The God Culture: Man Can Live Sinlessly

It is truly astounding that anyone takes Timothy Jay Schwab of the The God Culture seriously as a teacher of the Bible. While he does teach from it he does not teach what it actually says. Here is another example. Tim teaches that Enoch and Elijah are living in the Garden of Eden underneath the floor of the Sulu Sea off the coast of the Philippines and have been residing there for thousands of years. For food they eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. This prompted the following exchange between Tim and a viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdEs1MWCiCo&lc=UgzQ9djSfLXZ7GaC6nF4AaABAg

Just a question...if Adam & Eve became infected with the knowledge of good and evil (κολον and πονηρον) and had to leave the garden… because…. God said... no man may live forever with this knowledge.... (My current understanding is that this infection is passing on to all offspring of Adam and Eve.) Adam & Eve were thus expelled from the garden to de-nigh them and any descendants the possibility of eating from the tree that would prolong their life… Why would Enoch and Elijah… being infected with the knowledge of the good and evil… be allowed back into the garden and have access to prolong their lives while they are infected with this knowledge… It would seem Adam and Eve who were most likely less tainted by the satan’s harassment of gods creation would be allowed back into the garden before any others who are infected… however no infected descendant can be allowed access to that tree…. Not saying that the historical docs are mistranslated…. This just creates more questions …now that this info has been brought to light… hummmm……

Not really. These were holy men who conquered such infection remaining righteous proving man can and it is a misnomer that man cannot. Yahusha's blood was required for salvation of all men indeed but there is no reason a man can not live completely righteous. We just don't. Enoch is even recorded as more righteous than Noah which is hard for one to achieve. Principally in all of mankind, you have these 2 so really not much to reconcile. It is a testament to how holy they were. Yahuah chose them. Understand that He chose Adam and Eve to reside in the Garden before as clearly He has a role for a human priest there as well just as the Temple and Tabernacle which are mirrors of His way in the Garden in His Holy of Holies. These men were perfect in their walks and clearly Yahuah knew they were worthy of such a position and if they weren't, they would die in their sin in His presence yet they have not. We see this on a very temporary basis with Moses who withstood the physical presence of Yahuah for 40 days essentially. The assumption one cannot be that holy is not supported by scripture. It's just fact that almost all men are not. Some would then bring up Rom. 3:23 all have sinned but Enoch was not righteous until after he had his son around 65 years of age so he did sin. However, he was righteous from there. Yah Bless.

The essence of the question is, "Why are Enoch and Elijah allowed to eat from the Tree of Life despite having the knowledge of good and evil when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating the Tree of Life because they had the knowledge of good and evil."

Tim says this is not a problem because Enoch and Elijah are righteous. Not only righteous but actually sinless. That is the implication here where Tim says Enoch was righteous after the age 65 but was a sinner before then. He says the same thing about Adam in his book Rest: The Case for Sabbath.

Rest: The Case for Sabbath, pg. 79

“Many assume Adam was evil and there is no evidence he ever sinned after he was tricked in the Garden. 

However, Adam atoned and remained righteous after by all accounts. We now know Adam knew and practiced the Law.

There is no record of Adam defecating, urinating, spiting, or picking his nose so I guess those things never happened either, right? Do you see the interplay here between Adam being sinless, righteous, and keeping the law? It's because they all work together in Tim's salvation scheme.

Furthermore Tim says one can become righteous, i.e. sinless, without the blood of Christ. Of course Tim says we need the blood of Christ for salvation but salvation is righteousness and if we can be righteous on our own then we don't need the blood of Jesus Christ or any of his work on the cross. This is why the Bible teaches righteousness comes by faith.

Tim's entire soteriology rests on us keeping the law! Tim flip-flops on this issue but ultimately he teaches we must keep the law to be saved even though he denies it that is where his system leads. According to him salvation is not union with Christ or Christ in us but a relationship which consists of us keeping the law. For his system to make any sense the conclusion is necessarily "keeping the law saves us." 

This is a truly horrendous teaching that his audience has been ensnared with. Tim has taken Jesus Christ and replaced Him with the Mosaic Law. Timothy Jay Schwab has said before he is not a Christian because it is a negative term not used by the Apostles. The fact is Timothy Jay Schwab is not a Christian in any sense of the term. He is not a follower of Christ. He is not a member of the Church or the ecclesia. He is not a part of the Body of Christ. Christ is not in Tim. The lying spirit of the devil resides in the wicked soul of Timothy Jay Schwab. 

Insurgency: War vs NPA Ending

This week gives the nation a huge surprise as the City of Smiles, Bacolod, has been officially declared insurgency free. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201995

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez welcomed on Monday the declaration of this city as “insurgency-free” during the recent Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (RJPSCC) meeting held at the Bacolod City Government Center.

“It is very important for our peace and order. If the threat from that sector is contained, then definitely we will have a peaceful and orderly city,” the mayor said in a press conference.

Benitez pointed out that economic development remains to be the best solution and tool to address insurgency.

“Once we provide livelihood and create economic development, eventually all of these (concerns) will disappear,” he added.

The resolution declaring Bacolod as “insurgency-free” came after a series of successful peace and order initiatives that helped improve the peace and security situation of the city, including the City Council’s declaration of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non-grata in 2019, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said.

In the resolution, the RJPSCC underscored the need for continuous collaboration among the security forces and the community to prevent the resurgence of any communist terrorist group-affiliated sectoral groups and to deter terrorism and other organized crime activities in the city.

“This milestone can be attributed to the sincerity of the people to create an environment suitable for peace and development. Without the active participation of the people in the quest to have an insurgency-free community, this breakthrough would not be possible,” Edralin said.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, urged all security agencies to remain on guard and to deny the CPP-NPA any chance to recover their lost ground.

“Our success shall be measured when the people we are serving grow and expand their skills, boosting productivity and economic progress under the bedrock of reliable regional security,” he added.

Now, this is really odd because in the six years I have been writing about the insurgency not once have I come across a terrorist attack or NPA encounter in Bacolod City. In fact Bacolod is going through a kind of economic resurgence at the moment. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1944233/bacolod/business/marcos-leads-inauguration-of-township-development-in-bacolod-city

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has formally inaugurated property giant Megaworld Corporation’s 34-hectare The Upper East by unveiling the township marker, together with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tan yesterday, October 23.

The township marker highlights the rise of The Upper East as Bacolod City’s first large-scale master planned community on what used to be the site of the historic Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company.

The formal inauguration of The Upper East marks a vibrant beginning for Megaworld in Bacolod City as the company commits to generate more than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs in the province.

The township also plays an instrumental role in helping boost tourism in Bacolod through the construction of hotels and other tourism destinations within the township, the first of which was McDonald’s The Upper East, now known as the “most beautiful McDonald’s store in the Philippines.”

Megaworld is also reinforcing its commitment to help Bacolod’s information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector grow by opening new Peza-accredited office towers that will provide employment to around 100,000 individuals in the next five to ten years.

“Throughout our 33 years as a company, Megaworld has been investing in next-generation cities and provinces in the country. With Bacolod’s modern central business district rising here in The Upper East, Megaworld aligns its efforts with the government’s objectives of generating employment, jumpstarting tourism, and bringing in high-quality investments to the country,” Tan, who also serves as the chief strategy officer for Megaworld, said.

There has not been any insurgency in Bacolod for quite a long time if there ever was. However, there is plenty of insurgency activity in the surrounding countryside and VISCOM says there will be no let up in their attempts to stop it. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201956

The Visayas Command (Viscom) on Monday warned peace spoilers that their days of sowing fear and terror in Visayan communities are numbered as focused military operations will never stop until they surrender or get neutralized.

“This is never going to stop. We cannot allow these peace spoilers to further sow fear and terror, as our operations will continue without any letup. We will continue to push with our focused military operation and push harder until justice is served for the atrocities that the terrorist group has committed on our people,” Viscom chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, said in a statement.

Arevalo said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is determined to end local communist armed conflict in the Visayas soonest.

Arevalo’s statement came as 10 New People’s Army rebels were killed, one surrendered, and another one was arrested in Negros Island in just two days of operations.

On Sunday afternoon, a rebel was killed after an encounter with the members of the 15th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

On Saturday also, five NPA rebels were killed in three clashes between the members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the weakened guerrilla front Central Negros 1 (CN1) of the Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR NCBS) at the different sitios in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental.

The encounters in Moises Padilla were followed by another clash in the early morning on Sunday where four NPA rebels were killed, one was apprehended and another surrendered in Sitio Cambawgon, Barangay Trinidad in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

“Our call for peace continues. The door of opportunity for you to return to the folds of the law remains open as we don't want more lives to be wasted,” Arevalo said, as he urged remaining members of the weakened guerrilla fronts in the Visayas to give up and surrender.

As he commended the troops for their efforts in pursuing the peace spoilers, Arevalo said the AFP’s sustained focused military operations proved to be successful against the communist insurgency in the Visayas.

Meanwhile, Gandara town mayor Warren Aguilar in Samar province has called on the remaining fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender following a recent clash between government forces and rebels in their town.

In a statement Monday, Aguilar said the local government is ready to assist rebels who will surrender to authorities.

“Through our Local Social Integration Program and Enhanced Local Social Integration Program, we are ready to receive all rebels who will return to the folds of law,” he said.

The mayor issued the statement days after a clash between government troopers and 10 armed rebels in upland Mabuhay village in Gandara town on May 17 where a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle, two M16 rifle magazines and a backpack with personal belongings were recovered.

All these clashes going on and the AFP says the NPA is irrelevant and ineffective these days. Seems the opposite is true. 

So, Sara Dutere is now co-Vice Chair of the NTF-ELCAC and she is also the DepEd Secretary. What a perfect way for her to combine the two functions. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/24/vp-duterte-bares-plans-for-a-national-peace-curriculum

Underscoring the need for Filipino youth to realize the value of peace and nation-building, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday, May 24, revealed plans to institutionalize a national peace curriculum under the Department of Education (DepEd).

The official delivered a speech for the first anniversary of insurgency-free Davao City at Rizal Park in Davao City.

She talked about how she sees education as a way to teach children the ways in which peace affects their lives and future, and the lessons that Davao province learned from freeing once insurgency-ridden Paquibato District from the New People’s Army (NPA) through the Peace 911 initiative.

“The Department of Education is working hard to institutionalize a national peace curriculum to teach our children the value of peace as they build their skills and learn more about conflict resolution and non-violence,” she said.

“Through the national peace curriculum, we strengthen our youth’s resilience, maturity, and sense of patriotism,” Duterte added.

Calling education the “greatest equalizer”, she stated how “opportunities” for graduates will always be the same regardless if they are rich or poor.

“Education, as we know, harbors power that could change the course of our lives and that of our fellowmen,” she said.

The Vice President described education as a “tool that can emancipate us from poverty or injustice.”

“It is also a powerful tool for peacebuilding and combating terrorism,” she added.

Overlooking the fact that some of the most notorious terrorists were well educated what exactly will this program be? Is the nation filled with non-patriotic children? This program is part of the supposition that children are being recruited by the NPA but in no story about this issue are we given detailed facts. Case in point the following:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202125

The Philippine Army gathered at least 90 youth leaders in a two-day summit in Catubig, Northern Samar, that aims to stop the recruitment of the New People’s Army (NPA) among young people in the province.

Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, commander of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion (20 IB), said in a phone interview Wednesday, the May 20 to 21 summit, seeks to empower and give the youth a voice in advocating peace and nation-building.

“I hope that after the summit, young people will join the good aspirations of the Philippine Army towards a prosperous and peaceful town of Catubig. (That they will realize) that they belong to the generation who wants to solve the problem through peaceful means, without violence,” Buban said.

He encouraged them to be part of the opportunity to finally end the local communist armed conflict and insurgency.

Speakers during the summit were from the Philippine Army, municipal social welfare and development office, rural health unit, municipal environment and natural resources office, local election office, municipal police station, local disaster risk reduction and management office and Bureau of Fire Protection.

There was also a spiritual session and reflection night, bonfire activity and fellowship night.

Rey Christian Sabado, a former NPA fighter who is now a soldier, gave testimony on the deceptive recruitment of rebels. He encouraged the youth to be vigilant and critical of the people and organizations they interact with to avoid deceptive tactics.

The summit also elected the officers of Youth for Peace Movement – Catubig Chapter.

Several upland communities in the province are considered the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to thick forests and poor road networks.

There are still two active NPA guerrilla fronts in Northern Samar hiding in the upland villages of Catubig, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay towns in Northern Samar. 

It would be interesting to know what this "spiritual session" was all about. It is interesting to note that the AFP keeps saying there are only two active guerrilla fronts in Northern Samar yet they are supposedly doing a lot of recruiting? Why don't they ever provide any facts about recruitment? And if recruitment is happening then these fronts are not inutile as the AFP would have us believe. 

Like the AFP and every administration since the 1970's Sara Duterte says the NPA is coming to an end.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/25/2268874/war-vs-npa-ending-sara

Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday branded the decades-long communist insurgency in the country as a dying movement, saying it is only a matter of time before the war against the New People’s Army (NPA) is put to an end.

“The NPA’s so-called protracted war is ending,” Duterte said during the event commemorating the first anniversary of Davao City’s declaration as insurgency-free.

“The guerrilla warfare tactic is no longer working for them to be able to breathe life into a dying movement,” she said.

Describing the NPA as the “devil,” Duterte, who was recently appointed co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), recalled their efforts while she was Davao City mayor to remove the rebel group’s presence in the city’s Paquibato district.

If the NPA is a dying movement then why is she and the AFP concerned about recruitment? A dying movement would not be able to recruit.

Hi, My Name is...36

It's time to take a look at some new people. This time we shall read about the misadventures of foreigners in the Philippines where It's More Fun. Funnily enough most of these people are Nigerian.

Hi, my name is Christopher Chapel. I spent $22,000 for a cruise around the world. When we docked at Palawan I had a heat stroke and was taken to the hospital. But rather than wait for me the ship left me behind. The doctors also said I was too weak to fly to Manila so I had to take a 14 hour boat ride instead. Later I was able to catch a plane back to the UK.  Thankfully I had travel insurance so everything was covered. 

https://palawan-news.com/passenger-left-stranded-in-palawan-after-world-cruise-ship-departs-without-him/

A 72-year-old British man, Christopher Chapel, was left stranded in Palawan after a P&O Cruises ship departed without him.

Chapel spent $22,000 for a world trip, but his journey took an unexpected turn when he had signs of heat stroke while on board, according to cruiseradio.net in a report posted on April 25. During his medical examinations, he discovered that he had suffered a mild heat stroke. However, by then the ship had already departed.

Due to his condition, physicians declared him unfit to fly to Manila, so he was forced to travel by boat accompanied by medical personnel. After a 14-hour ship journey, they arrived in Manila, where they caught a flight back to the United Kingdom.

The report said it was “fortunate” that Chapel had travel insurance, which covered his medical expenses and travel arrangements. Although he missed the remainder of his world cruise, he was grateful for the assistance he received from the medical staff and the travel insurance company.

Hi, my name is being withheld. I am from Switzerland and I came to Palawan to visit for a few days. I have been there before. It is quite lovely. But when I arrived I found I had no money in my account! My pension was late. So I slept outside the ATM biding my time. Local resident helped me out by giving me cardboard to sleep on and food to eat. Local officials even bought my diabetes medicine after I ran out. Thankfully my money came on 5 days later on April 19th. 

https://palawan-news.com/swiss-national-rescued-by-city-tourism-after-sleeping-beside-atm-for-three-days/

A 70-year-old Swiss national who had been sleeping beside an ATM along Rizal Avenue for three days was rescued in Puerto Princesa City.

The predicament of the foreigner, whose name was not disclosed, was relayed to City Tourism Department (CTD) chief Demetrio Alvior Jr. last Sunday, April 16, by Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Jerry Alili, who was attending an event at the time at Filigans Hotel.

Alvior told Palawan News that he called the Tourist Police Unit (TPU) led by Capt. Rebecca Libarra, who responded promptly on the same day to rescue elderly traveler.

He was taken to the TPU office, where it was discovered that he had a problem with his pension that was meant to go into his account, which was why he was unable to withdraw from the ATM.

(He arrived in the Philippines on April 14, but upon arrival, he had no money. He was expecting money to go into his account, like his pension. The staff there insisted for him to sleep inside, but he felt embarrassed, so he just requested the staff of Filigans to secure his belongings.)

Alvior told Palawan News that the diabetic traveler was given food, drink, and cardboard to sleep on by tricycle drivers and other good Samaritans during his three-day stay by the ATM.

He would weep anytime someone offered to feed him, yet he would turn down the opportunity to sleep on a bed if it was presented to him because he wanted to wait for his money.

(He’s already quite old, and he’s diabetic. His feet were even swollen. That’s where I appreciate our tricycle drivers who gave him a cardboard to sleep on and gave him food. They said he cried heavily whenever he was given food.)

In addition to their office, Alvior said that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) also provided him with food after his rescue by the tourist police, and the City Health Office (CHO) conducted a medical check-up and prescribed medication for his diabetes, taking care of his needs.

Alvior said, it was the CTD that purchased his diabetic medication since he had run out of supply.

He noted that the foreigner refused to leave, stating he still wants to see the city, Roxas town, Port Barton in San Vicente, and El Nido, even after they requested assistance from the Department of Tourism (DOT) in MIMAROPA to help in contacting the Swiss Embassy in the Philippines.

(He didn’t want to leave. He said he had been here before and found it beautiful and the people are nice. He mentioned that he still had many places to visit. Our staff assisted him and kept an eye on him, and his money arrived on April 19. The Department of Tourism MIMAROPA offered to pay for his accommodation while he didn’t have money, but he insisted on paying for it himself when he received his money.)

Hi, my name is being withheld. I am from Nigeria. Inside the lounge at a condominium I saw a nice beautiful girl doing her homework and I sat down next to her. I asked her about herself and showed her some sexy things on my phone. But she got nervous and ran off to tell her father about me. He called the police.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/22/nigerian-nabbed-for-alleged-sexual-harassment-of-17-year-old-girl

A 33-year-old Nigerian was apprehended by authorities for alleged sexual harassment of a 17-year-old girl in Quezon City on Saturday, police said.

The incident allegedly happened inside a lounge in a condominium in Barangay Bagbaga in Novaliches while the victim was doing her homework.

Police said that when the suspect arrived, he sat next to her and engaged her in a conversation.

He was allegedly relentless in asking for details that made the girl uncomfortable, and made some advances by showing sexual remarks or obscene messages he typed on his phone.

Nervous and frightened, the girl immediately ran home to tell her father what happened, prompting them to report the incident and seek police help. 

Hi, our names are  Augustine Onyekachi Nkowachi, Tosen Samuel Oguntoye, Chubuike Joseph Nwokoro, and Christopher Okeke. We were producing fake IDs. We only got found out because one of our girlfriends snitched on us. After being given fake IDs she was told to open up several bank accounts so we could move money related to an online scam we were involved in. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/447522/4-nigerians-nabbed-for-falsifying-govt-ids-others-docs

Four Nigerian nationals were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Cebu Division Office (NBI CEBDO) for allegedly falsifying government IDs and other documents to be used allegedly for online scams.

The NBI agents swooped down on a house in a subdivision in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City at past 3 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2022, and arrested the four suspects.

They are identified as Augustine Onyekachi Nkowachi, Tosen Samuel Oguntoye, Chubuike Joseph Nwokoro, and Christopher Okeke.

The four will be facing charges of multiple counts of falsification of documents.

The operation was conducted after the girlfriend of one of the suspects sought the office’s assistance because she was allegedly persuaded by the suspects to facilitate the production of fake identification under her name.

After obtaining fake IDs, she was compelled by the suspects to open several bank accounts that will be used as means to facilitate transactions relating to an online scam.

NBI-CEBDO said that the suspects started their operation in April 2022, though, they were not released ATM cards by the banks yet, said Agent Atty. Niño Rodriguez.

Hi, my name is being withheld but I was the accomplace of a Nigerian who masterminded a romance scam. I contacted a man on Facebook and told him my name was “Janifer Natalia,” a US Army member assigned in Yemen. He fell for it hook, line, and sinker and we were able to scam him out of P400,000! If we had only not gotten so greedy he might not have contacted the cops. But he did so and we were busted in an entrapment operation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1659600/nigerian-accomplice-face-raps-for-p400000-romance-scam

A suspected accomplice of a Nigerian involved in a “romance scam” was arrested in Tarlac City on Monday, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police.

The statement, based on a report sent to the PNP officer in charge, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, did not identify the suspects nor the man who they allegedly swindled of P400,000.

“A romance scam,” the ACG statement said, “is a confidence trick involving feigned romantic intentions using goodwill to commit fraud.”

This scam, as reported by the complainant, developed for almost five months, according to Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, PNP deputy chief for administration.

According to the ACG suspect, the accomplice got in touch with the victim through Facebook Messenger, introducing herself as “Janifer Natalia,” a US Army member assigned in Yemen.

As their online friendship, starting all the way back to April 19, developed, Natalia messaged the victim that she was sending the victim a package containing $1.2 million.

Another person, using an unregistered number, began texting the victim on June 8. That person went by the name “Lucy Diaz,” supposedly an employee of the Bureau of Customs.

Lucy Diaz began sending the victim texts demanding payment for customs duties and surcharges for the release of the parcel.

“The victim believed that he was communicating with a real person. So he was convinced to send the money amounting to [P400,000 through] money wire transfer, e-wallet and bank transactions,” Malayo explained.

After paying the P400,000, Diaz still demanded more money, which finally pushed the victim to report the crime to ACG.

The accomplice was arrested in an entrapment operation in Tarlac City, right after the victim handed over the money.

The arrested suspect said it was the Nigerian who was posing as Janifer Natalia.

According to the PNP statement, they will be charged for using fictitious names and swinding/estafa under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Hi, my name is Mac-Davis Bede Chuka. I used to be a high value drug target but then I got caught by the PNP. They busted me with high-grade Kush, shabu, rolling papers, money, and a pistol. Now I'm just another busted drug dealer.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185524

Anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized close to PHP8.9 million worth of illegal drugs from eight drug suspects, including a Nigerian national, in separate buy-busts in the provinces of Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Metro Manila.

In a report, Southern Police District (SPD) director Col. Kirby John Kraft said Nigerian Mac-Davis Bede Chuka, 28, a.k.a Okoro, a high-value target, was arrested during a drug sting by the District Drug Enforcement Unit in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City on Thursday.

Seized from the suspect were three plastic sachets containing around 13 grams of dried leaves with fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana/kush worth PHP18,200, two plastic sachets containing 10 grams of shabu weighing more or less 10 grams worth PHP 68,000 digital weighing scale, grinder, a small box of rolling paper, caliber .45 pistol, two .caliber 45 magazines loaded with seven live ammunition, belt bag, boodle money utilized as the buy-bust money.

Hi, our names are Ikenna Onouha and Jacel Ann Paderan. I met a nice Filipina online and introduced myself as a Turkish national named "Demir Balik". I made a lot of promsies that she gullibly believed. I even convicned her to send me over P2 million. But when I asked for more that was when she got suspicious and alerted the cops. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187641

Police arrested a Nigerian national and his cohort who are involved in an internet love scam worth PHP2.2 million in Bacoor City, Cavite.

In a statement on Thursday, Lt. Michael Bernardo, team leader of Quezon City District Anti Cybercrime Team said Ikenna Onouha, 37, Nigerian national; Jacel Ann Paderan, 28, were arrested in an operation by QCDACT and the Quezon City District Special Operation Unit personnel in Molino, Bacoor City, Cavite on Nov. 1.

The suspects have pending arrest warrants for swindling/estafa issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 230.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Onuoha’s victim whom he met at a dating site.

The victim claimed that her relationship with the suspect started in April 2020. The suspect then introduced himself as a Turkish national named "Demir Balik".

In the course of their virtual relationship, the victim said the suspect made a lot of promises which she believed.

The suspect managed to convince the victim to send him money, totaling PHP2,282,000.

Police said the money was sent to the bank accounts of Paderan and a certain Cristine Mae Elizares.

The victim said Onuoha told her that he has a dormant account in a bank in the United Kingdom and that he needs money to settle it.

“When the suspect asked for more money from the victim, it was then that she realized that she was being conned and decided to report the incident to our office,” Bernardo said.

Hi, my name is Nnaemeka Nwoke, alias Eggy. I have links to the West African Drug Syndicate which operates all the way over here in the Phillippines. I got busted for trying to sell drugs to an undercover cop. They siezed all my ecstasy, shabu, and cocaine which was valued at more then P5 million. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710758/nigerian-man-nabbed-for-over-p5m-assorted-drugs-in-las-pinas-city

A Nigerian man believed to be linked to the West African Drug Syndicate (WADS) was arrested in Las Piñas City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Friday.

NCRPO Regional Director Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said suspect Nnaemeka Nwoke, alias Eggy, 36, was arrested after he tried to sell illegal drugs to undercover police officers during a bust led by the Southern Police District (SPD) on Thursday inside a subdivision in Barangay (village) Talon 5.

Seized from Nwoke were suspected ecstasy tablets, shabu (crystal meth), and cocaine. The seized drugs, police said is valued at P5.423 million.

The NCRPO said Nwoke is now detained at the SPD headquarters pending the filing of complaints for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  The pieces of evidence meanwhile were turned over to SPD’s Crime Laboratory.

Hi, my name is Emmanuel Chinedu Ejike. I am another Nigerian who was also a high value drug target. But the cops caught me during a buy-bust operation. Now I'm just another black male in jail for selling drugs.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1728032/nigerian-nabbed-over-p136000-shabu-in-angeles-city

Policemen arrested a Nigerian man who allegedly yielded some P136,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) during an anti-illegal drug operation late Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Ninoy Aquino village in nearby Angeles City.

Angeles City police director Colonel Juritz Rara identified in a statement  the arrested suspect as Emmanuel Chinedu Ejike, 27, of Camachiles village in this city.

Rara said the Nigerian is a “high-value individual” on the police list of drug personalities.

At past 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Angeles City police, with operatives from the province and region, conducted the buy-bust operation against the suspect.

Lawmen allegedly confiscated from Ejike some 20 grams of suspected shabu and recovered the marked P1,000-bill placed atop the nine pieces of “boodle” (play) P1,000 bills.

Rara said Ejike faces charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Hi, my name is Felix Briggs. Unlike the other Nigerians mentioned above I was not busted for drugs or for a romance scam. Instead I was busted for overstaying my visa. I thought I was off the hook really. After all, it took 15 months for the BI to enforce their deportation order. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198251

An overstaying Nigerian national who has been on the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) wanted list for more than a year was recently arrested in Pasig City.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Monday that 32-year-old Felix Briggs was apprehended inside a condominium by agents from the bureau’s intelligence division last March 13.

The foreigner was arrested 15 months after he was ordered deported by the BI board of commissioners for overstaying.

“We call on other foreigners who are wanted for deportation by our bureau. Stop hiding because the long arm of the law will catch you sooner or later,” the BI chief said in a statement.

The arresting agents were armed with a warrant of deportation that Tansingco issued pursuant to a summary deportation order the BI issued against Briggs on Dec. 21, 2021.

He added that Briggs will be included in the bureau’s blacklist of aliens, effectively banning him from reentering the country.

The foreign national will be deported as soon as the BI secures his travel document and the required clearances for his deportation from the National Bureau of Investigation.

Retards in the Government 311

 It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/19/2267507/doj-indicts-bantag-pressuring-guards-cover-shootout-penal-farm

Prosecutors will be filing a new case against suspended corrections chief Gerald Bantag, this time for allegedly pressuring and threatening prison officers to deny that a shootout took place inside Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan in 2020.

In a resolution dated May 11, the DOJ indicted Bantag and former Bureau of Corrections spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag after it found that they “unlawfully coerced,  through violence,  threats,  and intimidation” prison officials into signing a document denying a shooting incident took place on March 1, 2020.

The corrections officers who filed the complaint were Lazaro Rafols Jr., Jer Sahid Mojado, Eddie Jimenez, Richie Canja, Roy Gacasa, and Asher Labrador.

Prosecutors also found enough basis to charge Bantag and Chaclag for unlawfully forcing the officers to withdraw their criminal complaint against the prisons chief's men over the incident at Ihawig.

“Bantag and Chaclag, even if they were then the superior officers of complainants, had no authority or any right to prevent Canja from filing a criminal case against those involved,” the DOJ resolution read.

“As a result, Bantag and Chaclag should be held liable for the crime of grave coercion,” it noted.

Former BuCor Chief Bantag has been charged anew with covering up a shoot out at a penal farm. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/22/sandigan-convicts-napoles-four-others-in-p15-m-pdaf-cases

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and four other persons have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and malversation of public funds in the misuse of the P15.36 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of the late Davao del Sur 1st District Rep. Douglas R. Cagas in 2007.

Napoles was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for each count of graft and 12 to 17 years imprisonment for each count of malversation.

Former Technology Resource Center (TRC) legislative liaison officer Belina A. Concepcion, former TRC group manager Maria Rosalinda M. Lacsamana and private individuals Mylene T. Encarnacion and Evelyn D. de Leon  were convicted each of one graft charge and one malversation charge.

Together with Concepcion and Encarnacion, Napoles was ordered to indemnify the national treasury of P7,680,000, which represents the amount wrongfully and illegally disbursed, and another P7,680,000 for the amount malversed.

Also, together with Lacsamana and De Leon, Napoles was ordered to indemnify the government P7,680,000 for their graft conviction and another P7,680,000 for their malversation conviction.

All of them were barred perpetually from holding public office.

The accused were also sentenced to perpetual special disqualification from holding any public office.

Janet Napoles and several others have been convicted of malversation and graft regarding the PDAF of late Davao del Sur 1st District Rep. Douglas R. Cagas in 2007.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/23/coa-orders-defunct-manila-gas-corp-to-return-25-watches-unconscionably-bought-for-centennial-anniversary

Eleven years after it ceased operation in 2001 and even if it did not operate for 100 years, the defunct Manila Gas Corporation (MGC) still celebrated its “centennial” in 2012 and purchased 25 watches as tokens during the celebration.

During its “centennial” anniversary on Sept. 9, 2012, MGC purchased 25 Skagen Titanium Tin watches as tokens to select officers, staff, and shareholders.

In affirming the notice of disallowance on the use of P203,140 for the purchase of the watches, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the purchase was "unnecessary and unconscionable" given that MGC ceased operation in 2001.

"MGC did not reach 100 years when it ceased operations on Dec. 1, 2001. Hence, there was nothing to commemorate," the COA said.

It pointed out that it was "inappropriate" for MGC to celebrate an anniversary when it has already been inoperative for more than 10 years. As of April 2012, the MGC has been advised only to proceed with its dissolution, it said.

"Disbursement of funds for extravagance or indulgence, more so granted three days before an agency ceases to exist, is unwarranted. It is an unnecessary and irregular expenditure that should be disallowed," the COA stressed.

It affirmed the Notice of Disallowance (ND) No. MGC 2013-001 issued on Nov. 21, 2013 on the purchase of the wrist watches as centennial anniversary tokens and said that "the recipients shall be liable to refund to the extent of the equivalent value of the Skagen watches at the time of their purchase."

Since 12 of the 25 recipients of the watches were unidentified, COA directed its audit team leader and supervising auditor of MGC to determine liability.

The Manila Gas Corporation hasted out watches in celebration of its 100th anniversary despite being disbanded years prior.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1774145/5-cops-asset-tagged-in-kidnap-rape-of-cebu-teen

Five policemen and their informant or “asset” are facing charges over accusations that they sexually abused an 18-year-old woman whom they held for three days last year.

While only the informant, identified only as Luis, allegedly raped the complainant, the five policemen were impleaded in the case since they took part in bringing the woman, a drug suspect, to an apartment in this city.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas filed charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, rape, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service against the respondents in the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas on May 9. A copy of the complaint was released to reporters only on Wednesday.

Named respondents were Police Corporals Johnrober Rebusa, Jeffrey Alabata, and Keven Gilbuena; Staff Sergeants Donald Balansag and Joy Marie Alad-ad; and Luis, the police asset. The policemen, all assigned at Mambaling station here, had been relieved by the Central Visayas police on Wednesday.

According to the NBI, they learned from the respondents’ superiors and from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas that they were not notified of any anti-drug operation in the area where the complainant was arrested.

“The acts of the subjects in simultaneously raiding the house, the taking and detaining of the victim against her will from Sept. 19 to her release on Sept. 22, is indicative of a meeting of the minds toward a common criminal objective between the conspirators,” it said.

Five cops have been arrested for the kidnapping and rape of a teenager.

Coronavirus Lockdown: EMI Habit, Hospital Admissions Going Up, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

According to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. COVID-19 admissions are on the rise. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/18/2267081/covid-19-hospital-admissions-going-up

Hospital admissions for COVID are starting to go up nationwide, according to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc.

PHAPi president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano reported that COVID-19 admissions in private hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the country have exceeded 20 percent in the past days.

“We noticed that for the past two or three days, the number of cases really slightly increased. The rate of admissions in private hospitals also increased slightly,” De Grano said in mixed English and Filipino during the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

“Before, we only had less than 20 percent hospital admissions. Now, a few although not all, increased by more than 20 percent, and the others up to 50 percent. But it depends on the number of allocated beds,” he added.

Aside from NCR, De Grano said private hospitals in Calabarzon, particularly Cavite and Laguna as well as Aklan and Davao region, also posted a slight uptick.

However, he explained that there are few medical facilities in those regions, thus most of the patients are crowding.

He further noted that most COVID-19 admissions are considered “coincidental,” which means they sought consultation for other medical reasons, but turned out positive for the virus during screening.

At this time, De Grano said the majority of the COVID-19 cases are mild thus patients are advised to just isolate at home.

“We are closely monitoring the moderate and severe cases with comorbidities and are immune-compromised. Those should be monitored and should they worsen, at least they are already in the hospital,” he pointed out.

Even with the rising admissions, De Grano gave assurance that there is no reason for patients to fear going to hospitals to seek medical consultation.

He encouraged the public to wear face masks and to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus. He, however, admitted that re-imposing the mandatory face mask policy would be difficult since it has already been lifted.

De Grano says "there is no reason for patients to fear going to hospitals to seek medical consultation" but in Cagayan some hospitals workers are staying home after contracting COVID.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1772849/more-workers-in-cagayan-hospital-get-covid

Just as residents in this capital city of Cagayan province were relaxing health protocols and have lowered their guard against COVID-19, the largest government hospital in the Cagayan Valley region located here has to shut down its outpatient department on Monday after 103 of its workers tested positive for the disease.

This developed as the provinces of Quezon in Calabarzon and Zambales in Central Luzon, which are under alert levels 2 and 1, respectively, also started experiencing a spike in infections this month, authorities said.

Dr. Glenn Mathew Baggao, chief of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC), said in an interview on Monday that 15 of those who were infected with the viral disease were nurses and nursing aides of the outpatient department, while the others were nonmedical staff members of the hospital.

Baggao said the temporary closure of the outpatient department on Monday was to allow for disinfection and contact tracing involving those who could have been exposed to the infected hospital employees.

He said the hospital, which has about 2,000 regular and contractual workers, had also imposed a skeleton workforce, especially among hospital staff, many of whom were advised to isolate and follow the minimum health protocols.

“We are implementing online and phone consultations for patients who wish to refer their illnesses to us while the outpatient department is closed,” Baggao said.

The number of infected CVMC workers began to spike last week after the hospital recorded 90 COVID-19 cases among its employees by May 19.

It was still being investigated how the workers got infected since the hospital had no COVID-19 patients prior to the virus outbreak, even as 500 CVMC workers were still assigned to solely handle COVID-19 cases, as the hospital remains the major referral facility for virus-infected patients from other hospitals in the region, Baggao said.

Baggao noted that the infection could have been contracted outside the medical facility.

From no COVID cases to suddenly a lot of COVID cases.

Many cites have shut down their COVID isolation facilities but Zamboanga City is keeping theirs open.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201772

The city government here will continue to operate its PHP134 million mega isolation facility despite the declaration of the World Health Organization that coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is no longer a global health emergency. 

Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, city disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO) chief, said Thursday the city has been directed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to maintain the isolation facility for quarantine purposes.

“We are directed to maintain that mega isolation facility as a Covid-19 isolation facility for the constituents of Zamboanga City,” Apolinario said.

The 320-room isolation facility is located inside the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority in Barangay Talisayan here and is being manned by city health office personnel.

“We also regularly send CDRRMO personnel to inspect the facility,” he added.

Other Covid-19 isolation facilities located in Barangays Cabatangan, Sinunuc, Zone 4, and Pasonanca were already shut down. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Joshua Brillantes, the Department of Health-Zamboanga Peninsula (DOH-9) director, said the region has been placed under low-risk status for Covid-19 infection.

He noted that some hospitals in the region have converted their Covid-19 isolation wards to regular wards.

“They can already accept non-Covid patients,” he said. 

What will they do with these facility when there is no COVID? And many are being told to isolate home rather than at a facility. How much money will be wasted to maintain this facility?

The Mayor of Pasay has urged residents to follow health protocols named after her!

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/18/pasay-mayor-emi-urges-residents-to-observe-emi-habit-vs-covid-19

Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano urged residents to be cautious and continue to observe the E.M.I (Ensure to always wash your hand, Mask is a must, and Implement physical distancing) habit after the City Health Office (CHO) recorded 54 cases of Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, May 17.

Rubiano said from the 54 Covid-19 cases, 29 are new cases.

She said observing the EMI habit will help stop the spread of Covid-19 in the city.

The mayor also urged residents to visit the city’s 13 health centers that continue to conduct vaccinations against the disease from Monday to Friday at 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rubiano said the cooperation of residents in receiving vaccinations against the disease may also prevent the spread of the virus in the city.

This has got to be the most ridiculous case of Epal I have ever come across! 

While the DOH has said the WHO's declaration that the COVID-19 global health emergency is over does not mean the pandemic has ended, President Marcos is singing a different tune. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/870729/marcos-who-declaring-end-to-covid-19-global-health-emergency-means-ph-can-refocus-on-economic-developmen/story/

Following the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Monday that the government could now refocus on the country's economic development.

Marcos mentioned this during a reception hosted by the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City, as he expressed gratitude to the Manila-based lender for all its assistance to the Philippines, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With this development, we can now refocus our plans and priorities and train our size with renewed vigor, carefully guided by the stinging lessons of the pandemic, we can now refocus our priorities on the development of our economy and the betterment of the lives of ordinary Filipinos," Marcos said in his speech.

He said, however, that the WHO's declaration does not mean abandoning the universal health protocols.

"Thankfully, because of swift breakthroughs in virology and vaccinology, communities were able to build effective response systems while humanity was able to boost its immune system," Marcos said.

Marcos recalled that when he met with the ADB's Board of Governors in September of last year, he highlighted the need for the Philippines to "safely navigate through the waters of the post-pandemic world."

"The pandemic did not blur our national vision... Our goal remains to be the same as in pre-pandemic circumstances. Our goal is to evolve our economy into one that is defined by sustainability, climate resilience, responsiveness, and of course inclusivity," Marcos said.

Of course economic rebuilding bas been ongoing for the past year and half since the lockdowns were lifted. 

New bivalent vaccines are still expected but have once again been delayed. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/23/bivalent-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-delayed-anew

MANILA — The delivery of the country's first bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will be delayed again, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire previously said the country would receive some 390,000 doses of the adapted version of the original vaccine this week.

"As per the DOH - Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC), there shall be a slight delay in the arrival of the bivalent vaccines as there are permits that are still needed to be coordinated," the DOH said in a statement. 

"Rest assured that the Department of Health is exhausting all efforts to receive the vaccines by the end of the month."

Bivalent vaccines are modified jabs that target both the original and omicron strains of the virus.

A department memorandum regarding the administration of the omicron-specific vaccines has been signed, the DOH noted.

"With regard to the preparation and implementation of the roll-out of the bivalent vaccine, the Department Memorandum has already been signed and only awaiting for its release," it added.

The delivery of the bivalent vaccines was first put on hold in March while the DOH explored other legal remedies. 

This, after the country's state of calamity for COVID-19, which had clauses on indemnification and immunity from liability, expired on December 31.

With the state of calamity over what's the likelyhood they will even alive? And who will be injecting them into their body?

The call for a Philippine CDC is being renewed by a member of the House.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/24/pinoys-can-t-afford-to-get-hit-by-another-pandemic-says-cong-vargas

Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas renews calls for the immediate passage into law of the measure creating the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).

A Quezon City solon is pushing for the immediate passage into law of the measure creating the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), emphasizing the lurking threat of new Covid strains and other deadly viruses.

According to Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas, Filipinos cannot afford to get hit by another pandemic like Covid-19, which ravaged the local economy and the health system.

“Together with my brother, former Congressman Alfred Vargas, we served as witnesses to the pain and suffering of our people during the height of pandemic," the rookie congressman said.

"We cannot be caught off-guard...[we] better be prepared to protect our communities against communicable and non-communicable diseases," he added.

While the Philippines must be prepared to fight diseases the pain and suffering caused during the pandemic was because of the unnecessary and useless lockdowns and movement restrictions. As well intention as a proposed CDC is the fact is that it will likely descend into being another corrupt bureaucracy. There are too many of those as it is.