News Roundup 21 June 2023
Jun 21, 2023 • 4 min Read
YouTube purges ‘Son of God’ Quiboloy’s channel from platform | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — YouTube on Wednesday terminated the channel of religious sect leader Apollo Quiboloy, taking away a major digital platform from the controversial pastor who faces charges related to sex trafficking and money smuggling in the United States.
This came after a content creator flagged YouTube’s support team on Twitter, saying that Quiboloy is able to run a channel on the platform despite an existing warrant for his arrest from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“Upon review, we’ve determined that the channel is in violation of Community Guidelines & has been terminated,” YouTube’s support team on Twitter said in a tweet in response to the user.
Quiboloy’s YouTube channel is no longer available on the video-sharing website. Before its removal, the account had gathered more than 40,000 subscribers, based on an archive by WaybackMachine.
Quiboloy is on the US’ most wanted list and is being hunted down by the FBI for “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; bulk cash smuggling.”
Full Story at: YouTube purges ‘Son of God’ Quiboloy’s channel from platform | Philstar.com
COA calls out another procurement fumble of public school teachers’ laptops | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Procurement issues have once again led to the delayed distribution of gadgets to public school teachers, this time involving P53 million worth of laptops and tablets purchased by the Cavite provincial government using its special education fund in 2021.
According to its response to the Commission on Audit, the provincial government admitted its failure to distribute the gadgets on time, saying it had to conduct a thorough equipment review following media coverage of the Department of Education’s procurement of overpriced laptops.
In its annual report for 2022, COA flagged the delayed distribution of 350 laptops worth at least P17 million and more than 4,000 tablets worth P36 million, which public school teachers received “12 to 19 months from the target completion of procurement.”
Significant delay due to late posting of purchase request
Failure to deliver school gadgets on time was “due to a significant delay in the submission of Purchase Request (PR), posting of procurement opportunity and distribution by the Department of Education (Division Office) to public school teachers and personnel,” COA said.
“Thus, maximum benefits from the procurement were not achieved,” the state auditors said.
COA pointed out that the purchase request for the gadgets was supposed to be prepared as early as March 10, 2021, yet bidding retails were only publicized on the country’s government procurement system after 107 days.
“The lengthy lead time contributed to the delay in the completion of the procurement process,” the state auditors noted.
Full Story at: COA calls out another procurement fumble of public school teachers’ laptops | Philstar.com
SEC warns public against fraudulent investment schemes online | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned the public on Wednesday against several fraudulent online investment schemes and urged people to verify the necessary licenses of dealers before doing business with them.
According to SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Director Oliver Leonardo, potential investors should make sure that sellers have permits to offer and sell securities.
“Maging mapanuri po tayo sa lahat ng ating nae-encounter na mga offers of investment, napakalaking kita, at pakatandaan lang po natin kailangan may license ‘yung company, including yung mga taong nagaalok nito,” Leonardo told reporters.
(Let’s be critical in all the offers of investment we encounter, promising huge profits. Let’s just remember that the company must have a license, including the people who offer it.)
“‘Pag wala silang mapakitang lisensya mula sa SEC kahit na meron silang registered corporation hindi po sapat ‘yon paglabag po sa batas iyon,” he added.
(If they don’t have a license to show from the SEC, even if they have a registered corporation, that’s not enough, that’s a violation of the law.)
Leonardo issued the warning after filing criminal complaints against a gas corporation for its engagement in investment fraud and the sale of securities without proper permit.
Full Story at: SEC warns public against fraudulent investment schemes online | Inquirer News
2 cops wounded in anti-illegal drugs operation in Nueva Ecija | INQUIRER.NET – STO. DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija — Two police officers were wounded after they were shot by two men while the lawmen were carrying out an anti-drugs surveillance operation in this town late Tuesday (June 20), authorities said.
Investigators identified the wounded police officers as Staff Sergeants Bryan Raymundo and Rommel Abad, both assigned to the municipal police’s drug enforcement unit.
A report from the local police said one of the suspects, who was identified as Israel Andres, a farmer, was arrested, while his alleged cohort, Allan Maliwat, escaped.
Full Story at: 2 cops wounded in anti-illegal drugs operation in Nueva Ecija | Inquirer News
