Construction Zone Crosswalk

Construction sites in the Philippines are not the safest in the world.  Just look at this one:

Actually they look pretty normal and safe by Philippine standards. Large gaping holes in the ground with hardly any protection to prevent accidents. But how are people supposed to cross the street?  Like this of course:

One lady walked right through the ditch! She could have really injured herself. Two others walked through the construction area around the hole. But there is always the danger of falling in. 

Why aren't these construction zones completely fenced off!?  This is insane!  This is the Philippines!

Insurgency: World Class

The Anti-Terror Bill of 2020 has yet to be passed but LGUs continue to hail it has a law which will provide for everything.  Even protecting the economy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106193

(Many are aware that the threats of terrorism can affect the progress of our economy in the form of loss of tourists, foreign investors, among others. If we want a prosperous country, it is time to have an effective shield against criminality, terrorism, drugs, and corruption),” part of the manifesto said. 

The council also encouraged everyone to “embrace and support" the bill for the good of the Filipinos and the generations to come. 

The MPOC said that the bill will promote the aspired peace for the Filipinos and the society.

What they are saying is that if terrorism was completely wiped out everyone would be safer, more tourists would come visit, more foreigners would invest, and the economy would be booming. No kidding! There's no guarantee this bill will do all that. Listen to what President Arroyo said at the signing of the Human Security Act of 2007:

Today we raise the bar on our campaign against terrorists who kill, bomb and maim to enforce an ideology of evil. 

We have the legal muscle to help end the paralysis of fear, empowered with a law that identifies terrorism and penalizes it, a law that preserves and protects freedom. 

Crime is down in the nation because we have made investments to put more police on the street. Our military must continue on its path to reform, becoming even more professional every day at the same time they fight to eliminate the armed terrorist threats to the nation from religious extremists or communist terrorists. Whatever ideology is being pursued that undermines our stability must be defeated. 

If you are armed and kill innocent civilians, you will be tracked down and prosecuted. If you are a communist terrorist, we will stop you. If you are a religious terrorist, we will stop you. If you are a rogue element of your own police or military, we will stop you. 

Economic and social development is still the best guarantee of achieving human security. Only equitable and sustainable growth can free us from want and fear. Poverty, though not the cause, abets terrorism. 

Talk is cheap. It is action that counts. I ask the public to give the Human Security Act a chance.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2007/07/20/speech-of-president-arroyo-at-the-launching-of-the-human-security-act-of-2007/

This speech was given on July 20th, 2007 almost 13 years ago. What has changed? Nothing! A decade after her speech the Marawi siege happened. Why?  It wasn't because of the law. It was because the government ignored intelligence they had about the forthcoming attack! It is not "the law" which identifies terrorism and penalizes it nor is it "the law" which preserves and protects freedom. It is a competent military which does that. Arroyo was right. Talk is cheap. It is action that counts. The AFP and the PNP failed to act on the emerging threat of ISIS between 2014 and 2017. In fact they ignored it! Listen to Arroyo again:

"Our military must continue on its path to reform, becoming even more professional every day..."

The military has been stuck in a reform trip since the 90's. Modernization they call it. Obtaining modern weapons and better training. The AFP is STILL modernizing. For nigh on 30 years the Philippines has been attempting to purchase the weapons it needs. Remember when the AFP plated their vehicles with wood during the Marawi siege to stop the RPG's ISIS was firing at them?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/907313/wood-reinforced-vehicles-foil-maute-antitank-weapons

Remember when DND Secretary Lorenzana admitted that the AFP had to relearn urban warfare combat because they stopped such training exercises?

"It's a skill we used to have but we lost along the way because we didn't use it. We keep training our people in what we call the military operations in urban terrain, MOUT.  But we seldom use it, we never use it, so we stopped teaching our people at the Marawi camp. So now we have to reacquire that skill plus the necessary equipment that goes with it.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/06/martial-law-no-ready-reserve-ammunition.html

The AFP stopped training in urban warfare because they never use it? Outstanding! What kind of military stops training for war just because there is no war? But in the Philippines war has never ended. So why did they stop training? 

Neither the lack of weapons nor the lack of skills has stopped their leaders from calling the AFP world class.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106260

(Even if our equipment has yet to arrive, Gen. Año said we have already won the battle. That is the spirit being demonstrated by our artillerymen)," Army commander, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, said in his speech during the 13th anniversary of the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. 

Gapay said that while it has yet to get more modern equipment, the AAR has been effective in carrying out its mandate and assisting the government in ongoing efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

Meanwhile, he urged all AAR personnel to continue honing their skills and maintain their professionalism.

Basically he is saying the AFP has heart and that is what matters. What a crock! Wars are not won with heart.  They are won with equipment and training.

What a joke. Just as unfunny a joke as Sara Duterte talking about cultivating a "culture of security."

https://twitter.com/SunStarDavao/status/1272553573268643841

"We call on everyone to continue to be vigilant and do their part in establishing and nurturing a Culture of Security here in our city and our country."

You know what would cultivate a culture of security is taking intel seriously. Taking the threat of ISIS seriously. Not calling the NPA irrelevant. That AFP has done all of that. Their laxity has made the Philippines unsafe. Seven years ago the AFP declared Antique insurgent free and the NPA insignificant.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2013/03/19/news/regions/rebels-in-antique-rendered-useless/643219/

“The CNN [CPP-NPA-NDF] here in Antique is already insignificant,” Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Third Infantry Division commander, said after he and Gov. Exequiel Javier of Antique signed a joint declaration proclaiming Antique as “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready.” 

“The joint declaration of Antique as manageable conflict-affected and development-ready means that the province is an insurgency-free province and at this time, we were able to overcome the so called fear of communist affectation. We are now moving out of that and ready to accept investment,” he added.

Now the AFP says there is massive recruitment in Antique!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106195

“We have monitored massive recruitment, especially of minors, in Antique province,” Batara said, adding that this is intended to reclaim some areas in the province that were declared as insurgent-free in 2015. 

“Massive recruitment is particularly happening in the municipalities of Sibalom, San Remigio and Hamtic,” he said, adding that CNTs’ extortion activities are also being done simultaneously to beef up their logistical strength.

They declared the province insurgent free in 2015? Funny cause the first article is from 2013. Is that a typo or did the NPA flare up in the region after 2013? In any case they declared parts of both Northern and Eastern Samar insurgent free in 2013 and 2015.

https://manilastandard.net/news/-main-stories/193027/42-visayas-towns-rebel-free.html

In the past two years, the Philippine Army has declared 42 towns in Eastern Visayas as insurgency-free, raising military’s confidence that the region will attain the rebel-free status by next year. 

In a report to the Regional Development Council, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Bajarin, assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said that of the 42 areas, nine are in Northern Samar, four in Samar, four in Eastern Samar and 25 in Leyte. 

“This is in line with our effort to declare Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Leyte as insurgency-free by 2016,” Bajarin said. 

Since October 2013, declared as insurgent-free are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, and San Roque in Northern Samar; Alamagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Nino, and Daram in Samar; Guiuan, Mercedes, Lawaan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. 

In Leyte, listed as rebel-free are Palompon, Bato, Matalom, Inopacan, Tabon-tabon, Dulag, Julita, Babatngon, Tabango, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hindang, Barugo, San Miguel, Leyte, Pastrana, Hilongos, Tolosa, Mayorga, Matag-ob, Merida, Dagami, Calubian, Sta. Fe, and Alangalang. 

These areas have been jointly declared as free from threats of New People’s Army by local government units and Army battalions in the region.

Well Samar was not insurgency free by 2016 as the AFP continues to fight the NPA in the region.

http://archive.is/x2aq7

The New People’s Army (NPA) continues to weaken following intensified military operations this year, the Philippine Army operating in some parts of rebel-infested Northern Samar province said on Friday. 

Lt. Col. Juan Gullem, commander of the Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion (IB), said a rebel lair overran by government troops and seizure of firearms in Palapag, Northern Samar will paralyze the activities of the communist terrorist group. 

Seized after the clash were two homemade shotguns, empty shells, mobile phone, flash drive, transistor radio, gasoline, four civilian bags, food supply, flashlights with batteries, assorted medicines, school identification cards, and subversive documents. 

The discovery of school IDs proves that NPAs have been recruiting students to join in the armed struggle, Gullem said. 

“The lair’s discovery will weaken the organization since they’re driven away from their comfort zone. The overwhelming support of the local populace to the government makes the NPA vulnerable. It will take time for them to establish another haven unless they surrender,” Gullem said in a phone interview. 

Northern Samar is considered to be the NPA’s stronghold in Eastern Visayas due to poor road network, thick forest, high poverty incidence, and low level of education in upland communities.

Maybe the AFP will meet their new target date of of an insurgency free Samar by 2022. But probably not. Let's not be duplicitous here. There are good numbers from this month and other months too as NPA members and supporters continue to surrender.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1045164

The Communist Terrorists Group in Northern Samar further weakens with the mass surrender of 71 CTG members and supporters to the 43rd Infantry Battalion on June 15 in Northern Samar. 

Reports coming from the 43rd IB stated that the surrenderees included 45 Yunit Militia, 13 Batahang Organisasyon sa Partido (BOP) and 13 Communist Terrorist Group supporters, at Barangay E Durian, Bobon, Northern Samar.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1105880

Intensified operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has resulted in the voluntary surrender of 313 New People's Army (NPA) members and supporters from June 6 to 12.

High value targets continue to be neutralized by the AFP.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1045394

A notorious Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) who was responsible in various extortion activities targeting the government infrastructure projects and business establishments in the pacific towns of Northern Samar, and his aide, were neutralized by the combined elements of Team Peacemaker and the Northern Samar Police Mobile Force Company while conducting an inter-agency law enforcement operation on Saturday, June 20, at vicinity of Brgy. Bagacay, Palapag, Northern Samar.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106423

An alleged bomb expert of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in the 2007 Batasan bombing was arrested in an intelligence-driven law enforcement operation in this southern port city, a police official said Friday. 

Lt. Col. Roland Barraquio, Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company commander, identified the arrested individual as Kahar Indama, cousin of Basilan-based ASG leader Furuji Indama. 

Indama was involved in the November 13, 2007 bombing that killed then Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar and injured seven others, two of whom are legislators, at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City, he said. 

He said the arrested ASG "bomb expert" was also involved in the ambush of government troops sometime in 2007 that resulted in the death of seven militiamen and one member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and injured three soldiers and a militiaman.

But if gains cannot be sustained then it's all for nothing. The government seems to not understand that.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106478

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged the officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure that there will be zero abuses of any provision in the proposed anti-terrorism measure once it is enacted into law. 

“It is a reminder to the Executive Department, the Secretaries, who will form the Task Force Committee, it is a reminder to the Chief-of-Staff, it is a reminder to the Senate and Congress, and it is a reminder to the Chief PNP that the law will be judged not by all its successes, but by one abuse,” he said. 

“Maybe not now, maybe not next week, maybe not in one year, we may prove that the critics [are] wrong,” he said.

The problem with the new anti-terror bill is not that abuses may happen but that NOTHING will happen. That everything will remain the same. That the insurgency will continue to plod along just as it has for the past 50 years because of the incompetence of the AFP and the PNP. The Philippines does not need a new anti-terrorism law.  It needs an effective military who can defeat these threats. Heart is not enough.

Hospital Emergency Room

Hospitals in the Philippines are wretched places. Even the private hospitals are awful. I had to visit an emergency room recently at The Doctor's Hospital. It looked like this:

What you should keep in mind is that this is a brand new emergency room. An addition to an already existing hospital. This place is where the ambulances will be dropping off people in need. Now why would they construct this new wing and leave a telephone pole stump in the road!! Can you see it in the picture?  Here it is up close!!!

Here it is even up closer!

It looks like a carabao patty but is a lot more dangerous. I watched at least two vehicles run over this obstacle. Imagine an ambulance running over it!  Imagine an ambulance coming there at all. Now I did ask about this stump and was told it was PLDT's responsibility because they own the telephone poles. I did go to PLDT to ask about it but was greeted with a very long line and told come back tomorrow.

You know what? It's not my job and if no one else cares why should I?  This is the Philippines!

Look at the first picture again. See that white thing in the middle of the driveway where the ambulances are supposed to offload?  Here is what the other side looks like.

Is this COVID-19 related!? Is this part of social distancing? You have to be dropped off and signed in at this station!? While all the traffic is driving by? RIDICULOUS!! I went by two days later and they moved this sign-in station from the center of the ramp to the side.

It's not any less stupid but at least the doors aren't blocked off anymore.

But I am not finished.  Look at this. 

This poor man is being pushed in his wheelchair IN THE BUSY STREET IN THE RAIN around the corner from the emergency room to I don't know where probably to some evaluation place. Do I need to point out how dangerous this is? Why does The Doctor's Hospital allow their staff to do this? They could have pushed him through the building but they didn't!! Why not? A few days later I saw the same scenario being played out.

Why are they pushing wheelchair bound patients through the busy street!? The answer I received was basically, "Well they are just going over there." That is not an excuse because when I was there the guy I was with was wheeled through the building to the emergency room area. It almost makes you wish a car would smash right into these people just so they can learn a lesson about how stupid this all is.

The God Culture: The Law is What Redeems Us

It seems Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture is finished telling his version of Philippine history and has now moved on to reveal his more explicitly theological doctrines. The gist of his history about the Philippines is that Filipinos are Israelites and the Philippines is one of the two witnesses who will rise up in the last days and condemn the nations. The other witness is the Kurds who Tim teaches are also Israelites. The condemnation of the nations by the Philippines in the last days will consist in the restoration of the Mosaic law in all its fullness. It was crucial that Tim lay down his historical foundation because now he can teach what the restoration of the law means.

In several recent videos he has given his teaching about the sabbath and about what the Apostle Paul "really said" regarding the law. According to Tim Paul had to actually relearn how to keep the Mosaic law. You see Paul was a Pharisee which means he only knew the Pharisaical way to keep the law which is not the correct way.

https://youtu.be/9Id0VB5fM5M?t=1821

30:22 However Paul kept the Pharisee law in his teachings back then but Pharisee teachings. Ok? Those do not attribute to him keeping the actual law because the Pharisee law is not the law. Therefore having been a Pharisee it did not mean Paul understood the law or the Bible any better than anyone else. He would have to relearn, really unlearn first, and then relearn the entire law because they had leavened pretty much all of it and turned it against, so Paul was learning really a new law when you think about it.

Who taught Paul the correct way to keep the law? The implication is Jesus Christ did when Paul went to Arabia for three years. Tim says that after relearning how to keep the law the Apostle Paul then taught Gentile Christians to do the same. From circumcision to sacrifices to the dietary commands all 613 laws are still in effect. Keeping them is necessary to one's salvation and to being grafted into the kingdom. If you don't keep the law then you are not in relationship with Yahuah. If you are not in relationship with Yahuah then you are not saved.

The following video is a brief presentation of how Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture teaches men are saved.  In short it is not faith in Christ which redeems us. The law of Moses is what redeems us.

While this video is a mash up of three God Culture videos, it accurately depicts the teaching of Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture regarding salvation. The transcript with sources is as follows:

We are The God Culture, a group of independent researchers with no affiliation to any denomination nor organization whatsoever.

The Law of Sin and Death. What is it? NOT The Law of Moses! WHAT DID PAUL SAY? at 0:28

People ask at times how do we know we are saved? Well, are you keeping the sabbath? That is the sign of one who is saved and in relationship with Him. 

Sabbath Series: Part 1. What is the Sabbath? Did it pass away? The Biblical Truth. at 27:46

So this is another example that we aren't to just have faith in Yahusha. That’s not enough. That’s not it.  No, no, no, no. We are to keep His commandments.

Sabbath Series: Part 5: The End Times Sabbath at 19:30

For we know that the law is spiritual.  Which law is he talking about? He's talking about the law of Moses. Operating in the Spirit is operating in the law of Moses.

The Law of Sin and Death. What is it? NOT The Law of Moses! WHAT DID PAUL SAY?" at 16:55

The law written by the very finger of Yahuah Himself.  The law is what redeems us.

The Law of Sin and Death. What is it? NOT The Law of Moses! WHAT DID PAUL SAY?" at 39:35

Thank you for watching. Please subscribe to our Youtube channel. Don't forget to click the bell.  Like us on Facebook at The God Culture space, hyphen space, original. Share this video with others and check out our website at The God Culture dot com. Always remember to prove all things for yourself. Love you all. Be safe. Yahuah bless and sabot shalom or sabbath peace if you are watching this on the sabbath.

The Law of Sin and Death. What is it? NOT The Law of Moses! WHAT DID PAUL SAY? at 1:02:29

The text shown on screen is a list of all 613 laws of the Law of Moses which can be found at the following link:

613 Laws of the Old Testament

I posted this video a few weeks ago to see how it would fare. The God Culture saw it and responded in two ways. First it appears Tim had this to say: 

10:02 Now, in other words, when you die to the law of sin and death you keep the law of Moses. That's what he's saying. And he said that in Romans 7 and 8. And we made that clear in those videos yet our words taken out of context and someone attempted to try to frame that we were saying that salvation through the law which is ridiculous and pretty stupid frankly. To not keep the law of Moses is to live in the law of sin and death that's it because they're opposites, you're in one or you're in the other. There's no gray area in between. Paul doesn't leave any gray area. You're in one or you're in the other.  He says there are only two laws in this respect. 

Again, is there salvation through the law? No. One is not saved by keeping the law.  That is Pharisee doctrine, not what Paul says. Paul is clear there is only salvation through Yahushah Hamashiach. 

It may sound confusing but it's actually very simple. It has become confusing because Pharisees have gotten their hands in it and mixed it up.  We receive Him in making a decision to make Him our Lord. I mean a real decision not just saying a prayer and in fact a prayer is not even required. However we are saved if we continue in that relationship and this where the law comes in because if you claim Messiah is your lord you cannot serve the law of sin and death any longer. If you serve the law of sin and death He is not your Lord. Sorry but He's not. He can't be. You cannot serve two masters, right? He said that. And there is no reconciling the two opposite laws as somehow the same. 

https://youtu.be/8AT2mw2nHoY?t=602

What Tim is saying can be visualized like this:

Silly Tim. Grace and law do not mix!

Tim is attempting to shove grace inside the law hole. It does not work that way. Only law fits in the law hole. Grace goes elsewhere. You cannot combine the two. They cancel each other out.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The confusion stems from Tim saying several contradictory things including faith in Christ is not enough, the law is what redeems us, the law does not save us, we are saved by relationship with Christ, that relationship entails keeping the Mosaic law, to walk in newness of life is to keep the Mosaic law, salvation is sure, and salvation can be lost.  All those statements contradict each other. Despite his rejection of the idea a close look at his doctrine reveals that for Tim salvation does come through keeping the law. But law keeping must be coupled with faith in Christ or else it is in vain. They are synergistic and go together. Like love and marriage you can't have one without the other.  For Tim to say all he says about the law and then tell his audience salvation does not come from the law is disingenuous. His doctrine is entirely legalistic. He hardly ever mentions the grace of Jesus Christ. Timothy Jay Schwab is a graceless law hole.

I stand by this video 100%. It accurately depicts Tim's heretical doctrine. Faith in Christ is not enough. The law is what redeems us. There are 613 laws which must be kept in order to maintain our relationship with Christ and be grafted into the kingdom. Of all those laws Tim harps on the sabbath the most. Listen to his videos on Colossians 2 and 3 as well as Grafted Into the Kingdom for further confirmation.

The second response of The God Culture to this video was to have it removed for allegedly violating their copyright.

The hypocrisy here is unbelievable. All I did was take some audio, splice it up, and make a video that is protected under fair use laws. The whole point is to show the stupidity of Timothy's salvation doctrine which is, "We aren't to just have faith in Yahusha, That's not enough" and "The law is what redeems us." No one who saw this video could ever be fooled into thinking The God Culture made it nor is it designed to fool people into thinking such.

I submitted the proper counter notification and was given this notice:

The God Culture were given 10 days to show proof that they had begun "court action against" me or the video would be restored. They failed to provide such proof and the video has now been restored.

Contrast my experience to a channel called Youtube Flare who has reposted The God Culture's videos IN FULL and with his own added intro and outro since 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp3deY6yUfQ

He has even monetized these videos!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp3deY6yUfQ

This channel has modified and monetized The God Culture's videos since 2017 and they don't know about it? Or they don't care? For a group so allegedly protective of their copyrights that doesn't smell right at all.

But it gets even worse. The God Culture has tried to shut me down because I use screenshots of their videos when I write about them. They claim that it is a copyright violation to do so. But in their video "Was the Apostle Paul the Son of Perdition" they do this very same thing using screenshots from a video to illustrate what they are talking about!

https://youtu.be/Vb_i--GeRNU?t=2702

The text says:

Ophirian Heritage Conservatory
"Son of Perdition Part 1"
Uploaded April 15, 2020
Screenshot May 25, 2020
Used in accordance with the Fair Use Act

What a bunch of hypocrites. The issue here is not my use of screenshots or parodying their logo or anything having to do with alleged libel or copyright violations, neither of which I am guilty. The real issue is that I have stepped up to expose The God Culture for the frauds that they are. I have proven several times how their research about the Philippines is erroneous and amounts to copy/pasting from blogs and Wikipedia as well as manipulating and misinterpreting other sources like the Periplus of the Erythean Sea.  And they are very, very, very angry that the truth about them has come out. They want me and my blog gone and to that end they will do whatever it takes including threatening, or perhaps even actually bringing, legal action.

http://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-god-culture-noah-landed-on-mt.html?showComment=1591165801324#c5678370493820712538

Stop Cyber Criminal. This blog as all of this fraud's material are filled with Cyber Libel, Negligence, Fraud, Misrepresentation, Copyright Infringement, etc. He has been reported to the authorities and this will be dealt with. In the meantime, understand this is outrageous fraud in misrepresentation. We are no longer addressing this sheer stupidity and childish, criminal behavior. Watch our videos which are not represented here, test them and prove all things for yourself because David Roxas is a criminal whose time to reap his reward is very near.

What an empty, stupid, malicious threat and accusation. Are they really going to waste their time and money suing me in court over this blog because I have exposed Timothy Jay Schwab for the absolute fraud he is? If they ever do sue me you can be sure it will be posted here for all to see what morons this group of fake researchers actually is. 

Retards in the Government 159

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

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/13/2020639/pnp-probe-victim-blaming-social-media-posts-among-its-ranks

Philippine National Police chief, Police Gen. Archie Gamboa has ordered the Directorate for Police Community Relations under PMGen Dionardo Carlos to investigate reports that official police social media accounts were used to post victim-blaming statements. 

Victim blaming, as defined by the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, is "a devaluing act that occurs when the victim(s) of a crime or an accident is held responsible — in whole or in part — for the crimes that have been committed against them." 

The PNP specifically mentioned the controversial Lucban Municipal Police Station which drew widespread backlash over the past week for a post that said women should not wear short clothing and then report sexual harassment to them. 

“Recently, the Lucban Municipal Police Station social media post drew flak from netizens for allegedly being sexist,” read the Saturday PNP release. 

“The PNP strongly advocates the protection of women and children and maintains a strict set of guidelines for its personnel on the use of social media. Violators may face administrative and even criminal charges, if evidence warrants,” Gamboa said in the release.

PNP posts on Facebook blaming women who are sexually harassed on wearing short clothing. Facebook privileges denied!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1290802/cayetano-to-filipinos-pursue-true-freedom-implies-revolting-is-just-a-phase

“And when we get older still. Or maybe it’s not just age, rather as we get more experience, see the world and gain more wisdom, we begin to see that true freedom is knowing and understanding the limits of what we can do yet still knowing that we are Free,” he added. 

“Yes, freedom has responsibility as an essential ingredient. One’s freedom is tied to the freedom of others. Our rights are not limitless, but is bounded on all sides by the rights of others,” he said. 

“With knowledge and responsibility we can move freely in that space. Without knowledge and responsibility, our actions affect the freedom of our fellowmen. Or their’s affect ours. And thus the evils of discrimination, prejudice, hate — destroy, rather than prove freedom,” he added.

Cayetano's point is that you can't just run around doing whatever you want. Not that anyone is equating freedom with anarchy. Over all he comes off as very wishy-washy definition of freedom. He is no Patrick Henry that's for sure. "Give me liberty or give me death."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1292266/rizal-mayor-tagged-in-narcolist-survives-ambush-try

Police are investigating an attempt on the life of Raul Palino, the mayor of Teresa, Rizal, who was previously named by President Duterte as among local officials tied to illegal drugs. 

Col. Renato Alba, Rizal police director, in a text message Tuesday, said Palino was unharmed, but his bodyguard Ruel Santos and driver Joel Balajadia were hurt in the shooting incident. 

According to a police report, the mayor was on board his van, and was on his way home, when the vehicle was shot at around 5 p.m. Monday at E. Rodriguez Ave. in Barangay Poblacion. 

Based on the initial investigation, the lone shooter escaped on foot towards Antipolo City. 

In 2019, Palino was included in the list of 46 politicians, who according to President Duterte were involved in the drug trade. 

Palino had denied the allegation and even sought out the regional police headquarters to clear his name.

Another assassination attempt on a mayor tagged on Duterte's narco-list.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/742826/649-people-including-260-officials-charged-over-cash-aid-anomalies-dilg/story/

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said close to 400 barangay and local government officials are facing criminal charges for anomalies in the distribution of cash aid for families whose livelihoods were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Apart from this, a total of 663 individuals have been subjected to investigation by the police, including 267 elected barangay and local government officials. 

"The rest, 396, are other government employees or civilian accomplices of those elected local officials," said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año in a statement. 

Año said of the total 663 individuals, the DILG has filed criminal cases against 397.

Are these new cases or part of the hundreds already filed?

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1860284/Manila/Local-News/Ex-cop-arrested-over-kidnapping-of-BIR-officials

AUTHORITIES arrested on Monday, June 15, a former policeman allegedly involved with the group behind the kidnapping-for-ransom of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials since 2019. 

Police Officer 3 Allan Encina Formilleza, who was formerly assigned at the Quezon City Police District but went on absence without leave (Awol) in 2019, was arrested around 11 a.m. in Las Palmas Subdivision, Barangay Caypombo, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.  

Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) spokesperson Major Rannie Lumactod said law enforcers served on Formilleza three arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court National Capital Judicial Region for charges of murder, theft and estafa. 

Lumactod said Formilleza is a member of what they called the “gapos gang” which operates in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, primarily targeting wealthy BIR officials.

An ex-cop involved with a kidnapping gang but not charged with kidnapping. Maybe that will be forthcoming.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1293015/ombudsman-orders-probe-on-duque-doh-execs-for-irregularities-in-covid-19-response

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has ordered an investigation on Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other officials and employees of the Department of Health (DOH) over alleged irregularities on the agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I directed the creation of two more investigating teams who will jointly investigate alleged irregularities and anomalies committed by DOH officials and employees, including Health Sec. Francisco Duque, in relation to the response of the DOH during this pandemic,” he added. 

He said the two additional investigating teams will focus on the delayed procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical gear for healthcare workers, and alleged lapses and irregularities that led to the death of medical workers and the rising number of deaths and infected medical frontliners. 

The investigation will also focus on the alleged inaction in the release and processing of benefits and financial assistance for medical frontliners who have contracted COVID-19 and those who have died of the disease, as well as the “confusing and delayed” reporting of COVID-19 related deaths and confirmed cases, according to the Ombudsman.

Duque did said he accepted ultimate responsibility. He will probably issue a statement that he is innocent and welcomes the investigation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1293121/dumaguete-village-exec-slain-in-front-of-watchmen-officials

A village chief in this city was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen while he was on duty outside the village outpost on Tuesday night. 

Harrison Gonzales of Barangay 1 (Tinago) was gunned down by a lone gunman, who was accompanied by four other men, onboard separate motorcycles in front of village officials and watchmen, who had been on duty with him to implement the nightly curfew in the village. 

Gonzales’ death was the second consecutive shooting incident in this city this week. 

On Monday morning, unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen also shot and killed a businesswoman in front of her husband in Barangay Mangnao, Dumaguete City.

Another assassination of an LGU official.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/16/20/philhealth-seeks-delay-of-universal-healthcare-implementation

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Tuesday sought the delay of the implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law, as collections this year took a downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

The state insurance agency in a joint hearing recommended the postponement of the implementation of the UHC and its primary care benefit expansion due to lack of funds.  

PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales said the agency was "taking a very prudent approach" on the delivery of new packages under the UHC as its collection of contributions was "about 10 percent" compared last year. 

"The collection from the direct contributors has dropped significantly kasi wala hong negosyo (there's no business). We are falling back on our reserve which we anticipated is going to take a hit," he said. 

"As we get more data, as we see how this pandemic develops, maybe we can begin to plan to deliver packages in the primary healthcare package depends on how things turn out with the COVID-19."

Excuse taxes certainly dropped. But if UHC is relying on booze, cigarette, and lotto taxes then there is definitely going to be a problem. That is not very sustainable.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1292697/govt-owned-research-institute-unable-to-finish-p81-m-worth-of-studies-on-time-coa

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has been flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) for its failure to finish 24 research projects amounting to P81.23 million within the supposed timetable. 

According to COA’s 2019 audit report of the government-owned agency, the backlog was largely due to delays that PIDS encountered in interacting with other government agencies and with problems in hiring qualified staffers. 

“According to Management, the causes of the non-completion of the projects within the original timetable indicated in the projects’ work plans could be attributed to, among others, delays encountered from other government agencies in processing PIDS’ requests for data and difficulty in hiring qualified project staff,” COA said. 

“PIDS requested for time extension in consultation with the partner agencies, in the case of externally-funded projects,” it added. 

However, the COA report showed that at least one of the projects left unfinished dated back to 2017, while eight others started in 2018. Of the P81.23 million fund, PIDS has already spent P56.32 million. 

COA advised PIDS to exert more care in formulating a project plan, to ensure that research projects could be completed within a feasible timeframe.

So PIDS could not hire qualified people and had problems working with other government agencies. Sounds like the red tape culture has not abated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106288

A Maguindanao village official and his son were killed while another was wounded in an ambush in the North Cotabato town of Midsayap on Wednesday. 

Lt. Col, John Miridel Calinga, Midsayap municipal police chief, said police and elements of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion have launched a manhunt to get the perpetrators of the the incident. 

Calinga identified the victims as Paitin Lando, 53, a village official of Datu Piang, Maguindanao, and his 18-year-old son, Noron Mulod. They both instantly died from multiple gunshot wounds. 

Injured was Sued Kalambo, 21, driver of the motorbike hired by Lando and his son.  

“The attack could be related to a ‘rido’ involving the village official’s family and that of the ambushers,” Calinga said.

So there were three people riding the motorcycle. Just anther LGU shot dead.