The God Culture: More Lies About the Behaim Globe

It is absolutely hilarious that Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture cannot write a book or record a video without a passing reference to me. In this case Tim makes a direct reference to me in his new book Garden of Eden Revealed The Book of Maps. 

Garden of Eden Revealed, pgs 98-99

There are those out there who are simply dishonest who have even gone so far as to commit cyber libel expressing extreme racism against the Philippines who claim we lied that this was a Portuguese government-commissioned map. Yet it was. They need to take up that debate with the University of Cambridge. The fact they are unable to read and understand that the Portuguese King Joao II paid Behaim to create this map according to Cambridge's Whipple Museum of History and Science, demonstrates what we always observe from that fallacious onslaught of racist nonsense. They cannot even read a sentence with comprehension. 

"The earliest globe that survives today was made in 1492 by Martin Behaim, a German navigator and geographer in the employ of King João II of Portugal." ' 

I know this is a reference to me because I am the only who writes critically of The God Culture and I am the only one who has been insistent that Tim lies every time he speaks about the Behaim Globe. It is NOT Portuguese, it is German. It was made by a man who was employed by the King of Portugal but it was not commissioned by the King of Portugal. It was commissioned and financed by the City of Nuremberg which is Behaim's hometown. 

This fact is easily found on Wikipedia and following the sources leads to a book titled Martin Behaim, His Life and His Globe by Ernest George Ravenstein. This book contains much historical information regarding the provenance of the globe. 

First we are told that it was a singular member of the Nuremberg City Council who suggested to the rest of the Council that Behaim make a globe. 

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008398949/page/42/mode/2up

It was, however, a member of the Town Council, George Holzschuher, to whom Martin Behaim became indebted for the greater part of the fame which he still enjoys. George Holzschuher in 1470 had visited Egypt and the Holy Land, and he evidently took some interest in the progress of geographical discoveries. It was he who suggested to his colleagues of the Rat that Behaim should be requested to undertake the making of a globe, upon which the recent discoveries of the Portuguese should be delineated. His suggestion was accepted, and to him we are indebted for the famous globe, a full account of which I shall give in the second part of this work.

Second we are given the instructions the City of Nuremberg gave to Behaim for making the globe. 

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008398949/page/70/mode/2up

By desire and request of the prudent, honourable and sapient, the chief captains of the worthy Imperial city of Nurnberg who rule at this time, and whose names are D. Gabriel Nutzel, D. Paulus Volckamer and D. Nicholas Groland, this figure of an apple has been achieved and made by the skill (art), according to the directions and by the industry of the worshipful and honourable D. Martin Behaim, Knight, who is much experienced in the art of Cosmography and has circumnavigated one third of the world. All this has been extracted with industry from the books of Ptolemy, Strabo and Marco Polo, and put together, the sea as well as the land, each according to its shape and form, as ordered to be done by the abovenamed captains on behalf of the City Council by the Hon. George Holzschuher, whereunto he has helped and advised with all possible industry. This (work of) art and apple has been achieved and made in the year 1492 after the birth of Christ, and has been left behind him by the said D. Martin Peheim for the honour and enjoyment of the commonalty of the city of Nurnberg in order that he may be thought kindly of for all time, when he shall have gone back to his wife, who lives 700 miles away, where he keeps house, in order to end his days in his island where is his home.

Be it known that on this Apple (Globe) here present is laid out the whole world according to its length and breadth in accordance with the art geometry, namely, the one part as described by Ptolemy in his book called 'Cosmographia Ptolemaei,’ and the remainder from what the Knight Marco Polo of Venice caused to be written down in 1250. The worthy Doctor and Knight Johann de Mandavilla likewise left a book in 1322 which brought to the light of day the countries of the East, unknown to Ptolemy, whence we receive spices, pearls and precious stones, and the Serene King John of Portugal has caused to be visited in his vessels that part to the south not yet known to Ptolemy in the year 1485, whereby I, according to whose indications this Apple has been made, was present. Towards the west the Sea Ocean has likewise been navigated further than what is described by Ptolemy and beyond the columns of Hercules as far as the islands Faial and Pico of the Azores occupied by the noble and valiant Knight Jobst de Hiirter of Moerkerken, and the people of Flanders whom he conducted thither. These islands are occupied by my dear father-in-law, who owns and governs it. The far-off places towards midnight or Tramontana, beyond Ptolemy’s description, such as Iceland, Norway and Russia, are likewise now known to us, and are visited annually by ships, wherefore let none doubt the simple arrangement of the world, and that every part may be reached in ships, as is here to be seen.

Third and finally we are given the expenditures spent by the Nuremberg City Council for making the globe. 

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008398949/page/110/mode/2up

Below is so be found a statement of what I, George Holzschuher, have expended by order of my lords of the city treasury, upon limning and otherwise, for making the “apple,” or mappa mundi in the shape of a sphere, and also for making the printed map for the clerk’s office, which Mr. Merten Beham, having expended thereon his art and pains, left behind for the enjoyment of my lords of the worshipful council : 

Is that enough for Tim to prove the globe was conceived and financed by the City of Nuremberg and not the King of Portugal? 

Let's take a look at Tim's source the Cambridge Whipple Museum of Science.

https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/globes/brief-history-globes

The earliest globe that survives today was made in 1492 by Martin Behaim, a German navigator and geographer in the employ of King João II of Portugal. Behaim's globe recorded not only the lie of the lands being discovered by seabourne explorers, but also details of overseas commodities, market places and local trading protocols. Thus, the earliest surviving globe, which probably reflects many others produced around the same time, features information on more than cartography.

Does this say the King of Portugal commissioned and paid for Behaim's globe? NO! It only says Behaim was "in the employ of King João II of Portugal." Can Tim read? This says nothing about who paid for and commissioned the map.

Again, this is another instance where Tim has done ZERO investigation into the matter and more proof there either is no God Culture team or they are really bad at research. The facts of the provenance of the Behaim Globe are easily found out yet Tim persists on pushing this lie it was commissioned by the Portuguese government. At this point it is beyond a mere mistake. Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture is indeed a liar when he claims this globe was commissioned by the Portuguese government. Why should anyone believe anything else he has to say?

Retards in the Government 380

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/22/coa-flags-mapun-town-in-tawi-tawi-over-p8-8-m-outright-expenses-in-2023

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the municipality of Mapun in Tawi-Tawi over its P8.82 million outright expenses in 2023 without first setting up an inventory account.

The lapse cast doubt on the propriety of the transactions, the COA said in its 2023 audit report on the municipality.

It said Mapun town spent a total of P3,165,789.63 on office supplies; P2,311,792.41 on fuel, oil and lubricants; P700,381.85 on agriculture and marine supplies; and P2,643,021.90 on other supplies and materials or a total of P8,820,985.79.

"The treatment of these procurements as outright expense resulted in the misstatement of assets and expenses accounts equivalent to the value of the remaining stocks at year-end which were not treated as assets," the COA said. 

It said its audit team stressed the importance of maintaining an inventory account, which will enable it to reflect in its books the monthly balance of supplies and materials; and  will also guide officials concerned to determine the quantity of the products to be procured in the succeeding month or quarter.

"For failure to adhere to the prescribed accounting rules and regulations on the inventory accounts, the asset account was not recognized while the related expense account was overstated," the COA said in its report.

"In addition, the practice of allowing the immediate distribution of inventory items in bulk to the end-users exposes it to risk of misuse, theft, and wasteful utilization," it said. 

Thus, the COA urged officials of Mapun to adapt and maintain the asset method of recording the inventory items and require the coordination between the Municipal Accounting Office (MAO) and General Services Office (GSO) towards the proper implementation of the perpetual inventory method of recording all inventory items.

In doing so, the COA said the municipality would ensure proper accounting and promote better control in the receipt and issuance of supplies and materials.

The Commission on Audit has flagged the municipality of Mapun in Tawi-Tawi over its P8.82 million outright expenses in 2023 without first setting up an inventory account.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1975738/court-orders-arrest-of-albay-mayor-for-2-counts-of-murder

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in National Capital Region (NCR) has ordered the arrest of Daraga town Mayor Carlwyn Go Baldo over 2018 killing of former Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police aide, Master Sergeant Orlando Diaz.

The warrant of arrest, signed by Acerey Pacheco, acting presiding judge of Branch 3 RTC, dated Wednesday, Aug. 21, was for Baldo’s alleged involvement in the murder of the Batocabe and Diaz in December 2018 during a Christmas event in Daraga, Albay.

No bail has been recommended for the charge of two counts of murder.

However, Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Bicol police chief, told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Thursday, Aug. 22, that Baldo was not found by the arresting team in his residence in Barangay (village) Tagas, Daraga.

“The serving of the arrest warrant turned out negative because the mayor was not around,” Dizon said.

He added that it is best for Baldo to “surrender so he can defend himself” against the charges filed against him.

“It’s difficult for him to remain in hiding, as the warrant of arrest has no expiry date,” he said.

The Mayor of Albay has been ordered arrested for 2 counts of murder.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/23/2379953/palace-suspends-abra-vice-governor-unjust-hospital-lockdown

Malacañang has suspended Abra Vice Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos for 18 months after unjustly locking down the Dr. Petronillo Seares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Bangued, Abra during the pandemic.

A copy of the decision from the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) of the Office of the President said Bernos was ordered to vacate her post after finding her guilty of oppression and abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official and disobedience to national government policies.

The 18-month suspension stemmed from a complaint against Bernos, then the province’s governor, in December 2020 by Dr. Voltaire L. Seares, medical director of the hospital, after she imposed a lockdown on the hospital.

According to the complaint, the provincial government of Abra immediately imposed a lockdown, installed barricades around the hospital and placed the barangay where the hospital is located under extreme enhanced community quarantine (EECQ) when one of their nurses was stricken with COVID-19 in June 2020.

People inside the hospital were barred from leaving the premises, the complaint added.

The lockdown order was said to have been posted on social media by Bernos.

Seares complained that Bernos ordered the lockdown of the hospital without sufficient basis and in violation of the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.

He stressed that the lockdown was made prematurely and without the concurrence of the Cordillera Administrative Region-Regional Inter-Agency Task Force.

“The freedom of movement and right to travel of various persons trapped inside the hospital were violated, resulting in undue injury and prejudice. The hospital owner’s property rights as well as its doctors and other medical practitioners’ right to exercise a lawful profession were curtailed,” Seares said in the complaint.

“Most of all, the people of Abra were deprived of their access to health care,” the complaint added.

The DESLA on February 2021 transmitted the records of the case to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for investigation, which submitted its report in June 2022. Bernos was also asked to answer Seares’ complaint against her.

Weighing the reports, issues and arguments of the camps involved, the DESLA found that Bernos committed the misdemeanor as claimed by Seares, regardless of her intentions for the interest of the public.

Malacañang has suspended Abra Vice Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos for 18 months after unjustly locking down the Dr. Petronillo Seares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Bangued, Abra during the pandemic.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1975909/village-councilor-in-cavite-survives-shooting

A barangay councilor was wounded after he was shot Thursday night after an argument in Tanza town in Cavite province.

“Emilio,” 53, was seated in front of the village hall in Barangay Amaya 3 at around 11 p.m. when the suspect, identified as “Andy ” appeared with a handgun and shot him in the head.

Investigators said the gunman fled after the shooting.

Villagers brought the victim to Tanza Doctor Hospital, where he was confined for treatment.

Police found that before the shooting incident, the suspect, a nephew of the victim residing in the same village, had a heated argument.

The suspect returned with a gun and shot the victim.

Police launched a manhunt to arrest the suspect.

A barangay councilor was wounded after he was shot after an argument in Tanza town in Cavite province.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/25/village-watchman-shot-dead-in-la-union-wake

A 43-year-old barangay tanod was allegedly shot dead by a 58-year-old tricycle driver in Barangay Camilo Osias, Balaoan, La Union on Saturday night, August 24. 

Police identified the victim as Eduardo R. San Jose.

Investigation said San Jose and the suspect, William Subang, were attending a wake when a heated altercation erupted.

Subang dew a gun and shot the victim once in the body. 

San Jose ran away but was pursued by the suspect. The victim slumped on the road and the suspect shot him once again.

Subang fled and San Jose was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.

Police nabbed the suspect and recovered the firearm in a  pursuit operation.

A barnagay tanod has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/26/ex-village-dad-shot-dead-in-batangas

A 46-year-old former kagawad (councilor) of Barangay Bulsa here was shot dead by three constituents on Sunday night, August 25.

Police identified the victim as Rodel Lopez Luistro.

Investigation said the suspects Jayson, Mariel, and an unidentified companion arrived and suddenly shot the victim at around 7 p.m. 

The victim was taken to San Juan District Hospital where he was declared dead from multiple bullet wounds.

The suspects, who fled and being tracked by the police, face murder charges. 

A former village councilor has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/26/coa-requires-cabadbaran-city-to-return-to-national-treasury-p20-7-m-balance-in-covid-19-support-fund

The Commission on Audit (COA) has required the City of Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte to return to the national treasury the P20.7 million balance out of the P55 million the city received from Local Government Support Fund for Covid-19 Financial Assistance (LGSF).

In its 2023 audit report, the COA flagged Cabadbaran City for still spending P12.4 million out of the P55 million fund beyond the fund's validity period.

The COA said the city's unobligated balance of P20,734,933.70 in the LGSF was still not reverted to the national treasury, therefore affecting the propriety and validity of the pertinent disbursements charged against the said fund beyond the fund's validity period.

It said that the city received its LGSF-Covid-19 Financial Assistance of P55 million on June 30, 2021 for the implementation of priority projects of the city. The budget was divided into five projects -- procurement of medical equipment, supplies, vitamins, and personal protective equipment (P30 million), procurement of relief goods (P10 million), procurement of response/transport vehicles (P10 million), establishment of temporary shelter (P4 million), and capacity development for health workers and frontliners (P1 million).

From that time the fund was received, the COA said the city disbursed a total of P2,801,445, which equated to a 5.09 utilization rate. It said state auditors discussed this low utilization rate with city officials through Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) No. 2022-022 dated Feb. 18, 2022.

The audit team found that the city commenced 18 sub-programs and projects in 2021 with a contract cost of P21,828,455.50.  The team recommended that the city make a representation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for an extension to utilize the unobligated amount, the COA said.

For its part, the Cabadbaran City  reasoned that it mistook the fund validity period, considering that all other fund transfers from the national government do not have an expiry period. City officials added that they already sent out a letter-request to the DBM last July 18, 2022 but have not received a response.

The COA issued another AOM and made the same recommendation for the city to request for an extension to utilize the unobligated amount otherwisde the amount should be returned to the national treasury. The city government made a follow-up letter with the DBM on March 23, 2023.

But the COA said the letter request "did not clearly specify the conditions on the timelines from which the fund was received and its validity period, which was basically six-month period of implementation, thereby affecting the full utilization of the fund."

On May 5, 2023, the DBM denied Cabadbaran City's request as it ordered that the remaining funds be reverted to the national treasury.

"From the foregoing, a total of P21,828,455.50 were obligated and/or disbursed as of Dec. 31, 2021 based on the payments made and results of review of the start date of the procurement process, while a total of P12,436,610.80 were still obligated and disbursed by the City despite lapse of the fund validity and adequate notices to them through audit observation memoranda," the COA said.

"It was also noted that the unutilized and unobligated funds amounting to P20,734,933.70 remained not reverted to the National Treasury as at year-end, as required," it added.

With the city using P12.436 million and charging it against the LGSF-Covid-19 Financial Assistance despite its expiry, the COA said that the deficiencies affected the propriety and validity of the disbursements.

The COA directed the directed the City Accountant and City Treasurer to return the remaining unobligated funds to the national treasury.

The Commission on Audit has required the City of Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte to return to the national treasury the P20.7 million balance out of the P55 million the city received from Local Government Support Fund for Covid-19 Financial Assistance.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1976834/maguindanao-pol-implicated-in-killing-of-cop-surrenders

Former Maguindanao board member Asnawi “Jojo” Limbona, who is facing a case for murder in the killing of a police officer, surrendered to authorities in Sultan Mastura town, Maguindanao del Norte on Monday morning.

Colonel Sultan Salman Sapal, Maguindanao del Norte police director, said Limbona, 56, of Datu Odin Sinsuat, was accompanied by his legal counsel, Asgar Mandal, to Capt. Elmar Elarcosa, Sultan Mastura municipal police chief.

Limbona has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Acting Presiding Judge Annabele Piang of Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Cotabato City, dated May 6, 2024.

He was linked to the killing of Police Staff Sgt. Zahraman Mustapha Diocolano during a shootout on January 2 along Rosales Street, Barangay Rosary Heights 6, Cotabato City.

The shooting occurred while Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Lester Sinsuat was inside the house of his uncle, former Rep. Roonie Sinsuat, for a peace dialogue.

Sapal said since the warrant of arrest was issued by a local court, police have been searching for Limbona.

After his surrender, the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Intelligence Unit, headed by Lt. Colonel Michael Tinio, and Capt. Sammy Paning of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, presented Limbona his warrant of arrest at the Sultan Mastura police station.

Former Maguindanao board member Asnawi “Jojo” Limbona, who is facing a case for murder in the killing of a police officer, surrendered to authorities in Sultan Mastura town, Maguindanao del Norte.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/27/cop-faces-case-for-allegedly-assaulting-pasigarbo-contingent

A police officer is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting members of a contingent that participated in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival last Sunday, August 26, at the Cebu City Sports Center. 

The suspect with the rank of police corporal was detained at the Guadalupe Police Station because of the incident on Saturday night, August 24.

Investigation showed that the suspect was among the police officers assigned to secure a contingent from Compostela town, Cebu billeted at the Guadalupe Elementary School.

Prior to the incident, members of the group were called to attend an orientation for some final instructions.

Police said some members arrived late and least nine of them were allegedly slapped by the policeman.

Major Miles Damoslog, chief of the Guadalupe Police Station, said that the policeman was asked by the organizers to help gather the dancers. Police described the dancers as hard-headed, said Damoslog.

“Supposedly, it was not his job as a policeman as he was assigned there to secure the contingent. He just gave in to the request to help gather the members and it was there that he struck the students. Accordingly, the dancers refused to obey the order, that's why he hit them,” said Damoslog.

Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office, said the CCPO is ready to file charges against the policeman.

Rafter said they are still awaiting the complainants to complete their affidavits.

Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said the PRO-7 will conduct its own administrative investigation against the policeman.

“The PRO-7 will not condone any violation of law committed especially by our police officers but of course we will  also give him a chance to defend himself. We will hear his side of the story,” Pelare said.

A police officer is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting members of a contingent that participated in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/27/coa-issues-p73-2-m-notice-of-disallowance-on-vp-sara-s-p125-m-confi-intel-funds-for-2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) has issued a notice of disallowance (ND) over P73.2 million out of the P125 million confidential and intelligence funds for 2022 of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The COA directed Duterte and Special Disbursing Officer Gina F. Acosta and Chief Accountant Julieta L. Villadelrey of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) “to settle immediately the said disallowance.”

It reminded that “audit disallowances not appealed within six months shall become final and executory.”

ND No. 2024-002-100 dated Aug. 8, 2024 was signed by Nilda B. Plaras, assistant commissioner and officer-in-charge of COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds. 

From the amount of P73.2 million, P69.7 million was disallowed due to “non-submission of documents evidencing the success of information gathering and/or surveillance activities to support the Acknowledgment Receipts for payments of rewards in cash, various goods, and medicines,” the COA said. 

It noted that P10 million was used as reward payment, P34.8 million for payment for various goods, and P24.9 million for medicines.

“The submitted list of 105 activities attended by the Vice President and those conducted by all the offices during the period Dec. 13 to 31, 2022 did not indicate the particular accomplishments for the successful information gathering and/or surveillance activities that are directly related to the specific confidential activities undertaken by the agency and which warrant the payments of rewards,” the COA said in its ND.

Also, it said, that P3.5 million was used as payment for tables, chairs, desktop computers, and printers without any specification that they would be intended for confidential activities undertaken by the OVP.

At the same time, the COA said “rewards” should have been recorded as “supplies” in the acknowledgment receipt, considering that the OVP submitted acknowledgment receipts reflecting payments for purchased supplies. 

“In addition, there are no documents to further support their arguments that the expenses are not rewards,” it also said. 

There was also non-submission of the Revised Accomplishment Report to the Office of the President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House, which is a requirement of Joint Circular No. 2015-01, it added.

It held Duterte liable for approving the transaction including the utilization of the cash advance, Acosta for acting as the payee and disbursing the cash advance, and Villadelrey for certifying that the supporting documents were complete and proper.

The Commission on Audit has issued a notice of disallowance over P73.2 million out of the P125 million confidential and intelligence funds for 2022 of Vice President Sara Duterte.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1977632/bucor-exec-cited-for-contempt-for-lying-during-quad-panel-drug-probe

An official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), who was in-charge of the Davao Penal and Prison Farm when three jailed Chinese nationals were killed in August 2016, was cited for contempt for lying and not answering about details of the incident.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives quad-committee on Wednesday, BuCor Supt. Gerardo Padilla insisted that he is not involved in the killing of Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang — three individuals jailed in the Davao Penal Farm for drug-related charges, whose death was allegedly ordered by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Padilla said that he also did not receive a call from Duterte supposedly congratulating him for the hit — contrary to the claims made by self-confessed hitman Leopoldo Tan.

But what earned the ire of lawmakers was Padilla’s insistence that he was not aware of the order to transfer the Chinese nationals to the same solitary confinement cell where Tan and fellow hitman Fernando Magdadaro was placed — adding that the final order did not come from him.

When Padilla failed to directly answer Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez’ questions about who ordered the transfer of the Chinese inmates, Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano raised his voice and demanded that Padilla name the one behind the directive.

Eventually, Paduano moved that Padilla be cited for contempt.

An official of the Bureau of Corrections who was in-charge of the Davao Penal and Prison Farm when three jailed Chinese nationals were killed in August 2016, was cited for contempt for lying and not answering about details of the incident.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/28/village-chair-in-cebu-nabbed-for-fake-bir-document

A barangay captain in the City of Naga, southern Cebu was arrested for allegedly using a fake certificate authorizing registration (CAR), a document issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to transfer a property.

Edden Gera Nocon of Barangay Tinaan was arrested in a hot pursuit operation conducted on August 22 by the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7).

The  operation stemmed from an entrapment operation that the NBI-7 conducted inside the office of the Provincial Registry of Deeds in Barangay Guadalupe here.

The NBI-7 said Nocon, through a representative, presented falsified eCAR and deed of absolute sale. 

These fake documents were presented to the Office of the Registry of Deeds to transfer an original certificate of land title of a property in Moalboal, Cebu with a total area of 28,626-square meters.

The alleged vendee of the property turned out to be the deceased mother of Nocon, the NBI-7 said.

After the recovery of the fake documents, the NBI-7 conducted an operation that led to Nocon’s arrest.

The NBI-7 discovered that the QR code attached to the fake documents is originally attached to another eCAR involving the sale of a property with an area of 8,626-square meters.

The operation stemmed from the request of Atty. Fidel Calvan who requested the NBI-7 to conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged forgery of a CAR purporting to be issued by BIR’s regional district office in Talisay City.

The NBI-7 also discovered that Nocon is also facing a separate case for falsification of a motor vehicle certificate of registration.

“The impact of this investigation and operation is very crucial because it involves the integrity of our Torrens System and the government revenue collection effort.  Thus, the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance will go after those who will engage in this criminal activity to the fullest extent of the law,” the NBI-7 said.

Charges for two counts of violation of the National Internal Revenue Code and falsification of publication documents were filed against the suspect.

As a barangay captain, the suspect is also facing separate complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for violating Republic Act 6713, an Act establishing a code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

A barangay captain in the City of Naga, southern Cebu was arrested for allegedly using a fake certificate authorizing registration, a document issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to transfer a property.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Maturing COVID Loans, Be Inspired By Heroes, and More!

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

Maturing loans taken out during the pandemic are coming back to bite in a big way. And it turns out some of those loans were not explicitly for COVID expenses. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1974656/maturing-covid-loans-push-ph-debt-to-limit-did-we-benefit

COVID drove the Philippine economy to a standstill in 2020, killing hundreds of people and opening the doors to government borrowings that reached billions of pesos and are maturing soon to add to the country’s record-breaking debt burden.

This eventually brought the government’s outstanding debt to a record-high of P12.79 trillion in mid-2022, the end of the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte and the start of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s.

But even with the end of the pandemic, the country’s obligations keep on swelling, with the outlook set at P16.06 trillion in 2024 and P17.35 trillion in 2025 since most of the COVID-19 loans are still being settled.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) explained that the government relied on borrowings when COVID-19 hit. The debt level, however, is expected to go down once it reaches its peak.

But while the government somehow pointed out that it can settle its obligations, especially with the economy “growing even stronger,” Filipinos still ask: Where did all the resources go?

As of May 2022, the Department of Finance (DOF) said that a fiscal consolidation and resource mobilization plan is required to reverse in 10 years the P3.2 trillion debt that was incurred because of the pandemic.

But based on its own data in the first month of 2022, the DOF said that $25.8 billion, or P1.46 trillion, was “secured” for COVID-19 response, including the grant and loan financing that was received for some COVID-19 programs.

But as pointed out by the think tank Ibon Foundation, the $25.74 billion, or P1.46 trillion, which the government said was borrowed to address the COVID-19 crisis, was not entirely spent for pandemic response:

• 23 percent, or $5.64 billion: “Explicitly for COVID-19 response”
• 26 percent, or $13.28 billion: “Not necessarily for COVID-19 response”
• 26 percent, or $6.82 billion: “Self-evidently not for COVID-19 response even if reported as such”

Sonny Africa, an economist and executive director of Ibon Foundation, told INQUIRER.net that the government “borrowing[s] was not primarily for COVID-19 response.”

“It would be more accurate to say that the government incurred so much debt […] to make up for the revenue contraction due to the protracted lockdowns and to be able to continue payments in infrastructure and for debt service,” he said.

The problem, however, is not only whether the loans were spent on COVID-19 response because, as pointed out in a report published by the United Nations, the lack of transparency was seriously concerning, too.

The report “COVID-19, Lies and Statistics: Corruption and the Pandemic,” first published on the Science and Development Network, stated that “from Brazil to the Philippines,” the crisis was responded to by “secretive governments.”

“Clandestine contracts for medical goods and services have become the norm in many countries,” it said while stressing the “lack of transparency,” especially in procurements.

Since 2021, the Philippine Senate has called on the government to provide a complete accounting of the billions worth of resources for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

Lack of transparency is only half the problem. The other half is President Duterte shut down the economy for no good reason and the Philippines will be paying the price for years to come. 

Tourism is increasing but international arrivals have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/20/ph-s-international-arrivals-yet-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-2225

International tourist arrivals in the Philippines have yet to reach pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, but visitor receipts show a 116 percent recovery, according to the Department of Tourism.

During Tuesday’s deliberations of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed 2025 budget for the DOT, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said over 5.45 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2023. 

The agency is targeting at least 7.7 million international tourist arrivals this year, just half a million shy of the country’s pre-pandemic record high of 8.3 million in 2019.

But the DOT said that other metrics of tourism performance have exceeded pre-pandemic levels by a lot. Visitor receipts, for instance, more than doubled compared to 2019, while total employment in tourism industries are up 88% last year compared to four years ago.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, global world tourism bodies and nations have expanded their view of measuring tourism performance to include most importantly visitor receipts. The money that goes into the coffers of the nation, and the pockets of our local stakeholders, because this is what keeps the economy running,” Frasco told lawmakers.

“In that regard, I am pleased to announce that we have accomplished an over 116 percent recovery of our visitor receipts, as well as have ranked number 1 in southeast Asia as far as our domestic tourism performance… contributing the highest in terms of GDP contributions among all ASEAN nations,” she added.

“As far as tourism employment is concerned, we have since employed 6.21 million Filipinos and the latest number as of April this year is pegged at over 16 million Filipinos. If we are to judge tourism industry performance by the new metrics that’s being used by the Philippine Statistics Authority, as far as tourism employment is concerned, we have also more than recovered our numbers,” the DOT Chief added.

“Not only must we look at quantity, but quality and to ensure the sustainable development of our tourism destinations. We continue to chase after the numbers nonetheless,” Frasco noted.

The proposed 2025 budget for the DOT and its attached agencies under the National Expenditure Program is at P3.39 billion, lower by 2.8 percent than its current budget of P3.49 billion, and less than the pre-pandemic budget of around P4 billion.

Several lawmakers have expressed support to augment DOT’s budget next year, citing the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy.

“Restore the budget of DOT to pre-pandemic levels, at the very least P4 billion,” Lanao del Norte 1st District Representative Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo urged his colleagues.

But since metrics are changing tourism has seen a 116% recovery. How about that? 

According to studies, since the pandemic Filipinos have been focused on home improvements. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/home-upgrades-fuel-growth-for-appliances

A MANUFACTURER of artisanal home appliance solutions is banking on the continued healthy spending of Filipino consumers on home improvements to grow its business. 

Yven Gerard Almalel, brand manager at Concepcion Midea Inc. Philippines (CIMP), said that even after the Covid-19 pandemic, Filipinos continue to invest in appliances, driven by increased purchasing power and their inherent love for cooking and hosting large gatherings. 

“There have been studies that since the pandemic, consumers have focused on home improvements, making this a great opportunity for introducing advanced kitchen appliances like the gas range,” he said. 

CIMP is the distributor of Toshiba Lifestyle products.

During the lockdowns, many people turned to home renovations, while others took up new skills like cooking to stay occupied and productive.

Funny how the lockdowns simultaneously made everyone poorer and caused them to spend more money on home improvements. 

The Vice Governor of Abra has been suspended for locking down the hospital at the height of the pandemic. 

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/08/25/philippines039-abra-vice-governor-bernos-suspended-over-hospital-closure-during-pandemic

Malacanang confirmed on Saturday (Aug 24) that it has ordered the suspension of Abra Vice Governor Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos for locking down a hospital during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when she served as the province’s governor.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed the suspension to reporters.

When asked if the order was confirmed, Bersamin simply replied, “Yes.”

In a statement issued on August 22, Valera-Bernos condemned the 18-month suspension imposed by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs under the Office of the President.

“I was the governor of the province at that time when Seares Hospital filed a complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman against me and other provincial officials for a decision I made for the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of all Abrenos from the threats of Covid-19,” she said in the statement.

“It was never aimed to target any specific hospital, but a necessary and immediate action to mitigate the probable spread of the virus when, at that time, no known control and vaccine were available,” she added.

She pointed out that the Office of the Ombudsman already dismissed the complaint against her.

“On May 4, 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint and ruled that my actions were done in good faith and within the bounds of my duty as a public servant during a state of calamity,” Valera-Bernos said.

The official also called the order a “politically-motivated character and reputation attacks.”

Of course she says it was necessary. Everything was necessary in 2020. Right? 

On National Heroes Day young Filipinos are being told to be inspired by healthcare workers who braved the COVID-19 pandemic. 

https://philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2024/08/27/2380885/youth-urged-be-inspired-heroes

Believing that today’s youths are still the “hope and promise of the nation,” acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has encouraged the youths to draw inspiration from the country’s pool of national heroes.

“In our numerous heroes, you will find on display wonderful qualities such as bravery, selflessness, patriotism, nationalism and deep love for country. Truly, they are role models worth imitating, and their examples followed,” Garcia said as the country marked the National Heroes Day yesterday.

He also reminded the youth that they need not dive deep into the history books to find heroes saying that one can easily find them today as some are also living among the people.

Among them are the medical frontliners who bravely fought the unseen enemy at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garcia honored the medical frontliners whom he said sacrificed their own safety to help combat the virus.

“Who risk their own health and safety to take care the rest of us, especially those who were at the forefront in the battle against COVID-19,” he said.

Garcia also took note of the teachers who sacrifice much of their time and efforts to mold the nation’s youth.

“We must also not forget our dear OFWs, who must bear the difficulties of living in another land and far away from their homes just so they can provide for their families and also contribute to our nation’s economy,” he said.

Will these brave fighters be remembered decades from now?

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #22: Abraham Farissol Locates the Lost Tribes of Israel in the Philippines

Welcome back to 100 Lies the God Culture Teaches About the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Tim's claims about Abraham Farissol. Abraham Farissol was a Jew who lived during the Renaissance and wrote a book called Iggeret Orhot Olam in which he discusses the location of the Lost tribes of Israel. Tim claims he placed them in the Philippines but as we shall see that is not only a lie but Tim has never even read what Farissol wrote!

In one of his videos Tim says the following:

Clue#25: Philippines is Ophir: Magellan, Pinto, Barbosa, King of Spain, Cabot KNEW - Ophir, Tarshish

2:00 First to follow up on Columbus from our last video. We said Columbus in his margin notes and journal had initially found in his research the location of Ophir, Tarshish, the Garden of Eden, and some of the lost tribes of Israel all in the Philippines in fact. He was not the only one however in his era. 

Now, this original writing is lost to history but preserved in an 1846 book by Rev. Thomas Stackhouse.  Stackhouse records that Italian-Jewish scholar and contemporary to Columbus, Farrisol, reached the very same conclusion regarding the lost tribes. He says the lost tribes of Israel are in, for one,...THE PHILIPPINES!  Huh? Ever hear that one in your history class? Yeah. Us either. 

Gee, these Italian-Jews were searching hard for the lost tribes in the Philippines.

This same claim is also in Tim's book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg 128

Take note that Tim is not citing Abraham Farissol but a Reverend Tomas Stackhouse. Stackhouse does not even cite Farissol but gives a summation of what he claims Farissol wrote:

Another Jewish author, in his description of the world, has found out very commodious habitations for the ten tribes, and in many places has given them a glorious establishment. In a country which he calls Perricha, inclosed by unknown mountains, and bounded by Assyria, he has settled some, and made them a flourishing and populous kingdom. Others he places in the desert of Chabor, which, according to him, lies upon the Indian sea, where they live, in the manner of the ancient Rechabites, without houses, sowing, or the use of wine. Nay, he enters the Indies likewise, and peoples the banks of the Ganges, the isles of Bengala, the Philippines, and several other places, with the Jews, to whom he assigns a powerful king, called Daniel, who had three other kings tributary, and dependent on him. But this is all of the same piece, a forged account to aggrandize the nation, and to make it be believed, that the sceptre is not departed from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, and that Shiloh consequently is not yet come. 

https://archive.org/details/historyofholybib00stac/page/649/mode/2up

Does Farissol locate the Desert of Chabor on the Indian Sea? No he does not. He says it is in Asia Major. This is all laid out in chapter 14 of Farissol's book Iggeret Orhot Olam of which I have found an English translation. It was published in 3 parts over the course of 3 issues of The Occident and Jewish American Advocate in 1849.

In this chapter Farissol relates the visit of a member of the lost tribes to Rome. He came to Rome from the Desert of Chabor by way of Arabia Felix, which is Yemen, Egypt, and then Israel. He locates two of the tribes in this desert and the other ten near Mecca and Jeddah. That is nowhere near the Philippines. The magazine has extensive footnotes which are worth reading. Here is part of the chapter.

This was in the two hundred and eighty-third year of the sixth millennium, when we received, through a Venetian vessel a communication from the Land of Beauty, written in the Hebrew language, informing us that a certain Jew, from the tribes of Israel, had arrived there, declaring many novel things concerning them. The details however, were not made public, until, after having crossed the sea in the two hundred and eighty-fourth year of the sixth millennium, he arrived at Venice, and thence proceeded to Rome, where he was favourably received by all those who became acquainted with the object of his journey and the nature of his mission. 

As understood from his own assertions, this Jew was from the company of the two tribes, and he farther said that he was an inhabitant of those deserts, and, like the Rechabites, dwell in tents, and that his station was in the Desert of Chabor, which is in Asia Major. Beneath them were the rest of the ten tribes, near to the deserts adjoining Mecca and Gjudda, which are adjacent to the Red Sea. They have each and all of them their chiefs and princes, and the people are as the sand of the seashore for numbers. They raise spices, pepper in particular, as also medical drugs ; and, indeed, they possess many excellent things, as we shall show hereafter. Living between these two sections of the Jewish people, however, there is a strong and mighty people who are followers of Mahomet. These, with their numerous kings, render a communication among the Jews exceedingly dangerous, and they will not permit one party to approach the other. 

Many years had they been thus widely separated, endeavouring to approach each other, but finding it impossible to do so, when they were apprised of the arrival of some Christian ships of very large and mighty proportions. They also heard, and, indeed, saw, that the Christians had in their hands certain hollow metal instruments of war designed to throw stones by means of fire, and which could destroy any fortress or village. Whereupon, the Jews of Mount Chabor, according to his statement, determined upon sending him to the great king of all the Christians, with the credentials then in  his possession, as before stated, in order to authenticate his assertions. These credentials were confirmed by the king of Portugal who then navigated the regions of the Hodiyim (or Indies), and who knew of the existence of a Jewish community there. He also wrote to the Pope, (whose glory be exalted,) that the above mentioned Jew was worthy of credit, as were also his declarations. But be this Jew what he may, and be his words true or false, it is sufficient for us, in our captivity and in our dispersions (to know), that the existence of the ten tribes was acknowledged by kings, by princes, and by many influential persons in Rome—that Ephraim existed, even then—a numerous people with their rulers; be this Jew, who came to us, who and what he may.

Since the existence of these Israelites and their kings has been thus acknowledged; we may be permitted to state, that this Jew came by the way and in the manner following : From the desert of Chabor he journeyed with a caravan, which is the usual mode of travelling in these places. This was heard from his own lips and so recorded. Passing through Arabia Felix, he arrived at the Red Sea descended into Egypt, thence journeyed to the Holy Land, where he awaited the arrival of a ship from Venice, by which he might proceed to Italy. He reached Rome, and resided there about eight months, until the reply of the king of Portugal had been received,which authenticated his mission.

The Occident and Jewish American Advocate, June 1849, pgs. 129-134

Plotted on a map his journey looks like this: 

Arabia Felix is Yemen and that is where Farissol says he started his voyage to Italy. That means the desert of Chabor covers Yemen. But Farissol also says that Mecca and Jeddah are BENEATH this Jew's location in the deserts near Mecca and Jeddah! Actually his description does not make any sense at all. This Jew lives in the desert of Chabor and the other ten lost tribes live beneath him near Mecca but he starts his journey in Arabia Felix which is South of Mecca! Perhaps Farissol does not know what he is talking about and is making it all up?

Whatever the solution to this geographical conundrum one thing is certain. Timothy Jay Schwab is dead wrong when he says that Farissol locates the lost tribes of Israel in the Philippines. If he was a real researcher he would have read Farissol's own words which relay this fact. But because he is a fraud he has relied on the words of someone else.