2020: The Year that Was (Part 2)

By Art Jimenez

May 6. EO 114 implements “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” program

President Duterte said the program aims to decongest NCR and promote balanced regional and countryside development. But only a month later on June 11, the program was suspended so government could focus on the thousands of repatriated OFWs and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in NCR due to the transport lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Balik” will resume early 2021 with a PHP2.2-billion budget under the DSWD, said PRRD.

 

May 23. First PH Missile-capable Warship Arrives

BRP Jose Rizal arrived in Subic, Zambales from South Korea. Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea, the frigate is built for speeds of 25 knots, maneuverability, and long range at 4,500 nautical miles. The pandemic delayed its supposed delivery in April. Its look-alike, to be named BRP Antonio Luna, is due for delivery early this year. Both are armed with anti-air and ASW (anti-submarine warfare) systems and specialize in fleet defense from air attacks and subs, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The Navy also intends to purchase two smaller Corvettes for patrolling purposes.

 

June 15. Court convicts Maria Ressa of cyber libel; appeal denied

A Manila Metropolitan Trial Court found Rapper CEO Maria Ressa and her researcher-writer guilty of cyber libel. Accuser was businessman Wilfredo Keng who they linked to human trafficking and drug smuggling. Sentenced to imprisonment of up to six years, the duo appealed their case, but which was denied July 25 for “lack of merit.” The two remain free after posting the required post-conviction bail.

 

June 29. Misencounter? Sulu Cops Shot and Killed Four Soldiers

Sulu policemen shot and killed four Army officers in Barangay Walled City in Jolo, Sulu which drew contrasting official versions.

Police said: The soldiers’ vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint and its occupants ordered to proceed to the Jolo police station for verification of their identities. At the station, the SUV sped away, the soldiers disembarked, and pointed their firearms at the PNP personnel. The latter however, were faster and gunned down the soldiers.

The Army said: The four Army intelligence officers were just inside their Montero SUV when fired upon by the Sulu policemen. According to AFP Western Mindano Command chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, the soldiers included a major, a captain, a sergeant, and a corporal. All died on the spot.

 

Raps filed vs cops.

On July 21, the NBI filed criminal complaints against the Sulu cops supposedly involved in the incident. On September 7, the Internal Affairs Service of PNP filed administrative and criminal complaints against the same policemen.

 

Nine (9) Cops dismissed.

On January 1, newly named Chief, PNP Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas announced that the PNP has approved the dismissal from service of the nine Sulu policemen accused of rubbing out four Army intelligence officers on June 29. Sinas requested the Justice Department to issue a warrant of arrest against the nine before their legal holding period of 10 days expires.

 

Administrative Charges.

Facing administrative charges under the principle of command responsibility were dismissed Jolo Police Chief Walter Annayo (gunned down on November 21, 2020) and Capt. Ariel Corsino, head of the Sulu Drug Enforcement Unit.

 

July 3. Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 signed

Six days before it lapsed into law, President Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, or Republic Act No. 11479, much to the dismay of various rights groups, including the UN Human Rights body and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. The law provides the national government wider and broader powers to act against a person(s) or group(s) falling under the ambiguous meaning of what terrorism is. Legal eagles paraphrase what defines terrorism as: (a) “an act committed by a person within or outside the Philippines who engages in activities intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endanger a person’s life, and to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place or private property; and (b) an act intended to cause extensive interference with, damage or destruction to critical infrastructure, and develops, manufactures, possesses, acquires, transports, supplies, or uses weapons, explosives or of biological, nuclear, radiological or chemical weapons.”

On the other hand, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, “The signing of the aforesaid law demonstrates our serious commitment to stamp out terrorism, which has long plagued the country and has caused unimaginable grief and horror to many of our people.”

Critics, for example, admonished the warrantless detention of a lengthy 24-day warrantless detention period and the power of the Anti-Terrorism Council (and not the courts) to authorize in writing the arrest of terrorism suspects. The new law faces at least 27 petitions filed against it at the Supreme Court. President Duterte explained that RA 11479 was modeled after similar laws of some European countries and the United States.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Terrorism Council approved the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the new law on October 14, 2020.

 

July 8. Pope names Cardinal Tagle to Pontifical Council

His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle as a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. The council is the papal central office on the promotion of understanding and respect between Catholics and non-Catholics. Appointed with him were five other cardinals, five archbishops, and 11 bishops.

Tagle is currently Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Archbishop Chito (the cardinal’s nickname) Tagle became a cardinal in 2012. In 2015 he was the first Asian president of Caritas Internationalis, the global confederation of Catholic charities. In May 2020, Pope Francis, a fellow Jesuit, promoted Tagle to the order of “cardinal bishops,” which is the highest rank within the College of Cardinals.

Tagle is 63 years old and is considered a papabili (a cardinal who could be elected pope).

 

July 10. ABS-CBN Franchise Application Denied

Voting 70 to 11, the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives denied the franchise application of ABS-CBN broadcasting network. Recall that on May 5, the NTC ordered the network off the air since its franchise has expired the previous day.

 

July 21. Founder of Phl largest investment scam arrested

Jose Apolinario, founder of Kapa Community Ministry Intl. and 23 others were arrested in Surigao de Sur after a gunfight in which two suspects were killed and one wounded.

Apolinario and his corporate officers were facing an arrest warrant for violation of the Securities Regulation Code and syndicated estafa. Kapa was a Ponzi scheme (the original investment scam with origin in New York City) that promised a monthly 30 percent return for every P10,000 invested by the ignorant and greedy public.

The company’s “Ministry” name is a ploy to escape suspicion from the authorities. Over time, the firm has put up branches around the country and appended “International” to its name. According to the SEC, Kapa has accumulated some P50 billion from 5 million investors” who did nothing but wait to be paid.

President Duterte ordered Kapa closed and its top officials charged in court accordingly.

 

July 30. Ruben Ecleo Jr., ex-solon of Dinagat Islands finally nabbed

 

Ex- mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte, ex-Dinagat Islands congressman, and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. was nabbed by Metro Manila Police in San Fernando, Pampanga early morning of July 30 on his way to a golf course. Long wanted by police authorities for jumping his bail bonds, Ecleo surrendered peacefully together with his driver.   

 

He was convicted of strangling to death his 20 year-old wife Alona, a medical student in 2002. He was bailed in 2004. In 2006 Ecleo was convicted of graft and sentenced to 31 years in prison for the anomalous construction of the town hall, public market, and repairs of his cult’s building. He appealed this conviction.

In 2010, he won a congressional seat representing the lone district of Dinagat Islands. In 2012 a Cebu court convicted him of parricide and sentenced him to 30 years in prison. The court also ordered Ecleo to pay P25 million in compensatory damages to his wife’s family. He was at large during his sentencing

Also in 2012, the House of Representatives dropped Ecleo from its rolls for his 2006 graft conviction. The court also ordered Ecleo to pay P25 million in compensatory damages to his wife’s family. Ecleo was at large at his sentencing.

After nine years, new PNP Chief Debold Sinas presented Ecleo to the press.

-To be Concluded-