Coronavirus Lockdown: Two Schools Permanently Cease Operations, Be Extra Cautious, and More!

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

Despite the WHO  droping the emergency status for the COVID-19 virus the DOH says the pandemic is not over yet. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1766876/fwd-covid-19-pandemic-not-yet-over-doh

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reminded the public that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) lifting the global state of public health emergency.

“Even though the WHO has already lifted the public health emergency of international concern status, hindi po nila sinabi na tapos na ang pandemya (they did not say that the pandemic is over),” said DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

“We cannot be complacent at this point, kailangan tuloy tuloy pa rin tayong maging mapagmatiyag and remain vigilant,” she added.

(We cannot be complacent at this point, we still need to be vigilant.)

Vergeire pointed out that the WHO’s lifting of the global public health emergency is merely an acknowledgment of the fact that the world’s response against the virus has been effective.

Vigilance has been the word of the day for the past two years since all the major restrictions were lifted. 

The emergency status was the driving force for the COVID vaccine to be free. The DOH is counting on it remaining free. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1767612/doh-counts-on-covid-vax-still-free-postcrisis

COVID-19 vaccines may remain available at no cost to Filipinos even if the state of public health emergency is lifted, as long as the government keeps funding the two-year-old mass inoculation program, the country’s acting health chief said on Wednesday.

But maintaining the nationwide rollout of free COVID-19 jabs, even just for vulnerable sectors, “is a decision the government has to make,” Department of Health (DOH) officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told a press conference.

She said it was now a question of how long the government could afford to administer COVID-19 jabs for free or whether it should start looking at other ways to protect the public from the contagion.

“We will get to that point wherein we will subject [the program] to [a review] by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to determine whether it would be cost-effective for the government,” Vergeire said.

She cited earlier assessments made by the HTA for vaccines against flu and influenza under the national immunization program, which found that ultimately, it was “more cost-effective to protect [people from vaccine-preventable diseases] than to cover for hospital expenses.”

Formed in 2019, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) is an independent advisory panel created under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act.

It conducts appraisals and guidance on health interventions and technologies that would be funded by the government. On March 6, its operations were formally turned over to the Department of Science and Technology in compliance with the law.

The health official also encouraged vaccine makers to apply for certificate of product registration (CPR) so that the private sector and physicians could gain immediate access to COVID-19 vaccines once the public health emergency status was revoked.

This would also mean that COVID-19 doses would be available for commercial use.

A CPR is a license granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the manufacturing, distribution and sale of a medical device. All COVID-19 vaccines and medicines in the government’s inventory are currently distributed and administered under an emergency use authorization or EUA.

But in the absence of a prevailing health emergency, the FDA loses the authority to issue an EUA for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

If they do remain free it seems that won't be for long. 

President Marcos appears to have an entirely different attitude than the DOH. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201348

President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. said Thursday the Philippines has already been on “normal footing” even before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the emergency phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a media interview on board his flight back to the Philippines, Marcos said there is no need to restore the emergency status in the country concerning the global health emergency downgrade.

“So we don’t need to do anything. We are already on normal footing. Nauna pa tayo sa kanila (We were ahead of them). And in terms of the... requirement that we used to have for a valid vaccine certificate, wala, matagal nang tinanggal ‘yun(we removed that long ago),” he said.

“So now we have the e-Pass that’s much easier to use. That was… to make the ease of travel better. But we did that a few months back.”

House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez said the WHO declaration should pave the way for the Philippines to sustain economic growth or even take the economy to a higher growth path.

The lifting would translate to increased mobility, more economic activities, and therefore additional job and income opportunities for workers and their families, Romualdez added.

He noted that the lifting of travel restrictions would also mean more tourists visiting the Philippines.

“Let the concerned government agencies and sectors of the economy prepare for this possibility, which will benefit tourist destinations and local communities,” he said.

Marcos says the nation better get ready for more tourists. The DOT agrees. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201598

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday the country will now chart its way "forward" in terms of tourism development as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) global health emergency.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, in a Palace briefing, said the country would continue to open its borders to tourists despite an increase in Covid-19 cases.

She assured that all minimum health and safety standards are in place and are observed by DOT-accredited establishments.

"The pandemic is over, according to the World Health Organization. That is why while we continue to support the Department of Health's measures as far as ensuring the health and safety of our Filipinos, the direction of the Philippines is forward. And that is to ensure that we continue to open up the country to travel and tourism as is the direction set by our President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.)," Frasco said.

Marcos earlier said the Philippines has already been on “normal footing” even before the WHO declaration ending the emergency phase of the pandemic.

That is a completely different sentiment than that of the DOH. It seems the DOH wants the pandemic to continue. 

COVID cases are up. But they are mostly mild. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1769558/daily-covid-infections-jump-31-cases-mostly-mild

The number of daily COVID-19 infections recorded on Monday rose to 1,773 — a 31-percent increase from the previous daily average of 1,352 recorded last week — but these were mostly mild cases.

No coronavirus deaths had been reported in the past two weeks, while healthcare utilization remained low, according to the weekly case update of the Department of Health (DOH).

The department said only 53 of 12,414 people who tested positive last week were either seriously or critically ill, as were 437 of 4,185 patients currently admitted in hospitals nationwide.

These patients made up 26 percent of 15,891 individuals still infected as of May 14.

The DOH said 18.8 percent of reserved COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 21.7 percent of non-ICU beds are occupied.

The healthcare utilization rate is considered at low risk if it is not higher than 20 percent.

Nothing to worry about, right? Of course there is plenty to work about. Experts say everyone needs to be extra cautions amid the rise of COVID-19 cases. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/23/experts-warn-pinoys-to-be-extra-cautious-amid-rise-in-covid-19-cases

An infectious diseases expert on Saturday stressed the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, as sub variants are being blamed for the recent spike in cases.

Doctor Rontgene Solante said he is seeing unvaccinated infected patients in critical condition, adding that the elderly are especially vulnerable.

"So those who don't have the vaccine are the ones who are really affected by it who can become critical and elderly, so upwards of 65 to 70 years old and above, this is a bit dangerous even if we say mild, but if you don't have the vaccine and you have this age group that is quite old then the risk that you can be severe will be there," he said.

Some symptoms of arcturus to look out for are: severe sore throat, fever and sore eyes or conjunctivitis.

Those who were fully vaccinated and received a booster shot were able to recover quickly.

"Fully vaccinated and boostered that the symptoms are very short. Three days or less than 3 days the fever is gone, the cough is gone but the sore throat sometimes will be there 5 days 7 days," Solante said.

Meanwhile, public health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon reminded the public to still observe coronavirus protocols to avoid getting infected. He said that cases of COVID-19 are increasing with the highest number of cases after 7 months recorded on Friday. It totaled 2,114 new cases.

"This number may be underestimated, but let's not worry because as long as I say we wear a face mask, we drink alcohol, we social distance and we fix our indoor air quality, we can avoid it," he said.

Nice to know the fully vaccinated are not actaully immune to the virus. But everyone pay attention already knew that. 

Baguio City is going all in and reimposing mandatory face masks. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1769486/baguio-city-to-require-anew-wearing-of-face-masks-especially-in-indoor-settings-mayor

Face masks will again be mandatory in Baguio City, especially in indoor settings due to the rising number of  COVID-19 cases, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced on Monday.

“Kaya dito ipapatupad na uli natin (We will now enforce again) … especially indoors, we are now requiring our constituents and visitors to be wearing their face masks,” Magalong said in an interview posted in the Baguio City Public Information Office’s Facebook page.

Magalong said the executive order requiring the mandatory use of face masks is expected to be released on Monday. 

“This is one way of mitigating, hopefully we are able to reduce the number of cases,” he added.

Magalong said the COVID-19’s reproduction number of the city is “above one.”

What a step backwards. And we all know face masks did not and do not stop the spread of the virus. 

Manila says they will not reimpose face masks. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/17/23/metro-manila-wont-reinstate-mask-mandate-for-now-mayor

Metro Manila won’t make face masks mandatory again amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, the head of the Metro Manila Council said Wednesday.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said Metro Manila remains in the low-risk category for COVID, with hospital utilization rate at 29 percent.

“So that is within the low risk category. At ang positivity rate po natin ay 25 percent…ngunit karamihan po talaga ay mild lamang (our positivity rate is 25 percent, most of the cases are mild),” he said.

(Yes, some cities are reimposing mask mandates, but overall in Metro Manila, together with the DOH, we are under the low risk category at Alert Level 1, and under that category face masks are optional.)

Zamora said the mayors did not discuss imposing mask mandates yet in their last meeting.

However, face masks will be required at Manila City Hall. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/870263/manila-imposes-mandatory-face-masking-at-city-hall/story/

More local government units (LGUs) have adopted face-masking policies and imposed stricter measures amid the rising cases of COVID-19.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "24 Oras", Manila has made the wearing of face masks mandatory inside the city hall.

Quezon City, on the other hand, advised the residents to wear face masks, especially in crowded areas.

“Mahigpit po nating ipatutupad ang pagsuot ng face mask sa loob ng inyong mga tanggapan at sa lahat po ng mga dadayo sa Manila City Hall,” Manila City mayor Honey Lacuna said.

(We will strictly enforce the wearing of face masks inside your offices and on all visitors to Manila City Hall.)

This was supported by both staff and visitors at the city hall.

How many municipalized will follow suit? 

Schools were hit hard by the lockdowns. Now two private schools are calling it quits after deacdes of being in operation. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1769854/2-private-schools-in-bacolod-permanently-cease-operations

Jack & Jill School and Castleson High School, two private schools in this city are permanently closing on June 30 after six decades of service to the community.

Dr. Muriel Lopez-Wagner, president of Jack & Jill School and Castleson High School, cited the insurmountable burden on its finances due to the reverberating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic despite its swift conversion to online classes and intensive teacher training.

She also mentioned a decrease in enrollment year after year as well as the passing away of the schools’ founder Cecilia del Castillo Lopez in 2020.

“I think several significant factors led to the ultimate financial collapse where the only way out was to sell a building,” she said in a statement released on May 9.

Lopez-Wagner expressed her deepest gratitude “to hundreds of parents, students, alumni, teachers, staff members, and loyal supporters who will always carry the Jack & Jill trademark and love.”

All it took was two years to wipe out 60 years of service. That pretty much sums up the pandemic and the economically crippling lockdowns. 

The God Culture: The God Culture Bible

It's official. Timothy Jay Schwab will be publishing a The God Culture Bible. What does this mean exactly? What will an official The God Culture Bible look like? Thankfully Tim has left us some clues.

Who Changed the Calendar in Israel? And When? RESOLVED Doctrines of Men Exposed

Golden Ladle: Off topic but are you able to list the apocryphal texts that aren't based in scripture? I want to make note of them so I don't waste my time reading. Thank you.

The God Culture: The word is fraud as no such category ever existed in the Temple Library. We are testing them thoroughly and releasing them 1 at a time. We will produce a list once we have vetted them all properly. However, anything not found physically in part or in use in Qumran is highly suspect and likely never Bible Canon. In the end, we will compile all of these into 1 book and then, we will release the modern Canon with corrections to the best of our ability. Scholars have proven they do not care about preserving the word or they would have put the name of YHWH back the 6,800+ times they replaced His name with generic titles instead in illiterate ignorance. Fixing their satanic mess is quite a large task but in time, Yahuah will restore all. They will face the consequences for their acts of cowardice or downright satanic, beast function. Yah Bless.

Note that Tim did not answer this man's question. In fact, it seems he misunderstood it. What the man wanted to know is which books of the Bible are not actually books of the Bible which he should avoid. For Tim that would include Esther and Maccabees at least.

This misunderstanding is a boon for us because we now know where Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture is headed. He is going to produce his own Bible. According to this statement, as well as many other statements made throughout his videos, the real Bible Canon is to be found at Qumran. Anything that was not there is "highly suspect and likely never Bible Canon."

Does he not realize that with that standard the New Testament will have to go? No New Testament text was found at Qumran. The leaves us with only the Old Testament plus many other books like Jubilees and The Community Rule and The War Scroll.

That the bulk of this Bible will be the Old Testament sounds pretty cut and dry but it is not. The Old Testament fragments found at Qumran differ from the Masoretic text. 

The discovery of ancient manuscripts in the eleven caves of Khirbet Qumran in the Wilderness of Judah has provided the first full light on the ancient Hebrew text of the Bible in the era before the fixing of text and canon. There is no sign of a canon at Qumran, nor any tendency that can be perceived of the influence of the Rabbinic Recension, or of a drift toward it. Among the Dead Sea Scrolls are many manuscripts that we can label proto-rabbinic in text. But there are also manuscripts related to the Vorlage of the OG Bible, and pentateuchal manuscripts of the Palestinian textual family that gave rise to the Samaritan recension of the Pentateuch. The biblical manuscripts of Qumran exhibit variants of a type that differ toto caelo from the character of the variants found in medieval manuscripts. In the case of a number of biblical books, alternative editions or recensions (as opposed to textual families) were circulating in the several Jewish communities into the Roman period. The most stunning examples are the short text of Jeremiah (related to that used by the OG translator), and the long text of Jeremiah, ancestral to that chosen by the rabbis in their Recension. Manuscripts of proto-Samaritan type show extensive, indeed, in the case of 4QNum (4Q27), systematic editorial expansion. In the case of Daniel, the rabbis chose a short edition, and the OG translators used a longer text edition. This list of long and short editions can be extended. The plurality of text-types and editions at Qumran can be explained in part by remembering that the Zionist revival, beginning in Maccabaean times and extended by Parthian expulsions, brought a flood of Jews from Babylon, Syria, and Egypt back to Jerusalem. Indeed, the bizarre plurality of texts and editions at Qumran is a good illustration of the conditions that produced a crisis and required resolution, namely, the Rabbinic Recension of the early first century C.E.

The Qumran Scrolls force us to grapple in a wholly new way with problems of the canonical text. It is obvious that there was never an “original text” at any one moment of time. Biblical books, those with authors or editors, were revised, rewritten, expanded, truncated. These changes, moreover, took place before the later books were written or edited. Grammar, lexicon, and orthography were brought up to date. So what are we to do in the two areas of textual criticism and establishing anew a plausible doctrine of canon?

The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls, vol. 1, p. 72-73

This means that the community at Qumran was using a Hebrew text which resembles the Septuagint more than the Masoretic text.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/the-original-bible-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls/

Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls actually have more in common with the Greek Septuagint than the traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text. This suggests that the Greek translators must have been translating from Hebrew texts that resembled the Dead Sea Scrolls. Are the Dead Sea Scroll texts as trustworthy as these other two sources? Are they as close to the text of the original Bible?

This difference is very crucial especially as it comes to the timeline. Tim is very big on the calendar. Figuring out what the true calendar is is very important to him. According to Timothy Jay Schwab the calendar has been so warped that he does not even know what day or month it is.

Who Changed the Calendar in Israel? And When? RESOLVED Doctrines of Men Exposed

𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄: What day, month and year is it today?

The God Culture: Frankly, they have done a royal cluster whammy on the modern calendar. Every day is wrong, every Sabbath, every month, and every year is wrong on the supposed Hebrew Calendar as well as the Roman one we use. We are working on reconciliation but every time we opened a portion, it leads to more and more questions. It was quite intentional and the powers behind modern Judaism or Pharisaism by definition in the Jewish Encyclopedia, as well as the Roman Catholic Church, have worked very hard to screw it up. This will be restored in our age. Yah Bless.

Despite saying all that Tim does believe he knows what the correct year is and even claims to know the year Jesus will return, 2127. He bases that on the chronology found in The Book of Jubilees. This book, which was found at Qumran and was held in high esteem by the community, divides all of time into a series of Jubilees or 49 years. There is a huge problem with that which is the chronology in Jubilees does not agree with either the Septuagint or Genesis. You cannot have Genesis and Jubilees in the same book calling them scripture when they are diametrically opposed to one another. 

Because of these differences Tim would also have to decide which text of the Bible he would use. The Septuagint or the Masoretic. We have the Masoretic text in full but all the Hebrew texts found at Qumran are fragments. That the Dead Sea Scrolls are all fragments is another big hurdle Tim would have to leap. Geza Vermes' translation of the scrolls looks like this:

You see all the brackets, parentheses, and ellipses? Those are places where the text is missing or supplied by the translator. The fact is if any of the books particular to the Qumran community such as the War Scroll were to be deemed by Timothy Jay Schwab to be scripture and fit for inclusion in The God Culture Bible then they would be full of holes because portions are missing.

Which translation would The God Culture Bible use? The KJV? Brenton's Septuagint? A synthesis of the two? Will it be a completely new translation based on the Hebrew and Aramic texts found at Qumran? Of course not because while every book in the Bible except Esther was found in the caves they are all in fragments and are completely unaccessible to Tim. Sure you can view a few copies on the internet which have been scanned for all to see but the vast bulk of scrolls are hidden away from the general public. They are 2,000 years old after all and need serious care to remain intact. As for the scrolls unique to Qumran he would have to publish his own translation since current translations are all copyrighted. Again, he cannot do this because he does not have access to them nor does he know Hebrew except with the aid of online tools. But even if he did he any translation would be fragmentary and would require him to make educated guesses in many places and would not be the actual text used by the separatist Qumran community.

What exactly will Tim be testing and vetting since he has no access to the Dead Sea Scrolls except for what has been published for popular reading such as the edition by Geza Vermes? It's odd that Tim cites only Vermes when there are other translations out there such as the one by Florentino Garcia Martinez. That he only cites one translation is a red flag that Tim is not actually doing any real research on the matter. He claims that he reads scholarly literature from time to time but that seems very doubtful because he never cites any of that literature which he claims to have indisputably rebutted.

Exodus is in the Bible so it can be safely assumed that it will be included in The God Culture Bible. But will it include Exodus 4:24 which Tim says does not fit and which contradicts Jubilees?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V54mWhuiH0w&lc=UgwvjOotDuuoqhsMJSB4AaABAg

mbeatg : Hello, can you address Exodus 4:24. I heard you address Jasher. Based on Jubilees, would you consider this more “ Leaven”

The God Culture : It does not fit indeed. Yah Bless.

Surely Tim will "restore" Cainian to Genesis 10:24 which is missing in the Masoretic text but remains in the Septuagint. Tim has a whole video about this missing word and how it proves the Pharisees intentionally corrupted the text. If he did so that would mean giving credence to the Septuagint so he might as well publish that translation which agrees with the Hebrew texts found at Qumran. But on what basis would he do that? It could not be based on any of the fragments of Genesis found at Qumran and to which he has no access. 

Any modern bible worth it's salt has several maps in the back. They show the Exodus, the travels of Paul and the travels of Jesus, as well as the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Will The God Culture Bible have a map of the Philippines showing that the Garden of Eden is underneath the floor of the Sulu Sea? 

Where is the Garden of Eden? Answers In Jubilees: Part 8

Will he have maps showing the great ocean trench system which he claims are the rivers from Eden?

Timothy Jay Schwab's Rivers From Eden map

Surely The God Culture Bible will contain a map of Noah's division of the earth with its references to Fairbanks, Alaska and Bengali slang.

The cold hard fact is that Timothy Jay Schwab could never publish a Bible based on the Dead Sea Scrolls which is 100% faithful to those texts because they are fragmented and he has no access to them. If he sticks to his guiding principle that the Qumran community kept the true canon of scripture then he could absolutely not include the New Testament. The New Testament was compiled and collected by the Church. The canon of the New Testament was decided, not by authoritarian Popes as Tim claims, but through constant usage in the liturgy. Subsequently that canon was confirmed at the Council of Carthage in 397.

If Tim did include the New Testament that would be a huge blow to his stated principle that the community at Qumran kept the true canon. He would have to give a reason for the canonicity of the New Testament and he would not be able to appeal to the Church which he considers to be the Synagogue of Satan. The fact is that neither Timothy Jay Schwab nor anyone else can give a coherent reason that the New Testament is scripture without appealing to the witness of the Church. 

In short this whole business of The God Culture Bible is a nonsensical waste of time. It is also more confirmation that The God Culture is a cult and Timothy Jay Schwab is a cult leader. Every heretical sect and cult has its own scriptures. Once The God Culture Bible is published that will set an indelible mark upon Timothy Jay Schwab and his group. They will be no different than the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Urantians who each have their own Bibles.

Insurgency: Bringers of Peace

There has been a huge shake up this week as Vice President Sara Duterte, who also serves as the Secretary of Education, was appointed co-Vice Chairman of the NTF-ELCAC.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/869643/vp-duterte-designated-co-vice-chair-of-ntf-elcac/story/

Vice President Sara Duterte has been named the co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), according to NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Wednesday.

“The NTF-ELCAC Execom has approved the designation of Vice President Sara Duterte as co-vice chairperson of the Task Force. Her unstinting commitment in the cause of NTF-ELCAC will undoubtedly be very valuable to the Task Force and we thank her for accepting the challenge,” Año said in a press conference.

As a task force under the Office of the President, the NTF-ELCAC is chaired by the Chief Executive.

Asked if Duterte's new position will strengthen the monitoring of alleged recruitment activities in schools—the Vice President is also Education Secretary—Año replied, “With the effort now of the DepEd Secretary, in fact we have seen that the schools used by the other side have been closed.”

He said that Duterte is “well-experienced” as a former local executive.

(Our vice president is very well-experienced, being the former mayor of Davao City, from which she can use her experiences to share, including the best practices that can be used by the various agencies involved in NTF-ELCAC.)

(With her as the co-vice chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, she will be a great help to supervise not only the 12 clusters but also the designated cabinet officers to supervise regional peace and development and peace development in the different regions.)

Año's claim that as DepEd Secretary Sara shut down schools used by the CPP is patently false. That happened during her tenure as Mayor of Davao and the shut down was initiated by the IP's and not Sara. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/01/ips-not-vp-sara-shut-down-tribal-schools-in-davao-tied-to-communists-ex-npa-leader/

The Indigenous Peoples (IP) themselves decided to put an end to tribal schools linked to communist rebels, not former Mayor now Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, a former New People’s Army (NPA) leader said Monday, August 1.

Arian Jane Ramos, former secretary of Guerrilla Front 55 of the New People's Army (NPA) based in Southern Mindanao, said this following brickbats hurled at the Vice President by certain quarters believed to be allied with communist rebels.

In particular, Ramos, known as “Ka Marikit” when she was with the NPA, was reacting to allegations that the closure of the Salugpongan schools in Davao and the rest of the region was the handiwork of Duterte.

“The IPs became decisive for the Salugpongan closure and other 'Lumad' schools because they knew the real goal of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA,” Ramos said.

She said the Salugpongan tribal schools were “supposed to shape the future of the children and the development of the tribe, ‘but they turned out the other way.’”

In October 2019, the Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11) ordered the closure of the controversial Salugpungan Ta'Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI), the school system that managed the Salugpongan schools, for lack of permits and alleged links with the NPA.

Jenelieto Atillo, DepEd-11 spokesperson, made it clear that the decision did not rest solely on STTICLCI's alleged links with the NPA but also based on the findings that showed various regulatory violations, deficiencies, and compliance issues on the part of the school management.

Arian Jane Ramos is a former NPA that even the NTF-ELCAC touts as an authority on what is happening within the CPP-NPA.  Here statement ought not to be dismissed. That means Sara's appointment to the as co-Vice Chair of the NTF-ELCAC is shrouded in lies. 

As DepEd Secretary of course Duterte thinks education is key to ending the insurgency. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/11/2265561/sara-duterte-confirms-new-ntf-elcac-post-says-education-needed-fight-deception

Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrently education chief, confirmed her new post at the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, saying in a message that education is “one of the greatest weapons” in the government’s fight against insurgency.

“They have infiltrated our institutions and sectors and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino People, particularly our youth. Education, therefore, is one of the greatest weapons we can use in suppressing the lies and deceptions of these terrorists and their allied organizations,” Duterte said. 

Nearly a year into her term as Department of Education secretary—a role that entails studying all aspects of the learning crisis during a “critical” recovery phase for millions of students—Duterte said the role has made her realize “how deeply ingrained the problem of insurgency in our country is.”

“(The) enemies are also using education as a machine to propagate their violent ideology and systematically recruit Filipino students. We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth,” Duterte added.

Taking her words at face value it would seem that the end of the insurgency is nowhere near in sight. Duterte is saying that the insurgency is deeply ingrained in the country through educational institutions. In particular she is referring to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) which has been tagged as a communist front. And don't forget the NICA says they know the names of all 300,000 to 400,000 communists who have infiltrated the government. Clearly the insurgency is not relegated to just the NPA.

Nevertheless Sara Duterte believes the insurgency will end by the time Marcos leaves office.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1768399/sara-duterte-wants-end-to-communist-insurgency-during-marcos-admin-exec

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is recently appointed as co-vice chair to the government’s anti-insurgency body, is intending to put an end to the decades-long rebellion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

This was revealed Friday by National Security Council (NSC) deputy director general Jonathan Malaya, saying it was declared by Duterte during a meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-Elcac) executive committee on May 10. Malaya attended the meeting.

(We think that VP Sara Duterte will be one of the best symbols of our call for peace in our country, so that, as she said, this protracted people’s war must already end during the Marcos administration.)

According to the NSC official, 75 percent of all NPA guerrilla fronts have been dismantled and that only 22 of the original 89 fronts remain.

Of the 22, he added, 20 are weakened while two NPA guerrilla fronts – both located in Samar – maintain a strong presence.

(Peace in the country is within our reach.)

How exactly is peace within reach when Sara admits that the insurgency is a deeply ingrained problem? This is double speak. What is the goal exactly? To defeat the NPA or to rid the Philippines of the Communist party entirely? Those goals are not the same and it is not illegal to be a communist. A recent executive order has recognized the right of association. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200938

The National Security Council (NSC) denied reports that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will be dismantled.

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, who is also the head of the agency's Strategic Communications Office, said there is no truth to rumors claiming that Executive Order (EO) 23 was issued to abolish or dismantle the anti-insurgency task force.

"Nowhere does it state in Executive Order No. 23 that the NTF ELCAC will be abolished or dismantled. The two Executive issuances relate to different topics. EO 23 relates to the protection of the freedom of association and the right to organize while EO 70, which created the NTF ELCAC, relates to the institutionalization of the whole of nation approach to attaining sustainable peace as well as the adoption of a national peace framework," he said in a statement released over the weekend.

Malaya said as NTF-ELCAC chair, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is firmly committed to the whole-of-nation approach to finally ending communist terrorism in the country.

The NSC is the vice chair of the anti-communist insurgency body.

He also added that the Chief Executive has already directed the NTF-ELCAC to intensify its efforts now that the government has attained strategic victory over the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

"Seventy-five percent of all NPA guerrilla fronts have been dismantled. Only 22 out of the original 89 fronts are still existing. Of the 22 left, 20 are weakened and the remaining 2 are the subject of focused military operations and development efforts by NTF-ELCAC agencies," Malaya added.

The scuttlebutt over EO 23 in certain quarters witnesses to the truth that the NTF-ELCAC is indeed engaged in red tagging and calling out people, notably human rights workers, over their associations. It's such a contrast for Malaya to say the government has achieved a strategic victory over the CPP-NPA-NDF while Sara Duterte says the insurgency is deeply ingrained. 

The NTF-ELCAC even admits they have been aggressive but are now switching to becoming "bringers of peace."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1767664/under-marcos-administration-ntf-elcac-switches-from-aggressive-strategy-to-become-bringers-of-peace

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) is shifting from its “aggressive” policy to become “bringers of peace,” officials of the anti-communist task force said on Wednesday.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said this was the orders relayed during the executive committee meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang.

“What is most significant from today’s meeting is the fact that we are shifting from the old to the new NTF-Elcac with the primary role of us being ‘bringers of peace,’” Año said in a Palace briefing.

“This is what the President desires for our people,” he added.

Back in March, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to focus on external threats as he deems that the communist insurgency in the country is ending.

Ernesto Torres Jr. the NTF-Elcac’s executive director, said the task force is changing its strategy as the communist insurgency continues to weaken.

“In the past, if you might have observed, that we are really that aggressive in going after different threats of society particularly the CPP-NPA  because we had 89 guerrilla fronts in start of 2019, so just imagine in just a little of four years, we are able to bring it down to 22,” Torres said.

Año has also noted that of the 22 guerrilla fronts left, 20 are weakened and the remaining two are the subject of focused military operations.

Were they not "bringers of peace" before? They are certainly bringers of cash as the NTF-ELCAC is essentially a bribery program to entice NPA fighters and supporters to surrender. Everyone gets cash, housing, job training, and many other amenities if they qualify.

The same rhetoric continues to swirl around the remnants of the insurgency.  They are leaderless and are getting worn down says the AFP. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201247

The few remaining members of the New People's Army (NPA) in the Visayas are now in disarray and getting tired of moving from one place to another as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) faces a leadership vacuum following the deaths of its founder Jose Maria Sison and key leaders.

“Due to the leadership vacuum that the CPP–NPA is suffering coupled with the active support of the community to the security efforts of the government forces, the few remaining members of the terrorist group remain in disarray and with no clear direction," Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said in a statement Thursday.

He said that the communist terrorists "are tired due to constant movement having no safe place to hide."

Arevalo also lauded government troops for dealing with the CPP-NPA in Northern Samar, resulting in another huge blow in just a span of 10 days, making their morale "very low as attested by the former rebels who recently returned to the folds of the law.”

Again this assessment does not square with Sara Duterte's assertion that the insurgency is deeply ingrained. Unless one is counting more than just the NPA.

47% of Filipinos Say it is Dangerous to Criticize the Government

One ought to not put a lot of stock in surveys. They are mostly popularity contests with a small sample size that can be twisted every which way. However one recent survey does give cause for concern.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/10/23/sws-47-pct-say-publishing-govt-criticism-dangerous

Almost half of Filipinos agreed that it was dangerous to publish anything critical of the government, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed. 

The SWS survey released Tuesday showed that 47 percent of Filipinos believed that it was dangerous to print or broadcast content critical of the administration, even if it was the truth. 

Some 27 percent of Filipinos were undecided, while 26 percent disagreed with the statement.

"The resulting net agreement score of +20, classified by SWS as moderate, is 4 points below the moderate +24 in December 2021," the SWS said. 

The highest number of respondents who said it was still dangerous to publish content critical of the administration came from Metro Manila, followed by the Visayas, Luzon, and Mindanao.

However, net agreement scores in Metro Manila and Visayas fell in the recent survey compared to the figures recorded in December 2021, during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In Metro Manila, the number of people who said it was dangerous to publish anti-administration content fell to +28 from +41 in December 2021, while the number in Visayas also decreased to +23 from +36.

The pollster said it aimed "to assess respondents' opinions on the state of press freedom in the country." It noted the World Press Freedom Day was observed on May 3. 

SWS conducted the survey from Dec. 10 to 14, 2022, using in-person interviews for 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The pollster also clarified that the survey was non-commissioned, and was only done on SWS' own initiative and released as a public service.

Now, this is not shocking at all. To an outsider yes it would be not only reprehensible but incomprehensible. In light of the EDSA protests in 1986 which ousted Ferdinand Marcos one has to wonder what happened. Let me offer a theory.

By 1986 Marcos had been in power for over 20 years. By that time his hand had become heavy and people were tired of it. They responded by forcing him and his family to leave the country. But over the years complacency set in. Those who replaced Marcos didn't fix the nation which culminated in the election of Duterte who ran as a strong man desirous to not just rid the Philippines of criminality but to kill all the criminals! 

Throughout his administration any and all critics were red-tagged and declared to be destabilizers of the nation. Even Vice President Leni Robredo did not escape this charge. Now the status quo has set in so much so that Bongbong Marcos, a lying convicted criminal who continues to defend his parents' crimes against the nation, was elected to high office. 

The good thing is that these respondents do not run the media. The bad thing is that many Filipinos with this same attitude have immigrated to the West which undermines the values of those nations who see it the duty of the people to criticize the government. The other bad thing is that the media in the Philippines is incredibly superficial and does not go far enough to condemn and criticize the government when it is warranted. 

Which media outlet has truly covered the Marawi siege and all the inconsistencies and so-called intelligent failures? None as far as I know. 

Which media outlet has constantly covered the regular assassination of politicians throughout the nation and demanded an end to it? None that I know of. Not unless it comes to a head like it did in February, 2023.

There are a lot of easy takeaways from this survey but I don't think they are necessarily true or helpful. Are Filipinos complacent and submissive? Yes. To a large degree yes they will endure the boot stamping the face by elected officials. Do not forget that officials are quick to file libel cases against their critics.  Who wants to deal with that? Truly criticizing the government is dangerous for anyone who would dare to do so. 

But there is something more at work here than mere bootlicking. I don't think you will ever find a Filipino who will say, "To Hell with the government."

But maybe you will!

Retards in the Government 309

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200802

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc affirmed the disqualification of Carmen Geraldine Rosal as a candidate for mayor of Legazpi City, Albay during the May 9, 2022 elections.

In a 17-page resolution promulgated on May 4, the seven-member en banc affirmed the ruling of its 2nd Division dated Oct. 4, 2022, disqualifying Rosal based on finding her liable for violating Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), which prohibits the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds 45 days before Election Day.

“Respondent is found to have given money to influence, induce, or corrupt the voters, as described in Section 68 (a) in relation to Section 261 (a) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code. Respondent is hereby disqualified from being a candidate for Mayor of Legazpi City, Albay for the 9 May 2022 National and Local Elections,” the poll body said.

The disqualification case was filed by Joseph San Juan Armogila against Rosal over her participation in the two-day Tricycle Driver's Cash Assistance Payout in the city on March 31, 2022.

According to Comelec, Rosal did not deny that she was among those present during the activity.

It noted that a Facebook post about the activity thanked Rosal and referred to her as "Mayor Gie Rosal," when she was not the incumbent mayor at the time, in an apparent reference to the position she was then running for.

The commission also found it sufficient to conclude that Rosal was among those who gave the cash assistance and that it was given "to influence or induce them to support her candidacy for Mayor."

“All things considered, this Commission (En Banc) is convinced that Respondent gave money in order to influence, induce, or corrupt the tricycle drivers concerned. Petitioner is found to have sufficiently proved his case by the requisite Substantial Evidence,” the Comelec added.

The Mayor of Legazpi City has been disqualified for vote buying during the 2023 election. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/6/sandigan-convicts-ex-albay-rep-lim-of-4-graft-4-malversation-charges

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Albay 3rd District Rep. Reno G. Lim and former Technology Resource Center (TRC) deputy director general Ma. Rosalinda M. Lacsamana of their four graft and four malversation charges involving the misuse of P27 million development assistance fund (PDAF) in 2007.

They were sentenced to six to 10 years for each of their graft convictions with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. They were also ordered to indemnify the National Treasury of P27 million, the amount wrongfully and illegally disbursed.

In their two malversation charges, Lim and Lacsamana were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (a maximum of 40 years imprisonment) and were ordered to pay a fine of P12 million, the amount malversed.

In their two other malversation charges, they were sentenced to 10 to 12 years imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P1.5 million.

The criminal charges arose from the release of Lim's PDAF for the purchase of 8,000 sets of livelihood instructional materials and technology kits.

The prosecution told the court that Lim specifically chose TRC as the implementing agency for his project, and he also chose the Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation, Inc. (KMFI) as its non-government organization partner.

The court was also told that the livelihood projects were never implemented as KMFI lacked the necessary track record to carry out the projects.

In his defense, Lim claimed that his only participation in the PDAF allocation was his request for its release from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). He added that his signatures were forged in the letters addressed to the TRC director general. 

But even after reviewing Lim's signatures and the ones he claimed were forgeries, the Sandiganbayan said there is no "glaring or stark variations in their general appearance."

"The acts of accused Lim in endorsing KMFI and disregarding its clear lack of capacity or qualification and accreditation requirements, entering into memoranda of agreements only to renege on his responsibilities and signing false Project Proposals and Accomplishment Forms indubitably prove manifest partiality and evident bad faith on his part," the court said.

It also said that Lacsamana "aided" Lim when she permitted the disbursement of the subject PDAF by signing two disbursement vouchers and causing the release of the checks in favor of KMFI.

A former Representative and Technology Resource Center deputy directive have been convicted of graft over misuse of PDAF money. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/23/cop-investigating-quezon-road-rage-incident-killed

A police officer in Candelaria, Quezon province was killed Saturday while investigating a road rage incident.

Candelaria police identified the victim as P/Cpl. Reniel Marin, who was shot dead while conducting a follow-up operation on a road altercation gone wrong.

Initial reports from the town's police said that 2 tricycle drivers were having a heated argument after colliding into each other along a narrow road in Barangay Bukal Sur Saturday morning.

Amid the quarrel, one of the tricycle drivers pulled out a gun and fired at the other twice.

The injured driver was rushed to a hospital while the other driver with the gun fled the scene.

 

Marin, along with his fellow police officers from the Candelaria PNP, sought the house of the gun-wielding tricycle driver for a follow-up operation.

The driver's wife was answering questions from the police when the injured driver's brother, identified an Army reservist, suddenly stormed the house and fired his gun.

Marin was fatally wounded after being shot in the chest, while the gun-wielding tricycle driver's 12-year-old daughter was also hurt in the second shooting.

Both victims were rushed to a hospital, but the police officer was declared dead at 6 p.m. Saturday. The daughter, meanwhile, was reportedly in stable condition.

 

Candelaria police noted that the Army reservist thought Marin and his fellow police officers were the ones who shot his brother and fired at them in retaliation.

A police officer was shot dead by an Army reservist who mistakenly thought the officer shot his brother. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/503166/ex-tanod-in-balamban-surrenders-after-accused-of-shooting-cops

A former barangay tanod, which means village peacekeeper in English, in Balamban town in Cebu surrendered to authorities on Monday, May 8, 2023, after being accused of shooting police officers.

The police identified the suspect as Antonio Rabago, a resident of Sitio Butong, Brgy. Buanoy in Balamban.

Last Sunday dawn, May 7, police in Balamban received reports from a concerned citizen that Rabago had allegedly been firing his gun indiscriminately in Sitio Butong in Brgy. Buanoy.

The Balamban Police Station deployed Police Senior Master Sergeant Godofredo Dumdum and Police Patrolman Chimo Paual to the village to check.

However, Rabago reportedly opened fire toward the incoming police officers. One of the bullets hit Dumdum, who is also Balamban Police Station’s chief intelligence officer.

The wounded police officer remains confined in the hospital as of Monday morning. Meanwhile, police immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation against Rabago.

The suspect later surrendered to Buanoy Barangay Captain Clyde Seblos on Monday dawn, May 8.

A former village watchman shot a cop. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/8/sandigan-convicts-ex-maguindanao-gov-sajid-ampatuan-ex-budget-officer-al-haj-of-graft-malversation-charges

The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Maguindanao governor and incumbent Shariff Saydona Mustapha town Vice Mayor Datu Sajid Islam U. Ampatuan of graft and malversation of public funds charges in the irregular purchases of P16.3 million worth of food supplies in 2009.

Also convicted was former provincial budget officer Datuali Kanakan Abpi Al Haj.

Both Ampatuan and Al Haj were sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for their graft conviction, and 10 to 18 years jail term for malversation. They were also ordered to pay a fine of P16,317,559, the total amount malversed.

The cases against their co-accused, former provincial accountant John Estelito G. Dollosa Jr. and former provincial treasurer Osmena M. Bandila have been ordered archived pending their arrest.

During trial, the prosecution successfully proved that Henry Merchandising was indeed "an unqualified bidder and supplier with a highly doubtful existence" as the company failed to submit documents showing its eligibility requirements, the court said.

Henry Merchandising likewise did not have an actual or physical store or warehouse where stocks of the items bought -- such as rice M-I, Maggi noodles, Young Town's sardine, brown sugar, and dried fish -- could be found, it said.

There were also mismatched dates in most of the documents, including the official receipts, purchase orders, and disbursement vouchers. These "omissions," said the court, could have easily been supplied if the transactions were legitimate.

A former governor of Maguindnao and a former budget officer have been convicted of graft and malversation of funds. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1766509/village-chief-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-del-sur

The village chief of Upper Liason, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur was shot dead by gunmen riding in tandem along the national highway in Purok 2 of the town’s Gabunon village at 8:35 a.m. on Monday, May 8.

Police Major Orlyn Leyte, the Tambulig police chief, identified the victim as Edgardo Estrebor Surigao, 57, the current barangay captain of Upper Liason, Tambulig town.

Police learned that the attackers were on board a black Honda XRM motorcycle and were both wearing black jackets, black helmets and blue jeans. The victim was shot while on his motorcycle.

Police were still trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.

A village chief has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/9/pnp-identifies-3-000-more-erring-cops-vows-case-build-up

Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), vowed on Tuesday, May 9, to pursue a case build-up against around 3,000 policemen with derogatory records.

Acorda said the erring cops have already been subjected to counter-intelligence when he was still the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence during the time of retired PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.

“We have been monitoring these personalities, these scalawags and my instruction is for our intelligence operatives to make that they would not be able to commit illegal activities againm” said Acorda. 

“We will be conducting continuous monitoring, we will pursue the case build-up against them,” he added.

Acorda said the wrongdoings they monitored to have been committed by the erring cops range from extortion to illegal drugs involvement,

He then urged the public to immediately report any policeman involved in illegal activities as he vowed that he would ensure that they would all be punished.

“Let us be brave enough and help us cleanse our ranks,” said Acorda.

Cases are being prepared against 3,000 cops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201044

Criminal charges were filed against four policemen from the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) for allegedly kidnapping and torturing two persons whom they accused of being involved in illegal drug activities.

The alleged abuse happened last March in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu.

The complainants had sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7).

After investigating the complaint, the NBI-7 filed charges against the PDEG personnel before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on Friday, May 5.

Charges filed were violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code or Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention with torture and grave misconduct or violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Named respondents were Police Staff Sgts. Rey David Aumentado, Rex Forrosuelo, Marjun Milar, and  Jemechiel Gemang and two other unidentified persons.

NBI-7 agent Greg Algoso Jr. said the alleged abuse happened when the four policemen and two unidentified persons apprehended Randolph Restauro, 30, a chef from Talisay City, and his live-in partner Gemalen Elorde, 26, around 1 a.m. on March 26.

The couple was aboard a motorcycle traversing a highway when two men aboard another motorcycle blocked their path.

A Toyota Innova also stopped in front of the couple’s motorcycle.

Two men alighted from the Innova and forced the couple to board the car.

The car then proceeded to Cebu City. The couple alleged that while they were heading to Cebu City, a man sitting on the front seat allegedly started hitting Restauro and forced him to surrender the illegal drugs that he was supposedly keeping.

The two were later blindfolded with masking tape.

Elorde told the NBI-7 that she was able to see the faces of the persons inside the vehicle as her blindfold was not that tight.

The couple said they were brought inside an office in Cebu City and were mauled while being forced to admit that they were keeping illegal drugs.

The couple told the NBI-7 when the persons that abducted them did not get any contraband from them, they were brought back to Minglanilla.

The NBI-7 said they were able to secure footage corroborating the couple’s accounts where and what time they were abducted.

The NBI-7 was also able to identify the four persons who abducted the couple during the course of the investigation.

The couple was only able to identify the four persons inside the Innova as the two men who blocked their paths wore helmets and rode a motorcycle on their way to Cebu City.

Four cops haeve been charged with kidnapping. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1767878/leyte-village-chief-slain-wife-injured-in-ambush

A village chief in Leyte town of Leyte province was killed, while his wife was wounded in an ambush Wednesday by unknown assailants in Kananga town, Leyte.

The fatality was identified as Raul Cosinillo, 56, and chairman of Barangay Mataloto, Leyte.

The initial police investigation showed that Cosinillo and his wife Mercedes were traveling on board a multicab on their way home to Mataloto from Ormoc City for his dialysis treatment.

When they reached Sitio Laray, Barangay Naghalin, two persons on board a motorcycle suddenly overtook Cosinillo’s multi-cab and fired several shots towards them.

Cosinillo, who was driving the multi-cab, suffered several gunshot wounds in his body.

His wife, who was sitting on the passenger’s seat, also suffered gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed by the responding personnel to Clinica Gatchalian in Ormoc City.

Mercedes, 56, was in stable condition on Wednesday evening.

Their 21-year-old old daughter Phanthea, who was seated at the back of the vehicle, was spared.

The police are conducting an investigation to identify the assailants and the motive behind the killing.

A village chief has been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/11/bir-employee-wife-cousin-face-criminal-charges-for-tampering-with-machines-to-manipulate-suppress-sales

Three persons, including a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee and his wife, were charged criminally before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly tampering with sales machines to “manipulate and suppress the sales” involving P6.1 billion of several businesses.

Named respondents in the complaint were Chiradee N. Base, owner of Basebyte Software Management and Consultancy Service, her husband and BIR employee Aldwin G. Base, and their cousin Jelson B. Vargas.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. led the filing of the complaint on Thursday, May 11, before the DOJ.

The respondents were charged with violations of Section 264-B of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, on Possession, Sale or Offer to Sell, Installment, Transfer, Update, Upgrade, Keeping or Maintaining of Sales Suppression Devices.

In an interview, Lumagui said that he had already signed the dismissal of Base as BIR employee.

“What we filed is a case on manipulation of sales machine", Lumagui said.

"The amount they manipulated is P6.1 billion in sales loss of a business owner whom they provided services,” he said.

He said that Aldwin himself installed software in the machine used to manipulate the records of the sales of the business involved.

“So far we have seen four companies that were provided with the sales machines. We are now looking at other companies that were given these machines. From what we saw from the four is that P6.1 billion in earnings in lost sales that was cheated from the business owners,” Lumagui said.

He said the fraud was discovered following the audit conducted by the BIR on these businesses which showed discrepancies in the receipts and the drop in sales.

A BIR employee has been charged with tampering with machines. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201157

The former acting municipal treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental has been ordered dismissed from government service for the loss of about PHP6.62 million in cash and checks of the local government in January.

Nenette Escarda, assigned as Cashier I at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office here, was found liable for serious dishonesty, and guilty of both grave misconduct and malversation of public funds, based on the 10-page decision involving an administrative case approved by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on May 8.

Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla said Wednesday she considers the ruling a “fair decision,” adding that she has also discussed with Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. the filing of a criminal case against Escarda.

“We’re in talks. That’s actually his suggestion because that’s the only way she will be held liable and accountable for all the cash and checks that had gone missing while she was in possession of them,” she told Capitol reporters.

Montilla said until now, the municipal government has recovered only the majority of the checks, but none of the cash, and the unliquidated cash advances were still being investigated.

The decision drafted by Nellas, who sits as the hearing officer, cited the Commission on Audit (COA) report dated Jan. 31, 2023 on the irregularities in Escarda’s accountability, including PHP2.6 million in cash and approximately PHP3.8 million in checks, or a total amount of PHP6,629,146.18, which have remained undeposited, based on the cash book.

Cash advances amounting to PHP972,000 were also found to be unliquidated.

“Thereby, (Escarda) incurring an unaccounted balance or cash shortage of PHP7,601,146.18,” the COA report added.

Escarda had earlier claimed that the cash and checks, which she brought home, were stolen at her residence in this city.

For serious dishonesty, the decision stated that Escarda’s unauthorized removal of the municipal collections from their usual place of safekeeping and bringing these to her home “shows her intent to commit material gain.”

“The dishonest act caused serious damage and grave prejudice to the municipal government of Isabela,” it added.

In the offense of grave misconduct, the ruling pointed out that “(a) flagrant disregard of laws and rules is apparent on the part of the respondent,” who is “accountable for public funds received and/or entrusted to her by reason of her office.”

For malversation of public funds, Escarda’s justification that she was compelled to bring home the municipal fund since the officer tasked to deposit was in another assignment was not given due course.

“The respondent must be held liable for the loss of the municipal funds by appropriating for herself, or permitting another person, through either abandonment or negligence, to take the same,” the decision added.

Escarda’s dismissal from service includes the accessory penalties of, among others, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

The former acting municipal treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental has been ordered dismissed from government service for the loss of about PHP6.62 million in cash and checks of the local government in January.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201182

Authorities have arrested Zamboanga Peninsula’s eighth most-wanted illegal drug trader and a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) in separate anti-drug operations here.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, city police director, on Wednesday identified the suspect as Norman Sawadjaan, 35, and the BIN member as Momer Akari, 39.

Lorenzo said joint policemen and military intelligence operatives nabbed Sawadjaan in an anti-drug operation in Benz Drive, Barangay Arena Blanco at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Seized from Sawadjaan were two plastic sachets of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP136,000, and other pieces of evidence.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo said Akari was arrested in an anti-drug operation in a motel room in Barangay Canelar, which the suspect allegedly used to sell illegal drugs to his clients, at about 2:50 a.m. on Tuesday.

Confiscated from Akari were suspected shabu drugs worth PHP340,000 and other pieces of evidence.

BIN members, also known as the “eyes and ears” of the barangay, are used to gather information that affects the peace and order situation of their community.

A member of the Barangay Intelligence Network has been nabbed for drugs.