Insurgency: Gasping For Breath

The AFP says the NPA has been greatly weakened due to lack of support from the community. It is the community who is informing on the movements and location of the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221750

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is confident the government security forces will soon dismantle the 11 weakened New People's Army guerilla fronts within the year.

This as NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement on Sunday that the creation of the task force in 2018 is instrumental in the reduction and elimination of so-called "mass bases" that led to the weakening and subsequent dismantling of NPA guerilla fronts.

Torres added that one of the essential characteristics of an NPA-cleared area is the lack of a "mass base" and resource generation capability, which also means that the inhabitants of a cleared locality have no more sympathy toward the communist insurgents.

"This means that the residents there are the ones giving information to security forces of (NPA) attempts to return to community by conducting atrocities or extortion," he added.

Torres' remarks came in response to doubts about the strength and armed capability of the NPA owing to recent encounters between state forces and communist rebels in some parts of the country.

The AFP also claims the CPP-NPA is "grasping for breath" as leaders continue to fall and valuable resources are lost. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221813

The government continues to win against insurgency in the Visayas this year, with 44 armed encounters leading to the death of 20 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as of March 31.

There were also 27 fighters who surrendered and four who were apprehended, reported Visayas Command (Viscom) acting commander Commodore Oscar Canlas Jr. on Monday.

“The CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army) is now gasping for breath,” he said. “Their leaders continue to fall and they continue to lose valuable resources to foster their armed struggle. As such, we will sustain our momentum and will not allow them from gaining their foothold in the region, ever again.”

Apart from the losses in manpower, Viscom also disclosed that the NPA’s capability has degraded drastically with the seizure of 68 firearms.

“Our efforts will continue to be relentless,” Canlas said, calling on NPA remnants to surrender while they still can. “We will not hesitate to use our full military might to subdue the few remaining members of the terrorist group.” 

Recently the AFP clashed with the NPA in Abra. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/2/troops-npa-clash-in-abra

The 50th Infantry Battalion and the New People’s Army (NPA) clashed on Tuesday morning, April 2, in Barangay Nagcanasan, Pilar, Abra.

The 50th IB was conducting a security operation when they engaged members of the NPA-North Abra Guerilla Field Committee (KLG-North Abra) under the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) led by Maria Luisa Purcray, a native of Northern Mindanao.

The encounter lasted for about five minutes before the communist guerrillas withdrew. This band of NPA rebels was first monitored in the tri-boundaries of Abra-Kalinga-Apayao.

One soldier was reportedly wounded.

Major Gen. Audrey L. Pasia, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, said this is their fifth encounter with NPA in Abra this year.

Pasia added they are ready to implement their mandate to hunt down and dismantle them if they continue their terrorist activities.

He said this is their fifth encounter with the NPA in Abra this year.

Pasia said they continue to discover NPA encampments in the area daily. “This is proof that these rebels continue to evade authorities as a result of combat and social pressures being conducted by the Abra Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict."

The 5th ID that covers the Ilocos region said  they welcome any NPA rebel willing to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.

Pilar Mayor Christopher Beroña said residents living near the encounter site have been evacuated to the municipal gymnasium.

Residents of the area urged prayers from netizens for their safety shortly after the gun battle erupted.

Interestingly it was local residents who gave the AFP the EXACT location of the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221912

A military official based in Abra cited locals’ efforts to help address the insurgency problem by reporting the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) members in Pilar, Abra, which resulted in military operations on Tuesday.

"The people did not just report their (rebels’) presence but gave their exact location,” Major Bryan Albano, chief of the Civil Military Operations of the 501st Infantry Brigade based in Lagangilang, Abra said in a phone interview Wednesday.

"Gone were the days when people tolerated their presence due to fear,” he pointed out.

How is it locals knew the exact location and the AFP did not? 

President Marcos has ordered the prompt implementation of the amnesty program.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/4/marcos-orders-prompt-implementation-of-amnesty-program-for-remaining-rebels

President Marcos has ordered the immediate implementation of the amnesty program for the remaining members of communist groups in the country.

Marcos made the directive during  a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) executive committee meeting on Thursday, April 4.

"The President has directed the immediate implementation of the amnesty program to the remaining members of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) since Congress has already concurred with the proclamation," National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said in a Palace briefing.

He has also expanded the program to include 1,500 more NPA rebels. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1926478/govt-expanding-amnesty-program-for-reds-eyes-1500-more-npas

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the expansion of the government’s amnesty program to include around 1,500 communist rebels who have yet to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.

The President gave the directive during an executive meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) on Thursday afternoon in Malacañang.

“The President has directed the immediate implementation of the amnesty program for the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front since Congress has already concurred with the proclamation,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a Palace press briefing.

Año was referring to Proclamation No. 404 issued by Marcos last year, which granted amnesty to former communist rebels who already surrendered their arms.

According to the presidential adviser on the peace process, Carlito Galvez Jr., Proclamation No. 404 only covered around 40,000 ex-rebels who already surrendered to the government.

The expanded coverage ordered by the President for the remaining 1,576 rebels will be contained in another proclamation once the government and the communist insurgents conclude their peace talks.

“It will be a separate proclamation. The proclamation we have now is only for the 40,000 who surrendered. Just in case we already have a final peace agreement, that’s when we will have a new proclamation,” Galvez told reporters in an interview after the press briefing.

In November last year, the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines agreed to pursue a “principled and peaceful resolution” to the decades-old leftist insurgency and address its root causes.

Galvez explained that amnesty was usually granted to rebels after the conclusion of the peace negotiations.

The government expects an initial 1,500 communist rebels to apply and benefit from the expanded amnesty once Malacañang has formalized the offer.

“That’s just the initial applicants. You know how Filipinos are. They will first see if it’s a good deal for them. Once they realize that it will become favorable to them, many will apply,” Galvez said.

As was previously noted those who wish to apply must download a form from the internet. The challenge for the government is informing those eligible. 

Australian Shames Filipino Politicians By Cleaning Up Dirty Pateros River

It is a shame that the Philippines rivers are so full of garbage. There should be dedicated teams to collecting all the garbage. Instead the Philippines gets dedicated foreigners to clean up their mess. Recently Australian Mike Smith led a ten day clean up and collected 100,000 kilograms of trash.

https://pop.inquirer.net/359187/saving-ph-waters-aussie-citizen-attempts-to-revive-dying-pateros-river

Some of the world’s biggest problems, like trash-filled water bodies, have been a major problem faced by the Philippines. Among the 19 polluted rivers in the country is the infamous Pateros.

A recent viral post on Instagram captured many Filipinos’ attention as an Australian man led the Pateros River cleaning mission.

The cleaning project in the country started a few months back. Headed by Mike Smith, founder of ZeroCo—an Australian company that advocates and markets zero-waste cleaning and personal care products—along with ZeroCo Philippines’ cleanup crew, the initiative aims to save the Philippine rivers before the trash flows into the ocean, living up their mission to ‘untrash the ocean.’

The Pateros is not the only river they cleaned as they already visited several Philippine rivers like the Tanza Marine Tree Park.

Many were amazed and grateful for Smith and urged the Filipino community to support the latter’s content and account, while others expressed that it should be a shame for the locals as they were not able to do the same.

Smith’s company is on a mission to stop single-use plastic and sells zero-waste products. With over 24 million bottles collected in the waters to date, which they turn into refillable ‘forever bottles,’ every single penny they earn goes toward funding large-scale ocean cleanups worldwide.

This is certainly laudable and it is a shame that foreigners have to the jobs Filipinos should be doing. Maybe that is why the Mayor of Pateros, instead of praising Mike Smith and his team, called him irresponsible.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/29/pateros-mayor-says-dirtiest-river-cleaned-up-by-aussie-activist-located-in-taguig

Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III clarified that the “dirtiest river” cleaned up by an Australian environmental activist and entrepreneur is located in Taguig City and not in the municipality. 

Australian Mike Smith, founder of Zero Co., led the cleanup for 10 days of what he said was a river located in Pateros. 

“The Pateros in Manila (Philippines) is the dirtiest river I’ve ever seen. Over the last week together with @zeroco.com.au and @thehiddenseawine we removed every single piece of rubbish,” he said in a Facebook post. 

He said he and more than 240 Filipino volunteers removed more than 100,000 kilos of trash  from the river. 

Ponce said the river is located in Barangay Rizal, which is now under Taguig and formerly under the supervision of Makati. In a decision which became final last year, the Supreme Court transferred 10 barangays including Rizal from Makati to Taguig. 

“Actually there is nothing like that in Pateros,” Ponce told Manila Bulletin, adding that this is the reason why the Pateros municipal government posted a clarification on its official Facebook page. 

He added, “You will not see a river like that in Pateros. Now I’m wondering why this Australian Mike Smith said it was Pateros river. This is in the boundary.” 

"The truth is, what they cleaned up was an area in Barangay Rizal which was formerly part of Makati and now under Taguig,” Ponce clarified. 

The mayor said Smith was with Taguig volunteers for the cleanup and Pateros was never contacted about this even the barangay nearest to the river. 

Ponce said what was interviewed were residents of Barangay Rizal, Taguig. 

He said the river that Smith cleaned up was the “Taguig-Pateros river but never Pateros river.”

“I hope these irresponsible statements should be verified first. The problem is when territory is being discussed, takeover and income, it’s about Taguig or Makati. But when waste is being discussed, they throw it at Pateros. This is not right, isn’t it?,” said Ponce. 

Now, this is ridiculous, petty, and blatantly false. Mike Smith did not say he was in Pateros he said the Pateros River was the dirtiest he had ever seen. And there IS a Pateros River. It is not the same as the Taguig River.

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

While the Taguig River joins the Pateros River there is no Taguig-Pateros River. Even if the area he cleaned up was close to where the two rivers join this is just a ridiculous quibbling over words

And to make it even more shameful this Australian is hiring local Filipinos to clean up the rivers. 

https://www.instagram.com/mikesmithprojects/reel/C2ZbqptPxQh/

Over the past few months we’ve been quietly scaling our cleanup operation in The Philippines. We now employ 12 locals on the ground to do cleanups and we’re collecting over 4 MILLION water bottles worth of ocean and river waste every month. Our goal for 2024? 50 MILLION WATER BOTTLES OF OCEAN WATE COLLECTED

Why aren't LGUs doing this? Why aren't they doing more to clean up their own nation? Instead they would rather hoist large banners so no one can see the dirty water ways. It's more than just a shame. It is a dereliction of duty.

The God Culture: Eclipses Occur When The Sun Gets In Front Of The Moon

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a completely wrong explanation for eclipses. Tim says lunar eclipses are caused when the sun gets in front of the moon. He gets his wrong information not from observing the moon and the sun but from the pseudepigraphal book of Enoch. Let's listen in.

The Error of the Moon for Days, Weeks, Months and Years. Part 2. Answers In First Enoch Part 44 

31:13 This movement of the moon is very hard to chart, uh, and we're not going to do it but it's not necessary in order to understand. Once again the opportunity for eclipses arises as the moon turns back and recedes behind the sun. This would cause an eclipse uh in a certain area of the world at certain times, uh, of, you know, certain moments. Uh, both lunar and solar eclipses are explained by this dynamic as the moon could be in front at some times and the sun could be in front at some times, uh, from a certain perspective. Remember they are the same size according to Enoch we'll show you those scriptures in a second, well in a few minutes. Another time the sun in front of the moon. So, in both cases you got an eclipse. If the perspective catches them in the same exact position at that moment, which is what would have to happen, it's what we call a full eclipse, right or otherwise it's partial. Pretty easy to understand.

Eclipses do not debunk Enoch. Uh, actually, they debunk modern scientism who actually has a very poor explanation for this dynamic. Enoch accounts for them and very well and very scientifically.

First of all the sun NEVER gets in front of the moon. NEVER. That has never happened and it will never happen because the sun is stationary sitting at the center of the solar system which the earth and moon orbit. Enoch does not say in chapter 74 that the moon recedes BEHIND the sun. It does not even make sense to say "the moon turns back and recedes behind the sun" because for that to happen the moon would have to be moving TOWARDS the sun and thus it would not be receding. This is an addition inserted by Tim. Verse 6 does say the moon "recedes from the sun" which means the moon moves AWAY from the sun, not BEHIND it. A prior slide shows this verse.

25:06

Again, he is making the text say what it does not say. This is a common tactic for Timothy Jay Schwab which I have documented in his usage of the Perpiplus of the Erythean Sea and his usage of Thomas Suarez. When the facts don't fit Tim has a penchant for making them up. It's completely dishonest.

Second of all SOLAR eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun while LUNAR eclipses occur when the earth passes between the sun and the moon. During a lunar eclipse the shadow of the earth is cast on the surface of the moon. Those are facts. What Tim is saying is not fact but unscientific garbage. 

Tim will next go on to "prove" his theory that Enoch charts out the course of eclipses by showing us a chart computing solar eclipses for the next ten years. Admittedly, within Tim's Enochian Sun and Moon schema it sounds plausible that the sun and moon moving through portals with the moon moving backwards until the twain meet could provide the explanation for solar eclipses. But it is quite telling that Tim has NOTHING to say about lunar eclipses.  Here is a chart from the same website as his solar eclipse chart. 

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html?starty=2020

How does Enoch explain that there are less lunar eclipses than there are solar eclipses? If Enoch accounts for there being 2-5 solar eclipses per year, a number Tim gives at around 26:31, how does he account for there being years without lunar eclipses? Tim does not say. He does not say a single word about lunar eclipses in this video. Neither Tim nor Enoch offer an explanation for lunar eclipses except to say:

Uh, both lunar and solar eclipses are explained by this dynamic as the moon could be in front at some times and the sun could be in front at some times, uh, from a certain perspective.

That is totally ridiculous as the sun NEVER gets in front of the moon. That has never been observed any where or any time.  Tim doubles down on this nonsense in the comment section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58rrHPFc7Ek&lc=UgwPOBXO-hP1AtZtjO94AaABAg

This commenter wants to know how lunar eclipses happen and instead of explaining how the moon goes dark during a lunar eclipse Tim repeats his talking points and then when pressed stops responding. That's because he has NO answer to the question of how lunar eclipses occur.

This is the kind of nonsense one gets when they latch on to non-scriptural books like Enoch. Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has no idea how eclipses occur.

The God Culture: There is No Italian Mafia

Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture has some interesting ideas about the Italian Mafia. He says they do not exist because they were all Italian Jews. 

58:05 Now, these made the lowest of their society, no not the poor even lower, the lowest are the criminals. They made them their priests. What, a criminal priesthood? And they became known as Pharisees. This is why you see uh for instance the Jewish Mafia, no there is no Italian mafia because most of them were Italian Jews that's just fact. It is a Jewish Paradigm that doesn't mean that all Mafia is but the the top and the origin of it comes from that Paradigm. Uh, they were also the Pirates of the Caribbean the Pirates of, uh, the Barbary Coast they were Jews that's the way they operate. Uh, the the fact is, uh, they touted and some of the Jewish authors will even, you know, talk about how wonderful it is that the Pirates were Jewish yet, um, uh, no not really. It proves that, uh, especially those at the top, again the average Jew wasn't a pirate, the average Jew isn't even a part of that Paradigm and they're attending their synagogues thinking they're doing the right thing not knowing any of this either just like you and I didn't for the longest time.

But those calling themselves Jews are from this criminal element in ancient times. The priesthood is what they became but they were not and that's why they operate like criminals even when they have the priesthood. That's why they hunt and kill uh imprison and kill uh you know their enemies, what they view as their enemies uh from Yahusha his Apostles uh other disciples after that we've covered after the apostles, uh, a series of a few videos that really brings that out in the time after the apostles, uh, in where the actual true Ecclesia was still keeping the Sabbath on Saturday, they were still keeping the feasts of the Bible and they were rebuking the Catholic Church for trying to change it. Now, you even see the talmud taking a mafia approach really to religion uh in fact desiring to deceive the Goyim in the most racist uh implication we've ever seen I think. Branding non-jews is a lesser species of sort uh that's strictly evil there's no other way to read that. Whenever any religion does that including Islam it is so ridiculous and don't ever tell me that that comes from anything that would remotely resemble Yahuah.

Oops! Josephus Reveals 1st Century Babylonian Pharisee Calendar. The Event That Changed the Calendar

This comment is totally unbelievable. There most certainly IS an Italian mafia which originated in Sicily. 

The Sicilian Mafia or Cosa Nostra (Italian: Sicilian: "our thing"), also referred to as simply Mafia, is a criminal society originating on the island of Sicily and dates back to the mid-19th century. It is an association of gangs which sell their protection and arbitration services under a common brand. The Mafia's core activities are protection racketeering, the arbitration of disputes between criminals, and the organizing and oversight of illegal agreements and transactions.

The basic group is known as a "family", "clan", or cosca. Each family claims sovereignty over a territory, usually a town, village or neighborhood (borgata) of a larger city, in which it operates its rackets. Its members call themselves "men of honor", although the public often refers to them as mafiosi. By the 20th century, wide-scale emigration from Sicily led to the formation of mafiosi style gangs in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and South America. These diaspora-based outfits replicated the traditions and methods of their Sicilian ancestors to varying extents.

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

And there is also a Jewish mafia which operated in the USA.

Jewish-American organized crime initially emerged within the American Jewish community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In media and popular culture, it has variously been referred to as the Jewish Mob, the Jewish Mafia, the Kosher Mob, the Kosher Mafia, the Yiddish Connection, and Kosher Nostra  or Undzer Shtik.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish-American_organized_crime

It is simply unhistorical nonsense to claim that the Sicilian mafia was run by and originates from Italian Jews. 

As for Jews being "the Pirates of the Caribbean", that too is nonsense. While Jews did engage in piracy Caribbean Pirates were not largely Jewish. Piracy in the Caribbean was mostly irregular European warfare with French, English, and Dutch privateers (pirates supported by the state) raiding Spanish ships in a bid to weaken their empire. Piracy in the Caribbean has a long complicated history and to say the Jews were "the Pirates of the Caribbean" is stupid and wrong. 

But this is Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture we are talking about here. Everything he says about history boils down to "it's the Jews and the nephilim" which is quite stupid and wrong. 

Retards in the Government 359

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

 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/30/cop-arrested-for-suspected-robbery-homicide-in-para-aque-2156

A police officer was arrested after allegedly robbing and shooting a man in Barangay Dionisio, Parañaque on Saturday morning.

According to the Parañaque Police Station, a witness saw the suspect and the victim arguing on the side of the road along C-5 extension.

(He was surprised to hear consecutive gunshots. He saw the suspect wearing a helmet fleeing while the victim was left lying in a pool of blood.)

The victim, 27-year-old Neil Wong, succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head and body. 

The suspect, a member of the PNP Aviation Security Group (PNP AVSEGROUP), was apprehended by patrolling officers in the area.

(Service firearms were recovered in his possession, and he was indeed identified as a member of the police force...a rookie patrolman assigned to their aviation mobile public safety unit.)

The suspect was also found in possession of two cellphones belonging to the victim.

(Based on our investigation, it appears that because the suspect was wearing a helmet, there might have been another rider with him on the motorcycle...the emerging motive appears to be robbery.)

(This patrolman suspect is addicted to gambling and has marital problems...due to his gambling addiction, he may have engaged in unsavory transactions outside.)

The suspect will be charged with robbery with homicide.

"'Yun po yung magiging possibility hindi lang relieved 'yan, dismissed po sa serbisyo yan meron pong criminal at admin case siyang kakaharapin," Garcia said.

The suspect declined to provide a statement to ABS-CBN News. The police are currently investigating if there are deeper motives and if the suspect had accomplices.

A cop has been arrested for robbery and murder.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/1/taguig-city-treasurer-employees-slapped-with-graft-complaints-by-makati-city

The Makati City local government announced on Monday, April 1, that it has filed graft charges against three Taguig City government employees before the Office of the Ombudsman due to delays in the release of various tax clearance documents.

According to the 10-page complaint filed by Makati City, Taguig City employees, identified as Taguig City Treasurer Voltaire Enriquez and city employees Jessie Garcia and Erika Macaligtas, allegedly violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

The case stems from the 11-month delay in the release of tax clearance documents by the Taguig City Treasurer’s Office for three parcels of land purchased by Makati City from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at a cost of P146,503,273.

“The Taguig City Government has shown on many occasions a contemptuous disregard for the law. Aside from the unjustifiable delay in the release of tax clearance documents, they have harassed our employees and are now facing charges of illegal detention and grave coercion. Their obsession to grab properties owned by Makati seems to have compromised their judgement, public conduct, and sense of decency," Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said.

She explained that after completing the transaction and paying taxes due to the national government, it obtained from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the Certificate Authorizing Registration for the Transfer Certificate of Title, however, in order to process the transfer of the title to Makati City, the Register of Deeds for Taguig City required the submission of the Tax Declarations of the three parcels of land, Local Tax Clearances for Taguig City and Proof of Payment of Local Transfer Taxes.

"While the tax declaration documents were easily obtained, there was inordinate delay in securing the tax clearance and assessment for the payment of local transfer taxes. During the series of follow ups, the respondents only said that the application for tax clearance is still pending with the City Treasurer’s Office but offered no acceptable reason for the delay," the Makati local government unit (LGU) said.

“Despite having certified true copies of the tax declarations, we have yet to obtain the tax clearance documents or a tax assessment of possible taxes due to the City of Taguig. We have repeatedly followed up and sent a letter request on May 05, 2023 but the respondents intentionally delayed the procedure,” the complaint stated, adding that under Taguig City’s Citizen’s Charter, it should only take the City Treasurer’s Office three working days for individuals and five working days for corporations. 

Makati City stressed that failure to process the tax clearance is patently unlawful, neglectful, and unwarranted. It added that the respondents’ deliberate and willful inaction on a valid request clearly showed their discrimination and bias against Makati City.

“The procedure for processing tax clearance is fairly standard and uncomplicated, and does not require an unjustified 11 or more months to process the requests,” the complaint read.

It also said that the three respondents are being charged with violating Section 3f of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which states: “Neglecting or refusing, after due demand or request without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him for the purpose of obtaining, directly or indirectly, from any person interested in the matter some pecuniary or material benefit or advantage, or for the purpose of favoring his own interest or giving undue advantage in favor of or discriminating against any other interested party.”

Makati City's complaint also said Taguig City employees are administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. 

“Their conduct affects not just the City of Taguig but all the persons dealing with their office. Likewise, their improper and imprudent acts will tend to undermine people’s faith and confidence in our government,” the complaint read.

Graft charges have been filed against three Taguig City government employees for failure to release tax clearance documents. 

https://ndbcnews-com-ph.translate.goog/news/barangay-kagawad-tatlong-iba-pa-patay-sa-magkakahiwalay-na-pamamaril-sa-maguindanao-provinces?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

A Barangay Kagawad was DEAD in a shooting while his fellow police officer survived after bullets rained down on their SUV in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur past three o'clock on Saturday afternoon.

Recognized by Mamasapano town police chief Lt. Lou Christian Villones is the deceased Kgwd. Ansari Salim, 38 years old from Pimbalkan, Mamasapano.

His companion, Police S/Sgt., survived. Mansor Sianga. From Brgy. The victims drove to Tukanalipao in a Toyota Hilux with plate number NDT-5400 but when they arrived at Barangay Mamasapano they were ambushed here.

Salim died on the spot while Sgt. was not hit.

Five empty shells of an unspecified type of weapon were found at the crime scene.

A barangay kagawad was assassinated in Mamasapano.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/2/retired-cop-in-ilocos-norte-busted

A retired lawman yielded suspected shabu during a search warrant operation in Badoc, Ilocos Norte on April 1.

Seized from the suspect by the Ilocos Norte Drug Enforcement Unit and Provincial Intelligence Unit, along with the 102nd Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Company, Regional Intelligence Division, and Badoc Municipal Police Station, was 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000 in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets.

He also yielded a grenade, open transparent plastic sachet, black and brown shoulder bag, and a dark green wallet.

Markings and inventory of recovered items were conducted at the place of operation in the presence of the suspect and other witnesses.

He faces drug-related charges and is detained at the Badoc Police Station.

A retired cop has been arrested on drug charges.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/565928/barangay-councilor-sk-chairman-caught-inside-motel-in-lapu-lapu-detained-freed

A barangay councilor and Sangguniang Kabataan chairman of a northern Cebu town was apprehended inside a motel room in Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday night, April 2nd, 20 24.

This was after the barangay councilor’s wife sought the assistance of the police to arrest her husband and his alleged paramour.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres said that the councilor was 35 years old, while the S K Chairman was 22 years old.

Torres said that after she confirmed the whereabouts of her husband, she immediately sought the assistance of the Gun-ob Police Station.

The police responded at around 8 30 p m in the said motel, wherein they found the two inside a room.

However, after they were brought to the police station, the two were then released.

“What happened was that the concubinage elements would not stick, it was a waste since we forced it because it will just be junked in the fiscal. We could have entered it if we caught them in the act of the conjugal dwelling of the man and his paramour, but most importantly if we could have caught them in the act of sexual intercourse,” Torres said.

Despite this, Torres said that they would file a case for violation of Republic Act number 92 62 or “Violation Against Women and their Children Act.”

He was referring to the psychological abuse that the the wife experienced due to the alleged affair.

He said that the wife would be undergoing a  psychological evaluation for this. 

A barangay councilor was caught cheating with an SK councilor and will face charges under the violence against women and children act for the psychological abuse of the affair. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Embrace New Beginnings, Triples Profit, and More!

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

The number of devotees to witness the live street play of Senakulo has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221615

The Archdiocese of Palo and the local government here are expecting at least 60,000 devotees to witness the live street play of Senakulo, the staged re-enactment of Jesus Christ's passion and death, on Good Friday.

Nariza Marasigan, the town tourism office head, said that now that social distancing is no longer enforced, the agency is expecting to surpass the more than 60,000 pilgrims and tourists visiting the municipality pre-pandemic Holy Week.

These visitors are expected to also visit Guinhangdan Hill for the Station of the Cross and various churches in the town for the Visita Iglesia.

Archdiocese of Palo Vicar General Rev. Msgr. Gilbert Urbina said that although Holy Week activities are more church-related, the local government may also come in because tourism at this time is both of “devotion and curiosity.”

“For the church, this is something solemn; that is why it is important to have devotion because it supplies experience, understanding, and reflection,” Urbina said Wednesday.

Filipinos are very religious especially around Easter and Christmas.

What really helped Filipinos through the pandemic? Faith in God of course. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/30/caritas-philippines-encourages-filipinos-to-embrace-new-beginnings-this-easter-sunday

Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian and development arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), on Sunday, March 31, encouraged the public to embrace the message of a new beginning that reflects the Easter season.

In a statement, Caritas Philippines president Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo shared that "the resurrection embodies the promise of new beginnings."

While acknowledging the resilience of Filipinos, who "never lost hope" despite ongoing challenges such as poverty, natural disasters, and pandemic effects, Bagaforo seeks to enlighten the hearts and minds of people to die from greed and "sins of selfishness" to a new life of "walking with the pains and desperation."

"The truth will set us free, and if we unite and hang on to our faith in God, we will be victorious," Bagaforo said.

"As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the enduring power of hope, the triumph of good over evil, and the unwavering love of God," he added.

The group also acknowledged the generosity of those who have extended a helping hand and embraced the spirit of "Alay Kapwa" (offering of oneself to one's neighbor).

It also highlighted the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, the idea of communal unity and compassion shown during difficult times.

In return, Caritas extends gratitude for their selfless acts and encourages more people to participate in the spirit of giving and sharing.

"Let us continue to reach out to those who are struggling, share our blessings with the less fortunate, and work collaboratively to build a more equitable and compassionate society," the president said.

May this season, he added, inspire acts of service and continued dedication to the betterment of the communities.

Never mind holding the government accountable for all the hardships forced upon the public. As long as one has faith that is all that matters. So resilient, with a boot in the face!

People who said the pandemic was a test run for something bigger were branded as conspiracy kooks. It seems they are being proved right every single day.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1924428/face-masks-fastest-protection-vs-contagious-diseases-says-expert

A public health expert has urged the government to reimpose the mandatory wearing of face masks in public areas, similar to what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, to prevent the spread of the highly contagious pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Dr. Tony Leachon, a former special adviser of the National Task Force against COVID-19, projected a surge of pertussis cases in the next three weeks particularly in areas outside of Metro Manila due to the unrestricted movement of people during Holy Week break.

He said the mandatory wearing of face masks was necessary in areas that already declared an outbreak such as Quezon City and Iloilo City, and Cavite Province, and those with reported high numbers of pertussis cases. It has infected mostly unvaccinated children.

“I would recommend it without any hesitation because we do not have any protection right now for the kids,” he said in an interview on ANC.

The Department of Health (DOH), however, only maintained the wearing of face masks to be “voluntary, but highly encouraged.” Despite the alarming increase in pertussis cases in the country, the DOH said the public may continue to carry out their normal daily activities.

Everyone is forced to wear a face mask even though pertussis mostly infects unvaccinated children. 

PAL has fully recovered post-pandemic with triple profits. 

https://qa.philstar.com/business/2024/04/02/2344543/pal-prospers-post-pandemic-triples-profit

Lucio Tan-owned Philippine Airlines (PAL) tripled its profit to nearly P17 billion in 2023, lifted by its sustained dominance in the market for international travelers even with the entry of new players.

Based on its financial report, PAL’s parent PAL Holdings Inc. grew its net income by more than threefold to P16.81 billion last year, from P5.16 billion in 2022.

Revenue increased by 29 percent to P179.12 billion, while expenses jumped by 24 percent to P151.04 billion, as PAL saw a resurgence in aviation activities in the first full year out of the pandemic.

The flag carrier recorded a 39 percent spike in passenger revenues to P159.58 billion, as the airline grew its passenger volume to 14.68 million. PAL also raised its load factor — the number of seats sold against the slots available — to 80.8 percent in 2023.

PAL sourced 80 percent of its passenger revenues from the international segment, maintaining its title as the leading domestic carrier for foreign flights.

In the Philippines, PAL ate up 47 percent of the demand for flights to the US and Canada even as it faced new competitors in the segment.

The airline said it manages to keep its competitive advantage by improving products and services and offering the best fares. For instance, PAL expects to sustain its leadership in the demand for flights across the Pacific through its in-flight service that appeals mainly to Filipinos.

On top of this, PAL is expanding its fleet to stay ahead of the curve in air travel. PAL is bringing in 13 Airbus A321neo between 2026 and 2029 and nine Airbus A350s between 2025 and 2027.

PAL president and COO Stanley Ng said the airline would maximize its financial gains to widen its flight network and upgrade its fleet and services.

Maybe they will also store away money in case the government forces everything to shut down again.

Big businesses aren't the only ones who weathered the pandemic and came out on top. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221759

Dubbed the "second largest consumer of coffee in Asia," the Philippines, without a doubt, is a country of coffee aficionados.

Whether it is an instant pick-me-up in the morning, a quick afternoon brew to break the monotony, or an after-dinner reward for a day's work, Filipinos will never run out of reasons to grab a cup of this beverage that has become a staple for every home.

So, how can local entrepreneurs cash in on this booming coffee culture?

We ask Alexander Galicia, 47, owner of City Heights Cafe, a quaint coffee shop located in Highlands Park in the village of Estanza in Legazpi City, to spill the beans on how to carve a niche in a cutthroat caffeinated market.

When Galicia and his four friends started City Heights Cafe in 2021, their only goal was to share their love for coffee with a community that was reeling from a global pandemic.

"Initially, we just wanted to offer a tranquil place where people can unwind and enjoy their coffee," he said in the vernacular.

"But when we realized the potential for foot traffic given our cafe's scenic location, we saw the opportunity to turn it into a lucrative business by expanding our product line," he added.

But while the pandemic spurred the birth of the shop, the subsequent lockdowns and quarantine impositions also threatened its survival in its infancy.

"There was a time when we were hardly making profits, but we managed to keep the business afloat because of sound management decisions," Galicia said.

As an accounts officer for a company specializing in office equipment, Galicia knew firsthand that sustaining their cafe's operations depends on prioritizing the shop's four Ps: product, place, price, and promotion, or more commonly known as the marketing mix.

"Before we embarked on this business venture, we did extensive market research and planning to understand the dynamics of putting up a coffee shop since none of us had prior knowledge of running a cafe business."

Galicia revealed that their choice of location, unique products, which boast specialty drinks and unique coffee blends, strategic pricing, and communication strategies are the keys to survival in a caffeinated market that is heavily marked by stiff competition.

"With big cafe chains around, it is really hard to make a mark, but if you position your local coffee shop uniquely and innovate consistently, you can grow your business," he said.

To ensure loyalty from his customer base, Galicia said he is always on the lookout for new ways to reach his target market, leveraging the power of social media to drive foot traffic to his humble shop.

As to his pricing strategy, he said he makes sure that his menu is affordable without sacrificing the quality of his products, adding that he monitors the prices of his competitors and keeps himself updated on market trends.

It takes a brave businessman to open up a business during the economic lockdowns of the pandemic. And just how is the Philippines the "second largest consumer of coffee in Asia" when everyone drinks 3-n-1!? That's not coffee!