least 21 senior members of the Dawlah Islamiya in various encounters in different areas in Mindanao in the past seven months.

Amidst suggestions that there was a failure of intel the AFP says there was such a failure. In a way. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/890645/afp-admits-failure-of-intelligence-in-a-way-in-msu-blast/story/

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday admitted that there was a failure in intelligence "in a way" in the deadly bomb attack in Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

“Kung titignan natin, kapag may nangyari, usually talagang hindi naman nahahagilap lahat,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

(If we look at it, if something happens, usually we cannot catch everything.)

“So in a way, parang yes, there is a failure. But whether meron po bang accountability iyong mga tao, iyon po ang iimbestigahan natin,” he added.

(So in a way, it seems yes, there is a failure. But whether the personnel have accountability over this, we will have to investigate.)

While it's true that the AFP cannot prevent every attack as some people fly under the radar there are a few strange circumstances in this case. The first being that both of the suspects have already been identified as members of Dawlah Islamiya-Maute. How do they know that for sure? The second is that in the initial photographs released of these men it appears that one of them surrendered way back in 2018.  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/201316450493470/posts/1389865358305234/

As the investigation progressed, two persons of interest emerged: Arsani Membisa and Wahab A Macabayo, also known as Wabie/Mortaba Marangit. Both individuals had surrendered in the first quarter of 2018, but their involvement in the bombing remained shrouded in mystery.

While it would seem that Wahab A Macabayo is not the correct name of the second suspect, nevertheless the media has reported that both individuals were known to the PNP since 2018.

In a press conference here on December 6, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region chief Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza identified the POIs as Kadapi Mimbesa, alias “Engineer,” 35, of Barangay Gacap, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, and Arsani Mimbesa, alias “Khatab,” “Hatab,” and “Lapitos,” of Barangay Gacap, Piagapo.

Nobleza said Kadapi is a bomb expert of the Dawlah-Islamiyah-Maute Group and facing cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and illegal possession of explosives. Kadapi has a P600,000 reward for his arrest.

Arsani is a DI-Maute Group member operating Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and wanted for murder.

They are listed in the police Periodic Static Report in the first quarter of 2018.

Suspects were seen riding a motorcycle during the incident.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/7/police-identify-2-po-is-in-december-3-marawi-bombing

Despite being known for the past 5 years one of the suspects is a recent graduate of MSU. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/890624/bombing-suspect-engineer-a-recent-msu-graduate/story/

One of the suspects in the bombing of the Mindanao State University gymnasium has been identified as an MSU student, who had just graduated from the institution.

According to Mav Gonzales' report on "State of the Nation," Kadapi Mimbesa alias Engineer was tagged by those who were at the scene before the explosion.

Both persons of interest and a third unnamed suspect are said to be alleged members of terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah-Maute and have outstanding warrants of arrest. 

Alias Khatab is wanted for murder. Alias Engineer is said to be an expert in making improvised explosive devices.

This guy was known to be a member of Daulah Islamiyah-Maute, an expert bomb maker, was known to authorities since 2018, and yet he was allowed to attend and graduate MSU? 

Another report says neither of these men graduated from MSU but they lived on campus in a safehouse. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1872154/police-saying-that-2-suspects-in-marawi-blast-are-residents-of-msu

The two suspects in the deadly bomb attack at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City last December 3 have secured a safehouse inside the university’s compound and have lived there for a while, a police official said on Thursday.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police office director Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza said unlike typical universities, MSU has no fence and covers almost 1,000 hectares of land.

(The two of them resided in Barangay Sikap within the grounds of MSU. They created a safehouse there, but they are not graduates of MSU.)

(MSU covers seven barangays or almost 1,000 hectares of land, but it is not enclosed or fenced, so people easily enter the area.)

Something is amiss here. Maybe now MSU will erect a fence and other security measures.

What the AFP, PNP, and other intel gathering agencies knew or did not know will likely never be publicly disclosed or discussed just as happened with the cover-up of all the intel failures that lead to the Marawi siege. 

In the wake of this bombing it has been suggested that martial law be reimposed but the AFP says such a declaration is not necessary. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1871145/msu-bombing-martial-law-brawner

There is no need for the imposition of martial law after the deadly bombing in Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

“No, no, no,” Brawner said over CNN Philippines on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of a martial law in Mindanao. 

“There is no need.”

“Your security forces are on top of the situation and as I said we believe that they will not be able to launch another attack with the magnitude of the Marawi siege,” Brawner added.

Brawner noted that the AFP is on red alert while the Philippine National Police declared heightened alert in Mindanao.

While imposing marital law may not be needed and President Marcos would surely want to steer clear of declaring martial law and reproducing his Father's terribly legacy one thing is undeniable. That thing is Mindanao remains violent. Terrorists continue to wreck havoc. Yet the DOT wants to make Mindanao a tourist spot and the AFP continues to downplay the reality of the situation by declaring premature victory. Why is it so difficult for them to face the truth that Mindanao is not safe?