Mandaue City Garbage Crisis: A Study in Incompetence

Recently Mandaue City recalled two garbage trucks from Barangay Guizo because the barangay failed to collect garbage in a timely manner and dispose of it properly. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/mandaue-city-to-recall-2-garbage-trucks-from-guizo

FOR allegedly failing to properly manage waste within its jurisdiction, Barangay Guizo will lose its two garbage trucks owned by the Mandaue City Government. 

This was confirmed by Guizo Barangay Captain Jesus Neri Sr. in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. 

Barangay Guizo reportedly violated the city ordinance on proper waste management as it continue to dispose of mixed waste in unauthorized areas. 

The City Government ordered the recall of the garbage on Thursday, Sept. 5, heeding the recommendations from the Mandaue Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro). 

Neri, however, requested the City to recall the garbage trucks on Tuesday, Sept. 10. 

The City, he said, will assume the garbage collection in Guizo as the barangay-owned truck is not functional. 

Multiple citations have been issued to Barangay Guizo. The most recent violation, recorded on April 3, 2024, showed the barangay’s failure to comply with the city ordinance that mandates that waste be disposed of only in designated facilities.

Despite a P5,000 fine being imposed, the penalty remains unsettled, prompting City officials to issue a first and final notice demanding immediate payment.

According to Cenro, Barangay Guizo has been subjected to multiple citations since March 21, 2019, for its repeated waste management violations. 

Cease and desist orders were issued on Jan. 12, 2024, and Jan. 4, 2024, directing the barangay to halt improper waste disposal methods.

The village chief said that waste management is a challenge in Guizo, as they are using only one garbage truck because the other truck is under repair. 

Two important things here need to be noted. The first is that the Barangay Captain, Jesus Neri Sr., requested that the city recall the trucks. Despite his admission that this happened at his request he is calling this act "political harassment" on the part of Mandaue City. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/11/village-officials-in-mandaue-city-cry-foul-over-recall-of-garbage-trucks-collectors

Officials of a barangay in Mandaue City, Cebu have cried foul over the recall of city-owned motor vehicles and city-paid job order employees for garbage disposal services.

Barangay Guizo Captain Jesus Neri Jr. said the move of the city government, through city administrator James Calipayan, recalling the barangay’s two drivers and one garbage collector has severely affected its garbage collection.

“We only have one garbage truck and it cannot be avoided that there are times that it breaks down, that's why garbage is not collected timely,” Neri told reporters on Wednesday, September 11.

The vehicles and the workers were recalled by the city government on September 3.

With a population of more than 10,000 people with three major hospitals, hospitals, and a mall, Guizo needs to have adequate personnel and a working garbage truck to prevent uncollected garbage from piling up.

“Before Guizo had only 44.3 hectares but it has expanded to more than 80 hectares now,” said Neri.

Neri added that their workers tasked to collect garbage have complained of delayed salaries.

During the press briefing, Neri showed uncollected garbage that had piled up beside the barangay hall.

“We have a weekly clean up drive, we tried to ask assistance from the city but we were just told their garbage trucks are defective. So what can we do?” said Neri.

Neri described  the recent move by the city government as political harassment.

“It is clear that what they did was political harassment,” said Neri, an ally of Mandaue Rep. Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano.

Ouano is rumored to be running against Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, who is currently serving a one-year suspension.

Neri said he has been bashed on social media for the uncollected garbage in the barangay.

“I have been repeatedly ridiculed on social media. I was accused of being remiss in my job. It was in 1997 when I first became a barangay captain here. I wouldn’t last this long if I was not doing my job well. It is not easy to manage a barangay,” said Neri.

Neri appealed to the city government, now headed by acting Mayor Glen Bercede, to reinstate the recalled job-order employees.

He also asked the city to fulfill its promise of helping the barangay in its garbage collection.

If Neri requested the trucks be recalled how is this an act of political harassment? Neri also claims he asked the city to assist with garbage collection but he was told their garbage trucks are defective meaning they cannot offer any help. That is in contradiction to his previous statement Mandaue City will assume garbage collection. How will they do that if their trucks are defective? These statements are contradictory.

The second important thing to note is Barangay Guizo has two garbage trucks but only one is in operation. But who owns these trucks? The Barangay or the City? It would seem the City since they recalled the trucks. Why not simply repair the trucks if that is the problem?

Another issue affecting this situation and indicating the City owns the trucks is job order employees claiming their pay has been withheld for several months. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/594924/mandaue-some-guizo-job-order-workers-say-their-salaries-delayed

Some city paid job order employees in Barangay Guizo have complained about the delay of their salaries.

Antonio Abellanosa, a garbage truck driver and Arjay Serafin, a garbage collector said that usually they could not receive their P4,000 monthly honorarium on time.

(There are days that these will be delayed, there are times two months. Those two months it will not be given in full [they will give that] in two months, they will skip a month and so.]

(It will reach 2 months, it could have been better if the salary is given in full, only one month’s worth of salary will be given. The second pay will be given every two months. And it will be again delayed.)

Abellanosa and Serafin were appointed by the city as job order employees and paid on honorarium basis at P435 daily under the Tourism Department and Promotion Program of the Barangay pursuant to Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance no. 16-2023-1837. 

Guizo Barangay Captain Neri said that since February 2023, Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan designated the first first barangay councilor as the signatory of the Daily Time Record of the city government paid Job Order and Clean and Green Personnel assigned in the barangay instead of him.

Calipayan said that they authorized Arnulfo Capacite because the city trusted him but the supervision and control would still be in the Barangay Captain. 

Capacite is an ally of suspended Mayor Jonas Cortes while Neri is an ally of Congresswoman Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.

For his part, Capacite denied the two months delay of the honorarium. 

If there would be a delay, the longest time would be two weeks, he said.

He said that he would immediately sign after they would fill up their DTR. 

Calipayan also denied the allegation of Neri that politics was behind the recall of the truck.

Calipayan said that Neri was given enough time to improve their garbage collection system. 

He added that the environmental citation was issued to the barangay since 2018 from a previous administration.

Neri said that they had been trying their best to collect garbage in the barangay. 

He planned to ask for a garbage truck to Mandaue Rep. Ouano-Dizon.

And here is where the alleged political harassment comes in.  Mandaue City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan does not trust Barangay Captain Neri and they are allied with differing politicians. It is, allegedly, a case of partisan politics. That is, of course, if one ignores the fact Barangay Guizo has been cited for faulty garbage collection since 2018 and Neri has been given plenty of time to improve garbage collection. 

Neri says he has been Barangay Captain since 1997 which is 27 years. That is quite a long time for any one man to hold onto power. He says he would not last so long if he had not been doing his job. However, the garbage woes of Barangay Guizo date back at least 10 years if not more. In 2014 it was reported trash was piling up in Barangay Guizo.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/46181/garbage-left-piling-up-near-guizo-barangay-hall

More than 50 sacks of uncollected garbage awaits motorists and visitors passing through A.S. Fortuna Extension in barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

The bulk of the garbage, mostly plastic items, are found within walking distance from the Guizo barangay hall.

Guizo barangay chairman Jesus Neri Jr. said they don’t have garbage trucks to collect the trash from these areas.

To reduce the smell, residents covered the garbage with a tarpaulin.

“We’ve called Mandaue City to also collect our garbage but sometimes no one arrives,” Neri said.

“There were times that we told the residents to bring out their garbage, but when no one comes we have no choice but to leave that there,” he said.

Engr. Ricardo Mendoza, chief of Mandaue City Hall’s Solid Waste Management Board, said the garbage trucks run on fixed schedules to collect trash from the city’s 27 barangays.

He said it is each barangay’s responsibility to collect the garbage of their constituents.

In a meeting with some of the barangays, Mendoza said garbage trucks usually prioritize the collection of garbage from commercial firms.

“Instead of the households, they first collect garbage from the companies. Since they have recyclables, they’ll bring these to the junkshops and not to the landfill. It takes them so long to back for the household,” Mendoza said.

“We told the drivers to collect in the afternoon for companies and prioritize the households,” he said.

Mendoza said they tag every household who turn over their garbage to collectors in order to distinguish them from the residents who dump garbage anywhere.

Ten years ago Neri claimed the Barangay had no trucks to collect garbage. It's not certain if that means they had two trucks but both were in the shop for repairs. If the City owns the trucks and they are loaned to each barangay that would place the problem squarely in the lap of Mandaue City. 

Clearly there are a lot of issues going on in this situation. Garbage needs to be collected and it is the Barangay's duty to make sure that happens. Not only is Barangay Captain Neri doing a poor job at ensuring the garbage is collected but he is also divided from the City administration due to having different political allies. What's needed at the very least is better communication between the City and the Barangay. Yet Neri had ten years and more to fix the situation and it has only deteriorated. And who suffers? The people. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #24: The Pagan Philippine God Bathala is YHWH

Welcome back to 100 Lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Timothy Jay Schwab's statements about the Philippine god Bathala. Tim teaches that the pagan Philippine god Bathala is actually the Hebrew God Yahweh. 

In his videos Tim says the following:

Bathala Origin. Hebrew? Who Was This Ancient Creator God? Solomon's Gold Series - Part 6C

53:20 Ladies and Gentlemen Bathala is more likely Yahuah. In EVERY SENSE the creator God of Genesis. 

This same claim is also in Tim's book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 205

With reservation, we even tackled what is referred to as the “Creator God of the Tagalogs” whom the Jesuits represent as a pagan god yet we question this because this emerges Hebrew. We explore this fully in an entire video thus this will be a brief.

These two words in Hebrew both point to the Creator God from scripture. Ask yourself how this is possible. We are aware of the narrative of Bathala being a pagan god which includes worship of Anitos or demons of sort. However, we cover this in our Bathala video, when the Jesuits ask the Filipinos about Bathala, they tell them they only worship Bathala and not the Anitos and not the bird. Of course, immediately after receiving their answer which one time even includes a warning by the Filipino not to worship anyone else, the Jesuits still continue to write about Anito idols, etc. We believe the ancient Filipino word on this as they are the ones who lived there and we observe this often in the historic record.

Tim's core argument for the Philippine god Bathala being the Hebrew God Yawheh lies in the supposed Hebrew etymology of the word Bathala. But how does he know that the word is Hebrew? He does not. He assumes it throughout the video. His phony Hebrew etymology concludes with the following statement:

https://youtu.be/7pmGkSWsIbo

38:08 Of course some will say, "Nuh-uh" just as they did with Maharlika yet no one has actually proven that that is not Hebrew. Nor will they be able to prove that this is not Hebrew especially not with stretched etymologies that don't even fit no matter how much they stretch and they aren't even the same letters.  This is exact. Wow!

What a profoundly ignorant argument. Tim says that because no one has proven him wrong that means he is right. He has shifted the burden of proof from himself to his audience and expects his detractors to prove a negative! Tim does not have to prove he is right, you have to prove he is wrong. That is the logical fallacy known as the argument from ignorance. 

At no time does Tim ever prove or even attempt to prove that Bathala is a Hebrew compound word and indeed as a compound word it makes no sense. In English Bathala would translate to "Measure Rib." Instead of offering solid etymological proof that Bathala is Hebrew Tim says the word "looks" Hebrew.

2:18 And the word Bathala certainly sounds, well, Hebrew to us. I mean just looking at the word you can almost see right away, yeah that's a fit. Perhaps this is because we find a direct exact Hebrew etymology that makes far more sense than the narrative of academia which makes no connections whatsoever and is frankly a very bad guess from what we find as we do with many etymologies in Philippine history especially those written by Jesuits.

How ludicrous. If Filipinos are Hebrews then why is their God not named YHWH? How did they lose that name and come to invent the name Bathala? Tim does not say. And let's not forget there are other creator Gods among the Filipinos. How about Melu? According to James Frazer:

Folklore in the Old Testament, vol. 1, pg 16

The Bila-an, a wild tribe of Mindanao, one of the Philippine Islands relate the creation of man as follows. They say that in the beginning there was a certain being named Melu of a size so huge that no known thing can give any idea of it ; he was white in colour, and had golden teeth, and he sat upon the clouds, occupying all the space above.

Being of a very cleanly habit, he was constantly rubbing himself in order to preserve the whiteness of his skin unsullied. The scurf which he thus removed from his person he laid on one side, till it gathered in such a heap as to fidget him. To be rid of it he constructed the earth out of it, and being pleased with his work he resolved to make two beings like himself, only much smaller in size. He fashioned them accordingly in his own likeness out of the leavings of the scurf whereof he had moulded the earth, and these two were the first human beings.

Quite clearly there were a variety of gods worshipped in the Philippines and Bathala was simply one among many. 

The proper way to demolish Tim's ridiculous claim is to take a look at the identity of the Creator God of Genesis and compare Him to Bathala. In that way we can discern if Bathala truly is in EVERY SENSE the Creator God of Genesis.  

First of all the name of God in Genesis 1 is Elohim which is plural. The God of Genesis is not a monad but Bathala is. Bathala has no Son or Spirit. However he does have a messenger bird.

15:37 In early Philippine history Bathala was strongly associated with Tigmamanukan - omen bird. Mmm are you sure? Not according to that actual Filipinos but they'll ignore that too. So much so that early chronicler Antonio de Morga thought the Tagalog saw the bird as their ultimate deity. Really? The anonymous author of the boxer codex in 1590 also nearly made this mistake but was advised...by whom? By the Tagalogs by the natives, by the locals not to equate the two because Tigmamanukan, however you say that, was not the Creator God but only his messenger.   ends at 16:40

What is there about Elohim that can compare with a messenger bird? Nothing!

While Tim denies the triune nature of God and the divinity of the Holy Spirit even he admits that Elohim is plural.

Restoring Creation: Part 2: Continued... Did Moses Write the First Chapters of Genesis?

35:40 Elohim, uh, is the Father and the Son. It's plural and it's used because the Father and the Son created.

Who is the Son of Bathala and where is he? Where is the strict one-to-one identification between Elohim and Bathala? It's not there. It only exists in Tim's mind. 

Second of all The New Testament is very clear that all things were created by Jesus Christ. 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/col/1/1/s_1108001

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

To claim that Bathala is in EVERY SENSE the creator God of Genesis is to identify him with Jesus Christ. Is Bathala Jesus Christ? Of course not! Why would anyone even contemplate such blasphemy as to equate a Philippine deity with Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? It is an outrageous and blasphemous claim. 

This stupid and ridiculous claim can be traced to the fact that Tim denies the divinity of the Holy Spirit and the triunity of God. 

Only one who denies the Trinity could dare strictly identify the Philippines' pagan deity who has a messenger bird (Odin is also a God with a messenger bird!) as Yahuah and declare that he is in EVERY SENSE the creator God of Genesis. Tim is not so ignorant as to be unaware that Jesus Christ created all things and is thus the Creator God of Genesis. Why would he identify Jesus Christ as Bathala? How much more blasphemous could Tim be? Does he pray to Bathala?

This should be enough to drive the point home that Bathala is not YHWH. He is not the creator God of Genesis in EVERY SENSE as Tim claims. If that were the case he would not be a monad but a triad. He would have a Son and a Spirit. Instead he has a messenger bird. The identification of Bathala with YHWH is simply one more lie Timothy Jay Schwab  teaches about the Philippines. 

Retards in the Government 383

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/12/abra-town-vice-mayor-hurt-in-shooting

The vice mayor of Pidigan, this province, was shot and wounded inside a hardware store in Barangay Pamutic, Pidigan, on Thursday morning, September 12.

Police said the victim, Noel Bisares, 56, was sitting inside the family-owned establishment at 8:30 a.m. when gunmen onboard a motorcycle arrived.

The back rider approached the victim and fired at the victim who was wounded in the right arm and shoulder.

The gunman who was wearing an orange cap and his companion fled and Bisares was taken to a hospital in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

Pidigan is near the provincial capital Bangued and about 50 kilometers west of Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur, and 400 kilometers from Manila.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation and pursuing the suspects.

A vice mayor has survived an assassination attempt.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/13/cop-3-cohorts-fall-in-buy-bust-p13-m-shabu-seized

A policeman and three companions yielded two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13 million in a buy-bust operation in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday, September 12.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region chief Gil Cesario Castro identified the suspects as Police Staff Sgt. Radja Ismula, 49, assigned to the Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office, and Andam M. Alidjam, 65; Midarmi S. Alidjam, 44, and, Rahsi Jallaw, 54.

The suspects were arrested after they sold at least two kilos of shabu to a PDEA undercover agent in Barangay San Raymundo.

Castro said the suspects who belong to a local drug group that transported the contraband from Tawi-Tawi to Jolo which serves as a drop-off point in their operations.

He said the suspects had been placed under surveillance following their involvement in illegal drug trafficking activities.

The PDEA official said they remain steadfast in their campaign against illegal drugs amid the involvement of public officials and members of law enforcement.

A cop and three others have been arrested for drugs. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/13/lapu-lapu-city-cop-chief-axed-over-pogo-hub

Several high-ranking police officers were relieved in the aftermath of the discovery of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub inside a hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

The latest to be relieved was Col. Ali Baron, who was axed from his post just five months after he was named as the chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO).

Lt. Col. Conrado Manatad will serve as LLCPO officer-in-charge following the relief of Baron, said Police Lt. Col. Christian Torres, information officer of LLCPO.

Also relieved from their posts were Col. Marlon Santos, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas, and Col. Gervacio Balmaceda, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7).

The other day, two other police officers were also relieved -- Major  Dindo Alaras, head of the LLCPO Intelligence Unit and Station 4 chief Major Judith Besas.

The order to relieve them came from the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said  Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.

They were relieved  while an investigation to determine if they  could be held liable for the clandestine operation of the POGO hub.

“That was the reason why there were (relief) orders but the orders came from the national headquarters. We will always abide by the wisdom of our leaders in the PNP,” Pelare said.

The raid was conducted on August 31 by the National Bureau of Investigation, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the Bureau of Immigration.

A group of foreigners that included Chinese, Indonesians, and Burmese were apprehended during the raid.

The Lapu-Lapu Police Chief has been relieved following a POGO raid. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/595105/talisay-shooting-gunman-shoots-wounds-candulawan-chief-tanod

The chief tanod of Barangay Candulawan in Talisay City was wounded after he was shot in the head while he was standing outside the barangay hall on Thursday evening, September 12, 2024, at around 9:04 p.m.

The victim was identified as Fidel Torion Sr., 42 years old, a Purok Nangka, Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City resident.

Meanwhile, the suspect was identified as Jeron Monterde alias “Tiyan,” of legal age, a resident of Sitio Iba, Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City.

Based on the investigation of Talisay Police Station, before the incident, the victim was standing outside the barangay hall at Purok Boongon of the barangay.

Moments later, the suspect suddenly arrived riding a motorcycle, drew an unknown caliber firearm and fired at him several times.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound on his head.

Torion was brought to Cebu South Medical Center, where he was recuperating.

On August 10, 2024, the suspect also shot the victim with the bullet just grazing the victim’s chest.

Based on the previous investigation, the suspect allegedly wanted to take revenge on the tanod for the death of his brother, who was allegedly killed by one of the tanods of the barangay.

The chief tanod of Barangay Candulawan in Talisay City was wounded by being shot in the head by the same man who shot him in the chest last month. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/14/coa-flags-cagayan-town-on-undeposited-p2-1-m-funds

The failure of the municipality of Calayan in Cagayan to deposit P2.142 million in its local treasury as of Dec. 31, 2023 deprived the local government unit of the immediate use of funds for its priority programs and projects.

Worse, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2023 annual report that "the funds may have been lost or misappropriated."

The report stated that cash should have been deposited to the town's depository bank and the fact that the funds ramained undeposited violated Sections 2, 69 and 105 of the Presidential Decree No. 1445, the Government Auditing Code.

The COA said that Calayan was able to remit and deposit P800,005.16 to its authorized government depository bank. This brought down the balance of P2,942,122.77 in 2022 to P2,142,117.61 in 2023.

The P2.142 million consisted of General Fund (P798,490.43), Special Education Fund (P1,340,606.38), and Trust Fund (P3,020.80) which represented unremitted and undeposited collections of various accountable officers from previous years, it said.

It also said that the town's treasurer has committed since 2020 to submit the list of accountable officers with unremitted collections. However, the municipal treasurer has not submitted the said list to the COA.

"It was found that there were no demand letters issued to the concerned accountable officers for the immediate remittance/deposit of their collections," the COA said. 

"The said collections, which remained undeposited for several years, raise doubt on the existence, reliability and accuracy of the recorded balance of the Cash-Local Treasury account. This also indicates that funds may have been lost or misappropriated," it pointed out. 

State auditors warned that accountable officers may be held criminally liable for malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

The COA then asked the Calayan town officials to take immediate action and issue demand letters to the concerned accountable officers for the immediate remittance/deposit of the P2.142 million to the authorized government depository bank of the LGU.

"Exhaust all possible legal remedies to collect from the concerned accountable officers the total amount reported under Cash in Local Treasury account," it stressed. 

The COA has flagged the municipality of Calayan in Cagayan for failing to deposit P2.142 million in its local treasury.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/09/14/2385150/teacher-stabbed-dead-inside-own-home

A 46-year-old teacher was stabbed to death inside his home in Barangay Mandog in Maasin, Iloilo late Thursday.

Victim Ian Clementir, a teacher of Dagami national high school, was playing with his four children when suspect Jhed Domingo barged into their house and attacked him.

His children were able to run to their bedroom while his wife, who was preparing food, ran outside to seek help.

S/Sgt. Faith Jan Leysa, Maasin police investigator, said Clementir took all seven stabs to prevent Domingo from attacking his children. Domingo was later arrested by responding village watchmen.

“It appeared that it was a random attack. The suspect doesn’t personally know the victim,” Leysa said.

Domingo is detained at the police station pending the filing of charges. 

A teacher has been killed in a random attack.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/14/municipal-councilor-in-cagayan-arrested-for-drug-case

Authorities arrested a municipal councilor here for a drug case on Saturday, September 14.

The Police Regional Office 2 identified the suspect as Emerito Gasmen.

Gasmen, considered a high-value target, was wanted for violating Sections 5 (sale) and 11 (possession) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He was apprehended on a warrant dated July 12, 2010 issued by Judge Severino B. de Castro of the  Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 82.

The court recommended no bail for the suspect

Gasmen is under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 2 for documentation prior to turnover to the court.

A municipal councilor has been busted for drugs. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/16/police-official-wife-shot-dead-in-muntinlupa

An official of the Muntinlupa Police and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified suspect inside their home on Sept. 16. 

In a report, the Southern Police District (SPD) identified the victims as Capt. Aminoden Mangonday, 40, and his wife, Mary Grace, 40. 

Their 12-year-old daughter, Shasmeen Ameena, was wounded in the attack. 

The shooting happened at about 1:10 a.m. while the victims were in their house at Tierra Villas in L&B Compound, Ilaya Street in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa. 

According to the police, an unidentified armed man entered the house and shot them. The couple died instantly while the daughter was wounded and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. 

The suspect was described as having long hair, 5'9" in height, and was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon condemned the shooting. 

“We condemn in the strongest terms the brazen attack on the family of PCPT Aminoden Mangonday which has resulted in the death of the police officer and his wife and the wounding of his daughter. This act of violence against a law enforcement officer and his family should be investigated thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned to find the perpetrators and the mastermind and prosecute them. The people of Muntinlupa mourn for this loss of a fellow public servant and his wife,” said Biazon. 

An official of the Muntinlupa Police and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified suspect inside their home.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/09/17/2385873/cop-sacked-over-suspects-escape

A policeman is undergoing investigation after a fugitive he arrested in Quezon City reportedly escaped after tricking him into buying a sanitary napkin.

The police officer, a 36-year-old corporal, was relieved from his post at the Batasan police station 6.

He is facing a complaint for evasion through negligence under the Revised Penal Code.

The policeman was relieved from his post after a woman identified as Mary Roy Parenas, who is wanted for qualified theft, managed to escape while in his custody on Saturday.

An investigation showed that at around 3:50 a.m., the lawman and other police personnel served a warrant for Parenas’ arrest, issued by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 227.

The policeman and his colleagues brought Parenas to the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital in Barangay Batasan after she complained of stomach pain and difficulty in breathing.

While in the hospital, probers said Parenas asked the policeman if he could buy napkin pads for her menstruation. The officer agreed.

When he returned from a retail store, the policeman was surprised to find out that Parenas was no longer in the hospital.

The policeman surrendered to his supervisors and is now under investigation.

A policeman is undergoing investigation after a fugitive he arrested in Quezon City reportedly escaped after tricking him into buying a sanitary napkin.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984531/maguindanao-del-sur-town-councilor-slain-in-gun-attack

Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Tuesday afternoon a municipal councilor of Buluan town, Maguindanao del Sur.

Colonel Ruel Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, identified the victim as Mohamamd Usman Alamada, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his body.

Captain Cemafranco Cemacio, Buluan police chief, said Alamada and his companion were standing in front of a roadside restaurant at the national highway fronting Buluan District Hospital when attacked by still unidentified assailants, who fled on board a motorbike.

“We strongly condemn the shooting of Councilor Alamada,” Sermese said in a statement on Wednesday.

Initial police reports said the shooting occurred at past 3 p.m. at the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.

The Maguindanao del Sur police office has created “Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Alamada” with Cemacio as commander to locate, identify the perpetrators, and file the appropriate case in court. 

“I would like to assure the public that justice will be served and the perpetrators will be put behind bars,” Sermese said as he appealed to the public to provide information that could help in the early resolution of the case.

Sermese begged off providing the motive of the attack and the identities of the attackers.

Buluan Mayor Babydats Mangudadatu condemned the killing of Alamada, whom he said “always worked for the betterment of Buluan.”

He said the local government was working with the police for the speedy resolution of the case.

“To the perpetrators, know this: The arm of the law is long, and the gavel that shall strike you for this crime will be heavy,” Mangudadatu said.

Another town couniclor has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984542/ex-dbm-exec-tagged-in-pharmally-mess-arrested-in-davao-city

Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, was arrested in Davao City on Wednesday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Lao, 47, was nabbed in his residence in Davao City,  through a warrant of arrest of Sandiganbayan dated Sept. 12.

Lao and 12 others were found liable for graft in the biggest corruption scandal during the pandemic, and their criminal prosecution was recommended for allegedly conspiring to award P4 billion in contracts for COVID-19 test kits to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

A former DBM executive convicted of graft has been arrested. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1984575/teduray-leader-slain-in-maguindanao-del-sur

A Teduray leader, who is also a village councilman in Barangay Bongo, South Upi in Maguindanao del Sur was killed on Tuesday night.

Leticio Datuwata, the supreme tribal chieftain of Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG), identified the victim as Elvin Moires.

“He is on his way back home after attending a tribal wedding ceremony when shot by unidentified men,” Datuwata told the Inquirer.

A report said he suffered several gunshot wounds.

Moires was rushed to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctors.

For Datuwata, Moires is known for being a vocal “lumad” leader, especially on the rights of indigenous people in South Upi.

A tribal leader who is also a village councilman has been assassinated. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/920950/ex-cop-driver-wanted-in-catherine-camilon-case-arrested-in-batangas/story/

Authorities arrested former Police Major Allan de Castro and his driver in connection with the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon in Balayan, Batangas, it was reported Wednesday.

According to Police Regional Office 4A, De Castro was apprehended at around 7:47 p.m.on Saturday, September 14 in Barangay Caloocan.

During the same operation, authorities also arrested De Castro’s driver-bodyguard, Jeffrey Magpantay almost an hour later.

The two men are facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of the beauty queen, who went missing in 2023.

Charges against both suspects were initially dropped on May 15 due to a lack of evidence, however both suspects now face the same charges with no recommended bail filed by the Batangas Regional Trial Court.

In hearings on Camilon’s disappearance early this year, de Castro was cited in contempt for allegedly not telling the truth and was kept in Senate detention.

He was released two days later by Senator Bato dela Rosa on "humanitarian" grounds.

 De Castro was alleged to be in a relationship with the former beauty queen before her reported disappearance, while Magpantay served as his driver-bodyguard.

The ex-cop was reportedly supposed to meet Camilon on the day of her disappearance, which he denied.

Camilon was last seen passing some towns on Batangas with a companion via CCTV footage on October 12.

Witnesses later claimed that they saw a bloodied Camilon being transferred to a different vehicle on the same day, while Magpantay was in the area.

Testing of an abandoned vehicle located in the area by the police later revealed hair and blood that matched the DNA profile of Camilon's parents.

(The hair strands and blood recovered from the SUV matched the DNA profile of Camilo’s parents.)

(Our witnesses did not lie. There's corroborative evidence that the woman they saw was Miss Camilon.)

An ex-cop wanted in the disappearance of a beauty queen has been arrested.