Coronavirus Lockdown: Sports Meet, P1.94 Million in Backpay, and More!

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

President Marcos has admitted that the nation has not fully recovered from the pandemic and says the government will continue to help people.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/19/marcos-ensures-gov-t-help-until-complete-pandemic-recovery

Marcos voiced concern for small business owners who closed their businesses and Filipinos who lost their jobs because of the health crisis.

As the country continues to bounce back from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos that the government will do everything it could to assist those who need assistance, especially those who have yet to recover from the health crisis.

Marcos made this remark as he led the distribution of various government assistance to the people of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, on Wednesday, April 19.

In his speech, the President said he hoped that government assistance would be able to unburden the load that Filipinos carry, while giving the assurance that his administration will be there when the people need it.

"Rest assured that for as long as you need assistance, your government is here, ready to help," he said.

"We won't forget you or leave you until you can stand on your own fee)," he added.

President Marcos admitted that there were still Filipinos who have yet to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that the government must ensure to help them.

"We have fellowmen who were left behind in the recovery. They haven't recovered yet," he recognized.

"We must ensure that the government is doing everything to help our people, the small business owners, and everyone who needs help," he added.

The Chief Executive, in particular, voiced concern for small business owners who were forced to shut down operations due to the loss they suffered from the pandemic and those who lost their jobs.

"That's what happened to us. The pandemic took a toll on not just the Philippines, but the entire world," Marcos said.

It's good he has admitted this.  The Duterte lockdowns destroyed the economy. But who are these people and how will they target them? How will they help them exactly? 

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. admits COVID-19 cases are rising but hospitalizations are manageable. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867559/phapi-covid-19-admissions-in-private-hospitals-still-manageable-amid-rising-cases/story/

The utilization of private hospitals remains to be manageable despite the increasing number of new COVID-19 infections, an official of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said Thursday. 

PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said in a public briefing that only a few COVID-19 patients are currently getting admitted in hospitals, and most of them are those with comorbid conditions.

(The hospital utilization is not increasing that much, especially in private hospitals. It's still very manageable.)

Elsewhere face masking is coming back in fashion. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199738

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday encouraged the public to use face masks in crowded places as the province’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positivity rate has surpassed the 5 percent threshold.

“Although it’s optional, we still encourage wearing face masks especially if you are in a crowded area,” he told reporters.

Lacson also welcomed the move of Cadiz City to enforce anew the wearing of face masks in government offices to ensure people’s health and safety.

“I am in favor of that. As you can see, your Governor never stopped wearing face mask,” he said.

The governor, however, said he hopes Covid-19 cases would not increase once again to make him consider reintroducing the wearing of masks at the capitol offices.

But not inside Churches. Yet. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199834

The Archdiocese of Manila will not immediately impose a mandatory wearing of face masks while attending Mass inside the church amid the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

Father Reginald Malicdem, vicar general of the Manila Archdiocese, said there is no immediate plan to require churchgoers to wear face masks, but the Church will encourage them not to be complacent.

"There is no such plan yet. We will just continue to encourage mass goers to wear their face masks," he said in a telephone interview Thursday.

He also expressed optimism that despite the recorded spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases, people would still visit churches.

"As of now, we are not yet worried that the people will be discouraged from going to churches again," Malicdem added.

But face masks remain the rule on trains. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1760074/face-masks-to-remain-mandatory-in-lrt-mrt-pnr-dotr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday said that face masks will remain mandatory in all railway systems amid the rising number of COVID-19.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino, in a statement, said face masks inside LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 trains will still be required as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. 

Face masks will also be required inside Philippine National Railways trains but optional in open-air stations.

“Our medical professionals in the railways sector stressed that the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains present in our trains as they are enclosed spaces,” Aquino said.

“Security personnel deployed in all of our stations and trains will help ensure that the policy is strictly enforced,” she added.

She urged the public to remain vigilant against COVID-19, and to get vaccinated and boosted against the viral infection.

“As explained by medical professionals, these booster shots are designed to help maintain the level of protection against the virus, especially as new variants emerge,” Aquino said.

Twenty-six areas have been raised to alert level 2 due to the rising number of active COVID cases. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/23/26-areas-under-covid-19-alert-level-2-status-iatf

Twenty-six areas in the country were placed under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 status until the end of this month, based on the recent resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Areas under Alert Level 2 until April 30 are: Benguet, Ifugao, Quezon Province, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Antique, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu Province, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Western Samar, Lanao Del Norte, Davao De Oro, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, and Davao Occidental.

Also included are: North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

"The following provinces, HUCs, and ICCs shall be placed under Alert Level 2, without prejudice to their respective component cities and municipalities which may be under a different alert level classification," the IATF said.

Under Alert Level 2, Some establishments or activities, “shall be allowed to operate, or be undertaken at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity,” the Department of Health (DOH) stated in its website.

Now the nation is moving backwards.  The DOH has said the rise in cases is nothing to be concerned about but still they have raised alert levels. In Pampanga cases have tripled in a matter of days. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1760837/active-covid-19-cases-in-pampanga-triple-in-10-days

The number of active COVID-19 cases in this province has tripled from only 11 on April 13, the provincial government disclosed on Tuesday, April 25.

Pampanga’s active infections stood at 33, the latest data from the provincial epidemiology and surveillance unit showed.

The capital city of San Fernando has the most active cases at 18, followed by Lubao and Mexico towns with three cases each.

Guagua has two active cases, while Magalang, Floridablanca, Porac, Arayat, Candaba, Santa Ana, and San Simon have one case each.

The 33 COVID-19 cases were monitored after the patients were admitted to hospitals or clinics due to respiratory or flu-related symptoms.

A medical worker, who requested anonymity, said the recorded active cases probably represent only a very small percentage of the actual number of people with COVID-19.

“Nobody’s monitoring suspected COVID-19 cases anymore, especially in villages. Many individuals have been manifesting symptoms, but they are not being tested to see if they have COVID,” the medical worker said.

In malls and other establishments in this province, including Angeles City, most of the people no longer wear face masks.

“In malls, security guards no longer check the guests’ body temperatures. They only check bags,” the medical worker said.

“Nobody’s monitoring suspected COVID-19 cases anymore." Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It's not as if this so-called pandemic was even comparable to the Bubonic Plague which decimated Europe. 

These poor healthcare workers are severely underpaid.  The government owes them billions in backpay.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1759900/govt-still-owes-20000-healthcare-workers-p1-94-billion-in-backpay

About 20,000 healthcare workers who rendered duty in private hospitals during the pandemic have yet to receive their COVID-19 allowances amounting to P1.94 billion.

Data from the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP) showed that these healthcare workers did not get their mandated pandemic benefits and allowances as far back as 19 months, or from October 2021 onwards.

According to UPHUP, the government has incurred a total of P1,840,742,500 in arrears for the special risk allowance (SRA); one COVID-19 allowance (OCA); health emergency allowance (HEA); and meals, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) benefits for 20,304 health-care workers.

The back payments are broken down as follows: P6.7 million for MAT; P16.8 million for SRA; P985.6 million for OCA and P737.5 million for HEA.

It covers medical workers employed in 23 private hospitals in Metro Manila and the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Cebu, and Davao del Sur.

During the UPHUP’s “State of the Health Workers” Forum on April 14, the Department of Health (DOH) bared its plans to amend its Joint Administrative Order 2022-0001 with the Department of Budget and Management to fast-track the release of COVID-19 benefits by tapping authorized government depository banks for the direct payment to eligible health-care workers.

The DOH wants all of its Centers for Health Development in every region to have the option to send funds to the bank accounts of recipients.

Private and public healthcare workers have been pressing the government to release their delayed COVID-19 benefits.

But the DOH had cited insufficient funding for the continued delay in the payment of the pandemic benefits.

Hopefully they will get their money. 

In the meantime more events are coming back including sports. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199798

Everything is set for the four-day 2023 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet next week, the first full face-to-face school-based sports competition since the pandemic broke out. 

“Sports and physical education provide a great opportunity for children to head outside, get active, and focus on developing different skills,”  Department of Education (DepEd)-Eastern Visayas Director Evelyn Fetalvero said in a statement Thursday.

For the first time in recent years, the EVRAA is co-hosted by two DepEd school divisions – Tacloban City and Leyte province – with the sporting events slated to take place in this city and the nearby towns of Palo and Tanauan.

Fetalvero said the sports event will be held on April 24 to 27 with the opening program scheduled on April 25 at the Leyte Sports Development Center, the venue of the 2009 Palarong Pambansa.

Joining the opening ceremonies are 419 athlete students, sports officials from the 13 school division offices, congressmen, governors, and mayors from different parts of Leyte and Samar provinces.

In Pangasinan the Karbasa festival has returned. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199864

The Karabasa (squash) Festival of this town has returned after a hiatus due to the pandemic.

In an interview on Thursday, Mayor Michael Caleone Cruz said the festival, which runs from April 16 to 24, highlights the town's products made of karabasa, an Ilocano term for squash.

“May karabasa noodles, powder, pandesal, at catsup. Maraming taniman ng karabasa sa mountainous areas (We have karabasa noodles, powder, pandesal, and even catsup. We have a lot of karabasa plantations in the mountainous areas of our town),” he said.

The town is also looking for new products made of squash hence the "101 Ways to Cook Karabasa" for dessert and pastry edition was held on Thursday with 30 participants.

Senator Imee Marcos attended the karabasa cooking activity during her visit to the province as she led the ceremonial distribution of financial assistance to different beneficiaries from the national government through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The return of both of these events shows that the pandemic is definitely over. If it even began!

Hi, My Name is...35

More interesting people to meet and horrible crimes to read about. 

Hi, my name is Tunjin Badamjunai. I was the former  minister of Food, Agriculture, Light Industry of Mongolia. The Mongolian government charged me with corruption so I fled to the Philippines thinking I could hide out and get away. But they caught me anyway. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198937

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday the deportation of a former minister of Mongolia wanted in his home country for corruption.

Immigration Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. said 67-year-old Tunjin Badamjunai, a former minister of Food, Agriculture, Light Industry of Mongolia, was arrested in Cebu City in coordination with Mongolian Police on Tuesday.

The BI official noted that to avoid further delay and inconvenience, Badamjunai was deported on Tuesday night via a Korean Airlines flight from Mactan, Cebu upon the request of Mongolian authorities.

"We were initially informed by Mongolian authorities that Badamjunai will be in Cebu City," he said in a statement.

The foreigner was arrested following the mission order issued by Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

Manahan said Badamjunai was reportedly charged with deportation for undesirability as he is a fugitive from justice who poses a clear and present danger, risk to public interest and safety, and threat to national security.

"The Mongolian government has also canceled his passport, rendering him undocumented," Manahan added.

Hi, my name is Connie Carl Kindrud and I am from Sweden. I was having an intense argument with my wife Lenny. She called the cops to diffuse the situation but I shot her before they arrived. They tried to get me to calm down but I shot myself in the head.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/31/swede-shoots-pinay-wife-then-himself-in-samar

A Swedish man shot and wounded his wife before killing himself in front of the police in Sitio Maliko-Liko, Barangay Dampigan, Santa Rita, Samar, on Wednesday, March 30.

Police identified the victim as Lenny Kindrud, 41.

Investigation said that Lenny and her husband, Connie Carl Kindrud, had an intense argument before the incident.

The victim was shot and taken to the hospital before police arrived to diffuse the situation.

Police negotiated with the suspect who was armed with a gun when they arrived.

While the chief of police was talking to the suspect, Connie Karl shot himself with  a caliber .45 pistol.

Connie Karl  was brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police recovered the gun and empty shells and slugs in the crime scene.

Hi, my name is "Felimon." That's my alias anyway. My girlfriend left to work abroad as an OFW and left me to watch her four children. Things went well for a while but then everything went downhill. I stabbed all four of them to death. Then I stabbed my self in the chest. While I was dying I wrote a message on the wall in my blood asking for forgiveness. I was taken to the hospital but died while being operated on. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1740550/4-kids-stabbed-dead-then-suspect-kills-self-in-trece-martirez-city

Four children were stabbed to death Thursday, March 9, by the live-in partner of their overseas working mother, who committed suicide after his mass killing in Trece Martirez City, Cavite.

Trece Martirez police, in a report on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon, said the victims were three girls, aged 14, 12 and 9, and a boy, 5.

The report said the police found the blood-soaked bodies of the victims inside their house in Barangay Cabuco. The report did not state the time of the discovery.

The police also found the suspect, identified in the report as alias “Felimon,” dying on the floor with a kitchen knife stuck to his chest. He died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The police claimed that the suspect committed suicide after he killed the four young victims.

The investigators found the suspect’s message written in blood and addressed to the mother of the victims asking for forgiveness, the report said.

The police will subject the body of the suspect to an autopsy to determine if he was under the influence of liquor or illegal drugs during the commission of the crime.

Investigators eyed “jealousy” as the possible motive behind the shooting but did not provide further information.

According to the police, the suspect was the one taking care of the children while their mother worked abroad. The report did not specify the country where she is and the nature of her work.

Hi, my name is Morris Añabiza. I was hanging out at a computer shop playing computer games when someone burst in and shot me dead. I was previously jailed for theft so perhaps it might have been a revenge killing. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/446729/man-gunned-down-while-playing-computer-games-in-cebu-city

A 27-year-old man was gunned down by a still unidentified individual while playing computer games just beside his house in the interior part of Sitio Bohol Village, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City, past 9 p.m., on Friday, June 10, 2022.

Police Major Efren Diaz, chief of Mambaling Police Station, identified the victim as a certain Morris Añabiza of the said barangay.

Diaz said that at around 9 p.m. while the victim was playing a computer game inside a computer shop, the lone suspect arrived, shot the victim four times in the back, and fled.

When police arrived, they found the victim lying on the ground, lifeless.

Police believed that the suspect used a .45 caliber firearm. They also recovered four empty shells, two slugs, and one piece of ammunition from the crime scene.

Police Staff Sergeant Mark Anthony Dela Victoria, investigator of the case, said that based on their initial investigation, the victim was allegedly involved in theft incidents in the area.

They also received information that the victim was previously jailed at the Cebu City Jail for theft.

The police said they will continue to investigate and gather more details about the incident.

Hi, my name is John Paul Baluyot. I am a construction worker. I was in jail for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act in 2021. But I posted bail and was out on probation. Instead of reforming my life I snatched a Grade 1 student, raped her, and strangled and beat her to death. Now I am back in jail. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1753756/suspect-in-rape-slay-of-grade-1-student-in-cavite-arrested

Police on Friday (April 7) arrested the primary suspect in the rape-slay of a Grade 1 student in Trece Martires City, Cavite province.

Cavite police identified the suspect as John Paul Baluyot, 36, a construction worker.

He was collared by police operatives at a construction site in Barangay San Agustin 1 in Dasmariñas City.

Police reported that Baluyot was the main suspect in the alleged rape and killing of one alias “Chi,” who was found near a river in Barangay Cabuco without any clothes on and dying.

The girl was immediately brought by barangay tanods to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Autopsy results showed the victim died of “asphyxia by strangulation, blunt force trauma to the body, and a deep fresh hymen laceration”, the police said.

Investigators tagged Baluyot as the suspect “based on circumstantial evidence,” on which the report did not elaborate.

The report said Baluyot had a previous case of violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act) in February 2021 in Amadeo, Cavite.

Baluyot was released after he posted bail and is now on probation.

The suspect is now back in jail and facing criminal charges of rape and homicide.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim who is my sister. While she was sleeping I molested her. In the morning she told our mother and we had an argument. I ended up punching my sister int he face when she tired to stop me and my mom from fighting. I ran off but was caught by the police. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1753742/man-nabbed-in-qc-for-molesting-his-10old-younger-sister

A 33-year-old man was arrested in Quezon City for molesting his 10-year-old younger sister, the police said on Friday, police said.

The Quezon Police District (QCPD) said that Batasan Police Station personnel collared the suspect in his residence in Barangay Batasan Hills on April 6.

Based on Batasan Police Station’s report, the suspect committed the alleged assault on April 5 in the victim’s room while she was sleeping.

Early April 6, the victim told her mother about what happened, which resulted in an argument. The suspect punched the victim in the face when she tried to stop them from fighting.

After the commotion, the victim and her mother sought the assistance of Batasan Police Station operatives, which resulted in the suspect’s arrest.

According to QCPD, the suspect is under police custody and will face complaints for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the identity of my victim who happened to be my wife. We recently separated and in revenge I posted several pictures and videos of my nude wife online. I took full body nude pictures of her while we were together unbeknownst to her and without her consent. Now she wants to see me in prison. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/06/23/man-nabbed-after-blackmailing-wife-with-lewd-photos

A man was arrested after allegedly uploading lewd photos of his wife online. 

The victim claimed the man, who she recently separated with, posted explicit videos and photos of her on his social media page, uploaded them on porn sites, and even sent them to a group chat dedicated to “scandals.”

She added most of the materials were taken without her consent.

(Someone messaged, 'Is this you on the video?' I was shocked, I did not expect it. I was told it was posted by my husband. There were nude photos. One video showed my whole body.)

The suspect was reportedly blackmailing her to get back together.

(I broke up with him. He blackmailed me. He said he would delete the photos if I talked to him.)

The suspect meanwhile said, “I only did that so we could talk. I have been begging her for months."

He said he only posted the sensitive material on social media and denied there were 6 videos of his wife.

"Naka-blurred naman po… Kung sino lang una makakita tas dedelete ko na,” he said.

(It was blurred. I would have deleted it. It was just one video. I only claimed there were six.)

The suspect is currently under the custody of Caloocan City Police Sub Station 1.

The victim said she was determined to put her husband behind bars.

(I couldn't eat, sleep or take care of my child. I want to see him in prison for what he did to me.)

The suspect will be charged with grave coercion, violation of the Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, and Violence Against Women and Children. 

Hi, my name is Lelita Bornia. My niece and I have been having misunderstandings since 2001. Recently she accused me of calling her a thief and I was arrested for "grave oral defamation." The real issue is that my niece used my name to borrow 10,000 pesos from a lending company and then refused to pay. She also used my name to purchase cosmetics on credit and refused to pay. She accused me falsely so she could sue me.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1957692/cebu/local-news/woman-arrested-for-calling-niece-a-thief

A 57-YEAR-OLD woman landed in jail for calling her niece a “thief.”

Lelita Bornia, married, a resident of Sitio North Guinabasan, Barangay Tubigagmanok, Asturias town in midwest Cebu, was arrested by the police at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31, based on the complaint of her niece, Jonalyn Paul, of legal age, whose husband is a Filipino-American.

Judge Mary Jocelyn Regencia of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Balamban-Asturias issued the warrant of arrest dated March 27, 2023 against the suspect for grave oral defamation.

Master Sergeant Ronald Duran of Asturias Police Station told SunStar Cebu that Bornia is expected to post a bail bond of P18,000 on Monday, April 3, 2023.

When asked for comment, Bornia denied the accusations against her that she made up stories that her niece was arrested in Manila for theft.

Their misunderstandings had been going on since 2021.

Because of that, Bornia and Paul were called to the barangay for an investigation but they were unable to reconcile.

Bornia revealed that her niece got angry when she told her to pay her loan.

She said her niece borrowed P10,000 from a lending company using her name but she did not pay.

Paul also used her name to purchase cosmetics on credit once more without making the payment.

"Siya ra nagtumo-tumo ana estorya aron iyaha ko nga makasuhan," Bornia said.

(She just made up that story so she could sue me).

Bornia added that she is ready to defend herself in court. 

Hi, my name is Nestor Paraiso. My wife and I got into an argument over vices and money. It was so heated that she left to get a watchman. While they were on the way to our house I suddenly appeared and stabbed her in the neck. I tired to escape but was unable to do so. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/3/man-stabs-wife-to-death-over-vices-money-in-lucena-city

A 61-year-old driver allegedly stabbed his 60-year-old wife to death following a heated argument over vices and money in Purok Sampaguita 1 Bel-Air, Barangay 10, this city, on Sunday night, April 2.

Police said the suspect, Nestor Paraiso, hurt the victim, Irenia, during the confrontation, prompting her to seek assistance of barangay “tanods” or watchmen.

The suspect suddenly appeared while Irenia and a barangay tanod were on their way to the couple’s house.

Nestor grabbed  and stabbed her in the neck with a knife.

The victim died on the spot while the suspect tried to escape but was arrested by the barangay tanod.

The knife was recovered at the crime scene.

Nestor was turned over to the police here and he is facing a parricide case.

Hi, my name is Alvin Bocacao. While my nephew was looking on I got into an argument with my father. It became so heated that I picked up a knife and stabbed him several times all over his body until he was dead. Thankfully I was able to get away. For now. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/7/man-stabs-father-to-death-on-maundy-thursday-in-quezon

A 74-year-old driver was stabbed to death by his son during a heated argument on Maundy Thursday in Sitio Balete Ilaya, Barangay Sampaloc 2, here.

Police identified the victim as Federico Bocacao.

The victim’s five-year-old grandson told police that his uncle,  Alvin Bocacao, 38, arrived and had a heated argument with his grandfather over an undisclosed matter.

The boy said that his uncle stabbed his grandfather several times in the body.

The suspect fled while the victim was taken to the Lucena United Doctors Hospital in Lucena City where he was declared dead on arrival at 11:20 a.m.

Police are pursuing the suspect.

Hi, my name is John. On the morning of Maundy Thursday I went on a drinking spree. My seven year old goddaughter wanted to go swimming so I went with her. But instead of swimming I raped and killed her. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/8/7-year-old-raped-killed-by-godfather-in-trece-martires-on-holy-thursday

A seven-year-old girl was raped and killed allegedly by her godfather in Barangay Cabuco, Trece Martires City, on Holy Thursday, April 6.

A statement from Trece Martires City Police Station (CPS) says the victim, identified as alias Nene, was found on the riverbanks without clothing and with wounds all over her body.

She was rushed to General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

With the help of CCTV footage, authorities were able to track the suspect and arrested him in a construction site in Barangay San Agustin, Dasmariñas Cavite.

Trece Martires CPS identified the suspect as John, a 34-year-old construction worker.

Investigators gathered that suspect and the father of alias Nene  had a drinking spree on Holy Thursday morning. The victim reportedly wanted to go swimming in the river, so the suspect went with her.

The suspect was jailed in 2021 for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, police said.

Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) Col. Christopher F. Olazo commended the operatives for the immediate arrest of the suspect.

Insurgency: Total Defeat of NPA in Southern Mindanao

Four major events have happened this week in the AFP's fight against the insurgency. Let's take a look at them in order. First was the arrest of an NPA leader in Malaysia which led the NTF-ELCAC to declare the insurgency is now totally defeated in Southern Mindanao. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/17/ntf-elcac-exec-declares-total-defeat-of-npa-in-s-mindanao-after-arrest-of-casilao

According to authorities, Casilao was intercepted by immigration personnel at the Langkawi immigration check in counter in Malaysia on April 1 while he was on his way to Thailand via a ferry boat. He was eventually deported to the Philippines on April 17.

A ranking official of the government’s primary anti-communist task force declared Monday, April 17, that the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao has been “totally defeated” following the arrest of alleged communist leader Eric Casilao.

According to authorities, Casilao was intercepted by immigration personnel at the Langkawi immigration check-in counter in Malaysia on April 1 while he was on his way to Thailand via a ferry boat. He was eventually deported to the Philippines on Monday.

Casilao is the alleged Secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SRMC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – NPA, and an “active member” of the Central Committee of CPP, said Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“We can now declare that the SMRC, particularly its armed component, is now totally defeated,” Torres said.

So, the arrest of one man who had fled abroad means the NPA is now totally defeated in Southern Mindanao? Are they sure there are no more rebels hiding out in the jungle waiting to strike? As always time will tell. 

The second big happening is the end of the insurgency in the Eastern Visayas according to the NTF-ELCAC.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/20/communist-insurgency-ends-in-e-visayas-local-task-force-lauded

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Regional Peace and Order Council-Eastern Visayas (RPOC-EV) commended the Joint Regional Task Force (JRTF) ELCAC-VIII for ending communist insurgency problems in Eastern Visayas.

In a consultative meeting, DILG Region VIII Director Arnel M. Agabe, the vice-chairman for civilian government of the JRTF-ELCAC VIII, presented the updates on the agency’s implementation of peace-related programs.

However the AFP says the insurgency has not ended but has only weakened. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758549/top-military-exec-claims-insurgency-weakening-in-eastern-visayas

A top military officer in Eastern Visayas on Wednesday, April 19, announced that the region’s insurgency problem has weakened.

Of the about 400 rebel-infested barangays in the region, the number has gone down to 20, according to Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division.

Ligayo attended the 35th founding anniversary of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, headed by Gen. Noel Vestuir, based in Ormoc on Wednesday.

He also announced that there are about 200 active armed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the region, who are mostly operating on Samar Island, particularly in Northern Samar province, considered the last bastion of insurgency in the region.

Ligayo said the 20 villages where members of the New People’s Army dwell are located in Leyte and Samar provinces.

He, however, could not say where exactly these 20 villages are located.

“These villages have been cleared already, but the communist group is trying to recover these barangays. That is why we are conducting our CSP (community support program) in these barangays,” Ligayo said.

So, there are 20 rebel infested villages and more or less 200 active armed NPA. That is not an end to the insurgency.  That is very active. Where is the NTF-ELCAC getting their information?

The AFP even says they are attempting to recover these 20 villages. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199733

The Philippine Army is stepping up efforts to foil the attempts of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to recover 20 previously-influenced villages in Eastern Visayas, a top official said on Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division commander, said the 20 villages situated in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Leyte provinces are vulnerable to infiltration given the recent sightings of NPA combatants in those areas.

“The rebels are hiding in the mountains, far from communities, but we are making sure that these villages will not be influenced again. We have retooled community support program (RCSP) teams there to prevent possible infiltration,” Ligayo said during an interview here.

The RCSP is a strategy that deploys teams tasked to identify issues and concerns in remote communities threatened by the NPA. These issues will be raised to the concerned government agencies and local government units to be addressed accordingly.

From 2019 to 2022, the military managed to clear 368 villages in the region influenced by rebels. These communities used to have organized groups supporting the NPA’s armed struggle.

Only last year, about 3,505 members of organized NPA mass supporters in the influenced communities surrendered to authorities across the region.

“Their strength is now diminishing, and that trend is irreversible following the surrender of their leaders. The surrenderers have been helping us in our campaign to end insurgency in the region,” Ligayo said.

Only two NPA guerilla fronts in Samar Island remain in existence after the dismantling of one front and the weakening of another during the first quarter of this year.

Are these 20 villages rebel infested or previously-influenced? And how did 3,505 NPA supporters surrender when we have been told for over a year that there are only about 2,000 rebels left? Also there are two NPA fronts left which means it's not over in the Eastern Visayas. The NTF-ELCAC is wrong. 

The NPA is also chasing about 50 NPA in the mountains of Samar. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199636

The Philippine Army is hunting down the estimated 50 remaining combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the mountains of Samar province, an official said on Tuesday.

Those engaged in armed struggle are remnants of the communist group after the dismantling of the last rebel guerilla front due to the deaths, capture, and surrender of their top leaders last year, Philippine Army 801st Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina said in a phone interview.

“These NPA remnants are still fighting without organized supporters from local communities. Information from villagers about the sightings of armed men indicates that they are not welcome anymore,” he said.

The Philippine Army is eyeing to significantly neutralize the NPA remnants in Samar within the year.

Among the hinterland areas where the remaining rebels have been sighted are the towns of Pinabacdao, Calbiga, Basey, Marabut, San Jorge, and San Jose de Buan.

“We are hunting down the NPA remnants to stop their attempts to recover their previously influenced communities. It’s good that there is resistance from residents in remote areas,” Lelina added.

There are only 50 NPA remaining in Samar?  What about what was said earlier?

He also announced that there are about 200 active armed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the region, who are mostly operating on Samar Island, particularly in Northern Samar province, considered the last bastion of insurgency in the region.

We went from almost 200 to 50 in just a few articles. Unbelievable. 

The third big event to happen this week is the NPA in the Central and  Western Visayas becoming leaderless.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199949

The Visayas Command (Viscom) on Sunday said the New People’s Army (NPA) in Central and Western Visayas is now left without a head following the death of their top leader, Rogelio Posadas.

Posadas died in an armed encounter with troops of the 94th and the 62nd Infantry Battalions (IB) in the boundaries of Isabela and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental on Thursday.

In a statement, Viscom said the death of Posadas left the NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing, and the National Democratic Front (NDF) operating in Negros Island, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor “leaderless” and will no longer have “clear operational direction on the ground.”

Posadas’ death will further contribute to the leadership vacuum that the organization has been suffering, the Viscom added.

“Justice is served to Mr. Posadas! The CPP-NPA-NDF can never run away from the atrocities that they have committed against our country and people. Sooner or later the long arm of the law will be able to catch up with them,” Viscom said.

Why is Bohol mentioned in this list when the AFP declared the NPA to be dismantled in Bohol back in October, 2022? Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor were all declared insurgency free back in 2017 but now the AFP admits the NPA is still active in those areas. It remains to be seen what the effects Posadas' death will have on the remaining insurgents.

Now for the fourth big thing to happen this week in the AFP's fight against the NPA and that is the CPP's affirmation that the Tiamzons were indeed killed last year during a firefight with the AFP. If you recall they were in a boat when the AFP approached and guns started blazing and then their boat exploded. The AFP was sure they were dead but it is only now they have gotten confirmation of their deaths. Heaven knows why they are trusting the CPP in this matter but don't trust them in any other matter. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1759094/communists-now-headless-and-without-clear-leaders-nsa

Following the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) confirmation and condemnation of the deaths of Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo M. Año said that the “Communist Terrorist Group” (CTG) is now lost without its pivotal leaders.

This follows the CPP’s allegation that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tortured and killed the Tiamzon couple and eight other members.

“With the death of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and now the Tiamzon couple, the Communist Terrorist Group is now headless with no clear national leadership. They have lost both their guiding light in the person of Joma and their commander in the Tiamzons and are now groping in the dark with no direction nor future in sight,” said Año in a statement.

Año claimed that the government has long suspected the two communist leaders to be dead, but denied the CPP’s version of Tiamzons’ deaths.

“They are now trapped in their own web of lies, which deserves scant comment. Needless to say, there is no truth whatsoever in this clearly fabricated story and we stand by the official reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said the NSA chief.

Previous reports said that the Tiamzons were believed killed in a military encounter in Samar in 2022.

The CPP, however, asserted that Tiamzon and the other rebels were abducted by the military whilst unarmed.

Nonetheless, Año welcomed the CPP’s confirmation of the couple’s death.

“The death of the Tiamzons is just the latest in the string of defeats that show the clear decimation of Communist terrorism in our country which includes the recent arrest of notorious terrorist Eric Jun Casilao in Langkawi, Malaysia in a successful joint law enforcement operation with the Malaysian authorities,” said Año.

The CPP claims they were kidnapped and tortured by the AFP who denies it but you know what? Who cares!? They are dead and good for them. However, if Duterte had not released this couple from prison they would not have been back out stirring up trouble. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/807871/release-of-tiamzon-couple-shows-duterte-sincerity-opapp

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) on Friday said the release of National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultants Benito and Wilma Tiamzon was a sign of President Rodrigo Duterte’s sincerity in his bid to solve the decades-old communist insurgency.

Opapp said the couple were the last among detained ranking members of the NDF who were temporarily released to join the peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Oslo, Norway next week.

“With their release, in addition to more than a dozen of NDF consultants earlier granted bail and already freed, one more stumbling block is removed.  We are looking forward to a fruitful but intense negotiations in Oslo,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said in a statement.

Before he won the elections, Duterte promised to make peace with the Left, which he has close ties with. However, recent events have caused both parties to question each other’s good will. It was eventually resolved when the government pushed through with its promise to release political prisoners.

The release of these people did not showcase Duterte's good will but rather his incompetence. Duterte was a destructive force the Philippines will be reeling from for years to come. 

10-Wheel Truck Runs Over Three Year Old Girl

Here is another article about the results of the bad driving habits in the Philippines. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/19/three-year-old-girl-dies-parents-injured-in-bacolod-accident

A three-year-old girl was killed while her parents were injured after their motorcycle was hit by a 10-wheel truck on the circumferential road in Barangay Villamonte here on Tuesday, April 18.

Injured were Jude Jett Areglo, 40, of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, and Sheila Mae Niem, 23, according to the police.

Based on initial investigation, a truck driven by Jemmy Panes of Victorias City was tailing the motorcycle driven by Areglo.

The motorcycle was able to cross the road before the red light, but Panes allegedly beat the red light, leading him to hit the motorcycle.

Areglo lost control over the motorcycle and they all fell to the ground.

The truck then ran over the child that resulted in her immediate death.

Police are preparing the filing of charges against the truck driver, who is detained at Police Station 4.

Having observed how traffic operates in the Philippines two things can be assumed here, one of them for sure based on the article. First of all it is doubtful anyone on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet. I have seen so many families piled dangerously onto motorcycles with no one wearing a helmet. It is dangerous and simply not worth the risk. The motorcycle is not a family vehicle.

Yes it is illegal in the Philippines to ride with children on your motorcycle if their feet cannot reach the pedals. 

Section 4. Prohibition. – It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a two (2)-wheeled motorcycle with a child on board on public roads where there is heavy volume of vehicles, there is a high density of fast moving vehicles or where a speed limit of more than 60/kph is imposed, unless:

(a) The child passenger can comfortably reach his/her feet on the standard foot peg of the motorcycle;

(b) The child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle rider; and

(c) The child is wearing a standard protective helmet referred to under Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known the "Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009."

https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2015/ra_10666_2015.html

Can a three year old's feet reach the foot pegs os a motorcycle or grasp around the waist of the driver?  NO!!  She should not have been on the motorcycle and her parents are not free from blame for her death. But will they be prosecuted? Doubt it!

Second of all the article tells us that the truck "beat the red light" which led to him hitting the motorcycle. That means he sped up at the yellow instead of hitting his brakes. I have seen that happen so many times it is ridiculous. Trucks will keep plowing through the light AFTER it has turned red. It's a wonder that these accidents don't happen every day. 

But they do happen. And it's high past time police patrol the roads and enforce the traffic laws. From R.A. 6975 which set up the PNP and lays out their duties we read:

Sec. 35 (B) (8) Traffic Management Unit. – Headed by a Director with the rank of chief superintendent, the Traffic Management Unit shall enforce traffic laws and regulations.

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html

So, why aren't the cops patrolling the roads and enforcing the laws?

The God Culture: 100 Lies About The Philippines: #5 Ancient Greeks in the Philippines

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Timothy Jay Schwab's claim that there was an Ancient Greek presence in the Philippines. Again, it's another claim that is obviously a lie but seeing as Tim makes this claim in all seriousness and he has gullible people believing him without doing what he claims which is test all things including himself it needs to be debunked.

There are two places were Tim makes the claim that there was an Ancient Greek presence in the Philippines. The first one is in video Clue #2.

https://youtu.be/kWjFtcV_6Nc

This video has been edited but in the original beginning at 5:27 Timothy Schwab says:

"When we visited Butuan, Philippines in May we were actually able to see this Greek armor which was found in 2018 in the Philippines. The thing is these are indisputably Greek from the symbols and the structure and they are dated all the way back to 800 B.C. up to about 480 B.C. "

Now that is indeed rather interesting don't you think? Ancient Greek armor was found in Mindanao and dated between 800 and 480 B.C.? That would be a huge archaeological discovery seeing as Alexander did not even reach India until 326 B.C.! It would mean Greek soldiers marched or sailed to the Philippines BEFORE the Peloponnesian War. What can one do in the face of such overwhelming evidence that the Greeks were in the Philippines possibly only 300 years after the Trojan War? Question it and tear it apart of course.

The fact is if you search for Greek armor in the Philippines on Google you will find nothing which validates this find. In fact Tim would later edit this video to indicate that this discovery was still pending confirmation. 

100 Clues #2: Philippines Is The Ancient Land of Gold: Gold Found - Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish. Edited.

How can Tim with a straight face tell us at 13:56 in this new edit:

"The thing is these are indisputably Greek from the symbols and structure and they are dated all the way back to 800 B.C. up to about 480 B.C."

In the unaltered audio he tells us that these artifacts are indisputably Greek while on screen he notes "Archaeology Confirmation Pending." It cannot be both. His source for this is Kasaysayan Hunters which is run by J.G. Cheock and we saw in lie #2 that she is also Tim's source for the false claim that Ferdinand Pinto placed the Leqouis Islands at 9N20. J.G Cheock and Kasaysayan Hunters are not reliable. 

Here is a picture of the alleged Greek armor set in full.

An image search for "Greek muscle cuirass" and "ancient Greek battle axe" gives results that look nothing like the armor above. There is armor with fake abs but not with lion heads and celestial wheels for nipples. Maybe such did exist but they are not coming up in any search online. And believe it or not those so-called Greek battle axes have more of a Tibetan design than Grecian.

It's obvious that Tim does not believe these artifacts are genuine ancient Greek armor because they have been rigorously and thoroughly tested by experts and found to be so. He offers no proof that they have undergone such testing. He believes because it confirms his thesis that the Philippines is the ancient land of Ophir. He ignores what is so obviously gives away the fraud which is the tokay gecko on the helmet! But this would not be the first fact that Tim ignores.

Funnily enough this alleged find of Greek Armor did not make it into Tim's book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure. Why is that? If he is so confident that this is really Greek armor he should have included it. 

The second instance of Tim mentioning an Ancient Greek presence in the Philippines is in his video about Greeks circumnavigating Africa to reach the Philippines. 

32:11 So, here we have history, yes history, that in 800 BC the ships of Tarshish, the Greek ships yes from the Greek colony over in the Philippines, were able to show up in Joppa Israel on the Mediterranean. How about that? There was no Suez Canal yet and the Red Sea port was out of commission. They circumnavigated Africa it was the only option and it's documented right here in 800 BC.

Did The Ancients Sail Around Africa? Bible Evidence. Solomon's Gold Series 16A

Where exactly were the Greek colonies in the Philippines? Tim offers no evidence because there were none. If there had been then we would find Greek artifacts in the Philippines just like Roman artifacts have been found in Vietnam. Ptolemy's map would also not have ended with the Malay Peninsula.

This lie about an ancient Greek presence in the Philippines is connected with Tim's claim that the 7,000 Philippines Islands are the two mythical islands of silver and gold, Argyre and Chryse. We will take a look at that lie next time.