The God Culture: Testing the Resources of Ophir and Tarshish, Part 1

Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture gives as one of his strongest evidences that the Philippines is both Ophir and Tarshish is that all the resources brought back from those places are native to the Philippines. Is that true? Let's test Tim's testing of the resources of Ophir and Tarshsish. Though he has many videos on this subject I shall be sticking with his book Solomon's Treasure which he claims is "the monumental case for the Philippines no one can disprove." 

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 95

Elsewhere I have already shown that Tarshish must be located somewhere within the Mediterranean basin. The fact that Tarshish is said to have traded with Tyre coupled with the fact that there is no record of a robust trade between the east and west via circumnavigating Africa preclude Tarshish from being located in the east. It is also a fact that Tarshish is a descendant of Japheth while Ophir is a descendant of Shem. According to Tim's interpretation of Noah's division of the earth between his sons Tarshish cannot be in Asia because that is Shem's territory. Of course he finds a way around this conundrum.

The sons of Joktan – Ophir, Sheba and Havilah are all from Noah’s son Shem. However, Tarshish is from Japheth. How does he enter this narrative of the journey to Ophir? The only Tarshish mentioned in Genesis 10 is this one.

Genesis 10:4-5 KJV

And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Tarshish is the son of Javan, the father of Greece according to history and the Book of Jubilees. Along with his brothers, he inherited the Greek isles very accurately termed the isles of the Gentiles in Genesis 10. However, if we are to follow the supposed history which ignores the Bible and makes unsupported assumptions often times, we would believe no one had ships back in 2200 B.C. We have not found any ships that would credibly date back that far indeed. However, the thinking it would be preserved that long is not reasonable except in extremely rare cases.

However, what good would inheriting isles be if you could not travel there. They got to their inheritance somehow and they were not that great of swimmers. We are actually expected to believe that Noah and his sons construct a ship of supertanker complex construction years before this and yet, they all forgot how to build a ship after the Flood especially with a large world ocean to cross now. Of course, they boated and had ships. Tarshish especially found a way to build something to get to his inheritance and this is how he enters the Ophir migration. We are certainly not the first to make such connection.

“And that this was really so, and that the principal settler of these archipelagoes [Philippines] was Tharsis, son of Javan, together with his brothers, as were Ophir and Hevilath of India, we see in the tenth chapter of Genesis...” –Father Francisco Colin, 1663 

With Tarshish arrived his brothers, the sons of Javan, the mariner family from Japheth as they were all returning to the land of Noah. The territory was given to the sons of Shem in Noah’s division of the Earth which Ophir, Sheba and Havilah were the ones to claim it but they needed ships to get there.

What Tim is saying here is that Tarshish inherited the islands of Greece and therefore had ships. He and his brothers, along with Ophir and Havilah, sailed far to the east in those ships because "they were all returning to the land of Noah" which Tim teaches is the Philippines. He cites the Jesuit Fr. Francisco Colin in support of his thesis. That is kind of odd seeing how much Tim dislikes the Jesuits. 

Ophir, Sheba and Havilah lived in Meshad, Iran which in 1663, was a territory right adjacent to what was referred to as India (Afghanistan) still by many so it is not inconsistent for Father Colin to identify them so as they did originate in that region. This was not exactly a yachting area and certainly not one possessing vessels which could cross the sea but Tarshish and his brothers had ships. Therefore, Ophir and Sheba needed ships and Tarshish provided them. His payment for this endeavor carrying them back to their homeland would be to inherit a piece of that land logically as he certainly did according to scripture in order to have land in that region especially since Tarshish’s territory is no where near there otherwise but the Greek isles. David mentions ships and kings of Tarshish two times before Solomon’s reign before his navy even began construction (Ps. 48:7, 72:10). Both are prophesies that Tarshish will bring gifts to Messiah with Ophir and Sheba and it’s ships destroyed.

That is all pure speculation based on Tim's imagination. Why couldn't Ophir and Sheba build their own ships? How does he know the payment for building those ships would be to inherit a piece of land? How does he know the land the inherited is Mindanao? He doesn't know any of that. He is simply asserting it as a fact because "that makes sense."

Rome did not benefit from this knowledge so easily as this was established by Israel with Phoenicia managing the route. Greece inherited this and, as they represent Tarshish’s family. That makes sense.

Tarshish is Mindanao, Philippines as it is mapped as the Greek land of silver, Argyre (The Hebrew Tarshish) especially on the 1492 Portuguese globe of Behaim just South of Luzon/Chryse. Mindanao also tests as the only place in the Philippines which fully aligns with Tarshish in resources especially due to tin.

Solomon's Treasure, pgs 124-125

At least Tim is sensible enough to say that Greece "represents Tarshish's family." Everything else he says is pure nonsense not supported by the scriptures or history. A correct reading of scripture necessarily locates Tarshish somewhere within the Mediterranean basin and never to the Far East.

Now for the resources listed in 2 Chronicles 9:21.

2 Chronicles 9:21 KJV 

For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes and peacocks.

Gold

There certainly is a lot of gold in the Philippines. But what proof does Tim give that the gold brought back from Tarshish originated in the Philippines? 

Above Pigafetta describes from two different translations, though pretty much the same, that the King of Butuan was able to secure a gold nugget the size of a chicken egg or walnut by simply sifting through the earth or seeking in the ground. This actually fits what would have to be the case in the ancient land of gold from at least 1000 B.C. as there was no major mining equipment in that era. The Philippines not only matches this but we offer two additional legends which affirm this point that the gold in the Philippines was available by picking it up from the shallows of rivers and even the ground. Granted these are oral legends in which the story may change some depending on whom you talk but these affirm this position. Silver, we will withhold for Tarshish. 

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 96

What does he mean he is going to withhold discussing silver until he discusses Tarshish? These resources of gold, ivory, apes, are all said, in both 2 Chronicles 9:21 and 1 Kings 10:22, to come from Tarshish not Ophir. The problem is he is conflating the two as we shall see at the end of this article. This chapter is sparse and anecdotal. Yes, the Philippines has gold. Yes, gold was brought back from Tarshish. But that does not mean Tarshish is the Philippines. 

Ivory

In my initial review of Solomon's Gold I commented on Tim's claim about the Philippines being a source for ivory which bears repeating here.

How does he prove that elephants and thus ivory was once abundant in the Philippines during the time of Solomon? Through archaeology, he says. After quoting several articles including Wikipedia and an opinion piece from the Philippine Daily Inquirer Tim writes:

However, one must overlook tons of archaeology in order to conclude elephants were not native to the Philippines including the very latin identification of species which is specific to the Philippines such as Rhinoceros philippinensis unearthed in Fort Bonaficio along with Stegodon luzonensis, Bubalus cebuensis, a dwarf buffalo found in Cebu and Elephas Beyeri named after anthropologist H. Ottley Beyer who found these bones on Cabarruyan Island In Luzon.

Solomon's Treasure, pg.100

Actually what Tim is describing is not archaeology but paleontology and there are not tons of it but merely a few prehistoric fossils. Instead of proving to the reader how the existence of the fossils of a prehistoric rhinoceros, dwarf stegodon, dwarf buffalo, and dwarf elephant proves that the Philippines was teeming with elephants and was a major source for ivory during the time of Solomon, Tim merely states it as a fact and claims he could write a whole book about the subject. He then goes on to record the testimony of  Jesuits who wrote of the existence of elephants in the Philippines. But Tim already admitted those elephants were imported to the Philippines by the Sultanate of Sulu from Java in the 1300's which is long after Solomon.

Tim also claims that Pigafetta saw elephants on Palawan.

Even history agrees as in 1521, Pigafetta witnessed elephants as he mentioned them multiple times especially in Palawan.

“When we arrived at the city (Palawan), we were obliged to wait about two hours in the prahu, until there came thither two elephants covered with silk...” –Pigafetta, 1521

This is not true. Pigafetta's account, which can be read here in sections 110-118, took place after the death of Magellan and the route can be discerned from his journal. They left Cebu for Bohol, next to Cagayan, then north west to Palawan (Palaoan), then south west to another island. There is only one island to the south west of Palawan and that is Borneo.

Describing the inhabitants this island Pigafetta writes:

The Moors of Burné go naked like the other islanders.

The people were Muslims and they were naked. Clearly not the Philippines whose inhabitants, while noted for being naked, are never called Moors. So, this is another lie concocted by Tim. Did he read the text? It very clearly says they went from Palawan to an island in the south west and then they encountered the elephants. Nowhere in the preceding section about the Philippines are elephants noted though they are noted in other places following Borneo. I call this a lie and not a simple error because Tim had ample time to check everything and he is on record admitting that he wants to prove that the Philippines is Ophir. If he read the text there is no way he would have gotten this wrong except on purpose. I assume he did read the text because I can find no one else claiming Pigafetta saw elephants in Palawan which means he probably did not crib this from elsewhere. Therefore this is a flat-out lie and not a simple error. 

Tim concludes this section on ivory thusly:

Ivory was native to the Philippines since pre-history, in the days of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, long before the time of the Sultanate of Sulu, in the era of the Spanish and all the way up until they went extinct in the 1600s or so.

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 102

But he has not proven this at all. He has taken five fossils, which if you read the information at each link says some have not been examined properly and some have been lost, and has extrapolated a vast and lucrative ivory trade between the Philippines and Israel. He has also lied claiming that Pigafetta saw elephants in Palawan. That alone makes this section unreliable.

Apes

Solomon’s navy returned with apes and we cannot begin to tell you how many demanded we produce a large, hairy Africa-type ape in order to prove this position. The problem is they are inserting their own modern thinking and not looking at the origin of the word which is not African-style large apes nor would they have had the technology to handle such primates in that era. They also would not need them as Solomon is not known for building a zoo and they serve noother purpose. Instead, this word simply means monkey and specifically a monkey with a tail or long-tailed.

apes: Hebrew: qôwph: קוף: Probably of foreign origin, a monkey: – ape... especially monkeys with tails. 

We would agree the Philippines is not known for African-style apes but those seeking such are not following the Bible. We are pursuing monkeys with long tails and yes, they are abundant in the Philippines. However, we can get more definitive on this one because in this case, we actually have archaeology of a relief from the walls of the palace of Assyria which illustrates Phoenician sailors (Solomon’s navy) arriving with long- tailed monkeys not big African-style apes.

This relief tells us much as it is just after Solomon’s time in 865 B.C. and the Phoenicians brought apes, or really long-tailed monkeys, from Ophir according to the Bible account. However, what is astonishing about this carving is that you can identify these monkeys as a match to the Philippine Long-Tailed Macaque. [pictured next page] The face, hands, feet, size, structure and tail all appear to be a match. Of course, there are other macaques around the world but we are not testing the world, we are testing whether the Philippines has the apes of the Bible and they have what appears to be a precise harmony.

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 103

The Philippines has long-tailed monkeys which would seem to fit the description in 2 Chronicles. But let's take a closer look at the word for ape.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6971/kjv/wlc/0-1/

a word of Indian origin

Tim's source for his definition of the word translated ape comes from the Blue Letter Bible which I have just cited. But notice that Tim does not give the full definition. He leaves out the part about the Hebrew word being an Indian loan word. If the word for ape in Hebrew is Indian in origin then the apes taken back to Israel must have come from India and not the Philippines. That does not mean that Tarshish is in India only that the apes likely came from India. Or perhaps the word for ape is Indian in origin because they had imported monkeys from India and the word came to mean any monkey. Just like in the Philippines Colgate means toothpaste and not just the brand Colgate.

Peacocks

The Philippines has a native peacock named the Palawan Peacock.

“Endemic to the Philippines, the Palawan peacock-pheasant is found in the humid forests of Palawan Island in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago.” 

We find references to this peacock in Pigafetta’s Journal twice.

“The next day the king of that island sent a prahu to the ships; it was very handsome, with its prow and stern ornamented with gold; on the bow fluttered a white and blue flag, with a tuft of peacock’s feathers at the top of the staff” –Pigafetta, 1521

“Afterwards there came nine men to the governor’s house, sent by the king, with as many large wooden trays, in each of which were ten or twelve china dishes, with the flesh of various animals, such as veal, capons, fowls, peacocks, and others, with various sorts of fish, so that only of flesh there were thirty or thirty-two different viands.”

–Pigafetta, 1521

Again, this is a lie. The reference to peacocks in Pigafetta occurs in sections 110 and 114 which is when he is Borneo. Like Palawan, Borneo is also home to an endemic peacock. As for the origin of the word translated peacock it is, like the word for monkey, foreign.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8500/kjv/wlc/0-1/

To this answer the Malabar. togei

The Hebrew word for peacock has its derivation from Malabar Tamil which is spoken in India. Tim brings this issue up later in his book when discussing India's claim to be Ophir.

India’s challenge as Ophir per The Periplus is it’s own history which details it’s source of gold in ancient times was located in the isles East of India. This legend persisted in Sri Lanka as well thus, it would not qualify either as it is only an isle and not isles nor is it East of India. This is the only claim out there other than the Philippines that meets the burden in resources but history and the fact it is not an island crush it. We dealt with Malaysia already in Chapter 3.

A Dictionary of the Bible by Sir William Smith, published in 1863, notes “the Hebrew word for parrot Thukki, derived from the Classical Tamil for peacock Thogkai and Cingalese “tokei.”

–Sir William Smith, Smith’s Bible Dictionary, 1863

Smith focuses heavily in this writing on the Hebrew word Thukki which he never proves is Tamil. Yes, Thogkai and Tokei are sort of similar but a different language and one would need more to connect. Additionally, the word parrot which he seems to be focused never appears in any Bible translation even once. It is not in the KJV, NKJV, NLT, NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB, NET, RSV, ASV, YLT, DBY, WEB, HNV, RVR60, VUL, WLC, LXX, mGNT, or TR translations. Additionally, ancient words from scripture do not originate from other languages that are newer. The Book of Jubilees is clear, Hebrew was the “language of Creation” (Jub. 12:26-27).

Solomon's Treasure, pg. 216

Tim rebukes William Smith for claiming a Hebrew word is derived from a Tamil word because of the similarity of sound. But that is EXACTLY what Tim does when he claims there is residual Hebrew in the Philippine place-names. His other objection is that Hebrew is the original language of creation therefore it needs no loan words. That is an unproven assertion and does not take into account how languages actually work. For instance the age of Hebrew texts can be determined on linguistic grounds. Hebrew is not a static language. 

As for the Philippines having its own peacock, well that is interesting. The Palawan Peacock-pheasant is related to but not in the same genus as what we think of when we think of peacocks.

The adult male is the most peacock-like member of the genus Polyplectron in appearance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan_peacock-pheasant

It's not a true peacock, it is a peacock-pheasant. That is not a small difference. A true peacock is much larger with long tail feathers. This bird is short and squat just like a Filipino.

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

It is interesting to note that the word translated peacock can also be translated baboon and that there is no mention of peacocks in the Septuagint which ends with ivory. The Orthodox Study Bible, which is a modern translation of the Septuagint, translates 1 Chronicles 9:21 as follows:

The King's ships went to Tarshish with Hiram's servants. Once every three years the merchant ships returned, loaded with gold and silver and elephant tusks and monkeys.

No mention of baboons or peacocks. Could it be that the Hebrew text contains a later addition?

Tim ends this first section of testing the resources of Ophir and Tarshish on a triumphant note.

Just from this single passage in 2 Chronicles which identifies resources of Ophir and Tarshish, this allows us to narrow this down already. Solomon’s navy returned with gold, and silver, ivory, and apes and peacocks. There are no other stops on the list and this was the very first journey to Ophir and Tarshish. There is no record of their establishing trading posts along the way nor was that their purpose. They were building the Temple and to complete the project, Solomon wanted specific resources such as the gold Adam used in the first sacrifice which only comes from one place, the wood of Noah which was used to build the ark from this same land and all the resources of ancient Havilah, the land of his ancient ancestors – Adam and Eve.

However, the Bible is far more brilliant than given credit even by scholars, many of which do not actually believe the Bible unfortunately. It just knocked out any claim of Ophir coming from Ethiopia who not only is in the wrong territory but has no peacocks, almug trees (we will cover) and was not located in the uttermost parts of the earth. Yemen has no ivory, peacocks, almug nor is it in the uttermost parts of the earth. Both fail miserably the resource test and every test we have attempted. Nothing can replace the actual land of gold in history – the Philippines.

The Bible lists more resources though than just this one passage which come from Tarshish especially as well as Sheba which is further defined. We will test all of them and you will continually notice the others making assertions, deteriorate under examination.

Solomon's Gold, pgs. 106-107

Here we see that Tim is conflating Ophir and Tarshish. He thinks the cargo listed in 2 Chronicles 9:21 and 1 Kings 10:22 refer to both areas but they do not. 2 Chronicles 9:10 tells us what was brought back from Ophir.

And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.

What Tim says about the temple is totally wrong. The temple was finished before the ships sailed to Ophir and Tarshish and before the Queen of Sheba arrived for her visit. The scripture tells us that David had already prepared the gold.

1 Chronicles 29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 

2: Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 

3: Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 

4: Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 

5: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

There was no need for Solomon to adorn the temple with additional gold from Ophir because it was already finished and dedicated. 

As I have stated previously Tarshish must be located within the Mediterranean basin. In the Septuagint Tarshish is translated as Carthage in Isaiah 23:1. I am not going to affirm that Carthage is indeed the location of Tarshish but, despite the timeframe of every three years, all the resources listed here, gold, ivory, apes, and peacocks or baboons, can be found in North Africa. It is not impossible that peacocks from the Congo where they are native were captured and traded along the Barbary coast. Mosaic tile art from North Africa shows what looks like a Congolese peacock. The thing to remember is just because an item was brought back from Tarshish does not mean it was native to Tarshish. It only means that the item was brought there to be traded.

Has Tim proven without a doubt that Tarshish and Ophir are the same region? No. Has he shown that gold, ivory, apes, and peacocks must have come from the Philippines and no other place? No. In fact when it comes to ivory and peacocks he has lied about what Pigafetta wrote in his journal in order to fit his agenda. When speaking of ivory he has taken 5 fossils and extrapolated them into an elaborate ivory trade for which he offers no proof. Gold is to be found all over the world not just the Philippines and he gives no proof that the gold from Tarshish must be from the Philippines. As for peacocks, they may or may not have been part of the original cargo as they are not listed in the Septuagint which predates the Masoretic text.

There are more resources to be tested so I will have to divide this into three articles. The next section will deal with the resources of Tarshish and the final article will deal with the offerings of the Queen of Sheba.

Retards in the Government 266

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

  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177996

Members of the anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested an active police officer wanted for carnapping cases in Cotabato City on Wednesday.

In a statement Friday, Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), identified the suspect as Pat. Jassim Muhammad Aking.

Aking, a member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO BARMM), was arrested in an operation in 28th Purok Pinnen, Rosales Street, Barangay Rosary Heights VI at around 2 p.m.

The suspect has a standing arrest warrant for two charges of carnapping in violation of the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 with a fixed bail of PHP300,000 for each case.

The operation was recorded using one body-worn camera and one alternative recording device, in compliance with the rules on the use of recording devices during law enforcement operations.

A certain Jacob Maliga, 65, filed a complaint against Aking after he allegedly stole his Honda XRM motorcycle worth PHP35,000.

Another complainant, Julieto Eden Gornez Jr., also filed raps against the accused after he allegedly stole his brown Mitsubishi Estrada pick-up worth PHP750,000.

The suspect was brought to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) BARMM Office in Cotabato City for documentation and processing. 

A cop on active duty has been arrested for carnapping.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/01/pnp-cidg-nabs-barangay-captain-over-ties-to-gun-for-hire-group/

A barangay captain in Barira, Maguindanao was arrested by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday, June 30, for allegedly being a member of a gun-for-hire group.

Usop Sanggakala Aron, 53, incumbent captain of Brgy. Ruminimbang in Barira town, was collared at his house in the same area by joint elements of the PNP-CIDG and Special Action Force (SAF) around 12 noon under Oplan Paglalansag-Omega / Salikop.

According to CIDG, the suspect was served with a search warrant issued for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

“Usop Sanggakala Aron is a member and is providing armaments and harboring the Tating Sarip CG [criminal group],” the PNP-CIDG said in a statement.

The Tating Sarip group is allegedly an unlisted criminal group under the supervision of the Dawlah Islamiyah which is involved in gun-for-hire. Gun-running, and extortion activities in Parang and Barira towns of Maguindanao.

The CIDG said they confiscated from Aron’s possession four caliber M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle with an attached M203 grenade launcher, a customized M16 rifle, a caliber .38 pistol, and over 1,000 rounds of live ammunition and magazines.

Aron was brought to the CIDG regional field unit office in BARMM for documentation and proper disposition. 

A barangay captain has been arrested in connection with his ties to a gun running group under the supervision of ISIS. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620035/commission-on-audit-flags-congested-ph-jails

Seventy-one percent or 337 out of 474 jail facilities are heavily congested by as much as 2,696 percent, leading to unhealthy living conditions for the country’s persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

This is as the population in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) facilities rose from 115,336 in 2020 to 125,247 in 2021.

Although efforts in constructing new jail facilities and decongesting jails were noted, state auditors lamented that congestion of jail facilities has always been one of the BJMP’s challenges.

In its 2021 audit report on the BJMP, the COA found that there are 474 jail facilities with a population of 125,347 inmates as of the end of 2021.

Of these facilities, 337 are “heavily congested with occupancy rates ranging from 101 to 2,796 percent, or congestion rates of one to 2,696 percent.”

The average congestion rate of the 337 jails is 254 percent, or an occupancy rate of 354 percent—which means that there are four PDLs in every 4.7 square meters.

These do not conform with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the BJMP’s Manual on Habitat, Water, Sanitation and Kitchen in Jails.

The BJMP’s manual prescribes an ideal habitable floor area of 4.7 sqm for each inmate.

With a maximum congestion rate of 2,696 percent or an occupancy rate of 2,796 percent, it would mean that there are 28 PDLs occupying every 4.7 sqm.

The COA flags the BJMP for having overcrowded prisons. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620408/nbi-files-murder-raps-vs-police-for-death-of-bilibid-inmates

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder charges against 22 police officers for the death of 8 New Bilibid Prison inmates (NBP) inmates.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed in a text message that the 22 are from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) assigned to the Bureau of Corrections at the time of the inmates’ death.

NBI investigation showed that COVID-19 may have used as a cover for the deaths of the inmates.

The complaint was filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The NBI conducted an investigation upon orders of the DOJ on July 2020 following the death of high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian.

However, BuCor has refused to give details and disclose identities of the inmates citing the Data Privacy Act.

Then Senate President Vicente Sotto III quoting an unnamed police official said there is no more way of knowing if BuCor replaced the body of the inmate as there were no more finger prints.

Then, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the Data Privacy Act could not be used as a reason for not disclosing the deaths of inmates citing transparency to prevent abuses such as fake or simulated deaths.

22 cops have ben charged with murdering prisoners.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178008

A village chairperson was killed while his wife was unscathed in a drive-by shooting by riding in tandem gunmen in a remote town of Zamboanga del Norte, a police official said Friday.

Maj. Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula spokesperson, said Berting Inding, 54, was shot and killed around 11:58 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Tibangao, Siocon municipality.

Inding, the village chairperson of Balagonan, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Siocon District Hospital.

Chang said Inding was driving a motorcycle with his wife as the back rider when fatally shot by one of two men aboard another motorcycle that overtook them along the national highway in Barangay Tibangao.

She said the perpetrators sped off under the cover of darkness.

A barangay captain was assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178041

A former village chairperson who failed in his vice mayoralty bid in Maguindanao was arrested Friday for possession of unlicensed high-powered firearms.

Usop Sanggacala Aron, former village chair of Barangay Rumirimbang in Barira town, Maguindanao, did not resist arrest when a warrant was presented to him at his house in Parang town, a report from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police office said.

Aron ran but lost in the vice-mayoralty race in Barira in the May 9 elections.

Lieutenant Col. Bernard Lao, head of the BARMM Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Aron yielded four M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, an M203 rifle, a .380-caliber pistol, 16 pieces of 40mm grenade projectiles, and various ammunition.

Aron told police that he only owned two of the seized firearms although these were unlicensed.

He said the other firearms were pawned to his son by civilian neighbors and acquaintances.

A former barangay captain has been arrested for possessing unlicensed high power fire arms.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620625/bulacan-barangay-chairman-shot-dead

A barangay chairman from this town was shot and killed gunmen while driving his vehicle on his way home on Friday.

Police Colonel Charlie Cabradilla, Bulacan police chief, identified the victim as Marvin Avendaño, 48, barangay (village) captain of San Jose.

Based on initial investigation, Avendaño attended a birthday party in Barangay Buliran and was driving his vehicle when two gunmen standing on the side of the road shot him.

The two suspects immediately fled after the incident.

Cabradilla said further investigation and pursuit operations against the suspects are ongoing.

Another barangay captain assassinated by unknown men for unknown reasons. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620751/coa-flags-dilg-over-p577-million-unspent-pandemic-funds

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) failed to fully make use of its P4.038 billion COVID-19 budget for 2021, with P577.053 million in unused funds reverting to the general fund, according to state auditors.

The money was meant to pay for the hiring of 15,510 contact tracers last year and other pandemic-related expenses of the DILG’s regional offices, which received downloaded funds.

But the Commission on Audit (COA) found that P444.574 million of the unutilized funds were with the DILG central office.

“While the target number of contact tracers to be hired during the year was met, the funds allocated under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act and 2021 General Appropriations Act were not fully utilized,” a 2021 audit report on the DILG read.

As a result, the unused funds of P436,897,579.38 under the 2021 budget and P140,155,646.61 under continuing allotments, or a total of P577.053 million, reverted to the general fund.

The unused P577.053 million is 14.29 percent of the P4.038 billion that the DILG received in 2021 for its pandemic response.

“Funds were not fully utilized and later reverted to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund due to change of plans and funds intended for payment to contact tracers were not fully downloaded/transferred to regional offices and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), among others,” the COA said.

The COA has flagged the DILG for not utilizing all their funds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1620718/pro-11-physician-tagged-in-killing-of-student-in-davao-city

A physician of the Davao Police Regional Office (PRO 11) was tagged in the killing of a student outside a bar on Camus Extension in this city early Saturday.

Maj. Ma. Teresita Gaspan, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, identified the suspect as Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino, 31, of Hillside, Bajada. The slain student was Amir Mangacop of El Rio Subdivision, Bacaca.

In a statement, PRO 11 confirmed that Pepino, a non-uniformed member of PRO 11, as being a suspect.

“We assure all the parties and the public that this PRO will not, in any way, impede the legal process and guarantee a thorough, fair, and unbiased investigation; and appropriate criminal charges shall be filed accordingly,” the PRO said.

Maj. Eudisan Gultiano, PRO 11 spokesperson, said since Pepino, though a non-uniformed member, could carry a gun with him for as long as he had a license for it.

Based on an initial investigation, the physician and the student were involved in an altercation inside the bar.

A police officer tried to pacify them, but they kept quarreling as they went out of the bar.

The student then started punching at the suspect, who drew his gun and shot him.

A doctor working for the PNP has been accused of murder. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177960

Reelected Vice Mayor Adrian Ian Villaflor of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental has returned to serve his constituents for a second term on Thursday after posting bail for a murder case related to the death of a councilor in 2019.

On June 25, Presiding Judge Eric Anthony Dumpilo of Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental issued an order to release Villaflor and three councilors after posting a bail of 200,000 pesos each.

Villaflor, who was reelected during the May 9 polls with running-mate Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, was placed in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod District Office together with Councilor Jimmiedon Plaza when they surrendered to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer in September last year after warrants of arrest were issued against them.

The two other accused, Councilors Morito Flores and Vincent Garcia, were detained in the municipal police station.

The vice mayor said the court allowed them to leave detention when they filed their certificates of candidacy and when they cast their votes.

On March 31, 2019, Councilor Jolomar Hilario was gunned down by alleged members of the New People's Army at his residence.

However, witnesses surfaced implicating the four accused in the death of Hilario. The four, however, said the case was a "political harassment".

A re-elected vice mayor is out on bail on a murder charge which he says is political harassment.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178210

The Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested a former vice governor of the province of Batangas on charges of violence against women and children (VAWC) and illegal possession of firearms.

In a statement on Monday evening, ACG officer-in-charge, Brig. Gen. Bowen Joey Masauding, said Ricky Recto was arrested on July 3 by members of the ACG during the implementation of a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data (WSSECD) arising from an assault complaint filed by the suspect's former fiancée.

Based on the report, certain digital devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and desktop computers were taken from Recto's house.

The arresting team also saw five unregistered firearms which include a 12-gauge shotgun and four pistols -- two 9mm, one .25 caliber, and one .40 caliber

The suspect will also face another assault charge after he deliberately attacked one of the members of the operating team, Masauding said.

Ex-vice governor has been arrested for domestic violence and weapons violations.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/07/05/2193233/qc-govt-dismisses-policeman-shooting-man-during-melee

The Quezon City government People’s Law Enforcement Board dismissed a policeman for shooting a man during a scuffle using his service firearm while the election gun ban was in effect in a barangay in the locality,

In a 10-page decision, the Quezon City People's Law Enforcement Board said it found Police Senior Master Sergeant Chester Garchitorena guilty of Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer and Grave Misconduct.

The city information office said the complaint against Garchitorena stemmed from an incident on the evening of February 18 around 11:30 p.m. when he was involved in a fight between complainant, Florose Buenafe, and the policeman’s group while the complainant was out with his group of friends in Brgy. Greater Lagro.

Lawyer Rafael Calinisan, Executive Officer of the PLEB said that Garchitorena, who was assigned with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, was dismissed from service with forfeiture of benefits and disqualification for re-employment in government service.

A police officer has been dismissed for shooting a man during a melee back in February.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/05/ex-town-mayor-3-others-to-undergo-trial-on-graft-case-sandiganbayan/

The Sandiganbayan has denied anew the motion of former Mayor Joselito A. Ojeda of Mulanay town in Quezon and three other municipal employees to dismiss the graft charges filed against them.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court denied their motion to reconsider the dismissal of their plea to file a demurrer to evidence – a pleading to dismiss the case on the ground of alleged weakness of the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Ojeda’s co-accused in the graft charges were Municipal Engineer and bids and awards committee (BAC) chairman Delio H. De Leon, BAC members Municipal Budget Officer Noel M. Eroa and Revenue Collection Clerk II Marina L. Palillio.

They were accused of giving unwarranted benefits or advantages to Alta Manpower Corporation (AMC) by recommending or awarding the contract to the company for the procurement of one unit generator set for P500,000.

The prosecution alleged that the award was made despite AMC’s ineligibility or disqualification in the technical component of the bid and contrary to pertinent procurement laws and regulations, therefore causing undue injury to the government.

In a resolution issued last May 16, the anti-graft court denied their Motion for Leave to File Demurrer to Evidence. Last May 20, they filed a motion for reconsideration.

But the Sandiganbayan said their arguments in the defense “may well be appreciated and threshed out in the course of the trial by presentation of defense evidence.”

An ex-town mayor and three others are being forced to face trial for graft.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/837206/sandiganbayan-finds-ex-afp-general-carlos-garcia-guilty-of-direct-bribery/story

The Sandiganbayan has found retired Major General Carlos Garcia guilty beyond reasonable doubt of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering, sentencing him to four years to eight years of imprisonment.

In an 8-page decision, the anti-graft court granted Garcia’s plea bargain to the lesser offense of direct bribery. Garcia was initially charged with plunder, which has a punishment of reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment.

Garcia, former Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for comptrollership, was also given a fine of P406.3 million, three times the total value of the gifts received as per his plea-bargaining agreement.

“The Court finds accused Carlos F. Garcia guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Direct Bribery, defined and penalized under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code,” the Sandiganbayan said.

In 2005 and 2009, Garcia was charged with plunder and money laundering for conniving and conspiring with co-accused members of his family, amassing P303.2 million worth of ill-gotten wealth in the form of funds, landholdings, and other real and personal properties.

Ex-AFP General has been found guilty of bribery and money laundering. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/06/22/coa-flags-deficiencies-in-national-dairy-authority-procurement

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged deficiencies in the procurement of fresh milk by the National Dairy Authority in 2021.

Government auditors noted in the annual audit report on the NDA, incomplete documents marred the feeding programs of the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It was noted in the audit report that P108.977 million procurements of fresh milk through competitive bidding were not supported with post-qualification reports.

“Absence of the PQRs on the procurements of fresh milks totaling P108.977 million, posed risk of awarding the contract/s to supplier/s who may not be eligible and responsive to the requirements of the contract/s,” the auditors said.

The report however noted that the the NDA central office has committed to conduct training for its technical working group on its role in the post-qualification phase.

Delivery vouchers amounting to P225.25 million were also supported with deficient documentations such as purchase orders with no signatures of officers.

Auditors also found out that some delivery receipts did not match with the information in the inspection and acceptance receipts.

In one instance, 2,827 bottles were delivered in the delivery receipt, but the inspection and acceptance receipt showed 6,706 bottles.

Fresh milk amounting to P239.122 million were also procured from 9 suppliers through emergency procurement even though they did not qualify as farmers and fisher folk and agricultural cooperatives and enterprises, contrary to the Republic Act No. 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act.

The auditors told the NDA management to ensure that all receipts contain all relevant information before submitting to the accounting division for processing of payments for milk deliveries.

The COA has flagged purchase anomalies by the National Dairy Authority.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178399

A barangay official in the South Cotabato town of Banga is facing a two-month suspension after refusing to surrender his membership in the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for indigents.

The quasi-judicial body of Banga's municipal council found San Vicente, Barangay Councilor Dexter Donasco guilty of Violation of Norms and Conduct of Public Officials and Employees under RA 6713, and for Overtly Committing Gross-Dishonesty provided in the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160).

The complaint stems from the resolution submitted by the Barangay Council of San Vicente.

The decision, signed by then outgoing Banga Mayor Albert Palencia on June 28, took effect on June 29.

Elpidio Patarata, San Vicente village chairperson, said Donasco became a member of 4Ps in 2009. He was first elected as a barangay councilor in 2012.

“The grievance committee of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) told Donasco to give up his membership in the 4Ps in 2014, but he refused. They returned again in 2020, still he refused,” Patarata said in an interview Wednesday.

Patarada said Donasco, who is now in his second term, did not give up his 4Ps membership because his children are still going to school.

He added that when they saw again the name of Donasco in the list of 4Ps beneficiaries, they immediately reported the matter and the village official was delisted by the DSWD-12.

Patarata noted that being a barangay councilor, Donasco is receiving a monthly honorarium of PHP11,000 which disqualifies him to be a beneficiary of the government’s anti-poverty program.

“Under the 4Ps guidelines, only government workers with a monthly honorarium of P5,000 and below are eligible for the program,” Patarata said.

He said the suspension of Donasco will also serve as a warning to other barangay officials who are taking advantage of the government’s program.

A barangay councilor is facing suspension for exploiting an anti-poverty program. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/06/arrest-warrant-issued-vs-bohol-mayor-convicted-of-graft/

A warrant of arrest has been issued against Marnilou Ayuban, the mayor of Alicia, Bohol who was convicted of graft.

Ayuban has yet to show up after an arrest warrant of was issued against him prior to his assumption into office.

He took his oath of office last June 8 before a notary public, Atty. John Edward Trinidad.

On June 16, Judge Jorge Espinal of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 in Carmen, Bohol issued a warrant of arrest against Ayuban and former councilors Paul Villas, the current municipal budget officer, and Eusebio Ayuban Jr.

This prompted Ayuban to designate Municipal Administrator Junavie Piquero as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Mayor from June 30, 2022 to July 15, 2022 through a June 30 memorandum order.

Ayuban has pending disqualification case and petition for cancellation of his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila filed by his opponent, former Mayor Victoriano Torres III.

After the elections, Torres filed quo waranto case before the RTC in Carmen on the ground of material misrepresentation for failure of Ayuban to declare his case in his COC.

Ayuban has been convicted of graft charges when he was a town councilor in 2002 along with seven others.

A newly elected mayor has been convicted of graft.