The PNP Plays Loud Music to Disrupt SONA Protests

It should never be forgotten that in the Philippines free speech is something not encouraged. Sure Article 3 Section 4 of the Constitution says "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances" but it does not say the police shall not prevent "the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." Don't you know how wearisome it is for the PNP to attend to rallies?

Won't somebody please think of the poor police?

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/19/pnp-chief-discourages-anti-gov-t-rally-for-upcoming-sona-terrible-inconvenience

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is dissuading anti-government protesters from holding a rally for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos Jr. at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Monday, July 22.

Citing similar situations in previous SONAs, PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said that the staging of rallies near the Batasang Pambansa Complex will only contribute to bad traffic situation.

“There are individuals applying at the local government units for a permit to conduct rally. I told them ‘Let’s just have a consultation first.’ It’s because anytime you can have a rally but the inconvenience that you will produce on the day of SONA is unacceptable,” Marbil said in a televised pre-SONA report on Friday, July 19.

“Those rallies cause not only a five-minute traffic. It will take an hour or two. Right now, there are many ongoing road projects in EDSA and the roads are getting smaller. If you hold a protest, just imagine the terrible inconvenience it will cause,” he added.

The PNP is expecting at least 5,000 anti-government protesters on the day of SONA, including participants of the “Hakbang ng Maisug” rally supported by former president Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters.

"Just imagine the terrible inconvenience it will cause," to the police. It may seem a little commonsensical because there are already rallies scheduled for the SONA but it's really part of a pattern. The PNP do not like to work and will encourage people to not file cases. When a cop pointed a gun at some noisy children the parents who filed a complaint were asked to drop the case "in the spirit of Christmas." In another instance a case was dropped by the PNP when the man apologized. He would go on to maul people for not giving him money. 

The PNP are not so stupid as to to try to stop all protests. But they can attempt to disrupt them with loud music. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/police-justify-playing-loud-music-during-rally-as-a-way-to-celebrate

“IT IS our practice in PRO 7 to celebrate,” said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Pelare on why they played loud music when the people’s rally made a stop at the front of their office on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nations Address (Sona) on Monday, July 22, 2024, local progressive groups staged a people’s rally at Fuente Osmeña Circle leading to Colon St. in Cebu City.

On their way, they made a stop in front of the PRO 7 where they raised banners indicating statistical figures of the number of people that were allegedly arrested unjustly by the police force.

While the rally was ongoing, PRO 7 personnel took out a speaker and played loud music.

“The rally has used the Police Regional Office as their venue in their protests and rallies, but the issues that they are coming up with are not in any way related to peace and security,” Pelare said during a press conference Tuesday, July 23.

On matters of playing loud sounds during the rally, Pelare asserted that it is only their way of celebrating the third Sona of Marcos.

“When there are occasions such as Sona, and other national events, it is our practice in PRO 7 to celebrate also. That is one of the ways that we can show our support in the Sona of the President,” he added.

Pelare assured the public that the police force fully supports the protesters in expressing their opinion, saying it is their “constitutionally guaranteed right” to stage a protest.

Now, that quite frankly is a load of crap. No word on what music they were playing to "celebrate" but perhaps it was an annoying anime theme song?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/219245/loud-music-was-not-meant-to-disrupt-rally-says-sinas

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO – 7) denied allegations that it attempted to drown the speeches of militants who staged a rally in front of its headquarters last Monday, February 25, 2019, by playing the theme song of a popular anime show through loudspeakers.

In a press conference today, Tuesday (February 26), Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, PRO-7 director, said they played the theme song of Voltes V at the same time when seven militant groups in Cebu protested in front of PRO- 7’s gate along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City because “it was a holiday”.

"It was not for them. It was a holiday [for us]. Of course, it was played so that we could buy it and the police also like it (working on a holiday). It's even (played) on our PA (public address) system," said Sinas.

The same thing also happened on May 1st of this year, 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5790871521036994

HAPPENING NOW: PRO-7 blasts loud music amid Labor Day protest

While protesters were calling for justice against state-sponsored killings, cops played loud music in front of the Police Regional Office - 7, Sergio Osmeña St., Cebu City.

This happened few minutes before the main program commenced.

Publio Briones, a writer for Sunstar, testifies these speakers were installed by former PNP Chief Sinas for the express purpose of drowning out protestors. 

Sinas ordered speakers to be installed in front of the PRO 7 headquarters, which played very loud music to drown out the voices of protesters. I’m not sure if the music was disco. The protesters weren’t amused. I thought it was funny.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/briones-hail-to-the-chief

But who needs speakers when you a band?

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3521699841419828

WATCH: The PNP band loudly performs to divert attention from the chanting of protesters in front of the Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu City on Thursday, September 21. Various groups conduct protests to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

The song being played is Zombie by The Cranberries which is a protest song against the Irish Republican Army's bombing which killed two children. 

I'm sure there are more incidents of the PNP playing loud music to disrupt protests but the point has been made.

Filipinos are guaranteed there shall be no law restricting their freedom of speech or the right to peaceably assemble. However, they are not guaranteed the PNP won't attempt to disrupt peaceful assemblies with loud music. 

Insurgency: Luring Youth to Insurgency

The insurgency will be defeated before President Marcos leaves office. So says the NTF-ELCAC who wants billions more in funds for the cause. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1960875/controversial-task-force-seeks-billions-more-for-anti-insurgency-drive

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año again said on Saturday that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) would “completely crush” the New People’s Army (NPA) within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a statement, Año said the NTF-Elcac, which has been getting an average of more than P10 billion every year since 2019, continues to achieve significant and laudable milestones.

In June this year, the government’s anticommunist task force asked Congress to restore the P8.7-billion fund for its Support to Barangay Development Program that would grant P10 million to each barangay liberated from the presence or influence of communist rebels.

According to Año, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been able to destroy the “politico-military component” of all 89 active NPA fronts since 2018 due to the government’s implementation of multi-pronged political and socio-economic programs.

That's right the NTF-ELCAC wants their funding restored because adviser Año says they will defeat the NPA under the Marcos administration. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1228959

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is committed to ending the threat posed by the New People's Army (NPA) under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s "Bagong Pilipinas" brand of governance.

“The NTF-ELCAC continues to achieve significant and laudable milestones from the very beginning. Under the Marcos administration, we will carry on with these achievements and we will make sure that during his administration, we will be able to completely crush these peace-spoilers,” National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC co-vice chair Eduardo Año said in a statement over the weekend.

He said this is possible as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been successful in destroying the politico-military component of all the 89 active NPA guerrilla fronts since 2018 when the anti-insurgency body was created under Executive Order (EO) 70.

“Notably, in the last two quarters, four CTG (communist terrorist group) units have been dismantled. We're also on the verge of completely dismantling the remaining seven weakened guerilla fronts. We expect that the remaining GFs will be dismantled within the year or the next,” Año said.

He emphasized that sustained operations under the “whole-of-government” approach, meaning the close collaborations of different government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and the security sector, led to the surrender of 44,528 communist personalities, the majority of whom were supporters and sympathizers.

“This figure includes the neutralization of 37 key leaders in this semester,” Ano said.

In kinetic operations, the AFP and Philippine National Police recovered different kinds of firearms and explosives from the NPA terrorists alongside body counts and captured members.

Recently, at least 10 NPA rebels, including their leader, perished during an encounter with Army soldiers in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

Since the creation of the NTF-ELCAC, Año said a total of 7,587 firearms of different high and low calibers were surrendered.

“Of the said number, 738 were for this semester alone, surrendered. We hope that these numbers, threats of armed conflict across the country will also significantly dwindle,” he said.

In its report, the NTF-ELCAC’s Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support (PLEDS) Cluster revealed that the NPA strength is now down to only 1,251 nationwide.

Forget the fact that is what EVERYONE has said under every president since Cory Aquino. This time they are for reals.

Aside from money the conviction of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro will also help defeat the insurgency and deter recruitment. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229041

The government will not hesitate to apply the full force of the law to persons and groups exposing the youth to deceitful and dangerous ideologies, the Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson has said.

The remark was made after the Tagum Regional Trial Court Branch 2, in a July 5 decision, convicted former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, and 11 others of child abuse over a case involving 14 minors in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

"It sends a clear message that individuals who exploit and endanger the lives of IP (Indigenous Peoples) children by exposing them to false and dangerous ideologies will be held accountable under our laws," Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement late Monday.

He added that the PA remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all Filipinos, particularly vulnerable groups that are often targeted by deceitful beliefs.

"This landmark decision stems from their orchestration of the (November) 2018 incident in Talaingod, Davao del Norte when they transported 14 minors who are part of indigenous peoples (IP) communities under the guise of a 'rescue mission'," Dema-ala added.

The ruling is proof of the country's functional justice system, he said.

Is the Army aware the Castro was NOT convicted of being a member of the NPA or recruiting minors to the cause? Let's listen to her.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/16/castro-slams-ano-for-spreading-red-tagging-disinformation

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro condemned the recent statements of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on her guilty verdict, which she labeled as blatant “red-tagging and disinformation”.

“These are nothing but further attempts to legitimize their red tagging and perpetuate their campaign of harassment against progressive individuals and organizations," Castro said in a statement.

Año called the Tagum court decision on Monday, July 15 as proof that “no one is above the law”.

He said the ruling belied Castro’s allegation that her group was only doing a rescue mission in relation to the supposed illegal acquisition and transportation of minors in Talaingod, Davao del Norte in November 2018.

Castro, former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, and 11 others were convicted for violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

For Castro, Año’s statement was indicative of the red-tagging that was used on political opponents and dissenters during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

"We know that Año's former boss Rodrigo Duterte is still influential in Mindanao and that the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) is hellbent on having us convicted on trumped up charges," the teacher-solon said.

Año served as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary under the Duterte administration.

Castro reiterated that she will appeal this guilty verdict even if it reaches the Supreme Court (SC).

“In this situation where the power and influence of red-taggers have become dominant, true justice is set aside,” she pointed out.

She is guilty now but it is on appeal. So is Imelda Marcos!!! That is not stopping people from saying she is affiliated with the NPA. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229070

The conviction of former party-list congressman Satur Ocampo and incumbent Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro is a triumph for all Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Mindanao, especially the victims of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Datu Rico Maca, IP Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, said Tuesday that Ocampo, Castro and other left-leaning organizations orchestrated the establishment of schools in IP villages in Mindanao that served as recruitment grounds for the NPA.

On July 3, the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Tagum City convicted Ocampo, Castro and 11 others for violating the provisions of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

They were sentenced to four to six years.

The case involved the holding and transporting of 14 minors in Talaingod, Davao del Norte in 2018.

“Here in Surigao del Sur, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA established the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development and the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur or TRIFPSS schools in the towns of Lianga, Marihatag, and San Miguel,” Maca said in an interview.

With the efforts of the tribal leaders, local government units and concerned government agencies, the schools have been shut down, he said.

In San Miguel town alone, Maca said NPA-linked groups managed established TRIFPPS schools with 22 classrooms in the villages of Bitaugan, Bolhoon, Libasod, Siagao and Carromata. All were closed in 2021.

“Just like Ocampo and Castro, former Bayan Muna representative Eufemia Cullamat, a Manobo from our province, together with the Save our School Network, established these CPP-NPA-linked schools here in Surigao del Sur, taught our children with false ideas that paved the way for their recruitment to the communist movement,” Maca alleged.

Unfortunately, he added, most of the recruited youth ended up dead during encounters, while others surrendered or were captured and are facing charges in court.

“These groups of Ocampo, Castro, and Cullamat destroyed the future of our youth. We struggled to close down these schools and succeeded. We only wanted an education for our children that would provide them a good future,” Maca said.

The court’s decision, he said, meant that the country's justice system "is genuinely working." 

Is this guy aware the court did not convict Castro and the others for being NPA?  They convicted her of child abuse for marching children down a dark road at night!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/16/castro-ocampo-to-appeal-rtc-ruling-before-ca-2201

In his decision, Acting Presiding Judge Jimmy Boco said the prosecution established proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor Lumad learners when they transported them on foot from their school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last November 2018 for around three hours on a remote, dark, and unsecured road, without the assistance of law enforcers, any government agency and written permission from the minors' parents. 

He said this exposed the children to the risk of getting shot by either government troops or the New People's Army, getting bitten by snakes, or falling off a cliff.

But Castro maintained it was a rescue mission, prompted by a call they received from teachers who were then allegedly being harassed by a paramilitary group.

Castro and her crew could have "exposed the children to the risk of getting shot by either government troops or the New People's Army, getting bitten by snakes, or falling off a cliff."

Nothing about Castro being NPA. In fact the decision rules that out because it says Castro, by marching them down a dark road, could have exposed them to the NPA! But if Castro was NPA then the children were already exposed to the NPA. 

Clearly the Supreme Court is more worried about snake bites than they are about Castro being a member of the NPA.

NPA leaders continue to surrender. But some get arrested. Take a look at this arrested NPA leader who exposes the logic, actually illogic, in the NTF-ELCAC's surrender program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229038

The arrest of a high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas is justice achieved for victims of the atrocities of the communist terrorist group, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday. 

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the arrest of Terrence Eder, alias Anjo, and his wife, Annalyn Eder, alias Anya, is a welcome development.

Authorities apprehended the couple in Guisad village in Baguio City on July 8.

The couple has standing warrants of arrest for violating section 4 of Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and for the crime of arson.

Terrence was the former secretary of the NPA sub-regional committee emporium of the Eastern Visayas regional party committee. Annalyn served as the educational officer and finance officer of the NPA.

They are residents of Barangay 88 in the San Jose district of Tacloban City.

Ligayo said their apprehension demonstrates the government's commitment to holding those who commit serious crimes, especially violations of anti-terrorism laws, accountable.

"The successful operation shows the government's commitment to delivering justice to victims of terrorism. We will not remain idle and will continue to intensify our efforts to apprehend individuals with outstanding violations," Ligayo added.

The military earlier said the remaining NPA members in Eastern Visayas are now “leaderless” and disorganized with the recent deaths, captures, and surrenders of its top leaders in the region.

The NPA in the region is on the verge of collapse as it could not find potential leaders who would direct and make critical decisions for the group, according to the Army.

Forget about the "leaderless" part. Certainly leaders fill the void. Concentrate on "The successful operation shows the government's commitment to delivering justice to victims of terrorism." If these people surrendered they would have been able to avail of the government's bribery program.  But they did not. So now they have been caught it's an act justice? What about all the E-CLIP members who have committed atrocities!? It seems like they are admitting it is not an act of justice to the victim's families to give surrendered rebels money and housing rather than tossing them into prison.

The Philippine Government Cannot Afford to Upgrade the Military

The Philippine government has been upgrading the AFP for decades. Why has it taken so long? Why is the AFP still in need of upgrading? It turns out the government cannot afford to pay for the upgrade. That is why Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has gone hat in hand to he business sector asking for handouts. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1960274/gibo-asks-biz-leaders-help-finance-afp-upgrade

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has sought the help of business leaders in crafting “creative financing solutions” to ease the financial burden on the government in implementing the military’s modernization program.

Speaking before members of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) in Taguig City on Wednesday, Teodoro highlighted the significant resources needed to fund the continuing modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that must be balanced with the government’s mandate to spend for infrastructure, social services, education, and many other priorities.

“We need to find off-budget, nontraditional financing sources for modernization but not [based] on the model of the old BCDA (Bases Conversion and Development Authority), where land was traded for modernization,” he said.

“Therefore, I ask your help for creative financing for us where we can spread out the terms of whatever financial arrangements we can make to limit the size of amortizations that the national government will make to make it more palatable,” he noted.

Teodoro also stressed the importance of the support of the private sector in the quest to develop a self-reliant defense posture “in order to deter—in order to prevent—those that would poach or appropriate the resources that rightly belong to future generations of Filipinos, not only us.”

“We will need your support in the future because this is a continuing struggle for our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights amid significant challenges to try not only to make our EEZ and other areas where we have jurisdiction smaller, to constrict it, but also weaken our resolve to stand up and resist attempts to change the narrative of what international law is and what belongs to the Filipinos,” he told the MAP members.

Off-budget, nontraditional financing sources? Creative financing? 

How is any of that legal? The government has a budget that not only must be approved by the President but is audited by the Commission on Audit to ensure funds are being procured and spent properly and within the confines of the law. There is no room for off-budget, nontraditional financing sources or creative financing. The fact that the Philippine government has to hold out its hat out to the private sector is shocking and goes to show this government simply cannot maintain the defense of the nation.

What about all the money and material given to the Philippines every single year by the United States of America? The US Senate is contemplating increasing the amount given to the Philippines from 40 million per year to 500 million per year.

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225972

The United States Senate is waiting for a detailed analysis from the US Department of Defense (DOD) on the proposal to increase the annual USD40 million US military aid or Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines to at least USD500 million.

Republican Senator William Francis Hagerty of Tennessee and Democrat Senator Tim Caine of Virginia proposed the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 (PERA) last April 10, which seeks to authorize a total of USD2.5 billion in FMF grant assistance to the Philippines for a span of five years, from 2025 to 2029.

In an interview at Fairmont Makati on Friday, US Senator Christopher Coons said he did not sign the bill as a co-sponsor due to “some debate about the absorption capacity of the Philippine military” for them to deploy USD2.5 billion in defense financing.

Coons is a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees.

“I’m waiting to get the analysis of the US Department of Defense on whether we can allocate USD500 million a year. This would lock us into doing that for five years, I’d like to see us do it once and have it be successful,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

“To go from USD40 million to USD500 million in one year would be a significant move. My argument would be, let’s show that we can do that first,” he said.

Coons sees the bill as an important bipartisan indicator that there is support for the “deepening and strengthening” of the US-Philippines military partnership.

“I take it as a good sign, but I'd like to see us prove that we can actually do it. I am waiting to hear the analysis from the US Department of Defense about what the systems are, what's needed, on what timeline, and what can actually be absorbed,” he said.

Through the FMF, the measure aims to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program and allow the Philippines to safeguard its territorial sovereignty; improve maritime domain awareness; counter coercive military activities; and strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism, among others.

As of January 2024, the Philippines is the largest recipient of US grant assistance for defense capabilities in the Pacific region, according to the US Department of Commerce-International Trade Administration.

This increase is not a done deal but the Philippines already receives millions every year to support the AFP's modernization program. Note that Senator Coons says he is waiting for the analysis from the US DoD to learn "what can actually be absorbed." That means how much the Philippines can actually use for modernization without it ending up in the pockets of corrupt politicians and generals. The issue of corruption cannot be overstated.

President Marcos recently approved a P35 billion modernization program. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/05/02/2351946/marcos-jr-approves-military-procurement-wish-list

Amid continuing maritime aggression by China, President Marcos has approved a $35-billion budget to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with the Philippine Navy getting the largest chunk to strengthen capabilities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The budget will be used to finance various acquisitions enumerated in a lengthy “wish list” submitted by the AFP to the President, and will be spread out over 10 years, Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said yesterday at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.

“As to the proportion, I would say that the larger chunk goes to the Navy, and then the Air Force, and then the Army, and then the General Headquarters. Because the thrust now is already external. It says there that there are different capabilities that will allow the Philippine Navy to fight across a broad spectrum of warfare,” he said.

Trinidad explained that broad spectrum warfare refers to air, surface, sub-surface and electronic spectrum.

“So our ships or our capabilities, including those on land, should have the capability to fight in the air, on land, on surface, at sea and sub-surface undersea, and of course in the electronic spectrum,” he said.

“The details of this are with the Department of National Defense and they will determine which will be prioritized, where and how will it be acquired and how it will be developed. Will it be bought? Will it be manufactured locally, so that the local labor force can be utilized and the money will be spent here? So we are thankful that the AFP is fully supported,” he added.

WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad says with this program "the AFP is fully supported." Even more so with the millions in aid given by the US each year to support the modernization program.

So, why exactly is Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. asking for handouts from the business community? Where is the money really going?

The Parable of the White Russian Part 2

This is a follow up to an article I wrote a few years back about my quest to drink a White Russian. It's an ordinary drink one can easily make and any well stocked bar should have the ingredients to make it. But the restaurant I was at did not have it on the menu so I was denied despite the ingredients being on the shelf. 

That night was just a whim and I did not think anything more of it until I was out to eat recently. I flipped over the menu to the drink section and lo and behold White Russian was listed as a selection. Of course the waiter had to make sure it was available. Thankfully it was.

But take a look at this list:

A screwdriver? That is such a basic drink any bartender should be able to make. Why is it on a list? Why is it that in the Philippines you cannot order a drink unless it's on the menu? If I went to any bar in the rest of the world and requested a drink they would make it without having to check the menu first. Not only that but the waiter had to make sure the materials to make my drink were available. There are only three ingredients in a White Russian: vodka, Kahlua, and milk or cream. Any properly stocked bar would have those items.  

Now, perhaps there are bars in the Philippines that will make anything you ask. However that should be the case EVERYWHERE. Being able to order the drink you want is the point of going to a bar. Bartenders are trained how to mix and pour drinks of all kinds. Apparently that is not the case in the Philippines. This issue likely has little impact on foreign tourism but no doubt there are plenty of disappointed tourists once they learn Filipino bartenders are forbidden from mixing drinks unless they are listed on the menu. 

The God Culture: Meteors Don't Come From Outer Space

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has an interesting theory about meteors. He says they originate not from outer space but from Earth. 

50:31 I  know they say that, you know, there's a meteor that came and 11% of the meteor was actually water, oh, and the water's been tested and it matches the Earth so that means that... what? Well, they say very stupidly, and I, this is incredibly dumb, uh, they say well, uh, that meteor, uh, must mean that all of the Earth's waters came from outer space. How illiterate can you be? First of all, meteors don't come from outer space. There is no outer space. Now, we're going to deal with that directly and head on. But the reason that meteor has water, and several have asked this question so I don't mind dealing with a little bit of it now, the reason that meteor had Earth's water is because it came from the earth. It's not a meteor from outer space it's a rock that was sent, uh, you know basically exploding all the way up as far into the firmament and some got lodged there and some fall from time to time. That's all. And that explains the water. That's an earth rock. I mean 11% earth water? That's an earth rock. You're not a scientist if you say anything else because it would be stupid to say anything else. Would it not?

Restoring Creation: Part 22: Ice Canopy Theory Resolved. Second Day

This is very dumb. Tim's thesis is that during the flood the fountains of the deep exploded and sent rocks into the air. Those rocks fall to earth from time to time and are what we call meteors. There is no such thing as outer space. He explains it in a comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-S5UPp8-Ig&lc=UgxC4NKVH8T2IfNPdzp4AaABAg

@bluefullyone Hi how about meteors/ asteroid impact on earth? Is it from within as if it is from the outside it cannot enter or even make a dent on the firmament?Thanks

@thegodculture No one has ever proven those come from space. In fact, we'll cover one that scientists are baffled because it is made of 11% of water from Earth. The idiots then conclude that means earth's waters came from outer space in insanity. They ignore the Flood and even scholars underestimate the explosive fountains of the Great Deep which sent such rock with such force some lodged in the firmament and every now and then 1 falls. There is no other coherent explanation. If it has water from Earth, it's from Earth, not outer space. Yah Bless.

It is certainly an ingenious tidbit that fits nicely into in his erroneous worldview especially if one does not care to think about it. But it is wrong. 

First of all, in the northern hemisphere there are two seasonal annual meteor showers. The Perseids which are on display in August, and the Leonids which are on display in November. In fact, there are many noted periodic meteor showers observed in both northern and southern hempispheres. 

If Tim's thesis is correct, that meteors are earth rocks floating around in the upper atmosphere, then there should be no annual meteor showers. Meteor showers would be random events. The Leonids were first recorded in 902 AD and the Perseids were first recorded in 36 AD. After thousands of years why are meteors still falling if they came from the earth? It would seem at some point there would be no more rocks to fall. And where are these rocks hanging out at? You can look through a telescope and into the heavens and NO ONE has recorded rocks floating in the upper atmosphere of the earth.

Second of all both the Perseids and Leonid meteor showers as well as the others are associated with comets. Are comets also lodged in the upper atmosphere of the Earth? According to Tim they MUST be because there is no outer space. But there is nothing coherent about that. Comets have periodic orbits that can be more than 100 years. Halley's comet has an orbit of 70 years. As of today there are 4,584 known and observed comets. Where are all these comets? If they are hovering around in the atmosphere, and this MUST BE THE CASE in Tim's cosmological framework, then where are they? The sky should be crowded. Why can we only see them after long and exact periods of years? It's because, like meteors, they are in outer space.

This ridiculous and false teaching is the result of Tim interpreting the Bible in a wrong manner and not thinking about the implications of his interpretation. There is no solid glass dome covering the earth, Man has been to outer space, and you can look through a telescope to see the various planets in our solar system. It is unbelievable that anyone could fall for the easily disprovable nonsense of Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 374

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

 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/07/15/2370348/rep-france-castro-satur-ocampo-guilty-endangering-minors-court

A court in Davao del Norte has found Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers party-list) and former Rep. Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna party-list) guilty of endangering minors in 2018, sentencing them to up to six years in prison.

In a 26-page decision promulgated on Monday, the Tagum City Regional Trial Court's Brand 2 convicted Castro, Ocampo and 11 others for violation of Section 10a of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Castro and Ocampo were sentenced to four to six years and ordered to pay P10,000 as civil indemnity and P10,000 as moral damages to each of the 14 minors involved. The amount would also grow with an interest rate of 6% per annum until full payment.

Castro and Ocampo’s co-accused are Ma. Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianie Aga, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Ma. Concepcion Ibarra, Nerfa Awing, Wingwing Daunsay

The other respondents, namely Edgar Ugal, Ryan Magpayo, Eller Ordeniza and Jurie Jaime, were acquitted.

The decision can still be appealed through a motion for reconsideration in the same court.

The case stemmed from the accused's participation in a November 2018 mission which, they argued, aimed to rescue to Lumad schools and teachers from a food blockade and forcible closure of the school by a paramilitary group in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

In its ruling, however, the court said Castro, Ocampo and their co-accused endangered the children by taking them on a "dark and unsecured road" where they walked for hours, risking potential harm from either government troops or communist New People's Army guerrillas operating in the area.

“The acts of the accused clearly show that they failed to take necessary precaution to safeguard the safety and well-being of the children when they transported the Lumad learners from Sitio Dulyan to Tagum City,” it added.

It also found no valid justification for the group to take the minor students out of the Sitio Dulyan campus. "Upon review of the records, it is worthy to stress that the tribal leaders of the communities only demanded the teachers to leave the school as their services are no longer needed," the decision read.

A court in Davao del Norte has found Rep. France Castro and former Rep. Satur Ocampo guilty of endangering minors in 2018, sentencing them to up to six years in prison.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584724/ex-kagawad-nabbed-for-mauling-sk-chairman-son

A former kagawad in Brgy. Tagjaguimit in Naga City, Cebu spent the night in jail after he allegedly mauled his son, who is the barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman, and caused commotion during a barangay activity Sunday night, July 14.

In a report, the Naga City police said that SK Chairman Redgie Requinto, 22, was attending the SK Summer League that was held at the barangay’s covered court when his father, Carmilo, arrived.

Carmilo, who appeared to be drunk, allegedly mauled Redgie in front of the Summer League participants.  He then started screaming and uttering unpleasant words.

To put an end to what his father was doing, Redgie called for police assistance.

Barangay personnel also helped the police pacify and later on arrest Carmilo, 44.

The police said that Carmilo was brought to the custodial facility of the Naga City Police Station for detention.

On the other hand, Redgie was brought to the Naga City Infirmary for medical checkup to support complaints for slight physical injuries and alarm and scandal that the police prepared for filing against his father.

But Redgie later on signified that he will no longer pursue charges against his father, who was released from police custody on Monday, Police Staff Sergeant Crispin Amaquiton of the Naga City Police Station said.

A former barangay chairman spent the night in jail after yelling at and mauling his son who is a current SK chairman. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/913432/cops-admit-evidence-was-planted-in-batangas-buy-bust-ops/story/

Two police personnel involved in a buy-bust operation in San Juan, Batangas which resulted in the death of a drug suspect admitted that the shabu and gun used as evidence were planted.

Bryan Laresma, 33, was killed on the evening of May 28 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lipahan.

During the hearing of House committee in public order and safety, Police Sergeant Michie Perez of the San Juan Municipal Police Station initially claimed that she shot Laresma since the drug suspect fired his gun first.

Perez further said that she acquired more than 4 grams of shabu from Laresma.

The hearing revealed that Laresma was shot in the rear part of his leg, making Perez's claim questionable.

Laresma’s brother earlier said the former was waiting for him under the bridge to hand over money to purchase a rechargeable fan when the police arrived.

The Batangas Police Provincial Office also found irregularities in the conduct of the buy-bust operation, leading to the administrative relief of the eight police officers.

Due to time constraints, Perez was denied of her request for an executive session.

She said she will instead submit a new affidavit as there were lapses in her previous statement on their operation.

She then confirmed that the buy-bust operation and exchange of gunshots with Laresma did not happen.

She also confirmed that Laresma did not have any gun with him when the supposed encounter happened.

Meanwhile, Police Major Sgt. Juan Macaraig, also of the San Juan Municipal Police, revealed that Perez planted the shabu and gun under the bridge where Laresma was killed.

He also confirmed that there was no buy-bust operation.

Before the hearing was suspended, Perez and Macaraig were asked to submit an affidavit of their new claims

Two police personnel involved in a buy-bust operation in San Juan, Batangas which resulted in the death of a drug suspect admitted that the shabu and gun used as evidence were planted.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/16/graft-malversation-charges-filed-vs-caloocan-city-rep-malapitan-5-others

Criminal complaints for graft and malversation of public funds were filed against Caloocan City 1st District Rep. Oscar "Oca" M. Malapitan, five former officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and a private individual before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) for alleged misuse of the legislator's priority development assistance fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

Aside from Malapitan, also charged were former DSWD secretary Esperanza I. Cabral, undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Group (GASSG) Mateo G. Montaño, assistant secretary for Institutional Development Group (IDP) Vilma B. Cabrera, director III of the Program Management Bureau Pacita D. Sarino, and chief accountant Leonila M. Hayahay, and private individual Cenon M. Mayor.

The complaints against them were filed by former Caloocan City mayor Reynaldo O. Malonzo on Tuesday, July 16. Malonzo told the OMB that the respondents used Malapitan's PDAF "indiscriminately in violation of the pertinent laws, rules, and regulations."

None of those named respondents in the charges could be contacted for comment as of posting.

Malonzo in his complaint-affidavit alleged: "Funds through the use of PDAF are missing and have unjustly enriched these people at the expense of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged people of Caloocan City. We cannot sleep soundly at night while the thieves and criminals roam the City of Caloocan and are actually in the guise of public service with their hands dipping into the government coffers." 

He accused Malapitan of committing the "delictual act" of endorsing and personally identifying Kalookan Assistance Council, Inc. (KACI), through its president Mayor, to be his conduit in implementing projects using his PDAF. 

But, he alleged that KACI was not eligible for any PDAF transfer from the DSWD because it has unliquidated cash advances for the years 2006 and 2007.

Cabral was accused of signing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with KACI even though the non-government organization (NGO) was not qualified for the fund transfer, while Montaño allegedly failed to require the needed endorsement from the Standards Bureau before processing the fund transfer to KACI. 

Montano allegedly approved the release of P8 million and P3 million despite KACI's reported failure to liquidate its previous cash advances in the total amount of P23,100,000 incurred from 2006 to 2007.

Sarino, on the other hand, was allegedly responsible for certifying the completeness of the project. 

However, Malonzo claimed that Sarino accepted the accomplishment and liquidations of KACI to be in order despite not being so. 

Hayahay, for his part, allegedly certified all the disbursement vouchers involved in the PDAF transactions, which enabled the fund release to KACI.

Malonzo asked the OMB to hold all the respondents liable for violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation of public funds.

In the case of Mayor, Malonzo asked the OMB to charge the former with malversation of public funds in relation to Article 172(2) of the RPC on falsification of of public documents.

Criminal complaints for graft and malversation of public funds were filed against Caloocan City 1st District Rep. Oscar "Oca" M. Malapitan, five former officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and a private individual before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged misuse of the legislator's priority development assistance fund from 2007 to 2009.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961036/court-hits-waste-management-body-over-plastics-case

The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to come up with a list of products deemed harmful to the environment within six months, in line with its mandate under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act enacted over two decades ago.

In a 44-page decision dated July 9, the CA’s Former Tenth Division Special Division of Five granted the privileges of the writs of kalikasan and continuing mandamus to more than 50 environmental groups and individuals, particularly, their prayer to compel the commission and its member agencies to formulate a list of nonenvironmentally acceptable products (NEAP).

“We cannot emphasize enough that it has been more than 20 years since RA 9003 was passed. Children born when the law was passed were already eligible to vote in the last general election … Respondents, particularly NSWMC, cannot be allowed to continue to drag their feet in complying with their statutory duty,” the appeals court said in the ruling penned by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo Roxas.

In addition to formulating a NEAP list, the CA also ordered the commission to submit annual reports on the status of the implementation of the list.

The case stemmed from the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision to grant the petition for a writ of kalikasan and continuing mandamus filed by more than 50 environmental groups and advocates against the government for its alleged failure to address the plastic pollution problem in the country.

The high court referred the case to the CA for acceptance of the respondents’ submissions, hearing and rendition of judgment on whether the petitioners, led by Oceana Philippines, are entitled to the privileges of the court orders.

A writ of kalikasan is a special legal order to stop harmful environmental actions or to enforce protective measures. A continuing mandamus, on the other hand, is a court order in environmental cases that requires an agency to carry out specific actions until a final judgment is fully implemented.

In siding with the petitioners, the CA said the requisites for the issuance of both writs were met, particularly the presence of an actual or threatened violation of the constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology due to the NSWMC’s failure to comply with its duties under RA 9003.

Even if several resolutions were issued as preparatory actions to releasing the NEAP, the appeals court said they still fell short of the law’s requirement.

“[It] baffles the Court how, for more than 20 years, respondents refused to come up with a NEAP list when they admit that they have already identified several plastic items as NEAP,” the CA said.

The court added that the NSWMC’s failure to come up with the list could lead to “environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces.”

“As prefaced in this decision, there is no doubt that NEAPs, among other solid and hazardous wastes, pose a threat to the environment. The danger that NEAP poses is sufficiently grave, and its territorial scope reaches all corners of our nation,” it said.

While the CA granted the privileges of the two legal remedies to the petitioners, it said it could not grant their prayer to prohibit the production and use of disposable plastics and other similar products, as the NSWMC needs to submit a list of NEAP first.

The Court of Appeals has ordered the National Solid Waste Management Commission to come up with a list of products deemed harmful to the environment within six months, in line with its mandate under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act enacted over two decades ago.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/17/pnp-ias-6-256-cops-penalized-for-various-offenses-under-pbbm-administration

More than 6,200 policemen were charged and convicted for various offenses in the continuing internal cleansing in the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Marcos administration, the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) said on Wednesday, July 17.

Of the total of 6,256 policemen slapped with administrative charges from July 2022 to date, IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay said 527 of them were dismissed from the service while 260 of them were demoted. 

A total of 1,418 of them were suspended.

“The whole of the administration of President Marcos, we have had a total of 6,256 convictions against PNP personnel ranging from conduct unbecoming of a police officer all the way to grave misconduct,” said Dulay. 

From January 1 to date, Dulay said a total of 2,591 were charged, the figure included in the more than 6,500 cops charged since July 2022.

He said 47 of them were dismissed this year, 20 were demoted while 140 were suspended.

The highest ranking officer penalized, according to Dulay, is a Colonel.

He then advised all policemen to follow both the rule of law and police operational procedures in order to spare themselves from trouble.

“We have rules that must be followed, this has long been the policy of the PNP. They just have to follow these rules because it is really hard to be charged with administrative charges,” said Dulay.

“This is part of the reform process. The cleansing process is continuing and ongoing. This serves as a message that the IAS will run after those who would violate the law,” he added.

More than 6,200 policemen were charged and convicted for various offenses in the continuing internal cleansing in the Philippine National Police under the Marcos administration.