Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Martial Law: Ghost Town

The third extension of martial law has been approved by the Supreme Court and their reasoning can only be what the administration was hoping for. 

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/21/Chief-Justice-Lucas-Bersamin-martial-law-Mindanao-accuracy.html
Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin defended the high court's decision upholding the third extension of martial law in Mindanao, deferring to the President's prerogative to assess and act based on what he knows. 
"Whether that information is true or not is irrelevant. If there was false information and the President did not know it but nonetheless acted upon it, the theory is, it is still within the competence of the President to make a decision on that," Bersamin told reporters Thursday. 
Bersamin said the full court found sufficient factual basis for the extension. 
"When you note some inconsistencies or weaknesses, that is not sufficient to undo the determination of the president because accuracy is not the question here. The question here is what is the information the president acted upon," he added.
What matters is not what is true but what is the nature of the information the President acted upon. His entire intel team could be lying or misinformed themselves but as long as the President is sincere in that he really, really believes what he has been told that is all that matters. That he is acting upon false information does not matter because it is for the President to make a decision on it. This is now legal precedent in Philippine law. Legal scholars will be pouring over this decision for a long time.

The original cause for declaring martial law was of course the Marawi siege. That siege ended in October 2017. The Washington Post recently published an in-depth look at Marawi and I think we should dive right in and take a visit to this "ghost town". Before you read any further please watch the short video at the link. It's important because it shows that these journalists actually saw the city and had a military escort. They were on the ground and the article comes from real experiences and not from New York City desk jockeys.  What follows will be highlights of this rather long article.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2019/02/01/feature/philippine-forces-cleared-this-city-of-islamist-militants-in-2017-its-still-a-ghost-town/
More than a year since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city liberated, Marawi looks almost as it did when the bombs and bullets stopped flying in October 2017, following five months of urban combat. 
Not a single new structure has been built. Almost none of the debris has been cleared. Snakes and mosquitoes infest the bright-green canopy of weeds engulfing the ruins. The odd stray dog has taken refuge inside battle-ravaged buildings. 
About 100,000 people displaced from the Marawi violence are unable to return home, living with relatives or in camps across the southern island of Mindanao. This predominantly Muslim region has seen clashes for decades between Philippine security forces and various groups of insurgents and militants, including the Abu Sayyaf. 
The reasons for Marawi’s limbo include one of the sweeping economic themes across the region: Chinese firms rolled in but stirred local opposition and questions about the long-term implications of Chinese involvement. 
The Marawi limbo has fueled resentment, stoked rumors of conspiracies and potentially strengthened recruitment for pro-Islamic State militants and others — raising the specter of more violence to come. 
The “recruitment of terrorist groups [is] moving twice as fast as rehabilitation,” said Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research. “The more you delay rehabilitation, the more you give them ground for recruitment.” 
Banlaoi, who works closely with the Philippine intelligence service, says that at least 44 foreign fighters continue to operate in the area, documented by the Philippine army. On Jan. 24, the Philippine army said it clashed with Islamic State-inspired fighters in the province of Lanao del Sur, where Marawi is, and killed three militants. 
Marawi’s trouble-plagued reconstruction was rocky from the beginning. 
Local leaders and many Marawi residents balked at the idea of a Chinese-led consortium rebuilding the city. 
The unease is a combination of anger at the Chinese for crackdowns on its Muslim minority, known as the Uighurs, and a general mistrust of Chinese intentions. Across Asia, many countries have had buyers’ remorse, including being saddled with debt and losing control of key facilities such as ports. 
“With PowerChina, we started again from zero,” said Felix Castro, field manager of the Marawi task force. 
The groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation finally began Oct. 30. 
But Philippine officials again changed their approach, telling The Washington Post that PowerChina is no longer involved. The Philippine company, Finmat, has also been ordered to stop work clearing debris after it demolished at least 56 buildings without the consent of homeowners. 
Amid the tussle, local leaders are doubtful that the government can keep to their timeline of having the displaced return home by the end of 2021 — before Duterte’s presidential term ends in 2022. 
Scattered across the towns and cities outside Marawi are dozens of shelters and evacuation camps. They range from concrete structures with electricity and bathrooms — where Riga lives — to chaotic tent cities. 
“We hear of so many millions and millions and millions of aid given . . . but nothing has happened,” said Riga, whose family includes nine children and six grandchildren. 
Since she was displaced in May 2017, she has received only half a sack of rice twice. “Where is the money that was donated? How come we don’t feel it?” 
Another potential flash point came in January with a landmark referendum aimed at giving expanded autonomy to the predominantly Muslim region. 
The Duterte-backed referendum would establish a new autonomous administration in Mindanao — first through a transitional authority, before eventually having its own parliament. The referendum passed overwhelmingly in key areas including Marawi, seen as the first step toward ending decades of violence in the region. 
But the referendum has never been backed by groups like Abu Sayyaf and the Islamic State-linked Maute group, and analysts warn that the autonomous region will remain under threat of violence.
There is a lot to unpack here. Best to start at the beginning. Nothing has been built and no debris has been cleared despite groundbreaking happening back in October 2018. Shortly after the bulldozers stopped because the company was found not to have the right requirements. Those are widely reported facts by the Philippine media.

Maranao's cannot return to their homes and are stuck in refugee camps. Sure some are getting better housing.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/20/armm-turns-over-100houses-to-marawi-evacuees/
A total of 100 displaced families in Marawi City will now have their own starter homes in Barangay Pagalamatan, Saguiaran.
But what is 100 families compared with 100,000 people which represents more than just measly 100 families? Wherever Barangay Pagalamatan, Saguiaran is one thing is certain: it is not downtown Marawi where may of these people lived. Remember when the AFP said Marawi was 98% clear of unexploded ordnance? That was either a lie or they were severely misinformed because they have since revised this figure.
https://www.manilatimes.net/unexploded-bombs-still-litter-marawi/509739/
Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, military spokesman, said around 40 unexploded ordnances, mostly air bombs dropped by military aircraft during the Marawi siege in 2017, were yet to be retrieved. 
Arevalo said authorities were able to “clear” 80 percent of the main battle area in Marawi City.
That is from February 11th, 2019.  Now look back at November 14, 2018.
Clearing operations have disabled around 70 bombs while around 30 still have to be cleared. He said that 16 of those are 500-pounders, which he said have a blast radius of 600 meters. 
He said the unit is not setting a deadline on clearing the MAA but but assured the public that the military is taking all measures to make the area safe as soon as possible. Groundbreaking on rehabilitation of the battle-scarred city was held last month. 
From 98% to 80%. From 30 bombs left to 40 bombs left! What are they basing this information on!? Having no deadline to clear the MAA means the clearing operation could go on indefinitely thus ensuring nothing gets built soon and refugee camps remain full.

The Washington Post quotes Rommel Banaloi as saying there are around 44 foreign fighters in Mindanao as documented by the AFP. But this week the AFP grossly contradicted their own figures.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1088539/over-10-is-linked-foreign-terrorists-suicide-bomber-are-in-mindanao-ano
An Arab-looking terrorist trained to be a suicide bomber and more than 10 other foreign terrorists linked to the Islamic State (IS) are lurking in Mindanao, a government official disclosed Thursday 
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the terrorists were remnants of the 40 foreign extremists supposedly deployed to help the IS-inspired Maute Group during the Marawi City siege in 2017. 
According to Año, a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, over half of the 40 foreign terrorists died during the five-month battle between Maute Group and government troops while others left the country. 
Are there only 10 or a little more foreign fighters or four times that many? How can the AFP not get their figures straight

The Washington Post article quotes a woman named Riga who asks, "What happened to all the millions that were donated to the rebuilding of Marawi?" Good question.


https://www.manilatimes.net/only-26-of-p39m-in-cash-donations-for-marawi-evacuees-used-in-2017-says-audit-commission/435894/
“Records show that the City Government received cash donations from various local sources aggregating P39.7. It was noted, however, that only an amount of P10.2 or 26 percent of the total amount received was disbursed during the period, leaving an unutilized amount of P29.4 million or 74 percent as of December 31, 2017,” CoA said. 
According to the audit report, the city government “explained that the donations were used mostly for the provision of relief goods for the evacuees and the remaining amounts were programmed for rehabilitation and recovery programs and other forms of assistance to address the needs of those who were greatly affected by the calamity.” 
It added that the city government “further assured the Audit Team that cash donations were utilized in accordance with the specific intents of the donors.”
Some of the money went to buying relief goods and was invested in programs for Marawi refugees and the rest was not used at all. Much more has been donated since then. What will the COA report for 2018 show? More of the same?

The government's response to this Washington Post story is pretty typical of an administration desperate to cover its exposed butt.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087445/marawi-not-a-ghost-city-washington-post-article-not-true-task-force-head
“We would just like to say the reality on the ground na ito ay walang katugmang nangyayari on the ground na ghost city siya but instead it’s full of economic activity,” he added. 
Del Rosario further said: “Ang Marawi city ngayon, if you will go there, mahihirapan kang makarating hanggang sa center of the city dahil napakagrabe ng traffic.” 
“Business activities, economic activities, and movement of people. So many vehicles ang nagpupunta na sa Marawi city and this triggers economic activity,” he also said. 
“If the writer of the article was referring to the most-affected area, that is only 250 hectares and that was devastated during the siege for five months,” Del Rosario said. 
“And 250 hectares is just .03 percent of the total area of 8,000 hectares. Mukhang masyadong na-dramatize negatively (ang situation),” he added.
Let's give Del Rosario the benefit of the doubt and assume that the Washington Post article is only referring to the most-affected area which is only .03% of the total area of Marawi and that the whole surrounding area is a bustle of economic activity. That STILL DOES NOT ACCOUNT for the rest of the facts in the article!

One more fact is the conclusion which, referring to the recently passed BOL, warns of even more violence to come because of other Muslim terrorist groups in the area who are opposed to the BOL which is part of the government's peace deal with the MILF. Coupled with the determination of some to impose an Islamic State in Mindanao a la ISIS as well as the generally violent nature of Mindanaoans who prefer to handle disputes by killing each other and it's simply a mess. Abu Sayyaf continues to finance themselves through their kidnap-for-ransom scheme.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1089030/duterte-wants-misuari-to-help-secure-release-of-abu-sayyaf-captives
The group earlier threatened to execute a Malaysian and two Indonesian hostages held captive in Mindanao if they do not receive the ransom for their release.
Abu Sayyaf has indeed executed hostages before and no doubt they will not hesitate to do so again if the ransom is not paid. Foreigners are especially prime targets for this group but Filipinos are not exempt either which makes the following so incredibly mind-boggling.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/21/1895554/miss-universe-2018-catriona-gray-promote-tourism-mindanao
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is ready to take on the task of promoting tourism in the country, with Mindanao as her launching ground. 
Gray, back in the Philippines after winning the country’s fourth Miss Universe crown in Bangkok, Thailand last December, said she wants to share with the world the beauty of Mindanao that foreign tourists rarely see due to depiction of the region in the news as a conflict area. 
“There is such a beautifully rich culture in Mindanao. If only it could be shared with the world. It’s such a beautiful, unique aspect of the Philippines,” she said at a press conference yesterday that kicked off her homecoming activities.
Is Miss Universe 2018 really this stupid? Mindanao is indeed a violent area of conflict where foreign tourists get abducted and beheaded! It is not an imaginary depiction. Why is there a push for the DOT to get foreigners to visit Mindanao when many foreign countries advise against doing so. While the AFP claims martial law actually increased tourism in Mindanao the DOT continues to insist that martial law is good for tourism and that the region is relatively safe contrary to all facts. Does the DOT want to kill foreigners? What is their endgame? If you are a foreigner visiting the Philippines go to Luzon or Boracay or anywhere else and then go home alive.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Night Trash 4

Night trash is not the only kind of trash there is. Day trash exists too. Both kinds of trash are created in the same manner: scavenging stray dogs. 


One baby's soiled diapers is a stray dog's tasty treat.  Yum-yum!







Saturday, February 23, 2019

OFW and Fil-Am Tragedies

It's not easy being an OFW. Not only are you the economic backbone of the nation and your family's main breadwinner but you also have to deal with so much abuse from your employers. Sometimes being an OFW can mean a matter of life or death. Likewise being a Fil-Am has it's own pitfalls.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/682938/ofw-jumps-from-dubai-building-s-3rd-floor-to-escape-agency/story/
An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Dubai jumped from the third floor of a building where she claimed she was being held against her will by her employment agency. 
In a Sunday report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras Weekend", the Filipina worker pleaded for help so she could return to the Philippines. 
The Filipina worker arrived in Dubai last December, and was picked up from the airport and brought immediately to her agency. 
She was promised that she would have an employer. But she claimed that weeks passed with no such patron, and she was being held captive by her agency without food
Another Filipino brought her to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai for assistance getting her back home to the Philippines. But this was not possible as her passport was still being held by the agency.
Employment agencies confiscating passports is the most common form of bondage for OFWs.
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/29/filipina-domestic-helper-raped-jeddah-saudi-arabia.html
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said it is assisting a Filipina domestic helper in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia who was allegedly raped by a representative of her recruitment agency. 
The victim was purportedly raped five times by the suspect. According to the DFA, the suspect was supposed to take the Filipina worker to a new employer, but he, instead, brought her to a hotel where the incident took place. 
"The victim was able to contact [Philippine Overseas Labor Office], which came up with an alibi for the suspect to bring her back to the Consulate," the DFA said.
Raped by someone she was supposed to trust.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/683231/paralyzed-ofw-back-home-after-six-months-in-saudi-hospital/story/
She and her employers were involved in a car crash in July 2018. She has since been paralyzed. 
In an interview an hour before her flight back to the Philippines, Salgado (on a stretcher) told GMA News her sad story from the accident. 
She also narrated how the accident took place while she and her employers were on their way  to Ridadh from Albaha. 
The impact of the car crash killed her employers (a couple). She suffered severe injury from neck to her legs, which paralyzed her.
Now she will be more of a burden than she can even imagine. Will her family resent having to take care of her 24/7?
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/31/ofw-executed-in-saudi-for-murder/

A 39-year-old Filipina household service worker (HSW) was executed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a scant media advisory. 
Citing reports from Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto, the DFA said Saudi authorities carried out the sentence against the Filipina worker who was found guilty of murder. 
While no other details were immediately provided about the case, the DFA said it was not able to save the life of the Filipina after the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council classified her case as “one in which blood money does not apply under Shariah law.”
Apparently this murder was not a crime the lady could simply pay her way out of except with her own blood. Tragic but not really. Execution is the price one pays for murder. But one must wonder what are the circumstances which drove her to do this. Plenty of OFWs in Saudi Arabia are abused to the point of death.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/172952/dfa-filipinos-in-paris-apartment-fire
In a statement, the DFA said that the Philippine Embassy in Paris was coordinating with local authorities to know if any Filipinos were among those who died and were injured in the blaze that affected in a district in Paris where many Filipinos are known to be living in.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/684196/dfa-filipino-couple-among-those-killed-in-paris-blaze/story/
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed that a Filipino couple were among those killed in a fire that hit an apartment building in Paris on Tuesday. 
Four other Filipinos residing in the building survived.
A lady intentionally set that building on fire after a neighbour argued with her about the loud music she was playing. Sad.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/16/19/dfa-sends-condolences-to-kin-of-fil-am-killed-in-illinois
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday condoled with the family of Anthony Del Barrio, a Filipino-American whose frozen body was found in Chicago last month. 
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago was in contact with police authorities who said they are investigating the death as a possible homicide,” the DFA said in a statement.  
The consulate learned that the victim was a third generation Filipino-American born and raised in the United Sates.
A third generation Fil-Am? That means he is 100% American and the DFA and Consulate shouldn't be involved at all.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/content/684967/filipina-domestic-worker-repatriated-from-saudi-after-death-threats-from-employer/story/
Constantino, a 43-year-old Laguna native, has been a domestic worker in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since December 2018. But she sought help several weeks later after her employer Maryam Awadh Ai Nofayej threatened to kill her after she was accused of stealing from Nofayej's house.
Only a few weeks after arriving she left because her employer threatened to kill her. Why are Pinoys sent to work in Saudi Arabia when these kinds of abuses continue to happen in that country?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/content/685641/pinoy-killed-in-deadly-brawl-aboard-taiwan-fishing-boat/story/
A rescue operation was under way after a knife fight broke out aboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean, with one worker killed and several thrown overboard, Taiwan's coast guard said Wednesday. 
The fight broke out in the early hours of Wednesday aboard the "Wen Peng", a Taiwanese vessel manned with 21 Filipino and Indonesian workers. 
One Filipino was killed and another critically wounded in the brawl. 
Taiwan has one of the world's biggest tuna fishing fleets in the world but a poor record in its treatment of migrant workers. 
According to a report by environmental group Greenpeace in 2016, Taiwan's fishing industry is "out of control" with rampant labor and human rights abuses toward foreign workers. 
There are an estimated 160,000 migrant workers working on board Taiwanese fishing vessels, mostly from South East Asian countries of Philippines and Indonesia.
Filipinos will put up all kinds of abuses as long as they get paid well.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/685455/jordanian-filipina-partner-arrested-for-illegal-recruitment/story/
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a Jordanian national and his Filipina live-in partner on allegations of large-scale illegal recruitment that has cost some 100 victims P4 million in fees. 
The supposed accomplices allegedly promised victims employment as cleaners, waitresses, delivery personnel, janitors and drivers in Dubai. 
Olor allegedly demanded P25,000 to P32,000 for placement and processing fees, but she and Tarrish "repeatedly failed" to deploy the workers, the NBI said. 
Filipinos will gladly scam their fellow countrymen who are desperate for an overseas job.
https://usa.inquirer.net/22330/five-filipinos-die-in-delano-california-vehicle-crash
Jalson Laguta was driving an SUV carrying his passengers when it swerved off the road on northbound Highway 99 for an unknown reason, hit a tree and caught fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.
How awful. A whole family dead in a car wreck.

All the above stories are tragic so let's end on a positive not about a Fil-Am nurse.


https://usa.inquirer.net/22314/filipina-nurse-in-illinois-gets-hospitals-dr-mlk-jr-humanitarian-award
Bagaconza was recognized for rendering humanitarian aid in developing areas, including the Philippines, Bolivia, Guatemala and Africa. 
Bagaconza saves her annual paid time off and money for volunteer medical missions. Bagaconza volunteers with the organization Poor Household of God
“Being born in a third world country, I was born and raised in the Philippines, you see poor people, hungry people,” Bagaconza said in a news release. “I volunteered after graduating from nursing school in a local clinic before I came to the United States and it all evolved from there.” 
Bagaconza also collects clothing and other goods to donate to orphanages in the Philippines 
In 2011, I started my first mission trip to the Philippines. I did it for three years in the Philippines, then I extended,” she said. “If I’m going to help, I’m not only going to help people in the Philippines, I want to help other people, too. Every year, I’m thinking: Where do I go next?
Before she left the Philippines she was already a do-gooder and with the money she makes in the USA she is able to do even more good to people around the world. 

Friday, February 22, 2019

Retards in the Government 90

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics. 


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086061/comelec-urges-poll-bets-make-peace-covenants
“We encourage our local officials to institute peace covenants among the different candidates,” Comelec spokes-person James Jimenez said. 
“It might not be legally binding, but at the very least, we could have moral suasion over the candidates and encourage them to keep the elections safe for everyone,” he added. 
“This early in the game, I believe we have already outstripped the deadliness of the barangay elections, which is, historically, more hotly contested,” he said.
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/217768/cebu-city-candidates-sign-peace-covenant-for-secure-and-fair-elections
Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, CCPO, director, said that she is happy with the turn out of the signing of the covenant.  
“I hope that they will stay true to the covenant,” said Garma.
"I promise not to kill you if you promise not to kill me." 


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086185/comelec-names-40-candidates-with-illegal-campaign-posters
Among those included in the list was Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, president of the PDP-Laban and among the 11 bets endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte. 
“I have very few posters. Hence, most unlikely yan,” Pimentel said in a Viber message to reporters on Friday when asked for his reaction on the list released. 
Senator Nancy Binay, who is seeking reelection in the  May 2019 polls, said she was shocked upon hearing the news. 
(I was surprised with that news. I’m not sure where the reports are coming from, but as far as I’m concerned, we still haven’t put up tarps or posters.) 
“I find it very offensive that I’m being tagged as a violator sa mga campaign materials,” she added.
Campaign season is off to a great start. Do these people not know what is going on with their campaign? Is there no coordination? Bong Go is not on the list and so I suspect it is not complete.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086268/ex-cop-drug-suspect-killed-in-bulacan-shootout
Rowell Reynon, 47, a dismissed policeman from Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto, was included in the police’s drugs watch list, said Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director. 
Bersaluna said Reynon was first dismissed from the service in 2001 but was reinstated in 2002. 
In 2010, Reynon was again dismissed for involvement in the illegal drugs trade of the so-called “Alabang Boys,” he added. Reynon was also allegedly involved in a swindling case in 2014.
Another solitary bad egg which in no way reflects up on the PNP as a whole smashed!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086016/duterte-drops-jinggoy-from-admin-senate-slate
What the heck happened? Can Estrada still make a comeback without the support of Duterte?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086051/sandiganbayan-orders-villafuertes-suspension
The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. in connection with his graft case. 
“While I firmly believe that only the House of Representatives has the authority to discipline its members, I … am nonetheless voluntarily submitting [myself] to the preventive suspension,” he said.
Gee that's nice of him to voluntarily submit himself to the orders of the Sandiganbayan.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086748/do-not-politicize-dengvaxia-gordon
Too late!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086731/comelec-to-public-report-vote-buying-in-communities
According to Guanzon, incidents of vote buying — such as giving away of gadgets and other items — could be reported to election officers in the area of incident. 
She then pleaded to candidates and the public not to participate in vote buying as it taints the image of election in the country.
http://www.interaksyon.com/politics-issues/2019/02/15/144179/message-patriotic-election-poster-past-still-relevant-2019-elections/
A 1953 election poster that discourages Filipinos from vote buying gained traction on a popular online discussion forum as the 2019 midterm elections heats up. 
The poster featured prominent figures in Philippine history such as national hero Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini who fought against colonial forces. 
A tricycle driver who received P105 from an electoral candidate disclosed that he sold his vote since he does not earn much in his job. 
“If it will help my people, why not? … Tricycle drivers are poor too,” Menardo Fajardo, the driver, said in Filipino. 
According to him, he only earns around P300 to P500 per day but needs to support his children of five. 
Fajardo also disclosed that candidates do not go on a house-to-house basis to give out cash. Instead, they hand out the envelopes to the “barangay staff or someone who will distribute the money.” 
Another voter, who was not identified, revealed in an interview with two academicians that they accept such offers since it might be perceived as an “act of defiance of the candidate’s goodwill” if they refused. 
“It would also identify you as a voter against the candidate. You would also be seen as going against the flow,” the voter said. 
Another constituent shared that “it’s all about keeping good relations.”
The poster in question:



Since this has been going on since 1953 and even before it is not going to be stopping anytime soon. Why should it? The people know anyone they vote for is going to be corrupt and they are mostly poor folks in need of money like the tricycle driver. Or else they don't want to be targeted by "going against the flow."

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/19/look-tolentino-supporters-wear-masks-during-debate
“This is the first time we used the masks but we plan to use them again in his next sorties and events,” Tolentino’s sister Annalyn told ABS-CBN News. 
“‘Yung iba naka mascot at sticker. Ito para iba naman,” she said. 
The masks also give Tolentino’s campaign a more “personal” touch, his nephew Brent said. 
“It is really important to recognize the candidate by his face. Seeing the face is better than just seeing the name,” he said. 
“It feels more personal when you see a candidate’s face than just seeing a name,” he said.
Actually it just feels and looks creepy as heck. Getting some serial killer vibes here or even bank robber vibes. Just put on a creepy mask and do your criminal deeds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087166/press-freedom-caravan-not-solely-to-explain-ressa-arrest-says-andanar
Andanar explained that the PCOO officials sent to Europe were part of the government’s delegation to clarify issues on “involuntary disappearances” and anti-communist terrorist groups, among others. He added that the caravan is only a “side event.” 
“The caravan is a side event in-between official meetings with officials from the European Parliament, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), European Commission, and leaders of the Filipino community,” Andanar said in a statement. 
He also pointed out that the delegation left for Europe two days before the arrest of Ressa, but he instructed the PCOO officials to answer queries about Ressa.
This actually clarifies things a lot. After being told that the PCOO sent people to Europe to discuss the case of Maria Ressa, which is pretty ridiculous, we now find out it is to discuss and advocate for the delisting of over 600 disappearances from UN records which was reported earlier in the week.

The Philippine government formally moved for the delisting of more than 600 cases of enforced and involuntary disappearances that occurred from 1975 to 2012 during a meeting with a United Nations working group. 
The Philippine delegation sought to delist 625 cases during a meeting with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital of Sarajevo, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a release Friday. 
The said disappearances were mostly attributed to government forces. 
The process of clarifying these cases, DFA said, is supported by and runs parallel to mechanisms established by Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Law of 2012 and Administrative Order 35, which created the inter-agency committee on extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons. 
While it sought to delist cases of disappearances, the Philippine delegation assured the UN working group that the government would continue to assist families of the disappeared. 
The Justice department said that 105 of the 625 cases had already been taken up and claims for reparation had been granted under the Human Rights Victims Recognition and Reparation Act of 2013. 
That law created a board to evaluate and process claims of victims of human rights violations during the Marcos administration.
These disappearances of back to the time of Marcos. In the Philippines people end up dead or disappear frequently. Journalists, politicians, lawyers, they all are potential victims. How they can possibly justify the removal of these cases, many of which remain unresolved simply because there is now some legal framework in place to handle these disappearances doesn't make a lot of sense. What about the thousands killed in the drug war since 2016 and what about all the people assassinated each year by motorcycle riders? The whole trip appears to be a waste of time and money. Why not simply prepare a briefing to send to the relevant agencies?

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) owe infrastructure contractors at least P100 billion, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said yesterday. 
“This gargantuan amount of payables has reincarnated an old system that forces DPWH contractors to cough up kickbacks just to be paid for completed projects. The practice of bribery has returned in the DBM and DPWH. This happened 20 years ago, unfortunately, when Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno was also DBM boss,” he said. 
He said concerned DBM and DPWH personnel gave him the information on the amount the two agencies owed contractors as of the end of last year.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/02/18/1894735/palace-defends-dbm-amid-allegations-govt-owes-contractors-p100b
Malacañang Monday defended the Budget department from allegations that the government owes several private contractors billions because of corruption. 
"Malabo yata iyon (That's unclear). Why should the government owe the contractors because of corruption?" presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.  
"Why would the government owe contractors because of corruption? There seems to be no connection. There is corruption if contractors resort to bribes to get something. But if the government owes them something, I do see the connection with corruption," he added.  
Panelo said a contractor would not receive full payment if he fails to finish the project assigned to him. He said contractors, not Andaya, should file a complaint if they think the government did something wrong.  
"Congressman Andaya cannot be lawyering to these contractors. If the contractors have something to complain, they should themselves file the complaint and address their concerns to the respective department or to Department of Public Works (and Highways)," the presidential spokesman said.  
"The contractors do not seem to be complaining... how can you be more popish than the pope?" he added.
Yeah how can you be more popish than the pope!? Huh? Answer that! Checkmate critics!
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087316/locsin-i-will-kill-anyone-who-asks-for-a-birth-certificate
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has warned to “kill” anyone who asks for a birth certificate as a requirement for passport renewal. 
Locsin made the statement on Tuesday after a netizen asked whether birth certificate is still needed for renewal of passport. 
“Sir @teddyboylocsin kailangan pa rin po ba ng birth certificate pag nag parenew ng passport? Salamat po,” the netizen’s tweet read. 
“Hindi. Putangina. Not for passport renewal. If anyone asks you, tell me who and I will fucking kill him/her,” Locsin tweeted in reply.
Who does Locsin think he is? Duterte? He should really get off Twitter and go kill them all.

And now it's time for...Cocaine!


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086842/pnp-confirms-p475-m-cocaine-find
PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde, however, said police intelligence suggested that the cocaine, which weighed around 88 kilograms and amounted to nearly half a billion pesos, was not meant to enter Philippine markets. 
“The initial analysis is that these were transient,” Albayalde said. “These recovered drugs really weren’t for the Philippines.” 
According to the PNP chief, the cocaine shipment was likely temporarily parked here and meant to be shipped to another country at some point, although he could not say which one. 
“Although it (cocaine) is being used here, because of its price, it’s not too popular here. That’s why the most common is still ‘shabu’ (crystal meth),” he said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087456/pdea-around-p600m-cocaine-recovered-off-ph-waters-so-far-in-2019
“Itong 2019 alone ‘yung mga sites ng discoveries [for cocaine], amounting to more or less nasa P600 million na (In 2019 alone, at the sites of discoveries, we have recovered cocaine amounting to more or less P600 million already) ,” he told Radyo Inquirer on Tuesday. 
“Isang anggulo [na tinitingnan natin] is they are trying to divert the attention of government forces para maipalusot ang mas malaking shipment, most likely shabu kasi iyon ang may market ng drugs sa Pilipinas,” he said. 
(One angle we are looking into is they are trying to divert the attention of government forces to smuggle a larger shipment, most likely crystal meth because it has a market here in the Philippines.) 
Aquino said there are “suspicious events” on the consecutive discoveries of cocaine, as he suspects that drug syndicates will not allow those illegal drugs to be wasted for nothing. 
“There should be answers to this. Kaya nga nakikita namin na diversionary tactics lang ito para mapahuli ‘yung maliit, mapalusot ‘yung mas malaki (That’s why we see that this is only a diversionary tactic for the small amount of illegal drugs to be caught, but for larger amount to be smuggled),” he said. 
Aquino also said that the country might only be being used as a trans-shipment point for the illegal drugs to be delivered to other countries, since cocaine is not commonly used here because of its expensive price.
“So the tendency is to create a vacuum or gap in some vast coastlines where ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) could be brought in,” he added, noting that cocaine only amounted for around 2 percent of the illegal drug market in the Philippines. 
Aquino noted that there had been 13 incidents in which fishermen found blocks of cocaine floating off the country’s coasts since 2018. 
“It is becoming suspicious why this cocaine isn’t being recovered … when it’s supposed to be [embedded] with GPS (global positioning system trackers). And if shabu is also being smuggled by sea, why aren’t we finding floating shabu, just cocaine?” he said. 
He admitted that, though police have intercepted more than 3,000 floating drug laboratories and dens in the country’s seas, it was still a big challenge for law enforcers to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into the country. 
“We [have] more than 7,000 islands, so it’s really difficult to monitor and guard,” Banac said.
Large amounts of cocaine bing discovered off the waters of the Philippines or in large shipping containers is nothing new. It seems to be pretty routine. Whether the drugs are intended for disbursement in this country or elsewhere it is obvious that the PNP cannot stop the entrance of cocaine into the country. They even admit that monitoring and guarding 7,000 islands is difficult. But that hasn't stopped them from declaring victory because according to an SWS survey people are seeing less drug users. Senator Trillanes remarked that there are less drug users because they have been killed and Duterte did not take so kindly to that assessment.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087677/duterte-slams-trillanes-on-fewer-drug-addicts-remark
President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV anew after the latter said there are now fewer drug addicts because they were killed without due process. 
“Some critic senator, stupid senator. Trillanes said ‘Oh there, there are no more (drug addicts) because they are dead and so? Are you not happy that I’m doing it for you instead of you, a military idiot? You do not even know how to count,” Duterte said during his speech at the 9th anniversary of the Mindanao Development Authority.
An admission of complicity if not outright guilt in the killings of thousands of drug users and a threat to kill a Senator. Nice.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/19/tesda-ghost-scholars-programs-discovered-in-central-luzon/
Technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs involved in incidents of ghost training as well as ghost trainees were recently discovered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Central Luzon and three other regions. 
The investigation confirmed the existence of ghost training and ghost trainees in registered technical vocational and education training programs – 13 of which are in Central Luzon, seven each in Region 1 and Region IVA, and 1 in Metro Manila. 
Each of the training schools identified has two or more cases of conducting ghost trainings and listing of ghost scholars. Nine cases of illegal collection of fees from trainees and scholars were also found, a gross violation of the rules and guidelines on TESDA scholarship.
Ghost schools? Ghost training? Spooky! 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/210097-tesda-scholars-audit-report-2017
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) gave some P15 million worth of scholarships to hundreds of “doubtful or fictitious students,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its recently-released 2017 annual audit report.
Also expensive and an on-going problem!
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1088136/cabugao-ilocos-sur-mayor-ordered-arrested-over-resort-dispute

The Cabugao Regional Trial Court Branch 24 has ordered the arrest of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur Mayor Josh Edward Cobangbang due to a criminal complaint over the padlocking of a local beach resort with its operator and four-year-old son trapped inside. 
A separate warrant was issued for the case of grave coercion against the mayor and several others.
This is a developing story that will likely take years to resolve but it seems to be a misunderstanding about who owns the resort which is better than a case for graft.

Amid a standing order of President Rodrigo Duterte for policemen to not drink in public places, two lawmen were reportedly caught drinking inside an eatery in Quezon City on Monday. 
A report from the Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF) said Tuesday that the duo was spotted by its operatives inside Korabs Canteen along Justice Lourdes Paredes San Diego Avenue corner 3rd Avenue in Barangay Socorro, Quezon City.
Maybe they were off duty?


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/218305/former-medellin-mayor-subjected-to-greyhound-while-on-hospital-arrest-contraband-found
The report said that when the police and PDEA-7 agents went to the  hospital room of Ramirez, where he has been confined for about a year now, authorities found and seized liquors, cigarettes, lighters, assorted cellphone accessories, wireless charger, playing cards, and portable speaker.
So who helped sneak all that contraband in?


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1088473/dilg-says-349-govt-officials-financing-npa
Without dropping names, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the agency already holds a list of officials allegedly supporting the NPA, based on data accumulated from the 2016 and 2018 elections. 
He revealed that the communist rebels have amassed around P195.5 million from extortion activities against politicians since 2016. 
“We now have a watchlist. We know you. So if you are supporting communist rebels in any way, you ascertain yourself as a supporter of terrorism an an enemy of the state, you establish yourself as an accomplice to their cause,” he said in a press briefing on Thursday. 
Año berated the officials in the list, as he said they help the NPA rebels to continue operating in some parts of the country. 
The DILG chief also urged voters to not support candidates whom they know are financing the communist movement, as the campaign season for the midterm polls heats up.
Release the names so the people know who to not support or go out and arrest them all!