Retards in the Government 344

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215962

An incumbent village councilman here was shot dead by a still-unidentified suspect on Christmas Day.

Capt. Eduardo Malicdem, Police Station 4 chief, said village councilman Datu Macmod Lauban and his son were sitting on a waiting shed at 3 p.m. when two men on board a motorbike arrived, then shot them at close range but the son was unhurt. 

Lauban, 59, a resident of Barangay Bagua 1, died instantly, Malicdem said.

“Lauban sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital,” Malicdem said.

Responding police found three empty shells of caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

The motive of the attack could be “rido” (family feud) or personal grudge, police said.

A village councilman has been assassinated.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/26/sandigan-affirms-conviction-for-malversation-of-public-funds-of-ex-benguet-provincial-cashier

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction for malversation of public funds involving P4.08 million in 1997 of the former provincial cashier of Benguet.

Affirmed were the judgments of conviction in 12 cases of former cashier IV Esther S. Pagano who was sentenced by the regional trial court (RTC) to prison terms ranging from two to seven years in 11 cases, and from 10 to 16 years in one case.

Pagano was convicted when she incurred cash shortage of P1,051,124.17 and P3,029,675.40 or a total of P4,080,799.57.  She was responsible for collecting cash and checks under the province’s General Fund then depositing these with the depository banks maintained by the province of Benguet.

However, the trial court found that the shortages were incurred because of Pagano's failure to issue official receipts for the purpose of acknowledging several checks intended as interest payments.

Pagano appealed the trial court’s ruling before the anti-graft court.  She claimed that the RTC erred in convicting her because the mandatory element of misappropriation or conversion is absent in this case.

The Sandiganbayan disagreed. "The prosecution proved all the elements of malversation beyond reasonable doubt," it said in its decision dated Dec. 20, 2023.

"Time and again, the Supreme Court has emphasized that an accountable public officer may be convicted of malversation even if there is no direct evidence of misappropriation and the only evidence is that there is a shortage in his/her accounts which he/she has not been able to explain satisfactorily," the anti-graft court said.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a provincial cashier. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/12/27/2321647/cop-axed-accidental-firing

A police officer was removed from his post and placed under restrictive custody after he accidentally fired his gun in Malabon City.

Col. Jean. Fajardo, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police, said the police officer, whom she did not identify, is under investigation.

“He is under custody and his firearm was confiscated,” she told reporters in a phone interview yesterday.

Fajardo said the incident occurred in Malabon on Dec. 23.

Seven people have been accosted so far for illegal discharge of firearms during the Yuletide season. Two of the violators are police officers, two more are military personnel while the rest are civilians.

Fajardo warned gun holders not to use their firearms in celebrating Christmas and New Year since they would face criminal charges if they are caught.

She also urged the public to report people indiscriminately firing their guns and to document the incident to serve as evidence.

A cop has been arrested for accidentally firing his gun. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/not-alarming-seven-more-provincial-govt-employees-test-positive-for-drug-use

Seven more employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government were tested positive for use of illegal drugs.

This brings the total number to 27 Capitol employees who were found using drugs during its mandatory drug test.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said Wednesday, December 27, that five of the employees are from the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and two are from the Cadiz District Hospital.

However, Diaz said he will not reveal how many of them are regular, casual, contract of service, or job order employees.

"We will reveal it only after their confirmatory tests come out in January next year," he said.

The results also show that five of the employees use shabu, while the other two use marijuana.

The results of 16 other employees also showed traces of shabu.

Earlier, 20 out of the more than 3,200 provincial government employees tested positive for drugs this month.

"It is not alarming, but they will suffer the consequences; that was their choice to do what they did," Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson warned.

He added, “we will purchase additional drug testing kits to cover the remaining employees assigned at the district hospitals operated by the provincial government.”

Seven more Negros Occidental employees have tested positive for drugs. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/28/dot-overspent-p2-6-m-in-hotel-accommodations-in-2022-coa

The Department of Tourism (DOT) overspent P2.6 million for its hotel accommodations in 2022, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its annual audit report (AAR).

In its AAR, COA recommended that the DOT refund the excessive costs incurred by concerned officials and employees and strictly adhere to Executive Order No. 77 when preparing the Budget Estimate or Terms of Reference for the contracts of its programs and activities to avoid excessive expenditures for hotel accommodations and meals.

COA pointed out that Section 5 of Executive Order No. 77 provides the maximum allowable Daily Travel Expenses (DTE) to government personnel. These include local travel, hotel accommodation or lodging, meals, and incidental expenses including the cost for local or inland transportation.

It said that when state auditors reviewed 10 sample contracts from the DOT’s Office of the Secretary (OSEC) for the period of Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2022, they discovered that the rates provided in the Budget Estimate of eight contracts exceeded the amount prescribed under EO No. 77 by P1,547,913.80.

"It was concluded that the DOT OSEC's procurement of hotel accommodation/lodging was not in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of Section 5 of E.O. No. 77," the report said.

Similar observations were noted in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Regions III and IX, it said.

The maximum amount allowed per audit for the OSEC was P539,000, but the actual expenses made by the OSEC was P962,679. The allowable amount for CAR was P267,300, but the region spent P560,630. Region III was allowed P1,267,500, but it spent P2,159,450, while Region IX was allowed P608,450 but spent P1,610,769.60. All in all, COA said the DOT overspent P2,611,278.60 for hotel accommodations and lodging.

The DOT overspend 2.6 million pesos in hotel accommodations.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/892346/pnp-at-least-7-incidents-of-illegal-discharge-of-firearms-reported-so-far/story/

At least seven incidents of illegal discharge of firearms have been reported so far ahead of the New Year celebration, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said two cops, two soldiers, a civilian, and two unidentified persons were involved in these incidents.

“From December 6 to yesterday, we recorded seven incidents of illegal discharge of firearms,” Fajardo told GTV’s Balitanghali.

“Two police officers and two soldiers were included in that list."

The incidents involving two police officers were reported in Davao and Manila.

One of them fired a gun three times on the ground outside of residence due to a family problem. The other cop also shot on the ground when he was ignored by some residents he scolded for being noisy.

Both of them used their service firearms in the incidents, according to Fajardo. These guns have already been confiscated.

Except for the two unidentified suspects, all of them have been arrested and are facing criminal complaints.

Two cops and two soldiers have been arrested for illegal discharge of firearms. 

https://www.ndbcnews.com.ph/news/5-killed-armed-clashes-pikit-north-cotabato

Five gunmen, including a village councilman, who were followers of a village chair and field commander of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed in clashes that erupted Saturday afternoon, police here said.

Major Arvin John Cambang, Pikit municipal police chief, said the fighting between Chairman Sindatok Karim of Barangay Lagunde, and Basit Nando, alias Commander Abu Sabaya, head of MILF 118th base command, erupted at about 3 p.m. in Sitio Edzap, Barangay Lagunde, Pikit, North Cotabato.

Barangay Lagunde is one of the 63 villages now under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Cambang identified the fatalities under the group of Chairman Karim as village councilman Malik Karim, Sammy Nawal Salik, a Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) member.

At the same time, those injured were BPAT members Saddam Salaban, 33, and Karnain Esmael, 33, both residents of Barangay Lagunde. Killed on the side of Commander Abu Sabaya were Kena Abdillah, 35 Omar Abdillah, 38, and an unidentified person.

Elements of the 90th Infantry Battalion backed the Pikit PNP in disengaging the warring armed groups and the recovery of the fatalities.

“They are locked in long-standing ‘rido’ or family feud over a territorial misunderstanding,” Cambang said in the vernacular.

Cambang said the group of Chairman Karim claimed that they were working on a barangay road project when the group of Commander Abu Sabaya arrived and opened fire, triggering a firefight that lasted for about an hour.

Cambang quoted Abu Sabaya as telling police probers that the group of Chairman Karim entered his area of operation without coordination.

But Cambang said Abu Sabaya has a grudge against Chairman Karim because he suspected that the village officials’ followers were behind the murder in November of his two relatives.

Soldiers from the 90th IB and personnel from Police Mobile Force Battalion 14 are now in the area to serve as peacekeepers and prevent the escalation of hostilities. Several families have fled to nearby villages.

A village councilman has been slain in a clash with the MILF.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Variant JN.1, Pandemic Recovery Cuts Poverty Rate, and More!

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

A new COVID-19 circulating outside the country may enter the Philippines soon say health authorities. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/21/2320387/new-covid-19-variant-jn1-may-enter-philippines

The new COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 now circulating in the US and other countries is expected to enter the country in “due time,” according to an infectious disease specialist.

Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) president Dr. Rontgene Solante stressed the need to closely monitor the new subvariant that could trigger a further rise in cases of the infectious disease.

“I think we need to monitor this one. I don’t know if it has been detected in our surveillance, but given the fact that it is in neighboring countries and we do not have travel restrictions, in due time it will be here as well,” Solante said yesterday in a mix of Filipino and English in a radio interview.

Based on preliminary data, Solante said JN.1 does not have characteristics like that of Delta, which could cause severe infections.

The World Health Organization previously classified the JN.1 coronavirus subvariant as a “variant of interest,” noting that it did not pose much threat to public health.

The rising number of COVID-19 cases at this time, Solante said, should not cause panic since the incidence of respiratory viruses is expected to increase because of the holiday season and the cold weather.

Solante noted that even before the pandemic, influenza-like illnesses (ILI) normally jumped during cold months.

He added that a majority of those who got infected with COVID as well as other respiratory viruses have recovered fast and did not require hospitalization.

He said people need to strengthen their immune systems to avoid getting severe types of ILI and COVID.

Health officials are encouraging people to wear face masks.

"I think we need to monitor this one." Sound scary, right? Not according to one health expert who has downplayed worries over this new variant.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877876/expert-downplays-worries-over-covid-19-variant

The Omicron subvariant JN.1, which has been driving a resurgence in COVID-19 infections in some parts of Europe and Asia in recent weeks, is not seen to immediately overwhelm the country’s health-care system should it enter the Philippines.

According to infectious diseases specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante, revising COVID-19 protocols may not be necessary at the moment as “we don’t expect a significant increase in hospitalization rates or even mortality or severe COVID-19 [cases.]”

An effective precautionary measure for now is “to remind the public and encourage those who are symptomatic to wear face masks when in crowded areas or when attending gatherings,” he told the Inquirer on Wednesday.

JN.1 is a sublineage of its BA.2.86, which came from the XBB variant. The latest biosurveillance report of the Department of Health (DOH) shows that the parent lineage BA.2.86 as well as JN.1 remain undetected in the country.

Solante, however, noted that “it has mutations in the spike protein … known to increase transmission.” “It has been causing rapid growth in some European countries this November … Because of its growth advantage causing [an] increase in the cases … it is expected to be globally dominant in the next weeks to come,” said Solante, who is also the president of the Philippine College of Physicians.

Dr. Rontgene Solante says people should simply wear face masks as a precautionary measure. Otherwise he does not see it affecting the Philippines in any significant way. 

The Philippines continues to recover from the pandemic as seen in the lowering of the poverty rate. 

https://business.inquirer.net/438157/pandemic-recovery-cut-poverty-rate-at-22-4-in-h1-psa

The proportion of poor Filipinos declined in the first half of 2023, as the Philippines emerged from a pandemic that wiped out years of gains in reducing poverty in the country.

A nationwide survey of 171,588 families showed there were 25.24 million poor Filipinos in the first half of 2023, lower than the 26.14 million recorded in the same period in 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday.

That translated to a poverty rate among the country’s population of 22.4% in the first semester of 2023, lower than the 23.7% rate in the comparable period in 2021.

“The decision to fully open the economy has allowed us to recover from the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and government response,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

On average, a family of five would need at least P13,797 per month to meet their basic needs in the first half, data showed.

Meanwhile, 9.79 million Filipinos said their income was not enough to buy even the basic foods they need, equivalent to a subsistence incidence of 8.7 percent, down from 9.9 percent recorded in the previous survey.

Where do they get that data that a family of 5 needs P13,797 to meet their basic needs?  That sounds incredibly low factoring in rent, utilities, and food.

Iloilo is now encouraging the public to wear face masks once more. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215828

The local government here has ordered the mandatory use of face masks at the city hall and encouraged its use in other enclosed areas in Iloilo City due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.

"The cases of Covid are rising. The effects of the vaccine wane and we no longer have vaccines to deploy. For enclosed areas the City Health Office (CHO) encourages the use of masks for the protection of everyone. For gatherings during the Christmas season, proper protection should be made,” Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in a statement issued Friday morning.

Before this, Treñas said in an interview on Thursday that he would not yet issue an Executive Order since the CHO has released an advisory strongly recommending the use of face masks in public places, social gatherings, workplaces, healthcare facilities, outdoor activities where physical distancing is challenging, and public transport.

“I have already talked to so many friends. A lot of them become positive. It is also your protection because you don’t know who is positive,” the mayor added.

CHO medical officer Dr. Jan Reygine Ansino Hortinela said the city recorded 15 new cases as of Thursday, increasing the active cases to 79 out of the 1,290 cases since Jan. 1 this year.

Incredible that the Mayor of Iloilo was even considering an executive order mandating face masks. We are one paranoid delusion away from going back to 2020. 

The nationwide COVID-19 positivity rate is up to 18%. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1878809/covid-19-positivity-rate-in-ph-hits-18-1-as-of-dec-22-octa-research

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the country continues to rise, hitting 18.1 percent as of Friday, Octa Research said.

Octa Research fellow Guido David said on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that the latest coronavirus positivity rate was based on the December 22 Department of Health (DOH) report of 557 new COVID-19 infections.

David also pointed out that of the 557 new cases, 235 are from Metro Manila. He likewise presented in his X post that the freshly logged coronavirus infections drove the total nationwide cases to 4,132,200, including the 5,569 active cases.

He said earlier that December 23 could see an increase of 500 to 600 new cases.

The latest COVID positivity rate is higher than the 16.7 percent logged as of Wednesday, December 20, and 15.8 percent logged as of Monday, December 19.

All recorded coronavirus positivity rates this week, however, were past the five percent World Health Organization threshold marking viral transmission is under control.

The DOH also reported Friday that 318 coronavirus patients in the country recovered from the disease, raising total recoveries to 4,059,836 since the pandemic hit in 2020. The death toll stood at 66,795 as of December 22.

But health protocols are still not being made mandatory. Not even in Boracay despite the number of rising COVID-19 cases. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/892357/no-restrictions-in-boracay-despite-rising-covid-19-flu-cases-mayor/story/

Boracay Island in Aklan is not enforcing any restrictions yet amid the increasing infections of COVID-19 and flu-like illnesses nationwide, Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista said Tuesday.

(As of now we don't have any adjustments or new health protocols because we haven't discussed the rising number of COVID cases yet. For now we don't have any restrictions regarding COVID-19 in Boracay.) 

Surely all the tourists are thankful for that. 

HI, My Name is...43

In the Philippines the workplace can be rather violent. Whether your co-worker feels slighted or you go out with them to drink and an argument erupts it is always best to watch your back.

Hi, my name is Jodilo Ontel Patua. I work in construction. It's a hard enough job without my coworkers teasing me all the time. Finally I had all I could take. While they were watching television I snuck up on them and stabbed them with a kitchen knife. Now they won't tease me anymore. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/541262/construction-worker-in-cebu-city-stabs-two-men-for-making-fun-of-him

When his co-workers were making fun of him, a 33-year-old construction worker allegedly got mad and stabbed two men in Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City on Monday evening, November 20, 2023.

The incident took place inside a construction site along Colon Street at around 8:30 p.m.

A police report showed that the Carbon Police Station received a call about a stabbing incident in the area at around 9:50 p.m., which personnel immediately responded to.

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Jodilo Ontel Patua alias “Jojo,” a stay-in construction worker at the site and a native of Barangay Kambagahan, Bais City, Negros Oriental.

Patua allegedly began running amok while wielding a kitchen knife and stabbed two of his coworkers because he could not take their teasing.

One of the victims was identified as 39-year-old Alberto Aranez Pajar, a plumber and also a stay-in employee at the site. Pajar is a resident of Bitoon, Dumanjug, Cebu.

Police Major Miles Damoslog, chief of Carbon Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that Pajar was watching television when he was suddenly approached by Patua.

The suspect then allegedly stabbed Pajar in the stomach.

After this, a security guard came to attempted to subdue Patua, which resulted in him also getting stabbed.

The security guard was identified as 41-year-old Pejy Doydora Salon, a resident of Sitio Zone Sayote, Paknaan, Mandaue City, Cebu.

Damoslog said that the workers were allegedly making fun of Patua, which caused him to get angry and run amok.

 Hi, my name is Rodolfo Hinalas Jr. I work at a carwash. One of my coworkers is very rude. When he gets drunk he thinks everyone is his enemy. He even disrespected my sister. We settled our differences but I still held a grudge. After that we got into an argument so I stabbed him dead. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/889156/carwash-boy-in-qc-stabs-dead-co-worker/story/

A carwash boy in Quezon City was arrested for allegedly stabbing dead his co-worker due to an unsettled grudge, according to the report of James Agustin on "Saksi."

A video showed the one man assisting another man who was staggering as they entered the barracks of the car wash shop in Barangay Greater Fairview in Quezon City where they worked.

The events that followed could not be seen but one man was found dead with stab wounds in different parts of his body inside the barracks.

The SOCO, Scene of the Crime Operatives, found a knife in the area.

And through the CCTV, the police identified the last person who was with the victim alive, the other carwash boy Rodolfo Hinalas Jr.

"Our victim went home to his work place where he was staying. Our suspect was also there who held the victim to make him sleep in the quarters. There was a small argument and it ended in a heinous crime," said Police Major Don Don Llapitan Quezon City Police District CIDU (Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit).

The suspect was arrested in a follow-up operation conducted along Commonwealth Avenue.

It was found out during the investigation into the crime, the motive of the crime was an old grudge. There was an altercation between them last month after the victim showed disrespect towards the sister of the suspect. However, the incident was settled between them.

Llapitan said that also based on their investigation the suspect had pent up anger towards the victim.

"I did that because what a rude person he really is. If he wasn't already a rude person, I wouldn't have stabbed him. He's too much. When he's drunk, everyone is his enemy," said Hinalas.

The suspect is facing murder charges.

Hi, my name is  Benjamin Eñigo Kangke. I was drinking and offered my coworker a drink. He refused so I tried to hit stab him with a knife. But I missed. So he picked up a steel bar and hit me in the head. He then took my knife and stabbed me a few times until I was dead. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/523618/construction-worker-who-tried-to-stab-drinking-buddy-gets-killed-instead-in-cebu-city

A 56-year-old construction worker tried to kill his colleague and drinking buddy Wednesday night, August 23.

But Benjamin Eñigo Kangke was the one who ended up dead after he failed to hit Joseph Lauriat Udtohan with a knife.

According to Patrolman Rondel Padilla, desk officer of the Adloan Police Community Precinct, Udtohan, 42, managed to retaliate by hitting Kangke with a steel pipe. He later on took Kangke’s knife and used this to stab him on the chest which caused his immediate death.

The incident happened at around 9 p.m. in their bunkhouse in Sitio Tagaytay in the mountain barangay of Adlaon in Cebu City.

But it was only reported to the police at 10 a.m. the next day, Thursday, August 24, when other construction workers saw Kangke’s lifeless body.

Padilla said that Udtohan left Kangke at the bunkhouse and went home to his family in Sitio Hagnum, Barangay Lusaran in Cebu City.

Kangke is from Sitio Buhing Tubig in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban town. 

Both men are stay-in workers at a construction site in Barangay Adlaon.

Quoting the outcome of their initial investigation, Padilla said that Kangke was drinking liquor with Udtohan at the bunkhouse Wednesday night.

At around 9 p.m., Kangke reportedly offered another drink to Udtohan but the latter already refused to take the drink.

Angered, Kangke allegedly tried to stab Udtohan with a knife, but he missed. Udtohan found a steel bar which he used to hit Kangke on the head.

Kangke sustained lacerations on the right side of his head, the police report showed.

With Kangke already injured, Udtohan reportedly took the knife that he was holding and used this to stab the construction worker, hitting him on the left side of his chest, which caused his immediate death.

During their investigation, Padilla said that Udtohan claimed that he killed Kangke in self-defense.

He surrendered to Barangay Captain Agustin Partolan at the Lusaran Barangay Hall on Thursday.

Udtohan is now detained at the Adlaon Police Community Precinct while they prepare for the filing of a homicide charge against him.

Hi, my name is Filex Rimobatac. I work in construction with a man named Cyrus Lucsin. One night he came to my bunkhouse and we got into a heated argument about drugs. So I pulled out a gun and shot him in the head and killed him.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/522461/construction-worker-shot-dead-by-coworker-after-heated-argument-police-eye-illegal-drugs-as-motive-in-consolacion

A construction worker was shot dead allegedly by a coworker after an argument inside a bunkhouse in Barangay Nangka, Consolacion, Cebu on Thursday morning, August 17, 2023.

Personnel from the Consolacion Police Station responded to a shooting alarm inside the Belize North Subdivision at around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Responding officers proceeded to the area and found a lifeless man lying on the floor with a gunshot wound on the left side of his head.

Police identified the victim as 36-year-old Cyrus Lucsin, a construction worker, and a native of Negros Oriental.

The victim was rushed to the Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The police identified the suspect as Filex Rimobatac, who also works in the same construction company and a resident of Barangay Luyo, Barili, Cebu.

Police said that the victim went to the bunkhouse of the suspect where a heated altercation ensued.

At the height of their argument, Rimobatac allegedly shot the victim in the head and then fled. 

Police Staff Sergeant Rechie Gilleran, investigator at the Consolacion Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview, that the suspect was the only one seen leaving the bunkhouse after a witness heard a gunshot.

The police recovered from the crime scene a 9 mm empty shell, drug paraphernalia such as aluminum foil, three improvised lighters, an improvised tooter, and one piece plastic sachet containing several small plastic sachets believed to be used for repacking illegal drugs.

Gileran said that they are eyeing drugs as a possible motive behind the shooting as they suspect that Rimobatac could be a drug seller due to the drug paraphernalia found inside his bunkhouse.

Hi, my name is Fausto Quiño. I work construction pouring cement. One day I was told I messed up and made a mistake while pouring. The foreman scolded me and said I might be let off at the end of the month. But we don't make mistakes on purpose. If he let me go that would mean I could not pay for my child's schooling. So, instead of doing my best for the rest of the month and talking to him I did the next best thing. I killed him while he was sleeping by hitting him in the head. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/521921/construction-worker-kills-foreman-in-mandaue-for-telling-him-he-might-lose-his-job-for-his-mistake

A 58-year-old laborer or construction worker killed his 57-year-old foreman using a steel pipe inside the construction site at the Mandaue Reclamation Area in Mandaue City at past noon today, August 14.

This was after he was scolded for committing a cement-pouring mistake at the construction site and was told that he might be laid off at the end of the month.

Police Major Andy Michael Roque, Police Station 1 or Centro Police Station chief of the Mandaue City Police Office, in an interview with CDN Digital, said that construction worker Fausto Quiño attacked the foreman Isidro Cameros, while he was taking his break and sleeping at the construction site at past noon today.

Quiño of Balilihan town in Bohol Province told Police Major Roque that he was angry at the foreman, Cameros, of Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, for scolding him and for telling him that he might lose his job by the end of the month.

(He will remove me from my job even though there is no clear mistake. Because at work, we don’t purposely do things to make a mistake.)

(He will lay me off from my job, so this means, that I can no longer pay for the schooling of my child.)

According to Police Major Roque, that an angry Quiño got his chance at revenge when he chanced upon Cameros at a noon break for workers at the construction site.

He said that Quiño saw Cameros sleeping and saw a 2-meter long pipe nearby.

Roque said that Quino then allegedly attacked Cameros hitting him several times in the head.

The police officer said that Quiño tried to flee the construction site but the other construction workers pursued, caught him and turned him over to the security guard, who in turn turned him over to the responding policemen.

Hi, my name is Richard Cardenas. I work as a farmhand. I got into a dispute with a coworker. So, of course, I barged into his tent while he was resting and stabbed him to death. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/13/farmhand-stabbed-dead-by-co-worker-in-quezon

A 28-year-old farmhand was stabbed dead by his co-worker while resting in his tent in a rice field in Barangay Guis-Guis San Roque, this town, on Wednesday afternoon, July 12.

Police identified the victim as Romar dela Peña, a resident of Barangay Santa Catalina Sur, Candelaria, Quezon.

He died on the spot due to stab wounds.

The suspect Richard Cardenas, alias “Burdado,” fled.

Police are eyeing work dispute as motive in the killing.

Hi, my name is Dario (not my real name). My crotch was itching so I gave it a good go even taking out my penis to make sure the itch got relieved. But my coworker Rosana (not her real name) saw it and she got mad. She filed a complaint and the police were called. The police said I was infatuated with Rosana and whipped it out to show her as a sign of arousal. But that is ridiculous. Why would I do that at work? 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/worker-nabbed-for-allegedly-fondling-genitals-in-front-of-female-colleague

A 30-YEAR-OLD construction worker was arrested by police in Compostela town, northern Cebu, after he allegedly showed his genitals to a female worker of a food manufacturing firm on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

Dario (not his real name) was arrested by Compostela town police after Rosana (not her real name) filed a complaint against him.

Police said the incident occurred at the food manufacturing firm’s plant in Barangay Lupa.

Lt. Andrew Rellanos, Compostela Police Station chief, told SunStar Cebu the incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Friday.

Rosana told police that she was approaching the firm’s Bundy clock with two of her male colleagues and Dario.

Both Dario and Rosana work at the same firm.

After she clocked in, Rosana was surprised when she saw Dario pull out his penis in front of her.

(The suspect held his penis and showed it to the woman. He even fondled it in front of her.)

Out of anger, Rosana immediately called the police.

Dario was arrested following the incident.

Dario, according to police, denied Rosana’s allegations.

According to Rellanos, Dario told them he was just trying to relieve an itch in his genitals, but he didn’t realize Rosana had seen him do it.

But Rellanos said Dario may have been infatuated with Rosana and decided to show his genitals to the woman as a sign of arousal.

Rellanos said they will charge Dario with violating Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, otherwise known as the Bawal Bastos Law.

Dario said his relatives are set to post bail on his behalf.

Hi, my name is Gretchen Malalad. I have 30 cats and my maid takes care of them. But unbeknownst to me she was actually trying to poison them with muriatic acid. The other helpers alerted me to her suspicious behavior and I was able to catch her in the act with CCTV. She said it was tedious taking care of all the cats. It seems you can't trust your help even if they have been with you for two years. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/21/23/maid-accused-of-trying-to-poison-cats-admitted-deed-village-chief-says

Former ABS-CBN reporter Gretchen Malalad has shared a disturbing incident on social media, accusing her former house help of attempting to poison Malalad's 30 adopted cats with muriatic acid.

 

In a TikTok video, Malalad accused her former helper, who had been with her for two years, of attempting to poison her 30 adopted cats with muriatic acid. 

In the said video, the maid can be seen holding a mug while going inside the cat's cage. Malalad claims that the mug contained muriatic acid and she secretly poured it into the pets' drinking bowl.

 

Malalad's other helpers alerted her about the former maid's suspicious behavior, revealing that the pet cats' drinking bowl had been contaminated with muriatic acid.

 

The incident prompted Malalad to file a complaint with the barangay in Manila where the maid lives.

 

According to Alladin Cuevas, the village chief of Barangay 189 in Manila, a recent hearing revealed that upon review of the CCTV footage, the maid admitted to attempting to poison the cats.

 

"Hindi siya makapag-deny pero siguro alam niya sa sarili niya na nahuli siya kasi 'yung mug po, nasa mug. 'Yung muriatic pinipilit nya inumin pero 'di naman niya inilalapit po kasi nandoon po nakalagay muriatic," Cuevas said, adding, "Naging sagot niya, wala naman namatay na pusa."

 

He said the helper also expressed concerns about the tedious nature of caring for the cats, citing instances where she got hurt.

 

"Yung pananakit, 'yung kalmot at kagat ng pusa. Sabi ko natural 'yan, kasi nag-aalaga ka," said Cuevas.

 

Malalad and her former helper are scheduled to meet in a barangay hearing on December 10. 

Malalad said she is resolute in her decision to pursue legal action when she returns from a trip abroad.

 

Efforts to obtain the helper's side were unsuccessful as she was unavailable to give an interview Tuesday.  

Hi, my name is Nelson Loriente. I work as a security guard. While on the job I got in to an argument with my coworker Jeffrey Pandas Camo over the handheld radio. He was so angry he pulled out his revolver and shot me. So, I pulled out my shot gun and blasted him dead. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/9/security-guard-killed-in-gunfight

A security guard was killed in a gunfight with a colleague while on duty in a solar power plant in Barangay Gueset here on Saturday, December 9.

Police identified the victim as Jeffrey Pandas Camo, 39.

Investigation said the suspect, Nelson Loriente, 51, and Camo were on duty when a heated argument erupted over their service handheld radio. 

At the height of their argument, Camo drew his caliber. 38 revolver service firearm and shot Loriente, who returned fire with his service 12-gauge shotgun. 

Both sustained bullet wounds were taken to the Nazarene General Hospital in Lingayen, this province, where Camo was declared dead.

Loriente is recuperating in the hospital. 

Hi, my name is Kevin Lapu-Lapu and I work as an errand boy. My brother also works as an errand boy for the same family. My brother got angry and flipped off our employer's eldest son who is 14. His mom punched him in the stomach in retaliation. That made me very angry. So in revenge I took their youngest son who is 7 out for a tricycle ride. When we were alone I put my knee to his stomach and covered his mouth until he stopped breathing. I left his body in a grassy area and returned home like nothing happened. But eventually everyone found out what I did. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/21/errand-boy-kills-son-of-employer-to-avenge-younger-brother-after-spat

A 27-year-old family errand boy allegedly killed the seven-year-old son of her employer in Leyte, Leyte to avenge his younger brother following an altercation a week ago on December 14.

The suspect, Kevin Lapu-Lapu, faces a kidnapping with homicide case for killing the victim, who went missing on that day in Calubian, Leyte. 

The Calubian Municipal Police Station found out that the victim was taken by the suspect, a resident of Sitio Kamalig, Barangay Palid 1, Leyte, Leyte, on board a tricycle on that day, as shown by surveillance footage.

The next day, December 15, the suspect reported to work as if nothing happened. 

Police took the suspect into custody and during questioning, he revealed that he brought the victim to Sitio Lawad, Barangay Palid 1.

A search and retrieval operation was launched and the body of the victim was found in a sloping and grassy area in Sitio Lawad. 

The suspect admitted that he killed the victim by covering his mouth and pressing his knee against the victim's stomach to avenge his younger brother who also works as an errand boy in the victim’s family.

He said the victim's mother punched his younger brother after he made a dirty finger at the 14-year-old elder brother of the victim. 

The suspect also admitted that he left the victim in the area and went home after the incident.

Lapu-Lapu was previously convicted of drug charges in Manila and was released after plea bargaining.

Hi, my name is Robert Tolentino. On Christmas Day I was having a drinking spree with a co-worker named Daniel and several friends. A misunderstanding occurred between Daniel and one of our other friends and they got into a heated argument. I attempted to pacify Daniel but he pulled out a knife and stabbed me several times until I was dead. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/25/peacemaker-stabbed-dead-on-christmas-eve

A laborer was stabbed dead while pacifying his co-worker on Christmas Eve during a drinking spree in Barangay Concepcion here.

Police identified the victim as Robert Tolentino, 32, single, of Barangay Concepcion.

Investigation said the victim and the suspect, “Daniel,” 42, a co-worker of Tolentino, together with other friends, were having a drinking spree when a misunderstanding erupted between Daniel and one of their companions.

Tolentino tried to pacify Daniel but he drew a knife drew a knife and stabbed him several times in the body.

The victim was taken to the Doña Marta District Memorial Hospital in Atimonan, Quezon where he was declared dead.

Daniel fled on board on motorcycle and took the murder weapon with him.

Police are conducting manhunt against the suspect who face appropriate charges.