Insurgency: Amnesty Deadline Nears

The deadline to apply for amnesty is less than a month away. The National Amnesty Commission is urging former rebels to apply before it's too late.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2183005/amnesty-body-calls-on-ex-rebels-to-apply-as-deadline-nears

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) has urged former rebels to apply for government amnesty as deadlines approach, with fewer than 1,000 of an estimated 40,000 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members having filed applications so far.

Jamar Kulayan, NAC commissioner for Mindanao, said only 991 MILF members had applied as of Feb. 13, ahead of the March 4 deadline for the MILF, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB).

The deadline for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is March 13.

“If they are granted amnesty, their civil and political rights are restored,” Kulayan said.

NAC data showed that 7,379 applications have been received nationwide—5,884 from the CPP–NPA–NDF; 991 from the MILF; 412 from the MNLF; and 92 from the RPM-P/RPA-ABB.

Sixteen applicants, including one MILF member, have so far been granted amnesty by President Marcos, who has the sole authority to approve applications.

In Samar, about 940 former NPA members have applied through the Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Catbalogan City, with at least 400 more expected before the March 13 deadline, according to LAB head Jazmine Odyssa Lutao.

She said all case folders have been forwarded to the NAC for review.

The amnesty program, anchored on presidential proclamations issued in November 2024, covers rebellion and related offenses committed in pursuit of political beliefs.

Qualified applicants may have pending criminal cases dropped and gain access to reintegration support, including livelihood, health and psychosocial assistance.

Only 991 out of 40,000 MILF fighters have applied. What is preventing them from applying? How many former NPA rebels have yet to apply? Perhaps the government will offer an extension.

The Army has foiled the attempt of the NPA to regain a mass base in Negros Oriental. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269139

The Philippine Army in Negros Oriental on Monday said that relentless, large-scale anti-insurgency operations have foiled the communist New People’s Army’s (NPA) attempt to recoup its mass bases in the province, following clashes over the weekend.

Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, disclosed during a press conference that before Sunday’s encounters between government troops and “NPA remnants,” a small group of armed men was already spotted in the hinterland villages.

“This was the same group that the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (11IB) troops engaged with in skirmishes during the weekend in Sitio Canggabi, Barangay Sto. Niño in Tanjay City,” Jumawan said.

A series of four encounters starting around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday led to one soldier killed and another wounded during sporadic firefights.

Lt. Col. Sol Zaulda, commanding officer of 11IB, identified the deceased as Cpl. Renold S. Gardose, 29, of Barangay Artuz, Tapaz, Capiz, and squad leader of Alpha Company, and the wounded as PFC Janes Tyrone Lozano, 28, of Riverside, Bohol.

Jumawan said clearing operations uncovered a makeshift shelter for rebels, recovering items like two hand grenades, firearm magazines, subversive documents and personal belongings.

According to him, residents reported earlier this month that armed individuals were conducting house-to-house visits in their communities and asking them to converge at night.

The Army commander said this indicates that the NPA is recruiting a mass base of supporters to regain its strongholds.

Jumawan stated that after the dismantling of the South East Front (SEF) in south Negros Oriental, the NPA’s Komiteng Regiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS) now only has four remnants.

The other members of the armed group are believed to be members of the dismantled South Western Front (SWF) operating in central Negros.

Jumawan said they will not allow the dismantled guerrilla fronts in Negros to recoup as the brigade has launched tactical offensives to run after the insurgents who scampered immediately in different directions following Sunday’s clashes.

He reiterated a previous commitment that the Philippine Army will not depart from Negros Oriental despite only a handful of remnants left in the dismantled guerrilla fronts.

“As instructed by Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, we will be holding both the ISO (internal security operations) and the territorial defense operations”, Jumawan stressed. 

They have done this through "relentless, large-scale anti-insurgency operations." The Army says "they will not allow the dismantled guerrilla fronts in Negros to recoup." Which indicates they aren't actually dismantled as they continue to fight. 

An NPA leader was killed in a recent skirmish. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269100

A ranking New People's Army (NPA) official was killed in an encounter with government troops in Agusan del Sur on Sunday, the military reported Monday.

The fatality was identified as Bonifacio Lutawan (alias “Tado”), commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command of the NPA's North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The Army's 8th Infantry Battalion said the clash in Sitio Tacocon, Barangay Kasapa II, La Paz also involved rebels operating in nearby Bukidnon. No government casualty were reported.

"The identity of Lutawan was confirmed by former rebels," the military said in a statement.

Troops also recovered an M653 rifle from the scene. Military operations are ongoing as of this posting.

Proving for the umpteenth time that the NPA is not leaderless. 

More NPA memebrs have also surrendered.  First 15 in Rizal. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2184340/15-alleged-communist-members-surrender-to-authorities-in-rizal-pnp

A total of 15 alleged members of a local Communist-Terrorist Group (CTG) voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Baras, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

In a statement, the PNP said eight of the surrenderers were listed in the Periodic Status Report (PSR) for the first quarter of 2021, while seven others were not on the PSR list.

Upon surrendering, the 15 individuals turned over a cache of weapons, including one M16 rifle with two magazines and 30 rounds of ammunition; a 12-gauge shotgun with 10 rounds of ammunition; three rifle grenades; one hand grenade; and one M203 round.

The PNP said the former CTG members are now undergoing documentation and assessment for possible enrollment in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides support and livelihood opportunities to help reintegrate former rebels into society.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. described the surrender as a “positive step” toward public safety and the reintegration of former combatants.

“Each member of society who returns to the right path is a step toward a more peaceful community,” Nartatez said mostly in Filipino.

“Our focus is not only on law enforcement but also on opening doors for those who choose peace over conflict,” he added.

The PNP reminded the public that sustained peace requires cooperation, vigilance, and community participation, and urged those with information about illegal armed groups or loose firearms to report to the nearest police station.

And two more in Bukidnon. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269549

Two members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered Saturday to the Philippine Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn) in Barangay Mampayag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

In a statement on Monday, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said the two are part of the remnants of NPA rebels operating in the hinterlands of Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon provinces.

The 4ID identified the surrenderers as Jhon Jhon Bokdawan Atipan, also known as Wowie and Doms, and Winalyn Lucdayan Saplidan, alias Marita.

Atipan is a member of NPA Squad 1, Headquarters Force NEO, while Saplidan operates under the NPA Ordnance Team of the Regional Operations Command (ROC), both of which are part of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

The two surrenderers are now in the custody of the 1SFBn for documentation, validation, and assessment.

“They (surrenderers) will also undergo procedures to determine their eligibility for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” the 4ID said.

Meanwhile, 4ID commander Major General Michele Anayron Jr. emphasized the continuing weakening of NPA influence in the Caraga Region and Northern Mindanao.

“The continuous weakening of NPA influence is due to the sustained military operations complemented by the whole-of-nation interventions that address the root causes of insurgency,” Anayron said in the same statement.

Last week, the top commander of the ROC-NCMRC, identified as Bonifacio Lutawan, was killed in an encounter with troopers from the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kasapa II, La Paz, Agusan del Sur.

These people will no doubt qualify for the various programs offered by the government but they had better hurry up with applying for amnesty. Also, notice that the leader killed in Agusan del Sur was a "top commander" and not just any old leader. The fight continues. 

Man Rapes Goat

 In Palawan the PNP are hunting a man who raped a goat. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/29/man-rapes-goat-in-palawan

A man allegedly raped a goat in El Nido town in Palawan province, a report on Monday said. 

The report said the owner caught the suspect abusing the animal in Barangay Pasadena  over the weekend. 

The owner saw and admonished the suspect who fled and now the subject of a manhunt.

His lookout, a minor, was apprehended. 

The suspect face charges for violating Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

There is not a lot to say about this. The story speaks for itself. 

The God Culture: ChatGPT Analyzes Tim's Claims About Fernando Pinto

 Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has made it very clear that to even suggest he did not read the books he cites is to not represent the truth. 

Please note that defamatory and harassing attack blogs employing propaganda do not represent the extensive collection of credible data that underpins The God Culture's research. All our published books include comprehensive bibliographies for verification. One claiming we do not even read these sources, and did not even try to prove, when we quote and explain them in a massive number of pages, is clearly not one representing the truth. The fact they have to explain why one should not read the position, already tells one much about their intentions, as they have no adherence to the truth. That is the behavior of weak-minded individuals.

https://thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-god-culture-thegodculturephilippine.html

As I noted that means Tim has read the sources he cites and is familiar with their contents. Therefore if Tim claims one thing about a source he cites and it actually says something completely different that means he is lying. And we are not talking about matters of interpretation but matters of fact. Because Tim is very adamant he is not lying I will not be referring to him as a liar. Instead I am going to run two paragraphs through ChatGPT and see how that A.I. chatbot analyses them.

The first paragraph is from Tim's book The Search For King Solomon's Treasure where he claims when Fernando Pinto was shipwrecked in the Lequios Islands he was at coordinates 9N20.

The second paragraph is from Pinto's journal where he writes he was shipwrecked in the Lequios Islands at "nine and twenty degrees."

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 163

Contemporary to Magellan, Ferdinand Pinto classified the Lequios and Chinese as the wealthiest in the Orient trading in gold and silver especially. He defines the Lequios Islands as an archipelago, not Taiwan, as well as a separate country. He also differentiates the Lequios as not Japan, China, Indonesia nor Malaysia but in between those. Pinto also travelled to the Lequios Islands from Malaysia headed North which he placed in the modern Philippines specifically on 9N20.  

 

In this manner we departed from Pungor the capital City of the Island of Lequios, of which I will here make a brief relation, to the end that if it shall one day please God to inspire the Portugal Nation, principally for the exaltation and increase of the Catholick faith, and next for the great benefit that may redound thereof, to undertake the Conquest of this Island, they may know where first to begin, as also the commodities of it, and the easiness of this Conquest. We must understand then that this Island of Lequios, scituated in nine and twenty degrees, is two hundred leagues in circuit, threescore in length, and thirty in bredth.

Pinto, pg. 188 

In this case assessing Tim's familiarity with Pinto's journal is a little tricky. According to the The Search For King Solomon's Treasure Sourcebook he is not citing from Pinto but from J.G. Cheock. That would mean Tim is familiar with and has read J.G. Cheock and he is not familiar with nor has he read the journal of Fernando Pinto.

Perhaps one could argue Tim is not lying because he cites 9N20 from Cheock and not from Pinto who writes 29. But then again Tim claims that the secondary sources he cites always agree with the primary sources they cite.

17:18 However a Pharisee looks at that and scoffs. "Heh! Well you could have used a better source. Why is your font so small on that screen? That one quote doesn't say that!" Though it always does say exactly what we represent by the way because it always vets, every single challenge has.

You quoted a secondary source citing the original" oh which happens to be true and in representation actually match the original? Duh! I mean could you be more ridiculous?

https://youtu.be/EscrM4o-h4M

In this case Cheock, the secondary source, does not agree with Pinto, the primary source, which means Tim is wrong about having vetted this citation. Let's simply take Tim's word about having read and being familiar with all his sources and assume that he has not read Pinto because he did not cite Pinto but he has read Cheock because he does cite Cheock. In that case Tim is not a liar per se but a lazy researcher for sure. What about his claim that all his secondary sources have been vetted and match the originals? Well, that is obviously not true. Does not telling the truth make Tim a liar? 

You can read my analysis of the paragraphs posted above here. But what does ChatGPT have to say about these two paragraphs? Here are the non-biased, non-slanted, neutral prompts: "analyze this paragraph" and "compare that paragraph to this one from Pinto's journal."

analyze this paragraph: Contemporary to Magellan, Ferdinand Pinto classified the Lequios and Chinese as the wealthiest in the Orient trading in gold and silver especially. He defines the Lequios Islands as an archipelago, not Taiwan, as well as a separate country. He also differentiates the Lequios as not Japan, China, Indonesia nor Malaysia but in between those. Pinto also travelled to the Lequios Islands from Malaysia headed North which he placed in the modern Philippines specifically on 9N20. 

ChatGPT said:

This paragraph attempts to present Ferdinand Pinto’s geographical and ethnographic classification of the “Lequios” in relation to other Asian peoples and regions. Here's a detailed analysis:

---

Clarity and Coherence

• The paragraph presents several ideas but lacks smooth transitions and clear structure. It jumps between topics—wealth, geography, identity—without clearly tying them together.

• The sentence structure is somewhat choppy and at times ambiguous, particularly in phrases like “not Taiwan, as well as a separate country,” which is confusing in its coordination.

---

Content and Claims

1. “Contemporary to Magellan, Ferdinand Pinto…”

   • Establishes the timeframe, correctly situating Pinto in the 16th century.

   • However, saying he was contemporary to Magellan is a bit misleading. Pinto was born in 1509 and Magellan died in 1521; Pinto’s significant travels occurred after Magellan’s death.

2. “classified the Lequios and Chinese as the wealthiest in the Orient trading in gold and silver especially.”

   • This is an important observation about economic perceptions, likely drawn from Pinto’s Peregrinação.

   • However, it could benefit from a clearer grammatical construction and citation if used in academic writing.

3. “He defines the Lequios Islands as an archipelago, not Taiwan, as well as a separate country.”

   • This sentence is confusing:

     • Does “not Taiwan” mean he excludes Taiwan from the Lequios Islands?

     • “as well as a separate country” is grammatically disjointed—it’s unclear whether the “separate country” refers to the Lequios Islands or another subject.

4. “He also differentiates the Lequios as not Japan, China, Indonesia nor Malaysia but in between those.”

   • This tries to emphasize that the Lequios are neither of the major known Asian nations of the time but somewhere geographically “in between.”

   • The phrase “not Japan, China, Indonesia nor Malaysia” is awkward—“neither...nor” or “not...or” constructions would be cleaner.

5. “Pinto also travelled to the Lequios Islands from Malaysia headed North which he placed in the modern Philippines specifically on 9N20.”

   • This presents a significant geographical claim: that Pinto located the Lequios in the area of 9°20′N, which would be in the central Philippines, near Bohol or Cebu.

   • However, this is a contentious interpretation, as “Lequios” has often been associated with the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa).

   • The sentence could be improved by making it clearer that this is an interpretation of Pinto’s account, not necessarily an uncontested fact.

---

Historical and Interpretive Issues

• The identity and location of the “Lequios” have long been debated. Some scholars associate them with the Ryukyu Islands (modern-day Okinawa), not the Philippines.

• Claiming that Pinto placed them in the modern Philippines, especially at a specific latitude, is a strong assertion that requires evidence—likely a modern reinterpretation of his texts rather than a direct quote.

---

Suggested Revision for Clarity

Ferdinand Pinto, a 16th-century Portuguese explorer, described the Lequios and the Chinese as among the wealthiest peoples in the Orient, primarily engaged in the trade of gold and silver. He identified the Lequios Islands as an archipelago distinct from Taiwan, considering it a separate country. Pinto differentiated the Lequios from the Chinese, Japanese, Indonesians, and Malays, suggesting they inhabited a region between these known lands. He reportedly traveled northward from Malaysia to reach the Lequios Islands, which he located around 9°20′N—an area corresponding to the central Philippines in modern geography.

---

Would you like help tracing where this 9°20′N claim appears in Pinto’s writings or how scholars have interpreted the term “Lequios”?

You said:

compare that paragraph to this one from Pinto's journal: In this manner we departed from Pungor the capital City of the Island of Lequios, of which I will here make a brief relation, to the end that if it shall one day please God to inspire the Portugal Nation, principally for the exaltation and increase of the Catholick faith, and next for the great benefit that may redound thereof, to undertake the Conquest of this Island, they may know where first to begin, as also the commodities of it, and the easiness of this Conquest. We must understand then that this Island of Lequios, scituated in nine and twenty degrees, is two hundred leagues in circuit, threescore in length, and thirty in bredth.

ChatGPT said:

Great comparison. The paragraph from Pinto’s journal and the modern one you provided differ significantly in terms of content, interpretation, and tone. Here's a breakdown of how they compare:

---

Geographical Placement

• Pinto’s Journal:

  • Explicitly places the Island of Lequios at 29 degrees latitude (presumably north), not 9°20′N.

  • That would situate it in the Ryukyu Islands, particularly near Okinawa, which lies around 26–27°N. This supports the common scholarly view that Lequios refers to Liuqiu / Ryukyu (Okinawa).

• Modern Paragraph:

  • Claims Pinto placed Lequios at 9N20, which would be in the central Philippines, a completely different region.

  • This appears to be a reinterpretation or misreading of Pinto’s account.

---

Nature of Lequios

• Pinto’s Journal:

  • Refers to Lequios as a single island, though large (“two hundred leagues in circuit”).

  • Pinto describes its strategic and economic potential, even considering it for Portuguese conquest and evangelization.

  • His tone is missionary and imperial, typical of Portuguese exploration literature of the 16th century.

• Modern Paragraph:

  • Describes Lequios as an archipelago and a separate country—not just an island.

  • Attempts to distance it from Japan, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, claiming it's “in between,” which is geographically ambiguous and inconsistent with Pinto’s 29° placement.

  • The modern paragraph also blurs historical geography, attempting to re-anchor Lequios into a new, modern context (i.e., the Philippines).

---

Interpretive Gap

• Pinto’s Writings:

  • Are specific about measurements and strategic interest in the island at 29° latitude.

  • Uses the term Lequios in a way that matches other Portuguese and Spanish accounts referring to Liuqiu / Ryukyu.

• Modern Paragraph:

  • Introduces a revisionist reading, moving Lequios far south to the Philippines.

  • That reinterpretation doesn’t match Pinto’s own navigational coordinates or common contemporary usage of the term.

  • May reflect an agenda or modern effort to link historical narratives to the Philippines for nationalistic or ideological reasons.

---

Conclusion

Pinto’s original journal clearly places the Island of Lequios at 29°N, aligning with the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa), not the Philippines. His descriptions emphasize military strategy, size, and religious conquest. The modern paragraph misrepresents Pinto’s coordinates (29° → 9°20′N), changes a single island into an archipelago, and places it in the wrong region entirely. The reinterpretation appears forced and is inconsistent with the primary source.

Would you like help tracing how the name Lequios evolved in historical geography or how it has been used in other early European texts?

Retards in the Government 457

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/12/2-pnp-officers-charged-with-graft-before-sandiganbayan

A graft case has been filed before the Sandiganbayan against Col. Hector Udani Grijaldo Jr. of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and another police officer for allowing policemen work as construction workers in a private structure in Cebu City from 2019 to 2020.

In the case raffled to the anti-graft court’s fourth division, Grijaldo and Senior Police Officer Jesus P. Batobalonos of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 were charged with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Ombudsman prosecutors accused them of utilizing subordinate police officers under their supervision as workers for the construction of a private structure/building owned by Grijaldo in Sitio Cantipla, Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City from August 2019 to April 2020.

The prosecutors said their actions caused unwarranted benefit, advantage, and preference to Grijaldo while resulting in damage and undue injury to the government in the amount of P9,435,144.

A bail bond of P90,000 for each accused has been recommended.

Two PNP officers have been charged with graft. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/16/ex-army-officer-wanted-for-kidnapping-nabbed-after-19-years

Police arrested a former Army officer wanted for kidnapping after 19 years in hiding in Opol town, Misamis Oriental province on Monday, Feb. 16.

The suspect with a P300,000 reward for his capture identified as Jac was arrested on a warrant for kidnapping-for-ransom dated June 29, 2007 issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 145 with no bail recommended.

Police Regional Office-10 Director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher N. Abrahano said the suspect and companions abducted a Filipino-Chinese businessman on May 24, 2007 in Makati City. 

A P2-million ransom was paid on June 2, 2007 but he was not immediately released. The victim was released on June 3, 2007 in Makati City and rescued by police.

Several suspects were arrested a in follow-up operation.

The suspects’ co-accused – two former soldiers, one police officer, and three other individuals – were convicted in 2018 and sentenced to reclusion perpetua by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 for kidnapping-for-ransom. 

Abrahano commended operating units for their accomplishment.

“For 19 years he hid from the law, but justice has finally caught him up. His arrest closes a long-standing kidnapping case where his co-accused have already been sentenced to reclusion perpetua. This sends a clear message. Fugitives may run, but they cannot outrun justice,” said Abrahano.

The suspect is under the custody of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office for proper disposition.

Police arrested a former Army officer wanted for kidnapping after 19 years in hiding.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2183429/ex-cop-arrested-for-illegal-drugs-in-leyte-town

A dismissed police officer was arrested along with a suspected high-value individual during an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) in Babatngon, Leyte on Tuesday, February 17.

Authorities identified the suspects as alias “Fred,” 55, a former policeman ranked No. 1 on the Regional Priority Target List, and alias “Gela,” 21, an unemployed resident of Babatngon who was classified as a high-value individual.

The arrests stemmed from a buy-bust operation carried out by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 8 in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 8.

The operation was supported by several regional specialized units, and the Babatngon municipal police station.

Seized during the operation were approximately 39 grams of suspected meth with an estimated street value of P265,200, along with marked buy-bust money. 

Authorities also recovered a pump-action rifle, ammunition, and a hand grenade from the suspects’ possession, raising concerns over the potential link between illegal drugs and firearms.

Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, PRO-8 director, commended the operating teams for the successful operation, emphasizing the regional police’s commitment to sustaining aggressive but lawful anti-drug efforts.

“I commend the team for their bravery and professionalism in this operation. Rest assured that PRO-8 will continue to pursue those involved in illegal activities and ensure that they face the consequences of their actions,” Capoy said in an statement.

Authorities confirmed that all seized evidence was properly inventoried in the presence of the suspects and required witnesses in accordance with legal procedures. Appropriate criminal charges are currently being prepared against the arrested individuals.

Police noted that the arrest of a former law enforcement officer underscores ongoing challenges in the fight against illegal drugs, as authorities continue to target both active networks and individuals previously linked to law enforcement or security sectors.

A dismissed police officer was arrested on drug charges. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2183449/cop-held-after-car-crashes-into-15-vehicles-hurts-21-in-taguig-city

A police officer was arrested after his multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) crashed into 14 motorcycles and a sedan, hurting 21 individuals, in Taguig City, according to a police report.

The incident occurred Monday night in front of a convenience store along Cayetano Boulevard in Barangay Tuktukan, Taguig City.

The police report identified the MPV driver as an active police staff sergeant of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.

“While travelling at the said location, the vehicle’s brakes accidentally malfunctioned. In an attempt to avoid possible contact, the driver veered to the right,” the police report explained.

“However, the brakes remained inoperative, causing the vehicle to hit other vehicles travelling on the right side,” it added.

Twelve drivers and nine passengers sustained various injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, the police detailed.

“During inquiry, they collectively waived their rights to file charges against [the MPV driver.] In fact, each aggrieved party executed a written agreement to settle the damages incurred as a result of the incident,” it noted.

Nonetheless, the MPV driver’s license was confiscated for violation of a city ordinance against reckless driving and his vehicle was impounded for safekeeping pending investigation.

The MPV driver remained under the custody of the Taguig City Police Station Traffic Investigation Unit, the National Capital Region Police Office Public Information Office confirmed to the Inquirer in a text message.

Meanwhile, according to the police report, several of the affected drivers had yet to submit their licenses, original receipts, and certificates of registration for the investigation, citing treatment for their injuries.

A police officer was arrested after his multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) crashed into 14 motorcycles and a sedan, hurting 21 individuals, in Taguig City, according to a police report.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/17/barangay-captain-in-iloilo-yields-p15-m-shabu

Another barangay captain in northern Iloilo province was caught in an anti-drug operation over the weekend with nearly P1.5-million worth of suspected shabu from his possession.

Authorities identified the suspect as Kap Redan of Barangay Bondulan in San Dionisio town.

Recovered from the 52-year-old suspect by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the San Dionisio Municipal Police Station (MPS) under Police Capt. Maria Rosela Buenvenida was 222 grams of shabu.

Kap Redan, who was arrested in his house, reportedly sourced shabu from Estancia town and distributed it in San Dionisio.

Iloilo police chief Police Col. Bayani Razalan lauded the San Dionisio MPS for arresting the suspect listed as a high-value drug supplier.

Razalan thanked residents who provided information to the San Dionisio MPS which took two years to conduct surveillance against the suspect.

Kap Redan is the second barangay captain in San Dionisio arrested this year for alleged involvement in illegal drugs. 

Another barangay captain in northern Iloilo province was caught in an anti-drug operation over the weekend with nearly P1.5-million worth of suspected shabu from his possession.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2183676/pnp-suspends-4-catanduanes-cops-over-death-of-detainee-during-escape-try

The Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the suspension of four Catanduanes police officers over the death of a person under police custody (PUPC) who supposedly attempted to escape during a stop in Camarines Sur.

“Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, has ordered an impartial investigation into the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by four police officers in Camarines Sur,” Nartatez’ office said in a statement on Wednesday.

“P/Gen. Nartatez directed the immediate preventive suspension of the involved officers to ensure the integrity of the investigation,” it added.

The PUPC, a murder suspect, wa arrested in Pasig City and was being brought back to Catanduanes alongside another apprehended rape suspect last Feb. 6.

The police officers transporting the arrested suspects made a stop in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur to use the restroom when the PUPC elbowed one of the officers, took his firearm and ran to the forest, where the other officers gave chase and exchanged gunfire.

Autopsy results showed the murder suspect was hit in the shoulder, chest and head, Del Gallego police chief Capt. Bernie Undecimo previously told reporters.

“The PNP has clear protocols on the use of force, particularly on the principle of necessity and proportionality. We’re now investigating whether the standard operating procedures were followed during the operation,” Nartatez said.

The Philippine National Police ordered the suspension of four Catanduanes police officers over the death of a person under police custody who supposedly attempted to escape during a stop in Camarines Sur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2183888/lto-dismisses-3-personnel-in-mimaropa-due-to-alleged-extortion-racket

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday said three personnel in Mimaropa were removed from their posts over their alleged involvement in extortion activities.

According to the LTO in a statement, the three personnel were dismissed following an anti-corruption drive led by the agency’s chief Markus Lacanilao.

LTO said one of the removed staff was a Job Order personnel who the LTO found to have been receiving illegal payments through an online wallet.

“As a result, Asec. Lacanilao immediately directed Region IV-B Acting Regional Director Atty. Wendel Dinglasan to cancel the contract of the said JO enforcer,” the LTO said.

Meanwhile, the other dismissed individuals were both regular employees—one of whom was caught collecting money in exchange for expediting transactions, while the other is accused of bribery involving plantilla positions and promotions.

The LTO said both employees have been suspended for 90 days pending investigation.

Lacanilao in the same statement then issued a warning against all LTO personnel that those who betray public trust will face administrative and legal consequences as the agency does not tolerate any form of fraud or abuse of authority.

He then called on the public to report any suspicious activities involving LTO to help the agency improve its public service delivery. 

The Land Transportation Office said three personnel in Mimaropa were removed from their posts over their alleged involvement in extortion activities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269293

Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Wednesday sacked an executive of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) and clarified that all on-duty ambulances are allowed to pass through the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway.

Lopez made the decision on Wednesday through a memorandum addressed to SAICT Special Operations Group (SOG) head Rayson Dela Torre.

In the memorandum, he said Dela Torre flagged down an ambulance passing through the EDSA Busway that was carrying a stage 4 cancer patient on the way to a 6 a.m. doctor's appointment on Tuesday.

The incident was shown in a television news report, where Dela Torre stated that non-emergencies, such as transporting a patient to a medical appointment, are not an acceptable reason for an ambulance to use the EDSA Busway.

However, Lopez stressed that on-duty ambulances are allowed to use the EDSA Busway, regardless of the condition of the patient.

“Further, while the investigation is ongoing, you are hereby relieved from your assignment as SOG Head in EDSA Busway,” he said in his memorandum.

To avoid similar incidents, he also ordered the SAICT to conduct a reorientation of personnel assigned to the busway on policies issued by the DOTr.

“The Department of Transportation expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the patient’s family. We are assuring the public that necessary measures are being taken to ensure that enforcement policies will be implemented with compassion and that the people’s safety will always be the transport agency’s priority and paramount concern,” Lopez said.

A post that went viral on Facebook showed that the patient on board the flagged-down ambulance has passed away.

Netizens decried the treatment given to the patient and the SAICT’s alleged lack of understanding of the situation.

Acting Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Wednesday sacked an executive of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation for stopping an ambulance on EDSA. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Suspicious Financial Transactions, Divorce, and More!

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

During and since the pandemic cyberfraud has "became the leading predicate offenses tied to money laundering in the Philippines." The amount is in the billions. 

https://business.inquirer.net/574022/anti-money-laundering-council-flags-p35b-suspicious-financial-transactions

Various forms of cyberfraud became the leading predicate offenses tied to money laundering in the Philippines during the pandemic and its economic aftermath, underscoring how lockdowns accelerated a broad shift to digital platforms that criminals were quick to exploit.

In its latest evaluation of the country’s exposure to dirty money flows, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said it had received 1,295,627 suspicious transaction reports (STRs) with a total value of P35.49 billion from 2021 through the first half of 2024.

Of the total, 758,621 STRs or 58.55 percent came from covered entities like banks that flagged cyber-enabled financial crimes, including phishing, vishing (voice phishing), business email compromise and user account hacking.

Swindling ranked second, comprising 24.17 percent of the total volume, while child exploitation activities made up 6.55 percent. Together, the three predicate offenses accounted for the majority of suspicious transaction reports analyzed by the council.

P14-B swindling transactions

By value, however, swindling topped the list, with transactions amounting to P14 billion, or 39.49 percent of the total. Cyberfraud followed with P8.1 billion, representing 22.86 percent, while graft and corrupt practices accounted for P4.1 billion, or 11.68 percent.

The council said year-on-year data showed a sharp increase in both the volume and value of cyberfraud-related STRs between 2021 and 2023, particularly in domestic transactions.

Yet even as the number of reports surged from 2021 to 2022, their total value fell by more than half—a shift that suggested a proliferation of smaller, lower-value transactions.

Cyber threat

A closer look at transaction flows underscored the largely homegrown nature of the cyber threat. The council said 99.88 percent of STRs linked to e-commerce violations were domestic transactions, amounting to 757,705 reports with a combined value of P6.57 billion, or 81.04 percent of the total peso value recorded.

“This points to a strong internal threat landscape,” the AMLC said.

The council’s assessment is intended to provide data-driven insights to help regulators, financial institutions and other stakeholders strengthen antimoney laundering, counterterrorism financing and counterproliferation financing strategies.

This is a depressing state of affairs and this article offers no solutions to the problem. But at least the public knows it's happening. 

A celebrity couple has finally divorced. The wife wanted to do it during the pandemic but was forced to wait. 

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2026/02/14/2507955/priscilla-meirelles-confirms-john-estrada-divorce-actors-multiple-affairs

Celebrity couple John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles are officially no longer married, the Brazilian host-model announced.

Priscilla said as much during her February 13 guesting on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," stating her right as a Brazilian national to divorce.

She confirmed returning to Brazil in 2024 to process divorce papers, explaining while she and John married in the Philippines, Priscilla registered their union in her home country after a law was updated.

Divorce is legal in Brazil, in fact, only the Philippines and Vatican City are the only nations where divorce is prohibited.

The host-model admitted attempting to file for annulment, which is allowed in the Philippines; however, the pandemic intervened.

"I don't see myself sharing a life with that person anymore," Priscilla explained, feeling the marriage was no longer valid.

John was not pleased with Priscilla's decision, she revealed, even as she reiterated not being able to see John as a partner and companion in the future.

The former beauty queen listed all the attempts she made to save their marriage, including couple's therapy and going to church, all to no avail.

"My mindset was one thing, his was different," Priscilla continued. "I wanted to save my family, and he was having fun mag-isa."

Boy then asked if a third party was involved and Priscilla laughed as she answered that there was more than individual in the picture.

She acknowledged that John had a "colorful life" and a failed marriage to Janice de Belen, but upon entering a relationship, Priscilla mentioned that John promised to become a different man for her.

That vow in her eyes never materialized and was just one of the many elements why their own marriage never worked, though it did produce a child in Samantha Anechka whom Priscilla said understood the reason for her parents' separation.

"I do believe that John loves me as a person... but what I'm looking for is a partner who respects, loves, considers, and treats me as an equal," Priscilla carried on. "I don't want to just be in a sidecar like a spectator in someone else's life."

Boy and Priscilla also talked about an interview John gave before where he mentioned wanting to "remarry" Priscilla if given the chance, as apparently at the time both were aware of Priscilla's plan to divorce.

The host-model admitted feeling sad hearing that was John's response, but after he reached out she stressed "what's done is done" and instead shifted the focus on co-parenting Anechka, praising John as a good provider.

Priscilla did joke that hopefully John would date someone pretty for Valentine's Day, and as for herself wished she'll end up with a godly man.

But the pandemic has been over for years! It appears this happened a while ago back in 2024. 

It appears China has not been as financially invested in the Philippines since the pandemic as in the past. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269099

Think-tank Stratbase Institute rejected claims made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila that millions of Filipinos would lose their jobs should Philippine-Chinese diplomatic relations sour.

Stratbase, in a Facebook post late Sunday night, said the assertion is not supported by official economic data from the Philippine government.

Per the latest data coming from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from China for the period January to November 2025 amounted to USD3.10 million, or 52.43 percent lower than the USD6.52 million recorded during the same period in 2024. 

The inflows represented only 0.27 percent of total FDI received by the Philippines.

"In 2024, China accounted for just 0.55 percent of total net FDI inflows. This continues a steady downward trend in China’s investment share, which declined from 12.04 percent in 2019 to just over one percent in 2023, before falling further in 2024. The data clearly indicate that China currently plays a relatively minor role in overall FDI inflows to the Philippines," Stratbase said.

The think-tank added China also lags behind other countries in terms of approved but unrealized investment commitments.

Data recently released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2025, Chinese investment pledges amounted to PHP10.25 billion, or just 3.76 percent of the total PHP272.58 billion in pledges received by the Philippines.

While Chinese investment commitments surged during the administration of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte, rising from PHP2.33 billion in 2017 to PHP50.69 billion in 2018 and peaking at PHP88.67 billion that represented 22.7 percent of total pledges in 2019, the commitments fell sharply to PHP15.59 billion in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and global lockdowns.

Since then, Chinese pledges have remained comparatively low. At the same time, Stratbase said the Philippines faces structural vulnerabilities, particularly a widening trade deficit largely driven by imports from China.

"While China is often cited as among the country’s top trading partner(s), the relationship is heavily skewed toward imports. This persistent and expanding imbalance, especially after former President Duterte’s pivot toward Beijing in 2019, heightened dependence on foreign goods, increased exposure to supply chain disruptions and put pressure on the country’s balance of payments," it added.

Taken together, Stratbase said government data showed that China’s contribution to Philippine investment inflows is limited, while trade relations remain structurally imbalanced.

"Claims that diplomatic strain would automatically lead to catastrophic job losses are therefore exaggerated and not supported by empirical evidence," it noted.

Of course this is all swagger from the Chinese government to get the Philippines to remain quiet about the issues in the West Philippine Sea.