MINIMIZING COLLATERAL DAMAGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

By: Rommel K Manwong

LEAPS Academy Philippines| Insights

Law Enforcement Studies | Applied Criminology

 Backgrounder

It has been nearly a week since the shooting incident involving a policeman killing an ex-army personnel in Quezon City during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Luzon and many parts of the country has been under a state of lockdown for almost two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. And while the economy is going down there are other collateral damages we are incurring - we are losing people in the front line.

The past days have been so intense in terms of exchanges of public views, legal opinions, and “expert analysis” on the shooting incident issue. This goes to the extent that some people tried to create a belligerent scenario between the police (PNP) and the military (AFP).

Alas, this thing happened – a collateral loss in our battle against the dreaded disease. Nevertheless, we still give respect, and we salute all personnel of the PNP and the AFP as front liners in fighting the unseen enemy. Honoring the fallen hero Army Corporal Winston Ragos is dignified and decorous of his being a Marawi war veteran. On the other hand, giving Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr a fair trial in his case is expected and extremely appropriate. A sober public is hereby called upon to show empathy rather that creating friction among our comrades in the armed services. We have to put things into proper perspectives. Both individuals are victims of unfortunate circumstance being on the spot in a wrong time at the wrong place.

Sometimes, it is simply so difficult to handle public opinion because of individual cognitive biases. But this kind of incident is not new. There were many instances in the past where a law enforcer is on the blink of judgment whether to shoot or not to shoot a suspect. In criminology schools, we teach that this is part of law enforcement, it is a common dilemma to manage, it is one of the dynamics in policing, in the same manner that friendly firing happens in military operations, where the victim is one of their own or an attack has made by a military force on friendly or neutral troops while attempting to attack an enemy. In such instances, the absence of considerations of damage control measures tends to malign and kick a blow on both the individuals involved and their respective organizations.

Situational Awareness is Key to Operational Success

In law enforcement, shit happens. And so, with military operations. There are no perfect tactics because circumstances vary; therefore, decisions vary. This is why appropriate training and indoctrination is significant from the beginning of entry of personnel to any armed services. Although this is already a given proposition, but the PNP and AFP should constantly review, assess, and exercise prudence in applying rules of engagement and or police operational procedures.

Our policemen must keep their cool and continue to be mindful that situational awareness is key to police operational success. Thinking back that without situational awareness, officers run the danger of endangering their colleagues, themselves and the public. Policemen on the ground must remember their indoctrination about the application of Jeff Cooper’s Color Code and John Boyd’s OODA loop. All these have been taught in the training school. There have been series of exercises made on these tools. Rehearsal is now over; it is application in the policeman’s hand. 

As we always advocate “operational success in limiting the collateral damage would depend on the level of situational awareness of the people on the ground and their reaction speed.”

Consciousness on the Code of Conduct and the Ethical Standards

Planting of evidence is never taught, never allowed, and is a grave violation of law. Every police officer knows they have a law enforcement code of conduct. Policemen even memorized their ethical standards as they taught and encouraged (if not being forced) to do so in school during training days. In reality, the practice and application of these sets of human conduct will shield them away from unwanted actions and reactions against them, and to ensure that every police officer is aware of their individual responsibilities to maintain their own integrity, and that of their agency, and to the people they serve. As a fact, it is all stated in this line “As a police officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.”

Introduction of other Non-lethal Weapons

As expected, the “use of force” is an issue that goes controversial all the time. Even from the views of lawyers and judges, there are different interpretations, and perhaps again, the human nature of cognitive bias is in action. Criminological studies have proven that in making an arrest, use of force is almost involved, and injuries to civilians is of high percentage. So, in order minimize deadly police actions in the enforcement of the laws, less-lethal weaponry can be utilized such as Pepper Spray, and conducted energy devices such as the Tasers. But technology and equipment are only as good as the users. With minor adjustments some equipment and or technology would turn into a formidable necessity for handling life impacting threats. Besides, some users could get even more benefit out of the technology and equipment than others. Subsequently, skills must be relevant to the threat. Soft skills are just as important as hard skills. Training continues to be as significant as ever.

Understanding Behavioral Patterns

Policemen are supposedly prepared to understand and recognize dangerous behavior. Part of their situational awareness training is a critical situation analysis where they can observe and exploit human actions that does not fit with the expectation of the situation, and to help them make the right quick decision. This can either “make” or “break” an officer at one time a deadly move is caused by not considering this important factor.

Tactical Edge in Public Service

Policing is a public service. It is natural for policemen to deal with people in the street or anywhere where their attention is called upon. Tactically speaking, when they deal with people in the street, they need to maintain distance and create space, and be ready to make quick response to any kind of physical menace. Policemen are not prepared to inspire a response that would call for aggressive conduct. On this matter, exercising prudence is not an option but compulsory. However, for prudence to be applied and carried out well, constant practice is a must.

***

For other related insights, kindly check them here:

https://www.pccmleaps.org/blog or here

https://rommelkmanwong.wixsite.com/rkmcs/blog

SECURE PEOPLE FIRST: RESPONSE MODEL ON COVID-19 IMPACT

A CRIMINOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE PANDEMIC

By: 

Rommel Manwong and Juan Kirsten

Human Investigation Management (HIM)

LEAPS Academy Philippines

April 2020 Edition

Criminality is eminently looming as ever before as we expect a downed economy given the simultaneous adverse effects of the pandemic on supply and demand. This involves a slow motion and a reduction of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this 2020 and even beyond 2021 in the absence of effective mitigating measures.

The speed of change in the vulnerability landscape is so fast that any government memorandum or document has a life span of a few weeks, if not just in a few days. Therefore, a swift and appropriate response remains crucial in softening the blow of COVID-19, especially among the most vulnerable members of our society.

The solutions should turn this problem into a long-term constructive benefit to the country. Regardless of any person’s bias, we must consider things that work.

"The links of crimes on issues around unemployment, informal settlers, and desperate individuals should never be neglected as they matter in sustaining law and order and the economic growth of the country. The vulnerable class of people in our society, and those with a loss of purpose may turn into a massive collateral damage in the absence of proper government handling. There is a need to manage and limit the collateral damage because fighting this out mainly by the police and or the military is not going to work. In addition, mass imprisonment will cause even more chaos and have a damaging effect on people, and government resources as well. We really need to get a quicker resolution to win this war, and heal as one, then move on to the new normal."

Here are some criminological thoughts, which are valuable for government actions in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on people, leading to controlling the potential cost of an increase of criminality. We believe these are very suitable with the economic down turn. All these issues must be constructively addressed for the unemployed, the displaced workers, the hungry, the emotionally desperate, drug dependents, and other sectors of society who are mentally unwell.

Maximize Local Government Initiatives - The Local Government Units (LGUs) - in every barangay, which is the basic unit of our society, leaders should immediately spearhead activities to identify households within their respective units, that are in need of immediate response – the poor communities and the homeless individuals. Each barangay must be able to put into records those very poor families, and properly tag them as priority pandemic response target areas. A comprehensive public health security plan and a pandemic incident management program must be initiated at their own level, primary from any national government assistance.

Ease the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)/ Lock down - The pronouncement of the government of either lifting the ECQ or modify it by the end of this month - April 2020, must be carefully thought about and deliberated upon by our strategic leaders.  It is crucial to ease the community quarantine on different areas of the country where there are only few confirmed cases, but imposed social distancing protocols. This will allow a slow movement of the socioeconomic aspect of life in those places and will be beneficial in the healing process.

Keep up with Massive Distribution of Food Parcels - Although this has been prioritized, the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) should double its effort to deliver or distribute the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), which is a National government initiative. All ongoing relief operations must continue, allowing more donors from the private sectors, and other help from the international community. Appropriate handling of goods and items on this matter must be ensured, providing a system for accountability.

Hospitality Industry must be Utilized - Hotels can be utilized for quarantine purposes. Quarantine areas can be sectioned for 14-21 days in hotels – single rooms for ICU, and double sized rooms for individuals. The City of Pasig in Metro Manila has maximized this initiative and therefore can be modeled upon by other cities in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and other cities around the country.

Keep up with Livelihood and Financial Assistance - With a forecast of losses incurred by companies would severely impact their businesses, layoffs, particularly among non-essential workers will be high. Although the Department of Labor has assured of providing displaced workers with livelihood and financial assistance, this must be strengthened and monitored.

Review on Imposing No-termination Policy - Instead of outright termination or total closure of establishment, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued guidelines on implementing flexible working hours for employers to follow. The objective is to help both employers and employees get over the hump caused by the coronavirus. But the effectiveness of such flexible work arrangements should be reviewed so that its temporary nature could be arranged into a regular policy and to be imposed upon companies and business establishments.

Encourage Farming and Cultural Product Production - The Department of Agriculture (DA) must maximize and mobilized its resources for a solid campaign to encourage backyard farming and agribusiness. People can be taken to farming areas that can provide accommodation, food, education and work opportunities. The model to consider on this is the Kibbutz model in Israel. These are safe havens that are fully supported by the state and residents also earn money for their own preferences. These are sort of small socialistic communities that can host and feed the hungry besides providing them education not only in farming but in many other fields. Many of them are food producers, but small industries can be found on some of them. An important consideration for such, would be to use some of them to easily produce building products such as bricks, windows and lentils besides roof tiles or any other product related to housing, aside from other cultural products. Such initiatives can be developed with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Drug and Alcohol Addiction related must be addressed - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) should be mobilized to keep up not only on enforcement services but also enhanced education and rehabilitation efforts. Those drug dependents taken into quarantine areas can be sectioned into rehabilitation camps for at least 6 months, as per mandate of the law. These camps must be properly staffed and provided appropriate medication and support.

Impose Conflict Management on the Ground - While maximum tolerance among our public safety officers is being practiced and in place, but desperate people remained a problem for they can be dangerous to fight back. They must be handled through peaceful resolution at its best. Proper handling of conflict must be briefed among personnel and frontliners. 

Mental Health Services - This type of service is often neglected and under prioritized. But now, with the current state of affairs, people are under anxiety and heavy stresses. Behavioral problems, leading to criminal behavior, will be a common threat if not properly addressed. Mental health services must be maximized and shall be undertaken by mental health first responders with appropriate facilities for housing. Private entities working in the field of psychology and psychiatry can be mobilized, encouraged and be called upon for assistance.

Education and Training Services – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DEPED) must swiftly provide a system of learning-at-home scheme. If a work-at-home have been implemented and are working well, these government agencies must take the immediate call and set out regulatory measures and guidelines for online learning approaches. Lifelong Learning providers have already set up their own long-distance learning schemes ahead of time. The issue of slow internet connection as well as the technical know-how to follow online instructions, by students and teachers can be coordinated with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) for technical solutions. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has already spearheaded some tested and evaluated online programs for the stakeholders. Such could be modeled by CHED and DEPED.

Transportation Services – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) must spearhead programs to help ease the traffic problems once lockdown is lifted. The monster traffic problem of Metropolitan Manila has been tremendously lessened, as a natural impact of the lockdown, but this will just be temporary. The plan to decongest Metro Manila must continue and shall impose new methods such as encouraging people about the “provincial advantage” – work within own province or locality. DOLE can help promote this decongestion method by revising existing wage system to a more competitive wage system - a provincial wage rate better and against Metro Manila rates, to encourage people to stay and work in the provinces.

Security and Policing -  While the pandemic is going on, policing must also be assessed and evaluated. After the pandemic, the inclusion of a public health security enforcement policy must be introduced. In the meantime, our government leaders must rethink on policing practices on crowd management and enforcement relative to stop and frisk, use of arrest and dealing with offenses such as jaywalking, turnstile jumping, alcohol or narcotic possession among other trivial crimes. Lessons learned in police management and best practices in law enforcement must be carried out, to say, a new paradigm in policing is set in.

*****

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PANDEMIC TERRORISM (2nd Series)

A Current Threat Dynamics in Two-folds

April 2020 Edition

By: 

Rommel K Manwong 

and 

Leandro Y Paralisan

LEAPS Academy Philippines

PG Diploma in Terrorism Studies

Leveraging on COVID-19 Crisis; Philippine Troops Attacked

As the world deals with the rising death toll from this pandemic, governments around the globe have stayed conscious of another fearsome enemy lurking around the corner - terrorism. As it seems to appear, the atrocities being carried out in the midst of COVID-19 crisis are deliberate, decisive and clearly leveraging on the current challenge everyone is up against.

Just about three days past, the CTGs planted improvised explosive devices in a farm trail in Surigao del Sur, potentially targeting local farmers in the area. This act of what could have been a tragic one was effectively foiled by the Army’s 401st Brigade and 3rd Special Forces Battalion. These are recent glaring attacks on top of the murders, ambuscades and treacherous acts of stealing government reliefs intended for communities.

Currently, our government troops are in hot pursuit of the terror groups that killed and wounded several of our brave soldiers recently at the southern part of the country. A portion of our forces are also combing heavy mountains going after Communist Terrorists Groups (CTGs) responsible for the attacks against communities targeting our frontliners out to deliver aid to helpless civilians.

Pandemic Exploitation on the Global Scale

While these are being experienced domestically, targeted attacks in the international scene were also carried out by armed Islamist and Jihadist groups under direct orders from the higher ranks of terror organizations such as the ISIS.

Increasing amount of evidence proves strong that these groups are deliberately exploiting the COVID-19 crisis. Drawn from Al-Naba, an ISIS propaganda driven magazine, Shari’a directives were given on how to deal with epidemics - an indication of exploitation about the disease in their favor. Succeeding directives yielded much more about encouraging their followers to take advantage of the vulnerabilities that many countries are currently facing, to carry out attacks particularly against the West. It contends: “The last thing they (the Crusaders) want is for their current tribulations with the pandemic to coincide with the attacks in their own countries like the attacks in Paris, London and Brussels”- and conceivably, our troop encounter with the Abu Sayyaf Group this month may have been a signal of compliance to this global directive.

Meantime, the same gist may have been likely replicated by Pro-IS channels, wherein a picture of the virus bearing a caption “Soldier of Allah” was released through an ISIS aligned channel - a scriptural reference to the virtues of their perceived martyrdom. In addition, the April 15 attack on Mahibadhoo Island in the Maldives where five speedboats and two vessels were set ablaze came unexpectedly as the capital was already experiencing the effects of the pandemic. It can also be remembered, that the first serious terrorist attack in the country took place in 2007 when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Sultan Park at the capital Male, injuring 12 foreign tourists.

Counter Terrorism Operations Amidst COVID-19

Given the foreseeability of criminal organizations exploiting the pandemic crisis, there is a conspicuous collaboration by nations to interrupt crime dynamics in the international level. Codenamed “Maharlika III”, an INTERPOL led operation triggered a synthesize effort between Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP) in strategic points along known terrorist transit routes in Southeast Asia. This operation was effectively carried out through a series of simultaneous law enforcement and border control actions since February this year. Such coordinated move did not only disrupted terrorist travel, but also paved a way for the arrest of more than 180 individuals for various offences, including one suspected member of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Terrorist Today, Responder’s Tomorrow

Another way of looking into the dynamism of pandemic terrorism is that of understanding how terror groups pay attention to any crisis and take advantage for an immediate future state. The statement “yesterday’s terrorists are today’s public health providers” tells us somewhat relative to the immediate future of pandemic terrorism. The current crisis has opened up opportunities for a range of terrorists, insurgents, and criminal organizations across the world.

As seen in few years past, for instance, when the 7.5 earthquake rocked Pakistan in 2015, members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa – a notable militant-terror group linked with the al Queda, and blamed for the bloody 2008 attack in Mumbai, were tagged as heroes by the earthquake survivors for their assistance. In the aftermath of the disaster, Lashkar-e-Taiba, another extremist Islamist terrorist organization, won widespread praise for its efforts in helping, providing support, and distributing aid to Pakistanis impacted by the earthquake. Pandemic can also be utilized for such a recognition. The terror groups may set up better structures to readily acquire political and social advantages by way of medical missions or public health services among targeted constituents with the objective to win the heart of the people and their sympathy to their causes, an insurgent’s propaganda to get new converts and weaken their enemies.

Terror and Disease – A Twin Dynamic Threat of the Current Times

With these striking developments, the current pandemic and worldwide disorder is clearly providing extremists, terror groups and insurgents the immediate opportunity to organize, rebuild and carry out their objectives in sowing fear and terror while accomplishing their agendas at the expense of every floating vulnerabilities.

In these current times, benchmarks, platforms are expected to arise not only from terrorist organizations, but also anti-government forces who will find pandemic times working in their favor and considered windows of opportunity. This minacious trend shall bring nations in a tenet, that “Pandemic Terrorism”, is a current threat the present humanity has to deal with, in two-folds.

*****

Suggested Readings:

1. Islamic State Terror in the Maldives – By Azim Zahir
2. Philippine News Agency - NPA Hit for Planting Explosives in Surigao
3. INTERPOL, Codename: Maharlika III
4. International for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence

Find other similar insights at:

https://www.pccmleaps.org/blog

HIT IT WHERE IT HURTS…BUT FIRST, KNOW THY ENEMY!

By: Rommel K Manwong

LEAPS Academy Philippines | Insights

PG Diploma in Security and Resiliency Management

What I’m speaking about is the whole world War Against COVID-19. Everyone has a source of power on which it depends on. So, when we look at our opponent, we seek the root of the source of that power – the center of gravity, that holds the entire structure together. Hitting it there will inflict a disproportionate damage and pain. That is where we should strike! Robert Green in his strategies of war has illustrated this in detail.

But, what do we know so far about COVID-19 as an adversary? The target of our strategy should be less the powerful-army-virus we face than the source of its weakness. If we understand how it works, we have the key to deceiving and controlling it. The words from an African leader - President KAGUTA MUSEVENI of Uganda described it all, as he warned his people misbehaving during this COVID-19 period:

God has a lot of work; He has the whole world to look after. He cannot just be here in Uganda looking after idiots… In a war situation, nobody asks anyone to stay indoors. You stay indoors by choice. In fact, if you have a basement, you hide there for as long as hostilities persist. During a war, you don't insist on your freedom. You willingly give it up in exchange for survival. During a war, you don't complain of hunger. You bear hunger and pray that you live to eat again.

During a war, you don't argue about opening your business. You close your shop (if you have the time), and run for your life. You pray to outlive the war so that you can return to your business (that's if it has not been looted or destroyed by mortar fire.

During a war, you are thankful to God for seeing another day in the land of the living. During a war, you don't worry about your children not going to school. You pray that the government does not forcefully enlist them as soldiers to be trained in the school premises now turned military depot.

The world is currently in a state of war. A war without guns and bullets. A war without human soldiers. A war without borders. A war without cease-fire agreements. A war without a war room. A war without sacred zones.

The army in this war is without mercy. It is without any milk of human kindness. It is indiscriminate - it has no respect for children, women, or places of worship. This army is not interested in spoils of war. It has no intention of regime change. It is not concerned about the rich mineral resources underneath the earth. It is not even interested in religious, ethnic or ideological hegemony. Its ambition has nothing to do with racial superiority. It is an invisible, fleet-footed, and ruthlessly effective army.

Its only agenda is a harvest of death. It is only satiated after turning the world into one big death field. Its capacity to achieve its aim is not in doubt. Without ground, amphibious and aerial machines, it has bases in almost every country of the world. Its movement is not governed by any war convention or protocol. In short, it is a law unto itself. It is Coronavirus. Also known as COVID-19 (because it announced its destructive presence and intention in the year of our Lord 2019)

Thankfully, this army has a weakness and it can be defeated. It only requires our collective action, discipline and forbearance. COVID-19 cannot survive social and physical distancing. It only thrives when you confront it. It loves to be confronted. It capitulates in the face of collective social and physical distancing. It bows before good personal hygiene. It is helpless when you take your destiny in your own hands by keeping them sanitized as often as possible.

This is not a time to cry about bread and butter like spoiled children. After all, the Holy book tells us that man shall not live by bread alone. Let's obey and follow the instructions of the authorities. Let's flatten the COVID-19 curve. Let's exercise patience. Let's be our brothers' keeper. In no time, we shall regain our freedom, enterprise and socializing."

** The statement from the Ugandan President in this article was extracted from the Facebook post of a friend, Dencio Acop, posted 22 April 2020 **

**Read some more related articles from the following sites:

https://www.pccmleaps.org/blog

https://rommelkmanwong.wixsite.com/rkmcs/blog

PANDEMIC TERRORISM (1st Series)

COVID-19 INFECTED JIHADIST AS “HUMAN WEAPON"

A New Wave of Pandemic Terrorism

By: Rommel K Manwong | Insights

LEAPS Academy Philippines

PG Diploma in Terrorism Studies

19 April 2020

 

The news is clear. The threat is real. And it just happened. In Tunisia, North Africa, the Tunisian authorities foiled an alleged ‘terrorist plot’ to spread the coronavirus among security forces by coughing, sneezing and spitting on them. Two men and a suspected jihadist behind the plot were arrested on April 16, 2020 as per report from the Tunisian Interior Ministry. 

The report stated that one of the terrorists admitted that he was under instruction to carry out the attack. The suspected jihadist was accused of having employed his influence over “those who have symptoms of the emerging coronavirus and who are under administrative control” inciting them to intentionally sneeze and cough and spread spit everywhere.

In the previous months, there were also talks about the US considering the international spread of the coronavirus by extremist groups.  As per CNN report, there was a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document quoted saying that “members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, to targeted groups through bodily fluids and personal interactions.”

Even last year, there was an assessment made in the US detailing the risk that terrorists might use infected humans to spread a contagious disease. Indicators reported a ‘highly likely’ to happen condition. Some of the key valuable reasons for its likelihood are - the use of infected humans to spread a contagious disease requires only limited technical know-how, the attack is lethal to targeted population, provide low cost for weapon, have traumatic psychological effect, undermine public health and medical infrastructures, and erode faith in government’s ability to protect the public.

Other report also points out that ISIS tried to find ways to carry out bacteriological attacks, although unsuccessful.

Now that is happening, we are facing another great challenge in the fight against global terrorism. The Islamic State has already classified the existence of the pandemic as a "divine revenge" for the infidels, and it is not far, for their interest, to use the virus as an instrument of attacks.

But we say “we never sleep”. This is our motto. We do not underestimate the use of such means. Our security experts provided us some insights on how to deal with preventing pandemic terrorism.  A tripartite system of defense could be adopted and to be used in a layered approach, in order to reduce incidence and effects of bio-terrorism via coronavirus or even future emerging diseases.

1. Disruption - interdicting an infected terrorist before he or she reaches a target location or population will require timely and accurate intelligence. This, we must further intensify our network in the intelligence community, and elevate our skills on situational awareness.
2. Deterrence - the context of infectious terrorism, criminalization is the primary means of ensuring that perpetrators face severe consequences. The Human Security Act must be repealed, and to include a provision of anti-bioweapon clause in the new law, and reimpose the death penalty for this purpose.
3. Defense - against an infectious disease attack involves a range of measures that reduce vulnerabilities and consequences in potential target populations. If target populations are secured against outsiders, whether through quarantine, geographic barriers, or physical barriers, they become less vulnerable. 

To do all these under the current situation imposed by COVID-19 may be very difficult. Nonetheless, it is important that COVID-19 does not completely distract us and our efforts to beat it down from this ongoing battle. If anything, we need to be reminded all the time, to be always vigilant and to remain attuned with protocols.

*****

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FROM OUTBREAK TO BIG BREAK

By: Rommel K Manwong | Insights

LEAPS Academy Philippines

April 18, 2020

The Online Learning challenge is yet another Big Break! It is becoming the new normal.

In 2018, our institution started to embark on the online system of learning trying to be at par with the ongoing platform of the international community on professional development. This sort of saying that even before the current state of the pandemic, online learning, long distance, self-directed or lifelong learning approaches has been going on for a quiet sometime. By the time the pandemic strike almost all industries, the educational sector was hit and seen in the dark on how to proceed and keep the business.

How to do it? How online classes are managed? How do we ensure quality learning when internet connections are poor and unstable? What are the technicalities involved? Will it be like a television or movie style where one just watched and have meals on the side when a TV ad pops up? Is it like social media style where one can just upload his face and food? These are some of the frequently asked questions we received when we started our online classes in 2018. And this is how some members of the academe and students picture an online class scenario. A clear indication that very few, if not all, are really not ready for such a development, for such a new trend in education and learning. Even CHED and DEPED are unclear on this matter. Perhaps even members of the so-called millennial generation are too blurred to handle this issue.

Reality check, from our records, reveals that very few are able to manage online classes. Only few can bear such a privilege. Even among college graduates who are said to be “professionals” question this educational solution. Many would consider it equally as an illusion considering incapacities to afford internet access and the technical know-how to deal with online instructions. Our societal problems on the provision of basic needs of food and housing is rather a much more priority among many. This is much a greater challenge on the poorer group of students.

Exactly like the government who is overly slow in supplying basic services to the people, we have a sluggish internet connection, slow and at often times nerve-wracking. Some colleges and universities must be terribly in the same spotlight, although, some private academic institutions have better internet connections. But these few institutions can only address the few capable and the rich. Thus, this remains to be an issue of both accessibility and quality education.

Yet the optimists would always say that in any problem, every dreadful incident, comes great opportunities. Certainly, the pandemic will reshape and change our way of living. It offers opportunities for the academic sector to bring about acceptable solutions. While the Philippines may be said to be far flung as global participant in the educational setting, for sure, online learning management system will be brought to light and become easier, accessible, and online classes become the new normal.

As it is stated therefore, there is no other way for students to cope up and start to live on long distance learning methodologies. Looking at the new wave of long-distance relationships (LDR) took its new form, brought by the millennial years; considering social distancing as a way of life now brought about by the pandemic; we therefore must now consider online/long distance learning as the new norm in our educational system. We must embrace such change; we must welcome it as another great opportunity. Anyway, the Filipino breed of learners is said to be adjustable to such given situation.

***

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TRYING TIMES GAINED HIGH GROUND ON COVID-19 AND TERRORISM

By: Rommel K Manwong | Insights

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Academy 
Philippines, April 17, 2020

The beginning of this year 2020 is already colored in bloodshed. Even prior to the 16-day truce between the government forces and the CPP-NPA-NDF ended on January 7, the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) have broken the ceasefire. As a matter of fact, NPA attacks were reported the first day alone of the ceasefire, and the days that followed: 1 killed - 6 wounded army personnel in Camarines Norte; 2 policemen wounded in Iloilo; 2 tribal leaders killed in Bukidnon; land mine attack in Surigao del Norte; and NPA harassment activities in different provinces around the country.

For the month of February 2020, terrorist attacks continued, even intensified not only against government forces but including civilian targets. There were clashes in Negros and Bohol leaving people on each side dead or wounded. Nevertheless, not all are good news goes for the enemy. A breakthrough happened on the part of the government for capturing top communist insurgent leader Rodolfo Salas in Region 3, on February 18. Plus, several surrenders of insurgents were recorded which must have made the enemy in continuous weakening and disadvantaged position.

By March 2020, while government forces are getting further breakthroughs with the neutralization of another top communist insurgent leader Julius Soriano Giron, in Baguio, the deadly COVID-19 entered the picture. This aggravated the already problematic situation, as people pass away in fear, and further devastating the country’s social and economic system.

The month of April 2020 has made a stepping stone for the enemies to gain high grounds. The government is now facing foes from different angles – internal politics from oppositionists and destabilizers, people in chaos, the enemy from the dark red side, the enemy with the black flag movement, and the unseen enemy COVID-19. As government forces continue multitasking services - their efforts in assisting people due to the pandemic, and accommodating insurgent surrenderees, still various attacks remain eminent. Just currently, 11 Philippine Army soldiers were killed and 14 others wounded in a gun battle with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Patikul, Sulu, on Friday, April 17. A crystal-clear case of terrorism amid the pandemic threat.

These issues, if not critically responded or properly treated, would precede the country in lowly doom. People cooperation is always needed during social turmoil. As people, we have to remain socially aware and responsible, highly vigilant, and supportive to government efforts rather than waiting for a miracle to happen.

From a strategic standpoint, we could be able to win, even though slow, against our enemies if we all set up a new breed - an integrated mindset of a morally upright, disciplined, responsive, and responsibly productive citizenry through our training or education systems, good governance on social services and our cultural heritages. On a tactical point of view, we need to utilize every household to keep and sustain the old tradition of bayanihan and other cooperative means and ways – for an empowered community.

Meanwhile, as we live with our freedom, we share sympathy with all our front liners working around the clock battling the pandemic. We also give our snappiest salute to our brave soldiers, hardworking policemen and their security and public safety counterparts. We cry with prayers of condolences to our fallen heroes in Sulu. Their ultimate sacrifices will never be forgotten.

***

KEEP STILL, HOLD ON TIGHT!

By: Rommel K Manwong
For the Moment  |  An Insight

As per observation, and as per chat with people in the field, middlemen, and a few top executives about how the ongoing handling of the situation, in relation to the pandemic, I believe that the whole-of-nation approach is being carried out in battling the unseen enemy – COVID-19.

A. Intelligence - Information gathering comes from the field, involving the first responders such as medical professionals, the police, the private security industry and our military forces. A good maneuver was made for the data gathered are delivered to a centralized office handled by a joint task force, led by the Department of Health. The media and the education sector are helping in the propagation of information campaign against the virus, therefore creating an enhanced situation awareness among our people (not only on the ground).

B. Target Hardening - Travel ban in and out of the country has been imposed. Home quarantine has been elevated to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), and now the country seems to go for total lock down. I pray, it should be made as early as possible.

C. Incident Management System - the National government is in control top of the situation, with mobilization of all available resources; following protocols from WHO; and continuously monitoring the worldwide situation looking for best practices and other solutions.

D. Legal Management - Congress has legislated a law known as "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" granting the additional power of the President to deal with the pandemic. We all know what is meant by "Bayanihan" - a term for united communal work, of which we are all involved. People breaking the protocols and the laws and rules are being dealt with by the law through a mobilized public safety sector.

Now, we have a great problem - HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM VIOLATING PROTOCOLS WITH A HUNGRY STOMACH? A nation over a 100 million population remains in chaos.

My little thought goes beyond our hearts. We call for patience, sympathy, and a fighting spirit. The household at once becomes the best defense, because fighting this struggle starts at home.

Keep still. Hold on tight! And do not pray for others to die because they are hard headed, instead, pray that you could be able to bear the situation furthermore.

*****

Read other related insights at:

https://rommelkmanwong.wixsite.com/rkmcs/blog

TRUTH OR MYTH? FALLACIES ABOUT COVID-19

By: Rommel K Manwong

Opinion | For The Moment

April 14, 2020

I think, this time, COVID-19 is not “Made in China”. It’s nothing but some kind of a Japanese made thing, known as Kuro-Kuro, also known as Haka-Haka.

The fact is, we know nothing! And knowing nothing, we are vulnerable to exploitation. The only antidote for ignorance is knowledge. We need to be educated. For education remains to be the most powerful cure of ignorance. In this digital age, man continues to be ignorant and vulnerably gullible. Human ignorance brought man to believe about anything viral online.

COVID-19 online viral exploitation is brought high by the left- and right-wing social media, drawing the whole current scenario to be scarier than the pandemic itself as it takes just about some kind of madness that has perpetrated across communities and around the globe. Media played well in triggering mass hysteria and Sinophobia.

The Comical Corona

When the World Health Organization elevated the health problem level from an outbreak to a pandemic, many people began to raise the alarm. The state of panic and fear blinded people not to consider official information and advisories. There was propagation of comical theories such as the following: that the coronavirus is a pharmaceutical promotion if not, it was just Netflix thing; that holding your breath for 10 seconds means you don’t have the virus; that a bottle of vodka was a better hand sanitizer than regular alcohol sanitizer; that eating banana or taking garlic can kill the virus; that drinking cow’s urine can cure COVID-19; that being under the sun or in hot/warm place is being far from virus infection; that a Russian lion is out the public for people to keep social distancing; that chewing Ifugao betel nut or “momma” could kill the virus; and so many memes and so on.

Military Espionage/ Biochemical Weaponry

Many lured about coronavirus as a military project for biochemical weaponry. That it was a product of espionage by some Chinese couple virologist and biologist, working with the Canadian government, who stole the deadly virus from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Allegedly, the pathogen was later leaked at a Wuhan facility even prior to the outbreak. There were speculations that the Chinese military was behind this bio-weapon project. By the time news about the virus went high by global media, China was into covering up the outbreak as it tried to hide the official figures about deadly impact of the pandemic. And the fact that the Chinese Government repressed some Chinese whistle blowers who tried to warn the public about the pandemic, created further assumptions of a military operation.

Population Control Theories

Population control has been an order of business since the Ancient Greeks. Aristotle was a firm proponent of population control. The same course of thoughts comes from the Chinese as seen from the writings of Confucius about effective population control policies. By modern day, Bill Gates openly admitted the need to curb the population as it is necessary for the world’s stability. He pushed for human vaccination.

At the onset of the outbreak, some people began to think that it was part of the United Nations Agenda on world’s population control, taking into accounts the provisions of Agenda 21 (Chapter 5) vi's-à-vis Agenda 2030. Agenda 21 was a product of the Earth Summit held in Brazil in 1992 which provided an action plan with regard to sustainable development. It enumerates actions that would contribute to curbing the ever growing billion populations and to make the world under a balance state with its existing resources. Agenda 2030 is a road map that set sustainable future for everyone, set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, and to be achieved by year 2030.

The 5G Claim

In the midst of the pandemic comes arrogance, boasting and self-aggrandizing behaviors. A few geeks and tech-savvy gained some footing and momentum when they took the claim that 5G technology is linked to COVID-19. United Kingdom and Europe was immediately hit by this disinformation campaign. Including celebrities promoting the idea, the geeks penetrated even the top tier of government. It seemed to be some kind of strategy modeled from Russia's Internet Research Agency, which was behind the disinformation campaign during the U.S. presidential campaign in 2016. Such misinformation opens the mind of the gullible to think that the pandemic is not as dangerous as a worldwide health crisis, thus people continue not to conform to government advisories. As far as the 5G claim is concerned, infodemics – a new kind of pandemic, gained unprecedented speed and velocity.

Eyes of Darkness and the Predictions

Disciples of Nostradamus claimed that the prophet has actually predicted the coronavirus situation. They based this from one of his writings which states that: “The great plague of the maritime city. Will not cease until there be avenged the death. Of the just blood, condemned for a price without crime.” (Century 2:53).

A scarier theory is that one written by Dean Koontz in 1981 in his book ‘The Eyes of Darkness’, which he mentioned a prediction about a Wuhan virus. In fact, a picture of the book went viral and true enough, netizens could not help but freak out. The story tells an outbreak in Wuhan known as ‘Wuhan 400’. The author elaborated details about how the virus can affect the human body, which with accuracy, predicted the outbreak and the resemblance between ‘Wuhan-400’ and the coronavirus – COVID-19.

Even the popular television show “The Simpsons” did not escape being taken out and flooded into the mainstream media for predicting several major cases around the world before they occurred. Shortly after the outbreak, allegations of the show predicting the pandemic surfaced.

The Blame Game

Now, finger pointing has once again into the hike. China and the United States economic power competition have shifted into the blame game over the pandemic issue. As the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States getting into uphill records and China has reportedly declined in numbers, the two world powers are kept into teething each over the bunk.

Then comes information warfare. China, Iran, and Russia are using the old ‘Cold War’ format of disinformation tactics by falsely promoting that the United States is to blame for the current COVID-19 pandemic. Top of the line propaganda campaigns between these countries are so evident from their respective horse's mouth. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have waged a disinformation campaign against the United States in an effort to distract from Beijing’s mishandling of the crisis. This includes a baseless claim that US brought the corona virus to Wuhan. United States on the other hand released strategic communication materials propagating that China is responsible for the pandemic and even haunting European communities. Iran aggressively promoting conspiracy theories that COVID-19 is a U.S. manufactured biological weapon, and Iran is a target. At the same time Iran pointed out that the US is weaponizing the crisis to benefit its pharmaceutical industry. Russia entered the same level of involvement when it leveraged itself from social media bots and troll farms to strengthen the Iranian allegations against the US.

Considering that people rarely verify information before they share it in social media, the upshot would be a devastating spread of fear and hopelessness. The people, not the government, suffers the most.

Think about it. If COVID-19 is not “Made in China”, then, what do you believe?

Stay safe and vigilant.

POLITICAL GRAFT, RAT AND COVID-19

A Criminological Perspective on the Pandemic

By: Rommel K Manwong |  LEAPS Academy

For PG Diploma in Applied Criminology

As commonly understood, graft is a form of political corruption, being the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain. Likewise, political graft occurs when funds intended for public services, tasks and functions are intentionally misdirected in order to maximize the benefits to individual interests.

The Routine Activity Theory or RAT is hereby applied to explain political graft during the COVID-19 crisis by considering the convergence of a criminally motivated politician, the attractive presence of a health emergency fund (plus contributions and donations), and the absence of a guardian capable of stopping or deterring the graft.  The absence of situational sensitivity due to lack of ethics; personal greed that leads to a strong desire for money and power, with no regard whatsoever to moral boundaries; the failure to condemn corrupt behavior; presence of inefficient control mechanisms; and bigger opportunities as against economic burden facilitate an environment so conducive to graft and corruption during the COVID-19 crisis.

The release of the P275 billion emergency fund for COVID-19 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" has provided a huge opportunity for graft and corruption among those who are in power. Although plans on how it will be allocated and spent, such emergency fund was entirely directed for pandemic responses and the various departments which have realigned their released budgets, could then be, in some ways, vulnerable for political graft.

According to the RAT, crime occurs when three conditions are present - a motivated offender, an attractive target, and the absence of a guardian. It explains that being able to commit a crime is not enough, a motivated offender must also be willing to do so. The opportunity is boundless, suitable targets are attractive and vulnerable. Guardians are persons or objects that block or deter crimes. Examples of guardians include a perpetrator’s handler or a target’s protector. Furthermore, super guardians regulate guardians, and they can include external parties. In the case of political graft, guardians and super guardians include advisers and political consultants.

During the 70s, Felson and Cohen formed the Routine Activity Theory to explain crime rate changes in the United States between 1947 and 1974. The theory assumes that crime is unaffected by social conditions like poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Accordingly, prosperity creates more opportunity for crimes to occur, explaining why crime arose after World War II, when Western economies and welfare states were developing. In other words, crime is a function of opportunity that does not require dangerous or evil people. If a target is unprotected and worth the reward, crime will occur (Elliot, 2020).

Routine Activity Theory studies crime in relation to its surroundings, avoiding speculation about offender motivation, unlike other criminological theories. RAT seeks to explain that most crimes are routine, trivial, and unreported. This makes it useful for explaining and, therefore, for deterring influential crimes like graft and corruption that involve planning and risk assessment, as opposed to expressive crimes involving emotion. The goal of RAT is to enable situational crime prevention, so that measures to manage, design, or manipulate the environment to reduce the opportunity for crime is provided, thereby making riskier and less rewarding.

According to the RAT, political graft is inevitable and mostly undetected. There will always be politicians who take advantage to generate income and maintain savings through graft. Brought about by the pandemic, the availability of a huge emergency fund plus the likely unaccounted donations are inherently attractive targets among politicians. As said, a target’s vulnerability depends on guardian capability. In the current state of the pandemic where inadequacy of audit and soft enforcement functions are seen, the target is seriously vulnerable and thus graft is highly likely to occur.

***

Suggested Reading – To Defeat the Coronavirus, Stop Corruption

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/06/defeat-coronavirus-stop-corruption-humanitarian-crisis-disaster-response-emergency-medical-supplies/