BALITANG BARANGGAY

Three men posing as traffic enforcers were arrested on Monday after an attempt to extort money from an actual agent of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB). On Cesar Apolinario's report for "24 Oras," men wearing fake MTPB uniforms surrounded the SUV they apprehended. Just as they were coming to a negotiation with the driver on how he was going to evade his ticket, the real authorities arrived on the scene. The suspects Jerome Miller, Mark Buzeta, and Regolio Balatbat were among nearly 700 traffic enforcers removed from the MTPB in 2016 over extortion complaints. They were unaware that the SUV's driver, Armel Tacbad, was an MTPB traffic enforcer who had been tipped off by one of their victims. Tacbad showed texts he received early Wednesday morning from a truck driver who asked for his help after being victimized by the fake enforcers along the stretch of San Marcelino street going to the Port of Manila. "Isa po 'yun sa daanan ng...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has the highest level of impunity among 69 countries, according to the 2017 Global Impunity Index (GII) released by Universidad de las Americas or UNDAP in Mexico. Malacañang downplayed the index, saying it must be put in the proper context and that the problems mentioned in the study have been around for a long time. What is needed is to strengthen the pillars of the criminal justice system to curb impunity, according to presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella. The country scored 75.6 points in terms of the level of impunity in the country, putting it under nations with “very high impunity index.” “The Philippines is going through one of its most critical moments, due to the increase of violence related with organized crime and increased terrorist activities from local gangs linked to the Islamic State,” the report said. The Philippines scored 94.06 for its structural security system and 99.07 for its structural justice system,...

A while back, I wrote about how the Philippines was considered one of the worst places to drive because of heavy traffic and the chaotic nature here. Well, apparently the Philippines has the 3rd fastest auto sales growth in South East Asia. In terms of motorcycles though, the Philippines has the fastest growth. Off the bat, what this tells me: traffic, and lots more of it. In my article on traffic here, I think I said that the Philippines was the 2nd or 3rd worst place to drive, well, with the growth in sales, we might reach the top of that list. Aside from more cars and motorcycles on the road though, there’s also the problem of infrastructure. Right now, I don’t think a majority of the roads in the Philippines are able to deal with the congestion. Wider roads, alternate forms of transportation and simply not allowing people to park anywhere they want would help a lot. I’m not sure if it’s the same anywhere else, but another major cause of traffic here in Davao are the traffic l...

(UPDATED – 9 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines — The parents of a University of Sto. Tomas first year law student are seeking justice for the death of their 22-year-old son, who they believe was a victim of hazing. Horacio Tomas Castillo III was found dumped on a sidewalk in Manila and was brought to the Chinese General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival Sunday morning. A man riding a motorcycle, who was supposed to buy cigarette at a store in Balut, Tondo, saw Saturday night the body of Castillo wrapped in a thick blanket and brought it to the hospital. In an interview with dzMM radio Monday morning, the student’s father, Horacio Tomas Castillo Jr., said his son joined Aegis Juris Fraternity that supposedly “abhors violence.” He said the bloated body of his son, full of drops of candle wax, suffered from hematoma. “He went through extreme pain and suffering,” said Castillo Jr. “Harapin niyo ako (Why don’t you face me)! I want justice for my son,” said wif...