Coronavirus Lockdown: Mental Health, US' Contribution, and More!

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

President Marcos recently visited the USA and touting the Philippines' pandemic recovery before the Philippine-US Business Forum in Washington DC thanked the US for contributing to the Philippines' economy.   

https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-touts-phs-post-pandemic-recovery-highlights-us-contribution-to-admins-economic-agenda/

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday touted the Philippines’ strong post-pandemic economic recovery, being one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.

“On the economy, I would like to share with you that for 2023, the Philippines achieved a 5.6 percent annual growth in GDP which outpaced other high-growth economies such as China Viet Nam, and Malaysia,” President Marcos said in his keynote address before the Philippine-US Business Forum in Washington DC.

“Despite the recovery time needed to accelerate businesses coming from the–coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to either exceed or match the economic projections of multilateral organizations, such as the IMF, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, and the World Bank,” he pointed out.

Marcos said the Philippines also saw a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows, surging by 28 percent, reaching US$1 billion in November 2023 from US$820 million of net inflows recorded for the same month in 2022.

In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) approved PhP1.26 trillion in investment projects last year, which was an increase of 73 percent compared to the previous year recorded at PhP729 billion.

President Marcos also reported that for last year, the US was also Philippines’ 4th largest source of FDI.

“Over the years, the Philippines has acknowledged the significant contribution of the United States to our economic agenda. We have observed the consistent high ranking of the United States, as evident last year, being our third top trading partner,” President Marcos said.

But even thought the US contributes so much Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) the lack of FDI is being touted as a reason so many Filipinos are being deployed as OFW's.

https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/12/2347168/historic-2023-ofw-deployment-moves-philippines-labor-migration-forward-pandemic

Migrant worker-sending Philippines has moved forward from the COVID-19 pandemic by posting a 55-year high in the number of deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Fresh data from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) showed that the Philippines had deployed 2,330,720 land- and sea-based migrant workers in 2023, higher compared to the 2,156,742 OFWs deployed in pre-pandemic 2019.

But various countries’ travel restrictions, economic recessions and labor market closures in 2020 plummeted OFW deployment figures in 2020 by 74.5%. Only 549,841 OFWs were deployed that year.

From 2020 to 2023, OFW deployments rose by 323.9%. Meanwhile, the government’s first record of deployed OFWs showed that 3,694 overseas contract workers (OCWs) were deployed in 1969.

Even the numbers of deployed land-based OFWs (1,752,094) and seafarers (578,626) both reached historic highs, DMW data show. Given that the pandemic shut down worker deployments abroad in 2020, the 2023 numbers for land-based and sea-based migrant workers were 426.7 and 166.3% higher, respectively from pandemic-hit 2020.

DMW is now the country’s lead migration agency, it being the merger of seven agencies and bureaus including the former Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that usually releases OFW deployment data.

From the 2023 data, some 1,244,005 OFWs are rehires and 508,089 others are newly-hired migrant workers.

DMW data also showed that 49.8% of deployed OFWs were female, as “domestic cleaners and helpers” make up 31.1% (or 157,812) of these deployments.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the return and repatriation of an estimated 2.3 million OFWs who suffered job losses, insufficient incomes and health problems. From March 2020 to August 2022, records from the Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF) show that the 2,348,098 returnee OFWs nearly outnumbered the 2020-to-2022 deployed OFWs (Total: 2,498,305).

The droves of return prompted had government agencies to pivot towards providing economic reintegration support to returnee OFWs through entrepreneurial loans, cash grants and skills training.

A 2021 survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of over-8,000 OFW returnees showed that majority of them wish to go back and work abroad if borders re-open and overseas labor markets re-hire foreign workers.

The Philippines felt the overseas job losses given the pandemic while it almost saw the drastic decline in cash remittance flows from abroad. In 2023, the Philippines received record-high cash remittances (US$33.49 billion).

In 2021, analysts like University of the Philippines political scientist Dr. Jorge Tigno think that pre-pandemic migrant deployment “will not return overnight”.

But given the Philippines’ own economic recovery efforts, Tigno wrote that “The Philippines needs labor migration to weather through future economic crises, as well as to address the socio-economic issues caused by the pandemic.”

“In the absence of significant foreign direct investments entering the economy, the overseas employment program represents the only viable economic strategy the country has for some time to come,” Tigno added in a UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) paper.

Yet migrant civil society groups fear that continued labor migration post-pandemic will see persisting labor-related abuses and exploitation of Filipino workers in host countries.

This coming May 1, the country commemorates the 50th year of the 1974 Labor Code (Presidential Decree 442), whose provisions instituted the formalizing of what is called the country’s “labor export program."

How can the economy be recovered and doing so well while at the same time there are so few jobs that pay a living wage? How can a country be expected to survive when "the overseas employment program represents the only viable economic strategy the country has for some time to come?"

Tourism is recovering but without any help from the Chinese. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/568040/chinese-tourist-absence-hampers-ph-tourism-recovery

Bank of America’s (BofA) recent report pointed out that the Philippines, along with China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, are still struggling to catch up in tourism recovery compared to other parts of Asia, as tourist arrivals in these destinations have yet to reach prepandemic levels.

The slow return of Chinese tourists specifically has been a major factor in holding back progress.

In the Philippines, BofA noted that foreign visitor arrivals were still 76 percent of prepandemic levels as of February this year, albeit much better than Hong Kong’s 73.7 percent and Taiwan’s January 2024 figure of 69.6 percent.

Among the laggards, BofA said China was an “outlier” after it reopened its economy much later than other Asian destinations. Data compiled by the bank showed foreign tourist arrivals in China were 36.3 percent below prepandemic level as of December 2023.

In turn, the later reopening of China’s economy weighed on tourism recovery in countries that heavily depend on Chinese holidaymakers, such as the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Data compiled by BofA showed Chinese arrivals are only tracking at 20 to 30 percent of prepandemic levels in the Philippines, below trends elsewhere in the region. And the recovery is unlikely to speed up anytime soon, with BofA noting the “changing preferences” of Chinese consumers.

“The typical Chinese traveler these days is increasingly interested in exploring domestic cities that offer unique cultural experiences. This has also slowed their return to international destinations,” BofA said.

“The return of Chinese travelers might be a gradual process,” it added.

Well, there are plenty of POGO workers here and they continue to arrive. 

Mental health was a big thing during the pandemic and not the government wants PhilHealth to offer coverage for it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1929778/govt-eyes-mental-health-under-philhealth-benefits

The government is considering including mental health care under the packages of state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to raise awareness and provide competitive compensation to mental health professionals.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) noted the importance of mental health, which was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Some cases of depression, anxiety and traumatic disorders all surfaced during the pandemic, which is why communities must have awareness of mental health concerns, according to Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST-PCHRD.

“But even before that, we already did mental health research and development, even prior to the passage of the mental health law in 2018, and that actually helped in raising awareness among Filipinos about the importance of mental health,” Montoya told reporters last week on the sidelines of the DOST-PCHRD’s first mental health research symposium in Pasay City.

He said the PCHRD coordinated with the Department of Health to support mental health “even at [the] primary level.”

Mental health care has always been at the “tertiary level” of health, but Montoya said the PCHRD wants to change this by bringing mental health care to the community level “because this should not be hospital-based only.”

The problem is [that] our barangay health workers don’t even know what mental health is,” Montoya said.

“So, that is part of our objective. We are developing modules that will be adopted. We have separate projects on that which can be used by health workers and not just by doctors and nurses,” he added.

Montoya explained these projects can help in the early detection of mental health problems “and, therefore, to make the appropriate interventions.”

At present, he said the PCHRD is currently working with PhilHealth to include mental health care in its packages so that professionals will receive the proper compensation.

Who would have through that forcing everyone inside for nearly two years, stripping them of their jobs, and scaring them daily with death threats would have made the public go crazy?

Some hospitals have still not received health allowances.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/16/dbm-chief-urges-doh-to-accelerate-hea-releases

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has urged to fast-track the creation of a mapping system to track hospitals that have not received health emergency allowances.

During a radio interview, Pangandaman called on the Department of Health (DOH) to address the issues that slow down the release of HEA claims.

[ requested that the DOH have a HEA mapping so that they don't have a hard time with the list of hospitals they monitor. From what I see, the most difficult thing is validating the hospitals and their names]

[If they were able to release a few billion, they should know where that billion pesos fund went so it's easier to see who the hospitals that haven't been paid.]

The DBM chief said that the DOH already has a link for the HEA mapping and that it is still subject for adjustment.

[They promised that they would fix that link. So, maybe, let's give them time. I hope they finish it within the month.]

In a meeting held earlier this year, the DBM suggested that the DOH develop a HEA mapping that will capture and present all HEA claims and payments by region and health facilities to aid hospitals monitor the status of HEA releases.

It will also help in expediting the final determination of the actual amount of deficiency to cover the full settlement of arrears, the DBM said.

Of the P91.283 billion released by the DBM for public health emergency benefits and allowances since pandemic, over P73 billion was allocated for health emergency allowance and one COVID-19 allowance, P12.90 billion for special risk allowance, P3.65 billion for COVID-19 sickness and death compensation, and P1.4 billion for other benefits, such as meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance.

[This year, our total budget for the HEA is P19.962 billion. So the GAA has about P20 billion. Our budget this year is being comprehensively released. We have released all to the DOH. So, they are in charge of disbursing.]

Out of the P91 billion budget released by DBM to the agency, the DOH has so far disbursed P64 billion, based on the data submitted to DBM.

Pangandaman also suggested that the DOH consider the use of a blanket memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations to solve bottlenecks in releasing the remaining unpaid HEA claims, mostly from private hospitals and local government units (LGUs).

[However, we assure our healthcare workers that we will continue to act on the matter. President Bongbong Marcos wants the government to settle the unpaid HEA claims of our healthcare workers as soon as possible.]

It's 2024. Will this situation of health allowances ever be sorted out? 

Representative Villafuerte hopes so.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/17/villafuerte-seeks-swift-release-of-unpaid-covid-allowances-to-health-frontliners

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is urging the Department of Health (DOH) to release the unpaid Covid allowances worth at least P27 billion that have been due to healthcare workers (HCWs) since 2021.

“It’s nearly a year after the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the worldwide health emergency spawned by Covid-19 as officially over, and yet many of our HCWs who were at the frontlines of that three-year global war have yet to receive the economic benefits due them for their untold sacrifices to save lives during the pandemic,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Wednesday, April 17.

Thus, the lawmaker said he is backing a proposal from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address the delays in release through a nationwide mapping of all the due allowances.

According to DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the mapping will be broken down per region and per health facility to ensure that all HCWs receive their unpaid Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) in full.

This proposal likewise pushes the DOH to enter a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and private organizations to speed up the release of unpaid allowances in private hospitals and local government units (LGUs).

“Such a fast-tracked mapping and the use of a blanket MOA with the DILG and private organizations to address bottlenecks in the release of HEA claims mostly in hospitals and LGUs—as both suggested by the DBM— would let the DOH come up with a definitive amount as to how much Covid-19 extra benefits exactly are still due our medical frontliners,” said Villafuerte.

Based on an April 16 report of the DBM, a total of P91.238 billion for the PHEBA of all HCWs have been released.

Of this amount, the DOH—as the implementing agency—has so far disbursed P64 billion. This leaves a balance of about P27 billion that is yet to be handed to medical workers.

Villafuerte noted that the DOH will be able to speed up their paperwork for the intended beneficiaries by carrying out a quick mapping system for all claims and payments.

“With the end of the Covid-19 health crisis almost a year ago already, the prompt and full release of the benefits long due them is the least we can do for our HCWs and non-HCWs who were at the forefront of the war to save lives during the pandemic,” he emphasized.

 

Based on the most recent data from the DOH, a total of 4.14 million Covid-19 cases had been recorded, of which 66,864 infections resulted in deaths.

We have not seen DOH COVID-19 data in a while. 66,864 deaths out of a population of 110 million is hardly a pandemic to be worried about!

Cebu City Officials and PNP Refuse to Enforce the Law

The Philippines is a nation with laws but it is not a nation where the rule of law takes precedence. Enforcement is very selective. Here is the latest example from Cebu City. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/561348/little-cardo-dalisay-in-cebu-nabbed-accused-of-hurting-people-who-do-not-give-alms

Harvey Cuervo, 19, dubbed as the Little Cardo Dalisay in Cebu, went viral once again. But this time, not for the right reasons.

Cuervo is now detained at the Cebu City Police Station after police arrested him on Sunday midnight, March 10, for illegal possession of firearms.

Prior to his arrest, photos of the young adult circulated on social media when reports that he allegedly hurt passengers who refused to give him money after singing and begging for alms in jeepneys surfaced.

Basak Pardo Captain Dave Tumulak said his office had received multiple complaints since the first week of March, accusing Cuervo of harming them when they did not give him money.

Some of the victims claimed they were scratched, and their feet stomped, Tumulak said.

“Mao nang pasalamat ta nahipos ra sad siya sa mga pulis,” he told CDN Digital in a phone interview.

(We are grateful that he was arrested by the police.)

The suspect, in a separate interview with reporters, claimed he decided to get a gun as ‘self-defense.’ Since his photos went viral online, he said he began fearing for his life.

The barangay chief also confirmed that Cuervo was the kid who went viral in 2018, earning the nickname ‘Little Cardo Dalisay in Cebu’ when videos of his singing skills inside a jeepney circulated on social media.

Aside from illegal possession of firearms, Cuervo might also face cases for violating the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Law, and for committing slight physical injuries and threats to passengers, Tumulak said.

Officials initially planned to lodge these charges against the suspect before his arrest last Saturday but dropped them after he issued a public apology, through a pre-recorded video, on the internet last March 6.

He also vowed not to hurt passengers anymore.

But just a day after his apology video was published, Tumulak received another series of complaints, alleging that Cuervo broke his promise by hurting jeepney passengers again.

“This time, mu-file na sad mi og separate case against niya,” Tumulak added.

(This time, we will file a separate case against them.)

In the meantime, the village chieftain urged individuals, who were victimized by Cuervo to come forward so they could build their case against him.

“Pwede ra sila mureach out sa akoa sa Facebook,” said Tumulak.

(They can reach out to me in Facebook.)

He also told the riding public to be always vigilant of their surroundings, and for barangay tanods (village peacekeepers in English) to strengthen their monitoring in areas frequented by beggars.

A 19 year old street beggar who has been begging at least since he was 13 has been arrested for harming people who did not give him money. Complains were lodged to the police and they were prepared to arrest him. But he issued a public apology so they decided to forgive him. Isn't that so gracious and lovely of the police? Just look how repentant and sorry he is:

Unsurprisingly he not only broke his promise but he also procured a gun for his own protection after his face was blasted all over social media. How exactly was he able to obtain a gun when he begs for his living? 

Because he started harming people again city officials decided that now they would finally arrest him and charge him with a crime. But they need the public's help. They need victims to come forward so they can build a case. Why would the public come forward now when they were ignored in the first place? What good is having a police force or a local government who REFUSE to enforce the laws?

That includes the anti-mendicancy laws. In the Philippines it is illegal to beg and illegal to give to beggars.  Yet this man has been on the street since at least 2018, for SIX YEARS!! Everyone thought he was cute as a 13 year old singing and dancing for change but now he is a grown man with a grudge and a gun. How long before he causes real and lasting harm to someone? And all because the laws in the Philippines are not enforced.

The Cebu City officials who declined to prosecute this man because he posted an apology on Facebook are a danger to society. They have shown that they are untrustworthy people who do not care about protecting the community. They need to be removed from office and replaced with people who will protect the community from criminals who do harm to law abiding citizens. 

Insurgency: Airdrops Leaflets

As the NPA shrinks and guerrilla fronts fall the government continues to urge the remaining Reds to surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222213

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) called on the remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) to abandon the armed struggle and contribute to unity, peace and development, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has said.

The anti-insurgency body, in a statement Sunday, said Galvez made the appeal during a recent briefing at the Presidential Communications Office.

"Conflicts can be resolved peacefully. Our commitment is to show all parties that dialogue is a more effective approach than armed struggle," Galvez said.

The OPAPRU chief also shared his agency's initiatives in rallying support from various sectors, including religious communities and international allies.

He stressed the importance of public diplomacy in demonstrating that armed struggle is outdated and counterproductive.

“The essence of our peace efforts lies in the heart of our communities. By engaging various sectors—religious groups, local leaders, and international allies—we are knitting a fabric of unity strong enough to withstand the challenges of conflict," Galvez said.

One way to reach those in the hinterlands is by dropping thousands of leaflets. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1928499/military-chopper-airdrops-leaflets-to-ask-npa-members-to-surrender

The Philippine Army dropped leaflets from a military chopper in Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya to convince the remaining New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in these areas to surrender.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said airborne leaflet operations were conducted last March 28, in Barangay Galintuja in Maria Aurora town, Aurora; and Barangay Lub-lub in Alfonso Castañeda town in Nueva Vizcaya.

Padilla said the Army utilized the Black Hawk chopper of Philippine Air Force to conduct the operations which was done due to the area’s difficult terrain.

“These areas are really difficult to reach and it’s also very difficult for us to get our message across,” Padilla told reporters in a phone interview.

Padilla said around 1,000 leaflets containing the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program were dropped in said areas.

“We are enticing these individuals to go back to the folds of the law; we are very open for them to join the society and once again be with their families,” she said.

Padilla noted that the airborne leaflet operations are part of the AFP’s operational mix on information campaign.

How many of those leaflets will actually reach any NPA fighters is unclear. Especially seeing as the AFP claims the NPA is down to just over 1,500 and they certainly are not clustered in two barangays. 

More NPA leaders have fallen. One due to the support of local people.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222459

The Philippine Army has welcomed the recent arrest in Consolacion, Cebu of the second-highest leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas, who orchestrated several terrorist activities in Samar Island.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo lauded the arrest of Romulo Micabalo, alias Ned, the second top leader of the NPA Eastern Visayas regional party committee on April 8, and credited the accomplishment to the Army’s counterparts in ending the local communist armed conflict.

"The support of our partner stakeholders is the key to this achievement, as we continue to crack down on communist terrorists in their smallest formations. We will be relentless in our operations. We assure you that our people will be protected and freed from violence and atrocities by the NPA,” he said.

Ligayo said Micabilo was behind several atrocities in Samar provinces.

Among these were the burning of Jipapad-Las Navas road construction equipment in upland villages of Las Navas town in July 2021, the ambuscade and massacre of a soldier and three militiamen, and the wounding of six militiamen who were building an army detachment in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, also in July 2021.

He was also tagged in the attack on soldiers tasked to secure the construction of school buildings in Dorillo and villages in Jipapad town in October 2022. A 10-year-old child was hurt in the incident.

Micabalo has a standing warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and robbery with violence against or intimidation of a person in Agusan del Sur.

His father, Dionisio Micabalo, alias Muling, the top leader of the NPA-North Central Mindanao regional party committee, was killed in an encounter with government troops in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on July 26, 2023.

Another ranking NPA officer was killed in a clash with the AFP.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/11/ranking-cpp-npa-officer-killed-3-others-fall-after-bukidnon-clash

A high-ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) died while three others are now under military custody after a fierce gun battle in Quezon town of Bukidnon on Wednesday , April 10.

Brig. Gen. Marion Angcao, commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said the clash erupted when his men chanced upon a small group of communist rebels in Purok 8 in Barangay Butong.

Alias Rica/Tomboy died as a result of the clash with Angcao saying that the fatality was a ranking officer of what was left of the Guerrilla Front 7 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

He said two other communist rebels were captured while the third surrendered a few hours later.

Seized after the clash were an M16 rifle with an attached M203 Grenade Launcher, anAK47 Rifle, an M1 Carbine Rifle, a Caliber 45 pistol, three backpacks, an anti-personnel mine, a hand grenade and two 40mm high explosives.

Citing background check, Angcao said alias Rica/Tomboy has several warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder, multiple attempted homicides, and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions. 

But it is not only the NPA who are falling. 3 members of DI surrendered recently. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/3-daulah-islamiyah-members-yield-in-north-cotabato

Three members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group surrendered in Carmen, North Cotabato on April 5.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzales said they turned themselves in to joint elements of the 90th Infantry Battalion, Carmen Municipal Police Station, and intelligence units.

Gonzales attributed their surrender to the collaborative efforts of the police and military in Central Mindanao and the unwavering support of local government units and communities.

The surrenderers who turned over guns and bullets were presented to the local government of Carmen headed by Mayor Rogelio Taliño, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, and 90th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Rowel Gavilanes.

The surrenderers are  undergoing custodial debriefing at the 602nd Infantry Brigade headquarters. 

They received a sack of rice as assistance from the local government of Carmen.

Not only will they receive a sack of rice but they will also get lots of freebies from the E-CLIP money program.

5 Abu Sayyaf fighters also surrendered. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/5-abu-sayyaf-group-fighters-surrender-in-basilan

Five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to the 64th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan on April 4.

Lt. Col. Abel Potutan, 64th Infantry Battalion commander, said the surrenderers turned over one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, one M79 grenade launcher, and two Garand rifles to Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade.

Luzon welcomed the surrenderers and commended the 64th Infantry Battalion for facilitating their surrender that he said paves the way for peace and development in his area of operations.

He also attributed their successful surrender to the collaborative efforts and untiring support of local government units and people of Basilan.

“It is a testament that as we work together, we can achieve peace and prosperity that can make Basilan an ASG-free province. We will help these five former ASG members rejoin the mainstream society and live a normal, peaceful, and harmonious life with their families,” he added.

Again, the AFP attributes this to collaboration with the local population. That means someone is snitching. How do snitches fare in the Philippines?

Filipino Construction Workers Moving Heavy Pieces of Cement Drains While Wearing Only Slippers

Construction in the Philippines is a mess. It's mostly bricolage and jury-rigging. It's a surprise anything works. Especially egregious is the lack of safety on so many construction sites. Take a look at this guy moving heavy cement drains while wearing nothing but slippers.

The man could lose his foot and apparently not even he cares. Certainly his supervisor doesn't care or he would have provided boots or spent him home. You can watch the full video here:

The God Culture: There Is No Bodily Resurrection

What happens during the resurrection? According to Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture only our spirits are resurrected. Our body is gone and turned to dust because we don't need it. We will get new bodies.

50:20 Now, it's time for the Feast of Tabernacles, okay? Also known as booths or tents which really are just interpretation of the same word, uh, Tabernacles but in Hebrew it's the word Sukkot. Again, tent. Foreshadowing of the day in which believers receive our new glorified bodies instead of our temporary temple. See, the body we're in right now is temporary. That's why it returns to dust and it never gets what, what's resurrected on the day of judgment for the dead is your spirit not your body. Body's gone. Don't need it because you'll get a new one on this day.

Here It Is!!! 2023 Reconcile for the 7 Biblical Feasts. Feast Series

What verse does Tim cite to prove that our bodies are not resurrected? He cites none. But here are several verses telling us that the our bodies are raised. Of course they are changed and glorified but they are still the same bodies in which we lived.

The first thing to understand is that the body Jesus Christ died in was resurrected in a glorified manner.  It even retained the same wounds.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Paul says Christ is the pattern for us in the resurrection.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

In Romans Paul says we are waiting for the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Job says he will see God with the same body in which he is currently living. 

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Daniel says the dead shall rise out of the dust of the earth.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

What does it mean to sleep in the dust of the earth than our decomposed bodies, the very bodies we lived in, shall be raised to newness of life?

But Tim says our body is turned to dust and gone and we don't need it. Contrary to Paul we are not waiting for the redemption of our body because we will get a new one. The Bible says testifies otherwise. That there is no bodily resurrection is another unbiblical doctrine taught by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 360

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/4/cop-chief-in-hot-water-after-inmate-s-escape

The chief of police in Tudela town, Camotes Island, Cebu is in danger of losing his post after a person under police custody (PUPC) was able to escape on Tuesday, April 2.

Although the inmate was immediately recaptured, an administrative investigation will still be conducted to determine the possible liability of the police escorts and the chief of police, said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.

“There is an ongoing investigation for possible administrative liability and some things have been found out that need consideration,” said Pelare.

The 41-year-old inmate, Rodel Maningo, who is facing drug charges, was brought to Barangay Poblacion, Danao City, northern Cebu to attend a court hearing.

While waiting for the court hearing, the inmate and the police escorts decided to have their breakfast first in a carinderia.

The inmate stood up and asked permission that he would just get a toothpick. Instead of getting a toothpick, the inmate ran and escaped from his police escorts.

It was around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, when the inmate was recaptured in the house of his live-in partner.

Police Capt. Leovil Singson, chief of the Tudela police, said that he has ordered an investigation to determine the possible lapses committed by the police escorts.

Pelare said Singson may also be held liable for the escape for command responsibility.

“We expect that thorough investigation will be conducted to check if there was negligence on the part of the police escorts and if the commander did his job to supervise,” Pelare said.

Pelare said there is a procedure when bringing an inmate to a court hearing and this must be followed all the time.

A cop is being investigated for allowing an inmate to escape. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/5/sandigan-affirms-graft-conviction-of-ex-customs-official-businessman

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the regional trial court's (RTC) decision that convicted of graft a former official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu and a private individual over the auction and payment of 26,908 bags of illegally shipped sugar in 1999.

Affirmed was the conviction of Benjamin D. Bongon, former auction and cargo disposal head of BOC in Cebu, and Roger T. Ang, a businessman.

Also affirmed were their six-year jail term and fine of P10.8 million. Bongon was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Their appeal was initially lodged before the Court of Appeals (CA), but it was later transferred to the Sandignabyan because the CA lacked appellate jurisdiction over their case.

Bongon admitted in his motion that the filing of Notice of Appeal before the CA was erroneous, and he begged the anti-graft court's "kind indulgence and consideration" to accommodate his appeal in the interest of justice.

Ang, on the other hand, cited several rulings where the Supreme Court "relaxed the application of technical rules of procedure to serve the broader interest of justice."

Accepting the appeal but denying their arguments to reverse the RTC's decision, the Sandiganbayan said: "The conspiracy between the accused-appellants was duly established by the prosecution and discussed in the assailed decision of the RTC."

Bongon and Ang were charged over the disposition of the 26,908 bags of undeclared sugar that was confiscated by the BOC Cebu in 1999. The perishable cargo was later auctioned off, with Ang's company as the winning bidder.

Ang paid P21 million deposit for the sugar, but he later asked for a P10.86 million refund because his company reportedly received only 12,754 bags from the BOC.

When state prosecutors conducted an investigation, they found out that Ang's company actually got 26,908 bags of sugar instead of the 12,754 bags the company claimed to have received from the bureau. 

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of graft of a BOC official. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/sandigan-orders-90-day-suspension-of-ex-qc-administrator-cuna-now-evp-of-national-defense-college

The Sandiganbayan has ordered a 90-day preventive suspension of Aldrin C. Cuña, executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines, over his pending graft case that was filed when he was the city administrator of Quezon City. 

In a six-page resolution issued on April 3, 2024,  the anti-graft court said that the criminal charge filed against Cuña is "sufficient in form and substance," and, thus, the issuance of the suspension is only a matter of course.

"This is because a preventive suspension is not a penalty. It is not imposed as a result of judicial proceedings. In fact, if acquitted, the official concerned shall be entitled to reinstatement and to the salaries and benefits which he failed to receive during suspension," the resolution stated.

"Taking into consideration the public policy involved in preventively suspending a public officer charged under a valid information, the protection of public interest will definitely have to prevail over the private interest of the accused," it also stated.

The resolution was written by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang with the concurrence of Associate Justices Bernelito R. Fernandez and Ronald B. Moreno.

Prosecutors alleged that Cuña, who was then city administrator of Quezon City at that time, together with former Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista, made the full payment of P25,342,359.25 to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia, Inc. for the Supply and Installation of Solar Power System and Waterproofing Works for the city's Civic Center Building.

However, the prosecutors alleged that Cygnet was not entitled to the said amount due to its failure to get the Net Metering System from Meralco, which is a requirement of the Supply and Delivery Agreement.

Bautista and Cuña also have aanother case before the Sandiganbayan over the payment made to Geodata Solutions Inc. amounting to P32,107,912.5 for the procurement of online occupational permitting and tracking system. 

The prosecution alleged that no appropriate ordinance was given by the Sangguniang Bayan for the project, nor was complete delivery of the products made.

The Sandiganbayan has ordered a 90-day preventive suspension of Aldrin C. Cuña, executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines, over his pending graft case that was filed when he was the city administrator of Quezon City. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/04/07/2345907/coa-mountain-province-lgu-awarded-projects-banned-firm

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the provincial government of Mountain Province for awarding two irrigation projects to a blacklisted construction firm.

In its 2023 annual audit report, the COA said that while the provincial government was able to rebid and award the projects to a new contractor, the incident could have been avoided.

“The failure to conduct a thorough post-qualification check during procurement activities resulted in the award of two projects with total contract cost of P8.315 million for the implementation of small-scale irrigation projects received from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to a blacklisted construction firm,” the audit report read.

COA records show that the provincial government received P10.157 million from the DA for the implementation of the irrigation projects.

Two of the projects worth P4.950 million and P3.366 million involved the construction of the Mayasen diversion dam and Surnangan irrigation canal, respectively.

Contracts for both projects, which were awarded to ADL General Construction, were rebid and awarded to a new contractor, Tawid Builders Corp., in August 2023.

Inquiry by the audit team bared that the provincial government’s bids and awards committee (BAC) belatedly learned that ADL was among the blacklisted contractors.

The firm was blacklisted over its previous failure to comply with contractual obligations and written lawful instruction of the procuring entity, poor performance or unsatisfactory quality and progress of work as well as failure to meet the approved specifications for quality of materials and workmanship.

The provincial BAC said it learned that ADL was blacklisted only when the Government Procurement Policy Board system did not accept its name for another contract.

The COA reminded the provincial government to be more diligent in reviewing the qualification of bidders.

It said similar incidents “may result in a possible non-performance of the contractor’s obligation as contained in the contract agreement to the disadvantage of the provincial government.”

The COA said the provincial BAC has committed to regularly check the consolidated blacklisting report before issuing any notice of award of contracts to avoid a similar incident.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the provincial government of Mountain Province for awarding two irrigation projects to a blacklisted construction firm.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/8/former-sk-chairman-shot-dead-on-birthday-in-ilocos-sur

A former Sangguniang Kabataan chairman from Caoayan, Ilocos Sur was gunned down on Quirino Boulevard here on his birthday on Monday afternoon, April 8.

Police identified the victim as Marion Tugade, 27, a son of former Mayor Mario Tugade of Caoayan and a resident of Barangay Don Alejandro Quirolgico, Caoayan.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim was driving a Sports Utility Vehicle with his girlfriend as passenger when unidentified gunmen onboard a motorcycle appeared and shot him in the face.

The suspects fled and the victim was taken to a hospital where he died.

Police are conducting follow-up operations.

A former SK Chairman has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/04/10/2346549/3-cops-axed-using-edsa-carousel

Three police personnel who were apprehended for using the EDSA busway last week were relieved from their posts, an official announced yesterday.

The policemen, who are non-commissioned officers, are undergoing investigation, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo.

“They have been identified and sacked from their posts,” Fajardo said in an interview.

Fajardo did not identify the police officers who are assigned with the Police Security and Protection Group and Aviation Security Group.

Traffic enforcers apprehended the police personnel for using the EDSA Carousel, an exclusive lane for commuter buses, on Friday. They were given traffic citation tickets.

According to Fajardo, the police officers were using PNP-marked vehicles when they traveled along the EDSA bus lane.

Fajardo reminded police officers that they can use the busway only during law enforcement operations and when responding to emergencies.

Violators may face administrative sanctions from the PNP.

Three cops have been arrested for illegally using the EDSA bus lane. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/04/10/2346536/13-bi-officers-face-kidnap-extortion-raps

Thirteen officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) accused of kidnapping 16 Indians are facing criminal charges before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

Complaints for kidnapping, arbitrary detention, grave coercion, robbery and extortion were filed against the BI officers on Monday.

According to the lawyer of the complainants, the Indian nationals were allegedly illegally detained for over a week despite having complete travel and working documents.

The lawyer said the victims even bargained with the immigration officers to lower the money being asked from them from P1 million to P350,000 each.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco stood by the 13 BI agents who arrested the foreigners in Antique and Iloilo.

Tansingco said the immigration officers conducted legitimate operations against the Indian nationals allegedly involved in the illegal “5-6” money lending scheme as well as kidnapping and drug trafficking.

The Indians said they did not violate the country’s immigration law as they had working visas.

Tansingco, however, said foreigners engaged in illegal activities in the Philippines should be arrested and deported regardless if they have working permits.

Thirteen officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) accused of kidnapping 16 Indians are facing criminal charges before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/04/09/2346319/chavits-convoy-flagged-edsa-busway

Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson will give P100,000 in cash reward to traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who accosted yesterday his two-vehicle convoy for using the EDSA bus lane.

Singson said he would talk to acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes so he could give the reward to the traffic enforcers who pulled over his armored car along the northbound lane of the EDSA Carousel in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Congratulations to the MMDA enforcers who accosted my convoy. I am not angry. I will even give them cash incentive,” Singson said.

He insisted that the reward is not a bribe, saying he would pay the P5,000 fine imposed by the MMDA for his traffic infraction.

The MMDA traffic enforcers belong to the agency’s special operations group strike force led by Gabriel Go.

According to Go, Singson did not resist receiving the traffic violation ticket.

Singson apologized to the public for the incident, but maintained it was not his intention to use the exclusive lane for commuter buses on EDSA.

“I am sorry for what happened. It should not be emulated. Nag-overtake lang ‘yung driver. Hindi naman sa bus lane mismo,” he said.

The bulletproof car also has no license plates, but Singson claimed it was registered with the Land Transportation Office.

“It has no plate number, but it was already registered. The Baluarte Motor Works assembles bulletproof cars,” he said.

Singson was in the armored car when traffic enforcers stopped the convoy.

Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson/s convoy was found using the EDSA bus lane. Not only that but he has offered "bribes" to the MMDA officers who pulled him over. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1928194/dilg-probes-tarlac-town-execs-ties-to-illegal-pogo-operation

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has started investigating the alleged involvement of some local government unit (LGU) officials in the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (Pogo) here.

In his order issued on April 5, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said a task force was created to handle the investigation into the conduct of the local officials but who were not named in his directive.

Abalos said the investigation would look into “any possible administrative misconduct or neglect by LGU officials with respect to their responsibilities under the Local Government Code and related laws in relation to the alleged illegal Pogo operations” in Bamban.

The task force is composed of six lawyers and an engineer headed by lawyer Benjamin Zabala Jr., division chief of the DILG’s Internal Audit Service.

Abalos said the task force is authorized to reach out to any government departments or agencies for assistance if necessary.

While Abalos’ order did not mention the names of local officials who would be subjected to the investigation, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian had previously asked the DILG to look into the possible connection between Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and Zun Yuan Technology Inc.

On March 13, authorities led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) and police and military operatives raided Zun Yuan Technology’s premises for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention of its workers. A total of 868 Pogo workers—371 Filipinos, 427 Chinese, 57 Vietnamese, eight Malaysians, three Taiwanese, two Indonesians and two Rwandans—were rescued from the company’s vast compound in Anupul village.

In a statement sent to reporters on Monday, Guo said Gatchalian and Paocc were “simply acting in good faith, on the basis of information that was given to them.”

“Nevertheless, I deny in the strongest terms all of these allegations of criminal conduct, or at least, allegations that I have somehow aided and abetted the supposedly illegal acts of Zun Yuan Technology,” she asserted.

Guo said she would never tolerate and be involved in “heinous crimes like human trafficking, torture and illegal detention.”

“I would like to remind everyone that, as Filipinos, our Constitution guarantees that we are all innocent until proven guilty. The point being, I am being unfairly persecuted in the absence of any real investigation and without any court trial,” Guo noted.

She said she was ready to answer all accusations and prove that all accusations are false and unjust if given that she would have chance to do so. “I welcome any investigation carried out by the proper authorities at the proper forum,” Guo said.

Local officials are being investigated for links to illegal POGO operations. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/05/2345531/dot-exec-under-fire-post-claiming-she-prioritized-helping-friend-japan-over-natl-meeting

Tourism Undersecretary for legal and special concerns Mae Elaine Bathan, also the chief of staff of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, drew criticisms following her Facebook post where she allegedly prioritized helping a friend in Japan while in a meeting about national concerns.

In a viral public Facebook post being shared by netizens across social media platforms, Bathan shared a screenshot of her supposed conversation with her best friend Regal Oliva, also the Mandaue City Treasurer lawyer. Bathan shared that Oliva sought her assistance as the latter “needed help on Google Translate” that prompted her to stop her meeting about a national issue.

“When your bestfriend calls you because she needed help on Google Translate so she can eat and thrive in Japan, all else will have to stop. Even if it’s about the airport takeover and privatization,” Bathan’s caption read. She also tagged Oliva in her post with the screenshot of their conversation.

Oliva also took to Facebook to share her account while in Japan, captioning it as “True Story.”

She said that she cannot find an English menu in Japan while craving Japanese cuisine so she called her “bestie,” Bathan.

“She was in a middle of a very important meeting that concerns a sensitive national issue,” Oliva wrote, and then attaching a transcript of their conversation where she is supposedly asking Bathan to teach her how to use Google Translate.

Bathan allegedly replied: “Maaaa, you don’t know what meeting I had to stop for this, but ok…,” Oliva wrote, recounting that her best friend gave instructions.

The Department of Tourism official was also quoted as saying “Hahaha – feeding you in Japan is more important that matters of national concern Ma.”

The screenshot of these two Facebook posts circulated on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and garnered negative reactions from online users. The two has verified Facebook accounts.

They called for explanation about the DOT official’s move to consider feeding her friend in Japan “more important that matters of national concern.”

“Atty. Elaine Tantengco Bathan and Atty. Regal Oliva can you please explain to us why feeding a friend in Japan is more important than matters of national concern?” writer EB Jugalbot wrote.

“Even if it was a joke between the two of you, since you are also lawyers of significant professional experience, was there ever a need for you both to post that conversation on your respective Facebook walls?” he added.

Others called out the “alarming level of entitlement in this administration,” citing the misuse of taxpayers' money by officials.

The posts by Bathan and Oliva are no longer accessible online. However, several online users are circulating screenshots of these posts.

On Friday afternoon, Bathan issued a statement acknowledging that she should be more mindful of her social media activity, stressing that her social media activity “never intends to disrespect the office she represents, her colleagues and the purpose of her work.”

“I understand that my previous post has caused different reactions, some negative, which I regret, as it is taking away attention from more serious matters that we have been working tirelessly on,” the DOT undersecretary said. 

“I acknowledge that as a public servant, I should be more mindful of how and what I share, especially in public to not cause any confusion,” she also said.

The DOT official also apologized to Frasco, her colleagues and the public following the post.

Tourism Undersecretary for legal and special concerns Mae Elaine Bathan, also the chief of staff of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, drew criticisms following her Facebook post where she allegedly prioritized helping a friend in Japan while in a meeting about national concerns.