The God Culture: Residual Ancient Hebrew in the Philippines?

In chapter 13 of "The Search for King Solomon's Treasure" Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture theorizes that place-names in the Philippines show evidence of residual ancient Hebrew. Tim goes to great lengths attempting to prove that words such as Pilipinas, Mindoro, and Malacañang are actually Hebrew compound words and have nothing to do with Spanish, Chinese, or any local language.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg, 176

Tim's basis for this lies in his theory that Ophir moved east from Iraq and settled in the Philippines. Because he was a grandson of Eber he spoke Hebrew. That means when he arrived in the Philippines he named places using his native Hebrew tongue. Later when Solomon's ships arrived the Queen of Sheba, who also descended from Eber, understood the sailors and recognized the name of the Hebrew God because she too was a Hebrew speaker.

We pondered from the outset of this research that if the Philippines is Ophir, there should be residual Hebrew words within the language and perhaps even some monikers that the Spanish did not change but survive in their Hebrew origins still. Not only did Ophir have strong connection with Israelite Hebrews but we will show you that the word Hebrew is the word Eber. "All the sons of Eber," not just Peleg to Abraham are singled out in Genesis 10 as all are Hebrews including Joktan's sons Ophir, Sheba and Havilah.

 The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 176

Why were all the children of Eber including Joktan's sons called out here? They are all Hebrews and they are all Yahuah's children we will prove. Only those from Jacob are Israelite Hebrews. We do not debate that nor have we ever indicated otherwise but all those from Peleg and Joktan were Hebrews including Ophir, Sheba and Haviliah who migrated to the Philippines. This means Filipino roots, though mixed today to some degree, are actually Hebrew according to scripture.

This is why King Solomon built a new navy and port to go to Ophir because he knew family was there. It was also the reason that the Queen of Sheba came to hear not about Solomon necessarily but "concerning the name of his God." As a Hebrew she knew the same God. Lost Tribes of Israel could migrate to Ophir and mix in without detection making it the perfect place to relocate.

 The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 180

The families of Ophir and Sheba made the journey to the Philippines and they spoke Hebrew. Tim makes this same claim in his videos.

Solomon's Gold Series - Part 7: Track of the Hebrew to the Philippines. Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish

5:32 Our story begins with the separation of Peleg who headed west fathering Abraham Isaac, Jacob, Israel and Joktan his brother and Joktan’s sons who headed east about 100 years after God confused the languages of the earth at the Tower of Babel and dispersed the people. We believe both families still spoke the original Hebrew language of Noah and Shem as they do not appear to have been involved in the Tower of Babel confusing of languages.

Tim is very explicit that Hebrew was spoken by the entire family of Eber after the fall of the Tower of Babel and the confusing of languages. 100 years after the fall of the Tower of Babel Ophir migrated to the Philippines speaking nothing but Hebrew. When he arrived in the Philippines he used Hebrew to name the land.  Here is The God Culture's "Hebrew Pilipinas" map.

There are a plethora of alleged Hebrew place-names in the Philippines. Most people would tell you that Davao means river but did you know Davao really means menstruation? 

https://youtu.be/bPfIZpczybY

We realize at first, this may wax crude but contemplate this perspective. There is a modern prophecy which we would not normally pay attention. It is from Cindy Jacobs whom we do not support not know much about but this prophecy as we have vetted it, rings true. She identifies that the Philippines will be cleansed through the "bloodiest part." Little does she likely know Davao is literally the bloodiest part in Hebrew not just because of the turmoil in the past. This prophecy is available on our Youtube channel. The menstruation female cycle is one of cleansing and this becomes very appropriate as it may be Eve as it ties to her curse from the Garden once again just like Havilah. We would expect this if the Philippines is Ophir.

 The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 195

I suppose menstruation is a kind of river just not the one the natives were referring to. Who would name the place they live "menstruation?" That is disgusting! It's as gross and senseless as naming your homeland urine or vomit or any other vile human excretion. The residents of Davao City are referred to as Dabawyenos and they speak Davaoeño. According to Tim's etymology these people live in Menstruation City, are Mestruationites, and speak Menstruationese. Is Tim aware how stupid that is? It simply is not believable that Davao was named after the Hebrew word for menstruation. This is all based on faulty phonetic similarities and not genuine etymology or linguistics. 

The section of the alleged prophecy which mentions the "bloodiest part" is as follows:

As a sign that I am going to truly change the nation, I am going to show myself to the guerilla leaders. I am going to come, says the Lord, and I am going to begin at the places in the Philippines that have been the bloodiest; the places where the guerillas' insurrection have been the strongest. And I am going to come with signs and wonders and miracles! I am getting ready to pour out a miracle anointing upon the Philippines such as the earth has never seen! 

https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/139886/cindy-jacobs-prophecy-for-the-philippines

It should be noted that this prophecy was delivered during a conference in the USA on October 27, 2001. 

Let's break this down. Timothy is citing a prophecy from a woman he does not know and does not support in order to bolster his claims that the Philippines is Ophir and contains Hebrew place-names. He claims Cindy prophesied the Philippines would be "cleansed through the bloodiest part" and then goes on to tell us that "Davao is literally the bloodiest part in Hebrew" because it means menstruation. 

But she says nothing about cleansing. She says God will visit the guerrilla leaders and show them signs and wonders. In that same prophecy she says the Lord will visit the University in Manila and "thousands and thousands and thousands are going to get saved."  I would not put any stock in the words of a false prophetess who declares she is an Apostle and who is an active leader of the New Apostolic Reformation along with Bill Johnson, Rodney Howard Browne, and a host of other kooks. That Tim puts faith in the words of a woman he admits he knows nothing about because he says they were "vetted" and ring true, just shows his total lack of discernment. Remember this false prophecy from false prophetess Cindy Jacobs forms part of Tim's "Monumental Case For The Philippines No One Can Disprove."

https://twitter.com/RightWingWatch/status/1235589092668329987

With the publication of his annotated "Book of Jubilees" and the advent of his new video series "Answers in Jubilees" Timothy Jay Schwab contradicts the thesis laid out above. Now he claims Hebrew was lost and only restored when God taught it to Abraham. For The Book of Jubilees tells him so. 

What Was The Original Language? Answers in Jubilees Part 1

2:57 Jubilees 12:25 "And Yahuah Elohim said open his (Abraham's) mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which hath been revealed"; for it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow of Babel." Now this is being spoken by Yahuah himself in the time of Abraham about a century after Babel so he's telling us the language was lost at least in full until this time from Babel

17:28 Jubilees brings this to light and now we can answer this question thanks to the Book of Jubilees. The original language of creation forward was Hebrew. Lost at the Tower of Babel and reinstituted a century or so later by Yahuah teaching Abraham.

Here Tim says 100 years after the Tower of Babel Hebrew was a lost language "in full" and God taught it to Abraham. But in his previous video Tim said 100 years after Babel the family of Heber, including Ophir, were all Hebrew speakers! Both cannot be true. 

A possible solution Tim might offer is that after Abraham relearned Hebrew he taught it to Peleg, Ophir, and all the rest. In this scenario 100 years after the Tower of Babel Abraham is taught Hebrew by God, he then teaches it to his family which includes Peleg, Joktan, and Ophir, and then Ophir and the gang merrily make their way to the Philippines. Such reasoning would be totally ad hoc. That means Tim would be making up stuff he could not prove. The text does not say Abraham taught Hebrew to Ophir. Besides, every single place name in the Philippines has an explanation which does not require Hebrew. Genesis 10 is very sparse on details cornering Ophir and his migrations. Basically everything Tim has to say about the man Ophir and his journeys is ad hoc.

However neither Tim 's original scenario or the possible solution are correct because they hinge on the false idea that God taught Hebrew to Abraham a mere 100 years after the fall of the Tower of Babel. R.H. Charles has this to say about the timeframe of these events.

From the overthrow of Babel (x. 26) the knowledge of the Hebrew language was lost till the 75th year of Abrams life. 

https://archive.org/details/bookofjubileesor00char/page/94/mode/2up

Abraham learned Hebrew when he was 75. But how much time had elapsed since the fall of the Tower of Babel? 100 years? No. 312 years!

https://lmf12.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/chronology-of-jubilees.pdf

The tower went down and the nations were dispersed in 1639. Abraham learned Hebrew in 1951. That is 312 years. R.H. Charles has the tower going down in 1688 and Abraham learning Hebrew in 1953 which is the same timeline VanderKam gives in his commentary.

The language had fallen out of use at Babel when the tower collapsed (in the year 1688 [revised chronology]; see 10:26, where the tower ruin is called Collapse, as here). Now in the year 1951, 263 years later, the angel supernaturally revives it through Abram.

 Jubilees Commentary, VanderKam, pg, 457

That is 263 years. This timeframe means if Ophir and his family headed east to the Philippines 100 years after the fall of the Tower of Babel they could not have relearned Hebrew from Abraham. If the language was completely lost until God restored it to Abraham then Ophir and all the rest were most certainly not speaking Hebrew. The only solution is to posit that Ophir, Peleg, and all the rest did not migrate east until 312-263 years after Babel when they learned Hebrew from Abraham. But that would require Tim to recalculate his whole system as too much time would have passed. It would also be ad hoc and pure speculation.

It should be noted that Tim's own annotated version of Jubilees retains the timeline of R.H. Charles. Thus on page 104 Tim has 1688 for the fall of the tower and on page 112 he has 1951 for when Abraham relearned Hebrew. His video and his book contradict each other.

Timeline of Jubilees, Book of Jubilees, Timothy Jay Schwab, pg. 92

With this video Tim has contradicted his thesis about residual Hebrew being found in the Philippines. If there is residual Hebrew in the place-names of the Philippines he cannot ground it in Ophir and his family because, according to The Book of Jubilees no one knew Hebrew from the fall of the Tower of Babel until Abraham learned it 312 years later. There is nothing in Jubilees to indicate Ophir learned Hebrew from Abraham. To posit that idea is pure speculation and not based on what the text says.

Tim's comment on Jubilees 12:25 mentions a tradition that contradicts Jubilees.

i. e. the sacred language, Hebrew, knowledge of which had been lost since the overthrow of Babel. According to another tradition Heber alone retained knowledge of Hebrew because he had taken no part in the building of the Tower.

What is this other tradition that Heber did not lose his knowledge of Hebrew because he did not participate in building the Tower of Babel? Tim does not say. In fact later in the book he seems to have forgotten the existence of this tradition.

Book of Jubilees, pg. 247

What Was the Original Language?

Hebrew was the original language of Creation (Jub. 12:25-26). It was lost at the Tower of Babel until restored by Abraham who learned it in order to read the writings of his fathers.

Though Tim does not tell us what tradition he is referring to in his comments on Jubilees 12:25 there are two possible sources from which he is drawing. The first is R.H. Charles' note on this verse.

A different tradition from that in our text appears in the Catena Nicephori, 1. col. 177, on Gen. xi. 8, where Heber is said to have alone retained the Hebrew language, because he took no part in the building of Babel. In the next colophon of the same work the same statement is attributed to Diodorus of Antioch (378-394 A.D.). A similar view is set forth in Augustine, De Civ. Dei, xvi. 11…

https://archive.org/details/bookofjubileesor00char/page/96/mode/2up 

Augustine's passage about Heber and the Hebrew language is too long to reproduce here. But he does write one thing that is very significant.

Nor is it without significance that this is the language which Abraham retained, and that he could not transmit it to all his descendants, but only to those of Jacob's line, who distinctively and eminently constituted God's people, and received His covenants, and were Christ's progenitors according to the flesh. In the same way, Heber himself did not transmit that language to all his posterity, but only to the line from which Abraham sprang.

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/120116.htm

According to Augustine Heber transmitted Hebrew only to the line of Abraham and Abraham only transmitted the language to the line of Jacob. That is a rather interesting tradition which contradicts Jubilees and Tim. But what is the source of this tradition? Where is Augustine drawing from? 

The second place Tim could have learned about this tradition is Wikipedia.

13th century Muslim historian Abu al-Fida relates a story, noting that the patriarch Eber (great-grandson of Shem) refused to help with the building of the Tower of Babel, so his language was not confused when it was abandoned. He and his family alone retained the original human language (a concept referred to as lingua humana in Latin), Hebrew, a language named after Eber.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eber

That page leads to an encyclopedia article.

In one place Tabari ("Annales," ed. de Goeje, i. 220) gives a tradition that Nimrod ruled at Babil and his people were Moslems. But he seduced them to idolatry, and in a single day God confused their speech, which had been Syriac, and they became of seventy-two tongues. In another place (p. 224) Tabari tells the story practically as in Genesis. Ibn Wadiḥ (i. 17) has a longer narrative on the same lines. Abu 'Isa, the astronomer quoted by Abu al-Fida ("Hist. Anteisl.," ed. Fleischer, p. 18), also tells the Biblical story of the Tower and the confusion. He adds that Eber alone, because he did not join the others in their impious attempt, was permitted to retain the original Hebrew language. This is in curious contrast with the other narratives, which view Syriac as the original tongue. It is possible that the belief, current in all the Moslem world, that Syriac was the original language, is to be traced to the influence of the Syriac "Cave of Treasures" and the Arabic "Kitab al-Majall," with their anti-Jewish polemics.

https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2279-babel-tower-of

Following the citation there leads to the Latin version of Abufelda's history. As far as I can make out the story is as follows:

The cause of the languages ​​confused Abu-Isa story, Noahides those who grew up after the flood, forming a common citadel had resolved that if by chance the new flood erupted, they could protect themselves. That the mass of a certain very lofty, therefore, is to raise up, of which may reach the heaven, to rise.

With this design, for the first time in one of them, and rushes on that one of the two men, and seventy of the chiefs of the towers to have placed the Father, built, and who does the works by naval operations. But the God of contim, the arrogance of the dialect that much of their language, in their many different one from resolved.

Only Eber, who disapproved of the venture and in obedience to God persisted in the Hebrew language to be abandoned in the future preservation. So where Noahides in different ways, halfgods lot slim - Iraq, Iran and which are located further to India; Hamid of the earth, of the southerners, so that the Egyptians; and the other which the Nile's waters, and also as far as to the last of the things that were by the side to the west, Mauritania to; Jafethidis which is adjacent to the Caspian Sea and which tend to Seruin beyond the eastern region. At this time the confusion of tongues occurred to him, out of the tribe of the people of Noah's sons, and threescore and two sons already were.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951002074826l&view=1up&seq=254&size=125&q1=ebero

That is translated from Latin to English via Google translate. It's not the greatest translation but the story is clear enough. Is Tim referring to a tradition penned by a Muslim historian in the 13th century or is he referring to R.H. Charles' notes? Whatever the case there is indeed a tradition of Heber alone retaining the knowledge of Hebrew because he did not participate in the building of the Tower of Babel. Do the Jews ever mention anything like this in the Talmud? What is the source of this story? Since Tim refers to this tradition only once it could be he does not believe it is true. But then why even mention it? Why not take the time to explore it a little especially as it might help his case cornering residual ancient Hebrew being found in the place-names of the Philippines? Of course this story contradicts Jubilees 12:25 which is likely why he ignores it.

Tim most certainly does believe The Book of Jubilees is history and scripture. It is this belief that has caused a contradiction with his thesis about residual ancient Hebrew being found in the Philippines. If Hebrew was lost from the time of Babel until Abraham spoke it anew 312 years later then Ophir could not have been speaking Hebrew and any residual Hebrew in the Philippines cannot be tied to him. Likewise the Queen of Sheba would not be familiar with the name of Solomon's God as she would not have been a Hebrew speaker. Nor would Lost Tribes be able to easily "mix in without detection" as they would be speaking a totally different language. 

Even if she were a Hebrew speaker The Queen of Sheba would not know anything about Solomon's God because God only made himself known to Israel beginning with His covenant with Abraham. 

Amos 3:1-2  Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth...

The nature of that covenant disproves Tim's blasphemous and anti-Chrisitan doctrine "the law is what redeems us" as Galatians 3:17-19 clearly tells us. This verse also proves that not all Hebrews are children of God. Ishmael and Esau are also descendants of Eber and thus Hebrews. Tim will have to include them and the Edomites as children of God if he wants to say all the Hebrews are Children of God.  It just goes to show that relying on apocryphal books which the Church has rejected as scripture will lead you down a dark path ending in erroneous theology and false history.

From Jubilees Tim gets the bad theology that the law was originally delivered to Adam and not Moses and that the law, not Jesus Christ, is God's supreme revelation to mankind. I am not sure where he gets his doctrine of the Holy Spirit but Timothy Jay Schwab finally publicly denied that the Holy Spirit is divine.

COMMANDMENTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: A Sabbath Reflection. Part 3: If You Love Me...

13:29 For those looking for our view on the Holy Spirit there you have it. We stick to the Word. He has a role and it is precious and powerful and it is something we all need. We love and treasure Him and His role. We always have and we always will. Now if you have followed our journey the past four years you well know we are not this smart but the Holy Spirit has revealed things that are ready to be revealed. That's it. So we have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and we find Him to be precious and valuable in our lives like nothing else. So, however there is not a single scripture that ever equates Him as the Father, it just isn't there so there's nothing to debate.

That is a thoroughly ignorant denial of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Of course there are no scriptures equating the Spirit as the Father because they are separate hypostases. They share the same divine nature not the same hypostasis! The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Son but they remain separate persons. There is a sharing of the nature without a confusing of the hypostases. Once again Tim has no idea what he is talking about. From this it sounds doubtful he has any idea what the doctrine of the Trinity actually entails. I recommend this video as a serious corrective to his theological moribundity.

Sadly not a single comment on that video has called out Tim's rank anti-trinitarian heresy. Timothy Jay Schwab and his followers are caught up in prelest. I hope they can find their way out.  I would recommend this video to understand what it means to actually test the spirits and the true nature of spiritual delusion.

Retards in the Government 198

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

 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/194295/labor-attache-rapped-over-ofw-beating

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is investigating an allegation against a veteran labor attaché that his wife beat up an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) she suspected of having an affair with the diplomat.

The Dole sought an explanation from labor attaché Jainal Rasul Jr., who is currently posted in Jordan, after a video by OFW Honey Lyn Baquiran was shared on Facebook over the weekend.

In the video, Baquiran tearfully recounted Rasul’s wife beating her up then forcing her to sign a document she did not fully understand after accusing her of having an affair with Rasul.

The OFW claimed the attaché’s wife threatened to kill her and her family.

Baquiran’s sister, Honey May, shared the video on Facebook and tagged President Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

An OFW was beaten by the wife of a labor attaché and accused of having an affair with her husband. Now he will have to answer for her actions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133369

Following the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA)’s surprise inspection at the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Taguig last month, the branch placed its District Office chief under disciplinary suspension and terminated the service of one of its security guards.

The ARTA conducted a surprise inspection on Feb. 19 after receiving a report from an applicant who had not been accommodated in the branch after being told by the security guard that it had reached its quota for the day.

In a letter dated March 1, the LTO National Capital Region (NCR) East Regional Director Benjamin Santiago III informed ARTA about the decision to place the LTO Taguig District Office chief under disciplinary suspension and terminated the services of the guard involved in the incident.

The LTO-NCR said it is already strengthening the District Offices’ services particularly the Malasakit Help Desk, Customer Service Representative, and Public Assistance Complaints Desk by deploying knowledgeable LTO personnel.

It also directed its security guards to refer customers to the help desks and “not to act as a customer service representative.”

In the past few months, ARTA has been constantly reminding all government agencies and offices that implementing quota and cut-off systems and not adhering to the no-noon-break policy constitute violation under Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery law. 

Man goes to the LTO but is turned away because they reached their quota. He files a complaint and now the security guard who told him that is fired and the branch's Chief has been suspended. Government offices do not have a quota system.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/367368/carmens-top-intelligence-officer-nabbed-for-robbery-extortion

The chief intelligence officer of Carmen town in northern Cebu was arrested this afternoon, March 12, in an entrapment operation for alleged robbery extortion. 

Police Executive Master Sergeant Julius Obañana was arrested by agents from the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group Central Visayas. 

Police Major Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of Carmen police station, said that Obañana was in service for around 24 years now. He added that this is not the first robbery extortion complaint faced by the suspect. Batabalonos said similar complaints were lodged against the suspect even before when he was still assigned at the Tuburan Police Station. 

Batobalonos added that last February, Obañana arrested a man in a buy-bust operation. However, he allegedly did not include the man’s motorcycle as part of the evidence. 

Batobalonos revealed that the parents of the drug suspect went to Obañana to claim the motorcycle. But Obañana allegedly told them to pay him P3,000 first before he will turn over the motorcycle. 

The parents then asked assistance from a friend who is working in the municipal hall and later sought help from the Carmen Police Station. The responding officers then conducted an entrapment operation and arrested Obañana.

Batobalonos also said that Obañana’s failure to include the motorcycle as evidence is already a violation. Hence, he will also be facing an administrative case.

A 24 year veteran of the PNP has been arrested on charges of robbery extortion when he demanded payment to release a seized motorcycle. This is also not his first robbery extortion complaint. It likely means he has been up to no good for years but has been protected.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133432

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has sentenced a former mayor of Pantar, Lanao del Norte up to 10 years in prison for graft in connection with irregular disbursements worth PHP11.8 million in 2008.

In a 32-page decision dated March 12, the graft court through Associate Justice Amparo M.Cabotaje-Tang, found Norlaine Limbona and former municipal accountant Paganaibae Macaumbos guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

A third accused, former municipal treasurer Orac Racmat, remained at-large.

Limbona was found to have approved fund disbursements worth P11.8 million from January 2008 to January 2009 even if previous cash advances have not been liquidated yet, in violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and Section 89 of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1445).

Limbona, Macaumbos, and Racmat approved the multimillion-peso fund disbursements without proof that previous cash advances have been accounted for.

The mayor was found guilty of disbursing cash to government employees without accounting for previous cash advances.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1406504/cop-sacked-for-asking-calbayog-court-for-list-of-lawyers-in-communist-cases

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday relieved a policeman who allegedly requested the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for a list of lawyers representing alleged members of communist groups.

In a statement, PNP officer in charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said based on the initial result of its investigation, PLt. Fernando Calabria, Jr. was tasked to come up with a comprehensive report on the activities of communist groups in Calbayog City.

“The pressure of crafting a detailed report apparently took a toll on him and eventually prompted him to commit a serious breach of policy,” Eleazar said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate later slammed the request, saying that it is a “clear and present danger to the legal profession.”

Eleazar, meanwhile, later apologized to the members of the legal profession for “this reckless behavior.”

“Our apology comes with an assurance to the judiciary and the members of the legal community that it is not and will never be the policy of the Philippine National Police to run after or even inflict harm on lawyers and members of the judiciary while performing their sworn duty,” he said.

Blaming the officer's actions on stress is a weird excuse especially in light of the fact that the PNP is regularly engaged in red-tagging.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133552

The Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the relief of Calbayog City police chief Lt. Col. Neil Montaño effective Sunday in connection with the March 8 “shootout” that killed Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and five others.

 

PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement that the sacking was a result of intelligence chief Lt. Fernando Calabria Jr. seeking from the court a list of lawyers defending alleged communists.

 

Calabria was previously relieved of his duties, too.

 

"The relief order is in connection with the incident in March 8 incident in Calbayog City which resulted in the death of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and five other people, including three PNP personnel and at the same time, the irresponsible conduct of his intelligence officer in relation to the letter request to the local court," Eleazar’s statement read.

Calbayog City PNP Chief Monaño has been relived of his post due to the shoot out that killed the mayor and an intel officer making requests for a list of lawyers defending communists.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/21/hontiveros-some-immigration-officers-involved-in-trafficking-ofws-to-syria-as-slaves

A senator on Tuesday bared a scheme where immigration officers allegedly take bribes from illegal recruiters to traffic Filipina domestic workers as slaves to Syria. 

In one case, an Immigration official allegedly met with an illegal recruiter at the Luneta Park in Manila to collect some P50,000 for every trafficked Filipina, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in an online press conference. 

Hontiveros presented a recorded message from a certain "Alice," one of 3 Filipinas in Syria who sought help from her office after experiencing abuse from their employers.  

(I experienced physical abuse because I told them I wanted to go home. They were angered by that so they laid their hands on me.) 

(They kick me, slap me, and they also pull my hair. I also experienced being hit with wood.) 

Alice said she has been receiving only half of the promised $400 (P20,000) monthly salary since she started working in Damascus in 2018. 

Based on initial information, an Immigration official meets with trafficked persons at the entrance of airports and usher them towards Immigration "counter number 1," said Hontiveros, whose Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality has been investigating bribery scandals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. 

Another Immigration staff assists them until they board the plane, the senator said. 

Alice and her 2 other colleagues were told that they would board a flight to Malaysia before taking another flight to Dubai, Hontiveros said. 

(They stayed in Malaysia for 2 weeks where Alice learned that they were bound for Damascus, Syria and not Dubai.)

Alice said they later found out that they were sold for $1,000 (P50,000) each to their Syrian employers.

A cynical response would be, if Alice is getting paid then how is she a slave? A more sober response would be, Hontiveros uncovered the Pastillas scam last year so there is no reason to about she is on to something big.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133709

Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Jeremiah Belgica warned government officials not to put their names and faces on public documents as election season draws near.

"Refrain from putting your names and faces on government documents,” Belgica said in a news release on Monday.

Belgica said he has received numerous complaints that some public servants have their names or faces imprinted on public documents like permits and licenses.

He said politicians have long since taken advantage of this system wherein the head of agency or local government unit usually places the politicians’ name and picture as indirect advertising or a way to make it appear that the people owe a favor to them.

"These pictures of politicians on permits and licenses affect the cost of printing that the applicants are shouldering,” he said.

Belgica said putting names and faces of politicians on government documents is already being prohibited by the Anti-Epal provision or General Provision No. 82 of the adopted 2021 National Budget.

Under the Anti-Epal provision, government officials, whether elected or appointed, are banned from self-promotion through placement of names, pictures, or otherwise on programs, projects, and any other initiatives that are funded by the government through the General Appropriations Act.

“With the election season nearing, mahigpit po nating pinaaalahanan ang ating kapwa kawani ng gobyerno, na tigilan na ang paglalagay ng mukha at pangalan nila sa mga government-funded projects including documents and issuances. Tayo po ay pinapasweldo ng taumbayan, hindi po nila utang na loob sa atin ang de kalidad na serbisyo publiko (We strictly remind our fellow government employees to stop imprinting their faces and names on the government-funded projects, including documents and issuances. We receive salaries through taxpayers’ money, we need to give them good quality services). Don’t self-promote,” Belgica said.

I have never seen a business permit without the mayor's face and name on it.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133913

Two police officers are facing dismissal after testing positive for illegal drugs during a random test.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, who is currently under quarantine after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), said Wednesday he has ordered the pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against Cpl. Christian Cerado, assigned at Parañaque City Police Station and Staff Sgt. Ildefonso dela Cruz Jr., assigned at Iloilo Police Provincial Office.

Sinas said urine specimen of Cerado and dela Cruz contained traces of methamphetamine during random drug tests administered on personnel of the Parañaque City Police Station last February 24 and on operatives of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office last February 18.

Both police officers have been disarmed and placed under restrictive custody.

Two more cops busted for drugs.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133993

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap and his provincial administrator are now facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly entering into anomalous transactions that wasted public funds amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

Yap and Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Fe Pioquinto were charged on March 17 before the anti-graft body in Quezon City with violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Act, for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct.

The complaint stemmed from the overpriced and questionable purchases from supplies with dubious financial, legal, or technical credentials and track record.

The complainant, Dan Neri Lim, a lawyer and former mayor of Tagbilaran City, sought the Ombudsman’s office to investigate Yap, Pioquinto, and other officials of the province for the alleged irregularities.

Lim said the provincial government entered into a service contract for the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2020, a virtual conference to promote tourism.

He alleged that the provincial government contracted PTM Disco Record Center for the rental of light and sound system for the PHITEX 2020 event held in Panglao, a resort island town in Bohol.

The event’s closing ceremony was held on Sept. 25, 2020, but the notice of award for the procurement was issued only on Dec. 18, 2020, which was three months after the said event had ended.

Lim added that Yap issued a notice of award to Dextel Trading for the purchase of mobile X-ray machines for a total of PHP22,788,000 or PHP3,798,000 per unit.

“However, upon checking with various suppliers, the cost of the unit of the same specification is only P950,000. In this case, there is overpricing of each unit in the amount of P2,848,000 or a total amount of P17,000,000,” the complaint read.

Lim’s complaint also alleged that on March 18, 2020, the provincial government of Bohol purchased “by way of negotiated sale” eight motorcycles from TWIS Trading in the amount of PHP718,000.

“It would appear that the purchase price of the motorcycle costs about PHP89,750. Upon verification, a Honda XRM 125 only costs about PHP55,000 for a brand new and PHP18,000 for second hand (units),” Lim’s complaint-affidavit read.

Lim noted an overprice of PHP34,750 per unit or a total of PHP278,000 for the entire transaction.

Bohol governor charged with graft for anomalous purchases and procurements. These include overpriced x-ray machines and motorcycles.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133426

The CA’s Twelfth Division, in a decision dated March 9, 2021 by Associate Justice Danteon Q. Bueser, denied the appeal of Junia Pugong, an assistant professor of the Ifugao State University and chairperson of its Timoc campus.

In June 2016, student officers, applicant teachers, drivers and job order instructors filed a complaint against Pugong for grave misconduct for reducing the allotted transportation fare for students and employees during the 2014 Foundation Day celebrations.

The complainants also accused her of dishonesty by assigning another to do her teaching load.

The CSC in July 2017 found her guilty.

In its decision, the appellate court said “to warrant dismissal from the service, she must have committed a specific act or misconduct which must be grave, serious, important, weighty, momentous and not trifling. The misconduct must imply wrongful intention and not a mere error of judgment.”

The Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a state university professor for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Halal, Blood Clotting, and More!

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

While some people are worried about the efficacy of the vaccine the Muslims in the BARMM are being assured that the vaccine is halal.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/03/11/2083578/barmm-residents-assured-covid-19-vaccines-are-halal

The Bangsamoro Darul Iftah declared Thursday that COVID-19 vaccines being administered to Muslim frontliners in five southern provinces are halal.

Halal means permissible, or acceptable in Arabic.

The Darul Iftah, also known as the House of Opinions, is comprised of clerics, among them graduates of Islamic universities in the Middle East and North Africa, and helps oversee the religious affairs of the regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Darul Iftah’s figurehead, Islamic theologian Abuhuraira Udasan, said Thursday that Muslims should not worry about getting vaccinated due to speculations that vaccines have components that are haram (forbidden) in Islam.

Their concerns are valid. Just was is in the vaccine? 

We have been told over and over that the vaccine will bring an end to the pandemic but now officials say that getting vaccinated is no guarantee you will not be infected.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133194

Health experts on Wednesday clarified that getting a vaccine passport after having been inoculated is not a guarantee that an individual will not spread or get infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) anymore.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a member of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Technical Advisory Group, said vaccine passports will merely serve as a record that an individual has been vaccinated.

“Hindi 'yung kapag nakapagbigay proof ka na nabakunahan ka na eh hindi ka na manghahawa at hindi ka (na) mahahawaan. And in fact, wala pa tayo ganun klaseng information (It won’t be because you already have proof that you’re vaccinated that you cannot infect or get infected. In fact, we don’t have that kind of information yet),” Lim said.

She noted that vaccinated individuals are expected to benefit from a decrease in the severity of Covid-19 symptoms and that there is no information yet on whether vaccination will decrease transmission of the disease.

“Kahit na nabakunahan na, ang mga healthcare workers pinag-iingat pa rin ang lahat kasi yun ngang paglipat ng sakit, whether mahawaan or manghawa, ay hindi kasama dun sa datos na hawak natin sa ngayon (Even after inoculation, our health workers are still being cautioned because the transmission of the disease is not included in the data that we have right now),” Lim said.

"There is no information yet on whether vaccination will decrease transmission  of the disease." Then what is the point of getting vaccinated? Yet the government is continuing to push mass inoculation as the way to fully open up the economy.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405516/jab-to-cure-joblessness

“Joblessness is a result of jablessness,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said on Wednesday in response to the report of a record four million Filipinos unemployed in January. 

Recto reminded the government that the unemployment problem — now on a 16-year high — was an outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the mass vaccination program was the “cure.”

“The contagion of unemployment is a brutal side effect of this virus. Mass inoculation is the cure to mass unemployment,” he said in a statement, adding: “Any [aid] is but a temporary pain killer that will lessen the symptoms a bit, but will not cure the cause.” Recto said that for it to show any tangible effect, opening up the economy should be accompanied by the establishment of more vaccination sites.

Many of those jobs are not coming back and the way to bring any of them back is to open up the economy completely. The Philippines will also need millions of more doses of the vaccine to meet this plan. The DOH in Bicol is warning cities that if they are not prepared to receive the vaccine then they will not be receiving it.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133183

The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol urged the provincial health institutions and local government units (LGUs) in the region to conduct simulation exercises (SIMEX) for the vaccination procedure as a requirement for vaccine allocation.

This, after 22,000 doses in 2,200 vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived here on Wednesday.

Dr. John Ferchito Avelino, DOH-Bicol assistant regional director, in a press conference said SIMEX must be conducted to ensure and assess the preparation of people, venue and facilities to be used when the actual vaccines arrive.

"LGUs and hospital must prepare facilities, vaccination workforce, referral facility for adverse effects, and list of eligible individuals to be vaccinated in the localities. DOH will also look into the venue lay-out, process and contingency plan just in case for adverse events like brownout, earthquake and other natural calamities," Avelino said.

He also reminded LGUs to coordinate with the DOH for the conduct of the SIMEX in their areas.

It is always good to be prepared. Funny that the DOH is advising LGUs to prepare facilities for those who might have adverse effects. The AstraZeneca vaccine has raised questions in the EU concerning blood clotting. The Philippines says they will push forward with the vaccine anyway.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1406100/doh-not-stopping-astrazeneca-vaccination-despite-blood-clot-concerns-in-eu

There is currently no reason for the Philippines to stop the rollout of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine despite reports that some people who received the shots in some European countries have developed blood clots, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday.

“At present, the DOH and FDA emphasize that there is no indication for the Philippines to stop rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines. The DOH, NTF (National Task Force against COVID-19) and FDA are closely coordinating on this matter. The public is assured they will closely monitor all deployed vaccines,” the two agencies said in a joint statement.

The DOH and the FDA said they are aware that a few countries in the European Union have recently paused inoculation of the COVID-19 vaccine from the British-Swede firm.

However, they pointed out that this move of some EU countries has been decided as a precautionary measure while the countries conduct a full investigation to determine the link between the vaccination and the reported adverse effects.

The DOH and the FDA also pointed out that according to the European Medicine Authority (EMA), there is currently no indication that vaccination has caused the development of blood clots, which is not listed as a side effect of the vaccine.

“The position of EMA’s safety committee PRAC (Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee) is that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing. PRAC is already reviewing all cases of thromboembolic events, and other conditions related to blood clots, reported post-vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca,” the EMA earlier said.

Hopefully no one dies from taking this vaccine but the statistical likelihood is unlikely. At some point someone in the Philippines will certainly die after taking the vaccine just as has happened elsewhere.

PNP Chief Sinas contracted the virus. This despite following all the health protocols.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779512/sinas-observed-health-protocols-but-still-got-covid-19-pnp-spokesperson/story/

The Philippine National Police on Saturday said its chief, Police General Debold Sinas, takes swab tests and observes health protocols but still contracted COVID-19, a day after the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro called him out for allegedly not doing so.

"Everytime our chief moves po, he never fails to take the swab test. He wears face mask and shield. He has his alcohol with him. He requires all other offls [officials] joining him to do the same," PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said in a message sent to reporters.

"But virus is everywhere po. Even member/s of some royal families tested positive fm the virus. Nobody really is exempt from COVID19," Usana said.

The PNP official gave the comment after the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro issued a statement on Friday saying Sinas skipped COVID-19 health protocols when he visited the province on Thursday.

[PGen. Debold Sinas didn't pass through the pier in Calapan and was not among those who were profiled by PGOM personnel. He arrived in the province on board a helicopter and went straight to the regional headquarters.]

Whether or not Sinas violated protocols the PNP here is admitting that those health protocols will not prevent anyone from contracting the virus.  That is a very important admission.

It has been a year since the pandemic began and the DOH says they are better prepared to handle the situation now. Yet it also seems that Manila is "back to square one."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1406381/common-curfew-tighter-curbs-metro-back-to-square-one

A year after a lockdown was imposed on Metro Manila as the coronavirus pandemic reached the country, the capital region is again bracing itself for enhanced restrictions as if it’s “back to square one,’’ as one senator put it.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos said police and village guards would set up border controls to cordon off parts of the metropolis, with a common curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to be imposed starting Monday.

In a meeting on Thursday night, the 17 mayors of the local governments making up the capital region agreed to enforce the common curfew for two weeks.

The start of the common curfew comes with the stricter enforcement of health and safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks and face shields and observing physical distancing, he added.

“We will implement very stringent measures, because the numbers that our mayors had seen were very alarming, with the presence of the UK and South African variants,” Abalos said.

The Philippines is going full circle it seems even with the vaccine arriving. In addition to the UK and South African variants now the Brazil variant has been detected in the Philippines. Who knows what that will lead to?

The DepEd says that after a year of closed schools being shutdown the Philippines is facing a learning crisis.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1407062/philippines-faces-learning-crisis-after-yearlong-school-shutdown-due-to-covid-19-pandemic

A year after the coronavirus pandemic sent the Philippines into a months-long lockdown, classrooms across the country remain empty and children are still stuck at home.

Fearing youngsters could catch the virus and infect elderly relatives, President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to lift the restrictions until vaccinations are widespread — something that could take years.

A “blended learning” program involving online classes, printed materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media was launched in October, four months after the school year was supposed to start.

It has been plagued with problems: most students in the Philippines don’t have a computer or internet at home.

The nine-year-old’s science teacher, Kristhean Navales, runs a class over Facebook Messenger but less than half of his 43 students have access to a device.

Using heart and thumb emojis, those that can join signal if they have understood or have questions about the lesson Navales has pasted into the group chat.

They don’t always have internet and what data they have isn’t enough for video calls.

“Subjects that require hands-on activity like science, mathematics — how can we do that in the messenger?” Navales asked.

He worries that his students are not learning much and he’s frustrated by the government’s failure to prepare schools for a return to in-person classes.

“Their right to education should not be hampered by this pandemic,” he told AFP.

School closures have affected all students, but the country’s devastating rich-poor divide has made the impact unequal.

Parents with money can hire tutors for their children — or even a live-in teacher.

Recruitment company Ikon Solutions Asia has placed dozens of qualified teachers to live in a “bubble” with wealthy families during the pandemic, said managing director Paolo Martel.

For poor students like Maria Fe Morallos, who lives in a smoky charcoal-making neighborhood, such opportunities don’t exist.

The tenth grade student can’t afford a smartphone so she sits under a naked lightbulb writing answers on worksheets, skipping lessons she doesn’t understand.

From textbooks filled with errors to underpaid teachers to lack of supplies the Philippines was facing a learning crisis before the pandemic. Closing schools have only made it worse. 

Last week a few Senators lamented that the Philippines was back to square one a year later. This week some Senators continued that line.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/03/15/2084473/senators-hit-double-standards-band-aid-solutions-year-covid-19-lockdown

In a statement, Sen. Nancy Binay hit the "ningas cogon" attitude even among government officials as pandemic-related curbs are now being flouted even as cases rise daily. "Ningas cogon" refers to early enthusiasm that quickly fades.

"What's ironic is that after a year since the lockdown, we are still here with hardly any progress," she said partly in Filipino. The country has seen a fresh surge of cases, with the Department of Health reporting 5,404 new infections on Monday.

"How can we expect people to consiously follow health protocols when even our national and local government officials do not conscientiously follow [these]?" 

In a separate statement, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the government "has done what is necessary" but admitted that there is a lot more to be done.

In a privilege speech on the anniversary of the lockdown, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the country has seen "365 days of hypocrisy" from some officials who violated quarantine measures.

"IATF continues to use silly and ineffective band-aid solutions as a smokescreen for the fact that the real systematic response has still not yet been made," Hontiveros said in a statement, adding that to date, the country still has no free mass testing and an efficient contact tracing system.

"Why are police in fatigue uniforms with guns tasked to carry out curbs?" she said. "COVID-19 is a health problem. This virus is not going away just because you brandish a gun, just as it will not stop spreading because there are officers in fatigues at a checkpoint."

It's funny because apparently these Senators don't realize the people are looking toward them for leadership just as much as anyone in the government.

Just how deadly was COVID-19 last year? It was only the seventh leading cause of death in the nation.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/03/17/2084883/six-other-diseases-killed-more-filipinos-covid-19

Ischaemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death for second year in a row, with 99,680 people losing their lives last year. Mortality from the disease went up 2.3% year-on-year, and represented 17.3% of total loss of life because of a disease last year. 

Neoplasms or tumors as well as cerebrovascular diseases were ranked second and third, respectively, although deaths from these diseases declined by 9.3% and 6% from year-ago levels.

Deaths due to diabetes mellitus however rose 7.8% to 37,265 last year, enough to put the disease as the fourth top killer of Filipinos from fifth in 2019. At sixth place, deaths from hypertensive diseases also jumped 6.3% to 29,511 last year, when most Filipinos were forced to become stationary at their homes.

COVID-19-related registered deaths only came in seventh at 27,967, prompting the Coalition of People’s Right to Health to lament what it said is the “covidization” of healthcare. The non-government organization argued that while coronavirus remains a serious concern, other diseases should not be sidelined.

This chart does not factor in how many deaths were due to COVID-19 alone vs COVId-19 as a contributing factor along with comorbidities such as heart disease. That is a very important distention and could drive the number even lower.

Despite all that's happening with the pandemic Duterte wants the country to know, "We can beat this COVID."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1407393/maliit-na-bagay-ito-duterte-assures-ph-can-overcome-covid-19-pandemic

 “This is a small thing in our lives,” President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday during his pre-recorded briefing, as he assured Filipinos that they could eventually overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I will just say to my countrymen that do not despair. We can beat this COVID. This is a small thing in our lives,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.

“We have been through a lot of things that are more serious, more difficult, and made us cry more,” he added.

Duterte said this as the Philippines was being threatened by another spike in COVID-19 cases. On Monday alone, health officials recorded a record-high for 2021 of 5,404 new coronavirus cases.

One thing's for sure, nothing lasts forever, even COVD-19.