The God Culture: Valid, Credible Archaeology That the Philippines is Ophir, The Garden of Eden, etc.?

Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture has issued a direct response to a video I made about him titled The God Culture Admits There is No Archeological Evidence for Their Claims About the Philippines. That video was based on two interviews Tim did with Zen Garcia and Jon Pounders. Tim was asked by both of them for archeological evidence for his claims and he was unable to offer any. In this rebuttal video Tim tells us exactly what kind of archaeology we are to look for in order to locate Ophir, the land of gold.

Philippines Valid, Credible Archeology: Isle of Gold and Garden of Eden. Solomon's Gold Series 16H

Tim begins this video by stating I falsely claimed he said there was no archaeology to prove his claims about the Philippines being Ophir. 

0:55 Isn't there archeology that proves the Philippines is ophir? Well, we certainly have seen some somewhere, gee, I don't know, uh, well, we've seen it in Solomon's Gold Series. Oh how about that. Yet again we were falsely accused of saying something in an interview that while we didn't say.

Now it is perfectly true that in neither of the interviews he gave did Tim say the exact words, "There is no archeology to prove my claims." But neither did he offer archaeological proof for his claims when asked by the hosts to provide it. Tim is also on record in his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, and in this new video as we shall see, claiming there is no archaeology in the Philippines to prove it is Ophir. 

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure pgs. 128-129

Many seek this architecture in demand to prove this narrative and they are stuck in a false paradigm. There is none to be expected nor has any other nation on earth produced such nor will they.

Ancient Ophir is never described as having temples at all whether alone ones of gold, it is never recored to have great infrastructure in any sense just a mega-abundance of resources. The humble lifestyle of the Filipino even fits the oath of a Rechabite as Farrisol said.

What is meant by archaeology? A number of things including but not limited to artifacts such as inscriptions, pottery, and ruins. 

Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes.

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

However, it appears that Tim is hyper-focused on the ruins of cities both in his book and in this video.

2:50 Well, this is the real question that numerous academics and scholars just dismiss, uh, this because well they require, and this is typical in such disciplines, they require us to find a city with a street sign that says Ophir of course and if you don't you can't prove it so fear right? I mean talk about ignorance.

What's ignorant is everything about what Tim says. Who exactly is looking for a city with a street sign that says "Ophir?" Sure, that's hyperbole on Tim's part, hopefully, but there is more to archaeology than the ruins of ancient cities. Tim is purposely limiting himself here knowing full well there are no ruins of ancient cites in the Philippines on the level of Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, Persepolis, or Nineveh. 

According to Tim this kind of evidence, the ruins of ancient cities, is not to be found in the Philippines or anywhere else Ophir might be because the Bible, when describing Ophir, never mentions cities or architecture. 

7:12 How many times does any biblical or historical reference ever define Ophir as having great architecture or any architecture for that matter at all? Is architecture even a note or a side note in any of these narratives? Yes, that is what they mean when they say archeology typically by the way. They want ancient civilizations. They ignore the archeology of gold but just want civilizations of who? Of Cain. The answer is zilch, nada. Here they are on screen all of the references that say there's great architecture in Ophir and the Garden of Eden 

This is a strawman argument. There is actually NO description of the land of Ophir or its inhabitants whatsoever! Does that mean there are no people in Ophir? Following Tim's logic that would be the case. The Bible does not even call Ophir, or any land for that matter, the land of gold.  All we get is a list of resources brought back from Ophir and these same resources can be found in India as even Tim admits.

The only other coherent claim as far as resources are concerned is India yet it’s own history says it had a source of ancient gold and silver, isles to the East thus none of these make any sense except the Philippines. 

 Every resource of Solomon tests as native to the Philippines and all other claims fail in this chapter except India whose claim already failed the test of it’s own history. 

Solomon's Treasure, pgs. 110 and 115

Is Tim unaware that India is said to be loaded with gold? Herodotus in book 3 sections 102-105 relates how the Indians would gather the gold in their country. India's source of gold was itself. Even Josephus says Ophir is part of India.

4. Moreover the King built many ships in the Egyptian bay of the Red Sea; in a certain place called Ezion-geber. It is now called Berenice; and is not far from the city Eloth. This countrey belonged formerly to the Jews; and became useful for shipping, from the donations of Hiram King of Tyre. For he sent a sufficient number of men thither for pilots, and such as were skilfull in navigation: to whom Solomon gave this command, that they should go along with his own stewards to the land that was of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus: which belongs to India: to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four hundred talents together, they returned to the King again.

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-8.html

According to Timothy Jay Schwab the only true measure, for finding Ophir, the land of gold, is...gold!

6:21 I mean think about it if you had never heard of this and someone asked you how do you find the land of gold would not your first answer be gold itself first in history in archeology etc.? Well of course it would.

27:30 The question for the land of gold is who has the most gold in the ground now.

38:09 But we don't need this. We don't need it to show on mining gold reports for production. The report that matters is untapped gold in the ground now.

41:32 I mean you don't get more valid than Antonio Pigafetta, uh, and he's really he's the only eyewitness uh to what the Philippines was when the Spanish came. Uh, he came with Magellan and he was his historian and he wrote this stuff so, uh, this is fact folks. In the island belonging to the king who came to the ship, this is the king of Butuan, there are mines of gold which they find in pieces as big as a walnut or an egg, a chicken's egg, a nugget of gold that's pretty big by seeking in the ground. That's not talking about massive equipment to mine gold deep which the Philippines didn't have and shouldn't have yet it was the land of gold. How is that? Because the gold was far easier to get to it was sitting on the ground it was close to the surface and it was in the shallows of the streams and rivers. Seeking in the ground does not require massive mining equipment so to look for it is rather ridiculous is it not? These are alluvial deposits that is the key here and this is huge valid credible archeology. What?  

Yes this is archeology of gold by the king of Butuan who handed it to Magellan. There you go. As a gift. That's what this is. So yes there is valid archeology of the right kind of archeology in the Philippines indeed.

There you have it. What should we be looking for when it comes to finding Ophir? According to Timothy Jay Schwab the ONLY valid archaeology of the right kind to find the land of Ophir is to look for the amount of gold currently sitting under the ground. Is he so bereft of sense as to not realize he is talking about GEOLOGY and not archaeology? How exactly does the amount of gold currently sitting UNDER THE GROUND indicate that said land is Ophir? Tim never says.

The Bible records TONS of gold being brought to Jerusalem from Ophir. That indicates there would not be much left in the ground. The fact that there is so much gold currently untapped in the Philippines ought to give Tim pause. So should the fact that Pigafetta records natives told him that they did not have the iron to dig out the gold!

They showed me certain valleys, making signs that there was more gold there than hairs on the head, but that as they had not iron to dig it out, it required great labour to acquire it, and which they did not choose to undergo

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_First_Voyage_Round_the_World/Pigafetta%27s_Account_of_Magellan%27s_Voyage

If they did not have the iron to dig out the gold in 1521 why should we think they had that technology during the time of Solomon? Tim's solution is that they did not and all the gold brought back from the Philippines to Israel was found by panning streams and picking it up off the ground! Alluvial deposits are what Tim claims is key and is the only valid archaeology. 

These are alluvial deposits that is the key here and this is huge valid credible archeology. 

Are we really to believe that BILLIONS of dollars, TONS of gold, was panned from rivers or picked up from the ground and not MINED from within the earth? It is not believable in the slightest. Where are the ancient gold mines in the Philippines? Tim cannot produce them. Nor can he point to any history of gold mining in the Philippines which would produce the vast quantities brought back from Ophir because, as he so conveniently notes, alluvial mining does not leave an archeological trace!

21:12 Should we really have to explain this to academia and scholars? I mean evidently we do but we shouldn't have to. Think. A technique requiring little capital investment in equipment and no specialist technology but unfortunately leaving, what's that word, NO not even a little, none, discernible archaeological signature so why are you looking for something that can't even be there? Wow. We all know what none means right?

There you have it! According to TIM there is NO ARCHEOLOGICAL evidence that ancient Filipinos were mining gold, let alone shipping it to Israel, and thus NO ARCHEOLOGICAL evidence for his claims that the Philippines is Ophir. His only archeological proof offers no archeological proof! Outstanding. 

It's not as if there isn't an abundance of archeological evidence which tells us about the ancient Philippines. Tim simply chooses to ignore it all and points only to gold because no archeological find will back up his claims. Are we really to believe that there was an ancient Hebrew civilization in the Philippines and no remains were left behind? Are we really to believe that the Biblical kingdom of Sheba was in the Philippines and there is not a trace of it to be found? Are we really supposed to believe that the Philippines engaged in trade with Greece and Israel for a thousand years by sailing around Africa and not a single witness to that trade route remains? According to Tim we are and that is utter folly. More than that it is madness and stupidity.  What physical evidence exists that proves there was any great kingdom in the Philippines which united all these islands be it Ophir or Tarshish? There is none. Tim can produce NONE except to say "look at the gold." 

That is not archaeology that is GEOLOGY!!  The difference is vast. Geology is all about rocks and minerals. Archaeology is all about the remains of civilizations. It is archaeology and not geology that is wanting in Tim's scheme. Therefore Timothy Jay Schwab is admitting that there is no archeological evidence the Philippines is Ophir when he points to gold under the ground as valid and credible archaeology to back up his claims.

Insurgency: NTF-ELCAC Calls NPA Surrenderees "Friends Rescued"

Increasingly the fight against the insurgency is focused on the Central Visayas. The new commander of the  Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade has vowed to sustain the gains made on Negros Island.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194056

The new commander of the Philippine Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) has vowed to sustain the gains in the anti-insurgency campaign in Negros Island as he called on those still in the armed struggle to surrender.

“My first standing order is to sustain the gains in our operations, which should be intelligence-driven along with civil-military operations and focused military operations,” Col. Orlando Edralin told reporters after assuming his post in rites held at Camp Gerona in Murcia town, Negros Occidental province on Tuesday.

He said these are very important to ensure that the troops will not violate human rights and will follow the rule of the law.

“We don’t want war. We really want to invite the remaining communist-terrorist group members in our area to surrender,” he added.

The NTF-ELCAC also wants more rebels to surrender. They call it "rescuing."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193866

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is determined to rescue more communist insurgents and give them the opportunity to rejoin their families and live peaceful and useful lives again.

This is the task force's goal for this year which was raised during the meeting of its 12 national clusters on Jan. 27.

"(National Security Adviser) Secretary (Eduardo) Año issued his ways forward guidance and direction in strengthening the National Task Force’s whole-of-nation mechanisms and convergence efforts to ensure the realization of the aspiration and directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to finally achieve lasting and inclusive peace and development for all," the NTF-ELCAC said in a statement issued Sunday night.

Plans and programs presented during the meeting highlighted the NTF-ELCAC's "resolve to rescue more rebels and provide them with holistic support so they may rejoin their loved ones in the communities and contribute to the betterment of society."

These are also geared to "further strengthen the resilience of the Filipino people from the communist terrorist group’s malevolent influence and continuing attempts to cause terror and chaos in our land."

Año also expressed his confidence in the NTF-ELCAC's roadmap.

The national clusters also pledged their unwavering commitment towards the full reconciliation and reintegration of each "friend rescued" (FR) and bringing development to all four corners of the country, especially the far-flung barangays.

FR refers to surrendered members of the New People's Army and other allies of the communist movement.

If each NPA member who have surrendered is a "friend rescued" does that mean those who are actively fighting against the AFP are "friends in need of rescuing?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194145

Classes are suspended in all elementary and secondary schools in 11 remote barangays of this town until Feb. 3 due to ongoing hot pursuit operations of government forces against New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

Memorandum Circular No. 2023-03A issued by Mayor Romulo Edaño on Wednesday canceled classes in all elementary and secondary schools in the villages of Butanguiad, Casay, Don Juan Vercelos, Huyon-huyon, Inabuan, Mabunga, Nasalaan, Pagsangahan, Pugon, Silongin and Sto. Niño from Feb. 1-3.

Edaño, in his memorandum, said "this is to ensure the safety of residents after the rebel group had an encounter with the combined military and police forces, who conducted a hot pursuit operation in the said areas last Sunday."

Last Jan. 27, an encounter ensued between military and rebel groups in the adjacent town of San Andres where a soldier was hurt and three NPA rebels were killed.

In a report, the Police Regional Office 4A identified the fatalities as members of the Platon Reymark, Sub-Regional Military Area 4B of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front.

The insurgents fled to different directions and the 11 barangays in San Francisco covered by the memorandum are included in the military’s areas of pursuit operations.

To mitigate the fear gripping the residents, the local government ordered the class suspension.

"This is what we decided to do to maintain the safety of the students and the citizens of the barangays based on the report and recommendation that the Philippine Army gave us regarding the ongoing encounter between the military and the rebels," Edaño said in a phone interview.

The Visayas Command Chief has condemned the killings of innocent civilians by NPA or friends in need of rescuing. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194093

An Army official on Wednesday urged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army not to terrorize innocent civilians as he condemned the series of killings allegedly perpetrated by rebels in Negros Island over the past week.

“The CPP-NPA has once again displayed their murderous nature to terrorize and instill fear (in) the peace-loving communities in the region. These cold-blooded murders are manifestations of their complete disregard (for) the lives of our people just to advance their terroristic goal,” Lt. General Benedict Arevalo, chief of the Visayas Command (Viscom), said.

Arevalo said CPP-NPA, through its rebel units, has claimed responsibility for five deaths last month.

Leonardo Panaligan Command-New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) Central Negros Guerrilla Front had reportedly admitted behind the killing of councilman Cerilo Balasabas, 48, of Barangay Guba in the town of Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental on Jan. 14 for allegedly spying for the government.

A certain “JB Regalado” who claimed to be LPC-NPA spokesperson, said they murdered Balasabas when he acted as an intelligence asset of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).

Accordingly, Balasabas was instrumental in the residents’ decision to withdraw their support to the communist movement but the rebels accused him of threatening and red-tagging people to force them to surrender to the government.

A 29-year-old civilian, Raffy Estorco, of Barangay Macagahay in Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental, was shot dead by unidentified men on Jan. 19 while driving a motorcycle for his alleged work with the military.

The NPA’s Armando Sumayang Command also admitted responsibility for the death of a civilian identified as Silas Granada who was killed on Jan. 28 in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental.

The other victims were Ramel Europa, who was gunned down at Sitio Sambag, Barangay Manghanoy, La Castellana in Negros Occidental on Jan. 23; Regie “Gang Gang” dela Cruz was killed on Jan. 25 at Sitio Maiti, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental.

Arevalo assured the families of the victims that “the perpetrators of these horrible acts will be held accountable”.

“We will further intensify our efforts to achieve justice for our people and put an end to the CPP-NPA’s menace in the region,” he said.

At least two of those men seem to be military assets and not "innocent civilians." The fact that the NPA is out killing people opposed to them sounds like they have not lost their edge. The same Visayas Command Chief has ordered troops to intensify their anti-insurgency efforts. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194200

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Visayas Command (Viscom) chief has ordered government forces to step up their operations this year against the communist insurgency in Negros amid positive gains.

“We are actually gaining much ground (and) we have weakened the guerrilla fronts here,” Lt. Col. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom commander, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday afternoon.

Arevalo noted a decline in violent incidents initiated by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) “and our campaign is practically on the upbeat”.

Army commanders in Negros have previously said the NPA’s South East Front has already been dismantled while another guerrilla front in Central Negros has dwindled in numbers.

The Viscom chief, who concurrently heads the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Jamindan, Capiz, said he had directed the different units to step up their operations to further weaken and neutralize the NPA forces and prevent them from “re-infiltrating the different barangays”.

Central Negros still has the biggest challenge in the counter-insurgency campaign, Arevalo said, adding that he has already directed his troops not to be complacent in going after the remnants of the guerrilla fronts.

Meanwhile, the directive to intensify the anti-insurgency operations is not just in Negros but in the entire Visayas region, focusing on Samar Island, he said.

He reiterated his call to the remaining NPA members to voluntarily surrender and live a peaceful lives with their families as their armed struggle is no match to the government’s sustained operations.

On Samar island the AFP overran an NPA lair essentials catching them with their pants down. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194247

The Philippine Army has recovered high-powered firearms and explosives after a clash with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in an upland village in Calbayog City, Samar on Wednesday.

Acting spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 43rd Infantry Battalion (IB), Lt. Roxane Valenciano, said troopers attacked a band of 20 rebels at the boundary of Cangomaod and Cagmanipis villages, Tinambacan District in Calbayog City, Samar at past 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

"The rebels were caught unprepared, and they scampered in different directions during the encounter. We are sure some of them were injured since there are many blood stains in the clash site," she said in a phone interview Thursday.

Recovered from the NPA lair were an M16A rifle, an M653 rifle, two improvised hand grenades, two anti-personnel mines, detonator switches, five backpacks, a bandolier with three magazines of M14 rifle, and personal belongings.

"Our troops found the location of the NPA hideout through the information of alias Webb, a finance officer and member of the executive committee of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) who surrendered to 43rd IB on January 26," Valenciano added.

The rebels belong to the merged group of NPA front committee 2, sub-regional guerrilla unit, sub-regional committee emporium, and EVPRC, headed by Alex Capales alias Mantiw.

The NPA combatants, according to alias Webb, have been hiding near coconut plantations since they extort food from coconut farmers.

Commander of the Army's 43rd IB, Lt. Col. Manuel Degay Jr., has called on the remaining NPA members to surrender with the intensified focused military operations in Samar Island.

The rebels belong to the four remaining NPA guerrilla fronts in Eastern Visayas with a concentration in the mountains within the boundaries of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar provinces, according to the military.

Last year the AFP practically declared Mindanao free from all NPA influence with only scattered remnant. This year the fight has moved north. Will the AFP be able to flush out the remaining fronts in the Eastern and Central Visayas? Perhaps if they take them seriously enough to realize they remain an active force to be dealt with. 

Action Movie "Plane" Insults the Philippine Government and Military

The movie Plane starring Gerald Butler is very much in the mold of Die Hard with one good guy versus a whole bunch of bad guys. There are some differences of course. 

The premise is rather simple: after being struck by lightning a plane crash lands and the crew and passengers must survive. The twist is that the plane lands on the island of Jolo which, according to the movie, is run by separatists and outlaws.  Now, we know that means Abu Sayyaf but the group is never named. We do learn that this group kidnapped missionaries for ransom and then killed them when the ransom was not paid. 

That is the modus operandi of Abu Sayyaf except they behead hostages rather than shoot them. 

When the corporate bigwigs at Trailblazer, the airline who owns the plane, find out that the plane was able to crash land safely the CEO says they should contact the Philippine government and they will send in local authorities with search and rescue. But the man he has brought into handle the situation says it's not so simple because there is no authority on Jolo Island and the military won't even go there because they've "got their asses kicked so many times." Instead he sends in his own paramilitary squad.

It's amazing this movie has not been called out as a complete insult to the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and banned by the government as happened with Uncharted for showing a one second clip of China's 9-dash line on a map. One reviewer did have this to say:

Aside from showing a turbulent peace and order situation in the southern Philippines to the international audience, the film practically accused the Philippine government of not only poor emergency responsiveness, but outright cowardice for allegedly refusing to engage with the rebels at all because they kept losing. To further prove the mistrust, the airline actually had to hire American mercenaries to conduct the rescue operation! 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/15/23/review-gerard-butler-battles-jolo-rebels-in-plane

Is this reviewer completely unaware that the Philippine government actually does have "poor emergency responsiveness." Stereotypes exist for a reason. 

Imagine if the Department of Tourism created this movie. After the plane crash landed it would be immediately surrounded by smiling and happy Filipinos waiting to help out. The authorities would show up not with guns blazing but with hugs and smiles and everything would turn out just fine. Of course that would be fiction but so is the movie which has NO ONE noticing this plane crash except one opportunistic guy and Jolo rebels speaking Tagolog instead of Tasuig!

Retards in the Government 295

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

  

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193694

A village chief and four others were killed and two more were injured in an ambush in Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Thursday.

An initial report of Sirawai Municipal Police Station said the village chairperson, Ali Manangca, along with four others were killed in an ambush around 3 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Piña.

Manangca is the village chief of Barangay Balubuan, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.

The other victims were not immediately identified.

A team of Sirawai policemen led by Executive Master Sgt. Rymerjun Pernito, who rushed to the ambush site, brought the victims to the hospital for treatment.

Initial investigation showed that Manangca and his companions were aboard a Toyota Hilux when waylaid by unidentified gunmen.

Police said investigation is ongoing to establish the identities of the suspects.

A village chief and four others have been assassinated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/27/village-chair-shot-dead-in-sultan-kudarat/

Authorities have launched a manhunt against motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot dead a barangay chairman in Lebak, this province, on Thursday evening, Jan. 26.

Lt. Col. Julius Malcontento, Lebak police chief, said on Friday, Jan. 27, that soldiers are helping them in pursuing the attackers of Rogelio Talagtag, 53, chairman of Barangay Basak.

Talagtag was standing in front of his family-owned variety store in Barangay Basak when two men aboard a motorcycle arrived at about 6 p.m. and shot him.

“One of them alighted and fired at the unsuspecting village official in the head and body, killing him instantly,” Malcontento said, citing police investigation.

The perpetrators sped off to an unknown direction after the incident, he added.

Responding police officers found eight empty shells and a slug for a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen) director, has ordered the Lebak police to intensify the manhunt against the perpetrators and ensure that they are held accountable for the crime.

A barangay chairman has been assassinated in front of his family owned store. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193696

Police investigators have identified “persons of interest” in the shooting and wounding of a barangay kagawad (councilor) and his companion in Minaba, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

Initial investigation showed that around 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, armed men shot Artemio Estrebella, 60, Barangay Minaba councilor, and his 45-year-old companion Ricky Canillo.

They were having dinner when the attack happened, said Lt. Col. Rex Moslares, chief of the Bayawan police. The victims sustained gunshot wounds.

Moslares said they are looking into a possible link of “persons of interest” in the attack as well as the motive for the shooting, including a possible grudge or business-related.

Recovered from the scene were two fired cartridges of caliber .9mm, Moslares said.

This is the second barangay councilor in Negros Oriental to be shot this month.

A barangay counilor has been assassinated in Negros Occidental. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193719

Operatives of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) anti-scalawag unit have arrested a police sergeant during an entrapment operation in San Nicolas, Cebu City.

In a report on Friday, the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group said the suspect was identified as Staff Sgt. Paul Dennis Traya, who is assigned at the Mambaling Police Station 11 and designated as a traffic investigator.

Traya was nabbed at the parking lot of Miller Hospital along Tres de Abril Street in San Nicolas, Cebu City at about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.

The operation stemmed from the complaint of Walter Babon Despi, a resident of Tres de Abril Street, for alleged extortion by an officer of Mambaling Police Station 11 who was later identified as Traya.

The complainant said he was traveling on his motorcycle in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City when he was flagged down by Traya, who was at a checkpoint with force multipliers, for a random check.

The suspect initially demanded PHP10,000 from the complainant but later settled for PHP3,000.

During the operation, Traya was caught in the act of extorting money from other traffic violators.

He was brought to the Visayas field unit office in Camp Sergio Osmena Sr., Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City for documentation and proper disposition.

He will face administrative charges aside from criminal charges.

A PNP officer has been arrested for extortion.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722137/iloilo-city-polices-anti-drug-unit-station-5-relieved

The top police official in Western Visayas on Friday relieved this city’s entire drug unit and an entire police station.

Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco announced during the turnover of command at the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) on Friday that he had ordered its chief to “change all personnel” of Iloilo City Police Station 5 in Mandurriao district, as well as the city’s Drug Enforcement Unit.

“I’m not satisfied with their performance. We need [anti-]illegal drug accomplishments from especially the police covering our targeted areas, but unfortunately, upon my review, and based on record, they failed my expectations,” Francisco said.

He said further action will be done based on the recommendations to be made by the ICPO’s officer-in-charge, Col. Joresty Coronica.

Iloilo City's entire drug unit and one police station have been relived due to poor performance.  

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/01/29/2240943/missing-sabungeros-ncrpo-backs-kidnap-raps-vs-11-cops

The National Capital Region Police Office is backing the charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against 11 NCRPO personnel in connection with the disappearance of four cockfight players in Cavite last year.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said yesterday the police officers are all accounted for and remain under restrictive custody.

“They are still on restriction in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as of this report and are recommended to be charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention as well as violation of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act,” he said in a statement.

The NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) filed charges against the police officers for the disappearance of siblings Gio and Mico Mateo, Garry Matreo Jr. and Ronaldo Anonuevo on April 12, 2021.

They were NCRPO regional drug enforcement unit chief Col. Ryan Orapa; Lt. Jesus Menez; S/Sgts. Roy Pioquinto and Robert Raz; Cpls. Alric Natividad, Troy Paragas, Ronald Lanaria, Ronald Montibon, Reynaldo Seno, Ruscel Solomon and Christal Rosita.

Also charged were police assets Nicasio and Nicholes Manio, a certain Angelo Atienza and a certain Boss Mark.

They were accused of kidnapping the sabungeros in Dasmariñas City in the guise of an anti-drug operation.

The NCRPO backs the charges brought by the NBI against several officers for kidnapping.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193906

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has convicted a former mayor in Biliran province and 12 others for graft over the alleged anomalous purchase of PHP8 million worth of medicines and medical supplies in 2010.

Sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment were Noel Abelda, former Maripipi mayor; municipal health officer Mary Grace Llever; and Bids and Awards Committee members Wilma Elairon, Marietta Campollo, Tito Cairo, Julio Cairo Jr., Sonia Alavera, Amelia Bacolod and Sergio Mejarito; municipal accountant Michell Quinte; and state auditor Genelito Balila. 

Likewise convicted were Jerome Capuyan and Cherel Serato of private supplier Suremeds Marketing.

"(B)y the dubious actions of the accused public officials, the procurement process was railroaded in order to give Suremeds unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference," read the 125-page decision dated Jan. 24 and made public Monday.

The Ombudsman filed the charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which provides that “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence” shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer.

The Ombudsman said the respondents "altered the deadline of the submission and opening of bids without required notice/posting" and "approved the payment of the medicines" without the signatures of officials who would accept the supply.

An ex-mayor and 12 other officials have been convicted for graft over anomalous medical supply procurement. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723168/9-nbi-agents-face-raps-over-abuse-of-2-suspects-in-cockight-case

Nine agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are facing complaints of sexual assault, torture, grave coercion, and planting evidence.

Joyce Manio, the mother of two suspects in the disappearance of online cockfighting operators, filed the complaints on Monday at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Her sons — Nicasio Manio and Nicholes Manio — were arrested on June 8, 2021, in their house in Pallocan, Batangas, as suspects in the cockfighting operators’ case.

The respondents are all members of the NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID), namely: Ross Jonathan Galicia, Levi Omare Orille, Aubren Cosidon, Eigelbert Pulan, Abner Dotimas, Nestor Gutierrez, Allan Ernesto Elefante, and Gary Menez.

In her complaint, the mother said her sons were arrested without warrants of arrest.

She also accused the agents of beating up her sons and presenting them with illegal drugs and paraphernalia that were supposedly confiscated from their house, before forcing them to sign documents without explaining their details.

She also accused Galacia, the TFAID chief, of sexually abusing both her sons after getting them drunk.

“I want to hold accountable the disciples of NBI-TFAID who abused my children, hurt them, put evidence that will be used against them, made them drink intoxicating drinks to be exploited and molested by their Chief himself while his men were watching over them, making them commit crimes that they didn’t even know about and to use it against my children,” Manio said in Filipino in her complaint.

“All of them should also be removed from service as soon as possible so that they could do no harm to others. They should also have their licenses as lawyers or accountants revoked”

The 9 NBI agents also face administrative charges — such as serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service— or violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees.

9 NBI agents are facing charges of sexual assault, torture, grave coercion, and planting evidence.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193973

Police have arrested a former police officer who was tagged as a wanted person in Manila.

In a statement Tuesday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat said Remigio Niala Estacio, 63, was arrested on Monday at around 2:34 p.m. in Ermita, Manila.

Estacio has standing arrest warrants for violation of Republic Act 6539 (Anti-Carnapping act) issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 27 with a recommended bail of PHP30,000

An ex-cop has been arrested for car theft. 

https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/ex-army-man-falls-in-gun-raid/

A cache of firearms and ammunition and explosives were seized in a gun raid against a former Philippine Army member in New Lucena, Iloilo morning of January 30.

Police identified the suspect as Francis Sumido, 52, a resident of Barangay Wari-wari, New Lucena.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – Iloilo Field Unit, 63rd Special Action Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB)-6, and New Lucena Municipal Police Station swooped on Sumido’s house by virtue of a search warrant.

Recovered from Sumido’s abode were a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines and 31 ammunition; a KG-9 submachine gun with a magazine and 54 ammunition for a caliber .9mm pistol; a 12-gauge shotgun with 12 ammunition; a caliber .22 rifle with 42 ammunition; a caliber .22 magnum revolver with 15 ammunition; a hand grenade; and an improvised explosive devise/pipe-type comb.

Lieutenant Jerson Baldevia, New Lucena police chief, said that the suspect was reportedly discharged from the service in 2009.

Now a farmer, Sumido has been at odds with his siblings.

Their disagreements have in fact turned into court battles.

This was allegedly one of the reasons why the suspect justified his gun possession

Surmido is now in the custody of CIDG-Iloilo and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 (Unlawful Manufacture, Sales, Acquisition, Disposition, Importation or Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device).

A former solider has been arrested for illegal weapons possession. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193988

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a village chairperson and his wife along a remote section of the national highway here, a police official reported Tuesday.

Maj. Christopher Cabugwang, Parang town police chief, identified the fatality as Abobakar Abdul, 40, village chair of Barangay Polloc, and his wife Bainisa, 39.

Cabugwang said Abdul and his wife were heading home in their pickup truck when two men-riding tandem on motorbike overtook and opened fire on the driver’s side of the vehicle at 5:45 p.m. Monday.

“He supervised the registration of new voters in the village to ensure it is orderly and was going home when ambushed in Barangay Timbangan,” Cabugwang said in an interview.

Police rushed the couple to the hospital but both were declared dead on arrival.

“We are still determining the possible motive, but initially we are looking at the political angle of the ambush,” Cabuwang said without elaborating.  

A village chief and his wife have been assassinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194010

Authorities have arrested a member of the Public Order and Safety Office of this town, who is also a former jail officer in the Pangasinan Provincial Jail, that made him a high-value target (HVT), in a buy-bust operation.

In an interview on Tuesday, PDEA Pangasinan provincial head Rechie Camacho identified the suspect as Rullie Molano who sold PHP3,400 worth of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent in the operation conducted on Jan. 29.

“Upon verification, we have learned that he was also a former member of the Integrated National Police officer and Jail Officer of Pangasinan Provincial Jail making him an HVT in the province,” he said.

Camacho said the suspect has been dealing illegal drugs, based on their monitoring and surveillance, while he was on duty as a traffic enforcer in the town.

“This was our second attempt to deal with him but on our first attempt, he ran out of illegal drugs this time we were able to transact with him. He was dealing illegal drugs while wearing his uniform on the streets,” he said.

He added that the suspect’s transactions were mostly in Binmaley town and Dagupan City.

Camacho said the suspect was automatically removed from his post as an enforcer and cases were filed against him in the court.

He reminded the local government units to constantly monitor their personnel.

A traffic enforcer has been arrested for selling drugs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194009

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will go after lawyers of detained foreign nationals who initiate “contrived” criminal cases against their clients to stall deportation proceedings.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla cited the case of a male detainee who conspired with his girlfriend.

The detainee kissed the girlfriend during her visit at the Bureau of Immigration detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City and was sued for harassment.

“Their lawyers specialize in these cases and many of them will lose their licenses if they continue doing this. We will file cases even against the lawyers if they will insist on filing cases which are contrived,” Remulla said.

Remulla said the scheme was discovered when they deported two Chinese nationals two weeks ago after their contrived cases were dismissed.

“This is part of the corruption ring that operates within the Bureau of Immigration. Many lawyers think it is okay to do that. The Department of Justice will not tolerate their behavior. We will file the disbarment of lawyers who insist on using these tactics that will delay the proceedings,” Remulla said.

Corruption within the BI extends to lawyers filing spurious cases to delay the deportation of foreigners. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724412/3-cops-pal-nabbed-in-cavite-drug-bust-p1-4-m-shabu-seized

Three police officers and a civilian were arrested on Wednesday (Feb. 1) after they allegedly yielded more than P1.4 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province, authorities said.

In a report Thursday, Col. Christopher Olazo, Cavite police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Corporal Christian Arjul Monteverde, 35; Staff Sergeant Tomas Dela Rea Jr., 34; Patrolman Jeru Set, all assigned to the local police station; and Jorilyn Ambrad, 22, a city resident.

The suspects were collared by anti-narcotics operatives in Barangay Salitran 2 at 11:15 a.m.

Set tried to escape aboard a sports utility vehicle but was eventually arrested after a hot pursuit operation that ended in Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Authorities confiscated from the suspects a total of 210 grams of meth with a street value of P1,431,600 and 10 mobile phones.

Also confiscated were the suspects’ service firearms, which include a caliber .45 pistol with four magazines and 34 bullets, and a caliber 9mm pistol loaded with 12 bullets.

Police were tracking the source of the illegal drugs.

Authorities classified the three cops as “HVI” or high-value individuals in the local drug scene.

The suspects were detained and will be subjected to a drug test. They will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165 for possessing and selling dangerous drugs.

Three cops tagged as high-value individuals and a friend have been arrested for selling drugs.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724247/ombudsman-employee-in-critical-condition-after-being-shot

An administrative aide in the Office of the Ombudsman was shot by a still unidentified gunman in Quezon City on Wednesday, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Dianne Paguirigan, a 37-year-old administrative aide at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, was shot by a male individual at around 8:20 a.m at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Cordillera Street in Barangay Doña Josefa.

Pagurigan was waiting for a ride on her way to the office when the male suddenly appeared and pulled out a gun. He grabbed the employee’s bag and shot her in the right side of her chest.

The gunman then fled in the direction of Quezon City Circle.

Paguirigan was brought to the Capitol Medical Center, where she was in “critical condition.”

An employee of the Ombudsman has been shot and is in critical condition.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1724462/village-exec-2-others-fall-in-occidental-mindoro-town-drug-bust

Three men, including a village councilor, were arrested Wednesday evening by police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 4B during a buy-bust operation in Abra de Ilog town, Occidental Mindoro province.

The Mimaropa police regional office said Dave Francis Varona, 43, a village councilor; Adrian Belicario, 36; and Joy Tapar, 33, all residents of Pasay City, were apprehended after selling a sachet of alleged “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P4,000 to a poseur buyer in Barangay Armado.

Also confiscated from them were nine more sachets of suspected shabu weighing about five grams valued at P40,000.

The suspects were placed in police custody and will face charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002. 

A village councilor has been busted for drugs.