The God Culture: ChatGPT Reviews The Search For King Solomon's Treasure in the Style of Aquinas

Once again I uploaded Timothy Jay Schwab's book The Search For King Solomon's Treasure to ChatGPT. I then asked ChatGPT for an analysis and review in the style of Thomas Aquinas' Summa. The benefit of this style is all the objections and contradictions to a thesis are laid out in a systematic style demonstrating why a particular conclusion is reached. It is a tried and true style of logical reasoning which allows for intellectual precision and is a great fit for analyzing the claims of Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

ChatGPT still gives the book a negative review. Why? Because of the contents of the book. There are no misleading, slanted, or biased prompts here. The prompt was "analyze and review this book in the style of Thomas Aquinas' Summa." It did so and, based on the contents, found it lacking. 

A link to the chat is here and the full review follows below. 

Analyze and review this book in the style of Thomas Aquinas's Summa. 

ChatGPT said:

Certainly. Here is an analysis and review of Solomon’s Treasure: The Search for King Solomon’s Gold, the Lost Isles of Gold & the Garden of Eden by Timothy Schwab and Anna Zamoranos, written in the style of Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae:

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Summa Contra Ophiram

Part I: Whether the Claims of This Book Are Founded in Sound Reason?

Objection 1. It seems that the thesis of this book, namely that the Philippines is the biblical Ophir, Sheba, Havilah, and even the site of the Garden of Eden, is founded in sound reason. For the authors marshal various biblical, linguistic, archaeological, and historical sources in their favor, even citing ancient Hebrew terms, extrabiblical texts, and Greco-Roman geography.

Objection 2. Further, the authors appeal to Scripture frequently, applying the principle of sola scriptura in order to test their claims. They invoke 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” and submit their work as a fulfillment of this biblical command.

Objection 3. Moreover, their research claims to correct the distortions of colonial historiography, restoring the honor and ancient significance of the Filipino people, who are said to be descendants of Shem through Joktan’s sons Ophir and Havilah.

On the contrary, it is written, “Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9 KJV). If the foundation be built upon speculative genealogies and confused geography, the edifice cannot stand.

I answer that, though it is praiseworthy to desire the rediscovery of historical truth and to challenge Eurocentric distortions, the method by which this book proceeds is riddled with logical fallacies, selective scholarship, and enthusiastic but unverifiable assertions. The authors rely heavily on etymological speculation (e.g., deriving Ophir from "AUPYR" and linking it to the chemical symbol for gold, “Au”), questionable interpretations of maps, and isolated historical quotations taken out of context.

Furthermore, the structure of argumentation does not follow scientific, theological, nor historical rigor, but instead adopts a polemical tone that seeks to overwhelm the reader with volume rather than clarity. It often presents extraordinary claims as if they are self-evident, without subjecting them to serious counter-argument or peer review. Assertions such as locating the Garden of Eden in the Philippines or claiming residual Hebrew in Filipino languages are put forward with a certainty that belies their speculative nature.

Reply to Objection 1. While many sources are cited, their use is often selective, and the interpretation of ancient texts—especially biblical Hebrew—is not consistent with standard linguistic methodology. The assertion that the Hebrew aleph (א) must always be rendered as “A” in transliteration, for instance, ignores the long tradition of vowel pointing and contextual phonetics.

Reply to Objection 2. Though the book appeals to Scripture, it does so with a hermeneutic that lacks ecclesial and scholarly accountability. Scripture is not a talisman to be wielded for the sake of national mythmaking but must be interpreted within the broader context of the Church’s historical understanding and the discipline of biblical studies.

Reply to Objection 3. The desire to dignify the Filipino people and to challenge colonial lies is commendable. Yet the truth must be sought in humility and with careful methodology. Replacing one myth with another does not achieve justice, but confusion.

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Part II: Whether This Book Can Be Said to Contribute to Theology or History?

Objection 1. It seems that it does contribute to both theology and history, since it proposes a revisionist reading of biblical geography that may open new avenues of thought.

Objection 2. Also, the book makes use of extrabiblical texts such as the Book of Jubilees, appealing to broader traditions that may inform our understanding of early biblical narratives.

On the contrary, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables" (2 Peter 1:16 KJV). Theology must be rooted in divine revelation rightly interpreted, and history in evidence rightly analyzed.

I answer that, this book functions more as a work of apologetical nationalism than of theology or history properly so called. While it may stimulate interest in biblical geography, its speculative and polemical style undermines its usefulness in serious academic or ecclesial discourse. The conflation of national identity with sacred geography is not new, but always fraught with dangers of idolatry, exceptionalism, and heresy. The attempt to align Filipino identity with biblical narratives—without robust evidential basis—risks turning theology into ideology.

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Conclusion:

This book proposes a monumental thesis: that the Philippines is the biblical Ophir, Sheba, Havilah, and even the Garden of Eden. Yet it does not rise to the level of a demonstrative or probable argument. Like many in history who sought to locate Eden, its zeal exceeds its epistemology.

Therefore, it must be said that Solomon’s Treasure is not heretical in itself, but its method is unsound and its claims, though wrapped in Scripture, are not sustained by the weight of evidence, nor by the consensus of the Church or the academy.

Let those who read, do so with discernment.

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Would you like a Thomistic response to a particular chapter or theme in the book (e.g. the claim that the Philippines is the Garden of Eden)?

You said:

Write a thomihtic response to chapters 7, 9, 10, and 13

ChatGPT said:

Certainly. Here is a Thomistic response to Chapters 7, 9, 10, and 13 of Solomon’s Treasure, written in the scholastic style of Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae:

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Quaestio de Insulis Aureis: On the Claims of Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish, and Hebrew in the Philippines

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Article 1. Whether the Queen of Sheba Originated from the Philippines (Chapter 7)?

Objection 1. It seems that the Queen of Sheba must have come from the Philippine Islands, for she is said to be descended from Joktan, and Ophir—Joktan’s son—is also claimed to be located in the Philippines.

Objection 2. Further, since Ophir, Sheba, and Havilah are all sons of Joktan and mentioned together in Genesis 10:29, and since the authors locate Ophir and Havilah in the Philippines, it follows that Sheba too must be there.

Objection 3. Moreover, the Queen of Sheba brought great wealth to Solomon, which aligns with the authors’ view of the Philippines as a land rich in gold, precious stones, and spices.

On the contrary, it is written, “And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones” (1 Kings 10:2 KJV). Camels are not native to the Philippines, nor is their use consistent with ancient maritime travel from the islands of the East to Israel.

I answer that, while it is true that the Queen of Sheba's genealogy traces back to Joktan, and while Scripture connects her with immense wealth, this alone is not sufficient to identify her origin as the Philippines. Scripture does not locate Sheba geographically beyond stating her descent from Joktan. Furthermore, the logistical details in the biblical narrative—such as the use of camels and the overland approach to Jerusalem—strongly suggest an Arabian or African context, not a Southeast Asian one.

Even if one grants that Sheba was a maritime power, nothing in the biblical text necessitates an origin thousands of miles across the ocean. Rather, the traditional view associating Sheba with the Sabaeans in southern Arabia, possibly Yemen, is historically and geographically more credible.

Reply to Objection 1. Descent from Joktan does not establish geography definitively. The Table of Nations offers a genealogical framework, not a cartographic one.

Reply to Objection 2. That these figures are listed together does not imply shared geography, only shared ancestry.

Reply to Objection 3. Riches alone do not prove a geographic location. Many lands were rich in antiquity, including those closer to Israel.

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Article 2. Whether the Resources Attributed to Ophir Are Uniquely Found in the Philippines (Chapter 9)?

Objection 1. It seems so, for the book claims the Philippines possesses all the necessary biblical resources—gold, silver, ivory, apes, peacocks, and almug wood.

Objection 2. Further, the authors assert that only the Philippines has all these resources in the precise combinations described in Scripture (1 Kings 10:22), thereby proving it to be Ophir.

Objection 3. Moreover, they claim to test these resources “scientifically,” comparing them to modern records and confirming their presence in the Philippines.

On the contrary, many of these resources were available across a wide swath of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, and even parts of Africa. The presence of similar fauna and flora is not conclusive proof of identification.

I answer that, while the convergence of these resources in one location may seem compelling, this alone cannot establish identity with certainty. Many of the goods mentioned—apes, peacocks, ivory—are associated with the Indian subcontinent and its trade networks. Even the famed “almug” wood is more plausibly linked to red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus), native to India.

The assumption that no other region meets the biblical description fails to account for ancient maritime trade. Goods from various regions could have been consolidated in a trading hub, then delivered to Israel via a single journey. This undermines the need for a one-to-one match with any single location.

Reply to Objection 1. The resources listed are not unique to the Philippines; rather, they reflect typical trade goods of the Indian Ocean basin.

Reply to Objection 2. The matching of resources may demonstrate possibility, but not necessity.

Reply to Objection 3. Scientific cataloging must be interpreted within the broader context of ancient trade, not assumed as direct evidence of origin.

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Article 3. Whether Tarshish and Ophir Are Located in the Same Region (Chapter 10)?

Objection 1. It seems so, for the authors argue that 2 Chronicles 9:21 identifies ships of Tarshish as traveling to Ophir and bringing back the same goods.

Objection 2. Further, they claim Tarshish is often confused with Spain but must be located near Ophir in the East.

Objection 3. Moreover, the book dismisses all other locations (e.g., Tartessos, Carthage, or India) and insists that Tarshish, like Ophir, can only be the Philippines.

On the contrary, the biblical usage of “ships of Tarshish” often refers not to origin but to ship type—long-range, ocean-going vessels, as indicated in 1 Kings 22:48.

I answer that, while it is true that some texts speak of Tarshish ships bringing back similar resources, it is unwarranted to conclude that Tarshish and Ophir are geographically identical or even proximate. Tarshish is mentioned in texts such as Isaiah 66:19 and Jonah 1:3 in a Western context, likely referring to Tartessos in Spain or a Phoenician outpost.

The conflation of Tarshish and Ophir disregards the semantic distinction between a ship’s type and its destination. Further, even if both were reached by Solomon’s fleet, that does not entail identical location.

Reply to Objection 1. The term “ships of Tarshish” refers to the vessel, not the place of origin or destination.

Reply to Objection 2. Tarshish is elsewhere located in the West in Scripture and early tradition.

Reply to Objection 3. The burden of proof rests on the claimant; lack of alternative explanations does not validate a speculative thesis.

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Article 4. Whether Ancient Hebrew Is Preserved in Philippine Languages (Chapter 13)?

Objection 1. It seems so, for the book offers a list of Tagalog and Hebrew word similarities and claims this as linguistic evidence of Hebrew settlement in the Philippines.

Objection 2. Further, it claims these similarities cannot be coincidence, and that linguists have confirmed these parallels.

Objection 3. Moreover, the authors appeal to an ancient Hebrew diaspora following the Assyrian exile, claiming the Philippines as a forgotten destination.

On the contrary, the science of comparative linguistics requires rigorous methodology, including sound laws of phonetic change, cognate control, and historical evidence. Mere word similarity is insufficient.

I answer that, while languages do occasionally share similar-sounding words by coincidence, this does not imply common descent. The book’s method lacks linguistic rigor: it cherry-picks words, ignores false cognates, and presents no evidence of sustained syntactic or grammatical parallels between Hebrew and any Austronesian language.

Moreover, reputable linguists have not confirmed the claim. No peer-reviewed studies support Hebrew origins in Tagalog or other Philippine tongues. Assertions to the contrary are not scholarly but speculative and nationalistic.

Reply to Objection 1. Superficial word similarity is not evidence of linguistic relation.

Reply to Objection 2. No known linguist has verified the authors' claims in a recognized forum.

Reply to Objection 3. The Hebrew diaspora did not extend to Southeast Asia in any documented tradition or archaeology.

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Conclusion:

The authors of Solomon’s Treasure attempt to prove extraordinary claims concerning the Queen of Sheba, Ophir, Tarshish, and Hebrew roots in the Philippines. Though their zeal is great, their proofs are insufficient. A Thomist, guided by the light of both faith and reason, must judge such claims with charitable skepticism and intellectual precision. Veritas non quaerit clamores sed lumen rationis.

Would you like the next article to tackle Chapter 16 on prophecy or Chapter 18 on the Garden of Eden?

The God Culture: Penis Piercing Proves Pinoys Aren't Israelites

For years Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has floated around the thesis that Filipinos are actually members of the Lost Tribes of Israel. He has employed etymology, geography, theology, prophecy, and many other subjects to make his case. But what does it mean to be a member of the nation of Israel? Covenant membership via circumcision of course. Despite circumcision being the non-negotiable sign of the covenant, Tim hasn't said much about it as concerns pre-Spanish Filipinos. So, let's be like Antonio Pigafetta and examine the members of Filipinos to see if they practiced circumcision as the sign and seal of their covenant with Yahweh.  

In his journal Pigafetta writes:

Those people go naked, wearing but one piece of palm-tree cloth about their privies. The males, large and small, have their penis pierced from one side to the other near the head, with a gold or tin bolt as large as a goose quill. In both ends of the same bolt, some have what resembles a spur, with points upon the ends; others like the head of a cart nail. I very often asked many, both old and young, to see their penis, because I could not credit it. In the middle of the bolt is a hole, through which they urinate. The bolt and the spurs always hold firm. They say that their women wish it so, and that if they did otherwise they would not have communication with them. When the men wish to have communication with their women, the latter themselves take the penis not in the regular way and commence very gently to introduce it [into their vagina], with the spur on top first, and then the other part. When it is inside it takes its regular position; and thus the penis always stays inside until it gets soft, for otherwise they could not pull it out. Those people make use of that device because they are of a weak nature. They have as many wives as they wish, but one of them is the principal wife. When- ever any of our men went ashore, both by day and by night, every one invited him to eat and to drink. Their viands are half cooked and very salty. They drink frequently and copiously from the jars through those small reeds, and one of their meals lasts for five or six hours. The women loved us very much more than their own men. All of the women from the age of six years and upward, have their vaginas gradually opened because of the men's penises.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=txu.059173001899092&seq=180

Pigafetta tells us that Cebuano men had their penises pierced at the request of their wives. He says he asked many times to see the penises of old and young men. He was shocked at what he found. Did he find that Filipinos were keeping the covenant of the nation of Israel by being circumcised? No. He found that the men had pierced their members with a large gold or tin bolt. He saw what was culturally significant. And it wasn't circumcision. 

While it's true that Pigafetta did not say they weren't circumcised he certainly did not say they were. Instead he noted the most significant aspect of these men's members which was the piercing. This piercing is antithetical to circumcision. Infant circumcision altered the penis by removing the foreskin and grafting the child into the nation of Israel. The piercing and altering of the penis at the insistence of the women for sexual pleasure was purely worldly and never sanctioned in the scriptures. In fact body modification for sensual or superstitious reasons is explicitly condemned in the Law of Moses:

Leviticus 19:28 “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”

In Leviticus 19:28, Israelites were forbidden from certain body modifications associated with pagan customs. While that text speaks of tattoos and cutting for the dead, it shows that modifying the body for reasons unrelated to covenantal purity was not acceptable in biblical Israel.

These modifications were not only amongst Cebuanos but amongst the Visayans as a whole. Antonio de Morga writes.

The natives of the islands of Pintados, especially the women, are very vicious and sensual. Their perverseness has discovered lascivious methods of communication between men and women; and there is one to which they are accustomed from their youth. The men skilfully make a hole in their virile member near its head, and insert therein a serpent's head, either of metal or ivory, and fasten it with a peg of the same material passed through the hole, so that it cannot become unfastened. With this device, they have communication with their wives, and are unable to withdraw until a long time after copulation. They are very fond of this and receive much pleasure from it, so that, although they shed a quantity of blood, and receive other harm, it is current among them. These devices are called sagras, and there are very few of them, because since they have become Christians, strenuous efforts are being made to do away with these, and not consent to their use; and consequently the practice has been checked in great part.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924105724524&seq=132

These body modifications known as palang were found all throughout the Philippines as Tom Harrison notes in the Journal Of The Malaysian Branch Of The Royal Asiatic Society

The variety of these clearly more or less authentic and usually ‘'eye witness” accounts further indicate the range, — both geographical (including Panay, Negros, Bohol, Cebu, Minadanao and Leyte ) and technical, — of palang- type devices in the Philippines four centuries ago, long before any detailed historical records are available for west Borneo.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.280676/page/n437/mode/2up

This sexual cultural practice, in contradistinction to covenantal circumcision, was nearly universal in the pre-Spanish Philippines.

Infant circumcision on the eighth day is exactly what is missing amongst Filipinos to qualify them as members of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Tim believes the whole nation is peppered with the Lost Tribes as evidenced in the alleged Hebrew etymology of place-names. These names appear from Luzon to Mindanao. But where is the uniform practice of infant covenant circumcision on the eighth day? It doesn't exist. Alongside circumcision, other markers of Israelite identity such as Sabbath observance, kosher laws, biblical festivals, the sacrificial system, and the Hebrew language have completely vanished, leaving no credible covenantal or liturgical trace.

In Mindanao the Muslim Moros have been practicing circumcision for hundreds of years but that is because of the introduction of Islam. Today Filipinos circumcise young boys when they are much older than eight days old. It is usually done between 4 and 10 years of age and as a social rite of passage or for medical reasons. If Filipinos are Israelites, why did the practice of infant covenant circumcision vanish while a contradictory, indigenous custom took prominence?

Infant circumcision isn’t a peripheral issue, it is central to the identity of biblical Israel. It’s a theological cornerstone that Tim has never addressed, and likely never will, because the evidence is irreconcilable with his thesis. The fact is, Pigafetta's first-hand description of pierced Pinoy penises is an undeniable cultural anchor that disproves the claims of Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 432

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2099260/napoles-3-ex-trc-nabcor-officials-convicted-of-graft-malversation

Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the “pork barrel scam” that prompted series of criminal charges against lawmakers and other government officials more than a decade ago, got another set of conviction from the Sandiganbayan.

This time it’s over the diversion of the P7.55 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV.

The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division has also handed down the guilty verdict on Dennis Cunanan, the former deputy director general of the now defunct Technology Resource Center (TRC), Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, former TRC group manager, and Rhodora Mendoza of the now abolished state firm National Agribusiness Corp.

In a 149-page decision promulgated on Friday, Napoles was found guilty of two counts of graft and another two counts of malversation. Cunanan and Lacsamana were convicted of one count each for graft and malversation, the same with Mendoza.

Napoles was sentenced with 12 to 20 years for the graft charges, 20 to 34 years for the malversation charges. Cunanan and Lacsamana, meanwhile, must serve six to 10 years for graft and 10 to 14 years for the malversation charge.

Mendoza, on the other hand, was also sentenced six to 10 years of imprisonment for graft and 10 to 18 years for malversation.

The case stemmed from Cagas’ endorsement and selection of the People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. (Popdfi) and Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (Sdpffi), both non-government organizations operated and controlled by Napoles, as “project partners” for the lawmaker’s district supposedly to provide agricultural production packages to his constituents.

Popdfi received P2.7 million from the PDAF of Cagas, while P4.85 million went to the Sdpffi, according to the court.

State prosecutors noted that the processing of the PDAF had allowed Napoles and the others to “take possession and thus misappropriate PDAF-drawn public funds, instead of implementing the PDAF-funded projects; which turned out to be non-existent” and that the selection of the organizations for the projects did not undergo public bidding.

In the case of Popdfi, the court ordered Napoles, Cunanan and Lacsamana to pay the fine equivalent to the malversed P2.7 million and to indemnify the government with the same amount with interest. For the Sdpffi, the court ordered Napoles and Mendoza to pay a fine of P4.85 million and to indemnify the same amount also with applied interest rates.

In convicting them, the anti-graft court pointed out that although the concerned NGO can “validly implement” the PDAF projects, the accused should have still considered the “indispensable requirement” for public bidding in the case of the funds disbursed to Popdfi.

The Sandiganbayan also said that the prosecution “satisfactorily established the extent of the participation” of Napoles, Cunanan, Lacsamana and Mendoza in the cases.

The court also cited the General Appropriations Acts for the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, where they said that “no specific NGO was named as an implementing agency of PDAF projects” and that only government agencies such as the TRC and the Department of Agriculture were authorized to implement the projects.

 “As a general rule, all procurement shall be done through competitive public bidding,” read the decision penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Ronald Moreno, the chairperson of the Special Third Division.

“However, when an appropriation law earmarks an amount for projects to be specifically contracted out to NGOs, it is the intent of Congress to give due preference to NGOs. This exception is inapplicable herein since there is neither an appropriation nor an ordinance earmarking the amount of the PDAF for the implementation of the NGOs,” the court stressed in its decision.

The decision also states that the transactions involved in the case will have to fall under the general rule, which includes the conduct of a competitive public bidding.

“In the instant cases, the evidence clearly confirms the fact that the herein non-governmental organizations concerned, namely: Popdfi and Sdpffi, were selected on the basis alone of the endorsements of accused Cagas,” the court added.

The court also pointed out how the two NGOs selected by Cagas for the PDAF projects were fully controlled by Napoles, since the latter selected the stockholders, directors and incorporators of the NGOs, and that the funds used by the NGOs were provided by her and having full control over the funds and bank transactions.

“Thus, with the foregoing conclusions, accused Napoles acted with evident bad faith and in conspiracy with the accused public officials and employees to defraud the government through non-existent NGOs and projects,” the court said.

The court noted that evident bad faith entails a deliberate intent on the part of the accused to do wrong or cause damage, and that this must be shown that the accused was driven by a corrupt motive. For them, Napoles was “spurred by corrupt motive.”

“Herein, the circumstances established show beyond reasonable doubt that accused Napoles was spurred by corrupt or ill motive when she conspired with the accused public officials and employees to defraud the government,” it also stressed.

Janet Lim-Napoles and other government officials got another set of conviction from the Sandiganbayan over the PDAF scandal.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2099015/10-execs-in-dpwh-district-engineering-office-in-bulacan-relieved

Ten officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office in Bulacan have been relieved from their posts pending an investigation into alleged “ghost projects” in the province, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Friday.

This development followed reports on the existence of such projects in some districts, which Bonoan confirmed during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Tuesday.

During a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Bonoan said that the officials were not fired but were placed on “floating status for the time being.”

The DPWH regional office has been overseeing the district office since the officials were relieved almost three weeks ago, he also said.

Among those relieved were former district engineer Henry Alcantara and newly appointed district engineer Brice Hernandez. Alcantara had earlier been recommended for the position of assistant regional director of DPWH Region 4-A.

Bonoan said the recommendation for the new post came before he was released from duty.

“It actually went through the process… his qualifications. He was recommended because he applied,” he said.

The relieved officials, along with the contractors involved in the alleged “ghost projects,” are also set to face sanctions from the DPWH.

Bonoan said he had already issued a memorandum requiring the officials to explain their side, adding that if their explanations are not found convincing, the necessary charges will be filed.

He further said more officials could eventually be relieved from their posts once the government completes its report on these bogus projects.

Although scrutiny of flood-control projects intensified after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation Address (Sona), Bonoan said the President already had information on anomalies prior to his speech at the Plenary hall.

This information, Bonoan said, was what prompted the relief of the 10 officials.

“There are findings or information about what is happening with the projects in their district office,” Bonoan said.

This explained why Marcos, on Wednesday, conducted an inspection in Purok 4, Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan, to see for himself the supposed location of a reinforced concrete river wall project in the community.

He discovered that the P55.7 million project does not exist at all, despite official records labeling it as “completed.”

In a privilege speech last Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Alcantara and Hernandez “share the same love for money,” citing information from his staff.

“It was even reported recently that one of them was able to lose hundreds of millions in a casino here in Manila,” Lacson alleged.

“Mr. President, in this engineering office, under the leadership of the two aforementioned officials, for the year 2024, there are 28 projects, each worth P72 million,” he also said.

In the same speech, Lacson disclosed the existence of a “ghost flood control” project in Sitio Dike, along the Mag-asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The project had a contract cost of P192.9 million and was already declared completed. Yet, upon inspection by Lacson’s team, the project was found to be nonexistent.

The ongoing scrutiny into flood control projects in the country stemmed from Marcos’ warning in his recent Sona that those involved in anomalous flood control projects would be held accountable.

Weeks later, he launched the sumbongsapangulo.ph website, where the public can report any questionable flood prevention project in their area.

Marcos also revealed that around 60 percent of all flood control projects since 2022 either lacked clear descriptions or were located in different areas, despite having the same contract cost.

He also disclosed that 15 contractors accounted for 20 percent of all flood-control projects nationwide. 

Ten officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office in Bulacan have been relieved from their posts pending an investigation into alleged “ghost projects” in the province, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Friday.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257132

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Friday formally filed administrative charges against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz for fabricating a case against a whistleblower in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts).

The Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) filed charges against Macapaz before the Legal Affairs Service for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

“In the pre-charge investigation, we found probable cause to file an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz,” IMIS Staff Service Director Edman Pares told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Pares said two others named in the same complaint were cleared due to lack of probable cause.

Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Commissioner Rafael Calinisan assured the proceedings will be impartial.

“We are not condemning anyone yet. Papakinggan natin ‘yung (We will observe) due process. We promise both the respondents and the complainants that their cases will be handled properly. Wala pong impluwensya, wala pong pera na iiral dito sa loob (There is no influence, no money that will be involved) in the National Police Commission,” Calinisan said.

Whistleblower Julie Patidongan (alias Totoy) and his brother Elakim filed a complaint against Macapaz before the Napolcom on Aug. 14.

The Patidongans alleged Macapaz attempted to paint them as the masterminds behind the abductions of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.

In the complaint filed by the IMIS, Macapaz was accused of deliberately obstructing the probe during two separate incidents in July.

According to the charge sheet, Macapaz unlawfully seized the mobile phones of Elakim and his brother, Jose Patidongan. He refused to return them despite repeated demands.

Macapaz also allegedly altered key evidence by deleting messages contained in the devices.

Macapaz’s actions “impeded, obstructed, and frustrated the pursuit of justice in the missing sabungeros case, which remains one of the most controversial unresolved cases in recent years," read the complaint.

Authorities stressed that the alleged acts fall under Presidential Decree 1829, which penalizes obstruction of justice, carrying an imposable penalty of imprisonment of not less than six months and one day. Napolcom noted that such actions also amount to grave misconduct.

Macapaz told reporters he would answer the accusations against him before the Napolcom.

Elakim was caught after using the automated teller machine card of victim Melbert John Santos, who went missing in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Jan. 13, 2022.

Jose, meanwhile, was seen in a video escorting another victim, Michael Bautista, who was handcuffed at the time on April 28, 2021, also in Sta. Cruz town.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Friday formally filed administrative charges against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz for fabricating a case against a whistleblower in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts).

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/08/23/2467377/pnpa-exec-charged-over-cadets-sexual-assault

Administrative charges were filed yesterday against an official of the Philippine National Police Academy who allegedly sexually assaulted a PNPA cadet in Silang, Cavite last month.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said the official, who was arrested shortly after he allegedly committed the offense, was assigned at the PNPA tactics group.

Complaints of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer were filed against the respondent before the Napolcom’s legal affairs service, according to Edman Pares of the Napolcom inspection, monitoring and investigation services.

Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said they would give the accused, a police major, an opportunity to express his side during hearings.

“Several processes will be conducted to show the pieces of evidence and stipulation of facts,” Calinisan said.

Earlier, charges of acts of lasciviousness were filed against the officer based on a complaint filed by the 23-year-old victim.

Reports said the officer asked the cadet, who was drunk, to massage him at the academy’s barracks.

The officer reportedly took off his clothes and ordered the cadet to do the same. The complainant said the officer even showed him how to perform a body massage and started touching him.

The cadet sought assistance from a security guard and policemen, who arrested the officer.

Administrative charges were filed yesterday against an official of the Philippine National Police Academy who allegedly sexually assaulted a PNPA cadet in Silang, Cavite last month.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257129

Five officers of the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Friday filed a joint complaint before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against their former superior at the Special Operations Division (SOD) for alleged bribery during a police operation in June.

Lt. Adolfo Mendoza, PSMS Aladin Orale, PSMS Ronnie Vergoles, PMSG Krizzia Barola and Pat. Arnel Fontillas Jr. accused Col. Rommel Casanova Estolano of pocketing at least PHP7 million in bribes to protect a high-profile detainee and manipulate criminal cases.

They sued Estolano for grave misconduct, dishonesty, dereliction of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer and prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and sought his immediate dismissal from the service.

The complainants said Estolano’s removal is necessary “to restore integrity and public trust in the PNP."

At a press briefing held at the Napolcom headquarters in Quezon City, Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said due process will be given to Estolano.

“’Their complaint will be evaluated by the Napolcom's Inspection Monitoring and Investigation Service. If the complaint progresses, Col. Estolano will be made to be answer,” Calinisan said.

After evaluation comes the decision on whether to file a formal charge before the Legal Affairs Service.

On June 13, Mendoza, Orale and Vergoles apprehended a certain J.J. Javier and his driver in Parañaque City over a blinker attached to their luxury vehicle and the absence of the tail license plate.

Javier and his companion also failed to show a valid vehicle registration. The arrest yielded a Glock 19 Gen5 pistol, live ammunition, bulletproof vests, and a C4 explosive device.

Orale said it took them up to three hours to drag the uncooperative Javier to the HPG headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The case was endorsed to Estolo, but the latter claimed he was friends with Javier, allegedly a big-time sponsor when the officer was still with the Calabarzon police.

“He reprimanded me... He said, 'Where is JJ?' (I said), Sir, he is there in the investigation section for his affidavit. So, he went there and took JJ and brought him with him inside his office,” he added.

Prosecutors later found probable cause to indict Javier for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Instead of upholding the case, however, the officers claimed Estolano engaged in “a series of illegal and corrupt acts” to shield Javier while punishing those who resisted his directives.

According to the complainants' affidavit, Javier’s lawyer facilitated three major bribe transactions with Estolano: PHP2 million to secure the dismissal of a case in Parañaque City; PHP1 million for privileged treatment, which reportedly allowed Javier to enjoy special favors while in detention, including temporary release; and PHP4 million to weaken a separate complaint in Quezon City for violation of the firearms and explosives laws.

The complainants likewise alleged that Estolano filed retaliatory charges against them after they refused his order to drop Javier’s cases.

They asserted that the acts described constituted bribery, obstruction of justice, malicious prosecution, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Estolano countered that Javier's warrant of arrest was recalled.

"The truth is the complainants have nowhere to run but the Napolcom. The warrant of arrest has already been recalled but they insisted on serving it," he told reporters. 

Five officers of the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group filed a joint complaint before the National Police Commission against their former superior at the Special Operations Division for alleged bribery during a police operation in June.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2099437/lto-suspends-license-of-zamboanga-office-exec-after-driving-into-swamp

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended the driver’s license of an official of its Zamboanga Peninsula regional office who drove the pick-up truck into a swamp in Zamboanga Sibugay.

In a statement on Saturday, the LTO said it issued a show cause order to the official – whom they did not name – over allegations of reckless driving and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

“It is not immediately clear if the driver was under the influence of liquor at the time of the incident but this will be one of the matters that will be looked into by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante,” the LTO explained.

The incident took place in Purok 4, Gandiangan in Imelda town on Thursday afternoon, according to a Police Regional Office Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO 9) report.

“Based on the initial investigation, the LTO official was driving a pick-up truck from Pagadian City to Zamboanga City when he suddenly sped off. This resulted in the car plunging into a swamp and the video of it went viral,” the LTO said.

Meanwhile, the PRO 9 report said, “The driver lost control of the steering wheel.”

The incident affected but did not injure the driver and three passengers, all of whom were identified by PRO 9 as LTO employees.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended the driver’s license of an official of its Zamboanga Peninsula regional office who drove the pick-up truck into a swamp in Zamboanga Sibugay.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2099532/12-cops-in-hot-water-after-arrested-suspect-dies-of-suffocation

Twelve police officers are facing criminal cases after an arrested suspect died of suffocation in Pasay City.

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Saturday, Pasay police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto said they filed a complaint before the city prosecutor against the 12 officers last Tuesday for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

According to Sesto, the 12 officers being charged were six Pasay City Police Substation 5 personnel, five Southern Police District Mobile Force Battalion (SPD MFB) personnel and one National Capital Region Police Office Mobile Force Battalion (NCRPO MFB) personnel.

Further, the Pasay police chief said two of the SPD MFB officers face an additional case for the maltreatment of a prisoner.

The charges stemmed from an August 5 incident in which, according to a police report obtained by INQUIRER.net, seven of the officers arrested a 29-year-old Pampanga resident for allegedly causing a disturbance and damaging property at a convenience store in Barangay 75, Zone 10 in Pasay.

INQUIRER.net opted not to disclose the identities of the SPD MFB officers and the victim, while Sesto did not disclose the identities of the Substation 5 and the NCRPO MFB officers.

The Pasay police chief said the suspect entered the store’s stockroom.

(In our investigation, the CCTV showed the victim was pinned down. It also appeared that the victim was also hit as he was becoming unruly, he was punched at the back.)

Magat was then brought to the Pasay City Police Substation 5, Sesto added.

“While undergoing documentation, [the suspect] complained of difficulty in breathing. Responding immediately, the officers brought him to the Pasay City General Hospital for medical treatment,” the police report narrated.

“However, while undergoing medical intervention, he was declared dead at about 9:40 p.m. by the attending physician,” it added.

Sesto said the police had no information about whether the arrested suspect had a prior medical condition related to breathing.

A copy of the medicolegal report done by the Pampanga Provincial Forensic Unit declared the cause of death was “asphyxia by manual strangulation.”

There were also efforts to obtain CCTV footage from nearby establishments that would show them supposedly waiting for instructions from Substation 5 regarding the convenience store’s possible complaint.

The footage would also determine the real culprits who manually strangled the victim while under the custody of Substation 5.

According to Sesto, the six Substation 5 personnel—including their commander—were disarmed, relieved from their posts, and kept at the city police’s personnel holding and accounting section.

He further noted that the 12 police officers are also facing investigations at their respective Internal Affairs Service units for possible administrative charges.

(The investigation we did, it was impartial. Whether they’re from the DMFB or from Substation 5, we just want the truth out so that, of course, the victim can be given justice.)

INQUIRER.net sought comment from the SPD and the NCRPO, but they have yet to respond.

Twelve police officers are facing criminal cases after an arrested suspect died of suffocation in Pasay City.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/25/2467903/las-pinas-muntinlupa-dpwh-district-engineer-axed

Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways has “reassigned” district engineer Isabelo Baleros of Muntinlupa City and Las Piñas to the DPWH Metro Manila third district engineering office amid graft allegations.

Ruel Umali will replace Baleros as chief of the Las Piñas–Muntinlupa District Engineering Office.

“Under and by virtue of this order, engineer Umali is directed to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities appurtenant to the position of District Engineer,” read the memorandum order signed by Bonoan.

The move came just two weeks after Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos urged Bonoan to remove Baleros over his alleged involvement in questionable transactions, including a controversial transfer of flood control funds.

Bonoan has vowed to hold accountable DPWH officers and personnel found responsible for substandard or “ghost” flood control projects, stressing that appropriate criminal charges will be filed.

Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways has “reassigned” district engineer Isabelo Baleros of Muntinlupa City and Las Piñas to the DPWH Metro Manila third district engineering office amid graft allegations.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/08/25/2467823/cop-nabbed-threats-coercion-qc

Authorities arrested a policeman on Saturday in Quezon City for reportedly threatening two people, including a minor, with his firearm and forcing them to dance.

Pat. Dennis Garbin, who is assigned to the district mobile force battalion of the Manila Police District, was apprehended in Barangay San Bartolome following a probe into allegations of grave threat, grave coercion and child abuse.

Garbin, 28, reportedly barged into a house in Barangay Bagbag while drunk last Friday.

The victims, a 19-year-old man and a boy aged 16, told probers that Garbin brandished his firearm and ordered them to dance to the music playing on their television.

Police confiscated Garbin’s 9mm handgun and turned him over to Quezon City police at Camp Karingal. 

Authorities arrested a policeman on Saturday in Quezon City for reportedly threatening two people, including a minor, with his firearm and forcing them to dance.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/26/2468115/batangas-dpwh-engineer-nabbed-bribe-attempt

Following recent revelations on anomalous flood control projects, police arrested a district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Friday night in Taal town in Batangas on charges of attempting to bribe a congressman.

The 51-year-old suspect, identified as DPWH Batangas 1st district engineerAbelardo Dionglay Calalo, allegedly tried to pay off Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste with P3,126,900 in cash in order to abandon any flood control probe in the district.

The cash, placed in a green ecobag, was recovered during the operation.

“We should not tolerate any corruption in Department of Public Works and Highways. We should demand projects at better quality and lower cost, and obligate contractors to correct any deficiencies immediately without additional cost to government,” Leviste said in a statement.

“Beyond this case, we will push for broader reforms to address systemic problems of DPWH,” Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Legarda, added.

Batangas police chief Col. Geovanny Emerick Sibalo said authorities received information from Leviste’s staff about the supposed bribery attempt. Sibalo said police officers caught Calalo “in the act” of attempting to hand over the money.

“This was not a planned entrapment. Based on reliable information, our personnel responded and caught the suspect in possession of the cash,” Sibalo told radio dzBB yesterday.

Calalo, a native of Balayan town in the province, is currently under the custody of the Taal Municipal Police Station. Criminal charges are expected to be filed today at the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, where he will be facing charges of trying to bribe a government official under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code and for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law (Republic Act 3019).

On Aug. 18, Leviste made the rounds in his district together with local officials and DPWH engineers to inspect projects that were damaged by recent typhoons in the towns of Nasugbu, Lian, Tuy, Balayan, Calaca and Lemery.

Leviste has shared an update on ongoing assessments of flood control projects in several rivers, including Palico, Binambang and Pansipit, which sustained damage during recent typhoons.

Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson commended Leviste for the arrest.

“My snappy salute to neophyte Cong. Leandro Leviste, Batangas first district, for the successful police entrapment operation against a corrupt DPWH district engineer who tried to bribe him up to P360 M in kickbacks from infra projects in his district. May his tribe increase,” he posted on his X account.

In a statement issued by Randy del Rosario, DPWH Stakeholder Relations Service director yesterday morning, the agency said it was “deeply concerned” and was taking the matter “very seriously.”

“As public servants, we at the Department of Public Works and Highways do not condone any form of misconduct,” it said.

“We fully support the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities and stand firm in our commitment to transparency and integrity in public service,” the DPWH noted. “The individual involved will be relieved of his assignment, and preventive suspension will be implemented.”

“We firmly believe that those found to have engaged in any wrongdoing must face the full consequences of their actions in accordance with the law,” it added.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who was interviewed after the arrest, said Calalo deserved his fate.

“District engineers with that kind of behavior deserve it. I really won’t have a second thought that they deserve it when things like that happened. Leave it alone. If he is the one who planned such things, then it’s over. That’s really it. There’s no need to visit him,” Bonoan told radio dzBB.

A DPWH engineer has been busted for bribery.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257271

A police officer was relieved from his post for using his service firearm as a signal to start a boat race during the town’s fiesta celebration in Northern Samar on Aug. 20, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said on Monday.

Fajardo also said aside from the cop, his chief of police at the Lavezares Municipal Police Station in Northern Samar, has also been relieved from the post.

In a special order signed by Northern Samar Police Provincial Office Director Col. Sonnie Omengan on Aug. 24, Police Master Sergeant Jimmy Florano was reassigned to the provincial headquarters following the incident.

The PNP said the Northern Samar incident is “unacceptable.”

“While the act may have been non-hostile and did not result in harm or damage, it nonetheless constitutes a clear deviation from established protocols on firearm use,” the PNP said in a statement.

It said firearms are issued strictly for legitimate law enforcement operations and must never be used for ceremonial, symbolic, or non-operational purposes without explicit clearance and proper authority.

The PNP leadership enjoins all personnel to exercise utmost caution, sound judgment, and full compliance with existing rules and regulations.

“Discipline in firearm handling is not only a measure of professionalism but also an essential element in sustaining public trust and confidence in the police service,” it added.

A police officer was relieved from his post for using his service firearm as a signal to start a boat race during the town’s fiesta celebration in Northern Samar.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257365

A former policeman and two alleged accomplices were arrested after police in Bulacan swiftly foiled a broad-daylight robbery in Barangay Poblacion, Santa Maria on Tuesday.

According to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon), a 71-year-old businessman was preparing to deposit cash when one of the suspects drew a firearm and forcibly took his money. The suspect then escaped on a motorcycle driven by a cohort.

The victim immediately sought help from a nearby traffic enforcer, who alerted the Santa Maria Municipal Police. Responding officers conducting mobile patrols quickly intercepted the suspects, leading to their immediate arrest, PRO-3 said.

Recovered during the operation were the stolen PHP550,000 in cash, a Glock 22 Gen. 4 .40-caliber pistol with ammunition, and a Yamaha Mio MXi 125 motorcycle without a license plate, believed to have been used as the getaway vehicle.

A third suspect, who acted as a spotter, was later arrested in a follow-up operation.

“This incident highlights the value of vigilance and immediate reporting. Because of the timely response of our personnel and the cooperation of the community, we were able to recover the stolen money and prevent further harm,” PRO-3 Director, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr., said in a statement.

He added that the police organization remains committed to bolstering public safety through rapid and effective law enforcement action.

A former policeman and two alleged accomplices were arrested after police in Bulacan swiftly foiled a broad-daylight robbery.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/26/bi-officer-3-persons-charged-for-falsified-overseas-employment-contracts-nbi

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal charges against an immigration officer and three persons in connection with alleged falsified Overseas Employment Contracts (OECs).

The NBI said it filed charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, against immigration officer Mohammad Rashid Madale Alonto who remains at-large.

Charges of falsification of public documents, on the other hand, were filed against Rhea Angelica Borda, Nora Tafalla and Baby Rhea Urbano Margarico before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.

The NBI said that Borda, Tafalla and Margarico were intercepted by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 before they could board their flight to Hong Kong last Aug. 20.

The three passengers were flagged for presenting alleged falsified OECs, it said.

During investigation, the NBI found that the three passengers were recruited through a social media platform to work in Cambodia as customer service representatives (CSRs).

“Further investigation disclosed that primary inspector, Immigration Officer Mohammad Rashid Madale Alonto initially cleared the three passengers to depart from Manila to Hong Kong as evidenced by the departure stamps on their boarding passes belonging to Immigration Officer Alonto,” it also said.

It added that the three passengers admitted that it was Alonto who initially cleared them during the immigration process.

A BI officer along with three others have been charged with falsifying Overseas Employment Contracts.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/26/airport-police-chief-sacked-amid-probe-into-colorum-taxis-at-naia

The chief of the Airport Police of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) was relieved from his post amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged rampant operation of colorum vehicles at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MIAA General Manager Eric Ines said they are also looking into the allegations that some of the airport personnel are in cahoots with the drivers and operators of colorum vehiciles.

Ines said Bing Jose will be replaced by Luis Cometa as head of the 400-strong Airport Police.

He said Cometa was also tasked to act on all the complaints of passengers at NAIA.

The chief of the Airport Police of the MIAA was relieved from his post amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged rampant operation of colorum vehicles at NAIA.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/956927/punsalan-extortion-ombudsman-pampanga/story/

A steel manufacturing firm has sued San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan, Jr. before the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged P80 million extortion attempt.

In a complaint received by the Ombudsman last August 19 and obtained by GMA News Online today, San Simon-based Real Steel Corp. accused Punsalan, Jr. of demanding P80 million from the steel manufacturing company in exchange of the mayor not revoking a Municipal Ordinance No. 24-0025 granting tax incentives to the company.

Punsalan is accused of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The persons suing Punsalan on behalf of Real Steel were identified as an Irwin Chua and Melodie Arellano.

According to the complainant, the mayor’s initial demand of the mayor was pegged to as much as P155 million before it went down to P80 million.

Real Steel said the administrative complaint is the next step following an Aug. 5 operation where  operatives from the Intelligence Service of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted an entrapment operation at Clark Freeport, Mabalacat City, Pampanga against Punsalan, Jr., for alleged robbery by extortion. 

The NBI operation is a result of a Department of Justice resolution ordering the Ombudsman to prosecute Punsalan based on Real Steel’s complaint.

“Respondent Punsalan failed to observe the norms required of his public office by demanding money from representatives of a steel plant located in San Simon, Pampanga. Mayor Punsalan should have restrained himself in demanding and accepting substantial amounts of money that redound to his private gain, disregarding public interest,” the complaint read.

Prior to the NBI operation, the complainant said the arrangement for the payoff was made between Real Steel and Punsalan last August 2 by San Simon’s Municipal Administrator, Doc Yang, without the mayor’s camp knowing that Real Steel already reached out to the authorities.

“Mayor Punsalan's conduct impaired the good image of government office that serves the public. Instead, Mayor Punsalan left an impression that public office is used as a tool for private gain to the detriment of honest entrepreneurs. His act of extracting money serves as a deterrent for private investments not only in San Simon, but possibly in the whole province of Pampanga,” the complaint read.

A steel manufacturing firm has sued San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan, Jr. before the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged P80 million extortion attempt.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/08/28/2468684/2-cops-axed-allegedly-raping-policewoman

Two police officers have been relieved from their posts after they allegedly raped a policewoman in Marikina City.

The suspects, a staff sergeant and a patrolman, were disarmed.

They are under investigation for alleged rape and acts of lasciviousness.

A policewoman assigned in Marikina complained that the suspects sexually assaulted her in a patrol car in Barangay Sto. Nino on Aug. 17.

The complainant said she was manning her post when the suspects approached her and invited her for coffee. She initially refused, but the policemen insisted, assuring her they would only have coffee.

They went to a convenience store but instead of buying her coffee, the suspects purchased a bottle of liquor.

After they returned to the patrol car, the victim said the suspects forced her to drink the liquor, warning they would not bring her back to her post unless she obliged.

The victim said the suspects then touched her private parts and raped her.

Two police officers have been relieved from their posts after they allegedly raped a policewoman in Marikina City.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/27/north-cotabato-village-chair-survives-gun-attack

A barangay chairman reporting for work survived a gun attack here Wednesday morning by trading gunshots with his attackers.

The Pigcawayan municipal police immediately launched a manhunt for two gunmen who escaped when Barangay Presbitero Chairman Emmanuel Doctolero pulled his pistol and traded shots with them.

Doctolero, a member of a local gun club in North Cotabato, said he was walking towards the village hall on the national highway when he noticed two men on a motorbike moving towards him.

One of them drew a pistol as they approached and opened fire.

Doctolero, who was also armed with a pistol, fired back, forcing the attackers to escape.

He was unharmed and could not say if any of the suspects was hit. The municipal police station is still determining the motive and identities of the attackers.

A barangay chairman reporting for work survived a gun attack here Wednesday morning by trading gunshots with his attackers.