Not an Isolated Incident

The fallout from and the PNP's response to the shooting of a woman and her son by their neighbor who was an off-duty cop has been just what everyone has come to expect of that very corrupt organization. They say it's an isolated case and let's not focus on the bad apples because there are so many good cops. Pure deflection.

First the "isolated incident" canard.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/pnp-chief-says-cops-shooting-of-unarmed-neighbors-an-isolated-case

"The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement.

Of course then we all found out that this cop was a bad cop who had many cases filed against him. He should have been fired years ago. Two of those cases were even for homicide.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374548/policeman-linked-to-2-homicides-says-pnp-chief

He said that based on Nuezca’s records gathered by the Central Luzon police, the officer was investigated twice by the Internal Affairs Service for grave misconduct involving two homicides on May 9 and Dec. 29 last year.

“All of these were dismissed because of lack of evidence and witnesses to pursue the administrative cases. So, more or less, no criminal case was filed against him,” Sinas said.

He noted that Nuezca was also charged administratively for grave misconduct in 2013, less serious neglect of duty for failing to submit himself to drug testing in 2014, and serious neglect of duty for failing to appear as a prosecution witness in a drug case in 2016.

Sinas said the most Nuezca got was a 31-day suspension for avoiding the drug test because the other two less grave offenses were “dropped and closed.”

How convenient that there was warrant enough to investigate but then there was no evidence or witnesses to pursue the cases! Well there is the whole presumed innocent thing. But surely the PNP knew they had a problem cop on their hand when he refused to show up for a drug test, right?

The fact that he was able to operate with such impunity shows that the PNP is not as interested in cleaning its ranks as they claim. It also shows that, contrary to what Año says, the sin of this man IS the sin of PNP.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374265/ano-sin-of-cop-in-tarlac-shooting-not-the-sin-of-entire-pnp

“While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties everyday with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” Año said.

“The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response,” he added, referring to Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who is the suspect in the crime.

To Año this brazen and evil killing is just an "unfortunate incident." Shit happens right? That's what former PNP chief Bato said when a toddler was killed during a drug bust.

Maybe Año is a lapsed Catholic and does not understand that even though we did not commit Adam's personal sin we are still just as guilty as he because he is our representative. In the same way because the PNP did nothing to stop this man they are guilty of this crime which is a culmination of all his other misbehavior.

This ties nicely into the second deflection which is "not all cops."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374735/remember-cops-heroic-acts-too-pnp-says-amid-backlash-from-tarlac-shooting

But PNP spokesman Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the incident should not overshadow the PNP’s good deeds.

"We respect all accusations because of Nuezca but let's also look at the many good examples that our police have already shared," Usana said Tuesday in a televised Always Ready Public Briefing.

“It can no longer be counted. Maybe it will be fair and just to pay attention to the heroic acts of our police over this particular case of Nuezca, ”he added.

What a straw man! No one is saying the entire PNP head for head is corrupt. Sure there are good cops. Check out this "good cop" the PNP showed off as an example.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375705/good-cop-in-pnp-tale-hit-protesters-in-2016

What should have been a feel-good story to restore public trust on the police had backfired when the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) made the wrong choice of its poster boy for a model officer.

In a statement earlier this week, the NCRPO praised Police Staff Sgt. Franklin Kho, a decorated officer with the Manila Police District (MPD), for using a month’s worth of salary to help the “Hijos del Nazareno” — honor guards of the Black Nazarene image of the Quiapo Church during the annual January traslacion or procession.

“This is another proof that not all police officers stray from the path,” he said.

While some applauded his charitable deed, others questioned the choice of Kho as a model officer after he had bulldozed and ran over a crowd of protesters using a police van during a rally in front of the US Embassy on Oct. 19, 2016. Dozens were injured in the potentially fatal action by the officer.

It was not the first time that Kho used a police vehicle in responding to protesters. In December 2010, Kho used a police truck to crash into a barricade put up by “kuliglig” (motorized rickshaw) drivers on Padre Burgos Street near the Manila City Hall. The drivers were then protesting an order by then-Mayor Alfredo Lim banning three-wheeled vehicles from the capital’s main roads.

The PNP's model cop ran down protestors twice! But since that was in 2016 and 2010 I guess we should forget all about it.  Let bygones be bygones right?

One local PNP chief, former chief, thinks along the same lines as Año and Bato and is protective of PNP officers. The lesson learned is to respect cops, he says.

https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/155698/catanduanes-police-chief-respect-a734-20201221

“My Father is a Policeeee Mannnnn ha !!! I don’t care eh eh eh eh eh err !!! Putangina you want to finish you now ???? Bang Bang Bang Bang .. 

"Lesson learn even if we have white hair or we are gray, we can learn to respect our policemen. It is difficult to resist restraint and patience.

"RIP Mom and Sonny."

That is an actual Facebook post from a former police chief. Former because the mayor requested he be fired because of this post.

This refers to the current news about the killings of a mother and her son by a policeman in Tarlac province which have gone viral on the internet.

Accordingly we find it very disturbing that PNP Bato Municipal Station Chief-of-Police, Cptn. Ariel R Buraga has posted in his Facebook account that the slain mother was at fault because she did not give due respect to the policeman prompting him to shot her fatally.

Much as we respect his right to publicly pronounce his personal opinion regarding the killings, he should have exercised restraint and prudence in doing so considering that he is Chief-of-Police in this LGU, on the one hand, and that he should let the PNP's investigation into the matter run its natural course so that the truth about the tragedy would emerge, on the other hand.

In this regard, we will highly appreciate it if the PNP could assign another Chief-of-Police in this municipality to assuage the fears of the constituents of this LGU of a seemingly biased chief-of-police whose loyalty it seems, rests primarily with his fellow policemen than with the constituents in his area of responsibility.

Of course his loyalty rests with his fellow policeman. Where else would it lie? DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin even had a word to say about this man's Facebook post.

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1341184923097395200

"you piece of native shit and incontrovertible proof that Independence was premature."

Maybe reverting back to a colony of the USA would fix all the problems in the PNP and the entire government. Why not? The USA gives this nation billions in aid of all kinds every single year while their own citizens get nothing!

Worry not, there will be no changes in the PNP as result of this case.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/22/20/pnp-spox-says-tarlac-killings-wont-trigger-change-in-police-force-cites-earlier-reforms

The brutal killing of unarmed civilians by a police officer in Tarlac province will not spur any changes in the Philippine National Police (PNP) as earlier reforms have been implemented, its spokesman said Tuesday, saying the shooting incident was isolated and would not dampen the "best intentions" of the police force.

"I guess what [Police Master Senior Sgt. Jonel] Nuezca did is something that will not even trigger any change at all in the PNP because we have had many changes [that] had already been initiated," Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana told ANC amid calls for reform. 

"This particular case actually will not make the PNP as if we're totally wrong because as I was saying, this is an isolated case. The murder criminal action has already been filed. The [officer's] dismissal will be forthcoming. The PNP will have to move on from there." 

Usana maintained that Nuezca's action, which he described as abominable, does not represent the 221,000-strong police force. 

He said the PNP had already dismissed some 4,800 out of 16,800 police officers who were facing various administrative cases. 

"We have had these number of cases involving erring police officers... they are all dismissed from the service. If they stay longer in the service, the PNP itself may be at [the] wrong," Usana said. 

"But in this case, we will not waste any minute longer for them to stay in the service because they don't deserve to be a police officer at all."

In fact the Palace has told those calling for reform in the PNP to reform themselves!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/22/2065620/asked-about-changes-after-tarlac-killings-roque-says-opposition-should-change-instead

If any change is to come out of the killing of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac, the president's press secretary said Tuesday that he thinks it should be on the part of the opposition, whose criticism, he said, has become repetitive.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Roque leaned once again on the narrative that concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration.

"The only test for a police officer to use violence is if there is a threat to his life. It's the opposition who should probably recalibrate because they sound like broken records," the president's spokesman said. 

"Concerns over human rights and alleged police brutality are just an attempt by the opposition to discredit the Duterte administration."

It's funny that Harry Roque could ever utter such a sentiment because he was once a prominent a human rights attorney. The depths to which this man has fallen are unbelievable. He's gone all the way down the black pit towards the lowest circle of hell.

I've written about police reform before and the fact is the PNP has been, now is, and ever will be a corrupt organization. The reforms they enact have been useless to stomp out  corruption within the ranks.  But this is all par for the course. Let s not forget our friend Gaspar de San Augustin who wrote the following 300 years ago:

43. They act tyrannically one toward another. Consequently, the Indian who has some power from the Spaniard is insolent and intolerable among, them—so much so that, in the midst of their ingratitude, some of them recognize it, although very few of them. Yet it is a fact that, if the Spaniards had not come to these islands, the Indians would have been destroyed; for, like fish, the greater would have swallowed the lesser, in accordance with the tyranny which they exercised in their paganism.

http://www.philippinehistory.net/views/1720sanagustinb.htm

Sounds a lot like the PNP today, huh?  A little bit of power and they lord it over their fellowmen. Reform? Never gonna happen.

Retards in the Government 186

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1373252/bataan-town-hall-exec-gunned-down

The head of the management information system (MIS) of the municipal government was gunned down in front of his house on Thursday night, police said.

The death of Jonathan de la Cruz, 35, was later announced by Mariveles Mayor Jocelyn Castaneda on her Facebook page.

She appealed to residents to help in seeking justice for Dela Cruz, whom she described as “one of the trusted department heads.”

Another LGU official assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125014

A village chairman in North Cotabato is in critical condition after unidentified gunmen shot him along a busy street in Midsayap town on Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Col. John Calinga, Midsayap town police chief, in his report to Col. Henry Villar, provincial police director, identified the victim as Norodin Manalasal, chairperson of Barangay Malingao.

Manalasal was on board the village-detailed multi-cab vehicle traversing Quezon Boulevard in Barangay Poblacion 5 when one of two men riding tandem on a motorbike opened fire.

The official sustained four gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

“We have yet to establish the identities of the attackers and the motive behind the attack,” Calinga said.

Another attempted assassination on an LGU official. Maybe they will try again?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768354/cops-gimmicks-bringing-anxiety-to-the-public-must-be-stopped-sinas/story/

Gimmicks of police officers which could cause anxiety to the general public must be stopped, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said on Thursday.

In a television interview, Sinas was asked for his reaction about the prank supposedly made by the Cebu City Police where its men pretended to arrest civilians but in reality, will just give them Christmas gifts.

According to local reports, police would issue warrants of arrest to some civilians. Later on, they would be brought to the police vehicle only to find out that they will be given gifts. The said gimmick was dubbed as "arrestoguinaldo."

Sinas said the gimmick is not part of his directive to police officers.

"That is not in our regular directive. Maybe it is just an initiative of our lower units. I will look at what happened, maybe if it's good, then we could support it but if it already caused anxiety to the public and the countrymen "I will direct them to stop such practices," Sinas told CNN-Philippines.

PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana told GMA News Online that the prank was an imitation of what the local police see in foreign videos.

"The intention by a group of police officers is to make a 'target victim fall into their trap' and then make fun out of a post-staged act revelation," Usana said.

"To the person / s subject of that scenario, they may end up shocked or laughing as a result of such unexpected situation. We have seen this in some local reality programs naman po. Some have worked, some have not," he explained.

However, Usana admitted that in the ethical standards of the PNP, the gimmick is not good for the image of policemen.

"Our police must be good at dealing with the people ... It does not have to be mixed with any deception, whatever the motive," Usana said.

The PNP in Cebu were fake arresting some people so they could give them gifts!  They did this because they saw Youtube videos where foreign police did the same thing.  But the PNP is so corrupt that being charged falsely makes them look even more corrupt. It's not a gag in the Philippines. It's real life!  Even the CHR chimed in on the situation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1373409/mayoral-row-in-ecija-town-escalates

This town now has two mayors after former Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel was proclaimed winner in the 2019 mayoral race by a local court last week.

But Esquivel was forced to hold office on the ground floor of the municipal hall because incumbent Mayor Sylvia Austria continued to discharge her duties on the second floor.

Accompanied by a sheriff, Esquivel arrived at the town hall at 10 a.m. on Thursday to serve the court order issued on Dec. 7 by Judge Angelo Perez of Regional Trial Court Branch 87.

Perez also ordered Austria to vacate her post.

Austria is serving her second term as mayor after she was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections in the 2019 mayoral elections.

Esquivel protested the results.

Austria’s son, Councilor Sylvester Austria, said the family was surprised that a writ of execution dated Dec. 16 had been issued before the mayor officially received the court order.

In his order, Perez ruled that Austria’s proclamation as winner was null and void, after concluding that Esquivel garnered 18,737 votes to take the lead.

Austria’s total votes were not reflected in the order, a copy of which was posted on the hall’s bulletin board. But in her proclamation in May 2019, the municipal board of canvassers said Austria got 20,815 votes while Esquivel received 18,461 votes.

A losing candidate challenged the results of the 2019 mayoral race and it turns out he won. But the incumbent is refusing to move for now. It seems she has not received the proper notice.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768425/amid-rfid-mess-trb-chair-tugade-says-he-s-not-informed-of-most-issues-at-agency/story/

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the chairman of the Toll Regulatory Board, on Thursday admitted that there was a failure in the implementation of cashless transactions in the tollways in Luzon.

Tugade, the chairman of the TRB, indicated that he was particularly upset over RFID audit getting done only once in two years - something he said he discovered only recently.

"I saw it, it was just a straightforward conversation, I saw that there is a failure of implementation here in TRB so I said we need to address it," Tugade said during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing.

"My head heats up there. Why is the RFID audit once every two years? Shouldn't that be expedited?" he added.

"If we address the problem after two years, the chicken will be ripe, the problem has not been solved yet," Tugade said. 

After telling the committee of the TRB's failures amid the RFID, it was pointed out to Tugade that he was the chairman of its board.

Tugade said he had assigned an alternate to attend the board meetings. 

"Is it true that what is happening on the board reaches us? Sometimes yes, most do not," Tugade said.

The chairman of the board of the TRB says he has no idea what is going on in the agency and he as assigned an alternate to attend meetings. What an incompetent boob. No wonder the RFID rollout was such a fiasco.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374190/cop-shoots-to-death-a-mother-and-son-in-tarlac

A police officer assigned at the Parañaque City shot dead his two neighbors, a mother and her son, in Paniqui, Tarlac.

The Tarlac police, in its report, identified the suspect as Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, 46 years old and assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, and presently residing at Barangay Cabayaoasan in Paniqui.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect arrived in the house of victims Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, and after a brief confrontation, shot them point-blank using a 9 mm firearm at around 5:10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said the suspect fled the crime scene onboard a motorcycle after the incident. However, a CCTV video of the incident made the rounds of social media and has now become viral, showing the suspect’s face. Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to catch the fleeing suspect.

At around 6:19 p.m. on the same day, the chief of police of Rosales Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Pangasinan called the Paniqui Municipal Police Station informing that the suspect had surrendered at their station with his issued firearm that was used in the crime.

A cop uses his PNP issued firearm to kill his neighbors. PNP Chief says this is an isolated incident but this guy had other cases filed against him for homicide and grave misconduct. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/cop-behind-tarlac-double-murder-has-2-other-homicide-grave-misconduct-cases

"A case of grave misconduct carries a punishment of dismissal," said Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) before he was elected to the Senate. 

(His refusal to undergo drug test and leaving the premises without permission should have prodded the PNP or NAPOLCOM to watch or monitor his activities as he might be a drug user at least.) 

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas earlier condemned the incident and called it an "isolated case."

"The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement.

This shooting was not an isolated incident. It is the culmination of a pattern of bad behavior from a bad cop who should have been kicked off the force long ago.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768865/46-cops-tested-positive-for-drugs-from-jan-1-to-dec-18-sinas-says/story/

A total of 46 policemen have tested positive for using illegal drugs this year, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas revealed on Monday.

Sinas said the period covering the drug tests conducted was from January 1 to December 18, 2020.

He said that the police officers' cases are still with the PNP's Internal Affairs Service.

"As to the status of the case, tinanong na po namin ang IAS on the case dito, kung ilan na po 'yung na-recommend for dismissal at ilan na po 'yung ongoing po out of the 46..." Sinas said.

Sinas said 20 of these 46 cops were with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Cops testing positive for drug use.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125443

A total of 16,839 police personnel have been penalized over administrative and criminal offenses from July 2016 to December 16, 2020, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said these cops have been involved in various illegal activities.

Of the total figure, he said 8,349 were meted suspensions, 4,784 were summarily dismissed from service, while 1,803 were reprimanded.

He also said 890 were demoted in rank, 658 experienced forfeiture of salary, 226 cops were withheld of their privileges, while 129 faced restrictions.

This information comes out after an off-duty cop murdered his neighbors and I suppose we are supposed to read those numbers and think, "Wow the PNP is doing what it can to cleanse their ranks of bad cops." But the reality is 16,839 cops have been penalized over administrative and CRIMINAL offenses in four years. How is that acceptable? And many more cops are just waiting to be found out!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375538/84-erring-cops-dismissed-since-start-of-sinas-leadership-at-pnp

A total of 84 police officers have so far been dismissed from service in just over a month of Gen. Debold Sinas’ leadership as chief of the 200,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sinas himself bared this number on Thursday, saying the PNP has been doing measures to improve the organization, in response to the dare of former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for him to resign if he will not introduce reforms in the police force.

84 cops have been relived of duty in the last month alone! That is simply unacceptable. There should not be so many "erring" cops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125438

A member of Pontevedra Municipal Police in Negros Occidental was shot dead by one of the two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle at the southern town’s reclamation area on Tuesday morning.

The victim was identified as Staff Sgt. Ildefonso Casugod, 37, the station’s intelligence officer.

Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, town police officer-in-charge, said Casugod was hit on the head and declared dead at Bago City Hospital after the incident around 6 a.m., which happened in the presence of Mayor Jose Maria Alonzo.

He said the initial investigation will focus on work-related angle since Casugod might have stepped on someone’s toes while conducting intelligence operations.

“When you are assigned in intelligence, you are working (to arrest) the drug lords, the drug dealers. He also arrests the most wanted, wanted persons, and those involved in illegal gambling, and implements search warrants,” Lumandaz said in a radio interview.

Cop shot by unknown motocycle assassins. Could be related to his work in conducting intel-ops.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/21/2065453/missing-ex-court-appeals-justice-found-dead-tarlac

The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday confirmed that the body found in Capas, Tarlac more than a month ago, was those of missing Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro.

Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said this was based on DNA test results.

"He (Pizarro) was last seen at a casino in Clark last 23 October. His car, an early model Honda Accord, was later on discovered somewhere in San Simon, Pampanga," Sugay told reporters.

The retired justice last spoke to one of his sons on October 23 at around 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to Sugay.

Pizarro's remains were later on discovered in Capas on October 30.

NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor noted that the body, which was  found under a pile of leaves at a secluded quarry site in Barangay Lawy, Capas matched Pizarro's DNA by 99.99%.

According to the NBI, the Pizarro's right hand and left-hand fingers were cut off as if to remove the possibility of identifying him through fingerprints.

In April 2018, the Supreme Court fined Pizarro fined Pizzaro for P100,000 following an anonymous complaint that accused him of "being a gambling addict who would allegedly lose millions of pesos in the casinos daily." 

Court of Appeals justice found murdered with his fingers cut off. Sounds like it could be gambling related.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/12/22/2065478/manila-police-commander-sacked

Another police station commander in Manila was relieved from his post, Manila Police District (MPD) director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco announced yesterday. 

Francisco removed Lt. Col. Christopher Luyun as chief of the Sta. Ana police station for failure to supervise his personnel in reporting to work. 

Luyun will be investigated for neglect of duty after he failed to explain why fewer police officers were on duty during an inspection yesterday, Francisco said.

“Our assessment is that he is not on top of the situation,” he said. 

Luyun was the second police station commander sacked since Francisco took over as MPD chief on Dec. 1.

Last week, Malate police station commander Lt. Col. Robert Sales was relieved from his post for failure to deploy more personnel on beat patrol.

Within the space of two week two cops have been relieved of duty because their men were not showing up for duty.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374865/cop-shot-dead-as-he-was-jogging-in-negros-occidental-town

A policeman, who was jogging in a reclaimed lot in Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental, was gunned down by a still-unknown assailant in Barangay 1-Poblacion at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.  22.

Police Staff Sergeant Ildefonso Rivera Casugod, 37, suffered a bullet wound in the head.

He was rushed to the Bago City District Hospital, but did not make it alive, said Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, Pontevedra police chief.

Based on the investigation, Casugod was jogging at a reclamation area with Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso and two other companions when the gunman walked up to the victim from behind and shot him.

The assassin, who wore a face mask, hooded jacket, and black jogging pants, walked towards a waiting scooter and escaped.

The mayor said in an interview that he usually meets with fellow joggers at the reclamation area about four times a week and had just spoken to Casugod shortly before the incident happened.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson hoped the perpetrators would be arrested.

“Justice has to be given to the family of the slain policeman,” he said.

The assassination of Casugod came after S/Sgt. Bernie Sales, an intelligence officer of the Sagay City Police Station, was also shot dead in Cadiz City, on Nov. 26.

Cop assassinated while jogging by a man who simply walked up to him and shot!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375108/quezon-town-police-chief-relieved-over-alleged-social-gathering

The chief of police in Dolores Municipal Police in Quezon was sacked after he allegedly violated Philippine National Police’s (PNP) directive to prohibit mass gatherings amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) said Wednesday. 

In a report, QPPO said Police Captain Joseph Ian Java was administratively relieved from his post on Dec. 22, Tuesday for violation of PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas’ order on “prohibition of social gatherings, parties and other similar activities most particularly this Yuletide season and on IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] COVID-19 safety protocols.” 

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, QPPO chief Police Colonel Audie Madrideo said they received a complaint regarding a “small fellowship” at the Dolores police station.

 

“Not exactly a Christmas party but a small fellowship. May nagreklamo kaya nagkaroon ng investigation kaya nirelieve muna namin,” said Madrideo.

Chief of place let go for holding an illegal gathering. Probably just transferred elsewhere rather then actually relieved.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1374840/5-iloilo-city-officials-pay-p500-fine-each-for-violating-physical-distancing-rule

Four Iloilo City officials, including Iloilo Rep. Julienne Baronda, have each paid P500 in fines for violating a city ordinance mandating physical distancing, as part of COVID-19 health protocols in the city.

The officials asked that they be issued citation tickets after drawing flak for a series of gatherings last week at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

They distributed financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the poor, which was channeled through the city social welfare and development office.

A photo of the officials standing alongside each other and posing for photographers drew criticism for violating physical distancing rules.

But no fines for Roque, Panelo, or Pacquiao who all publicly violated social distancing rules.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125519

Mayor Sara Duterte has issued a stern warning against City Hall employees who violate the prohibition on holding Christmas parties and the liquor ban, which are part of the city's measures to stem the rising cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“A stern warning and reminder to all offices not to conduct parties,” she said in a statement Tuesday evening after the apprehension of 14 employees of the Davao City Engineer’s Office who were caught drinking inside the Motor Pool compound in Barangay Maa that afternoon.

14 Davao City Hall employees caught having an illegal Christmas party.

Coronavirus Lockdown: New Filipino Way of Greeting, 92.8% Recovery Rate, and More!

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

There is a lot of confusion about what is happening. The PNP says Christmas parties are illegal and party-goers will be arrested but then they say they will not be monitoring social media and bursting into homes.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/17/2064469/no-social-media-monitoring-barging-homes-christmas-pnp-chief

Police personnel have been instructed to taper down on social media monitoring, arresting quarantine violators and home arrests for the Christmas season, the chief of the national police disclosed Thursday. 

Speaking in an interview aired over CNN Philippines' "The Source," Police Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police, clarified the police force's marching orders for the holiday, saying that only organizers of gatherings would be arrested, while families in their homes will be left alone.  

The directive signals a drastic departure from the national police's heavy-handed enforcement of protocols for much of the past nine months of community quarantine. The Joint Task Force COVID Shield, which includes the national police and military and handles on-ground enforcement of quarantine rules, earlier announced it would also be monitoring social media for violations until it was slammed by no less than the National Privacy Commission. 

"We don't have the capability to monitor social media right now. What we're doing now is when someone texts us that a case went viral, that's what we're looking for and will take action against...We don't immediately go when someone complains. We verify first. But if you guys are only celebrating the Christmas and New Year solemnly, we won't barge in, we won't trespass. The police know everybody's rights," Sinas said in mixed Filipino and English. 

Elsewhere Sinas is reported to have said:

(Our police officers cannot just barge into houses. That is trespassing. But if you play loud music and it disturbs the neighborhood, someone complains about it or it violates a specific city or municipal ordinance, that is another matter),” Sinas said.

Sinas added that the police officers verify a complaint before responding to it.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125028

It seems as if you can have a Christmas party as long as you don't have loud music or post about it online. Of course nosy neighbors could post about it and then you might face trouble. But why issue a statement that party-goers will be arrested and then backtrack? It only serves to create a culture of fear.

The cops have decided to stop arresting safety protocol violators and instead hand out face masks and shields to the erring.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/17/2064372/cops-hand-out-masks-shields-no-more-arrests

Police officers will hand out face masks and face shields instead of immediately arresting violators of health and safety protocols, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said the officers would bring extra masks and shields, which they would distribute to individuals caught not wearing the protective gear in public places.

People are required to wear face masks and face shields when in public places, based on the latest guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Asked where they would find extra resources for the initiative, Usana said they would use the personal protective equipment donated by non-governmental organizations.

That is certainly more productive that arresting people. The mandate to wear face shields has met with some criticism but "experts" have backed the idea.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/20/experts-back-mandatory-wearing-of-face-shields-amid-criticism

Experts on Thursday said wearing of face shields is important to prevent new COVID-19 infections, after some questioned the need to require it in public spaces.  

In a message, OCTA research's Guido David said face shields are needed to slow down infections.  

"I would say face shields are effective because its use has reduced the reproduction number and number of cases since September, even as NCR transitioned to GCQ," David told reporters. 

"Face shields and face masks reduce transmission rate. But crowding, mass gathering, and delayed isolation and quarantine are alternative explanations for the surge," he explained. 

Actually the American CDC says the jury is out on the effectivity of face shields.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

But in the Philippines face shields are now a fact of life.

According to some DOH Secretary Duque "dropped the ball" on obtaining the Pfizer vaccine. Senator Lacson elucidated.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1372603/duque-failed-to-submit-documents-needed-for-pfizer-vaccine-deal-lacson

The Philippines would have secured the delivery of 10 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines as early as January next year had Health Secretary Francisco Duque III  worked on the documentary requirements needed for the deal.

This was according to Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was able to talk to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez about the official who “dropped the ball” on the Pfizer vaccine deal.

According to Lacson, the negotiation between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. as arranged by Romualdez started in July this year, which would have allowed the country to acquire the Pfizer vaccines as early as January 2021.

“They could have secured the delivery of 10 million Pfizer vaccines as early as January next year, way ahead of Singapore but for the indifference of Sec. Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement namely, the Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) as he should have done,” Lacson said in a message to reporters.

“The country representative of Pfizer was even following up on the submission of such documentary requirements,” he added, noting that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has assured both Locsin and Romualdez that funds would be “made available” for the vaccines.

“As we now know, Singapore has the vaccines and we don’t,” the senator further said.

Duque denies this accusation of course but that does not change the fact that the Philippines is not expecting vaccines until the second and third quarters of next year.

LGUs are banning lots of things to stop the spread.  Check out these two bans.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125054

Face-to-face caroling is prohibited during the Christmas holidays while exchanging of gifts is also discouraged during gatherings as part of the city government’s continuing response to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

These are part of the guidelines on the conduct of Christmas and New Year gatherings and other merry-making activities provided in Executive Order 81 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Wednesday night.

“Virtual get-togethers and Christmas and New Year parties or gatherings held within the premises of one’s home are highly encouraged,” it said.

During the gathering, it is encouraged that there should be one person assigned to serve the food, and multiple people touching the serving spoon and plates should be avoided.

“It is best to keep the number of people preparing the food to the minimum. Face masks and face shields should be worn when preparing, serving, and getting food,” it added.

EO 81 also stated that “(i)f possible, refrain from gift exchanges. However, if extremely necessary, place disinfectants and rubbing alcohol nearby and practice proper hand hygiene before and after opening presents.”

For persons or establishments intending to conduct gift-giving, they must ensure that standard health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields and strict physical distancing are strictly observed.

Rubbing alcohol after opening presents? Oh my. Now to the next ban.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125066

The municipality of Sadanga in Mountain Province has issued a moratorium on wedding celebrations to keep the town free from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), especially during the holiday season.

“Effective today until further notice, the conduct of wedding celebrations in the community which inevitably draw huge crowds is hereby strongly discouraged,” Mayor Gabino Ganggangan said in an advisory dated Dec. 16.

He said the order was agreed upon by the municipal task force members in compliance with the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) which prohibits mass gathering.

Cordillera people see wedding celebrations as a feast that lasts for days with several animals butchered coupled with dancing and drinking of native wine.

Ganggangan said the recent wedding celebrations that happened in the barangays within the municipality led to an influx of relatives and visitors from the town and outside the province.

He said others came from “red areas” or areas that have a high risk of Covid-19 infection like Benguet, Baguio City, Tabuk City, Tinglayan in Kalinga, and Metro Manila who attended the wedding.

Maybe there is a point to banning wedding celebrations that last for days and involve many relatives but still its authoritarianism gone mad.

Handshakes might also be banned soon.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768292/house-oks-proposed-new-filipino-way-of-gesture-on-2nd-reading/story/

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the measure seeking to institutionalize a new Filipino gesture of respect, goodwill, and praise to help reduce physical contact amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a vote of yes and no, the chamber approved House Bill 8149, or the proposed "Bating Pilipino Para Sa Kalusugan Act," principally authored by Marikina City Representative Bayani Fernando.

In this new way of gesture, the palm of the right hand would be laid over the center of the chest while simultaneously lowering the head, with eyes either closed or cast down.

The measure covers Filipino citizens and all other persons who are in the Philippines.

All government agencies and instrumentalities are mandated under the measure to allocate their respective resources for information dissemination and to encourage the practice of the new gesture.

Will this bean a actual law that will need enforcing by the cops?  Will people be arrested for handshakes if this does become law?

Dawn masses have started and Cebu says they will be deploying buses to return seniors and minors who venture to the services to their homes as they must not leave home even to worship God.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/355906/police-to-deploy-kaohsiung-buses-in-churches

Cebu City officials noted a decrease and the presence of a ‘more manageable’ crowd gathering outside churches this Sunday, the fifth day of Misa de Gallo (dawn Masses). 

But the presence of minors who are 15-years-old and below and seniors aged 65-years-old and above, who tag along with churchgoers, remain a concern. 

This prompted authorities to decide on the need to deploy Kaohsiung buses near churches for use as transportation of minors and elderlies who will not be allowed to attend the dawn Masses and will have to be sent back home. 

“We will be fielding Kaohsiung busses starting tomorrow (December 21) to transport these minors back to their barangays, for families bringing minors, toddlers or babies (since they are not) allowed to enter the church premises,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, heads of the city’s emergency operations center (EOC). 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), shared the same observation. 

Parilla said they are initially eyeing to place the buses within the vicinity of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the St. Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church.

“We have observed that there are quite a number of minors below 15-years-old who do not even attend daw Masses but are instead playing near these churches. They’re not supposed to be outside their houses,” said Parilla in Cebuano.

There may be children playing around but those old folks are just there to worship. What kind of state forbids a person to worship God? And don't say they can worship God at home.  That is not the point at all and that is not how religion works. Religion is communal. In the same vein Quezon City has passed an ordinance forbidding all minors below 15 "from stepping out of their homes" at all times 24/7 no exception except emergencies.

As we all know the vaccine is here. Not everyone is excited about and some say they will refuse to take it. Teddy Locsin thinks those people are stupid.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768725/locsin-hits-critics-no-gov-t-would-let-its-people-take-a-defective-vaccine/story/

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has slammed critics questioning the efficacy of available COVID-19 vaccines, saying no government will allow a "defective" dose developed in their own country to be injected on its people.

In a virtual interview with former diplomatic reporter Malou Talosig-Bartolome on Saturday, Locsin argued that countries thrive not solely on military power but,  more importantly on credibility, and distributing a faulty vaccine will make them lose their people's trust for centuries.

"No aspiring great power will ever, ever distribute a vaccine that they do not believe sincerely is the best. Because if they did that and it failed out there, the reputation will be destroyed for the next two, three centuries," he said.

"The proof of that is that almost every vaccine developed by the great power is immediately deployed on their armed forces. Do you think that anybody is so stupid as to inject their own armed forces with a defective vaccine? We can expect a coup d'etat," he added.

This is the reason, Locsin said, that critics should not doubt the efficacy of any vaccine, regardless of what country it came from.

"You hear people who are disgruntled with the government, 'That vaccine is inferior!' Come on, grow up. These vaccines are as good as they can get," he said.

"You take your risk. Pfizer for a while, there was a little side effect here but it's gone. It's really criminally irresponsible to put down any of the vaccines because that's really unbelievable," he added.

If Teddy Locsin does not understand why people do not wish to be compelled to inject their bodies with unknown substances or that governments do indeed harm their own citizens willingly, think Tuskegee Airmen, then I have no idea what to say to this man.

A Thai news website posted a GIF of Harry Roque to educate readers about health protocols.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/21/2065314/thai-news-website-puts-roques-photo-health-protocols

A Thai news website included an animated photo of presidential spokesman Harry Roque in its reminder about observing health protocols against COVID-19.

In a tweet posted yesterday, the Thai Enquirer reminded its readers to wash their hands constantly, always wear masks, observe social distancing, listen to government announcements and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Below the message was an animated gif showing Roque raising his fists, a scene lifted from one of his Palace press briefings.

He was standing behind a podium with signs that read “wear mask,” “wash hands” and “keep distance.”

“We have no idea who this person is,” the Thai Enquirer said in a separate tweet.

“We used the gif because he’s round and Asian!!”

Roque said it was “encouraging” that the foreign media, specifically Thai Enquirer, has taken notice of the Philippine government’s minimum public health standards advocacy campaign.

“Indeed, COVID-19 knows no borders, as the Thai news website succinctly puts it, ‘We’re all in this together,’” the Palace spokesman said in a statement.

“The fact that the Philippine government’s advocacy campaign has caught international attention underscores how effective our message is – which we articulate in every press briefing and which we prominently display on the podium – in conveying that we must adhere to such health standards aimed at saving lives and protecting the communities,” he added.

How believable is it that this media outlet had no idea who this man is?  Funny nonetheless.

The COVID-19 vaccine passport is just around the corner after a legislation was filed to mandate one.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/22/2065538/vaccination-passport-eyed-help-identify-inoculated

A party-list congressman has filed a bill in the House of Representatives to help put an efficient system for persons inoculated with the coronavirus vaccine and pave the way for the so-called “vaccination passport.”

Rep. Ronnie Ong of party-list Ang Probinsiyano filed House Bill 8280 (Vaccination Passport Act) in the hope of providing a faster and more systematic way of complying with the national government’s health protocols through mass immunization.

“Although the COVID-19 inoculation is still a few months away from entering our borders, it is but proper to take further preparations and necessary steps for its unhampered implementation and maximization,” he said.

According to him, this passport can also be used as an identification system that will allow people unrestricted access to public facilities and participate in mass gatherings without the need of using the mandatory face masks and face shields.

“It is our hope that this bill will be considered and approved the soonest possible time before the possible roll out of the vaccine in June 2021 to restore people’s trust and confidence to travel, with the end view of reviving and bolstering our economy,” Ong pointed out.

He noted that some business establishments may also decide to require people to show this passport until after the Department of Health declares that the threat of the COVID-19 virus has been totally eradicated.

The bill mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force – particularly the Departments of Health, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, and Transportation – to “coordinate and provide for a single internationally-recognized vaccine passport to serve as proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19.”

In effect, Ong said the “vaccination passport” is basically a badge that will prove that one is safe to mingle with other people and engage in activities without the need to use face masks and face shields and observe social distancing rules.

Aside from the big brother aspect of this plan how exactly will the Philippines implement it? The national ID card system has been a bust so far. How then will they ensure these passports work and prevent against fraud?

What a pandemic right? Millions dead! Many more sick and on the way to death. Right? Wrong!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125470

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 247 new recoveries, pushing the country's total number of recovered cases from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to 429,419.

In its 4 p.m. case bulletin, the DOH said the figures represent 92.8 percent of those who tested positive for the virus that has so far beaten the illness.

The agency also reported 1,314 new confirmed cases and 66 new deaths.

These figures brought the overall tally of active cases to 24,375 and the death toll to 9,021.

The DOH said about 82.6 percent of the active cases are mild, 8.5 percent are asymptomatic, 2.9 percent are severe, 0.31 percent are moderate, and 5.7 percent are in critical condition.

9,021 dead and 429,419 recovered at a 92.8% recovery rate. What kind of pandemic is this?