Retards in the Government 327

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/8/coa-flags-doh-over-p1-93-b-doubtful-payments-for-goods-projects-services-in-2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Health (DOH) over the P1.93 billion procurement of goods, infrastructure projects, and consultancy services that "deprived the government of the most advantageous prices and resulted in doubtful payment transactions and significant delays in project completion."

In its 2022 audit report, COA said that the DOH failed to properly comply with Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR), which resulted in "doubtful" payments of P1,932,520,634.94.

It said there were disadvantageous provisions of Covid-19 vaccine supply agreement that placed the government in a vulnerable position, and there was no other choice but to accept since there was a high demand for vaccines and very limited supply.

Citing an example, COA said the supply agreement for the procurement of five million treatments of Sputnik V, Gamaleya Covid-19 vaccines for the National Capital Region (NCR) limited the liability of the vaccine supplier should there be delays in delivery.

It said there were also "confidentiality and non-disclosure" provisions in the vaccines contract as well as in the purchase and supply of one million doses of Sinovac vaccine which "disregarded the basic precept of transparency in government transactions."

"In light of the fact that there was a global shortage of vaccines at the time and supplies were limited, the government was put in a position where it had to accept the terms and conditions of the manufacturers on confidentiality in order to launch a Covid-19 Vaccination Program immediately," COA said.

It found several procedural deficiencies, such as an awarding of a contract to an ineligible bidder in the NCR. The failure of the contractor to provide competent and experienced materials engineer as one of the key personnel for construction and failure to submit original bid security cast doubt on the P208,279,888.87 payment made, it also said.

At the same time, COA said there were also several instances when the DOH resorted to inappropriate modes of procurement. It said in Region I, the DOH made purchases through reimbursement and spent P1,009,583.33. In Regions II, III, and XI, the DOH made procurements using petty cash funds worth P15,793,183.39, P577,308.20, and P31,369, respectively, it said.

COA pointed out delays in the procurement processes. It said that in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), there was a delay in the execution of contracts ranging from two to 119 days from receipt of Notice of Award (NOA) for the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center (BGHMC), which cost P498,766,713.74. The same was true in Region VI for the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH) worth P7,852,664.33, it said.

"These deficiencies may be attributed to the voluminous number of bidding activities being conducted by the DOH, lack of judicious and meticulous procurement planning, failure to conduct early procurement activities, and lack of relevant trainings of personnel assigned in procurement activities, among others," COA said.

"In sum, the noted deficiencies were not only contrary to the pertinent provisions of R.A.  No. 9184 and its RIRR but also deprived the government of the most advantageous prices, resulted in doubtful payment transactions, and had caused significant delays in the project implementation, delivery and distribution of the necessary goods and services to the public," it stressed. 

The COA has flagged the DOH over doubtful payments for goods and services which were inappropriately procured. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209537

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) finding a police official guilty of malversation involving more than PHP7 million in Philippine National Police (PNP) funds, in 1992.

The anti-graft court, in a 31-page decision promulgated Sept. 5 and written by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo, affirmed the ruling of the QC RTC Branch 88 finding former Police Senior Insp. Mercita Eya guilty of malversation.

The lower court had sentenced Eya in two counts of malversation to a total of up to 29 years in prison and to pay fines.

Eya was relieved from her post as collecting officer and fund custodian of the 14th PNP Finance Center Unit in 1995, after an audit discovered missing funds that were part of amounts earmarked for the PNP Scholarship Fund and the PNP Trust Receipts.

The missing amounts were divided into two sums of PHP4.918 million and PHP2.341 million.

"A judicious review of the records of these cases and after a careful evaluation of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and accused-appellant during the trial of these cases as well as the arguments raised in this appeal, the Court finds no reason to disturb the findings of RTC Branch 88 as contained in its questioned joint decision," the tribunal said.

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of a police officer for graft. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1830355/pnp-900-erring-cops-sacked-from-january-2022-to-august-2023

The Philippine National Police (PNP) removed 935 straying officers from January 2022 to August 2023 as the institution continues to cleanse its ranks.

The PNP reported Tuesday that during the period, it had resolved 4,082 cases involving members who committed wrongdoings, resulting in the dismissal of 935, suspension of 1,850, and demotion of 242 officers.

It added that the resolution of cases also resulted in reprimands (680), forfeiture of salaries (159), restrictions (110), and withholding of privileges (106).

“The PNP is strengthening its Internal Disciplinary Mechanism and intensifies efforts in reiterating the Doctrine of Command Responsibility and Police Operational Procedures to every member on the ground,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a statement.

“We are bringing across our message to the people that the PNP leadership strongly condemns any wrongdoing of its few misguided members,” he added.

935 PNP officers have been removed from the service between January 2022 and August 2023. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/11/corruption-in-ph-can-t-get-solved-in-our-lifetime-ombudsman

A dejected Ombudsman Samuel Martires told congressmen Monday, Sept. 11 that he believed corruption in the Philippines won't get solved within "our lifetime".

Martires, during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the Office of the Ombudsman's 2024 budget, discussed the extent of corruption in the country.

"What's happening now is, we've lost our respect for God, we've lost our respect for ourselves. So, not during our lifetime, we'll be able to solve corruption," he said.

Martires, who heads the body that serves as the investigator of cases of graft and corruption in government, described incidents of corruption in the country as "endemic".

"Now, corruption in the Philippines is becoming like fashion; it becomes a fad," Martires said.

"Because money becomes power; and if you have power, eh talagang...sikat ka.Tumataas po ang incidence mg corruption sa bawat ahensya ng gobyerno. At magugulat po kayo," he told the appropriations panel.

(If you have money, then you're really popular. Corruption incidence is going up in all agencies of government. And you'll be surprised.)

(There are departments in government that you don't realize is corrupt, but is actually more corrupt than other agencies that are corrupt.)

The Ombudsman says corruption is endemic and will not be defeated in our lifetime. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209764

A candidate for the village council of Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur, was killed in an ambush Tuesday afternoon in President Quirino town of this province.

In a report Wednesday, Maj. Davis Dulawan, President Quirino town police chief, said pursuit operations are ongoing against two gunmen on a motorbike who carried out the attack.

The victim, identified as Tayan Mamalinta, 50, was driving his motorbike along the national highway of the town when ambushed by riding-in tandem gunmen around 3 p.m.

The attackers, who remain unidentified, sped off in the interiors of the town following the incident.

Police investigators are also trying to determine if the attack was triggered by a personal grudge or related to next month’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Mamalinta, head of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is seeking a seat in the village council of Barangay Pandag Poblacion, Pandag town, Maguindanao del Sur.

A candidate for village council has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1830646/former-tuguegarao-police-station-chief-nabbed-for-slander

A retired police officer was arrested during a police operation in Tuguegarao last September 8 for slander, according to the Integrity Monitoring Group (IMEG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a report, the IMEG said that its operatives collared 49-year-old Major Arthur Sto. Tomas, formerly assigned to Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group team leader, in a manhunt operation along Maggay Street, Cataggaman, Nuevo.

Police said the operation stemmed from the warrant of arrest issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Second Capital Judicial Region, Branch 1 Presiding Judge Hon. Racquel C. Reyes-Aglaua against Sto. Tomas for the crime of slander.

The suspect committed the offense when he was the chief of the investigation section of Tuguegarao City Police Station in 2017. A client lodged a complaint against Sto. Tomas in the same year after he uttered unpleasant remarks and words against the former.

IMEG said the suspect is now under the Tuguegarao City Police Station’s custody for documentation.

It added that the operation is part of the police force’s campaign against wanted active and former officers or officials.

An ex-cop has been nabbed for slander. 

https://palawan-news.com/nea-dismisses-paleco-board-director-suspends-another-following-audit-of-past-irregularities/

The National Electrification Administration has removed one member from the current board of directors of Palawan Electric Cooperative and imposed a 90-day suspension on another following an audit on the cooperative that covered its actions from as early as 2004 to mid-2017, including irregularities in the procurement of wood utility poles and entering into contracts for sitio and barangay electrification.

Palawan News sources said the administration committee of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), based on a decision released almost seven years later, has removed Moises Arzaga Jr. from his role as the District II board of directors (BOD), while Maylene Ballares, the BOD for District I, has been suspended for a three-month period.

According to the source, every board of directors who served from 2004 to 2017, during the time of Jo Tan Paredes as chairman and Ponciano Payuyo as Paleco general manager, were discovered to have committed infractions. However, Arzaga and Ballares are the only ones who remain in their positions, having won in recent district elections.

"They are the only ones with a penalty now because they are still serving, but the others already have a record, they already have a decision. Others cannot be dismissed because they are no longer there. But if they are still there, they will be dismissed," the source claimed.

"This is the questionable purchase of the wood pole. He is a millionaire and the bidding is questionable," added the source.

Arzaga and Ballares, the source further claimed, are among those being investigated in the ongoing inquiry regarding discrepancies uncovered during the second audit, which covers the timeframe from June 2017 to April 2022.

Additionally, approximately 20 Paleco employees have been issued summonses by the NEA to provide explanations concerning issues connected to this matter.

"This ongoing investigation in the second audit is about many things. All transactions of the coop are audited—bidding, hiring, everything that is done. Institutional like the Commission on Audit,” explained the source.

The NEA ruling regarding Arzaga and Ballares for the period spanning from 2004 to the middle of 2017 is described as "immediately executory subject to appeal."

The NEA has dismissed a board director of PALECO and suspended another for irregularities in the procurement process.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Sex Tourism Resurgence, Teenage Pregnancy, and More!

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

It has now come to the public's attention that the top executives of PhilHealth TRIPLED their salaries during the pandemic. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1827456/pargas-palace-approved-philhealth-top-execs-tripling-of-pay-during-pandemic

Top executives of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) tripled their salaries in accordance with an executive order (EO) issued by Malacañang in 2021.

Philhealth spokesperson Israel Francis Pargas said on Wednesday.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing for the budget of the Department of Health, Pargas made the clarification after Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Ray Reyes asked about the Commission on Audit (COA) report stating the salary increase.

According to COA’s annual report released last month, PhilHealth’s key management personnel received P71.45 million in 2022, around triple compared to just P26.2 million in 2021.

“What is the basis of the increase of your salary? You tripled it, eh,” Reyes questioned Philhealth officials.

Pargas answered on behalf of the officials of the government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

“Our salary was increased based on an executive order,” Pargas said.

He was referring to EO Number 150 Series of 2021 issued during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The EO approved the Compensation and Position Classification System framework developed by Governance Commission for GOCCs or GCG.

Pargas said Philhealth applied to the GCG, which approved the certification process, tripling the officials’ salaries.

“We were granted the salary increase as certified by the GCG coming from the EO,” he said.

Reyes was surprised upon learning that Philhealth had applied for the tripling of salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You guys had the guts to actually, during the middle of a pandemic, to triple your salaries?” the lawmaker was perplexed.

Pargas tried to justify the request by citing that the EO that allowed the pay hike came from Palace and not from Philhealth.

“I would like to check that the EO is not coming from Philhealth, but was coming from Malacañang as part of standardizing the salaries of all GOCCs,” he said.

“So it’s not only for Philhealth, but for all GOCCs which underwent the same process,” he added.

This came straight from Duterte and might make sense but Duterte would have to be asked to justify it. As it is PhilHealth was not the only GOCC which had their salaries increased.

Marcs has hailed the World Bank for helping the Philippines recover from the pandemic. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/881530/marcos-hails-world-bank-for-its-desirable-shift-to-help-ph-economy-after-pandemic/story/

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has lauded the World Bank for what he described as a "desirable shift" in its programs to address emerging challenges in the Philippines after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos had a bilateral engagement with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga on Thursday at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"I have to commend the World Bank because now I’m looking at the list of the programs and projects in the pipeline. And there you can see the very desirable shift from what we were doing before to what we are doing now, post-pandemic," Marcos told Banga.

Marcos expressed hope for the success of the programs that aim to boost the resiliency and sustainability of the financial sector following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos said the Philippines has been a recipient of various grants from the World Bank for many decades. He said this includes the recently-granted Philippine Second Financial Sector Reform Development Policy financing that amounts to $600 million.

The said loan seeks to make the agriculture and fisheries sectors more competitive, sustainable, and technology-based.

According to the Department of Finance, the project covers 82 provinces across all the regions of the country, with a focus on areas where about half of the Philippines’ 109.03-million agriculture and fisheries population reside.

Even so the Philippines will be return excess loans to the World Bank. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/881725/philippines-to-return-excess-320m-pandemic-loan-to-world-bank-diokno/story/

The Philippines is set to return to the World Bank about $320 million in excess loans for the country's COVID-19 pandemic response, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

"About $320 million, the excess in the pandemic," Diokno told reporters during his weekly chat with the Finance press corps.

"The advice of the World Bank is to return it, then come up with a new program," the Finance chief said.

The previous administration embarked on an aggressive borrowing spree to boost the state's war chest to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ramped-up borrowing spree bloated the country's debt-to-gross domestic ratio—the size of the state's debt relative to the size of the economy—to 63.5%, the highest in 17 years and well over the internationally recommended threshold of 60% .

Diokno said the "excess" loans were supposed to be used to procure vaccines.

"Buy a vaccine. [But] many people donated vaccines to us," he said.

The Finance chief said his department has already written to the World Bank about the government's intent to return the excess loans.

"We've written already. Soon, within the month," Diokno said.

Well, that sounds good and hopefully it has some effect on the economy. 

Most Filipino CEOs say they have recovered from the pandemic. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/12/2295651/83-percent-ceos-say-firms-have-recovered-pandemic

A majority of chief executive officers (CEOs) expect their companies’ revenues to be higher than pre-pandemic levels, a survey of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and PwC Philippines showed.

Results of the MAP-PwC 2023 CEO Survey showed that 83 percent of CEOs reported that their companies have recovered from the impact of COVID-19.

The survey also found that 62 percent of CEOs are expecting their revenues to be higher than pre-pandemic levels this year.

Twenty-five percent of the CEO respondents said they expect their revenues to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic level, while 36 percent expect theirs to be slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

In addition, 17 percent of CEOs said they expect their revenues to be back to pre-pandemic levels this year.

On the other hand, 15 percent of CEOs are projecting revenues to be slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels, while seven percent are expecting revenues to be significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Findings of the survey also showed that infrastructure development, domestic consumption and the business process outsourcing (BPO) and services sector would be the key drivers of the economy in the next 12 months, according to CEOs.

Similarly, 54 percent of the CEOs believe that global economic growth will improve in the next 12 months.

Despite the optimism of CEOs, the report noted that businesses face threats from inflation, macroeconomic instability, cyber risks and supply chain constraints.

“To address these challenges, CEOs are reducing operating costs, diversifying product/service offerings, investing in upskilling their workforce and deploying technology in their operations,” MAP-PwC said.

MAP president Benedicta Du-Baladad noted that Philippine business leaders have achieved stability and growth.

“Philippine business leaders have faced serious threats, but they have risen to the occasion and found new opportunities for growth through creativity and innovation. The pandemic has forced them to adapt to the changing business landscape and they have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before,” Du-Baladad said.

Although the CEOs believe that the government’s performance in infrastructure development, forging stronger relationships with other nations and promoting foreign investments has been satisfactory so far, they also note that there is still room for improvement.

The CEOs suggest that the government prioritize improving the ease of doing business in the Philippines and enhancing technology and infrastructure across the country to further boost collaborations with other countries.

“The government’s support is crucial in ensuring that businesses continue to thrive amid the challenges. We need to work together towards a more favorable business environment that fosters innovation and growth,” Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines chairman and senior partner Roderick Danao said.

The MAP-PwC survey gathered insights from 157 business leaders from various industries.

Well, good for the rich. What about the poor? It seems teen pregnancy is up!

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/09/10/when-children-bear-children-teenage-pregnancy-in-phl-seen-rising-post-pandemic-signaling-new-trend-for-younger-childbearing/

Early childbearing is seen to become more prevalent anew in the Philippines, as it breeds an alarming new trend post-pandemic, when restrictive health protocols on social or physical distancing is no longer in effect, following the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine government’s declaration of the end of Covid-19 being a health emergency here and abroad.

“Teenage pregnancy is a health and social economic issue in the Philippines and around the world, not only because pregnancy rates among teenagers remain significantly high, but also and most importantly, because of its implication on the growth, development and well-being of both a pregnant teenage mom and her child during the pregnancy and after childbirth,” said Vanessa G. Retuerma, director of Strategy Management, Impact and Learning Department of World Vision, during the Policy Forum on Teenage Pregnancy in Eastern Visayas held by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and World Vision on September 6 in Tacloban City, Leyte.

According to Retuerma, the lifecycle of a child’s development lasts until the teenage years—a very crucial stage where children’s bodies grow and develop physically, discover their interests and talents, begin to dream and aspire, and learn how to navigate life through their education, experiences and relationship.

“So there are many factors that we need to consider for us to ensure that all children meet their needs to help them grow healthy, well nourished, be educated, be protected and, most importantly, be empowered,” she said.

Based on the 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the adolescent birth rate seems to have been declining from 56 in 2020 to 25 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. This trend follows even in regional levels like for Eastern Visayas, wherein it’s also the case for 245 respondents of the same age group of the female populace in the region, dropping to 4.7 percent last year from 6.9 percent recorded in 2017.

“Such statistics had quite gone down a little bit as we take into consideration the existence of the pandemic [during the time] that actually limited the interaction of our adolescents aged 15 to 19 with their respective peers. But based on the study, it is expected to rise again starting 2022 when the pandemic slackened and seems that we’re now in to face-to-face,” Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 8 Director Elnora R. Pulma told reporters in a briefing during the forum.

That's a little counterintuitive. One would think pregnancies would go up during the pandemic. 

Now that tourism is coming back the BI is looking out for sex tourists. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209687

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday assured stricter watch of the country's borders to prevent the entry of foreign offenders amid the threat of sex tourism resurgence. 

 

“We warn these predators not to attempt to enter the country, as we have close coordination with different governments, who provide us information about sex offenders that might attempt to enter the Philippines,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement. 

 

The statement was issued following reports of entry attempts of five registered sex offenders (RSO) in various ports within a week since Aug. 30. 

 

RSO refers to an individual convicted of sexual crimes under their country's record. 

 

Tansingco said the threat of sex tourism resurgence may have stemmed from the reopening of the country's economy. 

 

“With the return of tourism also comes the return of aliens who will try to abuse our hospitality,” he said. 

While I can't comment from experience but I am well aware Filipinas are very accommodating. If you know what I mean. 

The DOH has released the results of a survey taken eight months ago. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/12/doh-unveils-2023-covid-19-mobile-phone-survey-results-public-compliance-with-open-space-regulations

These findings, said the DOH, underscore the importance of adherence to minimum public health standards in open spaces and transportation, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the Philippines.

A significant 83.4 percent of Filipinos who visited enclosed public places found them to be well-ventilated aligning with public health guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

This is based on the 2023 Covid-19 mobile phone survey conducted by the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Epidemiology Bureau.

This comprehensive survey, conducted in February 2023, gathered data from 2,326 individuals aged 18 and above through SMS and mobile web platforms. The findings of the survey were posted on the DOH Facebook page on Sept. 11.

The DOH emphasized that the insights derived from the 2023 Philippines Covid-19 mobile phone survey have the potential to significantly enhance the available data for shaping the government's response to the ongoing pandemic.

The survey covered various aspects of Covid-19, including behavior, exposure, knowledge, perceptions, care management, and treatment, which can inform policies and resource allocation related to the Covid-19 response.

The policy implications stemming from the results are expected to play a pivotal role in guiding the government's pandemic response efforts.

These findings, said the DOH, will be instrumental in shaping future strategies and initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DOH underscored that the survey results will provide valuable guidance for the department as it continues to refine and strengthen its Covid-19 response efforts.

Why did it take them so long to collate this data?

The God Culture: Message To Congress

In late August 2023 Timothy Jay Schwab, also known as The God Culture, gave a talk in Davao at a conference hosted by Bishop Rod Cubos. Tim has posted a few selections from that lecture online and that is what I wish to discuss. 

Is Philippines Ophir? Recent News. Live in Davao. Message to Congress.

A message to Congress? But Tim is on record saying that The God Culture is apolitical. 

Ancient Prophecy Philippines: MARCOS Prophesied! The Life of Lam-Ang. Solomon's Gold Series 15B

3:40 Before we start The God Culture does not support political parties and that's not what this video is about. We don't endorse anyone, neither candidate nor nobody. We said nothing of this election that just took place. Not a word. 

Ok, that only says that Tim does not support any political parties which is fine since it would be illegal for him to do so as a foreigner. But that does not mean he is apolitical. His entire message that the Philippines will rise in the last days to condemn the New World Order is drenched in politics. Let us not forget that he claims The Ophir Institute, which he founded is a think tank. 

https://www.ophirinstitute.com/bio

The Ophir Institute is a think tank in the Philippines that has focused on the mystery of the pre-colonial history of our country.

And what is the definition of a think tank?

A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government or are associated with particular political parties or businesses. Think-tank funding often includes a combination of millionaire donations and individual contributions, with many also accepting government grants.

Think tanks publish articles, studies or even draft legislation on particular matters of policy or society. This information is then readily used by governments, businesses, media organizations, social movements or other interest groups as part of their goals. Think tanks range from those associated with highly academic or scholarly activities to those that are overtly ideological and pushing for particular policy, with widely differing quality of research among them. Later generations of think tanks have tended to be more ideologically-oriented.

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

It is not clear if Tim has written any policy papers to be submitted to Congress but he has declared he is ready to appear before Congress to "restore these facts."

45:17 We will restore these facts. If we have to go to Congress ourselves we will restore these facts.

In fact the ground work is being laid as Tim claims his fraudulent book and videos are being taught in at least one COLLEGE classroom in the Philippines. 

1:01:35 Of course we we understand there's a lot of professors out there whose jobs are at stake if they took a stand for this. But do you know there are some that are teaching this in classrooms? I won't expose them but there's one who asked us for Solomon's Treasure and we sent them copies for their classrooms. There's another one that's using the videos and they're actually showing Solomon's Gold Series in the college classroom.

Imagine this morons book being taught in a college classroom. It is unfathomable. 

But Timothy Jay Schwab does have a message for Congress. Here it is:

What an Amazing Typo! It Should be Rappler not Rapper.

1:02:46 I want to do a little something if you don't mind. I'd like to give Congress an answer today. Will you do that? Will you rise to your feet with me? Will everyone stand to your feet ?And I want to do a little exercise, just a little exercise and I'm going to make sure this makes it to Congress, all right? This is our response to the Philippines as Ophir. We're going to say bring back Ophir. Amen? Let's do this. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir. Bring back Ophir.

How can Tim guarantee this response will make it back to Congress? Obviously he has connections. 

This video is so ridiculous and is full of the same nonsense Tim has taught for the past six years to Filipinos and then some. I am not going to rehash his erroneous worldview. Do see my God Culture archive for all that matter. 

What is to be noted here is that Tim is not a backwoods hick who caught Youtube fame on a lark. He is being supported by a lot of wealthy backers. Don't forget Timothy Jay Schwab once had a ritual dinner with the Lakanate of Tondo where he was given a secret name. 

This particular conference was put on by Bishops Rod and Ruth Cubos in Davao City. What are they Bishops of you might ask? Their own kingdom. They are not real Bishops but Tim loves them so much. What a hypocrite to spit on the Church and endorse these fake Bishops. 

Now, this video is basically a response to Congressman Dan Fernandez's privilege speech where he claimed the Philippines is Ophir and should be renamed as such. In this video Tim complains about people and groups such as Rappler dismissing the Philippines being Ophir without even reading his book. As if his book is the end all be all case for the Philippines being Ophir. Since it is a poorly written, poorly researched, and poorly argued book Timothy Jay Schwab should hope it never goes mainstream and he never appears before Congress to deliver his false message. 

Insurgency: Marcos is Daydreaming

Last week we heard Año saying the insurgency will be defeated by the end of President Marcos' term. The CPP says they are day dreaming.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/marcos-is-daydreaming-that-he-can-defeat-the-npa/

Officials of the Marcos regime are daydreaming when they make declarations of attaining “strategic victory” and defeating the New People’s Army (NPA). These wishful declarations are not new. They have been issuing exactly the same statements for three decades now and have repeatedly been proven wrong by facts.

General Año’s pronouncement yesterday of “ending the local communist armed conflict” within the term of the Marcos government rings hollow, especially after an NPA unit carried out a successful against the much detested 85th IB in Tagkawayan, Quezon last Friday morning, in which Red fighters seized five high-powered rifles and inflicted a number of casualties against the AFP. The ambush blasts recent claims that Quezon is already “insurgency free.” Together with the recent tactical offensives of the NPA in Masbate and Negros, the AFP’s much-hyped PR line that the NPA has “only active guerrilla front” is clearly a figment of their imagination.

The Filipino people and their people’s army will continue to wage armed struggle as long as US imperialism, oppression, bureaucratic corruption and social injustice prevails. The broad masses of the Filipino people are continually being roused to take up arms by widespread landlessness, grossly low wages, economic dislocation, environmental destruction, and rampant dispossession of their sources of income and means of production.

Over the past few years, the fascist reactionaries have waged an all-out campaign of state terrorism with the desperate aim of shattering the bond between the NPA and the broad masses of the Filipino people. But the more Marcos employs terrorism against the people, the more that this bond is tempered and reinforced. Indeed, without the NPA, the Filipino people have nothing to defend themselves with and will be left to the mercy of multinational corporations, the IMF and World Bank, big bourgeois compradors, landlords, and bureaucrat capitalists.

The aim of achieving complete victory might not yet be within the immediate horizon of the NPA. But it is determined to frustrate the AFP’s current campaign of encirclement and suppression, fight the Marcos regime’s rule of all-out state terrorism, and carry forward the armed struggle to even greater heights.

NO matter how determined they are the aim of achieving complete victory is nowhere within the immediate horizon of the NPA.  Despite the AFP's waffling on the matter it is rathe evident that the NPA is on the way out. Certainly by the end of the 21st century if not sooner. 

The NTF-ELCAC says they are on track to curb the remaining insurgents. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209110

The government is on track to wipe out the remaining New People's Army (NPA) units still operating in the country following the declaration of Palawan as an insurgency-free province.

The latest feat brings the country closer to the Marcos administration's vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous nation, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said in a Facebook post Monday.

"The NTF-ELCAC lauds this achievement as a significant breakthrough that reflects the collective efforts of the local government, the security sector and civil society. " the agency stated.

The body also reiterated its commitment to promoting peace in all aspects of its work -- from diplomacy and security to development and human rights.

"We believe that peace is not only the absence of violence but also the presence of justice, equality, and dignity for all. We are one in attaining unity, peace, and development," the NTF-ELCAC said.

The Army has declared the remaining NPA in Samar as roving bandits. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209313

The remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar Island now are classified as roving bandits with no single village official supporting their ideology, an Army official said Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division told reporters that the remaining NPA rebels are jittery with the continued deaths, capture, and surrender of their leaders.

“The remaining 180 active regular NPA members are now roving bandits with the dismantling of two guerilla fronts and weakening of two others. They refuse to surrender since they are facing criminal charges,” Ligayo said in an interview Wednesday.

The official is confident in eradicating insurgents in three Samar provinces before the end of the year.

There are about 10 army battalions assigned in Samar province as the government heightened its fight against communist insurgents.

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

But these fronts are already weakened with the surrender of mass supporters in communities.

Ligayo said the rebel’s Front Committee 2 that operated at the border of Samar and Northern Samar has been demolished after the capture and surrender of some of their combatants and recovery of firearms.

He said the NPA Front Committee 3, which operated near the borders of Northern and Eastern Samar, has been dismantled after a series of operations by government forces.

This kind of declaration is good propaganda but bad doctrine if it is really believed. If there is one thing the AFP should not do it is underestimate the strength and determination of the NPA to launch attacks whether out of principle for their cause or out of desperation to stay ahead of the law. 

In Negros Occidental 55 barangays have been identified as "areas of concern" due to NPA influence in the upcoming election.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/09/06/2294088/55-negros-occidental-barangays-eyed-areas-concern

Citing sightings of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) said 55 barangays in Negros Occidental should be categorized as areas of concern in the forthcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the PJSCC is leaving the matter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He said the 55 barangays had earlier been cleared of communist rebels, but there were renewed attempts by remnants of the NPA to recover their lost territories.

He stressed the need for law enforcers and the public to remain vigilant against rebel infiltration, especially in communities that have been declared NPA-free.

The Comelec said areas of election concern or election hotspots are places where there is potential violence or tension among local candidates, presence of armed rebels and a history of election-related violence.

Edralin said NPA rebels in Negros make their presence felt by collecting so-called permit to campaign or win fees.

All 55 barangays have been declared insurgency free and yet the NPA is doing its best to make a comeback. I suppose you can't fault them for trying. But you can fault the AFP for premature declarations of "insurgency free" when there are still insurgents. 

This back and forth between the NPA being both a non-entity and a force to reckon with is best illustrated in the DepEd's claim that16 public high schools in the NCR are engaged in NPA recruitment. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1826446/deped-claims-16-public-high-schools-in-ncr-are-engaging-in-npa-recruitment

Sixteen (16) public high schools in Metro Manila are involved in the recruitment activities of New People’s Army.

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa made this revelation on Monday during the deliberations on the proposed budget of DepEd for 2024.

The DepEd official, however, did not identify the names of the institutions engaging in this illegal campaigns.

He gave the information to justify why the department is requesting P150 million confidential fund.

“The threats nowadays, whether it be recruitment or drug-related activities, [are] quite alarming in our schools,” Poa explained in a mix of English and Filipino.

“That’s why we requested for the confidential funds so that we can help in prevention and, of course, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, when it comes to the response to such things,” he said.

“In fact, we have information that 16 public high schools just within Metro Manila are involved in [NPA] recruitment activities,” the spokesperson disclosed.

Without naming the schools, Poa proceeded to talk about the alleged target age bracket of NPAs in employing students.

According to the DepEd official, 12 percent of the rebels who surrendered from 2016 to 2022 were minors, aged 12 to 17 years old.

Poa also said over 5,000 minors were discovered to have been involved in drug-related activities from July 2022 to July 2023.

Of this number, 871 minors were rescued.

Amid this record, Poa admitted DepEd can also “live without” the proposed confidential funds.

However, he stressed the provision of the fund will make their jobs easier.

“As the Vice President has always said, we defer to the wisdom of Congress when it comes to the [approval of] our confidential funds,” he said.

“The reason why we made the request is, of course, [in line] with our mandate of providing accessible and quality basic education,” he added.

DepEd is asking for a P758 billion budget for 2024.

This proposed amount includes P150 million in confidential fund.

Of course we cannot expect the DepEd to name those schools but they should be able to reconcile how the AFP has declared a strategic victory over the CPP-NPA with how they are able to continue recruiting. The DepEd says this information has been verified by the NICA. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/5/dep-ed-working-with-authorities-to-put-a-stop-to-alleged-npa-recruitment-in-schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, Sept. 5, confirmed that it is currently coordinating with concerned law enforcement agencies to “put a stop” to the alleged recruitment activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Metro Manila schools.

“We cannot give the names of the schools due to the sensitive nature of the issue,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters in a Viber message.

During the Senate hearing on DepEd's proposed 2024 budget on Sept. 4, Poa alleged that 16 public high schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) are involved in NPA recruitment activities.

When asked for more details on the matter, Poa maintained that “info was vetted by NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency], as I mentioned during the hearing yesterday.”

But how reliable is the NICA? They claim to know the names of 300,000 to 400,000 CPP affiliated members working for the government. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1129696

“We know who they are, that they are even party members, supporters of the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines]. We have informed them that we know. They know that we know, the security forces know, the government knows them, and we are watching them,” Monteagudo said.

“When they enter the government, part of their salary goes to the party)but their primary function is to recruit more, to influence, to agitate and to indoctrinate and to act as eyes and ears of the CPP-NPA,” Monteagudo said.

He said NICA has been presenting special briefings in different government agencies on the extent of CTG infiltration on the bureaucracy.

As per NICA’s latest estimate, there are about 300,000 to 400,000 who are allies of different CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations.

However, Monteagudo clarified that being a member of these front organizations does not mean that they are terrorists.

It's been two years now since this report. Who are these people? What has happened to them? It's all so tiresome. 

Renaming the Philippines: Maharlika or Ophir?

In a privilege speech given on July 31st Congressman Dan Fernandez gave a lenghty harangue about one of the most important issues facing the nation: renaming the Philippines to finally rid this nation of its colonial past. This is nothing new as Maharlika has been floated around as a possible name for the Philippines before with Duterte even considering such a change. 

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Duterte-wants-Philippines-renamed-Maharlika

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested renaming the country "Maharlika," a word originally meaning warrior class, to pay homage to the country's pre-colonial past. 

Duterte has revived an idea advocated by Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines' former president and dictator who implemented martial law to keep himself in power for two decades. During his regime, Marcos popularized the word and named the state broadcaster, a north-south highway and a presidential hall after it. 

Marcos promoted the term to mean nobility, but historians say Maharlika refers to the warrior class that served the ruling clans during pre-Hispanic times.

The name also referred to Marcos' fictitious guerrilla unit in World War II. A 1986 New York Times report said his fondness for using Maharlika was meant to honor his military experience, which army investigators later concluded was fraudulent.

"Marcos was right. He wanted to change it to Maharlika, a Malay word, and it means more of a concept of serenity and peace," Duterte said on Feb. 11.

Then Senator Eddie Ilarde first proposed the name change in 1978, citing the need to honor the country's ancient heritage before Western colonialists occupied the country. A Spanish explorer first named the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas (Philippine Islands) in honor of Spain's King Philip II. Spain ruled the Philippines for three centuries, then the U.S. occupied it for 48 years.

The idea of changing the name of the Philippines to Maharlika dates back to the Marcos dictatorship and was actually a sly way of concealing his ill-gotten wealth. 

During the "New Society Movement" (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) era in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos used the word maharlika to promote an authoritarian view of Filipino nationalism under martial law, claiming that it referred to the ancient Filipino nobility and included the kings and princes of ancient Philippine society. Marcos was influential in making "maharlika" a trendy name for streets, edifices, banquet halls, villages and cultural organizations. Marcos himself utilized the word to christen a highway, a broadcasting corporation, and the reception area of Malacañang Palace.

Marcos's utilization of the word started during World War II. Marcos claimed that he had commanded a group of guerrillas known as the Maharlika Unit. Marcos also used Maharlika as his personal nom de guerre, depicting himself as the most bemedalled anti-Japanese Filipino guerrilla soldier during World War II. In the years before the martial law period in the Philippines, Marcos commissioned a film entitled Maharlika to be based on his "war exploits". However, critic Ernie M. Hizon of the Manila Standard noted that the film does not actually depict any of the details from Marcos' alleged exploits during World War II, but is instead a "run-of-the-mill Hollywood war film populated by third-class actors."

A later variant of the hoax linked with Marcos historical distortionism falsely claimed that the whole Philippine archipelago had once been a single "Maharlika Kingdom," and that Marcos' alleged personal wealth came about because the so-called royal family of this kingdom had hired Marcos as their lawyer in the days after World War II, paying him "192 thousand tons of gold" for his legal services.

Senator Eddie Ilarde was the first to propose to rename the Philippines into "Maharlika" in 1978, citing the need to honor the country's ancient heritage before the Spanish and Americans occupied the country. Ferdinand Marcos was in favor of changing the name of the Philippines into "Maharlika", thinking it meant "nobility", as a symbol of nationalism. In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated the idea, thinking that it means "more of a concept of serenity and peace". 

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

But Congressman Dan Fernandez has a different name in mind. Ophir.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/dan-fernandez-delivers-privilege-speech-theorizing-philippines-ophir-bible/

At least once a week, lawmakers in the House of Representatives can take advantage of the so-called “privilege hour” to talk about anything of general interest in an open session: they can discuss their advocacies, make calls to action, or just boast about their accomplishments.

But one congressman on Monday, July 31, used it to fixate on a theory that says a place mentioned in the Bible could be the Philippines.

It was a speech that lasted 24 minutes.

Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez is flirting with – or maybe seriously entertaining – the idea that the Philippines is the land of Ophir, a biblical region or port that is supposedly rich in gold. 

Its exact location is unknown, but a quick search on Facebook would indicate that it has caught the attention of conspiracy theorists in the Philippines. 

In his speech, Fernandez said: 

• a Spanish colonial document in the Archivo General de Indias from the 16th century states that to reach Ophir, one must sail from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to India all the way to a group of islands opposite China that was rich in gold;
• that the Philippines has the second largest gold deposit in the world after Africa;
• that the Tagalog baybayin is similar to Hebrew, the primary language of the Bible, which mentions Ophir numerous times. 

Implying that Ophir could be a better name for the country of Filipinos, Fernandez said: “When we learn to know ourselves, we will be known in the entire world as Ophir and we will know that we are the sons of the living father, but if not, we will continue to be ignorant just what the Spaniards wanted.”

The idea that the Philippines is Ophir goes back to the time of the Spanish occupation when a few Jesuits theorized it was so. The notion seemed to have faded out until Pedro Paterno revived it in the late 1800's. Later in the early 21st century the idea was once again championed most vociferously by American Timothy Jay Schwab also known as The God Culture. Some of his audience were excited about this speech and Tim even thinks the Congressman has watched his videos. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlQkRpZWdSc

froicabuling: Another exciting series about Ophir. Bro. Tim have you heard lately that one lawmaker propose to rename the Philippines to Ophir. He is Rep. Dan Fernandez. I jsut though he is following your series video. I've seen that latest vide on UNTV interview. 

The God Culture: Indeed it appears he must have watched our Series. He even warns of being ignorant. proving all things for oneself, etc. Yah Bless.

I don't know if Dan Fernandez watched Tim's videos. He might have but he also mentions all kinds of weird things like ancient humans and rhinos in the Philippines 97,000 years ago. He does talk about understanding migration patterns which is a TGC original so it's possible he saw Tim's videos. But if he did watch them he did not get an education as I have proven again and again that Timothy Jay Schwab is a liar on such an unprecedented scale it is rather amazing that anyone believes the nonsense he spouts.

And that is the thing here. Renaming the Philippines Maharlika or Ophir is based on 100% NONSENSE! It is understandable that Filipinos would want to shake off all remnants of colonialism which is why some desire to get ditch the name "Philippines." But here is the thing. It is all NONSENSE! Before the Spanish arrived these 7,000 islands were not unified. Instead they were filled with warring tribes. We see this in Pigafetta's journal when Humabon goaded Magellan into fighting his enemy Lapu-Lapu. They were only made friends after the death of Magellan.

Each province in this nation was practically its own nation before the arrival of the Spanish. 

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/pre-colonial-map-philippines-a00225-20210809-lfrm

A unified "Philippines" is a fiction created by the Spanish. And it's not all that bad as in the 1599 referendum some thanked the Spanish for "freeing us from "the tyranny and domination of our chiefs!"

The bishop of Nueva Segovia, Don Fray Pedro de Soria, collected those Indians together, by order of his Majesty, and told them of the advantages of the Spanish monarchy, and how beneficial it would be for them to have Don Felipe, the king of the Spaniards, as their king, who would protect them peacefully and with justice. The chiefs answered not a word to this. Thereupon, the bishop spoke again and asked them whether they had understood the words he had spoken to them, and if they would answer. Thereupon a clownish Indian arose and said: “We answer that we wish the king of España to be our king and sovereign, for he has sent Castilians to us, who are freeing us from the tyranny and domination of our chiefs, as well as fathers who aid us against the same Castilians and protect us from them.”

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIII, 1629-30, pg. 253

So, let's stop all this nonsense. There would be no united Philippines if it were not for the Spanish and the Americans. To call this nation anything other than the Philippines is a direct denial of history and truth. The people of these islands were never united until the Spanish arrived.