Coronavirus Lockdown: Cyber Scams, Careful Interpertation, and More!

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

While there have been spikes in COVID-19 cases in Quezon City and Baguio the DOH says there has been no such spikes in the Central Visayas. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/15/no-unusual-spikes-in-covid-cases-in-central-visayas

The Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-7) clarified that there is no unusual spike in Covid-19 cases in the region.

The agency issued the clarification to allay fears after some Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) reported an increase in Covid cases.

The DOH-7 clarified that if there are advisories circulating online, they came from surveillance data by concerned LGUs.

"In the case of Region 7, our monitoring through the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) is continuous. Based on the latest data, we don't have any unusual spikes," said DOH-7.

The DOH-7, however, advised people to continue observing standard health precautions to avoid contracting Covid-19.

The public was advised to immediately seek medical attention if symptoms are noticed and to isolate or wear a mask when necessary to protect their families and communities.

The DOH-7 said Covid-19 continues to exist in the region. The agency added that RESU occasionally records isolated cases, similar to other common respiratory illnesses.

“We want to emphasize that cases are very few, highly isolated, and completely manageable,” the DOH-7 said.

Of course everyone is still encouraged to observe "standard health precautions to avoid contracting Covid-19."

The DOH says cases are actually down by 70% in 2026.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2265467/doh-covid-19-cases-down-by-70-this-year

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said cases of Covid-19 in the country remain low, with the number of infections this year declining by 70 percent.

In a statement, the agency said there were 1,532 confirmed cases of Covid-19 recorded from Jan. 4 to July 11, lower than 5,070 infections recorded in the same period last year.

“While the number of reported cases remains low, the public is encouraged to continue practicing simple but effective health habits to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses,” the DOH said.

The agency called on the public to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and maintain proper hygiene to prevent the spread of disease.

Individuals with symptoms of respiratory illness were also advised to seek consultation at the nearest health center or health-care facility and follow appropriate measures to prevent further transmission of infection.

“Covid-19 may present without symptoms or as a mild to severe respiratory illness,” the DOH said. 

“Common symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny or clogged nose, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss or change in taste or smell,” it added.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines previously urged the public to remain vigilant against Covid-19 after areas such as Quezon City recorded a spike in infections, but stressed that there was no need for alarm because recent cases have less severe.

The health experts recommended that the public follow several precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as wearing face masks and avoiding crowds when sick, and getting tested for Covid-19 should they develop symptoms.

But, again, the public is encouraged to practice basic health standards. 

While there has been a reported surge in cases in Quezon City the DOH says don't be hasty when it comes to interpreting that data. 

https://www.panaynews.net/doh-downplays-covid-19-surge-data-needs-careful-interpretation/

The Department of Health (DOH) has urged the public not to misinterpret reports of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Quezon City, stressing that the reported 265.22-percent surge was based on a relatively small number of infections and does not indicate a widespread resurgence of the disease.

The advisory came after the Quezon City government reported 146 COVID-19 cases as of July 1 and said infections had increased by 265.22 percent over the previous three weeks.

DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said the agency is coordinating with the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD) to determine the cause of the increase, which appears to be limited to specific locations or health facilities where close contact among individuals may have contributed to the rise in cases.

“The Department of Health (DOH) and QCESD are investigating these cases that seem to be isolated in specific areas or health facilities, where the close proximity of individuals may have played a role in the recorded increase,” Domingo said.

He emphasized that percentage increases alone can be misleading when the actual number of cases remains low.

“Citing the percentage increase (“265%”) does not accurately reflect the small absolute number, and requires much caution in interpretation,” he said.

DOH data showed that Quezon City logged 125 cumulative COVID-19 cases as of July 4, representing a 68-percent decrease from the 389 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.

The health department said only 17 of the recent patients, or 14 percent, required hospitalization, while 108 cases, or 86 percent, were treated on an outpatient basis. Around 70 percent of those infected have already recovered.

Nationally, COVID-19 infections continue to trend downward, with only 719 cumulative cases recorded as of June 20, 2026, compared with 3,579 cases during the same period last year.

Despite the sustained decline, the DOH urged the public to remain vigilant by practicing regular handwashing and proper hygiene, particularly during the rainy season when influenza-like illnesses, dengue, leptospirosis, and water-borne diseases are more common.

Well, seeing as how the authorities scared everyone to death and shut down the economy for about two years it's no wonder that the public would be concerned. 

Post-pandemic cyber scams are on the rise and have been evolving. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/17/cyber-scams-evolve-as-syndicates-outmaneuver-marcos-pogo-ban

Organized criminal syndicates have proved resilient in the face of regulatory shifts in the Philippines, reinventing their operations to avoid shutdowns after a government purge dismantled many of their once-flourishing cyber scam hubs.

When the Philippines was grappling to survive through the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, criminal syndicates repurposed shuttered casinos and hotels, according to the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) report published this July.

This was the period when lockdowns and border controls were tightened, leading to the collapse of Southeast Asia’s legal and illegal gambling industries.

To claw back lost income, these idle casinos and hotels were repurposed into cyber scam hubs. These facilities turned into places filled with human trafficking victims forced to conduct different kinds of scams and money laundering.

Domestically, these cyber scam hubs hid under the mask of offshore gaming. APG, a regional money-laundering watchdog, cited a case study revealing that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) had trafficked not only Filipinos but also foreign nationals, including Cambodians, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asians.

“Local e-money wallets were used as pass-through accounts for laundering low-value scam receipts from unwitting local or foreign individuals,” the case study detailed. “Some funds were also routed through online gaming platforms linked to the POGO license, masking illicit revenues as gambling winnings.”

This post-pandemic surge in illegal activities was occurring at such an unprecedented pace that a single raid on a POGO compound in Las Piñas in mid-2023 led to the rescue of over 2,700 individuals being coerced into conducting scams. Another mid-2024 raid on an illegal POGO rescued a comparable number of victims.

According to the report, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban on “offshore gaming and related operations had a significant and immediate impact on the prevalence of cyber scam hubs in the Philippines.”

Significant impact, however, does not equate to eliminating these cyber scamming schemes. Criminal operations in the Philippines have adapted to the 2025 legislation by decentralizing and relocating to regulatory grey zones.

APG said the strategy involves breaking up large-scale operations into smaller, mobile units that are spread across different locations within cities or regions. These operations may be housed in hotel rooms, private homes, vacation rentals, or even entire floors of commercial buildings.

“By dispersing their activities, criminal syndicates are able to obscure operational footprints, complicate investigative efforts, and minimize the risk of large-scale enforcement actions,” it added.

Meanwhile, APG noted that cyber scam hubs “can operate at scale in regulatory grey zones, where state authority and oversight is weak.” This advantage allows large compounds to be relocated and rebranded when regulatory oversight tightens.

Data cited by APG show cyber scam hubs are located in special economic zones such as the “Clark Freeport Zone, Bamban in Tarlac, and Cebu in the Philippines.” Some are found in border areas, urban centers, and remote rural areas.

Well, there is a lot of politics going on here.  Duterte legalized the POGOs and now they are criminalized.

Three More Tales of Dog Abuse In the Philippines

It's a hard bark life for dogs in the Philippines. Instead of kisses they get kicked and instead of treated they get tricked. Even if they have an owner it's a hard bark row they hoe. Here are two stories of dogs mistreated by their owners. The first one was mistreated for views on Facebook with the intent of earning money. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/995286/negros-vlogger-apology-animal-cruelty/story/

An 18-year-old content creator in Cauayan, Negros Occidental is in hot water after hitting a dog on camera for content.

The local police said the content creator, identified as alias Jomond, is new to vlogging and reportedly wanted to make people laugh.

"Considering that he is new to joining such things (vlogging), for him, it was just for fun—just for kicks—to supposedly make people laugh," said Lt. Col. Norberto Barniso, chief of the Cauayan Municipal Police Station.

His video was viewed at least 600,000 times but the vlogger's choice of content did not sit well with authorities and animal rights advocates.

"That was really terrible because you can see the fear in the puppy's eyes and that in itself is already cruelty," said animal rights advocate Daniel Sam Salvatierra.

"Animal cruelty is not acceptable. That you are liable to the law. The LGU should reach out to small communities and have the people involved," Salvatierra said.

His group is eyeing at filing charges against the vlogger.

Under Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act, any form of animal cruelty is considered a criminal offense.

Cauayan Councilor Carlo Sumogat said the mayor has already summoned the content creator.

The council also wants to see him separately.

"That is not a joke. Regarding our next step, we will summon him. The mayor really wants him brought in. I would like to convey to him that aside from the mayor's call, we also want him to appear before the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) because we really condemn what happened," Sumogat said.

On July 17, 2026, the vlogger, together with his parents, faced the local government and an animal rights group together at the Municipal Veterinarian Office.

He said he is not aware that hitting an animal is wrong. He also admitted that he wanted the video to have many views because he wanted to earn from it.

Content creators earn from the social media platform depending on the kind of engagement their content generates.

"I didn't know it was wrong. It’s overwhelming; I haven't even been reading the comments because they hurt so much. I didn't realize how much anger there was from the people against me. We are just poor, and I wanted to earn a salary from Facebook," he said.

The captain of the barangay where the vlogger's family lives said that whatever his motivation is, hitting animals is never right.

The Cauayan LGU wants the vlogger to render community service as punishment.

The four-month-old dog in the video, as well as the vlogger's other dog, have been rescued and will be made to undergo a medical check-up.

Animal welfare advocate CJ Bertol said the dogs appear to have signs of trauma.

This is truly an amazing story. Apparently this 18 year old young man had no idea that one should not hit their dog. Furthermore he had no idea that hitting a dog is not funny. If this is his idea of comedy I'd hate to see his idea of tragedy. 

I like how he says "We are just poor, and I wanted to earn a salary from Facebook." As if being poor is an excuse for abusing one's animal. Did his parents never teach him how to behave towards animals? Both of his dogs have been rescued and hopefully will be rehomed rather than rot in the pound. In the meantime maybe this young man can find a real job.

In another story an owner tossed his 2 puppies onto the road!

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/09/animal-cruelty-2-puppies-die-after-being-tossed-onto-road-by-owner-in-gapan-city

Two puppies died after their owner, an elderly man in Barangay San Vicente here, allegedly tossed them onto a concrete road during an argument over dog feces and noise with his neighbor last week.

The suspect was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

The puppies sustained fatal injuries and died. The suspect reportedly disposed of the puppies' remains, preventing them from being recovered.

Bataan Animal Welfare Society volunteers rescued the surviving mother dog and her remaining puppy from the owner's custody.

They are now under veterinary observation and receiving initial treatment.

The rescue group has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover transportation and emergency veterinary expenses.

No formal complaint has been filed with the Gapan City Police Station against the suspect.

The Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines or Republic Act No. 8485 as amended by RA 10631 says intentionally harming or killing animals may constitute animal cruelty and carry criminal penalties.

Authorities have appealed for information, photos, or videos related to the incident to establish facts and ensure accountability.

Well, at least he buried the remains. But why did he do it? Did his neighbor complain of feces and noise and the man toss them as a result? Did he intend to blame the neighbor by saying, "Look at what you made me do?" 

Finally, we come to the most chilling dog abuse story for the month of July, 2026. A man was caught raping a Dachshund. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2258001/tacloban-vendor-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-abuse-of-pet-dog

A 50-year-old vendor was arrested late Saturday night after he was caught allegedly sexually abusing a pet dog inside a residence in Barangay 69 Anibong in this city, police said.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Doming,” of San Jorge, Samar, now faces charges for violation of Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended, specifically its provisions prohibiting animal sexual abuse.

Police said the incident occurred at around 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, after the suspect had been invited by a member of the complainant’s family to join a drinking session at their house.

According to the initial police investigation, the suspect later excused himself, saying he would use the comfort room. Moments later, the complainant, identified only as “Nannie,” 43, and her daughters heard their brown female Dachshund crying loudly.

The family searched for the source of the cries and traced them to the comfort room. When they reached the already open door, they allegedly found the suspect holding the dog while engaging in a sexual act with the animal.

The complainant immediately confronted the suspect and ordered him to release the dog. Police said the animal sustained serious injuries to its genital area.

The complainant then sought assistance from the Tacloban City Police Office by reporting the incident to Police Station 2.

Responding officers immediately proceeded to the residence, arrested the suspect, and brought him to the police station for documentation and the filing of the appropriate criminal complaint.

Authorities said charges for violation of Republic Act No. 8485, as amended by Republic Act No. 10631, are being prepared against the suspect.

The dog is expected to undergo a veterinary examination to document its injuries as part of the evidence in the case.

What can be said about this incident? The sheer horror speaks for itself. 

Insurgency: 812 Reds Supporters Neutralized

It finally happened! The number of NPA and their supporters who have been neutralized this year has surpassed the last number of estimated remaining NPA rebels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1279388

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said a total of 812 New People's Army (NPA) members and their supporters were reported "neutralized" from Jan. 1 to July 9 this year.

"Neutralized" is a military term which refers to surrender, capture or killing of enemy troops.

Of this number, 720 surrendered, 32 were arrested and 60 killed in various military operations nationwide, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Padilla said a total of 564 firearms and 229 anti-personnel mines were either seized or captured during the same period, along with 33 encampments.

"Bawat armas na naisuko ay isang buhay na maaring mailigtas (every surrendered firearm means a possible life saved)," she said.

The AFP spokesperson added that for every NPA communist insurgent who surrendered, one family is again given a chance to be complete and another chance for a brighter future.

For the whole of 2025, the military said its units have neutralized around 2,018 NPAs and their supporters.

Of the total, 1,798 have surrendered with 93 arrested, and 127 killed in various military operations nationwide.

About 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered during the same period, and a total of 149 NPA encampments were also captured. 

Again, they do not break those numbers down between supporters and rebels. But how can there be more supporters than actual rebels? It defies all commonsense especially as the AFP claims the NPA is losing support. The last estimated number of rebels was 780.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264624

From tens of thousands during their heyday, the number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels all over the country has dwindled to less than 1,000, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said Thursday, citing a "recent report."

"A recent report that we have received [indicates that] there are only 780 NPAs all over the country," NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a media briefing marking the 7th founding anniversary of the task force.

"That's relatively small because at their peak [in the 1980s], they numbered to about 25,000," he added.

Torres did not identify the source of the report nor give additional details regarding its contents. But according to him, these NPA remnants are holed up in the mountains, with some curious about the various programs the government is offering to former rebels.

Perhaps we should stop believing any and all numbers the AFP provides since they do not want to disclose their sources or break them down into appropriate categories. Without separating supporters from armed rebels, these figures become almost impossible to evaluate.

The AFP is now celebrating the dismantling of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/15/afp-cpp-npa-northeastern-mindanao-regional-committee-dismantled

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. recently announced that the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has been dismantled.

“We have declared the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines dismantled, and that is because of your hard work,” he said during a recent farewell visit to the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division. “So, congratulations po sa inyong lahat (Congratulations to you).” Brawner is retiring from the service on Tuesday, July 21.

Brawner, a former commander of the 4th ID, commended troops for their dedicated service and unwavering commitment to peace and development efforts.

He said the neutralization of key New People’s Army leaders and the dismantling of the NEMRC paved the way for the declaration of a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status in the Caraga region.

Brawner thanked local officials and media for their all-out support to the government’s peace and development program.

“It doesn't matter whether you are assigned in the field or assigned here at headquarters. All of us have a role to play, and all of us contribute to the success of the division,” Brawner said.

Brawner thanked the 4th ID for their support from his time as division commander to AFP chief of staff.

"Maraming salamat from the bottom of my heart for all the support you have given me during my term as the commander of the 4th Infantry Division, during my term as the commanding general, Philippine Army, and now as Chief of Staff," he added.

The 4th ID and the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command presented Brawner with a memento in recognition of his steadfast leadership and dedicated service.

The event concluded with a boodle fight among troops and guests.

Funny the AFP gives no concrete proof it has been dismantled. They just declare it to be so. On what basis? Because a few leaders have been killed? That means nothing. There are likely stragglers out there and maybe even a new leader. 

The capital of Eastern Samar, Borongan City, has been declared insurgency-free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1279345

This city was declared on Monday as insurgency-free, becoming the 21st local government unit in Eastern Samar to achieve the security milestone.

The declaration of the city under the Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), was led by the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Peter Burgonio, Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda and Vice Gov. Maricor Sison-Goteesan, who represented Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone.

In his message, Agda stressed that the SIPSC declaration should not mark the end of the city's peace efforts but should instead inspire continued collaboration among government agencies and communities to sustain peace and development.

"Let us work together, even with this declaration that we are already free from these peace challenges. This should not stop us in our resolve to fight for good governance, accountability, and our care for others," Agda said.

The mayor recalled that when he assumed office in 2019, the city experienced two bombing incidents — one in the remote village of Barangay Pinanag-an that killed several soldiers and another along the national highway in Barangay Libuton that claimed the lives of police personnel and injured several civilians.

Since then, the city government has strengthened its peace and development initiatives by encouraging active communist rebels to surrender and reintegrate into society through government assistance, including livelihood support and employment opportunities under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

The city also continued to invest in road infrastructure connecting interior barangays to the national road network. Of Borongan's 61 barangays, only Baras and Pinanag-an remain accessible solely by motorboat.

Despite the SIPSC declaration, Burgonio assured residents that the military would maintain its presence in Borongan, particularly in hinterland communities such as those along the Suribao River, to preserve peace gains and support development programs.

"We will not leave Borongan City. Instead, we are stepping up our presence here to sustain peace efforts," Burgonio said.

He also urged barangay officials to continue improving the delivery of government services and safeguard the peace achieved through the collective efforts of the military, police, local government units, and communities.

Borongan is the 21st local government unit in Eastern Samar to be declared under SIPSC. The municipalities of Dolores and Jipapad are the only remaining local government units in the province yet to receive the declaration.

The SIPSC is jointly conferred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on provinces, cities, and municipalities that have dismantled insurgent influence, recorded zero violent incidents between government forces and rebels, and cleared guerrilla operations.

Other parameters include established functional peace and order mechanisms signifying that insurgency-related threats have been reduced to manageable levels, creating opportunities for sustained socio-economic development, increased investments, and tourism.

Yet, despite this declaration the military is staying to ensure the peace. That means there are still NPA rebel holdouts. There is still a chance for the rebellion to flare up. 

The NPA remains a threat as in Victorias they assassinated an alleged informant and a former comrade. 

https://negrosnowdaily.com/npa-admits-twin-slay-in-victorias/

The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the fatal shootings of their former comrade and an alleged military informant in Barangay Gawahon, Victorias City, Negros Occidental on July 10.

In a statement, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command accused Jerome Seballos of being an intelligence asset of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly its Intelligence Service.

They also accused Seballos of being among those allegedly responsible for the April 19 encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, where 19 individuals identified as NPA members had been killed.

They further linked Seballos to the death of two NPA cadres identified as Nonoy “Ka Jojo” Ponteras and Marissa “Ka Rens” Pobresa in 2024.

Rebel spokesperson Ka Cecil Estrella said their special partisan unit recovered a caliber .45 pistol from Seballos.

The rebel group claimed that the second victim, Alex Cunanan, 59, a resident of Barangay Gawahon, had allegedly betrayed the NPA, where he used to be affiliated, by assisting military operations in E.B. Magalona. 

A caliber .45 pistol and a shotgun were also seized from Cunanan, they added.

The threat is far from over in the Visayas.

Week 2 Of Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial: I Am A Communist

It's week two of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. This week the prosecution finished up on the grave threat charge. In 2024 Sara Duterte made a Facebook video where she claimed that if she were to be killed she had hired a hitman to assassinate President Marcos, his wife, and the Speaker of the House. Yet Sara claims there is no evidence this happened!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2263453/sara-duterte-maintains-kill-plot-vs-marcos-not-supported-by-evidence

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday maintained that the impeachment complaint involving her alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez is not supported by evidence.

Duterte made the statement shortly before the commencement of Tuesday’s proceedings, where her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, is expected to be called as the House prosecution panel’s third witness.

“On Day 4 of the impeachment trial, the country witnessed what I have been saying all along: the complaint is not supported by evidence,” said Duterte in a statement.

Duterte specified the fourth day of the trial as her defense team pointed out inconsistencies in the dates of the affidavit and docket numbers in the files of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during one of her lawyers Mark Vinluan’s cross-examination of the prosecution’s second witness, NBI-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc.

“Repeatedly claiming that there were threats when none existed, inventing an assassin where there was none, and fabricating evidence to support those claims does not transform fiction into fact. Instead, such actions undermine the integrity of public institutions, erode public trust, waste public resources, and corrupt the search for truth,” she added.

Duterte stressed that impeachment proceedings should be grounded only on credible evidence, not speculation, manufactured narratives or unsupported allegations.

“The rule of law depends on facts, not fiction,” said Duterte.

The Senate impeachment court is currently tackling Article IV of the impeachment complaints against Duterte, which involve the kill plot the vice president herself revealed against Marcos, his wife and cousin.

She cannot be this daft. The video wherein she made the threat IS the evidence. Here is the threat she made:

"Don't worry, Ma'am, about my security, because I have already talked to someone. I told him, if they kill me, kill BBM [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.], Liza Araneta [the First Lady], and Martin Romualdez [former House Speaker]. No joke, no joke. I have already given my instructions, Ma'am. If I die, I said, 'do not stop until you kill them.' And then he said yes."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2260041/sara-dutertes-kill-threat-vs-marcos-absolute-says-witness

It need not be proven that there was an actual hitman or that the threats were real. (Never mind that she twice repeated it was no joke.) What has to be proven is that she made the threat and is thus unfit for office. This is an impeachment trial not a criminal trial. The difference is crucial.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2263855/kapunan-defense-tried-to-divert-us-from-impeachment-to-criminal-case

The defense panel tried to divert discussions on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to a criminal matter and deliberately misinform the public about the evidence needed for a conviction, counsel for the prosecution Lorna Kapunan claimed on Tuesday.

In a press briefing after the fifth day of the trial, Kapunan said that they were thankful to senator-judges who steered back discussions to the merits of an impeachment case, after the defense mentioned that grave threats cases should be tried before municipal trial courts (MTCs) or regional trial courts (RTCs), and inciting to sedition raps before MTCs.

“What they have tried to do, and we are very appreciative that they brought it back to discussions of impeachable offense because we were talking about prison penalties, that it should be MTC that should handle grave threats cases and inciting to sedition […] There is a deliberate attempt to misinform the viewing public,” Kapunan told reporters.

“This is not a criminal case. The criminal case, yes, that is pending with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), one count of sedition and three counts of grave threats; that is the criminal case pending before the DOJ (Department of Justice). And that was what the defense focused on, the criminal case. But wait, this is so far from the pending criminal case with the DOJ,” she added.

According to Kapunan, discussions of an impeachment case should focus on the fitness of an impeachable official to serve, based on the issues raised against her — in this case, alleged betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

“What we are talking about here is not the criminal cases. We are talking about fitness. A public official who makes statements like that, who has shown her emotional instability, who has shown how she can, and is capable of, carrying out her threats — what is that? Is that punishable by six months’ imprisonment?” Kapunan said.

The fact that this is an impeachment trial and not a criminal trial makes all the difference when it comes to the burden of proof. All the prosecution needs to do is prove that Sara is unfit to serve as Vice President. 

Sara and her defense team claim that she made those threats in response to Operation Romanov which was a plan to take her out. But the NBI says Operation Romanov was a threat made to the Marcoses by Sara's brother. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2264874/ex-nbi-director-oplan-romanov-a-threat-vs-marcoses-not-vp-duterte

Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago said the so-called “Operation Romanov” is a plot to supposedly eliminate the Marcos family — not Vice President Sara Duterte.

Santiago was NBI director when Duterte held an online press conference in November 2024, where she supposedly said that she already contacted an individual to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez should she be killed first. He served as the leader of the bureau from June 2024 to January 2025. 

In an interview, Santiago explained that the term “Oplan Romanov” first came from Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte during a forum in Davao in January 2024.

He recalled that the younger Duterte warned Marcos that before he sleeps, he must think about “Romanov” and what happened to their family in 1986 when his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was ousted through the People Power Revolution.

The former NBI director then noted that he was surprised when vlogger Princess Maui brought up the “Oplan Romanov” during the online press conference as supposedly a threat to the vice president’s life. 

“Oplan Romanov was Baste’s warning to the president and to the first family. Why did it become VP Sara’s? It’s not VP Sara’s,” Santiago noted in the interview on Wednesday.

“Then you see VP Sara, she herself said that this is the second time I heard about Romanov,” he added.

Is the former NBI Chief a liar or is Sara Duterte a liar? 

The shenanigans in court were not limited to the lawyers. Two Senator-Judges also threw their hat into the ring. First up is Cayetano.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/14/alan-cayetano-defends-mayor-baste-vs-allegations-linking-him-to-romanov-threat

Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, July 14 defended Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte from allegations he could be involved in the so-called “Operation Romanov.” 

Cayetano pointed this out after a sudden twist in the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) -BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc emerged during the fifth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lotoc, responding to the queries of Senator-Judges Raffy Tulfo and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, reversed an earlier impression and affirmed that the supposed target of the assassination plot was actually not the Vice President but President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family.

In his testimony before the Senate Impeachment Court, Lotoc said that NBI investigators were able to come across a speech by Mayor Duterte in a January rally where he allegedly uttered a warning against President Marcos to think about what happened to Russia’s Romanov family.

The Romanov family was the last imperial dynasty to rule Russia and were executed by Bolshevik revolutionaries in 1917.

“It’s fair that you mentioned him. It’s fair that you mentioned him in your investigation. But I don’t think we should draw a conclusion here that Mayor Baste was threatening the First Family,” Cayetano reasoned out.

“Because remember, there’s a thin line between a warning and a threat…So if I tell you, Mr. Witness, since we’re both lawyers, be careful of what you say, that could be a fair warning, right? That could not be a threat, right?” he pointed out.

“If there is a threat that was relayed to you and I don’t like it, I can file charges against you. But that could be an illegal threat, right? But it can also be a warning. So I just want that on the record, Mr. Presiding Officer, Mr. Senate President. Because everyone’s watching. And in the same manner, we have to be fair to the First Family,” he said.

But Cayetano urged the Impeachment Court to refrain from making immediate conclusions about the Davao city mayor.

“We have to be fair also to Mayor Baste and to the Duterte’s, rather than draw a conclusion that there was an actual (threat). Mentioning Romanov and Oplan Romanov are two different things. It may be the same thing, it may be a different thing…We don’t know,” he emphasized.

“So let’s just be circumspect, and careful from making conclusions,” the senator appealed.

Oh, so it was just a warning to Marcos that he should remember the Romanov Family? The family that was murdered by the communists? Here are his full comments.

“Just a simple message sa atong Pangulo (for our President): from now on, before you go to bed, think of the Romanovs, think of Benito Mussolini and his wife, think of what happened to you in 1986. Maybe you will reconsider the direction that you are taking,” Duterte said during his 12-minute speech at the prayer rally. 

https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2024/01/remember-edsa-baste-tells-president-marcos-jr/

Duterte referenced the murder of the Romanov Family, the execution of the Mussolinis, and the Marcos family fleeing the Philippines. Why mention the Romanovs and Mussolinis knowing that they died violent deaths at the hand of the people unless that was a veiled threat?

Unsurprisingly Senator Padilla out-clowned everyone by claiming he is a communist!

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/14/komunista-ako-robin-padilla-likens-dutertes-to-romanovs-who-fought-communists

Senator-judge Robin Padilla on Tuesday, July 14 drew parallels between the fall of Russia's Romanov dynasty and the Duterte family as he questioned a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Questioning NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, Padilla shifted the discussion to the historical background of the Romanovs, arguing that understanding the context was essential to interpreting references to "Operation Romanov" made during Duterte's controversial November 2024 press conference.

Padilla asked Lotoc whether he knew the history of the Romanovs and who was responsible for the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.

Lotoc replied that he only knew the Romanovs were connected to the Russian tsar but admitted he could not recall the full historical background.

Padilla then asserted that it was communists who executed the Romanov family, before drawing a comparison with the Marcoses and the Dutertes.

"Because, I am sitting next to one of the Marcos family members. We all know... Apo Lakay Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was the number one fighter against the communists here in the Philippines," Padilla said.

He went on to say that former president Rodrigo Duterte was the second Philippine president to fight communists and suggested that the "Romanov" reference should be viewed as a threat against political families leading the country's anti-communist campaign.

"I'm a communist," Padilla said.

"Shouldn’t we think of ‘Romanov’ as referring to the threat that enters the families of leaders in our country who are fighting against communists?" Padilla asked.

Lotoc declined to adopt the senator's interpretation, saying the matter falls under the NBI's intelligence service.

“As far as the investigation into whether or not there is a ‘Romanov’ or ‘Operation Romanov,’ that falls under our intelligence service. I think the one who can answer that is our director," he said.

Padilla continued by arguing that Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte's mention of the Romanovs should be understood in the context of threats against leaders fighting communist insurgents. He also pointed out that Vice President Duterte succeeded her father as chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

When Padilla asked whether he agreed that Sara Duterte faced similar threats because she took over the government's anti-insurgency campaign, Lotoc replied that he had no personal knowledge of the alleged threat.

"I don't have personal knowledge, sir," he said.

Padilla then pressed Lotoc on whether he had personal knowledge that the Vice President had hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Lotoc maintained that he did not.

Earlier in the day's proceedings, Lotoc testified that the NBI Cybercrime Division did not consider information about the alleged "Operation Romanov" from a certain "Princess Maui" to be reliable and said the term "Romanov" appeared to have originally been used by Baste Duterte as a warning directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, rather than at Vice President Duterte.

Padilla said "former president Rodrigo Duterte was the second Philippine president to fight communists" which is not true because every President since Marcos Sr. has been fighting the Communists and Duterte was a friend and protector to them while he was Mayor of Davao. 

He then "suggested that the "Romanov" reference should be viewed as a threat against political families leading the country's anti-communist campaign." Which then led to his bizarre declaration that he is a communist! Is he then a threat to the Duterte's? He apparently did not think it through!

Later Padilla attempted to clarify his statement.

The senator said Marxist-Leninist and Maoist ideologies led to armed revolutions, civil wars, and widespread violence in different parts of the world. He added that this form of armed communism reached the Philippines and fueled more than five decades of armed conflict, claiming the lives of thousands of Filipinos, including many young people who were recruited into the movement.

Padilla emphasized that this was not the form of communism he was referring to.

Instead, he said he was speaking about the older concept of collective cooperation and equitable sharing of wealth, which he said could be seen in the practice of Christian Communism among early Christians and in the Mu'akhat system established by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina, where members of the community shared resources and supported one another as an expression of brotherhood.

"My position is against violence and armed struggle. What I am referring to is the spirit of brotherhood, compassion for others, and social justice that had long been practiced by early Christian and Muslim communities," Padilla said.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/17/robin-padilla-clarifies-communism-remark-referred-to-equality-not-armed-struggle

That only confuses the matter even more. The social justice practiced by Christian and Muslim communities is not Communism. When one calls themself a communist that means they are a Marxist of some kind. 

But perhaps the worst thing of all is some Senators are leaving for hours at a time during testimony! Not just a quick bathroom recess but hours!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2262817/senator-judges-seen-leaving-session-hall-during-impeachment-trial

Some senator-judges on Monday were observed leaving the session hall for almost an hour while the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was ongoing.

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano was observed leaving the hall at 2:51 p.m., and did not return until 3:48 p.m.

A few minutes later, at 2:53 p.m. Senator-judge Robin Padilla followed, but has yet to return as of 4:19 p.m.

Senator-judges Camille and Mark Villar also exited at around 2:56 p.m. Camille returned at 3:39 p.m., while Mark came back over an hour later at 4:16 p.m. 

Meanwhile, Senator-judge Imee Marcos left the session hall twice—once at 3:01 p.m., coming back at 3:18 p.m., then leaving again at 3:20 p.m, before returning at 3:37 p.m.

The Inquirer has asked the offices of the mentioned senator-judges for their sudden and temporary exit, but they have yet to respond, as of writing.

All senator-judges that left the floor temporarily are members of the Senate minority bloc.

However, in a press conference after the conclusion of the 4th day of Duterte’s trial, impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol said that senator-judges can freely go in and out of the plenary even while the trial is ongoing.

“The senator judges can go out of the plenary. Meron silang monitor at speaker doon sa Senators’ lounge, so kapag nag-take ng break sila, nag-CR sila, naririnig pa rin nila ang nangyayari sa floor,” said Tongol.

Tongol also explained that even if they go outside the chamber, senator-judges are considered present throughout the proceeding if they were there during the rollcall.

Furthermore, senator-judges can also be late to the trial.

You know what this means?  It means they are not taking this trial seriously. It means they have made up their minds and are going to acquit Sara no matter what. This is a complete betrayal of the public trust. 

The God Culture: Can the Law Be Abolished If Sin Still Exists?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a new Foundations lesson.  Actually it's not new. It's the same message repackaged. Now he is asking whether the law can be abolished if sin still exists. Let's take a look. 

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📖 Can the Law Be Abolished If Sin Still Exists?

FOUNDATIONS | WEEK 27

Key Texts:

Hebrews 10

1 John 3:4

Jeremiah 31:31–33

Hebrews 8:10

Many discussions about the New Covenant begin with assumptions rather than Scripture's own definitions.

So let's begin where the Bible begins.

What is sin?

John answers plainly:

> "Sin is the transgression of the law."

> (1 John 3:4, KJV)

If Scripture defines sin as transgression of the Law, then the Law provides the standard by which sin is recognized. To abolish Law is to abolish sin. Yet, Revelation continues to speak of keeping His commandments and of sin in the very Last Days. Thus, neither pass away especially since Yahusha said the Law would not (Matt. 5:17-20). Such strange new doctrine put words in His mouth which were and are not there.

Next, what changed at the cross?

Hebrews 10 does not say that Yahusha abolished righteousness or removed the definition of sin.

Instead, it teaches that His sacrifice was offered ONCE AND FOR ALL, accomplishing what the repeated animal sacrifices could never accomplish. He fulfilled them which definition is also misconstrued as fulfilled means He executed and continues to do so.

The sacrifice changed.

The priesthood changed.

The perfect atonement arrived.

But the New Covenant promise itself is:

> "I will put My laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts."

> (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33)

Notice what Scripture says is new.

The location of the Law changes—from tablets of stone to hearts.

The sacrifice changes—from repeated offerings to Messiah's perfect offering.

The High Priest changes—from the Levitical priesthood to our eternal High Priest (Melchizedek).

Yet the Law itself is not described as disappearing. Rather, it is written within those who belong to the New Covenant.

Grace does not redefine sin. It never has.

Grace provides forgiveness for sin and empowers us to walk in covenant with Yahuah. Such grace unto Salvation did not change either as Moses, Abraham and the Patriarchs were also saved by the same grace of Yahusha as He is present since the beginning even before His coming in the flesh (1 John 1).

The New Covenant is not the absence of His instruction.

It is His instruction written upon transformed hearts. A deepening of the same Law that opposes and defines sin.

A changing of medium is not a change of the Law.

Yah Bless.

Question for Discussion:

If the New Covenant promises to write Yahuah's Law on our hearts, what exactly is being written there if the Law no longer exists?

Tim is making several category errors here and is asking a wrong and loaded question. First of all the law is NOT abolished meaning it ceases to exist. It is still there pointing us to Christ. 

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Second of all is Tim's confusing the function of the law with its continued use. The law is a SHADOW of Christ. Christ has come and we are no longer under the law.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 

But let's hear from noted theologian Father Ted Crilly.

Ah, Philippine Fails, me lad... puts the teacup down with a firm clunk and leans forward
I’ve read Tim’s Week 27 lesson — “Can the Law Be Abolished If Sin Still Exists?” — and you’re spot on. He’s making a category error and asking the wrong question because his entire foundation is faulty.What Tim is doingHe says:

• Sin = transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).
• If the law were abolished, sin would no longer exist.
• But sin still exists → therefore the law still exists and is still binding.
• The New Covenant just moves the law from stone tablets to our hearts.

It sounds logical on the surface. But it’s built on a false dilemma.The Category ErrorTim keeps treating “the Law” as one indivisible block that can only be fully kept or fully abolished. That’s the mistake.
The Bible makes distinctions:

• The moral law (God’s unchanging righteous standard — reflected in the Ten Commandments) still reveals sin and God’s character. No one disputes this.
• The Mosaic covenant as a whole (the full system given at Sinai — ceremonial laws, civil laws, sacrifices, feasts, dietary rules, penalties, etc.) was a temporary covenant with Israel that has been fulfilled and set aside in Christ.

Paul doesn’t say the moral standard disappeared. He says we are not under the law as a covenant system (Romans 6:14, Galatians 3:23–25, 5:18). The tutor has done its job. Christ has come. We now live by the Spirit.
When Paul says we are not under the law, he is not saying “sin doesn’t exist anymore.” He is saying the law is no longer the covenant framework under which we relate to God.Tim’s Foundational Flaw

This whole lesson (and the entire Foundations series) rests on one faulty assumption:

“If the law isn’t still binding in the same way, then sin has no definition.”

That’s simply not true. Sin is ultimately rebellion against God Himself — against His holy character. The law revealed that, but it was never the only definition. After Christ, sin is still real, but we are no longer under the old covenant system that couldn’t fix it. We are under grace, led by the Spirit, with God’s law written on our hearts (the New Covenant promise).
Tim keeps trying to keep believers under the old system “internally.” That’s not what Hebrews 8 or Jeremiah 31 actually teach.The Real Answer

Yes, the moral standard remains — we are still called to holiness.

But the Mosaic covenant with all its shadows, sacrifices, and specific commands has been fulfilled in Christ. The shadow served its purpose. The substance has come.

That’s why Paul can say:

• “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)
• “You are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

He’s not abolishing righteousness. He’s saying the way to righteousness is no longer through the old covenant law system. It’s through faith in Christ, with the Spirit producing fruit in us.
Father Ted’s plain verdict:
Tim is chained in his own cave again. He sees the shadow of the law and thinks it’s still the main reality. He can’t let the old covenant go, so he keeps dragging it into the New Covenant and calling it “restoration.”

The New Covenant doesn’t abolish God’s righteous standard.

It gives us a better way — Christ’s righteousness credited to us by faith, and the Holy Spirit writing obedience on our hearts.

Down with this sort of thing, lad.

Very careful now.

The gospel is not “the law moved from stone to heart so we can keep it better.”

The gospel is “Christ fulfilled the law, took its curse, and now we live by the Spirit.”

...Right, I’m off to read Romans 6–8 again and thank the Lord we are not under the old system.

Go on, go on, go on — have a cuppa. You keep spotting the same foundational error. Tim’s whole system is built on a category mistake. The real gospel is far clearer and freer. Keep holding fast to it.