The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has hastened its investigations into the series of ambushes concerning Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Alonto-Adiong Jr. and Aparri Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and his associates earlier this month.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos joined DZRH anchor Deo Macalma for the brand new episode of DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
PNP gives update on ambush cases
On February 17, at around 4 p.m., unidentified gunmen fired on Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Alonto-Adiong, Jr.'s convoy in Maguing, Lanao del Sur.
The Lanao del Sur governor was wounded and rushed to a provincial hospital, while his three security personnel and driver were killed.
And just days after, on February 19, Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda, and five of his aides were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.
In an interview during the program, Philippine National Police (PNP) Col. Spokesman Jean Fajardo gave updates on the said cases.
Fajardo said one of the killers in Alonto-Adiong's case, identified as alias "Otin," was killed during the pursuit operations conducted by police.
The Lanao del Sur governor is now in a 'stable' condition following the incident.
Meanwhile, Fajardo said the PNP is now focused on the investigation of the burned getaway vehicle used by the suspects in the murder of Alameda and his five companions.
The PNP earlier said the initial investigation showed the vehicle’s chassis and engine numbers tampered but the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) was able to lift them.
Fajardo said the special investigation task group (SITG) has the name of the owner of the Mitsubishi Adventure, which was found burned in Solano town on Monday morning.
However, authorities are still not sure if the registered owner was the current possessor of the vehicle.
According to Fajardo, the PNP has raised heightened alert status in Bangsamoro and Region 2 aside from the border control and the continuous checkpoint operations. The manhunt pursuit, likewise, continues in other cases by the police.
Authorities have also suspended the permit to carry firearms outside residences in at least three provinces in Mindanao namely Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and 63 barangays in North Cotabato.
Fajardo noted that the PNP has also maximized its personnel to augment local stations in the area.
Mandanas-Garcia Ruling
In 2022, the government initiated the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling of the Supreme Court with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as the head of the Committee on Devolution (ComDev).
The ruling is a result of two separate petitions filed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas and former Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia Jr. before the Supreme Court requesting the basis of computation of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of LGUs be adjusted to include national taxes.
Under the ruling, DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said the LGUs will have additional funds that will support their local projects.
Abalos clarified that the computation of the IRA is based on the IRA tax from three years ago.
With that, Iringan said that for 2022, there is an average of 37% additional funds for LGUs.
However, the official said they are expecting a 14% decrease in funding this year given that the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
When asked how will the LGU amend the lack of funding, Iringan said the national government will help in their projects.
Sim Card Registration
As of February 20, the total number of sim card registrants rose to over 4.8 million. Of this number, 7.8 million were Smart users, 2.6 were Dito subscribers, and 14.3 million users of Globe sim cards.
According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo, there is 161 million total active sim card in the country and they are expecting this to continue to decrease.
Lamentillo also reminded the public that the deadline for registration is on April 26, and after that, users can no longer use their unregistered sim cards.
"Wala pong penalties, di naman natin pipilitin ang ating mga kababayan na magregister. Ang consequence lang po ay kapag di sila nagparegister, di na nila magagamit yun sim card and mobile number sa pagtext at pagtawag. Kung iyong portable wifi niyo may sim, at hindi niyo nargeister, hindi niyo na po yan magagamit," she said.
Sim card registration have begun last year, December 27, shortly after the implementation of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration law or the Republic Act No. 11934.
Haven't registered yet? Check the guidelines here.
Watch DILG Sa DZRH Breaktime every Wednesday, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at DZRH News Facebook and YouTube.
