The Philippines is Becoming Like Europe in the Worst Way Possible

The Philippines is becoming like Europe in the worst way possible. Allow me to explain. Shortly after Marcos was elected president there was a flare up of reports of kidnappings. The PNP said it was all bunk. One columnist claimed it was a conspiracy to make Bongbong look bad.  As if a man who continues to apologize for his father's bloody dictatorship, continues to lie about his Oxford diploma, and continues to deny that his family plundered the nation needs anyone to make him look bad. 

However, given that the kidnappings were actually not fake news and the Senate even began in investigation into the matter, the PNP were forced to come clean. Chinese gangs were kidnapping Chinese nationals.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1665660/pnp-at-least-5-groups-may-be-into-pogo-linked-kidnappings

The Philippine National Police is expecting a sharp decline in kidnap-for-ransom attempts that target Chinese workers of Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) companies, after the arrest of some “Chinese gangsters” being linked to at least five crime syndicates believed to be operating in the country.

On Thursday, the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested five Pogo workers, four of them Chinese, following an operation to rescue a Chinese woman who was abducted on Sept. 14 in Pasay City.The five are now in custody facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery extortion and possession of firearms and live ammunition without a license.

The suspects were identified as members of the Zi Criminal Group, a syndicate linked to kidnappings and illegal detention of Pogo employees in the southern part of Metro Manila, according to a February report of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence.

The syndicate is one of “more than five groups” involved in Pogo kidnappings, based on police intelligence, according to Col. Hansel Marantan, chief of the CIDG-National Capital Region (NCR).

CIDG director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee said the successful operation was the latest in a series of positive developments against Pogo kidnappings.

In the past two weeks, the CIDG has arrested 15 Chinese nationals, with the first operation involving eight individuals who were armed with high-powered firearms when they were caught.

“The forecast should be – the kidnapping cases should go down [after the arrest of the Chinese suspects],” Lee said.

According to the CIDG chief, the Philippines became a hotbed for Chinese gangsters after they were forced to shut down operations in Vietnam and Cambodia when the two countries outlawed Chinese-backed online gambling and overseas casinos – similar to Pogos – to safeguard security and public order.

Lee warned Chinese working in the Philippines to think twice before engaging in serious criminal activity.

“I have instructed my operatives to not go easy on you, otherwise, you’ll suffer a greater consequence for your offense within the bounds of the law. The CIDG is committed to arresting and deporting these heinous criminals to put an end to their criminal activity,” he said.

The Philippines has been infested with Chinese gangs engaged in kidnap-for-ransom activities and who knows what else and the director of the CIDG says he has instructed his men to not go easy on them. That is a complete 180 the directions previously given to the PNP.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/16/azurin-pnp-given-hands-off-order-on-pogo-related-matters/

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. revealed Friday, Sept. 16, that the police organization had been told not to meddle with matters concerning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).

Azurin said that the PNP, under his leadership, continues to address the sudden increase in POGO-related crimes such as kidnappings even though there was a previous “hands-off” order to the police organization when it comes to POGO matters.

“In the past, the PNP was given a hands-off directive to avoid meddling as far as POGO is concerned,” Azurin said in a DZRH radio interview.

The PNP Chief could not recall who or when the directive was given, although he said they were already doing a backtracking.

Now, he said the PNP has started coordinating with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Bureau of Immigration (BI) to solve the spate of POGO-related crimes in the country.

There is only one man who could have given that order and that is Duterte. He was the man calling all the shots and directing the PNP to execute his will. 

So, despite the rise in crime related to POGOs, despite the Chinese Embassy asking that POGOs be shut down, despite other countries making them illegal, and despite even the Bureau of Immigration engaging in scams allowing Chinese to enter illegally who then went to work for POGOs the PNP was told to keep their hands off. That is exactly like what is happening in Europe. 

In the UK Muslims gangs were grooming and sexually assaulting children for years. The cops refused to investigate because they did not want to appear racist. 

https://archive.is/clmwb

A senior police officer admitted that his force ignored the sexual abuse of girls by Pakistani grooming gangs for decades because it was afraid of increasing “racial tensions”, a watchdog has ruled. 

After a five-year investigation, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) upheld a complaint that the Rotherham officer told a missing child’s distraught father that the town “would erupt” if it was known that Asian men were routinely having sex with under-age white girls. 

The chief inspector is said to have described the abuse as “P*** shagging” and to have said it had been “going on” for 30 years: “With it being Asians, we can’t afford for this to be coming out.”

On New Years Eve in Cologne, Germany hundreds of women ere sexually assaulted and raped by Muslim immigrants. The cops were told to cover it up by not mentioning rape in their reports. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3527771/German-minister-told-police-remove-word-rape-reports-mass-migrant-sex-attacks-Cologne-new-Year-s-Eve.html

A German state minister allegedly tried to pressure police in Cologne to remove the word rape from reports about the mass sexual assaults committed by asylum seekers on New Year's Eve. 

Cologne's Express newspaper claimed that the interior ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia pressured a senior police officer to delete 'rape' from an internal report issued on January 1.

'KHK told me that the state control centre wanted the report cancelled and the expression "rape" deleted,' read a document written by another police officer which was printed by the Express.

The number of instances of European cops and ministers covering up and downplaying crime committed by so-called refugees is almost innumerable. They do it out of fear for being racist. In the Philippines Duterte and the PNP have downplayed the crimes committed by Chinese nationals working at POGOs for a different reason. Money.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1154488

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday said establishing a tax regime for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) would help stabilize the industry, which was "wracked by the uncertainty" due to the Supreme Court’s (SC) temporary restraining order (TRO) on their tax treatment.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the statement as he lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signing Republic Act No. 11590, which imposes a 5 percent tax on gross gaming revenues (GGR) of offshore gaming licensees and a 25 percent withholding tax on foreigners employed by POGOs.

“President Duterte was very clear: He will only allow gaming if they pay the right taxes. This will make sure they do,” Salceda said.

He said the measure will help the POGO industry recover since the country lost some of them to Cambodia due to the "uncertain" tax regime in the past.

“As long as they pay the right taxes and comply with all our laws, they will be able to operate,” Salceda said, highlighting that the POGOs would be operating under stricter terms.

This money,  along with that earned by taxes on cockfighting were supposed to fund universal health care. But POGOs owe billions in back taxes. Now POGOs are being shut down and POGO workers are scheduled to be deported but, just like in the USA with the millions of illegal immigrants who get lost in the system the BI says they cannot locate these people!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1674479/bi-admits-not-knowing-locations-of-40000-pogo-workers

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) admitted that they do not know the whereabouts of the over 40,000 employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) who are set to be deported by the government.

BI Deputy Commissioner Fortunato Manahan Jr. made the revelation at Monday’s hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means after the inquiry of Senator Grace Poe.

(They say, “We will deport 40,000 or more individuals.” Where are they? I’m not asking to deport them immediately. What I’m saying is, do you know where they are, or these are just promises?)

Manahan answered that the 40,000 figure is just an estimate, assuming that there are 200 workers in each of the more than 200 Pogo firms with terminated licenses.

Poe immediately questioned Manahan’s remark.

“I just want to make sure that I have this right. You’re just making a calculation but you don’t actually know where those individuals are at this point?” she quizzed, to which the commissioner responded, “Yes.”

According to PACGOR POGOs began operating in the Philippines in 2003 but it was Duterte who began regulating them.

https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/chinas-clandestine-gamble-in-the-philippines/

The rapid expansion of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs is linked to rising Chinese influence on the government of Rodrigo Duterte. But this is a controversial, if not unmentionable, connection because the Chinese government has officially rejected POGOs, while the Philippines denies that it is giving preferential treatment to Chinese citizens for such businesses. For many Filipinos, however, POGOs have come to symbolize the dark side of state-backed Chinese investments in the country.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), POGOs began operating in 2003 but it was only in 2016, after Duterte came to power, that the government began regulating online gaming hubs.

The nation can thank the destructive typhoon that was the Duterte administration for foisting this mess upon the nation by giving POGOs legal sanction. All that's left now is to clean up the debris. That will not be so easy. 

Insurgency: Quash Insurgency Through Music

One thing I enjoy about writing this weekly article is exploring and sharing the many ways the AFP has concocted to fight the insurgency. Here's another:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185245

The city police office and a youth group here have tapped music as a tool to raise awareness against the deceptive recruitment of the New People’s Army (NPA).

At least 10 bands competed in the first "Battle of the Bands Musika Laban sa Insurhensiya (Music Against Insurgency)" held Monday night by the city police office here and the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) - Tacloban Chapter.

Col. Michael Palermo, acting city police director, said in an interview Tuesday that coming up with this kind of competition was a way of achieving the goal of having a peaceful community.

“This is also our way to express our solidarity with other counterpart(s) of public service to prove to the general public our sincere thrust and our commitment to deliver to them safe, unified, and innovative initiatives that will truly win the heart and mind of the people, most especially our youth,” Palermo added.

KKDAT-Tacloban president Peter Julian Barrantes noted that “music is a magic that connects people” and the battle of bands is not just intended to entertain.

“This is a meaningful action to awaken the consciousness of youth who are blinded by the communist insurgent’s doctrine,” Barrantes told reporters.

The regional office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here has urged other police offices in the region to emulate and conduct the same activity in their respective areas.

Brig. Gen. Joel Limson, Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) deputy director for administration, called on all police offices in the region and the regional organization of KKDAT to make the event in the city a template and conduct the same event in other cities and towns.

"We need the success of this activity to be shared in other unit(s) and for the KKDAT to sustain this program. The police regional office is always here to support you, so let us start planning on how to cascade this to their units of the PNP,” Limson added.

The competition was held at the Leyte Normal University campus in this city.

Participating bands sang a cover song and an original composition, with the core of the lyrics on the anti-insurgency campaign of the government and how the youth should avoid being victims of communist recruitment.

Winners of the competition received cash prizes – PHP15,000 for first place, PHP10,000 for second place, and PHP8,000 for third place.

It's like Rage Against the Machine in reverse. Rage FOR the machine! And the PNP wants this to happen nationwide! A nationwide battle of the bands to quash the insurgency. Is quashing the insurgency really what the musicians and audience are thinking about as they are playing? Will the NPA give up the struggle because someone wrote a song? The competition was held at a university campus which brings us to our next new way to fight the insurgency, through the DepEd!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1675174/depeds-intel-fund-bigger-than-that-of-intel-agency

The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking “intelligence funds” P9 million more than the P141 million sought by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) itself.

At a hearing on Tuesday by the Senate finance committee on the proposed budgets for the Nica and the National Security Council, Sen. Risa Hontiveros made the comparison as she added her voice to those questioning the P150-million additional funding requested by DepEd, which is now also headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.

Such funds are normally used for surveillance activities conducted by the military and the police.

Duterte earlier defended her department’s request for intelligence funds, saying it needed the money for the surveillance of criminals targeting schoolchildren.

Hontiveros said that while she would support any program by DepEd to protect students, it would be best for the department to just coordinate with the police.

Otherwise, DepEd would just be duplicating the “existing [functions on] national security, national defense, law enforcement, even [the protection of] women and children [in various] governmental bodies and programs,” the senator said.

“National security is not the mandate of DepEd,” Hontiveros said, adding that the department has “no capability or infrastructure to conduct surveillance activities and crime busts.”

She cited other areas under DepEd’s mandate where funding is more urgent, such as ensuring the health and safety of teachers and students amid the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening its education program for the indigenous peoples and improving overall literacy in the country.

“Let us put funds that would benefit the students. We should empower DepEd to focus on its core mandate of helping teachers and students,” Hontiveros said.

Silly Risa Hontiveros, the department of education is DEEPLY tied to national security. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1664154/sara-duterte-defends-depeds-confidential-funds-basic-education-has-direct-link-to-natl-security

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday defended the confidential fund under its proposed P710 billion budget for 2023, pointing out a “direct link” between basic education and national security.

Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrently at the helm of the DepEd, said this at the House appropriations committee budget briefing of the department after Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas questioned DepEd’s P150 million and Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P500 million confidential funds.

Responding to this, Duterte asserted that both agencies’ confidential funds must be treated independently.

“The OVP and the DepEd are two separate entities. They are two separate departments of the government. And they have separate mandates as well,” she said.

Duterte further argued: “The success of a project, activity or program really depends on very good intelligence and surveillance because you want to target specific issues and challenges.”

She then cited sexual grooming of learners, youth recruitment to terrorism, and drug use of DepEd workers among the issues faced by the department, which “are not laid out for [their] regular personnel to see.”

“That is why we need the help of the security cluster and the security sector to address these issues and challenges to basic education. And as I said, basic education has a direct link to our country’s national security,” Duterte added.

If Sara elaborated on just how basic education has a direct link to national security it is not stated in this article. Surely she would be attempting to stop the brain drain that is the OFW program and making sure that teachers received a living wage so they did not have to take out loans and pawn their ATM cards if that were the case.

There is really only one way to fight the insurgency and that is with bullets and blood.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1676708/2-govt-soldiers-slain-3-wounded-in-clash-with-npa-in-eastern-samar

Two soldiers were killed, while three others were wounded in an attack about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Jipapad town, Eastern Samar.

The fatalities were Staff Sergeant John Claire Flores, the troop leader; and Private First Class Edupancho Siscar, according to a report from the 52nd Infantry Battalion.

Wounded were Sergeant Allan Talania, Private First Class Loumark Mengote, and a 10-year-old girl. It was not clear yet why the girl was in the area.

Initial information showed that the soldiers were in Barangay Dorillo when attacked by an undetermined number of rebels who were reportedly part of the guerrilla unit of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

The soldiers belong to the mobile community support sustainment team of the 52nd Infantry Battalion in Oras town, also in Eastern Samar.

Battle of the bands? NO! This is reality. The AFP are out there fighting these people while on the sidelines there is the NTF-ELCAC calling for their surrender so they can be given benefits. Just imagine the rebels who killed those soldiers can avail of government benefits if they simply surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185393

At least 199 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels pledged allegiance to the government and received financial assistance in a ceremony at the provincial capitol here Wednesday.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. led the distribution of assistance to the former NPA rebels, together with the region's provincial governors and local officials.

Of the 199 NPA surrenderers who received assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), 169 came from Agusan del Sur; Surigao del Norte, 24; Agusan del Norte, four; Butuan City, two.

Each former rebel received PHP15,000 in immediate assistance, PHP50,000 as livelihood aid, and PHP21,000 for their integration into their families and communities.

That is a lot of money that law abiding citizens will never see.  Meanwhile the AFP says they have dismantled 6 NPA fronts in the third quarter of this year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185491

Government forces dismantled six communist New People’s Army (NPA) units from July to September this year in Southern Mindanao, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said Thursday.

In a statement, the 10ID said among those dismantled by the Army-led Joint Task Force Agila (JTFA) were the NPA Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 1, SRC 2, SRC 4, SRC 5, Guerilla Front (GF) 18, and the Regional Sentro De Grabidad (RSDG) of the Regional Operations Command (ROC), all under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

The report was based on the JTFA campaign progress review and assessment meeting for the third quarter of 2022 at Datu Balunto Hall, Camp General Manuel T Yan Senior in Mawab, Davao De Oro on Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Army’s 10ID commander, said the JTFA also recorded seven encounters during the July-September period that resulted in the neutralization of 59 NPA rebels, seven of whom were killed. Two were captured and 50 surrendered, he said.

A total of 47 firearms were also recovered by the government forces. 

Mempin also cited the JTFA’s role in attaining the insurgency-free status for the five provinces and one highly urbanized city in the Davao Region.

"Always remember that everything we have done is for the safety of the people and the betterment of the communities within our area of responsibility,” he said.

This is only in Southern Mindanao but let us not forget that last week the DND announced a "strategic victory" against the NPA. That is to say they declared victory without actually having won the battle. Two dead and three wounded soldiers can testify that it is still ongoing. 

Here is a good story about the AFP overtaking a BIFF bomb making lair.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185231

Government forces have overrun a shanty in the middle of the marshland where extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are manufacturing improvised bombs, the Army here said Tuesday.

Col. Oriel Pangcog, the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade chief, said terrorist materials and documents were found Monday inside a shack with bloodstains in Barangay Inaladan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.

Pangcog said the bloodstain was an indication that BIFF groups operating in the area sustained injuries in the clearing operation that started Friday last week.

“The prolonged operation also led to the recovery of improvised bombs and components in bomb-making,” he added.

Soldiers also found documents indicating that the terrorist organization is bent on sabotaging the peace process.

Government forces were pursuing the groups of Ysa Ganoy, Abdulkarim Hashim, Ben Harrsi, and Emarudin Kulay, all BIFF field commanders, during the operation.

Earlier, residents in Datu Saydona Mustapha town complained of money being taken from them by the BIFF.

Pangcog said farmers and fisherfolk have also complained that the group had prevented them from tending their farms or fishing in the marshland.

He said the government remains open to BIFF militants who wish to surrender.

This find means the BIFF won't be able to do as much harm as they intended. That is very good indeed. Perhaps the AFP would have even better luck if they assembled a band to quash the Islamic insurgency through music. 

Radio Journalists Assassinated in 2022

The Philippines is a dangerous place for journalists. That is simply a fact. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/29/21/ph-still-7th-most-dangerous-country-for-journalists

The Philippines is still the 7th most dangerous country for journalists worldwide, as several murders involving media workers remained unsolved, a report showed. 

The country retained its rank last year, when it was based on the Global Impunity Index 2021 released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, CPJ noted that the Philippines still has 13 unsolved murders involving journalists. The index covers the period September 1, 2011, to August 31, 2021.

In fact, former President Duterte is on record advocating the slaying of "corrupt" journalists. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/788543/duterte-endorses-killing-corrupt-journalists

“Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch,” Duterte said when asked how he would address the problem of media killings in the Philippines after a reporter was shot dead in Manila last week.

The Philippines is one of the most dangerous nations in the world for journalists, with 174 murdered since a chaotic and corruption-plagued democracy replaced the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos three decades ago.

“Most of those killed, to be frank, have done something. You won’t be killed if you don’t do anything wrong,” Duterte said, adding that many journalists in the Philippines were corrupt.

Duterte also said freedom of expression provisions in the constitution did not necessarily protect a person from violent repercussions for defamation.

“That can’t be just freedom of speech. The constitution can no longer help you if you disrespect a person,” he said.

Duterte raised the case of Jun Pala, a journalist and politician who was murdered in Davao in 2003. Gunmen on a motorcycle shot dead Pala, who was a vocal critic of Duterte. His murder has never been solved.

“If you are an upright journalist, nothing will happen to you,” said Duterte, who has ruled Davao as mayor for most of the past two decades and is accused of links to vigilante death squads.

“The example here is Pala. I do not want to diminish his memory but he was a rotten son of a bitch. He deserved it.”

This is all background for the recent  assassination of a radio broadcaster by the name of Percy Lapid. This man was an outspoken critic of both Marcos and Duterte. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1675176/presidents-were-fair-game-for-slain-radioman-vlogger

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation are separately investigating the killing of a radio broadcaster and vlogger who was known for his sharp criticisms of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the policies and officials under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., officials said on Tuesday.

Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid, had been critical of “red-tagging” as well as online gambling operations and misinformation about the martial law regime of Marcos’ late father and namesake, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

The popular commentator, who had 215,000 YouTube subscribers and 45,000 Facebook followers, became a strong voice of dissent on social media platforms dominated by pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos vloggers.

Mabasa had supported the presidential campaign of former Vice President Leni Robredo and called the Marcos and Duterte families traitors.

He once called Marcos “Pres. Bonget” and criticized the hasty approval of the budget of the Office of the President and the appointment of the now resigned Victor Rodriguez as executive secretary. But in his recent shows, he had been warning the president about alleged attempts by Duterte’s camp to take him down.

According to the Southern Police District, Mabasa was shot twice to the head inside his car at the gate of BF Resort Village in Las Piñas City as he was driving home around 8:30 p.m. on Monday. 

I am not going to speculate on the motive or the possible mastermind behind this assassination. Likely this murder will remain unsolved despite the CCTV footage because the PNP are notoriously incompetent fools. This has not stopped others from making outrageous statements such as this tweeter:

https://twitter.com/Jas4uuuu/status/1577331463988850688

is Precy a sacrificial lamb that's meant to ignite an uprising? Parang ginawa kay Ninoy.

Those culprits will do everything to destroy this admin, people must stay vigilant

It is just as disgusting to blame Bongbong Marcos for this man's death as it is to suggest that anti-Marcos elements killed him in an attempt to ignite an uprising to destroy his administration. In fact it is simply ludicrous! This tweeter is likely unaware of Duterte's contempt for the press and the fact that this is not the first radio broadcaster to be assassinated in 2022.

The first radio broadcaster to be assassinated this year was killed in January. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165195

A hard-hitting radio commentator who is seeking an elective post in a nearby town was shot dead here by riding in tandem gunmen Wednesday morning.

Jaynard Angeles, 36, of Barangay Matiompong, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, former station manager of Radyo ni Juan FM station and radio commentator, died from a gunshot wound in the head, the police said.

Allan Freno, Tacurong information officer, said Angeles had resigned from Radyo ni Juan FM to run for councilor in his hometown of Lambayong.

Angeles is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

Radio DXOM in Koronadal City reported that Angeles was waiting for his car in front of a car repair shop in Barangay New Carmen when two men, riding tandem on a motorbike, arrived. One of them shot Angeles at close range.

He instantly died from a bullet wound in the head.

At the time of his death, Angeles still worked at Radyo ni Juan-Tacurong though as a radio commentator or blocktimer.

Police probers are still trying to determine if the shooting was related to his work as a radio broadcaster or as a political aspirant.

The shooting came on the fourth day of the strict implementation of the nationwide election gun ban.

The second radio broadcaster assassinated this year was killed in April.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/broadcaster-killed-04182022150944.html

A hard-hitting radio broadcaster was killed by unknown gunmen in the southern Philippines on Good Friday as the air waves were shut down for Holy Week, police said Monday.  

If the killing of Jhannah Villegas, 38, in Maguindanao province turns out to be related to her work, she would be the 24th Philippine journalist to be killed since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016. 

Villegas may have made some enemies because of her work, provincial police spokesman Capt. Fayed Cana told BenarNews.

“Her death could be related to her work,” said Cana, adding that investigators have asked local leaders to help identify those responsible. 

Villegas was attacked at her home on Friday in Datu Anggal Midtimbang town by three unknown armed men who shot her at close range, Cana said. She was rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. 

Villegas worked as a reporter for community newspaper Sagad and Bugso as well as a “block timer” broadcaster for Radyo Ukay in Kidapawan city, North Cotabato province and Energy FM 106.7 radio in Manila. A block timer is an independent journalist or broadcast producer who buys airtime to air programs on radio or television. 

Villegas was known as a critic of local officials, friends and colleagues said. She also headed Mindanao Balita, an online news blog covering local political events across the region.

Saudi Akmad, the victim’s husband, said his wife had received a death threat on Thursday night, hours before she was killed.  

The third radio broadcaster assassinated this year was killed in June.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/30/2191905/cagayan-de-oro-radio-broadcaster-shot-dead

Two motorcycle-riding masked gunmen shot dead a radio commentator in front of his house in Macanhan, Carmen here yesterday.

Federico “Ding” Gempesaw, 63, had just stepped out of his car, which he used as a taxi, when one of the assailants fired at him at close range, according to a police report.

Gempesaw, a hard-hitting commentator, hosted the block time program “Bitayan sa kahanginan” daily over local broadcaster Radyo Natin.

A witness told investigators that although wounded, the victim wrestled with one of the suspects before a second bullet hit him in the head.

Gempesaw died at the scene.

Gempesaw was a retired city hall official before he joined the local media as a radio commentator.

The fourth radio broadcaster assassinated this year was killed in September. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/09/19/2210786/broadcaster-stabbed-dead-negros-oriental

Police in Negros Oriental have taken custody of the suspect in the killing of Renato "Rey" Blanco, a broadcaster who was stabbed to death on Sunday night.

In an advisory, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said early police reports found that Blanco, a resident of Bais City and a radio broadcaster for Power 102.1 DYRY RFM in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental, was visiting the house of a certain Wilbert Amada in Barangay Himocdongan in the same town when he was stabbed.

In a Facebook post, Power 102.1 expressed condolences to Blanco's family and friends and said that his death does not mean the end of his advocacy of defending people who are being abused, especially the poor.

The radio station added: "Walang demokrasya kung walang independiyenteng media. Kung patahimikin mo ang mga mamamahayag, pinatahimik mo ang boses ng demokrasya." 

(There is no democracy without an independent media. If you silence a journalist, you are silencing the voice of democracy)

Charles Amada, Wilbert's brother and the suspect in the case, is being detained at the Mabinay Police Station.

In a separate statement sent to reporters, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security said that while it is still too early to determine the exact motive behind the incident, it will presume the killing to be "work related" as a matter of policy.

A week after Percy Lapid was assassinated a radio broadcaster was assaulted outside his place of work.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/07/radio-commentator-attacked-in-iloilo/

A radio commentator was attacked by three unidentified men after his radio program here on Friday, Oct. 7.

Florencio “Flo” Hervias was about to board his motorcycle when the suspects wearing masks ganged up on him outside the RMN-Iloilo radio station in La Paz District before 11 a.m.

The victim sustained facial injuries and was wounded by the broken visor he was wearing.

The helmet he was wearing saved him from further harm.

“They were aiming for my head. It was good I already had my helmet,” Hervias told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.

He was accompanied by Roy Cejar, a colleague in a block-time program known as “Banwa, Binag-Binaga.”

When asked if he had anyone in mind behind his attack, Hervias said an elected official here but he did not identify him.

Hervias said that the attack may be linked to the renovation of several public markets in this city.

As you can see the assassination of radio journalists is a regular occurrence every few months. In some cases their deaths are never solved. It is too easy and also wrong to blame the President or any one politician for these killings. The problem is the culture. The Philippines has a culture that is very much focused on revenge. It is seen every day in the number of frivolous lawsuits filed by those who wish to retaliate against their enemies. 

50. They are revengeful to an excessive degree—so much so that they are vile and cowardly; and the ministers have great trouble in reconciling them with their enemies; and although they do it through fear, it is never with the whole heart, for this passion has great influence over them. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2017/07/filipino-character-has-not-changed-in.html 

In the Philippines politics is a dirty game and a free for all. Journalists are caught up in that mess especially if they criticize a politician. These killings will not end soon without a cultural shift where freedom of the press is respected by all not just in word but in deed. 

The God Culture: How to Keep the Feast of Tabernacles Without Actually Keeping the Feast of Tabernacles Part 2

Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture has finally revealed to his audience how he celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles. Let us compare his celebration with that of the Bible and see if Tim follows the rules God has laid down. 

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=510981471038042&id=100063785813165

Happy Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, the most exciting week of the year. Much better than Christmas. This is just the First Day... In the Philippines... We hope all are enjoying this Feast here in this time zone and those in the rest as the sun comes their way. 

The goats arrived last night with the guys who prepped and cooked them and wow!!! And, what a process to watch. This was not a sacrifice but we felt serving goat a nice touch. You do not have to. 

Already we have our first problem. Tim is serving goat merely as a nice touch and not as a sacrifice. What does the Bible say to do? 

Leviticus 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

The Bible says a sacrifice must be made every day for the duration of the feast. Yet Tim is boasting that he did not offer a sacrifice but had goats served as “a nice touch.” What a blasphemous joke. 

Not only does the Bible require sacrifice but God says all males have to appear before Him in the place that he has chosen which is where the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant dwelt. 

Deuteronomy 16:13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

Let’s compare Tim with the Jews who returned to Jerusalem. They rebuilt the temple, erected the altar, and then:

Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

Next Tim goes on to describe his “tent.”

We began with a broadcast in Tagalog from Sabbath Believers Congregation in Tuba, Benguet by former AFP B. Gen., Preacher Bien Casis which are attendees enjoyed in their language. The children then decorated our large main tent. We had a TV screen there and played Veggietales for the kids while everything was being prepared for lunch. Poor Larry couldn't find his hairbrush... For us, we try to focus on events for those who are first-timers to the Feast so we can teach it hands on. Everyone is enjoying themselves on this day and many realize what a blessing this is and should always be for all of us every year.

Where is the tent in these pictures? 

Does Timothy Jay Schwab really mean to say that throwing a tarp over an open space constitutes a tent? What does the Bible say?

Leviticus 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Is Tim and company going to be dwelling in that “tent” for seven days? Seems doubtful. It’s not even a tent. What tent can hold a TV so the kids can watch Veggietales? And Veggietales? Really?  This is not 1997. Those children might as well be watching the 1980s classic Superbook which actually teaches Bible stories and not vague moral lessons from hairless vegetables like Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato. 

Incidentally the creator of Veggietales has admitted his show did not teach Christianity. 

After the bankruptcy I had kind of a forced sabbatical of three or four months of spending time with God and listening to Him. I looked back at the previous 10 years and realized I had spent 10 years trying to convince kids to behave Christianly without actually teaching them Christianity. And that was a pretty serious conviction. You can say, "Hey kids, be more forgiving because the Bible says so," or "Hey kids, be more kind because the Bible says so!" But that isn't Christianity, it's morality. 

https://web.archive.org/web/20131119225958/http://www.worldmag.com/2011/09/it_s_not_about_the_dream/page2

It’s amazing that Tim rejects mainstream Protestant evnagalicalism, calls the Church the Synagogue of Satan, and yet continues to use their products. It makes no sense. That is why he is a hypocrite. 

After lunch we had a Bible trivia contest for the kids which became a teaching opportunity and then, scripture. Of course, here in the Philippines, when we Feast, it's an all day event so we'll just keep on repeating and enjoying our time with the Bible's largest event of the year. For your event, just do your best but most of all keep the Feast and enjoy this time in Him. We love you all. Yah Bless to everyone.

This last paragraph echoes the advice Tim’s wife gave to a Facebook commenter.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=509762311159958&id=100063785813165

Daniel Munoz: So much I want it. Just don't know what to do it. I'm still trying to figure it out. Please help me Yahuah

Anna Rose Z: He will. Just take steps each year to near closer to Him. We are all learning and the only mistake is to not keep the feast really. In Israel, an entire Temple Priest system managed this. You do your best and Yahuah will bless it. Yah Bless.

This is wrong. God does not say do your best. God gives very explicit instructions on how to keep his feasts. To not keep them in the manner the Bible commands is to make a mockery of the feasts. Thankfully as Christians we do not need to keep the feasts because Jesus Christ who tabernacled in human nature and dwelt among us fulfilled all the feasts.