Hi, my name is...33

Farmers are the most important and most neglected people there are in the Philippines. Without them everyone would starve. So say hello and thank you to these brave men, those who have not been murdered anyway!

Hi, my name is Jovanie Padere. I got in an argument with a fellow farmer and I chopped his head off. Some people called the cops after they saw me carrying a rice sack with the man's head. The cops were called and they tried to arrest me. When I fought back they shot me dead. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1727615/farmer-who-allegedly-beheaded-another-farmer-shot-dead-in-davao-de-oro

A farmer who allegedly beheaded another farmer was shot dead in Davao de Oro after he reportedly attempted to fight back authorities who tried to arrest him.

In a police report on Thursday, the Nabunturan Municipal Police Station (MPS) identified the suspect as Jovanie Padere.

According to the MPS, it conducted a response operation against the suspect after receiving a complaint about a hacking incident in Sitio New Badian, Bukal, Nabunturan on Wednesday morning from two witnesses.

One of the witnesses testified that he saw the suspect with a rice sack containing the head of another farmer.

This prompted police officers to respond to the scene, where they saw the headless body of the victim, identified as Joel Avila, 58. The headless body, according to police, was found in the ravine while its head was recovered more or less 500 meters away.

Authorities then received information that the suspect was located in a small hut near the crime scene. They proceeded to the site to arrest the suspect.

Upon their arrival near the hut, police officers asked Padere about the hacking incident but the suspect reportedly raised his bolo and rushed towards the law enforcers.

This prompted a member of the responding team to shoot the suspect, who instantly died.

Hi, my name is Michael Cardenas. I was out having a drinking session with two friends who are brothers. One of them was a soldier named Mark. He got real wasted and his brother Jomar advised him to stop drinking but he didn't take kindly to that. A fistfight ensued and Jomar pushed Mark into me. That was when I stabbed him repeatedly until he was dead. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1646057/police-hunt-down-farmer-for-slay-of-soldier-in-samar

Police are going after a farmer who allegedly stabbed dead a soldier during a drinking spree in Calbayog City, Samar on Thursday night.

The fatality was identified as Private First Class Mark Dian Fuentes, 32, and assigned to the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Matuguinao town, also in Samar.

Reports reaching the regional office of the Philippine National Police based in Palo, Leyte, said that the victim had a drinking spree with his elder brother, Jomar; an uncle; and the suspect, Michael Cardenas, 36, at past 9 p.m. at his house in Barangay Marcatingog, Tinambacan District in Tacloban.

The victim’s brother advised him to stop drinking as he was already drunk. However, this was misconstrued by the victim. A fist fight between the two ensued.

During the commotion, the elder brother pushed the victim towards Cardenas who stabbed the soldier repeatedly hitting him on his chest, abdomen, stomach, and front hip.

The victim was immediately brought by his relatives to the St. Camillus Hospital, Calbayog City but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The  suspect fled towards an unknown direction.

Hi, my name is Mario Telibangko. As a farmer land is very important to me. If I don't have land then I can't grow crops and I can't make money. That's why the argument between me and my brother over land was so heated. In fact I got so angry that I hacked him the neck with a machete, killing him. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1947483/cebu/local-news/farmer-hacks-brother-in-law-to-death-while-arguing

A LABORER was killed by his own brother-in-law in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Pansoy in the northern town of Sogod, Cebu, on Tuesday afternoon, November 29, 2022.

The victim was identified as 41-year-old Froilan Orlanes, a resident in the area.

The suspect, Mario Telibangko, a 62-year-old farmer, continues to be at large.

According to Lieutenant Phil Restauro, based on their initial investigation, Orlanes had been drinking before the incident.

Around 4 p.m., he went to see Telibangko, who was feeding his goats.

The two ended up arguing.

Orlanes reportedly tried to physically intimidate the suspect, which irked the latter.

Telibangko pulled out a machete and hacked Orlanes in the neck.

Due to the size of the wound, Orlanes died.

“They had been at odds with each other. They were fighting over land,” Restauro said in Cebuano.

Hi, my name is Antonio Marquez Barcenal. Some neighbors wanted to ask my permission to hunt for boars on my property. Since I wasn't home when they came to ask they went hunting in my cornfield anyway. They heard a noise in the middle of the field and fired. When they went to inspect the fresh boar they had just shot they found me!

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/02/farmer-mistaken-for-wild-boar-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-del-sur/

A 70-year-old farmer was shot dead after he was mistaken for a wild boar by a neighbor in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-9 information officer, identified the victim as Antonio Marquez Barcenal.

Chang said farmers Limpiado Tapic and Dennis Bacus Laure sought Barcenal at his corn storage to ask for permission to hunt wild boars in his corn field. They did not find Barcenal there and proceeded to the corn field to hunt.

Tapic heard noise and fired at the middle of the corn field. He proceeded to inspect but found out that he had shot Barcenal by mistake.

The incident was reported the following day to the police.

Hi, my name is Ricardo Mendoza. I was out for a walk on Valentine's Day when I encountered a wild boar. He charged me and took a bite out of my right upper thigh. Then he wandered off and left me to bleed to death. A passer-by found me later. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/15/farmer-dies-in-wild-boar-attack-in-quezon/

The body of a 64-year-old farmer suspected to have been killed in a wild boar attack was found in a grassy lot on Valentine’s Day in Barangay Mangahan here.

Police identified the victim as Ricardo Mendoza, a resident of Barangay Mangahan.

Investigation said a passer-by found the body of Mendoza lying face down at about 5:30 p.m. The passer-by reported his discovery to the police who informed his relatives.

Police inspected the victim’s body and found what appears to be the bite of a wild boar in his right upper thigh.

Mendoza’s body was taken to a funeral home and subjected to an autopsy facilitated by the municipal health officer.

Hi, my name is Jerry Enisimo. I was riding my motorcycle to work when I happened to meet a guy in the middle of a sugarcane field. Our conversation quickly turned into an argument and he shot me once in the shoulder and in the head.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/14/farmer-shot-dead-in-negros-town/

A farmer was gunned down by an unidentified attacker at Sitio Ka Blas, Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Friday, Jan. 13.

Killed was Jerry Enisimo, 45, of Barangay Tabun-ac.

Toboso police chief Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan said the victim was riding a motorcycle on his way to work when he chanced upon the suspect in the middle of the sugarcane field.

A heated argument allegedly ensued between them, resulting in the shooting incident, Batadlan said.

Batadlan said the suspect shot the victim in his left shoulder, and shot him again in the head when he fell from his motorcycle.

Police recovered from the crime scene two fired cartridges and a dud bullet of .45 caliber pistol.

Hi, my name is Clemente Cochapin. I went to go inspect my farm equipment one Sunday night to make sure everything was ready for the morning. But I never made it. On a path in a cornfield I was assailed and assaulted. I was hacked to death by an unknown person. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1717203/farmer-hacked-to-death-in-ilocos-norte-town

Police were hunting down the suspects in the fatal hacking of a 48-year-old farmer from Paoay town in Ilocos Norte province, police said Monday, Jan. 16.

Investigators identified the farmer as Clemente Cochapin. His body was discovered by a resident in a cornfield in the town’s Sta. Rita village.

Police said Cochapin went out at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday to check on his farm equipment.

“While on the pathway of the cornfield, he was hacked and stabbed by unidentified suspects,” police said in a report.

The police report noted that the victim sustained multiple wounds, causing his instantaneous death.”

Hi, our names are Sorbeto Quinto, Arnold Cullamar, and Erl Danielle Gulinao. Quinto was a barangay tanod who was gunned down. Guilano was a government worker who was gunned down on his way home. And me, Arnold Cullamar, I was a sugarcane farmer who was killed when someone barged into my house and shot me while I was asleep. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/03/2242119/batangas-village-watchman-shot-dead

A barangay tanod was killed in a gun attack in Batangas on Wednesday night, police said.

Sorbeto Quinto, 53, village watchman of Barangay Wawa in Batangas City, was about to enter his house at around 9 p.m. when the assailant appeared from behind and shot him in the head, Col. Pedro Soliba, Batangas police director, said.

Quinto was declared dead on arrival at the Golden Gate Hospital.

Meanwhile, sugarcane farmer Arnold Cullamar was sleeping when an unidentified man barged into his house and shot him at around 8:20 p.m.

In Bulacan, Erl Danielle Gulinao, 27, an employee of the Sta. Maria municipal government, was on a motorcycle on his way home when he was gunned down.

Hi, my name is Lopez Guiama. I was transporting a bag of cement back to my place in order to do some repairs when a motorcycle pulled up next to me and the guy riding tandem started firing. They did not kill me but only wounded me. I am part of a series of killings happening in Pikit. Last year there were 30 killings all of which remain unsolved. Pikit is part of the BARMM which is run by the MILF terrorist group. BARMM Minister and MILF Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim has thankfully assured everything these shooting and killings is not part of a Muslim-Christian war. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/17/situation-in-pikit-amid-spate-of-shooting-incidents-under-control-cppo/

The Cotabato Provincial Police Office has assured the public that the situation in Pikit, North Cotabato is still manageable amid the series of shooting incidents that left two minors dead and three others wounded in a span of two days.

Due to these series of shooting incidents, CPPO director Police Col. Harold Ramos said that combined police and military forces have beefed up their security measures in the municipality.

Ramos added they have intensified police checkpoints in all entry and exit points of Pikit.

On February 14, a 13-year old high school student was gunned down while he was walking with his fellow students on their way home. 

Police identified the lone fatality as Fahad Dilabuan Guiamalon while those injured were identified as Jenuar Abdul, 13, and Marjan Amerol Iskak 14.

On February 16, a 16-year old boy was shot by still unidentified assailants while sitting inside their store in Barangay Fort Pikit.

Earlier on the same day, a 42-year old farmer identified as Lopez Guiama was shot by riding-in-tandem suspects while transporting a sack of cement.

Guiama, who sustained a gunshot wound on his arm and neck, is now recuperating in a local hospital.

The police officer admitted that maintaining the peace and order in Pikit is generally challenging given its geographic location. 

“One big problem here is the proliferation of loose firearms in the area,” Ramos said over the phone.

Directors Guild of the Philippines Says Banning Movies Violates Free Speech

Let it be known I criticized the movie Plane before it was cool. Though it was tounge-in-cheek because it's an OK movie and represents Jolo as well as a Hollywood movie can be said to represent Jolo. Now Senator, actor, and pardoned criminal Robinhood Padilla wants the movie banned and condemned because he says it represents the Philippines in a bad light. According to Padilla the MTRCB said they would enact his proposal. 

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/movies/2023/02/19/2246107/robin-padilla-says-mtrcb-commits-ban-movie-plane

Senator Robin Padilla on Saturday said that he received a response from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban the movie "Plane" from screening in local theaters.

"Yes. They told me, they talked to the distributor. And now we want to write to the producer himself," Padilla said in an interview with DWIZ.

The former action star said he met with the agency headed by chairperson Diorella "Lala" Sotto-Antonio in his office last Friday.

Holy moly they are going to be writing to the producer??  That would be.....a whole bunch of people including the star of the movie!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_(film)

Will Padilla and the MTRCB really be writing to and perhaps speaking with them? And what will each party say?  It's too ridiculous to comprehend especially since the movie has made double its budget and a sequel is in the works. 

The most interesting response to Padilla's call to ban the movie is from the Director's Guild of the Philippines. Note how Philstar uses the same graphic to illustrate both of these articles.  But admittedly they do have the better headline. 

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/02/20/2246350/why-trolls-historical-revisionism-allowed-filipino-directors-question-banning-hollywood-film-plane

The Directors' Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) opposed the government’s plan to stop the theatrical release of the controversial Hollywood movie “Plane.”

In a statement released on their Facebook page, DGPI said that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) already approved its release but politicians are just opposing it. 

“A proposed ban on the public exhibition of the film 'Plane' has been making the rounds of the news cycle,” DGPI said.  

"The Directors' Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) opposes to stop the showing of this movie, as we believe agency and free choice must remain with the public, rather than imposed by politicians. To out rightly ban the film, especially one already approved the MTRCB, is a cure much worse that the illness itself, injurious to free expression and sets a precedent for films to be held hostage by imagined slights to our country’s reputation,” it added.  

The DGPI also compared the movie to the fake news and troll armies who are revising history. 

"If the state can tolerate free expressions for trolls, fake news, and historical revisionism without worrying about their effect on the country's prestige, then the state can do the same for a work that members of the foreign press have regarded as mindless B-movie entertainment rather that a reliable commentary on our country's affairs,” it said.  

“We support allowing the film to screen, informing the public of any problematic claims it makes, inviting open debate, or simply ignoring the film altogether. But we stand against censorship or banning the exhibition of this film from screening,” it added.  

The petition was signed by DGPI president Mark Meily, board members Carlos Siguon-Reyna, Perci Intalan, Ed Lejano, Marlon Rivera, Roni Berfubi, Keith Sicat and Remton Zuasola.

What? Banning a movie is a free speech issue? Where were these guys when the MTRCB banned Uncharted, Abominable, and that Netflix show Pine Gap because they BRIEFLY showed China's 9-dash line?? Why can't the state tolerate China's 9-dash line being shown briefly in a film?  In some cases it was very relevant. But since these directors cannot be called upon to uphold free expression at all times they are not relevant at all. 

Supreme Court Declares The Marcos Family Has No Place in Philippine Society

The Supreme Court has issued a ruling stating that "a father who rapes his daughter has no place in society."

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/12/father-who-rapes-own-daughterhas-no-place-in-ph-society-sc/

The Supreme Court (SC) declared: “A father who rapes his own daughter, whom he is supposed to protect, descends to a level lower than the lowly animal….”

“Such a ‘father’ deserves no place in Philippine society, whose fundamental law considers the family as a basic autonomous social institution and the foundation of the nation, recognizes the sanctity of family life, and cloaks with special protection the right of children against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development,” the SC stressed.

With its declaration contained in a resolution made public last Feb. 9, the SC affirmed the two life imprisonments imposed on the father who sexually abused (incestuous rape) his own daughter in 2014 and 2016.

Case records showed that the victim’s parents separated when she was still young and when she was five years old her father was detained. Her mother started a new family. She stayed with her aunt.

When she was 13 years old, her father was released from jail and she was taken in his custody.

In her testimony before the trial court, she said she was raped by her father several times and could only recall two specific dates of the sexual abuse – Aug. 13, 2014 and Oct. 14, 2016.

Manila Bulletin decided not to publish the gory and revolting details of the sexual abuses.

After every abuse, she said she was threatened by her father not to tell anyone or she would be killed.

But after the Oct. 14, 2016 incident, she said she decided to tell everything to her neighbor whom she called “Ate” (elder sister) who helped her report the abuses to the police. 

While this is a disturbing story there is a parallel here with Bongbong Marcos who, as president, is the "father of the nation."

https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin/posts/10161810082992985

As a “proud” father of the nation, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. showcased the achievements of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in his latest vlog and vowed to protect their rights and the families they left behind.

His own father who was also president is also referred to as "father of the nation."

https://twitter.com/BeverlyB322/status/1523952999432744960

Father of the nation, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., Divine Justice is served by the will of the maharlikans and now it is time for your vindication.

It is beyond dispute that the Marcos family raped the nation of its wealth and stored it in offshore accounts. It is beyond dispute that Marcos even killed his enemies, those who exposed his crimes. It is beyond dispute that these activities have been proven in a court of law with Imelda Marcos being convicted and other cases where the Marcos family has been forced to give up their ill-gotten wealth. 

As father of the nation Marcos Sr. raped his daughter the Philippines. As father of the nation Marcos Jr. continues to deny that crime and defend his father. Yet the crimes have been indisputably proven. Based on the precedent of this Supreme Court ruling the Marcos family has no place in Philippine society. 

Retards in the Government 298

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

  

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1731687/village-councilor-3-drug-suspects-nabbed-in-bicol

A village councilor and three other drug personalities were arrested on Friday, Feb. 17, in buy-bust operations in the Bicol region, police said Saturday.

Colonel Julius Caesar Domingo, Camarines Sur police chief, said in a report that Noel Viñas, 47, was collared at 5:45 p.m. for selling a sachet of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P500 to an undercover agent in Barangay Kilomaon in Sagñay town.

Domingo said Viñas was an village councilor in the area and previously surrendered to the police at the height of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

During the body search, the authorities recovered two sachets of shabu worth P1,564.

A village councilor has been arrested on drug charges. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1731103/leonen-corruption-still-exists-in-courts

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen urged lawyers on Thursday to speak out against corruption, saying it still exists in the government, including the judiciary, and remains “a significant factor in engendering inequality in our society.” “Impartiality suffers when corruption infects courts,” Leonen said at the 19th National Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Davao City, according to a tweet by the Supreme Court public information office.

According to him, any court that is corrupt “becomes an instrument only by those in power and will favor only those who have resources.”

“A public office is always a public trust,” Leonen said, emphasizing that “corruption weakens the rule of law and therefore the confidence of people in the government.”

To lawyers attending the convention, he encouraged them to report any incident of corruption, especially when it involves attempts to rig decisions in cases, even including those pending in the high tribunal.

“No retired justice of the Supreme Court has control of any member of the [Supreme] Court, let alone a majority of the court,” Leonen said.

“Should any of them imply, should any of those that came from the judiciary imply that they can facilitate the outcome of a case pending in our court, you are obliged to report them to us, through the Office of the Chief Justice,” he added.

“This applies to any former member of the Judiciary who approaches you, be it a judge, former judge, a Justice of an appellate court, or of the Supreme Court,” he stressed.

Previously, Leonen said that keeping silent allows the abuse of the system to favor those who have the means, can legitimize greed and cause injustice.

With this, he urged lawyers and law students to have the courage to do what is right.

Supreme Court justice Leonen says there is still corruption in the judicial system. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/23/lanao-del-sur-governor-injured-4-others-killed-in-ambush

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. was injured after unidentified gunmen ambushed his convoy Friday, police said.

Adiong and his staff member, Ali Macapado Tabao, sustained gunshot wounds and are now being treated in Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Kalilangan town, according to the municipal police station.

Four others were reportedly killed in the ambush.

After attending an event, Adiong's convoy was ambushed at around 4 p.m. in Maguing town by unknown perpetrators, said the Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The convoy was supposed to get to Wao town.

"Governor Bombit Adiong is safe and out of danger," the governor's office said Friday night.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. has survived an assassination attempt. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/18/village-chair-eludes-arrest-in-anti-drug-operation/

Police have launched a manhunt against a barangay chairman who escaped an anti-drug operation in Pikit, Cotabato on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Brig. Gen Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 director, said the suspect Sindato Karim eluded arrest after authorities stormed his house in Barangay Lagunde.

However, they arrested his wife, Nor-am, who yielded 30 grams of suspected shabu worth P130,000 and improvised explosive device.

Police tagged Sindato as a narco-politician involved in illegal drug trafficking in the provinces of Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Macaraeg said the Karims were placed under surveillance in the past months for their alleged involvement in illegal drug trade and other criminal activities.

Charges for illegal possession of prohibited drugs and explosive will be filed against Nor-am.

A village councilor tagged as a narco-politician and found to have drugs and an explosive device in his house has eluded capture by the police.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1731855/paranaque-mayor-13-others-face-graft-raps

Several officials of the Parañaque City government, including first-term Mayor Eric Olivarez are facing graft complaints before the Ombudsman for approving an allegedly “railroaded” contract worth almost P415 million with a new garbage hauler last year.

Aside from the city mayor, also named in the complaint were bids and awards committee (BAC) chair Voltaire dela Cruz; BAC vice chair Johnson Ong; and BAC members Rosa Rebecca Viñas and Josephine Mary Centena.

Also named as respondents were members of the BAC technical working group: Mark Espinosa, Kristine Joy Teston; Francisco Agamata; Ivan Hortilano; Maan Shayne Pausanos; Ricardo Factor; Ronald Austria; Danilo Nopuente; and Leonard John Navata.

In his 25-page compliant filed on Feb. 16, Genaro Clemente, Jr., a resident of Barangay San Antonio, urged the Ombudsman to put Olivarez and his co-accused under preventive suspension “in order to avoid the destruction or manufacture of evidence and to prevent them from threatening and harassing employees of the local government of Parañaque.”

Olivarez awarded the contract to Metrowaste Solid Waste Management Corp. on Dec. 27, 2022, amounting to P414,803,520.

This was just 25 days after the BAC published its call for bidding at the PhilGEPS website on Dec. 2, 2022.

Clemente claimed that Metrowaste failed to acquire the necessary documentary requirements of the bid, which resulted in garbage piling up in the streets of Parañaque during the holidays.

Last month, Olivarez ordered an investigation of possible “sabotage and deliberate acts” by Leonel Waste Management Corp. that resulted in pileup of trash during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Several officials of the Parañaque City government, including first-term Mayor Eric Olivarez are facing graft complaints over an allegedly anomalous waste management deal. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1732023/aparri-vice-mayor-5-others-killed-in-nueva-vizcaya-ambush

The vice mayor of Aparri in Cagayan and five of his companions were shot and killed by unidentified men clad in police uniforms and riding in a government car in Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday.

Nueva Vizcaya police information officer Major Jolly Villar said in a phone interview that Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda, who is serving his third term as vice mayor, and five of his aides and companions were traveling in a Hyundai Starex van on their way to Aparri when they were waylaid by the gunmen in Sitio (sub-village) Kinacao in Barangay (village) Baretbet at 8:45 a.m.

Investigations revealed that the suspects were wearing police uniforms with masks and were using a white Mitsubishi Adventure with a red license plate number SFN 713, indicating that it was a government car.

The killers allegedly barricaded the section of street in front of MV Duque Elementary School in Baretbet. When Alameda’s car arrived, they peppered the vehicle with bullets.

The vice mayor and his companions died on the spot but were still taken to the Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center where they were declared dead on arrival. The report did not identify the names of the vice mayor’s companions.

The killers later fled going to Solano area.

The Vice Mayor of Aparri and five others have been killed after being ambushed apparently by members of the PNP. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733744/300-unqualified-bucor-workers-face-termination

Over 300 Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel who are in danger of being terminated next month for failing to earn a college degree and pass the civil service examination have asked for a two-year extension to comply with the law.

Under Republic Act No. 10575, or the BuCor Act of 2013, which took effect on March 15, 2018, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and possess the appropriate civil service eligibility. Current employees who do not meet the requirements were given five years or until March 15, 2023, to do so.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, lawyer Jose Ventura Asturias, the counsel of the affected personnel, some of whom have been with the BuCor for 30 to 40 years, said the two-year extension covers the period lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic, or from 2020 to 2022.

“The requirements, including off-campus programs and review classes, were not provided to the BuCor employees. The biggest justification [for their request] was the COVID-19 pandemic, where services provided by the BuCor and the CSC (or Civil Service Commission) were paralyzed,” he said.

He stressed that under the law, government agencies should help affected BuCor employees, saying they were hopeful of getting the support of new BuCor and Department of Justice officials.

According to Asturias, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had said that he would look into the matter.

“While there is already a law to be implemented, if its implementation becomes prejudicial and compromises those who are to be affected, then automatically there’s got to be a way to adjust it,” he said.

BuCor acting Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., however, seemed less sympathetic, saying that the bureau had “made rigorous efforts” to address the concerns of affected personnel.

300 BuCor personnel are about to be laid off for not meeting proper requirements for employment. Some have been with the bureau for 30-40 years and yet they were not grandfathered in. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Alert Level 0, Full Blown Audit, and More!

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

Despite wanting Marcos to renew the state of emergency so they can procure vaccines the DOH is now eyeing a COVID-19 alert level 0.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/15/2245071/doh-eyes-covid-19-alert-level-o

As things start getting back to normal, the Department of Health (DOH) has entertained the possibility of adopting an Alert Level 0 in the country’s existing alert level system for its COVID-19 response.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are looking at reviving talks on imposing an Alert Level 0 with the continued improvement of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

“We are recognizing the fact that we can reach that point that there is no alert level and everything is at that normal stage,” Vergeire said yesterday at a press conference.

It was in March 2022 when the DOH thought of introducing Alert Level 0 as a way to further deescalate from Alert Level 1. The DOH, however, decided to just maintain Alert Level 1 until the end of the Duterte administration.

Based on the latest COVID-19 trend, the DOH noted that all areas have started to show plateauing of cases in recent days, while severe/critical hospital admissions are still on downward trend for several weeks.

“Once we are no longer seeing risks or threats, of course, our alert would be at the lower most level,” said Vergeire.

She noted though, that having an Alert Level 0 should not mean that there is no more need for any health protocols or safeguards because the transmission of COVID-19 and its variants and subvariants remains possible.

Alert level 0? What's the point if there is no threat? Why have an alert level when there is nothing for which to be alert?

 Pasay City has received an award for ensuring road user safety during the pandemic. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1730189/pasay-city-gets-award-for-ensuring-road-user-safety-during-pandemic

The Pasay City government received an award for guaranteeing “road user” safety during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.

The local government on Wednesday announced that Pasay City bagged the Magiting na Lingkod Award from the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT).

“We should keep moving forward and towards our everyday goals. All of us made a big part of something larger than ourselves. We did not let the global pandemic stop us,” Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said in her message relayed by her chief of staff Peter Eric Pardo.

“Through your dedication, perseverance, strong presence, and resilience, this recognition showed our unity and kind-hearted citizens of our beloved city,” she added.

Pardo received the award, on behalf of the mayor, at the MAAX Auditorium in the SM Mall of Asia Complex on Monday, February 13. Charlie Apolinario Del Rosario, IACT chief, presented the award.

The IACT acknowledged the city’s performance and invaluable contribution amid the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring the safety and security of Filipino road users.

Rubiano shared her recognition with her constituents and Pasay City officials – from the barangay level to the highest in command.

It is not clear exactly how Pasay City ensured road user safety during the pandemic but it might have to do with everyone being required to stay at home plus the many road blocks. But if that is the case then the entire nation should receive such an award. 

The DOH is talking about alert level 0 but Senator Bong Go says we must be alert against the variant known as "Kraken."

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/17/bong-go-urges-pinoys-to-be-vigilant-vs-covid-19-variant-kraken/

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has renewed his call for fellow Filipinos to be vigilant and to strictly adhere to the government’s minimum health protocols following the discovery of a new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, also known as “Kraken,” in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH), last week, said it is now keeping an eye on the said “Kraken” subvariant, after it detected two new cases of Omicron in the Philippines, raising the tally to three.

Go, head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated the importance of being vigilant and being inoculated against Covid-19.

“Right now, it has been reported that the so-called Kraken is a new variant, it has been reported through WHO that a new variant of COVID-19 has been discovered, this is XBB.1.5 (and it) is the most transmissible so far. But it doesn’t cause severe illness so far,” Go said.

“For me, I urge you to get vaccinated because vaccination is the only solution so that we can return to normal life and you are more protected when vaccinated,” he said.

“And if you are already qualified for the booster, get a booster because that is our protection. Let’s fight the vaccine against COVID-19. So whether this variant is transmissible, it is important that we are vaccinated, we are better protected,” he stressed.

The Philippines and South Korea are the only countries in Asia so far that has officially announced domestic cases of “Kraken.”

Who knew "Release the Kraken!" was a real thing? The pandemic has sure changed the world. But there is nothing to worry about with this variant or any of the other new variants.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/17/2245485/xbf-subvariant-unlikely-cause-covid-19-surge

The new Omicron subvariant XBF is not expected to cause a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

“Hopefully, there will be no increase in our (COVID-19) cases especially because of the country’s high vaccine coverage now. We will be monitoring this... It looks like we are protected against severe diseases because of our vaccines,” Salvaña said.

The expert still advised the public to continuously comply with the minimum health protocols like wearing masks to avoid the virus. 

He also encouraged the public to update their respective vaccination status by getting booster doses.

“If we want additional protection, continue to wear masks and get the bivalent vaccines, once it becomes available, especially for the most vulnerable population,” Salvaña added.

The health expert likewise stressed the importance of using all the layers of protection available to avoid a surge in COVID cases. 

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) reported the country’s first case of Omicron subvariant XBF.

Is it unlikely to cause a surge because people have been vaccinated or because it is not highly transmissible? Either way there is no hint that if there is a surge deaths will increase. 

The University of the Philippines has resumed the oblation run after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic. 

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1731559/up-oblation-run-resumes-after-a-3-year-hiatus

After a three-year halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oblation Run returned to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on Friday with the theme “Sama-sama tayong babaon muli,” which derives from a wordplay on President Marcos’ slogan “Babangon Muli,” demanding accountability from the government. Around 15 members of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity (APO) ran naked around the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Hall with masks concealing their identities while carrying protest placards.

“It seems like the new regime of Bongbong Marcos Jr. is a sequel to the Marcos Sr. regime: the inflation of basic needs, weakening of peso versus dollar and the rising foreign debts,” the fraternity said in a statement.

A group of fraternity brothers running around campus naked carrying protest placards is not going to help the economy but it's a sign of a return to normality I guess. 

An accouting of just how much the government spent on COVID-19 vaccines has yet to manifest.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195603

Senator Francis Escudero on Monday called for a full blown audit of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine expenditures saying the public has the right to know all pandemic-era vaccine purchases.

Escudero noted that the total amount spent could not be determined as he also doubts if the so-called “non-disclosure agreement” (NDA) that the government had signed with vaccine manufacturers prior to the sale could be used as an excuse to hide procurement details.

“The NDA goes against Section 6 (the transparency clause) of Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which requires the publication of the approved budget of contract and the amount of contract awarded on vaccine purchases,” he said.

"Millions of vaccine shots have unfortunately expired. But what does not go stale is the responsibility to disclose the details of the billions spent for them," Escudero said. "The vaccines do not carry an immunity from accountability."

He describe the NDA as a “new breed of an excuse” to evade accountability "and it should be stopped."

As such, the Bicolano senator urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to subpoena documents and the Department of Health (DOH) and other agencies served to comply.

It was reported that out of the 245 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines that the government had bought or received for free, some 44 million had expired by end of 2022.

“Until now, there are no price list of Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer and other vaccines. And yet, we fine small grocery stores for not complying with the price tag law. Stores who don’t have price tags of sardines, were fined, but in the case of vaccines, no actions taken," Escudero said.

Given how corrupt the Philippine government is the amount spent will likley not be shocking. 

COVID cases are down.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195663

The country’s daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 19 percent from Feb. 13 to 19, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.

In the latest DOH case bulletin, daily infections decreased to 128 in the recent week from 157 infections from Feb. 6 to 12.

The DOH also reported 895 new cases and 74 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, four occurred from Feb. 6 to 19.

To date, the country has logged over 4.07 million coronavirus cases and more than 66,021 fatalities.

In the past three years only 4 million people out of a population of 110 million have been infected and pnly 66,000 people have died. Those numbers are abysmally low for a virus that they want us to fear,

The God Culture: More Lies About Elephants in the Philippines

At a recent conference The God Culture, Timothy Jay Schwab, spouted off more incredible lies about the existence of elephants in the Philippines. 

https://www.facebook.com/sabbathbc.congregation/videos/848713996196488

4:12:19 Are there elephants in the Philippines? Did you see any elephants on your way here today? Were there any elephants out there dancing with their tribes this morning? Naw, no elephants in the Philippines. Not today, not today. But in Solomon's time absolutely 100%. Now, do you know why we know that? Because of Kalinga. Because you have archeology that proves ancient elephant bones have been found and they pre-date history. You had elephants in this nation all along. They went extinct, again, the fault of the Spanish because they were in charge in the 16th century, 17th century sometime around then. But even then Father Alcino drew pictures of elephants that he saw in that time.    

Even Pigafetta in his journal when Magellan came in 1521 tells you he saw elephants in at least three different islands. They were here. Now, academia will then come along and tell you guys when you go to school  you guys when you go to school, "Well that's because the Sultanate of Sulu, uh, brought 600 elephants to the Philippines." Ok, that's a true statement and a complete absolute lie all at once and this is the trick.

Yes, he brought them to one island the island of Jolo and that's it. Those 600 elephants were there and we can track them. Those elephants then were taken to Sabah, to the kingdom of Sabah. Now, some may have stayed on Jolo but still, why are we finding them in Kalinga?   And the ones in Kalinga are older than the 1300's when the Sultanate of Sulu lifted.

There are three lies in this excerpt from Tim's presentation. Let's take them one-by-one.

1. In King Solomon's time there were Elephants in the Philippines

The whole point of even mentioning elephants being in the Philippines is because the Bible tells us King Solomon's fleet brought back ivory from Tarshish and Tim believes the Philippines is Tarshish as well as Ophir.  In fact he says quite clearly that is Ophir and Tarshish are the same area.

4:20:17 Ophir, Tarshish, Sheba are the same area

Luzon is Ophir and Mindanao is Tarshish.

Where is Tarshish? Mindanao, Philippines. This is the Philippines.

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 91

That means what Tim has to prove is not the mere existence of elephants in the Philippines during the time of King Solomon. He has to prove there was a bustling trade in Philippine ivory. This he does not do. He is very quick to show his audience samples of Filipino gold work but not once has he shown any Filipino ivory work which dates to the time of Solomon or earlier. Instead his proof that Solomon's navy sailed all the way to the Philippines for ivory are the bones of prehistoric elephants. 

4:28:26 Ok, uh elephants. By the way not just Kalinga but also Apyao, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Panay, Palawan. You got some found in Cebu, actually buffalo but same thing they have ivory in their horns and uh also in Mindoro. And then you have Davao, and, uh, Jolo, which they should be found in Jolo, that's the history, that's ok. But even Stegodon the giant dinosaur elephant has been found in the Philippines. Both in Manila at Fort Bonifacio as well as down in Davao. So, ivory in the Philippines? Absolutely. Pre-historic times. 100% 

Pre-historic times? You gotta be kidding me! Tim is using the bones of pre-historic elephants, elephant dinosaurs even, as proof that King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines regularly to trade for ivory. But all those animals were dead long before they arrived! Suffice to say ancient, pre-historic fossils are no proof that there were elephants in the Philippines during the time of Solomon or that his navy sailed to the Philippines for ivory. 

2. Jesuit Father Alcina Drew Pictures of Elephants in the Philippines

In his book Solomon's Treasure Tim mentions Father Alcina on page 100.

Elephants were still roaming the Philippines in the 17th century according to Jesuit Ignacio Francisco Alcino in his multivolume “Historia de las islas e indios de Bisayas” (1668) in which their “ivory was used for bracelets, ear pendants, daggers and sword hilts, and even jewelry boxes” at that time.

Solomon's Treasure, pg 100

Elephants were still roaming the Philippines in the 17th century? That is actually what Tim's source says though his source is not Alcina's book but an OPINION column by Philippine historian Ambeth Ocampo.

It seems that elephants roamed the Philippines not just in prehistoric times but as late as the 17th century, as described by the Jesuit Ignacio Francisco Alcina in his multivolume “Historia de las islas e indios de Bisayas” (1668) as a “torre de carne” (tower of flesh) that some Christian saints referred to as “Goliath” because of the size. 

Alcina noted that the Visayan word for elephant was “gadya,” and that the ivory (“garing” in Tagalog, hence one of the attributes of the Virgin Mary, “Tower of Ivory,” is “Torre ng Garing”) was used for bracelets, ear pendants, daggers and sword hilts, and even jewelry boxes.

According to Alcina, elephants were not to be found in the Visayas but in Jolo.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/75278/a-jesuit-elephant-in-17th-century-manila

Can it really be said elephants were roaming the Philippines when they were not to be found in the Visayas? Ocampo is most certainly using hyperbole to describe Alcina's description of elephants and even adds the qualifier "it seems" while Tim gives the impression the Philippines was full of elephants in the 1600's. In fact he accuses the Spanish of causing Philippine elephants to go extinct! Where is the proof of that? He has none of course!

Ocampo also mentions nothing about Alcina making any drawing of elephants. So where does Tim get this idea that Alcina drew pictures of elephants? He does not cite from Alcina and wrongly calls him Alcino. Is that the work of a man doing in-depth research? Is that the work of a TEAM doing in-depth research? Surely if there was actually a The God Culture team one of the members would have been tasked with finding Alcino's book which is available in a 3 volume hardcopy set from UST. Well it didn't happen because there is no The God Culture team. It's Timothy Jay Schwab all by himself. What a joke that Tim's "monumental case for the Philippines no one can disprove" is an OPINION column and not the actual primary source. 

Alcina's History of the Bisayas is not fully available online and I do not have access to a hardcopy but it appears he did draw a picture of an elephant.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/elmer_ng_pateros/2240871483/in/photostream/

However seeing as not only did Tim not include this picture in his book or his presentation but also Alcina's History of the Bisayas does not prove King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines to trade for ivory all of this is impertinent. The lie here is that the testimony of Alcina means anything for Tim's "monumental case for the Philippines no one can disprove" when it absolutely does not. 

3. Pigafetta Saw Elephants on Three Islands in the Philippines

The third and most stupid lie here is Tim's claim that Antonio Pigafetta saw elephants on three islands.  In his book Tim tells us only that Pigafetta saw elephants in the Philippines. 

Even history agrees as in 1521, Pigafetta witnessed elephants as he mentioned them multiple times especially in Palawan.

“When we arrived at the city (Palawan), we were obliged to wait about two hours in the prahu, until there came thither two elephants covered with silk...” –Pigafetta, 1521

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 102

But now he tells us he saw them on THREE islands. See how the lie has now been embellished?

The fact is he did not see any elephants in the Philippines whatsoever. Pigafetta does not mention seeing elephants until after leaving Palawan and going South West to Borneo. Tim falsely inserts Palawan as the name of the city which completely contradicts Pigafetta. 

Section 110: Going from Palaoan towards the South-west, after a run of ten leagues, we reached another island.

Section 111: When we arrived at the city, we were obliged to wait about two hours in the prahu, until there came thither two elephants covered with silk, and twelve men, each of whom carried a porcelain vase covered with silk, for conveying and wrapping up our presents. We mounted the elephants, and those twelve men preceded us, carrying the vases with our presents

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_First_Voyage_Round_the_World/Pigafetta%27s_Account_of_Magellan%27s_Voyage

It's simply a straight up lie to say that Pigafetta saw elephants in the Philippines when he very clearly did not. But even if he did see elephants that does not prove that King Solomon's navy sailed to the Philippines to trade for ivory or that Filipinos circumnavigated Africa for 1,000 years to trade with Greeks and Israelites as Tim claims. 

These false claims about elephants in the Philippines form a core part of Tim's argument for the Philippines being Tarshish and Ophir. He calls this part of his "resource test" and he acts like he is the only one who has ever made this test. Samuel Purchas, a historian Tim absolutely despises and slanders, did this same test and came out with India as the winner. Even Tim claims India has all the resources of Ophir. But Ophir is not Tarshish and the ivory came from Tarshish. It is very clear from the Bible that Tarshish and Ophir are not the same region or place and that Tarshish is to the west of Israel somewhere within the Mediterranean basin. 

Despite wherever Tarshish was located the fact remains The God Culture, Timothy Jay Schwab, continues to lie about elephants in the Philippines.