NGS News

01/09/2024

Bicol disaster offices on red alert for TD Enteng

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol has placed all disaster response offices on red alert to prepare for the possible effects of Tropical Depression (TD) Enteng.

In a memorandum issued on Sunday, Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol Director and Bicol RDRRMC chairperson, said raising of alert status from blue to red is necessary as TD Enteng is expected to bring moderate to heavy with at times heavy rains in the region.

"Due to possible effects of this weather disturbance in the region, the RDRRMC emergency operations center is raising its alert status to red starting Sept(ember)," the memorandum read.

Yucot said response clusters with various national government agencies as lead agencies are activated.

These are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development for food and non-food items and camp coordination and management in case of evacuation, Department of Information and Communications Technology for emergency telecommunications, Police Regional Office-5 for law and order, and Joint Task Force Bicolandia for search, rescue, and retrieval.

Also included are the Department of Public Works and Highways for debris cleaning, Department of the Interior and Local Government for management of the dead and missing and OCD for logistics, he said.

Yucot said the clusters should regularly submit updates and report status to RDRRMC emergency operations center every 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily to provide ample time for the center to collate all data.

He also ordered the Philippine Coast Guard and all Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices to ensure that the no-sailing policy is implemented.

OCD-5 reported that 21 passengers remain stranded in the port of Bulan in Sorsogon province.

Yucot advised provincial and local DRMMCs to explore all means of communicating advisories to the community amid possible interruptions of electricity, mobile, and internet connections.

"All response assets must be ready for deployment and close monitoring of the respective area of responsibilities," he added.

Yucot said evacuation for high-risk areas and villages shall be led by the local DRRMCs in coordination with concerned agencies.

As of the 2 p.m. bulletin, several Bicol provinces were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Enteng maintained its strength moving northwestward.

TCWS No.1 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Presentacion, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Calabanga, Naga City, Pili, Bombon, Magarao, Ocampo, Baao, Nabua, Bula, Balatan, Bato, Milaor, Minalabac, Camaligan, Saglay, Iriga City, Buhi, Tigaon, San Jose, Goa, Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Canaman, Gainza, San Fernando), Camarines Norte (Mercedes, Basud), Catanduanes province, Albay, Sorsogon, and Burias Island, and Ticao Island of Masbate province.

Also under TCWS No. 1 were the eastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue) and eastern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan) in Luzon; and Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and the northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Barugo) in the Visayas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said the center of the eye estimated based on all available data was 110 kilometers east northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar. (PNA)

01/09/2024

3 Malaysian KOJC members denied entry to PH, blacklisted

By Ferdinand Patinio

MANILA – Three Malaysian nationals who claimed to be members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group, headed by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, were recently barred from entering the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Sunday.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the passengers identified as Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi, and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra, all in their mid-20s, were sent back to Malaysia on Aug. 28.

They arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on the night of Aug. 27 onboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur with a group of Filipinos who presented themselves as KOJC members.

“Our immigration officers discovered their intent to participate in anti-government demonstrations being staged by KOJC members who are protesting the ongoing manhunt for Pastor Quiboloy,” Tansingco said in a press release.

“Foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs, thus aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens,” he added.

The three said they were invited to Davao City by the KOJC. They could not present proof of their financial capacity to support their stay in the country.

One of the passengers, while being interviewed, unintentionally showed the BI supervisors her mobile phone with screenshots of various anti-government slogans.

When asked to explain the screenshot, the passenger said she accidentally downloaded them from her Facebook/Messenger acount.

The Malaysians have been placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from entering the country. (PNA)

30/08/2024

29/08/2024

PNP anti-cybercrime agents nab 19 scammers, vloggers in Cavite

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

MANILA – The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has warned the public against fraudulent phone calls from those pretending to be bank representatives.

This, after the PNP anti-cybercrime agents arrested 19 suspects, including two vloggers, who allegedly engaged in 'vishing' (voice phishing) scams targeting bank depositors, in an operation in Imus, Cavite last Aug. 23.

In a statement on Thursday, PNP-ACG director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said the operation stemmed from a confirmed intelligence report of online scamming activities in another vishing and scamming hub in Cavite.

“From simple vishing to spear phishing, the suspects use information obtained from credit card applications and ledgers or spreadsheets, likely taken from third-party service providers of the banks, such as business process outsourcing (BPO) companies,” Cariaga said.

“The scammers then use this information to access and siphon money from their victims’ bank accounts,” he said.

Vishing is a fraudulent practice of making phone calls by posing as bank representatives, convincing individuals to update their old card and reveal their bank account details, such as credit card numbers, as well as providing their One-Time-Pin (OTP).

Armed with a search warrant, the ACG operatives raided the area and arrested 19 people inside with the help of local police, barangay officials, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

PNP-ACG spokesperson Police Lt. Warren Mae Arancillo said two of those arrested are popular vloggers with thousands of followers.

Seized from them were several SIM cards, mobile devices, laptops, assorted bank documents, ledgers, and scripts that are being used to defraud the victims.

The suspects will be charged with the violation of Republic Act (RA) 12010, or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act which was recently signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..

Separate cases for violations of RA 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998), as amended, and RA 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012), both in relation to RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act) have also been filed against the suspects. (PNA)

29/08/2024

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮: 𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗛 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁

By Wilnard Bacelonia

MANILA – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla clarified on Wednesday that investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have to go to local courts first when enforcing a warrant of arrest in the Philippines.

Remulla made the clarification when asked by Senator Grace Poe during the budget deliberation of the DOJ about his position on the supposed arrest warrant issued by the ICC against former president Rodrigo Duterte and others for alleged extra-judicial killings in the campaign against illegal drugs.

"You have maintained that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction here, but you also reiterated that although you will not cooperate with them, you will not hinder them from conducting their investigation," Poe said.

"We are no longer a member of the ICC, but right now, because of the technology that is available to all of us, it would be easy for them to go on Zoom, video call. With all of these probable witnesses who are here in the country, we cannot stop them from doing that. Freedom of communication I think is paramount when it comes to this," Remulla responded.

"Kung gusto po nilang pumasok dito upang manghuli at magsagawa ng warrant na inisyu siguro ng ICC pagdating ng panahon, kailangan po itong dumaan sa ating court system. Ito po ay kinakailangan ng isang aksyon (If they want to come here to arrest and execute a warrant that may be issued by the ICC when the time comes, it will have to go through our court system. This is required by an action) to enforce a warrant, a judgement," he added.

Remulla explained that the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) can also enforce the arrest warrant in the Philippines, but it also needs to pass through the local courts.

"There are some things that the Supreme Court would be looking at. If what was alleged in the crime would have happened when we are still a member of the ICC. That is one of the things that can be of importance to the courts when they will actually allow a warrant to be served in our country from an international tribunal," he explained.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who is one of the accused in the ICC investigation, was relieved when asked to comment about Remulla's clarification.

"Very good. That’s good development kung ganoon ang kanyang sinabi. Maganda ‘yan (if that was what he said, that's good). I’m happy that they are defending their turf and they are defending our sovereignty, our jurisdiction," dela Rosa said in an ambush interview.

Along with Duterte and dela Rosa, retired police Gen. Oscar Albayalde was also included in the ICC investigation for their alleged involvement in the killings of drug suspects during the previous administration's narcotics crackdown.

The top cop-turned senator has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the ICC and has urged the Senate to pass a bill banning the extradition of Filipino suspects to the ICC. (PNA)

28/08/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT

School authorities suspend classes today, August 28, 2024, to allow the school DRRM to conduct the school building assessment following the Intensity V earthquake last night in Masbate.

This is a developing list, so there's a possibility that more schools can be added here.

1.AAES- Selected Grade level only( Grade 6)
2.JZSES
3. COLMHS
4. SAHES
5. Gutusan ES
6. Usab ES
7. Biyong ES
8. Bayombon High School
9. MNCHS
10.Calolod ES
11. ETVES
12. N.DANAO ES
13. RTMES
14. MES
15. Bayombon ES
16. Igang IS
17. Bolo NHS
18. ALS
19. JVAES
20. FCVES
21. Usab High School
22. Anas es
23. N.DSES
24. Dynamic Scholars Academy Inc
25. Tugbo ES
26. ELSES
27. Osmeña Colleges (Elementary to Senior HighSchool)
28 Cawayan Ext. ES
29. Batuhan East ES
30. FCVES
31. Bantigue ES
32. Liceo de Masbate

Source: CDRRMO

28/08/2024

𝗣𝗔𝗢 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 '𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗜' 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Justice, through its Public Attorney's Office (PAO), assured on Tuesday that it could provide unlimited legal services to indigent clients in the six provinces of the Bicol Region.

During Tuesday's Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas at the Department of Social Welfare and Development office here, PAO lawyer Gezel Garcia said their office represents free-of-charge all qualified for legal assistance and counseling in criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and other quasi-judicial cases.

Unlimited means services are given to the poor seeking justice repeatedly and regardless of the number of cases.

"PAO was created based on the constitutional mandate of free access to the court. No person shall be denied access to the court because of poverty. As long as the client is a qualified indigent citizen, they can avail of the PAO service, which is free of charge," Garcia said.

PAO-Bicol in 31 district offices served 1,197,084 clients from the six provinces from July 2022 to July 2024.

"Our PAO lawyers commensurate the number of cases they handle and the services we offer," Garcia said.

He ensured that all cases handled by the 126 PAO lawyers and 46 support staff were not compromised since they were monitored monthly.

PAO also provides legal documentation and administration of oaths, legal assistance during inquest proceedings and custodial investigations, jail visitation and home visitation, barangay outreach activities, and legal aid information dissemination.

It also offers free legal representation during arraignment, pre-trial and promulgation of judgment.

Under the mediation and conciliation program, disputes settled reached 3,556 while 9,768 received legal assistance during inquest proceedings.

Likewise, he noted that their office has helped release 6,323 persons deprived of liberty since 2022.

"In some instances, cases undergo medication and conciliation to help the court declog the court dockets. For the petty crimes, we can finish them at the PAO level," Garcia said.

PAO’s office is seven days a week and lawyers may go beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. official hours “to provide the needed services," Garcia said. (PNA)

27/08/2024

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 || The Masbate National Comprehensive High School (MNCHS) has announced the suspension of classes for today, August 28, 2024 (Wednesday).

The Intensity V earthquake that struck Masbate last night prompted action, with the School DRRM deciding to conduct a building inspection, assessment, and monitoring of the entire school area to ensure the safety of MNCHS students and staff.

27/08/2024

I want to give a huge shout-out to my top Stars senders. Thank you for all the support!

Dam Hergh

27/08/2024

JUST IN || Naging sentro ng magnitude 5.0 earthquake ang 009km S 22' W ng Monreal, Masbate kaninang alas 9:01 ng gabi.

Matatandaan na sa parehong buwan ng Agosto, (noong Agosto 18, 2020) ay naramdaman din ang lakas 6.5 magnitude na lindol sa probinsya, kung saan ang naging sentro naman ay ang Cataingan, Masbate.

27/08/2024

Isang bahay na gawa sa light materials ang tinupok ng apoy sa Brgy. Mabuhay, sakop ng Mobo, Masbate kaninang hapon. Ayon sa may-ari, ay nagsimula umano ang apoy sa kanilang kwarto.

25/08/2024

LOOK | Three members of Masbate Quad Media paid a visit to Usec. Paul Gutierrez, the executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).

These local journalists of Masbate sought updates on PTFoMS efforts after their names were wrongfully implicated in murder allegations and falsely tagged as NPA members.

23/08/2024

Masbate province has been highlighted out here...

22/08/2024

CSC-Bicol aids families of gov't employees who died in line of duty

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said on Thursday that the families of 15 public servants who died in the line of duty received PHP100,000 each in financial assistance under the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani (PLBi) Program for Region 5 (Bicol).

In a press conference at the CSC regional office here, lawyer Daisy Bragais, CSC-5 regional director, said the PLBi seeks to recognize civilian public servants who risked their lives and were killed or died in the performance of their respective functions, duties, and responsibilities.

"This is a program of CSC that provides one-time financial assistance to the bereaved families of the deceased public servant who displayed the characters of a bayani (hero) in the time of public service," she said.

The program covers civilian and non-uniformed employees with permanent, temporary, probationary, elective, contractual, casual, and co-terminus employment status.

Bragais said the head of agencies or regional offices may submit a list of qualified deceased or killed personnel within six months from the time of death so their kin could be provided with assistance.

CSC data shows that beneficiaries of the PLBi from 2011 to 2023 were from Albay—four; Camarines Sur—two; Masbate—three; and Sorsogon—six.

"Aside from the financial assistance given, a certificate of recognition signed by the CSC Chairperson was given to the family of the awardee. Scholarships were also recommended in states, universities, and colleges for the dependents of the deceased public servant," Bragais said.

She said that to sustain the funds for the PLBi, the CSC will conduct simultaneous fundraising activities by September as part of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.

The "Takbo para sa mga Servant-Heroes" will be held at 4 a.m. on Sept. 1 at Sawangan Park here as well as a tree planting and blood-letting activities, among others, on succeeding dates. (PNA)

21/08/2024

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐕𝐂𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆

By Nef Luczon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is optimistic that the purchase of new and modern vote counting machines (VCMs) will reduce issues related to vote buying.

During his visit here Wednesday, Comelec chairperson George Edwin Garcia said part of the budget allocation is the procurement of new VCMs that will be more transparent to the public.

"There will be a (centralized and unified) data center that would instantly show instant results in every precinct," he said.

One key feature of the new VCM is a 14-inch viewing screen that shows all the ballots cast by voters, and all stakeholders are allowed to view them.

"This will answer the public's question on whether their votes were counted," Garcia said.

Through this transparency feature, political operators are discouraged from buying votes because it will show how voters choose their preferences without revealing their identities.

Garcia said the procurement of new VCMs is part of Comelec's vision of "enhancing democracy through modern technology." (PNA)

15/08/2024

MAKIKITA sa video ang pagsagip ng MV Star Horse Shipping Lines sa isang mangingisda na palutang-lutang sa laot matapos bangain ang kanilang sinasakayang bangka ng hindi pa matukoy na barko sa karagatan sakop ng Burias Island, Sabado ng madaling araw, Agosto 10.

Kinilala ang nasagip na mangingisda na si Roldan Marientes.

Ayon kay Marientes ay kasama niya ang kanyang nakakatandang kapatid sa pagpalaot sa araw na iyon, subalit matapos bangain ang kanilang bangka ay hindi na ito nakita hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Credit video to Junie Cortes

14/08/2024

COA questions Mandaue City's P11.61-M charter day, year-end bonuses

By John Rey Saavedra

CEBU CITY – The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the charter day and year-end bonuses of about 6,000 regular employees of the Mandaue City government amounting to PHP11.61 million.

The state auditor said the PHP15,000 cash bonus granted to each regular employee in celebration of the city’s 54th Charter Anniversary in August 2023 has no legal basis.

COA cited the disbursement as “irregular expenditure” as it “lacked support of pertinent issuance or regulation, contradicting COA Circular No. 2012-003.”

The circular defines irregular expenditures as those made without adherence to established rules, regulations, or recognized practices.

Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan, city administrator of Mandaue, said they received the notice of suspension last week.

Calipayan said they would respond to the suspension.

He explained that the granting of charter day and year-end bonuses was based on City Ordinance No. 16-2023-1822.

Republic Act 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that no public officer or employee shall receive additional, double, or indirect compensation unless specifically authorized by law.

Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) Local Budget Circular No. 65, dated March 3, 1997, also outlines that anniversary bonuses should not exceed PHP3,000 and are only granted during milestone years, defined as the 15th anniversary and every fifth year, thereafter.

The lawyer also said that following the decision of COA, the city government decided to reduce this year’s bonuses to PHP3,000 each.
“Based on the notice of suspension from COA, (the bonuses) lacked legal basis. So for this year, we hold the implementation of bonuses,” Calipayan said. (PNA)

14/08/2024

P29-per-kilo rice available in Bicol Kadiwa stores in September

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY – Rice will be retailed at PHP29 per kilogram in the six provinces of the Bicol in September, a National Irrigation Administration (NIA) official in the region said on Monday.

In a phone interview, NIA-Bicol Regional Manager Gaudencio De Vera said they expect a substantial harvest of palay (unhusked rice) from the 1,545 hectares (ha) under their contract farming program with NIA-assisted irrigators’ associations.

"We are expecting our harvest by September. The plan is to mill everything, then we can sell cheap, clean, and newly harvested rice for PHP29 per kilo or PHP290 per 10 kilograms per bag," he said.

De Vera said the 1,544 hectares are in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon where there are 24 and four NIA-assisted irrigators’ associations under the contract farming agreement, respectively.

He said the rice will be sold at various Kadiwa stores and NIA offices in the region.

"We are selling this in Kadiwa stores and NIA offices to monitor for those that may take advantage. We will prioritize selling to our senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disability, and other less privileged sectors and individuals," he added.

De Vera said they are expecting more than 7,720 metric tons of palay to be harvested. (PNA)

10/08/2024

Ex-Comelec chair faces bribery, money laundering raps in US

By Benjamin Pulta

MANILA – Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Andres Bautista, along with three others, have been charged before a United States court for alleged bribery and money laundering in connection with the 2016 elections.

In a press release on its website, the US Department of Justice said a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment Thursday (US time) charging the former Comelec chair and three executives of an election voting machine and service provider company for their roles in an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme to retain and obtain business related to the 2016 polls.

According to the indictment, between 2015 and 2018, Roger Alejandro Pinate Martinez, 49, a Venezuelan citizen and resident of Boca Raton, Florida, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 62, a US citizen and resident of Davie, Florida, together with others, allegedly caused at least USD1 million in bribes to be paid to Bautista.

"These bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business related to providing voting machines and election services for the 2016 Philippine elections and to secure payments on the contracts, including the release of value-added tax payments," the US DOJ said.

"The co-conspirators allegedly funded the bribes through a slush fund that was created by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine for the 2016 Philippine elections. To conceal and disguise the nature and purpose of the corrupt payments, the co-conspirators used coded language to refer to the slush fund and caused the creation of fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements to justify transfers. The co-conspirators then allegedly laundered funds related to the bribery scheme through bank accounts located in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including in the Southern District of Florida.”

Pinate and Vasquez are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one substantive violation of the FCPA.

Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 44, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments.

If convicted, Pinate and Vasquez each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts.

Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering, the US DOJ said.

The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) Miami.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Philippine Department of Justice, and the Office of the Ombudsman provided substantial assistance, according to the press release.

The US Department of Justice, however, clarified that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Vindication

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, meanwhile, has welcomed the decision of the US Department of Justice.

“It would appear to be a sort of vindication on the part of the present Commission. We were right all along when we disqualified Smartmatic,” the poll body chief said in a brief statement Friday.

“Let’s presume everyone innocent until the guilt is proved,” he added.

Smartmatic was the service provider of the Comelec starting from the May 2020 polls until the May 2022 elections.

However, the company was not allowed to participate in the bidding to automate the May 2025 polls.

Bautista, meanwhile, vowed to prove his innocence before the court.

“I will fight for my exoneration in court and show that I have not committed any crime against the US government or the American people nor have I taken advantage or prejudiced them in any way,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Smartmatic has placed Martinez and Moreno on leave of absence.

“Smartmatic has learned that two of our employees have been indicted for alleged violations of the FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) in the Philippines almost 10 years ago. Regardless of the veracity of the allegations and while our accused employees remain innocent until proven guilty, we have placed both employees on leaves of absence, effective immediately,” it said in a statement.

At the same time, Smartmatic noted that Velasquez is no longer connected with the company. (with Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)

08/08/2024

CA freezes Quiboloy, KOJC assets

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
and Benjamin Pulta

MANILA – The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a freeze order on known assets of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and its officers led by Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy.

The August 6 notice issued by the CA's Special 3rd Division covered 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and one aircraft owned by Quiboloy.

The order also includes the 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties, and 16 motor vehicles of the KOJC, and 17 bank accounts, five real properties, and 26 motor vehicles of Swara Sug Media Corporation which operates the religious group’s media arm, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

The CA said it found a reasonable ground to believe that Quiboloy’s money and properties are “linked to unlawful activities and predicate crimes” not only for qualified human trafficking, s*xual and child abuse and s*x trafficking of children, but also fraud, conspiracy, marriage fraud, smuggling, and money laundering, among others.

“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order as prayed for by petitioner over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially-linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the ex-parte petition,” the CA said in the decision signed by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla hailed the court’s "bold action in freezing the properties and restraining the financial muscle of fugitive Quiboloy" who has been constantly mocking the justice system by evading arrest and our courts of law.

"This Order demonstrates the CA’s firm resolve as a partner of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law. This is just one step which has somewhat provided hope for truth and justice,” Remulla said.

Quiboloy still in Davao

Meanwhile, Davao Region police director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said based on their intelligence monitoring, Quiboloy is still within the 30-hectare property of the KOJC in Davao City.

“The indicators and informants are telling us na nandoon lang sa loob (si Quiboloy) kaya nga binabantayan siya ng kanyang mga tagasunod (he is still there and being guarded by his followers),” Torre told reporters at Camp Crame during the 123rd Police Service Anniversary.

Torre said this was the information which they have been receiving even before a PHP10-million bounty was placed on the KOJC leader who is wanted for serious criminal offenses.

He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is carefully considering its moves due to the possibility of violence that may ensue should the police force its way inside the KOJC compound amid the presence of hundreds of Quiboloy’s die-hard supporters.

Indications of the escalation of violence, he said, was already reflected when Quiboloy’s supporters used a firetruck to hose down the police officers who were supposed to serve the arrest warrant at the KOJC compound on June 10.

“The challenge is how to implement this (arrest) in accordance with the rules but at the same time, with least casualty on both sides. We don’t want it (violence) to happen,” he said.

Torre said another challenge is that searching inside the KOJC property would certainly take a long time, since aside from the fact that it is 30-hectare big, there are also several establishments inside, including a coliseum four times bigger than the Araneta Coliseum.

“And the longer the cops stay inside, the bigger the possibility that violence may erupt,” he said.

Tightly guarded

Torre said they are ensuring that the compound is tightly guarded to prevent the fugitive’s escape.

Police are also monitoring the KOJC’s air assets, which includes two airplanes and four helicopters.

Torre said they have plans if Quiboloy attempts to flee using his air assets.

“We have our air unit. Our air unit is armed. Worse comes to worst, they can try the might of the government if they want to do that,” he said.

While the PNP can still choose the path of forcibly entering the KOJC, Torre said what they still consider is the safety and well-being of Quiboloy’s supporters.

This is the reason, he said, why they are continuously finding ways to arrest Quiboloy with no violence.

“We are concentrating on hammering into his head and his lawyers that the only way for this to be resolved peacefully and with justice for all, is for him to submit to the jurisdiction of the court,” Torre said.

“We are hoping that his supporters would be enlightened that what the police are doing is a very simple part of the justice system.”

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is hoping that the freeze order will disable Quiboloy’s capability to escape the law.

"Hopefully, this freezes Quiboloy’s ability to escape. Hopefully also, our local entities can work with their foreign counterparts to stanch the flow of money to offshore accounts," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"Umpisa na ito ng pagkamit ng hustisya (This is the start of attaining justice)," she added. (With a report from Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)