DILG seeks clarification on arrest of quarantine violators
The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking clarification from Malacañang on President Duterte’s directive to arrest health protocol violators amid the congestion in jail facilities nationwide......»»
NBI clarifies role in interception
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday clarified its role in the interception of Filipinos with arrest warrants at ports of entry and exit. Commissioner Norman Tansingco said arresting Filipinos is not within the immigration’s mandate, pointing out that BI officers cannot serve warrants of arrest against Filipinos. Tansingco made this clarification in response to a query made by Senator Robin Padilla on 5 September during his privilege speech, citing the case of Mohammad Said, a 61-year-old man who allegedly attempted to depart the country for Malaysia on 10 August but was stopped by the BI. The BI chief added that it is the local law enforcement agencies — the NBI and the PNP — who are authorized to conduct arrests. He also clarified that they implement derogatory records as received from courts, Interpol, foreign governments and other competent authorities. If encountered, those with criminal records are turned over to the NBI or the PNP, who in turn, affect the investigation and arrest. Tansingco further clarified that Said was intercepted for being the subject of an Interpol red notice issued in 2017. The said record contained Said’s full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and even his passport number. The post NBI clarifies role in interception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Political will test
The rice cartel causing the price problems will fall only one way, which is by applying political will, since it has been proven, not once, that the manipulators are well known to the authorities. In the previous administration, former President Rodrigo Duterte even had the phone numbers of the scalawags to periodically warn them. In a National Security Council meeting, for instance, Duterte called up someone who received the worst scolding ever heard from the president. The person on the other end was the supposed head of the Manila rice cartel who dictated the prices and supply of the staple grain. Duterte then directed the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to go after the members of the syndicate, but until today neither agency has produced a single arrest. In one of his State of the Nation Addresses, Duterte indicated that it was not a secret who the members of the rice mafia were. “I now ask all the rice hoarders, cartels and their protectors, you know that I know who you are: stop messing with the people,” Duterte said. Other instances that proved the government knew the identities of their supposed prey were the several congressional probes where specific mention was made of the names of the rice gang. The Senate committee on agriculture had established the existence of the cartel and its intrusion into the National Food Authority but nothing happened after the inquiry. Some 13 trading firms were identified as dominating the rice business in Metro Manila. The panel said the firms hoarded rice from the NFA and mixed it with other rice varieties before these were resold. An instance that indicted the government as being in collusion with the cartel was during the tenure of the detained Leila de Lima as justice secretary, in the investigation of ringleader David Tan alias Davidson Bangayan. Bangayan and his cohorts were accused of establishing a scheme to recruit rice farmers and organize them “to acquire substantial importation allocations.” In 2014, the Senate initiated a probe into rice smuggling and the existence of a grains cartel that focused on Bangayan whose operations were based in Mindanao. Before the 2016 polls, De Lima, who was gunning for a Senate seat, returned the smuggling case against Bangayan to the NBI for further case buildup. De Lima’s excuse was that the NBI needed to gather more evidence against Bangayan. “We have to make sure it meets the probable cause threshold. When we evaluated Bangayan’s case, it was still not enough,” she said when asked about her actions. Most officials, businessmen and even rice retailers in Mindanao knew who the rice smuggling king was, yet De Lima said the NBI needed to prove his identity. Bangayan then was very confident about not being charged as he appeared at the Senate hearing, which even resulted in an overnight detention as he was being elusive in responding to the senators’ questions. The National Bureau of Investigation, an agency under the Department of Justice, ordered Bangayan’s arrest only after evidence in a libel case obtained by then Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile was presented before the Senate committee on agriculture. The case was against businessman Jess Arranza in which Bangayan admitted that he was David Tan. Before Bangayan’s appearance in the Senate, he had met with De Lima to deny that he was Tan. His first NBI arrest papers even bore the clarification, “Davidson Bangayan who is not David Tan,” even though many in the business community were willing to testify that Bangayan was David Tan. Duterte, then Davao City mayor, was among those who vouched that Bangayan and Tan were the same person. Still, the NBI released Bangayan on the absurd reason that it could not establish his identity. An infuriated Duterte then demanded the resignation of De Lima as justice secretary for releasing Bangayan. The charade continued as Bangayan was rearrested on the ridiculous charge of electricity pilferage. It was the height of absurdity since it meant that Meralco was able to positively identify Bangayan which the NBI failed to do. The perpetual zarzuela of government vowing to run after the rice cartel when prices kick up will have to stop — which will happen only when the members of the rice mafia are prosecuted. The post Political will test appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clavano apologizes for faux pas vs Bantag
Justice assistant secretary and spokesman Atty. Mico Clavano yesterday apologized and corrected his earlier statement that one of the major reasons authorities could not arrest former Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Q. Bantag was due to his police connections. Clavano in a message said, “I apologize for any confusion my earlier statement may have caused. I would like to correct my error and clarify that Mr. Bantag did not serve in the Philippine National Police, but rather graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy.” He added, “I regret any confusion this may have caused and hope this clarification clears up any misunderstanding.” The DoJ official previously acknowledged the complexity of apprehending Bantag due to his connections within the police force and other law enforcement agencies. Yesterday, the Philippine National Police apparently took offense to the statement of Clavano that one of the major reasons why Bantag could not be easily arrested is his police connections. Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, PNP chief public information officer, said Bantag has never joined the police organization and as such, has never been a police officer — contradicting the DoJ spokesman’s statement that Bantag “is a police officer.” “The Philippine National Police would like to clarify that Mr. Gerald Bantag has never been a member of the Philippine National Police, based on record, he used to be a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer before his appointment in Bureau of Corrections,” said Maranan in a statement. While Bantag graduated from the PNP Academy, he chose to be in the BJMP after his graduation in 1996. Graduates of the PNPA have the option to choose among the PNP, BJMP and the Bureau of Fire Protection after their graduation. The DoJ has offered P2-million reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of Bantag who was charged with murder for the death of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison. A P1-million reward was also offered to his then deputy, Ricardo Zulueta. Clavano was quoted saying that Bantag’s police connections makes his arrest tricky, Maranan said the PNP remains committed to its task of enforcing the law, including arresting fugitives from justice. “We want to emphasize that irrespective of one’s rank, stature, or source of commissionship of any officer; the PNP will arrest any individual who has violated the law. The achievements of our police tracker teams exemplify our record in arresting wanted persons,” Maranan said. The post Clavano apologizes for faux pas vs Bantag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG seeks clarification on arrest of quarantine violators
The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking clarification from Malacañang on President Duterte’s directive to arrest health protocol violators amid the congestion in jail facilities nationwide......»»
House leaves Quiboloy’s fate to Senate
The House of Representatives will no longer pursue and implement the warrant of arrest it issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy after it approved on final reading the bill revoking the franchise of the evangelist’s alleged TV network......»»
Belmonte: No tolerance for corruption
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday reiterated her zero-tolerance policy against corruption following the arrest of an official for alleged extortion......»»
House arrest warrant vs Quiboloy moot – lawyer
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s lawyer says the arrest warrant issued by a House of Representatives panel is moot as the panel’s hearings are already adjourned......»»
Davao police clueless on Quiboloy’s whereabouts
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse. Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police […].....»»
7 dead after Davao City Mayor Duterte declares war vs. drugs
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 March) – Two more drug suspects died in separate buy-bust operations in Toril District here before dawn Tuesday, after they allegedly resisted arrest, a police official said. This brought the number of fatalities to seven since Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte declared a “war” on illegal drugs last March […].....»»
Cool Smashers eye solo PVL lead
Creamline guns for the solo lead while Cignal seeks a share of it as the two collide in a battle of the giants Tuesday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena......»»
Heightened security for Degamos after Teves arrest | The wRap
The wRap's highlights: Roel Degamo, West Philippine Sea, Kate Middleton.....»»
China blocks use of Intel and AMD chips in government computers – report
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft Windows and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options, a Financial Times report says.....»»
DILG, PNP preparing for Teves return
Both the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police are making preparations to secure the detention of expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. once he arrives from East Timor where he was arrested on Thursday after months in hiding......»»
‘Quiboloy warrant stands despite SMNI franchise revocation’
Despite the revocation of the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), the arrest warrant issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy by the House of Representatives committee on legislative franchises still stands......»»
Bill seeks review of rules on reckless imprudence
The country’s road safety laws must be reviewed to address the liability of drivers in cases of traffic violations and accidents, a lawmaker from Bukidnon said yesterday, citing the high number of vehicular crashes in Metro Manila......»»
PRO-7 warns against use of marijuana-flavored vapes
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) has issued a stern warning against the use and proliferation of marijuana-flavored vape products. Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the PRO-7 spokesperson, said that they will arrest individuals who sell vapes mixed with marijuana oil. The sale and use of marijuana remains.....»»
DOT seeks inclusion in protected areas board amid Chocolate Hills issue
Department of Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco —INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo After the recent controversy surrounding a resort development near Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan town, Bohol, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced plans to advocate for its inclusion in the national government’s Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco stated during a.....»»
Balamban site is for road project, not Capitol bldg – Gwen
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The cleared site in Barangay Cambuhawe, Balamban, in western Cebu, is not for the new Capitol building, but for nationally funded road projects. Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia made this clarification after photos of a deforested mountain in Balamban, initially thought to be the site development of the new Capitol building,.....»»
Last Dance for Squires, Junior Altas
Letran seeks to bury the ghost of Game Two while University of Perpetual Help hopes to relive its glory in today’s rubber match for the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball trophy at the Filoil EcoOil Arena......»»
Mike files case vs. Gwen, seeks her suspension
Mike files case vs. Gwen, seeks her suspension.....»»