Tambay: Crossing the line

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Tambay: Crossing the line

Inspired from Pres. Duterte’s ranting against God

By Augusto A. Kho

June 27, 201`8 (Wednesday); 3:15 pm

Edited :July 9, 2018 (Monday); 5:01 pm

Tambay (by-standers)

Can you discriminate or criminalize a certain group with a distinct culture?

Tambays

I’ve been to Rome and in some parts in Italy like Florence, Pisa and Venice. I noticed that there are many piazzas (plaza or parks) all over this country where bystanders are merely common sights as part of their culture. But these bystanders are not being discriminated or criminalized unlike in the Philippines where “tambays” are being rounded up. It is fine to arrest violators provided they broke the law and there is a due process.

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The old maxim says “No one is above the law. The law is harsh but it is the law.” However, the 1986 Philippine Constitution provides us our democratic shield from any form of political terror or abuse. No one must threatens our civil liberties as enshrined in the Bill of Rights,

Article III, Section 1, “No one shall be deprived of his life, liberty or property without due process of the law...”

Tambays in the New Testament

Matthew 20:3,4 “And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. “

Standing “idle” (Greek) “argos” i.e. “free from labour; at leisure; lazy; inactive; unemployed; useless; slow.”

Vacationer to be arrested? Possible!

I’ve been to Boracay several times and normally to break my monotonous if not stressing life. In other words, I spend time idling like a bystander on the shore, doing practically nothing because it my my leisure time as vacationer. Can I be discriminated or criminalized for being an idler?

In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus spoke about the “kingdom of heaven” who is likened to a “master looking for workers in his vineyard” then he saw some “ bystanders in the marketplace.” (verse 3). The good man did not call for the police to arrest the bystanders or made any decree to discriminate them instead he provided them a job.

Providing employment is government business

When you are jobless Filipino, what is your patrimony (estate, heritage) from the national government according to our Constitution?

Under the “National Economy and Patrimony.” Article XII, Section 1. “The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services... The State shall promote industrialization and full employment . ..”

Under our Rule of Law, it is not the private sector but the Government or the State is mandated to provide “full employment” to idlers and bystanders and not to arrest them. So bystanders shouldn’t be threatened by our present government. It should be the national government who should be penalized for not providing jobs technically speaking.

Arresting jobless people that made them a regular bystanders or idlers might be barking the wrong tree when it should be the government to be penalized for not doing its job in giving them equal opportunities to the Filipino citizenry. Providing employment is therefore is a government’s mandate under our present constitution. Providing employment is a government business and not to arrest those without jobs. The good man in Matthew 20:1-16 is a good provider of employment. What about our Government today?

The present government did not provide me job since I came back to the Philippines in 1989. It is me who provided jobs to our church workers and school staff. The Church, the school and the church-based cooperative has 18 full time workers. And our church-ministry is an P2-5 million annual operating expenses opportunities.

Like eagle

Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Waiting upon the Lord may require longer time. Patience is therefore necessary to wait on Him. Wait in Hebrew word “qavah” means “to lie in wait for” according to Strong which also refers to “patiently tarry.” According to Webster to wait means “to stay in a place un an expected event happen or “not to do something until something else happens.” It is like idle moments or tambay (bystander) in Filipino term.

While God can renew your failing strength when you wait on Him, our government on the other hand can arrest you when you stay idle or waiting for an opportunity to pass by.

Bystanders rescue

PNP officer, Neil Perez, the 2014 Mr. International in an interview admitted that he was rescued from a fatal vehicular accident no less by the tambays or bystanders.

Kami News reported that Perez was very grateful to the tambays who rescued his life.

Crossing the line

When the government is arresting people rather than protecting their civil liberties, will that be a violation of public office and crossing the line? 1987 Constitution of the Philippines (ARTICLE XI) ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS Section 1 says “Public Office is a public trust.” Can we say that anyone who violates his oath of office is a traitor?

Crossing the Line : Drug Test to Minors

Have you heard the mandatory drug test by PDEA starting from minors, the Grade 4 students? Is it crossing the line?

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t is a violation of Family Code Article XV. It is indeed an attack to the Filipino Family :

(2) The right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development; (4) The right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them.

Crossing the Line: War on Drugs

I am not a sympathizer of drug lords, drug pushers or drug-users but I am a firm believer of “due process of the law.” There is a saying that the “ends does not justify the means.” Right legal process must always be taken into consideration to avoid anarchy. Anarchy is lawlessness or without rule of law (1 Timothy 1:9).

God is a God of Law. God is the author of Natural Law like the law of gravity or law of equilibrium or the law of cause and effect in Physics. Without law there is chaos.

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t is a violation of Family Code Article XV. It is indeed an attack to the Filipino Family :

Crossing the Line: War on Drugs

God is a God of Law. God is the author of Natural Law like the law of gravity or law of equilibrium or the law of cause and effect in Physics. Without law there is chaos.

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Common sense tells us that without women how mankind procreate? Then how come that a former lawyer turned President who made his oath of office to uphold the Constitution now assails the very office he have sworn to protect? Will that be an insanity or dementia? Is not the President’s mom is a woman? How about the presidential daughter Mayor Sarah Duterte –Morales, is she also God’s greatest mistake as a woman?

Or is it a form of mockery against God and His wonderful creation? ‘The word, “mocker” is mentioned is Jude 1:18

A “mocker” in Greek “impaiktes” means “scoffer; a derider; false teacher.” I presumed that the honourable president is not teaching us another doctrine on God and creation. If you remember that the Roman soldier (government) and the “Pharisees and scribes” (religious spirit), both from these camps (government’s religion) mocked Christ. Would it be possible that happens again in our present generation just like now under the Duterte administration?

Violation on Men: Crossing the line

Why SOGIE have been approved by the Congress on the final reading this January of 2018? Why RA 6595 or “Civil Partnership” is being deliberated in the Congress today? Is this a mockery to God’s wonderful creation, a sign of end of times? (Romans 1:24-32).

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How do you interpret President DU30’s jest using Presidential guards, presidential car; using public funds and taxpayers’ money, with the Philippines’ Presidential logo on his back as he ranting his presidential speech saying, “If we were all men, we’d just have a free-for-all?” Would that be proper or improper? Would that be very presidential or demagogue type of government? What is demagogue after all?

A demagogue is a popular leader, a leader of a mob, people, populace, the commons leading, leader or rabble-rouser is a leader in a democracy who gains popularity by exploiting prejudice and ignorance among the common people, whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasoned deliberation according to Exford English Dictionary and Luthin, Reinhard H. (1954). Demagogue is often times called “government of the rascals or criminals.”

Violation on Men and Women; Crossing the Line

When someone belittle or mocks men and women whom you have sworn to protect and serve, what would that mean to you? Should you giggles and applauds on God’s creation as mockery? Would that be a reaction of a sane man with conscience in his heart?

Article II, Section 11. “The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.”

To trample the dignity of a person is no laughing matter. It is serious thing.

According constitutionalist Jose N. Nolledo on 1987 Human Rights revision, “A human person, so it is aptly said, is created in the image of God. Every human life is valuable, “The State shall values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.“

Nolledo must be familiar with Genesis 1:26 that man is created in the “image of God.” If anyone mock, ridicule, demean a man or woman, then he or she rants on God as the creator of mankind.

That is indeed crossing the line violating natural rights or Natural Science.

There it is. Our 1987 Constitutionalist regards “man” created in His image which is NOW being questioned by a President? Would that be respect for law?

When the president says, “If we were all men, we’d just have free-for-all,” as quoted by Star columnist Jarius Bondoc which denotes same-sex male relationship, will that be a blatant violation of Executive Order (EO) 209 and Family Code?

Family Code, Article 1,

“Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code. (52a).”

Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 12. “The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.”

Is it presidential pulpit becomes an immunity-shield to speak up to what you personally believes in attack against persons or organisations (religious or not)?

Ranting the Bible: Crossing the Line

Is it our dear president never reads his assignment as the highest official of the land? Ignorance of the law excuses no one – no matter you are a queen, a king, a prime minister or a president.

The National Bible Week (NBW)

The NBW from Jan. 23-29 is celebrated yearly under Presidential Proclamation or P.P. 1023, 44, 1064 signed by former Presidents Ferdinand E. Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino, and Fidel V. Ramos.

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The Bible and the Philippine Government

Ferdinand E. Marcos made Presidential Proc. No. 1923, October 7, 1979, “ The Bible ...an excellent source of principles in the development of moral character and personal discipline …”

Marcos was ousted through People’s Power but the Word of God remains unchanged. President Duterte may soon leave the office yet the God’s Word remains unshakeable. During Arab’s Spring, African’s strong man Khaddafi was mobbed and killed by his people yet Christ still remain in His throne and the words He said still remains. What is a man that He should mocks the Word?

Emmanuel Pelaez, Philippine Vice President (1915-2003) said, “It is important to interpret the law against the background of our belief in God… This is a big thing for the country, to know that the Supreme Court is promoting Bible reading because we have no other guide but the Bible. “

USSR President Putin and the Bible

While the Philippines is home to 85% of the total population as Catholics and 10% Christian Evangelicals (including the lukewarm, the dead, and Judases), yet our President Duterte looked down on the Scriptures to this pre-dominantly Christian Nation. How can this be compared as predominantly Christian nation to a communist country like USSR under President Putin whom our dear president looked up to as the world’s leading leaders?

In an interview between Time editor and President Putin; this is what it says:

TIME editor-in-chief John Huey asked the President on Time, Dec. 31, 2007 issue, “Earlier you used the phrase, “Thou shall not steal?” Have you read the Bible, do you have a Bible? “
USSR Vladimir Putin said, “Yes, I have. And the Bible is on my plane.”

That is strange! A communist president like Putin have a bible in his personal plane while our dear President criticizes the Bible?

President Corazon C. Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation No. 44 in 1986, celebrating every last week of January in recognizing the Bible.

Fidel V. Ramos, declaring the last week of January of every year as National Bible Week under P.P. 1067. “… it is fitting and proper that national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible in molding the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry …”

2 Peter 1:21-22; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ”

“You can separate Church from State but not Christ from politics” writes William Esposo; Star columnist; 12-24-06

2 Tim. 3:16-17; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God (theopneustos i.e. divinely breathe), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ”

Pilate among us?

“Governor Pontius Pilate: How did he change the government and the world? Public clamor” weighed heavier than conscience and standards of justice and righteousness. There are many Pilate among us” men and women in politics who are too busy trying to hold on to power that they have forgotten what true leadership means.. doing what is popular…” writes Dr. Minguita Padilla, Phil. Star dated April 08, 2004.

Christ, a victim of human rights violation

Christ was also a victim of human rights violations where justice and righteousness did not prevail due to “popular demand of the people” in exchange of political favour to the politicians who desire to remain in power,” says stateman, Rheinold Riebuhr

Christ is being violated : Crossing the Line

Jesus Christ is the Living Word that made as flesh (John 1:1-3, 10-11; 14). Anyone who attacks the Bible attacks the Lord Christ, the spoken Word of God (Genesis 1:3). So when someone attacks the Bible, he or she attacks Christ.

It is impossible to govern any people or government should ever prosper, where men render not unto God, which of God’s - William “Penn, 1st drafter, US Constitution

CBCP Archbishop Angel Lagdameo. “Concretely, that means that the bishops, clergy and laity must be involved on politics when moral and Gospel values are at stake.” 7/03/06

Father of lies, spirit of anti-Christ

When someone tends to water down the faithful trust to the Bible, then sowing mistrust to Christ and to His Word, would that be manifestation of the spirit of anti-Christ?

John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ”

2 John 1:7, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. “

President Duterte, an anti-Christ?

A staunch critic of the present administration, Sen. Trillanes accused President Duterte as ‘anti-Christ.” in a news entitled, “Trillanes: ‘Duterte is an anti-Christ,’ GMA News; July 08, 2018 by Marchadesch, Barbara?

Can’t Pastor-supporters should defend President Duterte and let our dear highest executive trample the truth on the Bible?

Tongue, the vilest

I hope we can talk from our mind, not from out tongue. I am also guilty of that at times.

Tongue is the vilest of all members of our body. I commented to my wife that if our septic tank smells, cleanse with it acid to kill its bad odour. When the lip is slippery wet with sin and curses – buhusan ng asido yan to kill the germs as well.

James 3:5-8

“5 tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, ……: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ”

Muriatic acid is meant to kills the bacterial and germs, can’t we have muriatic acid when our words are utterly disrespectful and distasteful?

Insulting God : Ultimately Crossing the line

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Mixed reactions came from various sectors. No less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines cursed God? And no less than a senator named Panfilo Lacson was the first one who reacted as published on the news.

In Philippine Star dated June 24, 2018 s reported by Rosette Adel entitled, “Lacson sides with God after Duterte’s anti-Catholic remarks,” the dear senator said:

“In many conflicts with his political adversaries, I took his side more than I did not, even when sometimes I had many doubts because I believed he was different from all presidents who led before him,” Lacson said in a statement. The senator cited that there were times he thought Duterte was “God’s gift to a benighted land.” He added that he hoped the president’s leadership is “the elusive change for the better.”

However, following Duterte's reported remarks against God, Lacson said he is choosing God. “Between him and my God to Whom I pray every single day and with Whom I’ve found solace and comfort in all my difficult times, I don’t even have to think of my choice,” Lacson said.

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Lacson was the first public servant, a senator who reacted vs. Duterte’s ranting against God. Meanwhile, will the “Church of Duterte” including evangelical pastors and Christians ,may come to the open to rescue their demi-god?

Jeremiah 17:5/ NIV, “This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

Some evangelical bishops also reacted and you should have seen, heard or read them from various media organizations.

Three of them were Eddie Villanueva of Jesus is Lord Church (JIL) , Daniel Balais of Intercessors for the Philippines (IFP), and Noel Pantoja of Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) who said that the President’s statement is “completely inappropriate.”

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Dan Balais : Crossing the line

President Rodrigo Duterte committed the “ultimate sin that only Satan can do” when he called God “stupid,” a Christian group said. Intercessors for the Philippines, an inter-denominational national prayer movement, strongly condemned Duterte’s “blasphemous words” against God.

IFP believes that President Duterte has reached the highest limit of his arrogance and pride thinking that he can curse God, blaspheme Him and get away with it,”

Duterte’s “defiance of God and his mockery of the Bible.” “His pride in his ‘iron hand’ way of rule; his utter disregard for the dignity of life that resulted in the shedding of tens of thousands of innocent blood in two short years of terror; the proud and unrestrained mouth that spewed cusses, curses and abominations has finally brought him to commit the ultimate sin that only Satan can do: blaspheme and defy the very name and character of God,” Balais said.

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He added: “Our nation stands to be judged by God severely if we do not act with decisiveness and condemn this voice of the devil using President Duterte’s mouth to insult God.”

Cursing the Church: Crossing the line

What horrifies Christians is Duterte mocking their God and faith. “Body of Christ sa inyong igit (in your shit),” he said in a forum of barangay officials in Davao, Dec. 29, 2016.“Original Sin…” by Jarius Bondoc, Philstar dated 27 June 2018.

“If I choose not to believe in any god, what’s the “f*****g thing about it? It’s about freedom to choose one,” he said. “Duterte forms committee to hold dialogue with Church, other groups” as reported by Catherine Vallente of Manila Times dated June 26, 2018.

The Church of Christ is both earth-bound and heaven-bound.

Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Church and the State

Article II, Section 6, “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable (unattackable) “

Jarius Bondoc, Star, June 27, 2018 writes, “That separation often is misread as a ban on churches from meddling in politics. In truth it bars the State from establishing or promoting any religion. By deriding Christianity, they say, head of state Duterte in effect is imposing his own religion, whatever it is.”

Every public official and employee is under oath to standard of ethics in the public service. The failure to comply with the legal mandated standards can disqualify, suspend, or terminate a public official or employee. These standards can be used for impeachment just in the case of former chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno (should quo warranto did not prosper), if not to the president as culpable violation of Constitution which is a gross violation of public office as a public trust. Nowhere from the provision Constitution that provides immunity for the president (in my personal opinion). Anyone who grossly violates people’s trust is treason much more when it comes to the territorial integrity just the way China invaded shoals, reefs and islets in the West Philippine Sea like the Subi Reef or Panganiban Reef or Bajo de Masinloc and Recto Bank

Republic Act 6713:, SECTION I. Title – This Act shall be known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.

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Christ is the head of the Church

Anyone who curses the Church curses the Head. The Church with various members of the Body is inseparable from the Lord Christ as the Head.

The Church may not be yet perfect at this point of time but she is the only designated and appointed extension of God who is the Bride of Christ. Not other organization like on the White House in US nor Malacanan who have been given a divine tremendous power but only the church (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 2:10-19; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 3:7).

The Church has the power to make thing happens not Malacanan, not House of Commons; not White House.

Violation of the Constitution

Art III, Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression…

Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

“Duterte Church?” Even in jest is improper, inappropriate; “NO one is above the law; IGNORANCE of the law excuses no one.”

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Modern Judases in the church?

Are there Judases in our churches now and they are now visibly taking form ?

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The ranting city pastor

A ranting city Pastor in Pangasinan sent a text message that reads:

“Kapatid hayaan nating ang Panginoon dyan at ang Presidente. Kasi kung sila talaga ang nag aaway ngayon kilala natin king sino ang mananalo. O ngayon nagging constitunalist na si Pastor Peps? And salita nya ba ang cardinal rule? Tulad ng Papa ng Roma na di nagkakamali? – June 27, 2018 at 6:08pm”

The city pastor reacted on my text message that day that says:

“Philippine Star dated June 27, 2018 by Gaea Cabico reads: “Duterte committed sin that only Satan can do. .. Blasphemous words… he has reached the highest limit of his arrogance and pride, thinking he can curse God and get away from it.. defiance of God and his mockeryof the Bible… Our nation stands to be judged by God severely if we do not act decisively and condemn his voice of the devil using Pres. Duterte mouth to insult God,” Bishop Dan Balais, IFP.

When I asked the Bishop who was by then at Canada during that time if I could text to pastors about the position of IFP and PJM to the controversial President DU30 ranting on God, calling HIM “stupid,” this bishop said in a text message :

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“Yes you can. IFP’s statement is very strong. I intentionally did it to awaken the complance,t, provoke the fence sitters and rebuke the compromisers. It is a prophetic revelation the Lord spoke in Israel …”mene meme tekel upharsin” (Daniel 5:25). It is not my opinion burt the Lord’s rebuke to any wicked blasphemer, supporters, pastors included.! Be the trumpet in your area of assignment.”

The constitutionalist

Am I constitutionalist?

The city pastor did not make his homework. He is a theologian, a bible-school graduate while I am not. We do not need to be a lawyer or Political Science graduate to understand the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Of over 10 years of experience of “oral arguments” in the courts and galleries of legislative bodies from the Sangguniang Bayan (SB); Sangunniang Panlalawigan (SP) and the House of Representatives (Congress), I noticed that many of our lawmakers are very much familiar with the Philippine Constitution.

Ignorance of the law is crafting a bill is pretty much dangerous. And we are now standing on a shaky ground at this very moment if you noticed the controversial, questionable bills by the Congress.

Perhaps one of the most challenging political debate I have had was with one senator and one presidential Cabinet member together with a DFA official and other 3 foreign dignitaries that when I spoke – the hall with over 2,000 people from various government agencies like PNP, DoJ, DND, academe, intellectual, lawyers, head chiefs, and others were miraculously in complete silence (while I was shaking from head to toe to be honest).

Am I constitutionalist? Yes I am! Why and how?

Exodus 31:18, “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. “

If you noticed, it was only when Moses had profound communion with God when the Lord finally gave him the so-called Table of Testimony (Law, Torah). Tables in Hebrew “luach” means “board, slab, tablet, plank (either on stone, wood or metal).” Testimony (Hebrew) “eduth” means “a testimony” or “a witness.”Originally fro the word “ed” meaning “witness, testimony or evidence (of things or people)”; specifically “a recorder.”

Law is first mentioned in Genesis 47:26 from the Hebrew word “choq” i.e. “statute, ordinance, something prescribed; a boundary or limit; enactment, decree, ordinance; specific decree; law in general, civil enactment prescribed by God.” From original word “chaqaq” (khaw-kak) meaning “to cut out, engrave; set; one who decrees, a lawgiver.”

Moses is not only a Levite or a priest but he is also a lawgiver (legislative body), a judge, a prophet.

Those who know the law of God must also know what is legal and illegal, what is right and what is wrong, what is immoral and moral, what is profane from holy. When a priest, pastor or a bishop have lost his understanding, discernment and wisdom on the Law (Bible or Scriptures) then he is not fit to stay in the office of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Am I a constitutionalist? By the grace of God, Yes I am! Because I sought God with all my heart and soul with His Wonderful Word that a president of this republic have trampled upon.

Cursing God

Cursing God is like using the name of God in vain. Exodus 20:7 says:

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. “

No one who defile the name of God can get away from Him without paying his guilt as the Scripture clearly stated, “The Lord will not hold him guiltless..” In other words, should President Duterte truly cursed God, the Almighty God’s judgment will be upon him including his supporters-pastors included. Will that includes up to the 3^rd and 4^th generation, God forbids?

Crossing the line

When I read from my email the Position Papers of both Philippine for Jesus Movement (PJM) and Intercessors for the Philippines (IFP), my heart melted for this is a very crucial hour when Christians and Christ-loving, Bible-based Filipinos would make their unrelenting stand between Baal and God. It is like God is drawing a line and whoever crosses to the camp of Ball will be judged severely.

This is a season of face-off, like in the Valley of Decision in Mt. Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal under Queen Jezebel, the wife of king Ahaz (1 Kings chapter 18).

We’ve been in Mt. Carmel, in Israel last year. From the lush mount, down below is where Armageddon is where the “mother of all battles” will soon takes place – where the world’s kings will wage war with Christ our Lord.

For me and you, this is the time of decision to once and for all draw our line and stand to whom we should speak for – Baal or God. This is the season of “two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21). This is merely a rehearsal for the actual Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

And I thank God afterward for allowing God to let this happen. Here, at this very moment, we can see who the goats are and who the sheep are (Matthew 25:33-34). In this very season, we can see what the true wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:30). And both the goats and tares will be thrown in hell. This is like the Feast of Atonement which is the 6^th to the last of the 7 Feasts of the Lord that speaks of separation and sanctification prior to the Wedding of the Lamb which is being represented by the last feast called “Feast of Tabernacle.”

Who is Almighty God

Who is Almighty God in the Preamble of 1987 Philippine Constitution?

God is a god of all, humans or beasts, demons or angels (sons) of God. He is the God of all – Satan, fallen angels, Catholics or Evangelicals, INK, JW. The Church of Satan (if there’s any here in the Philippines) and so forth. Any man or religious sect can call God in any manner he wants whether he is worship a true God or not – God the Almighty remains (Exodus 12:12; 20:23; 23:13; 1 Samuel 28:13; 1 Kings 9:9; 1 Kings 18:24-25; 1 Chronicles 16:26; 2 Chronicles 32:19; Psalms 82:1; Psalm 96:5; Isaiah 36:19; John 10:35; Acts 14:11; 17:18).

In Acts 17:18 the words, “strange gods” in Greek “daimonion” refers to the “divine power, devity, a spirit, being inferior to God, superior to men; evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil” according to Thayer. Strong defines it as “a daemonic being; by extension of deity; devil, god.”

In other words, a queen like Jezebel or king Ahaz can call other gods as well. In the case of President Duterte, he allegedly belittled the god of the Catholics as “stupid” while he knows his God as “Universal Mind.”

I’ve been to Texas, USA and nearly attended a church there which is a called “Christian Church of Universal Mind” where most of the scientists and intellectuals worship which is considered “occult.” Is it the same Church? Satan is universal. Satan has mind as well.

Almighty God is first mentioned in Genesis 17:1 when God appeared to Abraham and the Lord said to him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be thou perfect.”

Almighty in Hebrew “shadday” means “almighty, most powerful (Shaddai, the Almighty God).” It derived from the root word, “:shadad” meaning “to deal violently with; devastate, ruin, destroy, spoil, assail, devastator, despoiler; to assault.” Strong call “Almighty” as “ravaging.”

So just imagine “cursing” a “ravaging God,” what will happen to a man who will cuss Him?

God is the Hebrew word, “el” meaning “god, god-like one, mighty one, men of rank, mighty hero, God (the one true God), Jehovah.” The word “ El’ is from root word, “ayil” i.e. “strong man, leader, chief.” Figuratively means “ a door, pillar, post especially ram.” It denotes “ strength like that of oak tree” according to Strong.

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Almighty God in the Preamble

Preamble – 1987 Philippine Constitution, “We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.”

“Imploring the aid of Divine Providence” now appear as “Imploring the aid of Almighty God,” to make reference to God more personal and direct. And by Invoking God in the Preamble, J. P. Laurel Sr. said, the Filipino people “thereby manifested their intense religious nature and place unfaltering reliance upon Him who guides the destinies of men and nations.” (Aglipay vs. Ruiz, 64 Phil. 206).

Daniel 2:20-21, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His. His. And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: ”

The Almighty God that President Duterte cursed is the God who determined the boundaries of the nations including the Philippines. He is the God who destined every man to his appointed territorial boundary (Acts 17:26). However, whoever God has appointed as the head of the state is in His divine discretion whether to uproot him or retain him. No head of the state is indispensable.

This is true to every strongman in other countries who abused their God-given mandated authority in the likes of Hitler, Pol-Pot of Cambodia, Idi Amin of Uganda, , Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines , Nicolai Ceacascu of Romania; Saddam Husain of Iraq, Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi of Libya, and it is counting.

God can never be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he reaps, the Scripture says. No one remains in power except the Lord. “The name of the wicked shall rot,” Proverbs 10:7b says.

Lucifer crossed the line.

Lucifer crossed the line in Isaiah 14:12-15. . Did President Duterte cross the line too?.

If you noticed, right after his presidential victory, the president announced and it was on the headlines that he is no longer a member of the Catholic Church. He said, “I am not a member of Duterte Church.”

Back to Lucifer, he did a grievous sin of using the 5 I’s:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart,

I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.

And in verse 15 is the final hour of Lucifer saying “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. “

Anyone who will crossed the line will have the same fate like that of Lucifier, so with the supporter-pastors of this demonic spirit.

In Dagupan Prayer last July 3, 2018, God gave me this word to anyone who exalts himself more than God in Isaiah 42:8,

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. “

In other words, no one can play God. Not me. Not you. Not even a president.

Did President Rodrigo Roa Duterte finally cross the line defying the Name of the Living God in the same way that Goliath defied the living God of Israel?

Enemy of the state?

Can the Bishops, religious leaders, Christians and faith-based organizations and members may be branded as a “spiritual terrorists” or “enemy of the state” later if they will be rebuking a state leader’s draconian, blasphemous mouth?

Very, very Possible. Let us wait and see.

Herod Antipas orchestrated the arrest of John the Baptist when the latter rebuked him for committing immorality for Herod took his brother’s wife as if his own (Matthew 14:3-10).

After the death of John the Baptist, it was Jesus’ turn rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? “(Matthew 23:33). “Therefore the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him,” (John 5:16; Mark 3:6; Mark 8:15; Mark 12:13; Luke 13:31).

Talking by experience, when I spoke as a “witness” and a “resource speaker” to speak on truth, justice and righteousness at the very gallery during a legislators’ hearing that supposedly given me immunity from any legal suit, right there where the plot originated in filing criminal cases against my person in barely 6 days later.

When you speak for the Truth for Christ’s sake, hold fast to your profession of faith.

The Judasses

The conniving spirit is quite obvious, the Pharisees’ religious spirit and the Herodias’ spirit.

God’s messengers and prophets can be “mocked, despised and misused” (2 Chronicles 36:16) “until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy (Hebrew “,marpe” i.e. healing or deliverance) .”

The mockers were no less by the “ chiefs (rulers), priests and people” of God ironically speaking (2 Chronicles 36:11-12, 14) as they did to the prophet Jeremiah. And I can see them happening NOW.

These exactly happened to some if not many Christian bishops, pastors and leaders when a man of God rebuked their “man.” Massive anger and negative reactions were flashed on the Facebook and quickly defended and stood for their “man” and not on Christ and the Scriptures. And I said “it is during this difficult time when you see the real Christians and the Judases.”

One pastor sent me this text message that reads:

Pastor : Do you think, Bishop Dan reaction is right and proper?
Peps : What do you think? What do you think of David’s reaction to Goliath when he defied the Name of the Living God, is it right or wrong? Is it the reaction of Nehemiah was right when they when Sanballat and Tobiah displayed their “anger, provocation and mockery“ against the Jews” “ (Nehemiah 4:1, 13)

On your ground

Again, I thanked the Lord letting these things happen. I can see it from my very own eyes who are the enemy and who are the real believers of the Lord. Majority are still compromising, staying in the middle.

Can you stand on your ground without the fear of rejection or branding you with spiky misnomer?

When will be your finest hour? When you can stand on your ground even to the point of shedding your blood and losing your dear life. Only BY HIS GRACE alone.

NOTES:

Bystanders

Not because you are bystander or idlers makes you breaker of the law (unless you violated any city or municipal or national ordinance). But arrest, questioning and detainment without any specific violation and due process of the law is a violation of human rights in Article III,. Section that “No one shall de deprived of his life, liberty and property without due process of the law…”

The 1987 Philippine Constitution is the only standard of the Rule of Law and not survey nor presidential decree or order.

The Law or Torah

Exodus 31:18, “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. “

“Communing “ in Hebrew “dabar” i.e. to speak, to declare, to converse, to command, to promise or to warn.”

If you noticed, it was only when Moses had profound communion with God when the Lord finally gave him the so-called Table of Testimony (Law, Torah).

Tables in Hebrew “luach” means “board, slab, tablet, plank (either on stone, wood or metal).”

Testimony (Hebrew) “eduth” means “a testimony” or “a witness.”Originally fro the word “ed” meaning “witness, testimony or evidence (of things or people)”; specifically “a recorder.”

Law is first mentioned in Genesis 47:26 from the Hebrew word “choq” i.e. “statute, ordinance, something prescribed; a boundary or limit; enactment, decree, ordinance; specific decree; law in general, civil enactment prescribed by God. From original word “chaqaq” (khaw-kak) meaning “to cut out, engrave; set; one who decrees, a lawgiver.”

Feast of Atonement

There are 7 Feasts of the Lord.

Feast of the Passover;
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Feast of the First Fruit;
Feast of Pentecost
Feast of the Trumpet
Feast of Atonement
Feast of Tabernacle.

Out of these seven (7) major feasts, the last three (3) remaining feasts that has yet to come.

We have received atonement through Jesus Christ our Lord Christ. He is the atoning sacrifice mentioned in the Old Testament (Exodus 29:33-36; Romans 5:11-13)..

In Exodus 22:33, “atonement” is being mentioned twice as “kippur” and “kaphar.”

Kippur i.e. atonement, expiation, to pacify
Kaphar i.e. to cover, to purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, to forgive or pardon, to placate.

Atonement always requires for blood (Leviticus 1:1-4; Mark 14:34 Luke 22:20; Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 9:14)

Romans 5:11 says, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. “

The word “atonement” in Greek “katallage” (ka-al-lag-ay’) means “exchange (of the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values; adjustment (of a difference, reconciliation, restoration)” according to Thayer. Strong call it “a divine favour.”

Commuters bring 'Hindi Po Kami Tambay' tarp while waiting for ride

Published June 27, 2018 9:41pm Gma News

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A Facebook photo featuring a group of commuters with a tarp commenting on the government's anti-tambay operations has gone viral.

The tarp carried the message: “Hindi po kami tambay, nag-aabang lang ng jeep. At kung tambay man, huwag kaming hulihin, saktan, patayin!”

Nakakamanghang rebelasyon! Neil Perez inilantad kung paano hinarangan ng mga batang

tambay ang truck na muntik kumitil sa buhay niya

By Stacy Dela Fuente ; 1 day ago ; KAMI News through Genesis Media dated July 6, 2018/ Time/ 8:10am

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- Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Neil Perez na ibahagi sa publiko kung paano sinagip ang buhay niya ng mga tambay na bata

- Hinarangan pala ng mga batang tambay ang isang truck na muntik na siyang mahagip sa daan

- Wala nang malay si Neil noon kung kaya't di na niya alam ang panganib na hinarap niya mga sandaling iyon

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed!

Si Neil Perez, ang 2014 Mr. International ay naaksidente sa kanyang motorsiklo kamakailan lang kung saan kinailangan niyang magtagal sa ospital.

Pagkatapos ng aksidente ngayon lang nagsalita si Neil sa kung ano talaga ang mga kaganapan noong naaksidente ito.

Nalaman ng KAMI na may mga batang tambay pala na tumulong kay Neil noon.

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Neil Perez inilantad kung paano hinarangan ng mga batang tambay ang truck na muntik kumitil sa buhay (Photo: ladies and gentleman)

Ayon pa sa kuwento ni Neil, nang nag slide ang motorsiklo niya sa may tulay muntik na raw siyang masagasaan ng isang truck.

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Neil Perez inilantad kung paano hinarangan ng mga batang tambay ang truck na muntik kumitil sa buhay niya (Photo: OM news)

Buti na lang hinarangan ng mga batang tambay ang mga truck dahil kung hindi daw ay malamang nasagasaan na si Neil.

Kaya malaki ang pasasalamat ni Neil sa mga tambay na batang andun sa tulay nung maganap ang aksidente.

Reinhold Niebuhr

Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian, ethicist, commentator on politics and public affairs, and professor at Union Theological Seminary for more than 30 years. Niebuhr was one of America's leading public intellectuals for several decades of the 20th century and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. A public theologian, he wrote and spoke frequently about the intersection of religion, politics, and public policy, with his most influential books including Moral Man

Lacson sides with God after Duterte’s anti-Catholic remarks

Rosette Adel (philstar.com) - June 24, 2018 - 6:48pm

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Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said that there were times he thought Duterte was “God’s gift to a benighted land.” - PRIB/Alberto Calvelo, File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday drew the line for God after President Rodrigo Duterte lambasted God and the Bible creation story.

“In many conflicts with his political adversaries, I took his side more than I did not, even when sometimes I had many doubts because I believed he was different from all presidents who led before him,” Lacson said in a statement.

The senator cited that there were times he thought Duterte was “God’s gift to a benighted land.” He added that he hoped the president’s leadership is “the elusive change for the better.”

However, following Duterte's reported remarks against God, Lacson said he is choosing God.

“Between him and my God to Whom I pray every single day and with Whom I’ve found solace and comfort in all my difficult times, I don’t even have to think of my choice,” Lacson said.

Last Friday, Duterte, who is known for criticizing the Catholic Church, called God “stupid” after he questioned His logic in the creation story.

READ: Duterte rants on, calls God stupid!

In a speech in Davao City, the president doubted why God created something perfect and eventually allowed an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of his work.

"Who is this stupid God? Estupido talaga itong p***** i** kung ganun,” Duterte said.

Duterte cited that malice was born when Adam and Eve bring in the original sin when they ate the forbidden fruit.

The president said he cannot rationalize the concept of original sin.

"Eh ‘yan ang hindi ko matanggap. Very stupid proposition. Anong kasalanan? Original sin, tapos i-baptize ka. Basain pa ‘yang ulo mo ng tubig. Maniwala ka niyang pari na ‘yan," Duterte said.

In the same speech, Duterte also said he does not believe in religion but he believes in “universal life.”

In his previous speeches, Duterte repeatedly claimed he became president because of God.

“But I think God has placed me here to do this job in this generation of our country, faced with so many problems from insurgency, illegal drugs,” he was quoted in March last year.

READ: Presidency is killing me – Duterte

The president last February 2017 also called God “very stupid” when he defended why he believes he is not destined for hell.

He claimed only “a very stupid God” can create a human being only to leave him/her in eternal damnation.

READ: Rody: Only stupid God will send me to hell

After the president’s tough talk against God, Lacson hoped that God may forgive Duterte.

“May my God forgive him (Duterte) and make him atone for all his sins,” Lacson said

Saycon: Church can be used to destabilize gov’t

By: Nestor Corrales - Reporter / @NCorralesINQ

INQUIRER.net / 02:30 PM June 27, 2018

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Pastor “Boy” Saycon. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

A government official is not discounting the possibility that the Catholic Church could be used to destabilize the Duterte administration.

“Mayrong posibilidad na ganoon ang mangyari [There is a possibility that this will happen],” Pastor “Boy” Saycon, member of the three-man team formed to have a dialogue with religious groups, said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Wednesday.

Saycon said there are “radical” members of the Catholic Church but he believed that the leadership of the Church do not meddle in such destabilization efforts.

“Mayroong mga member din naman ng simbahan na radikal ang pag-iisip pero in general, ‘yun namang leadership ng simbahan ay hindi naman nakikialam,” he said.

(There are church members who are radical in mind but in general the leadership of the church is not meddling.)

The threats to oust the President, he said, was not directly coming from the Church but from organizations connected to foreign groups with “foreign interests.”

“Well, hindi naman nanggagaling sa simbahan ang banta. Nanggaling ang banta, nangagaling diyan sa mga organisasyon na konektado kung minsan sa banyagang interes,” he said.

(Well, the threat is not coming from the church. The threat is coming from organization connected most of the time with foreign interests.)

Saycon said destabilization moves against the President could be because he “does not tow to the whims” of foreigners particularly the Americans.

Asked if he thinks that were “destabilzation initiatives” by the Americans, he said, “Ganoon na nga ‘yan [That’s what it is].”

Preventing a ‘very bad situation’

Saycon said the dialogue between the government and the Church sector is meant to “foster good relationship” with all religious groups.

“We have to come with clean hands, clean hearts, to listen and ask the Church on how we can foster this good relationship between the government and the Church,” he said.

Saycon, who is also a member of the Edsa People Power Commission, said the government wanted to prevent a repeat of the Edsa uprising where the Catholic Church had a big role in the ouster of former presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

“Things went into a very bad situation that caused the removal of Erap from his office so ayaw natin mangyari ang ganoong klaseng pangyayari [we do not want that to happen],” he said.

He said he doesn’t want that the “conflict” between the government and the Church “becomes untenable.”

But he admitted that a repeat of Edsa where the Church took an important role was still far from happening

“Malayo pa naman doon sa ganoon [It is still far from that scenario],” he said.

On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has formed a committee to dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups following his scathing remarks against the church.

Saycon, Roque and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella comprise the three-man team formed recently by Duterte. With a report from Kristine Macasiray / INQUIRER.net trainee / jpv

READ: Duterte forms team to dialogue with Catholic Church, other groups

At Large : Duterte’s mental health

By: Rina Jimenez-David - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:07 AM June 27, 2018

Now that he has signed the Mental Health Law, President Duterte would do well to take advantage of the comprehensive coverage guaranteed in the law and seek psychological counseling for himself.

To explain his tirade denouncing the God of the Christians (and also of Muslims and Jews), Duterte’s defenders referred to two factors which could explain his antipathy to the Catholic Church, its leaders and, ultimately, to the deity worshipped by believers.

One factor is the alleged abuse and molestation he says he suffered at the hands of a Catholic priest when he was a young man. It is difficult to ascertain the story, since the accused has been long dead and no one, as far as the public knows, has come forward to corroborate the President’s claim.

The second factor, say those interpreting Duterte’s words, is his mother, a religious woman, who disciplined him harshly as she sought to curb her son’s stubbornness and wayward nature.

There doesn’t seem to be a direct, logical line connecting the alleged abuse he suffered or his mother’s draconian ways to his present-day views on religion. But given that he brings up these incidents repeatedly, especially in the context of his faith or lack of it, it seems clear that these had been deeply traumatic and left seeds of psychic pain that bubble up to the surface of his consciousness whenever provoked.

I wonder whether PDuts has ever sought counseling or talk therapy to address his “demons.” Clearly, these have shaped or warped, if you will, his view not just of religion or spirituality, but of humanity and acceptable behavior. His response to most challenges has been anger and vindictiveness. His behavior toward his enemies, but especially women who deviate from his stereotyped view of their proper behavior, has been harsh and rude, to say the least. When legal and political maneuvers prove inconvenient, he resorts to attacking their reputations, their character and their sexuality.

Clearly, in the President’s case, the personal is political.

But who will be so bold to tell the President to his face that he needs help? Who will risk his or her position, as well as court the President’s ire, to tell him he needs to seek relief from the traumas bedeviling him?

Unfortunately, timidity and even denial are common responses to mental health issues. The person suffering from mental illness would be loathe to admit his or her condition, much less seek relief or even a cure. But the people in a position to help — immediate family, loved ones, friends, workmates — would be hard-pressed to recognize the condition, much less stage an intervention. Sadly, mental health is little understood and clouded by myths and misconceptions.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, principal author in the Senate of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, says this piece of legislation focuses not just on diagnosis and treatment but, more important, also on educating the public. The law mandates the Department of Health, as well as Department of Education, to extend the “full range of psychiatric, neurologic and psychosocial services” at the tertiary level, regional and provincial hospitals. It also calls for the institution of anti-stigma and anti-discrimination programs in schools and workplaces.

Studies show that one in five Filipinos suffers from depression, while the toll of suicide has reached a shocking seven each day.

What most authorities want to convey is that mental health issues are curable or at least manageable. While drugs like anti-depressants help keep the worst symptoms under control, patients could also benefit from behavioral therapy and counseling by professionals.

A big problem in dealing with mental health is the shame attached to it, with many sufferers and their families viewing it as somehow a consequence of a personal “weakness” or else of a “tendency” that runs in families. Thus, the need for secrecy, with some relatives resorting to the drastic measure of keeping the afflicted confined at home, or, in some worse cases, chained to a post.

What would happen, I wonder, if someone made public that he was seeking help to address his own state of mind?

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/114202/dutertes-mental-health#ixzz5Jbmm1Dv0

Second Opinion : Kabastusan’

By: Gideon Lasco - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:18 AM March 08, 2018

Someday, a generation more civilized than us will wonder why we elected — and tolerated — a President with such a foul mouth.

They will cite the curses and wonder why, despite the same expletives considered unfit in our classrooms and TV shows, despite the same rudeness regarded as unbecoming of critics and journalists, these were deemed suitable on the presidential stage.

The Harry Roques of this world explain that his cursing is a way of identifying with the “common people,” who feel betrayed by those who speak “decently” but act treasonously. But surely many of our countrymen who use the same language likewise take issue with his use of it, expecting more from the highest official of the land. Moreover, even those who see his actions as speaking louder than his speech will have to ask why we cannot have a president who is good in both word and deed.

Others, meanwhile, say he’s just joking — and must be understood in the context of “Bisaya culture.” But even today many Bisaya speakers say that his speech is unrepresentative of their values. As someone replied to my tweet about this topic: “I’m Bisaya and this continued use of ‘Bisaya humor’ to justify the President’s uncultured mouth is insulting to me.”

In any case, beyond the curses themselves, it is the content of his speech that make his language even more unacceptable.

First, there’s his misogyny, his ludicrous jokes about rape, his lecherous remarks about women, his lurid references to condom use, and, most recently, his call for soldiers to shoot female rebels “in the vagina.” Someday, a future generation will be revulsed at these instances — and wonder why we did not condemn these more forcefully and collectively.

Second, there’s his racism, his insensitive remarks about foreign nations and individuals: from his inane invocation of Jewish victims of the Holocaust to his characterization of Barack Obama as “so black and arrogant.” Not content with insulting Catholic priests, he cites a misinterpretation of Islam by offering “42 virgins” to prospective visitors to our country, achieving the dubious distinction of being racist and misogynist at the same time.

Then there’s his lack of respect for people: from calling the US ambassador “bakla” (as if it were an insult) to attempting to shame Leila de Lima for being “immoral” (as if he weren’t); from calling drug users “not humans” to telling protesting jeepney drivers to “suffer in poverty and hunger.” Instead of elevating public discourse he has lowered it, and while his insults may reveal more about him than the people he insulted, he does not carry his name alone, but that of our nation.

I am writing this for the future, when historians will seek to make sense of our time. There will be future revisionists,

latter-day Andanars, who will conjure up a golden age, and if they are creative enough, they might even succeed in casting Rodrigo Duterte as a philosopher-king, in the same way that people today are imagining Marcos not just as a hero but also as an enlightened ruler.

But I am also writing for the present, when we cannot surrender the standards that we have held for our leaders. And neither can we sanitize the truth by accepting “kabastusan” as sarcasm or hyperbole — or referring to it as “colorful” or “controversial” language. There are many ways to be honest without demeaning others. There are many ways to be brutally frank without brutalizing the presidency. Powerful Mr. Duterte may have become, but power is never a substitute for truth or for morality, and while his henchmen may yet rewrite the Constitution, they cannot rewrite our norms, our values.

“Take him seriously, not literally,” the Harry Roques of this world say, baldly suggesting that, like the proverbs of Solomon or the novels of Jose Rizal, his words contain some profound, hidden truth. But the more we look at the things he has said, the only truth that emerges is that of hypocrisy, lack of empathy, and moral bankruptcy.

If an emperor commands his subjects to be fully clothed, he must at least do so with clothes. If Mr. Duterte wants to uphold our nation’s dignity, he must speak and act in a dignified way.

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The abode

“Is it prayer the right strategy for President Duterte’s diabolical actions or deliverance from the demons? Is he become the haven of legions of demons?,” a concerned citizen asked..

Let’s pray for Duterte’s healing, bishops urge

By: Tina G. Santos - Reporter / @santostinaINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:26 AM June 27, 2018

duterte

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President Rodrigo Duterte INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Two Catholic bishops have called on the faithful to pray for President Rodrigo Duterte’s “healing” following his “stupid God” rant, but one prelate suggested that Catholics also rebuke his “errors” on the Christian faith.

The President, notorious for having cursed Pope Francis and world leaders, sounded unapologetic on Monday night, but he formed a three-man team to dialogue with the Church and other religious organizations.

As the furor over the President’s remark grew louder among the clergy and Catholics, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas exhorted the faithful to “choose to love” the President and even “pray for him with compassion.”

“We pray for his healing and for God’s forgiveness on him,” he said on Tuesday in an open letter posted on the archdiocese website and addressed to the youth. “But we must rebuke his errors about our Christian faith.”

“He is a person in authority and some of you might get confused when you hear him,” said Villegas, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“To pray for him is not enough. We must serve you the truth as we pray for him,” he added.

Sunday Mass appeal

Bishop Alberto Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol province appealed to parishioners “to pray for healing so that the President’s heart could be healed.”

“We need to be hopeful. We continue to respect our President. And we pray for him,” Uy said during Sunday Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Garcia Hernandez town. “We pray for healing.”

The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) also called on evangelical Christians to keep praying for the President and his administration to be able “to lead our nation with the knowledge, wisdom and righteousness that come from God.”

In a televised speech in Davao City on Friday, the President took aim at the biblical story of man’s creation, and asked why God created Adam and Eve only to allow them to fall from grace.

“Who is this stupid God? You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would destroy the quality of your work,” the 73-year-old leader said. “How can you rationalize that God? How can you believe him?”

Despite the outrage, the President defended his remark when he addressed village officials in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday night.

‘My God is perfect’

“Your God is not my God because your God is stupid. Mine has a lot of common sense,” he said. “If I choose not to believe in any God, what’s the fucking thing about it? It’s a freedom to choose one.”

At another point, the President said: “I did not say that God is stupid; listen to the records,” he said. “I said your God is a stupid God, my God is perfect.”

Even so, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday that he had been tasked by the President to initiate a dialogue with the CBCP, PCEC and other religious groups.

“The theme will be how to lessen the rift between the government and the Church,” said Roque, who will constitute the panel together with Foreign Undersecretary Ernesto Abella and Council for Philippine Affairs secretary general Pastor Boy Saycon.

The CBCP president, Archbishop Romulo Valles, welcomed the move. “To dialogue, to listen to one another, is always good.”

The President has excoriated the Church over reports of abuses by priests in response to the latter’s criticism of the administration’s bloody war on drugs.

‘Blasphemous’ remarks

While others were conciliatory, more Church leaders have come out to denounce what some called “blasphemous” remarks.

“How can he be President for all Filipinos if he does not have the respect for the Catholic faithful?”’ Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP vice president, said in a Facebook post.

“Most of his supporters are Catholics, right? Catholics will respect him even if he does not agree with the Catholic faith. But disagreement is not a license to insult,” David added.

The PCEC national director, Noel Pantoja, also condemned the remarks, saying it was “completely inappropriate for the President to derisively curse at the God of the Christian faith, who is deeply worshipped not only by a majority of Filipinos but also by a vast number of people from all over the world.”

But Pantoja also appealed to Rodrigo Duterte “to instead lead in fostering respect toward different religious beliefs.”

Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo defended Mr. Duterte anew, saying he and many other Catholics were not offended by his remarks.

“Maybe to you it’s insulting . . . I was not insulted as a Catholic. Many Catholics have not been insulted by that,” he said over ANC. —With reports from Gabriel Cardinoza, Leo Udtohan, Divina Suson, Jigger Jerusalem, Christine O. Avendaño, Julie Aurelio and AP

Received June 27, 2018 at 3:19 pm

JIL's Bro. Eddie: Duterte comments 'blasphemy in highest order'

Audrey Morallo (philstar.com) - June 27, 2018 - 3:59pm

(picture23)

President Rodrigo Duterte bows after delivering his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected village chairpersons in the Zamboanga Peninsula held at the Municipal Gymnasium in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur on June 26, 2018. - Presidential Photo/Valerie Escalera

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte may have violated the constitution by issuing controversial statements about God, the founder of a Christian church said, while the president's daughter urged critics to ignore his rants on the Bible.

Duterte's recent comments have sparked outrage in the predominantly Christian Philippines after he called God "stupid" and questioned the logic of the allegorical Bible story of the temptation of Adam and Eve.

"Who is this stupid God? The son of a bitch is really stupid," Duterte said in his rambling remarks delivered in Filipino and English in Davao last week.

Despite the denunciations, the president stuck to his remarks on Monday but clarified that he was criticizing the God of Catholics. His spokespersons have justified the comments as freedom of expression and as a critique of Catholic teachings.

Duterte, who has in the past cursed Pope Francis and former US leader Barack Obama, also claimed that his God has common sense while that of his critics is stupid. He did not say which god he meant, but mentioned a "universal mind".

He also lobbed another attack at Catholics, this time questioning the Lord's Supper and why those who were there became saints.

During the same speech, Duterte, who has been slammed for his demeaning remarks on women, said that creating the first woman, Eve, was God's "greatest mistake."

RELATED: Duterte: I'm not a chauvinist, I just really like girls

Local and international Catholic and Christian groups have skewered the president for his comment, with at least one Protestant leader calling his statement blasphesmous.

JIL's Bro. Eddie: Blasphemy in the highest order

Speaking on ANC, Eddie Villanueva, founder of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, said Duterte's remark calling God stupid was a violation of the 1987 Constitution because the document "believes in God."

"It's very clear for the sake of argument, that is already a violation of the constitution because the very constitution, the soul of the Filipino people, believes in God," he said.

Villanueva, who has in the past been generally supportive of the president, said that Duterte was "wittingly or unwittingly" violating the soul of the nation by disparaging God.

He also labeled Duterte's comments as "a kind of blasphemy in the highest order."

The JIL founder and leader, whose son, Sen. Joel Villanueva, is part of the Duterte-aligned majority bloc in the Senate, said that he felt "holy anger" upon hearing the president's remarks.

He also warned that Duterte's words could curse the nation as stated in the Bible.

Alejano: Duterte can't keep promises, has no right to 'mock' God

Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo) meanwhile said that Duterte doesn't have the right to "mock" God when he himself cannot fulfill his mandate and promises to the Filipino people.

He said in a statement that Duterte's attacks on the faith of Filipino Christians was a form of disrespect of their belief and identity as Philippine citizens.

"Who is Duterte to mock my God, our God, when he can't even fulfill his mandate and promises to the Filipino people?" the opposition lawmaker said.

During the campaign, Duterte made several promises, some of which have yet to be fulfilled.

For example, he vowed to eradicate crime and drugs in the Philippines in three to six months, only to backpedal months after his election by saying that he underestimated the problem.

He also promised to ride a jet ski to a disputed island in the South China Sea to stake the country's claim to the area but later clarified that this was only a joke.

Instead, his son and aide rode jet skis in waters off Aurora to show that the Philippines owned the Philippine Rise, a territory whose ownership is not in question in the first place.

Alejano, who has been critical of many of Duterte's policies, said the president's words reflect the values he has as an individual and could explain how he views and treats human life.

"Now, for whatever devious purpose, he is trying to discredit the Catholic faith. Regardless of the form, he is disrespecting the country and its citizens," he said.

Sara Duterte: My father is not a priest

Meanwhile, Sara Duterte-Carpio, a president's daughter and mayor of Davao city, urged her father's critics not to listen to his rants on the Bible as he was not a religious scholar.

She said that people should judge Duterte based on his work as president and not on his "talkkalese."

"Please do not listen to him interpret the Bible or Quran, he is not a priest, a pastor or an imam. He is the president, listen only when he speaks about his work," she said in a statement on her social media account.

Carpio said that whatever the president said was his opinion and is protected by his constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.

Manny Pacquiao, a Born Again senator allied with Duterte, was quoted in reports as urging critics to respect the differences in the beliefs of people.

Pacquiao, a boxing champion, courted controversy several years ago when he said that homosexuals are worse than animals. He has also cited the Bible to argue for the reimposition of the death penalty.

Original sin, free will and Christians

GOTCHA - Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) - June 27, 2018 - 12:00am

“God doubted his creation so he tested it. Tinawag nya ung ahas tapos binigyan nya ng apple. Pinakagat nya doon sa bunganga. Sabi nya sa ahas, dalhin mo itong apple doon kay Eve and tempt her to eat it. Taste it. Dineliver nya kay Eve. Si Eve, apple yun, e. Nakabalot pa ng foam at net: made in China. Kinain ni Eve. Tapos si Eve, ginising si Adam – siguro katatapos lang – kumain ka rin. Kinain ni Adam, then malice was born.

“Who is this stupid God? Istupido talaga itong p*******a kung ganoon. You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work. How can you rationalize a God... Ikaw, maniwala ka?

“So tayo ngayon, all of us are born with original sin. Ano man yan? Was it the first kiss? What was the sin? Nasa womb ka pa, may kasalanan ka na. Tsuk-tsak lang ‘yun ng nanay pati tatay mo, wala ka naman kasali, tapos ngayon may original sin ka. T*******g klase – anong klaseng relihiyon ‘yan? ‘Yan ang hindi ko matanggap. What a stupid proposition. Tapos i-baptize ka. Basain pa yung ulo mo ng tubig.

“I believe there is a universal mind. But to what extent is the influence of that – I cannot picture him anymore as a human being, in the image of God. But I really believe, I have this faith and abiding thing about – pero ung relihiyon, maniwala kayo diyan.”

- President Rodrigo Duterte, June 22, 2018, Opening of the National ICT Summit, Davao City

* * *

Christian theologians continue to debate the doctrine of original sin. A dominant line is that original sin is a condition. That is, every person is born tainted with The Fall of Man. Original sin is not something a person commits by thought or deed. Rather, he carries the tendency of the first parents to fall for temptation. “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” In “The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended,” Jonathan Edwards notes that “youth” in that passage from Genesis 8:21 means for English speakers “from infancy.” Baptism restores man to God’s redemption, the chance for eternal life.

God created Adam and Eve in His image. They were like Him capable of love and justice. He granted them lives of bounty in Paradise. He shared with them what He had: free will. God has free will, which He, being omnibenevolent, uses only for good. “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’” (Genesis 2:16-17).

God did not tempt Adam and Eve. The devil did, in guise of a serpent. In “Paradise Lost” John Milton depicted the serpent as Satan’s sidekick.

Man is the highest of God’s creatures. Yet he is far from perfect. Distracted, inebriated, with limited brain, he can only grasp so much. He cannot hope to imbibe all the knowledge of the world, contained in great libraries, some destroyed forever by book burners through history. In a lifetime at best we can only read a few hundred tomes. As the angel boy demonstrated to Augustine using a seashell, all the waters of the ocean just wouldn’t fit the hole on the shore.

At times out of frustration with misunderstanding, man loses hope or temper; other times he stays humble and faithful. Those are his free choices. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

* * *

Turning the other cheek, Filipinos try to understand as the President curses their bishops and priests. An American Jesuit sexually had molested him in grade school. On return to California that priest victimized other boys, for which the Society of Jesus paid $16 million damages. Duterte carries the hurt to this day.

What horrifies Christians is Duterte mocking their God and faith. “Body of Christ sa inyong igit (in your shit),” he said in a forum of barangay officials in Davao, Dec. 29, 2016.

At a friend’s birthday party on Nov. 23, 2017, he noted: “It’s not our fault; it’s the fault of God. Why did he have to create woman. If we were all men, we’d just have a free-for-all.”

At another friend’s birthday bash on Nov. 28, 2017, he said: “You know, if you are God, you are perfect. There ought not to be imperfections. Your creation must be good. Why create a snake. Better give that to China, which might cook it tomorrow.”

At the meeting with the Filipino community in Seoul, Korea, June 3, 2018, he spoke of the creation of Adam and Eve, then remarked: “Kung yan ang diyos ng Katoliko, torpe yan. Maghanap ka ng diyos na tama.”

Some Christian groups view those as violation of the Constitution. Article II, Section 6, states: “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.” That separation often is misread as a ban on churches from meddling in politics. In truth it bars the State from establishing or promoting any religion. By deriding Christianity, they say, head of state Duterte in effect is imposing his own religion, whatever it is.

Other groups are girding to question those who will run under Duterte’s ticket in the May 2019 congressional-local elections. Names will be known in four months. Filing of candidacies will be in Oct. 2018, for the oversized ballots.

Still others prefer to emulate the dignified silence of Christ. Jesus had kept quiet while mocked by Annas, Caiaphas, and Herod. Speaking would have been futile with those bent on crucifying Him. Silence is often the best reproof for profane behavior, a broadcaster-preacher advises. When officials begin to mock God or lie or cuss, just politely leave.

Duterte says he's pushing limits of what he can say

GMA News dated June 126, 2018; 8:33 pm; Tordecilla, Jaemark

(picture24)

Provided by GMA News Online Duterte smiling

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he was pushing the limits of what he can say in public as he remained unapologetic over his scathing remarks against God and teachings of Christianity.

Speaking before newly-elected Western Mindanao barangay chairpersons in Zamboanga del Sur, Duterte lashed out at critics of his various pronouncements.

"Sinasadya ko 'yan eh. You know why? This country is in doldrums. I am shaking the tree para mabuhay lahat, para makita ko. I am shaking the tree pati mga salita ko bastos and I am trying to go to the boundaries of hanggang saan," the President said.

Duterte has been criticized by various quarters, including political allies, for calling God “stupid” and finding fault in the creation story in the Bible during a speech in Davao City on June 22.

Malacañang defended Duterte’s remarks, saying he was entitled to his personal belief.

In his speech, the President maintained that he believed in a "universal" God.

"I have a God. He is the universal mind. I picture him as a too powerful na kung wala si God there are trillions and billions of heavenly bodies, kung wala yung Diyos matagal na tayong hinigop ng blackhole o sumabog na tayong lahat. That is how I see God in the universal sense," he said.

He then insisted that the God of his critics was "stupid."

"Your God is not my God kasi ang God mo stupid," he said.

Duterte's statement came hours the Palace announced that he formed a three-man committee that will hold a dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups.

The Palace said the objective of the dialogue was to reduce tensions between Duterte and the Church, which has been critical of the government's controversial war on drugs. —JST, GMA News

Bishops: 'Duterte’s tirades on God his own interpretations'

GMA News dated June 27, 2018; Evelyn Macairan

10 hrs ago

Bishops: 'Duterte’s tirades on God his own interpretations'© File Bishops: 'Duterte’s tirades on God his own interpretations'

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte was probably absent in class when his religion teachers at Ateneo de Davao University discussed the biblical interpretation of the creation of the world, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.

In a Facebook post yesterday, CBCP vice president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said “the criticisms made by the President are his own interpretation of the Bible. That is not how the Catholic Church teaches Catholics.”

“I am sure that is not taught in the catechism by our religious education teachers in Ateneo (de Davao University) and San Beda (University),” David added.

Last Friday, Duterte criticized the creation story in the Bible, particularly the part when the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, which she later gave to Adam.

Duterte called God “stupid” for allowing temptation to destroy His work.

“Who is this stupid God? … You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work,” Duterte said in a speech during the opening of the 2018 National ICT Summit in Davao City.

“So now all of us are born with an original sin. The original sin…what was it? Was it the first kiss? What was the sin? Why original?” he said. “T**** i**** klase. Anong klaseng relihiyon ‘yan (What kind of a son of a b****. What kind of religion is that?)”

Duterte drew flak for calling God stupid.

On Monday, the President stuck to his comment, but argued that he was insulting the God of his critics.

“What I said was your God is not my God because your God is stupid. Mine has a lot of common sense,” he said.

Duterte also claimed again that a priest molested him when he was a teen.

David explained that the stories in the Bible have a deeper meaning and the Bible also did not say that the Lord created a perfect world.

“The Bible also did not say that the Lord sent the serpent to tempt Eve. I wonder where he (Duterte) read that? The sin was not only about the eating of the forbidden fruit, and it also did not say that it was an apple, and this created malice. This is related to having the ambition to be like God. But instead of being like God, we become distant from God,” the prelate said.

As to Duterte’s claim that a priest molested him when he was young, David said perhaps the President “needs help to process the trauma that he experienced, that became the reason why he has such views on religion, on Catholics and the priests.”

David admitted that there are sinners within the Catholic Church, but there are also those who live in faith and goodness and it is not right that the entire Catholic Church would be condemned for the sins committed by a few.

The bishop also said that Duterte, as leader of the nation, must learn to respect the Catholic faithful since many of his supporters are Catholics.

“The Catholics would respect him even if he does not agree with their Catholic faith. But it does not mean that just because he disagrees, he already has a license to insult,” he said.

“The Catholics respect him as the president and his mandate as president. We only hope that he would also respect the Catholics even if he does not fully agree with the doctrines of the Catholic Church,” he added.

The Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC) said they were also “immensely offended” by Duterte’s remarks.

“PCEC finds it completely inappropriate for our nation’s President to derisively curse at the God of the Christian faith, who is deeply worshipped not only by a majority of Filipinos but also by a vast number of people from all over the world,” PCEC national director Noel Pantoja said in a statement.

Pantoja also pointed out that since the Philippines is a democratic country, each Filipino is mandated to respect different faith traditions because religious intolerance could lead to animosity and violent conflicts.

“We therefore appeal to President Duterte to refrain from issuing insulting statements against the Christian faith. We appeal to the President, as the foremost leader of a nation that is by nature religious, to instead lead in fostering respect toward different religious beliefs,” he added.

‘Past hurts made Duterte spew hate’

For Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, it may have been the hurt and anguish that Duterte had to bear in the past that made Duterte quick to spew out hateful words.

In his message to the youth and the children in his archdiocese, Villegas said Duterte “must have received so much rejection and hurts in the past that he blurts out so much hatred and angst now.”

“Pray for him with compassion. We pray for his healing and for God’s forgiveness on him but we must rebuke his errors about our Christian faith,” the prelate said.

Villegas lamented that social media has exposed the youth to cursing, threats and shaming by the President.

He also pointed out that the President’s erroneous pronouncements on matters of faith might confuse the youth. – With Eva Visperas, Jess Diaz

Duterte expects good working ties with Church leaders

Bulletin; Updated June 27, 2018, 4:17 PM; By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte is hoping to have to a good “working relationship” with the Church leaders amid the start of the dialogue initiated by the government, Malacañang said Wednesday.

(picture25)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said they expect “open, frank and candid” discussions with the religious leaders to address concerns following Duterte’s controversial remarks about the Catholic doctrines.

The government panel formed by the President was scheduled to hold an initial dialogue with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) on Wednesday afternoon.

“Tingnan natin kung paano nga tayo pupuwedeng magkaroon ng working relationships man lang, kung hindi palagi na lang tayong naggiyerahan [Let us see how we can have a working relationship or else we will just always be fighting],” Roque said in a radio interview.

“Tingnan natin kung saan puwedeng magtulungan iyong dalawang institusyon at tingnan natin kung paano maresolba iyong mga hindi pagkakasundo [Let us see where the two institutions can help each other and how to resolve disagreements],’ he said.

President Duterte earlier formed a three-man panel to hold dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups amid the outrage over his “stupid God” statement. The team includes Roque, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, and EDSA People Power Commission member Pastor Saycon.

Roque said Abella and Saycon were expected to attend the dialogue with the PCEC on Wednesday.

He said the President and the Church might bicker at times but actually share some commonalities in issues such as opposition to divorce and same-sex marriage.

“Dapat nga magkasundo, magkaroon ng mas malapit na relasyon itong dalawang institusyon na ito [These two institutions should actually agree and have closer relations],” he said.

“Kung may pagkakasunduan, pagkasunduan. Kung wala, wala, pero buksan natin ang proseso ng dayalogo [If there will be an agreement, let’s agree. If none, then there’s none. But let’s start the process of dialogue],” he added.

Urban poor body supports anti-tambay drive

Romina Cabrera (The Philippine Star) - June 30, 2018 - 12:00am

(picture26)

PCUP chairman Noel Felongco said that operations to rid the streets of tambay would benefit the poor as this will help curb criminality in their communities. - Joven Cagande

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has expressed support for the police campaign against tambays or loiterers.

PCUP chairman Noel Felongco said that operations to rid the streets of tambay would benefit the poor as this will help curb criminality in their communities.

“I think the target is not the poor but rich or poor citizens who break the law should be held liable,” he said in Filipino.

Some 18,763 individuals have been apprehended in Metro Manila in the past 15 days since the Philippine National Police (PNP) started its crackdown against tambays.

PEPS COMMENTS

The 1987 Philippine Constitution is the only standard of the Rule of Law and not survey nor decree.

Any apprehension of infringement without specific violation by the police makes the police force and the government a violator of the law.

21,000 rounded up in drive vs loiterers

By: Dexter Cabalza - Reporter / @dexcabalzaINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:54 AM June 30, 2018

Around 21,000 people were rounded up by policemen in Metro Manila two weeks after President Duterte ordered an intensified crackdown on street loiterers and local ordinance violators.

Data from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as of Friday showed that a total of 20,979 individuals were apprehended by authorities from the five police districts

Trillanes wants probe on ‘anti-tambay’ campaign

BULLETIN; Published June 29, 2018, 11:44 PM

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

(picture27)

Senator Antonio Trillanes has joined the calls to have the Duterte government’s “anti-tambay” (loitering) campaign investigated for possible human rights violation over the alleged arrest of street idlers.

Senator Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV gestires during the AFP Modernization Program hearing in Pasay, February 19,2018.(Czar Dancel)

Senator Antonio “Sonny” Fuentes Trillanes IV (Czar Dancel/MANILA BULLETIN)

Trillanes, on Thursday, filed Senate Resolution 775 seeking an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged arrest of loiterers by the Philippine National Police (PNP) after President Duterte ordered the campaign against them.

The opposition senator, in filing the resolution, aimed to review existing laws and local ordinances “to ensure that no human rights violations were committted and that the PNP is acting within its mandate and the bounds of law.”

Ai-Ai chooses to defend her faith, religion

By: Allan Policarpio - Reporter

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 01:00 AM July 03, 2018

(picture28)

Ai-Ai delas Alas in “Area”

Ai-Ai delas Alas clarified that her recent social media post about being respectful of different religions was merely a “generic” reminder to everyone, and not directed at anyone in particular.

On Instagram, she said she’s “proud to be Catholic” and pointed out that “insulting someone’s religion” was tantamount to “insulting something meaningful to them. Everyone must be conscious and respectful,” she wrote. “You don’t have to agree with other people’s beliefs, but you don’t need to disrespect them.”

PEPS COMMENTS

Many commenting that not many Catholics reads the Bible yet there are willing to stand on their faith during rough times. Unfortunately, for many Bible-reading and Christ-centered Evangelical Christians who are bombastic from the pulpit could not defend their faith and the Christ whom they have called LORD and SAVIOUR. Tsk…tsk….tsk. Apostasy?

Duterte: Show me proof that God exists and I’ll resign

Ian Nicolas Cigaral (philstar.com) - July 7, 2018 - 1:17pm

(picture29)

President Rodrigo Duterte prays during the mass at the wedding of Waldo and Regine Carpio at San Agustin Church in Intramurous, Manila on September 16, 2017. - King Rodriguez/PPD, file

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday vowed to immediately resign if Christians can prove that their God exists.

“If there is anyone of you there, the noisy ones, who would say that you have been to heaven, talked to God, saw him personally, and that He exists, the God that is yours, and if He does is true, I will step down the presidency tonight,” Duterte said in a freestyle speech.

Trillanes: ‘Duterte is an anti-Christ’

GMA News; July 08, 2018; Marchadesch, Barbara

(picture30)

© Provided by GMA News Online "If you think that you can get justice simply because you lost somebody who's a bullshit into drugs, I'm sorry to tell you, I will not allow it." screengrab from June 18 PCOO video

More than his "anti-God" statements, President Rodrigo Duterte's supposed promotion of a culture of violence makes him an "anti-Christ," Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said.

"No doubt, Duterte is an anti-Christ. More than his numerous anti-God and anti-Church statements, Duterte has been promoting a culture of killing, violence, hatred, misogyny, and indecency among our people," Trillanes, a staunch critic of the president, said in a statement.

"In other words, everything that was taught to us growing up as Christians or as Filipinos is being undone by Duterte's evil ways," he added.

In the past weeks, Duterte has mocked the teachings of Christianity, even attacking the concept of original sin and creation story in the Bible.

Last Friday, Duterte strongly said he would step down from presidency if it could be proven that the God of Christianity exists.

Malacañang has said that Duterte’s tirades against the Catholic Church stem from his supposed experience of molestation.

The President is scheduled to meet with Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles on July 9. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News

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