4 Las Piñas judges in POGO raid face raps

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to file appropriate cases against the judges who ordered the release of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers who were arrested in Las Pinas City in June for alleged involvement in human trafficking operations.

Meanwhile, the DOJ was also eyeing the filing of criminal charges arising from some 28,000 registered SIM cards seized during a raid on a POGO facility in Pasay City suspected of complicity in online scams. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla lamented that four of the courts in

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the National Housing Authority for a P140.347-million expenditure for its Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa program in 2020-2022 amid the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an audit report, the COA cited the deficiencies in the NHA’s utilization of its corporate fund of P105.074 million and its subsidy fund under the housing assistance program for calamity victims of P35.273 million.

“It is important to note that no data was provided regarding whether other expenses were charged to other member agencies of the BP2 council, thus, casting doubt whether these expenditures were properly charged to NHA and recorded in its books of accounts,” the state auditors noted.

At least P82.154 million was used on infrastructure projects, P39.5 million for the maintenance and other operating expenses, P17.134 million for media coverage and other related expense and P1.558 million equipment.

The COA told the NHA management to ensure that expenditures incurred were properly charged against member agencies, and to submit plans on the idle 12 satellite offices, three multipurpose centers and other structures and equipment at the Balik Probinsya depot.

NHA general manager Joeben Tai received a copy of the 2022 audit report last June 30, and sent its letter to the Department of Budget and Management to request certification that a portion of the P1.2-billion special allotment release order (SARO) of P500 million was approved for the program.

Las Pinas City have granted the petitions for habeas corpus by the arrested POGO employees without any condition.

“Four of the courts in Las Piñas have actively granted habeas corpus petitions,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a media briefing.

“I want to tell you that I have instructed the Bureau of Immigration to file the necessary cases against the judges who willingly granted this habeas corpus petitions without any colatilla,” he added. According to Remulla, there should have been a colatilla or conditions on the release order saying they can be freed unless detained for other causes.

“That way, they are ignoring the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Immigration, of the Department of Justice, with regard to illegal acts of aliens in the country. So we are filing cases against the judges,” he vowed. He said the courts might have granted the petitions of 600 foreigners. On June 27, authorities implemented a search warrant following alleged human trafficking activities in the compound of Xinchuang. Police reported that 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 foreigners were rescued in the raid. A lawyer of Xinchuang camp has denied allegations of human trafficking or illegal activities taking place at the

DILG asks LGUs’ help in drive vs. unlawful BSKE campaign materials

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed local government units (LGUs) to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in its crackdown against campaign materials that violate election laws.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. issued the directive ahead of the start of the election period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Aug. 28.

In DILG Memorandum Circular

2023-105, Abalos said the DILG, LGUs, and other government agencies were deputized by the Comelec through its Resolution No. 10924 to assist the poll body in removing and tearing down unlawful election campaign materials.

Abalos also enjoined LGUs to provide the poll body with the necessary equipment for the removal of unlawful election materials; designate LGU personnel who will assist the Comelec in the campaign; issue executive orders

PNP warns against crime pranks on social media

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned vloggers and content creators against making crime pranks and exercise prudence in creating videos uploaded on social media.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. issued the warning following the arrest of three suspects identified as Mark San Rafael, Mark Lester San Rafael and Eleazar Steven Fuentes on Aug. 1 upon orders by the Las Piñas Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 124 on charges of alarm and scandal.

“The PNP remains steadfast in upholding the law and ensuring that individuals are held accountable for their deeds. Pranks that induce panic and disrupt public order cannot be taken lightly. We commend our personnel for their swift action in this instance,” Acorda said in a statement.

Acorda said the PNP’s decisive action in the case underscored its un- wavering commitment to preserve public safety and order in the digital age. for the designation of LGU personnel/ barangay tanod (village watchmen) and provide them with the necessary assistance to perform their role; and direct the designated personnel to coordinate with the Election Officer before tearing down unlawful election materials.

The case stemmed from a kidnapping prank on April 6 staged by the suspects behind the page “Tukomi Blog” which triggered widespread public outrage.

The video depicted a sophisticated fake kidnapping episode that ostensibly transpired along Saging Street, Phase 2, Brgy. CAA Phase II in Las Piñas City.

A police officer identified as Sgt. Ronnie Conmingo witnessed the incident and drew his handgun on the vloggers, thinking it was a real kidnapping incident.

Conmingo then filed a complaint for alarm and scandal against the suspects before the Office of the City Prosecutor on April 11.

The accused were released on Aug. 2 after posting bail. Arraignment was set on Aug. 10.

Section 240 of Comelec Resolution No. 10924 prohibits the printing, publishing, posting, and distribution of any form of campaign materials that do not bear the name of the payor or candidate who will benefit from the election propaganda printed or aired. compound, adding that the business of the company was legitimate.

Posting, displaying, or exhibiting any election material outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or private properties without the consent of the owner thereof is likewise prohibited.

The election period for the Oct. 30 village and youth polls will run until Nov. 29 while the campaign period is set from Oct. 19 to 28.

“The SIM Card Registration Act is supposed to ensure that all the owners are verifiable and that SIM cards are not used for unlawful purposes. But the presence of 28,000 SIM cards is, in itself, questionable already,” Remulla told reporters.

Remulla said authorities will go after whoever was the registered owner of the SIM cards in what could “possibly” be a test case under the SIM Registration Act.

He said investigators are looking at how Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act will apply to this case.