Man suspected of being a supplier of illegal firearms nabbed in Pasig buy-bust

January 31,2020

Commentary

The Philippine Drug War refers to the drug policy of the Philippine government under

president Rodrigo Duterte. The policy is aimed at the neutralization of illegal drug personalities

nationwide. The Philippine National Police manages Oplan Double Barrel as part of its

involvement in President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. It consist of 2 main

components; Oplan Tokhang and Oplan HVT. Tokhang is characterized as the lower barrel

approach while HVT which stands for high value targets is described as the police high barrel

approach. Oplan HVT include drug lord and pushers who operate in groups. This case is an

Oplan HVT, where a 20 year old woman who was suspected of being a supplier of illegal

firearms in Pasig City was nabbed by police in a buy-bust operation Thursday night. According

to the Pasig Police, she is the newly identified high-value target for illegal drugs. Also, just

recently the suspect was released from jail after posting bail for a robbery case. The penalty of

prison correccional in its maximum period and a fine of not less than 15,000 pesos shall be

imposed upon any person who shall unlawfully manufacture, sale acquisition, disposition or

possession of firearms, tool or instrument used or intended to be used in the manufacture of any

firearm or ammunition. Provided, that no other crime was committed. But in this case, the

suspects are also a dealer of illegal drugs and the suspect will deal with another penalty of

imprisonment ranging from six years and one day to twelve years and a fine ranging from 6,000

or 12,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who, unless authorized by law, shall import or

sell any regulated drug in the Philippines.

Recommendation

Ensuring the police worldwide have the knowledge and skills to prevent, investigate and

disrupt drug trafficking is a key part of the drug strategy. Training can be combined with

operational support to assist member countries in planning and executive on-the-ground

operations against drug trafficking.

3 robbers shot dead in Quezon City

January 31, 2020

Quezon City is one of the most dangerous cities in our country. The problem violent

crimes such as assault and robbery crimes has a rate of 67.37 in the city. Three unidentified

robbers were shot dead in encounter with police in Quezon City. Recovered from the crime scene

were the victim’s personal belongings, including an iphone 8 Plus and 6,400 cash. Police also

recovered a revolver, a pistol 14 fired cartridge case of unknown caliber in the area as pieces of

evidence. Accordingly, a person can be charged with Armed robbery if they are in possession of

a weapon, such as gun or knife, and they threaten or use physical force to steal or take something

from someone else. The maximum penalty of Armed robbery is 20 years imprisonment.

Recommendation

Robbery is a serious crime with far-reaching consequences for the victims. The best way

to deal with armed robberies is to prevent them. Understand that robbers commit crimes because

they believe that the payoff outweighs any risks. The potential victims can reduce their chance of

becoming a target. First, practice safe cash handling and avoid having unnecessary amounts of

money. What to do in the event of an armed robbery? If an armed robbery does take place, stay
calm and do the following; cooperate with the robber, avoid surprises, activate any silent or

holdup alarms you have, try to give them the marked money in your register, be observant, call

the police immediately after the incident and preserve the evidence. Those are the least thing you

can do to be safe.

Brgy. Counsilor arrested for rape

February 18,2020

Commentary
Rape in the Philippines is considered a criminal offense. In Philippine jurisprudence, it is

a heinous crime punishable by life imprisonment when committed against women. This is a case

where one of the public official itself, committed a very serious crime against women. According

to the victim, the suspect approached her one afternoon to ask for her unpaid rent and while

talking, the suspect forced to kiss her. In her panic, the victim cannot defend herself and was

dragged to a room where she was taken advantage of. Under the Code of Conduct and Ethical

Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Public officials and employees shall at all times

be accountable to the people and shall discharge duties with utmost responsibility, integrity,

competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives and uphold public

interest over personal interest. And so, this public official just violate the code of ethics where

they should follow it. Accordingly, any official or employee regardless whether or not holds

office or employment committing any violation of the Code shall be punished. It includes

censure, removal from office, permanent disqualification from holding any state prostitution,

restitution, decades in prison and fines up into hundreds of thousands. Not all ethics violations

are treated equally. And this case the public official did not only violates the code of ethic but he

also commits a heinous crime which is rape, therefore he will face more of years in the prison.
Recommendation

Sexual Violence is less common today than it was in earlier generations. But even in

reach, peaceful democracies it is both widespread and distressingly easy to get away with. There

are ways to end the rape culture today. Let us first recognized that people neither ask for nor

deserve to be abused, harassed, assaulted or raped-ever. Also, get help or take action by directly

intervening when you see someone taking advantage of a person who is not capable of giving

consent. And even if you are a husband or a wife, consent is a mandatory and every sexual

interaction you have must be consensual. Educate yourself on what it means to get and give

consent. Build and engage in healthy, respectful relationships and most important thing is pledge

to never commit or condone any acts of violence.

3 arrested for gambling in Caloocan

Feb 19 2020

Commentary

A tricycle driver, a vendor and a jobless man arrested for playing cara y cruz. This is a

violation of the Presidential Decree 1602 or Anti- Illegal Gambling Law. The real reason so

many forms of gambling are illegal is so many states are that governments are grossly

hypocritical and arbitrary when it comes to their gambling laws and government see themselves

as nanny states with her citizen as children who needs to be protected from vice and their own

stupidity. The penalty of prison correctional in its maximum period or a fine of six thousand

pesos shall be imposed upon the maintainer or conductor of the above gambling schemes.
Recommendation

When engaging in various types of gambling the individual must understand want the

state defines as legal and illegal to prevent possible charges or conviction for illegal activity in

the state. Some states define certain activities as illegal because of the use of the internet while

others will consider amateur gambling at homes of illegal.

A Hit and Run Accident in Cainta, Rizal

March 14,2020

Commentary

Driving away and failing to stop after a vehicular accident is referred to as “hit and run’’.

The accident happened on March 14,2020 were the victim named Keen Adrian Mata was dead

on the spot together with Patrick Bench Marco who was hospitalized and in a critical situation

after their motor vehicle bumped in to trailer truck. Since the driver of the said trailer truck fails

to fulfill his duties after being involved in accident but rather he escaped from it, will be charged

of a serious criminal offense, such as felony hit and run. Aside from this, the said suspect may

face also an administration penalties related to his driver’s license. It typically results in an

automatic suspension or revocation of his driver’s license for a period of six months or so. On

the other side, it is doubtful that a situation can arise that the rider is clearly at fault. The

determination of fault is best left to the discretion of experts and authorities. But nevertheless,

the suspect fails to perform his duties therefore, must face the case filed against him.
Recommendation

A car accident in which one of the parties involved leaves the scene without stopping to

provide insurance or contact information, or render aid to another person injured in the collision,

is a hit and run. Information is the key to bringing hit and run drivers to justice.

As hard as it may be, staying calm if you are a victim of a hit and run accident greatly

increases your chance of gathering viable information that can be used to find the person

responsible. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you are injured, but if

possible try to take down the following information like the model and plate number of the car

that hit you, contact information of any potential witnesses to the accident and if you can, take a

picture of the scene as well as the damage on your own vehicle and try to capture specific details.

A Resident of Navotas arrested in Selling Fake Medicines contra Covid-19

March 22,2020

Commentary

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, growing number of fake and dangerous

medicines are circulating around the world. Making and selling fake medicine is an opportunistic

crime. It’s dangerous in the sense that people cannot expect the quality and purity of these

products because it didn’t pass the standards of FDA. Recently, a resident of Navotas was

arrested in selling a counterfeit medicines. The medicine being sold was allegedly a vaccine on

the Covid 19. The illicit trade in such counterfeit medical items during public health crisis,
shows a total disregard for people lives. According to R.A 8203 penalises those who are

manufacturing or selling counterfeit drugs of imprisonment with fine.

Recommendation

To avoid this kind of crime, always buy medicine only from legal establishments or those

licensed by Food and Drug Administration. Let’s not patronize those being sold online. The rule

or the law says product should only be dispensed in a licensed establishment of FDA.

2 Victims shot dead in Quezon City

April 23,2020

Commentary

Quezon City is one of the most dangerous cities in our country. It is the most populous

and has more than quadruple amount of incidents than the Mandaluyong. Quezon City has the

highest crime rate with a lowest crime solution. This case is one of the heinous crime in Quezon

City where the victim named Mel Banzuelo, 40 years of age shoot to death in the alley at night’s

time. Although the victim ran into their house, the suspect did not stop shooting her that cause

also the mother-in-law of the victim shot. We are familiar with the term murder and homicide.

Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. Depending on the circumstances

surrounding the killing, a person who is convicted of murder may be sentenced to may years in

prison, a prison sentence with no possibility of parole, or death.

Recommendation
 Prison populations are overflowing, crime is high and violence is a culture in the

Philippines. The focus needs to be on preventing the conditions that draw people into violent or

criminal behaviour. In order to do this, we need a systematic, integrated, coordinated approach

combining the responsibilities of a wide range of state and non-state actors. Avoid repressive of

policies, be proactive and don’t forget about male violence, because there are lots of

interventions that are focused on women rights. These are noble. But the vast majority of killing

we have seen around the world are by men on men. I think this needs to be addressed. The

international community focuses a great deal on the impact of violence against women. If you

address the male drivers of violence, you reduce the female harm of violence.

3 arrested, Php 476 Thousand worth of Shabu seized in Valenzuela Buy-Bust

April 29,2020

Commentary

A drug related crime is a crime to possess, manufacture or distribute drugs classified as

having a potential for abuse. Drugs are also related to crime as drug trafficking and drug

production are often controlled by drug cartels, organized crimes and gangs. Since taking office

on June 30, 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has carried out a ‘’ war on drugs’’ that

has led to the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos to date, mostly urban poor. A buy-and-bust

operation is an undercover operation by narcotics detectives to catch suspecting drug dealers.

Continuous crime rate decline shows anti-drug campaign’s success. This case is one of the buy-

bust operation where three suspects of drug dealers were arrested and 476,000 worth of shabu

were seized in a buy-bust operation. The suspects will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale

of Dangerous Drugs), article 2 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.
The suspects are penalized of Life imprisonment to death with fine of Php500,000 to

Php10,000,000.

Recommendation

Ensuring the police worldwide have the knowledge and skills to prevent, investigate and

disrupt drug trafficking is a key part of the drug strategy. Training can be combined with

operational support to assist member countries in planning and executive on-the-ground

operations against drug trafficking.