Retards in the Government 355

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

 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/03/02/2337558/cotabato-city-lgu-disaster-response-official-dies-ambush

Gunmen killed the operations chief of the Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in an ambush here on Friday night, an incident that saddened the personnel of different government and private volunteer emergency response contingents he was closely associated with.

Col. Querubin Manalang Jr., director of the Cotabato City police, said on Friday that Jose Raymond Marquez, most known here by his nickname Choco, was on his way home on a motorcycle when he was attacked near a gasoline station at the intersection of the Sinsuat Avenue and Luna Street here.

The 42-year-old Marquez, a scion of the Ante and Marquez clans that are both among the city's pioneer Catholic clans, was operations chief of the CDRRMO under the office of Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali Matabalao.

His attackers, armed with .45 caliber pistols, immediately escaped using getaway motorcycles, according to witnesses.  

"Police investigators found at least three empty shells of .45 caliber ammunition in the crime scene," Manalang said.

Matabalao, a first-termer mayor who is presiding chairperson of Cotabato City's multi-sector peace and order council, has condemned Friday's murder of Marquez and urged the local police to identify his killers for prosecution.

The operations chief of the CDRRMO for Cotabato City has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/1/kidapawan-village-dad-nabbed-in-buy-bust

A barangay councilor was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Kidapawan City on Thursday, February 29.

The suspect was identified as Vergel Banga, councilor of Barangay Katipunan, Kidapawan City.

Seized from Banga by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Kidapawan City Police Station was several grams of suspected shabu worth P5,000.

PDEA-12 Regional Director Aileen Lovitos said the suspect had been placed under surveillance the past month following intelligence reports that he was involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Banga was listed as a drug surrenderer in 2017 who underwent rehabilitation.

He ran and won in the 2023 barangay elections. Banga faces appropriate charges.

A barangay councilor has been arrested for drugs. 

https://manilastandard.net/news/314422159/sc-sacks-rtc-judge-for-soliciting-bribes-from-lawyers-litigants.html

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the dismissal of a judge in Roxas City, Oriental Mindoro after finding him guilty of directly soliciting bribes from lawyers, litigants, and even local elective officials in exchange for favorable decisions.

In an en banc decision, the SC found Edralin Reyes, presiding judge of Roxas City regional trial court (RTC) Branch 43, guilty of gross misconduct, among other corrupt practices following an investigation by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).  

As a consequence, Reyes would lose his retirement and other benefits, except accrued leave credits. He is also perpetually disqualified from re-employment in any branch or agency of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations.

Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine of P7,500 for simple misconduct, for his negligence in supervising his court staff and ensuring proper and safe record- and evidence-keeping system in his court, resulting in missing firearms, exhibits, and pieces of evidence that were in court custody.

Reyes’ pattern of unethical behavior was discovered in 2019 when Judge Josephine Carranzo, who was appointed as his substitute at Roxas City RTC Branch 39, returned an office-issued laptop he used to the SC Management Information Systems Office (MISO) for repair and replacement.

As a matter of protocol, the MISO examined the laptop and found a backup of iPhone messages, some of which showed that Reyes was engaged in corrupt practices. The OCA then hired a forensic expert to extract data from the laptop, resulting in the recovery of more incriminating information.

Three judicial audit teams were organized to conduct the investigation involving RTC branches 39, 41 and 43. The probe uncovered that Reyes solicited bribes, borrowed money, and received gifts from individuals with cases before his court.

The SC audit findings further revealed his irregularities in handling firearms-related cases and failure to turn over confiscated weapons to the authorities. Despite Reyes’ claims of privacy violations, the high court maintained that government-issued devices are subject to monitoring and regulation.

The SC emphasized that such devices are provided to facilitate official duties, not for personal use. “These circumstances convince this Court that Judge Reyes cannot successfully claim that the State unduly intruded into a personal matter,” the SC said in its decision.

The high court noted that an administrative investigation would have been conducted, and the judicial audit team would have found the incriminating information, even without the SMS/iMessage exchanges from the laptop.

“Thus, in the natural course of events, the evidence and information contained in the judicial audit team report would have reached this Court,” the SC added.

A judge has been sacked by the SC for soliciting bribes. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/899369/raps-filed-vs-5-nueva-ecija-cops-over-alleged-evidence-planting/story/

A complaint has been filed against five members of the Cabiao Municipal Police Station in Nueva Ecija for allegedly planting a grenade in a resident's home to justify his arrest.

The complainant, Noel Montano, accused the respondents of violating Republic Act 9516 and of gross misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, among others.

“Respondents are all policemen who willfully and feloniously conspired to plant a grenade as incriminating evidence inside my house to affect my illegal arrest on February 21,” Montano said in his five-page complaint-affidavit filed with the Office of the Ombudsman.

The respondents were identified as Police Major Shariel Paulino, Police Captain Sherwin Veloria, Police Corporal Arvin Rove Velasco, Police Corporal Jordan Talavera, and Police Staff Sergeant Joy Kristine Villar, as well as several "John Does."

In his complaint, Montao said he was taking care of his elderly mother who had recently undergone an intestinal surgery when the police officers came to him with a search warrant.

After being informed that a search warrant has been issued against him for allegedly keeping firearms, Montano said he requested the team leader to invite barangay officials to stand as witnesses during the search.

He said that with his invitation, he was accompanied by a barangay councilor back to his house. On the way there, he said they saw men in civilian clothes riding in tandem from the direction of his home. He said he believed that these were intelligence officers of the police station.

Upon arrival at his house, he was informed that a group of cops had already arrived in the vicinity of their house and left.

“I was shocked when after searching the loft, the policemen declared that they found a grenade under the pillow of my sick mother. I protested the finding because first, I never owned any explosive, especially a grenade that may put our lives in peril,” Montano said.

“And second, no one in his right mind would hide a grenade under the pillow of his ailing mother that just just went under the knife,” he added.

Prosecutors eventually dismissed the charges against Montano, saying that “there is nothing enumerated in the search warrant that was recovered from the possession of the respondent.”

“My predicament has caused so much injustice, public humiliation, anxiety, and undue persecution as my rights were directly violated,” Montano said. 

5 cops have been accused of planting evidence. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/4/da-implements-ombudsman-s-suspension-order-against-139-nfa-officials-employees

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has implemented the preventive suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman against 139 officials and employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) who are allegedly involved in the “improper sale” of thousands of tons of NFA rice.

 

This was announced by Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. during a media briefing at the NFA central office in Quezon City on Monday, March 4.

 

Laurel said that he will concurrently head the NFA in the meantime to “avoid any delays in the services and projects of the agency.”

 

“Today, we are implementing the preventive suspension order of the Ombudsman against 139 officials and employees of the National Food Authority who are being investigated for alleged involvement in the controversial sale of rice buffer stocks,” Laurel said.

 

“I condemn this at hindi natin palalampasin ang ano mang uri ng korapsyon. Kaisa ako sa ating Ombudsman sa layunin nitong alamin ang katotohanan at parusahan ang dapat maparusahan ( I condemn this and we will not ignore any kind of corruption. I am with our Ombudsman in his goal of finding out the truth and punishing those who deserve to be punished,” he added.

 

According to the DA chief, suspended NFA officials include Administrator Roderico Bioco, Assistant Administrator for Operations John Robert Hermano, and several regional managers and their warehouse supervisors all over the Philippines.

 

“NFA Administrator Bioco had earlier filed leave of absence last Friday to allow investigators a free hand to undertake the probe which we expect will go beyond this controversy,” said Laurel.

 

He said the agriculture department seeks to dig deep as far as 2019, adding that they welcome all who want to come forward and aid them in cleansing the NFA.

 

Laurel said that he has been in contact with the Ombudsman since the controversy started.

 

“I also created a special panel of internal investigators to determine the culpability and see how we can prevent it from happening again in the future,” he went on.

 

To recall, an NFA official had accused several agency executives of improperly disposing of rice buffer stocks without bidding, and at prices that were allegedly disadvantageous to the government.

NFA executives, meanwhile, denied any impropriety, claiming the sale followed procedures.

In a statement, the NFA pointed out that it had the mandate “to keep and dispose of 99.9 percent stocks in good and consumable condition.”

“The rice we are selling are all sold at the mandated selling price of P25/kg, although aging stocks need to be re-milled before they could be released to the consumers,” it stated.

Upon learning about the issue, Laurel formed an investigative panel to probe into allegations that certain NFA officials permitted the sale of milled rice kept in the agency's warehouse for P25 per kilo without bidding and after purchasing the grains in palay form for P23 per kilo.

He said said that they also welcome any government agency that may choose to conduct their investigation to find out the facts.

139 NFA officials including the Chief have been relieved while an investigation into the improper sale of rice is ongoing. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/6/article-1978

Three cops implicated in a robbery incident in Kawit in February have been relieved from their respective units and placed under restrictive custody.

The development was announced by Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth T. Lucas at a press conference in Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna, on Wednesday, March 6.

PRO 4A said the suspects forcibly entered two residential houses in Barangay Magdalo-Potol in Kawit on Feb. 13.

They reportedly tied the victims and held them at gunpoint while carting away valuable items, including cellphones, identification documents, a short firearm, and cash.

The investigation by the Kawit Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Unit revealed that the van used by the suspects was rented to Senior Master Sergeant Jhon Paolo Maigue Mellona, assigned at the Cavite Provincial Intelligence and Detective Management Unit.

This initial lead has facilitated the identification of additional suspects implicated in the robbery, including Senior Master Sergeant Reynaldo Andrada Quilit Jr. of Cavite Provincial Intelligence Unit and Corporal Lynard Pastrana Pareja of the Laguna Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit.

Two civilian cohorts and four John Does also face charges of robbery in band following a formal complaint filed by the victims against the suspects with the Cavite Prosecutor’s Office in Imus City on March 5.

The three relieved cops have been reassigned to the Regional Headquarters Holding Area Section.

3 cops implicated in a robbery have been dismissed from the force and arrested. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1915394/village-councilor-stabbed-dead-in-legazpi-city

A village official died Wednesday after being stabbed inside his residence in this city.

Noel Vargas, 66, councilor of Barangay Sabang, was repeatedly stabbed at 5:15 p.m. inside his house, by a suspect who was unidentified in the report, the initial police investigation said.

The suspect used a bladed weapon, the police reported.

Vargas was taken to a hospital but died while being treated.

The suspect was arrested after the incident while the investigation was ongoing.

A village councilor has been stabbed to death inside his home.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Phone Purchases Pick Up, Companies Shift Focus, and More!

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

Tablet shipments to the Philippines have decreased to pre-pandemic levels. 

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP51917724

According to the International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, the Philippines’ tablet market declined 39.8% to just over 750,000 units in 2023.

“Tablet shipments dropped to pre-pandemic levels after averaging over a million units per year between 2020 to 2023. This was the lowest annual shipment recorded since 2012,” said Angela Medez, Senior Market Analyst at IDC Philippines.

Multiple launches across vendors drove 4Q23 to grow sequentially by 35.1% with Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab A9 & S9 FE series alone accounting for almost 40% of the quarter’s 218,000 shipments.

With shifting priorities among government agencies over procurement of tablets for educational purposes, IDC anticipates commercial tablet shipments to contract in 2024. Until tablets can differentiate themselves from smartphones and PCs through innovation and unique positioning, they may not be consumers’ top choice for electronic purchases. 

It seems tablets are not so popular amongst Filipinos. However cell phones are.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/03/03/2337580/phone-purchases-pick-post-covid

As the economy bounces back from the pandemic, Filipinos are starting to invest in new phones again, and they are mostly purchasing Chinese brands priced below $200.

According to the mobile phone tracker of International Data Corp. (IDC), the Philippines logged in a 3.8 percent hike in smartphone imports to 16.9 million units last year.

In the fourth quarter alone, over 80 percent of the 5.6 million shipments were in the $200 and under price band.

As such, the country snapped a two-year decline in phone shipments during the pandemic, when the lockdowns dried up the savings of Filipinos, cutting their budgets for several items.

IDC said brands from China made up four in five of these units purchased by Filipinos. Transsion – the maker of low-cost phones Infinix, itel and Tecno – took the top spot, growing 98.3 percent annually and accounting for over one-third of total shipments in 2023 as the company reached a new high with all three sub-brands positioned in the ultra low-end segment. Tecno, in particular, started to move upward with the introduction of its Phantom series in 2023, the company’s first smartphone at a over $500 price point.

On the other hand, other vendors slowed, with Realme registering the biggest annual decline of 27.6 percent, dropping to second spot as vendors struggled to compete in the $200 segment.

Realme made up 15.9 percent of the market, while OPPO placed third with 12.2 percent. Likewise, Chinese brand Vivo grabbed a share of 11.3 percent, while Xiaomi rounded up the list with 9.8 percent.

Notably, the largest phone manufacturers – Apple and Samsung – failed to make it to the top five list of the most preferred brands of Filipinos.

Medez said around 80 percent of the phone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2023 were sold at less than $200, encouraging Filipinos to spend part of the Christmas bonuses on a new unit. IDC expects the Philippine demand to be sustained in 2024.

“The market made a strong comeback toward the end of 2023, driven by year-end holiday festivities and Transsion’s new product lineup, propelling the $100 price segment to more than double both quarterly and annually,” she said.

IDC believes that local demand for phones will be bolstered by the continuous decline in inflation and the resurgence of consumer spending in the pandemic aftermath.

“The IDC has raised forecast for 2024 given the high performance in [the fourth quarter of 2023] and optimistic economic outlook, as inflation continues to decline and private spending grows,” Medez said.

Filipinos prefer cheap Chinese cell phones. 

After four years the University of the Philippines (UP) - Cebu Campus Tatak award has returned.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/cebu/tatak-up-awards-returns

AFTER a four-year hiatus, the search for an outstanding alumnus of the University of the Philippines (UP) - Cebu Campus returns.

On its fifth installment, a new batch of “Tatak UP” awardees will be recognized this May 3, 2024. The award ceremony was supposed to be held in 2020 but was postponed due to the global health pandemic. 

Jeruel Roa, president of the UP Alumni Association Cebu Chapter (UPACC), urged fellow UP alumni, students, faculties, administrations and even outsiders to nominate UP individuals with outstanding contribution to the community to be recognized.

The awarding will be held in line with the celebration of the 106th founding anniversary of UP Cebu. Roa said the nomination and acceptance for potential outstanding awardees was extended to March 15, 2024.

Instead of being limited to alumni of any UP system, Roa said the UPACC has expanded the scope of recognition to include anyone who has studied at least one semester in any UP degree-granting institution and is in good academic standing.

They must also not have received awards or recognition from other UP institutions or any award-giving bodies in UP.

He explained that this change is intended for individuals who have already outstanding recognition in the community but were not nominated or recognized by the UP institution.

Since its inception in 2011, “Tatak UP” has recognized 93 UP alumni, he added.

This seems like something that could have been reinstated sooner.

Filipino companies which invested in COVID-19 care products are diversifying as the threat has diminished.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/3/companies-shift-focus-as-covid-19-threat-diminishes

As the threat of Covid-19 has already been significantly reduced in the country, some companies which earlier invested in point-of-care and home test kits, have started shifting its operations to other business lines.

In the case of the local company MOHS, it pivoted its business ventures to businesses include products and services in retail, dermatology and medical services, technology services, distribution and logistics.  

“We knew as early as 2022 that we needed to pivot to non-COVID products with the pandemic winding down. We aggressively moved into new lines, particularly health care and dermatology, as we know these businesses well, and sought the vertical integration of our operations through strategic acquisitions in distribution and logistics and technology services,” said MOHS chief executive officer Michael B. Hortaleza.

“These new businesses remain true to MOHS’s DNA of engaging in businesses that add value to Philippine society. Our COVID diagnostics and consumables business and home-based test kits certainly helped ease the physiological and financial burden that the pandemic brought to many patients,” he added.

While the COVID-19 business amounted for 100 percent of sales in 2021 and 2022, non-COVID sales accounted for 40 percent of MOHS business in 2023 and is projected to increase to 99 percent in 2024.

In 2023, even with COVID-19 cases rapidly declining, MOHS’s revenues grew by 24 percent. 

The group’s chief finance officer, Kenji M. Asano Jr., says, “MOHS’s timely pivot beyond its COVID-19 business, under the strategic direction of CEO Hortaleza, positions MOHS for rapid and sustained growth in 2024 and beyond. MOHS’s new product and services mix is poised to meet the exciting challenges of the post-pandemic era.”   

Diversifying into other business lines with established brands and aggressive competitors meant that the playing field was going to be tougher and in the case of the MOHS, some of its business ventures include dermatology clinics—the Arkana neurocosmetics and Swiss Image skin care products, and Scatter scalp micropigmentation technology for hair loss and bald spots.

These companies have been shifting focus to non-COVID products since 2022.

The amusement tax for Filipino films has been waived for three years to help the film industry recovery from the effects of the pandemic. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219841

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has waived the 10 percent amusement tax for the screenings of all local films in the National Capital Region (NCR) for the next three years to help support and promote the Filipino film industry.

In a statement on Thursday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair and Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) overall concurrent chair Don Artes said the amusement tax “adds a financial burden to local film producers, potentially affecting the sustainability of the Filipino film industry.”

In response, the MMC passed a resolution to waive the tax, which will be adopted by each local government unit in Metro Manila.

“In support of the resolution, they will amend their respective local revenue codes to waive the amusement tax for Filipino movies exhibited in Metro Manila from Jan. 8 to Dec. 24 of every year for the next three years,” Artes said.

During an MMC meeting on Wednesday, film director Jose Javier Reyes, representing the Film Development Council of the Philippines, said the current state of the Filipino film industry is “dismal” and has declined significantly.

Reyes cited the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, streaming platforms, piracy, and heavy taxation as some of the biggest hurdles being faced by the film sector.

“A producer needs to pay three types of taxes for each film, including 10 percent amusement taxes together with other taxes, such as value-added tax and income tax, making us the most heavily taxed movie industry in the world,” he said.

The DILG says this will be a big help to the film industry. 

The OCBC Cycle has returned to Singapore for the first time since the pandemic. 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ocbc-cycle-2024-sea-championship-returns-first-since-covid-the-foldie-ride-makes-debut-093935038.html

This year's OCBC Cycle will see the Speedway SEA Championship return for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, with nine teams from Southeast Asia competing at the annual mass cycling event on 11 and 12 May.

Meanwhile, a new category - The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) - will make its debut to cater to the expanding base of cyclists who ride foldable bikes.

OCBC Cycle announced these additions as it kicked off registrations on Tuesday (5 March) at orchardgateway. Organisers expect more than 7,000 cyclists to participate across 10 categories, with 1,000 cyclists taking part in The Foldie Ride by Brompton. The evergreen rides - The Sportive Ride (40km) and The Straits Times Ride (20km) - will feature again in this year’s event.

Teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia will be competing at the Speedway SEA Championship this year. Philippines took the crown in the last edition back in 2019, with Malaysia and Vietnam finishing second and third respectively.

Of course the Philippines is sending a team to compete. 

March Is Fire Prevention Month

The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation. 

Interestingly enough March is Fire Prevention Month. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/29/stay-alert-philippine-red-cross-calls-for-vigilance-as-fire-prevention-month-begins

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday, Feb. 29, urged the public to be vigilant in line with the beginning of the month-long observance of Fire Prevention Month this March.

In a statement, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon also urged every household to practice the 4Ps (Predict, Plan, Prepare, Practice) as fire safety begins at home.

“Fire risk, especially in highly urbanized areas, is relatively high during summer. In fact, we see an increase in fire incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year," Gordon said.

"This is why everyone must take greater vigilance and observe fire safety precautions,” he added.

As part of the awareness campaign, the PRC has released a set of fire safety tips to strengthen the public’s fire safety awareness, reducing the risk of fire in communities, especially in fire-prone residential areas.

"PRC is in full support of the campaign of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to raise fire prevention awareness throughout the month of March, which is said to have the most number of fire incidents due to the peaking of temperatures," PRC said.

While the Philippine Red Cross warns against leaving fires unattended and smoking in bed they do not warn against building your house out of light and flammable materials. Residential areas being constructed wholly out of bric-a-brac and which are tightly jammed together is a major cause for such devastating fires which quickly spread. Fire incidents are up by 25% so far this year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219936

The country has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of fire incidents in the first two months of the year, most of which occurred in residential areas.

Speaking at a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday, Bureau of Fire of Protection (BFP) spokesperson Fire Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said a total of 3,044 fire incidents were reported from Jan. 1 to March 1 this year, from 2,424 incidents logged in the same period last year.

Smoking is the leading cause of fire incidents, followed by unattended open flames from cooking and electric ignitions, she added.

“We are focusing on residential areas because majority of these fires are residential. This is why one of our key programs, although it was launched in 2019, ‘Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan,’ includes the dissemination of EDITH – Emergency Drill In The Home,” Atienza said.

She added that the BFP modernization, which is set to commence this year, is seen to improve fire prevention and response efforts.

“What we are strengthening, of course, are our existing resources and we are excited about BFP modernization. In the next 10 years from now, our lack of fire trucks and fire stations, as well as personnel, will be augmented,” Atienza said.

As of January, Atienza said, 123 towns have no firetrucks and fire stations and only have fire prevention officers.

“While we are waiting for this completion, of course, we acknowledge the presence of our fire volunteers who are very supportive and active when it comes to public service. We are also continuing to monitor our area of responsibility in each town,” she added.

In Bacolod City fire incidents are up by more than 50% in the first two months of the year.

https://www.panaynews.net/bacolod-fire-incidents-surge/

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this city has reported a surge in fire incidents of over 50 percent from January to February this year, compared to the same period last year.

Fire Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, the city fire marshal, noted a total of 72 fire incidents, with 32 resulting in minimal damage, in the first two months of this year.

This figure is more than double the 30 fire calls, including 14 cases of minimal damage, recorded in the same period in 2023.

Out of the 72 incidents, 28 were categorized as structural fires.

Jardeleza identified electrical-related issues as the most common cause of fires, accounting for 19 percent.

The damage caused by fires was estimated at P16 million, marking a significant increase from the P904,000 worth of damage recorded from January to February 2023.

In observance of Fire Prevention Month, Jardeleza urged the community to be doubly diligent in safeguarding their homes by avoiding the overloading of electrical circuits, using approved cooking fuels, and ensuring proper maintenance of electrical lines.

“We continuously advocate for heightened vigilance in the home… Let’s protect our property, family, and other loved ones. The current dry conditions and strong winds, along with high temperatures, make materials more susceptible to ignition,” Jardeleza said in an interview with Panay News.

In Mandaue fire incidents are down but fire damage is up 800% in the first two months of 2024.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/800-increase-in-fire-damage-in-mandaue-in-2024

THERE was an 800 percent increase in fire damage in Mandaue City during the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, the Bureau of Fire Protection Mandaue Office said.

Arnel Abella, head of BFP Mandaue, reported that their office had recorded around P1.7 million worth of fire damages to properties from January to February 2024. This is a rise of about P1.5 million compared to the same period last year, which was only P179,250.

Abella said in a media interview on Friday, March 1, 2024, that the damages recorded in 2024 were primarily from single-family houses, mostly made of light materials.

Despite the rise in damages, BFP Mandaue's data revealed that there was a decrease in the number of recorded fire incidents from January to February 2024, with only seven fire incidents, compared to the same period in 2023, where eight fire cases were recorded.

Abella is urging the public to ensure that their houses are safe from fire hazards. He is encouraging people to regularly check their wiring connections and replace any dilapidated wiring. Faulty wiring connections remain the top cause of fire incidents in the city.

He advises people to avoid electrical overloading and plugging in too many devices in a single circuit, leaving the kitchen unattended while using LPG tanks, butane canisters, or any fire-igniting materials.

Abella explains that when too much electrical current passes through the electric wires by plugging in too many gadgets, the wires may heat up and melt, which could start a fire. Hence, he said it is essential to be cautious and follow safety measures to prevent any fire accidents.

In both Mandaue and Bacolod City electrical-related issues, faulty wiring, are the most common cause of fires. Once a the fire starts it spreads quickly because houses are made of light materials. 

Why have fire incidents across the nation increased? Is it because people do not heed fire prevention warnings? Is it because LGUs allow these tinderbox neighborhoods to exist? Or perhaps its a confluence of factors including the jury-rigged mentality of Filipinos whereby anything will do as long as it works, safety be damned? Whatever the reason fire incidents are up in the first two months of 2024 and there is no reason to think the increase will not continue. 

Insurgency: No Repeat of Marawi Siege

It is absolutely incredible how many rebels have surrendered in the past two years. Incredible meaning not believable in the slightest. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1910302/pnp-over-15000-rebels-surrendered-from-2022-to-jan-2024

More than 15,000 rebels have surrendered and joined the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-Elcac) Balik-Loob Program, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Monday.

PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the number of rebel returnees was recorded from 2022 until January 31, 2024.

“A total of 15,092 individuals have surrendered and embraced the Balik-Loob Program through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” he said in a press briefing.

“These accomplishments contribute to the diligent work of dismantling terrorist networks and disrupting the flow of funds that support acts of terror. These developments underscore the effectiveness of our resolute military operations in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), ECLIP “is a scheme that promotes reconciliation in a non-violent manner, which aims to provide DILG-administered package of assistance”

to former rebels and former violent extremists.

The program’s package covers “immediate assistance, provision of the reintegration process, a starting capital for livelihood, as well as remunerating surrendered firearms.”

On February 14,  the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it aims to eliminate the 11 remaining New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla units nationwide by the end of 2024.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said a timeline was given to military commanders to defeat the NPA in line with the government’s goal to transition to external defense.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr reported in January that the number of NPA guerrilla units has declined from 13 to 11.

Don't forget that just last year the AFP said there were only 1,800 NPA fighters left!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1799676/fwd-afp-npa-has-around-1800-members-left

From around 2,000 members reported in 2022, the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is now down to around 1,800 fighters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said on Monday.

“The CPP-NPA is down to 1,800 plus members,” Aguilar said in an online press conference. CPP stands for the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Aguilar, however, declined to divulge the primary locations of the insurgents.

“Let the military worry about the breakdown. These are tactical information we cannot divulge,” he said.

Aguilar added around 400 NPA rebels have pending cases.

“As we look at the data right now, with 1,800 plus remaining, around 400 plus of them … are facing cases,” Aguilar said.

Where did these 15,000 rebels come from? What are they counting? Who are they counting?  And the AFP says there are 13 guerrilla units left?  Just last month they said there are NO  ACTIVE FRONTS LEFT!!!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216269

An official of the National Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday said the New People's Army (NPA) is at its weakest state ever in its 55th year of existence as it has "zero active guerilla fronts" and with less than 1,500 fighters remaining nationwide.

What does it mean the NPA has declined from 13 to 11 fronts if none of them are active and the AFP has declared a strategic victory?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1883388/nsc-npa-now-weakened-strategically-defeated

The New People’s Army (NPA) is “at its weakest in its 55-year-history” and has been “strategically defeated” after the security forces of the country announced that the rebel group no longer has active guerrilla fronts nationwide, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said on Wednesday.

“With its active guerrilla fronts now weakened, the NPA has been strategically defeated,” Malaya revealed in a press conference on the report of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) executive director Usec. Ernesto Torres Jr. stated that the country only has 14 weakened guerrilla units left for dismantling.

Ok, so they are just weakened fronts? But who cares if they are inactive? The communist insurgency continues to weaken in Cordillera. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219934

Continued engagement by the police with relatives of former rebels helped neutralize communist groups in the Cordillera region, authorities said.

Data from the Police Regional Office (Cordillera) show that about 103 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were neutralized in 2023, up from 91 a year ago.

It shows that a rebel was captured in 2023, while six were arrested, five were killed, and 91 voluntarily surrendered to avail of the enhanced comprehensive local integration program (E-CLIP).

“(The) arrest of three top-ranking leaders somehow caused a vacuum in the leadership of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee, making it hard for them to sustain its force in the Cordillera region, particularly in their former mass bases.” Brig. Gen. David Peredo said in a report furnished to the Philippine News Agency on Friday.

Police data show that some of the arrested and captured NPA members last year were identified through tactical interrogations, custodial debriefing reports, and the exploitation of recovered documents while others are supporters of the CPP-NPA.

In a phone interview on Friday, Peredo traced the large number of surrenderers to the continuous engagement of police intelligence personnel with relatives of former rebels who have availed of the E-CLIP and the whole-of-nation approach in ending local armed conflict under Executive Order (EO) 70. 

“This implies that the government’s program has effectively enticed some (rebels) and supporters to denounce the CPP-NPA in exchange for a normal and peaceful life with their families,” he said.

Along with fighting the remnants of the NPA the AFP is focused on making sure there is no resurgence of the insurgency in cleared areas.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219960

The Visayas Command (Viscom) said Saturday that military operations will now be focused on preventing the resurgence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in communities already cleared of insurgency.

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom chief, said in a statement that after the devastating blows against the CPP-NPA in February, the must ensure that insurgents could not take any foothold in areas where development is inevitable.

At least 30 rebels were neutralized during the February operations, 14 of whom died in encounters, 15 surrendered, and one apprehended.

“Our mission is not yet over. We may have achieved significant gains in our campaign last month, but there is a lot to be done," he said.

"Our forces are now focused on preventing the resurgence of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas by neutralizing the few remaining members of the terrorist group,” he added.

“The success of our campaign in its early stage this year is attributed to the active support of our people, having freed them from the clutches of the terrorist group last year. This is the reason why we cannot stop,” Arevalo said. 

The AFP continues to go after the remnants of Maute which has prompted one House member to declare there will be no repeat of the Marawi siege. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1911147/adiong-vows-no-repeat-of-marawi-siege-as-govt-pursues-maute-remnants

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has assured the public that there would be no repeat of the Marawi siege despite an incident between Maute group remnants and the military, saying that government forces and local governments are actively pursuing the terrorists.

Adiong in a briefing on Tuesday explained that the support of local government units (LGUs) is crucial to law enforcement agencies and military institutions tracking down Maute Group fighters involved in the recent clash with the military.

Six Scout Rangers and three alleged fighters of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group  (DI-MG) were killed in an encounter in Lanao del Norte’s Munai town last February 25, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

“With the support of the LGUs, we’ve seen how we were able to liberate Marawi City. And I don’t see any reason why the same problem again may pop up in the future,” Adiong, who chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation, told reporters at the House complex.

The lawmaker also said that the best way to deter public fear about the incident is to show that the government is in control of the situation — which happened as Brawner himself visited the area.

“I saw that after what happened in Lanao del Norte, the chief-of-staff himself went there to condole bereaved families.  And then there are additional deployments in the area to secure it.  Because the military and the police, they already have an idea as to where the remnants would run towards,” Adiong said.

“That’s why it’s important, based on our experience, is the engagement of our security sector with the LGUs down to the barangays.  We need to have a stronger presence there and the intelligence gathering is of prime importance.  Because if we have a good intelligence gathering and we get correct intel, resources are not wasted,” he added.

Representative Adiong could not be more deceptive. The problem is NOT intel gathering but using the intelligence gathered. The government had prior knowledge of the Marawi siege and DID NOT ACT on that intelligence. Instead they ignored it. In an interview in 2017 Adiong admitted this fact. 

"Well I think it, it has been accepted by the military, no less than Secretary Lorenzana, it was more of a lapse in terms of appreciating the facts on the ground. Appreciating intelligence reports. And remember before Marawi siege there was also an attack happen in Butig. The same perceived enemy, the same objective and after Butig, a couple of months after that they attacked the town of Piagapo.  

And already there were reports coming in that they were actually moving toward Marawi City. And the military already knew the attack was supposed to be staged on the 26th of May not 23 it was actually a premature attack because of the warrant of arrest to be served against Isnilon Hapilon. 

Even the people of Marawi knew something was up and they did not speak up. In the same interview Adiong said: 

"Well actually we already, all of the people in Marawi City, in the entire province, already knew that there was a group fashioning themselves after ISIS. We knew about the Maute brothers but it's like a phantom. They're like a phantom.  You know that there's a group but you don't actually know the individual members of this group. So it was more of a distant, say for example, you feel their presence but you don't actually know where they are. So that's why they're like phantom. They come and go and even before the Butig attack they were already harassing non-Marano residents in the city accordingly they even admitted to this hostilities, this harassment against non-Marano residents in the city. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/05/intelligence-failures-and-prior.html

If there is to be no repeat of the Marawi siege it is not enough for Maute or the rest of IS to be destroyed. The AFP must take all threats seriously and act on intelligence rather than ignore it as was done in the case of Marawi.