By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Underscoring his primary concern for the welfare of all personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has directed them to wear light uniforms while on duty amid the heat index reaching dangerous levels in many parts of the country.
Abalos has issued a DILG urgent memorandum directing the chiefs of the three agencies to issue the respective advisories on the uniform attire.
“The welfare of our uniformed personnel comes first especially as they perform their sworn duty. Wear of light and comfortable uniforms amid the sweltering heat is the way to go,” Abalos stressed at the Saturday News Forum held at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
It can be noted that prior to the DILG order signed by Abalos, the BJMP had already issued a memorandum earlier this week on the modified schedule of wearing uniforms during the summer, allowing its personnel to use its gray shirts from Tuesdays to Fridays.
“In view of the foregoing, you are hereby directed to issue an Urgent Advisory for all PNP, BJMP and BFP personnel to wear light uniforms in the performance of their respective duties to alleviate discomfort and protect them from illnesses such as heat cramps, exhaustion, heat stroke, among others, due to extreme heat,” Abalos said in his memorandum.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By El Amigo
MANILA — DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has called upon the residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) to make their way to the ‘Super Kadiwa’ centers, where they can avail rice at PHP39/kg along with other reasonably priced, high-quality produce.
“This presents significant savings for our fellow Metro Manila residents, as for just PHP39, one can purchase a kilogram of rice. I urge everyone to support the ‘Super Kadiwa’ initiative and aid our local farmers,” expressed Abalos in a statement.
The ‘Super Kadiwa’ initiative, an extension of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, commenced in April and will remain operational until the end of June across various local government units in the region.
Abalos highlighted that this program provides a platform for local farmers to showcase their produce.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo serves as a market linkage facilitation program, aimed at ensuring accessibility and affordability of agricultural products and other essential commodities for the impoverished populace. It endeavors to create an additional avenue for farmers and fisherfolk to directly vend their goods, thereby augmenting their earnings, while simultaneously lowering the prices of food commodities by eliminating intermediaries.
Additionally, Abalos informed that residents can visit the ‘Super Kadiwa’ outlets located at ROMVI Subdivision Covered Court, Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque City on Fridays, and at Camella Homeowners Association, Barangay Merville, Parañaque City on Saturdays.
Previously, ‘Super Kadiwa’ platforms were inaugurated from April 15 to 16 in several locations including San Antonio, Parañaque City; Central, Quezon City; Tunasan, Muntinlupa City; Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City; San Juan City Hall; Pamplona Tres, Las Piñas City; Santo Tomas, Pasig City; Caloocan City Hall; Navotas City Hall; Poblacion, Pateros; and Dulong Bayan, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said the the agency and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will guard crowded places to ensure the public’s safety during Holy Week.
A total of 35,000 police officers will be deployed from March 28 to 31 in churches, terminals, pilgrim sites, and tourist spots.
Meanwhile, 427 police service dogs will also be deployed in the said areas to help guard and inspect luggage.
The police will also conduct checkpoint operations in strategic areas in addition to red-teaming operations with the Regional and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, in preparation against disasters, the DILG chief said.
“Kalakip po ng ating pagpapakita ng pananampalataya ay ang pag-iingat laban sa mga kriminal na walang pinipiling panahon upang mambiktima,” Abalos said.
“Mahigpit po ang paalala namin sa publiko na mag-ingat at maging listo upang maiwasan ang disgrasya at maging biktima ng krimen.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos has issued a reminder to the public to practice safety precautions to prevent fire incidents.
Abalos delivered the statement during the launch of the KALINISAN Clean-Up drive in Barangay Sta. Ana, Pateros.
He advised people to be mindful of their electrical appliances, especially old electric fans, by unplugging them when not in use.
“The rate of fires is higher now compared to last year due to El Niño. The number one cause of fires is the neglect of electric fans due to the heat,” he said.
Abalos also highlighted irresponsible disposal of used lit cigarettes, as well as faulty electrical wirings and connections, as other significant reasons for fire incidents.
Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III, who participated in the clean-up drive alongside the DILG Chief, expressed gratitude to Abalos for his hands-on approach in guiding local government units towards best practices in cleanliness.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the Manila Reginal Trial Court’s (RTC) Branch 51’s order to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday (10 Feb 2024) said this only proves that no one can escape justice.
The Manila RTC Branch 51 noted that when the March 4, 2023, killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others took place, Teves was in the United States under a travel authority that covered the period from February 9, 2023, to March 9, 2023, but failed to return to the country.
It also issued a warrant of arrest against Teves in September 2023 while the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated him and others as terrorists.
The prosecution was able to establish that Teves is a fugitive from justice, the court further noted.
“Sinasabi ng taumbayan nasaan ‘yung hustisya? Ito yung hustisya,” Abalos said.
“Well ganito lang ‘yan. ‘Yung tungkol sa pagkansela ng passport ni Mr. Teves, tandaan niyo ito, walang makakaligtas sa hustisya,” the DILG chief explained.
The court said that It also directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take proper steps for Teves to be brought back to the country.
However, Teves’ counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio maintained that the court order is not final and executory.
But the DILG chief appeared to be thinking on the contrary.
“Tandaan niyo ‘yan, sooner or later maski saan ka magtago hahanapin ka ng batas at mananagot ka sa mga kasalanan mo at yan ang sinasabi sa ating mga kababayan,” Abalos said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It seems that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is not bothered at all by the call of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to establish a “separate and independent Mindanao.”
This was revealed on Tuesday (06 Feb 2024) by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. who said there was no specific instruction yet from the President about Duterte’s call for a separate Mindanao.
“Hindi namin pinag-usapan about Mindanao, about secession. Wala kaming pinag-usapan. Parang hindi na lang pinatulan,” Abalos said.
The DILG chief said Duterte’s secession talk was not discussed during the sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.
He also believes Duterte’s call for secession is not cause for concern.
“Sa tingin ko. sa lahat ng mga nakakita’t nakikinig, bilang Pilipino lumaki tayo with Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. I don’t think may ma-ano diyan eh, masu-suade. Ito’y pagmamahal na lang sa bayan ito,” Abalos said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has called on members of the Philippine National Police’s 84th Special Action Company – Rapid Deployment Battalion to give their best and “learn from the world’s best” as they represent the country in the 2024 UAE SWAT Dubai Police Challenge.
“This team will symbolize our country. You are the best of the best. Iba ang tapang, galing, at puso ng Pilipino (The bravery, expertise, and heart of Filipinos is unlike any other),” he said during his command visit at the Special Action Force (SAF) Headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan on Friday afternoon.
The UAE SWAT Challenge, hosted by the Dubai Police, is an annual competition organized to foster an exchange of tactical techniques and skills among international special units and tactical teams.
The 13-man delegation will participate in the competition on Feb. 3-7, where they will test their mettle against 81 other SWAT teams representing 70 countries through a gauntlet of tactical and operational challenges.
Abalos said he was hoping that the competition would not only center around winning but also for the improvement of the local cops’ prowess in ensuring peace and order in the communities.
“Life is a continuous learning process. A good way of learning is being exposed to international competitions,” he said. “In this competition, take note of the advancements made by other countries. This will not only help bolster ours but will also be instrumental in saving lives in the future.”
He likewise urged the delegates to “carry not only their families and communities in this competition, but the whole country and its pride, as well.”
As a token of support, Abalos pledged PHP50,000 for each member of the SAF delegation.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Describing 2023 as a prolific year for the country’s anti-drug efforts of the Marcos Jr. administration, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday vowed that the BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan) Program will only get bigger in the years to come as it reaches the grassroots level.
Launched late 2022, Maharlika NuMedia gathered the DILG’s BIDA Program is an intensified campaign against illegal drugs focused on the reduction of drug demand through a “grassroots approach” using a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen the fight against illegal drugs by focusing on three pillars: (1) prevention; (2) law enforcement; at (3) penology, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
Abalos said the DILG’s holistic anti-drug campaign reached 15 regions of the country with over 230,000 individuals participating in different BIDA-related activities in 2023.
“Sa nakalipas na taon, naging bagong mukha ng kampanya kontra iligal na droga ang ating BIDA Program,” he said.
Abalos credited the DILG’s personnel, and offices including local government units (LGUs), private sector partners, and other stakeholders for expanding the BIDA Program’s reach in the first year of its implementation.
“Thanks to your efforts, we have conducted BIDA Fun Runs, training programs, Serbisyo Caravans, and other BIDA activities in 15 regions across the country involving various sectors,” the DILG chief said.
He disclosed that the DILG signed strategic partnerships with more than 30 big business establishments, major sports organizations, and entertainment giants to promote the BIDA Program and raise awareness about the ill effects of illegal drugs.
“We are definitely off to a good start. We were able to bring the spirit of BIDA down to our communities in just over a year since its launch,” Abalos stressed.
He added: “Asahan po ninyo na magpapatuloy at lalo pang palalakasin ang kampanyang ito sa tulong ng iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.”
(El Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Citing Davao City under the Dutertes and Quezon City that imposed a total ban on firecrackers, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Monday (18 December 2023), that he prefers a total ban on firecrackers that cause undue injuries during New Year celebrations.
Speaking on the sidelines of various agencies’ “LAB for All, Christmas for All” gift-giving event, the DILG chief said local government units should pass ordinances that will ban firecrackers in homes and other spaces.
“Nananawagan ako sana ang mga LGU, magpasa ng gaya ng ginawa ng Davao at Quezon City, ng firecracker ban. Ibig sabihin ‘yung mga pumuputok. Kasi nakita naman natin ‘yung mga daliri napuputol, i-ban na natin totally ‘yun,” Abalos said.
He also asked local government units to sponsor community viewings of fireworks displays instead of tolerating firecrackers that caused injuries.
Just to let you know, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order 28 banning fireworks in households or places of residence nationwide.
Only community fireworks displays supervised by licensed individuals are allowed.
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that Abalos is also eyeing to run for senator under either the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) of President Ferdinand R I Marcos Jr. or under the Lakas-CMD of presidential cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G Romualdez in 2025.
Abalos served as PBBM’s national campaign manager during the 2022 national elections.
(ai/mnm)
Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), accompanied by DILG officials and Chief BJMP Director Ruel S. Rivera, graciously accepted a donation of hygiene products valued at 2 million pesos on Monday, November 27, 2023.
The generous donation, comprising essential hygiene items, was contributed by Reckitt Benckiser Group, a prominent British Multinational Company recognized for its ownership of health products such as Lysol and Strepsil.
The formal handover ceremony unfolded at the Manila City Jail Male Dormitory along Quezon Blvd., Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Captivating moments from the event are featured here, showcasing Secretary Benhur Abalos and other government officials and donors during the handover ceremony at the Manila City Jail.
(Benjamin Cuaresma/AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing that he will never tolerate any form of violence against women, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has promised to deliver justice for a female student who was shot and wounded inside a university campus in Tuguegarao City.
On Monday, Abalos aired outrage over the ruthless assault of Vivien Mendoza, a student of Saint Paul University-Tuguegarao, City by her male classmate on Nov. 13.
“I was appalled by the viral video showing Saint Paul University-Tuguegarao student Althea Vivien Mendoza being shot and beaten by another student inside their school campus,” Abalos said in his Facebook post.
He vowed: “Rest assured that I will personally monitor this case and ensure that justice is done.”
Mendoza suffered a serious head injury and a gunshot wound in the jaw after the suspect Kristian Rafael Ramos, 20, assaulted her for still unknown reason, hit her several times in the head, and shot her with a .45 caliber pistol.
Both are Medical Technology students at St. Paul University of the Philippines in Tuguegarao City.
The victim is now reportedly in stable condition.
(ai/mnm)
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia (with microphone) conducted a press conference Friday at the Comelec main office in Intramuros for a final update on the recently concluded barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Addressing the concerns about sporadic incidents of violence during the BSKE, Garcia emphasized that, on the whole, the recent election had transpired peacefully.
Earlier, the chairman said the canvassing and proclamation of BSKE winners in all of the 42,001 barangays nationwide were completed on Nov. 1 including all barangays in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“The only remaining unproclaimed candidates were the ones ordered suspended by the Commission and (those in) areas where the electoral board availed itself of the five-day notice rule,” said Garcia.
“No failure of the election was declared anywhere,” he added.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also said that all 19,000 barangay captains and 17,160 youth council winners have already been proclaimed.
(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) conducted its final inspection at the Manila North Cemetery on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Leading this inspection were Regional Director Police Brigadier General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. and MPD Director Police Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay. They were joined by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.
The images captured Secretary Abalos alongside the police officers during their visit to the North Cemetery for the final inspection in preparation for tomorrow’s religious celebration, All Saints’ Day.
(Report and photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
A FUMING Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a “no-nonsense” investigation why the Pasay City police chief, the commander, and all members of the local Sub-Station are seemingly oblivious that a “high-end” prostitution racket proliferates in their area of jurisdiction.
Abalos made the order after an internet gaming license (IGL) center in their jurisdiction has been raided for alleged involvement in human trafficking and prostitution.
“It is highly improbable to think that an entire six-story building essentially dedicated for criminal activity, involving 600 potential victims, could somehow escape the notice of the local Sub-Station Commander,” Abalos said.
The DILG chief wrote a letter to PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. and ordered that the police should promptly look into the case.
Abalos recommended the relief of the Pasay City Police Chief, as well as the commander and all the members of the local Sub-Station pending investigation.
The above policemen could not be reached as of this posting.
Abalos, who also chairs the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said he was ordering the investigation as part of the commission’s mandate to administer and control the PNP.
Last October 27, a massive human trafficking operation was uncovered by authorities at the premises of Smart Web Technology located on Harrison Street in Pasay City.
Rescued were 589 possible victims of forced labor and seven women victims of sexual exploitation.
The authorities also discovered numerous rooms in the six-story building were used purportedly for sex trafficking and illicit online gaming.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
VOTE-BUYING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
This is the essence of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos’ stern warning to candidates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this year.
Abalos on Sunday, eve of the October 30 BSKE, told those vying for Barangay and SK posts to bear in mind Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code that candidates who are caught violating vote buying may be punished with imprisonment of up to six (6) years and perpetual disqualification from public office.
“Hinihiling ko sa publiko na maging mapagmatyag at mag-ulat sa Comelec o DILG kung may mapansin silang presinto na umaapaw sa mga poll watchers. Iimbestigahan natin iyan nang maigi at gagawan ng kaukulang aksyon,” the DILG chief said.
Abalos said it has been observed that some poll bets would appoint more watchers who are actually the ones deployed to buy votes.
He reminded the candidates to appoint only the right number of poll watchers so that they are not accused of vote buying.
Abalos stressed that under Comelec Resolution No. 10946, Section 25 (K) there can be a presumption of vote buying in “hiring or appointing more than two (2) watchers per precinct per candidate.”
(ai/mnm)