The God Culture: Retired Army Officer Col. Bienvenido "Bien" Gerrardo C Casis, Jr. Helps to Spread Propaganda and Lies

"It's SPREADING!!!," begins a Facebook post from Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture. 

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=736476610245692&id=376627072897316

It's SPREADING!!! Entering Schools in the Philippines... Lodlod Integrated National High School, Lipa City, Batangas and the Yema Family pose with Preacher Bien and Rowie Casis who gifted them bundles of Ophir Philippines Coffee Table Book, The Search For King Solomon's Treasure and The Book of Jubilees: The Torah Calendar. Maraming salamat po Preacher Bien and Mam Rowie. Yah Bless you and the Staff and Students of Lodlod in Batangas. 

Did you order your copies yet?

Not sure who to give copies? We already have schools such as 1 in Cebu who would like copies even for students and we get requests regularly. Just let us know and we can direct.

Like a deadly virus The God Culture's false teachings and blasphemous theology has been SPREADING!!! Since 2017 when Tim published his first video thousands of Filipinos have been infected by his ear tickling doctrines and outrageous historical lies. Call it GODCULT-17. We can thank Preacher Bien for contributing to this spread as he gifted a family with bundles of Timothy Jay Schwab's books. He is a super spreader.

The implication in this Facebook post is that some schools are already teaching or plan to teach from "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure." Here is another satisfied customer and teacher proudly displaying her book:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=709660712927282&id=376627072897316

A teacher from Laguna, Alilie Saga, sent in this photo of her copy of The Search for King Solomon's Treasure. She already has students who want to use it in book reports as well. That is awesome! Salamat po Alilie. Maraming Yah Bless.

Not Rizal, not Pigafetta, but Timothy Jay Schwab is the author of choice for her students who want to write book reports about "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" rather than "Noli Me Tángere."

One teacher thinks "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" should be required reading in every school.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=736505533576133&id=376627072897316

Amazing! This book should be required reading in every school. It exposes the true history of the PH based on the Bible and solid historical references. One must ask why the PH's true past was hidden and altered.  Perhaps it has something to do with Ophir's prophetic and mind-blowing destiny?

-Phillip Pastoral The Berean Project and Flying School Bus Homeschool

Based on solid historical references? No! Timothy Jay Schwab teaches that the Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to trade with the Philippines and that they thought the earth was flat. That is a lie with no historical foundation whatsoever. Those are two of many unhistorical assertions made in the book. Here are two more. 

On page 257 of "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" Tim says the Spanish found the Sto. Niño which Magellan gifted to Rajah Humabon, whom he does not even name, in Mactan which is proof that the natives rejected the statue and did not worship it because Magellan gave it to him in Cebu and not Mactan.  His source for this is "History of the Philippine Island Vol 2." However this very same source contradicts him! Estevan Rodriguez, chief pilot of Legazpi's fleet, records the following.

The fleet set sail for Cebú, where after landing they found the village deserted. Legazpi ordered that each mess of four soldiers should take one house and the rest of the houses be destroyed. Everything was removed from the houses before any were destroyed.

"In this town when we entered we found therein a child Jesus. A sailor named Mermeo found it. It was in a wretched little house, and was covered with a white cloth in its cradle, and its little bonnet quite in order. The tip of its nose was rubbed off somewhat, and the skin was coming off the face. The friars took it and carried it in procession on a feast day, from the house where it was found to the church that they had built."

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/13280/pg13280.html

The Sto. Niño was found in Cebu not Mactan. The natives also did not reject it. They worshipped it and it "wrought miracles for them." So says Antonio de Morga who also attests it was found in Cebu not Mactan.

He continued his voyage until reaching the island of Sebu, where he anchored, induced by the convenience of a good port and by the nature of the land. At first he was received peacefully by the natives and by their chief Tupas; but later they tried to kill him and his companions, for the Spaniards having seized their provisions, the natives took up arms against the latter; but the opposite to their expectations occurred, for the Spaniards conquered and subdued them. Seeing what had happened in Sebu, the natives of other neighboring islands came peacefully before the adelantado, rendered him homage, and supplied his camp with a few provisions. The first of the Spanish settlements was made in that port, and was called the city of Sanctisimo Nombre de Jesus [Most holy name of Jesus], because a carved image of Jesus had been found in one of the houses of the natives when the Spaniards conquered the latter, which was believed to have been left there by the fleet of Magallanes. The natives held the image in great reverence, and it wrought miracles for them in times of need. The Spaniards placed it in the monastery of St. Augustine, in that city.

History of the Philippines, Antonio Morga

Again, those are just two of the many historical lies in Tim's book rendering it unfit to be taught in any classroom. It's not just that those last two lies about the Sto. Niño are historically wrong. The problem is that they are part of an eccentric and prejudiced interpretation of the history of the Philippines which is incapable of serving any serious historical function. Tim goes on to say that the Spanish attempted to "rape and pillage" the Philippines and that the introduction of idolatry put a 400 year curse on the nation lasting from 1599 until 1999 enabling both the Spanish and the USA, which Tim ridiculously claims is part of the Holy Roman Empire, to fully subjugate the Philippines and steal its resources. It's beyond the scope of this article to dive into all of that nonsense. I will do so elsewhere. 

The God Culture says Philip Pastoral bought 10 copies of "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" and received 10 free during their BOGO promotion. That is 20 books to give away. Like Preacher Bien, Philip Pastoral is a super spreader.

Surely this book will have to be approved by the DepEd before it is taught in schools right? Of course! There is a process for evaluating the suitability of books to be taught in Philippine schools. A teacher cannot teach from whatever book he wants. If The DepEd ever did approve "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" it would be right in line with all their previous blunders.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1152074/coa-report-p254m-went-to-error-filled-deped-books

The Commission on Audit (COA) said learning materials of the Department of Education (DepEd) worth P254.253 million for Grade 3 pupils were riddled with errors despite the department’s three-step review process.

The materials include those for araling panlipunan, science and English, the COA said in its 2018 audit report.

“The existence of error-filled learning materials is an indication that the meticulous checking, review and evaluation processes of the manuscripts were not undertaken by the concerned bureaus before [their] mass production,” it said.

Citing Calipjo Go’s letter to the editor in the Inquirer in 2018, the COA said the Grade 3 “Araling Panlipunan Learner’s Material,” written by Manalo, Capunitan, Galarosa and Sampang, had a staggering 1,308 errors.

The audit body said that the 363-page Grade 3 “English Learner’s Material,” written by 15 authors, contained 430 errors.

The 185-page Grade 3 “Science Learner’s Material,” which was written in Filipino, was found to have  317 errors, an average of 1.7 errors per page.

Hopefully "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" will never be taught in Philippine schools. Then again if it were adopted perhaps there might be an outcry from concerned parents and historians will give Timothy Jay Schwab and The God Culture the tongue-lashing they deserve. He may ignore my systematic dismantling of his fake history but he will have to answer the professionals in the field if they ever come a-calling. It would be great to see him confronted and forced to defend his false history on air in a TV interview or in some other public forum. But that will probably never happen. 

Let's take a closer look at Preacher Bien whom The God Culture refers to as "Retired Brig. General in the AFP and Army Officer Bien Casis." Here he is again on The God Culture's Facebook page posing with his book.

https://www.facebook.com/376627072897316/photos/a.382595402300483/704080416818645/?type=3

King Solomon's Treasure is found in the mountains of Luzon. Retired Brig. General in the AFP and Army Officer Bien Casis, now preacher and his lovely wife Rowie continue their journey with Ophir Philippines Coffee Table Book and The Search for King Solomon's Treasure. What will they find? Only one way to find out, read the books for yourself. Salamat po Preacher Bien and Rowie. Maraming Yah Bless.

Here he is with his family posing with Timothy Jay Schwab's books.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=714001825826504&id=376627072897316

The Casis Family is enjoying their copies of The Search for King Solomon's Treasure and Ophir Philippines Coffee Table Book. What a terrific photo sent in by Mam Rowie. Salamat Mam Rowie, Preacher Bien and family. Maraming Yah Bless.

There are a few more pictures on The God Culture's Facebook page of Bien Casis and his family posing with Tim's books. Clearly Timothy Jay Schwab appreciates this man and finds his testimonials to be helpful. Perhaps it was Bien Casis who invited Timothy to speak at the Sabbath 2nd Conference on January 30th. Tim will once more be a featured speaker at the Sabbath 3rd Conference on Monday March 29th, 2021.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=162255389069664&set=pcb.162256759069527

Here is Pastor Casis posing with his own congregation the Sabbath B C Congregation.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=157208416241028&set=pcb.157209329574270

It appears that Pastor Casis' church is located in his garage. Here he is posing with huge bundles of The God Culture's books which he is going to give away. Preacher Bien isn't a mere super spreader, he is a super duper spreader.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=157208416241028&set=pcb.157209329574270

What is this man's theological training which equipped him to be a Pastor? It is difficult to find out anything about Brigadier General Bien Casis of the AFP. There is a Brigadier General Abraham Claro Casis but absolutely nothing about a Brigadier General Bien Casis. That's because in 2015 Bien Casis retired from the Army as Colonel not as a Brigadier General. It seems his retirement party also functioned as his birthday party.  Here is the cake:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10153709430298875&set=a.10153709389023875

Here he is sitting with his cap in front of him which clearly displays the rank of a colonel.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10153709433233875&set=a.10153709389023875

Why The God Culture referred to Casis as a retired Brigadier General and were not corrected for that error is not apparent. Both Bien Casis and his wife shared that post despite Bien being wrongly refer to as a Retired Brigadier General. One person in his congregation keeps referring to him as Pastor Gen Bien. Why is that? Who told the Timothy Jay Schwab this man is a retired Brigadier General?

There is nothing available online to indicate that Casis received any theological training. His Facebook page lists the Philippine Military Academy and he also attended the U.S. Army War College but there is no indication he attended a seminary or Bible college. It also appears that he was a Baptist for quite a few years.  If he ever did receive Bible training then he has long since abandoned it because his doctrines about keeping the sabbath and the Torah are anti-Christian and no Bible college would ever teach such a thing.

Here is a bizarre guide to keeping the Passover posted by his wife on April 15, 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158138296553875&set=a.10158138284428875

April 8 The Passover Supper 

Things to do: 

- Examine yourself. Eat the passover worthily. If you are in contention with this observance, then don't follow it.

 - Bible Reading/Story Telling about the Passover of the Lamb in Exodus and relevance to Yahusha's death 

- Prepare the Lamb before hand (4-2 days before) 

- Roast the lamb on the night of the Passover 

- Prepare unleavened bread, wine(red grape Juice), bitterherbs (romaine lettuce, green onions, parsley). - No left overs after eating. Throw it immediately. 

- We will observe this supper together online in Bible reading, breaking the bread and drinking the wine. 

Could they be any more anti-Christian and blasphemous than that? Christ fulfilled the Passover by being sacrificed for us. He is the Passover lamb which the feast of Passover pre-figured.

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

We do not need to keep the Passover anymore because Christ fulfilled it in Himself by dying on the cross. The Passover is also a sacrifice. It's not just roasting a lamb and eating it. There are specific rules on performing this sacrifice. 

Deuteronomy 16:5: Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee:

6: But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

With no temple, no altar, and no priests to perform the sacrifice correctly this Passover observance is a mockery of the real thing. This little guide is a total repudiation of the work of Christ on the cross and shows that Bien Casis is ignorant of the grace of God in Jesus Christ and he teaches a false Gospel which is no Gospel.

That Casis is promoting Timothy Jay Schwab's false teachings by inviting him to be a speaker at his conferences and giving away his books indicates that he has not taken the time to investigate Timothy's claims. He has not read his books or watched his videos with a critical eye but has readily accepted Tim's falsehoods. Now he is attempting to spread them far and wide by giving away Tim's books. It's not only The God Culture's lies Casis is spreading. His Facebook page is filled with pro-Marcos propaganda such as this:

It's sad because Casis has said he is against lying.

Casis, a housing developer for alumni of the Philippine Military Academy, wants to make sure he gets a front seat to history as he watches his former PMA roommate and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong “simply telling the truth and providing everyone the big picture” on a controversial 2013 buy-bust operation in Pampanga.

“That’s what we were taught at the PMA. We don’t lie,” Casis said of his “mistah” (schoolmate).

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1173953/magalong-lying-is-hard-you-have-to-keep-rehearsing

With his preaching false doctrines and the giving away of The God Culture's books as well as giving Timothy Jay Schwab a platform from which he can spew forth his false history and blasphemous doctrines Retired Col. Bienvenido "Bien" Gerrardo C Casis, Jr. is disseminating lies and is thus a liar.

Book Review: My Country's Godly Heritage

March 16, 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Spanish and Christianity in the Philippines. This auspicious event was the result of many historical factors which were all providentially directed by the hand of God. In "My Country's Godly Heritage" author and Pastor Ferdinand Melendres offers an insightful history of the Philippines as seen from a "Biblical perspective" which analyses these factors and shows God's hand in the shaping of this nation.  

In discussing the Philippines before the conquest of the Spanish Melendres begins by charting the missionary work of both the Nestorian church and Manichaeans. Both of these sects reached China and both of them were eventually banished from China. During their stay in China missionaries from both groups had spread out to the Philippines by the tenth century.

Indeed, the religious factor cannot be separated from the history of this land. Five centuries before the Spaniards arrived, Nestorians and Manichaeans came to this land, to pursue religious expansion and to avoid Christian persecution in the tenth century. Consequently, this land became the epicenter of syncretized heretic and Gnostic Christianity for the next 500 years.

pg. 249

This is proved by pottery which was found in Manila.

Archaeological finds in Manila, such as Chinese porcelain dating tenth to fifteenth centuries, and religious documents testify to the early influx of Chinese heretics and Gnostic Christians in this land.

pg. 77 

This influx of syncretic and heretical Nestorianism and Gnosticism primed the pump, so to speak, and prepared Filipinos to accept Catholicism when the Spanish arrived. The Spanish arrived due to seven favors God bestowed on this nation. These favors are summed up on pages 93-95.

1.The fall of Byzantium. 

The Ottoman Turks conquered Byzantium in 1458. This led to:

2. The closing of the silk road

This meant there was no more land route to the East which forced Europeans to seek alternate routes through the ocean.

3. The abundance of spices in the Maluku Islands which are abundant in spices. This opened the door to the Philippines. Melendres says the Philippines did not have these spices.

The third favor was the location of the best quality spice merchandise. Finding the islands of the Moluccas opened the door for Portuguese and Spanish monarchs to consider the Philippines as one of its colonies. The Moluccan Islands was the focal point, the center stage; and Indonesian historians claims that in history, 'the Philippines and New Guinea was the eastern archipelago integrated into Indonesian history.' The Philippines lacked the spices abundant in the Moluccas and did not have silk products similar to those found in China, so Spain's interest in the Philippines was diverted into a godly enterprise, Christian missionary enterprise.

p. 94

The Moluccan Islands were the only source of significant spices, including clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and mace.

p. 84

This claim might seem shocking to those who claim the Philippines is a land of spices. But it is the Moluccas and not the Philippines which are known as the Spice Islands.

4. The quest for Prester John

For hundreds of years there had been legends of a Christian king and empire in the East. Marco Polo's travels only fueled this speculation and Europeans were eager to seek him out in China.

5. The hunt for the gold of Ophir.

During the 15th and 16th centuries many European ships sailed East looking for Ophir. Melendres does not claim that the Philippines is Ophir but only says that some thought it might be and that the search put it on the map. He notes that even after Magellan arrived in the Philippines the Spanish continued to search for Ophir. Specifically they thought Masaua was Ophir.

The emperor was also interested in the supposed 'treasure of King Solomon in the land of Ophir' because when Elcano and the survivors of the first expedition returned to Spain in 1522, they remembered and reported the gold, the golden daggers, pieces of jewelry worn by Rajah Culambo and his men, including the golden vessels, and the display of gold in his palace. They concluded that Masaua was the land of Ophir.

p. 122

The Spanish were never able to relocate this place and it's exact location remains lost to history. Many think it is Limasawa in Southern Leyte. That is the officially recognized location though Butuan has also lodged a claim as being Masaua.

 6. Religious reform in Europe

According to Melendres the Reformation in Europe caused the Spanish to be more humane towards their subjects.

By the time after Columbus's exploits in 1492, the people of the Caribbean , including the Aztecs, Mayas, and Indians in Mexico and Peru, were already under the Spanish crown. But the Spanish conquerors treated the natives like slaves. And because of religious reformation in Europe that began in 1517, slavery and inhuman treatment of newly conquered territories resulted in a new emphasis on man rights. The Spaniards started thinking that using violence against the natives is contrary to the "sweetness of the name of Jesus Christ" thus making the God of the Catholics the "most cruel, unjust, pitiless God of all."One outstanding advocate of human rights in the Mexican and Caribbean conquest was Father Bartolome de Casa. His strong influence to reform the kingdom of Spain ignited the hearts of the Spanish people to think appropriately and spiritually, By the time Legaspi conquered Filipinos in 1565, the Spaniards who came with him were somehow tame and revived.

p.89

As many scholars declared,  The Spanish way of handling their colonies, particularly the Philippines, was still the most humane and fair in comparison with how other European powers in Asia ruled over their conquests during the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries.

p. 130

7. Christian royal monarchs.

This is most important regarding Philip II whom Melendres depicts as a very pious king whose heart's desire was to spread the Gospel and convert the world to the Catholic faith. 

At the beginning of his reign in 1558 King Philip prompted Legaspi, a man of humble birth. In 1564 his very important reminder to Legaspi before sailing to Filipinas was, "If possible, not to harm the natives but treat them with kindness and convert them to the Christian faith." He believed that his authority derived from his commission to preach the Gospel to the natives.

p. 128

On page 125 Melendres relates the significance of the King of Spain being named Philip. There are two Philips in the Bible. One in the Gospels and another in Acts. Both men were zealous to spread the Gospel. Likewise so was King Philip II.

One thousand five hundred years later, another famous person with the name Philip, whose passion was to propagate the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ, rose to power to be the greatest king of Spain in its entire history! This Philip became the Lord's instrument to reinforce the Christianization of the natives of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao which began from he time of Legaspi in 1565.

p. 125

Melendres paints a very different portrait of the Spanish conquerers than usual. Rather then being bloodthirsty, demonic, evil men bent on enslaving the people and raping the land for resources we are presented with a Magellan who had been dubbed the "preaching captain." A man who kept a tight ship and checked the immorality of the sailors. A man whose only purpose was to spread the Gospel. Likewise we are treated to a King Philip II who is likened to David or Solomon and whose greatest desire was to spread the Gospel.

According to Melendres Filipinos accepted the Gospel very readily and not by force. This was because they recognized the God of the Spaniards due to remnants of heretic Nestorian Christians.

Nestorian Mongols believed that the 'Heavenly Father' existed beyond the sky and looked down from the heavens. Nestorian missionaries, on the other hand, carried the name of God Abba or Heavenly Father wherever they proclaimed their doctrines and faith. And as the people of Masaua called their God Abba, it was unlikely that Abba was just an idol or a pagan god. We can therefore draw the conclusion that Rajah Culambo, his brother Rajah Siagu, and Rajah Humabon and their respective kingdoms were remnants of the heretic Nestorian Christians. This was why the Culambo brothers paid full attention and with reverence to the Cross during the First Mass in Masaua. And in Cebu, Rajah Human did not resist Magellan's preaching, and even his people showed their hunger for the Word as the listed to Magellan teach the basic doctrines of Christianity. Then, without hesitation, the Cebuano king immediately submitted to Magellan's baptism.

p. 161

It was Magellan and not the priests who converted Rajah Humabon in Cebu. After he and his retinue were baptized Magellan gave them the Sto. Niño. Years later when the Spanish attacked Cebu they found this Sto. Niño in a house hidden in a chest. The Spanish rejoiced at what they considered to be a sign from God blessing their endeavors. When asked about this statue the natives said it had worked miracles for them. Melendres' source for this story is Antonio Morga and this is what he says about the discovery of the Sto. Niño.

The first of our Spanish settlements was made in that port, which they named the city of the most holy name of Jesus, because they found there, in one of the houses of the natives when they conquered them, a carved image of Jesus; and it was believed that it had remained there from the fleet of Magellan, and the natives held it in great reverence, and it worked for them in their needs miraculous effects. This image they put in the monastery of St. Augustine, which was built in that city. 

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7001/pg7001.html

Though Melendres paints a glowing portrait of the Spaniards as missionaries sent from God he does not gloss over abuses under Spanish rule. At first Filipinos willingly submitted to Spanish rule and became their vassals and adopted their religion. But as time went on abuses grew and a nationalist fervor arose in the middle 19th century. This led to the revolution led by Aguinaldo. Eventually the Spanish were defeated by the Americans who took over. This brought about the blessing of Protestantism. 

Even though there was a lot of infighting between Protestant groups Protestant Biblical Christianty spread. Protestants brought the Bible and for the first time Filipinos heard the true Gospel message of faith in Christ. 

When the Americans came, the introduced another type of Christian faith to the Filipinos, called Protestant Christianity. For the first time, the Filipinos saw and read the Word of God, the Bible. From the Protestant missionaries, the natives heard and learned that salvation is a gift from God through faith in Christ Jesus, and whosoever believed in His name shall not perish but have everlasting life. The arrival of the Americans was not only a liberation from Spain's three-and-a-half centuries rules but also the liberation of Filipino souls from slavery and bondage to sins.

p. 223

Now Filipinos are spread all over the world. The OFW's are not only workers but also missionaries who herald the end of the world as they spread the Gospel abroad. They do this passively through their works.

God told Abraham that someday "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He built His Church. In these last days, He continued to fulfill it by sending Filipino Christians to "all the families of the earth" as servants, nannies, caregivers, and nurses God's plan for them is to become living witnesses of HIs love and salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike. hey were not 'active' missionaries in the traditional way that missions are done, but they are 'passive' witnesses of God's love and compassion. They have been sent forth that they world may 'actively' search the truth about the Gospel through their lives.

p. 261

As St. Francis so famously, or not, said:

Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words. 

Overall this is a very compelling and thought provoking book that offers, not a totally radical, but a very different take on the history of the Philippines. What we learn is that God has a definite plan for this nation and her people which has gradually unfolded over time through historical events. We also learn interesting facts like Filipinos would take their fighting cocks to church to drink holy water!

One missionary condemned the Catholic Church's approval of gambling, and it seemed to encourage it. Each game had its patron saint to which the gambler prayed for success. On some occasions, the gambler took their fighting cocks to the church to ear wafers and drink holy water assuming that the rooster would become strong and win the fight miraculously.

p. 226-227

The real strength of this book is the author's viewpoint that God is in control of all things and has brought the Philippines through her trials and to her current place for a reason. Nothing happens outside of God's will. Each chapter ends with a prayer for the Philippines. I highly recommend this book as it will give the reader a new perspective on this nation and an appreciation of all that has happened here both good and bad. The book is a refreshing break from the modern tirades against colonialism as being fundamentally evil. I found my copy at National Bookstore but it can be ordered from New Day Publishers or at Shopee. Reading this book is a great way to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christianity arriving in the Philippines.

Insurgency: SIPS

As always there is a lot of stuff happening as regards the insurgency this week. The old mill keeps turning. Batangas has now been declared insurgency free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133206

The Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) has declared the province of Batangas as now free from communist insurgency.

Maj. Gen. Greg Almerol, 2ID commander, made the announcement during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) declaring the province as an area with "stable internal peace and security", between ranking military and provincial government officials held at the Provincial Capitol on Wednesday.

Almerol and Governor Hermilando Mandanas signed the MOA in the presence of members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, mayors, officials of government agencies in the province, and military and police commanders.

Almerol said the province has already met the parameters set under the Armed Forces of the Philippines' phases of normalization, specifically the absence of recorded New People's Army (NPA) violent activities for at least one year.

The ceremony also highlighted the presentation of surrendered firearms and distribution of food packs to seven former rebels who were earlier granted monetary support amounting to PHP455,000, as well as medical services among other benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

"The government’s desire to end insurgency through the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or PTF-ELCAC of Batangas made the impossible possible for the people we have sworn to serve," he said.

Almerol also expressed hope that Batangas would now be able to further enhance its commercial viability, tourism, and other development opportunities that would benefit the people.

Batangas is the fifth province in the 2ID's area of responsibility to be declared as having stable internal peace and security, after the provinces of Cavite, Romblon, Marinduque, and Laguna.

The Manila Times provides the dates when the other provinces were declared insurgency free.

Batangas became the fifth province in the 2nd ID’s area of responsibility to be declared as SIPS after Cavite on December 4, 2018, Romblon on February 21, 2019, Marinduque on March 25, 2019 and Laguna on September 26, 2019.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/03/12/news/regions/batangas-now-insurgency-free/850140/

The thing is though that all of those provinces were already declared insurgency free years ago in 2014.

To date, 34 provinces in various regions have been declared free from communist influence. 

These are Biliran, Guimaras, Siquijor, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Romblon, Bohol, Apayao, Aurora, Cebu, Quirino, Tarlac, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Marinduque, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Kalinga, Southern Leyte, South Cotabato, Northern Leyte, Benguet, Aklan, Sarangani, Antique, Eastern Samar, Davao Oriental, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Laguna, Batanes, Bulacan, and Pampanga. 

http://retiredanalyst.blogspot.com/2014/01/decline-in-insurgency-threat-in.html

The article that blog links to which lists all the provinces the AFP had once declared insurgency free is no longer online but other news items from the same time say the same thing except for naming each province.

The Northern Luzon Command said other provinces in Regions 1,2,3 and Cordillera were declared rebel-free between 2009 and 2013:  La Union and Nueva Viscaya in 2009; Apayao, Aurora, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Kalinga in 2010; Ilocos Norte and Benguet in 2011; Zambales, Abra and Bataan in 2012; and Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Cagayan, Ifugao, Bulacan and Mt. Province in 2013.  

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/01/16/1279535/military-says-northern-luzon-insurgency-free

In Romblon's case the province was declared insurgency free in 2009 and the AFP handed security operations over to local government and the PNP.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/12/17/09/romblon-govt-takes-over-counter-insurgency-ops

“Per our assessment, the province is insurgency free, meaning it is now the ownership of the peace and order council as to the maintenance of the peace and order in the area. With this turn over or handover, the Philippine National Police will now  play a more active role in maintaining peace and order in their area,” Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces public affairs office chief, said. 

Brawner said the Southern Luzon Command Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali and 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia led the turnover to Gov. Natalio Belbran following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement.

He said soldiers will remain in the area to play a support role to the PNP in the anti-insurgency campaign. He added that the soldiers will also help in intelligence gathering, maintenance or supervision of Cafgus; and security of vital installations. 

For Marinduque, which was also declared insurgency free in 2009, it seems it was a matter of actually validating that status. After ten years it became official.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/689280/marinduque-declared-insurgency-free/story/

The province of Marinduque has been officially declared as an insurgency-free province and with stable internal peace and security, the third province in the country to achieve the status.

The declaration was announced on Tuesday, March 26, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Stable Internal Peace and Security of the Province of Marinduque was signed between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Provincial Government held in the Provincial Capitol Building in the town of Boac.

The declaration of insurgency-free province means the province is now free from the factions of CPP–NPA–NDF in the province, and is no longer a threat to peace and order.

 According to Police Regional Office director Police Brigadier General Tomas Apolinario, the last sighting of NPA factions in the province was 10 years ago.

Marinduque province was initially recommended to be declared insurgency-free in July 2009 since no insurgent activity was recorded in the province. After a series of validation conducted by different Intelligence units, the province was finally declared insurgency-free today on March 26.

Marinduque joined Cavite and Romblon, which was declared insurgency-free in 2017 and 2019, respectively, in the roster of provinces without communist rebels.

It is unclear why it would take ten years to verify the status of the insurgency in Marinduque especially when the AFP had declared NPA strength was down to zero.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/168637/npa-strength-in-marinduque-down-to-zero-afp/story/

The Philippine military on Thursday claimed that it has reduced the number of communist rebels in Marinduque province in western Philippines to zero. Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) has also been significantly downgraded in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Romblon. 

"Over the years, we have reduced them to zero. They no longer have activity for the past years, no reported incident," Detabali said of the NPA rebels in Marinduque. Because of this development, the AFP is now considering the insurgency problem in the province as a police matter.

If the NPA had been reduced to zero and there were no incidents over the past few years then it would seem that a formal declaration should not have taken 10 years.

The AFP says Marinduque is the third province and Batangas the fifth province in the entire nation to be declared insurgent free. But in 2014 they had declared 34 provinces to be insurgency free? So what happened? This is due to the provinces meeting AFP's new parameters for being insurgency free, specifically no NPA activity for one year. That is certainly more objective than their previous criteria.

“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province. 

“Insignificant level. Wala na rito ang mga armed groups,” Luga said during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held at the Capitol Social Hall.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/09/martial-law-insurgent-free.html 

The AFP has had a problem over the years of declaring an area insurgency free but then facing the fact of a resurgence of insurgents.  At the link above I outlined some of those problems. Now provinces that are insurgency free will be declared as SIPS "Stable Internal Peace and Security" area.

The NTF-ELCAC is tasked with ending the insurgency. The Senate says the man who is the spokesperson for that task force should resign.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405504/parlade-as-active-military-officer-cant-hold-post-in-anti-communist-task-force-senate

The Senate recommended on Wednesday the removal of Army Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), a civilian body created by the Duterte administration that has become controversial for “red-tagging” — or painting activists and government critics as supporters of the communist insurgency or terrorist groups. 

The recommendation was introduced as an amendment to the Senate national defense and security committee’s report after conducting an inquiry on the issues raised against red-tagging.

Parlade’s appointment to the post, according to the amendment adopted by the chamber, was in violation of Article 16, Section 5 of the Constitution banning any active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from holding a civilian position in the government.

Parlade also heads the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, making him one of the military’s key officers in the campaign against the decades-old insurgency.

That seems like a rather cut and dry reason. Paralade's inclusion on a civilian governmental body is a violation of the constitution. Ergo he must vacate the post. Parade says he will not be leaving.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779229/parlade-won-t-resign-as-ntf-elcac-spox-despite-senate-recommendation/story/

Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. has no intention to resign as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) despite the recommendation of the Senate to remove him from the post.

“Very good. Welcome ‘yan. Makes my job easier. But it’s just a recommendation and it’s the executive branch who will decide on it. It’s up to them,” Parlade said in a text message to Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad when asked on the matter.

Parlade said he will stay in the post adding that NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson and National Security Adviser Hermogenes told him that official orders have been issued for him to remain as spokesperson.

“Of course (I will stay). In fact, the Vice Chair NTF ELCAC Sec Esperon just called to say he has issues official orders for me to remain as spox eff(ective) 1 Jan 2021,” the AFP Southern Luzon Command chief said.

Those official orders for Parlade to remain as spokesperson probably came from Duterte. If so that would mean Duterte has no problem with Parlade being on the task force and does not consider it a violation of the constitution. Defense secretary Lorenzana says the same thing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133282

In a Laging Handa briefing, Lorenzana said the military and the police are obliged to take the lead in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which was created by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's Executive 70 calling for a whole-of-nation approach in defeating the security threat posed by the local communist terrorist groups and their allies.

"The main effort is being led by the PNP and the AFP, and Gen. Parlade is part of the AFP and so his expertise is being utilized as spokesman of the NTF ELCAC so ang, wala akong nakikitang (I don't see any) violation of the Constitution," Lorenzana said.

He also added that the security forces are the primary implementers of NTF ELCAC, with other government agencies only in a supporting role.

"So kami ang nandyan (we are involved there), kung tanggalin mo yan si Gen. Parlade ay tanggalin mo na rin kami dyan sa (NTF ELCAC), yung Armed Forces. Ibig sabihin yung Armed Forces walang pakialam dyan sa NTF ELCAC (if you remove Gen. Parlade from the NTF ELCAC, then remove us too. It only means the Armed Forces does not have anything to do with the NTF ELCAC), which is not true," Lorenzana said.

Of course the NTF-ELCAC stands behind Parlade.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133367

"The NTF ELCAC stands solidly behind Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade and rejects calls for him to step down as spokesperson of the task force," Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy said in a statement forwarded to the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

Badoy, who is also a spokesperson of NTF ELCAC, said Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claims that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force is wrong.

"Senator Lacson is wrong when he says that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force. It is a task force that enlists each and every member of the government in the battle to end this 52-year communist scourge that has brought so much grievous harm and endless suffering to the Filipino people," she added.

She added that it is only fitting that members of the military who carried the burden of the more than 50 years insurgency, to be part of the NTF ELCAC that is tasked to neutralize for good communist terrorists.

"And it is but right that those who have borne this problem on their own for over five decades- our men and women in uniform- be in the forefront of this fight," she added.

As with many things, Lorraine Badoy is wrong. The NTF-ELCAC is a civilian body created by E.O. 70. Here is the relevant passage from that E.O.

Section 2. Creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. To ensure efficient and effective implementation of the Whole-of-Nation approach, a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Task Force) is hereby created under the Office of the President (OP). 

Section 3. Composition. The Task Force shall be composed of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, as Chair; the National Security Adviser, as Vice-Chair. and the following as members, 

a. Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government; 

b. Secretary, Department of Justice: 

c. Secretary, Department of National Defense; 

d. Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways; 

e. Secretary, Department of Budget and Management; 

f. Secretary, Department of Finance; 

g. Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform; 

h. Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development; 

i. Secretary, Department of Education, 

j. Director General, National Economic and Development Authority; 

k. Director General, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; 

l. Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; 

m. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process: 

n. Presidential Adviser for Indigenous Peoples' Concerns; 

o. Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines;

p. Director General, Philippine National Police; 

q. Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; 

r. Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office, and 

s. Two (2) Representatives from the private sector. 

https://www.doj.gov.ph/files/2018/MC/MC043-2018DEC%20Executive%20Order%20No%2070%20(04%20Dec%202018)%20dtd%2018%20Dec%202018.pdf

The NTF-ELCAC is a civilian body created under the Office of the President. It is not a military body. Ergo Parlade should not be a member. The solution to allowing him to stay is to make it a military body answerable to the DND and AFP. Since the arguments from both Lorenzana and Badoy are that the military is the one leading the fight against the NPA then making that change should be no problem.