The God Culture: "Rest: The Case for Sabbath," Foreward Review

Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture has published another new book. That is two books in one month period! This time the subject is the Sabbath. As of this writing it can only be ordered on Amazon but a free PDF will soon be available at Restcase.org. 

Once again we are told, on the cover no less, that no one can dispute what Tim has to say about the matter. In this article I only want to look at the foreward which was penned by a man I have written about twice now, BGen. Bienvenido Gerardo C. Casis, Jr., AFP (Ret.).

Look closely at the epaulettes on his shoulders and the rank of Colonel, noted by the three medallions, can be clearly seen. That is because Bien Casis retired as a Colonel and not as Brigadier General. Here the lie is exposed for all to see. So, why is he referred to here as a retired Brig. Gen.? Is it because in the Philippines when you retire from the AFP you are retired at a rank above your current rank? Here is the law from the webpage of the Office of the Provost Marshall General, AFP:

SECTION 10. An enlisted man or officer below the rank of colonel who is entitled to the benefits of this Act shall be retired or separated from the service one rank higher than the permanent rank he holds at the time of retirement or separation. Colonel and Brigadier Generals shall be retired or separated from the service in the rank they hold at the time of their retirement without any promotion in rank. But the gratuity, retirement and separation pay due them or their beneficiaries under this shall be computed on the basis of the base and longevity pay of the of the rank next higher than the permanent rank they hold or hold at the time of their retirement.

https://www.otpmg-afp.com/OTPMG/Policies/References/BudMan/Chapter%203/RA%20Nr%20340.pdf

According to this law Casis is not entitled to being retired at the rank of Brig. Gen. since he retired as a Colonel. He is only entitled to the retirement benefits of that rank. There is no indication that this law has been repealed since it is actually an amendment to RA 340 enacted in 1959. Section 10 was again amended in 1963 but the provision regarding Colonels and Brigadier Generals remained unchanged.

Even Presidential decree 1638, which was put into effect by Marcos in 1979, does not allow a Colonel to retire at a higher rank.

Sec. 9. Military personnel covered under the provisions of Title III shall be retired in the grade next higher than the permanent grade last held except officers in the permanent grade of Colonel/Captain (PN) or higher.

https://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno1638.html

This decree was still in effect in 2012. Casis retired a mere three years later in 2015. There is no evidence this decree was amended except for sections 3 and 5, with 5 being the most important as it lowers the retirement age from 60 to the current 56. This amendment was declared by Marcos in Presidential Decree 1650. 

There are also several articles covering an event in 2018 where Casis is referred to as a retired Colonel.

https://www.zigzagweekly.net/gulayan-projects-on/

CDRRMC BUILDING INAUGURATION - Mayor Mauricio Domogan assisted by city councilors and guest of honor, AFP military historian and retired Army Col. Bien Casis Jr., cut the ceremonial ribbon during the inauguration of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council building located at Motorpool, Lower Rock Quarry Barangay last may 18. ** By Bong Cayayab

How did Bong Cayayab know Casis is an AFP military historian and retired Army Col.? Did Bien tell him? Did someone else tell him? If he is actually a retired Brig. Gen. then why was the photographer told he is a retired Colonel? It is because Casis is a retired Colonel of course.

All this is to say there appears to be no reason why anyone should be referring to Casis as a retired Brigadier General. So, why is he now being referred to as this rank? His picture in a uniform bearing the rank of Colonel next to a headline declaring him to be a retired Brigadier General is ludicrous.

As far as Bien Casis' foreward goes, it is a cautionary tale against the slightest bit of Judaizing and the need to be fully prepared to give an answer for the faith. The issue of the Sabbath is a huge camel which will destroy any semblance of Christianity once it has its nose is inside the tent. As Bien Casis testifies, it has lead him into all kinds of heresy.

He begins his story by telling us:

It has been approximately three years since a Pastor friend in the USA asked me for my opinion about the Sabbath Day. I vividly remembered that it was the start of my journey in the most important topic in Scripture next to the name of the Creator.

Sabbath, pg.9

Remember, this is Casis reflecting with three years of hindsight and what does he now believe? That THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC in Scripture is the name of God with the Sabbath following close behind.  That is a very steep fall for this man who was once a Baptist minister. The most important topic in all of Scripture is, of course, Jesus Christ. Everything in the Scripture points to Him. That is such a basic and fundamental truth that it should not have to be pointed out to a man who was a Baptist minister. Even the Sabbath and the names of God point to Jesus Christ. The Sabbath is fulfilled in Him because in Him we find our rest as is so clearly stated in Hebrews 4 which Tim mangles in his introduction. As a Baptist minister Casis should have known all that but sadly he did not. He was not well-equipped for the ministry.

He continues:

I did not immediately respond to his inquiry because I was apprehensive that it would embarrass me if I sent him the wrong answers. What I did was search through my electronics gadget for the word Sabbath in the KJV Bible which I had downloaded. In order to be sure of a correct response I read not only the verses containing the word Sabbath, but also read the whole chapters with those Sabbath verses hoping to get their proper contexts as to what Sabbath meant. As I read further, the topic Sabbath had captured my interested more and more. Isaiah 58:13-14 really struck me very profoundly! I concluded then that Sabbath Day is the Right Worship Day (versus Sunday which had ben taught to us). Then I sent my response to my Pastor friend. Hence, I am forever grateful to Dr. Alberto Nuñez , of Vallejo, California, USA, for (humanly) bringing my consciousness to the topic of Sabbath.

pg.9

What an incredible testimony. Casis goes on to say that even though had read his Bible 42 times he was "oblivious to the Sabbath since we had been in the Baptist Church for decades already."  Keep in mind that Casis was a Baptist Pastor. He is telling us that he, as a Pastor, had been oblivious to the Sabbath. He had no idea why Christians worship on Sunday and not Saturday. He had no idea about the Sabbath being fulfilled by Jesus Christ and that we find our rest from all our works in Him. He, as a Pastor, was completely ignorant of one of the most basic truths of Christianity, that Jesus fulfilled the law for us. And all it took was a question from a friend to shake his foundation. Incredible!

Casis continues by telling us how observing the Sabbath led to an entire overhaul of his faith.

From then on Saturday became our worship and rest day! We also ceased attending Sunday church services; instead we began to conduct our own Sabbath services by reading the Scripture from Genesis 1 and 2, and other chapters containing Sabbath verses. Such a simple start brought us to a deeper conviction on the Sabbath observance. We started learning more Truths about Sabbath. Observance of the Sabbath Day led us to overhaul our "faith and worship." It was a re-birth into the correct, right, turn, deeper, and Scriptural relationship with our Creator YHWH!  

p. 10

Casis learned about the Sabbath, started observing it, and essentially began his own cult by conducting his own Sabbath Day services. His group can be found on Facebook and is called the Sabbath Believers Congregation.  As a result he was "branded as cultic and heretic." 

Learning more about Sabbath compels me to share it patiently and diligently to the rest of my family, friends, relatives, former church-mates, and to all people as far as practicable. I suffer persecution. I am scorned and branded as cultic and heretic. Some relatives, friends, and brethren have even chosen to disassociate from me. It is sad but I know that YAHUAH is on my side. Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3) is the very gateway to a truly holy relationship with Our Creator. Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11), #4 in the Decalogue, led me to the Mo'edim  or Appointed Times (Leviticus 23), and to the Dietary Law (Leviticus 11) which is very crucial in order to be holy. The RUACH HA'QDESH has taught me many more Truths because of Sabbath observance.

p. 10-11

Casis tells us that observing the Sabbath led him to the dietary laws which are "very crucial in order to be holy." Is it any wonder then that people would call this man a heretic? Saying that the dietary laws are crucial to being holy is a total repudiation of the necessity of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is our union with Him and participation in His righteousness that makes us holy, not observing the laws. 

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians completely overturns the claim that observing the dietary laws are necessary for holiness as well as the entire thesis of this book which is that we must still keep the Sabbath. Besides that, Jesus himself made all food clean!

Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

No food can defile a man because it goes in one end and out the other. Again, this is basic Christianity that Casis apparently did not and still does not know. And he got here all because he started observing the Sabbath like a Jew.

His Sabbath keeping also lead him to keeping the feasts including Passover. 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. 

This foreward is only 3 pages long but it's short enough to adequately convey how far Casis has fallen from the faith. He started out as a Baptist preacher and now he is a Judaizer who has rejected the grace of Christ in exchange for keeping the law. And all because a friend asked him a question he was not prepared to answer. It just goes to show that anyone who wants to be a Pastor, indeed every Christian, needs to be well-equipped. As Peter admonishes us:

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

A full review of Rest: The Case for Sabbath can be found at this link.

Retards in the Government 219

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149593

A mayor in South Cotabato province is facing administrative and criminal charges for allegedly using public funds for personal use.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said on Friday the local government has filed an administrative complaint for dishonesty and abuse of authority before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board against Tboli Mayor Dibu Tuan.

He said the case, which was received by the SP on Thursday, involved the supposed unauthorized and personal use by the mayor of the municipal government’s real property tax (RPT) collections.

The complaint for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act will be filed within the day by the Provincial Legal Office at the Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao, he said.

“Our audit team tracked down and documented these illegal transactions, and gathered substantial evidence to warrant the filing of charges,” he said in an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City.

The governor said the case stemmed from the discovery early this year by the Provincial Treasurer's Office (PTO) of numerous real property owners, including companies, in Tboli that have standing RPT delinquencies.

He said it came out during the tax mapping by the PTO in January and February in line with the province-wide condonation of penalties and interests for RPT payments.

Tamayo said the provincial audit team confirmed during their validation that some of the supposed delinquent real property owners have already paid their taxes, with some reporting advance payments, but these were not remitted to the municipal government's coffers.

It included the PHP6 million RPT payment made last year by Sumifru Philippines Corp., which operates banana plantations in Tboli, he said.

Since the payments were not reported as remitted by the municipal government, he said the province did not receive its 35 percent share from them.

The municipality retains 40 percent while the barangays get 25 percent of the RPT payments.

During the audit, Tamayo said some of the RPT payments could not be located and municipal treasurer Ritchie Calvo eventually admitted through an affidavit that the funds were allegedly “borrowed” by Tuan for “personal use.”

He said some of the transactions were reportedly signed by the mayor himself and a member of his staff.

When the controversial transactions came in April, he said the municipality paid the “borrowed” RPT collections using its peace and order funds, “making their situation more complicated.”

A local mayor is accused of "borrowing" tax payments for his personal use. 

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/8/9/Manila-tanod-curfew-quarantine-violator-mental-health.html

Authorities have arrested a barangay tanod for fatally shooting a man with a mental illness for allegedly violating curfew hours.

The Manila Police District on Monday said Eduardo Geñoga, a 59-year-old scavenger, was found lifeless along Tayuman Street after witnesses heard a gunshot on the night of Aug. 7. The victim's brother relayed to the police that Geñoga had mental problems.

After further investigation, tanod Cesar Panlaqui was arrested, but his motive for shooting Geñoga remains unknown. A CCTV footage provided by police showed the two in a discussion, but when Geñoga walked away, he was shot by the tanod,

Police added that a revolver without a serial number was recovered from the suspect.

"'Yung napatay niya is parang may diperensya sa utak. Kung mapapansin niyo po sa CCTV camera sinabi rin ng tanod na parang hinabol sila ng pamalo nung victim," MPD-7 Station Commander PltCol Harry Lorenzo said.

[Translation: The victim has a mental problem. You will see in the CCTV that the suspect said the victim chased him with a stick.]

A barangay watchman shot dead a scavenger who was violating curfew. The watchman had an unlicensed gun as well. Another senseless death due to the useless curfews and lockdowns.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1471240/ombudsman-suspension-vs-7-cops-over-illegal-arrest-of-suspects-in-bohol-town-mayors-slay

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the three-month suspension of seven policemen who were accused of illegally arresting three suspects in the 2017 killing of Mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido town in Bohol.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Myra dela Rama-Gargaceran found sufficient grounds to penalize the seven policemen for simple misconduct.

The resolution was based on the complaints filed by Bryan Sayson, Lobo Boniel, and Wilson Hoylar who claimed to be arrested by the respondents even if their names were not in the arrest warrant issued by the court.

Seven policeman have been suspended for three months for arresting three people who were not on the arrest warrant.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1471380/coa-flags-p-154-2m-in-pcso-payout-to-govt-broadcaster-sans-contract

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) paid P154.212 million to the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) for the airtime and production of its lottery draws without a contract. 

The Commission on Audit (COA) said this was contrary to provisions on agency-to-agency procurement under Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act. 

A 2020 audit report on the PCSO said, “The absence of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the PTNI did not serve the best interest of the PCSO as there were no well-defined or concrete terms and conditions that should have bound both parties.” 

“[S]anctions and penalties, in case of nonfulfillment or partial fulfillment and/or poor rendition of services, cannot be enforced in the absence of a MOA,” it noted further. 

PTNI, the government’s flagship broadcaster, first produced the “Philippine Lotto Draw” in 1995. In 2013, the program was renamed the “Philippine Lottery Draw” and three years later it again had a new name, the “PCSO Lottery Draw.” 

According to the state auditor, “Further verification disclosed that the latest MOA entered into by the PCSO with the PTNI expired in December 2018 and was not yet renewed.” 

The P154.212 million disbursed to the state television network after that period was for the airtime, production, technical equipment, microwave transmission facility and postproduction of the PCSO’s lottery draws from January 2019 to March 2020.

From January 2019 to February 2020, the PCSO made monthly payments of P10.7 million to PTNI—for a total of P149.8 million covering 14 months—and disbursed P4.412 million for March 1 to March 17, 2020.

However, the disbursements were not properly supported with a MOA, contrary to the agency-to-agency procurement provisions under RA 9184’s implementing rules and regulations.

The PCSO has been paying the PTNI to broadcast its drawings without a proper contract from since January 2019.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/07/2118144/dot-called-out-over-lapses-covid-19-fund-use

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Department of Tourism (DOT) over lapses in the utilization of millions of pesos intended for its COVID-19 response lastyear.

In its 2020 annual audit report, COA noted that the agency allocated a total of P72.5 million for its COVID-related procurements and activities for the year. Of the amount, P65.5 million came from its realigned regular funds while P7 million was sourced from its attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board.

Although it did not provide figures on the total utilization rate of DOT’s COVID funds, it noted that at least P15.8 million was obligated and disbursed by the Central Office and P11.1 million was downloaded to regional offices, which showed a low utilization rate “due to the late downloading of funds.”

The COA says the DOT did not utilize all its funds last year but the DOT says this has already been addressed.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/393622/2-lapu-city-hall-employees-reprimanded-for-attempting-to-squeeze-in-relatives-in-vaccination-line

Two regular city hall employees in Lapu-Lapu City were reprimanded after they were caught trying to squeeze through the line to accommodate their relatives in a vaccination site operated by the city.

Lawyer James Sayson, deputy for Local Vaccination Operations Center, said that the incident happened on Friday, August 6, 2021, wherein the city hall employees tried to insert their relatives in the line, even if they didn’t have a schedule yet.

Two city hall employees of Lapu-Lapu City were busted for trying to squeeze their relative into the vaccine line. Someone did not tell them there is no vaccine!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150200

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Thursday has ordered the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to begin summary dismissal proceedings against a Manila policeman tagged in the killing of a businessman and another who was tagged as a supplier of illegal drugs. 

"These scalawags have no place in the PNP. Rest assured that the cleansing of police ranks will continue with our Intensified Cleanliness Policy," Eleazar said in a statement. 

Senior M/Sgt. Bernardo Oriol, Jr., was tagged as a suspect in the August 2 ambush of businessman Naiquian Yuan in Malate, Manila. 

He was arrested along with his alleged cohort Shi Shanbang in Binondo, Manila last August 6. 

Manila Police District (MPD) investigators said Oriol’s outfit looked similar to the clothes worn by one of the motorcycle-riding suspects and his motorcycle also matched the description of the one that was used in the ambush. 

Meanwhile, Staff Sgt. Manuel Bien and drug suspect Alfie Gomez were nabbed by police officers in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City on August 9. 

Gomez identified Bien as his supplier of illegal drugs.

Two cops busted. One for murder the other for dealing drugs.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1472514/new-arrest-warrant-out-for-ex-palawan-gov-in-ortega-slay

A fresh warrant of arrest has been issued against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes for allegedly ordering the killing of broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega a decade ago, the Inquirer learned on Wednesday.

Judge Angelo Arizala of Branch 52 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Palawan issued the warrant on July 14, nearly two years after the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed in December 2019 its own decision in January 2018 to dismiss the murder case against Reyes for lack of probable cause.

A new warrant of arrest has been issued against a former governor who was allegedly the mastermind behind the murder of a local radio broadcaster ten years ago.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/11/2119247/coa-calls-out-doh-deficiencies-p67-b-covid-19-funds

Billions of pesos worth of funds in the Department of Health's COVID-19 response were riddled with deficiencies that contributed to challenges in the agency's pandemic handling, state auditors have bared.  

The Commission on Audit made the assessment on the P67.32 billion funding in its 2020 report made public on Wednesday.  

Of that figure, it attributed deficiencies in P66.28 billion mainly to "non-compliance of pertinent laws and rules and regulations." 

Auditors gave DOH an adverse opinion, which noted its financial statements did not "present fairly, in all material respects," the agency's financial position. 

"These contributed to the challenges encountered and missed opportunities by the DOH during the time of state of calamity/national emergency," COA said, "and casted doubts on the regularity of related transactions." 

COA added that continuous audit showed additional deficiencies of some P1.036 million. The total stood at P67,323,186,570.57-worth of taxpayers' money.  

Health officials have yet to respond to government auditors' findings in their yearly report.  

"It can, thus, be said that these funds that remained idle as at year-end were not translated to much-needed health supplies," COA continued, "equipment and services that could have benefited both health workers and the general public during the critical times of the pandemic."

This report has angered a lot of government officials. The bottom line is the DOH Is corrupt and everybody knows it. Here is the proof Pacquiao needed.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150219

A manhunt is underway for an active policeman who gunned down a fisherman following a heated altercation in his own home in a village here on Thursday morning.

Lt. Clarizel Perez, spokesperson of the city police office, identified the suspect as Patrolman Jade Rio Mantua, 31, who was assigned under the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-12 based in this city.

She said Mantua reportedly shot dead victim Rusty Dumas, 35, while they were having an argument inside the cop's house in Block 3, Purok Diamond Valley, Barangay Tambler around 7:15 a.m.

The suspect immediately fled from the scene after the incident and has yet to surface as of noon despite reportedly sending initial surrender feelers to RMFB-12 colleagues.

“The pursuit operations are ongoing against the suspect,” Perez said in an interview.

Citing accounts from witnesses, she said Mantua already had an argument with Dumas, who is a distant relative, when they attended a wake early Thursday.

The two, who were reportedly still drunk, engaged in another heated altercation Thursday morning at the kitchen of Mantua’s home that resulted in the shooting, she said.

Another totally isolated incident of a drunk cop shooting a relative over a personal grudge.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149675

Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) Director, Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, has ordered an impartial and speedy investigation into the murder of Sulu Police Director, Col. Michael Bawayan Jr. 

Ugale also condemned the unfortunate incident and urged fellow police officers to offer prayers for the fatalities that included Bayawan’s alleged shooter, Staff Sgt. Imran Jilah, following a disagreement. 

Bawayan, 49, was allegedly shot by Jilah, 43, his subordinate, who used his service M4 rifle in the incident on Friday. 

His escorts also shot dead Jilah before he could fire at other police officers at the scene. 

Bawayan died while being rushed to the provincial hospital. 

Initial reports reaching the PRO-BARMM office said Bawayan was inspecting a police quarantine control checkpoint in Barangay Asturias, Jolo at 4:20 p.m. and had an altercation with Jilah who was sporting long hair. 

Holding a pair of scissors, Bayawan allegedly approached Jilah to cut his hair but the latter opened fire.

A PNP director saw one of his men had long hair and took some scissors to cut it. But the man opened fire killing the officer. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Spike Inevitable, Stay Home or Face Arrest, and More!

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

The bets police state is a panopticon where everyone is always being watched. This in turns makes the people submissive to the whims of the government. It is in this sprit that Ilocos Norte is asking the people to snitch on each other.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149357

Law enforcers in the province of Ilocos Norte have sought the help of netizens to report quarantine protocol violators if they happen to see one.

Through the localized program dubbed as “Kabsat, E-Pulongmo!”, netizens are asked to help monitor by taking and sending real-time photos or videos of violators to the official Facebook page of the municipal, city, or provincial police station or call local hotline number 09457187074.

When reporting, the format should indicate the name and address of the netizen, those who are involved in the photo or video and then send it to the Laoag City police station Facebook page which is open round the clock.

“But if such act needs an immediate police response, the public may feel free to call the police station near them,” said Laoag City police chief Rafael Lero on Wednesday.

Among the most common quarantine violations that even people themselves flaunt on social media are mass gathering and celebrations, drinking sessions, non-observance of physical distancing, and non-wearing of face masks.

One could say that the Philippines is slowly slipping into a police state but that would not be true. There has always been a touch of authoritarianism in this country. There has also always been a lack of clarity from the government about what is happening. This lack of communication caused a massive panic and overcrowding at a single vaccination site in Manila.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1469893/somebodys-threats-vs-unvaccinated-people-triggered-public-fear-manila-mayor

The statements and threats made by “somebody” against unvaccinated individuals generated public fear, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said, following the chaos that ensued in vaccination sites in the city. 

(First of all, it’s us in the government who are at fault. Why? Because the vaccines should have arrived a long time ago, now, people got scared because of remarks that they will be jailed, they will not be given aid, they will not be allowed to go outside.) 

“I did not make that statement, somebody did. That generate[d] fear,” he added.

“I’m not the type of person who will go out in the evening and keep pointing fingers to others. I always look at the mirror. As I have said, it’s (vaccination drive) not perfect but it delivers the objective we are achieving,” he also said. 

While Moreno did not name names, President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech last week, said he would ask the police to escort unvaccinated people back to their homes.

Before this, Duterte also threatened arrest to those who refuse to get vaccinated. 

When asked point-blank if Duterte should be blamed for the chaos that broke out in inoculation sites on Thursday, Moreno replied: “No, that’s unfair.”

Of course it's Duterte's fault. And the IATF's fault. And the OCTA's fault. And everyone in the government who makes scary ultimatums about a virus that has a 93% recovery rate. Only 28,000 people have died in the Philippines since the pandemic began and yet the government is still keeping the nation locked down and is feeding the people nothing but scaremongering propaganda.

The rhetoric from the government absolutely cannot be trusted.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/06/2117959/stay-home-during-ecq-or-face-arrest

“We will be strict in this, we need to. If you won’t comply and insist on going outside, of course we will arrest you. Those who won’t follow may continue the transmission and be a carrier of COVID-19,” Año said.

He added that while government only plans for a two-week ECQ, an extension is not ruled out, depending on advice from experts and data analysts.

Later this would be contradicted.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/06/21/arresting-health-protocol-violators-last-resort-pnp

The country’s top cop said Friday police officers would exercise maximum tolerance as they start implementing protocols under the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila. 

In an interview on ANC’s Rundown, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said arresting health protocol violators would be the last resort. 

“Kung talagang insisting ang mga 'yan lalo na kung meron talagang disobedience, obstruction and related criminal offenses then we will arrest them,” said Eleazar.

Will they arrest violators immediately or not? Not only is there contradictory advice on how the PNP is to treat quarantine violators but an extension of ECQ is likely in the mix. But no matter how long an extension the DOH says a spike in cases is inevitable.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149707

The imposition of the one-week general community quarantine with heightened restrictions (GCQ-HR), followed by a five-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) would not stop the increase of active cases in Metro Manila but it could decrease the original projection for September.

Citing initial forecasts from experts, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday even if Metro Manila implements "higher community quarantine classifications," cases would still reach about 18,000 next month, and higher if it stayed under GCQ-HR for four weeks.

"Naipa-update natin itong projections. If we do GCQ-HR for one week and five weeks ECQ, puwede tayong magkaroon ng15,000 active cases by the end of September (We were able to update the projections. If we do GCQ-HR for one week and five weeks ECQ, we could get 15,000 active cases by the end of September)," she said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Sharing other scenarios, Vergeire said Metro Manila would hit 42,000 active cases if it implements a mix of one-week GCQ-HR, three-week ECQ, and two-week modified ECQ; and about 58,000 if it loosens the classifications to a one-week GCQ-HR with two weeks of ECQ and three weeks of modified ECQ (MECQ).

"So looking at our projections, makikika natin na kahit tayo ay magsasagawa nitong paghihigpit ng ating mga community quarantine classifications, we will still see the rise in the number of cases pero ang pinaka-importante kung masasabayan natin ng pagpre-prepareng ating sistema at magbabakuna ng mas madami ang hope natin ay walang masyadong magiging severe infections (We could see that even if we impose tougher classifications, we will still see a rise in the number of cases but the most important thing here is to prepare our system and vaccinate more people in the hope of having fewer severe infections)," she said.

Vergeire said the current spike in cases is likely driven by the more transmissible Delta variant in the Philippines.

The DOH is not yet ready to admit community transmission of the Delta variant but they are ready to blame a spike in cases on the public being lax in following health protocls.

Do you live in Manila and want to go for a run?  Better think again.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149947

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has prohibited outdoor exercise for the remainder of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The order was released on Monday afternoon through MMDA Resolution No. 21-17, series of 2021, signed by the 17 NCR mayors and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.

“It is hereby resolved that the MMC prohibits outdoor exercise in NCR during the ECQ until 20 August 2021 through the local government units of Metro Manila,” the resolution read.

The decision was made after the “steady rise” in the number of Covid-19 cases, including confirmed cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus in the region.

While the MMC recognizes the need for exercise -- especially to promote and maintain physical, mental, and emotional health -- staying at home is necessary to stem the current rise in Covid-19 cases.

There is always a way to get around this as there are not PNP on every street.  That has been my experience anyway.

Even though you can't go running in Manila during the 2 week (or more) lockdown you can go out to get the vaccine.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/08/2118429/manila-starts-247-vaccination-service

The Manila city government will start its 24-hour, seven days a week vaccination program in three public elementary schools tonight, Manila Public Information Office (PIO) chief Julius Leonen said yesterday.

In a Viber message, Leonen said the three 24/7 vaccinations sites will be at the Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School in Tondo, Holy Trinity Academy in Sampaloc and Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in Pandacan.

Leonen said that no walk-ins will be accommodated at the 24/7 vaccination sites, where operations will start at 7 p.m. tonight, a first in the country.

If you are planning to leave the country be aware that the Philippine vcxx card might not be accepted. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149999

The Philippine government is coordinating with the international community on the acceptance of vaccination cards issued to individuals who are already fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Hong Kong does not honor the vaccination cards issued by the Philippines’ local government units and the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

“Well, nakakalungkot na balita po iyan (that is sad news),” Roque said in a virtual presser. “So, all I can say is nakikipag-ugnayan po ang gobyerno sa international community pagdating dito (we are coordinating with the international community on this issue).”

In a Twitter post earlier Tuesday, Locsin said the vaccination cards issued to fully vaccinated Filipinos are “not accepted in Hong Kong because they are not connected to a single source.”

Roque said the problems on the presentation of vaccination cards to host countries are being encountered not just by the Philippines but also by other countries.

He, nevertheless, guaranteed that the government is looking for ways to address the issue.

“We are finding ways and means now para magkaroon po tayo ng basehan na kilalanin yung ating mga vaccination card (so our vaccination cards will be recognized [by other countries],” Roque said.

He also expressed hope that the World Health Organization (WHO) will, take an initiative to have a “uniform” acceptance of vaccination cards.

“Problema po talaga kapag wala tayong standard na basehan para ipakita ang ating mga vaccination natin (It is really a problem if we do not have a standard basis in presenting our vaccination cards),” he said.

A vaccine passport hooked up to an international database is what airlines and governments were talking about last year. The way things are going soon everyone will need one not just to travel but to even leave the house.

In the Philippines EMTs Are Instructed to Not Revive You

The following is a true story. I wrote it as it happened so it is a very hot take. It has been edited for spelling and to keep the identities anonymous.

Around 3pm I was shouted for and I ran downstairs. I was asked if I knew how to revive someone and I had no idea what was meant but I ran out the door. The man was sitting up so it looked like he needed water but one guy was holding him up in the chair. I asked if he had a pulse.  I could not feel one. I had them put him on the ground and then I started compressing his chest. I did not breathe into his mouth. I asked for a flashlight to look at his pupils. They did not seem to dilate. I asked for a stethoscope but they did not have one. I kept compressing his chest and it seemed like he might be breathing. There was a huge vein on his neck that seemed engorged and standing out. Probably his jugular. I then tried to keep his mouth open and esophagus unobstructed by having them hold his head up. Then the ambulance showed up.

They came in there with no sense of urgency, no equipment, lazily walked over and put the digital meter on his finger and said well he's dead that's it. In no way shape or form did they attempt to revive him or to acscertain his condition except for obtaining his pulse via his finger.  They did not check his breath or eyes (maybe they did).  Then they walked away calmly and returned but this time with a stethoscope and a blood pressure gauge which they did not use. Then they walked back to the ambulance and left. They said the hospital will not take a dead man. I pleaded with them to take him to the hospital to attempt to revive him. I asked if they had a breath machine pump.  I asked if they had heart paddles.  The nurse (?) told me they have no equipment. 

The EMERGENCY AMBULANCE HAS NO EQUIPMENT!!!  Well I looked and that's not really true they had alcohol and a few other things but nothing that would save a man's life. So we waited for the funeral home to come snatch him.

It appears he was standing on a gas container to weld the ceiling. It also appears that the cord he was using to power the welding machine snapped and was broken. He could have been electrocuted. Likewise he could have passed out from not eating as I was told he did not eat at all that day. The day was not very hot due to it being overcast but still not eating can catch up with you in a bad way. He was fallen face first into the corner of the room onto an old fridge and some other stuff.

At first it appeared he might have fallen from the ladder since the ladder was on the ground but I do not think that is the case.  I do not know how long he was there. His helper found him lying on the ground. He came running after he heard him scream. He was on the other side of the wall in the street.

His welding instrument was lying next to the gas container which lends credibility to the idea that he was standing on it and fell. There are no brusies or blood on his body. Nothing from the ears or the eyes. It is as if he died all of a sudden. That he fell face first and did not try to get up would seem to mean he was electrocuted. One of his slippers was missing but I do not know how it came off. 

That the ambulance personnel did not try to revive him in any way is most upsetting.  Most upsetting indeed.

In the end, to be honest, he was not a safe worker and that negligence is likely what killed him. But, my god, the EMT's in the Philippines sure aren't worth a shit. Now he is lying in the area he was working with a pillow to support his head and a fan blowing on him and they are keeping vigil until the funeral home comes to retrieve him.

They rubbed alcohol all over his body.

The family arrived and one woman wailed and screamed shouting in Jesus name while smacking him and trying to revive him. They also anointed him with oil in an attempt to wake him up.  They did way more than the EMTs.

The police finally arrived and with them the EMTs returned. The family wanted the man, who had been dead for 90 minutes now, to be taken to the hospital. At first they brought out the stretcher but then the EMTs spoke with the police and they did not take him. I talked to the police and they said that the first time around they had called the doctor at the provincial hospital and she said do not bring him because he had no vitals and because of COVID.

It was a harrowing and grief stricken scene. I think the family was very angry that they had not transported him to the hospital. The man was 36.

The EMTs called the doctor and the doctor yelled at the PNP when the phone was handed to him. The EMTs were told by the doc at 3pm when they first called to not revive if there were no vitals.

Around 5pm more relatives came over and tried to revive the man by praying in Jesus name and shaking his limbs. I stepped outside the gate to ask the PNP officer if he was CPR trained. He said no. I asked if they teach you that at the academy. He scrunched up his face, shook his head, and took a puff from his vape machine.  He did say the EMTs were CPR trained and that he did know what CPR is. But the PNP are not trained in that technique.

The family decided around 5:30pm to take him to the hospital because only the doctor can pronounce him dead. So they put him in a tricycle but his feet were sticking out and with rigor mortis setting in they could not make his knees stay bent. So I told them to put him in the back of the car and then they sped off to the hospital. 

Later I was told the doctor at this hospital said he could have been revived if he had been brought in within an hour of his accident. It sounds nice but I don't know. All I know is he is dead and the EMTs did nothing at the behest of the doctor they called.

The moral of this story is: STAY SAFE!  Because in the Philippines the EMTs WILL NOT REVIVE YOU!