Assassinated Businessmen April to June, 2024

This is a list of businessmen who have been assassinated or survived an assassination attempt or who were kidnapped in the second quarter of 2024.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/565930/cebu-city-robbery-korean-national-killed-2-others-nabbed

An armed encounter between law enforcers and a group of Korean nationals, who allegedly robbed a businessman inside his house in Cebu City, led to one of the suspects being killed and a police officer being wounded. 

The incident happened inside a private subdivision in Brgy. Banilad, Cebu City on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

The suspects were identified as Yong Hee Kim, 45; Jun Hee Kim, 49; and Sun Young Choi, 47.

Police Major Romeo Caacoy, chief of Mabolo Police Station, said that at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the suspects allegedly entered the residence of their victim, 45-year-old Yong Hee Kim, who is also a Korean national.

Kim has been living in Cebu for a long time.

Kim was with two of his employees, Angel Apolinario and Loraine Bahag Tradio, during the alleged robbery.

A police report revealed that the three Korean nationals, who were all armed with hand guns, allegedly stole cash worth P200,000; and two watches and jewelry worth P25,000,000.

Caacoy said that an employee of the subdivision called the police after he noticed the armed men enter the victim’s house.

All of the three suspects were still inside Kim’s house when the police arrived.

Caacoy said that they tried to negotiate for the suspects to surrender, but they instead fired shots at the police.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/18/businessman-shot-dead-in-bacolod

A businessman was gunned down in Barangay Estefania here early Thursday morning, April 18.

The victim was identified as Elson Cepeda, a bar owner and resident of Barangay Estefania.

Police Capt. Francis Depasucat, head of Police Station 4, said they received a call about a shooting incident around 4:20 a.m.

Depasucat said the victim and his wife dropped by a convenience store to buy food before going home on board a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). 

Two unidentified persons suddenly appeared when the victim was about to return to his vehicle and shot him.

The suspects fled on board the car and left the victim’s wife unharmed. 

The victim was taken to the Riverside Medical Center here where he was declared dead.

A closed-circuit television camera footage posted on social media hours after the incident showed a car parked behind the victim’s SUV.

Depasucat said that it is possible that the suspects tailed the victim and police recovered from the crime scene several fired bullets.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the motive of the incident.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/569082/fish-vendor-shot-while-sleeping-inside-market-in-cebu-city

A fish vendor was shot by an unidentified assailant while she was sleeping  inside a market in Sitio Gen. Genis, Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City early Saturday morning, April 20, 2024.

The shooting happened at past 5:00 a.m.  which resulted to a woman sustaining injuries. 

The victim was identified as 44-year-old Jonabel Torreon, a resident of Block 7, Barangay Sawang Calero. 

Torreon makes a living by selling seafood at the market.

According to Police Staff Sergeant Leigh Vincent Gonzalve, investigator on case, the fish vendor was shot while taking a break inside a market at the time of the incident.

Gonzalve said that while the victim was sleeping, a man wearing a grey hoodie approached the sleeping vendor and pulled out a firearm.

The unidentified assailant then shot Torreon on the shoulder and scampered away.

Shortly after, the incident was reported to the Sawang Calero Police Station and the victim was rushed to the nearest hospital. 

As of this writing, Torreon is reportedly in a stable condition and recovering from her injuries. 

Gonzalve said that they will be looking into all possible motives behind the shooting, including personal grudge.

He said that some vendors at the market disclosed that the victim once had a quarrel with an individual. 

Torreon, however, denied this and said that she had no enemies during an interview with police. 

According to Gonzalve, they will be checking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages around the crime scene in order to identify the suspect. 

Furthermore, a follow-up investigation is ongoing to determine the motive behind the shooting inside one of the busiest markets in the city. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/5/sari-sari-store-owner-shot-dead

A businessman was killed outside his sari-sari or community convenience store in Purok Mabinuligon, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Friday, May 3.

Police identified the victim as 37-year-old Donie Bacoli, also a farmer and former chief barangay watchman or tanod.

Police Lt. Col. Fernando Somblingo Jr., Sipalay police chief, said a man asked the victim to come out of his store. 

Bacoli went out and was shot by the suspect. The victim died on the spot.

Somblingo said the victim had just resigned as chief village watchman to focus on his store.

It was the second killing in the barangay in less than a month. On April 25, a 43-year-old man was shot and killed by the New People’s Army (NPA).

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/905938/personal-grudge-tagum-city-businessman/story/

Police are eyeing personal grudge as possible motive in the killing of a businessman in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The 30-year-old victim, Ronel Llega, was shot dead outside the compound where he lived in Barangay Magugpo East.

Investigators said the victim had just arrived home on board a “bao-bao” after unloading several items and products at their store when he was shot by an unidentified assailant.

The victim succumbed to bullets in different parts of his body.

“Wala may recorded nga nawala sa iyaha or mga value item or iyahang mga belongings. Narekober lang sa crime scene katung 10 ka basiyo sa calibre .45 nga pistola,” Lt. Evelyn Tidula of Tagum City Police Station said.

Investigation into the incident continues to identify the perpetrator.

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/money-reward-info-killers-jholo-papi-granados-cavite/

Cavite First District Representative Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III is offering a P500,000-reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect behind the killing of businessman and prospective electoral candidate. 

In a Facebook post, Revilla condemned the killing of Jholo “Papi” Granados who he said was supposed to run for councilor in the upcoming 2025 elections under his party.

Granados was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men as he was about to go home around 4:30 pm on Saturday, May 11. Local police said that the suspects – who were wearing helmet – fled towards Bacoor City after the incident.

(Our party and our family express our deepest condolences to the loved ones left behind by Papi. We will not stop until we obtain justice for his death.) 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/16/vendor-gunned-down-in-quezon

A 55-year-old vendor was gunned down in Barangay Poblacion here on Wednesday morning, May 15.

Police identified the victim as Edgardo Magtibay, a resident of Barangay Malabanban Norte.

Investigation said Magtibay was standing on a street when two men on board a motorcycle appeared and shot him twice in the head.

Magtibay died on the spot and the suspects fled towards Maharlika Highway.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/1/livestock-vendor-gunned-down-in-negros-occidental

A livestock vendor was gunned down by three unidentified persons in Barangay Amayco, Murcia, Negros Occidental on Friday, May 31.

Police identified the victim as 38-year-old Jonel Peruelo of Barangay Amayco.

Police Capt. Rodney Sarona, deputy chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the victim was eating snacks in a sari-sari store when the suspects arrived and shot him from behind.

The victim succumbed to multiple bullet wounds, according to Sarona.

Recovered from the crime scene were eight empty shells, a deformed hard bullet, a deformed bullet metallic jacket, a fired bullet of a .45 caliber firearm, and three empty shells of a .9mm caliber firearm.

Sarona said they are exploring possible angles in the incident to establish the motive such as business-related or grudges.

He said the victim was engaged in buy and sell of livestock. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/576291/4-persons-of-interest-in-killing-of-dumanjug-trader-identified

The Dumanjug Police Station has identified four persons of interest (POI) in the killing of a 51-year-old livestock trader in Barangay Kanyuko, Dumanjug town, southwest Cebu on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Leonardo Pescadero Macario, a resident of the area, was found dead next to his parked motorcycle in Barangay Kanyuko. He had multiple hacked wounds on his head.

Police suspect Macario was ambushed, killed, and robbed, as they found a felled log blocking the road.

The victim was on his way to the Mantalungon Livestock Market to buy livestock, according to the investigation.

He had P500,000 cash on him, but it disappeared when they found the victim’s body.

Police chief Captain Kelvin Mamaradlo thought the suspects were local boys.

There’s a chance the victim knew the suspects since they knew his route when he rode his motorcycle.

Mamaradlo suggested the suspects might have planned the victim’s killing.

The victim’s family didn’t know if he had any conflicts with anyone. They described him as a good person with no record.

Mamaradlo thanked Mayor Gungun Gica for offering a reward for information about the suspects’ whereabouts, especially since there were no CCTV cameras at the crime scene. He hoped it would encourage witnesses to help in the investigation.

He also promised to ensure the safety of witnesses to protect them from any risk.

 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/06/12/2362211/batangas-resort-owner-73-found-dead

A resort owner was found dead at her residence in Barangay Durungao in Bauan, Batangas on Monday.

The body of Carmen Maranan of the Maranan resort in Sitio Gintuan in Barangay Durungao was discovered by her daughter, according to Lt. Reymond Matibag, Bauan chief investigator.

Matibag said a certain Lando, a former resort worker, is considered a person of interest in the killing.

He said another resort worker saw Lando leaving the resort at midnight while footage of closed-circuit television camera caught the suspect entering its premises.

Probers are eyeing a grudge as the motive for the killing.

Citing initial investigation, Matibag said the victim could have been struck by a flower vase while sleeping on a couch.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/06/25/2365401/businessman-shot-dead

Police have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly shot dead a businessman in Quezon City on Sunday night.

Cyrus Galanza, 44, was walking along a street in Barangay Batasan Hills when the assailant fired at him at around 6:25 p.m., according to the Batasan police station 6.

A witness told probers that he was inside his house when he heard gunshots.

When the witness went outside, he saw Galanza slumped on the ground with gunshots to the body.

The victim was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said they are looking for leads to determine the identity of the gunman who fled after the attack. Probers have yet to determine the motive for the shooting.

The God Culture: The Dead Sea Scrolls Are All About Jesus Christ

The stupidity and contradictions never stop with Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. He continues to claim The God Culture is a team but it is simply not possible that a team would continue to get EVERYTHING wrong. If it turns out there is an actual God Culture team they are the most unqualified people for the job of researching the Bible, history, linguistics, paleography, archaeology, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

NEW!!! Yahusha's Sacrifice in the Dead Sea Scrolls 1st Century. WOW!!!

Tim and the gang, IF there is a gang, are now claiming that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is to be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically in the Commentary on Nahum. Here is the passage in question.

[And chokes prey for its lionesses; and it fills] its caves [with prey] and its dens with victims (ii, 12a—b).

Interpreted, this concerns the furious young lion [who executes revenge] on those who seek smooth things and hangs men alive, ... formerly in Israel. Because of a man hanged alive on [the] tree, He proclaims, ‘Behold I am against [you, says the Lord of Hosts’].

https://couldbeanonymous.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/complete-scrolls.pdf

What Tim is going to do is take ahold of "Because of a man hanged alive on a tree" and say that has to be a reference to Jesus Christ because he is the ONLY man whose being hanged on a tree, or crucified, matters. He will also claim that this passage is wrongly translated because of the addition of "who executes revenge" in brackets and he will also deride paleographic dating as mere unscientific guess work. Below are the most important statements he makes trying to twist this passage into a reference to Jesus Christ. 

1:07  The whole Dead Sea scroll, uh, malfunction of what they call scholarship is really truly utter fraud. Uh, so, yeah they don't find it and we're not surprised cuz it's right there sitting on top of their nose. And what do they do? Well, first they screw up the date in a false science, uh, that guesses at a date. Yeah, that's what they do they don't actually test many times, uh, you know carbon dating. But even if they did there's still a margin of error that could take it into the next century. So it really doesn't tell you anything when you're thinking about trying to nail it down to a very, very specific era of you know 30 to 40 years. Uh, literally impossible to do so and it's okay we don't have to that's the whole thing. It's the demand for such that science doesn't even have to support it that it's just ludicrous. Stop demanding things, right? That's what we should do. Stop demanding things that man can't even date and can't even do anyway. Pretty easy

Got it? The text is undatable using proper scientific methods including carbon dating and paleography. Moreover people who demand the Dead Sea Scrolls be subject to such testing are stupid.  

4:50 However, no one can seem to think over there at the Dead Sea scroll, uh, you know Library, the Leon Levy Library, all of it. The Rockefeller funded uh disaster, uh, of interpretation. At least we have the Dead Sea Scrolls at least some of the translations are okay uh but their interpretations, these guys are idiots.

This is a particularly ignorant statement. Tim derides the scholarly interpretation of the scrolls but says the translations are OK. Only an idiot would not understand ALL translation is interpretation. Unbelievable. 

7:02 This concerns the Furious Young Lion that's singular notice. Now, it's not Yahusha and we know that he can be, uh, referred to as a lion as well in Prophecy but that's not what this is this is very clear this is a furious Young Lion who's doing some bad stuff here. So, uh, this is Pontius Pilate very obviously I mean anybody can read this even at first blush and really kind of almost see this but hopefully you will now. 

Why is it obvious that this lion is Pontius Pilate? Tim does not say. It is obvious to Tim because he has already decided that this passage is about Jesus being crucified and the man who ordered his crucifixion is Pontius Pilate. But why is this furious young lion Pilate? Tim also wants his audience to know that there is only one lion mentioned in the text and not many lions as some scholars say and who Tim never cites. Surely Tim has read this whole commentary and knows that the furious young lion is mentioned in the fragment just before the one he is interpreting.

The lion tears enough for its cubs and it chokes prey for its lionesses (ii, 12a).

[Interpreted, this] concerns the furious young lion who strikes by means of his great men, and by means of the men of his council.

Now, how is this Pilate? Tim has already said there is only one furious young lion so there has to be a strict identification between these two furious young lions. So, how is this Pilate? Tim does not say. He ignores it completely.

7:46 And notice we have brackets here as we move forward. uh now what does that mean? It means they added this part to the sentence, to the translation, it's not actually there. Now, there's nothing wrong with doing that if it's logical, reasonable, and they're not just throwing in something to basically change the whole doctrine of the passage. Oh, oops that's what they're doing in blatant fraud. Let's see. 

So, it says "who executes Revenge." So, this this Furious Young Lion executes Revenge. Okay you could say that about Pontius Pilate I, I mean you could but are you kidding? The guy washed his hands he tried not he tried to say "no." No the Pharisees twisted his arm uh he wasn't exactly the one executing Revenge other than for them but here's how it reads: uh, "who executes Revenge." Uh, what they're trying to do is set up the Pharisees as the persecuted here because those poor Pharisees, I mean, you know, they they, they were just trying to kill a man. What's wrong with that? Right? Okay. What it really should say is something more like "on behalf of." Ok? Not "who executes Revenge." Nonsense.

Wow. Now Tim is not only engaging in commentary but in translation! It should be noted that the bracketed words are not a problem for Tim. It is the word "on" following the brackets with which he takes issue. Instead of "on" Tim thinks it should read "on behalf of." Why exactly should it say "on behalf of?" Has Tim looked at the Hebrew? No. This new translation is based not on what the actual Hebrew text says but on Tim's own fancy. It is totally ludicrous.

10:50 So, who does the hanging here? The Furious Young Lion Pontius Pilate does. He's the Executioner. then it says "formerly in Israel." So, this fragment is written when after the event because it's talking about something that was formerly there and formerly happened. Duh. This text really dates itself. 

"Because of a man." Okay. One man. There's only one to which this could even refer in fact and that's Yahusha you'll see. One man. Okay. "Because of a man hanged alive on the tree he proclaims behold I am against you says Yahweh of hosts." Wow. Now, let's break this down cuz there's actually a lot there to unpack and by the end of this short video you're going to understand it and again test it for yourself. 

First notice this man as Peter and Luke affirm was hanged on a tree. We know that is scripture. that is a Biblical way to identify Yahusha. Now, it's not a cross. Uh, it's an upright stake, a single piece of Timber not two. Uh, not in any passage by the way. There's not a single passage that ever identifies an actual cross. That's an English translation of the Greek word stauros which is always a stake, a single piece of wood usually pointed on the end but not always, uh and Yahusha was attached to one of those. Uh, it's called a tree but appropriately so, uh, so, anyway. Watch our videos on the cross and the great, the Greek, uh, stake and we cover that well. 

This is clear that a singular man was hanged on a tree and well, uh, caused Yahua to react against those who executed him. That's pretty severe. That's pretty serious when he reacts. This is Yahusha and no one else. There's really no other fit to this and you'll see as we go through.

It is true that Jesus was hung on a "tree" and died but he also resurrected. If this is indeed Jesus where is the mention of His resurrection? It simply is not there. That is rather odd since the resurrection is pretty important.

20:06 Uh, that is poor and no wonder he can't, you know, figure this out and ends up leading uh to really the hiding of this incredible Revelation that's been sitting right there. Yahusha is found his crucifixion is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls written about the period that it happened, concurrently. Wow. This is amazing. When you think about it this is incredible.

This is the core of Tim's entire argument. Dead Sea Scroll Scholars are dishonest frauds who cannot connect a man dying on a tree to Jesus Christ who died on a tree. 

The amount of ignorance in this video is breathtaking. Tim wants us to believe this fragment was written shortly after Jesus was crucified based on his interpretation not of the original Hebrew but of Vermes English translation. For Tim, Vermes' commentary and bracket additions are maliciously fraudulent while his translation is acceptable even though the translation is itself an interpretation. However, as I showed above it is the translation and not the bracketed words with which Tim takes issue. If this fragment was written after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ why is there no mention of His resurrection? 

Tim is also taking this one fragment out of context. This fragment is from a whole commentary on Nahum. How does this interpretation fit in with the rest of the commentary? It is a matter of fact that this commentary mentions the names of two Greek kings. Who are they? Tim does not care as he dismisses them completely. 

18:46 "Substantial remains of a Naham commentary we retrieved from cave four. they cover parts of chapters 1 and two of the biblical book and the first 14 chapters of chapter 3. their historical significance has been discussed in chapter 3. It is worthy of note that the commentator employs not only cryptograms Kittim, Furious Young Lion, Etc." Indeed he does and that's not really that cryptic when you understand you know a lot of these things especially when they're repeated over and over in the Dead Sea Scrolls these these aren't Shockers at all. "But the actual names of two Greek Kings." Oops! Well, no not not in terms of of uh of what we're talking about not at all. Uh, Demetrius and, uh, Antiochus except for both of them are gone uh by this era that this is supposedly dated from 50 to 1 BC. Doesn't he know that? Doesn't he read his own writing? That's pretty bad. Anyway, so, the Greeks are gone and Rome is in power so forget the Greeks there that he mentions, I don't know why. 

Tim is at a loss why Vermes mentions the names of two Greek kings Demetrius and Antiochus. Is he for real? The names are in the text! That's why he mentions them. This is beyond stupid especially as Tim had no problem with Antiochus being name dropped when he used this very same fragment to "disprove" The Book of Maccabees. 

Take a look again at the title card for this video. "FRESH DISCOVERY!" "How did scholars HIDE this?" It's simply amazing that scholars who have devoted their entire lives to studying the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient languages, 2nd Temple Period literature, and the culture of the time are bested again and again by a magazine publisher who admits he is not a linguist and has a degree in marketing. How is this possible? 

It's not. The real question is why is Timothy Jay Schwab such a clueless utter moron and why does anyone believe the ridiculous garbage that he spews? 

How did scholars miss that the Dead Sea Scrolls, far from being a collection of documents pertaining to a specific community complete with rules and their own unique interpretation of the Bible, is actually all about Jesus Christ? It's because they hate Jesus, of course and the Dead Sea Scrolls are all about Jesus. 

5:35 They tried to rule out 30 or so years later of course. Uh, why? Well because that would be Messiah in this text and of course that couldn't possibly be because well, they hate him. What do you expect? What are they doing? Managing the Dead Sea Scrolls which are all about Him that's the real question. Now, problem we ain't fallen for any more of this ridiculous leaven.

Now, it must be said that while Tim is very stupid his audience is even more so. The morons who listen to him will believe everything he says without doing what he says which is test all things including himself. They will hear Tim read about a man being hanged on a tree in this Nahum commentary fragment and agree that it can only be Jesus Christ who was also hanged on a tree. 

This interpretation of the Nahum Commentary is on par with Tim's linguistic method whereby a Filipino word sounds like a Hebrew word therefore it IS a Hebrew word. It is also on par with Tim's interpretation of Jesus saying "Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest" to mean we have to keep the Sabbath because we rest on the Sabbath therefore Jesus must have been talking about the Sabbath when he mentioned rest. It is silly and ridiculous beyond belief. It is amazing how, when you think he cannot get any stupider, Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture will always surprise you with something even more stupid than before.

Retards in the Government 371

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

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227321

Police authorities on Thursday arrested former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves over his alleged involvement in terrorism activities.

In a report, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Teves was nabbed in Barangay Taclobo, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental at about 8:15 a.m.

The former governor is wanted by the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 where he has been charged with violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, with a bail of PHP200,000.

He was also listed as the top Most-Wanted Person at the provincial and regional levels.

In August, the Anti-Terrorism Council designated as terrorists Pryde Henry and his brother, former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., over their alleged involvement in several murder incidents and harassment in the province in the past years when they were still in public office.

These incidents include the March 4, 2023 murder of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves has been arrested over his alleged involvement in terrorism activities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227387

Criminal complaints have been filed against three police officers involved in the alleged hazing of a rookie in Isabela province, a ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) chief Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon said the three unnamed police officers were slapped with complaints for violation of the Anti-Hazing law before the Isabela Provincial Prosecutors Office for allegedly mauling Pat. Jeremy Matthew Padilla on May 24.

"If they are found guilty of the Anti-Hazing law, they would be meted with reclusion perpetua. They can be jailed up to 30 years and they would also slapped with penalties. They would be fined PHP2 million for that offense," he added.

De Leon said the pre-charge investigation on the administrative complaint of grave misconduct against the three police officers has started.

Meanwhile, he said the officers' company commander would be investigated for administrative charges over the principle of command responsibility.

He was not included because based on the statement of the complainant, he reported the matter but there was no action taken," De Leon added.

He said they do not have evidence yet that the company commander witnessed the actual hazing so an administrative case would suffice for now.

Based on the report, the suspects allegedly punched Padilla in various parts of the body and hit him with a wooden paddle during an action drill in Barangay Macalauat in Angadanan town. The victim's face was also covered with a wet cloth.

Based on the medical report, the victim sustained multiple physical injuries secondary to mauling, including hematoma in the right upper quadrant of his abdomen; hematomas on the anterior and posterior aspects of his right thigh; hematoma on his left forearm; and abrasions on both knees.

Criminal complaints have been filed against three police officers involved in the alleged hazing of a rookie in Isabela province.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/21/pcg-member-shot-dead-in-lamitan-city

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard was shot dead in Lamitan City, Basilan on Thursday.

Lamitan police chief Police Lt. Col. Arlan Delumpines identified the victim as Nurhan Birong, 26, a resident of Akbar town, Basilan.

Birong was assigned to the Ormoc City Coast Guard Station in Leyte province.

The victim was walking with his girlfriend on Sitio Calle Onse, Barangay Maligaya when he was shot thrice by one of two men onboard a motorcycle.

Biron was taken to the Lamitan City Hospital where he was declared dead.

Police are investigating the incident.

A member of the PCG has been assassinated. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/579939/barangay-councilor-from-pinamungajan-cebu-nabbed-for-drugs

An active barangay councilor of Tutay, Pinamungajan, Cebu landed in jail after he was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for drug charges in Aloguinsan town on Thursday morning, June 20, 2024.

The warrant was in connection with a case relating to illegal drugs that the barangay official was allegedly involved in.

The subject of the operation was identified as Rhaabe Yanong Norteza, of legal age, married, and an active councilor of Barangay Tutay in the municipality of Pinamungajan, southwestern Cebu.

Norteza reportedly previously served as a barangay chairman of his hometown before his current position.

Police, in a report, said that the suspect was spotted and apprehended in Barangay Poblacion, Aloguinsan town in southwestern Cebu at around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The warrant of arrest against him was then served by personnel of the Aloguinsan Municipal Station Tracker team.

Norteza is facing charges for the possession of illegal drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, which were filed against him by law enforcers in Pinamungajan town.

Meanwhile, his warrant of arrest was issued by the presiding judge of the Family Court Branch 59 of Toledo City, Cebu.

Norteza was then arrested and temporarily detained at the custodial facility of the Aloguinsan Municipal Station for a few hours.However, he was released by authorities on the very same day.

According to police, Norteza was able to get out of jail on Thursday evening after he posted a surety bail amounting to around P40,000.

A barangay councilor has been busted for drugs. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/21/cop-shoots-self-while-cleaning-gun

A policemen accidentally shot himself while cleaning his service firearm in his barracks in this town on Tuesday, June 18.

Police identified the victim as Police Staff Sgt. Christian Dior Astoveza, a resident of Barangay Bacong Ilaya here.

Police Patrolman Ejay Loretizo found the body of the victim. A cleaning kit was found near the victim’s body.

Loretizo said he last saw Astoveza cleaning his service firearm.

Police are conducting further investigation. 

A policemen accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/22/jail-guard-nabbed-in-buy-bust

Authorities nabbed a jail guard in a buy-bust operation on Friday, June 21, in Barangay Can-uguib, Abuyog, Leyte.

The suspect was identified as Amir, 45, a high-value individual in the illegal drugs trade, and a resident of Abuyog.

Amir was arrested after he sold suspected shabu worth P500 to a poseur-buyer.

Recovered from the suspect were five small sachets containing shabu.

Amir yielded a total of 3.24 grams shabu worth P22,000.

He was brought to the Abuyog Municipal Police Station for documentation and processing.

The suspect was allegedly a supplier of illegal drugs in a jail facility in Abuyog.

He faces drug-related cases.

A jail guard has been busted for drugs. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/06/23/2364998/barangay-exec-killed-cidg-bar-firearm-sale-bust

Policeman seized four assault rifles and two pistols from a barangay chairman killed in an anti-gunrunning operation in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur on Saturday that turned haywire.

Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, on Sunday identified the slain gunrunner as Billy Jack Ogca, barangay chairman of Upper Itil in Balabagan, a seaside town in the second district of Lanao del Sur.

Ogca and four others were to sell three M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, and two .45 caliber pistols, piled inside their white Toyota Hilux pick-up truck, to agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, but pulled out guns and opened fire when they sensed they were to be arrested, sparking a gunfight.

In a report to Tanggawohn, Police Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, regional chief of CIDG-BAR, said four companions of Ogca, one of them clad in an Army uniform, managed to escape amid the commotion triggered by the shootout along a stretch of a highway in Barangay Upper Itil.

Tanggawohn said the CIDG-BAR is now in custody of the firearms seized during the supposed tradeoff between its agents and Ogca's group that went awry.

A barangay chairman has been killed in a police raid over his illegal guns. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1954397/pampanga-bamban-police-officials-relieved-after-unreported-killings-on-central-luzon

The Pampanga province police director and Porac police chief were relieved from their posts following the alleged “unreported killings” of foreigners on top of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in the area, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Rommel Marbil said on Monday.

“There were killings there that were not adequately probed; it’s not normal for foreigners to die there, and they are now investigating why this is happening,” Marbil said in Filipino in a press conference.

He also bared that several police officials in Bamban were discharged for the same reason, and since both raided Pogo hubs were in Region 3, the Central Luzon police director is under investigation.

“We are looking into those who were directly involved: the provincial director and the municipality’s chief of police … We are also investigating the regional director regarding these reports that are not appropriately addressed, he added in Filipino.

The Pampanga province police director and Porac police chief were relieved from their posts over unreported killings of foreigners related to POGOs.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/26/army-retiree-arrested-after-threatening-traffic-enforcers-with-gun-in-carmona

A retired member of the Philippine Army was arrested for threatening traffic enforcers with a gun after being issued traffic citation tickets on Tuesday, June 25.

Police Regional Office 4A identified the suspect as alias Ulysses.

According to the police report, the suspect was flagged down by two Carmona Traffic Management Office (CARTMO) enforcers along J.M. Loyola St. for reckless driving and disregarding traffic signs.

“He threatened the two CARTMO enforcers by shouting at them while pulling out from his bag one caliber .45 pistol,” Carmona Municipal Police Station (MPS) Chief of Police Lt. Col. Jefferson Ison told the Manila Bulletin.

“Other than the unlicensed firearm and ammunition, upon searching of his bag and body, we found an improvised toother, one empty plastic sachet with a small amount of suspected shabu residues and rolled foil.”

Alias Uly is now under the custody of Carmona MPS and is facing charges for threat and violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

A retired member of the Philippine Army was arrested for threatening traffic enforcers with a gun after being issued traffic citation tickets.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1953781/bamban-mayor-charged-with-human-trafficking

The investigation arm of the Philippine National Police and an interagency body focused on combating organized crime have filed a nonbailable qualified human trafficking charge against Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, over her alleged ties with an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in her town.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) submitted the complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ) early Friday morning, carrying two cardboard storage boxes that contained evidence against the suspended local official and 13 other respondents.

Based on a document shown to reporters, Guo, also referred to as “Guo Hua Ping,” and the other respondents were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 10364 and further amended by Republic Act No. 11862.

Guo was linked to an alleged “grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking” of around 500 foreign Pogo workers who were rescued during a raid on the compound on March 13.

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has been charged with human trafficking. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Pentagon Stands By, Philippines Among Worst, and More!

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

The fallout from the revelation that the US Pentagon engaged in a secret anti-vaccination campaign which targeted the Philippines continues. Now the Pentagon says they stand by their actions. 

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/pentagon-stands-secret-anti-vaccination-disinformation-campaign-philippines-after-reuters-report.html

The Pentagon on Friday stood by its decision to conduct a clandestine disinformation campaign in the Philippines in 2020 that aimed to sow doubt about China's COVID-19 vaccine during the height of the global pandemic -- a campaign that was first revealed in a bombshell report by Reuters.

The U.S. military launched the disinformation campaign following a decision by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper to loosen restrictions on such operations, and used phony online accounts posing as Filipinos in an effort "to discredit China's Sinovac inoculation -- payback for Beijing's efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic," Reuters reported. At the time, the Philippines was struggling to vaccinate its population and had one of the worst death rates in the region.

The Philippines disinformation campaign marks an unusual use of military power in a country that has often been a U.S. ally in a strategically crucial region and at a time of great public health risks. Lisa Lawrence, a Defense Department spokeswoman, did not deny Reuters' reporting on the operation, which was done under the administration of former President Donald Trump and continued for some time under the Biden administration.

The Pentagon "conducts a wide range of operations, including operations in the information environment (OIE), to counter adversary malign influence" and "this process is deliberate, methodical, and comprehensive," Lawrence said in a statement. "The DoD uses a variety of platforms, including social media, to counter those malign influence attacks."

Lawrence also echoed Reuters' reporting, saying, "China [in 2020] initiated a disinformation campaign to falsely blame the United States for the spread of COVID-19."

It is not clear how targeting Filipinos counted as payback for China blaming the US for the pandemic. 

Filipino health workers have spoken up against this operation saying more lives could have been saved. 

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2534121/world

Frontline health workers who served at the Philippine General Hospital, the country’s main hospital for COVID-19, said it came at the cost of Filipino lives. 

“If the misinformation propaganda was real … the views of the general public about the importance of vaccines may have been affected by these troll farms. We know that Filipinos, especially the elderly, can easily believe what they read online,” Andro Carl Coronejo, a staff nurse at PGH’s pediatric intensive care unit, told Arab News, referring to organizations employing people to deliberately manipulate public opinion. 

“I think if it didn’t happen, more people would have been compliant earlier with vaccines. Hence, more lives would have been saved.” 

The pandemic death toll reached over 66,000 in the Philippines, making it the second highest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. 

Bryan Elvambuena, who was an internal medicine resident at PGH in 2020, said many people could have survived had it not been for disinformation. He believes it influenced his patients, many of whom had severe COVID-19. 

“I was dismayed and I found it counterproductive and pathetic, because we tried our best to inform people to get vaccinated with the readily available vaccines,” Elvambuena said. 

Filipino health workers recalled how the pandemic brought the country’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse, as doctors and nurses struggled to care for COVID-19 patients amid surging cases. 

During one of her shifts as a staff nurse at PGH in 2020, Dianne de Castro said she was the only other person on duty to care for 24 patients, at least four of whom were hooked up to mechanical ventilators and life support machines. 

“It makes me wonder how we could have prevented or at least lessened the mortalities, the lives lost during the dark time in our generation. ​​I’ve worked in healthcare for around four years before COVID-19 hit, but I’ve never been this scared of seeing so many moms, dads, siblings, relatives, and friends die day in and day out,” De Castro told Arab News. 

“This ploy to spread misinformation to the public angers me. I still view Sinovac (as) a capable vaccine for COVID-19 and spreading this rumor is as close (as) cutting off the oxygen supply of a person gasping for air and fighting for his life.” 

For her, the US propaganda campaign may be a “crime against humanity” that robbed people of the chance to survive the pandemic and stole them away from their families. 

“My patients deserved so much better,” she said. “If this misinformation ploy was only driven for politics and greed, the ones in power now have blood on their hands.”

This does not take into consideration that no vaccine, not even Sinovac, actually prevents infection. Nor does it take into account the fact that COVID alone, unless coupled with co-morbidities, killed virtually no one. As of April 13th, 2024 the COVID death rate stands at only 66,864 dead out of 4,140,383 cases. 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/philippines/

That is only a 1.6% death rate and this does not take into account any of the circumstances of those deaths such as co-morbidities. While the Pentagon running a psy-op against the Philippines is outrageous there is simply no proof that people died as a result. 

Dabawenyos are being urged to wear masks once again as COVID-19 cases rise. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227120

With 111 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) reported here this month, authorities advised Dabawenyos to again adhere to minimum health guidelines.

In a press briefing Tuesday, the City Health Office (CHO) reported an increase in Covid-19 cases at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) – from 19 in April to 74 in May and 111 in June.

Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon, CHO officer in charge, noted that the number of active cases recorded at the SPMC has reached 135. Of the cases, 50 are asymptomatic, 69 are mild, 15 are moderate, and one is considered critical.

Ababon explained that active cases and cases recorded monthly differ because some active cases may have been accumulated from the preceding month.

“Most of the swabbing is done for those who were admitted. Most of them are unvaccinated, and those who have co-morbidities, such as high blood, diabetes, those who have respiratory illnesses, the old and the very young. They are the vulnerable group,” he said.

However, Ababon clarified that they had not received any report confirming that the recorded cases were of the Covid-19 FLiRT variant.

“Regardless of the variant, our surveillance continues. The CHO no longer practices isolation, contract tracing, and vaccination for a year now,” he said.

Ababon said the CHO would establish temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for Covid-19 patients if the number of cases continues to increase.

“The public is advised to wear face masks once again, observe social distancing, and practice handwashing and hand sanitizing,” he added.

Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon says most of those admitted have co-morbidites. That is the thing everyone is missing. Vaccination does not matter because the vaccines do not prevent infection.  

Online child ex abuse continues to rise post-pandemic as people attempt to find a way to earn a living. 

https://www.miragenews.com/philippines-cyber-cops-combat-surge-in-online-1261296/

Law enforcement officers in the Philippines are being informally supported by the United Nations as they deal with the emotional stress of chasing online child abusers.

The Southeast Asian country has been identified as one of many trouble spots for online child abuse on the internet, a phenomenon which has grown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheng Veniles works with law enforcement, prosecution and court officers as part of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) initiatives on online child protection.

She started a small informal network of dedicated men and women who lean on each other for support as they track down the abusers.

"Videos and images of children of a sexually exploitative nature or child sexual abuse material are being sold online for $15 to $20.

The incidence of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children boomed in the Philippines during the pandemic partly because many people lost their jobs and their livelihoods. And partly because of the misguided cultural notion of 'No Touch, No Harm'.

Perpetrators, oftentimes, the children's family members and relatives, would say that no harm is being done, that no abuse is taking place because no one is physically touching their children.

A recent trend in the Philippines is for a partner or boyfriend of the child's parent who has the technical expertise to post the content on the dark web and then receive payment in crypto currency.

When asked to explain why they would allow children under their care to be abused online they would reply - Do you want us to starve?

It's heartbreaking how some children don't think of themselves as abused until after they have been rescued. They believe they are just helping the family, unaware that these photos and videos online could ruin their future when they grow up.

This is not just a Filipino problem born out of poverty. The consumers are overseas, so it is a global issue and UNODC is working with international police liaison officers and supporting engagement with the countries that consume the material to encourage cooperation among law enforcement agencies to act to shut down the abuse.

If there were no consumers, then the industry would not exist.

Would this crime be on the rise if Duterte had not shut down the economy during the pandemic?

Moody's says the Asia Pacific Region is underperforming economically compared to pre-pandemic levels and the Philippines, along with Thailand, is the worst performer in the region.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/06/24/2365025/moodys-philippines-among-worst-growth-underachievers-asean

While the Asia Pacific region is growing better than most economies globally, gross domestic product (GDP) is still running far below potential – with the Philippines faring as the worst underachiever in ASEAN, Moody’s Analytics said.

In a note written by Stefan Angrick and Jeemin Bang, economists at Moody’s Analytics, the research firm said the Asia Pacific region should grow by 3.9 percent in 2024 and 2025, outpacing the global economy.

However, growth in the region is significantly below its pre-pandemic levels. Weak domestic demand is slowing down China’s economy while Southeast Asia has yet to recover from the output losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Output in the ASEAN group of economies is more than six percent behind the pre-pandemic trend, with the Philippines and Thailand faring the worst. GDP in both countries is more than 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels,” Angrick and Bang said.

Moody’s Analytics maintained its GDP projections for the Philippines at 5.9 percent this year and six percent for 2025. Both growth forecasts are higher than the 5.6 percent expansion seen in 2023.

However, both projections fall short of the government’s target of six to seven percent this year and 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2025.

According to Moody’s, the APAC economy is outperforming but it is also underachieving.

“With growth in many countries running below potential, it would be premature to say that the region is out of the woods,” Angrick and Bang said.

And yet the government would have us think everything is back to normal. 

A recent forum about the post-pandemic economy of the Western Visayas was held at the University of the Philippines-Visayas

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/24/post-pandemic-economy-of-western-visayas-tackled-in-forum

The post-pandemic economy of Western Visayas was discussed in an economic forum hosted by the University of the Philippines-Visayas here recently.

The event – The Pagtalupangod: The Economic Forum and Roundtable Discussion – held in cooperation with the Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE) was held  to “provide an overview of the performance of the local economy and its prospects moving forward.”

The forum sought “to promote and create an environment where the economic growth experienced by Iloilo and Western Visayas is sustained.”

UP Visayas Chancellor Clement C. Camposano and ICE Chairman Artemio P. Pama Jr. emphasized that one of the key priorities of the forum is an open discussion on the impact of climate change on economy and development.

Other topics discussed were power and water supply.

Among the resource persons were ICE Executive Director Joseph Ladrido, Niel Parcon, vice president of MORE Electricity and Power Corp. (MORE Power); Angelo David Berba, chief operating officer of the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW); Assistant Prof. Jessica Dator-Bercilla, co-principal investigator of the Coastal Cities at Risk in the Philippines project, and retired Philippine Navy Admiral Alexander Pama, senior advisor of the National Resilience Council.

They discussed how to sustain the economic growth of Iloilo and the Western Visasys. No word on what solutions were promoted.