Assassinated Businessmen July to September, 2025

This is a list of businessmen who have been assassinated or survived an assassination attempt or who were kidnapped or who were the victim of a crime in the third quarter of 2025.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/16/bizwoman-gunned-down-by-suitor-in-tagum-city

Another murder rocked Tagum City, Davao del Norte, days after a University of the Philippines-Manila student, Sophia Coquilla, was robbed and killed by four young men in Barangay La Filipina. 

Police said a 26-year-old businesswoman, Seannen Gellangarin, was allegedly shot and killed by her suitor inside her apartment in Barangay Madaum before dawn on Wednesday, July 16.

Gellangarin was taken to a hospital where she died from bullet wounds. 

The 49-year-old suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, fled and was arrested in a follow-up operation in an inn in nearby Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday afternoon. 

Recovered from the suspect were a .45 caliber pistol loaded with bullets, three sachets of suspected shabu valued at P360,000, a holster, a cellphone, and personal belongings. 

The suspect is detained at the Panabo City Police Station and faces appropriate cases. 

Police are looking into jealousy as a possible motive as the victim and suspect were heard by neighbors arguing before gunshots rang out. 

Further investigation is ongoing. 

Coquilla, 19, was robbed and killed in her house on Wednesday, July 9. 

She was on vacation when she was slain. The victim sustained 38 stab wounds in her body. 

Her assailants were arrested one after the other and are in police custody. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/26/businessman-shot-dead-in-laguna

A businessman was shot and killed and his live-in partner was wounded by two gunmen in a coffee shop in Barangay Calendola in this city on Friday night, July 25, police said.

Police identified the fatality as Elldon Mateo.

Investigation said Mateo and live-in partner Daphne Marie Go, 24, were drinking coffee when the suspects appeared and shot them.

The suspects fled on a white motorcycle without registration.

Mateo sustained a bullet wound in the head and died on the spot. Go was wounded in the shoulder and hip and taken to a hospital.

Witnesses described the gunman as aged between 30 to 40, 5'5" to 5'7," and wearing light colored T-shirt and short pants. The driver was wearing white helmet, black jacket, 

and short pants.

Suspects face murder and frustrated murder cases. Follow-up investigation and manhunt operations are ongoing.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/05/bizman-shot-dead-cops-neutralize-shooter

A businessman was killed by a gunman who was neutralized in a shootout with responding policemen at the Barangay Dancalan public plaza in Ilog, Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, Aug. 5. 

Police identified the victim as 50-year-old Pat, a resident of Barangay Dancalan, Ilog, and the 34-year-old suspect was Dodoy, a resident of Barangay Pinggot, Ilog. 

Police Major Randy Babor, Ilog police chief, said the victim had just arrived at the barangay covered court at 7:30 a.m. when he was allegedly shot by the suspect. Police believed that the suspect may have tailed the victim. 

Two policemen deployed nearby heard gunshots, prompting them to respond. They saw Dodoy attempting to escape on his motorcycle and tried to arrest him but he fired at them. Lawmen returned fire and killed the suspect. 

Babor said the victim sustained bullet wounds in the head and neck. A 36-year-old man was wounded in the crossfire and is now recuperating in a hospital. 

Recovered from the crime scene were a .45 caliber pistol, a .22 caliber revolver, and three spent cartridge cases. 

Police are eyeing land conflict or dispute over properties since the victim had many properties in the town and was chairman of the board of a private school. 

Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said that Pat had received death threats and police are conducting further investigation. 

Authorities are combing closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footages as there could be other persons involved in the incident. 

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of PRO-NIR, lauded the prompt and decisive response of Ilog Municipal Police Station personnel that prevented further casualties and ensured the safety of nearby civilians. 

“Our personnel displayed commendable presence of mind and courage under pressure. Their swift action ensured the safety of the community and stopped the threat before it escalated further,” Ibay stated. 

Ibay said that stress debriefing is being arranged for the responding officers to ensure their mental and emotional well-being following the confrontation.

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/6/missing-lipa-businessman-found-dead-inside-his-vehicle-in-quezon-province-2116

A 36-year-old businessman was found dead inside his vehicle in Barangay Loob, San Antonio, Quezon province, early Tuesday morning.

According to PMaj. Kayvin Ballogan, officer-in-charge of the San Antonio Municipal Police Station, they received a call around 2:00 a.m. about a Toyota Innova that had been abandoned along the side of the national highway in the said barangay.

Authorities immediately noticed blood flowing near the car door, and upon checking inside, they discovered the victim’s lifeless body sprawled across the middle seat.

The victim was identified as Nestor Calalo, a resident of Lipa City, Batangas, and the owner of an auto mechanic shop.

He sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

It was later learned that the victim had been missing for several hours. His family had been looking for him after he told them he was heading to the town of Rosario in Batangas on Monday morning.

“May kikitain daw po na sasakyan itong victim kasi nagbabuy and sell,” said Maj. Ballogan.

A few hours after the victim was found, a man known only as alias “Larry” voluntarily surrendered to the police and confessed to the crime.

He was a former employee of the victim.

“Dati niya kasing amo itong victim, parang may alitan sila noon, 'yun ang parang naging motivation niya,” Maj. Ballogan said.

“Parang holdapin daw, ang sabi naman ng asawa may P600,000 na dala," the police chief added.

The money is still missing.

Alias Larry admitted that he met the victim in Barangay Calantas, Rosario, Batangas, at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

“Parang pinagtiwalaan ulit niya kasi dati niyang tao,” the San Antonio police chief added.

The suspect also claimed he was with three other men when the crime was committed.

The killing reportedly took place in the same area, where the victim was shot in the head. Larry further stated that he was the one who drove the vehicle to San Antonio.

ABS-CBN News tried to get a statement from Larry, but he refused to give an interview.

The victim’s family also declined to comment.

Authorities are still hunting down the three other suspects allegedly involved in the killing.

A robbery with homicide case is being prepared against the surrendered suspect.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/07/businessman-shot-dead-by-ex-employee

A businessman from Lipa City, Batangas was allegedly shot dead by his former employee in Rosario, Batangas on Monday.

Police identified victim as Nelson Calalo, 36.

Calalo’s body was found in his vehicle in Barangay Loob, this town, on Tuesday.

The suspect Larry surrendered and admitted to the crime to authorities.

Police Major Kayvin Ballogan, municipal police chief, said the suspect had three companions in the crime.

Investigation said Calalo informed his wife on Monday afternoon that he will meet a former employee to look at a vehicle for sale.

Calalo and Larry met in Barangay Calantas, Rosario, Batangas where the victim was shot dead inside his vehicle.

Larry drove the victim’s vehicle to this town and left it on the side of the highway with his body.

Police received a report about an abandoned vehicle and discovered the victim with a bullet wound to the head.

Ballogan said it is possible that the two had a long-standing dispute, and the suspect took advantage of the opportunity to rob the victim, who was allegedly carrying P600,000. The money is still missing.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation and a manhunt against the suspect’s companions.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/958128/businessman-shot-dead-in-qc-laundry-shop-suspect-arrested/story/

A 43-year-old businessman was killed in a shooting incident in his laundry shop inside a subdivision in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City, according to the city police Friday.

In a statement, the Quezon City Police District said that on Monday, the suspect wearing black raincoat and helmet of a ride-hailing service entered the laundry shop and shot the victim multiple times.

The suspect snatched the victim’s gold necklace worth P145,000 and fled towards Quirino Highway onboard a motorcycle.

A special investigation team (SIT) was created.

In a CCTV footage, the suspect was seen at Sabina Market where he allegedly brought the stolen necklace to a goldsmith for repair. 

Authorities identified the suspect through the plate number of his getaway motorcycle, which was registered to his wife.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested the suspect at Sitio Pajo Market in Barangay Baesa.

The QCPD identified the suspect as 43-year-old “Mike Joey,” a rider of a ride-hailing service.

His wife later surrendered pieces of evidence, including the motorcycle, tampered plate number, black raincoat, red helmet, sandals, and another helmet used for disguise.

The suspect is now under the custody of the police and will be charged with robbery with homicide before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, according to the QPCD.

“I commend our investigators and operatives who worked tirelessly day and night to identify, track, and apprehend the suspect in just two days,” QCPD acting director  Police Colonel Randy Glenn Silvio said.

“This swift case resolution reflects our commitment to deliver justice and rid our streets of criminals, in line with the directives of the Acting CPNP and the NCRPO Regional Director,” he added.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/10/police-eye-gun-for-hire-in-bacolod-bizmans-murder

Authorities in this highly-urbanized city are investigating if the recent killing of a businessman was carried out by a hired gunman. 

Police Capt. Francis Depasucat, head of Police Station 1, confirmed that the  gunman — one of three persons of interest — has  been identified by witnesses. 

The suspect reportedly has a history of criminal cases, including attempted homicide and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Depasucat described the shooting as a “well-planned” and “treacherous” attack, noting that the victim was shot from behind in broad daylight, as he stepped out of his car to open his hardware store near a public market in Barangay 12 past 7 a.m.

The victim, 52-year-old engineer Romy, who ran a family-owned business, succumbed to a bullet wound in the head an hour later at a private hospital. His companion, who was still inside the vehicle during the attack, was unharmed.

Ballistics testing revealed that a special type of bullet was used in the assassination, further pointing to a professional hit. 

While investigators are initially looking into business or personal motives, Depasucat said they are not ruling out other possibilities.

Contrary to earlier reports,  police clarified that the victim was a supplier and not a contractor.

Despite the progress in the case, Depasucat emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. 

He expressed hope that murder charges will be filed  once sufficient evidence is gathered.

Meanwhile, local business leader Frank Carbon urged caution in making public statements, but called the killing a “very brazen act” committed in public view. 

He said they are waiting for an official report from the police before releasing a formal statement.

In response to the incident, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) assured the public that the situation is under control. 

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, stated that all necessary security measures have been implemented. 

Citywide alerts have been issued, manhunt operations are ongoing, and coordination with other law enforcement agencies is in full swing.

“We assure the Bacolodnons and the entire Negros Island Region that your police are on top of the situation,” Ibay said, adding that the investigation is being pursued aggressively to bring swift justice to the victim.

Authorities  urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative by reporting any information that could assist in solving the case.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2116553/businesswoman-shot-dead-in-maguindanao-del-sur

A businesswoman was shot dead in front of her gasoline station in Barangay Kamasi here Saturday afternoon.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said Sharra Jou Ampatuan, married and owner of Fahad Gasoline station and resident of the adjacent Shariff Aguak town, was inspecting the newly built facility along the national highway in Barangay Kamasi when two men, riding tandem on a motorbike, arrived.

One of the two men alighted from the motorcycle and shot Ampatuan at close range several times, hitting her in the body. The suspects quickly fled.

Responding police found the victim in a pool of blood a few meters from the gas station’s main building.

The God Culture: ChatGPT Analyzes TGC's Claims About Igorot Law

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture is a very flexible and limber man. What I mean is, he really knows how to stretch. One of his stretches is called the "Igorot Law is Derived From Hebrew Law" pose. It's a combination of downward dog and the sitting lotus position at the same time. A very difficult posture to achieve. In fact it's impossible but that has not stopped Tim from trying. He first attempted this pose in his videos. 

Solomon's Gold Series - Part 7: Track of the Hebrew to the Philippines. Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish

27:21 Well, the Igorot people who live in Ifugao and surrounding areas are a mystery. Igorot is a Hebrew word meaning letters. We do not know a certain application for this meaning in this case but their language has been likened to that of Hebrew and even their law ranks fairly with Hebrew law. The purpose of this video is not to prove the Igorots or other tribes are Hebrew but we are seeking Hebrew words and we have already found many.

Then he tried this stretch in his book The Search For King Solomon's Treasure. 

Now, I am only a fallible man. My previous analysis of this claim could be incorrect. So, why not ask ChatGPT, one of the A.I. chatbots which Tim declares has given his books and thesis a rating of "strong accept?" Surely ChatGPT will "strongly accept" Tim's connection between Hebrew and Igorot Law.

I uploaded the source of Tim's claims which is two paragraphs from R.F. Barton. Actually he only uses six words from a single sentence but the whole context is necessary and, while it's not in his main book, he does have that context in his Sourcebook. Then I uploaded Tim's claims from his videos and books and asked for a comparison and analysis. ChatGPT had this to say:

Claim: The authors assert that they are "not proving" the Igorots are Hebrews but then heavily imply it through suggestive “evidence.”

Analysis:

• This rhetorical strategy—claiming not to make a claim while heavily implying one—is typical of pseudo-historical narratives. It creates the illusion of objectivity while advancing a speculative argument.

Oh, no! That does not sound like a rating of "strong accept" to me. It also agrees with what I previously wrote:

It is interesting that Tim says Igorot is a Hebrew word and Igorot language and law have Hebrew similarities but then says he is not trying to prove that Igorots are Hebrew when that is the implication of what he has said.

https://thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-god-culture-100-lies-about.html

The chat is posted below and can be read here.

analyse: 5. Stage of development of Ifugao law.—Reasons have already been given for believing the Ifugao’s culture to be very old. His legal system must also be old. Yet it is in the first stage of the development of law. It is, however, an example of a very well developed first-stage legal system. It ranks fairly with Hebrew law, or even with the Mohammedan law of a century ago. R. R. Cherry in his lectures on the Growth of Criminal Law in Ancient Communities demonstrates these stages of legal development: First, a stage of simple retaliation—“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.” Second, a stage in which vengeance may be bought off “either by the individual who has inflicted the injury or by his tribe.” Third, a stage in which the tribe or its chiefs or elders intervene to fix penalty-payments and to pronounce sentence of outlawry on those who refuse to pay proper fines. Fourth, a stage in which offenses come to be clearly recognized as crimes against the peace and welfare of the king or the state. No Ifugao would dream of taking a payment for the deliberate or intentional murder of a kinsman. He would be universally condemned if he did so. However, he would usually accept a payment for an accidental taking of life. There is still, however, an element of doubt as to whether even in such a case payment would be accepted. For nearly all other offenses payments are accepted in extenuation. Ifugao law, then, may be said to be in the latter part of the first stage of legal development.

ChatGPT said:

This passage offers a historical and anthropological analysis of the development of Ifugao law, placing it within a broader framework of legal evolution as outlined by R.R. Cherry. Here's a breakdown and analysis of its key points:

---

1. The Antiquity of Ifugao Culture and Law

The text opens by asserting that Ifugao culture—and by implication, its legal system—is ancient. Despite this antiquity, its legal structure is said to reflect the first stage of law development. This signals that age alone does not necessarily correlate with legal complexity or centralization.

---

2. R.R. Cherry’s Legal Development Framework

The passage uses Cherry’s four-stage model as a lens to evaluate Ifugao law:

• Stage 1: Simple retaliation (lex talionis) – "an eye for an eye"

• Stage 2: Vengeance can be compensated with payment

• Stage 3: Community (tribe/elders) mediates and imposes standardized penalties

• Stage 4: Crimes are viewed as offenses against the state

The Ifugao are said to be in the latter part of Stage 1—not yet at the point of standardized tribal mediation, but already showing some movement toward compensation in cases of accidental harm.

---

3. The Distinction Between Intentional and Accidental Harm

A critical point made is that intentional murder of a kinsman cannot be compensated—this reflects a moral and cultural boundary that compensation cannot cross. Such acts remain under the logic of strict retaliation and honor.

However, accidental killings are treated differently—here, payment might be accepted, indicating an emerging concept of differentiated culpability. This nuance suggests a transitional moment, perhaps foreshadowing progression to the second stage.

---

4. Ifugao Law Compared to Other Traditions

The comparison to Hebrew law and 19th-century Mohammedan (Islamic) law aims to elevate the status of Ifugao legal traditions, suggesting that it should not be dismissed as “primitive.” Rather, it is a highly developed form of a first-stage system, with clear internal logic and structure.

---

5. Legal Sophistication Without State Centralization

A noteworthy implication is that a legal system can be sophisticated and consistent without being centralized or state-run. Ifugao law is community-based and honor-bound, yet functional and socially cohesive.

---

Conclusion

Ifugao law, according to this analysis, is in a transitional phase within the first stage of legal development. It upholds retaliation for serious intentional offenses, but allows for compensation in lesser or accidental cases. This places it firmly within Cherry’s early legal model, while still showing sophistication and cultural nuance. The comparison with Hebrew and Islamic law suggests that legal systems should not be judged merely by how centralized or codified they are, but by how well they function within their own social contexts.

---

Would you like a version of this written more formally for use in an academic piece?

You said:

compare and analyze these claims with that analysis: Solomon's Gold Series - Part 7: Track of the Hebrew to the Philippines. Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish 27:21 Well, the Igorot people who live in Ifugao and surrounding areas are a mystery. Igorot is a Hebrew word meaning letters. We do not know a certain application for this meaning in this case but their language has been likened to that of Hebrew and even their law ranks fairly with Hebrew law. The purpose of this video is not to prove the Igorots or other tribes are Hebrew but we are seeking Hebrew words and we have already found many. The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pgs. 202-203 Igorot: Hebrew: iggereth: תרגא: (eeg-ge-roht, iggerOt): A letter, an epistle. What kind of writing may this refer? According to R.F. Barton writing in “American Archaeology and Ethnology” in 1919, “It (Igorot law) ranks fairly with Hebrew law.” You will also find a similar calendar in the Igorot communities to that of the Bible. Additionally, we have been exploring volcano names as well and many remember this tragic eruption from the 1980s.

ChatGPT said:

The claims made in Solomon’s Gold Series – Part 7 and The Search for King Solomon’s Treasure attempt to associate the Igorot people—especially the Ifugao subgroup—with the ancient Hebrews, using linguistic speculation, vague cultural parallels, and a reference to R.F. Barton’s anthropological work. Let’s examine these claims in comparison to the more scholarly and contextual analysis of Ifugao law:

---

1. Misuse of Barton’s Statement on Ifugao Law

Claim: The authors cite R.F. Barton, claiming that “Igorot law ranks fairly with Hebrew law,” and use this to imply a deeper connection between the Igorots and ancient Hebrews.

Analysis:

• The actual quote from Barton is: “It ranks fairly with Hebrew law, or even with the Mohammedan law of a century ago.”

• Barton is not making an ethnolinguistic or genealogical claim. He is commenting on the stage of legal development as understood in legal anthropology, particularly through R.R. Cherry’s framework. Barton’s point is comparative, functional, and evolutionary—not genealogical or ethnic.

• Barton states that Ifugao law is in the latter part of the first stage of legal development, characterized by retaliation and limited acceptance of compensation—not fully developed codified law. By contrast, Hebrew law, especially post-Exilic, is part of a second or third-stage legal system, depending on which phase is referenced (e.g., Mosaic, Rabbinic, etc.).

🔎 Conclusion: The authors of Solomon’s Gold Series misuse Barton’s statement. They extract a comparative legal observation and reframe it as evidence of ethnic or linguistic continuity, which Barton never intended.

---

2. Igorot and Hebrew: Linguistic Stretch

Claim: The term “Igorot” comes from the Hebrew iggereth (אִגֶּרֶת), meaning “letter” or “epistle.”

Analysis:

• The claim is purely phonetic and speculative. “Igorot” is widely accepted to derive from native Philippine languages, with “golot” meaning “mountain,” hence i-golot = “people of the mountains.”

• The Hebrew word iggereth (אִגֶּרֶת) bears no known historical, cultural, or linguistic relationship to Austronesian languages or to Philippine ethnolinguistic history.

• No credible linguistic methodology is used in the book or video. It lacks etymological rigor and does not account for phonological shifts, historical contact, or semantic context. It is a classic example of folk etymology used to advance a narrative.

🔎 Conclusion: The linguistic connection is unsupported by scholarly linguistic evidence. It reflects confirmation bias rather than objective linguistic comparison.

---

3. Cultural Parallels: Law and Calendar

Claim: The Igorots have a law similar to Hebrew law and a calendar like that in the Bible.

Analysis:

• As discussed, Barton’s comparison is functional and evolutionary, not evidential of common origin.

• The claim about calendars is vague and unsubstantiated. There is no evidence that Ifugao or Igorot communities follow a calendar system with Hebraic elements (e.g., lunar-based, festival-aligned, or Levitical timekeeping).

• Many ancient and indigenous communities across the world developed their own forms of lunar or agricultural calendars. Similarity does not imply derivation—it often reflects convergent cultural evolution.

🔎 Conclusion: The assertion about calendars is anecdotal and lacks scholarly support. The comparison of law, as stated earlier, is also misrepresented.

---

4. Broader Methodological Issues

Claim: The authors assert that they are "not proving" the Igorots are Hebrews but then heavily imply it through suggestive “evidence.”

Analysis:

• This rhetorical strategy—claiming not to make a claim while heavily implying one—is typical of pseudo-historicalnarratives. It creates the illusion of objectivity while advancing a speculative argument.

• The approach lacks peer-reviewed sources, rigorous linguistic or archaeological methodology, or any recognition of counterevidence.

---

Summary Comparison Table

Aspect	Barton’s Scholarly Analysis	Solomon’s Gold Series
Legal comparison	Functional; based on legal development stages	Misrepresented as evidence of shared heritage
Language link	None	Ignores linguistic scholarship, makes phonetic leaps
Calendar comparison	Not discussed	Vague, unsubstantiated claim
Methodology	Anthropological, comparative, evolutionary	Speculative, cherry-picked, confirmation bias
Conclusion drawn	Ifugao law is a mature first-stage system	Implies ethnic/Hebrew connection without evidence

---

Final Assessment

The claims made by Solomon’s Gold Series and The Search for King Solomon’s Treasure grossly misrepresent Barton’s anthropological work and use speculative linguistics and cherry-picked cultural parallels to suggest connections that are not supported by any serious scholarship. By contrast, Barton’s analysis is a careful functional assessment of the Ifugao legal system within a comparative framework and says nothing about Hebrew ancestry.

If you'd like, I can help you format this into a more formal critique or even into a paragraph-by-paragraph rebuttal for publication.

The God Culture: ChatGPT Refutes TGC's Claim Ancient Filipinos Circumnavigated Africa For Trade

Of all the claims made by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture the claim that Greeks, Israelites, and Filipinos were trading with one another by circumnavigating Africa is by far the stupidest. There is absolutely no evidence that such a trade network ever existed. Tim makes this claim in his book The Search for King Solomon's treasure but does not even attempt to prove it happened. Years later he created a six-part video series about the subject which, while finally attempting to prove his claim, was ultimately very poor and unconvincing. You can read my examination of that series here:

The God Culture: Did the Ancient Greeks Circumnavigate Africa to Trade With the Philippines?

Since Tim is using A.I. to evaluate his God Culture thesis it only makes sense for ChatGPT to analyze the claim that Filipinos, Greeks, and Israelites were trading with one another by circumnavigating Africa. Because all of Tim's proof for this claim lies buried in six videos it was necessary to extract the subtitle files which I then uploaded to ChatGPT to analyze. Subtitles can be downloaded using any number of websites such as downsub.com. 

After that I had ChatGPT analyze the comments written on Tim's website.

https://thegodculturephilippines.com/did-ancient-filipinos-engage-in-circumnavigational-trade/

Shockingly it gave an analysis which rejected every aspect of Tim's claim. 

Here is the final verdict: 

✅ Final Verdict

The claim that ancient Filipinos engaged in global trade, sailing around Africa and being identified as Ophir or Chryse, is historically unsubstantiated and built on selective readings, misinterpretations, and a lack of credible supporting evidence.

While it's not impossible that the Philippines had regional trade significance (which it did), the leap to global, biblically anchored maritime dominance is not supported by the archaeological, historical, linguistic, or geographical record.

The full chat is posted below. 

Retards in the Government 437

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

 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/25/marikina-city-rep-teodoro-charged-with-sexual-assault-by-2-policewomen-doj

Marikina City 1st District Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” R. Teodoro has been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly sexually assaulting two policewomen who were then his close-in security personnel. 

In a statement issued on Thursday, Sept. 25, the DOJ said that Teodoro will be afforded full due process. It said the identities of the complainants were withheld to safeguard their privacy and security. 

Congressman Teodoro could not be contacted for comment. The Manila Bulletin will publish his comment or his counter-affidavit once it is submitted to the DOJ. 

The charges will be acted on impartially and will be resolved only on the bases of evidence submitted and the applicable laws, the DOJ said. 

Under Department Circular No. 20, the DOJ said “the complaints will undergo case build-up and legal evaluation to determine sufficiency of evidence before any preliminary investigation.”  

The preliminary investigation of a criminal charge will determine if a case will be filed in court. 

The DOJ said one of the complainants alleged that Teodoro committed acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). 

 

The other complainant, it also said, served as security detail for Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro who is the congressman’s wife.  

It added that the complainant alleged that when she was later assigned to Congressman Teodoro, the legislator allegedly committed rape by sexual assault under Article 266-A(2) of the RPC as well as acts of lasciviousness.

Marikina City 1st District Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” R. Teodoro has been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly sexually assaulting two policewomen who were then his close-in security personnel. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/25/cop-pal-arrested-for-gunrunning

A policeman and his companion were arrested for alleged involvement in gun-running activities in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Sept. 24. 

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Negros Island Region (NIR) arrested the 31-year-old patrolman assigned to the Cebu City Mobile Force Company, and a resident of Barangay Robles, La Castellana, and a 31-year-old man, also a resident of Barangay Robles. 

Seized from the suspects were the boodle money, guns, magazines, bullets, holster, and a car.

The CIDG-NIR said the operation is part of their “Oplan: Paglalasag Omega” against loose firearms.  

No other details have been released and police are preparing appropriate charges against the suspects.

A policeman and his companion were arrested for alleged involvement in gun-running activities.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/09/26/2475461/manila-ex-barangay-chief-gets-16-years-graft

A former barangay chairman in Manila was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison over the encashment of checks amounting to P223,800 drawn from the barangay’s budget without supporting documents.

In a 30-page decision promulgated yesterday, the Sandiganbayan First Division upheld the ruling of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40, finding Felix Mones, former chairman of Barangay 410 in the city’s first district, guilty of two counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The anti-graft court, however, modified Mones’ sentence to up to eight years in prison for each count of the offense, for a total of 16 years.

In the original decision of the RTC, Mones was sentenced to up to six years in prison for each count of the offense.

The Sandiganbayan upheld Mones’ perpetual disqualification from holding public office. He was also ordered to reimburse the barangay P223,800, equivalent to the amount he unlawfully encashed.

The case stemmed from Mones’ encashment of checks worth P89,200 and P134,600 at the Philippine National Bank branch along Recto Avenue in Manila on Nov. 12 and Nov. 17, 2010, respectively. The amounts were drawn from Barangay 410’s bank account.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Mones named himself as the payee of both checks, without any corresponding disbursement vouchers.

In upholding his conviction, the First Division said the prosecution established Mones’ “bad faith” when he failed to account for the proceeds of the two checks.

The anti-graft court found no merit in Mones’ claim that his signature on both checks was forged.

A former barangay chairman in Manila was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison over the encashment of checks amounting to P223,800 drawn from the barangay’s budget without supporting documents.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2115684/lto-sacks-68-enforcers-over-reported-involvement-in-corruption

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has dismissed 68 enforcers assigned to its central office in Quezon City over alleged involvement in corruption.

In a statement on Friday, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said the termination of contract of the 68 enforcers came after the agency conducted a performance evaluation following the consolidated reports of motorists, netizens and mystery agents he deployed about their personnel’s wrongdoings, especially in connection to bribery and extortion.

“This is part of our efforts to weed out corruption and to professionalize LTO’s enforcement team,” Mendoza noted in the statement.

“Enough is enough. I will not allow any abuses and wrongdoings to compromise our positive gains from the hard work and sacrifices of our LTO family,” he added.

According to Mendoza, he will personally take part in the hiring process of the LTO Law Enforcement Service’s new personnel “to ensure that only the qualified and those who value integrity and hard work will be given the opportunity to work in the agency.”

“Only those who would successfully pass the interview and are found suitable and qualified shall be considered,” Mendoza emphasized.

“This is part of our continuing effort to gain the trust and confidence of the people we serve. We are on the right path, and I will make sure, with the help of the men and women of the LTO family, that we shall prevail,” he added.

The Land Transportation Office has dismissed 68 enforcers assigned to its central office in Quezon City over alleged involvement in corruption.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1259624

Law enforcers here arrested on Thursday night a barangay chairperson who is also allegedly a “high-value target” among suspected drug personalities in Negros Oriental.

The suspect was arrested during a buy-bust operation at Purok Salampati in Barangay Pulangtubig following weeks of surveillance, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday.

“We closely monitored this person for weeks to ascertain the reports we received regarding his alleged illegal drug activities,” PDEA-Negros Oriental provincial chief Elmer Ebona said.

Aside from surveillance, the 49-year-old suspect was also the subject of previous "test buys," Ebona said.

Confiscated from the suspect were 18 plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of five grams.

Charges for illegal possession and sale of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against the suspect within the day.

Ebona said they are now establishing the barangay official’s supply source as the suspect is not cooperating with authorities.

A barangay chairperson has been busted for drugs. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2116099/dpwh-exec-in-western-visayas-sued-over-demolition-of-historic-bridge

A heritage advocate has filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas against a former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Western Visayas for the alleged illegal demolition of a historic bridge in Negros Occidental.

The complaint was filed by heritage advocate Andoni Llantada Valencia against Nerie Bueno for grave abuse of discretion and betrayal of public trust over the unauthorized demolition of the Talave Bridge, which connected Calatrava town to San Carlos City.

The Talave Bridge, built in 1933, was a 100-meter steel structure that served as a vital link between the two localities, said Valencia, also the chairperson of the Juan Calatrava Movement, a local group dedicated to preserving the cultural and historical landmarks of northern Negros.

Bueno, now DPWH Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations in Visayas and Mindanao, has yet to issue a statement on the complaint.

As a structure over 50 years old, it was presumed to be an Important Cultural Property (ICP) under Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which prohibits the alteration or demolition of heritage structures without prior clearance from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), he added.

Despite this legal protection, demolition of the bridge began in 2023 without a clearance from the NHCP, Valencia claimed.

In July 2024, the NHCP issued a cease and desist order addressed to both Bueno and San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo but the demolition continued, culminating in the bridge’s complete destruction by mid-2024, he said.

“This is a clear violation of the law. The NHCP’s authority was ignored, and a piece of our national heritage was destroyed without due process. This is not just negligence—it is a betrayal of public trust,” Valencia said.

He noted the bridge was not only a functional structure but also a symbol of the region’s prewar engineering and economic history.

Originally constructed by the United States Steel Products Company, the bridge played a key role in the logistics of the sugar industry during the American colonial period, he added.

A heritage advocate has filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas against a former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Western Visayas for the alleged illegal demolition of a historic bridge in Negros Occidental.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/30/cop-rapes-14-year-old-girl-in-cebu

A police officer allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in Ginatilan town, Cebu province. 

Reports reaching the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) said the alleged abuse happened past midnight on Sunday, Sept. 28. 

The incident was formally reported to the Ginatilan Police Station past 10 p.m. on the same day. 

Police said the suspect with a rank of lieutenant could no longer be located when the alleged abuse was reported. 

The complainant is a Grade 9 student.  

Police said the victim was allegedly brought to a barangay in Ginatilan where she was abused.

Police Col. Abubakar Mangelen Jr., CPPO chief, said a manhunt to locate the suspect has been launched. 

Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief, ordered the relief of the police officer. 

Maranan ordered the CPPO Women and Children’s Protection Desk to assist the complainant.

Mangelen added a lookout bulletin has been issued to all seaports and airports in Cebu to ensure the arrest of the suspect. 

The CPPO has coordinated with the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the suspect. 

“The Cebu Police Provincial Office remains committed to upholding justice, accountability, and integrity. We assure the public that justice will be served,” said Mangelen.

A police officer allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in Ginatilan town, Cebu province. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2118115/nbi-nabs-2-bir-employees-for-alleged-kickback-scheme

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said two supposed employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) were arrested over an alleged scheme to solicit a kickback from a corporation.

According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the two BIR employees tried to solicit a kickback from the taxes they claimed the corporation owed the government.

Santiago said the two first presented a letter of authority to assess the corporation they supposedly determined owed the bureau P36 million in taxes.

“They lowered it to P6 million and later on it suddenly became P800,000,” said Santiago in Filipino during a press conference.

“But the agreement was that the government would only receive P200,000, while the remaining P600,000 would go to them,” he added.

Asked if the BIR has confirmed that the two individuals were really its employees, the NBI agent in charge of the case only said both suspects did not deny that they were officers of the agency.

“As a matter of fact, the entrapment occurred at the BIR office,” the agent said, speaking in Filipino.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said two supposed employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue were arrested over an alleged scheme to solicit a kickback from a corporation.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/09/26/2475638/coa-files-p360-m-fraudulent-bulacan-flood-control-projects-ici

The Commission on Audit has filed fraud audit reports covering more than P360 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan, citing mismatched sites and missing records under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.

COA said on Friday, September that the four reports it transmitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) detailed how district engineers and contractors allegedly altered project sites without justification, counted pre-existing structures as new work, and failed to submit critical documents despite repeated demands.  

In all four projects, COA auditors said DPWH representatives led them to sites that did not match the locations approved in the contracts. 

In several cases, auditors found that slope protection and riverbank structures were already in place before the contracts took effect, which raises the possibility of double-counting accomplishments.

For instance, at a P92.8-million flood control project along Angat River in Pulilan handled by SYMS Construction Trading, COA discovered that a slope-protection structure already existed at the approved location prior to the contract's Feb. 25, 2025 effectivity date. 

"This modus raises the possibility of double-counted accomplishments," COA stated in its report.

Similarly, at a P98.9-million slope protection project in Bocaue implemented by a joint venture between Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. and Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc., satellite imagery showed flood control structures were already present at the approved site as early as Feb. 29, 2024 — months before the joint venture received its notice to proceed on April 23, 2024.

"This information confirmed what was seen on the ground by COA, the accomplishments being attributed to the JV belong to a different project.," COA said.

Beyond the location mismatches, COA found that structures built at the unauthorized sites failed to meet project specifications outlined in the contracts.

DPWH officials consistently failed to provide supporting documents or justifications for relocating the projects, violating COA Circular No. 2009-001 dated Feb. 12, 2009.

For the P69.5-million Plaridel project (a "Riverbank Protection Structure" at Barangay Bulihan), COA had already issued a notice of disallowance to DPWH-Bulacan 1st district engineering office as early as August 2025 for the agency's failure to submit disbursement vouchers and supporting documents in a timely manner. 

This particular project was implemented by Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.

A disallowance is defined as the disapproval in audit of a transaction, particularly a disbursement, either in whole or in part, due to non-compliance with regulations or guidelines.

The fraud reports name District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara and Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez as liable parties in all four projects, alongside Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang.

Also named are various project engineers, namely John Michael E. Ramos, Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, Jolo Mari V. Tayao, John Carlo C. Rivera, John Michael E. Marcos, Claudine Magdalene S. Magsakay, Ericka Justine P. Chico, Emelita V. Morales, and Isiah Lor V. Galang.

The contractors and their representatives facing liability include Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction Trading; Eumir S. Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.; Allan Kevin Payawal of the Topnotch-Beam Team joint venture; and Gian Carlo Galang of the Topnotch-One Frame Construction joint venture, along with their respective corporate officers and board members.

Those implicated may face charges of graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation and falsification under the Revised Penal Code, and procurement violations, COA warned.

"The Commission stressed that the initial list of liable persons is not final and may expand as the audit progresses, or new information becomes available," the commission said in its release.

State auditors were directed by COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba in August to immediately audit all DPWH flood control projects in Bulacan from July 1, 2022 to May 30, 2025, following complaints lodged on the "Sumbong sa Pangulo" platform.

The audit reports will feed into the ICI's ongoing probe into irregularities in public works projects, COA said.

The Commission on Audit has filed fraud audit reports covering more than P360 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan, citing mismatched sites and missing records under the Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.